Years... has it been years? No... okay

So this blog hasn't really worked out as I has wanted it to. I thought that I'd be more consistent with this puppy and keep it updated with my film jazz. However, that hasn't been the case. Boo Hoo? Boo Hew? you get the picture. Moving on...

In short summary I am officially a second year film student. My second semester flew by since I was busy working on my production 2 project called A Lotto Love. I thought it came out really well and I am proud of my first little short. I worked with great actors and crew and one day hope to make another narrative short - but this time around having had more experience directing and becoming more visual it'll stand up stronger than the first.

I of course didn't plan for my summer at all. Sadly since I tend to dislike summer in general and even more so when I don't have anything planned to make my days structured. I am required to take a photography class in order to fulfill my conditions for my grad program. Oh yes, I got me some conditions to work out for the coming summer and fall semester. God willing I'll pass these conditions in order to continue on with the program and get my degree - however you never know in these situations.

My photography class is going well thus far. My teacher is easy going and my class is amusing. I'm starting to get the hang of photography more with my new camera and I'm enjoying myself. FINALLY.

I figure I'd change things up on this blog in order to be more consistent with it. I plan to use it not only for film stuff but also to write down little things that amuse me like for example.

I was walking down division having just come from the lakefront when I passed by a young man wearing aviators, no shirt or maybe he was wearing cut off sleeved shirt. He had very long hair, not like a hippie but more so like a fro of sorts. Anyways he was with two young women - don't recall what they looked like since I only turned back to look at the dude who was calling out.

Why did I notice him? B/c as I was walking down the street he was calling out to me. How do I know this? b/c for the past two days I've been wearing a yellow t-shirt. On the back of the yellow t-shirt it says security in bold black letters. So as I was walking down the street this dude was calling out "Hey Security"... at first I didn't realize that A. he was talking to me or B. what the hell he was saying. Until that is I slowed down to hear what he was saying since he kept yelling " SECURITY... HEY SECURITY" and I looked back at which point he waved and laughed as his two friends also laughed.

So in all my yellow t-shirt that i've been wearing for the past two days amused this guy enough to call out to me. This amused me just as it amused him. I chalked it all up that he was drunk and that the only thing I learned that day is yellow security shirts are a noticble commodity. So get one.

Severly Over Due

So it's a New Year! Already 12 days in and I decided that updating this blog was the best thing I could do today.

From where I last left off I was just in the process of finishing all the post production on my Donut Touch film. With it being a month and 12 days I'm happy to say that I was able to complete the film in time for my in class final critique for Dec 12th, 2008.

The film was received well for the most part. Of course by no means is the film perfect story wise or immaculate shooting wise but it was good enough for my first short film.

I'd like to say I think the film is 100% completed but I can't ( nothing will ever be 100% finished since you can always make it better). There are still some things that I'd like to work on like color correction and tinkering with the sound and the composed music. Hopefully before school work picks up for this coming semester I'll have time to mess with it and then hopefully find some festivals to send it to.

The truth is looking back on the film I wish I had made the story longer. I wish the little girls character had a stronger presence. The film was too short to really pronounce how mischievous the little girl is. I could have showed more of the Mother/Daughter relationship with an added scene. Meh... the film will always be filled with could've/should've/would'ves.

I learned a lot with the first film and will be applying my new found knowledge to hopefully make a solid focus film this coming spring 2009.

Post Production Donut Touch

It's been a few weeks since I have last written any blog entries so I figured what better time than on this dreary Saturday to update my blog on how my first Grad Production 1 film is shaping up.

My Production 1 short film is called Donut Touch. The film is about a little girl who gets caught by her mother in a sticky situation with a doughnut.

I worked with two amazing actresses, a ten year old girl named Thalia who played the daughter and then Marita who played the mother. I worked with a great crew from my director of photography Paul, to his gaffer Christian and my Assitant Director Patrick (who kept me on track and even PA-ed and did pretty much everything I needed to get done). Over all I had a great time directing this short and it was amazing to see my story come to life on film.

As of right now I am currently in post production. Meaning I have shot the film and now I am working on editing it all together.
I have edited a rough cut of the film that I will screening in my class on Monday, Nov 10th.( I am using Final Cut Pro version 7 to cut my film together)

After getting a final cut of the film (hopefully by this coming week) I will be sending it off to the two sound guys I am working with at Columbia as well as to a composer who happened to find me through craigslist. The composer named Chris receieved a Masters in Composing Music for the Screen at Columbia College. He was actually the first class to graduate this past year from the program since it is fairly new.

Anyways, after all the sound is created and mixed in the film should be set to screen for an in class critique on Dec 12th.

Alright, that's it for now... more on my production and any other film jazz later to come ( sooner than later this time around!)

Here are some pictures of the production:

First Post... Be Gentle

So after much thought and a lot of talking... I decided to try out the whole "blog thing". I had a lot of reservations at first (still do) about starting a blog and i'll list them accordingly:



1. Stuff you write on the interweb never goes away! Hence whatever I write can essentially come back to me and bite me in the ass.


2. It's hard for me to separate work related postings with crazy personal stuff ... but i'm going to do my best to keep them separate on this blog. (don't judge me if i fail!)


3. Who reads this anyways? I know i've read random people's blogs before so I guess i'll always be wondering who exactly is reading this... or not reading this (ha!).


4. Self-Conscious about spelling and grammar mistakes - a lot of people might deny it but spelling and grammar is important and both of those are not my strong points... I LOVE RUN-ON SENTENCES! So I guess this is just a forewarning that i'll have a lot of grammar mistakes and I and everyone else who reads this will have to deal.



I guess those are my top four issues with writing a blog...



So why start a blog now?



I have decided to start a blog now because I am currently a first year grad student at Columbia College Chicago. I feel as if keeping an updated and detailed "journal" on my work will be entertaining and a great way to advocate and publicize my film projects. So far in film school I've learned it's not easy being a filmmaker especially an independent filmmaker and giving insight into my triumphs and even struggles (lots of struggles) will make for an entertaining read.

And as much as I might list all my issues and cautions about writing a blog there a lot of positive things that can come out of them, such as:



1. ( As mentioned above) Updating people on current projects I will be working on. This includes publicizing my films/projects.


2. Getting my voice heard by a mass audience.



3. Keeping in touch with people - blogs are great because instead of creating a mass email to friends and families they can just hop on the interweb and look up your blog and stay informed.

In conclusion, there's no denying it I might still have my hang-ups about writing a blog but ultimately technology and common sense have caught up with me. I've realized I've got nothing to lose by starting one of these things and perhaps a lot more to gain from the experience.

THE END.

Next Posting = The making and progress of my first Production 1 Grad Film entitled "Donut Touch".