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Deborah S. Patz – Author

Author of film books for industry pros and youth

Apr152011

Memorable Movie Moment: Tangled

Stepping barefoot in the grass… you know what I mean?

As Rapunzel leaves the tower for the first time in her life, there’s a lovely moment when she stops her elated downward slide… just inches before touching ground. She extends one tentative foot to gently touch the grass with her toes before stepping down, completing the entry into her new world.

I can feel the grass along with her, can you? I imagine anyone who’s experienced walking barefoot across the lawn on a summer’s day must know that distinctive feeling: the soft grass flattening under each step; the few blades that manage to slip between the toes; the solid but uneven ground beneath.

In that moment Rapunzel turns a lifetime of wishing and wondering into reality. She enters a new world on her own terms and her senses are heightened. She notices and feels everything. How true that as significant changes happen in our lives – whether we make the change  happen or it happens to use – our senses are indeed heightened. It is in moments like these we can feel the grass between our toes, see the details around us that other days we take for granted. A feeling of really being alive! And yet by just noticing those details (like the sensation stepping barefoot in the grass), we can reawaken that feeling of aliveness. Oh yes!

Look around you… what fabulous detail can you notice today?

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

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PM101 in TODo you know about Deb’s appearance in Toronto and the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://on.fb.me/hEdmNg

Apr82011

Deb Patz Interviewed on Movie Beat

Deb with PM101 2ndEdHave you been to Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat at www.rexsikes.com?

I was interviewed by Rex this past week where we discussed the differences between a PM, Coordinator, Producer and Line Producer, talked about the development vs preproduction, and a host of other PM-related and production topics. Not really a place to go to listen for a few minutes… because the interview was an hour long (as are all his interviews)!

Still, when you have the time, peruse the interview archives. You’ll find directors, producers, actors… everything film. Since the interviews are recorded live and unedited, it’s really like being there with the host and with Rex. A unique opportunity.

My interview is at: http://bit.ly/g13GQU

Cheers & happy listening,
Deb

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PM101 in TODo you know about Deb’s appearance in Toronto and the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://on.fb.me/hEdmNg

Apr12011

The “What’s True and What’s Not?” Game

I have slept at the Palace of Versailles.

I have been an extra in an IMAX movie.

I have piloted a passenger ferry in Sydney Harbour (Australia).

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Two of the above facts about me are true, and one is not. Which is the false one? If you guess correctly… you win; if you don’t… I win the game. Plus… if you give a reason for your guess when you guess correctly, you’ll win a PM101 Budgeting Pencil (honest, no April Fool’s joke here!).

Actually, instead of an April Fool’s day joke, I thought I’d share this a social game with you. This game could work as an icebreaker game at a preproduction party or as a segue at the end of the final production meeting in prep to a social gathering afterwards.

In the last week of prep the crew is expanding rapidly. Some people will be meeting each other for the first time, while others will have known each other for years. Next week – once the camera starts rolling – this new team will be working together intensely, so it’s nice to get to know a bit more about the individuals on that team early in the production.

You’ll find that much conversation ensues between the group members after this game… so don’t use is prior to the preproduction meeting! The more creative you are with the facts, the more interesting the game… but in this industry, creativity shouldn’t be a problem.

So…which one of mine do you think is not true?

…and good luck with April Fool’s day today.

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

A further thought… to adapt this game to make it useful for developing second language skills, allow each person in the group to ask one or two “yes-or-no” or clarifications questions about the “truths”.

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PM101 in TODo you know about the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://bit.ly/fGP0fq

Mar252011

Inspiration at the Movies: My Neighbor Totoro

“I’m not scared at all.”
– Mei (My Neighbor Totoro, 1988)

How young children (claim to) have no fear of the unknown! Especially when a big sister or brother challenges them to be fearful of something that they know a little more about.

Mei’s declaration reminds me how much we learn to fear the unknown as we grow up. And yet I believe that the child inside us is always there. We only need to reach within ourselves to recapture the perspective, the whimsy, the power of childhood.

And then when you face a challenge, you can say to yourself: “I’m not scared at all!” Wow, with that kind of power, imagine what you could achieve then!

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

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PM101 in TODo you know about the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://bit.ly/fGP0fq

Mar182011

Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)

PM101 in TOWhoa, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Well, it’s about time for another contest where I give away an autographed copy of my book, yes? OK! Here’s the plan:

This F.I.L.M. blog is also available on the “virtual porch” of Facebook. So, let’s build the online community there, but also let’s connect virtual life to real life! At the end of May, I’ll be in Toronto where I am planning a speaking/booksigning event (details are TBA).

Here’s my challenge to you:

If you’re already on Facebook, invite your friends – especially Toronto area film friends – to “like” my FB book page/blog. If you’re not on Facebook, come on over and join us by choosing the “like” button on my page at: http://www.facebook.com/DebPatzBooks

If... we gather a FB community there of over 200 by mid-May (when my trip starts), then I’ll give a free copy of my latest book “Film Production Management 101: Management & Coordination in a Digital Age” specially autographed to a random Toronto area FB fan at the “real porch” (the speaking event) in Toronto.

So, it’s now over to you! See you on Facebook… and then in Toronto!

Cheers,
Deb

Mar182011

The Serendipitous Cuppa Tea

My (very British) grandmother was born on a Wednesday… and Wednesday’s child is full of woe. So when she lost her budgie, it was just another standard crisis. What was unusual about this event, though, is that the event revealed a great truth.

She looked everywhere for the budgie: up and down around the house, in the back garden. She enlisted a neighbour to help. She asked the nearby chip shop to post a notice in the window. All to no avail. Panic was rising.

Then the neighbour suggested the natural next step: “Now dear, let’s sit down and have a nice cuppa tea.”

Reluctantly my grandmother agreed and so they went back to to my grandmother’s house. They set to making that cuppa tea: boiling the water, warming the teapot, placing the sugar bowl on the table, sharing friendly chatter amid worry. Next my Grandmother opened the fridge to collect the milk. There he was – the budgie – shivering slightly on the jam jar. A moment passed as they regarded each other.

The budgie realized he was rescued, stretched his wings and flew out of the fridge to safety.

My Grandmother realized a truth: stopping for a cup of tea can solve anything.

And she’s right! Take a break for “a cuppa” no matter what your rising panic is: the stress of the production or of looking for freelance work. At the very least you’ll take a few minutes to clear your head. At best… something about that break could solve everything you’re worried about.

Have you ever had a serendipitous cuppa?

Cheers & have a great cuppa tea,
Deb