http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php Independent film, filmmakers, filmmaking. Resources for video and film makers. Movie news, reviews, and information. Indie film forum. en Wed, 14 May 2008 05:13:35 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.indietalk.com/images/indietalk/misc/rss.jpg http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=65 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:51:22 GMT YEAH!!! Carnevil is done! We finally shot the film on April 5, and I just got done editing Sunday night. Once I get SKFilms.net up and running, I'll be sure to link you guys up so you can watch the twelve minute thriller/ SAW wanna-be. I'm very happy with it for my first film that I tried to be pro with, but there are still a TON of errors that I now would never let happen again. I think it was more of a learning experience for me than anything, and hey- I loved it. Can't wait to start the script for my next horror flick, (maybe I'll start that today...) but my main focus I think 'till summer break (June 5th yeah 35 school days not including finals, which I hopefully won't have to take if I passed the OGTs) will be (in no order) 1. Grades 2. Creating and uploading stuff for my Turbosquid account and 3. Write that next script!!!


Thats all for now,

Steve :cool:
]]> Filmmaker516 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=65 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=64 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:23:44 GMT My second observation, however, is this: Even with the twist of this film, it was riddled with all the horror movie cliches you could shake a stick at, which is why I HATE HORROR FILMS! Remember the original SCREAM, when the guy goes through all the horror film cliches to show how whenever... My second observation, however, is this: Even with the twist of this film, it was riddled with all the horror movie cliches you could shake a stick at, which is why I HATE HORROR FILMS!

Remember the original SCREAM, when the guy goes through all the horror film cliches to show how whenever someone does this, they die? The fact that the cliche can be parodied, means it is over done. The cliches are in most horror films, not just HIDE AND SEEK, which handled the situation well enough to find a surprising ending. However, case in point:

There is someone in the house. What do you do?
You run UPSTAIRS so that you are cornered. What are you going to do up there? Jump out the window? Geeez!

You are home alone. Do you check all the doors and windows?
I do. Just the cost of being in America. Thieves sometimes break into homes to rob them. Make sure you are safe and locked in at night. But what do horror movies do? No one checks the house or closes a curtain. EVERYONE knows you are alone and can get into your UNLOCKED home. And then to get away, you run UPSTAIRS!!! (heavy sigh...)

Hey! Does ANYONE have a car that RUNS??? Do you have KEYS? Where are they?
Dammit, I know where my keys are at any given time and I don’t have to go through the whole house to find them. Plus, I have one of those thing-eys where all you have to do is point it at the car and the car is open. I am in the car and I am locking the door.

Hey! the killer is banging on the hood of my car and my windows! Firstly, my windows are up. Secondly, I am IN A CAR. Hmmm....man vs. car? GAME OVER. Let’s see how badassed you are against a couple of tons of Detroit steel, B*tch! Forward or reverse? Its a victim’s market and the killer goes SQUISH.

The killer is chasing you, you run.
Well, okay, I couldn’t run from my house to the end of the block, but the tight, toned little blonde who only weighs 120lbs? Come on. And in these health conscious days, alot of people go running. Just once I want to see someone outrun that big-assed serial killer. Remember the guys in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE? And I think I can’t run?

Okay, so you’re running, you twist your ankle and fall, you can’t get up and run.
Gee, I’ve NEVER seen this before. I hope he catches you and eats you, you little....

BTW,For 5 years, I commuted 88 miles to work and didn’t get off of work until midnight. That is at least an hour and a half of driving. At night. Past huge fields, corn, beans or otherwise, with one house on the land and not another house for miles. That is a horror story just waiting to happen. That is how people DISAPPEAR. I have never run out of gas on that commute. Ever. And in the event that I did, I have a nice little attitude adjuster in the form of a 18 inch lead pipe on the floor of my car. Hey, I’m a girl, I drive at night sometimes, you can’t be too careful.

The killer drops his gun. The victim has the gun with finger on trigger. Now what?
People say that they hate it when people talk back to the screen. I do, too, but here’s the thing: The character has been terrorized by the killer for an hour. EVERYBODY is dead except you, who the killer has tried to kill twice already. Join me, won’t you, as I scream at the screen: SHOOT HIM ALREADY!!!

Okay. THIS TIME you shoot the killer. Now what?
Well, of course you are tired. Much to tired to plug the sonofab*tch again. By all means, you deserve a rest. Have a seat, catch your breath. Make sure your back is to the killer and sit down in the cave you shot him in. Don’t leave the cave, just relax, why, we know he’s dead, right? BANG HEAD HERE.

By the way, I am at a point where I am beginning to tire of terrorizing children. Its just dirty pool and its too easy. Leave the kids alone.

Well, then now there’s no movie. Or is there?

Sure, there is, somewhere. At least the 8 FILMS TO DIE FOR series is trying to do something different. I submit to you PENNY DREADFUL. Yeah, okay, the escaped mental patient, the person going off alone and the twisted ankle, but here we have a person who has a phobia about being in a car. The threat is outside the car. What do you do? Uh, THAT is something I haven’t seen before, that looks like an original thought to me.

The point is to start challenging what we think is scary. I have read posts on other sites saying: we don’t have a woods near us. SO WHAT? BIG DEAL! There are other places where people are supposed to be careful when they are alone, not just the woods. How about making something that isn’t scary, frightening? Challenge our moral thinking or common sense. That is what Stephen King does. That’s why he’s scary.

Maybe I am finding it hard to relate to the character in this way. I mean, the reason why any film works is because on some level you can relate to the characters and suspend plausibility. I guess I can't do that with horror films anymore. I used to be able to.

At some point, and maybe I am already there, people are going to hit the wall. When that happens, there will be alot of people demanding more from horror films than just the cat in the cupboard or faces in a mirror. I know that the cliche is why the movie works, just give me a fresh look at the cliche. Anybody seen the film AUDITION? I still haven’t seen the film HOSTEL but I hear its pretty good with a satisfying ending. Just DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, for pete’s sake! A good freak out beats a bad cliche any day. I want to watch a scary film that doesn’t make me roll my eyes and say:not again.

C’MON, SOMEBODY! Give me a reason to be scared! :scared: :D ]]> spinner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=64 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=63 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:22:20 GMT ROBERT DE NIRO can do anything. De Niro is the consumate actor from RAGING BULL to THE GODFATHER To MIDNIGHT RUN (a personal favorite) to HIDE AND SEEK. There is just a level of ability that mere mortals -or at least your ordinary actor -just does not possess and can probably only hope to... ROBERT DE NIRO can do anything. De Niro is the consumate actor from RAGING BULL to THE GODFATHER To MIDNIGHT RUN (a personal favorite) to HIDE AND SEEK. There is just a level of ability that mere mortals -or at least your ordinary actor -just does not possess and can probably only hope to achieve.

Which brings me to my observation of the day: I watched HIDE AND SEEK just a few minutes ago....well, sorta. It was really just on as background noise and I watched the movie from 30 minutes in for about 15 minutes and then made lunch and watched the last 30 minutes. I know that’s not how you watch a movie, but like I said, it was just on as background noise. Plus, when it came out I was boycotting horror films anyway so I wasn’t really planning to watch.

I think that I should have watched the whole thing. Every time I see De Niro in a film, he plays a different character. Some of you may be saying: "yeah, that’s the point of different movies". But this is what I mean.

I have seen a number of actors where no matter what film they are in, they seem to be playing the same character, only with different hair, clothes, different name. (This is one of the reasons I like independent films, that doesn’t seem to happen as often.) One of the things I don’t like when I go to a movie, is to see the actor play the same ’type’ of character over and over. Its like they are afraid to step out of their understanding, to get out of what they are used to, in order to get to take some chances with their craft. I heard once that there was a film where a couple of big name actresses wanted to be in the film, but didn’t want to read for a particular character because they were afraid that the audience wouldn’t like them. WTF? Everyone knows that the villain is the meatier character and so it would seem to us moviegoers to be the bigger stretch. I mean, Denzel did get the Oscar for TRAINING DAY, didn’t he?

When I watch a movie, I personally want to go in as a blank slate. Which is why I don’t really have favorite actors or directors per se, with the exception of a handful of them. I may have seen their films, but I don’t know which ones, director-wise, unless I look them up. Then I go back and really look at the film again. My reason for this is that I want to take the film for what it is. I don’t want to give the anonymous director any leeway simply because he is ’insert director’s name here’. If the movie sucks, then it sucks and maybe next time the actor/director/screenwriter will hit a home run and that’ll be great.

So, whenever I see De Niro in a film, regardless of what it is or whether or not I even want to watch it, I am always impressed with something that he is doing. How many actors would take a part like the one in JACKIE BROWN? How many lines did De Niro have in that film? His character was practically silent. The character was also a schlubby, sloppy loser, not a whole lot to like or dislike there, but funny in the right places.

The point is that I guess I had just forgotten how good De Niro is. I don’t go to a film unless the subject matter and premise is something that appeals to me. HIDE AND SEEK was a film I wasn’t all hot to see. Now, I want to see it again from the beginning.

Even though Hide and Seek was a suspenseful film -and remember I only saw it from pretty much the last 30-40 minutes -even though I know the punchline, I will probably watch it again, for De Niro and to see how the film really is from start to finish.

Go To Part 2 :D ]]> spinner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=63 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=62 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:25:58 GMT Okay guys so this film that "Steve Keider Films" is currently working on- its called "Carnevil" and its sort of like a "Saw" style movie, horror, gore, stuff like that. I came up with the idea for it in October 2007, and finished my script in early - mid December. I was happy with its length at around 15 pages, because i wanted to do this "short" film to kind of test out the horror genre, because i love horror and thriller movies. (and "Cloverfield" of course ;) ) I'm expecting it to run around 20-21 minutes, because of all the action the script makes seem so short. So we finally have all of our props done and we are really just waiting for our location to open up, and for a couple more actors. I think this should be good, so be looking out for the film to show up on IndieTalk on say, May 16??? ( heh check the b-day calender- its my birthday so i think it would be cool :cool: )

I'll be sittin' up here in Cleveland, Ohio burried in snow 'till next time,

Steve :cool: ]]> Filmmaker516 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=62 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=60 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:06:37 GMT Today I raided a local fabric store and picked up a ream of black felt and some blackout material. I borrowed my mother-in-law's sewing maching and am about to embark on some DIY flags. I also picked up half a yard of long-haired black costume fur to finally sew together a fuzzy cover for my microphone blimp. My only concern with the DIY fuzzy cover is the costume fur and material probably won't be acoustically neutral. I'll have to run a series of tests on it. For 7 bucks and a little spare time, it's worth a try. I forgot a zipper and black thread, though, so it's back to the store tomorrow. I still need to raid Home Depot for additional lighting supplies anyway. The scavenger hunt continues.

I think my wife was surprised that I had "sewing" stashed away in my personal skill set. Of course, it's been 25 years since I sewed together my own halloween costume, a black ninja outfit, but it shouldn't be too hard to get back on that bicycle, should it? I started running through in my mind everything I studied and actually got hands-on experience with so far in my life, and I am truly a Jack of All Trades:

Carpentry
Home Electrical
Plumbing
Computer Programming
Computer Graphics and 3D Animation
Electronics Engineering
Sewing
Automobile Maintenance and Mechanics
Performance Automotive Technologies
Mechanical Engineering
Creative Writing
Screenwriting
Digital Videography
Non-Linear Digital Video Editing
Sound Recording and Engineering
Home Theater and High-end Consumer Electronics Installation and Calibration
Painting
Drafting
Pen & Ink Drawing
Freehand Pencil Sketching
Airbrushing

Now can I say I've mastered any one of them? Not really. I plan to master everything film and digital production for my hobby and, perhaps, my future career. And I will definitely continue to live and work in Electronics Engineering and 3D graphics technologies because that's my bread and butter.

Here's the cool thing. Every skill I've aquired over the years will translate directly to motion picture production. With some time and practice, I can get back on each and every one of those bicycles in order to:

1) Write the script
2) Sketch the storyboards
3) Assemble the production equipment (DIY pretty much anything if I have to)
4) build the set
5) Wire the set
6) setup the lights
7) Operate the camera and recording equipment
8) capture the footage, edit it, and author it
9) Animate the 3D production company logos and create special effects sequences
10) Anything else I need to learn in the process (I'm one of those rare individuals who with a book, a mentor and access to equipment I can learn almost anything, except, maybe, brain surgery - but, then again, if I had access, perhaps... Any volunteers? :lol:)

One area where I am weak is music. I did play several instruments over the years, including trumpet, keyboard, drums and guitar, but never went the distance. I took acting for a couple of years and could get on the camera if I had to, but I left my svelt body behind somewhere back in my early thirties. Thus, I'll be more comfortable behind the camera for now.

Why am I writing this? Am I bragging? No. Because if you put me under pressure in a situation I've studied but have not yet tackled hands-on, I may fumble. That's how we learn. I am writing this because perhaps others will pause and think about skills they have but forgot about, skills that could be useful when they embark on their own independent filmmaking endeavors. Some of the above skills are distant memories. Some are very rusty. I once could swing nunchaku with frightening speed and accuracy, but now I'd probably smack myself in the head so hard I'd end up lying in a hospital bed unconscious. Would that stop me from picking them up again and retraining my mind and body? Nope. There is no return without risk. As a good friend always said, "No guts, no glory; no balls, no blue chips."

Now get out there and make your movie. ]]> VPTurner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=60 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=59 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:07:43 GMT There was no shoot. Last Thursday night I started experiencing pain. Bad pain. It kept me up all night long and I watched the sun rise Friday morning. I stayed home Friday so I could try to get some rest, but the pain wouldn't let me.

I spent all weekend in bed. Literally. I could barely get out to take care of the house or use the facilities.

Here it is... Monday morning. I still feel a bit of residual pain, but it seems to be going away. I hope by tonight it's gone. So nothing got shot this weekend. No video. No photos. Nothing.

Now you know why this last film is so late. I'm trying, though. Please give me that much. I'm really trying.

Whats really scary to say... This may be my last film... if I can finish it. :( ]]> Loud Orange Cat http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=59 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=58 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:31:43 GMT I watched a couple of award shows this weekend. There was the Spirit Awards on IFC. Two hours with no commercials! And the Oscars on Sunday night. I never watch E! Entertainment Television because the people holding the microphones ask the celebrities such dumbassed questions I can't enjoy viewing it. Nice dresses though. I thought everyone decided to go 'old hollywood' glamour which is kind of nice.

Anyway, the Spirit Awards. I knew that alot of the films might be ones that I hadn't heard of even as an aspiring filmmaker, but for me, that is why I watch something like this, I get to see clips of the films and it gives me the opportunity to see if I like the look. The first thing I noticed is that The Independent Spirit Awards was populated by...celebrities. Okay so I was expecting to see fewer familiar faces but its all good. A good movie is a good movie. Then Rainn Wilson of the tv sitcom "The Office" comes on, he's the host. Okay, I'll buy that. Hey, he was in "House Of A Thousand Corpses" and had a little part in "Juno", okay, I'll buy that he's indie...right up until he says: "Middle America is the expanse of land between Los Angeles and New York where people eat carbs and don't understand your film."

WHAT?

This from a guy who lives in the city that is about to re-make The A-Team? I live in Middle America,for some reason I'm not supposed to understand an art film?

So okay, maybe I'm being overly sensitive and I watch the rest of the Spirit Awards. I did enjoy them....

Okay, so I'm not over it. Why is it assumed that am I unable to understand an independent film? I saw "Pi". I like it. I watch David Lynch films and enjoy them. I enjoyed "Donnie Darko". For that matter there are a number of strange films that I enjoy watching because I think that in order to enjoy a unusual film, or any film, you have to suspend plausibility and assume that everything makes sense in context of the film. That's why when I watch something strange or even review someones small film like I do on IndieTalk, I assume that the story will eventually make sense which is why strange doesn't bother me much. What did bother me was this:

So on The View -- yes, I guess I have to resolve myself to the fact that on occasion, I have to watch "The View". (sigh)-- they were bitching and moaning about how it was boring and that they didn't recognize anybody (this is New York now) and how the dresses were boring. Somehow they are supposed to know movies and I am not, being from Middle America an' all.

Look.

Those of us in Middle America are not stupid. It is no longer accurate to assume that your average tv/movie viewer only has a seventh grade reading level. Am I to assume that if you live in Middle America that you won't buy "Requiem For A Dream?"
Please spare me the 'America votes with its dollars' speech. I know that, I get that. But "Fight Club" didn't get all of its attention from only New York or Los Angeles. Pardon me for shuddering when I think of the fact that someone thought a "Dukes Of Hazzard" or "Starsky and Hutch" remake was necessary. I remember Starsky and Hutch being a drama. So why am I being subjected to Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller dumbing it down? Those two actors are fine, but at least the "Miami Vice" remake was a drama. But I digress.

I mentioned this comment to a filmmaker friend of mine at her Oscar party. I don't always agree with who wins the Oscars, but I normally always agree with who is nominated.

Anyway, I mentioned the Rainn Wilson comment to her as she had watched the Spirit Awards as well. "Fuck you, was my response," she said.

Okay, okay, so I know that most people between New York and L.A. will go see the latest Will Smith film before they go see "Pan's Labryinth".(sp) But the guy who wrote "Primer" is from South Carolina, a city that falls into the "expanse that lies between New York and Los Angeles."

Alot of people are going to buy "No Country For Old Men." I personally would love to see the Edith Piaf biopic. But if the individuals who make these films assume that the subject matter will go over my head, then just who are they making these films for? No one makes a film so that it can look pretty on the shelf next to that picture of Grandma and Uncle Cecil. And I would be willing to bet that most of the sales of independent films are being sold in Middle America.

I know that there are alot of independent filmmakers out there who would just love to get the Spirit Award for Best Film Made for Under $500,000 dollars. I know I would. Do you know how far an independent filmmaker could make that money stretch? I would be willing to bet that those filmmakers filmatic tastes are more diverse than the last dumb remake or CGI film with no plot. Indeed since we have no real restrictions, we can experiment as much as we want with only the restriction of having the movie be good.

If that is what some people think of Middle America, no wonder it is so hard to break into Hollywood. If you have no respect for your viewers or expect that they are stupid, well of course you don't want outsiders coming into "your house".

The only weird thing is that the "Herbie, The Lovebug" remake sure didn't come out of Middle America, though it was paid for in Middle America. That being so, I would like to assume that people just want to laugh. Not that the laughter comes from drooling idiots who don't read but just look at the pictures.... :rolleyes:

End of rant. Have a nice day. ]]> spinner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=58 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=57 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:13:02 GMT The project is still in the works, just stalled while I round out my knowledge, production equipment, crew and talent. The story as it was last rewritten is still viable now that the predicament of my chosen cast members is slowly beginning to settle down. Over the last couple of days, I took a... The project is still in the works, just stalled while I round out my knowledge, production equipment, crew and talent. The story as it was last rewritten is still viable now that the predicament of my chosen cast members is slowly beginning to settle down.

Over the last couple of days, I took a major step towards rounding out my production equipment. Since I bought most of my camera equipment used, there were several missing and/or broken parts. All replacement parts are now on order to fully restore everything. I also added some new equipment:

1) 7" camera mountable, battery operated LCD kit with sun shade (LCD4Video - on sale for only $200).

2) A pair of Avenger 10' C Stands with grip arms (for flags, scrims, lights, bouncecards, backdrops, lite panels, whatever)

3) Bogen cross bar for the C Stands (for holding stuff like muslin backrops or an array of clamp lights - I have a collapsible backdrop that I will use for future interviews that I can attach to this)

4) A flexfill holder with stand (I like Walter Graff's bounce fill method - saves me the cost of a large soft box - I'll just flag it and cut it)

5) A 72mm 6 point star filter (not for this production, but for practice on lighting table top setups with glass props and shooting night-time cityscapes)

Next up: foamcore! There's a place somewhare in town that sells it nationally so I should be able to pick up some large sheets fairly cheap.

Before this project gets underway, I'll probably cut together a montage set to music of the lighting tests. Should be interesting to see how things evolve. ]]> VPTurner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=57 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=56 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:35:32 GMT All this talk of suicide and the moral implications of telling a story based on it brought back memories of a short story I wrote in my early twenties. I thought lately of turning it into a short film, but leaving it as a downer just didn't sit well with me. The message, though, remains clear. We need to look after our children because often we don't realize the damage we can cause.


Sweet Sixteen
(C) 2007 V.P. Turner

Alissa sat back in the tub, feeling the hot water rush over her like the emotions burning inside. She held her arms above the water knowing the pain she would feel when she lowered them into the tub. She winced as each beat of her heart sent searing pain through her wrists. This time she had cut too deep. She could not move her left hand. She felt the tendon snap. She had heard it. But she did not care. At last, she lowered her arms, her resolve along with them. The warmth was soothing, and the pain ebbed. She watched as crimson flowed from the cuts in her wrists like smoke from a pipe, curling in wisps from the wounds.

This time, she would not fail. There was no one around to stop her. Damn this life and everyone in it.

Her thoughts turned to mom. What would her mother think? She hadn't seen her mother since she was in the hospital. Mark, her boyfriend, had found her last time here in this same bathtub, only the water was too cool and the bleeding slowed too soon. He found her alive, although barely. She hated him for it. Mom would not stop crying, and Alissa had just wanted her to shut up, to stop feeling sorry for her.

"Why, why! Why do you do this?" her mother wailed in her mind. Alissa did not respond. She laid there, staring off into space, into the nothingness she sought to become.

Mom. It was her fault, she thought. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. She lied to herself. She knew damn well why she was there. The rape, the incest, the ridicule. First her father, then her brother. No more. Never again.

The pain began to subside. Her heart was not beating as fast as it had. She was calming, accepting her fate, letting the memories end, allowing the worries to flow from her with the steady stream of crimson. The waters turned slowly darker, an occasional spasm making ripples that lapped the sides of the tub, leaving a dark ring of blood.

She opened her eyes for one last look at the world around, and her gaze fell upon the birthday card her mom sent the other day. She saw it through the partially opened door, setting on her dresser. She remembered briefly how she felt when she had opened it. It was a good feeling because she knew she had reached the golden age where life truly begins for most girls. Then she began to cry. No sobs, just tears. She hadn't the strength for anything but that. She cried because she realized that her life was ending where so many just begin. But she had experienced so much. Love, sex, birth, death. The death of her second child, premature from the alcohol, no doubt, the alcohol that ran rampant in her blood during the conception, the same blood she now sought to force from her body, tainted and rotten.

Then her thoughts began to race uncontrolled. A mother who ignored the cries for help, a brother who molested her, a father who raped her, a boyfriend who took advantage of her after getting her drunk, a mother who ignored the obvious, a world uncaring and unforgiving, the children she would never have and whom she longed to join with in the world beyond, no religion to fall back upon, nothing but a spattering of the word "God" in her lifetime with "Church" being a foreign place, ridiculed by friends in school, sought by boys because she was "easy", wishing she had held onto the virtues of the other girls, not caring anymore because it was going to end soon. She did not deserve to be in this world anymore. Enough people had suffered. Now her children would never know life because of her. An abortion her mother knew nothing about, of the child given to her by her own father. If her mother only knew. She didn't care. Life will be over soon, and the horrors with it. She was no longer condemned to this loveless, lawless world. To hell with them all. Let them think about what they did to me while standing over my grave. They deserve the pain they feel.

She felt sick to her stomach, a tingling in her head made her feel queezy. The images of the world around her began to fade, all but the words on the face of the card that now burned deep into her soul, the words which said, "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen". ]]> VPTurner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=56 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=55 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:37:42 GMT When it's quiet and my mind is at rest, the muse strikes hard and fast. I've spent several weeks pondering my next feature length story concept and the characters who will participate. Today, it hit me. I will soon fill blank pages again. The last feature took six months from concept to first draft. Let's see how this one flows. Here is my marker. Ready... set... go!

Wait, I hear you. What's it about, you ask? It's about time. It's about time I got back to writing again because that's where it all started, with the written word. Enough for now about exposure and color temperature, focal lengths and boom poles. Time to focus on story. That's where all good films begin.

When it's quiet, you'll hear the sound of a fountain pen scratching on paper lit solely by flame. That's where the magic lives, in an age long before computers and other digital distractions. I've always done my best creative work late at night, half conscious, when the world around me sleeps. I silence the hum of cooling fans and annoying electronic buzz, light a few candles and an oil lamp, and step back to a simpler existence. No spell checkers or chatroom shorthand allowed in this room.

Amazing things can happen... when it's quiet. ]]> VPTurner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=55 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=54 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:14:43 GMT i found one of the easiest and simplest way of cinema making. i was worried about theater release, festival inclusion and wider audience and looking at current film making, so difficult to think. all changes when i started making independent films worth 5k-10k in HD format and then blowing it to... i found one of the easiest and simplest way of cinema making. i was worried about theater release, festival inclusion and wider audience and looking at current film making, so difficult to think.

all changes when i started making independent films worth 5k-10k in HD format and then blowing it to 35MM.

I am still searching a partner who can blow my HD films into 35MM at reasonable price so that I start making 4-5 films each year. ]]> amefilms http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=54 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=53 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 08:52:54 GMT Procrastination. What a horribly wonderful thing. That is, it's horrible and it makes me wonder. I used to think of myself as a Jack of all trades and a master of none. This is no longer true. I have mastered the art of procrastination. My first mental break from Mundania (that place where the mundane and boring live, q.v. Piers Anthony, Man from Mundania) and I find myself reminiscing about what could have been, what should have been. But could it have been any different for me to become who I am, how I am? Certainly not. The question I must now ask is whether or not what I have become will adequately serve me in the next phase of my evolution. If not, what additional steps must I take to bridge where I am to where I want to be, where I need to be?

I was always fascinated by the supernatural, the fantastic and the abnormal. As such, anything I create must have some form of twist on it that breaks it free from normalcy or what most would consider "expected". TV shows like Medium, Nip/Tuck, Dexter, and Journeyman always hold my interest as does most plausible science fiction. Nothing irritates me more than a predictable plot line or science that is considerably far fetched. Writing science fiction, fantasy or FX laden paranormal stories 18 years ago didn't go over too well, but now they are very much in vogue. How long will it last? With digital FX, anything is possible. If you can dream it, they can create it. And I've had the unique opportunity to watch that technology evolve from the inside out all the way down to the electrons that wiggle the bits that make the bytes that render the house that Jack built. It's time I tapped into it. And I have six stories that have long been stewing.

When I wrote my first feature script many years ago, the cornerstone of the homicide investigation led by my protagonist was a cybernetic hand found at the scene of a crime. The audience knew a cyborg self terminated, but my protagonist did not and he was determined to find out what and why. The discovery that led him into the second act was a microchip unlike anything forensics had ever encountered (fabricated in three dimensions, which we can do today, but this was 18 years ago when I came up with the idea). Believe it or not, I wrote this story before I knew Terminator 2 was in preproduction. Terminator 2 and Eve of Destruction held uncanny elements from my story, both of which came out years after I wrote it. Coincidence or collective unconscious? I recently saw again some buddy cop films from that era, and now I realize the buddy cop elements came largely from those movies, making it much more cliche' than I had realized (the loud and abusive police Captain, the protagonist in a beat up car with poor eating habits and living conditions, the partner who is slick, intelligent, well dressed and underappreciated - cf. 48 Hours with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy). No coincidence there. It's no wonder my father loved the story. He's an ex cop who likes to read science fiction. But I digress.

Is there something out there that I know well that hasn't already been beaten to death? Probably not. But only I am me and only I have my unique perspective on the world. Do I have something to say, something to shove down the throats of the rest of the world? Sure. I think Global Warming is nothing but a political platform with no basis in fact, just emotion, and that the Earth is on a natural cycle. I think a woman's body is her own and what she does with it is nobody's business - this motion to call an embryo a "person" is ludicrous. Let's not abort any of them then. Let's just have an embryo sanctuary where they are safely harvested and grown in test tubes in the hopes that one day they will become a contributing member of society. Nevermind the other children who can't get adopted and are starving and dying throughout the world. Let's make more. Let's force families into poverty. What? They should've thought about that before they had sex? Do you think of the consequences everytime you open your mouth to eat? Procreation is one of the most powerful instincts we have. You may as well ask someone to stop breathing. Sex will happen, and there are no 100% guarantees with contraception. Abortion is going to happen whether we like it or not even if it goes underground. Just like drinking alcohol. Not everyone does it, but that doesn't give those who don't the right to condemn those who do unless those who do affect others through reckless abandon. And those who seek to punish the women and the children by forcing onto the parents a child they are not prepared to raise or feed or cloth are acting emotionally with reckless abandon and will do more damage to society in the long run. Do not force your will upon others lest you are prepared to have theirs forced upon you.

There. That should ruffle a few feathers. I'm clearly pro-choice and anti-Al Gore. Do you think I'd fit in well in Hollywood? :lol:

Procrastination. What a horribly wonderful thing. ]]> VPTurner http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=53 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=52 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:08:21 GMT I came across this short film The Youth in Us some months ago and it is very inspirational in showing the power of short film. I thought I would share its website. It won a zillion awards. I highly recommend watching this short, about 10 minutes in length. http://theyouthinus.com/ I came across this short film The Youth in Us some months ago and it is very inspirational in showing the power of short film. I thought I would share its website. It won a zillion awards. I highly recommend watching this short, about 10 minutes in length.
http://theyouthinus.com/ ]]> Joe999 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=52 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=51 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:52:45 GMT I have written a first draft of my first feature screenplay :yes:, with the assistance of a mentor / consultant whom I hired to see me through the process (Margo Prescott (http://home.earthlink.net/~maggie22/id111.html)). It is a supernatural thriller. I am excited at the prospect of producing it... I have written a first draft of my first feature screenplay :yes:, with the assistance of a mentor / consultant whom I hired to see me through the process (Margo Prescott). It is a supernatural thriller. I am excited at the prospect of producing it as an independent feature film, although that excitement has been tempered lately as I have become partially educated in the harsh realities of the difficulty in getting distribution for features. :( So I will have to wait and see what the future holds-- whether I will be able to produce this myself, or if I will put the screenplay on the market and let someone else produce it.

Many revisions yet to come on this screenplay I am sure. Once I get it tuned up after working with my current consultant, I plan to get additional mentoring / consulting from John Rainey to bring it up yet another notch. If I am to produce it myself as an independent feature, I want the story and screenplay to be great, not just good. So lots of work in the months ahead. :rolleyes: ]]> Joe999 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=51 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=50 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:41:46 GMT I have yet to produce my first film :(, but I am gearing up for lots of filming in 2008. I had a short film ready to shoot October 2007 but on the day I was to film actors on location, an historic bought of drought suddenly changed to biblical days of rain :( that never ended. So that short film,... I have yet to produce my first film :(, but I am gearing up for lots of filming in 2008. I had a short film ready to shoot October 2007 but on the day I was to film actors on location, an historic bought of drought suddenly changed to biblical days of rain :( that never ended. So that short film, set outdoors, is on hold until 2008.

I have four short film screenplays I have written and tweaked, anxious to produce into short films during spring, summer, and autumn of 2008. :yes: One of these shorts I am planning to film yet this winter. ]]> Joe999 http://www.indietalk.com/blog.php?b=50