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A vast wasteland, more vast and wasted than ever before?  ...

Imagination, a precious synthesis of the human mind and spirit.  Do we, as noble inhabitants of this planetary life, know how to use it to its potential power and grace?  If a visitor from another world had been able to monitor our broadcasts, view our films, listen to our music and plug into our web this past century, what would they think?  Or better yet, who would they imagine we are?  Are these snippets of our creations enough to reveal that to them, or even give them a clue? ...

Hypothetical questions, all.  But relevant?  Maybe, maybe not.  Are we even able to view ourselves as such visitors could?  Is that even important?  Again, possibly.  How much have you really paid attention to the TV shows, films, music and web content that constantly pushes its way into our cluttered lives on a 24/7 basis?  What do you think? ...

As you might guess, I have a thought or two about this.  Imagine that ...

Imagination, what a great creation.  In fact, it embodies creation and endows us with that ability.  We are beings who create, from our vast imaginations.  Are we gods in training?  Is that what separates us from the other animals?  I certainly can't answer that, but in trying to assimilate and understand what our creative powers have unleashed from our media world, and into the world at large, I can't help but wonder if we have truly served imagination, or its continued growth.  We certainly have more tools than ever before to create.  But because we can create tools to create, does that mean we need to, or should?  Yes, I know, I'm getting out there some and maybe a bit too philosophical, but bear with me a bit ...

Isn't it possible that by revealing everything in our creations and leaving nothing to the imagination, we stunt its growth, and possibly the ability to use it to its full potential?  And also, isn't each of own imaginations an individual aspect of who we are?  What if by sharing our great media creations we are killing our individual imaginations?  Let me clarify ...

Take reading a novel.  A solitary activity that requires an active imagination to get full use of the created world within its covers.  In actuality, it's an incomplete work without its reader.  Sure, the text is set, but the imagination that each individual reader brings to it adds to the full fruition of the work.  The writer may have complete control of the words, but the reader adds their personal visuals.  Now take a film.  It's all there on the screen, leaving very little to the imagination.  Now add that to how much media we watch on an annual basis.  Doesn't that make our imaginations lazy?  Maybe for the viewers, but not for the creators? ...

Ah, now we get to the possible crux of this.  Maybe part of the reason so many people are creating content of some type these days, is that they need to exercise their imaginations more.  Since our other activities don't feed that need any more?  So, if you're a couch potato, and you're not using your imagination for much, stir up that muse and use it for yourself.  Maybe creating content only for yourself is good enough.  Especially if you're not reading that novel any more ...

Tidbits:  I'm going to a filmmaking class in L.A. on Saturday (the 8th), one on the intricate details of operating the  Panasonic HVX200, a Hi-Def professional camera for the masses.  I'm sure there will be more info available than I can assimilate, but I feel I need all the help I can get with this marvel of a camera.  I'll report back on how that goes ...

J-Alden

Comments -- Imagination -- 4/7

A lot of the great filmmakers and screenwriters had the audience use their imagination.  Look at films by Alfred Hitchcock such as Psycho.   People remember the shower scene.  Unlike the hacker horror films we have now, you did not see a knife continually sinking into a body, but you thought you did.  Your imagination filled in the blanks.

A lot of films now have tidy endings.  Unfortunately, life isn't like  that.  Unanswered questions and perhaps maybe in the future let us imagine what can be.  Casablanca does not give us the tidy ending.  Many great films do not give us happy endings.  The bigger problem is the type of  films being made.  They leave little to the imagination.  Unfortunately, many people who make films think they have more talent than they have. There are a lot of talented people, but many are lost in the  sea of dribble pouring from word processors.

ML

Arguments over whose is bigger and better needlessly sprouts and flourishes much too much proselytizing ...

Yesterday I spend the whole day in Burbank at the HVX Bootcamp, learning all about the Hi-Def camera lots of people are carrying on about.  As might be expected, tons of information proliferated and with so little time to process it all.  Luckily, when I actually receive my camera in hand (supposedly within a couple weeks as it's backordered), I'll put some of this to practice and get to play some.  No, play a lot ...

The class went very well, and I recommend it for anyone considering this camera.  It was put on by Barry Green (a very experienced shooter) and Jarred Land (of the DVXuser board), and with appearances by Evin Grant (DP and director), Rush Hamden (another all round shooter and post guy) and Noah Kadner (Final Cut Studio expert and instructor).  Also, I understand there will be other classes in Las Vegas and New York next month, and then from there who knows ...

But I observed something else here (as well as numerous online forums), something that has become very common in all the glory of our dweeby technological expansion.  PC vs Mac, Beta vs VHS, Sony vs Panasonic, Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD, on and on; you know, whose electro-techno gear is oh so the best.  The never-dying 24/7/365 argument that always has a non-winner.  Hey, get real here!  These are tools, not the frigging Holy Grail! ...

Do you think when the first cave man formed a club from the bone of the animal he'd just eaten, that it was a religious experience?  Probably not, but once another cave man made a knife from another bone, and tried to convince him it was a better tool (weapon?), maybe that's where religion came from.  The true believer probably became the one who won the battle, leaving the one who lost to contemplate it from the other side of his physical mortality.  So hey, maybe the battle over tools was once a part of the evolution of religion, but nowadays I'd like to think we're beyond that.  Just use your tools and play.  No reason for us all to be emotional converts of every techno whiz that comes down the pike, or we'll be so advanced that a modern day cave man will just push a button to prove how great his device is, and none of us will be around any more to know anything one way or another ...

Tidbits:   In case some of you might want more intriguing camera info, this past weekend there was a Texas Shootout, one where several HD and HDV cameras were compared by a number of filmmakers; also, Day Two and Day Three ...

J-Alden

Comments -- No Budget Film School - New Class -- 4/9

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

I wanted to let you know that I'm back with an all-new No Budget Film School class -- "Course 201: The Science of No-Budget Filmmaking".  This is the follow-up to the introductory course I taught last summer.

The goal of No Budget Film School is to provide extremely practical information to filmmakers who are ready to finance and produce their own features.  Attendees will be able to walk away from this class with 10 or more powerful ideas that they can use immediately, saving them time and money, and perhaps preventing them from making fatal mistakes that could doom otherwise worthy projects.

If you know anyone in the Los Angeles area who might be interested in attending Course 201, please pass this information along.  The class will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at Raleigh Studios.  Details are on my website:  http://www.nobudgetfilmschool.com/

Thank you for helping me get the word out.
Best, Mark Stolaroff

Comments -- The Journal of Short Film Trailer -- 4/12

The JSF is a DVD quarterly featuring narrative, documentary, and experimental films.  Yes, we know that Vol. 2 is already out and that Vol. 3 is due out soon, but it’s about time there is a JSF trailer.  View the new trailer for The Journal of Short Film, Volume 1, at www.theJSF.org.  This trailer includes several films from Vol. 1 and is built around “No Ordinary Sun,” a time-bending work filmed in Antarctica featuring not penguins but apocalypse.

Other recent JSF films have included:  improvised cinema, Walter Mondale doing hip hop, video kvetching, vampires, and tours of inner-city Chicago by children.  Films come from Sundance veterans, students, and everyone in between.

Volumes 1 and 2 are available at www.theJSF.org and www.Amazon.com.  Volume 3 will be released on May 2, 2006 and will feature cow tipping, Barbie Semitism, animated dead Mariachi social documentarians, Peru,
the Rocky Mountains, personal ads, and the politics of eating . . . and babies.

As always, the JSF invites submissions.  Visit us for submission guidelines and other information.
Karl Mechem, publisher, The Journal of Short Film

Comments -- Shorts -- 4/13

Hello,
I have been reading your blog for about 3 months now and enjoy so far. Did you ever produce the three film shorts you said you were going to create soon after you took the Workshops directing course? Thanks.

Paul

Keeping up with the muse, and other items on the plate ...

Well, I can't believe it but I actually did it.  I signed up for NAB, which is something I've never been to.  Course, I only signed up for the Exhibits Hall, not the full-blown extravaganza.  There are a number of products I want to check out.  So, I figured I'd drive in one day, spend the night, take most of the next day to see what the big deal was, and then drive home.  Everybody I know has been at least once, so what the hey, guess I should try it once.  Not real excited about the crazy crowds there, but I have a few things I want to check out ...

The last few days I've been mapping out in more detail my next script rewrite (fourth draft).  It's taking me longer than I anticipated because I'm making major changes that have serious ramifications throughout the whole story.  Not just plot-wise, but character-wise and theme-wise, as well as the whole overall tone.  I was re-inspired lately when I picked up Christopher Vogler's book, The Writer's Journey.  I had read it years ago, and recently picked up the latest edition.  I've always known subconsciously that the progression the main character makes in my story pretty much follows Carl Jung's psychology and Joseph Campbell's mythology behind "The Hero's Journey", which Vogler takes to another level for the writer to follow in their storycrafting process.  Anyway, I'm delving back into that, and am sure it can be another tool to help me bring my script home, where it needs to finally reside ...

And finally, I want to answer the question just put to me (see 4/13 comment above) about the shorts I was going to make.  No, unfortunately, as much as I've wanted to do that, I haven't gotten around to it.  This script rewrite process has been more cumbersome than I had anticipated, and I've decided to focus on that now more than anything.  But maybe, just maybe, I'll do something.  Especially since, I just got word that my new Hi-Def camera shipped out a couple days ago and should reach me by Wednesday.  Yeah, a new toy!  Maybe, I'll get inspired to go out and shoot something ...

J-Alden

Stuff going on and on, conjuring up the spirit ...

Got my new toy, the Hi-Def Panasonic HVX200, the other day, and still trying to figure this complicated beast out.  Makes the task that much more fun, knowing there's lots to challenge myself here with.  Reading the manual doesn't seem that enlightening, but are they ever?  Just one of those things ya' gotta go out and do, and learn and enjoy in the process.  Anyway, enough of that.  You know, you have to be there (or here) (or whatever) ...

On to the script.  Wow what a ballbreaker.  I'm beginning to realize that I need to start pulling out all my bag of tricks to get this rolling the way I envision it.  And part of that bag has to do with dragging out bits and pieces of my training over the past twenty-five years or so ...

The first script I ever wrote was right after I went to a Syd Field workshop, who always seemed like a structure guru to me, you know the traditional 3-act structure and where all the plot points are supposed to go and all that.  So yeah, I'll take a bit of plot structure any day.  Later on I went to several different John Truby workshops and actually went through his 'black-belt' program as he called it back then.  He pooh-poohed the 3-act structure paradigm and promoted his 22 building blocks that was supposed take the writer deeper into the story crafting process, and in turn change the writer in the process.  Sure, I'll take a little personal introspection with my creative process.  Then still later, I discovered Robert McKee, who tries to take Hollywood formulas out of the creative process so the writer can find his own way in creating the form that works for his story.  So sure, throw some open creativity on my plate, will ya' ...

Now of course, over the years I learned from various other screenwriting gurus out there (there's sure plenty to pick from these days), but these are the three that stand out to me.  And if you throw in C. Vogler's book I mentioned from last post, I think I've got a few tools I can pull out of my bag of tricks.  Just as long as I don't get too tangled up in them, and they serve what I'm trying to do with this particular script.  Yeah so, in the end it's always up to the lonely writer, know matter whose spirit may be competing to look over his shoulder.  Just don't let them get in your way or allow them to knock you off your game.  Oh right yeah, I'm talking about (to?) myself.  Just hope I remember to take my own advice.  I'll let you know ...

J-Alden

Comments -- SoCal Film Group -- 4/21

Comments -- Re: The Angry Filmmaker's Fall Tour -- 4/24

Hey Everybody,
 
It's that time again. Time to start thinking about what you're going to be doing this Fall. I don't know about you, but I am going to be... TOURING!  I know it's not even summer yet, but it's time to start booking me for the Fall. I am going to be on the road again from late September until mid November.
 
It's been quite a year so far... I taught workshops and screened my movies in Ireland and Scotland in February and I had great turn outs. I'll be heading back to Europe next winter for more screenings, and work shops with people who drive on the wrong side of the road...
 
I am half way thru my Spring Tour and this is the best one yet. I've had to order more DVD's and have them sent to me on the road. I want to thank SWAMP for my work shops in Houston and San Antonio, the Alamo Draft House for a couple of great screenings, The Western Michigan Film and Video Alliance for a wonderful Seminar, (I even learned some stuff), RIT in Rochester (it started with one Visiting Artist lecture and turned in to 3 days of talking to various classes), Sujewa in Kensington, MD for a fun work shop and screening, and everyone else who is making this tour a success!
 
Among my upcoming dates are:
May 3rd & 4th Kansas City, MO-- Kansas City Filmmakers
May 8th -- 11th Sioux City, IA -- Filmmaker in Residence -- Sioux City Art Center (also a screening)
May 20 Baltimore, MD -- Creative Alliance Workshop during the day & a Screening at the Third Floor that evening.
May 27th -- Harrisburg, PA -- Arts Fest screening of Kicking Bird.

I am still filling in dates on this tour so contact me if you want me. What are you waiting for? Join the fun and the irreverance of the Angry Filmmaker's "Frankly Hollywood, I don't give a damn!" Tour.
 
Thanks,
Kelley
www.angryfilmmaker.com

So much to see, to do, to play with ...

Got home late last night from NAB, having not lost a penny to any of the slots in Sin City.  Well, you have to play to lose, and I decided not too risk anything this time around.  Wound up staying longer than I had planned, brought my oldest son with me (a 3D computer animation guy), saw a couple shows, and lots and lots of vendors in the three main exhibit halls.  Makes you wonder how we ever had TV shows and films before all this, with all the tools we got to create and play with these days.  It was fun, but it's a good thing that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, because as far as I've ever seen you can have it.  Coming here once every three or four years is plenty for me.  Anyway, 'nuff said ...

I saw several of the Apple presentations, and a couple others, and even ran into a couple people I knew.  Played with my new video camera and shot some footage of the strip, both night and day, and inside the exhibit halls.  Wanted to see how it performed in different situations.  Just saw some of the footage, and it wasn't too bad.  In fact, a few shots were pretty good, and I'm still quite a novice with this camera.  Used to own a Sony Hi-8 camera and a Panasonic S-VHS, but this camera is in another class ...

I got to see lots of product and brought home loads of product information, as I figured one of my next steps with the camera is to figure out what other accessories I might need with it.  Also, whether I really need to buy these new pieces of equipment or just rent it whenever production actually rolls around.  Wow, it seems I may have already decided to use this camera on the shoot, or as I previously mentioned, as a B camera.  I keep hearing about more filmmakers who have used it on their feature and others who are planning to use it.  A real possibility ...

On a personal note, today is the 6th anniversary of my previous wife's passing away.  The mother of my two sons, and a wonderful woman I was married to for 17 years, cancer took her (as it seems to take so many these days) at an early age.   I have since remarried another amazing woman, and feel very lucky to have hit that jackpot twice.  It also drives home the point of how short and fragile life can be, and that you've got to seize the opportunities when they come.  It may sound like cliche'd preaching, but it's been very real for me.  Be well ...

J-Alden

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