Back from the City of Traffic.

Hello readers!

Just got back from LA and boy are my lungs black! ;) Actually the weather was quite nice compared to the Bay Area so can't complain too much.

Updates:

As mentioned last week I went to LA to visit my producer Virginia. She has been working on an independent film as a script supervisor. This crew position is critical in helping the director ensure they have shot each scene in it's entirety. As most scenes are shot out of sequence, the script supervisor points out any missing action or lines the director may have missed. The script supervisor is also responsible for continuity. Meaning, making sure if an actor picks up an object in a scene, the script supervisor will point out if the actor accidentally picks it up with the wrong hand during a different take.

Virginia was nice enough to allow me to visit her on the set and I got a great opportunity to see a professional crew work from an excellent vantage point as I was sitting with her and the director the entire shoot. This allowed me to watch an experience director and get ideas and hints as to how I will handle my feature once we start shooting. I even had the opportunity to ask the director for advice for a first time feature film director (like myself) on what to expect from the burden of actual production (essentially, shooting the movie).

The director (I can't name names or the production as a liability issue) advised me to plan well during pre-production. Really use the time to plan your shot lists, not so much as to set them in concrete, but to be best familiar with your material so should something change on the day of the shoot you'll be better prepared. He also advised to basically follow your instincts but to not be afraid to listen to other ideas or options. "Many first time directors," he said, "often second guess themselves but don't act on it because they don't want to appear indecisive. Don't let that pressure stop you from changing your mind. In the end the director is in charge and has every right to change the game plan even if it causes the crew to abandon their efforts to get previous task done.

Lastly, I learned that shooting with two cameras can be a huge advantage for a director. This allows him/her to shoot the scene from more than one angle and depending on the situation could save a lot of time. This is especially helpful and time efficient if the scene being shot is restricted to close ups of the actors and if the lighting can be changed with minimal effort. The moment you change it to wide shots or have to move lights around, having two cameras then becomes a burden. Therefore, I've decided what I need to do with Jon (my DP) is comb the script for scenes we can shoot with two cameras but will not have lighting difficulties.

Mini Short Film Festival

Due to the success of the screening of "Marta's Last Exit" Jon and I are throwing a mini short film festival on December 11th. So if you want to see my latest short movie in a theater screening this is your chance. Also, if you have a short film you'd like an audience to see we're looking for submissions. There's a $10 submission fee and a $20 fee if your film is selected. Tickets to the "Opificer's of Film Festival" will be $12. So please contact me or Jon if you'd like to submit your film or check out the FaceBook link to get more info:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180829541652&index=1

Well that's all for this week. Hope everyone has a belly full of fun and food on Thanksgiving. Until then...

Forward!

-Gustavo

My Movie has a First Name

Hello readers!

Who else is excited about Star Trek being out on DVD and Blu-Ray? Beam me up!

Updates:

Fundraiser Part Deux:

So first and foremost lets talk about the party/fundraiser/premiere on Saturday. About 22 people attended the first public screening of my latest short film "Marta's Last Exit" and I'm confident enough to say that it was a successful screening. Many people were very impressed with what I already knew, the videography from Jon Bowerbank (my DP for the feature) is simply breathtaking.

Also, many people complimented Angelina Leon's (my lead actress for the feature) amazing performance as the troubled teen title character. Everyone agreed her performance was so attention getting yet gracefully subtle. I couldn't agree more.

I feel the screening truly raised the level of excitement and anticipation for the feature to come. I for one am very excited to work with these two people and count myself fortunate to have them on board.

Aside from watching my short we also had appetizers, desserts, and drinks. But what a lot people enjoyed was the raffle. Here's who won

:

Prav Chandrasekaren won his choice of any of two DVD's from my collection I was selling at the event. Christina Giovannetti won a bottle of Sophia rose wine from the Francis Ford Coppola vineyard. Megan Johnson won a $25 gift certificate to Pride of the Mediterranean in Black Hawk. Amanda Gillespie Baker won a $50 gift certificate to Bijan in Walnut Creek

And finally the grand prize winner was Diana Camacho who won $10o gift certificate to Bay Grille in the Berkeley Marina.

Lastly, we had a silent auction where Amanda made out like a bandit by winning the Canon color printer/scanner/fax machine for $40! She also won two bottles of wine from napa valley vineyards for $25! Lucy Chung also made off with the William Sonoma Kitchen set for $30. Anthony Giovannetti won Johnson Bro.'s plate set for $30 and lastly, Prav won the Johnson Bro.'s tea cup set for $40.

Overall we raised just over $500 in profit towards the budget of the feature so thanks to all who came. I also want to thank those of you who knew you wouldn't make it but bought raffle tickets nonetheless. This really does help, but again my goal is to raise $10,000 from donations by the time we start shooting in June. So as of now we're about 10% there!

To help us get to that goal I'm currently planning another event for the very near future. This time Jon Bowerbank will be helping by co-planning a short film festival in San Francisco. We'll be screening "Marta's Last Exit" there for those of you who still want to see it as well as other local entries. We have a tentative date of December 11th or the 12th. So pencil us in on your calenders and here's the link to the Face Book "event" :

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180829541652&ref=nf

Grant Writing:

On Thursday last week I took a one time class on grant writing for filmmakers. It was offered by San Francisco Film Society which I've decided all local filmmakers should become a member of. This class taught me a lot about the preparation for applying to grants. What stuck out most from the class was just how much time an grant application will require. It's not something that can be filled out in an hour or a day.

Also, I learned about fiscal sponsorship. This, in a nutshell, allows filmmakers to collect money either through a grantor like a foundation or big business. And also allows for small time donations from individuals as well. The difference being is that once a film production is granted "fiscal sponsorship" anyone who donates money to that film can essentially write it off on their taxes (I am not an authorized financial planner, please consult with one before heeding this advice). The only problem with fiscal sponsorship (from my understanding of it) is one must be making a film for "non-profit" reasons. However, the teacher also mention a "hybrid" type of fiscal sponsorship which would allow one to receive "non-profit" grants and still attempt to sell the film for profit. But again I hope to get clarification of this by joining the SFFS and applying to their grant program.

Lastly, I learned there's a lot more emphasis for grants to be awarded to documentary films. While I would like to make a documentary one day, my first feature is going to be a narrative and my plan is to continue making narratives until I find a cause and or passion to pursue via a documentary. So this may be a challenge for me but I'm positive I'll be able to get some type of grant, if not for the production budget then definitely for post-production.

And the Winner is....

To say I've been struggling to name my feature would be like saying The Raiders have a hard time winning games, DUH! But alas after a very long trial and error process involving you oh so faithful readers I've come to a final selection. Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting process and also those of you who offered suggestions.

The envelope please. And the winner is....... Love, Concord

While two of my closest friends were adamantly against this title I feel it best encapsulates my feature film's story. This is a love story after all, and the use of Concord as a double entendre becomes clearer once you've read the script and discover more about the lead character Gerry.

So that's it the production has a name. Now allow me to mention that movies constantly evolve until the day they're finally screened and even then they may still change. Therefore, while I'm completely satisfied with this title it could change with a more suiting option I may discover in the editing room. But until then my movie is called Love, Concord.

Well that's all for this week folks. Next week I plan to write about visiting a professional movie set my producer, Virginia, is currently work on as script supervisor.

Have a great week everybody!

Forward!

-Gustavo

Directions to Fundraiser/Screening

Hello readers!

So apparently Google Maps and Mapquest can't find the address to the fundraiser so here's how to get there:

From Highway 4 Eastbound:

Exit San Marco Blvd/Bay Point

Make a right at the off ramp onto San Marco Blvd.

Make your first right at the light onto what should be Leland.

Go straight until the dead end.

Turn right at the dead end. The San Marco Villa office/clubhouse will be in front of the main entrance to the apartment complex.

From Highway 4 Westbound

Exit San Marco Blvd/Bay Point

Make a left at the off ramp onto San Marco Blvd.

Make your first right at the light onto what should be Leland.

Go straight until the dead end.

Turn right at the dead end. The San Marco Villa office/clubhouse will be in front of the main entrance to the apartment complex.

From Concord using Baily Road.

Turn left onto Leland.

Go straight until the dead end.

Turn right at the dead end. The San Marco Villa office/clubhouse will be in front of the main entrance to the apartment complex.

If you get lost or need last minute directions please feel free to call me at 925-980-9461

Hope to see you there!

Forward!

-Gus

Some Words from the DP

Hello readers!

Hope everyone had a great week, let's jump right in.

Updates:

Sound Issues Fixed

I had John Bennett, a production/post-production audio professional work on some of the sound issues for "Marta's Last Exit." In the short amount of time he worked on it he was able to really help shape the sound to a place I'm more comfortable with. I feel it still needs a little tweaking, but I may just be biased. I'll let the audience on Saturday's premiere tell me if I'm being too picky.

This Saturday's Event

Speaking of Saturday! The fundraiser/premiere is still set for this Saturday at 4:30pm. If you'd like to lock in the $10 cover charge please RSVP me via the Evite invitations I sent out, or my email at gguardado@gmail.com. For your connivence you can pay the $10 per ticket cover on the Evite with PayPal. Otherwise it's $15 at the door. Also, don't forget we'll have a silent auction at the event. Up for bidding are a beautiful china set from William Sonoma, a cooking utensil bundle also from William Sonoma, a brand new Canon copier, fax, scanner, printer. And some other possible last minute items. We'll be screening "Marta's Last Exit" a few times throughout the event so come early or come late you'll be able to see it. Hope to see you there!

Going back to LA-LA land.

My producer, Virginia, is currently working on a independent film in LA and has invited me to come visit her on the set. She's going to try to get me some time to speak with the Director of Photography about the "B" camera they're shooting with (a "B" camera simply means a 2nd camera a production uses which usually doesn't have all the bells and whistles the "A" camera would have. It is also some times smaller to better fit into tight spaces), which happens to be the Canon 7D I wrote about in previous blog articles. Hopefully I'll get a chance to meet the director to get some tips for my feature, but in the very least I'll up close to the action and can watch him at work.

The Short List:

Ok folks here's the short list for the final vote for the official title of the production. I want to thank all that voted. I promise this will be the last time so please vote on these selections. Pick one only please. The official title will be announced at the event on Saturday!

1. Un-Concord Love

2. Select Start!

3. First Love Concord

4. 16-Bit Love Story

5. Love, Concord

Well that's all for updates. As promised this weeks article is written by Jonathan Bowerbank, my DP. So I'll leave you with that and the promise of pictures and a recap of the party for next weeks blog entry. Until then take care!

FORWARD!

-Gustavo

Greetings film fans and friends! Jonathan Bowerbank, the film’s DP and co-conspirator here! Gus is hard at work planning the party, so I figured I’d give him a handbrake and type up this weeks blog entry to give you a bit of insight into who I am, what I do, and perhaps what inspires me.

First of all, some background information. Gus and I have known each other since we went to El Dorado Middle School in Concord. Also known as our “traumatic adolescent years”. We had P.E. together, exchanged a few elbows here and there on the basketball court, yet at the time we still really didn’t really know each other all too well. It wasn’t until the summer before our junior year at Concord High we started to really hang out and discover how much we had in common, more importantly, our love for movies. We didn’t always see eye to eye with regards to our opinions on which films were great and which were junk (and we still don’t!), but the difference in taste and an aesthetic appreciation for the art opened up a dialogue for creativity and a drive to someday start making films ourselves.

We were fortuitous enough to be attending the only high school in the district that had an A/V department fully equipped with professional video cameras and editing bays. It was here we found the outlet we sorely needed for bringing our ideas to fruition. We soon began producing short sketch pieces and our moderately popular cop series “SQUAD”. Needless to say, we were both hooked for life.

Not long after graduating high school, we parted ways in search for our own life experiences. Gus pursued his degree in filmmaking, and I took off on my travels to Central America where I lived in Guatemala for two years. It was one of the most inspiring lands I have ever visited, and it has certainly contributed to my own personal perspective on life, peoples’ living situations and world culture today. It also helped me arrive at an acute desire to tell meaningful and truthful stories through the craft of filmmaking, and has given me a keen eye for how I would like to depict this world we live in through honest and/or poetic storytelling.

This is all in addition to my own mental catalog of inspiring films which have helped me to focus on the type of filmmaker I want to be. I soon discovered I wanted to focus on cinematography, which involves nearly every creative and technical aspect of film production. Camera, lighting, set design, etc. For the past few years I have done a lot of Camera Assistant work, which consists mostly of technical duties to make sure a film’s cinematographer can focus on the creative rather than having to worry about the technical issues that can and do arise during any given shoot. I’ve learned from my experience the importance of a solid crew and the advantages that come from working with a group of creative individuals on what is essentially a collaborative art. It truly does take an army.

As with any army, there has to be a General, and Gus has certainly earned his stripes. I’m honored to be one of many he is entrusting to bring his vision to the big screen. I hope this has given you at least a bit more insight into the type of production this is turning out to be. I honestly appreciate any support we gain from you to help us to be able to do what we love, whether it be moral or financial support.

In addition to everything Gus has told you about the film’s influences, I just wanted to include a short list of some of some of the films that have influenced me for this film:

1. “Quinceañera” (2006)
2. “500 Days of Summer” (2009)
3. “Saved!” (2004)
4. “Say Anything” (1989)
5. “Swingers” (1996)
6. “Pretty in Pink” (1986)
7. “Dazed & Confused” (1993)
8. “Almost Famous” (2000)

Until next time, take care, read a book, get to the movie theater and don’t stop doing whatever it is you enjoy doing.

Update Central

Hello Readers!

Saw The Onion Movie this weekend and laughed my ass off! It's on DVD so go rent it. Got a lot of updates so lets dive in.

Updates:

The latest addition to the blog is the helpful little countdown clock in the upper left corner. This clock is relentlessly counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the first day of production. A lot of people ask me "when are you going to start?" Well now you can always have an accurate up to date answer! Plus it's a good motivator for me to not procrastinate on the many big steps I have to take to finally be prepared for day one! Which is 219 days away! Yikes!

The 5th draft is done! Yes it took a month longer than I wanted it to take but it's finally in the can. I realized part way through writing this one how important a scene outline is to the writing process. I hadn't done a scene outline since the 2nd draft, but since this draft had the most significant changes to it since that draft, I realized I couldn't wing it anymore. So I stopped writing and hammered out a scene outline. With that done I breezed through the 5th draft quicker than the pace I was going at without it. Also I should mention, the notes and suggestions my Producer Virginia and Director of Photography (DP) Jon helped tremendously to get this draft to the most efficient and sharpest it's been. Thanks guys!

"Marta's Last Exit" will be getting looked at by a post production audio professional. I'm meeting with him tomorrow to hopefully fix the dialogue issues I'm having and what's kept it from being %100 done. But rest assured it will be ready in time for the event on the 14th. I'm also submitting it to its first festival this week as well. If I get into it, it can automatically be considered for the Academy Awards Short Film category. Wish me a broken leg!

Speaking of the event, I still haven't confirmed the location. But I'm close! So keep posted to the blog and or my FaceBook page as I'll announce it once it's finalized.

Lastly, not many people voted on the various title ideas last week. I could REALLY use your help with this guys. Here's your chance to be part of the creative decision making process of a feature film. So please vote on which titles you like so I can make a top five list for a final vote next week. Again I plan to announce the official title of the production at the fundraiser/premiere on the 14th.

That's it for this week guys. I know I haven't written an article the past couple weeks, but I really had to focus on finishing "Marta's..." and the 5th draft so I promise next week there'll be updates and an article. In fact, my DP Jon Bowerbank, will be writing it!

Until then, go Phillies and have a great week everyone!

Forward!

-Gustavo