Spring Break has finally arrived and it's time to exhale a bit. This semester I had one day where I completely could not do anything productive because I was so worn out. So I gave myself a mental health day and just watched TV all day on my couch (and was cared for by my very supportive partner - I highly recommend getting one of those).
Next week I'll be using my time to decorate the set for my short film SLEEPING MOTHER to get a sense of what I can accomplish in the space (I'm using my shared apartment in Harlem). I'll also be meeting with the DP (my classmate) *and* meeting with the one and only Judith Weston (the author of "Directing Actors") to prepare to direct the four actors in the film.
The first half of the semester included:
Production 1 - polishing my short film script and pre-production. homework included breaking down the script, making a sustainability plan, giving notes on other scripts, making a safety plan (which has to be approved by faculty in order to check-out gear or get a certificate of insurance), making a shot list and floor plan (still working on this), making a budget (we can only spent $1800) and "hiring" crew (we can only use our classmates in key roles). Additionally, we are casting. I'm so lucky to have someone (outside of school) helping me on this one as a Casting Director.
Screenwriting 1 - first we wrote the first 5 pages, then up to the inciting incident, then the rest of Act 1. We now have a draft of Act 1 which I will rewrite over the next few weeks and then that's it for this class. I had thought I'd be further ahead on the writing of this script but there was too much to do in my other classes. Next semester we are supposed to start with a script which already has Act 1 written. My plan is to finish this one over summer then start a new one and bring script #2 into Screenwriting 2.
Teaching Practicum - lots of reading in this class!! I learned that I needed to read the night before class (and not sooner) in order to remember and discuss the following day. I spent two days on the main campus observing a Film 101 class and a Film 215 (screenwriting) class. The trip from Manhattan to Stony Brook can be as much as two hours long so it's not easy to get out there. Also, not sure if I mentioned this already but this is a 9:30am class -- oof, will be glad when its over.
Acting for Directors - I had to act in two scenes with other classmate-actors for this class. Both included a zoom rehearsal and a blocking rehearsal. I don't like acting that much but I know that doing so will make me a better director. I did a scene from WALKING AND TALKING and even wore a wig.
Cinematography - The first three classes were technical exercises then the final three classes were test shoots for our Production 1 shorts. This class met from 11am-5pm on Saturdays and is now over. I was not happy on the first day of this class because I have no plans to become a cinematographer. But I survived.
Looking ahead I have two main quests and two side quests.
Main Quest #1 --- Produce/Direct my 9 minute short film SLEEPING MOTHER (this includes rehearsals and pre-pro meetings)
Main Quest #2 --- Secure a paid TA position at Stony Brook next semester (this includes creating a Teaching Statement and a Film 101 Syllabus)
Side Quest #1 --- Rewrite the first act of the feature version of TASTE. This is a side quest because I know I'll have much more bandwidth to work on it over the summer.
Side Quest #2 --- Cast and direct a scene for my Acting for Directors class.
So, that's what I'll be working on for the next 7 weeks in addition to crewing on 5 more short films on the weekends.
I really feel like I'm learning and that this is a good investment of my time.
Wish me luck.
Next week I'll be using my time to decorate the set for my short film SLEEPING MOTHER to get a sense of what I can accomplish in the space (I'm using my shared apartment in Harlem). I'll also be meeting with the DP (my classmate) *and* meeting with the one and only Judith Weston (the author of "Directing Actors") to prepare to direct the four actors in the film.
The first half of the semester included:
Production 1 - polishing my short film script and pre-production. homework included breaking down the script, making a sustainability plan, giving notes on other scripts, making a safety plan (which has to be approved by faculty in order to check-out gear or get a certificate of insurance), making a shot list and floor plan (still working on this), making a budget (we can only spent $1800) and "hiring" crew (we can only use our classmates in key roles). Additionally, we are casting. I'm so lucky to have someone (outside of school) helping me on this one as a Casting Director.
Screenwriting 1 - first we wrote the first 5 pages, then up to the inciting incident, then the rest of Act 1. We now have a draft of Act 1 which I will rewrite over the next few weeks and then that's it for this class. I had thought I'd be further ahead on the writing of this script but there was too much to do in my other classes. Next semester we are supposed to start with a script which already has Act 1 written. My plan is to finish this one over summer then start a new one and bring script #2 into Screenwriting 2.
Teaching Practicum - lots of reading in this class!! I learned that I needed to read the night before class (and not sooner) in order to remember and discuss the following day. I spent two days on the main campus observing a Film 101 class and a Film 215 (screenwriting) class. The trip from Manhattan to Stony Brook can be as much as two hours long so it's not easy to get out there. Also, not sure if I mentioned this already but this is a 9:30am class -- oof, will be glad when its over.
Acting for Directors - I had to act in two scenes with other classmate-actors for this class. Both included a zoom rehearsal and a blocking rehearsal. I don't like acting that much but I know that doing so will make me a better director. I did a scene from WALKING AND TALKING and even wore a wig.
Cinematography - The first three classes were technical exercises then the final three classes were test shoots for our Production 1 shorts. This class met from 11am-5pm on Saturdays and is now over. I was not happy on the first day of this class because I have no plans to become a cinematographer. But I survived.
Looking ahead I have two main quests and two side quests.
Main Quest #1 --- Produce/Direct my 9 minute short film SLEEPING MOTHER (this includes rehearsals and pre-pro meetings)
Main Quest #2 --- Secure a paid TA position at Stony Brook next semester (this includes creating a Teaching Statement and a Film 101 Syllabus)
Side Quest #1 --- Rewrite the first act of the feature version of TASTE. This is a side quest because I know I'll have much more bandwidth to work on it over the summer.
Side Quest #2 --- Cast and direct a scene for my Acting for Directors class.
So, that's what I'll be working on for the next 7 weeks in addition to crewing on 5 more short films on the weekends.
I really feel like I'm learning and that this is a good investment of my time.
Wish me luck.
