Hi guys, thanks for the invite Mike, i just got back from work and im ready to drop! (que the violins ha ha ha ) This website is great!
Thanks for your kind words (Mike and Jennifer) about my shorts, believe me if you were here you would see me turning bright red!
You'll have to forgive me but ive not had time to read through all of the posts yet but i gather that you're just getting into film making Jennifer.
I'd say definitely just go for it. Dont worry about not being able to draw story boards (something i read just now in previous posts) you should see mine, its pretty much just stick figures (super crap!)
but i find them a huge help once i get going.

I got started by being forced into editing home videos of the family together using windows movie maker, hours flew by and i when i figured out how to add music and titles i was hooked!
I got a shit camera (Hi8 tapes) and started just filming things around the house, my first thing was a one minute film called "The Drip" which was just footage of my son being kept awake by a dripping tap (im sure i ripped that off an old donald duck cartoon actually 🙂 its rubbish but i loved it and i loved doing it, so thats what got me started.

Then a guy online was talking about this bloke in America who had built a spaceship in his back garden for a film!
Thats when i saw Mike's film Terrarium and was blown away! I got so excited that people were just out there doing it off their own backs and getting amazing results! It was brilliant, like a whole new world opened up!

I did a story board (rubbish one) got some mates (who were actually more excited about being asked to be in a film than i was making one ha ha ha ) and shot Dirty Comet in two days. What was cool about it was it got me over the fear that people wouldnt take me seriously or listen to what i wanted them to do (actors etc), it felt really good to sit down with them and show them the film for the first time, the sense of camaraderie was awesome! I think people just like to feel a part of something.
The night before filming though i was ready to puke because i was so nervous ha ha ha !

I'm doing a three year course now in editing (about to start my final year this september). Its been a great course but most of what ive learnt has come about from making mistakes,lots of mistakes! I think ,from that point of view, you
are your best teacher really. I'm not sure what Mike thinks, but i find that no one is as brutal a critic about my work than myself. I'm sorry if im waffling on by the way!!! But my point is that even if you are harsh with yourself, get past that and make yourself make something. Even if you hate it, don't get bogged down, move on and learn. Then before you know it you've made a few short films and each time your getting better.

I know what you mean about age,im 31 now , i wish id started when i was younger but what can you do. Most good directors are ancient anyway so we've all got stacks of time left 🙂

Im off to bed now guys,goodnight Oan

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Originally posted by Oanis RawboneThen a guy online was talking about this bloke in America who had built a spaceship in his back garden for a film!
Thats when i saw Mike's film Terrarium and was blown away!

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That was the start of our correspondence. Now it is Oan who is blowing me away! But, here's a spaceship memory for you:

?url? ?/url?
?url? ?/url?

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I'm doing a three year course now in editing (about to start my final year this september). Its been a great course but most of what ive learnt has come about from making mistakes,lots of mistakes! I think ,from that point of view, you
are your best teacher really. I'm not sure what Mike thinks, but i find that no one is as brutal a critic about my work than myself

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This is a good attitude and I wish I had more of it, earlier in life. I don't want to improve just a little bit, but I want to make a huge leap and really raise the bar. I can't wait to make the next movie and prove it.

Looking at your movie, DEVOTION, only adds fuel to my goals. It should be a real inpiration to anybody who is getting started; that good work can be achieved just a few short movies into one's career, if they really put themselves into it.

www.midnightsunent.com

Welcome Oan, and Hello Mike! It is good to hear that making mistakes is part of the process which should be obvious, but wasn't to me particularly when I was taking a drawing class. As filmmaking is a new venture I don't want to get discouraged before I begin. I want to say that both of you are inspirations!

I have made the decision that even if I am not good at cinematography, directing, production or anything else that it is possible to succeed as a screenwriter. The key is collaborating with others who can bring your visions to life! I do also want to know an overview of what goes on and my husband mentioned to me last night that maybe along the way I'll end up really liking something other than screenwriter that you never know...

Right now my husband, Adam is actually doing the sound for a documentary. He is a musician, with experience in Industrial music, he just released a CD but never worked on a film. I am trying to get involved with the production, even if it is just making food or running errands. He showed me the outline of the production, which is different than what it would normally look like because it is being done through his work. (He works for Children's Services Council and this is a documentary about someone who was helped by their services.) Mainly it focuses on the person's life and her struggles but it is being financed by his company because of the helped she received from them.

I was very happy when I looked at the process because I found it interesting with the exception of the business/marketing aspects. I will also learn those in school. I would rather be creative but marketing your film the most important thing to get your work out there! I've tried hiring people to do marketing and sales for me offering 40% commission and no one was interested.(for my e-zine that is about promoting independent artists of all kinds including filmmakers) My website has been defunct for a while and am I looking to really focus more on Independent films because that is what I love. I would love to help promote both of your work when that happens if you are interested.

I also had Adam register for this site since he is actually working on a film! He found both your movies(both Mike and Oan) to be very exciting and was especially impressed by Devotion as I was too. It is good to hear that success in filmmaking can be found either through experience or school.

Adam actually almost went into film instead of music and for many years (I think I mentioned this before somewhere) we didn't have cable at all. We had a membership at the video store and we rarely watch TV even now. We watch the Netflix watch instantly most of the time. My favorite genre is Independent film.

If either of you would like to check out Adam's music he does Combichrist sounding EBM, but also can do a variety of other types of music too, in fact I walked down the aisle to one of his slower songs. Sometimes I can't believe I am married to this man that sounds like a demon sometimes. lol. His website is www.obscuredescension.com and if either of you would like to email us, you are welcome to do so through adam?obscuredescension.com

I'm listening to a couple of Adam's tracks. I'm not into distortion vocals, but I am digging the synths and trance lines. I'll listen to more, later. Good to see Depeche Mode, my favorite all time band, listed as an influence. I also like VNV Nation, Sunscreem, Nirvana, 80's synth pop through early 90's alternative, and my filmic influences - Tangerine Dream, Giorgio Moroder, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, etc.

You probably noticed from my website that I'm a synth whore:

?url? ?/url?

www.midnightsunent.com

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Originally posted by Scoopicman

I'm listening to a couple of Adam's tracks. I'm not into distortion vocals, but I am digging the synths and trance lines. I'll listen to more, later. Good to see Depeche Mode, my favorite all time band, listed as an influence. I also like VNV Nation, Sunscreem, Nirvana, 80's synth pop through early 90's alternative, and my filmic influences - Tangerine Dream, Giorgio Moroder, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, etc.

You probably noticed from my website that I'm a synth whore:

?url? ?/url?

www.midnightsunent.com

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LOL. I think your sound room is bigger than his. I appreciate your honest opinion about the distorted vocals. To tell you the truth, I actually am not a big fan of Industrial music. Adam got me into a couple of Combrichrist songs and I love NIN (although they are not true industrial more alternative/mainstream) He's been very angry lately. He is also influenced by and loves early 80's music. Me- I'm a rock n' roll kind of girl Classic, Grunge, just about everything.

I don't know if you heard his song, "Paper God," it has a few clips from the greatest bad films IMO of all time, "They Live!" I hope someone remakes that movie someday. It is a great story but it is sooo dated. The song is actually not about what most people think it's about either. This would be the song where he sounds like a Demon. ??:)? When I first heard it I was shocked. lol.

Adam can do many different sounds, another project is Starlight Lost where he works with a female vocalist who has an amazing voice. I wish I could find a link, but I don't think they have a website. It is a lot less rough than what you heard. To be honest I'm not a fan of his band Diverje which is a collaboration he is in. He does many different songs though, like I said I walked down the aisle to one of his songs! It was slow and fairytale sounding not harsh and angry.

I will try to get him in on the conversation he doesn't like message boards. He can explain more about his music than I can. I do not have a musical bone in my body.

Hey Jennifer! I'm new here (and a woman), and don't know if anyone's said this yet, but two of my favorite films were directed by women; A League of Their Own and Across the Universe. I think the boys club is open to anyone who has a talent for visually expressing a story and fleshing out great performances 😉

-Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity-

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Originally posted by JenniferI don't know if you heard his song, "Paper God," it has a few clips from the greatest bad films IMO of all time, "They Live!"

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That was the first song I listened to. I like it.

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Originally posted by Emulsion

I'm new here (and a woman), and don't know if anyone's said this yet, but two of my favorite films were directed by women; A League of Their Own and Across the Universe. I think the boys club is open to anyone who has a talent for visually expressing a story and fleshing out great performances

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Hi, Emulsion. Certified Instigator mentioned those two movies. I also agree that anyone who can visually express a story is fair game for success.

www.midnightsunent.com

quote:

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Originally posted by Scoopicman

?quote?Originally posted by JenniferI don't know if you heard his song, "Paper God," it has a few clips from the greatest bad films IMO of all time, "They Live!"

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That was the first song I listened to. I like it.

I'm glad you liked that song, it is my favorite one of his. He is not really into the message board thing unfortunately, but I'm sure At some point, he will drop in and say hello.

Hello, Emulsion! Good to hear from a woman who is making films! It is encouraging. I have seen A League of Their Own and it is a good movie but not what I want to do. I watched Point Break and that is more the direction I would like to go in- Action, great nature shots, cool story.

I tried watching Across the Universe and thought it would be good but my husband, Adam is a musician and I am a huge fan of classic rock we just couldn't get through all the covers of the Beatles songs. We found it extremely annoying and turned it off. It could be a good story, but that part was distracting. Adam refuses to try to watch it. When I mentioned it to him again, he gave me a look and said "That's the movie with all those 60's cover songs that are terrible." I don't know if I will end up watching it either. I read the reviews and they didn't sound too promising, unless someone on here can convince me otherwise....

quote:

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Originally posted by Emulsion

Hey Jennifer! I'm new here (and a woman), and don't know if anyone's said this yet, but two of my favorite films were directed by women; A League of Their Own and Across the Universe. I think the boys club is open to anyone who has a talent for visually expressing a story and fleshing out great performances 😉

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Welcome, Emulsion.

Yep. Both of those movies were mentioned. Julie Taymor has
created her own niche and very specific style and it has
worked well. Over the course of only three films she has become
a "go to" director. She turns down just about everything she's
offered because (as I understand it) she wants to do her own
thing. She is currently in the very rare group of directors who
can pretty much make the movies they want, their way.

She was, for example, offered the last Harry Potter movie - an
inspired choice of director in my opinion - but she turned it down
so she could work on her latest Broadway musical and her movie
of "The Tempest".

Jennifer, I'm not going to try to convince you to watch "Across The
Universe" but it was my favorite movie of 2007. I thought the
adaptations of the Beatles songs was inspired. I've never heard "I
Want to Hold Your Hand" sound so haunting and sad. The gospel
version of "Let it Be" sends chills and what can one say about Joe
Cocker singing "Come Together" dressed as a bum one moment
and a pimp the next? I can only use "inspired" again.

I believe there is room for a woman to be directing action films.
If you're serious about heading in that direction You should start
right away. Most filmmakers working today made several short
films - a great way to learn. If you can make a couple of excellent
shorts in the style YOU love, you are on your way to a career.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I have actually seen a Julie Taymor movie- Frida. I did enjoy that movie, and didn't know it was directed by a woman at the time. I just found that out after looking up some info on Julie Taymor. I actually saw it because I was writing a paper on Frida Kahlo, there were some parts of the movie, (I don't remember which ones) that weren't historically accurate, which I guess is to be expected in any biography movie. I do love Frida Kahlo, so it was good to be able to watch a film that was based on her life.

It is also encouraging to see that Julie Taymor according to IMDB didn't direct her first movie until she was 34. Being 29 that is encouraging, and I start my cinematography class in Oct. I am going to community college already and the program is very hands on. It is a 2 year program. I am also trying to volunteer myself for a documentary film my husband is doing the sound for.

I don't know much about this, but your local library's fine arts section should have several books on women directors; google that phrase and you'll get more references.

I'm reviving an old thread because I got a phone call today from Rachel Talalay.
I worked with her at New Line years ago when I was a script reader. While not
a household name she fits Jennifer's criteria. She has directed more "boys" movies
than chick flicks. Though her emphasis has bee in TV she has directed episodes
of "Wolf Lake", "Cold Case" , "Terminal City", "The Dead Zone" and "Flash Gordon"

I think Jennifer has gone and will not see this, but this was an interesting thread
and Rachel's name deserves to be mentioned.

I remember Talalay's name from FREDDY'S DEAD; THE FINAL NIGHTMARE. :>)

www.midnightsunent.com

Actually I'm not gone, I've just been busy. I started my Cinematography class and have been busy with school. I will be sure to check out some of Talalay's work. I have only had 2 classes and we won't be using the camera for a few weeks, but I've been bogged down with a snorefest Nutrition class. 🙂 Anyways, now that I'm taking Cinematography, I will probably be checking in more. Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂

Edited after reading entire thread:

In the movie business, it's about money. If a woman believes she can direct a marketable action movie, she has to prove it, same as a man does. If most women directors today aren't drawn to action movies, maybe it's because the successful ones already know what they're capable of selling and what they aren't.

But still, that's them, this is you. If you're drawn to actioners and thrillers, it's very likely because you have a feel for them, and that's a big plus.

Btw, you might enjoy De Niro's film "What Just Happened?"?:)?

Cheers.