Inspiration Constipation

The remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street". I saw it this evening. I haven't seen the original so I can't compare, but this movie just wasn't very good. Things were either overly explained, or didn't make any sense.

But, I was inspired.

The idea of dreams and how they can influence our "awake" life was a very interesting idea to me. As I was leaving Rave Motion Pictures and walking through an empty Town Square I could hear the distant noises of bars and lounges. The dim lights of closed stores. The emptiness of it all. I thought, "Hey, I can come up with a script about this."


Then I realized I couldn't. Or maybe I didn't want to put the effort into it.

For me, writing is the hardest part of the film making process because there is nothing to build on. It's blank paper. I talk to friends who say they are working on a few scripts at the same time. I work so hard on one, I can't imagine writing more at the same time. When I don't focus on one project I write "ideas" of another (i.e. during my most recent short I thought of an idea of a sexy woman saving an old man as from a group of teenagers in a parking garage...trust me, you don't have to say anything) But those ideas are ones that I can't think of ways to develop, and henceforth, can't become a real story.

What my ideas consist of are, what I consider "cool" visuals (see above?). Then, I try to fool myself into thinking, "That will be enough". When I know it's not. If I wanted to shoot pieces for a reel then I would shoot those ideas and not a complete short. But I want story cohesion, an arc. You can't get that from what I got.

Even though I can't cover that white page with a story. Once one is written, I know how to enhance it, fix it, change it, so that it can become a movie. Or I know how to listen to those around me to enhance it, fix it, change it.

So while I want to film a character walking around a desolate Town Square at night and contrasting that with the same shot only during the day and surrounded by people, and then cutting between the two - it's not a short. I can ask a writer to develop that with me, but that alone cannot a film make. (Yoda!)

I questioned what I wanted to do in the industry for awhile. But I know I want to be a Producer. The person who can bring those people together that you know can make a script you love come to life, and be better than you ever imagined. Honestly, who's to say where I'll be in ten years from now, or even a year from now. But I have a goal. It's when I have these visual inspirations that influence my film making I realize that I can't do it alone.

And that is amazing.

(In reading this over, I realized how much this sounded like damn narrative letter for grad school. Not my intent.)

MUSIC

Thought I could start sharing some music that I find inspirational-slash-cool.


First up is a track from "Angels in America" by Thomas Newman. (No, I haven't seen the mini-series, sorry.) It features Newman's warm tones and almost mimics the waves that hit the namesake of the cue. Ironically, if I wrote more, I would always use Newman as inspiration.

Second is from the composer of the "Nightmare" remake, Steve Jablonsky. It's from Gears of War 2 VG, and I just want to kick ass when I hear this track. I love that the cue switches from a march to a battle, all within 4 minutes.

And finally for our dance/electronica peeps (sorry) we have a song that I have been listening to pretty much everyday this week. It's from P. Diddy's new project Dirty Money . I first heard the song when I saw the awful Hype Williams directed video. I thought it was cool enough, then I found this fantastic remix.

It's Wednesday. Enjoy.

- Devon

Bandwagons

I like hopping on bandwagons. So here I am. Writing in a blog. I actually have a blog associated with my site
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But I think I can keep this blog a little casual.

I won't be writing about comics, like my friend Andrea Walter.
Andrea's Blog

I won't be writing about camera's and film technology, like my friend Rob Sholty.
Rob's Blog

And, I won't be writing about Tony, like my friend...Tony.
Tony's Blog (I would imagine Tony writing about other things, but if you read his first post...I'm not sure.)

I actually don't know what I'll be writing about. But I have free time, so I figure I could fill it by writing my thoughts here, or cool things I find.


Here's a snapshot of me -

Just graduated with my BA in Film.
Just finished work as a Prop Master for a film exec produced by Roger Corman.
Just saw my first Monty Python film.
and Just woke up to the score to the film "Elektra" by Christophe Beck.

I will probably post more today. Let's see.

so. it's been awhile.

It's weird that I haven't been on here in almost a year. This time last year I still had my old '97 Honda Civic (it was stolen for the 2nd time last Nov. Bad karma, so I sold it.) And President Obama seemed a far second from President Clinton.

Anyways, nothing interesting in my brain as of now.

I'm supposed to be working on a paper for my BRITISH GANGSTER genre film class. It's getting rough to get to the end, but I need to finish it tonight. Because I have to write more tomorrow. Wah. Wah.

Saw Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. It was cute. Nothing amazing, but a nice little movie.

But I guess i really should get back to finishing my paper.

Stupid school.

I had to write a paper for piano today too.

Yes, my piano class. A paper.

Stupid School.

Beginning Blogger (sort of)

I've thought about having a blogger for awhile now. And since I seem to be on every other social networking/blog site (MySpace, Facebook, and the old school Xanga) I thought I would add one more to that list. Not quite sure what I'll do with this site yet, but for my first post I'll just repost a blog from my MySpace that I posted last week on my birthday (Aug. 30)

Thought it might be interesting if I share with you guys cool things that I have found/ like on the interweb.

--1 Celebrity Vlogs.

These are fun to watch. It's cool getting a window into people's lives.
The first is from singer Imogen Heap. For your veiwing pleasure I have included her first one.


The second is Ellen's Vlog. She is on her 8th vlog, but this is one of my favorites. It's her second one.




I think it's really cool for them to do this.

--2 The Nines

It is a film directed by write John August (Go, Bic Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). He has a screenwrting blog that answers screenwriters questions, but is also his personal blog. He has talked about this for a long time, only referring to it as "The Movie" until it played at Sundance. Unfortunetaly it is only playing in New York and L.A. I hope it expands here. It's supposed to be a very tripped out movie. With three story lines, and Ryan Reynolds playing 3 different characters. I bought a ticke for the L.A. screening, hoping m.. expansion. lol. It opens in those places tomorrow. Here is the trailer for the movie.



--3 Lighting Plane

A loop of a lightening bolt hitting a plane departing from Osaka. (for all you South Carolina USA contestants, that's in JAPAN)
Pretty freaky.

You can read the whole article at Gizmodo

--4 Apple Announcement.

On Sept. 5 Apple will have a new announcement regarding iPod/iTunes. This is a mock-up/ fan made of the new possible iPod.


I want it. Now. Hopefully this will somewhat close to what they announce.
Again from Gizmodo

--5 My Birthday.
I'm 20 today. Go Me.

--6 Last one.
News that finally the Transformers Score will be released. From what I heard in the movie it's mix between Batman Begins and The Island, but I am really looking forward to it.

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Well that's this week. Not sure if I am going to keep doing this, but I might for fun.

-Devon