4 weeks of solitude

I got the job as director. Which is wicked cool. But now the tsunami of school work begins. Our Art Director hasn't showed up to any meetings yet and the new project protocol posits that a teacher must be present for all your production meetings. I mean, yes - they are there to help, but having them overlook as you work is kind of like the prinicpal walking into the classroom. I feel somewhat on edge. Oh well, suck it up I suppose.

I think it'll be a lot of fun to shoot, I really don't want to fuck this up. Production goes for the next four weeks, so I'm afraid I will once again become a hermit who never responds to e-mail or goes out. I do apologize.

Why are we taught that, as long as it's only sometimes, it's okay to put work before people? Why should that ever be acceptable?

True, I prefer makig movies to some people that I have met, but not you guys. And although I do this for selfish intrinsic gains, I also do it so I may be with you over this sure-to-be-glorious summer as a happy, satisifed man.

I have become a revler in a job well done. I have become someone daring to call themselves such pretentious superlatives as 'artist' and 'movie maker'. Hopefully you'll like my movies from this semster, we'll have a screening when school's over.

...And Everyday You Get One More Card

I know it’s been a fortnight or two since I’ve updated y’all in the happenings of my life as an academic peon in BC (The Marijuana State!). Currently, I am eagerly awaiting an email from my instructors letting me know if I have the job as director for our second large year-end project. The interview was this afternoon and I think I did a great job, but time will tell. I so want to direct this time out.

A few things have happened since I last put fingertip to molded plastic keys. Not the least of which was Project 1 and joining the committee to organize our first year graduation gala in April and not the most of which was seeing Tenacious D in concert. Word. Jack Black like a motherfucker.

Here’s my production journal of Project One. If my writing seems stilted and uninspired, bear in mind I was writing it for my teachers to read. If I get director, you won’t hear much me again until after April 20th (Hitler’s Birthday!). Anyways, know I am okay and loving life and school. I do however; look forward to the day this summer when writing once again feels like an enjoyable hobby and not a necessary, functioning utility.

PRE-PRODUCTION

The group we have has relieved me a great deal. I’ve only worked with a few of the people before, but reputations travel and I feel confident that the team will work hard on this project. After our first meeting most of my feelings have been confirmed. I attempted to be assertive and inclusive. If film school has given me anything, it has given me the feeling that I do possess leadership skills. That being said, I tried not to come off as arrogant or self-absorbed. I listened to everyone’s hope for the project and which roles they were the most desirous to have, but I also made my own desires very clear. I know of the waste of time and energy being wishy-washy can invite.

We have a lot of people (5) interviewing to be director, I believe that’s more than any other group. The script we have is called “Pink”. I think the concept is interesting, easily edited down to 5 pages and also has a lot of potential for re-writing into an even more engaging narrative. Lindsay has some awesome ideas, if I cannot be director I hope he gets it. The interview was an important exercise to go through. It will prepare me that much better for further directorial decision boards. It went well, it’s not something I’m historically good at, but I didn’t stammer too much (I don’t think!) and I feel like all one can do in that situation is be as honest as possible and talk about what the movie is about in the plainest English you can think of.

Well, I didn’t get the job as director, but the good news is that Lindsay did. He has graciously decided to include me in the rewriting process, which makes me exceedingly happy. I will be Locations Manager on the project and I have put my name in to play the role of Richie. Since helping Dylan with a project at the end of last semester, acting has been something that has somewhat piqued my interest.

The rewriting with Lindsay went well. I think we really have something with this, I am very proud of the script. Lindsay has so many extremely creative ideas; it’s hard to keep up. Auditions will be held in two days and I will begin perambulating campus and lockdown our locations.

Most locations came easily. On our scouting excursion Lindsay found the continuing education office in the library and really wanted it for our office scene. That was a little more difficult to get, and involved some hoop jumping, but we did get the location, albeit for only two hours on Tuesday morning, but it made me feel good that the job I was in charge off was exactly what the director wanted and we never had to use any of our second choices. Another thing that aids us is that we are not using the R building at all, which is quite the coveted piece of real estate for this project. We have six locations for our movie, which should give it a more pleasing visual feel – although it requires a lot more organization and teamwork, which is fine, for I never want to be in the position as a filmmaker where I will say things like: “let’s do this because it will be easy.”

The auditions went well, I did get the role – although that might speak more to Lindsay’s nepotism that my talent. And rounding out the cast is Laena Brown. I’ve worked with her before on Mini 3 and she’s extremely adroit and brings a great attitude to set. Dave Gordon is playing our psychiatrist who I think is making the camera and lighting crewmembers nervous and the love interest is played by Laura, a friend of Dani’s from high school.

This is why I am here – I can’t wait to get shooting.

PRODUCTION

The first shot was in the bathroom, where I had to flush some pills down the toilet. This took way longer than expected. I think one of the biggest problems on all the sets I’ve been on at Cap (and one that I, too, am guilty of causing) is that there is still the notion that it’s just school. No one wants to treat it like a job, there isn’t this desire to strictly adhere to protocol and there’s no built-in accountability. I tried very hard to not overstep my bounds on this set and only do my job as best as I am capable of, but I know on previous sets I have done some “backseat directing” and this was certainly case during the first shot of the day. Everyone wanted to offer their two cents and it costs you time and patience. And, really, time is your most valuable commodity on a shoot. Lindsay is a wholly confident and assertive man, so he was able to quell this issue relatively quickly and adroitly, however it did slow down the day and try many people’s nerves.

The good news was that we made up a lot of time shooting in the park in the afternoon. It went well, I just hope my acting doesn’t sink the production. The cafeteria this evening was a challenge. There were some very unhappy people that were asked to move from the lower corner that we were shooting in. Furthermore, it took over an hour to get the overhead lights shut off, which killed some of the energy of the day. When it did get rolling however, it built some real camaraderie among all of us. The set looked amazing. Janessa is my hero. It looked like a restaurant; I can’t wait to see the footage. Lindsay ordered a lot of takes, which did require to me to eat a lot of disgusting cold, stuffing with congealed gravy. But it’s okay. This scene has the most important speech of the entire script, it’s the crux of our movie and I understand his desire to get it just right.

While enjoying a beer with a few crew and cast members after day one, Lindsay received a call that there were several complaints from students in the cafeteria about the disruptive nature of our film shoot. Some went as far to say they were going to sign a petition to bar any future shoots in the cafeteria. Being location manager, this does not reflect very well on me. I tried to be proactive about it and drafted up an explanatory/apology letter when I got home.

Day two went much better. We were in the continuing education office and maybe because libraries have such an expectation of quietness and scholastically pursuit, we were much more professional and tightly run unit. We were in and out, in less time than scheduled, were respectful and accommodating o those working in the area and non obtrusive as possible. I wish someone would write a letter saying what a superb job that location was managed! Oh well. I talked to Dianne and Cam, and yes, I probably shouldn’t have been LM and lead actor. It wasn’t my intent to be a dubious precedent setter, but there you go. Cam was, our faculty advisor, was very supportive and totally on our side, and I doubt very much this petition will come to fruition. The shoot was wrapped in Doreen’s office in Laena and my scene with Dave. Dave did a great job, and let us work they way we did with no interruptions or treachery advice. I admired that and glad that, right or wrong, he behaved like an actor and let us behave like a crew.

POST PRODUCTION

This is a step that I never thought I would enjoy as much as I do. Editing is truly where a film takes form and your strory is realized. I am doing credits and music, which affords me a great opportunity to get my friends music, heard by more people and also lets our production have legally obtained music on it. My interest in design and typography feed into my desire to do credits and make them as clean and simple as possible.

Lindsay was not happy with the first cut of the movie, although I thought it was pretty good. He’s not very adept with the computer so I have been enlisted to do the director’s cut with his guidance. It was fun; if I can’t direct Project 2 hopefully I can be editor.

It came along beautifully, I had to pull some late nights on the weekend which is never fun, but in the end we made an excellent movie and I can’t wait for the premiere in front of everyone.

SUMMATION

The screening went well. We had the best film of all the groups and I know I have aligned myself with the proper filmic comrades. Fuck-gobble-fuck-lard.

Jaghole