Posts Tagged ADR
Working Away
I spent most of the day working away on the film, our website, some emails, and other various things. As I write this a new copy of Standing Firm is rendering and I’ll burn a few copies to send out. Two of to them to two places that have the film already (they have Cut #3, Cut #4 is this one and far superior), and another to someone who doesn’t yet. Vague you say? Sorry 
Confidentiality’s a pain isn’t it? Ah well, either way I can tell you that it feels good to have Standing Firm in the hands of the major faith-based distributors. There aren’t many, so the fact I’m able to send it out and know that it’ll get to the proper people is one heck of an accomplishment for our film. Still praying on distribution and for wisdom that whoever we go with, that we know that it’s the one God wants…and nobody else.
We have people in Africa, Europe, and even Malaysia who’re asking if the movie will be within their reach. That’s pretty mind blowing to me, and shows me that with the proper elbow grease, many more could find out about this movie and be touched by it. I’m really just praying that God takes it all over the place, to every corner of the globe Why not? Psalms 115:3 – “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Hopefully one of the ideas I have for marketing the film will be utilized because not only will it help us spread the word about our film, but everyone who hears about the film (well before we even release the film too) will be able to use it as a resource and a way to work through their suffering and pain (and help others as well). Here’s hoping God takes Standing Firm and milks it for everything it’s spiritually worth!
I updated our home page today for the movie. I really like the other way it looked, because it felt a bit more like a bigger movie’s site. But our film isn’t a big movie, and I need to have useful content readily available as soon as folks visit the site. I like how it looks now, but the bugs to get it working were a pain! No matter, it’s all functional and ready to go Tell me what you think.
I worked on some ADR today too before I hit the render button for the new copies. The scenes that employ the ADR I think will be tough to spot. Right now the ADR is only synced and has basic BG noise under it. None of it has been mixed to sound more legitimate, but that’s ok. That time will come, for now we need a workable copy of the film that can be enjoyed. Still edits to be fixed and such but Cut #4 is definitely the best shape the films been in since we started. I would say we’re close to locking half the film. I just haven’t gone through and given everything a check mark. The last thirty minutes are in excellent shape and will probably be locked first, as well as the first 5 minutes, which has been pretty much locked for months. We’ll see where all this hard work takes us!
I lost the bid for the larger website job this morning but that’s ok. About an hour later I got a random phone call from a guy who wanted some advice and turns out he was looking for a site for their film to help raise money and generate awareness. So hopefully all that can be worked out and I can get that job done. I also landed (I hope) another job later in the day that’s been sitting for a while. I’ve been waiting on some answers and today I got’m. I should find out tomorrow if it’s going to be me or not. Either way both of these jobs should give me another 2.5 months on top of what’s already in the bank which is about a month worth of bills and expenses. That’s how it works…you get one job and then another then another and slowly coast. I think I’ll have to do that for a while. Maybe that’s why none of the larger jobs worked out? Perhaps I’ll need the time in-between to get this film completed for whatever distribution we get? Deliverables are going to be a nightmare as it is, so having the time to do it is a Blessing!
That’s it for now…g’night folks. (it’s 30 degrees outsie also…BRRRR!)
Jeremiah 32:27 – “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for me?”
Beauty & Editing
There wasn’t much to report today, until a movie. For those that know me, they know movies changed my life and continue to do so. Art overall seems hardwired into my skull, like a curse I can’t shake. I say a curse because at times I get taken away with it, to an unhealthy level. I did it during Standing Firm, in the first few months of filming. I let my passion for the best overtake my sleeping habits, eating habits, etc. I became much heavier than I am now, highly stressed, completely fried in every way. I won’t do that again, that’s for sure. Today I got a small taste of what my favorite films of the past had given me, bliss. All of my favorite films either during the entire thing or in many specific moments gave me a sense of wonder I can’t explain. That is the reason I watch them again, to revisit that wonder. You know a film is good when it sucks you in completely. You’re 100% focused on it, every frame is recorded and every sound rings in your ears. Most of the time it’s not just because it’s a brilliantly crafted sequence, but because it holds a specific relatable circumstance that mirrors one of your own. I saw American Beauty today, for the very first time. It was awful and somehow great, dirty and clean, beautiful and at the same time disgusting. One moment in particular amazed me because it fit where my life currently is and fleshed out how I feel. Give it a look:
If you don’t find that speech amazing, there is something wrong with you. I’m that bag, and at the same time I’m the boy filming it. Of course that “force” he speaks of is God and the wind pushing me is his Will. We’re all plastic bags out in the open being thrown about by God’s Will, or in this case…wind. If a filmmaker wants to know what great storytelling is, they need to look at films like this. Not because they are dirty, immoral in almost every way possible, but because the rights within the wrongs and the do’s in-between the don’ts hold the key to what a film really needs to have to be great. For instance, in American Beauty…it’s full of nothing but fornication, wrong behavior, evil people, where 99% of the film shows all these things to be right and honorable. The average Christian would simply turn a film like this off (and granted it’s no kids film) instead of letting the real purpose of the film reveal itself to them. If you reached the end of the film you would see in the last 1% that none of these actions in the end were shown to do anything good for the characters, but instead destroyed everything for them. It’s funny to see Biblical principles about sin expressed in a secular film. The twists within the story were excellent, the performances memorable and the lessons profound and life changing.
I worked on the edit today and nailed down one more question mark scene…the scene in the church. It needed much less than I thought to work well, just some attention that’s all. I’ve basically been working from the outsides in as I’ve tweaked the edit. The last 30 minutes of the film is in excellent shape and is by far the strongest of the film. That makes me feel great because I know that it will end with a bang. The first 30 minutes is strong as well, and the film opens with a visually stimulating sequence that I’m most proud of. I think the opening and the ending are the greatest examples of what I could in the future if I had a bigger budget, and less jobs on set to do. I’m really excited to see what God throws me to work on in the future. That leaves 30 minutes in the center to be worked on in the next week. A lot of it is pretty well off but the very center of the film is where the most work is needed. It includes many scene changes, flashbacks, and some extremely important emotional moments of the film. If the middle doesn’t work, then the opening and beginning don’t mean much. Here’s hoping that everything falls into place. There are two voice overs missing from the film that will need to be recorded as well as a few shots to get. I won’t reveal what they are but they don’t involve any people, just objects. A small addition will be added to the climax of the film, possibly the last shot of the film…to make it twice as good as it is now. We’ll see how it works, and if it doesn’t we’ll keep the original ending which is great to begin with.
That’s about all I have to say on my day. Lots coming down the pike in the next few months, God has been Gracious.
Sunday Revelation
I sat in church today in the back, after greeting with a lot of people. Something I have noticed since I got back from California…I’m so much happier. Not because of where I am, but because of who I am. It’s incredible what one month can do to an individual. I’m a lot more outgoing than I ever have been before. I’m smiling a lot more, and so many other things. Neil Neumann spoke today instead of Pastor Billy who is on vacation. There I sat in my seat listening to this guy preach, a man I’ve known since birth just like many others in our congregation. I’ve said it before, but NFBC is my family. I got pretty teary during Neil’s sermon just looking at him up there giving the Truth loud and hard. I had so much admiration for him while he was up there. I’ve been feeling it since I got home, how much I love this place and how much I love my friends/family. They all mean the world to me, every single one. Pastor, Rich, Neil, Mark (and the rest of the Neumanns), The Ortmans, Brad & Jen, The Larsons, Gary, Cooper (whether he’s here or not), and everyone else that knows me at the church and has for many years. I don’t know if I could ever leave here for good, it would be very hard. I mean seriously who says I have to be somewhere else to make movies? This is a movie depraved community…and state for that matter. Besides New York City nobody really comes to shoot here. Free game in my opinion, mine for the taking if it be God’s Will. Whatever he wants, I’m His.
Kevin came over today and we spoke about the possible future of the film, what we need to do in the next few months, etc. There is a lot to do in a short amount of time with a lot of unknowns that God is going to have to take care of, and he’s pretty good at doing that. We trust Him to take care of the things we can’t do ourselves. Not that we can really truly do anything without his help, but you catch my point. This is all God now, besides what I’m able to do with the edit and a basic sound mix, it’s up to God to do something big to help us complete this film. We’ve known this for a long time. That includes a budget for a score, something we don’t have money for right now. God has control…always does, always did.
When it comes to doing my part on the film, about half the film is in great shape, and the rest is in good shape, with only one scene left that needs some serious attention. I get closer and closer everyday to getting this film where I want it, and I couldn’t be happier.
I read the first 40 pages of The Grace Card today and I have to say I’m extremely excited. I like the characters, I like the story, I like the situations within the first 30 minutes or so of the film, and some of the differences I see in the script that are missing from most Christian films. We’re on the right track to creating something great, I can feel it. As much as I’ve talked about it, I don’t think it’s hit me yet what I’m really about to do. I’m about to head to Memphis in a month and a half to help produce a film of a pretty big budget compared to Standing Firm (which is my first film and that makes this opportunity even more incredible) and add a potentially great film onto my “resume.” That’s a pretty exciting time for someone who is 21. Thank you God for this Blessing. Why He is using me, I don’t know…I’m just along for the ride.
Tomorrow I’ll just continue working on the edit and start working on some of the scenes remaining. Besides the edits I’ve been laying in ADR and doing some basic mixing for the film. I’m also laying in temporary music for every scene I think needs it, giving the film a life it didn’t have before. A scene I added a song into today instantly became 200% better with the music added, as the entire scene was basically visual with a voice over. It’s great to see some of the scenes I had worried about work so well, thank you Jesus.
Things are going well, I’m just taking it one day at a time.
