Older and (not so) Wiser

This past weekend marked my birthday. Not quite over the hill, but I can see the summit.

I've been thinking a lot this weekend about the year that has passed, and all of the changes that have come with it. It was exactly one year ago (on my birthday) that I started production on my first film, which was a significant milestone in my life. I've learned a lot about filmmaking, but I think I've also learned more about myself, and what motivates me, and what things attract my attention.

I tend to bitch and complain a lot, but I know that I've got it pretty good: relatively healthy, a roof over my head, decent health insurance, and an abundance of food in the fridge.

I live in a great neighborhood, and NYC is incredible for a young person (ok, not so young anymore). As Leonard Cohen says: "It's the cradle of the best and the worst".

Procrastination has really killed a lot of time for me this year, and I want to do more to combat that this year.

The thing that I'm really proud of is that I'm still living my life more or less how I want to, I believe in myself and above all, I have no regrets.

I was thinking last night, that despite all of the madness, lack of money, putting myself in debt, heartache, commuting, sadness, major and minor tragedies, lack of sleep, always being tired, lack of a social life etc...These really are the best years of my life.

Public Art

IMG_6407.jpg
Originally uploaded by subatomicfilms.

I went down to Rockefeller Center today to check out the final day of Anish Kapoor's Sky Mirror project.

My loyal fans will know him as the duder that came up with Cloudscape (a.k.a. The Bean) in Chicago's Millennium Park.

Although there are the obvious similarities in terms of the medium of the two pieces (both are mirror projects), there is a lack of permanence to this one.

Perhaps the best part of his work is that it excites the public, and gets people to see their city (or a city they are visiting) from a completely different perspective.

I took a few pictures with my extra-wide angle lens, so pop over to the flickr page for more....

FREE BOOZE!!!!

Now that I've got your attention....

Here's a site that lists all of the events around THE CITY where you can get FREE BOOZE! Get your drink on, and thank me later.

Is this Man a Musical Genius?

Although it broke over at Yin Yang, I got the new Weird Al Yankovic album, and it's AMAZING.

Something makes me feel happy whenever I listen to him. The new song that everyone talks about these days is "White and Nerdy", which is great. It cuts a bit too close to home, as I think I get way too many of the references. However, I'm going to propose that the best track is "Canadian Idiot", which is a play on Green Day's "American Idiot". That's brilliant.

I never thought that Weird Al could remain relevant these days, but he shows he's up to sending up anything. There is a great article in the usual music snobbery of The Village Voice, which as it turns out, is a Weird Al love in.

Oh Mr. Yankovic, don't ever change.

Woe is Me

Yesterday I had my final reading in class for my script. Our classes end this week, and then we have one week off for pre-production, and then we start our production period. I don't shoot until mid december, so I still have a lot of time.

Anyways, I was changing a few things in my script in preparation for tomorrow, and it just wasn't happening well. I knew it sucked. It just didn't really read well. Not to my surprise, the reading didn't go too well. It definitely got me down.

It's frustrating for so many reasons:
1)I literally changed just a few lines, and cut some of the stage direction.
2) I really wanted to have a solid script this week
3) this awful rewrite illuminated the many holes and issues that I have with my script.
4)the previous draft read SO well.

It's strange, because unlike the physics world, I take this stuff personally. When someone says negative things about your work, it's like they are taking shots at you (but I know that's really not the case). Not to get too flakey, but this film is going to be me. It is the only thing that I'm working on, it's the only thing that I devote time to. When something becomes you, it sucks when it sucks.

Anyways, there is a cliche in screenwriting: every odd draft sucks. I think this is that other draft.

TV On the Radio Show

ConcertFlower 054.jpg
Originally uploaded by subatomicfilms.

As some of you may know, I just don't have the time to be on top of the music scene these days. I check out Pitchfork once in a while to check out what's going on, but I don't listen to much of anything new, or go to shows that much anymore.

With that being said, I did go to a show last night. I got to see the toast of the NYC Indie scene this year: TV On the Radio. My loyal readers know that I love their new album, so it was exciting to see 'em live.

What they performed, was a very tight performance with a much more guitar-driven rendition of the album. Somehow it works though. A great show, played with enthusiasm and confidence.

It's a beautiful thing to see a group of people on top of their game. Perhaps at the apex of their creativity, knowing that they know it, and they know that you know too.

Pennsylvania Massive!

All of the Jack-o-lanterns
Originally uploaded by subatomicfilms.

The past week has just been an absolute blur. Last weekend, I spent it in Pennsylvania which was a lot of fun. Ended up helping someone move, but I thought it was the easiest move I've ever helped on.

I also got to see a ton of fall folliage, and millions of stars at night!! Sometimes it's great to get out of the city.

While in the PA, we carved some pumpkins! What fun!

I also found my new mecca of clothes. As most people know, I can't say that I shop a lot, but after a few hours in Gabriel Brothers I left with over a $100 worth of goods, which I don't think that I've ever done. Great clothes, at a fraction of retail.

I got some good rugged/warm clothes for film shoots. I also got this awesome coat. Don't hate.

Why do they Call her Lassie?

During some auditions this week, the movie Porky's somehow came up. Don't ask. Ever since I watched it with my sister back in the 80's, before I could even get most of the jokes, I loved it. I saw it again a couple of years ago, and it still stood up, now that I could get most of the jokes.

Most people don't realize that although this film is like the platonic form of the American Teen Romp genre (American Pie is just a poor man's Porky's afterall), it is still considered a Canadian Film. In fact, it's the largest grossing Canadian film of all time. Err... It was. As of today, Bon Cop, Bad Cop has unseated the Champ of the Canadian Box Office.

Don't hang your head too low there Porky, your film isn't the domestic champ, but you're still the world-wide champ of Canadian film! I also doubt that frat boys and pre-pubescent boys the world over will be quoting "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" anytime soon.

I haven't seen this film, but from the trailer it looks like a typical American-style cop-buddie movie. The twist is that it involves a Toronto Cop and a Montreal Cop. I like the premise, but it just looks to be full of explosions and guns, which is cool if you like that sort of thing. I guess it's good to see people actually watching Canadian movies.

Has any of my Canadian spies seen this movie?

More Film Prep Stuff

How do you make really good looking movies without spending a bundle on film? I've gotten to the point where I can tell the difference between film and video, and wow 35mm and 16mm film just has such a feeling to it. I've got no money to make my film, and shooting on film is a dream. What to do?

I went to a rental house today and checked out their 35mm adapter. Basically, it's a mechanical adapter that fits onto a regular video camera, which allows you to use 35mm film camera lenses. As a result, you get this great film look. What sets 35mm film apart from regular video is the amazing control of depth and focus that you get with film cameras. With the adapter, you can achieve that look, which gives you ultimate control as a director to guide the audience to what you want them to look at. Video usually has a huge depth of field, with everything in focus.

Once I took a look at this gizmo in action, I was sold. It's incredible, and I've made the decision to use it.

I think it's going to run me about $1200 to rent this sucker, but ultimately, I think it's worth it. For film nerds, check out the specs of the P+S Technik Mini 35.

Oliver Stone (or, NYU film undergrads make me sick)

Last night at school, there was a screening of World Trade Center, and alumnus Oliver Stone did a Q&A afterwards. It was the 2nd time I saw this film (my original review), and I must say it doesn't stand up to repeated viewings. If anything, I found it dull. Maybe it's just that United 93 is just so much better.

Anyways, the real reason I went was for the Q&A. For me, it's a great thrill to be able to talk with masters in a completely informal setting, and learn from what they have to say about their process.

The packed crowd was full of undergrads, with a handfull of the grad students mixed in. Here's a sample of the profound questions asked: "Uh...I'm a senior uh...how can I get a job in the industry when I get out?"..."Mr Stone, uh, like, when you were at NYU, what classes did you take?"..."Mr. Stone, like, why do people like, go for conspiracy theories". JEEZ!

Some kid pretty much TOLD him that the addition of the marine character made the film political. Which any fool can see, is clearly wrong, since that shit really happened. He pretty much embarassed that kid.

Finally, someone asked how he works with actors, and he said that he works in a very socratic method of asking questions. I find that interesting. I take that approach when teaching physics, but I don't know how it would translate behind the camera on set. Something to try out.

All in all, it was great to see one of the most controversial directors of all time, and hear his take on a few important filmmaking things.

The Process

Last night I workshopped the latest version of my script, and surprisingly in went over quite well. A lot of people reacted well to the changes that I've made, and responded to the subtle humour in it, which I was kind of worried about. There are still a few things that I need to play with and fix, and the comments of my classmates and prof are always amazing.

It went over so well that I feel good about this whole thing. I was reading it, and I couldn't help but think 'Wow, I am going to make this movie in a couple of weeks'. It's no longer a theoretical exercise, it's going to be shot, it's going to be up on a big screen, and people are going to watch it.

So, I feel a bit lucky these days. I mean, everyone has ideas for movies, but not many get made. So here we go.

We begin auditions for actors this weekend. That's always full of pain and suffering, as most are pretty bad. However, once in a while, someone comes along with such presence. The goal is to find those people.

What did you say about my mama?

Mecagum Deu, en la creu, en el fuster que la feu i en el fill de puta que va plantar el pi
...

...and other great things to say to your enemies (other than Guz bi rishit)

What now? Yeah, I thought so.....

Helen Hunt: Writer, Director, Star

Helen Hunt
Originally uploaded by subatomicfilms.

I walked out of my apartment yesterday, to go to the Post Office, and literally, out front my door was Helen Hunt and Matthew Broderick shooting a 'walk & talk'.

I did a quick double take, and tried to be all cool and pretend that Ferris Buehler was not in front of me.

They shot for most of the day on my street Then She Found Me, and Ms. Hunt is writing, Directing and acting in this one. My producing prof got wind that they are shooting like 4+ pages of script a day, which is incredible since most features shoot about 2.5/day.

At any rate, it was really cool to see such a big production and all the gear that goes with it.

I also ran into a dude that I worked on that shoot in Boston with. He was the Best Boy on this set, so he's movin' on up.

For all of the productions going on in NYC, it looks like there's a small pool of specialized people to go around.