Last week the acclaimed Red camera made an appearance in our cinematography class. What an amazing device! Basically, the Red camera brings digital film up to the quality of digital still photography and at one tenth the cost of anything comparable. The picture is simply stunning and since it is recorded in a raw format, there is a much greater range of picture adjustment and color management that can be done in post production. The trouble is that this camera puts out an absolute fire hose of data and current storage and editing systems are barely capable of handling it. But that’s a good problem to have. The capacity of storage and the power of computers and editing systems will only increase and the Red camera is driving the next wave of digital filmmaking. It’s a fine camera, but for now, I’m happy with the Panasonic HVX200’s that we’re using, which provide a fine HD quality picture. I love this kind of new technology, but I don’t want to get too distracted by it. We need to keep reminding ourselves to stay centered on the story and casting, then take as good a picture as you can.

Just finished shooting Frances’ second film ‘Drugged’ this past weekend, which I produced. Funny thing about this producer role is that no one can really tell you what to do or how to do it. Actually that’s a good thing… especially for me. It’s a great role for creative problem solvers. It’s also a job of herding the million cats that are part of making a movie. Of course, no funding and budgeting was involved, so, for the time being, we’re mercifully spared the overwhelming monetary aspect of filmmaking. To some, producing has too much going on and some serious responsibility associated with it, but being involved in all aspects of making a movie is what makes it so interesting, and ultimately, rewarding.

Photos from the set of ‘Drugged’.

This week at B.D.F.I. was very exciting for me. To begin, we started the
week learning about sound and how to operate a boom microphone. Opposed
to the strictly visual nature of the program thus far, this was a welcome
change of pace in addition to being immensely informative. Patrick cut
his teeth in the business as a sound tech, so having all that experience
relayed onto us was very cool. Antoher big event of that week the stands
out in my mind is the guest lecture with Debie Brubaker. Having one of
the most respected producer’s in the bay area come in is a testament to
the pull B.D.F.I. has in the bay, as well as the amazingly close-knit
relationship shared by entertainment professionals here. Debie was very
cool and laid back. It was refreshing to see someone in her position that
is so cordial and polite. Just goes to show that good things do happen to
good people. Antoher amazingly cool person in the industries elite that
we had the pleasure of meeting this week was Randy Quaid. He and his wife
came by to show part of an independent feature that they’de been working
on during their recent vacation to Texas. It was edgy, dark, and twisted,
so naturally I liked it right away. The subject matter and style may not
have been for everyone though. Different strokes for different folks and
such, but I believe everyone there could agree that Randy’s acting was
fantastic. Going further, it was a chance for many of us to see him in a
totally different light and attaining a whole new range than he had ever
previously attempted. It was exhilarating to see an actor of his
reputation still willing to take chances and explore that recluse,
shakespeare spouting, fur wearing degenerate artist in himself. I’d have
to say it was a pretty amazing week here at B.D.F.I. and it makes me
wonder what’s in store for us next week.

As my second film project at BDFI gets underway, I find myself reflecting constantly on the first. After editing for the past few weeks, I’m getting pretty tired of it. In fact, I’m starting to hate it. All the problems stand out and the good stuff seems to have faded. I want to start over and fix the script and the framing and the lighting and the continuity and the editing. I’m wondering if I even want to show it to anyone. Then I screened it.

I showed it to a few of my cycling buddies at my home last weekend. I had to. I’ve been telling them about this project for weeks now and even had them read the script while it was in development. They demanded a screening, ready or not. And… what do you know, they enjoyed it! OK, so they’re my friends and they probably would have enjoyed anything about cycling, especially with beer and food. But still, real people were seeing my work for the first time and they reacted to it. They laughed. They wanted to know more and see more. And, of course that’s what filmmakers live for… to communicate, affect and touch others and to provoke thought and dialog. Maybe that seems obvious, but I can tell you that there is nothing purer than the inspiration and motivation you get from a viewer reaction, especially a positive one. It’s like pulling off a big magic trick. I’m motivated to do better. I’m hooked.

On to the next project!

For this second project, I am really struggling with the script because
the characters are foreign to me. I don’t know them so I don’t know how
to write them. I’ve spent many hours on the script more than my first
one, but I’m not going to give up on this one. What really helps is
constructive feedback. When the class read my script for Patrick, I
really got great feedback that will help advance my script because it
addressed the story. Writing this script also reminds me of what I really
want to write about. I want to film raw, human interactions and emotions
– the heart of the matter. After shooting and editing my first project, I
can now appreciate it for what I was trying to achieve. I remember
getting so sick and tired of looking at it, but now I don’t mind it as
much anymore. It’s actually kind of good.

This week has personally been a rough one for me but being at BDFI
reminds me of what I really love most and I forget about everything else
when I’m here. Although producing is what I really want to do with the
film/TV industry, I love learning everything from cinematography to
acting here. I think it really helps me to develop as a knowledgeable,
well-rounded filmmaker. Debbie Brubaker came in on Tuesday and shared
with us her experience in producing film. She was very down to earth and
shared a lot of valuable experience, and her story reinforced my desire
to produce.
Working on my first film project, I first seemed overwhelmed with the task
but it is coming together nicely. I got a great producer and I’m learning
a lot from her at the same time. Fellow students no matter what class
level are so willing to help each other out. Scriptwriting seems daunting
since I haven’t creatively written anything for about 6 years, but I got
positive reviews from Wednesday’s class. I’m glad that everyone liked it,
but I wish that I’ve gotten more critical feedback so I could’ve changed
more of my script and really improve it. I don’t know if it’s as solid as
everyone think.

So intense. Four more weeks until the semester is over.

I can’t stop watching movies now without deliberately trying to forget everything I learned at BDFI. I notice all the shots, exposures, mistakes, continuity, etc. in a film I see. I appreciate the writing now that I know almost everything is written! I had this experience before when I first took film production classes at community college. But this is so different. I can see the directors/producers getting bummed out WHILE I’m watching their movie. I feel the pain. I needed more coverage, more takes, more guts in my execution of the story, better dialogue, etc.

We’re doing our second project, a 3 minute scene. And I feel my writing has improved so much. I trust my instincts much more, I’m comfortable with script formatting and I feel now that I have some of the basics, I have so much room to grow as a writer.

Whatever wimpy-ness I have around being a filmmaker is being dragged out of me…I feel supported and concerned at the same time.

This semester has been amazing! I have never enjoyed being in school so much! Everyday when I walk through the beautiful gardens I think how lucky I am to be going to BDFI. I have learned so much this semester and I still have so much further to go, I can’t wait.

I finished my first project a couple of weeks ago and I am just finishing up the editing. I had so much fun with it. At first I was stressed that I couldn’t get it done the way I envisioned it and I was having difficulty with people’s schedules and I wasn’t sure if I could really pull it off. Then I realized that even if my idea failed I would still learn from it and it was supposed to be fun. I wanted to make sure everyone on my set had a good time and felt valued and that was what was most important. Everyone on my shoot said they had so much fun and we all worked really well together. I couldn’t have been happier because that’s exactly what I wanted.

I am in the script development and casting process of my 2nd project now. For some reason I am having a harder time with this project and I know it’s going to be a challenge until the end. I am having a harder time writing for the characters than I did with my last one. The idea is solid in my head and on script, but getting inside the characters heads and writing for them has been more difficult than I anticipated. The other thing that is harder for me is my location is outdoors in a park. This offers up many more obstacles than shooting indoor. The first is lighting, outdoors you cannot control the lighting other than with bounce cards and screens. Sound is another big issue since I am shooting in a park and most parks have a lot of noise and people. There are many more challenges to outdoor that I’m not even going to go into, the list goes on. At the same time I am very excited about this next one. I am auditioning Thursday and I’ve gotten a lot of responses now I will just see if I can juggle their schedules so I can try to audition as many of them as I can. I must say casting is probably my least favorite part of the process. I feel like I’m buying horses and checking their teeth and hooves. I don’t like having to judge people. I don’t know maybe I’ll get used to it. I do like it when you got an awesome performance and you know you’ve found the best person for the role and you can move to the next step.

Last week I was part of a script reading focus group with our screenwriting teacher Fred. I learned so much from reading the script. It was a beautiful script and it was written in a way where the writer did the work of the director, editor and the actors and he did it in very few words. Any director reading that script would know exactly how to shoot that scene and exactly what it looks like. The editor would know just where to cut by the way he would parallel visuals to make the perfect transition of scenes. He did the work of the actors in the way he wrote the character and the action lines to where the reader could see the performance and how the characters would react emotionally. It made me realize how much more there is to screenwriting. I am going to try to adopt some of those techniques as I go and strive to get to that level.

One of the things I love most about BDFI is the students and instructors. Our school is made up of such talented and genuinely nice people I feel so lucky to have met and worked with. All of the students are so nice and will help you whenever they can. Whether it’s in the editing suites or on your shoot people are down to help. Our instructors are awesome and really fun. I have learned so much from each and I look forward to what’s in store for next semester.

It’s been almost 3 months since I started at the school and I am
working on my second film project now. It’s been very intense. Why I
say that? I say that because, personally, I realized that film making
isn’t just another career, but it’s a life. I feel that I’ve become
more in tuned with the under-current of human emotions that runs deep
inside of all of us. In order to create characters, your key
ingredient is to tap into that. I see the characters that I create
become alive in my script and film. It’s incredible to walk in these
characters’ shoes. I’m grateful to have around the faculty and the
senior students of the school. Their unwavering support and
willingness to nurture the members of the school is priceless. Also,
I have a new respect for people who write scripts and work in the film
productions. It takes so much hard work and synchronized team
coordination. You just can’t do it if you are half serious.

We have just entered week eleven, or twelve…despite the amount of weeks,
it has been a good amount of time since our first week of class. Many
changes have occurred since the beginning. I like to think I am more aware
of the industry and movie elements in general. I know I still have a lot
to learn, but I know more than I did, which is an accomplishment in
itself.
Stories and screenwriting. It’s not as easy as it looks or sounds. Having
a great idea does not mean it will make a great story. There are a lot of
elements which go into a script. For instance, the characters must have a
character arc, which basically means they must change over time. Having a
character stay linear, is not what most would call, unique or interesting.
Although, I must say on rare occasions it works. However, it is
recommended the character do something out of the ordinary, surprise the
audience, so to speak. I struggle with the surprise aspect of the
character. I know my character; she is the epitome of me, but what is out
of the ordinary? Can anyone really say? To think outside the box, to
really be creative, is something I still am in the process in developing.
Fred, our screenwriter instructor, is a very helpful resource, however, I
feel there is only so much that can be taught. This quality just comes
naturally for some people, others just need to work extra hard.
My next project, which I’m excited about, is going to be shot
this coming Saturday. The story mocks the concept of religion and how one
enters the “heavenly kingdom.” The traditional St. Peter has been
transformed into a feminist woman, who I have named St. Petra. The story
revolves around a recently deceased businessman who tries to enter heaven
but whose name is not found on the heavenly list. St. Petra, who has done
this job for many many many many years, sees this as just another sinner
who is trying to con his way into heaven, in the end finding he was on the
list the entire time. This comedy, although very light and fun, has had
its share of problems. Alex, my male character, always seems to be
underdeveloped next to the snarky Petra. No matter how many times I revise
this script, Alex just seems to come short of close to being strong. I
have accepted this, and realized that is who he is. He is a business man,
who has his way with the ladies, but is no match for the “all knowing,”
strong minded saint.
I have a wonderful cast, Francis Lansang (Alex), and Nsa Ntuk (Petra), to
go along with a wonderful crew. With my organizational skills, and knack
for getting lucky, I have high hopes that this shoot will run smoothly.
Especially because of the fact I have Ryan Emanuel, who has a skill with
the camera, and other great people with me on the set.