Support Arkansas Director's Film "Last Summer"

Friend, collaborator and fellow NYU alumn Mark Thiedeman has a new feature in the works. If you believe in filmmaking, LGBT issues, or simply supporting the dream of an artist, please help out with funding!

I had the pleasure of working with Mark on his short fillm, "Swimsuit," which played a few years ago at NewFest. "Last Summer" is already generating buzz from sites like IndieWire. Don't miss this chance to be a part of a wonderful project, from someone who still believes that small budgets can still make a great film!

Click the widget to find out more, and be sure to check out his earlier works!

The Films of 2010, and How I Got There

As featured on my blog interrobang‽:

It occurred to me a few weeks ago, upon finally realizing the end of 2010 and the beginning of a new year, that I have watched a lot of films within 12 months.

As a former film student and production-seeking career girl (I can't really say I'm in film until my paycheck says so - advertising, I'm afraid, does not count), this should not be surprising. Nevertheless, it is.

My taste (and experience) in the art of watching films has transformed exponentially over the last few years of my life. Obviously, my NYU film courses were the first major transition from watching movies purely for entertainment to analysis of the film craft. I had always admired filmmaking from afar, thanks to my mother's long-standing awe of classic films and Simpsons parodies. And there were always the TV movies, childhood movies, and summer blockbusters that one fixates on amidst boring suburban life. These were always, for the most part, from one of the following categories:

• Classics Films before 1970 
• Oscar nominees 
• Movie Premieres on network television 
• Disney 
• Excuses to go to a movie theater 
• Action Flicks 
• Childhood Favorites

I had never seen an art house film (nor were they part of my regular vocabulary), and indie flicks had not yet assumed the norm. My parents and friends didn't know of any, so neither did I. And besides - I was content with my list, entertaining no other possibility for film other than the usual plot-driven, dramatic/comedy/action/thriller I had grown to love and aspired to make. Under no circumstances did this include horror films - why, it took me years just to sit down to watch Jurassic Park without peeing my pants.

Cue the harsh slap-in-the-face that is film school. Some fellow classmates didn't think I had the knowledge for it. Maybe I didn't - but wasn't that the point of learning?

It was humbling to see that the art of film was not so black and white, as it had seemed; there were some films that never made it to the Oscars, but were admirable nonetheless. There were short films that only showed at festivals, B films and C films, films done for art-sake and films done for the hell of it. Some "stories" focused on character development only, while others seemed to be about nothing at all. I finally got to watch some of the breakout and cult films of the first 14 years of my life that I was never privy to, simply because I wasn't considered mature enough to watch them at the time: films like Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas, and Clerks, which was shot less than 10 minutes from my house.

At this point, one can revel in the discovery of so many new realizations, or curse themselves for being the idiot who hadn't come about this knowledge earlier. I fell for the latter, mainly because I was 17, on my own, and full of fun emotional drama.

It's taken since that first year of college to really get the courage to dip my toes into the pool of films I dared not touch before. I have to thank my professors first, and my friends after, for introducing me to them, as I trembled, unworthy. A few of them worked at the old TLA Video on 8th Street before it closed down, and each had their own specialty of favorites within the film world. If I attempted to describe each of their tastes in three words, they would be:

MARK: Brooding, Foreign, Cannes

JAMES: Character, Epic, Journeys

JOSH: Cult, Offbeat, Horror

Though there were many instances of shock and awe throughout my education, one that stands out the most as something that stuck with me quite indefinitely was The Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky.

 This is not the type of film I would have gone to on my own - I had never heard of either the director or the title, but apparently it was big enough to be shown at IFC at midnight frequently. They insisted I go, and it being my college years, why the hell not? However, I was not ready for the symbolic imagery barrage with each chanting, triangle-trilled, vibrational-pulsed moment. Quite frankly, it was the strangest film I had ever seen, but I could not look away. And I could not stop thinking about it afterward. I've seen it three times since then, and have even written an entire thesis paper on its subject of religious symbolism. That's more intellectual fodder than Forrest Gump could ever provide.

Watching "Daisies" in Prague had a similar effect; I knew it must be laden with meaning; but even aside from that it was a rhythmic poem that replayed in my mind. And so since then, many fascinating films have crossed my eyes and riddled my eardrums - even, I must admit, horror films. Ryan has done a good job of forcing me to sit through them, and I can't say that I'm not grateful (though I could do without the occasional shocking scare that streaks my hair grey and inflicts possible stomach ulcers.)

The point in all of this, of course, being that traveling, meeting others and experiencing life as a more mature (but let's not get carried away), open-minded individual has given me the chance to really appreciate a film on a deeper level.

That said, I'd still take Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles any day. You can't become too pretentious, you know.

OH, THE FILMS I HAVE WATCHED: 2010

• Labyrinth, Jim Henson (1986) 
• Made in the USA, Jean-Luc Godard (1966) 
• The Short Films of Al Jarnow, Al Jarnow (2010)
• Shutter Island, Martin Scorcese (2010) 
• Suburban Commando, Burt Kennedy (1991)
• District 9, Neil Blomkamp (2009)
• Kamikaze GirlsTetsuya Nakashima (2004) 
• Dolls, Stuart Gordon (1987)
• Day of the Dead, Steve Miner (2008)
• Mr. Booogedy, Oz Scott (1986)
• Hot Tub Time Machine, Steve Pink (2010)
• Iron Man 2, Jon Favreau (2010) 
• Metropolis, Fritz Lang (1927)
• Best Worst Movie: Troll 2, Michael Stephenson (2009)
• Possessed ["Bool-sin-ji-ok"], Lee Yong-ju (2009)
• Tetsuo: The Bullet Man, Shinya Tsukamoto (2009) 
• Brazil, Terry Gilliam (1985)
• The Tenant, Roman Polanksi (1976)
• Diva, Jean-Jacques Beineix (1981)
• Performance, Donald Cammell & Nicolas Roeg (1970)
• Daisies, Vera Chytilová (1966) 
• The Mist, Frank Darabont (2007) 
• Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General, Michael Reeves (1968) 
• A Town Called Panic, Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar (2009) 
• The Naked Kiss, Samuel Fuller (1964) 
• The Fearless Vampire Killers, Roman Polanski (1967)
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Edgar Wright (2010) 
• It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine!, David Brothers & Crispin Glover (2007)
• I Sell the Dead, Glenn McQuaid (2008)
• Simon: King of the Witches, Bruce Kessler (1971)
• The Skull, Freddie Francis (1975) 
• Enter the Void, Gaspar Noé (2009) 
• The Social Network, David Fincher (2010)
• The Gate, Tibor Takács (1987)
• [REC], Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza (2007)
• The Red Shoes, Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger (1948)
• Polyester, John Waters (1981)
• Solaris, Andrey Tarkovskiy (1972) 
• Nosferatu the Vampyre, Werner Herzog (1979)
• Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola (1979)
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, David Lynch (1992)
• The Kingdom ["Riget"], Lars von Trier (TV Series - 1994)
• The Road, John Hillcoat (2009)
• Paris, Texas, Wim Wenders (1984)
• Days of Heaven, Terrence Malick (1978)
• The Exploding Girl, Bradley Rust Grey (2009)
• Four Flies On Grey Velvet, Dario Argento (1971)
• Krull, Peter Yates (1983)
• Summer Wars, Mamoru Hosoda (2009)
• Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky (2010)
• Fritz the Cat, Ralph Bakshi (1972)
• Tentacles, Ovidio G. Assonitis (1977)
• Heavy Metal, Gerald Potterton (1981)
• Innerspace, Joe Dante (1987)

Post-Production News on Thesis Film

Just updated the "Cereal for Dinner" site with news on audio work:

"Let's just say, my last view of the edit with Corey's most recent sound design and mix work left me feeling on the edge of my seat - much like I hope an audience would!

I could feel all the tension and the anticipation of every scene - it is by far the best shape it's been in since the initial edit, and I am excited to get cracking on the music and final touches so that I can share it with all of you!"

 Check out the site, and also the theme music created by Ryan Haupt here!

"Sounds" Promising!

 

An exciting news update from the official website of my short film, "Cereal for Dinner":

Before I update you on "Cereal's" status, just want to thank everyone again for their EXTREME patience - it's not easy to finish a film, let alone start one. And if you're still visiting this site and looking forward to seeing "Cereal for Dinner" reach it's completion, I am indebted to your support and understanding.

I have been trying to get an engineer to work on the film's audio design and mix for a few months now; however, due to budget constraints and lack of time, I was unable to find someone to commit. Enter fellow filmmaker, cinematographer, and editor, Corey Snyder, who flew in to save the day!

Since Friday, after a meeting to discuss the goals, Corey has been working on mixing the voices in the edit, to make sure everything sounds level, crisp and clear. The next steps will be the hardest: layering sound effects and music along with the voices to create an atmosphere that will bring "Cereal for Dinner" to life.

A big thanks to Corey; be sure to check out his other work here!
And stay tuned as we get closer to the premier of the film. I'm excited to finally bring the finished product to everyone!

New "Cereal for Dinner" Site!

Good news: my NYU 16mm thesis film, "Cereal for Dinner" (formerly titled "Day of Embers") is nearing its post-production completion!

It's been a long time coming, and I appreciate everyone's patience as we work on the finishing touches of sound and color correction. This site is a way of paying my respects to a group of fantastic people that have helped in so many ways to make this film happen.

So, without further adieu, I invite you to visit "Cereal for Dinner's" official website! Here you'll find everything on the "Cereal" world:

• Trailer
• Production Stills
• Schedule
• Film Supporters
• Cast/Crew
• Updates on the Film's Progress

Later on, we hope to keep track of film festival entries, as well as premieres. In addition, I have added links to our crew's professional websites, so you can check out what else they've been up to.

Please feel free to leave comments, ask questions or leave suggestions about things that can be added to the site. And most of all, thank you once again for your ongoing faith in the film: it's a long journey, but it's worth the time. I hope you will agree.

Help Amos Poe Make His Next Film!

My former professor, inspirational mentor and good friend, Amos Poe (hope you aren't discouraged that I've elevated our relationship to this status, Amos, but we have been through flaming lawnmowers and sprained feet in Florence ^^), has a new project on the horizon....and he needs our help!

"As some of you may know, Amos Poe is one of the leading figures of the no wave cinema movement and is considered by many to be the father of the modern indie American cinema. (see Celine Danhier's "Blank City"). His films include: "The Blank Generation", "Unmade Beds", "The Foreigner", "Subway Riders", "Alphabet City", "Rocket Gibraltar", "Frogs For Snakes", "Steve Earle:Just An American Boy" and "Empire II".

His current project LA COMMEDIA di Amos Poe is inspired by Dante Alighieri’s 700 year-old literary masterpiece “La Divina Commedia” and Edward Muybridge’s 19th century breakthrough “The Horse In Motion”, arguably the first “motion picture”.

The key element of this film is the idea of a journey in motion, a pattern of events. Amos and Dante are two “travelers” in the middle of their years that have to confront themselves while undergoing a mid life crisis. "In the middle of my years I found myself in a dark wood..." so begins The Inferno." (Excerpt from KickStarter page)

(Also, our friend JR Skola at Dawn of Man Productions is involved as well!)

Be an official backer of "La Commedia"!

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!

Works on 16mm

Back at NYU: Tisch, I took a semester of 16mm Filmmaking with professor Rick Litvin. They were shot with a crew of four (a rotating crew of Director, Cinematographer, Sound, & Gaffer), in whatever locations were available, and with whatever props we had ready, on a chunky, German Arri camera.

Here are some of my works, in order from earliest to latest:

"Lost in the Library" 2005

A little girl gets finds herself separated from her sister on a trip to the library, shot in the eerie NYU Bobst Library. My favorite of the 16mm shorts.

CAST
Michelle Coughlin
Lili Stromberg

"Rain Shower" 2005
One of the more experimental films I've done (I'm not very good at them). I had this idea during a peculiarly rainy week, of a girl fainting/dreaming in the shower.

CAST
Tara Rose Stromberg

"Waiting for Dad" 2005
Time passes slowly when you're waiting for dad to get home safe and sound.

CAST
Ceri Stromberg
Lili Stromberg
Jim Stromberg
Tara Stromberg

"Changing Season" 2005
I like this Stranglers song, so I just sort of came up with some images - half film, half drawn - to go with it. It was shot in New Jersey's Longstreet Farm, where I used to volunteer.

CAST
Michelle Coughlin

Animation: My Early Years

I have always wanted to work on animated films. When I first went to NYU, with two years of 3D animation experience in Lightwave already under my belt, I was ready to make it a career. But juggling animation and film proved difficult, and I was forced to make a choice.

Perhaps if I had had time to refine my drawing skills, I could have been swayed. Anywho, here's a look at my works, dating all the way back to high school....

"SuperClip" 3D (Lightwave)
Went into my NYU admissions portfolio (I did the staple remover scenes; it would have taken three days to light the rest. Ahhhh, animation in the old days...)

"Legend of the Selke" 2D (Flash)
My first 2D animation in high school, also in my portfolio. Yeahhh, I sorta rushed it at the end.

"Zortian Tests" 2D (Handrawn)
And thus began my NYU: Ticsh education: My first hand drawn animations, using my favorite character, the zortian.

"Cut Out Animation" 2D (Stop Motion)
We had to make puppets from 2d elements and make a short stop motion. I decided to make it not-boring.

"Bugs Bunny" Behind the Pencil" 2D (After Effects)
My final animation thesis, based on a script I wrote with my friend Paul in H.S. Spanish class, which parodied VH1's "Behind the Music." It's a little too long, so bear with me.

NYU 1st Run Film Fest

Alas, I was not able to see all of the films (maybe if some people had TOLD me ^.^;;), but I did make the 7pm Sunday, April 29th showing of four films, including this Bollywood musical/comedy (which was entertaining, funny and genuine):



Arranged"/Suraj Das
(Starring friend, and former Prague film colleague, Nardeep Khurmi, and edited by friend and Florence-colleague, Asal Hejazi!)

Also saw good ol' Amos there, back from Italy, and in his trademark fedora. Sadly, Nardeep, the star of "Arranged" wasn't there, and I didn't get to look around for anyone I knew, but I'm proud of you all and hope to god I can get my film done soon!