I met the beginning of week 2 with a bit of trepidation. You see, the first night of class we had a pitch session for our first short film. Up until two days prior I had nothing. Nada, nathan, zil, zilch... Then I read an article in the paper about some loud "booms" awakening people in a San Jose neighborhood and based a short story on that. I took the beginning and added a more sinister story and viola, my first pitch. I was still nervous about it. Little did I know but we green-light our own pitch as a group. The group was moderated by James. We would present our pitch, vote as a group whether or not it should get the green-light to be made into a short, and if it doesn't then we vote whether or not the idea of the story could be worked into a short.
Our pitch had to be presented in both sentence and paragraph form. Here is my sentence pitch:
In the middle of the night, a woman must fight for her life against a madman who just smashed his way into her bedroom.
Nice & simple right? 2 characters, 1 room. (notice the 2 girls 1 cup set-up I just left you...) So what did the group think? I got the green-light! Not without notes of course. As it was, there wasn't much character development, just a plot driven story. Woman wants to survive encounter.
This brings us to the next class which was Screenwriting. This was an excellent class which taught us the basics of a screenplay. We take that knowledge and couple it with our short-story and make magic happen. Sounds easy enough...
A writing lab here, a camera review there, then boom! Lighting lecture and lab gets dropped on our collective asses. I really don't think my pen left my pad for hours. I took 12 pages of notes over lighting for film then we took said knowledge and set up lighting 6 different ways: Rembrandt, Short Loop, Broad Loop, Split, Rim/Backlight, & Paramount/Glamour/Butterfly. But do you want to know what I really learned today? I have no desire to do lighting for a living.
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Already behind...
(picture note: keep reading for an explanation)
No dear reader (all 1 of you), do not be worried. I am not falling behind in school, just this blog. I had intentions of posting every other day, if not daily after class.... bbbbuuuuutttt school has gotten busy. My new goal is now weekly which puts me behind still. By a couple of weeks. (I'll just back date this post and no one will know any different) Enough BS, on with the show :
The first Thursday of class was a lecture of "Shot Terminology." This covered both still and moving shots. Your perspectives, close-ups, zooms, pans, tilts, dolly, punch, OTS, POV, ROTS, Two-Shot, Three-Shot, 4-Shot, establishing shot, close-up, wide shot, roll focus, choker, dutch angle, etc. Ya' know... the normal stuff. I really liked the way this lecture was set up, because the instructor, Stephen, would teach us about the shot and then show us an example from a movie. Very effective way to learn.
Much to our surprise, when we hit the 90 minute mark from the end of class, Stephen stopped class. Told us to set up the camera, and editing in camera, to make a short film using as many shots as we could. This lil' film would be written, directed, acted, and shot as a group. First week of class and we are already filming. Granted, the finished product was the equivalent of a fresh steaming pile of dog poo, it was still very cool. Great little exercise. Our film was about how each of us arrive to class, very edgy Oscar worthy stuff. Once finished we were to hold on to the film until Saturday when Stephen would play it back for us and critique it....
...fast forward to Saturday. Stephen ripped it apart.
Post critique. we had a picture composition lecture. This was fantastic and it really helped me frame my shots. How we tackled this assignment was that we were given digital cameras, ran around for an hour taking pics, brought our best three and they were critiqued. Post critique, we jumped right into the lecture (Rule of Thirds rocks, straight-up yo) and then we were sent back into the field to find another three shots. Everyone drastically improved with their newly acquired knowledge. Unfortunately, my first three pics are lost in the ether or matrix or space. But I do have my final three. Enjoy your first glimpse at genius (please note the sarcasm).
Speaking of genius, I have no idea how to move the pics below the post, so they are at the top. Genius indeed.
100 monkeys locked in a room with 100 typewriters...
Wednesday night's class brought us a new topic and a new instructor. James Savoca. James is from New York and while he lived there, he transitioned from playwright to independent filmmaker which he is still active with and his next film is premiering at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October. The title of the film is Around June. You can see James' reel here. He will be our writing instructor for the year, and if our first class is any indication of what that will be like... it is going to be intense. We covered tons of ground and it was all interesting and helpful. It was a basic storytelling lecture that covered plot, action, characters, writer's tools, tension, etc. It was one on those classes where my pen never left my notebook. Always writing. We ended the class with James telling us that we will be pitching our first short film to him on Monday. This is the guideline for that film:
-3 pages maximum.
-2 characters maximum.
-1 major location, with 1 "B" location.
-shot entirely on campus.
-50% must use lights.
Along with the pitch which he wants in both one sentence and one paragraph form we were also assigned a character sketch.
Thursday nights class had us back Stephen and back with the camera. We covered Shot Terminology which included camera movements, perspectives, and angles. When there was about 2 hours left, Stephen surprised us an assignment. Starting right then the 5 of us were to write, film, and edit (in camera) a short film using as many of the ideas that we covered in class. This would be the only time we would do this as a group the whole year. It went off relatively smoothly but did have the usual speed bumps of everyone wanting their voice heard. We all worked together really well though. My shot was a "truck" shot. Being that we didn't have access to a truck, which allows the camera to move, I held the camera and sat in a rolling chair while two of my other classmates pulled me down a hallway. It came off okay all things considered. Stephen is going to critique our film on Saturday. That should be interesting...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
In the beginning....
Two days into the program and I haven't been kicked out yet!
The first night of class involved the always pleasant round-robin meet and greet. This and the class following was led by Stephen Kopels who is the co-founder of the school. He got his start behind the camera as a war photographer in Vietnam. From there he went to work on a ton of different projects in many fields ranging anywhere from PBS to Sanford & Son to Boxing on HBO. There are five students in the evening program, which is evidently a small class. From what we were told this small size was due in part to the current financial crisis in America, particularly the problems in dealing with getting a loan.
After spending a little while talking about ourselves we were given an overview of the program and then took a brief look at the syllabus. It looks and feels as if we are starting off slow but will be building up to a full blown fever pitch right quick.
Our first official lesson started the first night in class and dealt with HDV Camera Basics 1. We built upon what we learned during our second night with a lecture called... can you guess it?? That's right, HDV Camera Basics 2. First we started off with the basics related to any and all cameras: focus, aperture, camera stands, etc. Then we moved into more film based cameras specifically digital cameras. Our first three projects will be filmed on the Sony HVR-Z1U. At the end of each lecture we had plenty of hands-on time where we had to set up the camera, stands, monitor, and then connect all three. After which we broke everything back down. The first night I felt just like baby Huey pushing buttons... and I pretty much felt that way the second night as well. Last night we did have some objectives that we were to complete on our own with the camera: setting the time code to a specific hour and correcting the white balance. Both of which were incredibly easy. Thankfully.
Some random things I learned:
-A clapper at the beginning of a shot is used to sync sound.
-Never say you will fix it in post. Fix it while filming.
-Always film 30 seconds of color bars at the beginning of every tape.
The first night of class involved the always pleasant round-robin meet and greet. This and the class following was led by Stephen Kopels who is the co-founder of the school. He got his start behind the camera as a war photographer in Vietnam. From there he went to work on a ton of different projects in many fields ranging anywhere from PBS to Sanford & Son to Boxing on HBO. There are five students in the evening program, which is evidently a small class. From what we were told this small size was due in part to the current financial crisis in America, particularly the problems in dealing with getting a loan.
After spending a little while talking about ourselves we were given an overview of the program and then took a brief look at the syllabus. It looks and feels as if we are starting off slow but will be building up to a full blown fever pitch right quick.
Our first official lesson started the first night in class and dealt with HDV Camera Basics 1. We built upon what we learned during our second night with a lecture called... can you guess it?? That's right, HDV Camera Basics 2. First we started off with the basics related to any and all cameras: focus, aperture, camera stands, etc. Then we moved into more film based cameras specifically digital cameras. Our first three projects will be filmed on the Sony HVR-Z1U. At the end of each lecture we had plenty of hands-on time where we had to set up the camera, stands, monitor, and then connect all three. After which we broke everything back down. The first night I felt just like baby Huey pushing buttons... and I pretty much felt that way the second night as well. Last night we did have some objectives that we were to complete on our own with the camera: setting the time code to a specific hour and correcting the white balance. Both of which were incredibly easy. Thankfully.
Some random things I learned:
-A clapper at the beginning of a shot is used to sync sound.
-Never say you will fix it in post. Fix it while filming.
-Always film 30 seconds of color bars at the beginning of every tape.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Why does that lion have dreads?
I received an e-mail from Tammy who is the Operations Manager at SFSDF. It was a blanket e-mail that went out to everyone in the Fall program and it mostly dealt with financial options and deadlines and it was also a personal introduction. Evidently she is also from the first class to graduate at SFSDF. After reading the e-mail I called her to discuss paying for the first month of school and once we got payment out of the way she gave me a list of items I will need before I start. It is as such:
-1 External Hardrive: In the range of 500 megabytes to 3 gigabytes. Will be used to store our projects.
- 1 mini Maglite- approx. 6 inches. To be used on set during days which we are filming.
-1 pair Leather Gloves-Used for handing equipment which will include lighting that will be hot.
-Gaffer's Tape. Evidently this is blue and we will be using it on set. Will post a pic once I purchase it.
- 1 Carabiner -or- Fanny pack. This will hold all of your items together while on set. She called it a hip pack. To-may-toh, to-mah-to... it's a fanny-pack so I am sure I will go the carabiner route.
- 1 Note pad. For jotting down memos or ideas that will lead me to wealth and stardom.
Evidently I can get almost everything from JCX Expendables, a film supply store in the Mission. It's been a while but it looks like it is time for some back-to-school shopping...
-1 External Hardrive: In the range of 500 megabytes to 3 gigabytes. Will be used to store our projects.
- 1 mini Maglite- approx. 6 inches. To be used on set during days which we are filming.
-1 pair Leather Gloves-Used for handing equipment which will include lighting that will be hot.
-Gaffer's Tape. Evidently this is blue and we will be using it on set. Will post a pic once I purchase it.
- 1 Carabiner -or- Fanny pack. This will hold all of your items together while on set. She called it a hip pack. To-may-toh, to-mah-to... it's a fanny-pack so I am sure I will go the carabiner route.
- 1 Note pad. For jotting down memos or ideas that will lead me to wealth and stardom.
Evidently I can get almost everything from JCX Expendables, a film supply store in the Mission. It's been a while but it looks like it is time for some back-to-school shopping...
Friday, August 15, 2008
T-Minus 30 days...
Roughly one month from today and I will begin Film School. I noticed some changes to the school's curriculum the other day. The biggest being that I will be writing/directing five projects not 3. Here are the details of what to expect straight from the horses mouth.
"The Digital Filmmaking Program is an intensive, hands-on program designed to prepare students for a career in the motion picture industry. The innovative curriculum is taught by award-winning filmmakers and is project-based, with students creating five (5) of their own movies and working on a professional feature-length motion picture.
Over the course of the year, every student will create:- One 3 to 5-minute narrative fiction film- One 3 to 5-minute documentary film- One 4 to 6-minute “challenge” film (either documentary or fiction)- One 30-second commercial with special effects- One 8 to12 minute thesis movie in any genre and:- Crew with professionals on a feature-length motion picture
Students learn the art and craft of filmmaking and work in a variety of genres – fiction, commercials and documentary. The class is structured around small production teams in which students produce their own movies and crew on team member projects. In this way, students get personalized instruction, maximum experience with the equipment, and create material for their demo reels.
SFSDF is proud to be a small school, with only two new class starts a year, in March and September. Unlike other film schools that have a “conveyor belt” mentality and start a new class every month, our class sizes are limited in order to offer students maximum access to both equipment and instructors. Our mission is not to turn out large numbers of students with little knowledge – it is to train a small group of passionate students and prepare them for entering the professional world of filmmaking.
SFSDF student movie projects are strategically designed to allow students to build their skills in an organic and increasingly challenging way. After completing their first own film projects movies and crewing on as many as 25 of their teammates movies, student have the skills and confidence necessary to crew on a feature-length digital motion picture. SFSDF is the only film school in the country offering students this valuable and unique experience.
On the movie set, students fill in key crew positions and continue to develop their craft by working side-by-side with professional crew members from San Francisco and LA. During the course of filming, students rotate through two feature production departments and receive credit on the finished film. This on-set experience allows students to gain critical real-world knowledge and invaluable contacts in the movie business.
Students that successfully complete this Program receive the three essential tools for launching their career--a demo reel built from their best work, motion picture credits including work on a feature film, and contacts in the industry. Students enter the filmmaking program at SFSDF as students and leave as professionals"
"The Digital Filmmaking Program is an intensive, hands-on program designed to prepare students for a career in the motion picture industry. The innovative curriculum is taught by award-winning filmmakers and is project-based, with students creating five (5) of their own movies and working on a professional feature-length motion picture.
Over the course of the year, every student will create:- One 3 to 5-minute narrative fiction film- One 3 to 5-minute documentary film- One 4 to 6-minute “challenge” film (either documentary or fiction)- One 30-second commercial with special effects- One 8 to12 minute thesis movie in any genre and:- Crew with professionals on a feature-length motion picture
Students learn the art and craft of filmmaking and work in a variety of genres – fiction, commercials and documentary. The class is structured around small production teams in which students produce their own movies and crew on team member projects. In this way, students get personalized instruction, maximum experience with the equipment, and create material for their demo reels.
SFSDF is proud to be a small school, with only two new class starts a year, in March and September. Unlike other film schools that have a “conveyor belt” mentality and start a new class every month, our class sizes are limited in order to offer students maximum access to both equipment and instructors. Our mission is not to turn out large numbers of students with little knowledge – it is to train a small group of passionate students and prepare them for entering the professional world of filmmaking.
SFSDF student movie projects are strategically designed to allow students to build their skills in an organic and increasingly challenging way. After completing their first own film projects movies and crewing on as many as 25 of their teammates movies, student have the skills and confidence necessary to crew on a feature-length digital motion picture. SFSDF is the only film school in the country offering students this valuable and unique experience.
On the movie set, students fill in key crew positions and continue to develop their craft by working side-by-side with professional crew members from San Francisco and LA. During the course of filming, students rotate through two feature production departments and receive credit on the finished film. This on-set experience allows students to gain critical real-world knowledge and invaluable contacts in the movie business.
Students that successfully complete this Program receive the three essential tools for launching their career--a demo reel built from their best work, motion picture credits including work on a feature film, and contacts in the industry. Students enter the filmmaking program at SFSDF as students and leave as professionals"
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Tell me what you think...
I was at a dinner party last week and the topic of my acceptance in to film school came up which seguewayed into working in film in general. We talked about the father of one of our dinner hosts who happens to be a screenwriter. While he wasn't at the dinner, she did have one of his screenplays which she handed to me and said, "tell me what you think." I have to admit, it was kinda cool that someone handed me a screenplay as somewhat of an authority in the field but let's not shit ourselves, at this point in my life I have no business doling out advice on screenplays. I am just a regular joe with an unhealthy obsession with film. How unhealthy you may ask? Today is August 3rd. Since January 1st I have watched 207 films. 207!!?!?! Moderately ridiculous. Granted I have read screenplays and books on screenplays and filmmaking in the past but still, just a guy who is interested in the industry. And everything I've read about people handing you screenplays without going through proper channels (i.e. agent, production company, etc.) says to not accept them. I'm sure it boils down to preventing further lawsuits dealing with the misappropriation of ideas. That's the way the industry works. Also, if I ever refer to myself as "working in the industry," please take me out back and shoot me. So what about the screenplay that I was handed? I was so jet lagged from vacation that I left it sitting on their counter. I am a boob.
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