This semester is flying away from me. It's nice in some respects as I'm nearing my thesis year and my MFA will be complete... YAY! But, I'm also going to have to shoot, edit, and score a 12 page script in, roughly, three weeks (not consecutive, I just have a window of time in there and I'll be picking days to shoot). Scary stuff. Too much? Don't think so, just stressful. Can't wait to get to work on this script with my actress (a wonderfully talented lass) and finish casting so's I can get moving. I'm approaching this piece in a more Cassavetian (sp?) way. Which is to say that I'm letting some of the creative work fall into the lap of my lead actress, who seems excited by that. Where do I leave the character? Is this scene right? If not, how would you fix it? i.e. what would the character do instead? Also I can leave allot of the physical work in building a character to her. That's the dream anyway.
Music of the Moment: Angel - Live Fast, Die Never...
Great script writing music... at least I think so.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
The Time Crunch
It's a difficult thing, filmmaking. Mostly, it's a time consuming thing. And time is never on your side, especially in a university environment where not one person can really commit to the project on the level you can (as writer/producer/director). What is most frustrating is trying to organize my time with other filmmakers in the program. Helping them on their own projects (which I enjoy) and trying to get the same from them. Thankfully, it almost always works out well. This semester, everyone is taking on so much that it seems I may be wearing ALL hats on my production.
At this moment, I do not have a complete cast. I do not even have a final draft of my script. I'm working long hours into the night on the script but I'm not much of a writer... well, I'm not a fast writer. I have moments that ideas come but translating them to the page is quite difficult. I have one actress cast (who is quite good) and we are going to be working together on the script, kind of taking a Cassavettian approach to the project. That's great, but it does put pressure on me to get these early drafts "right" so my actors are enthusiastic about the process. If the script sucks... then what? Well, I'm hosed if that happens.
But I have enough faith in myself to make an interesting script, keep people keen on the project. It's the time it takes that worries me. TOO LONG! Good lord. In some respects writing a full length script might be easier as you have time to lay things out and slowly develop things. Short scripts are so immediate that the pressure to complete them in just several pages is at odds with the pressure to make those several pages as deep and important as I can.
Ug. Back to work I go... wish me well...
At this moment, I do not have a complete cast. I do not even have a final draft of my script. I'm working long hours into the night on the script but I'm not much of a writer... well, I'm not a fast writer. I have moments that ideas come but translating them to the page is quite difficult. I have one actress cast (who is quite good) and we are going to be working together on the script, kind of taking a Cassavettian approach to the project. That's great, but it does put pressure on me to get these early drafts "right" so my actors are enthusiastic about the process. If the script sucks... then what? Well, I'm hosed if that happens.
But I have enough faith in myself to make an interesting script, keep people keen on the project. It's the time it takes that worries me. TOO LONG! Good lord. In some respects writing a full length script might be easier as you have time to lay things out and slowly develop things. Short scripts are so immediate that the pressure to complete them in just several pages is at odds with the pressure to make those several pages as deep and important as I can.
Ug. Back to work I go... wish me well...
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Not Fit to Be A Fan...
Ok, I'm not the only one. I'M NOT! But when my hero, Randy "The Natural" Couture, came out of retirement at 43 to face the giant Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, I doubted him. I worried for Randy's health facing the 6 foot 8 inch Sylvia with 17 knockout victories to his credit. I was angry at the UFC for putting my hero into harm's way. I was depressed that Sylvia (a champ that I really didn't like very much... nothing personal, I just didn't enjoy watching him fight and he had a real antagonistic relationship with fans) would be coming out to brutalize my Hero.
I guess a little background is needed here for those of you not familiar with the UFC. Randy "The Natural" Couture was the organization's first two time Heavyweight champ. Then at age 40, after consecutive losses to much larger opponents, he dropped down in weight to 205 (light heavyweight) to face possibly the most dangerous striker in the entire sport, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. No one gave Randy a chance. So, in answer to that, Randy spent three rounds beating the crap out of Chuck, earning himself the Light Heavyweight Championship belt thus becoming the first fighter in UFC history to own two belts in two different weight classes. Randy would then spend nearly two years brutalizing younger opponents in that weight class until the belt was taken away from him by Chuck Liddell in consecutive knockout matches. At 42, Randy Couture retired from the sport.
Or so we thought. Three months ago it was announced that Randy would be coming out of retirement to face the Heavyweight knockout artist Tim Sylvia for the Heavyweight belt. I was sad. I thought after two knockout losses to the smaller Chuck Liddell, the UFC was just placing the ever popular Randy against an unpopular champ to boost Sylvia's popularity.
So, I was wrong. I was so wrong that I feel like I betrayed my hero. This guy came out like a man possessed, not only repeatedly dragging Sylvia to the matt and having his way with him, but also completely dominating the stand up aspect of the fight. The first 20 seconds of round 1 saw the first punch landed in the fight send Sylvia flailing to the ground. Which shocked each and every one of us. 25 Minutes of complete domination from Randy Couture...
So, am I a TRUE fan? I didn't believe in my guy. I lost faith. I let logic get in the way. But, as one reporter said about the event. "Again Randy Couture is making me eat crow. But sometimes it's worth eating crow if you get to witness a miracle." I think that applies. I came out of UFC 68 feeling rejuvenated and fresh, like I wanted to be a better person.
Ok, Randy, you got me. I don't know what they're feeding you but I wanna eat it. And I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER bet against you ever again. EVER! I don't know how you're going to dismantle and destroy Mirko "Cro Cop" Fillipovic, but I'm sure you'll figure out a way. I'm in your corner. But I feel as though I don't deserve it.
I guess a little background is needed here for those of you not familiar with the UFC. Randy "The Natural" Couture was the organization's first two time Heavyweight champ. Then at age 40, after consecutive losses to much larger opponents, he dropped down in weight to 205 (light heavyweight) to face possibly the most dangerous striker in the entire sport, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. No one gave Randy a chance. So, in answer to that, Randy spent three rounds beating the crap out of Chuck, earning himself the Light Heavyweight Championship belt thus becoming the first fighter in UFC history to own two belts in two different weight classes. Randy would then spend nearly two years brutalizing younger opponents in that weight class until the belt was taken away from him by Chuck Liddell in consecutive knockout matches. At 42, Randy Couture retired from the sport.
Or so we thought. Three months ago it was announced that Randy would be coming out of retirement to face the Heavyweight knockout artist Tim Sylvia for the Heavyweight belt. I was sad. I thought after two knockout losses to the smaller Chuck Liddell, the UFC was just placing the ever popular Randy against an unpopular champ to boost Sylvia's popularity.
So, I was wrong. I was so wrong that I feel like I betrayed my hero. This guy came out like a man possessed, not only repeatedly dragging Sylvia to the matt and having his way with him, but also completely dominating the stand up aspect of the fight. The first 20 seconds of round 1 saw the first punch landed in the fight send Sylvia flailing to the ground. Which shocked each and every one of us. 25 Minutes of complete domination from Randy Couture...
So, am I a TRUE fan? I didn't believe in my guy. I lost faith. I let logic get in the way. But, as one reporter said about the event. "Again Randy Couture is making me eat crow. But sometimes it's worth eating crow if you get to witness a miracle." I think that applies. I came out of UFC 68 feeling rejuvenated and fresh, like I wanted to be a better person.
Ok, Randy, you got me. I don't know what they're feeding you but I wanna eat it. And I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER bet against you ever again. EVER! I don't know how you're going to dismantle and destroy Mirko "Cro Cop" Fillipovic, but I'm sure you'll figure out a way. I'm in your corner. But I feel as though I don't deserve it.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Writing 'n' Stuff
I hate writing... there, I said it... OH YEAH! It's a form of creative expression that lends itself well to some, and not so well to others. As I sit here, again, working on a script that I will be shooting in about two months, I find my mind wandering.
I think I work better as a director and cinematographer as I like working with what I do have as opposed to making up what I will have. There's a sense of play in interpreting the script and working with actors. As a DP, there's always a sense that you could fail at any second, but when the shot comes off right, SUCCESS!!!!
Writing also leaves me cold as it is, for me anyway, a lonely process. It's a time when I have to focus on what EXACTLY I want to say, then try, with my own little hands, to make it come out on paper. Sure, I can workshop it with other writers and directors, but that is almost too late. I've already done all the work. I've written a first draft and now have had a chance to look at it and see many of the flaws that must be corrected.
So... here I sit... I have 2 more pages written than I did an hour ago... I need to write 10 more pages... my iTunes has just switched to Rob Zombie's Two Lane Blacktop which is completely inappropriate for the script I'm working on... I flip through songs until I find something a little more depressing... ah, Loreena McKennit, that'll do... I look back at the page... still need 10 more...
I always bring the script together in time, but I wish it were easier. Not that directing or shooting a film is "easy", but I have a handle on how to make the process work. This writing thing is for the Birds... and that wasn't even a good script... CRIPES!!!!
I think I work better as a director and cinematographer as I like working with what I do have as opposed to making up what I will have. There's a sense of play in interpreting the script and working with actors. As a DP, there's always a sense that you could fail at any second, but when the shot comes off right, SUCCESS!!!!
Writing also leaves me cold as it is, for me anyway, a lonely process. It's a time when I have to focus on what EXACTLY I want to say, then try, with my own little hands, to make it come out on paper. Sure, I can workshop it with other writers and directors, but that is almost too late. I've already done all the work. I've written a first draft and now have had a chance to look at it and see many of the flaws that must be corrected.
So... here I sit... I have 2 more pages written than I did an hour ago... I need to write 10 more pages... my iTunes has just switched to Rob Zombie's Two Lane Blacktop which is completely inappropriate for the script I'm working on... I flip through songs until I find something a little more depressing... ah, Loreena McKennit, that'll do... I look back at the page... still need 10 more...
I always bring the script together in time, but I wish it were easier. Not that directing or shooting a film is "easy", but I have a handle on how to make the process work. This writing thing is for the Birds... and that wasn't even a good script... CRIPES!!!!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Prestige
I don't often get the opportunity to sit down and watch movies anymore. It's a sad and rather ironic turn of events, I spend more time making films than I do watching those films that do and don't inspire me. But, occasionally, I find a few hours here or there and get a chance to relax in front of the boob tube.
Spurred on by the overwhelming "Brick", I made a little more time this weekend to actually watch a movie. There are quite a few on rental shelves that I want to get around to, but for right now, I had to pick one. Thus came "The Prestige". I've now seen 3 of Christopher Nolan's 4 major motion pictures (the only one I've yet to see is "Insomnia"). I don't know if I'd say I'm a "fan" of Nolan's movies. "Memento" left me cold. I hearald "Batman Begins" as the best comic book film to date. "The Prestige" fits somewhere in the middle.
"The Prestige", set in England and Colorado at the turn of the century (1899), is about two rival Magicians/Illusionists, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman in another very good performance) and Robert Borden (Christian Bale in another better than very good performance). When Angier's (Jackman) wife is accidentally killed in a failed illusion, he blames Borden (Bale) for her death. Thus sets up a story of revenge and obsession that plays out in a non-linear fasion.
It works... for the most part. It has some problems, one of which is at 130 minutes, it is too long. All of Act I and some of Act II feel as though they could have been condensed. And the main problem is that Nolan spends so much time and detail showing us the set up for the inevitable twist, that it's hard not to know what's coming. That being said, I quite liked the story and Nolan's presentation of the story. It's a metaphor of filmmaking itself. The more you learn about exactly how things are done in movies, the less they capture your imagination. The same is true here. The more Angier wants to learn exactly how Borden does his trick, the less magic and enjoyment simple "illusion" holds for him. He believes that it's REAL magic, thus sets out to prove that with disasterous consequences. There is a valid moral here and it comes through in spades.
A note on the "Magic" tricks in the film. I like simple things. I don't like allot of computer generated who-ha that looks pretty. I really have to give it to Nolan and his team for coming up with simple contraptions and camera tricks to tackle most of the magic. Sure, there's some CG here and there but it's spare. When we finally see (as Jackman's character puts it) "...the greatest magic trick I've ever seen." I was genuinely impressed by the trick, the trick's simplicity, and how the trick was depicted on film. It's things like this that hooked me into the movie despite a couple of problems with it.
So, I recommend "The Presitge", I'd even like to see it again. It's a good movie, maybe not a great one. When you watch it, remember this... "People don't care about the man in the box. Making someone disappear is easy."
Spurred on by the overwhelming "Brick", I made a little more time this weekend to actually watch a movie. There are quite a few on rental shelves that I want to get around to, but for right now, I had to pick one. Thus came "The Prestige". I've now seen 3 of Christopher Nolan's 4 major motion pictures (the only one I've yet to see is "Insomnia"). I don't know if I'd say I'm a "fan" of Nolan's movies. "Memento" left me cold. I hearald "Batman Begins" as the best comic book film to date. "The Prestige" fits somewhere in the middle.
"The Prestige", set in England and Colorado at the turn of the century (1899), is about two rival Magicians/Illusionists, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman in another very good performance) and Robert Borden (Christian Bale in another better than very good performance). When Angier's (Jackman) wife is accidentally killed in a failed illusion, he blames Borden (Bale) for her death. Thus sets up a story of revenge and obsession that plays out in a non-linear fasion.
It works... for the most part. It has some problems, one of which is at 130 minutes, it is too long. All of Act I and some of Act II feel as though they could have been condensed. And the main problem is that Nolan spends so much time and detail showing us the set up for the inevitable twist, that it's hard not to know what's coming. That being said, I quite liked the story and Nolan's presentation of the story. It's a metaphor of filmmaking itself. The more you learn about exactly how things are done in movies, the less they capture your imagination. The same is true here. The more Angier wants to learn exactly how Borden does his trick, the less magic and enjoyment simple "illusion" holds for him. He believes that it's REAL magic, thus sets out to prove that with disasterous consequences. There is a valid moral here and it comes through in spades.
A note on the "Magic" tricks in the film. I like simple things. I don't like allot of computer generated who-ha that looks pretty. I really have to give it to Nolan and his team for coming up with simple contraptions and camera tricks to tackle most of the magic. Sure, there's some CG here and there but it's spare. When we finally see (as Jackman's character puts it) "...the greatest magic trick I've ever seen." I was genuinely impressed by the trick, the trick's simplicity, and how the trick was depicted on film. It's things like this that hooked me into the movie despite a couple of problems with it.
So, I recommend "The Presitge", I'd even like to see it again. It's a good movie, maybe not a great one. When you watch it, remember this... "People don't care about the man in the box. Making someone disappear is easy."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Downtime and MMA
Since finishing my final (we hope) edit of "What Love Remains", finishing my job as DP on a Thesis film, and completing the first draft of my script for this semester, I've had a couple hours of downtime. WHEE!!!! First thing I did was rent a couple movies, discovering in the process that "BRICK" is a frikken AMAZING movie that I will cherish for a long long time. After that was over, I decided to pull out some UFC dvd's and just enjoy some vicarious violence.
Those of you who know me (and you are few), know that I'm a HUGE fan of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Quite frankly it's the only sport I can stand to watch... and I'm an addict. It is the only THING on this earth that can get me into a bar (because I can't afford pay per view) and I can't wait to go back to the dingy, smelly Hammer Jack's on March 3rd to watch my boys beat the heck out of/submit each other.
For those of you who don't know, MMA is a hybrid form of martial arts that combines Greco-Roman Wrestling, Kickboxing, Ju-Jitsu, and various other forms of martial arts. It came about (popularly) in about 1993 when the first Ultimate Fighting Championship was held. Basically it was a competition to figure out that old question "Which Form of Fighting is the Best?". What quickly became apparent is what Bruce Lee had been telling us all along: ONE style of fighting won't cut it, you have to be able to move between them. There are several ways to win; Knock Out (that thing where someone hits/kicks you and the birdies sing), Submission (that thing where someone twists your arm and makes you say UNCLE... or in this case makes you tap out), Points (that thing where nobody wins so they send it to the judges), and Ref Stoppage/TKO (that thing where the ref rushes in to protect you from further punches to the face).
Since 1993 MMA has gone through allot of changes and is one of the most respected and successful sports on the map, making millions in pay per views and having a legion of fans at their heels. All that aside, the wife and I are just huge, salivating, rabid fans. :)
Anyways, back to that whole SCHOOL thing. Since last semester's project was so ambitious, I'm cutting back this semester's. I'm doing a short film that's really only one scene. I wanted to spend more time rehearsing and working specifically on performance, thus avoiding some of the headaches of producing. I just want to focus on directing a little more, allow myself to have a DP again (though that's always the most difficult thing for me), and just work with my actors. We'll see. I'll keep y'all posted.
Ah... those couple hours off were nice.
Those of you who know me (and you are few), know that I'm a HUGE fan of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Quite frankly it's the only sport I can stand to watch... and I'm an addict. It is the only THING on this earth that can get me into a bar (because I can't afford pay per view) and I can't wait to go back to the dingy, smelly Hammer Jack's on March 3rd to watch my boys beat the heck out of/submit each other.
For those of you who don't know, MMA is a hybrid form of martial arts that combines Greco-Roman Wrestling, Kickboxing, Ju-Jitsu, and various other forms of martial arts. It came about (popularly) in about 1993 when the first Ultimate Fighting Championship was held. Basically it was a competition to figure out that old question "Which Form of Fighting is the Best?". What quickly became apparent is what Bruce Lee had been telling us all along: ONE style of fighting won't cut it, you have to be able to move between them. There are several ways to win; Knock Out (that thing where someone hits/kicks you and the birdies sing), Submission (that thing where someone twists your arm and makes you say UNCLE... or in this case makes you tap out), Points (that thing where nobody wins so they send it to the judges), and Ref Stoppage/TKO (that thing where the ref rushes in to protect you from further punches to the face).
Since 1993 MMA has gone through allot of changes and is one of the most respected and successful sports on the map, making millions in pay per views and having a legion of fans at their heels. All that aside, the wife and I are just huge, salivating, rabid fans. :)
Anyways, back to that whole SCHOOL thing. Since last semester's project was so ambitious, I'm cutting back this semester's. I'm doing a short film that's really only one scene. I wanted to spend more time rehearsing and working specifically on performance, thus avoiding some of the headaches of producing. I just want to focus on directing a little more, allow myself to have a DP again (though that's always the most difficult thing for me), and just work with my actors. We'll see. I'll keep y'all posted.
Ah... those couple hours off were nice.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Late Night, Day Off, Naps Baaaaaad....
It's not that I hate naps... it's just that they appear to hate me. After the final day of shooting on a large Thesis film, I was tired. Strange, considering it was probably one of the easiest days of shooting we had. But still, I came home, crashed on the couch and fell asleep. In the background, Corky Romano blared yet still, sleep took me. Two hours later I awoke to that pleasant feeling of being hit by a train carrying port-a-potties. You know the feeling. The feeling that your heart is beating too fast, but yet, as though it could stop at any minute. I think the fact that the on set meals were from that health spa known as McDonalds only aided in the nap's ability to destroy my nervous system and make me want to avoid sleep for... ever really.
So, here I sit at 1:00 in the a.m. starting a blog site. Not something I thought I would do, but hey, what with being a grad student I've got just LOADS of free time to sit around and tell you all how I feel. As Anakin Skywalker would say... "YIPPIE!"
But there is a lighter side to the day. I managed to finally finish editing my epic (15 minute) film from last semester and dropped it off at a local film festival. I'm looking forward to seeing some other films from around Missoula and watching mine on a big screen. I shot it at 2.35:1 so it's tiny on my computer monitor. As soon as it's uploaded to the school website, I'll post a link so y'all can tell me how much you HATE, er how much you liked the sets... ya... there's always a nicer way to put it, but it's late and my brain is firing on only 1 of it's regular 3 cylinders.
*BANG* see... there it went.
So, here I sit at 1:00 in the a.m. starting a blog site. Not something I thought I would do, but hey, what with being a grad student I've got just LOADS of free time to sit around and tell you all how I feel. As Anakin Skywalker would say... "YIPPIE!"
But there is a lighter side to the day. I managed to finally finish editing my epic (15 minute) film from last semester and dropped it off at a local film festival. I'm looking forward to seeing some other films from around Missoula and watching mine on a big screen. I shot it at 2.35:1 so it's tiny on my computer monitor. As soon as it's uploaded to the school website, I'll post a link so y'all can tell me how much you HATE, er how much you liked the sets... ya... there's always a nicer way to put it, but it's late and my brain is firing on only 1 of it's regular 3 cylinders.
*BANG* see... there it went.
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