And…cut…
Well July is nearly over, and I have met my personal deadline of wrapping up shooting by August 1st. In mid-June I set the wheels in motion to start work on my new short film, which as of right now is untitled. I am lucky to have a job that lets me take out equipment when I need to, because making a movie can be expensive.
I started filming the last weekend in June, we started slow, my film consists of me as crew/director, and 2 actors. The two actors worked well together, and got along well. They were able to go over their scripts together and learn from each other. It worked out well and made my life a little bit easier. My goal was to finish shooting the last weekend in July, or by August 1st. I have completed that goal, and have even began post-production.
There is a lot to be said about the entire process and experience I had shooting this film. First thing I learned is you have to separate yourself from the camera, I initially wanted to have a cinematographer on this film, but the guy I had lined up backed out about a week before shooting began. But that’s okay, I just did it myself instead of struggling to find another cameraman. Probably not the wisest move, filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and I was having a really hard time, being both camera and director…and in a lot of cases grip, gaffer, and all around crew. I find things in post that I couldn’t have noticed on set because I was too busy worrying about my actors. So in the next film (and there will be a next film) I have to have a cinematographer…someone who’s only job is to operate the camera and let me co-ordinate the actors. Together we will act as crew…but separately we have our individual jobs.
There is a lot of learning that goes on throughout, things that could have been done better, or done differently… the important thing is you make your mistakes quickly so that you can do better the next time.
I’ll be anxious to continue editing on this film…There is of course a huge difference between what was in my head initially and what the end result will be…of course as with anything in life, you have grandiose ideas in the beginning, but in the end you are happy to just have anything at all…I think Goddard said that…maybe it was my mentor, either way…In the end I will have something to show for my hard work, and for the hard work of my actors…and the people that did come out to help on crew. Everyone involved deserves a gigantic pat on the back, and I deserve a weekend in Pennsylvania…which I do believe I will take…
In the mean time, if I could just think of a title for this film then my work will be complete…but I got at least a month to come up with a name. Hopefully it will call out to me, or smack me in the face…either way…it needs to come out of my subconscious…
Well, Until Then…
Christian