The 48 Hour Film Project just had an opening.
And we — that is, the team I’m directing, Tohubohu “Thornhill” — was first on the waiting list.
After a quick call to my producer, I accepted.
We’re back in the competition! Both teams, “Kaplan” and “Thornhill.”
This is what we’d planned all along. Two films, each an independent entity, but connected by a common story thread. I am absolutely walking on air right now.
I’ve now got one hell of a lot of work to do across the next two days, but I’ve got some amazing people all willing to help (as this evening’s little team meeting/pep rally demonstrated — the news couldn’t possibly have come at a better time).
And I’ll have to throw the script we had been doing (a little piece called “Some Kind of Hero,” which I’m pretty damned proud of) out the window for now. But hell, we can always do that later. I’ll get my “Written and Directed by” credit another time.
This we can only do right now. And I’m positively ecstatic.
Okay, gotta run now. I’ve got a lot of calls to make...
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Monday, April 04, 2005
Mixed News
Well, we just got the word: One of our teams has made it into the 48 Hour Film Project... but not both.
We are therefore making two films anyway.
I won’t lie — it’s a little disappointing not to have two teams eligible for the competition (and maybe even more so in that it’s the team I’m directing that didn’t make it). But there are some positives in all of this.
After all, we’ve already got our teams assembled (well, in principle, anyway). And since the single biggest obstacle to making these things (well, once you get off your ass and start) is scheduling shoots, I see no reason not to take advantage of this ready-made opportunity. What this does do for us is open up the possibilities for the second film, freeing us from the restrictions of the competition. Hell, we can start writing now. We can edit, add music, tweak effects later.
The first film team benefits in that we can allocate our strongest pre- and postproduction resources to them on the competition weekend. And the second benefits by having a more relaxed shooting schedule — we can shoot over two full days without worrying about leaving time for a mad-scramble edit.
And we’ll own the second film lock, stock, and barrel. No restrictions.
I need to sit down with Nello (the Tohubohu director who’s still in the competition) and our respective producers to hammer out exactly what our schedule will be, but I’m still optimistic. And incidentally, if anyone out there still wants to get involved, drop me a line.
We are therefore making two films anyway.
I won’t lie — it’s a little disappointing not to have two teams eligible for the competition (and maybe even more so in that it’s the team I’m directing that didn’t make it). But there are some positives in all of this.
After all, we’ve already got our teams assembled (well, in principle, anyway). And since the single biggest obstacle to making these things (well, once you get off your ass and start) is scheduling shoots, I see no reason not to take advantage of this ready-made opportunity. What this does do for us is open up the possibilities for the second film, freeing us from the restrictions of the competition. Hell, we can start writing now. We can edit, add music, tweak effects later.
The first film team benefits in that we can allocate our strongest pre- and postproduction resources to them on the competition weekend. And the second benefits by having a more relaxed shooting schedule — we can shoot over two full days without worrying about leaving time for a mad-scramble edit.
And we’ll own the second film lock, stock, and barrel. No restrictions.
I need to sit down with Nello (the Tohubohu director who’s still in the competition) and our respective producers to hammer out exactly what our schedule will be, but I’m still optimistic. And incidentally, if anyone out there still wants to get involved, drop me a line.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Do-It-Yourself Day
Hot damn! The guy who designed the camera rigs in Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build is a genius.
Adam and I (along with some help from my neighbor and “Screening Process” extra Eric) spent the afternoon starting construction on a camera stabilizer. Two, in fact, once we realized we had almost enough parts (and had already bought the tools).
We’ve still got some work to do — we’ve just done some basic initial steps on the second rig, and we still need to track down some specialized aluminum pieces to finish them — but we’ve already done the hardest steps. And these things are looking good.
I can’t wait to see them — and whatever other rigs we end up building — in action. The 48 Hour Film Project is gonna be a real step up for us.
Adam and I (along with some help from my neighbor and “Screening Process” extra Eric) spent the afternoon starting construction on a camera stabilizer. Two, in fact, once we realized we had almost enough parts (and had already bought the tools).
We’ve still got some work to do — we’ve just done some basic initial steps on the second rig, and we still need to track down some specialized aluminum pieces to finish them — but we’ve already done the hardest steps. And these things are looking good.
I can’t wait to see them — and whatever other rigs we end up building — in action. The 48 Hour Film Project is gonna be a real step up for us.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
More Waiting in Store
Well, I just got the word — Tohubohu’s applications for the 48 Hour Film Project have been received... and did not make it into the first batch of 10 entries.
So both of our teams have been consigned to the random drawing. Which isn’t going to be held until April 2.
Not much to do now but go ahead with preparations, just as if we were confirmed as being in the competition. In fact, even if one (or both) of our teams don’t make it in, I suspect that we’ll go ahead and make the movie(s) anyway. After all, when else are we going to get everyone together to do this if not then?
So both of our teams have been consigned to the random drawing. Which isn’t going to be held until April 2.
Not much to do now but go ahead with preparations, just as if we were confirmed as being in the competition. In fact, even if one (or both) of our teams don’t make it in, I suspect that we’ll go ahead and make the movie(s) anyway. After all, when else are we going to get everyone together to do this if not then?
Thursday, February 17, 2005
A Taste of Irritating Obscurity
Just a quick update: I’m working on another last-minute Tohubohu video project that I just couldn’t pass up. And in a couple of weeks, I should be able to tell you about it (though I’ll have to check on the conditions of the secrecy surrounding it). Don’t start thinking it’s anything important — it’s just something that I found particularly appropriate, and that, by its nature, requires a certain amount of discretion.
Ooh, don’t you just hate those annoyingly vague hints? Sorry about that — I’m just terrible at completely keeping secrets.
Ooh, don’t you just hate those annoyingly vague hints? Sorry about that — I’m just terrible at completely keeping secrets.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Hitting the Big Small Time
Okay, so it’s not a three-picture deal with Paramount, but it’s something, anyway.
“Screening Process” is going to be included on the Best of the National Film Challenge 2004 DVD.
Yes, that means you will soon be able to buy your very own copy, along with the other “Top 15” films.
In honor of the occasion (well, frankly, just a coincidence, but an apt one), I’ve put a copy of our first short (originally produced as my directorial audition for Project Greenlight 3), “Loose Ends,” up on our website. Give it a look, and feel free to blast away at my directorial naïveté. Still, I enjoy watching it to this day, so it can’t be all bad.
The 48 Hour Film Project is getting closer... and this one will be twice as exciting as last year (hint, hint)...
“Screening Process” is going to be included on the Best of the National Film Challenge 2004 DVD.
Yes, that means you will soon be able to buy your very own copy, along with the other “Top 15” films.
In honor of the occasion (well, frankly, just a coincidence, but an apt one), I’ve put a copy of our first short (originally produced as my directorial audition for Project Greenlight 3), “Loose Ends,” up on our website. Give it a look, and feel free to blast away at my directorial naïveté. Still, I enjoy watching it to this day, so it can’t be all bad.
The 48 Hour Film Project is getting closer... and this one will be twice as exciting as last year (hint, hint)...
Friday, December 17, 2004
The Results Are In...
... and “Screening Process (A Loser’s Guide to Love)” is no longer an award-nominated short.
It’s an award-winning short.
Today, at about 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the National Film Challenge announced the winners for the 2004 competition, and “Screening Process” took the prize for “Best Romance.” All of the awards should be posted on the official site soon, but I thought I’d spread the word sooner rather than later. (No announcement was made as to the “top ten” for DVD inclusion — just the individual awards. So we’ve still got something to wait for.)
Congratulations to everyone involved, thanks to all of you for your hard work and unwavering dedication, and I hope this news helps inaugurate a happy holiday season!
It’s an award-winning short.
Today, at about 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the National Film Challenge announced the winners for the 2004 competition, and “Screening Process” took the prize for “Best Romance.” All of the awards should be posted on the official site soon, but I thought I’d spread the word sooner rather than later. (No announcement was made as to the “top ten” for DVD inclusion — just the individual awards. So we’ve still got something to wait for.)
Congratulations to everyone involved, thanks to all of you for your hard work and unwavering dedication, and I hope this news helps inaugurate a happy holiday season!
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