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So the eternal debate for people who love film, the debate of “Is film dead?”  Well I discovered this little device last year call the LOMOKINO and it definitely makes me believe that film is alive. It is essentially a little hand-crank film (keyword:FILM) camera.  It takes normal 36 exposure 35mm film that you would put into a film camera, and lets you shoot like back in the days of old. You get this great almost 2:55:1 aspect that gives you about 80-90 frames of joy. It is probably the most fun I have had in a while with a camera. There is no setting up the shot, you just kind of fine the place you want to shoot, or just have it with you at all times… and crank away!

Below is the first rolls of film that I shot and scanned. I used a combination of 400 /800 iso color negative and slide film. I have discovered I love the colors of slide film, but I appreciate the muteness of color negative. Just so I don’t waste film, I have to admit I do keep my t2i with me to essentially use as a light meter, because I don’t want to waste it!  The process definitely takes longer than anything digital you would do now, but there is something about it that is just so beautiful and majestic. Take a look and enjoy!

This is part one of the ACTRESS Behind the Scenes. This is a quick montage of stuff that was the shoot. I personally can say its nice to know Ive lost a ton of weight since then haha. This really shows a glimpse into all the hard work this crew put in. Thank you Adam Johns for the BTS

People always ask me ,” Where do I get my ideas from” or “Where do I draw my inspiration for either the projects that I have been a part of or created myself”. As of right now, I have my fingers in some many pies that I needed to remember myself what inspires me to keep the juices flowing. I need to remind myself what is it that drove me to make what I have done so far. I figured if I am going to go down this path, I might as well share the info with you, This is the collection of things that started me to where I am now.

(Bad Boys) poster Above

This is the film that changed it all.  I have watched this movie more than any other movies combined. I would watch it 4 and 5 times a day growing up. The music, the camera movements, the comedy, the action, everything about this film grabbed me. I had shot stupid things growing up on my HandiCam, even a short film called Vanish with my cousins, but this movie really made me love movies in a sense that I wanted to be a part of it.

Good Will Hunting (poster above)

This film has always been a personal favorite. Now as much as I love the film, the writing, and the characters… it was none of this that fueled me. Growing up I loved watching Behind the Scenes featurettes on TV or HBO, but the Commentary track with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck discussing all that they went through writing it, getting it made and finally getting an Oscar for really blew my mind. The amount of passion and the attitude that you can make your future, you just have to persevere and good things will come, changed me. I began watching ALL behind the scenes, listening to every commentary, I became obsessed with making movies.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6kCWNV1bs4]

I found this video online a long time ago. This video started my passion in editing. I have always loved music because it told a story. I always loved video game cut scenes, especially Final Fantasy, because they were so intense and epic. The combination of the two blew me away to the point that I began researching and editing on Windows Movie Maker. I don’t know the person responsible for this video, but whoever they were, inspired me.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxv0VLPy2_o]

I am a trailer fanatic. I live for the creation of them, and am really critical of them. If a film has a horrible trailer, I wont be seeing it. Now note: This movie is not a favorite of most people. This trailer is not the best trailer I have ever seen. In saying that, this is the first trailer that made me love trailers. The pacing, the creative use of scenes that are in and not in the movie to tell a story that doesn’t give too much away, but still leaves you with a good feeling about the movie. The use of the song at the end uddle of Mud “Blurry”  just accentuated what was going on screen, and gave emotionality to the trailer. That emotionality is what I believe should be in ALL trailers, unless it’s a movie like EPIC MOVIE or anything like that. That being said, I believe that the Star Trek Trailer is one of the best examples of what a trailer can do for me. Star Trek released 3 trailers, the first being a great teaser, the 2nd being an expected action trailer and then they released trailer 3, which I believe to be one of the best movie trailers of all time. I believe this trailer made more people want to see this movie than had previously, and the music by Two Steps from Hell <- Probably the best company in the business, takes your emotions to a whole new level. That’s what editing is all about. Here is the trailers just so you can see. The fourth tv spot was good, It just was not as gripping as Trailer 3

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IptbC3p2lCk]

So in saying all this, there is plenty more that has inspired me through out time… but these videos and films are what really have had an impact on me in my path. I leave you now with the question, what inspires you in what you do. What drives you to be the best at what you do in life?

It is 2009. Yes the economy is down, yes people are losing and looking for jobs more then ever before. During the great depression we had similar problems in the country. Yet somehow someway, more people per capita were flocking to movie theaters. Gone with the Wind (adjusted for Inflation) technically would have made more money then all of the top movies combined based on how many people saw it at that time. The reason why was because that was how people escaped the real world. Through the creativity of film makers. Through visions and stories brought to life by groups of individuals all working together to bring something new to the world.
Where did we go wrong. Where did creativity go. Now I am not saying creative films are not being made. I am also not saying that making a film about NOTHING AT ALL (I.E. a balloon flying around, or a kid looking a picture) is creative because its different. I am talking about stories. I am talking about characters. I am talking about bringing characters to life that we have NEVER seen before. Introducing a visual element to people and worlds we have only pictured in our heads. Every time I walk into a book store I look around and think…. there is a countless number of stories to be told right in this very room.
Yet for some reason, the “studio system” of Hollywood has lost sight of this. For some reason they only believe people will go see a film that is one we have seen before. Now they did not just start doing this over night, but there is an OVER abundance of it now. I am not even saying these films are bad, but lets list some off the top of my head ( and I promise Im not even gonna look) The Warriors, Tron, Logans Run, Taking of Pelham 123, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm St, Last house on the left, Clash of the Titans, Straw Dogs, Footloose, Red Sonja, Predator, The Evil Dead… and that is just this year.

Why cant we just make new movies. What if there wasnt these movies? No one from the 70′s or 80′s was really remaking films THAT much. I mean occasionally there would be a remake here and there but it usually needed it. No one remade films that just didnt need it. I mean Scarface took from the same premise but completely went a different route with it. Im actually happy comic book movies are starting to be taken more seriously so that we can hope to see more fresh stories and ideas on the big screen. We don’t need to see films again that enjoy how they were done the first time. Sure Tron looks amazing, but would it of been that hard to think of something else. I mean you’ve got films like Gamer coming out that just look fun. I mean yes it seems like the remake industry has taken over only blockbusters action ad horror films, but that is because people love it. Sure the occasional ridiculously funny film will come along… but where are the Back to the Futures, the Forest Gumps, The Castaways, The Indiana Jones, The ETs, The Pulp FIctions, The Clerks, The Terminators, The Things, The Star Wars of Today. I mean sure comic books and toys are finally getting real movie screen time and I love it, but dammit I want to go into something knowing NOTHING and being blown away, much like Avatar. To make matters even worse, they will give these movies 200million dollar budgets. WHY?! Why the hell does any movie need that much?  I think we should go on a film cap for a while and see what happens. Its possible to make an amazing movie for cheaper, many have done it, and done it better. If they made (Just talking effects) Spiderman 3 for 300 million and Transformers for 140 million, it gets you thinking WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH THE MONEY!!!!
I know there is more like me out there, who really just want to be entertained by something other than something we have seen before. So god dammit Hollywood studios grow some balls and green light something for that we are not ready for, or that we don’t expect, I promise you people will see it. Or else just keep making the same movies from now till 2050.
Or it can be even worse and movies like Disaster Movie, Dance Movie, Not Another Teen Movie, Hottie an Nottie, or Meet Dave can just keep being made.  Dont even get me started on that.

Below is a collection of movie posters I have had the pleasure of creating for various projects ranging from HD-35mm film.

Every Now and then a film comes along that just makes you excited that there are still creative people left in the world.  I saw the trailer for this before it got to Sundance and right away claimed it would be a hit.  It is a perfect adaption and satire to Blaxploitation films such as Sweet Sweetbacks bad ass song and all others in the genre.  Every piece of dialogue seems to just have humor behind it. Directed to era perfection by Scott Sanders, and bringing back Micheal Jai White as both the Jive Talkin star and co-writer.  I suggest anyone that has the opportunity to see this Hot item do so.

AND your just in luck, it is playing at the LA Film Fesitval this week on June 25th. So if your in the area go check it out before it hits theaters in December. You can head over to http://www.blackdynamitemovie.com/ for more information, downloads and clips from the film.

More Info on LA FILM FESTIVAL

http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2009/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=5298

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jEREGNZTXg]