Well, this past week was huge. Today was hard, but the week was great. UTA really came through, I don't mean the big Beverly Hills talent agency... I mean the University of Texas at Arlington. My Alma Mater.
Everything was centered around getting a college campus. At first I didn't consider UTA because when I went there (now a very long time ago)... I wasn't sure it would be the right campus. My have they built it up since my days. The campus will be absolutely perfect.
And the campus is really working with us and I just can't say enough nice things about UTA. We start shooting now in 10 days. Early next week we'll do a camera test on campus.
And I'm real glad this day came to an end. Had a major crisis that I hope has been solved.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
For the Love of Art
If it isn't africa hot, it's raining buckets. Really interesting weather, but at least it dropped fifteen degrees. Week two of prep has started and today marks exactly two weeks left on the countdown timer to first day of shooting.
Art department has started, and two weeks is unusually short for art department. But for this script, I wrote it in such a way to have minimal art. For the layman, art department is run by the Production Designer (PD). Underneath her is the Art Director. Then you have a bunch of different positions... Prop Master, Set Dresser, Buyer, etc. But on indie films, this might all be combined.
What is the art department responsible for? All sets. If you don't have a set, they build it. If you have a set, they'll dress it up. All signage in your script. All props. All picture vehicles (picture vehicle is the term to denote a car that is seen on camera... for instance, "Garrett" drives a hot sports car. The sports car is a "picture vehicle"). Anything the actor holds that is not wardrobe is part of art department.
The PD and her team will take the script and "spot it." That means going through and listing every single prop, sign, picture vehicle, etc. If a scene calls for a sofa for the actor to sit on, it's their responsibility to have it on set, ready to go. So now they comb through the city looking for what they need. They look for deals on signage creation. They buy and collect.
Once the movie begins, the PD usually works a day or a few days ahead of the main unit, prepping out the next locations. One or two art department people are left with the main company on shoot days. You have the prop person and maybe a PA that's assisting as dresser. That way if anything needs changing, repairing or moved, you have someone ready to go.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Inside Judging
Here's a post for the Believer reading this blog. For the non-believers, take a Sunday off, and I'll talk film stuff tomorrow.
My study in I Corinthians continues. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 are very interesting. Five deals with some immoral behavior that the Corinthian Church was kind of proud of. So there was this guy, a "brother" in the church who was sleeping with his father's wife (mom?). I imagine the Corinthians make it a side show. "Hey lookie here, can you believe this guy?"
Paul kicked their behinds on this. He said to deliver the man to Satan. THEN, he goes on to say that a little leaven leavens the whole dough, and lists sexually immoral, greedy, drunkards, etc... that they need to be kicked out of the church... "Don't even eat with such a person."
Is this in play today? I have rarely seen someone get kicked out of church (although I know a church who fired a staff member... but that's a long story). What if they're not on staff? What if Joe Congregational member is a drunkard... he gets kicked out? Where's the grace and "Christian-like" attitude?
I believe (and very strongly) that a person who gets drunk, is not necessarily a drunkard. A person who tells a lie, isn't a liar. But when that person tells so many lies that it affects his purpose, his mission, those around him... then he is a Lair. So when Paul writes about the Sexually Immoral, it's a person who is habitual, a predator, given over to this behavior. Others might take the position that if you kick out a liar, drunkard, greedy... then no one would be left. I believe Paul wasn't talking about a single instance, but a lifestyle behavior.
So then, Paul says you've got to judge those inside the church... those confessing to be "brothers." Don't judge those outside the church. If a non-Believer wants to be a drunkard, so? I believe in the 100% inerrancy of the Scriptures... it is the law as far as I'm concerned. If someone doesn't subscribe to the same set of principles, then how can I judge them by it?
Conversely, if someone says he does subscribe to the Scriptures, then consistently violates them by a lifestyle mentioned by Paul, for their own, best good, I need to kick them out. Call it tough love... call it refusing to enable. And even more importantly-- call it protecting the true Believers. A little leaven...
My study in I Corinthians continues. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 are very interesting. Five deals with some immoral behavior that the Corinthian Church was kind of proud of. So there was this guy, a "brother" in the church who was sleeping with his father's wife (mom?). I imagine the Corinthians make it a side show. "Hey lookie here, can you believe this guy?"
Paul kicked their behinds on this. He said to deliver the man to Satan. THEN, he goes on to say that a little leaven leavens the whole dough, and lists sexually immoral, greedy, drunkards, etc... that they need to be kicked out of the church... "Don't even eat with such a person."
Is this in play today? I have rarely seen someone get kicked out of church (although I know a church who fired a staff member... but that's a long story). What if they're not on staff? What if Joe Congregational member is a drunkard... he gets kicked out? Where's the grace and "Christian-like" attitude?
I believe (and very strongly) that a person who gets drunk, is not necessarily a drunkard. A person who tells a lie, isn't a liar. But when that person tells so many lies that it affects his purpose, his mission, those around him... then he is a Lair. So when Paul writes about the Sexually Immoral, it's a person who is habitual, a predator, given over to this behavior. Others might take the position that if you kick out a liar, drunkard, greedy... then no one would be left. I believe Paul wasn't talking about a single instance, but a lifestyle behavior.
So then, Paul says you've got to judge those inside the church... those confessing to be "brothers." Don't judge those outside the church. If a non-Believer wants to be a drunkard, so? I believe in the 100% inerrancy of the Scriptures... it is the law as far as I'm concerned. If someone doesn't subscribe to the same set of principles, then how can I judge them by it?
Conversely, if someone says he does subscribe to the Scriptures, then consistently violates them by a lifestyle mentioned by Paul, for their own, best good, I need to kick them out. Call it tough love... call it refusing to enable. And even more importantly-- call it protecting the true Believers. A little leaven...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Everything's Down the Toilet
Thank goodness for compression nuts. In the evenings this past week and today, my wife and I have been redoing the master bath. And boy did the toilet give me trouble. First, I pull the old one out and set it on the curb. One of the screws coming from the foundation had rotted away.
So after some research and trips to Lowes, I found a flange repair piece, which saved me drilling up concrete. So I bought the stuff and the new toilet. In the meantime, we worked on painting the walls.
BTW, don't believe them when they say you can use that texture paint to go right over the wallpaper. After killing half a gallon of the expensive stuff, we were yanking it off and putting an oil based primer over everything. Smelled lovely. Then we textured and textured and textured. Four or five coats.
Today it was time to put the toilet back in. So all this afternoon and into the night, I worked on it. The initial going wasn't so bad. I got it seated and screwed down. Then I stretched the old copper water hose to connect it to the bowl and it busted. The faucet in the wall looked scary.
I also take a call or two to talk casting with the producer and Jeff Rodgers.
Out near the mailbox, I opened the water connection and saw nothing but dirt (and bugs). Twenty minutes later, with the temperature rapidly falling from 103 to 101, I had dug out enough to find the water meter. Another ten minutes and I found the little brass knob to turn the house water off.
So then I worked on getting the faucet thingie off. But no go. Now it's getting late. The sun is setting. I run to Lowes for what I was hoping was copper eating acid, or a nuclear bomb... I didn't care. Just wanted that fixture off. The worker told me a pipe wrench would work best. So twenty bucks later, I'm back at home and with a lot of effort, the thing turned. And turned. And came off. It was smooth. The darn thing had been soldered on when they built the house. No screw on.
Now I'm in a panic. I cannot turn on the house water until this problem is fixed and it's 9pm on a Saturday. I run back up to Lowes and the other worker takes a look at the faucet thingie and grabs another one from a bin as I mumble about needing JB Weld or something.
"Compression nut," he tells me. "Just put this on the copper pipe sticking out and tighen. You're done." I ask him why in the world they didn't just use a screw on valve when they built the house. He said plumbers like future work. Think you've got to call them to fix this kind of problem. I thank him and leave.
By 9:45, everything's connected, the waters back on, no leaks and I think I'm ready for the sack.
Whew. I'm glad making movies is easier than this.
So after some research and trips to Lowes, I found a flange repair piece, which saved me drilling up concrete. So I bought the stuff and the new toilet. In the meantime, we worked on painting the walls.
BTW, don't believe them when they say you can use that texture paint to go right over the wallpaper. After killing half a gallon of the expensive stuff, we were yanking it off and putting an oil based primer over everything. Smelled lovely. Then we textured and textured and textured. Four or five coats.
Today it was time to put the toilet back in. So all this afternoon and into the night, I worked on it. The initial going wasn't so bad. I got it seated and screwed down. Then I stretched the old copper water hose to connect it to the bowl and it busted. The faucet in the wall looked scary.
I also take a call or two to talk casting with the producer and Jeff Rodgers.
Out near the mailbox, I opened the water connection and saw nothing but dirt (and bugs). Twenty minutes later, with the temperature rapidly falling from 103 to 101, I had dug out enough to find the water meter. Another ten minutes and I found the little brass knob to turn the house water off.
So then I worked on getting the faucet thingie off. But no go. Now it's getting late. The sun is setting. I run to Lowes for what I was hoping was copper eating acid, or a nuclear bomb... I didn't care. Just wanted that fixture off. The worker told me a pipe wrench would work best. So twenty bucks later, I'm back at home and with a lot of effort, the thing turned. And turned. And came off. It was smooth. The darn thing had been soldered on when they built the house. No screw on.
Now I'm in a panic. I cannot turn on the house water until this problem is fixed and it's 9pm on a Saturday. I run back up to Lowes and the other worker takes a look at the faucet thingie and grabs another one from a bin as I mumble about needing JB Weld or something.
"Compression nut," he tells me. "Just put this on the copper pipe sticking out and tighen. You're done." I ask him why in the world they didn't just use a screw on valve when they built the house. He said plumbers like future work. Think you've got to call them to fix this kind of problem. I thank him and leave.
By 9:45, everything's connected, the waters back on, no leaks and I think I'm ready for the sack.
Whew. I'm glad making movies is easier than this.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Worth the Wait
Yesterday was a day of waiting. Waiting to hear about the main Location. Waiting to hear about a certain actor (actually two) that I'm hoping to get. Waiting on some other things.
This morning we got unofficial notice that we're a go on the main location. We're going to move forward now with all the dominoes that follow that. Then later next week we'll have a big meeting with the location to go over all logistics.
Today, after the unofficial word, we started nailing down housing. In the afternoon, watched a bunch of audition tapes and we're compressing the ones we like and uploading for the producers. Auditions continue over the weekend.
Got the phone call from the actor I wanted-- he's a "no." He's got a conflict. What's meant to be is meant to be.
Some out of state (and in one case out of country) crew people arrive this weekend, so we're taking care of their local arrangements.
End of first week. Good week.
This morning we got unofficial notice that we're a go on the main location. We're going to move forward now with all the dominoes that follow that. Then later next week we'll have a big meeting with the location to go over all logistics.
Today, after the unofficial word, we started nailing down housing. In the afternoon, watched a bunch of audition tapes and we're compressing the ones we like and uploading for the producers. Auditions continue over the weekend.
Got the phone call from the actor I wanted-- he's a "no." He's got a conflict. What's meant to be is meant to be.
Some out of state (and in one case out of country) crew people arrive this weekend, so we're taking care of their local arrangements.
End of first week. Good week.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Talent Caliber
This is my fifth feature film. I've had movies with Adam Baldwin, Mimi Rogers, Sean Patrick Flannery, Joey Lauren Adams, Lou Diamond Phillips, Tom Wright, Yancy Butler and others. Without a doubt, on the whole, this is the most talent rich cast. Sure Lou and Mimi and all were incredible-- but instead of just the top being incredible, the word "great" can easily extend way down the roster on this cast.
As a director, I look forward to an actor and a scene or two. "I can't wait to see how they play this," I say to myself. Well, on this movie, I'm thinking that question quite a bit.
It also puts pressure on our local casting. I am an impatient type. But it's great to take the time to find "great" and not just "good enough." So with this caliber of talent, the production team finds a bar that's being raised. And I think that's a "great" thing.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Video Contest
Hey everyone,
The movie "Rising Stars" is about high schoolers competing in video and music. One of the characters makes a video for the competition (theme is “Life is Beautiful”). I was going to go shoot one (maybe 45 seconds), but thought I’d open it up if anyone’s interested. We do not have anything budgeted, but if you submit a video and it’s picked, we will credit you in the film.
Let me know if you’re interested. Parameters:
45-ish seconds long. Wide screen, but doesn’t *have* to be HD, but prefer it. All footage in it needs to be cleared. All sound needs to be cleared. And people in it would need to be cleared. If selected, an agreement will be drawn up in which you get credited and you provide any clearances.
The movie "Rising Stars" is about high schoolers competing in video and music. One of the characters makes a video for the competition (theme is “Life is Beautiful”). I was going to go shoot one (maybe 45 seconds), but thought I’d open it up if anyone’s interested. We do not have anything budgeted, but if you submit a video and it’s picked, we will credit you in the film.
Let me know if you’re interested. Parameters:
45-ish seconds long. Wide screen, but doesn’t *have* to be HD, but prefer it. All footage in it needs to be cleared. All sound needs to be cleared. And people in it would need to be cleared. If selected, an agreement will be drawn up in which you get credited and you provide any clearances.
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