I directed this scene on Saturday- here is a sample of the stuff we got. This is a clip of Elwon playing Gregory
Director: Joel Petrie
Cinematography: Paul Varela
Gregory: Elwon Bakly
Keep an eye out for the entire piece to be added in the next week or so-
Enjoy Responsibly!
I've found an old play I was working on... I think maybe it is time to finish it-
Its called "Survival Horror: A Guide to Producing Quality Works"
The basic idea of the show is a Narrated step by step guide on how to make a Zombie movie... but its a play- uhmmm....
here's a sample.
Survival Horror: A Guide to Producing Quality Works
by: Joel PetrieLights up on 6 young adults, regular people, nothing outstanding about them. BILLY, HEIDI, JOHNNY, KATIE and NICK. They are all lounging about the room as young adults would do in this situation. A lazy vignette.NARRATOR (cont’d):Rule number two: The audience must identify with the characters. Our target audience is going to be young adults. So, our characters are... young adults. The characters cannot be outstanding in any way. Just, regular people like you and I... Ordinary people in extraordinary situations are far more interesting to watch.The vignette comes to life.NICK: Billy... do you know what time Dave is going to get here? I’d like to get going!
Billy is trying to get some luggage up onto a shelf. He’s having a hard time.BILLY: He’s coming up after work, but knowing him he’ll take all night...NICK: But I wanna get this party started!HEIDI: Nick, you are so lame!NICK: Yeah...BILLY: Could you help me with this?Johnny steps forward.JOHNNY: I got it.He just so happens to put the luggage up first try.BILLY: Anyone seen Brittany?Just then BRITTANY enters from the bedroom door.BRITTANY: Heidi, Katie... do you have any tampons!?
there is a LOONG awkward pause.NARRATOR: I guess this would be a good place to tell you “Rule Number Three.” Rule Number Three: Foreshadow, foreshadow, foreshadow!NICK: Anyone want to go check out that old cemetery out back!?EVERYONE: Yeah. Of course. Let’s do... etc.
Everyone except Billy and Brittany exit the back door. There is another long awkward pause.NARRATOR: Rule number four: Always develop a love story.BRITTANY: I’m schizophrenic!BILLY: What?BRITTANY: I found out what’s wrong with me! I’m schizophrenic!BILLY: Okay...BRITTANY: My psychiatrist told me. I’ve got a prescription and everything!BILLY: Have you started it yet?BRITTANY: I’ll be getting better soon and we’ll be getting back together soon!BILLY: So... you haven’t started it yet...BRITTANY: Billy, I promise I’ll be getting better.BILLY: Brittany, we’ve talked about this before. One; we’ve never dated. Two, I’m not ready for any sort of serious commitment right now... and... you’re crazy... I just don’t think it’ll work...BRITTANY: Why can’t you be serious!? Just for ONE second.BILLY: Okay I will... NOTHING WILL EVER HAPPEN BETWEEN US...........EVER!BRITTANY: Why are you always so serious?
BILLY: AH!BRITTANY: I’m sure if I were Heidi you’d be acting much differently...The back door flings open and in storms Katie in a huff.
BILLY: What’s wrong?
KATIE: Besides the fact that Nick is an exhausting jack ass?
BRITTANY: Excuse me, we were having a conversation.
BILLY: What’d he do?
KATIE: Jack ass tried convincing me that a dead cat was trying to come back to life.
BRITTANY: Gross!
BILLY: That’s it?
KATIE: Well that and he’s not responding to any of my sexual advances...
NARRATOR: Foreshadowing AND multiple love stories set up... how do you like them apples?
Another Musical Song Post just in time for christmas!!!! YAY!!!!
This is one of the more heartwarming and thought provoking songs I've ever written- it captures the truest and most meaningful spirit of the holiday season that one can find...
Enjoy Responsibly!
I recorded myself doing this monologue because I love Shakespeare and have always wanted to play the bad guy in one of his plays...
Enjoy responsibly!
The third official MSP contest has just arrived.
Don't ask what this video means- I was just testing out some new lights I got... This is just what happened to come out of the process
Bekah Wilbur won the last contest- this is her song... enjoy responsibly!
She is a Make-Up FX artist, this way you might understand the lyrics better
This is a short I directed a few years ago- almost 3 to be exact...
It was for a short theater festival that I convinced to let me shoot a film for- the script is student written, the actors are all students and I was a student at the time I directed it...
Jaelan Petrie D.P.'d
It hasn't seen the light of day since then- but hey, enjoy responsibly!
p.s. the budget on this was $25
I'm thinking of extending monologue week- because what with Nosferatu and work keeping me busy I haven't had a lot of time to write all the monologues I'd like... as for right now- here is a Shakespeareanesque monologue I wrote last night for my gooood friend Margaret Huntington...
She has this way of getting me to write things that are silly (i.e. I wrote her a Dr. Seuss story about her) and last night she was going off about Shakespeare... and I just spouted out this monologue- (ask me some time to break it down for you) enjoy...
MATTER AT HAND
by: Shakespeara- Joel PetrieHECTOR: I must not believe in my eyes;
For all that is true has been falsely
Presented here in ten or twelve fold.
Perhaps, sweet Marg'ret- you doth love too much,
Or mayhap I do not love at all.
For the wind and the sun and all the natural element
Will unfold before us creating cover
From underneath god's curtain known as sky.
Our backs cold from the greenery and weed,
Our stomach's warm from sack cloth and inspired works.
As the both of us stare forever into
The back lit canopy of stars; The
Few words I'd utter unto you would
Be so frivolous and full of
Uselessness that i may as well speak into
The sheepskin jerkin I wear round my neck.
Sweet, sweet Margaret
You have unwound me
I'm kinda sitting here deciding what I should explore or dive into now- what things are relevant to write about at this moment... and the thought just popped into my head.
Halloween. I'll write a monologue that is horror influenced.
Okay- The play centers around a clearing in a forest outlying a growing town- where teens from 3 generations have found a refuge from the world. Problem is: the clearing puts images and thoughts into the heads of those who fall for its enticing safety.
Vanessa lives in the early 50's. Propriety, social status and gender placement have forced her to find the clearing.
She has brought a friend today-
THE CLEARING
by: Joel PetrieVANESSA: You want to kiss me. Don't deny it, I saw it in your mind's eye. Stop! Don't look at me like I'm crazy- you're lucky I invited you at all- I'm sorry. I'm not used to quiet boys, shy boys. All I know is boys who take control of the situation- take control me. Tell me what to wear, what to say, how to walk and talk, where to sit, how to eat, what to drink- they try to tell me who I AM! You don't want to kiss me anymore. That's alright. You will again. Because I'm going to let you. I'm in control now.
This one is merely a simple, straightforward conversation a man has on the phone... nothing weird or odd about this one at all.
PINS AND NEEDLESby: Joel Petrie
ETHAN: Give me two good reasons I shouldn't roll you into traffic: you're crippled? Ya- aaand? A- uh- priest? How the hell did you become- never mind. Being handicapped and a man of god still doesn't give you the right to talk about my mother that way! I don't even care if she was the one that put you in that chair- she's my mother, and you're going to treat her as such. Uh huh... ya... no... ya... uh huh... you know- for a priest you've got a mouth on you... oh okay- so tell me this! did you or did you not try to... uhm... you know... YOU know... did... did...did you try to fondle her butt cheek!? (getting a sickly look on his face) Okay... that's it... you've crossed the line- (indicating with hand) I'm coming to find you your holiness and I bring with me a wrath! "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I WILL recompense, saith the Lord!" ... Right... well you'll find out exactly when I'm shoving that wheelchair so far up your- hello? (drops phone to side) son of a- (calls off stage) Mom! Do you know a Father Roberts!?
This is a monologue from my phone written play- I kind of enjoy it- I'm not really exploring anything with this except that the character may be hiding something while being questioned about the disappearance of a girl who had stayed at her house while in this small town on the coast of Ireland.
CHURCH BELLS
by: Joel PetrieSYNTHIA:Its a touch spooky in here, isn’t it? Uhmm... every time I meet someone new, I uh- well I try to befriend them- that isn’t so wrong is it? If someone is hungry, I feed them. They need a place to stay I have more than enough room. Both in my house and my heart... She was no different than anyone else... well she was. She was more than different. She was- uhm... I am not quite sure why I was so compelled to help... She was different.
So, I'm on a monologue writing kick for the time being- so, starting today- I'm going to be posting monologue's I am writing...
This first one I wrote while at IHOP- don't know where it came from. I just wanted to explore a little into a person's psyche- to me its much more scary to not know why someone is doing something than it is to see what it is they are doing. (a slasher film will usually lose me the moment they explain why the killer is killing- I'm guessing they tell us to make us feel more at ease about what just happened)
Anyway- it might just be my inner villain coming out... or maybe... my inner hero... something to think about.
VIGILANT
by: Joel PetrieGREGORY: What do you think it is? What motivates me? Money? Girls? Maybe a childhood tragedy- "Uncle Gerald and I played doctor and now I'm so messed around upstairs I can't control my actions..." Maybe I'm lashing out at society for all the shit she gave me! Oh- that's the second time I mentioned the opposite sex! It must be that- broken heart, picked on by the girls, unloved, jealous a manic depressive who's up shit's creek without a paddle and begging for MORE! AAH! aah...It doesn't matter what I say though- you'll draw your conclusions, if you haven't already- you NEED the answer. You need to understand so as not to end up like me. Except- I know precisely why I do what I do. Listen- before you go- I want to present you with one more inquiry... What exactly is it that I do? If you can explain that to me... I'll tell you why.
I'm Tech. Directing a production of F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu at Utah Valley University and they have started a sort of production blog for the actor's and crew to write about their experiences thus far on the show- you should check it out and learn more about this landmark production (something that has never been done on this continent)
Check it out! UVU's Nosferatu
Remember how I said I was writing a play- entirely on my phone...? I do.
Well- here's a sample of how its goin': Tentatively I'm calling it "A Priest, A Widow and A Foreigner..."
SCENE ONEA hot light hits a square, metal table that is holding a tape recorder, a lamp and an ashtray. Smoke wafts from that ashtray- wafts into the eyes of the man sitting behind it.This man hasn't slept in quite some time- his bloodshot, swelling eyes are proof of this. His clothes give little away about who he is- maybe just how he is... a sweater and tie perhaps.He's quiet spoken for an Irishman. He's Campbell-CAMPBELL: I get it. I do. I am not the most looked up to man in the area. But that's my job. My calling. (beat) I call a spade a spade and a sinner a sinner. If he doesn't like it he can change his ways or leave the church- It doesn't matter to me- I'm not here to save anyone- I'm here for those who want to be saved. (beat) I don't think she wanted to be saved. Just- You know what I think? I think that people couldn't stand the sight of us. And I do not blame them- we shouldna tried keeping what we- (beat) I canna even look at the building without feeling her hand in mine.
A different light raises now- not so hot, colder... Much colder... winter.
Dressed appropriately - a young, normal looking woman, normal looking but beautiful to some- stands staring up above us- she is in awe of something. Campbell speaks from the dark and joins her side.CAMPBELL: She's over a thousand years old.GIRL: She?CAMPBELL: (smiling) Ay, all beautiful buildings are feminine.GIRL: Wow. Wasn't that smooth?CAMPBELL: I guess it was- you're American?
GIRL: No.
CAMPBELL: No?
GIRL: I'm Canadian.
CAMPBELL: Really?
GIRL: No.
CAMPBELL: Cute.
GIRL: Thanks.
They now stand in silence. Each waiting for the other to speak first.CAMPBELL: What brings you to these hallowed grounds?GIRL: Boredom.
CAMPBELL: (he laughs) I hate to break this to you but church isn't all too exciting...
GIRL: Yes. But I was cooped up in my room. Hopped a plane then a bus- found my way on to a mail truck and this is where I am.
CAMPBELL: (smiling) I am so terribly sorry.
GIRL: I'm not. Its perfect.
CAMPBELL: Ay, it is isn't it?
A deep clang of church bells.
CAMPBELL: That's my cue.
GIRL: Wait. What's your name?
CAMPBELL: Campbell.
GIRL: Is that a first name?
CAMPBELL: Most people call me Father.
GIRL: Oh. (beat) Good to meet you.
She removes her glove and shakes his hand. He notices how soft the skin of her hands are... nothing creepy though.
CAMPBELL: Ay, I hope to see you around.
He almost makes it off stage-
GIRL: Father Campbell!
CAMPBELL: Yes?
GIRL: Do you usually flirt with foreigners?
CAMPBELL: ...no... I don't think so.
They both smile at this. And now we're back at that dreadful hot light and table. Somebody new is sitting behind it. I wonder who it is-
Whelp- Jaelan, my older brother, the one above Jordan and below Jenna in the age range of siblings, is married. That's right, he finally went through with it! And as a joke on me- he had me do a "Tribute to Marriage" at the wedding- and in true form I wrote it ten minutes before being called up to speak... and it slew! slayed? slayn? killed!
I'm waiting until I can see a copy of the video - so I can give you a true, word for word transcript of how I actually said things- because to be perfectly honest... I don't remember- kind of a blur.
So... watch for that-
Three quarters of the population of the world has disappeared and Grady, an everyman, is left isolated and guilty.
Set in the remote back roads of a deserted nation, Grady's journey brings him face to face with life threatening situations coupled with a list of unique characters that steer him on his journey- and in his struggle to live vs. his willingness to go on.
What does life matter to a person inflicted with the internal perspective of insignificance?
What do you think?
Until recently I's been unda da impression dat it would be pertinent to da success a my ongoin' endeavors to find a partna in crime.
I's used to t'ink dat if I'm gonna to be taken down: d'are best be some unsuspectin' schlo'mo to take wit' me...
I aint goin' dis alone!
So- I soyched for dat poyson- left an' right- up an' down- backs an' fort. I's looked so hard that my aforementioned "endeavors" began lackin'. Success in dis woyld a mine is eva' loomin'- But I's aint found it on account a dat undyin' soych for a numba dos.
Well, you's prolly t'inkin' to yo'se'f- if you jest stop lookin'... that no good, dirty rottin', banana griftin', son-of-a bees knees will most likely find d'are way ta you- its da way a da woyld. D'are's no way ta choose who's gonna be willin' to take a bullet fors ya.
Trute be told- yous prolly correct in that assumption. IF I's was wantin' a partna in crime, still.
Ya see- as I watched myself becomin' a useless schlub an' all da opulence a dis woyld slippin' troo my finga's on account a said schlubbyness- I cames to da real-i-zation dat if I's gonna be numba uno- I's gotsta go it alone.
I aint neva' gettin' married.
I did this cover of a song today... for the fun of it...
Imagine2.mp3
My little door looks out on youth, beauty, rebellion, compulsion and obsession. All Captive.
My little window sees the same, but not. Outside not in.
My little corner is mine. The threat of the outside close at hand. Halted by the twist of brass.
Its a long title but I couldn't really condense it and get my meaning across properly... They aren't the "Top 5 movies I want to make" by a long shot- and I don't want to make terrible movies... if that makes sense.
ANYway- what we're looking at here is a list of these terrible films, a short description, and why I want to make it... starting with number 5!
"Kung Fu stir fry has NEVER tasted so good..."
DEATH FACTORY
(working title)
Story by: Elwon Bakly & Joel Petrie
Written by: Joel PetrieDarkness- Gears break into life- rusty metal clinks and an off cadence.
A deep rumble insists behind what seems to be shallow, forced breaths, wheezing in time with the beat of the gears-
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY- LOADING DOCK - NIGHT
A pair of beautiful blue eyes, filled with fear, stare up from cold concrete. This is the source of the breathing.
She is paralyzed. Nothing binds her.
The machine next to her churns and spits sparks- threatening to burn her.
Her eyes gaze down to her hand-
Her fingers twitch- her arm struggles and lifts. the noise is now becoming too loud to be bearable.
After more struggle- the rest of her follows- She makes it to her feet and just like that, the noise stops.
No sound now- just her breathing- which stops.BEAUTIFUL EYED GIRL...hello...?In some distant part of the factory the deep moan of bending steel is her reply. Then- An unearthly bawl. Her breathing starts again.
Another moan of steel and unearthly wail- this time it is not so distant- the machines start again with their clink- matching the rhythm of her of her respiration.
She is startled- she runs.
Machines and electronics all roar to life as she passes- she finds herself in-
INT. ABANDONED FACTORY- MAIN HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
The hallway is long, narrow and promising freedom- at the far end the doors are open and fresh air pours in.
To her though, it seems miles away.
The exit sign blinks on.
The scream is almost upon her! She runs! She runs toward freedom- toward the door!
The hallway grows longer and longer- the door apparently never getting any closer.
She becomes dizzy- falling to the floor, only inches from the exit-
She tries to stand but cannot.
Her breathing is faster- the noise- the bending steel- the wail- all overwhelming her.
She sees something coming down the hall after her- she is choking on her own scream-
The exit sign blinks off.
OPENING CREDITS: a series of gruesome and mechanical titles
I am honing my skills in the post - production fields... and I wanted to try this out...
I noticed that Hollywood has been painting the flashes in for years... as early as Guns of Navarone that I've seen...
Shot with HVX200
Edited on Final Cut Pro
Let me start by saying- You should see this movie. If nothing else they'll make the rest of them!
Okay- to start:
I don't know how I feel about the parallels to the Iraqi war in this film. I understand why they did it next! (Chronologically Boy and his Horse is next, but they're probably not doing that one) I just don't know how appropriate it was to do that with a famous, "classic", literary work.
Unless of course that was the original intent (i.e. Germany's occupation of Europe) - I mean I guess that's why these books are classic, because they are timeless and CAN be paralleled to the events of today and tomorrow... you know how history repeats itself and all... but again, was it necessary what with all sorts of movies already being made in that vein. I dunno, something to think about.
As for the actors:
As expected, Georgie Henley (Lucy) was adorable - any discrepancies I saw were NOT her fault so much as her direction or the editors choice of take.
The rest of the cast were also strong - Ben Barnes (Caspian) was (for lack of a better word) "dreamy" - Not kidding, I have not met one female who has seen it (or just seen the trailer for that matter) who hasn't wanted him to sweep into they're bedroom in the middle of the night and steal them into the dark recesses of the Narnian forest. (He acted his roll a touch stiffly, but it worked for the character)
Anna Popplewell (Susan)- well, she's über purdy... oh and she can act! tee hee - uhmm... I could have used a bit more sexual tension between her and Caspian or none at all- it was far too "in between" for my liking (she didn't think he was as dreamy as the rest of the world) again- this isn't so much her fault as the direction or take selection.
William Moseley (Peter) did well... he did... I just wish he was given a bit more than "angst" to work with.
But who really surprised me pleasantly was Skandar Keynes (Edmund) His growth amazed me, I wish oh so wished he had a much bigger part in the film - wowzers!
Followed by some extremely strong performances by the rest of the ensemble, including a pleasant surprise in seeing The Station Agent's Peter Dinklage, LOVE him as an actor.
and my final props go to Sergio Castellitto (Mraz) he had depth to the coldness he portrayed as the villain. That's always nice.
As for the movie:
I just kinda feel they should have taken more time on the script and the direction. Don't get me wrong the Art (costumes, camera, sets, etc) was perfect! The action!? don't get me started on the action- SO good!
But that's not what Narnia is to me - I've never read the books so I can't compare, but the first movie, well the first movie took me on a camping trip to talk about something important, then it slapped me in the face and told me to go home and think about things a little while.
While this movie sorta just got me all excited for prom, took me to a really fancy restaurant for dinner and then told me to stick to the left side of the menu- it left me wanting more, but not that: "ooh I can't wait for the sequel!!" kind of wanting, but the: "...I don't order this soup here - because they don't make it the same as my Mom does." kind of wanting.
It wasn't terrible, I didn't hate it at all! I just wish they would have taken a little more time and put a little more love into it.
Topping off my list I'm going to start with a movie you haven't seen most likely because of poor advertising-
Snow Falling On Cedars - Apparently they thought that because it was masterfully shot, emotionally written and skillfully put together that the world wouldn't want to see it. This must have been when they must have decided to market it as a touching and dripping love story that spans the ages- its not- if anything its a Courtroom movie with loving undertones. The following is how it was advertised-
This is what the movie is really like- (its 6 minutes long but very good I promise)
The next movie I'm throwing at you is a foreign film that I PROMISE you haven't heard of (unless I've told you about it)
Flickering Lights (Blinkende lygter) - The darkest comedy I have ever seen- also one of the most uplifting movies as well; A Danish film about a band of best friends and criminals turning their lives around while opening a restaurant. FANTASTIC! (this clip doesn't have subtitles- but it still works)
Okay- we're rolling now. Next- You haven't heard of this one because you never browse the video shelves... I mean seriously browse the video shelves...jerk.
Happy, Texas - Steve Zahn is one of two escaped cons who have to pretend to be a couple of gay, little miss junior pageant planners in a small town in Texas - ENOUGH said.
The Way of the Gun - if you liked No Country for Old Men but want an ending. This is the movie for you- with a lovely cameo from Sarah Silverman (if you don't like her- you'll LOVE this cameo) Gun is that kind of movie that if released this year- well- watch it... (WARNING: this scene is a little brutal)
Dog Soldiers - Have you ever walked through the Horror section of your local blockbuster, just- making fun of the different titles and concepts of the RIDICULOUS movies gracing its shelves? Well, I used to- I also used to rent a movie just because I thought it was going to be terrible...
That is how I saw Dog Soldiers. Let me tell you something- This was one of the best cinematic mistakes I have ever made- this British produced film is one of the most solid pieces of independent film making I have ever seen - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the screenplay for this one actually... (I'm sorry- this trailer does NOT do the film any justice... but its all I could find)
Well- that's my short list- I'll continue this- soon.
We're trying for investment on a film- here is a synopsis:
When a common "mindset" becomes a reality, Grady, an everyman, is left isolated and guilty
. Set in a hauntingly familiar alternate reality, he encounters complex and life threatening situations that test the very thing that makes us who we are. Everyday his struggle to live battles his willingness to go on.
What does life matter to a person inflicted with the internal perspective of insignificance?
I know I haven't written in a long long time- so- tell me what you think!
It is late at night.
I've decided to go on a walk. Its cold and there's a light snow. A man drives by and gives me a funny look- As I walk it becomes harder and harder to move my legs, as if I'm walking up a steep hill- my legs become tired- its so hard to move by the end that I have to use fences, lamposts and treest to continue forward (but this is only this bad as I'm finding out the news)
I then get a text message from Kyle Fotheringham that states "The girl it seems you want to marry is standing right next to me and it seems she wants to marry the guy she's with, and lake seems to be light as a feather because of it". The last bit confuses me mildly- then there is a follow up text that says "I meant Jake not lake seems to be light as a feather because of it" (predictive text messed up his name apparently)
So I call Kyle, there's lots of noise in the background- and music. I ask "So she's acting like she's married to Jake?" Kyle says "Yes, she's flirting with him and there's continual sexual references" I say "She's not kissing him is she?" "Oh no- yea she is" comes the very Kyle-like reply.
"Oh- excuse me, I'll call you right back" My voice is calm, quick. I'm filled with heart-broken rage.
I call her immediately- Under her breath as if she's talking to me but doesn't want me to hear, but I do, she mutters "Would you just leave me alone?" then "yeah?" the same music and noise fills the background.
"Kyle just told me everything" I say. "So, why would I care?" she replies.
I recount what he said very fast so she can't interrupt. My legs work now, I've found a field of rare white orchids- my fist wraps around the stem of one and proceeds to destroy it- my voice feels a bit shaky, panicked and stressed.
When I finish, without any thought or regard to what I had just said, she finishes the conversation- "Okay, well I'll see you later then?"
"No- what!?" I'm in an Orchard. Destroyed orchid in my hand.
"Goodbye!" Her voice is exceptionally cheerful. My pain is unimaginable.
I wake up.
I send you the text.
I can't get back to sleep.
I need to Direct a movie.
Not a short.
Not a music video.
Not even a television episode.
A movie.
From the moment I discovered movies- which was before I can even remember- I'm sure I was still just a baby- I've wanted to work in film...
I never wanted to be a fireman, astronaut, policeman or even cowboy. I wanted to make movies. (even though for a few months after seeing the movie Jurassic Park I was interested in Paleontology as a 'back-up'...but I digress-)
When I was 11 I decided on my first career path: Stuntman. I took Karate, I taught myself to tumble, to take a punch, to throw a punch- by the time I was 14 I could run up walls and do a back flip (I'm probably too "pleasantly plump" now, but when I get back into shape!).
I could be realistically and safely hit by cars at 15 and the joy of staging realistic looking 'brawls' in parking lots and shopping malls never really left me until after high school.
I had been working, since I was 12 for a small video game company known as Shoqwave Multimedia (THANK YOU the internet archive for showing it from when I worked there... check out what it is today at www.shoqwave.com)
My job was to create interesting and unique backdrops for levels on a video game being made in the tradition of Myst and Riven.
Well, one day- the owner of the company handed me a video tape with all of our works cut to music. really cheesy slide-show presentation style- but what captured my attention was not how much better my backdrops were than anyone else's- but the fact that he had put it together on a Computer. He had EDITED A MOVIE ON A COMPUTER!
That's the moment I decided what I wanted to be- I didn't know it yet- but I had decided it.
Shortly after that I was in high school- I was 16 and I was taking a classe in the multimedia- just to get me close to the editing stations- it wasn't long before I rarely left the editing room-
In fact, don't tell my parents, but I would oft miss my classes to cut together a short film or PSA or to watch a movie on the big screen in the corner- which was in essence- my big screen.
I spent the majority of my senior year cutting the graduation video behind a castle of Dr. Pepper cans in a dark corner of the room... I spent so much time there they practically gave me a key!
Hell, I met my first official girlfriend in that editing lab. My first exposure to Napster and free music was there. Live television and broadcast news- Editing with headphones- even my first rival spawned from that noisy little room-
That room of Apple Computer's is where I learned to make movies. Its where I taught myself the technical side of film.
The first film I ever edited was- without a doubt- crap. There were maybe 5 different camera angles in the film- But- I'm thankful for the film- it was a HUGE learning experience-
how? how could you have learned from crap? you ask. I'll tell you.
The first lesson I ever learned as an editor was simple: You can't edit something if there's nothing to edit.
We had 5 shots that went in order from beginning of movie to end. Not a whole lot to edit together- not something that'd really build my editing muscle- So- the next project we did- I made sure we got more coverage- stuff to play with at the editing bench. Different angles etc.
This film was also crap. But this time I recognized that the new coverage was there- but it didn't cut together well because it didn't look right- it wasn't framed properly... which taught me as a camera man- over time- with practice- how to do that!
Every project taught me something new and became a platform to practice what I'd already learned: "hey- its framed well but the acting is weird-" so I learned eventually how to get a performance- "I've got a performance, but what they're saying is off-" it helped my writing. "what they're saying is right- but I can't hear it" -fixed the sound.
It has gone on like this for years- Lighting, sound, camera, acting, writing, art direction, costume- its how I learned to make movies. Every new skill building into a sort of mountain shaped skill set- with editing being my base...
It wasn't until just recently- within the last few years- that I realized I wasn't building a mountain towards being a good film maker per say... I was putting the tools together to tell a good story. All the pieces of a puzzle creating the big picture-
8 years ago, I decided I was going to be storyteller. I didn't know it until now. But I had decided it.
So, this year, and I mean this year- I want to direct a movie- not a short- not a music video- not even an episode of TV.
A movie.