"Just did my bi-weekly catchup on the blog, and man, I can't express how much I enjoy, appreciate, and identify with your writing. I'll have anxieties or worries about certain aspects of trying to make a career and you'll have a whole post putting my mind at ease, another post reminding me how lucky we are, and then another one after that giving me some of the best filmmaking advice I could ask for. It's impossible to visit your blog and come away with anything less than a smile!"
-Jon Sands
Friday, 19 February 2010
Five Question Film School With Writer/Director Scott Prendergast.
Rather than ask questions about where he grew up and what his pets were called, I decided to get straight down to business with first time Writer/Director Scott Prendergast, whose debut feature 'Kabluey' (starring himself, and Friends star Lisa Kudrow) is now available on DVD.
1. What is the one dumb, stupid, silly, idiotic mistake that you made when making Kabluey?
I wish i had gotten to know - and hired - a Director of Photography long before we began pre-
production. I did not know any DPs and I had never worked on film as all my shorts were on video. I wish I had had an ally who knew all the technical ins and outs. I wish I had worked with someone incredibly talented. I wish that I had a DP who I had worked with for years who I knew very well, and trusted.
2. How do you direct yourself? How do you know when you've got it right?
I've only ever made short films where I was the writer/director/actor. So I kinda knew what I wanted and just hoped that I was getting it right. Because I had written the material I had a pretty firm grasp on what I wanted to do. And every now and then I would turn to my producer Sarah Feinberg and I would ask her "Am I doing this OK? Am I awful? Was that good?" I think you can just feel it when it's going right. It's better to FEEL good about it than to obsess over "does it LOOK right?" I think that's a good rule of thumb for directing yourself and for acting.
3. How did Lisa Kudrow get involved?
We sent her the script - she read it - and she called me and said yes. It was kind of a crazy miracle. I really respect her for being so adventurous and doing this tiny movie. She was perfect in the film and wonderful on set. It all just fell into place very quickly. Which I guess is kind of rare and weird. But I am very very happy we were so lucky.
4. What is the one part of the film that makes you think "wow, I really nailed that!"
Lisa walking down the road crying. I had worked on that a lot - thought about it forever - planned it out a million times. And lisa just walked on and nailed it. I love that scene. She's so good. Also I'm very happy with the look of the suit and the physical comedy with the suit out on the side of the road.
5. What's the hardest thing about directing a feature?
Everything is hard. But the hardest thing? Hmmm... just getting the money probably. Finding people who will give you their money and not demand that you turn over all creative control. Getting a movie made at all is a miracle.
Check out the trailer!
1. What is the one dumb, stupid, silly, idiotic mistake that you made when making Kabluey?
I wish i had gotten to know - and hired - a Director of Photography long before we began pre-
production. I did not know any DPs and I had never worked on film as all my shorts were on video. I wish I had had an ally who knew all the technical ins and outs. I wish I had worked with someone incredibly talented. I wish that I had a DP who I had worked with for years who I knew very well, and trusted.2. How do you direct yourself? How do you know when you've got it right?
I've only ever made short films where I was the writer/director/actor. So I kinda knew what I wanted and just hoped that I was getting it right. Because I had written the material I had a pretty firm grasp on what I wanted to do. And every now and then I would turn to my producer Sarah Feinberg and I would ask her "Am I doing this OK? Am I awful? Was that good?" I think you can just feel it when it's going right. It's better to FEEL good about it than to obsess over "does it LOOK right?" I think that's a good rule of thumb for directing yourself and for acting.
3. How did Lisa Kudrow get involved?
We sent her the script - she read it - and she called me and said yes. It was kind of a crazy miracle. I really respect her for being so adventurous and doing this tiny movie. She was perfect in the film and wonderful on set. It all just fell into place very quickly. Which I guess is kind of rare and weird. But I am very very happy we were so lucky.
4. What is the one part of the film that makes you think "wow, I really nailed that!"Lisa walking down the road crying. I had worked on that a lot - thought about it forever - planned it out a million times. And lisa just walked on and nailed it. I love that scene. She's so good. Also I'm very happy with the look of the suit and the physical comedy with the suit out on the side of the road.
5. What's the hardest thing about directing a feature?
Everything is hard. But the hardest thing? Hmmm... just getting the money probably. Finding people who will give you their money and not demand that you turn over all creative control. Getting a movie made at all is a miracle.
Check out the trailer!
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Dream Analysis Needed.
I am about to embark on writing a new screenplay. I have these two ideas that have been swimming around; one is a comedy - guy meets girl, guy can't get girl, guy does insane things, etc. The other is a more serious tale about twentysomethings and their struggles.
Last night, I had a dream. A dream that I stole a car, drove it into a bunch of shops, smashing all the windows. People started getting pretty pissed at me, but I blamed it all on Steve Martin. Steve Martin and me argued a bit, but then I got away with the crime, with Steve Martin left behind. At this point, I woke up.
Now, I see two potential meanings:
1. Steve Martin is a comedy guy. And me stealing a car, smashing things up, and blaming him is quite funny. So it makes me think I need to focus on writing my comedy screenplay.
2. Steve Martin has made terrible comedies now for many years. Also, in the dream, things are getting smashed up. Would me writing this comedy be a car wreck?
I can't figure it out. Any thoughts?
Last night, I had a dream. A dream that I stole a car, drove it into a bunch of shops, smashing all the windows. People started getting pretty pissed at me, but I blamed it all on Steve Martin. Steve Martin and me argued a bit, but then I got away with the crime, with Steve Martin left behind. At this point, I woke up.
Now, I see two potential meanings:
1. Steve Martin is a comedy guy. And me stealing a car, smashing things up, and blaming him is quite funny. So it makes me think I need to focus on writing my comedy screenplay.
2. Steve Martin has made terrible comedies now for many years. Also, in the dream, things are getting smashed up. Would me writing this comedy be a car wreck?
I can't figure it out. Any thoughts?
Californication Is Hilarious.
I've done very little in the last twenty four hours besides watch Season 2 of Californication. The show is amazing on many levels - of which I feel unable to write about as I am saving my writing mojo for elsewhere right now (a screenplay) -- but here is a scene that is absolutely hilarious.
Hank Moody (David Duchovny), much to the dismay of his on/off girlfriend and soulmate Karen, has impregnated another woman. When it finally comes to her giving birth, Moody and Karen are there when this hilarious moment happened. Great TV!
If you haven't already seen Californication, I definitely recommend it. It blends profanity and controversy with tenderness and emotion; it's pretty magic.
Hank Moody (David Duchovny), much to the dismay of his on/off girlfriend and soulmate Karen, has impregnated another woman. When it finally comes to her giving birth, Moody and Karen are there when this hilarious moment happened. Great TV!If you haven't already seen Californication, I definitely recommend it. It blends profanity and controversy with tenderness and emotion; it's pretty magic.
Monday, 15 February 2010
"Eighty Percent Of Success Is Showing Up" - Woody Allen
Have you ever waited seventeen months to return a phone call that could lead to a great opportunity?
Have you ever said "I'll definitely come and see your play!" and then not bothered to go?
Have you ever fought and battled for an audition only to not go on the day?
Have you ever called yourself a writer but waited five years to write anything?
Have you ever let someone down because you were 'really busy and had no time' when really you were not doing much of anything at all?
Have you ever promised someone that definitely, yes, this week I will sit down and watch your film, and then not done it?
I think we all have this destructive and lazy side to us. The worst part is the guilt you feel afterwards (towards others if you let them down, or to yourself if you pass up an opportunity.)
The fact is -- the most successful people in the world can always find the time. To be 'too busy' is, in my experience, a sign of bad organization, a sign of laziness, a lack of professionalism and a lack of self-discipline.
I have been that guy many, many times. One of my favorite writer/directors agreed to do an interview for this blog. I stalled on setting up the call for six months. That's not cool. I can't be doing that anymore. When we complain about how our careers aren't going right, or how we're not getting the right opportunities, we rarely mention that "oh, yeah, a Producer is interested in hiring me for a big project and said I should call him - but I haven't and fourteen months have gone by."
I think it's about discipline. I now make myself sit down and read, I make myself do paperwork, I make myself do whatever it is I need to do to get the things I am doing done (wow that was a mouthful).
"Decisions are made by those who show up."
-Aaron Sorkin
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