Tag Archive | movie

Fixed

Nov2

I got written up at my job today.

In a situation where my take, perspective, voice, wasn’t considered even for a moment.

I usually acquiesce, taking it on the chin when I disagree with a thing. The goal to be coachable and listen to my coach on the wrong turns. But today it was – hers. Really hers.

Still, she was insistent she was correct then low key called me a liar. This kinda thing makes you and your team member feel like adversaries.

I left feeling like a left foot who can do nothing right. Angry. Demoralized. Dismissed.

It’s a little depressing to work this way.

But, God is a fixer.

I later opened up my email to notice I have a note from the editor working on my films. He’d sent me a video clip (shortened here) for our composer search.

I watched. And as I did, the effects of my day faded.

Everything will be okay.

Happiness.

Glo Thoughts (#1)

Sep6

Passing Strange is probably my favorite musical.

Also where I fell in love with the work of Cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

He captures the energy of live performance and sticks with the performers long enough for the emotion to read. And if the intention/emotion/action beyond the movement isn’t captured, alot of the strength of the work may be lost.

I try to write in nuances (lots of subtext for actor to play/audience to enjoy). But where will we be if the camera work employed glosses over all that?

Still I want the camera work for Glo to be exciting, Just without being interruptive. Libatique nails that in his work (Black Swan, Requiem for a dream, Inside Man).

Plus he shoots a mixed cast beautifully.

I watched a Youtube of him (video someone took of him hanging out – creepy much? lol ) and he seems cool. He seemed like he’d be easy to talk to and fun.

No I don’t always require camera crew to be a bag of laughs, but easy to talk to? Yes. I prefer to feel comfortable with the person I’m going to have to communicate with every time I blink.

But if I can’t have Matthew for this piece, hopefully we can get someone who can achieve what’s mentioned here? Have a ball getting it down, together.

Screenwriter Interview (House of Sand and Fog)

Jul7

This is an interview with Shawn Lawrence Otto, the gentleman who adapted a novel written by Andre Dubus III (he and the director did together).

I thought it was an interesting watch because I admire the amount of emotion they were able to recreate in the writing and there is alot of great stuff said here.

So, if you’re a writer — you may really enjoy this one.

Fun Composition from BoC (#1 Wishlist)

May31

I love this. Another Boards of Canada song.

I love it, cuz it sounds like someone pulled their kids one day, deciding to play a little game with them in the studio. Recorded what was going on, then cut it up and mixed it into music later!

I wonder if that’s what they did?

Anyway, it’s TOTALLY something I’d do, if I had kids.

I just feel you should involve them in mommie and daddy’s life, let them experience what you’re doing.

Have fun with it.

My mother was great about this when I was growing up, and I loved every minute of it. I was also really proud to spend time in her business with her. I was tremendously proud of her as a person (now retired). Still am….

Life was an adventure with her, and I think it’s a great idea to exercise with children.

Anyway, wasn’t that great?!?  

Probably not a movie “review,” but….

May19

WHAT…. A GREAT MOVIE.

Jiminy Cricket.

Impressed is not even the word. I wanna congratulate the guys (who wrote this) and send them flowers all at once. I had so much fun watching it because it was just an incredibly smart thriller.

You’re not going to guess every turn either, in fact you’ll be having so much fun watching and thinking through what’s being presented, you’ll forget to even go there.

Ah these guys are good.

Yes, I’m a film geek times ten – probably where the addiction to think about film, look at film, film, talk about film comes from. And no one thought to form a film liker anonymous group anyone might wanna go to to talk it out, so some of us ended up at film school. Like the addict marrying the supplier.

So, here is where my commentary is going to hit snooze ville for those of you not that into movies. Thanks for reading…

I researched the movie after I watched it because I was so in awe of it (yeah geeky)…and Kevin Costner produced it.

But as you read that, you’re on such a high you’re like: Damn…I woulda pulled out every dollar too!

But why was the trailer so non-eventful, and no it wasn’t, but compared to the movie it was! None of this, ‘everything- great-about-the-movie-was- seen-in-the-trailer’ business. No…all the best stuff wasn’t. Just in case…you remember it.

Starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook and the wonderful William Hurt (probably the only thing that irked me being Dane Cook’s billing over William hurt’s), each person disappears inside their role.

The nuances of character are played so well, you find yourself hanging onto every word or gesture. Then watching the reaction, and it’s…now what…or what are they hiding…or trying to say?! Ah it’s delicious.

I’m telling you, rent this delicious meal. You’ll feel like you’ve been on a steady diet of appetizers and have just tasted a meal again.

The story is intricate as are the performances, so you’ll forget the big names.

And this story gives you time to digest what’s there instead of dragging you through a plot that is going so fast you can’t remember any of it.

You even have time to wonder about some of the details you discover in real-time. The mental condition of the lead character presents the nature (or biology) vs. nurture argument in its presentation of a malevolent psychopath. But it involves you so deeply, your concern and curiosities are likely to continue on after the film.

I also love that this director’s filmic muscle goes undetected til the end. Too many directors show off with the technology, calling attention to the technology for technology sake. It’s like, raising a kid on candy.

Sure, they’ll love what you’re doing, but do you really want them focused on a diet of pure sugar?

Okay what’s it about specifically?

Kevin Costner is this successful business man who turns out to be the worst type of psychopath ever. He kills people for sport and Demi Moore’s character is developing a case on him. He disappears for two years. But he’s manipulated into killing once more and leaves enough of a clue for Demi to begin investigate again. The film opens on his new kill after two years.

If this sounds like Criminal Minds, could be. But its way smarter and more convincing (said by a big fan of Criminal Minds).

An Interesting Watch About Psychopaths

May16

I tend to watch and read quite a bit about mental conditions so there are some things that naturally draw my interest.

I spent a number of years researching psychopaths (screenplay) and most certainly have known a few so I think this is a great video. The only thing I don’t agree with is the imagery of Obama as an example.

That I do not agree with.

But other than that, it’s a very thorough video.

Kun — “You should write about that. Write love stories.”

Mar6

It’s funny, I remember the conversation as if it were YESTERDAY.

Kun and I were at one of those Chinese mom and pop dessert places in China town (talking about out successes, heartaches and hopes for present relationships as girlfriends often do) and I was horrified at the suggestion. The memory makes me laugh because I’m now moving back to who I really am.

A person who actually…probably…should do that.

But, I was so yucked out when she suggested it. Talk about love?!  Like what? Harlequin romance stories? 

I remember saying something like “Absolutely not,” with all the dramatic emphasis I can sometimes drum up.

But, Kun looked at me with eyes of a friend who knows you past the social mask you wear for the world. “Yeah, I think you should talk about stuff like this!”

Then off my expression said: “Why? You’re so good at it.”

I love her so much for saying that to me, because I secretly pride myself on figuring things out through the fire…or…after it.

I’m a massive romantic, who has more emotion about everything than most. A joke with a few close friends even, but I’ve tried to wall it off, so I can think with my head so much, that mention of my emotions will occasionally offend me. Especially when I’m called to exercise it on tap, though most people can recall it from a time they watched me gushing over some new love in all it’s gory detail.

And I remember them doing it, people will watch me and smile…and in the moment…I’m okay with it. Til things don’t work out. Then I walk around angry at myself, while in this outwardly  annoyed state. So, I tend towards staying safely tucked out of sight, away from “love,” alot.

Cuz, I love BIG when I do….but the crashes are equally…significant.

My lessons are in every short film and every script idea, buried somewhere. I can’t help it, this stuff lives with me…so they’re the biggest issues I’m trying to work out in my head (besides God).

Anyway, I was noticing recently…alot of my Itunes playlist…is composed of movies which tackle similar themes. I thought I’d just bought a few of them, but about 70% of my playlist is this. So, I was a little embarrassed over this. Even though no one could see me.

I thought, how do I get these off of here?

I left em.’

I was interested in them, and others I bought to watch how directors tackled love themes. There. I said it. Out in the open.

Geez, it’s not like I’m admitting I’m a heroin addict or something.

Anyway…this weekend I watched…Breaking Dawn I and II. Yes, I did. And I was so proud of how the entire team worked on this unabashed, unapologetic, dramatic love story. Sure it had vampires and werewolves but at the end of the day, it was a love story about two people getting used to one another and trying to hold on.

Image

Sure there are all the plot contrivances…but that’s…essentially it.

I dunno why that feels revolutionary to me.

I was so proud of the writer after watching it, I had to look her up – to see who would be this brave. I was positively beaming, in my apartment. I know that will seem stupid, but the story sort of affirmed the big emotion which I now hammer away. The emotion I hammer away so no one can accidentally see it (while I keep my head on). It affirmed that it was okay to have big heart and be romantic in a big way, intensely vulnerable, and freely passionate.

I think I’ve been learning those things were wrong before because I’ve been aiming them at the wrong people, not because they were wrong. I think that’s what I get from stories like this….it sets me free and I come back to my senses.

But, people have been handing me back to myself ongoing for a while now and I’ve been trying to do the same for myself. So, I’m going to just stop shrinking from what’s there – in me.

The story I’m writing now has a tentative love story at it’s center and the one waiting for an ending after this one, has one in the midst of a storm. These two stories, I really wrote wanting to make a statement about social problems in our country, but I’m always exploring the issues through love and attraction. Somehow.

I suppose I did that in film school too. Even though I did it in much more emo fashion.

So I guess…we can run from who we are, but we can’t hide it (for too long). I’ll probably never be pure action or political intrigue unless I can squeeze in some epic love story, cuz that is what’s most fun.

I know some people will think, but, Breaking Dawn? It’s so baaaaad.

Um not really. The human interactions, the places where the characters are acting out of feeling, desperately trying to work out something, are AMAZING. And, isn’t that in every movie?

(Sometimes in life too?)