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Category: Life

Mar42011

Set Visit to the MIR Space Station

Deb visits MIR

How cool to be filming on the MIR Space Station in space! That was my first thought when I worked on the “Mission to MIR” IMAX film. Yet as a non-astronaut, what are the chances of going on a set visit to MIR? Not very likely. As a matter of fact: impossible.

Yes, here on Earth we tackled logistical challenges issues like: the camera goes into the Space Shuttle which is launched into space; the shuttle docks onto MIR and the camera taken into MIR for filming. The Space Shuttle then goes about its business… how do you get the camera and film back to Earth for processing and printing? In what country can you land the camera and how many time zones will it be from the lab? What about the customs documentation? Unique challenges indeed!

And yes, it was very clear I’d never visit MIR except how everyone else here on Earth has been able to see it: on the IMAX screen. The dream of visiting the MIR Space Station would have to remain a dream for the rest of my life, especially since it’s now been replaced by the International Space Station.

Or  maybe that dream COULD come true after all…?

I just visited Toulouse, France where the Cité de l’Espace has a MIR Space Station! The one used for tests on here on Earth! An exact duplicate! Awesome. I was able to walk around it, climb inside it and just plain explore it… the MIR Space Station itself! A set visit after the fact and conveniently here on Earth!

Sure, I could scoff and say the replica of MIR wasn’t the real experience because it wasn’t floating in space at the time. Gosh, I could have decided not to go see it. But sometimes dreams come true in a slightly different form than you originally thought possible. You just need to be open to recognize them in whatever form they present themselves to you as. And because I’m open to them, another of my life dreams just came true today. Now that’s very cool.

What dream are you going to make happen?

Cheers!
Deb

Jan282011

Too Late for Resolutions for 2011?

The start of the new year typically has one setting resolutions to improve facets of one’s life over the next year. If you go by advertisements and sales, the major areas for improvement are: diet & health, exercise, career and money (savings).

But as the weeks slip by, you start to wonder if it’s too late for making resolutions. You have to admit you’re no longer writing 2010 when you mean to write 2011. The year is no longer new. Heavy sigh. Have you failed even before you started? And this year you may have really wanted to make significant change in your life!

Have no fear. Each year is filled with multiple “new years.” Why do you have to restrict yourself to the Gregorian one? Maybe your timing with January 1 just doesn’t work. Choose another new year – one more appropriate to you instead. Here are a few to choose from in the next few months:

January 1 (the Gregorian calendar new year) – ok, this one is past. Did you know it was created in the 1500s and prior to its creation there were several calendars being used at the same time?

February 3 (the Chinese new year… this year) – this date moves around a bit from year to year; in 2011 it’s on February 3. Each year is associated with an animal. Next up is Year of the Rabbit.

March 20 (a new year for Nature; the first day of spring) – who can argue with Nature as the start of a new year / new choices when life is blossoming around you? The Iranian calendar also synchronizes nicely with this date as the official start of the new year.

April 24 – (a church new year; Easter) – this one is another new year that moves around a bit year after year. The traditional start of its church year, it is a time associated with rebirth.

None of these are suited enough to you? Then what about…

A film industry new year – “What?” you say. “Could there be such a thing?” In film, anything is possible so why not! In this case, I recommend you make up and recommend an appropriate tradition. In “Gone With the Wind” for example, Scarlett tells us that “tomorrow is another day”. Hmmm… well, as long as you make tomorrow into “today” when you wake up in the morning, then tomorrow is an excellent day to resolve to improve your life! Get right on it!

Good cheer & much success to you for your new year (whenever it is),
Deb

Dec312010

Stoplight Career Choice

I love this light. Every time I see it I can’t help but think about the career choices we are faced with in this industry.

You are choosing between this job or that job, each with different pros and cons.

Job #1 is a relatively long contract, so you won’t have to look for another freelance job for a good year. How nice. Of course that could also mean that you’ll be out of freelance circulation so long that your contacts forget to call you when new opportunities come up. You’re not the type of person to take a job, and then quit it as soon as something better comes along; you’re going to commit to this job for the long haul. The pay, of course, is lower than what you’re used to, but it’s decent enough. The steadiness of the pay cheque will probably even out over the course of the contract to the feast-n-famine freelance lifestyle  of other jobs anyway. The project itself is inline enough with your career goals, but you are only mildly interested in the creative material. You have the ability to do a great job  and there will be sufficient challenge to keep you interested and striving to do your best.

Job #2 pays better but is a very short term contract of 3 weeks. The creative material really excites you, but you’ve been having more famine than feast of late, and don’t look forward to working hard on production knowing that you’ll need another job again very soon in order to cover the bills. You have the ability to do a great job here too, though some of the challenges are like walking into unknown territory and that scares you a little.

Which job do you choose?

You have a mortgage and family… now which job do you choose?

You are instead choosing between job #1 and no job at all (just the potential for finding another one)… which do you choose?

Who knows what lies down each of these paths! You can only learn about one of them. You may be able to see a part of the way down the road (to influence your decision) but not all the way. From this perspective, then, they are equal choices; they just take you down different roads… each one forward in its own way.

Does the choice bring you another step closer to your ultimate career goal? Can you make a certain choice at this moment in your life? You – by making your selection – are the one who brands the choice as “right”.

Best wishes in making your choices

Cheers & prosperous 2011 to you,
Deb

P.S. I took the short term job to the surprise of my closest friends who thought I would be more tempted by the steady nature of the first one. It was a tough choice at the time, but inside I knew it was right for me at that moment in my life… you know what I mean?

Nov192010

Ciné-Surfer: Career Intelligence & Networking

The season of parties approaches… be it a wrap parties, office parties or Christmas parties. Are you ready for all that networking?

I’ve been ciné-surfing lately, and found some cool information on the Career-Intelligence.com site. It’s called the “smart women’s online career resource” but it’s certainly readable by any gender! Some of the latest items I’ve found of interest to read include:

  • How to Avoid a Typical Conversation
    (and you know what they mean, don’t you!)
  • How Do You Accept an Award
    (beyond the obvious awards shows, this can include kudos given to you publicly at the wrap of any production)

What elements catch your ciné-surfing eye?

Cheers & a great festive season to you!
Deb

Jul302010

How is a Wrap Party Like a Wedding?

“Film Production Management 101” has a checklist for a wrap party so you can remember all the elements necessary to plan an excellent, memorable wrap party. I’ve always thought planning a wrap party was much like planning a wedding reception, but done much faster. Let’s have a look:
 

WRAP PARTY WEDDING
Invitation list & invitations Invitation list & invitations
Party Room Church & Reception Venue
Decor (of Room) Decor (of Room, Church & Bridal Party)
Music Music
Other Entertainment (Wrap Reel, etc.) Wedding Photographer
Catering and Bar Catering and Bar
License (for Bar) Marriage License
Notifications (Police, Fire, Health…) Newspaper Notifications (if desired)

 

Soooo… it looks as though if you’re thinking of getting married, your experience planning wrap parties – or at least my Wrap Party Checklist – will do you well! I know I’ll be using it. 😉

To download the forms that accompany “Film Production Management 101” – including the Wrap Party Checklist – swing by the MWP Books site at: http://www.mwp.com/virtual-film-school/resources

Cheers & happy wedding… uh, wrap party… planning to you,
Deb

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES AUGUST 2010 **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Getting Your Ducks In A Row – Free Book Virtual Event – in August at FB/DebPatzBooks
* Booksigning/Canadian Launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA Launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Jul32010

3 Things Filmmaking I Learned About Filmmaking from… The World Cup

 1. Not Everything is Black & White

Sure the ball is black & white, but the perspectives of people watching the game differ dramatically. We can share the same moment, same images and still come out with different opinions about what happened on the field. As filmmakers, we can craft a movie experience, and might be able to influence (but cannot control) how the message will be received and interpreted.

2. It’s a Worldwide Experience

Street parties erupt around the world! They are amazing! So many cities around the globe as good as close down during the final few games so the citizens can stop to follow every minute. As soon as the game is over, hoards of fans of all ages descend on the formerly empty streets to share in the exhilaration of a game won. I’m not just talking the host city, either. It’s quite a phenomenon, and I’ve been fortunate to experience it in person a number in a couple of countries now – seeing ghost like streets turn into a network of celebrations – the grandest of all street parties. What an amazing gift that the World Cup can affect with us the world over. Filmmakers have this unique opportunity too to become a worldwide experience, to affect people we don’t even know. The audience may not have street parties for a film, but they certainly line up to see some of them. Wouldn’t you like to affect people on this scale?

3. It Matters

The World Cup isn’t health care, education, food or shelter. No, it’s not what we’d typically consider the essentials of life, and yet is it? When you see the emotional reaction of the fans around the globe you have to recognize how much it really matters. Pride of country. Pride of heritage. Celebration of sporting excellence. It’s great for morale, and with great morale do you think there is anything we can’t do? In this way, the World Cup is also like filmmaking – another forum where people connect to the “product” on an emotional level. We need these emotional connections in life. And so the work we do is therefore essential. It really matters.

Cheers & a happy World Cup to you!
Deb