Things Fall Together

I thought it was fitting to post an update right about now since I'm baking cookies in preparation for the UCF Film Documentary screener...which includes "Things Fall Together". The film is done. I will probably end up tweaking a few things before I submit it to festivals, but the film is turned in and will be screened in roughly 12 hours. I'm nervous as I always am before I screen something, but I'm also really excited to see everyone's films as part of an audience.

To sum up Things Fall Together- It's not the film I was trying to make, but I'm happy with what came out of it. I learned a lot, had fun, and got a free tattoo. And I still have a film at the end of it all. Thanks again to everyone who helped make this film happen.

still editing

It's coming along. I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm happy with where it's going. I got some good feedback from a friend tonight (Lily, you're awesome), and if all goes according to plan (which it rarely does), I'll be test screening the film at Natura Coffee & Tea on Monday along with a few other short films. If that doesn't work out, I'm going to screen it at home for a few people. My class has been great giving me advice along the way, but I'd like to get feedback from people who aren't familiar with all of the incarnations of this film.

If you'd like to see what I have so far, here's a REALLY compressed version of cut #5 (still really rough) on vimeo. You can leave your comments either on vimeo or here.

Also, I'm changing the title. A while back I realized the Nike reference, and I don't like the current title anymore. I may post a poll & let people vote later.

update on Poetically Just Us: Following the Dustracks: It's going well. We're way behind schedule, but I feel like it's actually going somewhere now. I'm not the only one putting in time and effort on this project anymore. I'm loving it. I've got a meeting tomorrow afternoon at Expo to show the two people who taught the class/directed/produced the film the progress we've made. Which considering the film should have been done months ago, isn't much. But I should have a rough cut by the time we meet tomorrow. I'm excited. This film is finally coming together. And I've recently become completely nocturnal, so the fact that it's midnight & I've got a ton of work to do is fine. My "normal" sleeping hours are now between the hours of 5am and noon/1pm.

Editing

It's 2am, I'm editing, and I realized I haven't updated in a while...

I'm not really sure what to say about the direction of the film right now. It's changed. Again. What else is new? I really shouldn't be surprised. Throughout this film, I've had trouble finding firm ground. It's gotten harder now that I'm cutting, and I can't ignore the holes any longer. It's coming together though. It's different, but it's something.

In short, the film is now about me getting my tattoo. I feel like there is more to it than that, but until I'm done cutting, or at least quite a bit farther along, I don't think I'll be able to tell you what more there is to it.

Things I've learned/been reminded of these past few weeks:

I've still got a lot to learn. God is in control. Sometimes you've got to just deal with it (whatever "it" may be). Film isn't the most important thing in the world. Lamentations 3:21-23 is really good to remember.

Tomorrow

Today has been mostly a prep for tomorrow. Which if we get philosophical, most todays are prep for tomorrow... but that's not where I'm going with this. Tomorrow I'll be shooting at Orlando Tattoo again, and if all goes well, it will be my last shoot over there, and my second to last shoot for this film. It's a big shoot, and I spent most of today getting ready for it. Later tonight I'll be talking with my crew again, confirming last minute details. Earlier today I picked up the equipment. I went over the footage that I've already shot, and spent some time editing. I've got an ending. I'm sure it will change by the time I turn in my cut on March 4th, but it's a draft, and right now I like it.

Tomorrow I'll be talking with Johnny more about what led him to start Orlando Tattoo Company, and what it's been like running his own shop. I'll also be getting my tattoo, which is why I'm slightly nervous about tomorrow's shoot. Not because of the tattoo itself, but because what we shoot tomorrow will be a big part of my film, and I can't be there to look through the lens. I'm trusting Lindsay and Noah to get what I want/need. They both know what they're doing, so I'm not really worried, but it drives me crazy knowing that I'll just be along for the ride...I guess I'm a bit of a control freak.

In other news...I'm going to expand this blog to include all films I'm working on. I realized (again) while I was editing that I need to follow Johnny's advice..."if you want to do something, just do it." I think this statement has limits (you know, moral guidelines, etc. should be followed), but in general, it's good advice. I'd get a lot more done if I didn't wait around for other people to push me along.

I started working on this film when I wasn't sure if I really wanted to stay in film school. I kinda burned out last semester. Now that I know I want to stay in film school, I feel like it is fitting to expand Just Do It (the blog, not the film) to cover tracking my journey through filmmaking in general. So here we go.

Highlights this week:

* Gabbii got a tattoo, and we got it on tape. Pictures to come soon.

* Johnny & Co. do more than watch YouTube videos :) I knew they did, but I hadn't been able to shoot when they were busy.

* I started this blog.