Rolex24

My first hired gig. This is the commercial for the 20 min weekend wrap up that I'm working on now. So far, the biggest challenge is the bad audio. God, I'd give my left nut for wireless mics! Good thing I'm already done with that nut anyway. So I am writing a voice over narration for the whole thing. Heather will do her breathy British voice, and I've got some beautiful pictures to tell the story with. But anyway...here's the commercial.

First short done.

It's done. On dvd in all its glory. All its glitches. All the missed lighting opportunities. The small serendipity moments that made up for all the short comings of having such a small crew and so little experience and knowledge. But I can say, it's done. I know I could edit it forever. Reshoot scenes I failed to light. Reperform voiceover. Record folley. But, honestly, I'm sick of this project - working on it anyway. I think that's normal. I wrote the story in 1998 as a short for freshman creative writing. Dusted it off and revised it during my short MFA stint. Made it great. Failed making my first short last year. But in the past year I've been determined to produce something - to learn - to see a story, a string of words and sounds and encrypted images come alive before my eyes - and eventually the eyes of others. Watering Stones always has been the story I've previsualized most. Sure, it could use some touches...but one day, I'll look back at this short and wonder how the hell I pulled it off...knowing little if anything about actual production, having little if anything besides a great story, determination, and a few great friends to guide me through, and an awesome wife to kick me in the ass whenever I doubted myself. (not to mention awesome kids! - as seen in the film). I don't often lift my creations up with confidence like this...but that's just another thing I better get used to doing...because if I can't...who the hell will. Thanks to all that inspired this effort...you all know who you are.

Projects

Watering Stones is entering it's final phaze (I think), and keeping busy has been easy. Polishing up another short script called Penny Wise - a southern gothic piece about a little girl (Juju) who dreams of a little orphan girl (Penny) who looks just like her. Penny has a secret she's just dieing to share with Juju - and what it is will change everything - for good. It's pretty tight and easy to shoot. Just three actors - two key locations and two bit locations.

Aside from that, I'm getting involved with that Regent U. group and have a pre-production meeting at Regent on Monday. It's cool working and watching other new filmmakers handle problems and stress and creativity. Teaches alot. I'm looking forward to working around someone else's vision to help bring it out. I don't know exactly what my role will be, but I've got a solid prospect for their primary location through a regular at Java. And...he has a plane. It's a fairly short - short, but should be interesting watching the producer and director impart their vision, a thing I have trouble with. I have the vision and it makes sense to me - but I struggle with "delicately" conveying what I want.

And...a "dead" project seems to be trying to rear its ugly head. Shot a mockumentary/"reality" show with a buddy in South Suffolk, called The Adventure of Tone Loc. Been sitting on the footage waiting for him to make a studio version of the song. He's back from NY with a track (and an album) and he wants to push forward with it. That could be an editing extravaganza. We've got like 6 hours worth of footage, and I only envision 30-45 min worth of narrative in it. So...need to get Heather her own computer.

And many others...I've noticed having ideas isn't the problem, its deciding which are worth the precious amount of time I'm able to spend on this right now. Been shooting in the yard for food...still haven't hit that bubbling crude.

Javalicious

As much shit as I give my shop for holding me hostage, I owe it alot (not really, since I've been paying it a whole helluva lot more than it's been paying me). But seriously, it's been the single biggest motivator for me as a writer. For one, when we were slow, I had a job where I could sit down, have killer coffee, listen to killer tunes, and actually write without a boss telling me to
"look busy". For two, I've met great people. People who've inspired me in various ways, or connected me, or showed me a way. I met a few more people like that over the past couple weekends.

Last weekend, a Regent University group used the shop as a location for their short film "Eyes to Dishonesty", a short about a cheating man and wife whose infidelities are revealed by the honest eyes (and mouth) of their son. Great experience. Great people. Got to talking with them and one of the guys is shooting another short out here in Suffolk. One thing I've learned lately is the biggest asset an aspiring filmmaker (or aspiring anything) is to meet other people who want to make films. There are no solo projects, and meeting these folks and more folks like these is the biggest step I can take. Yesterday, the DP and the producer came in the shop and asked if I'd like to help. Of course, I said yes. Gotta love Java.

This weekend I had another experience I'm sure I'd never have had without this place. I f
shot a revival at a local nondemoninational church. The youth minister is an amazing guy named Dominique Epps. I mean, this guy actually donated a kidney to a girl in this church who he never met, saved her life. Talk about putting up or shutting up. The real deal. Got some amazing footage of this young man inspiring some folks who have lost all hope at their dreams. A real eye opener. Can't wait to edit it into something great for the guy.

Also, worked on my first few scenes of ADR. That shit's tough. Definately need to tighten up my production sound skills or find a good sound guy (from the Regent Crew) who can keep me from having to mess with this shit again. All in all, productive, blessed, and ready to eat the shit out of some turkey.

3 Years as The Gimp

The shop turned three today! I can't believe it. I never thought it would be this f-ing hard! But looking back on all the strife and triumph thus far, I can say without a doubt....I'll never open a restaurant again!

Joking aside, I wouldn't change it if I could.

STILL cutting

Editing ain't no jive. Shit's hard. Much respect for those that do it for dough. Picked up some scenics today and still have a few reshots to get before I have all the pictures I want. Editing really shows you how bad of a director you are. Man. I mean, forget a few closeups and your scene is fucked! Forget to nail that long shot, and you're stuck with all close ups for a really disorienting scene. I'll be a much better director after this.

Got some music for the film from my man Junior Jones. Just need to remaster it and add some darker notes to it. All in all, the whole thing is turning out better than I thought it would. And that's nice. I mean, some scenes aren't the way I'd imagined them, and some are better. So, now I'll just edit the film towards those strengths.

So far, star of the show, my little man above. Alex, as Bene (the lead) as a child. That's a still from the film. He's a damn natural.

Cut'n a rug

Now the fun begins. I'm somewhat of a hermit, so editing appeals to me. With only a day of reshoots to put down, I'm just sitting in the dark with the headphones on - in peace. Nothing like spending all day talking to people, making their samiches, their coffee, listening to them complain, holding my complaints hostage in my head - then finally being able to escape into this little movie I've got trying to be born.

Production always humbles me. I've only tried it twice (the first was a disaster of ignorance), but I have the utmost respect for you long time TV and filmmakers. You got balls kids. Sitting with the script and dreaming of the shots, you start to think "I can do this". You get the people in space and the problems start coming faster than you can remember how to address them, and I just sit back and go "Wow, this is so much harder than I thought." But that's what draws me to it. But again, this time last year, I was bemoaning a failed attempt at shooting a short, and this year I have one within my grasp to edit! I've moved forward. Maybe a millimeter, maybe even a shorter distance than that, but still, forward. That's all that matters, right?

Back to writing as well...

Still have about twenty or thirty pages to put into a feature that I'm thinking is good.

Then, maybe a few little commercials for the shop for a demo reel and our website.

Then, maybe another short - this one a one location - one act deal so I can work on lighting and acting technique.

Got to read a working writer's script and learned a ton of stuff (thanks David) - how I can put more style into action description and be a little more playful than I've been (among other things).

Just actually have to switch back into writing mode - find the time, refind the story and still edit the movie.