Another day, another page in the diary of Iggy's Quest! Today's blog entry calls for a little bit of reader participation, so maneuver your mouse on over to the "comment" button and wait for my signal.
I've realized over the past few months, as I've started to really analyze films, that I really don't know much about how to make a really good movie. Alfred Hitchcock once said that to make a great film, you need three things: the script, the script and the script. I think he's got a point-- actually, that's one of my favorite movie-related quotes. However, the real truth is that you need a lot more than just a script. A lot of different elements have to come together, in subtle ways, to really make a classic.
I don't expect myself to ever reach that level... but I can aim for it.
So, my awesome readers, if you can spare a couple minutes, give this a shot. Name your favorite movie-- or if you can't pick one, name one of your favorites-- and give the reason why you believe it's a great movie. If you can think of a particular scene or character to use as an example, go for it. Again, this is all for my own selfish benefit, so really try to get into it. Four to six paragraphs would be ideal.
In reality though, a sentence or two will do.
And so you don't feel alone I'll do one too! (Mine will be longer than yours, probably)
My favorite movie is probably still Pulp Fiction. I just can't get over how good the script is, and how unique. The bizarre structure somehow ends up seeming completely natural and flows with the arc of the story (non-story?) My favorite scene is probably the intro, when Jules and Vincent bust into Brett's apartment. Really, really smart writing by Quentin Tarantino, from the good old days back before he went completely nuts with kung-fu homages and stylistic mishmashes (a la Kill Bill). And Samuel L. Jackson gives the badass performance of his career.
"I don't remember asking you a god-damn thing!"
Ahhhhhh. Classic!
I almost feel like I can't quote a single line from that scene without quoting the entire back-and-forth dialogue. It's so brilliant as a whole. Go back and watch it-- the tension escalates subtly, almost underneath the spoken words, but it works to create an extremely intense payoff. I honestly can't think of a better-written scene in any movie I've ever viewed, and the actors completely carry it off.
(edit: i can't believe i forgot to post the clip! whoops)
Ok, now... your turn.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
and we're back
Hi everybody. It's Iggy-- back on the blog wagon again. Regular updates are on their way.
You remember how I said I wanted to make a short film this summer, right?
Well, I apparently didn't account for the fact that I've never even come close to making a short before. Not even for a school project.
I also failed to account for Southern California's weather, which has been sunny and rainless for months. Originally my plan was to work around that by shooting in the early morning, when a marine layer should still be overhead-- but it's actually too hot for a marine layer this month. I've barely even encountered that before.
My script called for two-- TWO-- locations: a toy store and a shoe store. I went into a couple of stores around my neighborhood and asked if I could film there. They said "NO" so quickly, and so decisively, the force of the word itself blew me back out the front door and into the street. I guess there are corporate policies against things like that. Maybe they thought I was going to film all their secret, illicit shoe deals and sell the tape on the black market.
So I changed the script, and changed my plans. I'll have to find a reasonable facsimile of a shoe-store counter, so that I don't have to shoot in an actual store... and I'm changing the toy store into a pizza place. Why? If I told you that, I'd have to kill you. (Let's just say I work with what I'm given.)
Then I went up to the Los Angeles area to get a camera from my old boss. Turns out he didn't have the professional camera that day-- so he loaned me his personal camcorder. Extremely nice gesture on his part, but it definitely isn't a pro camera. I'll still get some good use out of it, though.
And on top of all that, I now have some severe scheduling conflicts that might mean I can't shoot the damn thing until September.
So basically, I fail at making a movie. Oh, don't worry-- it WILL BE DONE. But it won't be done soon.
I was hoping to do it in August, so that I'd have time to edit and then release it before summer's end. But a fall release isn't too bad. It's closer to Oscar season, so that's a plus. I should start it with a big "For Your Consideration" label.
Now then... Anybody know of any good production jobs?
You remember how I said I wanted to make a short film this summer, right?
Well, I apparently didn't account for the fact that I've never even come close to making a short before. Not even for a school project.
I also failed to account for Southern California's weather, which has been sunny and rainless for months. Originally my plan was to work around that by shooting in the early morning, when a marine layer should still be overhead-- but it's actually too hot for a marine layer this month. I've barely even encountered that before.
My script called for two-- TWO-- locations: a toy store and a shoe store. I went into a couple of stores around my neighborhood and asked if I could film there. They said "NO" so quickly, and so decisively, the force of the word itself blew me back out the front door and into the street. I guess there are corporate policies against things like that. Maybe they thought I was going to film all their secret, illicit shoe deals and sell the tape on the black market.
So I changed the script, and changed my plans. I'll have to find a reasonable facsimile of a shoe-store counter, so that I don't have to shoot in an actual store... and I'm changing the toy store into a pizza place. Why? If I told you that, I'd have to kill you. (Let's just say I work with what I'm given.)
Then I went up to the Los Angeles area to get a camera from my old boss. Turns out he didn't have the professional camera that day-- so he loaned me his personal camcorder. Extremely nice gesture on his part, but it definitely isn't a pro camera. I'll still get some good use out of it, though.
And on top of all that, I now have some severe scheduling conflicts that might mean I can't shoot the damn thing until September.
So basically, I fail at making a movie. Oh, don't worry-- it WILL BE DONE. But it won't be done soon.
I was hoping to do it in August, so that I'd have time to edit and then release it before summer's end. But a fall release isn't too bad. It's closer to Oscar season, so that's a plus. I should start it with a big "For Your Consideration" label.
Now then... Anybody know of any good production jobs?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
anybody still here?
Just to show you guys I haven't totally abandoned this place-- here's a little essay I just wrote. Maybe to kick myself in the ass more than anything else.
I promise I'm going to reboot the quest. And it'll be sooner than you think.
"Bushisms"
How does it feel to watch your life pass you by?
I used to have one of those 365-day desk calendars next to my computer. "365 Bushisms". It was a gift from my uncle-- he's the type of guy who still gets his yuks from the daily Garfield. He thought it would give me a chuckle. I'm sure you've seen them before. They weren't even current in 2002. That's not why I got rid of it-- although that's a pretty damn good reason.
No, I got rid of it because it was too convenient of a metaphor. On a Tuesday I would rip Monday's page off the calendar, crumple it up and chuck it into the trash. Then on Wednesday, I'd rip Tuesday's page off and throw it away. Pretty soon there was a mound of balled-up Bushisms in my trash bin. And every day I would look into that bin and think about how many days I'd thrown away.
I'm a writer. Or at least, that's what I tell people. I'd certainly like to be a writer. I can't imagine anything better than waking up at noon, lounging around all day and tapping out a few hours' worth of garbage for a team of editors to pore through and rewrite, and getting paid for it. After all I already have the lounging-around part down pat, and sometimes I even wake up AFTER noon, so I guess you could call me an overachiever. But the funny thing about being a writer-- occasionally you have to write.
There's still a big pile of old forgotten calendar pages in my trash bin. One wasted day reads, "'My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions.' -George W. Bush"
Well, I'm a decision-maker too. Today I decided I'm not going to let these missed chances haunt me anymore. I'm going to start something-- something BIG. But first I'm going to empty the trash.
Haven't really gotten around to it yet, though.
But I will. Oh, I will.
I promise I'm going to reboot the quest. And it'll be sooner than you think.
"Bushisms"
How does it feel to watch your life pass you by?
I used to have one of those 365-day desk calendars next to my computer. "365 Bushisms". It was a gift from my uncle-- he's the type of guy who still gets his yuks from the daily Garfield. He thought it would give me a chuckle. I'm sure you've seen them before. They weren't even current in 2002. That's not why I got rid of it-- although that's a pretty damn good reason.
No, I got rid of it because it was too convenient of a metaphor. On a Tuesday I would rip Monday's page off the calendar, crumple it up and chuck it into the trash. Then on Wednesday, I'd rip Tuesday's page off and throw it away. Pretty soon there was a mound of balled-up Bushisms in my trash bin. And every day I would look into that bin and think about how many days I'd thrown away.
I'm a writer. Or at least, that's what I tell people. I'd certainly like to be a writer. I can't imagine anything better than waking up at noon, lounging around all day and tapping out a few hours' worth of garbage for a team of editors to pore through and rewrite, and getting paid for it. After all I already have the lounging-around part down pat, and sometimes I even wake up AFTER noon, so I guess you could call me an overachiever. But the funny thing about being a writer-- occasionally you have to write.
There's still a big pile of old forgotten calendar pages in my trash bin. One wasted day reads, "'My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions.' -George W. Bush"
Well, I'm a decision-maker too. Today I decided I'm not going to let these missed chances haunt me anymore. I'm going to start something-- something BIG. But first I'm going to empty the trash.
Haven't really gotten around to it yet, though.
But I will. Oh, I will.
Friday, July 18, 2008
blehhech
Blogging in a vacuum is no fun.
Back in my high school heyday I had a LiveJournal, and I can guarantee that as much of a grade-school vibe that website had, it got way more traffic and commenting than this little corner of the web. I had a bunch of friends that did the same, and it was always much more fun to read what they had to say than blab endlessly by myself.
Which is what I've pretty much been doing on Blogspot. Yeah... Not exactly what I had in mind.
I'll keep this place updated occasionally, so that you three-or-four readers know what's going on with everything. To be honest, aside from the little Youtube project I'm working on, there's really nothing to report.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
By the way-- The Dark Knight kicked serious ass. GO SEE IT. Seriously.
I'm serious.
<3 "Iggy"
Back in my high school heyday I had a LiveJournal, and I can guarantee that as much of a grade-school vibe that website had, it got way more traffic and commenting than this little corner of the web. I had a bunch of friends that did the same, and it was always much more fun to read what they had to say than blab endlessly by myself.
Which is what I've pretty much been doing on Blogspot. Yeah... Not exactly what I had in mind.
I'll keep this place updated occasionally, so that you three-or-four readers know what's going on with everything. To be honest, aside from the little Youtube project I'm working on, there's really nothing to report.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
By the way-- The Dark Knight kicked serious ass. GO SEE IT. Seriously.
I'm serious.
<3 "Iggy"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
what, no "meet the spartans"?
Alright ladies and germs, it's time for another first on this blog. Instead of giving you a daily update on my short film's status-- since there's pretty much nothing going on with it today-- I'm going to go in a completely new, unprecedented direction. It's time for:
Iggy's Top 5 Movies of 2008 1/2!
Yes, that's right. I'm going to list my top five movies of the first half of '08.
By the way-- this is a tangent, but I've always been curious-- when this decade is over, how are people going to refer to it? We had the 70's, the 80's, the 90's, and now... the aughts? The Zeroes? The "2000's"? That can't be right. We're the first decade of the new millennium, and we don't even have a cool name. What if we just go with "The First Decade of the New Millennium"? That's a proud title. Unwieldy, maybe, but also extremely descriptive.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Movies.
A quick warning: This list is pretty thin, by anyone's standards. There haven't been many good movies to come out so far this year. Usually studios reserve the best films for the end of the year, so that they're in a better position to win Oscars in February. That being said, there are still some movies that are worth being recognized-- so here we go!
5. Wanted
Great action movie, with a pretty good sense of humor. I know I blasted it a few days ago for being unoriginal, but honestly, what movie these days isn't? And if you're going to emulate other films (Matrix, Fight Club), you might as well emulate some of the best.
4. Get Smart
I really liked this movie. It was full of slapstick and classic humor, and Steve Carell just cements his reputation as a comedic genius. He has such impeccable timing and delivery, I found myself laughing every minute he was onscreen. Carell's performance turned a forgettable action-comedy into a memorable one.
3. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Judd Apatow can do no wrong. He's the Pixar of comedy. Forgetting Sarah Marshall was a good example of how solid writing, and a sympathetic lead performance by Jason Segel, elevates an Apatow production above all the Semi-Pros and Old Schools of the world. Check this one out on DVD if you missed it in the theater-- which you probably did, because it didn't make much money.
2. Iron Man
On the flip side, most of you have probably seen this movie already, and chances are you liked it as much as I did. I've always dug Robert Downey Jr. and I would recommend Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang if you liked his character in Iron Man. There's not much more to say about this movie, though, because even though I really liked it, it was absolutely blown away by my #1 film of the half-year...
1. Wall-E
In a way, Pixar is the Judd Apatow of computer-animated films. They can do no wrong. With Wall-E, they not only raised the bar, they strapped a rocket booster to the bar and launched it into the ionosphere. This film is a triumph in every category-- concept, animation, sound, acting (mostly by Ben Burtt, who conveys incredible emotion through bloops and bleeps), and overall execution. Wall-E is a modern-day Charlie Chaplin, and the movie is imbued with the same sense of curiosity and simplicity that he has himself. There are some breathtaking sequences, particularly a little "Soarin' Over California" section in space that is as beautiful and satisfying as anything Pixar has ever produced. The entire film blew me away. What else can I say? It's an instant classic.
So there's my top five.
However, I'm going to see The Dark Knight tonight... and if advance reviews are any indication, I'll need to make some room on the list. God, I'm excited for that movie.
Iggy's Top 5 Movies of 2008 1/2!
Yes, that's right. I'm going to list my top five movies of the first half of '08.
By the way-- this is a tangent, but I've always been curious-- when this decade is over, how are people going to refer to it? We had the 70's, the 80's, the 90's, and now... the aughts? The Zeroes? The "2000's"? That can't be right. We're the first decade of the new millennium, and we don't even have a cool name. What if we just go with "The First Decade of the New Millennium"? That's a proud title. Unwieldy, maybe, but also extremely descriptive.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah. Movies.
A quick warning: This list is pretty thin, by anyone's standards. There haven't been many good movies to come out so far this year. Usually studios reserve the best films for the end of the year, so that they're in a better position to win Oscars in February. That being said, there are still some movies that are worth being recognized-- so here we go!
5. Wanted
Great action movie, with a pretty good sense of humor. I know I blasted it a few days ago for being unoriginal, but honestly, what movie these days isn't? And if you're going to emulate other films (Matrix, Fight Club), you might as well emulate some of the best.
4. Get Smart
I really liked this movie. It was full of slapstick and classic humor, and Steve Carell just cements his reputation as a comedic genius. He has such impeccable timing and delivery, I found myself laughing every minute he was onscreen. Carell's performance turned a forgettable action-comedy into a memorable one.
3. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Judd Apatow can do no wrong. He's the Pixar of comedy. Forgetting Sarah Marshall was a good example of how solid writing, and a sympathetic lead performance by Jason Segel, elevates an Apatow production above all the Semi-Pros and Old Schools of the world. Check this one out on DVD if you missed it in the theater-- which you probably did, because it didn't make much money.
2. Iron Man
On the flip side, most of you have probably seen this movie already, and chances are you liked it as much as I did. I've always dug Robert Downey Jr. and I would recommend Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang if you liked his character in Iron Man. There's not much more to say about this movie, though, because even though I really liked it, it was absolutely blown away by my #1 film of the half-year...
1. Wall-E
In a way, Pixar is the Judd Apatow of computer-animated films. They can do no wrong. With Wall-E, they not only raised the bar, they strapped a rocket booster to the bar and launched it into the ionosphere. This film is a triumph in every category-- concept, animation, sound, acting (mostly by Ben Burtt, who conveys incredible emotion through bloops and bleeps), and overall execution. Wall-E is a modern-day Charlie Chaplin, and the movie is imbued with the same sense of curiosity and simplicity that he has himself. There are some breathtaking sequences, particularly a little "Soarin' Over California" section in space that is as beautiful and satisfying as anything Pixar has ever produced. The entire film blew me away. What else can I say? It's an instant classic.
So there's my top five.
However, I'm going to see The Dark Knight tonight... and if advance reviews are any indication, I'll need to make some room on the list. God, I'm excited for that movie.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
gallery of progress
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, here's a few "thousand words" about my rain machine-in-progress...
This was our high-tech sawing table. Yep-- two nasty, dirty old plastic chairs. They were new at some point... roughly 1972, to be exact.
The frame.
The other half of the project, to be put onto the frame on Friday. But first I have to drill a bunch of little holes in it, so that it will shoot water out at random intervals, and hopefully, that will turn out looking something like rain.
And finally...
Here's me, looking ferocious after a long couple hours in the sun.
So with the rain machine half-finished, my other job for today was to call my former boss and ask for a professional camera. He was really generous and agreed to let me borrow a camera for a weekend. Considering I was expecting to pay upwards of $100 to rent a pro's camera for one day, this is a pretty big coup. I knew that internship would count for something.
I figure I can buy a plastic tarp to cover it if conditions are rainy.
Now the next step is to start scouting locations.
If you want to come help me scout, you're invited.
This was our high-tech sawing table. Yep-- two nasty, dirty old plastic chairs. They were new at some point... roughly 1972, to be exact.
The frame.
The other half of the project, to be put onto the frame on Friday. But first I have to drill a bunch of little holes in it, so that it will shoot water out at random intervals, and hopefully, that will turn out looking something like rain.
And finally...
Here's me, looking ferocious after a long couple hours in the sun.
So with the rain machine half-finished, my other job for today was to call my former boss and ask for a professional camera. He was really generous and agreed to let me borrow a camera for a weekend. Considering I was expecting to pay upwards of $100 to rent a pro's camera for one day, this is a pretty big coup. I knew that internship would count for something.
I figure I can buy a plastic tarp to cover it if conditions are rainy.
Now the next step is to start scouting locations.
If you want to come help me scout, you're invited.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
plan 10?
Hey boils and ghouls. Iggy here.
After crying myself to sleep last night, and after eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's and watching old Cary Grant movies with "the girls", I think I'm on the road to recovery from acute self-doubt. Film is a tough business, and no one will sugarcoat things in Hollywood. I need to be ready to accept my own mediocrity, and never stop trying to break through it.
And if I can't, maybe I'll get a job working on Two and a Half Men. (Ouch! Score one for the Iggster!)
So here's my shopping list for tomorrow. (I'm probably going to do most of the rain-machine building work then)
2 1-by-2 inch boards cut 5 feet long Rope
4 eye bolts 25- to 50-foot soaker hose Wood screws 4 1-by-2 inch boards cut 3 feet long 1 plastic hose cap Zip ties
I still have to consult with my engineering friend about what kind of square footage I'll need, which means I might need more boards.
This is really riveting stuff for blogging material, I know. I wish making movies was more interesting. If I could tell you more about the actual plot I would, but I don't want to spoil anything for you guys before the short comes out. It's a fun little story.
Damn it, I just want there to be one rainy day this summer. That's all I fricking need. I don't want to build a massive contraption to fake it, and have the sun obviously shining through the entire scene. I don't want to make a shitty movie, a "Plan 9 from Outer Space" or something.
By the way, you should watch that movie on Youtube. It's hilarious to see how bad a movie can actually be.
After crying myself to sleep last night, and after eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's and watching old Cary Grant movies with "the girls", I think I'm on the road to recovery from acute self-doubt. Film is a tough business, and no one will sugarcoat things in Hollywood. I need to be ready to accept my own mediocrity, and never stop trying to break through it.
And if I can't, maybe I'll get a job working on Two and a Half Men. (Ouch! Score one for the Iggster!)
So here's my shopping list for tomorrow. (I'm probably going to do most of the rain-machine building work then)
I still have to consult with my engineering friend about what kind of square footage I'll need, which means I might need more boards.
This is really riveting stuff for blogging material, I know. I wish making movies was more interesting. If I could tell you more about the actual plot I would, but I don't want to spoil anything for you guys before the short comes out. It's a fun little story.
Damn it, I just want there to be one rainy day this summer. That's all I fricking need. I don't want to build a massive contraption to fake it, and have the sun obviously shining through the entire scene. I don't want to make a shitty movie, a "Plan 9 from Outer Space" or something.
By the way, you should watch that movie on Youtube. It's hilarious to see how bad a movie can actually be.
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