Thanks to Slashfilm.com for reviewing my short documentary — PRINTING BANKSY: Modern Multiples Creates the LA Prints.
Read full review here: www.slashfilm.com
Watch the documentary here:
Printing Banksy (Short Documentary)
Tools of Creation: CANON 1014XL-S (Super 8mm Film Camera)
This is my CANON 1014XL-S camera — one of the best super 8mm film cameras ever produced — with accessories and old film stock. This camera first came to market in 1979. I still get a kick seeing myself on black and white grainy film.
My friends and I often discuss: Is there a future for shooting movies on film?
I think the more important question is: Are the right tools being used to tell the best story possible?
No doubt filmmakers today have many tools at their disposal to realize their vision. And there is no doubt, the digital world has revolutionized independent film making forever. Personally I think filmmakers should utilize any method which best fits their vision and of course, their budget.
Would Lawrence of Arabia be an enduring epic if shot on 16mm film instead of 70mm? Would The Blair Witch Project be as effective and creepy if shot in super hi-def using a RED digital camera? Or would the blunt and edgy humor of Clerks be softened if filmed in color instead of black & white?
All require further discussions, but my point is ART, whatever the form, is a product of its time and a true artist will find a way to share his/her vision which connects to the audience. Who cares what camera was used, what film stock it was shot on or what bit-rate was used to capture the video.
Tell your story the best way you can!
I do have to admit, shooting on film teaches you to be prepared and to shoot wisely. Each foot of film costs money to develop and process. Younger generations growing up in this digital world will lose this discipline and expect to be instantly gratified. (I’m at that age where I can say such things.) Yes, shooting on film teaches you patience and preparedness.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever heard about making movies, besides don’t make a movie with your own money, is: if a problem exists during pre-production, it will exist during production. There is no substitute for being prepared, regardless if you shoot on film or in digital. (In future posts I’ll share more of my production experience with you. Stay tuned…)
Happy film making!
***
Copyright © 2011 by Rob Dragan
Posted in Film, Tools of Creation
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36th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Movie Marathon (SF36)
What: 36th Annual Boston Science Fiction Movie Marathon (SF36)
Where: Somerville Theatre (Boston, MA)
When: February 20-21, 2011
Why: 24 Hours of Movie Madness!
If you love sci-fi movies, there’s only one place to be this Presidents’ Day weekend. Starting at noon on Sunday, Feb. 20., SF36 in Boston blasts off — 24 hours of sci-fi movies: old & new, color & black and white, short & feature-length — movies, movies and more movies! The madness ends Monday, Feb. 21 at noon. It’s a FANTASTIC event!
Unfortunately I will not be in attendance this year, so I may have a rent a bunch of DVD’s and have my own mini movie marathon.
To my friends attending, have a great time. See you next year!
For more information, visit BostonSci-Fi.com.
3-2-1 BLAST OFF!
Posted in Events, Film
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WATCHMEN Opening Credits
Once and awhile, a movie comes along which I hate, but it has moments of brilliance. Zac Snyder’s WATCHMEN, released in 2009, is one of those odd ones.
It’s way too long and for the most part, it’s a bore to watch, especially since it contains way too much exposition. In fact WATCHMEN has become a case study on how to NOT to write a screenplay.
Despite all this, it has one of the best openings of all time thanks to Bob Dylan’s THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’ and super duper slow mo.
Posted in Film
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TIME DROP (An Original Dream & Script)
If you follow my blog, there are two things which you will learn about me. First, I give credit where credit is due. Second, I’m a lucid dreamer where many of my ideas originate. (Lucid dreaming will be one of the topics I’ll discuss more in future posts.)
This original story idea was influenced by an episiode of ROBOTECH, the greatest animated series of all time, followed by GUNDAM. In one episode, the aliens were experimenting with human evolution to determine the best physical body they should possess, starting with the dinosaurs.
I found this concept to be quite intriguing, especially my subconscious. This is the story I dreamt after watching that episode. If you are interested in discussing this idea more, please contact me — digitaldragan@gmail.com. Thanks.
TIME DROP
Synopsis:
To determine the best physical form to inhabit the Earth, a race of time-traveling aliens conduct experiments by possessing bodies of humans who have fallen to their deaths from great heights.
Script (an excerpt):
EXT. A SAN FRANSISCO SKYSCRAPER (Black Monday – October 19, 1987) – DAY
Fifty stories up, PETER SCHMIDT stands at the roof’s edge as his hair blows uncontrollably. His blood shot eyes tear.
He looks down at the street traffic below — ants or souls… who cares? His determination has never been this concrete.
With one step, he begins falling.
RAVICK (Voice Over):
‘I jump, therefore I am’ were the last words Peter Schmidt thought to himself before he leaped. I know this because Peter Schmidt knew this. We know this because we’re always listening, always documenting the steps of your life. That is our jobs.
As Peter Schmidt’s body falls through the air…
RAVICK (Voice Over):
From fifty stories up, the sea salt from the ocean stung his nose. The dense smog burnt his watering eyes. The sun casualty watched his dreams come to an end.
The concrete quickly approaches…
In a flash of light, it’s over.
RAVICK (Voice Over):
We thought we could eliminate the steps in between. We were wrong. Mars proved to be a disaster, so we moved along to your Earth and tried again. Humans… love and pain… we yet don’t understand your existence.
***
Copyright © by Rob Dragan
Posted in Fiction, Screenplays
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