Editing Party!

I’m a social person. I like interacting with others. I like socialising. I have a lot on my plate, which includes, sadly, some film projects that are sitting with me to edit.

Now, when one has editing projects to do, sometimes sitting down at a computer for hours on end to get the edit done isn’t the most fun thing to do — especially when one has been working on a computer all day. Getting the motivation to sit down for a few hours of uninterrupted editing time is half the battle.

So, I concocted an Editing Party.

You know how some scriptwriting groups get together in a cafe, write for 45 minutes, have a break and talk, write for another 45 minutes …? it’s exactly like that. Dedicated editing time, 15 minute break to chat, dedicated editing time, 15 minute break. The result is that you get the socialising, and someone to ask if you hit a wall or need feedback, and you get the peer pressure to be always editing — it’s not good if the person you’re editing with looks across and you’re on 9gag or facebook!

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsZsolti and I had the first editing party. It worked well, so we’re going to have another one soon. And, because I’ve started, I’m editing again today. MOAR EDITING! Get the films done!

I’m currently finishing some shorts I shot with my class in March, a pitch video for a short film that I am producing, and the first of my vlogs on filmmaking for Action On The Side. I’ve now got Premiere Pro Creative Cloud on my Mac, so I’m also learning the ins and outs of that.

We have space for +1 for our next editing party (whenever it is), so if you want to take part, let me know.//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

A Party For Me – US Premiere

We are pleased to announce that

‘A Party For Me‘

has been selected for

FRIGHT NIGHT FILM FEST 2015

Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 16-18 October 2015

This will be A Party For Me‘s World and North American premiere!
The cast and crew are excited to be part of this fantastic festival.

Fright Night Horror Weekend

Copper screening at NZ Deaf Short Film Festival

‘Copper’ is screening in the New Zealand Deaf Short Film Festival 2015.

Support this awesome festival featuring brilliant work by Deaf filmmakers – $10 entry, at Ngā Taonga (The Film Archive). 4th – 6th September. Copper is screening multiple times across the weekend. Director Jack O’Donnell is taking part in a Q&A session on the Friday night screening (4th September). Check out nzdsff.co.nz for the programme and booking info.

Jack was recently interviewed by Arts Access Aotearoa about his recent trip to the CINEDEAF Film Festival in Rome with Copper. Read the article here.

WFTV mentoring scheme

Last night I attended an information session on the Women in Film and Television Mentoring Scheme. The program runs February to July, and is a support and mentoring program for women to advance in the film industry.

From the WFTV website…

Our Mentoring Scheme is designed for women who have more than 5 years experience working in TV, film or digital production. We welcome anyone working in editorial, craft or business roles in any genre.

Over six months, selected participants receive six hours of mentoring contact with an experienced industry figure, combined with an intensive programme of seminars, training workshops and networking opportunities.

One of the take aways from the event was even if you aren’t eligible to apply for the program yet, you should still complete the application form. There are people who have answered the questions on the form and solidified their career plans. I know I’m about to message the women filmmakers that I know and get us to all do it.

If you’d like to apply for the program, you have until midnight Sunday.

Savage Lines

https://instagram.com/p/6FzVG4OacD/

This week I was the 2nd AC on ‘Savage Lines’, a short film from new directors Lucy Moloney and Spencer Bambrough, Exec Produced by Jeffrey Michael Productions and Produced by Danya Martinez-Douglass.

https://instagram.com/p/5ZMEh-Gpfm/

The ‘Candidate’ searches for a way to materialise his vision, as he nears the threshold of reality.

The Candidate #savagelines
The Candidate
Production Design by Jeffrey Michael Design
Production Design by Jeffrey Michael Design

The shoot took place in East London and Devon.

The Producers are running a crowdfunding campaign to cover costs from equipment hire and for post production. Check it out on Kickstarter.

 

Day Four of Cannes

2015-05-21 10.43.28 Day Four of Festival de Cannes – Page Officielle – Spent a relaxing morning in Nice doing some work and exploring. Headed to Cannes for the afternoon.

2015-05-21 10.43.49

I had found out the day before that one of the films I worked on last year, ‘Love At First Swipe’, was in the short film corner. I hadn’t seen it before, so I walked around the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes then spent an hour watching short films in the short film corner. Now I’m promoting two films in the short film corner! (‘Dead Letter’ and ‘Love At First Swipe’).

2015-05-21 15.59.31 I finally bought data for the Pavilion, so I could tweet and instagram and contact people. It seems you have to, because otherwise the phones don’t work (for me, anyway).

Drinks and networking at the SFC Happy Hour. Had dinner at a place called Steak and Shake with Andrew, Kira, Serafina, and Ayman.2015-05-21 17.38.21

We headed to Le Petit Majestic for a drink. We had been told this was the go-to place where all the Brits hang out, but we went far too early. Also, what do you think it means when the waitress gives you wine in a plastic cup (everyone else got glass, and there were wine glasses there), gives the bill immediately and returns to collect it before you’re finished, and doesn’t ask if you want another drink?  Don’t know why, but she didn’t want us there perhaps?

2015-05-21 21.45.09

We finished the day watching ‘Apollo 13’ on a big screen on the beach.

It finished after the last train, so we quickly caught an Uber back to Nice.

Day Three of Cannes

2015-05-20 09.58.30Day Three of Festival de Cannes – Page Officielle — the stress of dressing for the red carpet and packing a bag with spare shoes and minimal extras led to missioning to Cannes to collect the ticket for ‘Youth’. Managed to miss the 10am deadline but eventually found where to collect tickets and got it (yay!).

Petit Dejeuner nearby, then headed to the NZ Film Commission lunch for Sales Agents, Distributors, and Kiwi Producers. Left early to mission to the red carpet (*dahling!*) — to find that the red carpet screenings in the afternoon aren’t *so* formal. I didn’t need to change to heels! And took no selfies. There were people in jeans (and still some in black tie). Got to chatting to a Canadian screenwriter while awaiting the screening.

2015-05-20 14.08.25 2015-05-20 14.08.33

The film was beautiful and played well to the Cannes audience.

2015-05-20 17.57.30

Headed to the American Pavilion with Andrew and Kira . Then attended the Flickerama reception at the UK Film Pavilion. Good times! Headed to the Majestic with friends before heading back to Nice on the last train to grab a late pizza and SLEEP!2015-05-20 17.57.27 


Phone keeps dying and no internet, so sorry there aren’t many photos yet. Brilliant networking and meeting people, and getting distribution and production interest in a feature film project we’re pitching. Now onto day four!

Day One of Cannes

Amazing first day at Festival de Cannes – Page Officielle . Made it to Nice, then got to Cannes to collect accreditation about 5pm. Phone died many times during the day so very few photos. Found the UK Film Pavilion to volunteer at the WFTV Reception (masses of awesome networking). Then headed out to dinner, and nearly made it to the Vanity Fair Polish Party — except had been up since 5am, so instead caught the last train back to Nice. Now to sleep before getting up to volunteer at La Plage Royale on the Croisette.

2015-05-18 17.34.18 2015-05-18 17.34.32 2015-05-18 17.37.12 2015-05-18 17.37.15 2015-05-18 18.10.38 2015-05-18 20.30.09 2015-05-18 20.30.33

Day Two of Cannes

Day Two of Festival de Cannes – Page Officielle : volunteered with Show Me the F£&%ing money, a web site that interviews movers and shakers about film financing. Had a lovely day shooting at La Plage Royale. Kira, Andrew, and I went to the NZFC Offices. Had a meeting at the Canadian Pavilion, went through the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes. Then headed home as we were shattered. Now onto day three — where I have a lunch with the NZ Film Commission and will be attending a red carpet screening of ‘Youth‘ !

2015-05-19 09.17.06 2015-05-19 09.17.15 2015-05-19 09.17.32 2015-05-19 09.17.49 2015-05-19 09.20.56 2015-05-19 11.20.30 2015-05-19 13.28.24 2015-05-19 14.13.09

Action On The Side: inspiration

Action On The Side Weekend Filmmaking
Action On The Side Weekend Filmmaking

Action On The Side has expanded to include regular inspiration, tips, tricks, and reminders for writers and filmmakers.

Follow the posts on Facebook and on Twitter.

The next Action On The Side project is July 2015.

Sign up at Action On The Side

Upcoming Script Development meetings

Do you have a script? Do you have a story idea?
Want to meet with other scriptwriters and filmmakers to work on it?

We’ve started a regular script development meeting, and anyone can join us.

Any script.
Any idea.
Feature or short.
Bring scripts and ideas. All are welcome.

  • 7pm on Thursday 21 May. The Barley Mow
    127 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3AU
  • 7pm on Friday 05 June. Curzon Victoria
    58 Victoria Street, Westminster, London SW1E 6QW