Thursday, September 2, 2010

Goals... and stuff.


As a filmmaker, I have made several improvements in the last couple of years, however, I have many goals that I have yet to reach yet. In the next few moments, I will be discussing my goals as a filmmaker, and in light of what I want to learn, my goals for this course.
My first goal as a filmmaker is to become a proficient storyteller. I aim to use light and digital media to paint a vivid picture of a moment in time. I believe that in the last year, I have learned a great deal about the importance of story in film, and I hope that through shooting my film for this class, I will be able to learn even more. I also hope to become better with composition and lighting as they apply to the story.
Another goal I aim to accomplish as a filmmaker is to develop lasting relationships with other filmmakers. As a result, my goal for this course is to use my films as a platform for building relationships that in turn cultivate lasting friendships. This past summer, while working on a documentary for the large portion of the break, I was able to develop lasting friendships with my entire crew that will open many doors in the future. I think that one of the great things about a career in the film industry is the opportunity to use relationships to gather resources to achieve a common goal.
These are just a couple of the goals I have as a filmmaker, and they are also goals I would like to achieve in this class. While they are long-term goals, I hope to increase in skill and grow as a person through this class in film. In conclusion, I have learned a lot as a filmmaker in a short period of time, but after this class, I feel that I will have learned even more.

By clayton with No comments

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Visual Style

Though I have yet to develop a concrete visual style, I have determined a concrete aesthetic that I will likely strive to achieve in the future. When I watch films, one of the first things I notice is the production design. For as long as I can remember, I have been analyzing film for bad production design and continuity breaks. That being said, I love films that allow the background to have a role in establishing the tone and feel of the story. Specific films that exemplify the style I most admire include "The Royal Tenenbaums", "The Darjeeling Limited", "Hot Fuzz", "Reservoir Dogs", "500 Days of Summer", and "Pulp Fiction". The short film, "Hotel Chevalier" best displays the production design I will aim for as the color palettes of the characters and the setting never clash. When Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman's characters are "catching up" in the hotel room, they are both wearing muted gray and black colors, while the room is a bright, crisp yellow. When they step out onto the balcony over Paris, Natalie Portman's character is wearing the yellow robe that matches the interior of the hotel, allowing the neutral palette of the Paris evening to set the tone of the scene. Being fond of Wes Anderson's films, I have re-watched several just to observe the color palette and production design. In addition to color palette and production design choices, I am also captivated by technically-sound shot composition. I enjoy interesting shot angles and movement as well, though I have an affinity for well-composed shots. My favorite example of this is the "Green Line Bus" scene from "The Royal Tenenbaums."  These are just some of my favorite examples of the visual style I aim to create in my films. 





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Thursday, August 19, 2010

The List



1. I enjoy traveling. This summer,  I was fortunate enough to attend the Cannes Film Festival as a student filmmaker, work in production on a feature-length documentary that shot in New York, Los Angeles, Alabama, South Carolina, and the Ukraine, and work on an independent feature in Los Angeles. My love for film is closely seconded by my love for travel.


2. Sunsets are my thing. I like to photograph them. They so pretty.


3. One of my favorite films is High Fidelity.


4. I love Beirut, the artist, not the alternate name for beer pong.


5. I also love beer pong.


6. Lighting things on fire compels me.


7. I love the great outdoors. I think people sit inside too much.


8. I am a conversationalist. I enjoy talking, but listening can be one of the most interesting activities.

9. I am a sucker for gadgets. Uncrate.com is one of my guilty pleasures. 

10. Stand up comedy makes me smile. And laugh. And laugh. Louie C.K. is funny to me.


By clayton with No comments