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.

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.

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

Million Dollar Grandma

Interestingly enough, my grandmother won $1.4 million over the Memorial Day Weekend in Palm Springs. I thought I'd mention this because, after all, it's a semi-life changing event.

I have been working on a local television show which will air in Glendale and Burbank. I am the writer and producer for "The Agency" and we have already completed several episodes. I truly think it's an original comedy the Armenian community is missing.

I wrote my first short film which is titled "Deliver Me This" and entered it in a contest last month. The winners are supposed to be announced sometime in June but I took it as a learning process instead of a shot at winning. I am currently in the process of looking for producers who are interested in developing the project. I am also going to start writing for my next short film, which I will produce and direct myself, hopefully this summer.

On another note, I have officially made a list for a film watching marathon. I have over 100 film titles listed in which I plan on watching this summer. I think it's obvious why I chose to do this but it's going to be fun, nonetheless.

Oh, I also got straight A's for Spring semester at school!

Success is Painful

Pain is good. They say if you don't feel any pain, you wouldn't know when there's something wrong with you. Ah! So we've established there's something wrong with me!

I've been in pain and in bed since Monday afternoon. Familial Mediterranean Fever - if you don't know it by now, Goggle it. The hereditary disorder which cripples my soul and puts a pause on my life for a few days. Unfortunately, I missed Cinema class which was the greatest disappointment of all. If I had the energy to go, I would have, but I was battling inflammation in my abdomen and still am.

Now that I am bedridden, I believe I should make some announcements. I started working on a local television show through the people I work with. I am writing and producing a thirty minute comedy show for the Armenian channel. It's great experience; I co-direct and take action in the industry I only dreamt about months ago. I am also beginning to work on small projects for myself, mainly as experience for film school.

I'm trying not to let the application process get to me. Is it working? Well, I'm sick and the main cause; stress. I am starting to understand the fact that it is not about what school I go to. To be honest, I'm steering away from USC and have completely ignored UCLA. I think Chapman is the best fit for me but regardless where I go, I have to stand out. I shouldn't let the school make me who I want to be, I've got to make myself great using the school to my advantage. Film school should be a time for me to work on everything I have wanted to. It will be the opportunity to write and direct films I have been dreaming of. It will be the time to network, regardless of it's with USC or Los Angeles City College students.

May is minutes away and the summer is just around the corner. Applications will due soon and before I know it, it'll be spring. I'll be impatiently waiting in front of my mailbox but for what? An envelope with a letter granting me acceptance to their prestigious school? Every now and then I need to take a step back from these schools and say to them, "Hey! I don't need you, you need me."

Orange!

I stood there looking straight at the building almost trying to intimidate them. Once the doors were open, students ran from one end of the building to the other, I no longer felt scared or anxious. Chapman University's Dodge College of Media Arts and Televsion was the first film school I had the chance of visiting. Chapman is one of the six schools on my list and the only to offer such a tour. I rather not go into detail but it was pretty much as I had imagined. It has everything an aspiring student needs to succeed but it is I that will bring the motivation.

Shortly thereafter, I experienced an intense headache which lead to a fever and stomach pain. The pain developed into a stomach virus known as Gastroenteritis which is in the process of healing. Also, while eating dinner last night, I must have done something wrong in the oh-so-complicated process of chewing and swallowing because I feel something lodged in my throat. It is actually quite painful and at times I cannot breathe and my chest and back hurt when I try to. When I sit still, my face begins to slowly shake and it feels as if I am going to pass out.

Solve

I find it difficult to live without worry because of the many obvious obstacles in my path. I worry about my acceptance to film school, which ultimately leads to stress over my current school work. I can't seem to enjoy myself as much as I used to because of the constant pressure I put on myself. When I feel overwhelmed by an upcoming test, I slowly move away and think of a paper I must complete for another class.. then I detach myself from the current semester and think of the next few semesters I have left; and the tests, papers, and homework they will require. Finally, I face the hardship of completing a portfolio, which is the make-or-break as far as getting accepted is concerned.

Right now, I am finding an exit. I have a Math exam waiting for me at 9am this Saturday. Because of my anxiety and stress, I cannot concentrate and apply myself to understand how to do any of the problems. My desk is filled with more scribbled papers than an Immigration office and all I can think of is throwing them all away. Yet when all hope is lost and I look at a math probem and it tells me to solve; what comes to mind are my own problems which I am in pursuit of solving, and I smile at the irony.