Archive Twenty-five
March 8,
2007 - Boxes & Paradigms
Locked in, searching for a way out, or just breaking it? ...
 I've been
very pleasantly amused lately. Not that I'm a particular
amusing fellow, but how others have amused me, although somewhat
inadvertently I'm quite sure. I've spent the last few days
speaking to and meeting with candidates for prospective key
positions on the film. It never ceases to amaze me the
variety of people who work in film, but also within just one
aspect of it. And even though I will have to reject most of
them, and I certainly don't agree with many of them on certain
specifics, I found that I have enjoyed talking to each one of them
(and hopefully that will continue on with others). And at
some level, even if I didn't like their 'style', I did like each
one of them in some way. Probably just for the fact that
they were filmmakers and were struggling like all of us to make a
way for ourselves in this unstable way of making a living in a
world stuck between business and art. For that, I commend
them. So, what about this amusement? ...
Well, I
may not be as kind here. I am still amazed at how seriously
people take themselves and how much they just 'know' what they
know as so important. There are a lot of gray areas in this
industry and everyone tries to fill those in according to how they
operate in this world. I have no problem with that.
It's when they try to fit everyone else into it. Especially
me. I don't go into anyone's box that easily, if at all.
That's when I have a problem. I like people who have some
flexibility within their paradigms. I can work with that,
but unfortunately I find way too many people I can't work with
because of that. Nit-picky? Possibly, but not really.
I demand fun with my work. People who take their work
seriously, but not themselves. People who are upbeat, fun,
flexible, positive, have a sense of humor, are relaxed and
confident with who they are, don't demand but ask, aren't shrill
and don't scream, work together but can take charge of a
situation, are not self-important, who can think for themselves
and on their feet, and are open to the potentials and
possibilities of the moment ...
Is that a
lot to ask for? Yes. Is that too much to ask for?
No. Am I too locked into this box or paradigm?
Possibly by some standards, but it doesn't feel like it. I
demand certain things, but for me they seem open-ended and
hopefully allow for many possible potentials to occur in that time
and space under whatever conditions we can set up and allow to
thrive. Is that clear as mud? So for me, it's not
about the box, or thinking outside the box (I'm getting awful
tired of that saying). Just throw the damn box away.
And it's not the paradigm (hell, a pair of dimes don't even make a
quarter, so what's that worth?) I say forget about all that.
Know yourself, what you want or need and go for it. Forget
all the trendy pop culture and how you relate to that. It's
an illusion, transitory and doesn't mean a damn thing. You
only have power over yourself in the moment, each moment.
Not the past or the future. You only have that moment to
create who you really are and then go live it moment by moment,
growing stronger into who you are. Quit allowing others and
the world with all its boxes and paradigms to dictate all that, or
you'll never create who you really are. Yes, create not
find. Didn't someone say that, meaning the sixties were all
wrong, right? ...
Oh well,
enough of that. Just had to get all that out while it was
still fresh on my mind. What does this have to do with the
film? Possibly nothing, possibly everything. Because
in the end, I'm just creating this moment by moment, day by day,
hopefully not tied to any box or paradigm, with just the wind at
my back, a tune in my head and hope in my soul ...
Jerry
Comments --
B MOVIE ONLINE -- 3/10
B MOVIE ONLINE WILL PRODUCE A UNDISCOVERED
SCREENPLAY WRITER'S SCRIPT!
Production Company Launches Grassroots Internet-based Outreach to
Discover an Unknown Screenplay Writer, and will Finance, Produce,
Promote & Distribute their Film.
Brian T. Nowac, CEO
B MOVIE ONLINE
www.bmovieonline.com
Comments --
Nomadsland.com, a new site for social, political issue films
-- 3/12
My name is Davin Hutchins and I operate a new website called
NomadsLand.com - an online film destination devoted to films with
a political or social message. I just visited your site and I
think that we might have the same interests in films, social
issues and alternative media.
We just launched in January and are in the process of initiating a
grass-roots campaign to build links to our site. We host feature
films, documentaries and satire for free, as long as the film
seeks to make a social commentary, stimulate political
conversation or encourage some social action. Our initial films
include festival worthy features on Sudan, Afghanistan and the
Asian tsunami.
Also if you know any social issue filmmakers, please let them know
that we are splitting half of our revenues with filmmakers and
paying monthly royalties. The more traffic we can generate, the
better off these filmmakers will be in generating funds to
continue their craft and bring exposure to important issues.
Best regards,
Davin Hutchins
Director/Producer
Nomads Land Films
www.nomadsland.com
March 15,
2007 - Anniversary Bumps
Rushing into the future, hard knocks and all ...
The Ides
of March, an anniversary for DREAMS AWAKE. Yes, it's been
exactly two years since I started this blog. When I did this
I had no idea where it was going. Not only that, I
originally imposed an 18-month deadline to get it done. We
know where that went. Best laid plans, and all that ...
Boy, it's
been a bit of a ride and a long pregnancy. So, here we are,
only about three months away from starting the labor pains and
finally bringing that baby into the world, except ...
A few days
ago, when in a hurry, I ran up our stairs barefooted and smashed
my foot hard. Result - a fractured and dislocated big toe.
My wife and I spend a long and late Sunday night in the emergency
room while a doc finally popped it back in place and splinted it.
Another result - a number of cancelled meetings this week.
Being on my right foot I can't yet drive. Also, I have to
hobble around on crutches. Not good. Seems I had
something planned about every day. Best laid plans ...
Hopefully,
this will not set me back. Tomorrow I go to the orthopedic
surgeon for a checkup. Worst case scenario, it didn't stay
set and surgery will be required. Not an option, as this
could set me back 4-6 weeks. As previously discussed we have
a limited window to shoot on Mt. Shasta. If we get pushed
back too far, we have to wait until next year. That's not in
the plan. But I'm going to think positive, and imagine that
next week I will be able to drive and make those appointments.
Hear that body? Get those cells healing, 'cause we got a
baby to deliver ...
Jerry
Comments --
RE: Boxes & Paradigms -- 3/15
When you have a cat, you can't take yourself too seriously. The
cat will tell you what is important.
Unfortunately, egos can play a big part of many in the industry.
About 3 years ago, I helped to start a film group north of
Boston. One of the founders tried to take control and ended up
doing things that will be straightened out in court. Now that he
is no longer with the organization, it is stronger and better
than it ever was. We still have a problem trying to get
additional people more involved.
I don't know if this would be the proper place, but many people
who read your blog might be interested in a free film festival for
shorts. There is no entrance fee.
The second Film Feast, a festival of short works to be held on
Saturday, June 2 in Beverly during Arts Fest Beverly. Film North
is calling on filmmakers to submit works to be considered for
inclusion in the Feast. Prizes for the best jury-selected film
and the audience favorite film will be awarded. Filmmakers can
submit works in any category--narrative, animation, documentary,
experimental--and may submit more than one film. All submissions
must be either on DVD or VHS tape. Films should be no more than
20 minutes in length. Filmmakers must include a brief resume and
a description of the work submitted. Those interested in
submitting works should send them to:
Film North
100 Sohier Road
Beverly, MA 01915
The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 18. Filmmakers
wanting their works returned should include a self-addressed
stamped envelope. Our web address is
http://filmnorth.org.
Thanks,
Morris Leibovitz
Comments --
Seattle based indieTV.tv to announce Spring Line-Up April
1st, 2007 -- 3/22
indieTV.tv, the site that brings together independent television
from all over the world, announced today that it will reveal its
Spring Line-Up via a live event on April 1, 2007. Viewers can
watch Kaywood Hopkins announce the selection via its website by
going to indieTV.tv/live.
indieTV.tv is a Seattle, Washington based website, run by
volunteer indie filmmakers, for indie filmmakers, and it's all
free. indieTV.tv seeks out the top indie filmmakers on the
Internet, and brings them to a wider audience. indieTV.tv has
Filmmakers from the US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Sweden,
Germany, and Australia; it has viewers in 130 countries worldwide.
www.indietv.tv
March 23,
2007 - Agreements
Are we are agreeing to agree, or agreeing to disagree, or do we
know, or should a handshake and a smile suffice? ...
Things
have been a bit slow lately, what with me hobbling around on
crutches (thankfully I did not need surgery). Mostly been
taking care of office-type busy work and doubling up on setting up
meetings for next week. Hopefully I can use my cane by then,
but we'll see ...
One thing
that has come up is what I'm doing for production contracts.
Over the years I've compiled a number of template contracts I can
use as a basis. One of my jobs at the studio I worked at
years ago was to abstract contracts. Meaning I'd take one or
two inch contracts and filter their main points down to about five
to ten pages. In the beginning it was quite a chore, but it
didn't take me long to get the hang of it. Oddly enough, I
actually started thinking like an entertainment attorney.
Gads. The point being, it started becoming second nature to
do the work, and I probably could have put one together myself.
But that was years ago. However, I do understand the
language. Am I thinking of being my attorney? Not
exactly, but ...
My plan
now is this. Figure out what contracts I need and put them
together. Next, take them to an entertainment attorney and
have him/her check them. Once I get the greenlight from
them, I should be set. This way I'm hoping I can avoid a lot
of the fees. I've talked to a couple attorneys about this.
One said maybe. The other, no. Finding a green light
may not be so easy. But I wouldn't be doing this if they
didn't cost $300-400 an hour. I know some micro-budget
filmmakers who never used an attorney and went the template route.
I am tempted, but I'd like to do this part right. We all
know how litigious this industry can be. And I've seen
plenty of it myself, from both sides. What happened to the
good old days when a handshake was all you needed? Or are
those days only figments of our imagination? ...
Jerry
March 31,
2007 - Casting Consequences
Cast right, wide, deep and true, and reel 'em in ...
Spent this
past week meeting with several casting directors, and trying to
get a handle on what direction I really want to go. The
meetings were two-fold; obviously interviewing possible candidates
for the position, but also to pick their brains on some strategic
decisions I really need to make soon. Such as; going
non-union or SAG. Some were on board if I wanted to go
non-union, but most didn't like that direction. A couple
seemed convinced I could muster up some very good name talent,
because they thought the script was that good. But also,
because having a 40-year-old female lead was a real draw, as good
scripts for that demographic are hard to come by. Hhhmmm ...
Other
issues; whether to cast down south in L.A. (the obvious choice),
or up north closer to where the base of operations will be
(Sacramento, San Francisco or even Portland). It was
suggested I cast the principals in L.A. and the others up north.
Since lodging and travel concerns are always a large concern on
low budgets, this must be considered. Also, each one of them
had a different time span they thought it would take to cast this
(after each had read the script) and it varied from 2 to 8 weeks.
Hhhmmm ...
Another
suggestion put out there; go ahead and start casting non-union and
cast a wide net in the process. If you don't get the talent
you need, then consider going SAG to bring that world into the
process. I guess that's a possibility, but it probably adds
time to the process. Hopefully it also doesn't add a little
clandestine underpinning for pre-programmed failure. Naw,
nobody would do that. Hhhmmm ...
And yes I
must say, this a very important crossroads for the project, since
they say casting right is about 80-90% of directing; cast right
and a lot of your directing chores are taken care of. So
they say. But what I really love about this whole process is
the variety of people who work in this biz, and how different the
people are who do the very same job. What a treat that I
even get to do this ...
Jerry
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