Worked from home on the video story board and catching up on blog. Been feeling a little down the last week so off the boil on the blog. But now as we move more into productions, classes increase and also started work on next scripts mood is back to 100%
We had a great lesson with Rob Spera today. This guy is tough and straight down the line. 2pm sharp - doors locked. A number of our colleagues tried to get in but were denied. Finally came in at the break - there is certainly no messing around.
Rob trained with Sandy Meisner - he has directed a whole host of plays, TV and films. The weekly session for the next year will be split into two. First half will be acting the second half film craft. The aim of the course is to develop directing skills for feature films - not TV etc.
So a number of key questions came up:
When watching a film are we moved by the film or the film making? The aim is to make decisions that aren't redundant or obvious.
The aim is to make 2+2=5
So the example Rob used was when Nixon left office. He was at his lowest ebb, hated by the public, considered a liar and cheat. So teh obvious choice would be to show a broken man, and yet he walked out to the helicopter turned and gave the victory sign. It was just so unexpected and powerful. So in this case:
hated by public + victory sign = 5
We then did a couple of exercises on visual story telling through body language - referenced the Desmond Morris book 'Manwatching' as a strong source for non verbal communication.
Make it simple in execution and complex in meaning.
Real life is a terrible excuse for bad drama.
Playing against what is happening - for example at the end of Harry Met Sally her last line is 'I hate you Harry' and yet you know they are in love!
OK small things like lying - how about shaking your head as you say I love you, or closing your eyes when you say I love you, or scratching your nose etc - it can all be played and is readable.
Postural echo - copying people we like, miroring.
In the end we were warned that this is a tough profession, the majority of us wouldn't make it. His class is important, do not miss it. Most importantly he is there to not make us good, not to make us better or OK, but for us to be great.
Rushed across town for a BAFT LA newcomers interview with Julia Verdin (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0893845/) who has produced 27 film including 'Merchant of Venice' and Stander.
Next class was with Jim McBride. Here we analysed a number of scenes from Hitchcock's 'Notorious' looking at POV and narrative choice. Fabulous film.
This weekend I am boom swinging for Christina (Dir) and La Monde (Pro) - so we had a simple production meeting to run over the plan for the four days. Lots of early starts approaching!!!
Kyle Smith (Dir) will be running the Chicago marathon this w/e
Ethan Ransom (Scr) will be sound mixing for the four days.
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