European Release???

Shut The Fuck Up on IMDb

So here it is a movie made with no money and no crew ends up listed on the prestigious IMDb Internet Movie Database...

It looks a little bare and empty right now, but I was told it takes up to a month before all the information I submitted is processed and up on-line.

When I can, I guess I'll put up the "poster"* and stuff like that.

For those of you who take the trouble to visit the page, please give it your vote. (I don't know what happens, but sher vote anyway!)

*Note to self: Make a Shut The Fuck Up poster!

I received some on-set photo's from The Other Marty shoot that I must post here. Some look real good.

Meet the Filmmaker Podcast

Probably the most insightful, helpful and inspiring interview I've ever heard.

Of course, I'm a big fan, but from his insights into how he writes, to embracing digital technology just make me want to get up and start shooting again!

I am of course talking about Francis Ford Coppola, follow this link to the iTunes store and the interview with him at the Soho store in New York that occurred recently during his promotional tour for his new film Tetro.

I'm bleedin' scarlah!

Just release it already!

I've decided to sell all my camera shit and get one of these babies.

HURRY UP!

New Coppola

I'm very excited about this, although I seriously doubt it will get a theatrical release in Ireland.

I missed Youth Without Youth in the theatre as it was gone in a week. I was appalled.

Fingers crossed!

Bring the Noise!

Thanks heavens for nerdy plug in developers!

My friend Paul, who helped remove reflections in glass on STFU has pointed me in the direction of a plug in called Neat Video an amazing plug in that removes noise from HDV footage. (See That Syncing Feeling Note below)

I'm downloading the demo as I type, but from reading the site it looks like a purchase is in order!

I've searched the net and on some forums mention that the plug in is processor heavy and prone to crashing, but totally worth the pain for the result. It works out around 85 euro, which is not bad considering what it does.

I'm going to send a quicktime of the worst footage to Paul and see what he can do with it before I fork out.

I've also discovered an alternative by Revision Effects (the guys who made the insane Twixtor) called DE:Noise which pretty much does exactly what Neat Video does, but costs 150 dollars and is Intel Mac only, which is a problem for me as I still rock a G5 for editing. (I know I know! Insane for HD).

But beggars cant be choosers!

I attended the Give Me Direction conference today. I may do a write up some other time, but not today. But let me say just one thing; I was totally wrong in what I predicted about John Moore.

More later.

Shane Black no show.

Was looking forward to this this evening. I actually quite like some of the brain dead action movies he has penned.

I haven't seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and was keen to see it this evening. But the following was emailed this morning:

Shane Black said, "I've been working on the planning end of many a similar conference, and am all too aware of the inconvenience that a no-show guest inflicts upon the people who've been kind enough to sponsor his trip. This error on my part, though inadvertent, shows a terrible lack of forethought. I call upon what remains of your goodwill and please convey my apologies to those that bought tickets to attend."

Ah well, at least we get a refund for the cost of this evening.

John Moore has been added to the panelists for one of the sections tomorrow, although I fail to see the relevance as he is not a screenwriter. Still, he might have something interesting to say for himself.

Give Me Direction TOMORROW

The full line has been announced for GIVE ME DIRECTION, a new screenwriting conference organised by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) in partnership with the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) focusing on the how and why of writing for the screen.

Confirmed international and Irish guests for the event include Hollywood legend Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), Paul Fraser (A Room for Romeo Brass, Somers Town), Eran Kolirin (The Band's Visit), Jim Sheridan (In The Name of the Father, Get Rich or Die Trying), Conor McPherson (The Eclipse), Damien O’Donnell (East is East, Heartlands), Tanya Seghatchian (UK Film Council), Pat McCabe (The Butcher Boy, Breakfast on Pluto), Roddy Doyle (When Brendan Met Trudy), Kirsten Sheridan (In America) and Mark O'Rowe (Boy A, Intermission). Actors Michael McElhatton (Whistlerblower, Spin the Bottle) and Eileen Walsh (Eden) will also take part in a showcase of new Irish cinema, reading scenes from Memorabilia written by Kevin Barry and currently in development with the IFB.

GIVE ME DIRECTION will champion great and original writing for the screen, and is an opportunity to deepen the IFB's engagement in addressing industry concerns. The conference will follow an informal, mixed format of sessions, screenings and interviews: plus a preview screening and rehearsed read-through.

The event will include a public interview with Shane Black, plus a wide-range of informal discussions and sessions. Amongst them we have DON’T GET WEIRD ON ME: a debate on the limitations and realities of arthouse and commercial cinema; LIVE LONG & PROSPER: a hard headed discussion on making a living as a scriptwriter: GRAB ‘EM BY THE THROAT: a focus on how to get the best out of your collaborators; and MONGRELS: a conversation on what it takes to move between formats as a writer with input from a range of writers with a background working in of theatre, film, and TV.

The running order for the event is as follows:

THURSDAY 4TH JUNE

VENUE: Light House Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin 7

From 17.00: Registration

17.30-19.00 MY ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN-TRADE

A public Interview with Shane Black by Grainne Humphries, Festival Director, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival

Introduction by Alan Maher, IFB Production Executive

19:00 – 21:00 Screening: KISS-KISS BANG BANG (Shane Black)

FRIDAY 5TH JUNE 2009

VENUE: The Shelbourne Hotel, 27 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

9.30: Welcome Tea/Coffee

9.45: Conference begins with an Introduction from Simon Perry, IFB Chief Executive

10.00 – 11.30 DON’T GET WEIRD ON ME

The arthouse versus commercial cinema debate: in search of some middle ground, we discuss the respective limitations and realities. Sponsored by IADT, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology

Chair: Simon Perry
Panelists: Eran Kolirin, Mark O’Rowe, Shane Black, Damien O’Donnell

11.30 – 11.45 Tea Break

11.45 – 12.45 LIVE LONG & PROSPER

A hard-headed discussion on the realities of the screenwriting life: the practicalities of selling ideas

Chair: Ed Guiney
Panelists: Charlotte Kelly, Tanya Seghatchian, Kirsten Sheridan, Tony Marchant

12.45 – 13.00 Lunch Break

14:00 - NEW, NEW, NEW WRITING SHOWCASE

Rehearsed reading of scenes from MEMORABILIA by Kevin Barry to be introduced by Andrew Meehan

15.15- 16.00 - UNTITLED RODDY DOYLE, CONOR MCPHERSON & ROB WALPOLE CONVERSATION

A three-way discussion on how to get the best out of your creative collaborators.

16.00 – 16.15 Tea Break

16.15 – 17.30 - MONGRELS

The freedoms and restrictions of writing screenplays: with contributions from some well-known hyphenates.

Chair: Lance Daly
Panelists: Paul Fraser, Pat McCabe, Roddy Doyle, Jim Sheridan

18.30 – 20.15 THE ECLIPSE - Special preview screening

Introduced by Conor McPherson & Billy Roche
Venue – Light House Cinema

Merged

If I've to go through that again, I swear I'd rather stick hot pokers in my eyes, which, incidentally is exactly how my eyes feel.

Still though, I can actually start editing tomorrow.

Next investment is a proper portable mixer with a DECENT preamp that can send a proper XLR signal to camera.

Incidentally, this show was recorded using a Zoom H4 which is handy enough. Neil the sound guy was fully portable and tethered to no one but himself. One man and his boom pole, a shotgun mic in a blimp (not sure which type) all into the Zoom H4 mounted on his hip.

My only problem with it is that it has no pre amp so it seems. The signal is VERY low from the files. For coverage I had a sony shotgun mic mounted on the fig rig and few via XLR into my Beachtek mixer and into the HV30. Now the Beachtek DXA-2S has NO preamp and records quite weak, but in comparison to the Zoom, its way hotter. Sadly the Beachtek was only used a fraction of the time, so for sound continuity I'll have to stick with the Zoom, but man are they weak.

Another problem is that the files record in stereo, well mono, but only in one channel when they come off the Zoom. I had to convert all the files one by one using Quicktime Pro into mono files before bringing them into Final Cut. I tried to do it using Audialhub, but for some reason, even though I set the preferences not to, it compressed the files significantly. I know the file size will be smaller going from stereo to mono, but Audialhub was taking the royal piss. Its usually such a reliable program but sadly not made anymore so I wont bother with a link.

Now finally the real work can begin*

*No offense of course to anyone who contributed to the film! I'm just a HUGE fan of editing.

Is it mice or mouses?

Elegy for the assistant editor...

Oh my poor poor hands,

oh my poor poor eyes,

if only the drops would fall

the pain perhaps would subside.

The many hours re-naming files,

while the rest of the world,

gets on with their lives,

while inside I slowly die.

Was that slate 45 or 72?

Was that take 6 or merely 2?

and I just rhymed 2 with 2,

what's an assistant editor to do.

The progress bars grow ever longer

as the sun goes down and comes up again

if I have a budget next time

I'm definitely getting an assistant editor!