Archive Twenty-four
February 5,
2007 - Courtship Complications
Picking up the bones, and not tripping over them ...
Yeah, I
got a few things to get off my chest - a few bones to pick you
might say. Been going through the process of finding a DP
and am not a happy camper. Now I'm trying to stay positive
here and keep the energy going in the right direction, but ...
I've
looked through a number of DVD's several DP's have sent me.
Oh my, did they really send these out? I truly hate being
critical, but guys (and gals) if you're going to try and put your
best foot forward to get a job, you gotta do better. I get
the feeling from this that some people just do a scattershot
approach. Throw it out there and hope it sticks. And
another thing, I understand it's quite convenient to have reels
online now, but ...
The tiny
little streaming windows that don't always play too well, or not
all, just don't cut it for me. Now I guess they're okay for
an initial look, but don't depend on those for a director to make
such an important decision as hiring a DP. I had several
refuse to send me anything I could look at on a halfway decent
screen. 'My stuff's online. Take it or leave it.'
Believe me, I will be leaving it. I could go on and on, but
that's enough of that ...
But for
those of you who graciously agreed to send me a DVD reel, thanks.
It's greatly appreciated. Aaahhh,
now I feel better. Moving on ...
An another
front I did a quick script polish, and cleaned up about a half
dozen scenes, more coherent, tighter and more meat. Will put
this down for a while now, probably do another polish in a couple
months ...
On a
more positive note, I have received some very intriguing emails
and resumes that have culminated into some lively phone
discussions and probably future meetings. We'll see ...
Jerry
Comments --
RE: The Angry Filmmaker's Spring Tour -- 2/5
Hey Everybody,
It's deja vu all over again! That's right it's time for the
Angry Filmmaker's Spring Tour! Say, didn't we just do
this... This tour is going to run from the beginning of March
thru the end of April, (although I do have some west coast
bookings for late May). As usual, I will be screening my movies,
and teaching workshops. In the last year Moses and I have logged
almost 30,000 miles and appeared before thousands of people
Check out some of these reviews…
'Angry Filmmaker' spreads the rage. - - City Pulse, Lansing
Michigan
Kicking Bird Kicks Butt! - - Runner's Gazette
The Gas Cafe - - “A well-told and compelling story with good
acting and sharp dialogue that often wavers between very funny and
very sad.” - - John Wooley, Tulsa World
“I recommend that anyone who can get their hands on anything by
Kelley Baker do so. You won't be disappointed.” - - Matt
Osgood, Film-411
This Spring I am going to be going thru Nevada, Arizona, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina,
then up to Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and finally back
home. (That is a lot of driving!) I am still filling in dates;
my goal is 50 gigs in 60 days. So help me out here. I do
great work shops and the screenings are always a blast!
Please contact me if you are interested in hosting a screening or
work shop. If you know of a place that needs me let me know
about that as well. Thanks everybody!
Later, Kelley
www.angryfilmmaker.com
Comments --
RE: JSF's Volume 6; Oscar news; Australian film
-- 2/7
The Journal of ShortFilm released
Volume 6 (Winter 2007)
today. The JSF is a quarterly DVD publication of exceptional,
peer-reviewed short films. Volume
6 contains the JSF’s first films from Australia. To date,
the JSF has published 61 filmmakers from 8 countries.
The staff of the Journal is very excited about
Volume 6 but also wants to
share its Oscar news: a film that appeared in
Volume 4 (Summer 2006)—Borja
Cobeaga’s “Éramos Pocos (One Too Many)”—was just nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
The Journal welcomed Sam Green as a guest editor on
Volume 6. Sam was a noted
short film maker before making the feature documentary “The
Weather Underground,” which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Sam has helped to fulfill the Journal’s mission of supporting
diversity, experimentation, and independent work.
Volume 6 also introduces a
new DVD feature: the video contributor notes. In these notes, the
audience gets a personal introduction to the filmmakers.
www.theJSF.org
Comments --
RE: New Melvin Van Peebles Movie -- 2/10
I am the director of 'How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company
(and Enjoy It)', a feature-length documentary on Melvin Van
Peebles. Over the past 18 months the film has had a successful run
on the film-festival circuit. Now it's about to make its
television premiere on the IFC channel on Feb. 15 at 9 pm E.T. I
thought that you and your readers would be interested in the film,
which is why we're reaching out to sites like yours.
If I learned anything over the eight years I spent with Melvin
shooting this film, it's that you can't rely on traditional
avenues to spread the word. So much like Melvin did when he made
'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' 35 years ago, we're appealing
directly to the community to help raise awareness of this
remarkable man and his work. If you want more information, please
visit our website,
www.mvpmovie.com, which contains rare music and videos
(including some outtakes from the film that have to be seen to be
believed!), along with original essays and articles, photos and
much more.
I hope you'll find this worth sharing with your readers.
Best wishes,
Joe Angio
Director, 'How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company (and Enjoy
It)'
February 12,
2007 - Grinding it Out
A few nuggets, a few diamonds in the rough, and some real up and
comers ...
Been quite
busy lately going through all the resumes and reels. Got
over sixty for the Line Producer position, and think I have a few
winners here. Got almost a hundred DP reels, and
they're still coming in droves. And I did finally get some
pretty good ones, a number with some reputable credentials.
Also, got almost fifty resumes from Casting Directors.
Didn't realize there were even that many out there. But of
course, nowadays that makes sense. Also, have tons of
resumes for other crew positions, but once I bring the keys on
board I'll let them sort through all that. Anyways, I got my
head buried in it all and thought I'd come up for air to post a
few words. Not much else to say, just sniffing my way
through all this. Probably start some meetings soon ...
Jerry
February 21,
2007 - Bits & Pieces Again
A
little more of this and that ...
Lots of
things going on now. I'm currently up at Mt. Shasta dealing
with some arrangements for the production ...
Talked to
the Forest Service. Turns out there are certain restrictions
to where you can legally film on the mountain. The Mt.
Shasta Wilderness Area is a federally protected area, and thus no
filming within that boundary. Now that doesn't mean the
whole mountain of course, but a good portion of it, approximately
anything above about 8000' ft. Some of the mountain scenes I
wrote are based on specific areas I've been to on the mountain.
And yes, it turns out a number of them are within that boundary.
Oh my. Now what? Well, I thought my location scouting
was done on the mountain, but obviously not now. And as I
sit and write this, I'm watching a steady snow storm dump lots of
the white stuff. So I won't be doing that any time soon.
Hopefully, I can get it done in time to start shooting in June.
Which will be pushing it, because there can still be lots of snow
up there in early June. Guess we'll see ...
On another
front, the subdivision going in next to our property. Our
fifteen acres, where we'll also be doing a lot of shooting.
My main concern here is the sound level of their activity. I
just had a long talk with the CDF (CA Dept. of Forestry) Ranger
overseeing the Timber Harvesting Plan that will take
place soon (probably early April). So far it appears we'll be okay.
The loggers should be done with their part before we start
shooting. As far as what happens after that, well that's up
to the developers. With the current slow housing market
situation, some people here are speculating that they may hold off
for a while. Which would be great for us. However,
they may start building some infrastructure; excavating for sewer,
power, phone, those types of activity. I have no idea if
sound levels from that will effect us or not. So, another
question mark to chalk up. Don't you just love film
production? ...
On a more
positive note (not that the others are negative, just challenges
to overcome), the DP reels I'm getting are looking pretty good.
The hard part now may be choosing who to go with. But of
course, this is just the first phase of making that decision.
Once I can see they can do it, now for some interviews and
discussions to see who I can work with to bring this vision to
life. The fun and important stuff. I'm loving it ...
There's
actually a repertory company here and I'm planning on contacting
the couple who run it to see if I can get some of their actors
together for a table read of the script. Kind of curious how
it sounds and feels with actual actors reading the parts. I
figured I'd do this as a part of my next script polish. I
already got turned down by a couple theater groups down south.
Guess they're more jaded about the business near La La Land.
I'll let you know how that goes ...
Tomorrow
is my birthday. So I'm taking the day off. Well no,
not really. Too much work to do, too little time to do it.
But I will stop to toast myself, as this is the first birthday I
can remember spending by myself. My wife is on a business
trip to Seattle, and my kids have moved out. So here's to
me. On my 55th. Wow, that makes me eligible for a
senior citizen discount in some places. Damn, I'd better get
to work before I have to shoot this thing pushing a walker ...
Jerry
Comments --
RE: Filmmaker Magazine and The Angry Filmmaker’s Tour
-- 2/27
Hey Everybody,
I am happy to announce that Filmmaker Magazine is a sponsor of my
Spring Tour. I will be offering students a discount on
subscriptions. Now some people may think that this constitutes
“selling out”, but I read the magazine, have written for it, and
I think they do good stuff. I believe in Filmmaker, and I
recommend the magazine, but wait until I get there so you can
save a few bucks.
And speaking of selling out, you can now get even more Angry
Filmmaker merchandise! I have hooked up with Café Press to offer
more types of shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, and yes, even an
Angry Filmmaker Wall Clock. So I will always be watching over
you.
Kelley,
There is still time to book me for this tour!
www.angryfilmmaker.com
February 28,
2007 - RAM
A
bull in a china shop, an image problem, or a reality check? ...
Rebel.
Anarchist. Maverick. Compliment or disparaging remark?
Over the years I've had these words thrown at me by various people
because of certain acts or attitudes that seemed to have reflected
what I was about, or what I was doing. True or false?
Most of the time I considered them a compliment of sorts.
But other times, well...after some reflection, they were probably
not really meant that way. I'm not here today to set any
record straight, but I thought it would be a good time to expound
on my philosophy of what I'm trying to do. As a filmmaker,
as a human person...as a higher being in training? ...
Following
is just a snippet of what I believe, feel and think about what I'm trying to
accomplish. After that, well, you can judge for yourself.
Or not. Judgment seems a bit harsh, but then the world can
certainly be that way. I usually prefer to reserve judgments
as they are oftentimes incorrect. I decided a while back to
get out of that business. Anyway, I'm getting off the track.
Do what you will with what you got ...
I'd like
to think that the world should (and could) be a better place when
we leave it than when we came into it. A lofty goal, maybe.
But, why not try? Now however, it seems to be a bit more
difficult (or more challenging) premise to adhere to. I
guess in lots of small ways over a lifetime we probably contribute
to both good and bad, but if the scales were weighed at the end
of my life I'd like to think they came out on the positive side.
For karma's sake? Hhhmmm, not sure, but I'm reminded of the quote; 'Do no
harm.' Or how about, 'do good for good is good to do for good's sake'?
A bit corny and idealistic? Sure, but there's no harm in at
least trying ...
I wish I'd
had bosses more like me. Not that I particularly relish
being the boss or the guy in charge, but I feel I'm a very fair
person. I believe in the team concept where the team is
greater than the sum of its parts. If I am in charge I feel
I'm more of a guiding hand or principle, moving the whole unit in
the direction it needs to go to accomplish what its purpose for
being is. I try never to rule with an iron hand or use fear
as a tool. In fact, I think of people involved with me as
someone I work 'with' not that they work 'for' me. Are there
times when I will have to pull rank? Unfortunately, yes.
But I hate doing it. And yes, there have been times when I
was in management when I had to do exactly that. Two extreme
cases come to mind. Both times involved a revolt of sorts
when most of my staff wanted something from me and forced me into
a corner at a most inopportune time. And both times I fired
them on the spot. Were they ever shocked. And I hated
doing it, but they forced my hand. Actually, they took
advantage of my loose management style, because I refuse to
micromanage and they mistook that for weakness. Which was a
big mistake and miscalculation of their part. 'Walk softly
and carry a big stick', as TR said. But I try to do it
without showing the big stick. When I put someone in a
position, I expect them to do their job, but I don't look over
their shoulders to see if they are. I try to give people
plenty of room and the benefit of the doubt, but if they take
advantage of that, well then, it might be time to show the big
stick. And hopefully I don't have to use it. Some
might say that's ruling by fear, but that is absolutely the last
resorted tactic. I always much prefer positive, hardworking,
visionary teamwork ...
Back to
being the R.A.M. and my philosophy of that. Systems,
operations and structures (S-O-S) versus the individual. We
now live in a highly organized society, which oftentimes grates
upon the individual's way of going about his business.
Gatekeepers, insiders and brown-nosers enclose these SOS's to
attempt to insure efficiency is the norm, no matter that the cost
to the individual Individuals are now subservient to the
SOS, and have to struggle to maintain their own unique identity.
None of this is really new, as people have been discussing this
for decades if not centuries at some level. For me,
independent film is an area where it is still possible as a RAM to
buck the SOS. Don't you just love these nutty acronyms?
Using them probably reveals that I have been brainwashed by the
system, but at least I'm aware of it and can react accordingly.
Anyway, like I was saying indie film 'may be' an area of our
society where the individual still has a voice. But guess
what? That's a paradox. Because it takes a group of
individuals to make a film, and thus it becomes a group experience
trying to create a singular individual vision. Therein lies
the crux of the problem, or more correctly, the fun of the
challenge. I'm searching for people who are up to that.
Are you out there? ...
In
conclusion (although there is no real conclusion, as this is an
ongoing debate), when someone tells me that 'no, you can't do it
that way', that just motivates me further. If that makes me
a RAM, then so be it. You probably don't want me knocking on
your door, because I might just be there to ram it down.
Although I'd probably just prefer to build you a newer, better
one, if you'll help me do it. Are you ready to play?
Are you game? Are you out there? ...
Jerry
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