The Blog

Back at it again

Posted By On Saturday, 01-28-2012 @ 01:15 pm Under Acting & Mentioned , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Back at it againPermalink

I’m back from Sundance 2012… I love that place and I’m gonna post about being there for the first time soon. Meanwhile, I’m back teaching again while I put a few last touches on my script… before I send it out!

As I was preparing for the semester (two undergrad editing courses and one grad ‘directing the actor’ course) I stumbled across this archive of actor audition reels.

I thought it was kind of cool and also a good resource for directors observing performance…

(side note: After teaching ‘acting for directors’ for a few years, I’ve found this is the hardest thing for inexperienced directors to do: to see what actors are actually doing in their performance versus what the director wants or hopes to see… this is a learned skill, observing performance.)

Now, I don’t necessarily believe auditions are final “performances” by any means but it’s nice to watch these actor’s “choices” as they came in to be seen for and land some iconic roles.

Tyler Perry….”How to be Successful”

Posted By On Saturday, 01-28-2012 @ 12:52 pm Under Ethos & Mentioned With No Comments Permanent Link to Tyler Perry….”How to be Successful”Permalink

Agreed.

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The Proportion of Gruel

Posted By On Saturday, 01-28-2012 @ 12:47 pm Under My Tribe & Mentioned , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to The Proportion of GruelPermalink

Ira Glass, from the brilliant radio program This American Life, describes the strange life of a film producer.

File this under “funny and true”.

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#RollTideRoll – Alabama Wins!!!

Posted By On Wednesday, 01-11-2012 @ 03:47 am Under Film & Mentioned , With No Comments Permanent Link to #RollTideRoll – Alabama Wins!!!Permalink

Well, I’ve posted this before, and true to my word I didn’t go on too much about the team this year…

BUT… we won it all!!!

*Please forgive my use of the word “we”… this team is the only team or sport I gush over shamelessly, you should know that.

Congrats to the Team, the University and of course the fans!

Roll Tide!!!

“Roll Tide” is a universal expression among ‘Bama Nation, versatile and applicable in nearly every situation as a greeting, farewell or standard cheer or praise.

Terrence Malick

Posted By On Wednesday, 01-4-2012 @ 12:31 am Under My Tribe & Mentioned , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Terrence MalickPermalink

I was writing my last post and stumbled across this Malick tribute from an editor named Joel Walden. I must have watched this thing like 10 times.

It’s beautiful. Just really beautiful filmmaking…

I dare you. Hit play and try to look away, you can’t.

This is your next destination here.

Surviving Desire

Posted By On Wednesday, 01-4-2012 @ 12:04 am Under My Tribe & Mentioned , , , , , , , , With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Surviving DesirePermalink

Why don’t they make movies like this any more? Seriously, does any one out there know of indie romance films like this?

I’m a fan of Hal Hartley.

I can’t remember when I first saw “Surviving Desire” but it made an impact on me. It was like the culmination of a great revelation, which I think began the first time I saw the Coen Brothers film, “Miller’s Crossing”.

I watched both of these films and remember thinking somebody made them, meaning someone had imagined these stories and wanted to tell them in a specific way, someone speaking with a voice suited to the telling.

Continue Reading →

Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules

Posted By On Tuesday, 01-3-2012 @ 10:09 pm Under My Tribe & Mentioned , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Immaculate Heart College Art Department RulesPermalink

These rules from Corita Kent speak for themselves and are inspiring… read ‘em and then go ahead, go out and work.

They also remind me of these “rules” which I value too.

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Pariah

Posted By On Monday, 01-2-2012 @ 01:15 pm Under Film & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to PariahPermalink

This is Pariah, a beautifully shot film with wonderful performances and really assured writing and direction.

In short, go see it.

There are too many wonderful people I know involved with this project to mention them all but I’d like to point out two:

Adepero Oduye plays the lead and does a dazzling job. I’ve worked with her before and she was amazing to have on our set (she even visited my grad directing actors class to work with the up-and-coming NYU students).

She’s probably the kindest person you’ll ever meet in this business and she’s gonna be a star… watch.

The other Dee Rees, was a year ahead of me at NYU and served as an inspiration and guide while I was applying to the Screenwriter’s and Director’s lab (she attended a few years before me).

You may have heard this said about others before but let me say it again as someone with firsthand knowledge, Dee is just a nice person. A good person. And she’s incredibly talented. The first part (being nice) may not carry much weight when all is said and done in this business but it means everything to me.

I admire her.

Support this film by seeing it and witness something wonderful emerging in indie film…

Everything’s Amazing – Happy New Year!

Posted By On Saturday, 12-31-2011 @ 03:05 am Under Life & Mentioned , With No Comments Permanent Link to Everything’s Amazing – Happy New Year!Permalink

Here’s a quick and wonderful piece of advice from comedian Louis CK. Enjoy the New Year’s and remember his words as you plan your life for the coming year… I know I will.

Be safe and prosper!

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Men In Love – The Shadow & Act Digital Filmmaker Showcase

mnl-15 copy
Posted By On Wednesday, 12-21-2011 @ 11:52 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Men In Love – The Shadow & Act Digital Filmmaker ShowcasePermalink

The Shadow & Act film blog is hosting a digital film competition and my short, Men In Love is one of the participants.

I’m like every other filmmaker I know… we don’t really dig these types of things… But I thought it would be a fitting last hurrah for the project and they’ve lined up some interesting shorts.

Go take a look.

And while we’re here I’d also like to publicly thank the entire cast and crew for their work on this film.

It started as a reprieve from the writing I was doing on The American People (I wanted to make something vastly different in story and tone from that project) and I’m grateful for all their prodigious help realizing the film.

Particularly I’d like to thank: Duane Cooper, Benton Greene, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Adepero Oduye, Janice Ahn, Blair Doroshwalther, Darius Clark Monroe, Daniel Patterson, Justin Staley and Nicky Woo.

Go HERE to VOTE and watch the other films.

Continue Reading →

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

Posted By On Wednesday, 12-21-2011 @ 06:47 pm Under Film & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975Permalink

The Black Power Mixtape examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in the black community and Diaspora from 1967 to 1975. The film combines music, startling 16mm footage (lying undiscovered in the cellar of Swedish Television for 30 years), and contemporary audio interviews from leading African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars.

Recently saw this and loved it.

It’s steaming on Netflix, go watch it now. I’m so glad the swedes captured this and the director, Göran Hugo Olsson shared it with the world.

Continue Reading →

Paradox of Choice

Posted By On Wednesday, 12-21-2011 @ 06:28 pm Under Ethos & Mentioned , With No Comments Permanent Link to Paradox of ChoicePermalink

I wanted to wish you and yours a happy holidays. I’ll probably still post one or two things before the new year but in case I miss you I wanted to say enjoy!

And not to squash the buying spirit or anything but before you go out to make your holiday purchases take a look at the video above. Barry Schwartz has some really clear and persuasive ideas about what living in a world of too much “choice” can do to you.

And if you’re too busy to watch it here’s the takeaway:

“too much choice undermines happiness”.

I think he’s right.

Hey… Happy Holidays!

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