Author of film books for industry pros and youth
I happened on this term (“home office”) in a French-English dictionary. It translated into: “Ministry of the Interior”! Wow. That’s heavy! Yet, I muse, shouldn’t all freelancers – who therefore have a “home office” – treat their office and themselves with the same professionalism and respect due a ministry office? You are a business after all! So…hat’s off to you and best wishes for the success of your business.
Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb
1. We Love To See The Same Story Again and Again
We get excited that the opera we saw a couple of years ago comes back to town and off we go to see it again – even though we know the story from previous viewings, and re-read the story before the curtain rises. Operas, fairy tales, myths… we love to see these stories play out over and over again. It is the journey of the familiar tale, the anticipation of the magical moments seen or heard before, and the exciting possibility of new magical moments and insights that bring us back. As filmmakers, what are the magical moments that will give our films a lasting re-viewable quality?
2. It May Take A While To Find the Audience
La Bohème had a weak reception to its first audience… yet it went on to become one of the greatest and most popular operas of all time. Even then, there was great pressure on opening night for a sign of the future (financial and critical) success of an artistic work. Yet a poor reception doesn’t necessarily mean give up on it – opera or film. Just keep trying to find the right audience to make the connection.
3. Education Can Take You Only So Far
In vocal music class, the only acceptable stances for singing were sitting (with your back straight) on the front of your chair, or standing… yet at the opera, characters die in bed for extended periods of time singing arias at full volume from a distinctly – although modified – prone position! There were no beds and couches in vocal music class to lie down on in order to practice this obviously required position for singing in the “real” operatic world. You just have to adapt what you learned to make it work.
Cheers & an operatic shoot to you,
Deb
Low budget equals fewer cast & crew, each with the responsibility of several jobs. It’s easy to feel essential to the entire production. Then there is big budget… Big budget equals larger – and sometimes MUCH larger – cast & crew, the work spread over so many more people. When you examine your individual role, it may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But that point of view is all in your perspective.
Perspective #1 – A crew member stands alone and removed from set and, guarding a distant doorway to ensure that no stray person walks onto the set when cameras are rolling. He/she is far removed from teamwork of set, and heck, the chances of anyone entering this distant door is remote that his/her presence here is probably pointless.
Perspective #2 – A crew member is one of a network of film professionals guarding the perimeter of the working set – a vast one today – ensuring that no person or activity disturbs the set when cameras are rolling – an an essential element to capturing the magic on screen. He/she is the only one at this distant outpost who knows what’s happening (when cameras are rolling and when they stop) on set, a relatively short distance away. When the rushes screen and when the final film screens, he/she will remember how large a network of crew and space was required for this magic of scene to be captured.
Every spoke is essential. You just have to see how.
Cheers & a great shoot to you,
Deb
…then that dream will find a way of coming true.
Best wishes making your dreams come true. In the meantime…
Cheers & good shoot to you,
Deb
Not all films have wide release. There are some truly special, unique treasures found at film festivals that you may never have the chance to see again. You’ve shared the moment with a relatively few number of people in various screening rooms around the world. A shared, temporal experience… and some of those films will have long lasting, penetrating memories.
I wish I could see The Boy Who Walked Backwards again. In such a short duration, the film effectively and memorably addresses the hurt that people can’t visually see when missing someone who has died, and the unplanned leadership position that can be thrust onto anyone at any time due to life events. A tough subject approached with such charm and compassion that I still remember images in my mind today, many years later… for how the boy learns to face his loss is something we need to do in life over and over again for the many losses and changes in our own lives.
If you ever get the chance, watch the film and you’ll understand too.
In the meantime, have a great festival season!
Cheers & memorable movies to you,
Deb
