Change of Address (kinda)

I'll be occasionally posting media on my tumblr page:

http://take58.tumblr.com/

The Next Thing

I recently signed on to direct an ultra-low budget crime drama called "Measure". Some old friends from film school (Chapman University) are producing and I'm flattered they thought of me. This will be my first time directing something that isn't my original idea, but I look forward to the challenge.

Much more on this to come.

south loop at College of DuPage

The Indie Film Group at College of DuPage is sponsoring a special screening of south loop at the McAninch Arts Center on Wednesday, March 30th at 7pm. The screening is a fundraiser for the group so please go see the movie and give what you can to some young filmmakers.

Great Minds

I can't stress the following point enough: when making a micro-budget movie, well, any movie really but this kind especially, you need to be surrounded by people of a like mind. The last thing you need going into a production is some member of your team thinking he is above the project. Eventually that turns into snide comments and a lack of focus you can't afford (literally and figuratively).

It's hard enough to get a movie made but it's doubly so when making one with a team member pulling in a different direction. It's worth the extra time finding someone who appreciates the common goal.

"south loop" on TribLocal

I think low angle photos make me look thinner.

"south loop" on DIY Film

Check it out

While I Have this Chance to Breathe...

Our effort to sell south loop has hit a point where we're a little less busy than usual, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to look back on a few things I might have done differently in the making of the movie.

First, I would have put together the self-distribution plan while in pre-production. I made a bunch of little mistakes that would have easily been avoided with some foresight: getting the right printer lined up, mastering the disc, designing the one-sheet, etc.

Second, I would have spent more time in pre-production working on the visual design. Don't get me wrong, I love the way the movie looks, but my DP (Kirk Johnson) and I both wish we had given ourselves more time to discover a coherent visual strategy.

Thirdly, and finally, I would have hired my entire post-production team in prep. In fact, we did try to do so but it just didn't work out that way. I would have tried harder.

In short, DO IT ALL IN PREP and the rest gets easier.