When you hear the word “art,” you immediately think of paintings in a museum, because that’s where a lot of art is. Art is a beautiful thing. However, it is also very deep and complex, and sometimes, it’s more than a person can handle.
How many times have you looked at a painting and just thought “what the hell is this?” or “what does this mean?”
This applies to film too, but in the indie film department. Indie films are where it’s at because it’s where a lot of experimentation and randomness occurs. Also, many famous movies are art films—movies that totally redefine how a movie is made. But sometimes you come across some art film that looks absolutely stunning, but the meaning of it all completely escapes you.
Let’s switch gears.
Entertainment should not need an explanation. Just go to the movie theater and watch one of the movies that are showing. Friends With Benefits, for example. These movies are pure entertainment; they tell a story and entertain the audience with love, scandal, explosions, and excitement. There’s a reason why the movie industry is so powerful: Entertainment sells.
But it doesn’t mean the movie is always good.
The difference between a movie and a good movie is presentation. There are a lot of movies that have little to no artistry to the way it’s filmed. Nothing in the way it’s filmed dazzles you, save for some CGI backgrounds. I mean, who cares about the way lighting is used? Who cares about the camerawork or the depth of the story? Who cares about stupid things like that?
Well, I do.
One of my goals as a filmmaker is to balance art and entertainment in a movie. I know people like to see exciting things. But it doesn’t mean I can’t be creative with how I frame things, or how I light the set. I want to make pretty pictures, but I want it to sell. I want to be able to entertain others while being proud of my work. It’s a balance between earning money and just being happy with myself I guess.
That’s my rant.
8/29/11
7/3/11
The Hitman
The Hitman
Video is up! Check it out!
Most of it is just of Jared walking, I know, but that’s how I wanted it. Building off of what I started kinda in The Red Scare, I experimented with tracking shots, Steadicamming, and dolly shots. I figure I’d rather experiment with a short video like this than completely blowing it on a bigger project y’know?
Please, give me feedback! It helps a lot more than you know!
Video is up! Check it out!
Most of it is just of Jared walking, I know, but that’s how I wanted it. Building off of what I started kinda in The Red Scare, I experimented with tracking shots, Steadicamming, and dolly shots. I figure I’d rather experiment with a short video like this than completely blowing it on a bigger project y’know?
Please, give me feedback! It helps a lot more than you know!
7/2/11
Color Correction Rocks
I like editing because you can change the way a video looks. Everyone has their own opinions on how a video should look. I personally think color correction is especially crucial because it can make your video look very pretty or very amateurish. That's why for this video I spent extra time color correcting.
Here's what a raw piece of footage looked like:
It looks okay I suppose, but the contrast between the dark colors and the bright colors is definitely not distinct enough. Let's increase the brightness and contrast:
Not bad, not bad, but the colors are a tad bright, don't you think? Let's desaturate it a bit:
This looks much better, but it's still missing something... Let's add a blue tint and see what happens:
Okay, so this is something that I think looks great. The darks and lights are nicely contrasted, the colors aren't too bright, and the slight blue tint is like the cherry on top to bring it all together. This is how much color correction can do, and it's astounding.
This is not at all the right way to color correct because you could really do anything. You could increase the contrast even more or tint it green or something. You can do anything. And this is an introduction to the magic of video editing.
Here's what a raw piece of footage looked like:
It looks okay I suppose, but the contrast between the dark colors and the bright colors is definitely not distinct enough. Let's increase the brightness and contrast:
Not bad, not bad, but the colors are a tad bright, don't you think? Let's desaturate it a bit:
This looks much better, but it's still missing something... Let's add a blue tint and see what happens:
Okay, so this is something that I think looks great. The darks and lights are nicely contrasted, the colors aren't too bright, and the slight blue tint is like the cherry on top to bring it all together. This is how much color correction can do, and it's astounding.
This is not at all the right way to color correct because you could really do anything. You could increase the contrast even more or tint it green or something. You can do anything. And this is an introduction to the magic of video editing.
New Video Screenshots
Like I said in my last post, my new video won’t be anything fancy or anything. It’s just my attempt at making something aesthetically unique and pleasing.
Here are some photos of what it looks like right now.
As you can see, I was experimenting a lot with different angles and camera techniques. I spent extra time with the color correction to make sure the colors look bolder and more contrasted. Note to self: if you want to make a photo or a video look pretty, add contrast and brightness.
I’m using an original song made by my friend Richard as the main theme for this video. He made the song just for this video and it makes the video look great. It’s like the cherry on top of the cake of awesomeness.
On a more negative note, HD has become a bit of an annoyance for me, as it took multiple days just to get my footage ready for editing. When rendering the footage into a file, the audio de-synced with the video and I had to redo a lot of things. Rendering HD also takes a while, if you haven’t guessed. Also, I haven’t been editing much lately either because my computer has been having problems and I’ve been playing games. It hasn’t been a strenuous editing job though.
It’s basically done, so I’ll post it soon.
Here are some photos of what it looks like right now.
As you can see, I was experimenting a lot with different angles and camera techniques. I spent extra time with the color correction to make sure the colors look bolder and more contrasted. Note to self: if you want to make a photo or a video look pretty, add contrast and brightness.
I’m using an original song made by my friend Richard as the main theme for this video. He made the song just for this video and it makes the video look great. It’s like the cherry on top of the cake of awesomeness.
On a more negative note, HD has become a bit of an annoyance for me, as it took multiple days just to get my footage ready for editing. When rendering the footage into a file, the audio de-synced with the video and I had to redo a lot of things. Rendering HD also takes a while, if you haven’t guessed. Also, I haven’t been editing much lately either because my computer has been having problems and I’ve been playing games. It hasn’t been a strenuous editing job though.
It’s basically done, so I’ll post it soon.
Stylish
My next video will be what The Blood Exchange wasn’t.
- In The Blood Exchange, almost every scene was shot from a tripod. This time, the tripod was never deployed.
- Because of this, most of the scenes from The Blood Exchange were static. This next video has almost all dolly/Steadicam shots, so motion will be a motif.
- The Blood Exchange was completely scripted and thought out. This one was shot without any planning, scripting, or writing, so really, I didn’t know what I was going to do.
Moar Filming Tomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be filming a short video. It’s gonna be pretty experimental and avant-garde, but it’ll have a simple storyline to accompany it. My goal with this one is to make it look PRETTY.
Well, once again, the most difficult part of the whole film process is the pre-production. Originally we were going to film at Roger’s house with Roger as one of the main characters. Not anymore.
It’s not that I have a problem with people who can’t make my dates. It’s how they tell me. The people who can’t make it wait until the night before or the day of to give me the news. They tell me they can make it, and then tell me otherwise within 24 hours of the actual filming. One time, one of my actors bailed 5 minutes before our planned start time. Literally, every single time I film, someone bails at the last minute.
It happened a number of times with The Blood Exchange. In fact, it happens almost every single time I try to film something. It pisses me off beyond belief and it makes getting a replacement ridiculously difficult.
The least they could do is have the decency to tell me ahead of time that they’re busy. Then, I’ll be okay, and I’ll have time to seek out a replacement and to make final plans. Don’t tell me you can make it and then bail out the last minute. Who does that anyway? And don’t expect a callback any time soon.
Other than that, I’m pretty stoked for tomorrow. I’m breaking out my new dolly for her maiden flight. Since we’re gonna take our time with this video, I expect something that looks awesome. Anyway, I’ll post pictures when I get to editing.
Well, once again, the most difficult part of the whole film process is the pre-production. Originally we were going to film at Roger’s house with Roger as one of the main characters. Not anymore.
It’s not that I have a problem with people who can’t make my dates. It’s how they tell me. The people who can’t make it wait until the night before or the day of to give me the news. They tell me they can make it, and then tell me otherwise within 24 hours of the actual filming. One time, one of my actors bailed 5 minutes before our planned start time. Literally, every single time I film, someone bails at the last minute.
It happened a number of times with The Blood Exchange. In fact, it happens almost every single time I try to film something. It pisses me off beyond belief and it makes getting a replacement ridiculously difficult.
The least they could do is have the decency to tell me ahead of time that they’re busy. Then, I’ll be okay, and I’ll have time to seek out a replacement and to make final plans. Don’t tell me you can make it and then bail out the last minute. Who does that anyway? And don’t expect a callback any time soon.
Other than that, I’m pretty stoked for tomorrow. I’m breaking out my new dolly for her maiden flight. Since we’re gonna take our time with this video, I expect something that looks awesome. Anyway, I’ll post pictures when I get to editing.
6/19/11
McCarthyism -- The Red Scare
McCarthyism -- The Red Scare
I almost forgot to post about this. This was a school project, so nothing super duper interesting, but I figured I’d post it anyway. It’s supposedly set in the 1950s. I tried to encompass a lot of different things at once, like the roots of the Feminist Movement, the consumer culture, and of course, the anti-communist stance. I don’t think it’s a bad video. It got me an A :D
Enjoy!
I almost forgot to post about this. This was a school project, so nothing super duper interesting, but I figured I’d post it anyway. It’s supposedly set in the 1950s. I tried to encompass a lot of different things at once, like the roots of the Feminist Movement, the consumer culture, and of course, the anti-communist stance. I don’t think it’s a bad video. It got me an A :D
Enjoy!
6/14/11
Some Random Movie Reviews
I've been neglecting my blog lately, but I've been thinking about it. Movie review time.
1. The Usual Suspects. I went into this movie without knowing a thing about what it was about. I had absolutely no bias walking into this movie. Knowing me, if I read any bad reviews of it, I probably would have given it a bad impression. Good thing I didn't. This movie was great. It starts off slow, and it starts off kinda confusing and weird and convoluted and everything. But stick with it. The ending is satisfying as hell because you never see it coming. I was thoroughly impressed by how the movie resolved, and it sticks in my head as one of the best ways to end a movie. My verdict: 8/10.
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Honestly I didn't remember much of what happened in the 6th movie. I just thought "Hey, I'll remember eventually," and I did. Thing is though, the problem with this movie is that if you're starting the series with Deathly Hallows (which is a stupid idea from the beginning), you will understand NOTHING about this movie. It's definitely a sequel in that everything that happens in this movie draws from what happens in the last one. Other than that though, this movie is phenomenal. The cinematography is top-notch, and the acting is also great. Plus, Emma Watson :D. My verdict: 9/10.
3. Infernal Affairs. Ever watch of a movie called The Departed? Did you enjoy it? Now, picture this: Did you know that movie was inspired by a Chinese movie called Infernal Affairs? I bet you didn't. Infernal Affairs is basically the same general storyline of the Departed, but in Hong Kong. There's something about the actors in Infernal Affairs than the Departed that I liked better. It feels more organic is what I could say. The cinematography is great, the pacing is tense, you're always guessing what could happen next. Great movie. If you liked the Departed, you'll like Infernal Affairs, perhaps even more. My verdict: 10/10.
4. American Movie. Indie films ftw! Hands down, the most down-to-earth documentary ever made. We follow Mark Borchardt, an aspiring filmmaker, and his journey to complete his short film, Coven. However, he runs into so many problems, from a lack of funding to the ineptitude of his friends and family as his cast and crew. Nothing in this movie is scripted, and nothing that happens in this movie is at all fiction. I enjoyed this movie a lot because of the honesty and integrity of Mark and his pursuit of his American Dream. You feel his pain and you connect with him. His friend Mike is also hilarious in his own strange way. I seriously enjoyed this movie and it has definitely become one of my favorite movies. My verdict: 10/10.
And then, suddenly, there was an urge to watch The Breakfast Club again. Ahh, good movies make me feel all warm inside :D
1. The Usual Suspects. I went into this movie without knowing a thing about what it was about. I had absolutely no bias walking into this movie. Knowing me, if I read any bad reviews of it, I probably would have given it a bad impression. Good thing I didn't. This movie was great. It starts off slow, and it starts off kinda confusing and weird and convoluted and everything. But stick with it. The ending is satisfying as hell because you never see it coming. I was thoroughly impressed by how the movie resolved, and it sticks in my head as one of the best ways to end a movie. My verdict: 8/10.
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Honestly I didn't remember much of what happened in the 6th movie. I just thought "Hey, I'll remember eventually," and I did. Thing is though, the problem with this movie is that if you're starting the series with Deathly Hallows (which is a stupid idea from the beginning), you will understand NOTHING about this movie. It's definitely a sequel in that everything that happens in this movie draws from what happens in the last one. Other than that though, this movie is phenomenal. The cinematography is top-notch, and the acting is also great. Plus, Emma Watson :D. My verdict: 9/10.
3. Infernal Affairs. Ever watch of a movie called The Departed? Did you enjoy it? Now, picture this: Did you know that movie was inspired by a Chinese movie called Infernal Affairs? I bet you didn't. Infernal Affairs is basically the same general storyline of the Departed, but in Hong Kong. There's something about the actors in Infernal Affairs than the Departed that I liked better. It feels more organic is what I could say. The cinematography is great, the pacing is tense, you're always guessing what could happen next. Great movie. If you liked the Departed, you'll like Infernal Affairs, perhaps even more. My verdict: 10/10.
4. American Movie. Indie films ftw! Hands down, the most down-to-earth documentary ever made. We follow Mark Borchardt, an aspiring filmmaker, and his journey to complete his short film, Coven. However, he runs into so many problems, from a lack of funding to the ineptitude of his friends and family as his cast and crew. Nothing in this movie is scripted, and nothing that happens in this movie is at all fiction. I enjoyed this movie a lot because of the honesty and integrity of Mark and his pursuit of his American Dream. You feel his pain and you connect with him. His friend Mike is also hilarious in his own strange way. I seriously enjoyed this movie and it has definitely become one of my favorite movies. My verdict: 10/10.
And then, suddenly, there was an urge to watch The Breakfast Club again. Ahh, good movies make me feel all warm inside :D
5/28/11
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Note: I’m not including a trailer for this one because the trailer really gives off the wrong impression about the movie. Just see it.
Everyone has seen a movie that has blown them away completely, more than any other movie they’ve seen. It could have changed the way you thought about life. It could have made you cry more than any other movie. Regardless, chances are there’s a movie where you reached the credits and thought “Wow, that was the best movie I’ve ever seen.” That movie for me is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
The movie starts out kinda confusing, because you are introduced to the characters, and they become a couple, and they’re happy. Then, suddenly, it shifts to the guy crying his eyes out while driving home in the rain. And thus, the movie begins.
The movie is about a man, Joel Barish, who finds out that his girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski, has erased him from her memory. He is devastated and decides to have the same operation done to him. His memories erase in reverse order—from the most recent to the first time they met. He experiences them as they slowly disappear from his memory, reliving them almost. As he slowly moves closer to the beginning of their relationship, he starts to fall back in love with her. But at that point, it’s too late; the operation can’t stop.
Some might think this is a chick flick romantic comedy. I beg to differ. This movie appeals to everyone at an emotional level; nothing cutesy here. It makes you think about love and life, and what they really mean. The real tear-jerking part is his last few memories, right before she is completely erased. He wants another chance, something everyone wants at some point. What happens next is what made the movie for me. The climax of the movie is what made this movie so great.
I remember finishing the movie and being completely astounded at its beauty. This was the movie that made me truly appreciate movies for all that they are, and it also made me hate other movies for what they weren’t. Since then, I haven’t seen a movie that has made me feel the same way, not even close. Maybe I’m a sap for these kinds of movies, but I don’t care. This movie is incredible, in all ways. There’s something about it that feels strangely relatable.
Watch it. You might love it, or you might hate it. Just watch it, it’s definitely worth your time. You will be very surprised at what it has to offer. I know I was, and now I worship it. For all you know, it might become your new favorite.
Well there’s my Top 10 Favorite Movies. I’m glad this is done, so I can do other stuff now too.
2. Pulp Fiction
Trailer
The only film to top Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs is Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, THE most quotable movie EVER MADE. This is the quintessential Tarantino film that won him the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, probably the most prestigious film award in the world. Everything in this movie is iconic, everything is quotable, all the characters are memorable, and the story is one you’d never forget. If you don’t like this movie, then you don’t know good movies.
Tarantino dishes it out with an all-star cast: John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson star as two hitmen; Bruce Willis stars as a boxer on the run; Uma Thurman stars as the wife of the Los Angeles underground boss gangster; the list goes on. There are multiple characters to follow and multiple stories to follow. The characters are so dynamic and interesting to listen to, which means that the dialogue is NEVER dull, and NEVER boring.
Speaking of the dialogue, Tarantino’s writing in this movie is incredible. He has a knack for witty and memorable dialogue, and Pulp Fiction is proof of that. When you finish this movie, there will be many lines you distinctly remember because 1. They were hilarious, 2. They were badass, or 3. They were hilarious AND badass. There’s no possible way you can forget the dialogue. It’s too good.
The way the film is set up is in non-linear format: the movie ends where it began. It sounds odd, yes, and sometimes the movie jumps around, but by the end, everything comes together perfectly. There’s something about it that feels right.
I distinctly remember finishing the movie and desperately wanting more. I bet that you will finish the movie the exact same way. Like Reservoir Dogs, you will never forget this movie if you tried. If you haven’t watched this movie, then this should be a must-see for you. Or else I’ll get medieval on your ass.
3. Slumdog Millionaire
Top 3, let’s finish this up!
Trailer
Slumdog Millionaire, the winner of 8 2009 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Why is this movie one of my top three? Everything about this movie to me has such ridiculous artistic appeal: the music, the cinematography, the editing, etc. I find this movie truly magical because of the way it’s presented.
This movie was one of those movies that I had to watch twice to really understand it. I remember hearing first that it had won a ton of awards and whatnot, so I figured it was worth a shot. It certainly wasn’t what I expected, and it didn’t blow me away at first because I had a hard time following the story. But now that I understand the premise, I understand why it’s so acclaimed.
The way it’s presented is so avante-garde and experimental. What this does is add to the intensity of the movie, so much so that it’s overwhelming. I look to this movie to provide cinematography inspiration and ideas to springboard off of to use for my videos. The chasing scenes are absolutely incredible because of the music, the cinematography, and the editing. It’s a different feeling.
Here’s my favorite example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDC47NsoRE0
Basically, the story is about a slumdog who is accused of cheating on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. However, when he is telling his story, he reveals all the hardships he has faced since he was a child; it is his experiences that give him the answers to the game show questions. The story is incredibly intense in a ton of different ways, so I’d just watch it.
I admire this movie for it’s cinematography, editing, music, acting, and story. Something about it makes the whole experience magical, even though some of the themes are dark. Sometimes, I think the Academy doesn’t screw up.
4. Reservoir Dogs
Trailer
Reservoir Dogs: Quentin Tarantino’s directing debut, and arguably one of his best films. If you say you love indie movies, and you haven’t seen Reservoir Dogs, then you’re not a true indie movie lover. Reservoir Dogs represents the epitome of what it means to be a great independently made movie.
Everything about this movie is iconic, from the tipping scene, to the torture scene, to the frickin’ opening credits: A bunch of guys in suits, walking down the street in slow motion, to music. You will never forget these scenes; they glue to your brain like a tumor, and they will never leave. The movie is funny, vulgar, violent, and interesting in so many different ways that it’s impossible to not remember this movie.
Quentin Tarantino mainstreamed the non-linear movie format. Reservoir Dogs is about a group of guys robbing a bank. Thing is, you only see what happens before and after the heist; the actual robbery is never seen, but only mentioned through dialogue. This sets up a very unique storytelling method that sounds weird on paper, but shines on execution.
I like this movie because of how many boundaries it pushed, in terms of violence, language, and overall setup. Trust me, you will NEVER forget Reservoir Dogs, even if you tried. Whether you think it’s too violent, too vulgar, or too boring is up to you, but Tarantino undoubtedly debuted with unmatched intensity. It could arguably be the best independent film ever made. It’s that great of a movie, and a must-see if you love indie films, or anything about movies at all.
5. Chungking Express
Best character intro ever
Top five now. Let’s get this going.
Chungking Express is my last Asian film in this list. It is Wong Kar Wai’s most well-known film, and rightly so. Bluntly put, it’s a very quirky romance movie that will delight anyone.
The movie follows two cops in their quests for love in and around the Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong, each with their individual halves of the movie. The first cop was dumped on April 1st, and he thought it was a joke at first. His arc revolves around him getting over his ex and moving on with life. Meanwhile, he takes his anger out by jogging, because “then he won’t have any tears left to cry.”
The second arc revolves around a fast-food employee and her love interest with another cop. This cop was also just dumped, and the employee notices. However, the cop refuses to forget about his ex and just mopes around. Thus, the employee takes it upon herself to help him by stealing a set of his keys, breaking into his apartment when he’s not home, and fixing the place up.
If that doesn’t interest you, then you might as well go watch Transformers 2 or something. Not only does this movie have an awesome plot, but the camerawork, the music, the actors, pretty much everything, just straight-up win.
To truly know what I’m talking about, you seriously have to watch it. Definitely not a movie you will ever forget.
6. Fallen Angels
Trailer
Another movie probably no one I know has seen. Not exactly a movie for everyone. What this movie does with the camera is probably beyond strange for many, and the story structure would probably throw a lot of people off their rocker. Regardless, this is one funky movie that sticks with you.
Wong Kar Wai is quite the experimenter. Half of his scenes are shot with a fisheye lens, which distorts a person’s face to make their noses look big. What he does with the camera is totally unique and experimental, and I love it.
This movie is such a psychedelic rush of mixed emotions. I don’t know how to explain it, but the cinematography really conveys a ton of emotion, which is very unique to this movie. I like the artistic appeal to this movie, and it inspires me to be a bit more experimental with my camera angles.
It’s one of those movies that you have to watch to understand why it’s so great. Definitely geared more to the independent filmmakers, but I would give it a shot nonetheless. :D
7. Spirited Away
Trailer
Spirited Away, one of many great Hayao Miyazaki anime films. Bluntly put, it is an incredible movie. The fact that most of the animation was made using traditional, hand-drawn pictures honestly astounds me. You don’t get much of that anymore.
I’ve seen this movie so many times, in English and in Japanese, for years. I’ve always loved this movie for the story, and now I can appreciate and worship it for its technical glory. You get immersed in the story and in the world so easily. The story is interesting, multi-layered, and unique. The characters are incredibly memorable (the baby). There are so many things that you can love about this movie. Which brings me to probably one of the main reasons why I love this movie so much:
The music. The soundtrack is amazing. I love the soundtrack. I love it so much that I own the entire soundtrack. I’ve learned four or five of these songs on the piano. I can’t say enough about the music because I worship it. It’s probably my all-time favorite soundtrack. Joe Hisaishi is just… I could listen to his stuff all day long.
Overall though this movie is just incredible. Definitely one of those movies I could watch over and over again and not get bored.
8. WALL-E
Trailer
Yes, WALL-E, my favorite Pixar film ever. Many people seem to be mixed about this movie. Some dislike the pessimistic doomsday outlook on humanities future. Some didn’t think it had as much connection to kids as previous Pixar movies. I personally think this is their best movie overall.
The animation, first off, is absolutely incredible. I remember watching this movie and being amazed by the amount of detail that was put into the visuals. Space and the garbage-ridden Earth were my favorites. They’re just so pretty to look at. Absolutely stunning.
I thought the way the story was told was also incredibly unique. I liked how WALL-E and EVE did not really have to speak much for the audience to understand them. The way Pixar did the characters’ animations really conveyed the right things. I liked watching WALL-E’s actions because they were so expressive and lively—he felt almost human. I felt as if I followed the movie completely fine, which I find quite impressive.
Ignore anyone who thinks this is a bad movie. It’s incredible. It’s totally different than anything else out there, but it tells its story in a fantastic way. Not only that, it’s just pure eye-candy
9. When the Last Sword is Drawn
Trailer
A foreign film that I’m sure almost none of my friends have seen. This movie was made in 2004 and it follows the story of a Shinsengumi samurai named Kanichiro Yoshimutra. He is introduced as a very skilled and greedy swordsman. As a mercenary, he goes out of his way to get as much money as he can. This is perceived as greedy by his fellow samurai. However, as the story goes on, more and more is revealed about his past, and his true colors shine.
Turns out Kanichiro is gathering money so that he can support his family. He disgraced his old clan and his family name by leaving. He is perceived as a greedy mercenary in his new clan. However, it is all to support his family. His true character is revealed through his noble actions. During one scene, when food was extremely low, he gave out all the rice to the rest of the samurai and let himself go hungry. It is beautiful and sad how far he went to help others, regardless of the sacrifice.
This was one of those movies that you watch and you just feel good at the end. Kanichiro’s character is someone you really feel attached to. He is funny, quirky, honorable, and honest. You can’t help but wish more people in the world were like him. The acting in this movie is totally superb, especially Kanichiro’s actor. Everything is believable and immerses you into the fantastic tale. I’ve never seen a movie like it before.
10. Fantastic Mr. Fox
I’m gonna write about my top ten favorite movies and then explain why. I’m bored and I dunno what else to post right now.
Trailer
This movie is based off the book by Roald Dahl, though the ending to the movie differs slightly. It is a stop motion animated film. Why is this one of my favorites, out of all the animated films out there? Because it’s totally different from any other contemporary animated movie, i.e. it’s not digital. It delivers a very different feel that works.
The story and the characters are incredibly quirky. You can’t help but laugh at times because it’s just so damn different and funny. You’ll fall in love almost instantly. George Clooney’s voice talent totally fits Mr. Fox, and he delivers a great performance. And Kylie the Opossum is just hilarious. You really have to watch it to understand, because it’s pretty far from ordinary, and only after watching it you will understand.
By the way, this is only the first of three animated films in my top ten.
Trailer
This movie is based off the book by Roald Dahl, though the ending to the movie differs slightly. It is a stop motion animated film. Why is this one of my favorites, out of all the animated films out there? Because it’s totally different from any other contemporary animated movie, i.e. it’s not digital. It delivers a very different feel that works.
The story and the characters are incredibly quirky. You can’t help but laugh at times because it’s just so damn different and funny. You’ll fall in love almost instantly. George Clooney’s voice talent totally fits Mr. Fox, and he delivers a great performance. And Kylie the Opossum is just hilarious. You really have to watch it to understand, because it’s pretty far from ordinary, and only after watching it you will understand.
By the way, this is only the first of three animated films in my top ten.
3/7/11
Posers
I hate it when people say they’re good at something just because they know the basics of what they’re doing. This applies to film, but pretty much anything else art-related out there, like photography or music or whatever.
Imagine: when people say their film is “artsy.” Sure, that’s fine and all. But if the rest of your film is pure crap, you have nothing. You can make a ton of pretty little angles with cool colors and the retarded film focus effect, but if it doesn’t do anything for your film, then it has no meaning.
People associate pretty things with art. Anyone can make something pretty. You can take a photo of just anything, color correct it and everything and bam, you call yourself artsy. You can take a video clip of anything, put in some ambient music and color correct it, and bam, it’s pretty. So what?
What do those colors do for your picture exactly? Does it capture the right emotion? Does your “artsy” video clip do anything for your film other than make it look pretty? Is your video even good? What’s the point of it anyway?
Artsy implies some form of art, expression of the imagination and feeling. Anyone can make a photo or a video clip and make it look pretty. Anyone. It’s really easy actually—just pull a few sliders here and there and voila: pretty pictures. You haven’t proved anything. You just know how to use sliders on your computer.
In my opinion, art needs the extra layer beneath the surface that has the thought and the imagination in it. I enjoy looking at photos that have meaning. I enjoy watching movies that stress the story before visual effects.
I don’t disapprove of ambition. If you’re really just trying to get better and just experimenting, fine. But don’t go around bragging that you’re all that just because you made one pretty picture. If you have something to back yourself up, well then fine, you choose what you want to do with it.
I’m not trying to criticize anyone specific. This is how I feel generally. I just don’t like it when people talk big but have nothing to back it up with.
Imagine: when people say their film is “artsy.” Sure, that’s fine and all. But if the rest of your film is pure crap, you have nothing. You can make a ton of pretty little angles with cool colors and the retarded film focus effect, but if it doesn’t do anything for your film, then it has no meaning.
People associate pretty things with art. Anyone can make something pretty. You can take a photo of just anything, color correct it and everything and bam, you call yourself artsy. You can take a video clip of anything, put in some ambient music and color correct it, and bam, it’s pretty. So what?
What do those colors do for your picture exactly? Does it capture the right emotion? Does your “artsy” video clip do anything for your film other than make it look pretty? Is your video even good? What’s the point of it anyway?
Artsy implies some form of art, expression of the imagination and feeling. Anyone can make a photo or a video clip and make it look pretty. Anyone. It’s really easy actually—just pull a few sliders here and there and voila: pretty pictures. You haven’t proved anything. You just know how to use sliders on your computer.
In my opinion, art needs the extra layer beneath the surface that has the thought and the imagination in it. I enjoy looking at photos that have meaning. I enjoy watching movies that stress the story before visual effects.
I don’t disapprove of ambition. If you’re really just trying to get better and just experimenting, fine. But don’t go around bragging that you’re all that just because you made one pretty picture. If you have something to back yourself up, well then fine, you choose what you want to do with it.
I’m not trying to criticize anyone specific. This is how I feel generally. I just don’t like it when people talk big but have nothing to back it up with.
2/21/11
Justin Bieber Movie
Yeah, I went to watch it, and I’m not ashamed at all. I don’t hate the kid like a lot of people do. I don’t love him either. I’m part of that middle, grey group who no one really cares about.
Overall, as a documentary, it was okay. It told the basics of his story. There was nothing much we haven’t heard though: He came from a small town, he got his fame on Youtube, he’s a superstar now. That’s all that it really told us. So when it came to historical content, it was pretty limited I’d say.
A lot of it was just geared toward boosting public opinion of the guy. It was mostly sentiments about how he was born with the talent and how he was always a natural showman. They showed baby videos of him, which promptly led the large mass of girls sitting in front of me to go “AWWWW.” Eh. I’m not really affected by baby videos. In my opinion, really, all babies are like that.
I think this movie was more a publicity stunt than a real documentary. Half of it was just portions of his concerts. So, as a documentary, it was pretty average: not great, but definitely not bad. It’s just the fact that it’s Justin Bieber that makes people think it’s a big deal.
Verdict: 6/10
Overall, as a documentary, it was okay. It told the basics of his story. There was nothing much we haven’t heard though: He came from a small town, he got his fame on Youtube, he’s a superstar now. That’s all that it really told us. So when it came to historical content, it was pretty limited I’d say.
A lot of it was just geared toward boosting public opinion of the guy. It was mostly sentiments about how he was born with the talent and how he was always a natural showman. They showed baby videos of him, which promptly led the large mass of girls sitting in front of me to go “AWWWW.” Eh. I’m not really affected by baby videos. In my opinion, really, all babies are like that.
I think this movie was more a publicity stunt than a real documentary. Half of it was just portions of his concerts. So, as a documentary, it was pretty average: not great, but definitely not bad. It’s just the fact that it’s Justin Bieber that makes people think it’s a big deal.
Verdict: 6/10
2/16/11
Improving and Something Completely Different
So what do I have to improve? A lot. Really, any thing I do can improve or change in some way.
Regarding The Blood Exchange, I need to remember to focus on the focus. Half of my shots were out of focus. It honestly pissed me off to see Carlos’ face so out of focused so often. There’s something I can fix.
Another thing I can do? I have to work on my audiowork. I don’t think it was as high-quality as I wanted it to be. I have to work on the balance between voice and music, because, I agree, Roger’s voice was sometimes overtaken by the music.
So, looking forward. I’ll have you know that my next film will be completely opposite from the Blood Exchange when it comes to style. I have no set script, only a storyboard and generally what will happen. I don’t know how I’m going to film it. I don’t know who I want to be in it. I don’t even know how it’s going to end. But I’m gonna film it, and I’m just gonna let things happen the way it happens.
My philosophy is that bad ideas are better than no ideas. Whether or not my future film will be good is completely out of my control. It could be complete crap, and I may forever remember it as a failure. However, doing it is better than sitting here and thinking about what could go wrong. What I’ve learned is that failure is sometimes better than achievement. It tells you where to go next.
As quoted from Paul Arden’s Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite, “IT’S BETTER TO REGRET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE THAN WHAT YOU HAVEN’T.”
Words to live by.
Regarding The Blood Exchange, I need to remember to focus on the focus. Half of my shots were out of focus. It honestly pissed me off to see Carlos’ face so out of focused so often. There’s something I can fix.
Another thing I can do? I have to work on my audiowork. I don’t think it was as high-quality as I wanted it to be. I have to work on the balance between voice and music, because, I agree, Roger’s voice was sometimes overtaken by the music.
So, looking forward. I’ll have you know that my next film will be completely opposite from the Blood Exchange when it comes to style. I have no set script, only a storyboard and generally what will happen. I don’t know how I’m going to film it. I don’t know who I want to be in it. I don’t even know how it’s going to end. But I’m gonna film it, and I’m just gonna let things happen the way it happens.
My philosophy is that bad ideas are better than no ideas. Whether or not my future film will be good is completely out of my control. It could be complete crap, and I may forever remember it as a failure. However, doing it is better than sitting here and thinking about what could go wrong. What I’ve learned is that failure is sometimes better than achievement. It tells you where to go next.
As quoted from Paul Arden’s Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite, “IT’S BETTER TO REGRET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE THAN WHAT YOU HAVEN’T.”
Words to live by.
The Blood Exchange Reflection
And now comes the time for the post-video reflection. Let’s get started.
So what was good about this video for me? I am proud of how professional it looked. Honestly, it had this sense of formality and structure that made it seem less of an amateur video and closer to a professional video. Combining the awesome camera quality, the tripod, the lighting, and the overall presentation, you have a pretty solidly put-together film. I think overall, professionality was what I was most satisfied with in the end.
My actors were great. Though I think all my actors did a great job, I think the person who stole the show was Anthony, honestly. He was great, I won’t lie. I remember being behind the camera and seeing him yell at Roger with such intensity. He just got so into it, and it really showed in the final product. I enjoyed seeing Carlos pulling out his suave Christian Bale persona during the whole video. He pulled off being a cool dude really well. +10 for the sunglasses. Roger did a pretty good job too, though next time I will have to ask him to speak a bit louder.
This video followed the trend of my last few videos where it evokes a Tarantino feel. I think I’ve gotten pretty good and kinda conveying his style. Therein lies the problem: it’s too much like Tarantino. I’ve been following his lead for a while now, and it’s about time that I stop. Sure, the video looks great and professional. But I need to start exploring some new styles.
Other than that, I think this was a pretty solid video. Expect something different next time :D
So what was good about this video for me? I am proud of how professional it looked. Honestly, it had this sense of formality and structure that made it seem less of an amateur video and closer to a professional video. Combining the awesome camera quality, the tripod, the lighting, and the overall presentation, you have a pretty solidly put-together film. I think overall, professionality was what I was most satisfied with in the end.
My actors were great. Though I think all my actors did a great job, I think the person who stole the show was Anthony, honestly. He was great, I won’t lie. I remember being behind the camera and seeing him yell at Roger with such intensity. He just got so into it, and it really showed in the final product. I enjoyed seeing Carlos pulling out his suave Christian Bale persona during the whole video. He pulled off being a cool dude really well. +10 for the sunglasses. Roger did a pretty good job too, though next time I will have to ask him to speak a bit louder.
This video followed the trend of my last few videos where it evokes a Tarantino feel. I think I’ve gotten pretty good and kinda conveying his style. Therein lies the problem: it’s too much like Tarantino. I’ve been following his lead for a while now, and it’s about time that I stop. Sure, the video looks great and professional. But I need to start exploring some new styles.
Other than that, I think this was a pretty solid video. Expect something different next time :D
2/13/11
OFFICIAL -- The Blood Exchange
Here is the official release of The Blood Exchange!
After hours and hours of hard work, it’s finally here.
Please, comment and tell me what you think!
Watch Here
2/11/11
Editing
I love editing. It’s probably the most unique form of art ever created.
What’s so powerful about editing is that you can take an ordinary movie clip and make it look amazing. You can string together a bunch of ordinary movie clips, color correct, add music, and bam, you have a fantastic movie. It’s a powerful thing.
The thing is, movies are never made perfect. There are a ton of things that happen during filming that can only be fixed with editing. If the microphone picks up some irritating background noise, you can edit it out. If there’s a scene that is too dark, you can brighten it. If you really want to edit someone out because you don’t like them, then you can do it (but doing that takes way too long).
Editing takes a movie and gives it life. There are so many possibilities with editing. The artistic spectrum is ridiculously broad. There are a ton of different styles, defined simply by clip placement, timing, and use of music. It makes movies art.
I used to want to be an editor because I loved seeing movies unravel before me. Every time I make a video, I look forward to editing. Sure, the raw footage sometimes looks good. But editing gives it life—it turns that footage into a living, breathing entity that tells a story. Without editing, movies would not look like they way they do. Special effects could not be achieved. Bad scenes would be preserved. Simply put, editing makes movies what they are.
Some of my videos, like UNDERFIRE War, started off looking like pure crap—we looked like such idiots, running around with Nerf guns and pretending to shoot each other. That video is intense because of editing. The music, the sound effects, the pace of the action, the intensity, are all achieved through editing. It’s unlike anything else.
Some may not enjoy editing as much as I do. But everyone should appreciate how much video editing does for movies. It’s not easy, and it’s not a fast process, but damn, it sure does deliver.
What’s so powerful about editing is that you can take an ordinary movie clip and make it look amazing. You can string together a bunch of ordinary movie clips, color correct, add music, and bam, you have a fantastic movie. It’s a powerful thing.
The thing is, movies are never made perfect. There are a ton of things that happen during filming that can only be fixed with editing. If the microphone picks up some irritating background noise, you can edit it out. If there’s a scene that is too dark, you can brighten it. If you really want to edit someone out because you don’t like them, then you can do it (but doing that takes way too long).
Editing takes a movie and gives it life. There are so many possibilities with editing. The artistic spectrum is ridiculously broad. There are a ton of different styles, defined simply by clip placement, timing, and use of music. It makes movies art.
I used to want to be an editor because I loved seeing movies unravel before me. Every time I make a video, I look forward to editing. Sure, the raw footage sometimes looks good. But editing gives it life—it turns that footage into a living, breathing entity that tells a story. Without editing, movies would not look like they way they do. Special effects could not be achieved. Bad scenes would be preserved. Simply put, editing makes movies what they are.
Some of my videos, like UNDERFIRE War, started off looking like pure crap—we looked like such idiots, running around with Nerf guns and pretending to shoot each other. That video is intense because of editing. The music, the sound effects, the pace of the action, the intensity, are all achieved through editing. It’s unlike anything else.
Some may not enjoy editing as much as I do. But everyone should appreciate how much video editing does for movies. It’s not easy, and it’s not a fast process, but damn, it sure does deliver.
The Sound of Silence
At the end of The Blood Exchange, there will be a period where no one speaks, no music plays, and it’s just things happening. I do this for a reason.
Sometimes, sound, dialogue, and music are detrimental to a scene. Silence is a powerful thing that says nothing, yet conveys so many emotions. Hollywood seriously underrates the sheer power of moments of silence in movies. It’s a shame.
Often in movies, a tense scene is accompanied with heated dialogue and intense music. This is okay sometimes—it depends on the situation. If you’re going for excitement, this is what you want. If you’re going for suspense, then you have to step back and consider how you’re going to achieve this. It really depends on the situation, but I think silence conveys this eerie feeling of realism and loneliness that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand stiff.
Imagine the scene in Pulp Fiction where Butch the boxer is going back to his apartment to retrieve his watch. He does this knowing that there may as well be a hitman waiting for him anywhere. During this scene, there is next to NO dialogue and absolutely NO music. All that this scene shows is Butch walking to his apartment, finding his watch, and finding a surprise in his bathroom. Why is this scene so good? Why is it so suspenseful? They say NOTHING. There is NO MUSIC.
It’s because of the silence.
What a soundtrack often does is build up to the intense part of the scene—it starts out calmer, then builds and builds to the action. That means that you will always know when it’s coming. In real life, there is no soundtrack playing for every suspenseful thing that happens in your life. There is no background music to tell you when something intense is going to happen. That’s life.
What silence does is create realism. This scene worked because it felt real. Butch was just walking through the neighborhood to his apartment. Tensions are high. You felt nervous for Butch because there was no soundtrack indicating anything. Someone could have come outta nowhere and killed him right then and there. Anything could have happened.
I’m not saying to abandon dialogue or music, because a movie is dead without them. But sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. Sometimes the best soundtrack for your life is just nothing. Silence is golden, so shut up and get rich.
Sometimes, sound, dialogue, and music are detrimental to a scene. Silence is a powerful thing that says nothing, yet conveys so many emotions. Hollywood seriously underrates the sheer power of moments of silence in movies. It’s a shame.
Often in movies, a tense scene is accompanied with heated dialogue and intense music. This is okay sometimes—it depends on the situation. If you’re going for excitement, this is what you want. If you’re going for suspense, then you have to step back and consider how you’re going to achieve this. It really depends on the situation, but I think silence conveys this eerie feeling of realism and loneliness that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand stiff.
Imagine the scene in Pulp Fiction where Butch the boxer is going back to his apartment to retrieve his watch. He does this knowing that there may as well be a hitman waiting for him anywhere. During this scene, there is next to NO dialogue and absolutely NO music. All that this scene shows is Butch walking to his apartment, finding his watch, and finding a surprise in his bathroom. Why is this scene so good? Why is it so suspenseful? They say NOTHING. There is NO MUSIC.
It’s because of the silence.
What a soundtrack often does is build up to the intense part of the scene—it starts out calmer, then builds and builds to the action. That means that you will always know when it’s coming. In real life, there is no soundtrack playing for every suspenseful thing that happens in your life. There is no background music to tell you when something intense is going to happen. That’s life.
What silence does is create realism. This scene worked because it felt real. Butch was just walking through the neighborhood to his apartment. Tensions are high. You felt nervous for Butch because there was no soundtrack indicating anything. Someone could have come outta nowhere and killed him right then and there. Anything could have happened.
I’m not saying to abandon dialogue or music, because a movie is dead without them. But sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. Sometimes the best soundtrack for your life is just nothing. Silence is golden, so shut up and get rich.
TRAILER -- The Blood Exchange
Here is the trailer for The Blood Exchange!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAsUI-9uJA
The full video will be up within the next two weeks. Please be patient, I’m doing my best to make it the best video it can be!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAsUI-9uJA
The full video will be up within the next two weeks. Please be patient, I’m doing my best to make it the best video it can be!
2/5/11
Making Better Movies
Now I’m not condoning that I make great movies. My projects still have a lot of mistakes that I need to fix. But over the years I’ve gotten better because I’ve focused on the small things.
In order to make a movie, or anything in general, you should never leave out the small things. When you think about it, all the small things will eventually build up to become one big conglomeration. You may not think it’s such a big deal, but it can become a big deal.
For instance, in my last post, I talked about editing audio. Today, on a second viewing at a higher volume, I realized that my “editing job” left a pretty noticeable artifact in between dialogue. You can’t tell when the volume is low enough, but when boosted, you know it’s there. I opted to go back and re-edit all of the audio clips I did yesterday. I finished half of them yesterday.
To go back and re-edit these clips, PLUS edit the rest of the movie audio, took the entire day (excluding going out to the mall). Some may not have opted to take on such a task, but I did because I knew that I’d be sorely unhappy with the results in the future. This artifact, while not so imposing, would have been present throughout the entire video and would have ruined the parts where silence was key to the mood. Taking it out of all the audio fixed a small problem that encased the entire video.
What I’m trying to say here is that the smallest details are sometimes the most crucial. There should be no shortcuts to making a good movie.
In order to make a movie, or anything in general, you should never leave out the small things. When you think about it, all the small things will eventually build up to become one big conglomeration. You may not think it’s such a big deal, but it can become a big deal.
For instance, in my last post, I talked about editing audio. Today, on a second viewing at a higher volume, I realized that my “editing job” left a pretty noticeable artifact in between dialogue. You can’t tell when the volume is low enough, but when boosted, you know it’s there. I opted to go back and re-edit all of the audio clips I did yesterday. I finished half of them yesterday.
To go back and re-edit these clips, PLUS edit the rest of the movie audio, took the entire day (excluding going out to the mall). Some may not have opted to take on such a task, but I did because I knew that I’d be sorely unhappy with the results in the future. This artifact, while not so imposing, would have been present throughout the entire video and would have ruined the parts where silence was key to the mood. Taking it out of all the audio fixed a small problem that encased the entire video.
What I’m trying to say here is that the smallest details are sometimes the most crucial. There should be no shortcuts to making a good movie.
2/4/11
Arranging and Audio
I haven’t been able to edit all week because of school, but guess what I started doing just as I got home?
That’s right. EDITING.
So, this is what I’ve done so far after importing everything:
1. Arrange the timeline: The first thing I always do is put all the clips in order as I want them to be. Considering the length of this video, this can take a long time. My first arrangement is rough at best, but it gives me a good understanding of the flow of the video. As editing progresses or during the final touch-ups, I’ll make the finer adjustments to clip length and placement.
2. Edit the audio: This is one of the most time-consuming aspects of my process. How do I edit the audio? Well I extract it to Adobe Soundbooth, boost the voices, and lower the background noise. How do I do that? It sounds very advanced but a single clip can take less than a minute. All I do is take an audio sample of the background noise and tell Soundbooth to eliminate all areas that match that sample. Soundbooth is AWESOME. Then, I just look for those glaring sound errors, like me speaking or screwing up the tripod work.
While it is easy to simply sample the whole clip at once, it keeps me from hearing the errors that I need to fix. This is why I arrange the clips first and then edit them—I can look at each individual area of sound and make sure they’re perfect. Also, it gives me a better understanding of how the clip should sound like in context.
How did I figure out how to do the audio thing? Well a long time ago, I was messing with Adobe Premiere, and I found an option that let me extract the audio to Soundbooth. Then the rest was more experimentation.
Anyway, I’ve only edited the sounds of the first scene. I think I have about seven more scenes to go? It’ll take a while, but the resulting sound quality is too good to pass up.
That’s right. EDITING.
So, this is what I’ve done so far after importing everything:
1. Arrange the timeline: The first thing I always do is put all the clips in order as I want them to be. Considering the length of this video, this can take a long time. My first arrangement is rough at best, but it gives me a good understanding of the flow of the video. As editing progresses or during the final touch-ups, I’ll make the finer adjustments to clip length and placement.
2. Edit the audio: This is one of the most time-consuming aspects of my process. How do I edit the audio? Well I extract it to Adobe Soundbooth, boost the voices, and lower the background noise. How do I do that? It sounds very advanced but a single clip can take less than a minute. All I do is take an audio sample of the background noise and tell Soundbooth to eliminate all areas that match that sample. Soundbooth is AWESOME. Then, I just look for those glaring sound errors, like me speaking or screwing up the tripod work.
While it is easy to simply sample the whole clip at once, it keeps me from hearing the errors that I need to fix. This is why I arrange the clips first and then edit them—I can look at each individual area of sound and make sure they’re perfect. Also, it gives me a better understanding of how the clip should sound like in context.
How did I figure out how to do the audio thing? Well a long time ago, I was messing with Adobe Premiere, and I found an option that let me extract the audio to Soundbooth. Then the rest was more experimentation.
Anyway, I’ve only edited the sounds of the first scene. I think I have about seven more scenes to go? It’ll take a while, but the resulting sound quality is too good to pass up.
1/29/11
New Video!
Announcing my new upcoming feature, The Blood Exchange!
No details on what it’s about yet, but I will say that it will star Carlos Cortes, Roger Lau, and Anthony Lucido. Filming went incredibly smooth, and we took our times to make it as awesome as possible. And I must say, even before editing, this video looks promising.
Here are some screenshots :D
They look pretty good in suits doncha think? Anyway, I’ll be releasing more information and development photos as editing comes along. It shouldn’t be very long before it’s done. Stay tuned!
No details on what it’s about yet, but I will say that it will star Carlos Cortes, Roger Lau, and Anthony Lucido. Filming went incredibly smooth, and we took our times to make it as awesome as possible. And I must say, even before editing, this video looks promising.
Here are some screenshots :D
They look pretty good in suits doncha think? Anyway, I’ll be releasing more information and development photos as editing comes along. It shouldn’t be very long before it’s done. Stay tuned!
1/25/11
Upcoming Project
This weekend I’ll be filming my next video. Here’s the lowdown on why this is a big deal for me:
Filming was originally slated for Thanksgiving weekend (yeah, in November). The first day, my main actor (Kevin Dewey) woke up feeling woozy. My other actors (except Carlos Cortes) also woke up feeling sick. Also, Kevin’s house was supposed to be the setting of the video. It was unavailable. No filming that day.
We rescheduled a few days later. Then, Carlos got sick. No filming that day.
We rescheduled ANOTHER day. Kevin had to be at his brother’s football game that evening, so he wasn’t available. No filming that day.
And now, I have recast my actors (except for Carlos) and scheduled a new location and a new date. I seriously hope this date comes through, because I seriously want to film this damn video!
Update when I update :D
Filming was originally slated for Thanksgiving weekend (yeah, in November). The first day, my main actor (Kevin Dewey) woke up feeling woozy. My other actors (except Carlos Cortes) also woke up feeling sick. Also, Kevin’s house was supposed to be the setting of the video. It was unavailable. No filming that day.
We rescheduled a few days later. Then, Carlos got sick. No filming that day.
We rescheduled ANOTHER day. Kevin had to be at his brother’s football game that evening, so he wasn’t available. No filming that day.
And now, I have recast my actors (except for Carlos) and scheduled a new location and a new date. I seriously hope this date comes through, because I seriously want to film this damn video!
Update when I update :D
Why Filmmaking?
Filmmaking is, in my opinion, the best kind of storytelling out there. I don’t know about you, but the reason why I don’t like to read is because imagining things happening simply isn’t enough for me. I enjoy seeing a story in an entertaining way. I like to be immersed in the story, with sound, visuals, atmospheric music, etc. Movies are like my escape. It’s like entering a completely different world and viewing the story firsthand.
Movies can take many shapes and forms. However, the differences between movies and other kinds of media are simple:
Also, have you ever had those moments where you think “Damn, I just did something awesome. I wish awesome music could play to celebrate it.” That might just be me, but honestly, music creates atmosphere. Combine music with motion picture, and you have one entertaining movie.
I love filmmaking because it’s entertaining and it feels more real than just pictures or books or other kinds of storytelling. It’s a medium unlike anything else out there.
Movies can take many shapes and forms. However, the differences between movies and other kinds of media are simple:
- They provide motion, and
- They provide visuals mixed with music and sound effects.
Also, have you ever had those moments where you think “Damn, I just did something awesome. I wish awesome music could play to celebrate it.” That might just be me, but honestly, music creates atmosphere. Combine music with motion picture, and you have one entertaining movie.
I love filmmaking because it’s entertaining and it feels more real than just pictures or books or other kinds of storytelling. It’s a medium unlike anything else out there.
1/18/11
My Biggest Influence
Of all the directors and all their works, no other director has influenced me as much as the big man, Quentin Tarantino. Why?
He’s taught me what makes a good movie.
When I watched Inglourious Basterds,I expected more action than it had. This was because I was used to seeing Hollywood movies with tons of action and suspense. Instead, I was presented with a ton of dialogue that I thought went on forever. However, it was interesting, so I decided to investigate further with his movies, because I had heard good stuff about them.
Reservoir Dogs was where I began to understand Tarantino. The bulk of this movie is just acting and dialogue. But the way it tells the story is incredible. The characters are beyond real—there’s no cheesy dialogue or anything that sounds stupid. It is an intense movie with bits of action and amazing suspense. I learned, right when I finished that movie, that good movies have good stories.
I began to see the emptiness in Hollywood films. I began to ask, “Why are they fighting? Why is it so drawn out? There’s no way all those bullets could have missed him!” While I understand it’s for entertainment, I began to become repelled by the ridiculousness of these scenarios.
Then I saw Pulp Fiction, and I became obsessed with following his tactics.
I’ve seen other directors who are similar to Tarantino, such as Stanley Kubrick (another amazing director). I find so much power in their storytelling that is lacking in many films that come out today. My goal as a filmmaker is to resurrect that power and emulate it in a way that will become successful.
Thank you, Quentin Tarantino, for making great movies. For better or for worse, my outlook on film has changed forever, because of you.
He’s taught me what makes a good movie.
When I watched Inglourious Basterds,I expected more action than it had. This was because I was used to seeing Hollywood movies with tons of action and suspense. Instead, I was presented with a ton of dialogue that I thought went on forever. However, it was interesting, so I decided to investigate further with his movies, because I had heard good stuff about them.
Reservoir Dogs was where I began to understand Tarantino. The bulk of this movie is just acting and dialogue. But the way it tells the story is incredible. The characters are beyond real—there’s no cheesy dialogue or anything that sounds stupid. It is an intense movie with bits of action and amazing suspense. I learned, right when I finished that movie, that good movies have good stories.
I began to see the emptiness in Hollywood films. I began to ask, “Why are they fighting? Why is it so drawn out? There’s no way all those bullets could have missed him!” While I understand it’s for entertainment, I began to become repelled by the ridiculousness of these scenarios.
Then I saw Pulp Fiction, and I became obsessed with following his tactics.
I’ve seen other directors who are similar to Tarantino, such as Stanley Kubrick (another amazing director). I find so much power in their storytelling that is lacking in many films that come out today. My goal as a filmmaker is to resurrect that power and emulate it in a way that will become successful.
Thank you, Quentin Tarantino, for making great movies. For better or for worse, my outlook on film has changed forever, because of you.
1/17/11
2010 in Retrospect
Overall, 2010 movies were relatively disappointing. There were a lot of big movies that came out, but none that I saw were up to my expectations.
While Inception was very popular among Beckman (so many Facebook posts about it…), I found it was pretty good, but not GREAT. I think the two great things that I saw in the movie was the soundtrack (which is orgasmic it’s ridiculous), and Joseph Gordon Levitt. My biggest thing was that it was too Hollywood. It was so convoluted that I was not able to get absorbed into it as much as everyone else did. I don’t know why. It also relied too heavily on special effects. Much like Transformers and Iron Man, I was almost repelled by the effects because it was used too often. However, it wasn’t a bad movie. I did like it. I loved the cinematography and the soundtrack. Also, the story was interesting, though very confusing sometimes.
The Social Network received similar reaction in me. Maybe it was because I was sleepy or expecting too much, but I found that there was nothing about it that seriously stood out. It was a well-made movie. There were no noticeable flaws, and it kept the audience interested. But, contrary to much of the buzz, I didn’t see anything stand-out-ish about it. Maybe it needs another viewing.
The one notable exception this year was Toy Story 3. Pixar does NOT disappoint. I don’t have to say much about this one. Let’s just say, it was like a huge nostalgic punch to the face that made me feel so good inside. It was a great way to end the series, and it’s become one of my favorite Pixar movies (behind Wall-E).
I hope to see more great movies this year.
While Inception was very popular among Beckman (so many Facebook posts about it…), I found it was pretty good, but not GREAT. I think the two great things that I saw in the movie was the soundtrack (which is orgasmic it’s ridiculous), and Joseph Gordon Levitt. My biggest thing was that it was too Hollywood. It was so convoluted that I was not able to get absorbed into it as much as everyone else did. I don’t know why. It also relied too heavily on special effects. Much like Transformers and Iron Man, I was almost repelled by the effects because it was used too often. However, it wasn’t a bad movie. I did like it. I loved the cinematography and the soundtrack. Also, the story was interesting, though very confusing sometimes.
The Social Network received similar reaction in me. Maybe it was because I was sleepy or expecting too much, but I found that there was nothing about it that seriously stood out. It was a well-made movie. There were no noticeable flaws, and it kept the audience interested. But, contrary to much of the buzz, I didn’t see anything stand-out-ish about it. Maybe it needs another viewing.
The one notable exception this year was Toy Story 3. Pixar does NOT disappoint. I don’t have to say much about this one. Let’s just say, it was like a huge nostalgic punch to the face that made me feel so good inside. It was a great way to end the series, and it’s become one of my favorite Pixar movies (behind Wall-E).
I hope to see more great movies this year.
1/15/11
Should I?
I'm debating whether or not to change to a Tumblr.
It's not that either site is better. I don't investigate this stuff too much, and I personally like Blogger. However, I want to be able to reach out to more of my friends so more people read my stuff. This will result in more of my friends actually WATCHING my videos.
But man, 110 posts.... It's almost too much to give up.... Which is why I'm debating.
I'll ask around.
It's not that either site is better. I don't investigate this stuff too much, and I personally like Blogger. However, I want to be able to reach out to more of my friends so more people read my stuff. This will result in more of my friends actually WATCHING my videos.
But man, 110 posts.... It's almost too much to give up.... Which is why I'm debating.
I'll ask around.
1/9/11
Action Jackson
Because filming plans on different movie ideas failed more times than I would have liked (five times), I decided to take the initiative and film something on my own. Introducing, Action Jackson!
It was my short, special effects, handicam, and HD test video of winter. I decided to try a ton of new stuff because it was such a small project. It's short, yes, but I think it's pretty exciting :D
Action Jackson
Enjoy!
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