Friday, April 30, 2004
Just printed my predraft draft off for Nik and Lindsay who play Jenny and Maurizzio (Respectively :))))) so they can not only see how poor my first drafting is grammatically but it is necessary for them to get a stronger hold of the characters. So I will be interested to see what they think. The novel is mentioned with regard the film in the project material which can be found here.
Things seem to have gone a little quiet the last few days even though still many things happening. Interesting. I think we've all had personal things to do and our own corners to work in on the film, thoughts to think, Screen Yorkshire to think about who were very helpful but the notion that we're really on our own in this till we win the Cannes Film Festival can just calm ones energy down. But what happens every time this kind of thing happens, even when the thing is totally positive... it makes you have to reassemble all ones ambitions and the reason to be doing them. Which is vital and cool and what makes one stronger, more persistent and the reason why one day we may well win The Palmes D'Or.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
My word the website looks lovely... credit to Nik for design and his keen eye. Lovely. And to Lindsay for looking like a beautiful statue and for my lovely photography (if i may say so! :) And for Becki who sees me taking a poor shot and the sound of hrm or hmm or agh! and then oh yes! That's filming with one's wife and cinematographer, don't need many words to say what's needed. Cool days.
Monday, April 26, 2004
It's been an evening of not so much redesigning as re-moving the site to its nice new location here at www.spokenbycrowds.co.uk. You might not notice many differences (apart from the lovely picture of Lindsay [who plays Jenny in the film]) on the front page, but I have done a little re-coding and missed out an important quotation mark in the blogger code which left me scratching my head for a few minutes (sigh being geeky sorry).
It's nice to be here anyhow . . . right better start working on the 'flash' stuff.
It's nice to be here anyhow . . . right better start working on the 'flash' stuff.
...and when tapestries have threads of gold and ideas are sewn into the coarse fabric, the image moves, not by the magic of the motion picture, no!!! but by the breath of freedom and friendship!
Sunday, April 25, 2004
There's a lot of talk about fairy tales today, so I thought I would share one of my favourites
Once upon a time there was a very rich King who lived in a very big castle. His castle was also very big, not as big as the really famous castle across the ocean but big enough to have a reasonable reputation as castles go.
The King liked the walls of his castle to be decked with beautiful and interesting tapestries. However, in recent times most of the tapestries made in his kingdom had become boring and concerned with the same subject never really moving on artistically. Sometimes the King would get to see an imported tapestry and he would often wish his tapestries were like those ones.
The tapestry makers in the Kingdom were a small, tight bunch who liked to work with each other and their friends and their family and their families friends, but mainly they liked to work with themselves. If you weren't born into tapestry making it was unlikely you would ever be allowed to make tapestries.
Now the King didn't like this situation at all, he could see that all across his kingdom there were potential tapestry makers and no way for them to start. So he had an idea, he would give some of his great wealth to up and coming tapestry makers. That way there would be new vibrant tapestries all about the castle.
Now the Tapestry Maker's Guild heard about this idea and didn't like it at all; like most ideas they were very suspicious. So the Tapestry Maker's Guild convinced the King that he needed a number of advisors in order that his money went to the right places.
Now the Tapestry Maker's Guild effectively controlled the industry again and they made sure only their friends got the money. And so tapestries continued to be made, but they were the same old boring designs and the King eventually saw that nothing had changed.
He asked his advisers why this should be, and they started to worry that they would be found out so they came up with the idea of making it look like other people were giving out some of the money. They set up offices all over the kingdom full of people who liked tapestries, but couldn't sew one if they tried. These people had seen a lot of tapestries, even kept up to date with developments in tapestry technology and on the whole they were nice and very good at keeping the office tidy, drinking coffee and having meetings with each other. They just weren't too good at giving the King's money out, and it wasn't really their fault as the advisers from the Tapestry Maker's Guild came up with lots of rules and regulations about who could have the King's money. Just as the people in the offices understood the latest set of rules and regulations the Tapestry Maker's Guild would change them and the problems would start all over again. But the people in the offices were a happy bunch as they were paid quite a lot of money and always wore nice clothes.
Occasionally the King would pop into one of these offices and be very happy to see lots of people running about keeping the office tidy, drinking coffee and having meetings with each other. He would see lots of nice colourful parchments telling him all about their work, and he would hear about their latest competition to encourage new tapestry makers.
(This usually involved asking potential tapestry makers from across the kingdom to submit an idea about a mat or small rug. The best five ideas would be taken off to spend a day with a well-known tapestry maker who would "develop" their talent in all the right directions).
Sadly, the King was blinded by all this activity and brightly coloured parchment. He never saw that a large amount of his money was still going to the same old tapestry makers, and the rest of it was spent on the people in the offices. He would return to his castle each night believing that the tapestries around him really were the best his kingdom could offer.
Meanwhile the Tapestry Makers Guild would drink wine and toast themselves.
And deep in the forest the peasants were fashioning their own tools and, although this was against the rules, having ideas...
Once upon a time there was a very rich King who lived in a very big castle. His castle was also very big, not as big as the really famous castle across the ocean but big enough to have a reasonable reputation as castles go.
The King liked the walls of his castle to be decked with beautiful and interesting tapestries. However, in recent times most of the tapestries made in his kingdom had become boring and concerned with the same subject never really moving on artistically. Sometimes the King would get to see an imported tapestry and he would often wish his tapestries were like those ones.
The tapestry makers in the Kingdom were a small, tight bunch who liked to work with each other and their friends and their family and their families friends, but mainly they liked to work with themselves. If you weren't born into tapestry making it was unlikely you would ever be allowed to make tapestries.
Now the King didn't like this situation at all, he could see that all across his kingdom there were potential tapestry makers and no way for them to start. So he had an idea, he would give some of his great wealth to up and coming tapestry makers. That way there would be new vibrant tapestries all about the castle.
Now the Tapestry Maker's Guild heard about this idea and didn't like it at all; like most ideas they were very suspicious. So the Tapestry Maker's Guild convinced the King that he needed a number of advisors in order that his money went to the right places.
Now the Tapestry Maker's Guild effectively controlled the industry again and they made sure only their friends got the money. And so tapestries continued to be made, but they were the same old boring designs and the King eventually saw that nothing had changed.
He asked his advisers why this should be, and they started to worry that they would be found out so they came up with the idea of making it look like other people were giving out some of the money. They set up offices all over the kingdom full of people who liked tapestries, but couldn't sew one if they tried. These people had seen a lot of tapestries, even kept up to date with developments in tapestry technology and on the whole they were nice and very good at keeping the office tidy, drinking coffee and having meetings with each other. They just weren't too good at giving the King's money out, and it wasn't really their fault as the advisers from the Tapestry Maker's Guild came up with lots of rules and regulations about who could have the King's money. Just as the people in the offices understood the latest set of rules and regulations the Tapestry Maker's Guild would change them and the problems would start all over again. But the people in the offices were a happy bunch as they were paid quite a lot of money and always wore nice clothes.
Occasionally the King would pop into one of these offices and be very happy to see lots of people running about keeping the office tidy, drinking coffee and having meetings with each other. He would see lots of nice colourful parchments telling him all about their work, and he would hear about their latest competition to encourage new tapestry makers.
(This usually involved asking potential tapestry makers from across the kingdom to submit an idea about a mat or small rug. The best five ideas would be taken off to spend a day with a well-known tapestry maker who would "develop" their talent in all the right directions).
Sadly, the King was blinded by all this activity and brightly coloured parchment. He never saw that a large amount of his money was still going to the same old tapestry makers, and the rest of it was spent on the people in the offices. He would return to his castle each night believing that the tapestries around him really were the best his kingdom could offer.
Meanwhile the Tapestry Makers Guild would drink wine and toast themselves.
And deep in the forest the peasants were fashioning their own tools and, although this was against the rules, having ideas...
Wooohoooooooo! The 'lady' who cannot understand complex things has blogged on!!! (ok, Marco helped....) Anyhoo Will be able to post lil messages on here from now on.... went to York today - much fun and sunshine, and quite good filming too :) according to Marco anyway. Am getting quite excited about filming now, but am concerned about the giant wobbly vein which appeared in my forehead today (you'll see it on the stuff Marco filmed hehe, oooooooh I also met Marco's mum - she's Fab!!!! And tells a good fairy tale, i can tell you! Well I'll be on again soon, Nik, I'm a simple mind but it wasnt my fault honest!!!!!!!!!!
xxxxx - (re-posted by Nik, ;) )
xxxxx - (re-posted by Nik, ;) )
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Today in York, we did some absolutely beautiful shots for the film SBC and my Animation/Film (which still has no name) and some cooool lighting at home. I can't wait to show Nik... Hopefully tomorrow. My word these tests seem to be paying off...
now must try and sleep... A day of coffee, sugar and sunshine and a lovely day shooting in York with Becki and Lindsay and back home to shoot Tina my amazingly talented mum and Lindsay who were filmed before they were really introduced.
Tina told her a fairy tale amongst rainbow lights and then after they hugged as though Lindsay was a long lost daughter.... rather a fabulous day
now must try and sleep... A day of coffee, sugar and sunshine and a lovely day shooting in York with Becki and Lindsay and back home to shoot Tina my amazingly talented mum and Lindsay who were filmed before they were really introduced.
Tina told her a fairy tale amongst rainbow lights and then after they hugged as though Lindsay was a long lost daughter.... rather a fabulous day
Saturday.. Tomorrow or rather today, Myself, Becki and Lindsay are heading to York for a shoot. Some footage for my film/animation and some footage for Spoken By Crowds.
Again very exciting as the animation I think will look quite astounding if it works out like the images I have in this little head of mine. And the footage for Spoken By Crowds may have connotations to the P.O.V. of Jenny, the main character of the film and novel.
So lots to see and learn from tomorrow.
Also when We return I shall be calling Tina to meet us at the next venue which should be ready and lit. The freedom of the animation is that we can work on something super colourful and less realistic.
All tomorrow
Again very exciting as the animation I think will look quite astounding if it works out like the images I have in this little head of mine. And the footage for Spoken By Crowds may have connotations to the P.O.V. of Jenny, the main character of the film and novel.
So lots to see and learn from tomorrow.
Also when We return I shall be calling Tina to meet us at the next venue which should be ready and lit. The freedom of the animation is that we can work on something super colourful and less realistic.
All tomorrow
Shiny Happy People
They Shine and know very little...
but that's between you and me... :)
They Shine and know very little...
but that's between you and me... :)
Monday, April 19, 2004
Another run through of the script is complete. Nik calls it Micro-Directing, my poor actors have to put eyes here or there on words and whooshes and cameras ticking.
The script is a mass of colours and next is a scrutiny of the storyboards, (Mine and Becki's) and the script and the new notes and from this a shot list will be organised. (Or rather the second or maybe even third shotlist but this time written out in a more list-y fashion)
I don't won't to miss a thing and this seems to be a good step on that track.
The script is a mass of colours and next is a scrutiny of the storyboards, (Mine and Becki's) and the script and the new notes and from this a shot list will be organised. (Or rather the second or maybe even third shotlist but this time written out in a more list-y fashion)
I don't won't to miss a thing and this seems to be a good step on that track.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
It's been an interesting weekend of test shots and computer geekiness; and I find myself thinking quite positively about what we could achieve should we be faced with a shoestring budget (although it would be nice to get some money from somewhere). I've also started to put up those pre-production galleries which I promised several days ago. The first can be found here. I'll be adding more as the months move on.
The first part of next week will be very non-SBC as I've a pile of marking to enjoy. Then back to SBC work as Marco and I have a meeting with screenyorkshire on Thursday, hopefully they will be able to give us some help and advice. I'm very interested to see what they can do.
I will also start looking for a production assistant to help me as we get nearer to the shoot as I have that acting thing to do as well.
The weekend has been good.
The first part of next week will be very non-SBC as I've a pile of marking to enjoy. Then back to SBC work as Marco and I have a meeting with screenyorkshire on Thursday, hopefully they will be able to give us some help and advice. I'm very interested to see what they can do.
I will also start looking for a production assistant to help me as we get nearer to the shoot as I have that acting thing to do as well.
The weekend has been good.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Worked on some tests with Nik today, processes, depth of field tests for various shots and have had some ideas because of the clarity while using digital and it's effects of the depth of field. Shall be interested to see where this new obsession goes.
Also having ideas for a 5 minutes film/animation and a ten minute film may commence next month.
These problems create more than they take away. It is a major plus on learning without much funding. You have to think very hard!
Although we could use some now!
Also having ideas for a 5 minutes film/animation and a ten minute film may commence next month.
These problems create more than they take away. It is a major plus on learning without much funding. You have to think very hard!
Although we could use some now!
There is such excitement. The ideas are coming strong and I am terrified too. So frightened because of the potential for this film and how good it can be. Hope I don't let anyone down, or the story.
Just watched Three Colours Blue for a master class in filmmaking and wonder how one makes such art. So many elements involved and such work to do. But my ambitions are very high.
Just watched Three Colours Blue for a master class in filmmaking and wonder how one makes such art. So many elements involved and such work to do. But my ambitions are very high.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Momentum and excitement alongside a little fatigue today, with a meeting or rather (what we prefer to call meetings) a coffee with Nik today. Things to hope for and a meeting with Screen Yorkshire in a week or so. I shall be very interested to see the outcome and what we can learn from our commission. Nik is working on the technical elements of the film at present along with the major production side, as I continue to put notes and funny colours in my script. Calling, texting, emailing and communicating with actors to keep informed of new ideas. Having what I might call quite beautiful ideas that feed SBC but are projects in themselves, which I shall log if and when they occur and if they are successful or not.
It's been a couple of days of computer craziness. I've been setting up an effects system and fixing a couple of nearly dead PCs. To top it all the computer at work went bang bang and several of my PhD files vanished (luckily I had just backed up). I've come to work this morning and there's a nice new computer for me to work on (and a nice pile of marking to take home). Even though it's busy here my mind is still on the film and I'm off in a second to have another meeting with Marco, then back home to start the marking. Wouldn't it be nice to make films full-time?
Monday, April 12, 2004
I need a new printer . . . Just tried printing out a copy of the promo pack but the old epson printer I have decided to die. Oh well just another piece of equipment that a small budget would fix. Don't forget you can read a copy of the document online here. Looking forward to seeing the footage for the new location and getting to work on the green screen stuff.
Returned today with Becki to the location. It is very cool having my wife on board at such a level. A strong level of communication. Just viewed the footage and I think the spot we have found is perfect especially when you imagine the players in the location (look forward to showing Nik and Rob… Will be interesting to compare footage of tests and then the finished results after filming and editing actual film and all the post work…
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Went for a rekky with Becki (D.o.P.) today for the scene of the Saint. Found a great location. Hopefully going to go back and take some footage tomorrow and see how it look on tape.
Friday, April 09, 2004
This morning was accosted by the producer and lighting camera man while I slept in for once. They had coffee and I woke up to the sound of f-stops and and apertures, light readings and talk of poker. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and I felt good in sun glasses. The three of us felt strong today, with lavazza and cool shots. I went for coffee in town and read the script with six colours to mark with. Shots to remember, looks the actors must have, words that need emphasizing transitions that may or may not work. Nik and Rob worked on technical things and I drank more coffee. Tonight to Nik’s for his choice of film and our film night. A very fine day.
Well, it's Friday and I've just updated the website. I think Friday will be the update day, rather than adding bits and pieces here and there. What's updated I here you ask? Well I've added a couple of crew biogs and photos, you can see them here and I've finally finished tweaking the project document for the film and you can find it here. It's worth a read because will tell you a lot about the film and who we are.
As for the flash part of the site; well, that's still being developed and rather than put that up piecemeal it will all go up in one go. (with maybe some cheeky bits added later - we'll see).
Today has been quite busy as Rob and I spent the time filming some tests and trying out various settings on the camera. If we don't get any kind of budget we'll need to get the best out of the little equipment we have; and that was what today was all about. Marco joined us in the morning to do some test shots for the 'park bench' scene. Right now I'm going to print a hard copy of the project dicument and play around with composites and then have a cup of coffee and a sit down and maybe relax....
As for the flash part of the site; well, that's still being developed and rather than put that up piecemeal it will all go up in one go. (with maybe some cheeky bits added later - we'll see).
Today has been quite busy as Rob and I spent the time filming some tests and trying out various settings on the camera. If we don't get any kind of budget we'll need to get the best out of the little equipment we have; and that was what today was all about. Marco joined us in the morning to do some test shots for the 'park bench' scene. Right now I'm going to print a hard copy of the project dicument and play around with composites and then have a cup of coffee and a sit down and maybe relax....
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Yesterday, had a voice rehearsal with Lindsay. It went very well. I have never worked so precisely before. It's quite a wonderful process. Lindsay is incredibly focussed and it just makes me more and more excited when you see a voice subtly changing and grabbing the script.
Also, like a dill, I have the camera for test shots at my house, while Nik and Rob were supposed to be doing the tests I was at work. So please excuse me. They are having to do these tomorrow instead.
Also, like a dill, I have the camera for test shots at my house, while Nik and Rob were supposed to be doing the tests I was at work. So please excuse me. They are having to do these tomorrow instead.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
id just like to say im honoured to b part of this blogg spoken by crowds
and i know what an honour it must b for u lot to b in my presense be it filming or just for social reasons.
anyway seriously im really over the moon to b classed as a friend with such talented people
look forward to chatting with u all soon
and i know what an honour it must b for u lot to b in my presense be it filming or just for social reasons.
anyway seriously im really over the moon to b classed as a friend with such talented people
look forward to chatting with u all soon
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
I think we have a nice miniature. It seems to have a likeness to Jenny but also a history, a vagueness which represents the line of women behind and infront of the myth. Very pleased with it. And may make more that connect with others Jenny meets or misses in the film and novel. (Nice illustrations for the book too) Not sure but it may be an idea.
Monday, April 05, 2004
Fantastic time drawing a miniature for the film and then working on it so that it may be included within the film. Maybe a miniature instead of a cameo!?! A locket of a type. Becki and I are competing for the prize of locket artist for the credits! I have the upper hand as I have been able to scan mine in to the pc already while she has more work and her horses to tend. Just sent about three million images and a thousand bites of info to Nik...
Still just playing around with the web design and the flash bits; although you won't see any change until I do an update at the end of the week. This should be about the time when the promo document will be online.
The weather looks OK for tomorrow so it looks like we'll get those test shots we want.
The weather looks OK for tomorrow so it looks like we'll get those test shots we want.
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Had a quiet kinda day off today. Saying that I edited a little of the promo document, and scanned some great production stills. I will put them on the website at the next update - sometime next week.
Rob Allen our lighting cameraman has just signed onto this diary so I hope we'll hear something of him soon, Lindsay Vann (who plays Jenny) and Carl Zaffino (who plays Sean) have also been invited to contribute, with more cast and crew coming soon.
Rob Allen our lighting cameraman has just signed onto this diary so I hope we'll hear something of him soon, Lindsay Vann (who plays Jenny) and Carl Zaffino (who plays Sean) have also been invited to contribute, with more cast and crew coming soon.
Just been for a cool lonesome stroll (where most of my ideas and images come from) and also to check out cabling for custome made lighting and greens for greenscreens, and the heavens opened. Typing wet and cold. Should I change into something else?
Friday, April 02, 2004
Had a couple of hair ideas for Jenny. Drawn and being thought about. Shown them Nik and Becki (costume, Art, visual side of D.O.P.), Ali and Matt (film hubb guys, stills, costume, props etc.) and Sent them to Lindsay to see everyone's thoughts.
Just scanning more stills from the test scenes. Some lovely ideas popping up from this work.
Never had 6 months to prepare after the script is ready. Such luxury... Think head may explode with the possibilities though!
Never had 6 months to prepare after the script is ready. Such luxury... Think head may explode with the possibilities though!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Just finished adding more to the website, it's really nice working on this one; very organic. Can't wait to work on the "microsite", that's going to be interesting.
I see on the blog, Marco is still thinking about cameos; I'll let him explain all that one day, and maybe he'll post a link to "Cat Cameos" - something I find profoundly disturbing .... Good Night.
I see on the blog, Marco is still thinking about cameos; I'll let him explain all that one day, and maybe he'll post a link to "Cat Cameos" - something I find profoundly disturbing .... Good Night.
Cameo
Wow, it's just gone midnight. I didn't notice the time; been finishing off the promotional literature and trying things out on the website. Should be adding more pages soon. I think the link to the film site itself will eventually split into two; the first will be the basic promo stuff, and the next will be the interesting flash driven site (but that shall remain a mystery for now).
I had a good meeting with Rob (the lighting cameraman) and we now have a plan of test shots and as long as the weather is OK on Tuesday (we want a nice sunny day) we should be filming them. After that we play with them in digital post (the fun part for me - hey, label me producer/geek if you like).
Tomorrow, opps sorry, today I'll be having a meeting/coffee with Marco and discussing the promo pack, then evening probably more web stuff.
Just remembered Panasonic haven't written back to me, although they probably just threw my letter away... at least Canon and Sony had the decency to write back to me to say that they are too poor to give us any help with the film.
I had a good meeting with Rob (the lighting cameraman) and we now have a plan of test shots and as long as the weather is OK on Tuesday (we want a nice sunny day) we should be filming them. After that we play with them in digital post (the fun part for me - hey, label me producer/geek if you like).
Tomorrow, opps sorry, today I'll be having a meeting/coffee with Marco and discussing the promo pack, then evening probably more web stuff.
Just remembered Panasonic haven't written back to me, although they probably just threw my letter away... at least Canon and Sony had the decency to write back to me to say that they are too poor to give us any help with the film.
