Monday, February 27, 2017
Kathy and Freda.
We had a great day when we had these visitors stop by the class room,
Kathy McCabe and Freda Kelly, to talk a little about the background of their documentary, "Good Ol' Freda"
A Story about how Freda Kelly got to be the secretary one of the biggest bands in all time, The Beatles, but don't get me wrong this isn't a story about them, the Beatles take the back seat as the mine focus is on Freda, and it's clear when Freda starts to recall a few memories from her past, Kathy had told the class hat Freda kept most of her Beatle tale to herself for years and yet when Freda began to speak it was like she's been a storyteller her whole life.
Her Irish accent was a breath of fresh air and judging from the cold weather recently it was exactly what we needed, In her native lingo she told us about how she got the job one summer and how she nearly had to lie to her father about it, since he claimed that the Beatles were a couple of "scruffs" who "didn't have a future."
After finally making a deal with her father she managed to take off, and in the summer of 1962 she began her career working with the Beatles.
Cut to 2011 and Kathy McCabe meets up with her close friend to talk about a few things and who may this be but Freda Kelly. It isn't long that Freda tells a bit of her past and Kathy already knows she has to set out to make a film about it, to share these unknown Freda stories to the world... and it takes years.
For one when one decides to make a documentary on giants like The Beatles it is expected to be hoops to jump over... but when a project as something like The Beatles attached to it, the hoops are made of fire.
But Kathy was determined and even though the music rights to any Beatle song was near impossible to get she and Freda pulled though and we are ever so blessed to have the Documentary "Good Ol' Freda." released.
and ever more so blessed that we got to speak to both of the ladies in class...
It was a good Ol' day indeed.
Guest #2: Lee Steadman. Location Manager.
Lee Steadman is the location manager for "Room 10" he got to share with is a few tips and experiences in his field so we could get a better understanding of what it's like scouting locations for a film.
First and foremost there is a script, and it is very important that you read it in order to know the set schedule and the overall look of the film, so you can know what to look out for when it comes to locations.
"Most of it is driving around... and eating a lot." Steadman told the class as he began to tell us his story of when he was looking for a location for the television mini series, "the stand." He was looking for a house and after days of searching and no luck he came across a house that was the perfect match, so much so it gave him chills, he even recalls when Stephen King saw the house, it was like his own imagination spilled right out his pages, it was a nice moment of movie magic.
One important thing to keep in mind when you find the location: KEEP THE LOCATION OWNERS HAPPY. Have them happy that you're there, the last thing you want is people wanting you out of their home or neighborhood, and overall not getting the needed scenes. So keep the owners happy, see what they need and remember not to ruin anything while your there.
Then there are the sets, the sets are made so that there can be room for the camera crew, one of the issues of filming on location when it comes to interiors is space, so a set is made replicating the room so that the film crew can move around without issue.
Lee also got to explain to us what a Assistant Director does behind the scenes, he/she is the person who yells on set, people often think it's the Director who does the heavy lifting but actually there is a hierarchy on set, and the Assistant Director is a tad below from the Director.
The Assistant Director, (or AD) is the one yelling running around making sure everyone is quiet on set before the Director yells action.
He then went on talking about being star struck, and that when it comes to meeting your idols it is best if you just act professional, "you will go far if you stay back" just treat them as colleagues and you'll be fine.
First and foremost there is a script, and it is very important that you read it in order to know the set schedule and the overall look of the film, so you can know what to look out for when it comes to locations.
"Most of it is driving around... and eating a lot." Steadman told the class as he began to tell us his story of when he was looking for a location for the television mini series, "the stand." He was looking for a house and after days of searching and no luck he came across a house that was the perfect match, so much so it gave him chills, he even recalls when Stephen King saw the house, it was like his own imagination spilled right out his pages, it was a nice moment of movie magic.
One important thing to keep in mind when you find the location: KEEP THE LOCATION OWNERS HAPPY. Have them happy that you're there, the last thing you want is people wanting you out of their home or neighborhood, and overall not getting the needed scenes. So keep the owners happy, see what they need and remember not to ruin anything while your there.
Then there are the sets, the sets are made so that there can be room for the camera crew, one of the issues of filming on location when it comes to interiors is space, so a set is made replicating the room so that the film crew can move around without issue.
Lee also got to explain to us what a Assistant Director does behind the scenes, he/she is the person who yells on set, people often think it's the Director who does the heavy lifting but actually there is a hierarchy on set, and the Assistant Director is a tad below from the Director.
The Assistant Director, (or AD) is the one yelling running around making sure everyone is quiet on set before the Director yells action.
He then went on talking about being star struck, and that when it comes to meeting your idols it is best if you just act professional, "you will go far if you stay back" just treat them as colleagues and you'll be fine.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
First Guest: Dan Whalen.
We were lucky enough to have Dan Whalen stop by and give us a talk about "Script Breakdown". Dan is often a Location scout; he looks for locations where the film crew can film, locations that best fit the scene. He also does other things on the side, like being a Assistant Director for a recent TV show.
Whalen was kind enough to share with us how to break down a script and form a healthy shooting schedule. The different kinds of scripts released to the crew and cast. I didn't know they had color code: White for final draft, Blue: revised, Pink: re-revised etc etc...it gets sort of confusing but I'm sure the more and more a person is exposed to it the easier it is to learn it.
Then there is breaking down the script's scenes into 8ths, so the AD (assistant director) can have a better idea on what or how long the shooting days will be on the schedule.
The Shooting Schedule is for of like the index of everything thats going to be done in the time of the whole making of the film. The crew call: when everyone needs to be on set, the scene, the location The actors that are in the scene the props and what kind of Effects they will be doing. Among other things.
It isn't in depth, its just to give the crew and idea/reminder on how its going to go on that day of shooting.
I also got to learn the difference between a prop and a set design. A simple way to think about it is: Everything is a set design until the character/actor touches it, this includes if a character is wearing a watch, it's part of a wardrobe until the character touches it.
I'm learning that a ton of layers of rules goes into filming, It's sort of like how much work goes into the human body. The pumping of a heart, every cell working to keep the body from getting sick, muscles, lungs, bones and the stomach working on your meal. All so a person can have a normal day.
Same goes to film making, each person has a part. The Assistant Director works for the Director but someone also works for the Assistant Director, a second AD and a second second AD.
Each working harder than the last.
Knowing now how much work goes into making movie or show, I think twice when I see a bad movie. I think so many came together to make this, and I bet it wasn't easy, but just like all the hard work that goes into a human body, just because the body does a great job keeping the body alive, it doesn't automatically mean it's going to be a good person.
Whalen was kind enough to share with us how to break down a script and form a healthy shooting schedule. The different kinds of scripts released to the crew and cast. I didn't know they had color code: White for final draft, Blue: revised, Pink: re-revised etc etc...it gets sort of confusing but I'm sure the more and more a person is exposed to it the easier it is to learn it.
Then there is breaking down the script's scenes into 8ths, so the AD (assistant director) can have a better idea on what or how long the shooting days will be on the schedule.
The Shooting Schedule is for of like the index of everything thats going to be done in the time of the whole making of the film. The crew call: when everyone needs to be on set, the scene, the location The actors that are in the scene the props and what kind of Effects they will be doing. Among other things.
It isn't in depth, its just to give the crew and idea/reminder on how its going to go on that day of shooting.
I also got to learn the difference between a prop and a set design. A simple way to think about it is: Everything is a set design until the character/actor touches it, this includes if a character is wearing a watch, it's part of a wardrobe until the character touches it.
I'm learning that a ton of layers of rules goes into filming, It's sort of like how much work goes into the human body. The pumping of a heart, every cell working to keep the body from getting sick, muscles, lungs, bones and the stomach working on your meal. All so a person can have a normal day.
Same goes to film making, each person has a part. The Assistant Director works for the Director but someone also works for the Assistant Director, a second AD and a second second AD.
Each working harder than the last.
Knowing now how much work goes into making movie or show, I think twice when I see a bad movie. I think so many came together to make this, and I bet it wasn't easy, but just like all the hard work that goes into a human body, just because the body does a great job keeping the body alive, it doesn't automatically mean it's going to be a good person.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
Delta Zero
When we first talked about Delta Zero, my first impression was that it was going to be a dark and gritty movie about soldiers fighting a machine in space, very much "Bladerunner" in tone and "Nightmare on elm street" in thrills and spaceship design, (Freddy's boiler room).
So when I started reading the script, that's the mindset I had. It even started that way, but as I read on I started to notice that it was actually more of a fun action movie.
What caught my attention was the introduction of Rat, I don't want to give away too much but when we first see Rat we are made to think he's this hard boiled action hero whose' "seen a lot of sh*t".
but we later learn that he's not even a soldier but a pilot, who might be a little over his head with the situation, Rat has the sprite of John Mclane in Die Hard but lacks the know how. which is what I like about the character.
and so I expected the stone-cold demeanor to come from the soldiers, but when we meet them one cracks a funny joke on how a teammate may have spent his time in the sleeping chamber. Don't get me wrong they are very serious about the mission you can tell they are focused, but you can also tell they are friends.
its all very good stuff.
I also liked Savage, who I can really see Michael Madsen playing. Someone who just knows everything and has been through everything. I also had Jonathan Banks in mind while reading it, (Mike from Breaking Bad)
One of the issues I thought might come up is Andrea, I think maybe we can add more sabotage story from her, but subtile. I felt that for someone who really wants her mission to succeed she doesn't really try that hard to make it happen. Though maybe since she's being closely observed by Savage she can't do anything to derail their mission, like if she's a super soldier why doesn't she hurt or kill Savage when they are alone together?
but I'm sure it can be explained, I also think its smart that we open the movie with her, it makes the audience less suspicious of her.
Overall it was a fun read and if made well, a very fun movie to watch.
I think the feel of the movie should be like its a thriller, the situation is still scary so it should be shot like its scary, it's the characters who make it fun.
Depending on which direction we go with the film in terms of tone, so far my job as props I'm thinking the tools and weapons should be simple but a bit futuristic.
So when I started reading the script, that's the mindset I had. It even started that way, but as I read on I started to notice that it was actually more of a fun action movie.
What caught my attention was the introduction of Rat, I don't want to give away too much but when we first see Rat we are made to think he's this hard boiled action hero whose' "seen a lot of sh*t".
but we later learn that he's not even a soldier but a pilot, who might be a little over his head with the situation, Rat has the sprite of John Mclane in Die Hard but lacks the know how. which is what I like about the character.
and so I expected the stone-cold demeanor to come from the soldiers, but when we meet them one cracks a funny joke on how a teammate may have spent his time in the sleeping chamber. Don't get me wrong they are very serious about the mission you can tell they are focused, but you can also tell they are friends.
its all very good stuff.
I also liked Savage, who I can really see Michael Madsen playing. Someone who just knows everything and has been through everything. I also had Jonathan Banks in mind while reading it, (Mike from Breaking Bad)
One of the issues I thought might come up is Andrea, I think maybe we can add more sabotage story from her, but subtile. I felt that for someone who really wants her mission to succeed she doesn't really try that hard to make it happen. Though maybe since she's being closely observed by Savage she can't do anything to derail their mission, like if she's a super soldier why doesn't she hurt or kill Savage when they are alone together?
but I'm sure it can be explained, I also think its smart that we open the movie with her, it makes the audience less suspicious of her.
Overall it was a fun read and if made well, a very fun movie to watch.
I think the feel of the movie should be like its a thriller, the situation is still scary so it should be shot like its scary, it's the characters who make it fun.
Depending on which direction we go with the film in terms of tone, so far my job as props I'm thinking the tools and weapons should be simple but a bit futuristic.
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