I came, I saw, I blogged about it

Here are a few of the video blogs I've done so far...










These are the first four video blogs I've done. I intend to do more, and we'll see just how well I can do this.
Cheers!

Video blog (of sorts) upcoming!

And hopefully, not your lunch with it...

What I intend to do with this forum is continue to write about film, production, and effects... and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to do this on a somewhat regular basis (kudos, Scott Eggleston).

Later...

Once More Into the Breach, Dear Friends...

Let's try this One More Time...

Once again, I'm trying to get this done for my filmmaking endeavors.

We'll see how it goes now.

Back from the Abyss...

Well, this is a rising from the dead, more or less... although I think of it more as an awakening from suspended animation, on this site.

Where we are is in transition. I am attempting to finish my last term at Wayne State University, despite the roadblocks the bureaucracy tries to fling in my path.


Such is the way of things, I suppose.

I have a few more things to say from time to time, and I'll try to refer then here when I can.

For now, so long until next time...

(Whenever that may be.)

Taking Advantage

Taking advantage of opportunities for getting stock footage that you could use later is always a good idea... as an example, take the Dream Cruise on Woodward Avenue here in Detroit.

There's also parades, public events, and things such as that.

You could get really unique things to use.

Writing For No-Budget Film (Part 1)

Since I'm approaching the climax of my academic career at Wayne State, and the demands of "real-world" filmmaking will be apparent all too soon, I thought it would be a good idea (or a Good Idea, however you care to put it) to restate the needs of a script for a low- to no-budget film.

 After all, you can write War and Peace as a movie, but can you get the money, as well as the other requirements, to film it?

 There are certain things I've learned from my research, as well as from experience, that will help you along the way to writing a script that you (or somebody else) can film. So, here they are:

• Write for a small cast - maybe four or five in a sequence max.


• Don't write crowd scenes, car chases, or gunfights if you can avoid it.


• Remember that motion pictures are emotion pictures; if the audience doesn't feel something, you might as well not have shot it.


• Make sure you have everything planned out, even if you don't shoot it that way; remember, failing to plan is planning to fail.


• Write for locations you can get for cheap (or free, which is even better).

 Can you get access to a bar for free? Are you sure? Then setting scenes in a bar is good.

 If you can use parts of an office building to shoot, especially on weekends or holidays, setting scenes in an office building is fine.

 You get the idea.

 Crowd scenes, if you're doing something outdoors, can cause neighbors to call the police on you. And if you don't have a permit, that's NOT a good thing.

 Using weapons, even (or ESPECIALLY) prop weapons, can get you in serious trouble. If you've detailed the weapons to LOOK real, a police officer can be fooled into thinking it IS real... and if you don't obey the officer's instructions TO THE LETTER, they can shoot. They have real bullets.

 As for car chases, try to make the script justify doing it in a deserted location, like in the country, out in the middle of nowhere. This helps to avoid the involvement of the police (again), which will save you a world of hassle.

 Now, remember, I'm not trying to f*** with your artistic temperament. I'm just trying to give you some information that will make your life easier.

 That's all.

Plus ca change...

Well, we've had a new governor in Michigan for four months, and he's already pissed off many of the people who didn't vote for him, as well as some of those who did.

The most vocal of those unsatisfied customers are those who would benefit from the film incentives. Governor Snyder (Snidely?) says that, in order to balance Michigan's budget, he intends to ask for a rescission of the current system of tax credits, and replace it with a grant system capped at $25 million. (I'm not sure if that's per film or total per year.)

Either way, that's basically a death knell for Hollywood film studio involvement in the state. The business is notorious that way; they'll go where they can get the best deal, and go quickly. Anybody who tells you different is either misinformed or deliberately lying to you.

Governor Snyder, in my opinion you're following the lead of your Republican predecessor, "Pothole Johnny" Engler. Will there even be a State of Michigan when you're done?

I don't know... but one thing's for sure; you can't move Michigan offshore to get a better labor deal.