Bay Area Express

Our first fundraising event got Sarah in a local paper, The Bay Area Express.  Check it out: 

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2010/05/05/local-women-make-slumber-party-kits-vegan-jewelry-diabetic-brownies

Editing A Film

I have been in the process now of editing my short film, now titled Hand Me down, for about three months, maybe a little more. I've learned so much about editing, and about film making, but most of all I've learned the value of patience. When being an actor on a film, my job tends to only consist of the work I have to do for the part, and the work on set. Once the film is over I can step away, and I never have to fully deal with the post production chaos. I have to say that I have a new found respect for anyone who is an editor or director. I've realized that as a director, the work is not only with the actors on set, but also with the footage in post. 

In the edit room the director and the editor have an entirely new directing task. With the footage available a post production team can make an entirely different film then the one they set out to make in the beginning. I have found that, for the most part, although the same general emotional theme has been kept, the movie has gone through a massive change. 

This made me reflect about being an actor, and having to, in a few instances now, watch myself in the final edit of a film. I've had to deal with finding out that scenes in which I gave my all to, during shooting, have been cut out entirely. I've had to see, sometimes, the editor make decisions that, although aid the story, disappoint me in performance. I've finally begun to come to a full circle realization that this is simply the process of filmmaking. I've realized that when you work on a collaborative project you simply cannot please everyone entirely, but that in the end, especially as the director, you have to make the best choice for the film itself. How can I make this the best film it can be? That seems to be the question, and the problem to solve. 

It's also helped to wake me up about how to be the best I can be with all the elements of filmmaking. If I am the director, how can I ensure that my actors are giving me their best performance in every take and every scene, not just the ones that, at the time, I believe are going to be the real money. As an actor, I've realized that my job is to be on my best in every take, no matter what. As an editor, I've realize that I have to be cruel sometimes, and I have to make tough decisions that no one else will make. I have to make the best with what I have. 

I thought I would share this, and my progress with everyone. 

I hope to have a showing of the film sometime in the fall in order to gain more feedback.  Hope everyone can come and see it.

 

The Long Way Out Short Film In Festivals

A movie that I played the staring role in has been recently accepted to two film festivals, the Washington DC international Short Films Festival, and the Ireland International Film Festival. Both of them are happening in the same week, so I will only be attending the DC festival on the 12th. Hope to see people there.

 Nick