It would be unjust for me not to comment on my examination session and first official screening of my first short film “Isaac and Isha”. Although I can be a bit worrisome I am generally known for my confidence. After a year and a half of grueling work on my project Isaac and Isha, I was not confident. I was anxious, nervous, exhausted and sick to my stomach. My film was one of the last to screen and the agony of having to wait to watch it was painful. I had to contain myself from not walking out when I pressed play. I can honestly say I put nothing but time, love and patience into this piece of work. The problem is of couse when you finish your first work you look back and notice everything you could have done differently and better! When someone asked me what I would have done differently I have to honest the truth is everything…let me do it again please!

“Isaac and Isha”. If I had known when I started the task what I know now I am not sure I would have continued. I have been involved in every element of the creative and non-creative process. I feel like I have given birth to the piece. But, I also know there is a point at which you must let it go and let it make its way out into the world. It needs to be allowed to fly and have an opportunity o send its message off to others. It’s my bitter pill coated in layers of chocolate.

Now for a short discussion on the collaborative piece. I worked with the indie band Yidcore to produce their music video “ for If I Were A Rich Man”. Well I am pleased with what we have put together. I certainly do not think it is about to win any awards but it is what the band wanted! It is silly and funny so it should appeal to the right demographic. I think it will hit its intended target audience. Furthermore, I enjoyed creating a piece that was not about my taste but about the taste of others. I know if the band is happy their fans, many of whom are in it, will also be very happy. I was not nervous to show this piece because it has not taken me nearly the same amount of time or energy to create.

So What Are My Ambitions:
To Produce big budget high intensity films. I would like to have a career, which allows me to constantly encounter new challenges and experiences. I want to work on projects that force me out of my comfort zone to discover new ideas and compel me to research subjects, and aspects of life, I know nothing about. I want to look back on my life and know that I took every opportunity to live a life less ordinary. Such a life can only be lived making films!

Wish Me LUCK!!!

I must place a warning at this point. Although it is not a film that would classically be considered interactive, no need to SMS your answer at any point, it does require a great deal of audience participation. Not since “Memento” starring Guy Pierce have I been so intrigued by a film. The difference is that I felt Memento had very real and clear answers where as I believe the analysis of Hidden is less obvious and more open to interpretation.

The film begins with an opening shot of a typical middle class area, focused on a particular house. The opening credits role through slowly and seem to be more intriguing than anything else happening in the scene. Suddenly lines appear, and voices start speaking over the image. We soon realise that we have been whatching a video tape along with the two characters. The couple found the tape outside their door and are whatching it. The tape appears to be a surveliance of their home. They are not able to make much sense of the tape, nor are we. This is the first of sevral tapes sent to the home by an anonymous stalker, some of the tapes are also accomponied by scary child like drawings.

At first glance we are led to beleive this is a suspense film, a film belonging to the “who dun it” genre. This would be a mistake, a possible trap set by the film maker to weed out those who consideres “not on the same level”. There is almost a beaguie attitude to his film making. He wants you to understand that films are about thinking and possibly shedding light on world circumstances.

As the film progresses we realise the question of “who dun it” is insignificant. What is importnat is the character study and the apparent break down of the family unit in the film. Many questions arise with few concreat answerws. There is a brief scene where Anne seeks comfort from her friend and boss. She confides in him at a coffee table and he embraces her. That is all we see. However, her son then accuses her of having an affair. Are they? More questions arise.

Gearges is the centreal character, and through his interaction with child hood demons, issues of racisim and political conduct we are forced to really look into his character and actions. Are we guility of some similar transgressions in our own lives.

My only problem with the film was the marketing. The poster tells you that all is revealed in the final scene. A big hoo haa is made about the last scene and looking to the left side of the screen( I was actually sitting far right in the cinema and missed it). My point however is, that the marketers are trying to indicate there is an answer, they are trying to say it is a “who dun it” film. Whether you see the magic in the last scene or not does not change the story one tiny bit!!!!

When a person says the reason they love the entertainment industry is because they want to be a storyteller, I think, how clichéd! It is such a stock answer I wonder if they even know what they are truly saying. Narrator, teller of tales, recounter, is this what they mean? If this is their best answer I think they have chosen the wrong profession.

I don’t want to be a storyteller; I want to be a story maker, conceiver, and initiator. I want to make a point about politics, culture or religion in a manner that makes people want to know and feel. “Hotel Rwanda” was not simply told by a recanouter. Hotel Rwanda shamed everyone one of us for actions that still continue to this day. Tsotsi exposed the reality of the new non-segregated South Africa. Hidden commented on France and its racist under-tones. Moulin Rouge reminded us that film and theatre are not such distant cousins. Are the people who made these films storytellers, or commentators with opinions and views? Do they love just telling stories or do they love the craft. A craft, which entails contracts, deal structures, negotiations, construction, art etc. Furthermore, in every production there are so many people involved. I doubt if you asked a color grader why they enjoyed the entertainment industry they would say because of story telling.

Why do I love the entertainment industry? My love for the entertainment industry has evolved through out my life. I decided I wanted to be involved when I was seven years old and performed in my first school production to an audience of about a 1000 people, As I wondered down he school steps I knew I had found my calling. At that point I thought I wanted to be an actress. I loved the bright lights in my eyes and the immediate audience feedback. I worked on my craft for years. I would perform for anyone willing to sit for a few minutes. When I was ten I performed in my first professional play at the central theatre in New Zealand. Many of the actors I worked with have gone on to star in international films such as “Narnia”. When I was younger I was always tall for my age, which made me an excellent sport competitor. However, I stopped growing when I was very young so I turned all my attention to the performing arts.

Early on I realized that theatre was not as exciting as film. I loved films! When I was twelve I was obsessed with Sigourney Weaver, in my eyes the first women to truly kick butt. I wanted to be her fighting the aliens. I loved science-fiction films and games. Then I discovered Shakespeare at 14 and my life’s ambition became the desire to play Juliet. When Baz Luhrman made Romeo and Juliet I was devastated, Clair Danes was too typical. Juliet had so much more to offer than the mediocre performance she gave.

When I was 15 I directed my first play. An adaptation of “Everyman”. I instinctively knew what to do. Despite my age I directed the year eleven and twelve students to victory. Pip Mushin gave me the award for Best Production. The following year I directed a socio-political play “No Worries Mate”. Sadly we only won runner up as the play was apparently more suited to University than High School. I had a terrible drama teacher in year twelve and decided to follow a new path after high school….LAW!!! Yes, I went to law school. I lasted two and a bit years before deciding this was not a path I wished to pursue.

A month after my 22nd birthday I flew to LA, or la la land. I worked for one of the top event coordinators planning Oscar parties, celebrity weddings, movie permits. I met all the top players in town but was always over shadowed by the likes of Gwenth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston. I lived in the States for five and a half years. My life there was not easy, and my youth was dragged out of me. But, those are many other stories. At some point I realized I needed to get back in the game.

I wanted to create productions. I knew everything there was to know about the entertainment industry, and nothing about politics. Due to unforeseen circumstances far beyond my control I found myself in Australia….again. Then I found myself in a master’s degree for Media Production. I don’t know if I found it or it found me. I was confused searching for my way back to sanity. So, as you can see I don’t want to be a storyteller. I want to be a person who embraces every moment of life. I want to meet as many people as possible and experience things others would only dream of. Although I feel fear I have never allowed it to be an obstacle. Movies to me are fun, challenging, intellectual and stimulating. The people I meet are different, exciting and weird.

I did not choose to tell a story, but rather I have chosen to be a part of one.

Gosh, those are two of the most overwhelming loaded questions I have been asked in a very long time! Let me start by answering the easier of the two. What I have learnt during this course. I think often we are actually learning by doing, we are not aware of the learning that is taking place. I came into this course having worked in the entertainment industry, but not in the positions I would have liked. I felt I had an understanding of how things work but had not been given the right opportunity. I produced and directed a short bollywood style extravaganza musical. The first part of the process was creating the script and musical material. Working with a lyrics man and musical arranger I ended up with something I was excited about. The script underwent at least 15-20 re-writes. I was constantly changing it, and fixing it and re-writing. Some of the re-writing occurred due to location changes, or lack of finances. However, it continued to evolve on a regular basis. So, I learnt how to create a script, and tell a story. The feedback I received was very positive, and I gained confidence in an area where I had none.

Choosing the actors and singers proved to be a very difficult endeavor. Finding people who could sing, act, and dance! I had to actively pursue people to have them perform. My original choice for the lead role decided he would rather perform in a little play. Oh, well I have to believe it happened for a reason. During the rehearsal process I was very nervous to tell people who had so much more experience than me musically what to do…. so instead I encouraged them. I encouraged them to make the music their own, to play with different sounds and harmonies and rises and falls. Okay, so maybe I did a little directing!

It was an original score so everything had to be pre-recorded in a sound studio before the production began. Sound studios actually scared me. I had no idea what any of the buttons did or meant. Luckily I continued to surround myself with talented and patient people. Jesse Warnock was the music engineer and he pressed all the buttons and cleaned up everyone’s voices. However, I sat and watched, and watched and learnt and learnt. When Jesse could not come to two sessions I recorded the artists. In fact I recorded the very first song one hears in my film. I am no longer afraid of sound studios.

My next task was to assemble a crew. I was hoping to work with Gary Ravenscroft the DOP from “One Perfect Day” who had become a friend of mine however he received a much better paying offer in LA (I can not blame him). He suggested I call Jacob Simkin who was doing all the Pete Murray music videos. He turned out to be fabulous. I also asked my friend Dechantel Green to first AD. She was great because she kept me sane and happy when people were rude or bitchy. The rest of the crew kind of fell together. My next learning curve was learning what all the technical equipment was for and what the differences where. I did not have a clue about anything technical and now I can pretty much use anything and know what is required and why.

I also realized that although I enjoy directing I do not think it is my true calling. It seems like a small piece in my giant puzzle and I like to stay focused on every piece of the puzzle not just one. But, having said that I still think I did a good job. So I guess this fermented my desire to produce.

Next was postproduction. The editor I chose works on AVID so I had to learn something knew again!!! I have learnt how to multi-layer tracks and why. I have learnt how much color grading affects a piece and I have learnt what can be achieved and not in postproduction. I also have incorporated 3d animation, which I knew nothing about and special effects, which I also previously knew nothing about. Now I know what is possible, what factors affect these issues and how much work goes into simple special affects.

So the questions, which arises again is what have, I learnt? I have learnt how to produce a film from conceptualization to marketing. I have learnt how to involve the best people I have access to, and to encourage and harness their talents. Most importantly I have learnt how inspired I am by the industry and what it has to offer.

Ewan Burnett from Burberry entertainment highlighted briefly how when putting together an idea he secures distribution from the start. Lack of distribution is one of the primary issues many new film makers run into. So why is it that distribution is often so much of an afterthought?

Madman is a distribution company that deals specifically with Niche film markets. I have to admit when Wiegard mentioned this was “Madman’s” driving concept, I was not sold. For those of you, who know Madman and are reading this, please excuse my prior ignorance.

I could see clearly how dealing with Niche markets in the US would be a great idea. But, I did not think there would be enough movie goers in Australia and New Zealand to make this sort of business venture “down-under” viable. I was clearly wrong, because after the lecture I came home and did a little research into Madman and discovered they have an excellent turnover every year and are constantly expanding and keeping up with technological changes. This is not bad for a ten-year-old niche market company. What I also thought about is how the whole world is really made up of niche markets. Sure, we have our so-called blockbusters but what they really are, are big niche markets. We have the Jews, Italians, French, Asian, young, old….etc, all of whom compromise their own niche markets.

Upon further research I also discovered Madman was one of the first distribution companies to realize how DVD’s were going to revolutionize the entertainment industry. They not only taped into an unseen market but they also understood the concept of technological growth in the industry.

The film industry is not simply about producing good films. We are currently in a technological renaissance period for films. Technology is rapidly changing both the way we view films, interact with films and what films we choose to view.

Madman is an example of a company who had foresight into the industry and the possibility of change in the industry. I think part of the foresight producers and film makers now need is securing their marketing and distribution before a film is commenced.

I would also like to share some quotes that I took from the lecture that I found very enticing:

“ everyone has to be a sales person of some kind”

“Know who your market is?”, it is amazing how many film-makers have no idea about who their intended audience is.

“Never watch your film with buyers, they are all pretending not to be interested…even if they love it”

The End

1) Aim/Objective of piece.
2) Target Audience.
3) Strength and weakness of project (Kerrie advises outlining your weakness, and combating them before other people do, I think this is just good business management in any field)
4) Pitch
5) Multimedia platforms that might be used.
6) Evaluation, evaluate whether your efforts have been successful or not after the project is complete.

However, more than anything the one point that Kerrie kept coming back to was Photos, Photos, and Photos. She felt that photos where one of the greatest weapons used to publicize ones work. Photos are what get people interested and capture their attention to actually read an article. Furthermore, she felt that hero photos, which are staged photos, as opposed to still taken during performances where more powerful.

In article handed to us by an ABC publicist representative the first line reads “ the single most important element in ensuring your documentary receives maximum press coverage is the quality and strength of the stills you provide as part of the press kit”. So as one can see the point is stressed and re-stressed.

Our ABC representative Yasmin Kentera went on to highlight the consistency that should be used in one’s press kit. The style of the font should carry through as well as certain images which are being used to sell the idea. What I also liked that Yasmin said, and that as an event coordinator I have always used a lot of, is premiums. Premiums, associated objects to get peoples attention should when even possible be sent with the press kit.

Kentera then went on to discuss what she felt should be included and hightlighted in the press kit:

1) Awesome cover to get peoples attention.
2) Tag line.
3) Short and long synopsis.
4) Character breakdowns/character synopsis.
5) Possibly use some quates from the actors themselves.
6) Cast list
7) Information about the film maker.
8) Any other selling points from other cast or crew.

So as one can see, there really is no set formula except make sure you have great photos. More than anything a press kit is simply about identifying what you believe your main selling points in this particular project are and selling those!

Okay, so this brings me to my short film and what I believe my selling points are. Well I do believe I am on to a new genre or at least continuing to make layers on an already existent genre. I feel like I have really looked into Baz Luhrmans style but I have also looked into Bollywood style and how some people are trying to make this more accessible for everyone. My style tries to combine them both. And, lets not forget dance is currently the new craze! Every time you turn around there is a new dance show, so lets hope I am on to something. I do have high expectations.

In a new era of film making it is important to understand how to get projects off the ground. Producers are now looking to have work financed by multiple entities. Live and Become is a joint Israeli/French production. Furthermore, what I found interesting about this partnership is that France is well known for being an anti-Semitic country. Thus, it is interesting the Government would choose to co-finance a film about Judaism.

The Story is about “Shlomo”a Sudanese refugee. In a Sudanese refugee camp which is sheltering Ethiopians who have been displaced by civil war and famine in 1984, the Israeli secret service started a secret mission to airlift thousands of Falashas/Ethiopian Jews, to Israel. Shlomo and his mother are not Jewish but Shlomo’s mother convinces a Falasha woman whose own son died, to allow Shlomo to assume his identity. The story is about Shlomo’s internal struggle to live a lie, and how the so called Promised Land turns out to be rife with racism.

Although I loved the film and felt very close to its subject matter, I did feel that it was often too emotional. And, I did not like the end, clichéd!

However, as previously stated the partnership between Israel and France to create the film was what initially sparked my interest. I know I have already dealt with this topic briefly in my entry “Burberry Productions”, but now that I am aware of how many deal structure are associated with producing a work I am noticing this same structure in many productions. Even if one company gets a deal off the ground they involve so many other production houses and people. Of course the advantage is that the risk factor is reduced for all parties involved. However if a film is a success everyone is still able to make money.

For instance “Memoirs Of A Geisha” was financed by Spyglass, Sony, DreamWorks, Columbia and Amblin entertainment. Each entity takes credit for the film. However, if the film had not been successful none of the studios would have had to worry about to much of an economic loss. In this case they were all successful.