Strictly Personal

This past weekend, Kel and I acted in someone else’s film. It was a big production, at least for a short film. Couple of notes to myself:

• Acting is fun. Especially when the director loves what you are doing. The old adage of “actors work best in conditions that are fun and encouraging” is so true. This was my first time in front of the camera in such an extensive way, so there is a chance that a more seasoned actor would appreciate more criticism. But I doubt it because I think it is such an instinctual thing. Criticism tends to bring out cerebral choices.
• Actors work when the crew is still while crew works when actors are still.
• Acting is so much about paying attention. Not concentration necessarily but attention. Be aware of what is happening in the moment. Don’t stress about it, relax. This worked for me, not sure it would work for every actor or every scene.
• I felt like a baby. Like I needed help. Whether it was simply getting something or even in terms of knowing what to do. Ajit the actor to Ajit the director, help them as much as possible. It is not about attention as the cliche goes.
• I was allowed to play with the character, the most fun. Ask actors to be themselves but having an adventure. Adventure can be substituted with many other words like fun, play, sad…

Can’t wait to do it again. Might take it all back if I look or sound like a moron.

May 2008 was a busy month for us. We were involved in so many productions including some of mine. Here are photos from that busy month.

I spent this past sunday shooting some new scenes and reshooting others for Hello. Sorry. Whatever. I woke up the next morning so elated. I don’t think this has ever happened after a day of shooting. I am usually full of regrets. Mad at myself for this and that. But this time, it worked, I had resources, I had help, I was patient with myself, people were patient with me. And most importantly, the crew had a blast doing it.

Part of this I attribute to my maturity, both as a filmmaker and as a person. The other reason would be the presence of Todd Tinkham, a local filmmaker who played the part of cinematographer for the day. And…and…I had extras!

Lastly, this Obama poster captures what I am trying to say above. Things happen when people come together forcefully for a common goal. Great things.

Designed by Brazilian graphic designer named Daniel Molin. Found here.

Banana Bus won the Best NC short film at the recently concluded All American Film Festival. This might sound silly but the award means a lot. Not sure if the next award will but I feel so encouraged about my work, energized to finish incomplete projects. I also feel much more positive about festivals in general, partially because of the award, largely because I had a great time at the festival.

Undoubtedly, it was a great festival for filmmakers as we got plenty of time to mingle with each other and the audience. But I also think the reason that I enjoyed this festival experience more than previous ones is because I actually spent time there. It felt like an event versus just a blip on my calendar.

P.S. The trailer for Hello. Sorry. Whatever. is available on Squigglebooth.

I have been so tired of working as a freelancer for so long. It seems that I have spent too much time and energy in finding work. My work had no resemblance of structure and I was generally stressed out. However, my patience has been rewarded. On Wednesday, Oct 17th, I start on a full-time position with a company that couldn’t have better fitted my ideal work environment. Small to medium sized company that produces a lot of content. Very edgy content. It is going to be an education. Woohoo!

We finished principal photography for “Hello. Sorry. Whatever.” Kinda depressing in that it is over, a little relief, regrets on how some things went down and excited about what is to be found in editing.

The first day of shooting for my short film “Hello. Sorry. Whatever” begins tomorrow. As I sit here writing this at 11:46pm, I am pretty friggin’ scared. Hoping the extras show up, all the locations that committed remain so, that we are patient to get what we need, that we remain in the moment and so on.

But it is all terribly exciting, how will the process play out, how much did the process bring to the moment. What finds we will make. What works better than we originally planned. Looking for magic.

After almost 3 months of pre-production, it is time to shoot.

- Taking too long editing on Walkthru, a Kathleen Connally documentary that will be on Squigglebooth shortly.
- Finishing up my main site. Sometimes, with things that there is no pressure to finish, I will carry on and on with something. Currently, the only thing left is the “Hype” page but I keep procrastinating. It is simple enough but I am simply not interested. So…
- Checking out locations, finding actors for Hello, Sorry, Whatever — a short to be shot in August. Jim who is producing the short has been wonderful. Different mindset from me but it works.
- Writing for Ticklebooth and Scene Interactive blog. Takes most of my mornings.
- Thinking about starting to write a feature screenplay.
- Thinking about recording my thoughts on audio. Like an audio journal. We’ll see.
- Thinking about what to make for Kelly for anniversary. I usually make a video of some kind.

Got back from Alabama where Kelly’s maternal grandparents live. Apu got some kind of rash around his neck, took him to the vet. Man, is it expensive.

I’ve recently posted Banana Bus on Squiggle. Also, I edited a short doc on Luam, a dance choreographer, for Scene Interactive.

Something that I have been doing a lot of thinking about since I moved from New York city to a small town outside of Raleigh. I have gotten fatter. I socialize less. The restaurants around here are all fast food, unless I go into Cary. Random adventures pop up in less frequency.

However, I get more done because I spend more time at home/ office. There is a space that you call your own. To enjoy your dog, to work on projects. There is room for all of this. Traveling in cars is less stressful than say the subways. But it is clearly less fun.

I think people’s expressions vary from suburbia to urban. Suburban’s smile fully. The city dwellers, however, are more expressive from moment to moment.

I wish there was more of a community feel in the suburbs. I don’t mean the neighborhood community association. I mean like artists coming together. There is not too many of them and they usually work in an insular environment.

Inspired to write this today because of this article.