Skating Buffalo

Movie Music Monday: Drum Crazy

2012-03-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

Fred Astaire was amazing in Easter Parade (1948) and the song "Drum Crazy" was one of the tunes that showcased his remarkable talent. Man, can this guy dance!

The story takes place in the days of Vaudeville. Don (Fred Astaire) and Nadine (Ann Miller) are a famous dancing duo who specialize in elegant ballroom dancing. When Nadine leaves Don to pursue a solo career, Don enlists Hannah (Judy Garland), a chorus girl, to take Nadine's place. Hilarity ensues.

The movie features great songs by Irving Berling, including Easter Parade, Shaking the Blues Away,and Stepping Out with My Baby

Trivia: Gene Kelly was set to play the part of Don, but he twisted his ankle and Astaire took his place.

My Next Movie Project

2012-03-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

Pre-production is underway for my next movie project. I'm still polishingg the script, but I have the actors and crew on board.

The movie is called The Newsboy.

Here's the concept:
A newsboy from 1912 Cheyenne, Wyoming travels to the future (2012 Cheyenne) to sell his newspapers.

This will be a silent movie shot entirely outdoors. It will be in the style of the old silent movies in black and white (although the 1912 scenes will be in color). Music will be a Joplin-style ragtime piano tune. And of course title cards for some of the dialog.

The city of Cheyenne is a character in the movie. Since this film is for the Wyoming Short Film contest, one of the requirements is that it be shot in Wyoming or feature Wyoming in some way.

The newsboy travels from Cheyenne 1912 to Cheyenne 2012. As he sells his newspapers to everyone he meets, he enjoys the modern amenities of the future such as a cell phone, video game, computer, riding in a modern car, eating pizza, etc. I will shoot scenes of the newsboy in downtown Cheyenne's most well-known and historic sights: The Capitol, The Atlas Theatre, Depot Plaza, Plains Hotel, etc.

The portal that takes him to the future is a Wyoming state quarter which he gets from a mysterious stranger in 1912.

We shoot on March 17, and I'm hoping to get everything shot in one day. The problem with Wyoming in March is the weather. One day could be sunny and warm in the 50s, the next there could be a blizzard that dumps three feet of snow.

Stay tuned...

Movie Music Monday: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2012-02-27T16:43:00.001-08:00

I don't know why, but back in the 60s the opening credits for movies were amazing! I love the combination of music, art and storytelling captured in those magical two minutes before the movie starts. The theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) will always be linked to Clint Eastwood. Here's to the Spaghetti Western!

YouTube won't let me embed the video but CLICK HERE to see the coolest opening credits EVER!

Eureka!

2012-02-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm sitting in my living room watching the Academy Awards and all of a sudden I get a fantastic, mind-blowing idea for a movie that I can enter in the Wyoming Short Film Contest.

I can hardly sit still, I am freaking OUT! I don't want to say anything about it now, but a seed is germinating in my brain and I can feel the creative juices flowing.

I'd just about given up on making a movie for the contest. I didn't have the energy and no idea what to do. I was still recovering from last fall when I made three films back to back and just about killed myself.

So here I am writing a synopsis and planning my "to do" list.

To Be Continued...

Meg Ryan's Lips

2012-02-22T18:33:00.000-08:00

For the record, I'm a huge fan of Meg Ryan. She's pretty, funny and totally unique.I also appreciate her versatility as an actor. Romantic comedies seem natural for her but she rises to the challenge in dramatic roles as well.

However, there is the lip issue. It's obvious that she has had some kind of lip augmentation, which in my opinion, took away from her natural beauty. I suppose the term "natural beauty" and "Hollywood actress" is an oxymoron.

Let the evidence speak for itself.

BEFORE

AFTER

Kudos to the following actresses who have not succumbed to the pressure of plastic surgery:

JODI FOSTER

HELEN HUNT

JENNIFER ANISTON

DIANE KEATON

MERYL STREEP

CORRECTION: It has been pointed out to me that some or possibly all these ladies have had some form of plastic surgery. However, they all have thin lips which is the reason I wanted to share their photos. What's wrong with thin lips? Absolutely nothin'!

Movie Music Monday: Singing in the Rain

2012-02-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

If you know me at all, you know that I love movies from the Golden Age of the Hollywood Musical. Singing in the Rain (1952) is my favorite of all time. I first fell in love with Gene Kelly (and with dance) watching this movie. When I see him singing and dancing I can't help but smile with sheer delight! This movie has:

A great plot -- Set in 1927, Hollywood goes from silent pictures to talkies and the Big Silent Film Stars have to deal with their sad demise if they can't make the transformation. If you've seen The Artist (2011), it's the same story.

Terrific cast -- Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen.

Humor --
            DON: Cosmo, call me a cab.
            COSMO: Okay, you're a cab.

Memorable songs --
           Make 'Em Laugh (Donald O'Connor said he ended up in the hospital after this performance)
           Moses Supposes His Toeses Are Roses (Gene and Donald tap dancing with such props as a curtain, chairs, table top and a Voice Instructor)
           Good Mornin' (Gene, Donald and Debbie tap around Lockwood's Hollywood mansion)
           All I Do is Dream of You (Debbie jumps out of a cake and sings with chorus girls at a Hollywood party)

And of course, the classic performance of Singing in the Rain by Gene Kelly:

Movie Music Monday: Lilies of the Field

2012-02-13T05:01:00.000-08:00

Sidney Poitier totally ROCKED the 1960s!

A Patch of Blue (1965) -- a black man befriends a blind white girl who comes from a troubled family.

To Sir, with Love (1967) -- an American engineer takes a job teaching at a high school in the slums of London.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967) -- a liberal, open-minded white couple (Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy) discover that their daughter's fiance is black.

Lilies of the Field (1963) -- an unemployed construction worker builds a chapel for a group of foreign nuns. In the final scene Homer teaches the nuns a song called "Amen." An inspirational movie with themes of faith, kindness and courage.

2012 Academy Awards Nominees for Best Picture

2012-02-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

If you've been stranded on that deserted island for the past few weeks, you may have missed the big announcement for the 2012 nominees for the Academy Awards. Check it out:

The Artist (Black and white silent movie -- totally out of the box amazing!)

The Descendants (George Clooney family flick)

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Tom Hanks tear jerker)

The Help (Penetrating story of racism among black housekeepers in the 1960s south)

Hugo (Scorsese's foray into 3D)

Midnight in Paris (Time travel to 1920s Paris)

Moneyball (True story of Billy Beane and the Oakland A's winning season)

The Tree of Life (Brad Pitt family drama)

War Horse (Spielberg's serious contender)

I've only seen four of the nominees (The Artist, The Help, Midnight in Paris and Moneyball). All are excellent and deserve their place in the line up. Of the four, I'm rooting for Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen is BACK with a VENGEANCE!)

I can't really make an informed decision base on movie trailers, but The Tree of Life looks AMAZING!

So have you seen any of the nominated films? If so, which is your favorite?

Your Desert Island Top Four

2012-02-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

So you're stranded on a desert island and you have only four movies in your arsenal. What are your choices?

1) Jaws -- the greatest Spielberg flick of all time. "Why don't we have one more drink and go down and cut that shark open?"

2) Psycho -- my all-time favorite Hitchcock movie. "A boy's best friend is his mother."

3) Annie Hall -- the ultimate must-have Woody Allen. "What's with all these awards? They're always giving out awards. Best Fascist Dictator: Adolf Hitler."

4) Gladiator -- I won't be trapped on a desert island without Russell Crowe. Period.

I suppose if I were really stranded on a deserted island I would have time to memorize the movie scripts and perform the various scenes to entertain myself. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

BONUS: Choose a TV series:

"I Love Lucy" (of course)

Movie Music Monday: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Blue grass came back in style when this movie hit the big time. All the songs on the soundtrack are fabulous. Sit back and enjoy!

The Bumpy Night Scene

2012-02-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite Bette Davis films, All About Eve (1950) is a glorious Bette Davis showcase! They don't make movies like this anymore.

Story in a nutshell: Margo Channing (Bette Davis) is a popular stage actress but is getting on in age. Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) is a young, wide-eyed fan who wants to become an actress. Margo takes Eve under her wing as her assistant. Everything is going along pretty well until Eve's ego starts to take over and she begins to sabotage Margo. It's definitely All About Eve.

Wonderful script by Joseph L. Mankiewicz:

MARGO: Bill's thirty-two. He looks thirty-two. He looked it five years ago, he'll look it twenty years from now. I hate men.

This clip shows the famous "bumpy night" scene and the lovely Marilyn Monroe:

Batter Up!

2012-01-30T06:31:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to seeing Moneyball. WOW! Definitely Oscar worthy.

Brad Pitt has not been one of my favorite actors, but with this performance I'm gonna have to change my mind. I guess he IS an actor after all. I'm truly impressed.

What I like about this movie:

The skillful adaptation; the movie is based on true events yet creates drama and suspense. The concept of creating a winning ball team based on statistics alone. WOW!

The relationship between Billy and his daughter. Her singing and playing the guitar not only developed the characters but was a lovely interlude that brought balance to the testosterone-heavy scenes.

Amazing performance by Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour-Hoffman and Jonah Hill.

Favorite Quotes:

BILLY BEANE: There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us.

And this one:

BILLY BEANE: Would you rather get one shot in the head or five in the chest and bleed to death.

So now I'm thinking of my favorite baseball movies:

Field of Dreams
Bad News Bears
The Natural
Angels in the Outfield
Fever Pitch
The Babe
The Sandlot

And let's not forget the Seinfeld episode with Keith Hernandez and the JFK movie parody:

NEWMAN: June 14, 1987.... Mets Phillies. We're enjoying a beautiful afternoon
in the right field stands when a crucial Hernandez error to a five run Phillies
ninth. Cost the Mets the game.

KRAMER: Our day was ruined. There was a lot of people, you know, they were
waiting by the player's parking lot. Now we're coming down the ramp ... Newman was in front of me. Keith
was coming toward us, as he passes Newman turns and says, " Nice game pretty
boy.". Keith continued past us up the ramp.

NEWMAN: A second later, something happened that changed us in a deep and
profound way front that day forward.

ELAINE: What was it?

KRAMER: He spit on us.... and I screamed out, "I'm hit!"

NEWMAN: Then I turned and the spit ricochet of him and it hit me.

ELAINE: Wow! What a story.

JERRY: Unfortunately the immutable laws of physics contradict the whole premise
of your account. Allow me to reconstruct this if I may for Miss Benes as
I've heard this story a number of times.

JERRY: Newman, Kramer, if you'll indulge me. According to your story Keith
passes you and starts walking up the ramp then you say you were struck on
the right temple. The spit then proceeds to ricochet off the temple
striking Newman between the third and forth rib. The spit then cam off
the rib turned and hit Newman in the right wrist causing him to drop his
baseball cap. The spit then splashed off the wrist, Pauses In mid air
mind you- makes a left turn and lands on Newman's left thigh. That is one
magic luggie.

NEWMAN: Well that's the way it happened.

JERRY: What happened to your head when you got hit?

KRAMER: Well. uh, well my head went back and to the left

JERRY: Again

KRAMER: Back and to the left

JERRY: Back and to the left Back and to the left

ELAINE: So, what are you saying?

JERRY: I am saying that the spit could not have come from behind ... that there had to have been
a second spitter behind the bushes on the gravelly road. If the spitter was behind you as you claimed
that would have caused your head to pitch forward.

ELAINE: So the spit could have only come from the front and to the right.

JERRY: But that is not what they would have you believe.

Funny Impressions

2012-01-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

I've always been impressed with people who do impressions. Back in the day it was Rich Little, Frank Gorshin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey, Jim Carrey. I never got tired of watching them...so funny!

When I was in high school, I would lock myself in my bedroom and do impersonations. I didn't have the nerve to do them in front of anyone. But I think I was pretty good. I did Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton, Jackee, Cher, Edith Bunker, Julie Andrews, Zsa Zsa Gabor and a bunch of cartoon voices. I also liked doing accents.

Anyway, here is a cute video of Melissa Villasenor. She reminds me of myself when I was young...but she has way more confidence than I did.

Kate & Leopold

2012-01-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

Kate & Leopold (2001) is a mind-blowing time travel flick that you'll never figure out in your wildest dreams.

STORY IN A NUTSHELL: Stuart (Liev Schreiber) discovers a portal in time and goes back to 1876. He unintentionally brings a Duke named Leopold (Hugh Jackman) back with him to the future. Hilarity ensues.

But you won't really understand how deep it goes unless you watch the Director's Cut on the DVD. Leopold is Stuart's great-great-grandfather. And Stuart's ex-girlfriend Kate (Meg Ryan) is his great-great-grandmother.

I've seen this movie at least half a dozen times over the years and I just discovered that Stuart's shrink, Dr. Geisler (Spalding Gray) was eating Grape Nuts cereal out of the box during his discussion with Stuart, whom everyone thinks is "NUTS" because of his wild story about a portal through time.

I also connected Kate's assistant, Darci (Natasha Lyonne) with Mr. Darcy from the novel, Pride and Prejudice, one of the most well-known romances in world literature. Darci is a hopeless romantic, opposite of Kate, who is a practical tomboy without a feminine bone in her body.

So why do I like this movie?

1) I LOVE time travel flicks and trying to figure everything out. It's an exciting puzzle.

2) The question of romance in the modern era. Are the old ways of courting still valid today? From watching this movie, the answer would be YES.

3) Leopold's adventurous spirit in experiencing the "future." As an inventor and nonconformist of his own time, he is not totally freaked out by modern day technology (toaster, TV, telephone, cars, etc.). He's inquisitive and open-minded.

4) The bizarre union of a modern, corporate-climbing New Yorker and a romantic, gentlemanly Duke of the 19th century.

Some of my favorite scenes:

Leopold gives Charlie (Breckin Meyer), Kate's brother, advice in courting a lady with great success. ("Women respond to sincerity. No-one wants to be romanced by a buffoon.")

Kate and Charlie sit up and take notice when Leopold describes dining in the 19th century after eating a meal of tater tots and microwave chicken fried steak. ("Where I come from the meal is the result of reflection and study. Menus are prepared in advance, timed to perfection. It is said that without the culinary arts, the crudeness of reality would be unbearable.")

This may not be your cup of tea, but it's definitely not your typical Boy Meets Girl romance.

Daniel Day-Lewis

2012-01-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

I realized a few years ago when I saw There Will Be Blood (2007), that Daniel Day-Lewis is the best actor in the world.

This is not an understatement. After watching him play Daniel Plainview, the greedy, evil oil prospector in There Will Be Blood, I had some catching up to do. I went back and watched My Left Foot (1989), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), In the Name of the Father (1993), Gangs of New York (2002).

I'm looking forward to his new film, Lincoln. Who better to play Honest Abe? From what I understand about Day-Lewis, is that he actually stays in character throughout the shoot, even to the point of having the stage crew wheel him around in a wheel chair when he played a paraplegic in My Left Foot. I wonder what eccentricities he might display on the set. Any ideas?

As for There Will Be Blood, his character was mesmerizing. Although Plainview was totally evil and had no remorse for the way he treated people, there was something about him that was sympathetic.

The film has so many wonderful scenes, it's hard to pick my favorite:

The baptism of Plainview. (Metaphorically speaking "baptism" is a theme in the movie --- baptism of water to save the soul, baptism of black oil shooting out of the ground and covering Daniel from head to toe, baptism of blood when Plainview kills).

The explosion of the oil well that causes his son's deafness.

The shore of the lake where he is talking to his "brother" and realizes the truth.

Plainview's office where his son, as an adult, comes to ask for help in starting his own oil company.

The confrontations between Plainview and Eli (Paul Dano). These scenes were so intense...well done by both actors.

As for the technical merits of the movie, the art direction and cinematography were beautiful. Especially breathtaking were the shots the burning oil well at dusk and into the night. This was a turning point in the movie and the director (Paul Thomas Anderson) built up the tension in this scene, both visually and through the actors.

The only draw back for me was the final scene at Plainview's home. The bowling alley was rather absurd and the "I drink your milkshake" line was bizarre, to say the least. I have no idea why this wonderful movie would have such a ridiculous finale. I wish I knew what the director was thinking.

Movie Music Monday: The Firm

2012-01-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this film when it opened in theatres in 1993 and was immediately gripped by the jazzy music. First of all, this is my favorite style of music. Second of all, I LOVE piano. Third of all, THIS MOVIE ROCKS!

The music gave this story an edge by building suspense, enhancing the storyline, and capturing the Memphis blues feel of the setting. In fact, all the songs on the track are amazing -- Memphis Stomp, M-O-N-E-Y (Lyle Lovett), Mud Island Chase. This was my first introduction to Dave Grusin, who just so happens to be the composer of a number of other film scores, including The Graduate, The Champ, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Goonies, Hope Floats.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T08:36:00.001-08:00

Here's wishing everyone a blessed New Year! I love new beginnings; wiping the slate clean and starting over. Hope and Great Expectations. I like the verse in the Bible that says, "forgetting what is behind and looking forward to what is ahead..." (Philippians 3:13).

Hubby and I spent New Year's eve hanging out watching TV. As a result, the last movie I watched in 2011 was The Karate Kid (Ralph Macchio version). It's one of our favorite films. Wax on, wax off; sand the floor, paint the fence, paint the house...

I chose this movie for the Letter K in the A to Z Blog Challenge.

MIYAGI: Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have a balance. Everything be better. Understand?

What was the last movie you watched in 2011?

Observations on Spielberg

2011-12-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

I am from the Spielberg generation, if you want to call it that. I graduated from high school the year Spielberg's career skyrocketed to fame and fortune with Jaws and his popularity hasn't let up one iota. (I love that word!)

As a fan and movie buff, I've noticed a few things about Mr. Spielberg over the years.

1) Likes kids as the main character -- E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), A. I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Super 8 (2011).

2) War is a Big Deal -- 1941 (1979), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Empire of the Sun (1987), Schindler's List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Eyes of the Holocaust (2000), Band of Brothers (2001), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), War Horse (2011).

3) He's a big Sci-Fi Guy -- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Poltergeist (1982), Back to the Future (1985), *batteries not included (1987), Men in Black (1997), War of the Worlds (2005), Cowboys and Aliens (2011).

4) Monster movies Spielberg style -- Duel (1971) Jaws (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), Twister (1996).

This is list is just a partial sampling of his prolific filmmography. What Spielberg flicks are your favorites?

Movie Music Monday: Psycho

2011-12-19T05:56:00.000-08:00

Bernard Herrmann's amazing score for Psycho is brilliant. In my book, it ranks as the best film music of all time. Like Jaws, it is clearly identified with this movie alone. I'm also impressed that the entire score features only strings!

"Coming Attractions"

2011-12-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

Here's my contest entry for the Database Security Video Smackdown. It's called "Coming Attractions" and is a movie trailer parody. Although we didn't win the contest, we had a blast making the commercial. Click here to see winner.
We were inspired by Hitchcock. North by Northwest is apparent in the theme of mistaken identity and we shot our version of the crop duster scene and the climbing Mt. Rushmore scene. We also included the names of Hitchcock characters: Rupert - from Rope, Thorwald - from Rear Window, Bruno - from Strangers on a Train, and Crane - from Psycho.

I couldn't help adding lines from Hitch's movies as well:

"A murderer would never parade his crime in front of an open window" (Rear Window)

"I admire people who do things. (Strangers on a Train)

The Trouble with Small Town Theatres

2011-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

So the nominations for the Golden Globes have been announced (The Artist, The Help, The Descendants, Moneyball and Midnight in Paris) and only one of the films ever made it to our theatre here in Cheyenne, Wyoming -- The Help.

That means I have to keep my fingers crossed that they might show up later. Or else I'm stuck watching them on DVD. As an avid movie-goer, I much prefer watching movies at the cinema. It's my thing.

Other films that I'm very interested in seeing but have not come to our theatres is 50/50 (a comedy about cancer diagnosis - not sure how that plays as a comedy) and My Week with Marilyn (gotta check out Michelle Williams "Marilyn" impersonation).

Nevertheless, small theatres have a lot going for them. Here in Cheyenne we have a 9-plex, a 12-plex and an historic downtown cinema with only one screen that plays current releases at later dates and offers a discount. The 12-plex is my favorite. It's a newer building with comfortable seating and fairly large theatres. Hubby and I always sit in the back row on the right hand side.

It's interesting to see the audience demographic for some of the movies. At "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" the place was packed, but "The Ides of March" was sparsely populated with older couples. Hubby and I fit right in.

As for the concessions, I always get a small unbuttered popcorn and small Pepsi. DELICIOUS!

Movie Music Monday: Jaws

2011-12-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

As fabulous as this movie is on every level, it would not be the same without John Williams' compelling score. Bravo! Dedicated to beginning cello students everywhere.

Movie Music Monday: Eye of the Tiger

2011-12-05T11:35:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist. I just had to create a special day of the week to pay tribute to the great movie music of all time. My first choice for Movie Music Mondays is "Eye of the Tiger" by the band Survivor. The song was written at the request of Sylvester Stallone to be the theme for Rocky III (1982).

This video introduces the movie in a dramatic montage that takes up where Rocky II left off. Without one word of dialog, we see Rocky defending his title, his leap from a poor, Philadelphia contender to fame and fortune as the Heavy Weight Champion of the World. We see his love for his wife and son. All his dreams have come true. Meanwhile, Clubber Lang is training hard, demanding to fight Rocky and gain the title. We also see a nervous Mickey who knows how tough Clubber is. This is how you use visuals alone to tell a story. And the music carries the punch. No pun intended.

What Inspires You?

2011-12-01T14:29:00.001-08:00

As a creative person, I get inspiration from everywhere. Books, movies, TV shows, food, clothes, magazines, children, nature, art, music, dance, theatre.

More specifically: ballet slippers, Frankstein's monster, Labrador puppies, lemons, note cards, graduation caps, tea kettles, witches, polar bears, wedding cakes, wild horses, Bach, lipstick, the Empire State Building, light houses, guitars, baseball bats, wine bottles, chili dogs, ice cubes, Rene Magritte, okay that's all for now but you get the idea.

Just keep your eyes open and you will see amazing things that will ignite a spark and turn into a sizzling fireball of brilliance. No, I am not over-reacting.

Which reminds me. The key is PASSION! If you don't feel passionate about your creation, you may as well give up. Passion will keep you going when your body and mind say "NO! I can't do this anymore!"

Definition of Passion: a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm or desire for something.

The opposite of passion is indifference and apathy.

Something to think about.

Back to the 1960s!

2011-11-28T11:34:00.001-08:00

Next project: Our drama troupe, the Sunnyside Players, is planning our annual Valentine's Day Dessert Theatre. The theme is the 1960s. This year, along with live comedy sketches, jokes, one-liners and songs, we are going to create a video parody of TV shows of the 1960s: Gilligan's Island, Star Trek, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Andy Griffith Show, etc. Our drama team will play the various characters in short funny scenes.

We also want to show video of 1960s TV commercials and an audience-participation performance of The Newlywed Game and The Dating Game.

I'll be writing the scripts (the theme is "Love" of course, for Valentine's Day) for the TV shows and we will be shooting the video over the next few weeks. That means I'll be writing, acting and shooting/editing video with a deadline of early February.

I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew?

Aliens in Wyoming

2011-11-25T18:46:00.001-08:00

Our annual staff meeting is November 30 and my supervisor asked me to help with the staff video. She knows I'm a "filmmaker" and since I won the Shootout Cheyenne 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival this year, she thought I wouldn't mind working on the project.

The video is about an Alien who wants to start a business in Wyoming. He goes through all the divisions of our agency for assistance. I call it "Close Encounters at the Wyoming Business Council." There are references to Star Wars, Star Trek, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Toy Story (Buzz Lightyear). The video will be shown at the staff meeting next week. I'm looking forward to seeing the audience reaction. We've never done a staff video like this before.

We will be serving Alien cookies as a movie treat during the premiere.

Late to the Twilight Party

2011-11-24T06:22:00.001-08:00

So what's been going on this week? Catching up with the Twilight movies. I'd never read the books or seen the films, but Twilight was on TV this week and I just happened to watch it. HOLY COW! This film is amazing. The beautiful cinematography knocked my socks off!

The camera angles, the art direction...stunning! The mysterious images of the vampire family with their pale skin and red lips was captivating. And of course, it's all about the story which is creative and imaginative. I had no idea this lovely work of art had been hovering around the universe and I didn't even notice.

Needless to say, I immediately watched the other two films in the series: New Moon and Eclipse. And yes, they were as spectacular as the first. Now I'm reading the books.

And this weekend you'll find me in the theatre watching the latest in the Twilight series: Breaking Dawn Part 1.

My Doritos Commercial

2011-11-11T05:15:00.001-08:00

My first ever commercial contest entry is finally finished! Check it out at Crash the Superbowl and click on the Gallery. Mine is called White Rabbit.

The hardest part was editing to make it fit in a 30-second time frame.

The little girl was played by my friend's daughter Cheyenne. The White Rabbit was played by my hubby Lewie.

The creepy building is an old historic building here in town. It's a filmmaker's dream.

Ides of March

2011-11-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Best movie I've seen in a long time. Beyond superb. Excellent on every level: Story, acting, cinematography...and a terrific screenplay by George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon (who wrote the play the film was based on "Farragut North").

I didn't think Hollywood could come up with a movie about politics that didn't have a hidden agenda, but somehow they pulled it off.

The theme of "Integrity in Politics" is not new, but The Ides of March (2011) tackles this subject beautifully. Director George Clooney capitalized on the amazing talents of his cast: Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti. I could see why these actors would jump at the chance to play these well-drawn characters.

This flick is jostling it's way to the top of my Favorite Movies of All Time list.

Halloween the Movie

2011-10-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm probably the only person in the Universe who hasn't seen the Halloween movies. But it just so happened that AMC featured a Halloween marathon on TV last week and I finally found out what all the fuss was about. I saw Halloween (1978), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). For some reason AMC didn't air Halloween II (1981).

This is what I've learned about Michael Myers:

He is indestructible. He is "Superman." He's been shot, stabbed, burned and run over by trucks. He's been in car crashes, fallen off buildings and electrocuted. He will not die!

I was relieved when Jamie Lee Curtis finally put an end to his rampage of terror by lopping off his head with an axe in Halloween H20. Unless you count Halloween: Resurrection (2002). See? Indestructible.

Not sure what Halloween III: Season of the Witch had to do with Michael Myers. Didn't seem to fit the continuing saga at all.

On another note: In the movie So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Charlie (Mike Myers -- strange coincidence) is on the roof of a hotel being pursued by an axe murderer (Amanda Plummer). It's obviously a comic parody of the scene in Halloween 4 where Rachel and Jamie are being pursued by Michael Myers, including the part where Rachel is hanging onto the roof and Michael is standing over her with the knife. The tribute was lost on me before I had seen Halloween 4. Nice surprise discovery.

Learning Curve

2011-10-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

What I've learned about making movies since my journey began this summer:

1) Plan everything before the shoot so that there are as few surprises as possible.

2) Scout locations so you can plan your shots and angles. A real time saver!

3) Create a story board. Drawing each scene and creating the sequence of events helps to see how the movie will flow.

4) Make a shot list.

5) Be flexible. Go with the flow and be open to new ideas that might jump out at you during the shoot.

6) Be creative. Look for interesting ways to present visual motifs and create artistic compositions in the shots.

7) Be thoughtful of everyone involved with the project. Their time is important. Especially if they're doing it for free.

8) Be easy to work with, calm and peaceful. It's just a movie. Get over it. Make the project enjoyable for everyone

9) Keep a folder for everything related to the project (shot lists, releases, scripts, notes, budget, etc.)

10) Think visually. As a writer, I have to purposely edit myself on dialog. Tell the story with as few words as possible. Make every word count.

11) Listen to the actors and others on set and consider their ideas for character, scenes, etc. Don't shut them out of the process. Making movies is a collaborative endeavor. Work together to create a masterpiece.

12) Look for inspiration all around you. Be observant. Notice details. People. Places.

13) Take time to learn everything about your editing suite.

14) Tell a great story.

15) Give "Thank You" cards when it's over.

I've also learned that for some reason, all my movies feature some kind of weird, supernatural theme. I haven't figured out why. The jury's still out.

Catching Up with Woody Allen

2011-10-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've been a Woody Allen fan since I read "Getting Even" in high school.

QUOTE: I was unable to get a date on only six weeks' notice.

I eventually read everything he ever wrote and saw almost every movie he's ever made. I love his style of humor and comedy.

The first Woody Allen movie I ever saw was Play It Again, Sam, which was the subject of a paper I wrote for a film class in college. I analyzed this movie inside and out and got an "A." Yay, me!

Then Annie Hall showed up and I was hooked for life.

My favorites:
Play It Again, Sam
Annie Hall
Manhattan
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Hannah and Her Sisters
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Husbands and Wives
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Bullets Over Broadway
Match Point

Anyhow, my goal is to watch all of Woody Allen's films. I've only missed two, which I plan on watching this week:
1) You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

2) Whatever Works

And I can't wait to see his latest Midnight in Paris which received rave reviews. Sadly, it never played at our local theatres.

Fun with Dick and Jane

2011-10-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Jim Carrey flicks, Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) is hilarious. For a comedy, the cinematography is pretty spectacular. Note the scene in the office building with the men in suits stumbling over the empty water cooler bottles. I never saw the original 1977 version with George Segal and Jane Fonda, but it's on my must-watch list.

Doritos Crash the Super Bowl

2011-10-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Susan talked me into entering the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. Create a 30-second commercial, win a million bucks and have your commercial aired during the Super Bowl.

Sounds easy enough.

Stay tuned...

Susan's Zombie Movie

2011-10-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

Susan V. was in downtown Cheyenne celebrating the annual Zombie Fest.

Zombiefest from Susan Vincenzes on Vimeo.

Christi's Video

2011-10-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Here's the video I made to promote Christi's workshop.

Creating One-Person Shows

2011-10-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I shot a promotional video for my friend Christi Mitchell, professional actor and friend who will be teaching a workshop about creating a one-person show.

She is amazing!

She will be performing her one-woman show October 13 in Cheyenne, WY at Lights On! (the Hynds Building) 1602 Capitol Ave. 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Her workshop will be held on Saturdays, January 28 through March 10, 2012.

Go to her website for more information:
Christi Mitchell

Rocky Mountain High

2011-09-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

It's taken me several days to come down from the Shoot Out Festival high. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, but I'm so glad it's over.

Susan and I have started working on a new project -- the Database Security Smackdown contest. We will create a two-minute commercial for a database security company. Deadline is December 6. We are brainstorming ideas and hope to have a script in a couple of weeks.

Other Projects: My friend Christi Mitchell has asked me to create a video promoting her One-Woman Show workshop. We shoot tomorrow.

Also working on a Thanksgiving video for church, interviewing people and asking them what they're thankful for, from the very young to the very old. Pastor wants to show it the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Stay tuned...

Best Film: The Bear Switch Project

2011-09-27T20:48:00.001-07:00

The winner of Best Film was disqualified and so The Bear Switch Project is Best Film for the Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival.

Our Movie won Best Comedy

2011-09-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

The Shoot Out Cheyenne Fillmmaking Festival was amazing. Our movie The Bear Switch Project, won Best Comedy and also Best Actor! All our hard work paid off. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

The rules: make a seven minute movie in 24 hours with only in-camera editing. We had to include five items from a Brief which we were given just before the Shootout. We also had to include the line "This means something -- this is important." This is a line from Close Encounters of the Third Kind when Richard Dreyfuss makes Devil's Tower out of mashed potatoes. Here is a director's cut of my movie. I added a few more seconds to the credits section and tweaked some of the weak shots.

Location, Location, Location!

2011-09-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ron we now have a lovely office space to shoot the office scene. Oregon Trail Bank has generously agreed to let us use a vacant office with a lovely desk, credenza, high back executive chair, etc. And the lighting is amazing...two huge windows. It is PERFECT!

We decided to shoot the park scene in an actual park and not worry about the sounds of people, kids, dogs, etc. that typically inhabit a city park on a Saturday morning. I had originally thought it would be best to shoot in Ron's backyard since it was in a quiet neighborhood and it's fenced in. He has lovely trees and flowers that would make it look park-like. Time will tell if we made the right decision.

I'm discovering that I am becoming more and more like Hitchcock. Fearful of locations and wanting to use a studio set where there is more control. Am I a control freak? I don't think so. It's just that the Wyoming wind is a powerful foe. Sound is my enemy on the technical front...I don't have an external mic system so whatever the camera hears is what we get.

The Making of...

2011-09-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

We have decided to make a "Making of The Bear Switch Project" movie which we will shoot along with the actual movie. Susan will be shooting the "making of" movie which will include interviews with the cast and crew, out takes, and all the crazy unexpected stuff that happens behind the scenes.

We are shooting the actual movie on my new Sony camera and I'm still trying to learn the ins and outs. I am able to trim shots in-camera which is very cool. I can also protect shots....I can't image how awful it would be to get to the end and accidentally delete everything. My worst nightmare.

Our next production meeting is tomorrow at Ron's house where we will be shooting some practice scenes. Countdown: 6 more days til the Shoot Out!

Unbreakable

2011-09-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

I was watching M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000) again the other day so I could observe his brilliant movie making techniques. The first thing I noticed were the long takes and "reveals" in scenes. For example, Bruce Willis is standing at his locker with the locker door open, talking to someone out of frame. When he closes the locker, we see the man he was talking to standing in the doorway. The actors do not move in this scene...the only thing that moves is the locker door. This lack of movement gives emphasis to the dialog and the emotion of the characters talking because we are not distracted by movement.

This happens all through the movie beginning in the train with the shots of Willis behind the seats.

I also noticed that the long takes really slowed the pace of the movie which was what Shyamalan wanted...Willis slowly beginning to understand who he is really is.

The amazing landscape mural in the restaurant scene was surreal, making it appear like the couple was in another world. Stunning!

The idea of "framing" was captured with scenes in doorways and windows...like pages of a comic book.

Shyamalan's comments about the movie were very interesting. He had originally planned the typical Superhero movie. Act one - hero discovers he has powers. Act two - hero showcases his powers by battling the villain. Act three - hero confronts villain and is victorious. But Shyamalan said that he wasn't inspired by the predictability of Acts two and three. He decided to make the whole movie about Act one where the hero discovers that he his a superhero. The audience discovers this at the same time and we are led along on the journey.

This is a movie you can watch again and again because of the beauty of the cinematography and the inclusion of symbolic visual motifs that enhance the story and characters.

Bear Switch Cast/Crew Meeting

2011-09-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our first cast/crew meeting for The Bear Switch Project. I'm very excited to hear the actors read their lines and for all of us to discuss the logistics of putting this show together. Susan has created amazing props and I've been working on getting the shot list and story board together.

We need to get the participation and location releases signed, work out the details of the locations and sets and most importantly, time the script so we don't run over seven minutes (including titles and credits).

Go "Bear Switch" Team!

Inspired by Christopher Walken

2011-09-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

I really like the Christopher Walken music video that made the rounds on Youtube a while back. It's inspired me to create a video featuring a dancing man. For the song I'm thinking "A Fifth of Beethoven."

Check out the Walken Video

Script Ideas for Video Smackdown

2011-09-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

1. Movie trailer

2. Internet dating

3. Farmer vs. Stock Broker

4. Pirates of the Caribbean parody

Story Board

2011-09-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

I've made four revisions to the story board already and I'll probably make a few more before we start shooting. But that's okay. It keeps everyone on the same page so the day of the shoot should run pretty smoothly.

Susan and I had our second production meeting yesterday and she showed me the Evil Bear masks she was working on. They are amazing! She is so creative and I'm happy to be working with her on this project.

I got my new camera yesterday as well. It's a Sony HG camera and it's pretty cool. It has an internal hard drive AND uses SD cards! I need break it in and shoot some video. Tomorrow will be a good day -- a cookout at my brother's house. They have three kids that love to ham it up.

The Bear Switch Project

2011-09-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of creating my next movie, The Bear Switch Project, for the Shootout Filmmaking Festival. I'm working with my friend and colleague Susan V. and we are having a great time planning the movie and getting things organized for the shoot.

The Bear Switch Project is a Twilight Zone-type suspense/comedy about a man who's down on his luck and encounters a magic bear that changes his life.

My script is finished and we have the actors we need. We are currently scouting locations and doing as much planning ahead of time as possible. It's our first Shootout and we are ready for "bear."