In order to produce and distribute via DIY (do-it-yourself) filmmaking you have to adapt to new technologies, techniques, and tools in order to reach the full potential of DIY.
DIY production has been well received by the filmmaking community ever since the invention of 8mm film. People have making movies and short films for years - so whats different about it now? Filmmaking has reached a level of professionalism on the consumer side with the invention of 3 chip cameras, professional editing equipment, apple computers, and photoshop. Now-a-days, a filmmaker can shoot their movie on a pro-sumer grade camera they own and edit it on their computer with the free iMovie or professional, Final Cut.
The revolution as of now is the DIY distribution road filmmakers are taking. Again, with consumer and prosumer equipment, filmmakers can release their film professionally and successfully. With the help of Photoshop, one can create and distribute promotional art such as banners, wallpaper, and other digital swag on the internet or even print it out and make stickers and post cards. With the use of internet technology, filmmakers can create websites, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and build an audience before they even release the film, as seen with FourEyedMonsters.
So by taking the time to learn these new technologies and make use of them, I can build an audience, promote my film, and even book theaters and festivals around the world. The onlyh problem is that it takes a lot of man-power and time. You have to take on the roll of not only the producer to make your film, but writer, director, editor, publicist, web designer, web promotion team, street team, and distributor! So why the heck don't I just get a studio to release my film? First, it's a short - and theirs no market, money, or timeslot for shorts in the professional world. So when I make a feature, why not then? I'd gladly do so, but in most cases, independent film is a bridge for a lot of people into the studio system, if desired, and that option would only come after a couple of successful productions and releases of a filmmakers film. Plus, it's the whole underground uprising that makes for good press and good experience.
Conclusion: Like the French New Wave, the filmschool wave, this is now the New Online Wave.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Small, big, or SMALL?
Today's technology allows filmmakers to do just about anything the pros do ... give an take. With progrmas such as Final Cut, DVD Studio PRO, and especially Photoshop, consumers are creating professional grade material whether it's a film, dvd, or promotional poster.
This is also true about the tools used on set of a film, such as the camera. The latest toy for filmmakers out there is prosumer grade HD digital cameras equipt with three chip color and built in booms; some even have interchangeable lenses! (wish i had one) As a result, the qauality of films are going sky-high from the serious filmmakers out there. On the other hand, there's the home-movie maker who films something funny and posts it on youtube or myspace. These people are annoying ... but they earn their laugh most of the time. My frustration with them is spawned from the content on myspace and youtube of this kind because it simply overcrowds the market and overshadows serious filmmakers. How many times have you heard someone ask about this great film on youtube? Rarely! It's always about this clip from the zoo when this monkey flung something or about the kid that ran around the bank naked threatening to "go potty" and ended up with four-hundred thousand dollars in ransom money.
Filmmkaing is getting easier and easier by the day ... especially thanks to the internet - and now, web 2.0! Storytelling on the other hand will always be a mixture of art, history, and craftsmanship and in my point of view, will set the truely talented apart from the youtubers.
So after you decide to make a movie, the next logical question is, what to make it about. For a producer doing everything themselves, like me, the first impulse is to get as many people on set as possible to bring this movie to the screen ... but after reevaluating the independent situation, budget or lack thereof, and schedule crunch - a producer realizes that it might be smart to downsize.
The key here is to downsize in production crew but preserve the production value of the film. I call this shooting SMALL instead of small. The things you project on the screen are what make the production value. It's what makes the movie worth seeing. Take King King for example, there's two major production values in this movie ... and the second is the empire state building scene. So to keep you from shooting boring movies in one room in the middle of the day with one character, keep the production SMALL. Impossible right? Wrong, as stated above, cameras alone are efficient enough now to scratch a few crew positions from the production staff. Soundman, gone. Camera operator, gone. As an example, allow me to describe what I'll be doing on my next shoot: two people, including myself at a secret location. Instead of bringing along the DP, AD, and those who make movies happen day to day, it's going to be me and the actress alone on set, performing the scene, together in one shot - no I'm not a ham, in fact I won't be caught dead starring in a movie.
Point is, the secret to creating a short film that stands out from the youtubies is to keep it SMALL - that way you're not spending 50,000 on a short like a student at USC, but you're keeping the production value up thus surprising the audience and giving them something to look at.
This is also true about the tools used on set of a film, such as the camera. The latest toy for filmmakers out there is prosumer grade HD digital cameras equipt with three chip color and built in booms; some even have interchangeable lenses! (wish i had one) As a result, the qauality of films are going sky-high from the serious filmmakers out there. On the other hand, there's the home-movie maker who films something funny and posts it on youtube or myspace. These people are annoying ... but they earn their laugh most of the time. My frustration with them is spawned from the content on myspace and youtube of this kind because it simply overcrowds the market and overshadows serious filmmakers. How many times have you heard someone ask about this great film on youtube? Rarely! It's always about this clip from the zoo when this monkey flung something or about the kid that ran around the bank naked threatening to "go potty" and ended up with four-hundred thousand dollars in ransom money.
Filmmkaing is getting easier and easier by the day ... especially thanks to the internet - and now, web 2.0! Storytelling on the other hand will always be a mixture of art, history, and craftsmanship and in my point of view, will set the truely talented apart from the youtubers.
So after you decide to make a movie, the next logical question is, what to make it about. For a producer doing everything themselves, like me, the first impulse is to get as many people on set as possible to bring this movie to the screen ... but after reevaluating the independent situation, budget or lack thereof, and schedule crunch - a producer realizes that it might be smart to downsize.
The key here is to downsize in production crew but preserve the production value of the film. I call this shooting SMALL instead of small. The things you project on the screen are what make the production value. It's what makes the movie worth seeing. Take King King for example, there's two major production values in this movie ... and the second is the empire state building scene. So to keep you from shooting boring movies in one room in the middle of the day with one character, keep the production SMALL. Impossible right? Wrong, as stated above, cameras alone are efficient enough now to scratch a few crew positions from the production staff. Soundman, gone. Camera operator, gone. As an example, allow me to describe what I'll be doing on my next shoot: two people, including myself at a secret location. Instead of bringing along the DP, AD, and those who make movies happen day to day, it's going to be me and the actress alone on set, performing the scene, together in one shot - no I'm not a ham, in fact I won't be caught dead starring in a movie.
Point is, the secret to creating a short film that stands out from the youtubies is to keep it SMALL - that way you're not spending 50,000 on a short like a student at USC, but you're keeping the production value up thus surprising the audience and giving them something to look at.
The Game Plan ... as of now.
As a filmmaker in today's digital revolution, I find that everyone now-a-days are making movies and posting them to sites like myspace and youtube. It's become a trend that most likely won't go away any time soon. This presents a problem for the serious filmmaker looking to get attention for their work and advance in their career because the load of creative work is spilling from every window, advertisement, and film festival out there.
I entered the business with a plan to make a movie, show it to people, and do the festival route ... but thanks to the big digi-wave of new media, consumer products, and free broadband space available on the internet ... it's a whole new ball game and I'm sprinting to catch up.
So what's my new plan? The plan is still formulating and literally changing every day - here it is:
1. Make third shot film.
2. Burn Reel DVD with 3 shorts, 3 commercials, and short reel.
3. Use withoutabox.com to apply and submit all 3 films to festivals.
4. Create online media, such as this blog, banners, and website for my work.
5. Establish RICEmmFILM as a company.
6. Develop feature material to produce or sell under the company's banner.
7. Write feature screenplays.
8. Distribute feature material via DIY (do-it-yourself) a la web.
9. Send press releases.
This is a summary of my plan toward making it as a director in Hollywood. The next big stepping stone is burning a reel and sending it out wither for directing jobs, representation, or press-time.
Overall, the whole process is based around the very thing that changed the business ... the internet. The plan changes every day but the goal stays the same. For inspirational behind-the-scenes stories of directors starting up, you should check out the Star Wars documentary as well as the featurette on Duel.
I entered the business with a plan to make a movie, show it to people, and do the festival route ... but thanks to the big digi-wave of new media, consumer products, and free broadband space available on the internet ... it's a whole new ball game and I'm sprinting to catch up.
So what's my new plan? The plan is still formulating and literally changing every day - here it is:
1. Make third shot film.
2. Burn Reel DVD with 3 shorts, 3 commercials, and short reel.
3. Use withoutabox.com to apply and submit all 3 films to festivals.
4. Create online media, such as this blog, banners, and website for my work.
5. Establish RICEmmFILM as a company.
6. Develop feature material to produce or sell under the company's banner.
7. Write feature screenplays.
8. Distribute feature material via DIY (do-it-yourself) a la web.
9. Send press releases.
This is a summary of my plan toward making it as a director in Hollywood. The next big stepping stone is burning a reel and sending it out wither for directing jobs, representation, or press-time.
Overall, the whole process is based around the very thing that changed the business ... the internet. The plan changes every day but the goal stays the same. For inspirational behind-the-scenes stories of directors starting up, you should check out the Star Wars documentary as well as the featurette on Duel.
Inspiration leads to Questions
After watching Tristan's film, Hungry, I was struck with inspiration to get off my butt and make a film ... which I'm currently doing as of now among other things. The only problem is that once I get an idea and develop it and plot out the shoot, I want it to be the best example of my filmmkaing abilities possible ... and that means time for some reason. It depends on the project, but it seems to take a long time before I can kick myself in the butt to get out on location and shoot my movie!
Maybe it's just my procrastinatory ways ... or maybe it's that the stories I want to tell, take the time to bring to the screen. I can shoot half of my movie tomorrow if I wanted but the other half would require me to get out on a location for a weekend with several actors, wardrobe, and special effects as well as a secret location I can't reveal at the moment. So why don't I simply shoot half my movie tomorrow? I don't know. I think it's because I want to start production so that every weekend is back to back so the team can gel together and the flow isn't too choppy.
Tristan shot Hungry as a part of the 48 hour film project and part of its success is as a result of good directing of the camera. It was shot in a cinema verti' style that served the story and brought everything to life. The kineticism was there and the material flowed but it didn't have huge crane booms and long dolly shots ... well it did but the camera was handheld at the time within a car as far as I know - unless he forgot to tell me he shut down the airport and set up a shot that ran from one terminal to the next. I guess what I'm saying is that even though the camera crane booms and big-budget looking stuff is cool to use, if it doesn't serve the story then forget about it. So all in all, a director's job is to present the story the way they see it and hopefully highlight a few themes while doing so.
So while I want to get out and make a movie RIGHT NOW thanks to my cousin, Tristan, I have to keep a focused eye toward the project I'm working on and what I want to bring to the screen through it. I'm very excited to hear from people who are reading the script and what they have to say in terms of problems and their particular field of work. What inspired this blurb was a mixture of "Hungry" the film combined with the time between my current film and GoldFishing.
Why did it take so long? I imagine moving to Northridge might be responsible for my break from "on-set" time.
Note to self: Make movies as much as possible.
Maybe it's just my procrastinatory ways ... or maybe it's that the stories I want to tell, take the time to bring to the screen. I can shoot half of my movie tomorrow if I wanted but the other half would require me to get out on a location for a weekend with several actors, wardrobe, and special effects as well as a secret location I can't reveal at the moment. So why don't I simply shoot half my movie tomorrow? I don't know. I think it's because I want to start production so that every weekend is back to back so the team can gel together and the flow isn't too choppy.
Tristan shot Hungry as a part of the 48 hour film project and part of its success is as a result of good directing of the camera. It was shot in a cinema verti' style that served the story and brought everything to life. The kineticism was there and the material flowed but it didn't have huge crane booms and long dolly shots ... well it did but the camera was handheld at the time within a car as far as I know - unless he forgot to tell me he shut down the airport and set up a shot that ran from one terminal to the next. I guess what I'm saying is that even though the camera crane booms and big-budget looking stuff is cool to use, if it doesn't serve the story then forget about it. So all in all, a director's job is to present the story the way they see it and hopefully highlight a few themes while doing so.
So while I want to get out and make a movie RIGHT NOW thanks to my cousin, Tristan, I have to keep a focused eye toward the project I'm working on and what I want to bring to the screen through it. I'm very excited to hear from people who are reading the script and what they have to say in terms of problems and their particular field of work. What inspired this blurb was a mixture of "Hungry" the film combined with the time between my current film and GoldFishing.
Why did it take so long? I imagine moving to Northridge might be responsible for my break from "on-set" time.
Note to self: Make movies as much as possible.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
A complete Treatment
Finally! I just finished a treatment that seemed to take forever. It seemed that no matter how long I applied by brain to this current story I'm working on I couldn't progress quick enough. The problem there is that I have a deadline by the end of today. I would think up stuff to place i act one, subplot material I couldn't go into depth with, and visual direction I wanted to sneak into the material.
Looking back, I realize that it's simply not how I work. I'm not usually quick on my feet when it comes to jokes, comments, anything! So naturally, it takes me a while to come up with ideas that gel and think up scenes to transition between acts. Keeping in mind that I wrote the treatment in a total period of around one day, maybe it just seemed to take long when the time was ticking.
To conclude this rant, I'd like to pass along that there's no greater feeling than having a complete treatment to a story you want to tell - and I think its because you can sell a treatment! :)
Of course, this draft is a basic draft that I'll have to revise a bit in order to balance out the material and pack the thematic punches where they count but all in all, it's another step toward "fade to black".
Looking back, I realize that it's simply not how I work. I'm not usually quick on my feet when it comes to jokes, comments, anything! So naturally, it takes me a while to come up with ideas that gel and think up scenes to transition between acts. Keeping in mind that I wrote the treatment in a total period of around one day, maybe it just seemed to take long when the time was ticking.
To conclude this rant, I'd like to pass along that there's no greater feeling than having a complete treatment to a story you want to tell - and I think its because you can sell a treatment! :)
Of course, this draft is a basic draft that I'll have to revise a bit in order to balance out the material and pack the thematic punches where they count but all in all, it's another step toward "fade to black".
Monday, February 19, 2007
"Hunger" a short by my cousin!
I just watched this short and had to post it here for anyone who's reading this to see as well. It's a great piece of short cinema that's full of heart and really moves the audience with a well-known message we can all agree with.
Great job Tristan and Ashton! You are two very talented guys.
Watch Hunger Here
Great job Tristan and Ashton! You are two very talented guys.
Watch Hunger Here
2nd Act Treatment Challenges
Writing the second act has always been viewed as the hardest part of writing a screenplay. It's especially difficult when your unsure what the second act's turning point is.
As I plot my screenplay's story, I realize more and more that I have a lot of work to do in order to understand what I'm telling and what I'm trying to tell. In order to effectively tell a story audiences will take home and remember or even simply enjoy, I have to know where I'm going with it ... but when in writing in treatment form, it's easier said than done.
Though this is the most exciting time of the storytelling process for a writer, or from my point of view at least, it's something else when you have a deadline to meet. It's fun to ride the journey with the characters and learn what the lessons from their perspective but at the same time it's mentally challenging for a long period of time. So I turn here to the blog to write my way through some of my blocks I'm trying to get over ... because my Universal pass expired and I can't muse there:)!
1. I've got a set up to the story .... and it works well. It introduces the characters, the dramatic premise, situation, and dramatic conflict.
2. The story can end one of two ways, which I can't release yet but can say they are equally fair, dramatic, and effective depending on the message of the story ... which now I realize, one might lend itself to the message better than the other! Great! One block out of the way!
3. What happens during the characters journey? This is the most fun to explore, but as I said above, it can be challenging when thinking of the large picture and what you're trying to say as a storyteller. Additionally, I'm not quite finished with the index cards yet so with a little work and completion, I'll have a focused idea of incidents and events that can happen in the story. Nothing better than good old brainstorming.
That's it for now I guess. It's 12:23 in the morning and I can't wait to get to work tomorrow so I'm hitting the hay. Hope it rains - nothing better than rain when writing.
christopher
(Image: Left to Right) Kalen, Ashton, Christopher, Katie, Ray, Tristan
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