Archive Seven
September 7,
2005 - Rockport, ME -
Sunrise in the west, sunset in the east, from south to north ...
Well, here
I am in Rockport, ME in the middle of the first of my two weeks of
directing workshops. I've never been here before, but
it's as every bit as beautiful as what I've heard and imagined.
Living on the west coast with an ocean view and then traveling to
the east coast with an ocean view makes it all the more fun ...
Anyway,
today we were in production on a scene we chose from a Strindberg
play. We cast and rehearsed the actors on the first two
days. Then Thursday and Friday we'll be in post and view it
for others Friday. So, being in the middle of building
my director's 'toolbox' continues to have surprising experiences
at every turn. Directing actors in a focused, relaxed and
creative way seems to be the great challenge. And what a
complex one! I can't wait to do more!! ...
375 days
and counting ...
J-Alden
September 12,
2005 - Rockport, ME, Part 2-
From
tools of imagination to tools of the trade ...
Whew, as
I'm starting into my second week of
directing workshops, I finally had a little time to take a
breather. Yes, those of you in film production certainly know
what those rigors can involve, but I'm just starting to get a
taste of what that can involve for the director. Last week was
mostly about directing actors, but this week will be about the
camera and visual style ...
The
creative process seems to involve so many different levels of
imagination, and so many various types of tools, that it doesn't
seem to make sense to me how you quantify that, and then turn
around and teach it. Which takes me to the logical assumption
that you don't. You can only take those offered tools to see if
you got the right stuff ...
Which
means, to me anyway, that these types of classes in the end just
reveal to you (and others?) whether you have the right stuff the
take on the directing helm or not. So, you'd better be honest
with yourself about that, huh? Or you'd just be wasting
everyone's time, and talent. Bring it on. Now I can see where I
stand. I'll let you know where I think I stand after this week
...
370 days
and counting ...
J-Alden
September 18,
2005 - Rockport, ME, Part 3-
Advice and hope to grow by ...
Wow, what
an amazing and intense two weeks at the workshops in Maine.
Now the task is to see if I can translate what I learned to
workable plans and executions. Which will take awhile, as my
head is filled with so much stuff (how much of this do I really
need to do accomplish what I want?) ...
And which
of course led me to the question I put to both of my instructors.
In my ongoing director education, where do I go from here?
Ziad Hamzeh, the
instructor in my first class,
Film
Director Craft, told me to stop taking all these directing
classes, and focus on getting the script as great as I can get it.
He told me several other things, but that was the thing I found
very refreshing. He was a intense, passionate guy with a high level
of ethics. I'm very glad I met him and got to take his
class. The second week I took
Camera and Visual Storytelling, taught by
Steve Fierberg,
a very knowledgeable and funny guy. He said to go out and
get connected with a local theater group and make lots of shorts,
so you can get yourself in practice and prepared to shoot a
feature. Since everyone makes mistakes try to get the big
ones worked out before you do your feature. As working
directors and/or DP's, both were inspiring, empowering and
accessible. Also, they both offered open invitations to keep
in touch on our respective future projects for advise and counsel.
I'm sure I will take their current advice and hope I am able to
take them up on possible future assistance ...
364 days
and counting ...
J-Alden
Comments --
Directing -- 9/20
Make sure you can get the best DP you can find. He might help to
correct or prevent some of your mistakes.
Morris
Producing -- 9/21
If I'm getting this right, you're planning to produce and direct
your own script. Doing any one of those these jobs is a
major undertaking in itself. Since you obviously want your
own script produced, that is a given. But at the very least
you should bring aboard a producing partner or two, so you can
focus on the script first and then directing it with all your
attention. And yes, do some shorts before the feature.
And yes, get a good DP and surround yourself with good people.
This may all seem obvious, but you'd be surprised what some people
do. Good Luck.
Anonymous
September 23,
2005 - Vacation Time -
A little surf, sand and sun farther west ...
Having
recently left the east coast back to the west coast, I'm getting
ready to hop a plane farther west to Hawaii, and enjoy a few days
with my wife away from the fray ...
Jeez, just
talked to some friends and relatives in Texas who are evacuating
from the latest hurricane onslaught. What an ordeal!
Makes me feel how unimportant planning a little film project like
mine can be, when people in the Gulf are just trying to survive.
Plus, now here I am on my way to a relaxing vacation. (I'm
trying not to lay a guilt trip on myself, as I'm not one to feel
guilty easily, unless I really am, but there is a twinge of it
rising to the surface) ...
Anyway,
with a few days away from thinking, planning and working on my
project, I'm hoping to get recharged with a new perspective on
where to go from here. More later. Aloha ...
359 days
and counting ...
J-Alden
September 29,
2005 - Shorts -
Some tiny snippets of filmic exploration ...
So, in my
continuing director education I've decided to do three shorts
before my feature project next year. Probably in the five to
ten minute range. I've come up with two ideas, which I will
begin scripting next week, both a bit odd and with metaphysical
slants. For the third I'd like to create one with an all
child cast. Why? Well, since my feature project has a
five-year-old, a thirteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old, it
might behoove me to learn how to direct kids. Yeah, I know,
kids and animals, avoid those directing problems. What can I
say. Plus, most kids and I get along well (being a perpetual
one myself), and I'd like to see how directing them plays out ...
Anyway,
I'm looking at digital video cameras to buy. Something under
5K with decent features, ease of use and great image capability
(obviously). Anyone got any ideas? I haven't really
kept up with what's out there these days, but I'm taking a serous
look at the mini-DV Panasonic AG-DVX100A. Any comments from
experienced users?
A title
change? No biggee, but I've been contemplating a title
change to my feature project, from WHERE HEAVEN MEETS EARTH to
DREAMS AWAKE. We'll see. It may go through more
changes, so I'm not really worrying about that too much.
More concerned about what goes between FADE IN and FADE OUT ...
And
actually, I'm going through my third draft with a fine tooth comb
before I ship it off to my script analyst. It's looking
pretty good in my estimation, but raising the bar those last few
percentage points and bringing it home from good to great is where
the real writing challenge is. If I don't, or can't, get
there ... well, we'll see ...
353 days
and counting ...
J-Alden
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