Editing...

     iMovie is a gift from the filmmaking Gods. Seriously, wow. It makes it so easy to upload media and content, and share it to Youtube! Here is what I filmed today with Daniela (she will be the main character), completely unedited:

https://youtu.be/V7eU2kYXOXo
https://youtu.be/p33wxOlUG44
https://youtu.be/UtdGORaZHvM
https://youtu.be/cjh_wbfxvbk

Success!

     Finally filmed today! Got about half (maybe a little less) of the content I need for the movie opening. I am going to add in a social commentary aspect. I want to touch on social issues in my work, such as the fact that parents should NOT be normalized when leaving their kids to fiend for themselves. Being an absentee parent is not okay, and destroys kids. Wow, I'm ranting.
     Okay, well, now I'm off to upload my clips onto Youtube so I can add links to them on here and you guys can watch them! :)

     

Technical Difficulties

     Plans to film today were foiled by two things: my phone camera cracked, and the weather was much less than ideal in Wynwood today. In light of these events, I have revised the plan and we are set to film next weekend. I do need camera suggestions, though. I have been wanting a professional camera for some time now, but have put it off because I told myself I could just use my phone camera... Well, clearly the universe had other plans. If any of you have suggestions for professional cameras capable of beautiful video and pictures for somewhere around $200, let me know pleeeease!! Currently leaning toward a Nikon, but sill need to do research. All help is welcome, I am extremely technologically challenged. xx

Preparation

     As mentioned in my previous post, I am a perfectionist. I finished my last post and literally immediately began overthinking EVERYTHING about my film. The music, the angles, the clothes I'd have my character wear... It got bad. Anyway, in a surprising turn of events, I feel more confident about my film. After several hours of contemplation and listening to music (not even exaggerating), I've decided on the general tune of the song I want to play when Daniela is being photographed: "Anna Sun" by Walk the Moon, which I'll link below. 


Anna Sun - Walk the Moon

Anticipation

     I truly cannot wait to start filming. I am extremely excited to create. I am a writer, so this is a nice change for me- to have a little more freedom creatively, that is. For some reason, I feel like it is easier to convey what I want to through film than through writing. This is in no small part due to my tendency to be a perfectionist, and the ensuing constant search for "the right words." This being said, I'm extremely anxious that the same will happen with my film... Well, I guess we'll see. *nervous laughter*

Finally!

     Thank you to the two lovely bloggers who shot me DM's on Instagram, your suggestions were enormously helpful! I (we) have decided to film the opening scene in Panther Coffee, which is an adorable coffee shop located right in Wynwood. This will allow us to kill two birds with one stone: we can film the opening in the cafe and then I can get some more shots by the Wynwood Walls. I aim to start filming next weekend, but I also plan on getting some shots of the main character (Daniela) this week that I can use in between main shots. I'll be posting the unedited ones on here as well as once I edit them so you guys can see the whole process! Be on the lookout, coming soon! :))

Location Found... Kind Of

     Well, I've found a location. My "actor" and I put out brains together, and decided that given the artistic nature of the character, we should film at least some scenes in Wynwood. I was not especially happy with this at first, given the drastic change from a cafe to downtown Miami. However, she does have a point: art should be a major part of the film because, after all, the main character is an artist. Now I just need to figure out a place to film the restaurant opening... If anyone knows of any places similar to The Alchemist that are located in Wynwood, please use the methods I listed in my previous post to let me know! More soon.......

Finding a Location

     Being a director is no joke! I started filming with my "actor" today, and she was ridiculously picky. "That lighting's not good," "You're at a bad angle," shall I go on? Aside from these complaints, the location I had picked out for the first scene (The Alchemist, a stylish café in Wynwood)  wasn't adequate for her! Now I need to rack my brain for a new film site. Any suggestions anyone? I want the location to be somewhat similar in aesthetics to that of White Bird in a Blizzard (dir. by Gregg Araki in 2014), which I'll link the trailer to down below. (Wish I could link the whole movie but it isn't on Youtube. If you're curious, it's on Netflix!) Please don't hesitate to shoot me a DM on Instagram, @3ricalevenson, or simply comment on this post.

White Bird in a Blizzard Trailer

Storyboarding

     I am not one for graphics. I prefer words over designs/pictures when expressing myself; anyone who knows me will tell you this. This being said, I needed to storyboard for my film: I had this huge vision in my head of what I wanted to record, but when I tried to translate that into real scenes, I went completely blank. Logically, storyboarding and coffee were my only refuge.
     Two hours and many, many eraser shavings later, I have a clear vision of what I want. Opening with a black screen, the screen will materialize into a closeup of the main character, Daniela, opening her eyes feverishly. The angle will look something like this: 


After she blinks a few times, she will look away. Her siblings will come running in; they are extremely close-knit.

Cut to another day, made evident by Daniela's clothes, Daniela is looking in the fridge for food. There is nothing substantial. She looks defeated, exasperated.

Cut to Daniela painting, her only relief from the strife of having to basically be a mother to her siblings.

Cut to Daniela dressed up being photographed. She has finally succeeded at her dream; she is a famous painter.

Doing Research

    Upon doing some research, I decided I wanted my film to be somewhere between Across the Universe (dir. by Julie Taymor in 2007) and 10 Things I Hate About You (dir. by Gil Junger in 1999). These two movies are absolutely iconic to me, and in truth I think I based my taste for movies off of them. I want my film to have the effortless humor and emotion present in 10 Things I Hate About You, but also the effortless chemistry and more intense romance evident in Across the Universe.
     Here are some of my favorite scenes from both:
10 Things I Hate About You - I Love You Baby
10 Things I Hate About You - Whoops!
10 Things I Hate About You - Bookstore
Across the Universe - All My Loving
Across the Universe - If I Fell
Across the Universe - Something
Across the Universe - I've Seen a Face

     In my oh so humble opinion, these are the best scenes of the film. They have become total classics, and when I'm watching them I cannot help but smile ear-to-ear. I am a sucker for lovey-dovey songs/gestures, and that's basically what these scenes are. 


Sources for information on movies, i.e directors and years:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Things_I_Hate_About_You https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Across_the_Universe_(film)

A Little Introduction

     I've decided to make my film a drama film, called Flying Colors. I want to tell the story of a girl who came from a broken family; an absentee father who placed upon her the burden of taking care of her siblings. She channels her talent for painting into a career and, despite all setbacks, surpasses her greatest expectations (hence the title: a pun on "passing with flying colors" and being a painter). There will be no romanticizing of sadness or pain in relationships or as individuals, as is common of films I have seen in this genre. The truth is that pain is necessary for growth, but it shouldn't be glorified as it is so often. I want to tell the story of what it's like to be a young artist: full of self-doubt, but so so so full of self-growth; moreover, I want to tell the story of what it's like to have to fiend for yourself and your siblings while having your own dreams. I want to inspire.