Post 7: The Calm Before Another Storm

I have completed the first draft of my script. I know that I will need to do some editing before I can say I'm happy with it, but it is still a huge relief. Hopefully I will be able to move into the actual production of the thing soon. I was getting worried but now I feel a whole lot better. After Ms. Boeser reads and comments, I'll show it to some other people and get some more feedback. I want this to appeal to as many people as possible. I did get a little less thorough with the last few pages, but that is something for the edits. Anyway, I am going to take a moment to breathe before diving back in.

Post 6: My Failure to Do

I definitely blanked on the whole camera practice thing that I said I would do. I still need to do this before shooting, but I definitely am putting finishing the script as top priority. I think that the best time to do this would probably be between finishing the script and shooting it. I still need to find out what effects I will need, what camera I will use, where to shoot these all.

On a different note:

When I began writing this, I sort of spaced on the fact that this would have to be shot in mid-March. I find that a little upsetting because I have several scenes in the woods, which could be difficult to find warm and dry enough in the Minnesota weather. Oh well, I can hope and pray. Oh, weather gods! Have mercy upon the soul of my movie.

Post 5: Under the Gun

I'm starting to get a bit worried about how soon I will be able to finish this script and move into shooting the movie. It's kind of tough to figure out how the heck to pull it all together and make it worthwhile. Once I can get this script done, I will be relieved because shooting should be able to be done in a few days, and after that I can get to editing, which shouldn't be too stressful, though it will still be enough to make me worry a bit. Oh well. It's all part of the process. I'm also a bit worried finding someone that can draw these comics. I guess I've sort of dropped the ball on that one. I'll have to get working on that again. Crap. On a better note, I think I may have figured out the two actors I would like to have in the movie that I was unsure about before. Granted, I still need to ask them, but oh just let me be happy. Right on. Be free.

Post 4: The Snags of Writing a Screenplay

No matter how well the image is branded into your mind, writing the script will always be difficult. The real challenge behind writing a screenplay is how to make your characters seem human, rather than written. Of course, a lot of this is on the actor to portray the character in a human way, but if it is not written in a way that seems natural, the actor can only do so much. And that is not much. So where I'm running into problems is I need to make a natural feel to my dialogue while also going moving the plot along. If something neither entertains you, nor progresses the plot, it's just filler. I want to avoid filler, but that is much, much harder than it seems. And this rule applies to more than just dialogue. I need to find a way to show the growing friendship of the boys before I introduce Izzy. Then I have to show THAT friendship growing, and then I need the conflict of Evan's problems, and then I need to have a reconciliation. Then Evan can die, and the rest can learn something, and the movie can end. This is a bit overwhelming. All right. I just need to keep the main points in mind. Fingers crossed.

Post 3: Textbook, eh?

Miss Boeser gave me a book called Exploring Digital Video by Lisa Rysinger. Boeser did not really know how effective this book would be, so I guess it's up for me to discover its use. It looks like it will be somewhat helpful, but I think the biggest thing is experience. Sometime soon I will need to get a camera and practice with the filming techniques and I will need to practice with it in Final Cut. I will plan out which shots I am going to try and and do, but first I will need to get some of the equipment. I'll need a camera, tripod, lights, possibly some filters if I can get my hands on them, a workspace and a subject. I'll work on that.

Post 2: A Stroke of Genius

The main thing I was unsure of about my plot was why would Evan kill himself? He seems to be a very positive kid that can look at the world and turn it into art. This bothered me a lot. But why does he have to commit suicide? Wouldn't it make much more sense to die of a disease? Yes. Yes it would. So that is my official change right now. Even does not commit suicide, but dies of a fatal disease.

The First Day: An Explanation of My Independent Study

The whole reason I wanted to do this IS is because I want to dabble a bit in creating movies. The plan is to write, film, and edit my own movie. It is called "The Pretenders." It revolves around three friends who come together on the night of their other friend's suicide. He leaves them a book of comics he made that narrates the relationship of the group. The characters will actually act out the events in the comics, even though the situations are often very ridiculous. The comic is named Izzy Bell and the Pretenders. The characters are Isabelle (Izzy,) Nate, John, and Evan (the departed.) I still have a lot to write so I will continue to do that for awhile. Then I will film it. Then I will edit it. That's the plan. Fingers crossed.