New Collaboration Video, "Quietly Awake"

Over the weekend, Ryan decided to record some footage with our Flip HD cam; he's been wanting to make sort of a tone poem for awhile now, and while walking in Prospect Park, we decided to just go for it.

"Quietly Awake" 2010

Ryan Haupt

Flip Cam HD

(Edited in iMovie)

CAST
Tara Rose Stromberg

(Yes, the cast is none other than yours truly. I swear, it wasn't my decision! The director was very selective.)

Quietly Awake from Ryan Haupt on Vimeo.

I'd Like to Thank the Academy....for Snubbing Avatar

Staying true to my word, I will be tuning in next year (as if I could ever kill that habit) as Avatar did not completely ruin my Oscar experience. Cameron's snarky face was an eyesore, but I got through the show, and was happy to see his ex-wife bring in the awards for Best Pic and Best Director (a milestone for all female filmmakers everywhere!......even though I didn't get a chance to see her film yet.)

Still, it wasn't as rewarding as the Oscar days of yore. Perhaps I was just easily amused back then, but I feel like the awards were so much more entertaining as a kid. At least I got to spend the night with a bunch of other wise-cracking friends who made the experience much more tolerable. (You can read about my musings here. For here, I'll keep it constructive for the filmies.)

I won't say much, since the internet is being bombarded by people's opinions on the Oscars (and most of them are the same). I WILL say that the one good thing about being disillusioned by the drama surrounding the awards is it makes me realize that winning an Oscar doesn't have to be the only way to prove one's worth in filmmaking. I always believed this was the case; but in reality, the world is not so black and white, and there are many great artists who are never rewarded for their work, or never gain the recognition that comes from winning a coveted Oscar.

If you've got a loyal audience, and most of all a loyal conscience, then you can feel certain that what you've created is indeed a magnificent creation.

Of course, an Oscar wouldn't be so bad either.

Alice For Reals

Just found this gem on my morning blog surf: the world's 1st screen adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland".....over 100 years ago!

This beautiful 35mm B&W was shot only 8 years after the birth of motion picture technology. In the wake of the new Burton "Alice," this is certainly a breath of fresh air. They just don't make 'em like they used to.



Read all about it at BFI, or take a peek at this snippet from YouTube:

"The first-ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale has recently been restored by the BFI National Archive from severely damaged materials. Made just 37 years after Lewis Carroll wrote his novel and eight years after the birth of cinema, the adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, and was based on Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations....

....With a running time of just 12 minutes (8 of which survive), Alice in Wonderland was the longest film produced in England at that time. Film archivists have been able to restore the film's original colours for the first time in over 100 years."

DOE Update: New Title Christened + Music

Just thought I'd pass on the good word that my film DOE ("Day of Embers") has officially been re-titled "Cereal for Dinner."

This was a decision made based on the following:

a.) "Day of Embers" sounds like a post-apocalyptic epic thriller, whilst my film is about two kids, a sprinkler, and a lawnmower that happens to catch fire. It doesn't need the fanfare.

b.) I wanted a title that tied into the childhood theme and that meshed with the message; I was having dinner with Ryan and my producer, Josh, when I started talking about my family (which is what the script was based on) and the fact that we were so chaotic and odd that we used to eat cereal for dinner frequently. A lightbulb appeared over each of our heads, and the title was born.

In addition to re-vamping the title, I have been trying to rework the edit to make it shorter and more engaging. Unfortunately, I can't do any sound design until the edit has been finalized, and it desperately needs it better sound. In some ways I feel this is hindering the actual editing process, but I have no choice but to cut what I can as is.

One thing I have been trying to do to help with the flow is to incorporate some music beforehand to get a feel of where I want it and how it can be utilized to affect the emotions portrayed onscreen. Ryan has put together one main theme to use throughout to represent the kids; it has a very bittersweet, ethereal, summer sound. I am also experimenting with some other songs he's created before that are more fast paced (see original trailer) to hype the energy up for the scenes with the parents arguing and lawnmower climax.

Check out Ryan's new track (and other music) here!