Our wonderfully talented friend, DP Erik Curtis, who was extremely busy during this last movie he was shooting (known as The Chaos Experiment with Val Kilmer) finally arrived back in Tampa for the much anticipated Cinematography class for the Tampa Weekend Film School. The event was sponsered by Kodak & we were going to be 'having school' in ValComm/Chameleon Filmworks Studios in Clearwater and we were going to be using Panavision with (of course) Kodak high grade film. There were about 20-30 students and about 15 crew including Erik Curtis & Pete Guzzo (acting as Director) & while we were training loading film, dolly gripping & using the camera we were going to be shooting a PSA for a benefit to raise money by bicycling for a cause. There was another Director working with us as well (who I really liked) but I didn't really get his name. We shot HD alongside and got to compare between the two on the $30k monitors. Of course, the processing of the film will have to take place in the next week or two & Erik has informed us that we will be going on a trip to the Lab... Continental Labs in Orlando! It should be very informational & a lot of fun! I will learn a great deal I'm sure! I think that as film goes out of style... it will become cheaper, but also the skill set will be harder to come by... this experience will become a valuable one!
I have to say, that Erik was one of the nicest, coolest & most accessible DP's I've met & I was VERY honored to work with him, even a little bit. I LOVED pulling focus for the last second of film in the camera! Go out with a bang, baby!! This has been the favorite of my film school experiences so far!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Dinner with Joe Davison
In anticipation of Director of Photography Erik Curtis (who had just finished production in Michigan on The Chaos Experiment with Val Kilmer), we had planned a dinner to talk about our upcoming Tampa Weekend Film School Cinematography class! What ended up happening instead was an unexpected rare treat!
Instead of Erik Curtis, we got to eat dinner with horror movie writer/actor/producer/director Joe Davison from the movie 100 Tears. Joe turns out to be an awesome guy who schooled us on a lot of misconceptions in the film industry & his experiences. We really had a great time & I think we have formed a long-time bond with Joe... so much so that near the end of our dinner, we brain stormed about some story ideas that we would like to do before Halloween & now we have planned a shoot date & set locations & everything for a three part YouTube video release starring Joe! Sounds like indy heaven! We did miss Erik but we know that he was very busy... After a tough shoot its good to take a break from all the stress & I do hope Erik got to do that!
Instead of Erik Curtis, we got to eat dinner with horror movie writer/actor/producer/director Joe Davison from the movie 100 Tears. Joe turns out to be an awesome guy who schooled us on a lot of misconceptions in the film industry & his experiences. We really had a great time & I think we have formed a long-time bond with Joe... so much so that near the end of our dinner, we brain stormed about some story ideas that we would like to do before Halloween & now we have planned a shoot date & set locations & everything for a three part YouTube video release starring Joe! Sounds like indy heaven! We did miss Erik but we know that he was very busy... After a tough shoot its good to take a break from all the stress & I do hope Erik got to do that!
The State of the Film & Entertainment Industry Summit
On October 9th, the "State of the Film & Entertainment Industry Summit" took place in St. Petersburg, FL. to address the sad situation of the film & entertainment industries in Florida. Most states in our country have gone to some lengths to engage in a healthy competition to court the film industry to continue shooting & doing projects in their states (of course except for a few, one, namely being Florida). The lame incentives Florida offers are kind of like an insult to the industry almost to the point that they are 'asking' productions to leave the state. I really don't understand the logic in it whatsoever but the politicians that headed the 'summit' (as they called it) didn't really offer any solutions except to help them do their jobs & to keep doing more work for them.
I have to say, if I am going to have to do something & if what I do is successful, why do I need these people to speak for us filmmakers in Florida? They are proving to us all that they are not doing their jobs by putting on the farcical show they staged. It ended up being a forum for us to all complain about the fact that the capitol in Tallahassee is doing 'nothing' to help us poor, innocent filmmakers & videographers... blah, blah. Once again a waste of our efforts on politicians to save us.
I don't care for their efforts & I don't expect anyone to do anything to help me, I simply don't want anyone to get in my way to create as an artist. If at least, the state & local governments were offering a policy to help with permits, security & insurance it would make creating easier. I'm not asking for money for myself, I'm asking for these bureaucracies to fast-track some of the processes we have to wade through because we are doing things up-front & in cooperation with these governments. Plus I think it contributes to our tradition in Florida to have smaller government. Taxes could be waived as well possibly... who knows? There are actually so many ways that the state could help (without having to put up any funds whatsoever) that it is almost shocking to see so little action on their part. Which, again, makes it look like they are actually asking for production companies to leave Florida!
Once again, government saves mankind! Well... with some reservations. So, the plan is for us to go to Tally & once again, not be heard. :-\
I have to say, if I am going to have to do something & if what I do is successful, why do I need these people to speak for us filmmakers in Florida? They are proving to us all that they are not doing their jobs by putting on the farcical show they staged. It ended up being a forum for us to all complain about the fact that the capitol in Tallahassee is doing 'nothing' to help us poor, innocent filmmakers & videographers... blah, blah. Once again a waste of our efforts on politicians to save us.
I don't care for their efforts & I don't expect anyone to do anything to help me, I simply don't want anyone to get in my way to create as an artist. If at least, the state & local governments were offering a policy to help with permits, security & insurance it would make creating easier. I'm not asking for money for myself, I'm asking for these bureaucracies to fast-track some of the processes we have to wade through because we are doing things up-front & in cooperation with these governments. Plus I think it contributes to our tradition in Florida to have smaller government. Taxes could be waived as well possibly... who knows? There are actually so many ways that the state could help (without having to put up any funds whatsoever) that it is almost shocking to see so little action on their part. Which, again, makes it look like they are actually asking for production companies to leave Florida!
Once again, government saves mankind! Well... with some reservations. So, the plan is for us to go to Tally & once again, not be heard. :-\
Our Non-Profit P.S.A.'s
Training at the Tampa Weekend Film School (in Association with the Weekend Film Crew created by Daniel Brienza) has been steadily increasing with our 'Non-Profit PSA Project' we have embarked upon. The project entails finding organizations that might be able to use the help that a Public Service Announcement might give them, in order for our group to practice making small projects (like commercials) and then to continue on to making shorts or films as time goes on & we gather more knowledge & experience.
The first we did about three months ago was for a non-profit organization called
"Connected by 25" which helps foster kids who graduate out of the foster care system. Many times, these young adults find themselves cut off from any meaningful help or any support system they may be used to having when they leave their foster home. This organization seeks to help re-establish the support system these kids need so desperately. Dan Brienza Directed, DP'ed & is editing it currently. I Produced. Chris Gayle AD'ed, Cheryl Williams was the Casting Director & we had a few really great actors!
The second one we have been working on is going to be completely created with V.O.'s, Final Cut & After Effects, etc. and the third we are going to be doing is still yet to be determined. So far it has been successful & a lot of fun... we just have to do the editing... :)
The first we did about three months ago was for a non-profit organization called
"Connected by 25" which helps foster kids who graduate out of the foster care system. Many times, these young adults find themselves cut off from any meaningful help or any support system they may be used to having when they leave their foster home. This organization seeks to help re-establish the support system these kids need so desperately. Dan Brienza Directed, DP'ed & is editing it currently. I Produced. Chris Gayle AD'ed, Cheryl Williams was the Casting Director & we had a few really great actors!The second one we have been working on is going to be completely created with V.O.'s, Final Cut & After Effects, etc. and the third we are going to be doing is still yet to be determined. So far it has been successful & a lot of fun... we just have to do the editing... :)
Editing Class with Rebecca Croft
About two months ago (I neglected to post it then), we at the Tampa Weekend Film School had a great time putting on the last editing workshop with Rebecca Croft on Final Cut Pro. Rebecca has been editing in Final Cut for the last 8 years but before this event, she had never trained anyone to edit (except for me) and she found it difficult to imagine teaching others at first. But, she did an awesome job and everyone seemed pleased with all the very detailed bits of knowledge she imparted to the 10-12 or so students that attended.
I really hope we continue to do events like this in the future. It was very practical & informative for everyone involved! Thank you Rebecca! :)
I really hope we continue to do events like this in the future. It was very practical & informative for everyone involved! Thank you Rebecca! :)
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