Archived from my old Xanga blog:

Are you able to keep up with all my posts of late? The reason for them is mostly because I am using what was once a personal blog as my pseudo-production diary.

Good news! One of the most important things to have on a student film set (or any low budget indie project where you’re not paying anyone) is FOOD. GOOD FOOD! I never really got to that point. As each project became more ambitious I slowly served things that were hot, and once Rudy even made stew.

I was thinking of catering of any kind, but how on earth could I afford it?!?!?!? I read in Rick Schmidt’s How to Make a Feature Film on a Used Car Budget (and in many other filmmaking books) to put a lot of money in the food if you’re not paying anyone. He once paid $4,000 to pay for catering for a 9 day movie. OH MY GOD! THAT IS INSANE. He said he normally doesn’t do that, but that it really made the shoot go better. Actors and crew, they say, appreciate it if you treat them well with good coffee and tasty food.

Well, I AM paying the two leads a tiny bit for transportation costs, but that’s already a huge deal for me (like a 15th of the budget). I’ve never paid anyone before, but I wanted to be sure I would find the right people for the parts. Other than that no one is getting paid. Okay, so food…

The solution? Well, I remembered that Ina and her boyfriend just opened up a new restaurant. I know they need help so I am going to go wait tables for them maybe once a week on weekends when they need more workers. I would only get paid in tips. That’s fine with me. My mom had a business once and it failed. I know how heartbreaking and difficult it is to start a business.

She also said she’d cut a good deal for me on catering for the film! That’s the point of this insanely long post. YAY! REAL FOOD on the SET! YAY! CATERING. This is a big deal for me!

I’m worried. I don’t know if I can make this short film for under $3000. As of now with paying the leads, the film stock, the processing, the FOOD and the Telecine transfer (the last two being very expensive), I am at around $2,400. That leaves only $600 for costumes and set design. Will I make it? If I can keep pulling favors like I am so far!

Like I keep saying, good thing I got an early start on this film!

I start work tomorrow. Hopefully everything will go okay. I am worried. My social security card got stolen with my stuff and I didn’t realize it. So I went to the SS office today (took TWO HOURS of waiting) to order a new one, but it could take up to two weeks for it to come. I know they might give me trouble about that at Sea World. I will just die if that thief ruins my life so far as to make me lose my new job! ARGH.

Okay, let’s end this post on a good note because we ought not be negative. I got a headshot in the mail from a girl that looks really good for the part. That gives me two girls that I REALLY like and four girls that are potentials. I’m waiting until the end of August to stop accepting submissions for the lead.

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My brief, auto-biographical article on filmmaking has been published at:

http://www.unioneast.com/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=141

Yay!

More good news: I got called a day early about the Sea World job. You are looking at the new Theatrical Technician III, aka Audio/Video Operator. Double yay!

I worked on the script more. I need to get my mom to spell check my Vietnamese. It is definitely getting rusty! Altogether it’s coming along well, I am so excited! Based on the response I am getting so far, I really think if this short film is well received, it will be expanded to become my feature-length movie project next summer.

I am meeting another two-member synth pop band tomorrow (actually today). The lead singer has the look I’ve been wanting for the lead singer in the movie. I hope the meeting goes well because like I mentioned in my last post, it doesn’t seem like the current music situation is going to work.

More pictures I like of 80s bands that I will refer to when we eventually create the movie band’s style.

Duran, Duran loks so snazzy, no? What I am taking from this picture is that thin tie look that was so popular and the suits are slick.

I really like the clothes in the picture below.

It will be hard to decide on a defining look for the band. Good thing they will have a music video, a musical number, a tv show appearance and their image on a poster in the movie. That leaves plenty of possibilities.

I also like this picture of Aha. Perhaps with a little less denim though, hehe.

The hair is dead on what I want. That’s for sure.

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

The music meeting didn’t go so well today. We didn’t make much progress which is mildly frustrating. This is why I wanted to start so early. I just don’t think the musicians are understanding the sound I want.

I’ve decided there will most likely be no guitars. The more I think about it, the more I want this band in the movie to be a pseudo-Depeche Mode bunch. Couldn’t you just see the lead girl just falling in love with them?

I just set up my first sub domain: score.fudgefilms.com. Cool! There’s nothing you can see there though. It wasn’t for the public, although now that I know how to do that I will make a sub domain for this big short film when it comes out to promote it. Probably www.80s.fudgefilms.com or something funny.

The subdomain is so that JC (my head composer right now) can upload test music to the site and so I can download it in a quick fashion without anyone else being able to access it.

Since I want to go all synth, drumkit and keyboard now I have to decide if I am gonna make poor JC do all the work now. I got contacted by this synth pop band. The lead singer has the PERFECT look for the male lead (playing the band front man in the movie). I emailed him back asking if the band is interested in working on the music. Maybe they could do some keys so that it’s not just JC doing the music. Plus, then they could easily play the band members in the movie so it wouldn’t look all FAKE with actors pretending to play. We’ll see…

I liked JC’s one minute sample he made. I had to keep reiterating to him that he needs to add MORE SYNTHS though and to add sound effects to give it a more Depeche feel to it. I played him more songs and some music videos. I think he gets it now.

Just to be sure I uploaded some songs and videos to the new sub domain so when he first logs on there he will be reminded.

Gosh willickers, I hope the music comes out right. I know we have till probably November before planning the recording session, but if the music is not perfect, this EXPENSIVE project is going down the poop drain.

Keeping the music all electronic also saves me money. That means the studio recording session will only be recording and mixing the singing. Phew.

I hope this production (including pre and post) diary helps anyone or at least offers insight into my filmmaking world. I shouldn’t say world. More like grimy hellcave.

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Hmm…

Actually, clothing-wise of course we know 80s fashion was always changing, but I think I am going to go fof some Duran, Duran and AHa pics I like rather than anything Depeche Mode was doing at the time.

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

The second meeting with the musicians/composers went very well last night. Having to explain to them the film inspires me and also forces me to notice what questions of theirs I cannot answer fully.

Today, after going to sleep (haven’t slept yet) I have too much to do. I have to rework the script for Michael’s big movie in October, I have to write a business proposal, prepare a disc of production stills and then go to a friend’s and dub a vcd of some of my work for a seperate project.

Then back home to work on my school schedule so hopefully I can get this Sea World job. Then, make some calls concerning my 80s musical, put up more casting notices for the lead and probably some new ones for the male lead singer of the band within the film.

Then once that is all done I can sit down and work more on the story/script/concept, etc for the musical.

Phew. Don’t know if I can do that all, but I will try. Obviously Sunday is busy so I will be sure to reply to your comments in a couple of days

New pic I took yesterday with crappy old old webcam since I got it working again:

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

I forgot to mention that my bag got stolen out of Aaron’s car this weekend. It was horrible. Among the casualties, all of Aaron’s CDs (not burned), my glasses and my cell phone. SIGH.

I know you all want to be updated about the musical according to comments and emails. However, I’ll warn you now that I am only going to comment on the technical aspects.

I have never felt so passionate and personal about one of my projects before. It is very dear to my heart and it is not going to be the way I know some people familiar with my work will expect it to be. Well, GOOD. I will use that. I want to shock everyone and show them another side of me never seen in my films.

Because of that, only a selected few know what this movie is going to be about. I am not even going to tell everyone on the pre-production staff I’ve assembled so far. There is a long road of hard work and research ahead, but I am very excited.

I just wrote a page of brainstormed ideas right now and I feel very pumped. I am putting all of myself into this project. I’m pouring my heart and soul into it and maybe people will like it, maybe they won’t. I won’t compromise. I’m very very excited!

I am meeting with Raul and some people who might be in on the music. They will have to know the details in order to get the music right, because good music is KEY. I don’t think I’ll tell them everything tonight though. Not until I am sure they will be on this project permanently.

This film is very personal to me.

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

The premiere went well. Over 450 showed up according to the staff of the Casa De Cultura.

It felt strange because Aaron shot most of it on video. I was only the cinematographer for the parts on film, but I got credit as the DP so I hope people are not thinking that I make film come out looking like video, hehe. He also credited me as Michelle “Sexy” Osorio in the special thanks so HOW EMBARASSING since I was sitting next to my dad and he repeats it to me in a questioning way. Oy.

The weekend went well. After the premiere, many of us headed to my Dad’s house (in TJ) and “partied” in his gameroom above the house which was neat except he was being cranky so he made us leave by 3am. That gave us 2 hours though so we had some fun.

Saturday night Aaron took me to see “City of God” (see my review). We get inside the theatre and as the movie begins… OOPS! We realize my Spanish is not so great and now I have to see this movie in Portugese with SPANISH SUBTITLES! If it was a Mexican movie I’d be fine, but now I have to read spanish and try to watch the movie at the same time. ARGH.

I told myself, you’ve heard this is a good movie. If it is, you shouldn’t have to read all the subtitles to enjoy it. I WAS RIGHT. IT WAS A FREAKING AWESOME AMAZING BRAZILIAN MOVIE with HEART and yet stylish and impressive. Aaron had to translate for me sometimes, but that wasn’t so bad.

I left the theater with many “wish I had thought of that”s in my mind. HeHe. This being because they came up with some excellent shots, one of which I’ve thought of before, but never executed so they beat me to the punch! Their dissoves of the same room showing the history of the drug dealer apartment was simply kickass.

GOOD NEWS: Aaron is going to help me with the 80s musical. I had been having some doubts with what I wanted to dare to do with this film, but he encouraged me to give it my all and not to make it cheesy. I was very young in the 80s too so he’s going to be my technical advisor, hehe. I already have some cool videos on the table he let me borrow. They include a tape of recorded stuff from 1983-1984 so I am excited to watch it. He also let me borrow “24 Hour Party People” from last year. Will prove helpful I am sure.

He also let me borrow his Film Threat Video Guide with Nekromantik on the cover. I can’t wait to see that movie although he tells me he had to stop the tape when he saw it because it was so distrubing. People doing rotting corpses. Yummy!

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

Leaving right now to apply for a job as “Theatrical Technician 3″ at Sea World.

After that I have to get ready to go to Mexico. Ashes makes it’s premiere today (FRIDAY THE 13TH) at La Casa De Cultura at 8pm!

I co-produced and did cinematography for Ashes, if you did not know. Wish me luck!

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

Back from L.A. visiting mom, hanging out with Tony (ex-bf turned long distance friend) and going to the CineGear Expo with pals. Lots of fun! I only bought a couple of things at the Expo, but I had fun seeing all the fancy stuff I could never afford, hehe. Staying optimistic, I heavily analyzed the grip gear on sale so that I could go home and make my own with canvas, keychains, velcro straps and a sewing kit

I SAW A DOUBLE FEATURE OF COFFY AND FOXY BROWN AT THE GROEMAN’S EGYPTIAN THEATER AND JACK HILL (director) WAS THERE TO SPEAK! REALLY INSPIRING! MY FRIENDS ARE JEALOUS.

GOOD NEWS! Emotion Math is back on! I was set to make it more than a year ago, but it fell through. Michael wrote it with the plan of using it to show off his exceptional talent as a visual effects artist. He is in the process of rewriting it based on my suggestions. I am most excited because it will involve building a futuristic (sort of) set, using rain effects, a green screen and probably my first time using a PL mount (for movie lenses) on the Aaton A-Minima. I AM SO ENTHUSED. Is that how you spell it?

MORE GOOD FILM NEWS! I’ve been sweating bullets making sure I will be able to shoot my opus short film Spring semester. However, now my mom is using her music contacts to get me session time at a studio for a great price and she said she’d pay for it! YAY! Now my musical is DEFINITELY back on. I couldn’t sleep that night I was so excited!

Anyway, I have to go to bed. Summer school starts tomorrow (bummer). I have to call and bug that lady about the Country Club job again too, Argh.

This has been a pivotal week in my life. Opportunities are popping up everywhere and I will probably have to turn down some good film projects this year because there are just too many of them! I need to focus on my own films though. In that case…

I need to straighten up my act. I need to work hard, save money and try not to spend it on ANYTHING unrelated to film! I need to SAVE SAVE SAVE and all aspects of my life must rotate around FILMMAKING. I must live, breath and eat film if I plan to make it 15 months from this point on.

See, in 15 months if all goes according to my master plan, I will have directed my opus short film, michael’s film (for which the visual effects will be spectacular) and my first feature film!!!!

It will only happen if I work very hard and save every penny or I will not end up being able to afford all of it. I also need to raise some of the money and hone my skills as much as possible so I can do the best job on these projects I am investing so much time, money, effort and hope on.

The only exception to my “live film” goals this coming year will be school! I have to keep my grades up.

I don’t know where I want to transfer to (I am considering doing my time in L.A. for a couple of years), but the choice will be much easier with good grades.

Wish me luck, I am pretty anxious! I hope I make it out alive and with all my precious films completed by Fall 2004!!!!

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Archived from my old Xanga blog:

Gotta go right now. Just saying I’m back from Mexico. Hi!

The “Insecto” shoot went great and it was nice shooting on super 16 again. I really love the format. Only bad thing: some crazy girl/woman came up to my car while I was at the border waiting to cross back into the states and she punched me in the eye with something and broke my glasses! ARGH)(@*$%_(@$*%

It’s gonna cost me $140 to replace em, waaahhh.

I already got my new eye exam, good news! My eyes actually got a little bit better! Not that it means much because my eyesight is so bad. That’s why the glasses are so expensive, even with cheap frames. My lenses are so thick I have to pay for that feather weight thing or else the lenses will be almost an inch thick!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I’ll try to post again soon. I’m probably going to direct someone else’s script next month on DV and meeting with some other local filmmakers tomorrow to discuss other summer projects.

See ya!

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