Seven6 Productions, LLC

Getting the book from Half.com - at least I got a bargain. The “dummies” book are usually pretty good and I need a crash course in filmmaking. It seems everyone is so busy - they have no time to answer questions or give a talk or course on filmmaking. So, I need to teach myself and learn as much as possible.

I find that most filmmakers write there own stuff or visa/versa. Probably writers became filmmakers because there was no one who would make their stuff. So I, therefore, must follow ….. and learn and make my own movies.

I guess when I’m ready I can post for crew and actors. That should be interesting. Right now it seems undaunting, but maybe after reading the dummies book - I’ll feel less like a dummy! ya think? ? ?

Finding a video camera that has good quality for small indie films and doesn’t cost a fortune. If I went up to $3000 - I could get one heck of a camera. But I only want to spend about $1000. I’m looking at the Canon HD20. It’s gotten great reviews and most of the things I want in a camera. One thing I’m not sure about is buying it on the Internet. Although I’m in a huge city - the big electronic stores don’t carry much at all. And driving 100 miles around town to look for a camera is fruitless. Been there dont that as I hate saying. I found several online stores with good vendor ratings so I may throw them my 1K. I haven’t made the final decision, but I want one very soon!

I finished the 3 minute challenge short script. I like it — it has a nice twist.

In between writing it, I read a short story that intrigued me. I wrote the author and got permission to write a short from the story. And I already did. Sometimes they come easily. I can write a short very fast as long as I have the full idea in my head - ya know - beginning, middle, end. LOL  This writer has some very interesting stories and I’ve found several that might make good shorts.

So far I have these shorts finished (Don’t you just love the titles? :)):

The List, The Doll, EMS, Dryer Conversations, Heads-up,  and Heat Lightning

Next step is to design posters for my website.

If I can read through my 3 minute short once without changing it - I’ll consider it done! LOL I can see how you could never be totally satisfied with a script. Reading 3 to 4 pages over and over is one thing … reading 90 to 120 pages over and over again could be daunting - fixing, changing, fixing, changing - a never ending cycle.

I think I’m closer to the end though. I only changed a couple words this time. I’m hoping one or two more times read - and I’m done. Then I’ll leave it alone … maybe.

Well, I love editing film. It’s something I really enjoy and am pretty good at doing. I made a short little film from my seminar videos that I took yesterday. The video is almost 14 minutes long, so it’s hard to upload onto the web for viewing. I had to burn a CD. I am using Windows Movie Maker and my Canon digital camera. It shoots very good video and sound.

I do want to purchase a small mini dvd camera - probably a Sony Handycam. I’ve used the older and larger Handycam and really enjoyed it.

We bid on a silent auction at the Phoenix Film Festival. We bid on the collector’s edition of the movie “Jackie Brown”. It’s a two disc set with all the extras, plus it is autographed by Robert Forster, the actor - who was a speaker at the festival.

And we won … ! It’s a great cd and very cool Tarentino movie. If you haven’t seen it - rent it! The twists and turns in the movie is what screenwriting is all about. 

Yesterday, we had our first PSC -Phoenix Screenwriters Connection - meeting. It was a very good meeting. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the group and screenwriting. I think we motivated each other to keep moving forward with our screenplays. We also decided to start and write a group collabrative screenplay. I think that will be a lot of fun - as well as - a great writing and learning experience.

After the meeting we went down to the PFF. As usual, my expectations were so much higher than what I saw. I guess when I hear the word festival - I envision LOTS of people. I would imagine though, most people were inside watching movies - the whole reason for the festival in the first place. We didn’t watch any movies. We went for the seminars. I’d like to go to one of the late night parties. I’m sure they are packed with people.

Yesterday we went to the Robert Forster talk. If you don’t recognize his name as an actor - he was the “boyfriend” in Jackie Brown, a Quentin Tarentino film. He’s been around for a long time acting in the 60’s to present time. Below is a photo of him.

Then there was some entertainment, wine tasting, lots of vendors with informational booths.

Today, we went to the Screenwriters seminar - Script to Screen. There was a very impressive panel discussing the art of screenwriting - as well as - answering questions from the audience. Then the next seminar was about the Arizona film industry’s future. Below is a photo of the screenwriting panel.

I think the festival was a huge success! Maybe next year, I’ll have a film submitted!

I’m spiffing up my challenge. I really like it - but who knows if anyone else will. LOL You can never tell with people. I have to clean it up a few more times before I will feel it is finished. It’s only 4 pages but I read and re-read it constantly. I don’t want any glaring flaws in it. I would love to have it produced, but if I don’t, I know it is a good work — short but good.

I need to get my other short - Heads-up - animated. I think that will be a big challenge. People say they are animator, but they really aren’t. I want a polished piece, not something amatuerish. Soooo … I may have to pay to get it done. Such is life!

I’m still reading and learning alot. I am re-thinking my feature to give it more twists and turns - in other words - make it interesting. That is the total key — make it interesting and a page turner. 

I’ve also read some short stories - good avenue for screenplays. I haven’t found anything I want to adapt yet - but I will continue to look for ideas everywhere.

My Goal - Finish my feature by end of summer!!!! That’s a promise to myself. ;) 

We went to another table reading. I had hoped Dave would be there so we could hear his first 10 pages after revision. He got some rather persistent criticism on his story. I think it’s a good one - but did need to get to the “hook” sooner and make it a bit more interesting in the beginning. I think he took all the ideas to heart and did a rewrite. BUT … alas, he didn’t make it. Hopefully, he’ll be at the meeting today. We have our first PSC meeting today. I am hoping too that we’ll have at least 6 people come. Anyway, there were several new people at the table readings although they didn’t bring any pages to read. I didn’t either. I sat back and listened to the other stories.

I’m not sure if I am really not a writer or what. Many of the comments about the work were very flowery and positive where if I had said my true feelings - they would be - I don’t get it. I’m an artistic person with a concise level head to structure - so I may not grasp these concepts like others. I look for a beginning, middle and end - and I’m missing that.

I really don’t like stating anything negative about a person’s writing at these readings so I keep it to myself. I’m sure others do the same thing. I do try to give positive, constructive criticism when I can … otherwise, I don’t say anything. I think we need to help the story, not tear down the person.

Today we’ll try and hit the PFF and maybe a party or two. I’ve never been to the PFF so it should be a good experience. More on that later …

Reading screenwriting books may seem like something a rank beginner should do, but for me it is very helpful. I read Robert Walter’s book and found that if gave me some really good ideas on how to improve my story. I needed to make it more interesting, have more conflict, more twists - in other words - make it something someone would want to view as a movie — and not sleep through or walk out of.  Another book I just started is the Screenwriter’s Bible. It is recommended by so many people that I had to get it and read it. So far, it’s pretty good. Apparently, it is used by the novice and the pro. I find these books very helpful. By reading - I get ideas and write and change and improve. I want at least one pretty good script to show around.

Tonight is Table Readings again. I’m not bringing anything for the group to read. I find that most understand and “get” my writing, while others find lots of fault with it and say they just don’t like my writing. I guess I need to take criticism, but it could be given in a gentler way. And getting overly picky about spelling isn’t a criticism of the writing or style or format or anything … it’s a bad spell checker! I’d really enjoy some feedback about the story. I do take it all in stride and from whence it comes though. Tonight, I will sit and listen and enjoy everyone’s pages and take in the criticism for the others - mull it over in my head and see if it is valid. I am wondering if one continually sits with the same group over and over and gets the same voices of criticism, is that good? Do we then become one writer if we follow that criticism? Do we lose our own style of writing if we change to conform to the group criticism? Do we lose our voice and become one voice of the group? Are we dunned down by same group criticism? This is what I want to research.

Don’t get me wrong … I have taken some of the criticism and used it to improve, some I totally disregarded … as it should be.