Last Tuesday was fairly hectic; I ran across buying miniDV tapes, beverages, rented a boom microphone and even manged to go to Public Storage to pick up my old headphones. As usual, everything went wrong shortly thereafter because the DP was missing his camera. Of course, I called the production off and hired Igori Kamoevi as my DP and scheduled a shoot for Wednesday.
I arrived at Petit Decor around 8:30am with a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. I began setting up our first shot and waited impatiently for everyone to arrive. As Igori and I set up the scene, we realized our camera does not support the boom mic I had rented. This horrified me because I thought we had wasted an entire day but we scrambled back to the store and exchanged it.
We filmed the entire Petit Decor scene and wrapped up around 4pm. Friday, I went back and looked at our dailies at Igori's house and they looked rather nice. Igori suggested we shoot the outdoor scene again in Malibu, just to have a better look with the shadows. Thursday and Friday we will resume with shooting and hopefully wrap the entire film up by the end of this week.
In other news, it was my birthday on Saturday and I finally became 21. Friday, I went out to dinner with my family in Pasadena. On Saturday, Mary, Armineh and Vahe, took me to Malibu were we also had dinner. We celebrated with family at the park on Sunday and everything went great.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Pre-Production
I met with the last actress yesterday and she has officially been casted for Amorosa. I spoke with James today to go over the shooting schedule and it looks like we're going to begin on Monday. Everything is pretty much ready, I'll have to go meet with rental business to discuss renting a dolly and a boom microphone. I just hope everything goes smooth, and since this is my first film, I'm concerned about the overall script.
I just hope this film turns out to be a good interpretation of my idea.
I just hope this film turns out to be a good interpretation of my idea.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Amorosa
I would officially like to announce the title for the short film; Amorosa.
I am choosing to withhold all information pertaining to the film and will only discuss certain elements as we begin filming. I met with two actors today to discuss the film and they have both signed on to the project. I have already picked out our locations for filming and reviewed them with the director of photography. As of now, the locations are in Hollywood, Burbank, Reseda and Malibu. I will be meeting with a final actor on Thursday and if all goes well, we will be ready to start filming this weekend. We are probably going to have to wrap it up by the end of next week because of scheduling conflicts, but I don't think that should be a problem.
It has been getting pretty difficult to organize the shoot and cast each actor. I think the main reason I am having some difficulty is because this is the first time I am directing a film. I was in charge of writing the story, casting the actors and crew, scouting locations, and such more in so little time. Hopefully, I can overcome the obstacles I will eventually face but I am pretty confident this film will be complete by the end of this month.
I am choosing to withhold all information pertaining to the film and will only discuss certain elements as we begin filming. I met with two actors today to discuss the film and they have both signed on to the project. I have already picked out our locations for filming and reviewed them with the director of photography. As of now, the locations are in Hollywood, Burbank, Reseda and Malibu. I will be meeting with a final actor on Thursday and if all goes well, we will be ready to start filming this weekend. We are probably going to have to wrap it up by the end of next week because of scheduling conflicts, but I don't think that should be a problem.
It has been getting pretty difficult to organize the shoot and cast each actor. I think the main reason I am having some difficulty is because this is the first time I am directing a film. I was in charge of writing the story, casting the actors and crew, scouting locations, and such more in so little time. Hopefully, I can overcome the obstacles I will eventually face but I am pretty confident this film will be complete by the end of this month.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Vicky Cristina Barcelona: World Premiere
Mary and I had the pleasure of being invited to Woody Allen's latest film Vicky Cristina Barcelona which held its world premiere in Los Angeles yesterday, August 4. Many celebrities joined, including the cast and crew which included Scarlett Johannson, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall and even Woody Allen himself. I am sad to say we didn't get the chance to see Woody Allen, however. We did get the chance to see the rest of the cast during the film and even ran into them in the lobby after it had ended.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very glad we both attended.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very glad we both attended.
Monday, July 28, 2008
You've Got Mail!
After my last entry, I made some phone calls and was pretty certain I was going to cancel the film. I couldn't find a camera, equipment, or even a Director of Photography who was willing to work for no charge. That's until I got an e-mail...
One of the DP's I was waiting to e-mail me back, did. He was willing to meet for lunch on Friday. After not being able to sleep because I was so anxious, I met him at 2pm in Hollywood. Everything went as I hoped it would and I can officially say we are making this film! We have all the equipment we need and his friend works at a rental company and will let us borrow what we don't have.
I keep rewriting the script in my head many times because the story is so complex. I'm currently casting for the film which, I think, is probably the hardest part so far. I'm hoping the script will be ready by the end of this week and we're trying to wrap up the entire film by the end of summer.
One of the DP's I was waiting to e-mail me back, did. He was willing to meet for lunch on Friday. After not being able to sleep because I was so anxious, I met him at 2pm in Hollywood. Everything went as I hoped it would and I can officially say we are making this film! We have all the equipment we need and his friend works at a rental company and will let us borrow what we don't have.
I keep rewriting the script in my head many times because the story is so complex. I'm currently casting for the film which, I think, is probably the hardest part so far. I'm hoping the script will be ready by the end of this week and we're trying to wrap up the entire film by the end of summer.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Crash & Burn
I haven't mentioned this yet but I am starting to work on a script for a short film which I am looking to produce this summer... or sometime this year. Some film schools require a film submission, but in any case, it looks good to have a completed film on your resume.
I have already written a story and script outline.Usually, I draft a story outline which tells me exactly what the story is going to be about without any real details. After I am comfortable with the story, I begin writing a script outline. A script outline tells me what is exactly going to go into the script, scene by scene, with key details. Lastly, I begin writing a script using these outlines as a reference and guide.
Now, I probably sound like I know exactly what I'm doing. Unfortunently, I don't have a clue. I have never produced a short film and if I was working with a digital camera and a group of friends, I wouldn't care as much. I'm trying to make a good film; hopefully submit it to several festivals but most importantly, show my creative abilities. I have been meeting with Shervin who has helped me put together the concept of the story. I told him I was looking for a Director of Photography/Cinematographer so he recommended Igori Kamoevi. I've worked with Igori in the past on projects with Shervin so I gave him a call. We met later in the afternoon and dicussed the project. I really think he will do a good job if I work with him; we both have a similar approach to filmmaking and are both influenced by European cinema. I am also planning on meeting with one or two other cinematographer's sometime this week.
The problem is Igori doesn't own a camera so we will have to rent one. Renting a camera will cost as much as $150 a day. The good news is the other guys I am planning on meeting with are interested in working for free... oh, and they have a camera!
Sounds great except for my second problem... those other guys aren't returning my e-mails.
I have already written a story and script outline.Usually, I draft a story outline which tells me exactly what the story is going to be about without any real details. After I am comfortable with the story, I begin writing a script outline. A script outline tells me what is exactly going to go into the script, scene by scene, with key details. Lastly, I begin writing a script using these outlines as a reference and guide.
Now, I probably sound like I know exactly what I'm doing. Unfortunently, I don't have a clue. I have never produced a short film and if I was working with a digital camera and a group of friends, I wouldn't care as much. I'm trying to make a good film; hopefully submit it to several festivals but most importantly, show my creative abilities. I have been meeting with Shervin who has helped me put together the concept of the story. I told him I was looking for a Director of Photography/Cinematographer so he recommended Igori Kamoevi. I've worked with Igori in the past on projects with Shervin so I gave him a call. We met later in the afternoon and dicussed the project. I really think he will do a good job if I work with him; we both have a similar approach to filmmaking and are both influenced by European cinema. I am also planning on meeting with one or two other cinematographer's sometime this week.
The problem is Igori doesn't own a camera so we will have to rent one. Renting a camera will cost as much as $150 a day. The good news is the other guys I am planning on meeting with are interested in working for free... oh, and they have a camera!
Sounds great except for my second problem... those other guys aren't returning my e-mails.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Film Marathon
On June 20, first day of summer, I began my own film marathon in which I will attempt to watch films I have never had the chance to see. It has been exactly one month since I began the film marathon and for the record, I will like to post the accomplishment here. I will eventually post small reviews for each film.
Friday, June 20
Atonement
Saturday, June 21
Crimes and Misdemeanors
8½
Sunday, June 22
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Monday, June 23
Hannah and Her Sisters
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Tuesday, June 24
Manhattan
Wednesday, June 25
Bananas
Stardust Memories
Thursday, June 26 – Sunday, June 29
Monday, June 30
American Beauty
Tuesday, July 1
The Sweet Hereafter
Wednesday, July 2
Ordinary People
Thursday, July 3
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
In Bruges
Friday, July 4
Terms of Endearment
Kramer vs. Kramer
Saturday, July 5
Gone Baby Gone
The Italian Job
Sunday, July 6
Monday, July 7
The Royal Tenenbaums
Match Point
Tuesday, July 8
Wednesday, July 9
Zelig
Play It Again, Sam
Cassandra’s Dream
Thursday, July 10
Interiors
Batman Begins
Friday, July 11
I Heart Huckabees
Into The Wild
Saturday, July 12
Snatch.
Spellbound
Unbreakable
Sunday, July 13
Lost in Translation
Monday, July 14
Fargo
Tuesday, July 15
Punch-Drunk Love
Wednesday, July 16
Exotica
Match Point (Second Viewing)
Thursday, July 17
Meeting Woody Allen (Short Documentary)
Bande à part
Love and Death
Friday, July 18
The Dark Knight
Saturday, July 19
Being John Malkovich
Adaptation.
The Prestige
Sunday, July 20
Husbands and Wives
Friday, June 20
Atonement
Saturday, June 21
Crimes and Misdemeanors
8½
Sunday, June 22
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Monday, June 23
Hannah and Her Sisters
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Tuesday, June 24
Manhattan
Wednesday, June 25
Bananas
Stardust Memories
Thursday, June 26 – Sunday, June 29
Monday, June 30
American Beauty
Tuesday, July 1
The Sweet Hereafter
Wednesday, July 2
Ordinary People
Thursday, July 3
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
In Bruges
Friday, July 4
Terms of Endearment
Kramer vs. Kramer
Saturday, July 5
Gone Baby Gone
The Italian Job
Sunday, July 6
Monday, July 7
The Royal Tenenbaums
Match Point
Tuesday, July 8
Wednesday, July 9
Zelig
Play It Again, Sam
Cassandra’s Dream
Thursday, July 10
Interiors
Batman Begins
Friday, July 11
I Heart Huckabees
Into The Wild
Saturday, July 12
Snatch.
Spellbound
Unbreakable
Sunday, July 13
Lost in Translation
Monday, July 14
Fargo
Tuesday, July 15
Punch-Drunk Love
Wednesday, July 16
Exotica
Match Point (Second Viewing)
Thursday, July 17
Meeting Woody Allen (Short Documentary)
Bande à part
Love and Death
Friday, July 18
The Dark Knight
Saturday, July 19
Being John Malkovich
Adaptation.
The Prestige
Sunday, July 20
Husbands and Wives
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