Vagabond Project

OK, so this is the final final project you will get from me. A little background...

We were assigned a group project to be finished entirely in class. The class was split into 3 groups, with 6 people in each group. Each person was assigned a job: director, producer/assistant director, director of photography, camera operator, boom operator (the big mic above the actors), and editor. We were all given the same scene for Waiting for Godot (worst scene ever). An acting instructor brought in a bunch of actors and we had a casting session, then picked the actors we wanted.

We had to create meaning to the "open" scene, imbue the scene with meaning and a scenario that is not specifically there. Very difficult, but whatever.

One class period was devoted to filming the scene. Then two class periods were devoted to editing the project. Each group had teams of 2 that edited their own cuts, so each group had 3 cuts of the same material. It was kind of interesting to see how everyone edited it together differently. 

Anyway, without further ado, my (and another guy's) edit of the scene. Enjoy.

Ugh. There are issues with this video. Unfortunately. Must have changed settings when I was exporting it. Crap. Sorry. The sound is not supposed to be that jarring in the beginning.

It's been great talking about all my production stuff this semester. Next semester look forward to blogging about my study abroad in the UK!

Film 5: Pre-Production

LAST FILM!!!! YESSSSS!!!!!!!!

So, this is actually the only update you'll be getting for awhile. Because I'm postponing production on Film 5 until the very very last minute. Why, do you ask? Because of my subject matter.

Film 5 will be...*drum roll*...a documentary on Black Friday!!

So I'll film on Black Friday, edit all weekend and on the plane back to LA, and screen the film in class the following Tuesday. Fast fast turnaround, but I think I can do it. Plus, I'm too exhausted to do an actual film with casting and a story line etc. And the teachers want you to experiment with different genres. So it's good that I did an animation, and now I'll be doing a doc. And I've done a drama, a bittersweet dramady and a comedy-ish film, so I think I'm showing variety. I hope.

But yeah, the doc will feature interviews with people standing in line outside of stores, news reports on Black Friday and how the economy is affecting peoples' shopping habits (e.g. are they now shopping more on Black Friday for the deals, or are they not shopping as much?). 

Any ideas you, dear readers, want to add, please feel free. 

Oh, and Sydney is going to be my 1st AD (assistant director) for the shoot. Give it up for Sydney who will be up at 3 a.m. helping me! And for Andrew who will be up at the same time to save us spots in line. :)

If you'd like to help out, let me know! I'd love all the help I can get. If you need an incentive, I'll treat you to breakfast after. Now you have to come!

Film 4: Pre-Production Part 2

 "What is Film 4 about?"

Good question. When I figure that out I'll let you guys know. :)

So last weekend was supposed to be a production weekend, but I got a nasty virus and was out for the weekend. Which I guess was a good thing because I didn't have anything to shoot.

Tonight I'm ironing out the details of the story and emailing out to see if I can get actors. When I have an actual story, I'll post it here. I've got an inkling of an idea, but we'll see how that goes. 

Parameters for this film: less than 8 minutes (I'm aiming for a four-minute film...I'm really not into making masterpieces, just into getting through this class), and we can now use sync dialogue. Sooo...yeah. 

Hopefully this weekend a guy in my group won't need the camera all weekend and I can get it for a day, thus shooting.

Film 4

Can you believe it, after all that work I have to make yet another film. 

So this weekend was supposed to be pre-production for Film 4, but I was too exhausted from my last film to do anything. So this week I have to plan it all and then shoot this weekend. Ugh. Life is just peachy, isn't it.

Expect a more comprehensive update for pre-production on Film 4 when I actually get around to working on it.

To keep you entertained until I update again, click here.

Film 3: Pre-Production

Yet again I have to make another film. So not fun. There's no break with this schedule! One film every three weeks. I feel like an assembly line.

Anyway, I think I'm going to try my hand at animation!! This might be biting off more than I can chew, but if I don't make it now I never will. We shall see how it goes.

Inspiration: Man in Black Hat from online comic xkcd. He. Is. Brilliant. And well deserving of a film. 

A quick look at some of his best moments...

And now the inspiration for the story. The comic did a brief mini story on how the Man in Black Hat met his match--in more ways than one.

So yeah. Basic plot line for Film 3: Girl steals Man in Black Hat's hat and he has to get it back. While realizing she is his match and equal. This should be interesting...