Narrative Workshop and Location Scouting

We had our first narrative workshop with Frank Pierson.

The first film screened was 'El Coyote'

Screenwriter: Casey Barnhart
Director: Andrew Spieler
Producer: Kip Pastor
Cinematographer: Ricardo Diaz
Editor: Vegard Sorby
Production Designer: Harrison Yurkiw

The story centred on a Mexican 'El Coyote' who lost his soon whilst trying to cross the US-Mexican boarder. Five years later he escorts a bunch of Mexicans which includes one young woman whom he discovers is pregnant. After an ambush by the boarder police, the party is split up. The woman goes into labour and is helped by 'El Coyote' she dies but the baby survives.

The key learning points to come out of screening were:
1 - On the nose dialogue
2 - Over sentimental story - music, dialogue and tone had an expected outcome

Frank was very complimentary on the acting and the overall makeup of the film.
Overall the team set a high benchmark - it was a solid film considering all constraints.

The film was screened that night in narrative workshop. Bill Dill was tough on it:
1 - He felt there was no sense of the sun and teh heat of the desert
2 - Use of 2.35 in his eyes was arbitary and didn't work for the film



The second film screened was 'the Projectionist' - this was the film I worked on.

Screenwriter: Bradford Fullerton
Director: Christina Rubenstein
Producer: La Monde Byrd
Cinematographer: Kevin Cannon
Editor: Nodoka Kato

The story centred on a cinema owner whose simple son was the projectionist and his pride and joy. One day the son befriends a vagrant kid. The owner finally decides to kill the kid but it backfires and results in the death of his son.

Frank was bemused by the story and didn't get it at all. Key points included:
1 - lack of clarity in the story
2 - audience not caring for or intrigued by the characters
3 - Performances mannered

Overall he called it precious and didn't work.

Bill Dill after his strong dissection of 'El Coyote' was very sparing on the Projectionist despite a number of faults and he realised that teh film did not work.

Afternoon rushed off to the DWP to check out locations for our shoot and then on to Brian a friend of La Monde's whose flat we will use for Steve's apartment in the film.