Film & Ink Blog – Page 21 – Deborah S. Patz

May32013

It’s May! The Start of TV Season! Gotta Car?

I know, I know… TV shows debut on air in September, not in May. But coming from a production background, I always think of May as the real start of the TV season. Many television shows start production about now.

It also reminds me of my first TV job as a P.A.. After I was hired I found out that a deciding factor had been that I had mentioned “own a car” on my resume. Figure that! It wasn’t the only factor, but it was one of them.

I had included the mention of my car on my resume very reluctantly, and bowed to the insistence of another. I didn’t see how owning a car had anything to do with my skills and abilities, and isn’t that what a resume is all about? Of course that was a time before I started hiring P.A.s and when I found out that for an entry-level position my skills and abilities at the time were pretty inconsequential. It was more about my attitude first and foremost, and then later, on the job, I could prove my skills and abilities in action. For production at the time, my car would provide production with an easy extra vehicle to get the work done… my including it was (apparently) demonstrating my forethought about what production might need.

So, if you’re considering applying for that P.A. job on your first production, open your mind to what it means to anticipate the needs of production and then go ahead and tell them what you can offer. It just might make the difference for you to secure that first job.

All the best & a good shoot you,
Deb

Apr192013

Ciné Surfer: CareerRealism

This site has a great tag line:

“Because every job is temporary.”

Good perspective… although, admittedly, freelancers have understood this “realism” for a long time now.

It’s good to cross-train and cross-learn, so although this site may be more directed to “regular jobs” (whatever they are!), the info is very interesting and useful, covering topics like: being laid off and resume help, but also cool concepts like having an elevator pitch for yourself.

Surf by and have a look: http://www.careerealism.com/

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Apr82013

Birthday Quiz for the Call Sheet

An alternative to the call sheet joke is the “Birthday Quiz“. Beyond just adding famous names born on the day on the call sheet… take a step further to a quiz.

1. Select a diverse group of famous names (performers, authors, musicians, scientists, explorers, etc.) that were born on the day of the call sheet

2. Challenge the crew to figure out why each of them is famous

3. Publish the answers on the following day

Here are a couple of sites that can help you generate the Birthday Quiz List:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/birthdays.html

http://www.historyorb.com/birthdays-on-this-day.php

So… for today (April 8), a special happy birthday to Gladys Marie Smith! And here’s a quotation from her:

“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Mar222013

3 Things I Learned About Filmmaking from… an Art Museum

I’ve explored numerous art museums around the world, but it’s the one in Chicago that recently revealed these truths to me:

1.One Subject, Numerous Possibilities of Expression
Each artist will see the subject in a unique way – or in many unique ways. A haystack, a bridge, the Eiffel Tower… see any of them through the style eyes of realism, impressionism or pop art and no doubt dramatically different images come to mind. The possibilities of art (and of film) are the “many” and there is not a single, correct “one”… unless of course we are the artist and looking for the right “one” expression for our own artist within.

2.The Many Drafts Before Brush Stroke #1
No artist starts a full scale finished work from brush stroke number one. There will be many sketches that precede it: pencil sketches, pencil crayon ones, miniature fully-painted versions of the finished work to come. In these experimental drafts, the artist can test form, subject placement and meaning, technique, overall creative vision. Some museums display testing pieces near the final work, and then you can see what’s the same and what’s changed during the artistic process – and a process it is indeed. Drafts and drafts of the script precede the shooting script. Just as shorter films precede longer works on the artistic path of discovery. No single jump to final work.

3. If it’s a Different Time, It’s Different Art
Take Big Ben at dawn, with the warm summer light setting it to glow. Take it again at sunset with the sun providing back light instead, making us perceive its bricks darker than they are. Take it again buried deep in London fog. Different times of day, times of the year, and it’s a very different painting evoking in us different emotions. How too our perspective on the same story changes at different times our lives. We don’t see the same story from the eyes our childhood as we do in adulthood and on to further maturity. Knowing our perspectives as artists changes over time, we can explore the various points of view we could use for a story to find the right one… for now, anyway.

Yes, I’ve done a posting about art and not shown you pictures of the actual pieces I saw that brought me to these thoughts. Well, that’s because it’s now up to you to go to an art museum near you and discover the artistic possibilities and inspiration yourself. What will you discover when looking at the actual paint strokes? Have you done so already? Share them!

In the meantime…

Cheers & an artistic shoot to you,
Deb

Mar82013

Spotlight Awards Inspiration

I was at the Spotlight Awards for Women in Film and TV last night. A unique award show where you pretty much know who’s going to win in each category before you show up… so really you’re attending to hear the acceptance speeches. The speeches were so genuine and from the heart. Some spontaneous, some came with notes. Naturally, everyone had various words of wisdom to share from each of their exceptional career paths, but I’d say there was one message that came through most of all… truly inspiring to us all… so here it is:

Your voice matters… perservere.

Congrats to all the winners, and cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Feb92013

The ABC’s of Oscar (Wordsearch)

Thinking about all the Oscar pools getting underway… how about some wordsearch fun instead? Here are just some of the “ABC” films that have won Oscars over the years:

If you find the secret message within, do share it! All the nominees deserve it!

Cheers & a good awards day to you!
Deb

Deborah S. Patz – Author