Ah the envy … Shawn Downs has finished his thesis film THE HUNTER and it’s a beautiful, well-edited, well-acted, satisfying piece of cinema. I enjoyed it tremendously.
A graduate of Arcadia High School (in Phoenix) and FilmZambia Gaffer, Shawn is a visual filmmaker. Of course, I was eager to know the production details. He said the movie was filmed on 16mm Kodak 250 daylight film on an Arriflex SR2 camera. The film was transferred to HDCAM in telecine. He was able to work with everything from XL2s to high-end Sony HDCAM cameras to 16mm and 35mm Arriflex and Panavision cameras. Shawn says, “HD can produce some amazing images under good light and great production design, but there is nothing like film.” I have to agree. It is gorgeous.
He’s heading into industry now … it should be a fun career to follow.
Paramount Vantage has put up screening sites for several of their films. From a design perspective, the sites are beautiful. They’re attractive, easy to navigate and meaty. Images, video, production notes. Lots of good information. Lots of material for bloggers and film enthusiasts. The thing that is MOST exciting to me is that each site includes a link to the final script. Read the scripts! Study the sites! Thank Paramount Vantage for the fantastic learning opportunity.
Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, brings the story of the death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl to the screen with Angelina Jolie appearing in the role of Marianne Pearl. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, A MIGHTY HEART was filmed in Pakistan, India and France during the summer and fall of 2006.
Based on the Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book, INTO THE WILD was written and directed by Sean Penn (one of my favorites filmmakers and actors). It stars the always intereresting, perpetually underappreciated Emile Hirsch. Based on the trek taken by 22-year-old Christopher McCandless as a sort of modern-day Thoreau. Krakauer’s writing is powerful and inspiring. His piece on surfer Mark Foo in OUTSIDE was wonderful. And his Everest book, Into Thin Air was an amazing read. The thing that I like best about Krakauer’s writing is that he doesn’t “wimp out” in the end. His work always finishes as strong and descriptive as it began. Hope the movie does as well.
David Benioff pens the script from Khaled Hosseini‘s brilliant novel by the same name and Marc Forster (MONSTER’S BALL) directs this powerful story of redemption and the chance to earn forgiveness. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever.
Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING stars Nicole Kidman, Jack Black and Mrs. Baumbach (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in a characteristically family-dynamic driven tale in the most intimate of human minefields. Like Baumbach’s Academy-Award winning THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (one of Alec’s favorite films of all time), this film is about an excruciating sibling relationship. I can hardly wait.
I knew the least about this film when I started writing about these scripts and it looks like it will be incredibly interesting. First, it stars Paul Dano (who most folks remember as Dwayne in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE but I first became a real fan of at Sundance when he appeared in L.I.E. — Long Island Expressway. Brian Cox was extraordinary in that film, as well.) Back to TWBB, it was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (MAGNOLIA, BOOGIE NIGHTS). Paul Dano plays a charismatic preacher (from not talking in LMS to bible-thumper in TWBB) in a town that suffers the corruption and deception that follows an enormous oil-strike.
We came within two scenes of finishing our latest screenplay this week, so we’ve given ourselves permission to go out and play. There’s a neighborhood Halloween party, so at least one of us will be dancing in the streets tonight. We sent our current script, COYOTE out to a few trusted industry pals and got some tres enthusiastic responses. To be honest, we’re eager to get started on the next script, an updating of sorts of THELMA AND LOUISE with a nod to the current oppressive political climate. The story is so rich and exciting, it’s practically writing itself.
When it comes to powerful women in a compelling role, of course I always think of Debra Winger. She’s done so many amazing films … URBAN COWBOY, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN and BLACK WIDOW. Certainly one of my favorites is LEAP OF FAITH from first-time writer Janus Cercone. At Sundance the year after it was released, I had the chance to talk with Lolita Davidovitch about the character arcs in that film. Winger’s character had a nice evolution.
Why does Winger always come to mind as a lead in women’s script? For starters, she served in the Israeli Army. (Holy cow!) When she was 17, she was working at Six Flags Amusement Park. A freak accident put her in a coma for three days. When she came to, she was partially paralyzed and was told she’d be blind for life. To everyone’s surprise, over the next year, she healed completely. She’s such an iconic figure, a documentary about the challenges faced by actresses over 40 was entitled SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER. I’d love for her to play Major Pauline or one of the characters in our new script.
I spent the weekend in New York with my handsome young man. Now that I’ve come back, everyone keeps asking me what we did for fun. I wasn’t there for very long. I arrived late Friday and had to be back for my date with destiny. So, mostly, we walked and talked … or sat and talked … or ate and talked … or watched movies and debated. It was a word-filled weekend.
So, my favorite thing of the weekend? The 54-block walk Alec and I took on Saturday evening. He had expressed that he wanted sushi for his birthday dinner. We went to Todai. We both talked about how it reminded us of Jason because the first time we’d had sushi was in Studio City, at Todai, with Jason. Alec had decided that it would be a good idea to walk from his place on 83rd Street to the restaurant on 32nd Street. Fifty one blocks south, three blocks west. I thought I would die but we started talking — about our jobs, our dreams, our frustrations, our relationship issues, our recent challenges — and the time flew by. Even he said it was the best part of the weekend.
We started out in the late afternoon. The sun was sinking to the west. During the day, the Manhattan highrises claw at the sky, struggling to outreach one another. Manhattanites are dwarfed in their shadows. As dusk descends on the city, Manhattan is transformed. The night cuddles the skyline and reassuringly wraps the city. The neon and night lights warm the humans, like Alec and I, who meander about. The Empire State Building welcomed us with a purple glow, the same color as last year on his birthday, Alec recalled. The gargoyles on the Chrysler Building seemed more protective than malevolent when bathed in their evening finery. I told Alec that I thought the city had a completely different personality at night. It seemed that Manhattan was actually friendlier and more inviting at night.
Alec draped his arm over my shoulder, nodded and smiled. For a couple of blocks, we walked in silence, feeling comfortable in the city at night.
Captured At The 2006 Sundance Film Festival
First Videocast on Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Recorded on Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Produced by Cyndi Greening
Videography by Michael Montesa
The thing I recall at the Sundance screening was the discussion among the actors about how difficult it was NOT to smile during the filming. Since this was supposed to be where people go when they’ve killed themselves, they were supposed to be emotionally flat and non-responsive. They were saying that you don’t even realize who quickly, how easily and how often you smile. So, it was a struggle for them to keep their expressions expressionless and still convey the story. Here then, a brief summary from the NYTimes.
“At the beginning a mopey young man named Zia (Patrick Fugit) puts on a Tom Waits record — Mr. Waits himself will show up later — cleans his apartment, and commits suicide by the method suggested in the title. As a consequence of this act, apparently provoked by love trouble, he is plunged into a purgatory reserved for those unfortunate or impulsive souls who chose a similar exit.
It’s not a terrible existence, or nonexistence, as the case may be. For Zia, it’s a lot like the life he quit, but “a little bit worse.” This netherworld, which looks like a shabby corner of the American Southwest, is a place of broken-down cars, hand-lettered signs and unflattering fluorescent lights. No one is able to smile and the stars are invisible. Still, a desultory society has taken shape. People compare notes on how, as they put it, they “offed” (the title notwithstanding, some used nooses, guns or gas). And since everyone is already dead, there’s no reason not to smoke a cigarette or drink a beer first thing in the morning.”
BY CYNDI GREENING, MANHATTAN — Last night, Alec and I went to TODAI for sushi (his birthday dinner request). We walked from his apartment on the upper East Side to lower Midtown. It ended up being a lot of fun. Alec and I blabbered all the way. He talked about the work he’s been doing. I talked about what I’d been going through. We both talked about the future.
Today, we ate lunch at Anna Maria’s, a sidewalk cafe near hear. Then, we wandered over to Central Park. There were a gaggle of folks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’ve never seen so many busses at the Met. Alec, jacob and I were hanging out watching all of the sights in the Park. There were cyclists, jugglers, dog-walkers, kids with radio-controlled toys and joggers. It was late afternoon. The sun was low and bright against the blue of the October sky. The saturated hues of changing leaves were everywhere.
When we got back to the fifth-floor walk-up, all three of us popped open our laptops to check email, surf, play video games and blog. It’s funny to see all of us drop into our own little computer worlds. Jacob is looking at Widgets for his iPhone. Alec was playing World of Warcraft and I was blogging. We put THE KING OF SCOTLAND on in the background. It’s the story of Uganda’s despotic dictator Ida Amin. Forrest Whitaker won the academy award for his performance. Both Alec and Jacob agreed that they didn’t like the camera work but loved Whitaker’s performance as well. I also didn’t like the fellow they cast as the young doctor.
BY CYNDI GREENING, MANHATTAN, USA — Alec Hart is 20 today. The birthday boy just ran across the street to get some coffee for all of us. It’s a beautiful day in NYC. The sun is shining and there is a light breeze that makes the leaves flicker just enough to scatter the sunlight around his one-room apartment. I recall the last trip I made here in May and reflect on all that has changed. During that trip, Pamela and I were blogging about the Tribeca Film Festival and taking meetings with broadcasters, agents and distributors. It was an exciting time. Everything seemed possible.
Little more than a week after we returned to Phoenix, everything went to heck in a hand basket. We’ve spent the last six months dealing with that. So, now, I return to the Manhattan and marvel at how much my life has changed in a year and how much Alec has grown in the last two decades.
It’s as though the city is whispering to me, reminding me of the inevitable march of time and the change it carries with it. It is all amplified, no doubt, because it is autumn and my boy is becoming a man. The city sighs. Cherish the minutes. Relish the moments.
BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN - MESA ARIZONA - What will they think of next? These students of Cyndi’s are the creative sort! They are always thinking of something! She will balk at the font and kerning for sure! I can just imagine what Tuesday evening will look like in the sea of green if this catches on. Cyndi’s comment? “This reminds me of the “Save the Whale” campaign. I don’t want to be compared to whales, swimming or beached!” She is embarrassed and also overwhelmed by the support of her former students, fellow frustrated faculty members and even brave administrators. I am glad she had a chance to visit her son in NY this weekend. She was feeling a tad rugged! Thank goodness for generous friends who have helped her along the way! Cyndi have fun … Brandi and I and the rest of the gang will keep things moving in Phoenix while you have fun with the birthday boy and rest. You deserve it before it all hits the fan on Tuesday!
GREAT NEWS! A former student has offered me a job for one year. That’s right! I have employment to hold me over until the next school year. How cool is that? I’ll write more later …
Judgment day approaches … and quickly. Next Tuesday, October 23, the Governing Board convenes to decide my fate. Please come to the hearing and speak your piece. I’d appreciate your support and I am told that students and former students are welcome and heard at the board meetings. It is at 6:30 p.m. at 2411 W. 14th Street in Tempe (the big copper-colored building on the Broadway curve).
Dr. Glasper has made his recommendation and it was a tad disappointing. He did NOT recommend termination but did recommend suspension for the rest of the academic year. All in all, a very clever move. Who the heck can live for a year without a job? And, given that I just spent a year working on a film and sunk all of my money into that project, it’s not like I’ve got a wealth of reserves to draw on.
So, the good news, no cause for termination. The bad news, discipline that encourages me to leave MCCD forever.
I’ve spent the last few days reflecting on my sixteen years with MCCD and, I have to say, I feel good about all of the wonderful students that I had. I am so proud of so many of them. Heck, I’ve got former students working at nearly every print shop, many industries, tons of web companies, media companies and businesses all over the state … and even in the U.S. They write the most amazing letters of their successes and it is awesome. I’ve been pretty lucky to teach some pretty talented people and then be able to hear about it.
And, I have to say, the FilmZambia experience was just incredible. The students and faculty who went on that trip were touched, moved and inspired. They have all gone on to bigger and better work. Last week, we heard from Zambia. Since we were there, THREE films have been made. One of our stated goals was to help build the industry in that country. Can you believe it? Our naivete and blind faith paid off. They are doing it.
So, our films may never see the light of day … or the light of the projector bulb … but we know that we helped get things going for Zambia AND we know that the crew benefitted greatly from this educational and cultural experience. I feel dang good about that.
Alec’s Birthday
My boy turns 20 on Saturday. How amazing is that?! I found a cheap plane ticket last week (only $261 round trip), so I get to go to NYC to see him this weekend. I’ll be with him on his golden birthday and get to be with my tiny, nuclear family and forget about all of this MCCD mess for a few hours. That will be excellent. I’ll get to spend his golden birthday with him. For some reason, no one seems to know what that is … you know, it’s when your age is the same as the date … 10 on the 10th, 12 on the 12th, 20 on the 20th. He’s talking about walking all over and how the high temp is 50° in NYC each day. I don’t know if that sounds fun … but being with him sure will be. He called tonight on his way home from the editing house. Most of the time, I can hardly believe he’s there. Oh well, look out Big Apple … the boy and I will be painting the town red.
Well, today was a relatively unpleasant day. First, I discovered that Edmond Kabwe of the Post of Zambia did a story entitled It’s Bad Timing Again about the MCC hearing and copyright dispute over the film. Overall, a pretty good article (although no follow-up on the Positive Results of the Hearing).
Then, Jeniece pointed out that there was a new comment on the original Tribune article and it wasn’t too dang good. You know, they say no good deed goes unpunished and I’ve been spanked silly by this one. The newest comment from “Zambian Girl,” said, “I hate to tell you guys how this woman stole this film from Jabbes Mvula. How she trying to make money off this film without involving him. This is his film and she needs to stop what she is doing. God doesn’t like ugly. Good things don’t happen to bad people. Ms Cyndi God will deal with you. People stop using people. I hope Zambia knows that you are not a good woman and they don’t work with you any more.”
Here’s the real irony. I met with an investor this weekend who was willing to help fund the finishing of the films (score, some b-roll shots, sound sweetening) AND pay the actors with interest so we could, maybe, finally get these films out. Of course, they copyright agreements would have to be handled first. The frustration for me is that even though the director and his Zambian connections had agreed to pay the actors, it never came through. We were told several times that the actors had been paid but our most recent email with the National Arts Council says that the actors hadn’t been compensated.
I had another conversation with a friend this weekend who told me to shelve both of the projects and forget about them forever. She said it had already cost me too much. “Stop the bleeding,” she said. “Move on to something new. Forget about this.”
Ah the envy … Shawn Downs has finished his thesis film THE HUNTER and it’s a beautiful, well-edited, well-acted, satisfying piece of cinema. I enjoyed it tremendously.
We came within two scenes of finishing our latest screenplay this week, so we’ve given ourselves permission to go out and play. There’s a neighborhood Halloween party, so at least one of us will be dancing in the streets tonight. We sent our current script, COYOTE out to a few trusted industry pals and got some tres enthusiastic responses. To be honest, we’re eager to get started on the next script, an updating of sorts of 
So, my favorite thing of the weekend? The 54-block walk Alec and I took on Saturday evening. He had expressed that he wanted sushi for his birthday dinner. We went to 
We started out in the late afternoon. The sun was sinking to the west. During the day, the Manhattan highrises claw at the sky, struggling to outreach one another. Manhattanites are dwarfed in their shadows. As dusk descends on the city, Manhattan is transformed. The night cuddles the skyline and reassuringly wraps the city. The neon and night lights warm the humans, like Alec and I, who meander about. The Empire State Building welcomed us with a purple glow, the same color as last year on his birthday, Alec recalled. The gargoyles on the Chrysler Building seemed more protective than malevolent when bathed in their evening finery. I told Alec that I thought the city had a completely different personality at night. It seemed that Manhattan was actually friendlier and more inviting at night.
Then, we wandered over to Central Park. There were a gaggle of folks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’ve never seen so many busses at the Met. Alec, jacob and I were hanging out watching all of the sights in the Park. There were cyclists, jugglers, dog-walkers, kids with radio-controlled toys and joggers. It was late afternoon. The sun was low and bright against the blue of the October sky. The saturated hues of changing leaves were everywhere.
I recall the last trip I made here in May and reflect on all that has changed. During that trip, Pamela and I were blogging about the Tribeca Film Festival and taking meetings with broadcasters, agents and distributors. It was an exciting time. Everything seemed possible.
These students of Cyndi’s are the creative sort! They are always thinking of something! She will balk at the font and kerning for sure! I can just imagine what Tuesday evening will look like in the sea of green if this catches on. Cyndi’s comment? “This reminds me of the “Save the Whale” campaign. I don’t want to be compared to whales, swimming or beached!” She is embarrassed and also overwhelmed by the support of her former students, fellow frustrated faculty members and even brave administrators. I am glad she had a chance to visit her son in NY this weekend. She was feeling a tad rugged! Thank goodness for generous friends who have helped her along the way! Cyndi have fun … Brandi and I and the rest of the gang will keep things moving in Phoenix while you have fun with the birthday boy and rest. You deserve it before it all hits the fan on Tuesday!
Judgment day approaches … and quickly. Next Tuesday, October 23, the Governing Board convenes to decide my fate. Please come to the hearing and speak your piece. I’d appreciate your support and I am told that students and former students are welcome and heard at the board meetings. It is at 6:30 p.m. at 2411 W. 14th Street in Tempe (the big copper-colored building on the Broadway curve).
That will be excellent. I’ll get to spend his golden birthday with him. For some reason, no one seems to know what that is … you know, it’s when your age is the same as the date … 10 on the 10th, 12 on the 12th, 20 on the 20th. He’s talking about walking all over and how the high temp is 50° in NYC each day. I don’t know if that sounds fun … but being with him sure will be. He called tonight on his way home from the editing house. Most of the time, I can hardly believe he’s there. Oh well, look out Big Apple … the boy and I will be painting the town red.
