Thoughts for the day

Getting to the point where

We are starting to look at the smaller details.  Finding those little things that make you want to watch a film again because you missed all those things that we spend so much time thinking up.  It’s about getting those little things happening in the background, that make you laugh, things that are not so much about the story, just there to make you happy.  And for us, it’s a lot of fun, its one of those things that happens towards the end of the script process.  Which in itself means we are very close.

Laters,

Chalkster

It’s a New Year

And we are moving towards the end of the development stage of “No Balls”.  We have to submit out final script at the end of January and then we move into pre-production.  So we are breaking the script down again and looking for holes, the bits that make people say its a shit film.  Making sure all of the elements work.  The bigger the project gets the better the script has to be and the project is far bigger then we had dared to dream of just a short year ago.  As the director I now also have to start grouping together my thoughts and visual ideas for the film, in effect we have to make my imagination become real on screen.  So I’m going through all my magazines and choosing images today in conjunction with adding a few extra bits to scenes in the script.

Taking it Seriously

This is the second time in my life I’ve got this close to something that I really want, if not need.  It’s bigger then before and means more to me. Last time I was 21 and it was a fairly successful band.  I’ve actually wanted to make films for longer and more desperately then music.  I’m also not a very good musician but am far more skilled in film.  We got messed up around the time of a possible album for three fairly big reasons: It was scary, we were constantly wrecked and two members of my band slept with my now ex girlfriend. I shared a flat with the drummer up until we split up, whilst we never doubted his talent, we (because we were always drunk or stoned) did not realise that he was an alcoholic until much later.  He cant remember of biggest gig where out friends had to hold his drum kit up whilst he leaned hard on it, but managed to play.  It was a good gig, we had all had one pint together before the gig, he apparently far more.  I then had to carry his drum kit home as he left it, I don’t know where he went, but I was there to look after everything.  I went to see him play in the Victoria park in Newbury a few years ago.  He was just as drunk at 1pm.  He introduced himself to my now ex-girlfriend three times in an hour.  In a lot of ways it’s that mentality that made me leave Newbury and make Oxford my home.

So Monday Night

I’ve not had a drink this year, that was until Monday night.  I had a big pitch on Monday and we stayed out for a few drinks.  I lost yesterday because of recovery, and again realised that if I let myself fall into the trap of all those years ago, then this project would be in jeopardy.  So until this film is made I am going to stay away from the evil alcohol.  I can’t risk the biggest opportunity of my life for a social life.  From now til the end I’m staying focused and professional.  That in itself should not be too hard as our producers don’t drink anyway and its frowned on. It also means I get healthier and can enjoy the experience in full. 2011 is a massive year for me and those around me. Its a big project,its got huge possibility’s and we are making a film.

Next Week

I pick the producers up, I will be living, breathing and eating with them for the next eight months or so, I suspect we will get to know each other pretty damn well.  Excited?  You betcha.

Laters,

Chalky

Watching is Learning

One of the things we do when we have spare time is watch films that have elements of ours.  So this might be a sporting film, cross dressing film, romance, a bet… its a pretty tireless list.  Some of them are exceptional, there are films out there that are outstanding in every-way.  There are films that I would ever have watched which have stunned me and films that I hoped would be brilliant which have sorely disappointed.   Most of the really big fails have been in my opinion been just because people have an idea and just don’t develop it enough.  I see scenes acted out that have not been thought through, and I see no real rhythm to the stories.  A lot of the stories are to personal with ideas that may seam really good to the writer/director but don’t work.  It’s slightly frightening, that we have to get this right.  I watch something and can tell why is does not work, will that be the case with my own work.  Will I be one of those directors that is shuttered from making a brilliant film?  I think not.  The next few months I’ll be making sure that the script is sharp and as good as it possibly can be, that we work through every scene long before it’s filmed.  I am so determined that this is going to be the bollocks.  And it can be.

40 Days and 40 Nights 

Is such a good example of something that could have been utterly brilliant but misses by a frickin’ mile.

Laters,

ChalkStar