Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

We spent the last to weeks working with Autodesk Maya. This time, it was at Phoenix Country Day School with students in grades 5 through 11. I am always amazed at how quickly and easily the students adapt to the logic of the software. Within a few hours, they were modeling with polygons, NURBs and subD’s. They were applying surface textures and animating their objects using keyframe and path animation. The thing they liked the most was Learning Maya 6 | Dynamics. They were building bowling alleys, fountains, mousetraps and Rube Golberg devices. It was inspiring, simply inspiring. I’ve read hundreds of (mediocre) Maya books. It’s hard to find good books. The BEST book out there on dynamics is actually published by Alias … and amazingly it was written for version six but it works just as well with the latest versions.

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A while ago, I started using Facebook. There were some things I really loved about it. Short entries. Easy to read. Easy to write. Easy to keep up with what everyone was doing AND communicate to everyone what I was doing. It really cut down on my number of emails and telephone calls.

There were, at the same time, things I abhorred about Facebook. I couldn’t really cover things in depth as I could on my blog. There were these things called Notes and another thing called Pages that let me write more about things I found interesting … but those things didn’t really get into the main flow of the conversation. There were sidelined and overlooked quite easily. So, if I found something related to film production or web production or wanted to discuss a new technique, I’d return to my blog. It was as media-rich or user friendly but it did have substance.

Recently, I discovered two things that are the BEST plug-ins and features ever. First, there’s a fabulous WordPress plugin called FOTOBOOK that was written by Aaron Harp. It’s a self-installing wonder that pulls my Facebook albums directly into my blog. Effortlessly. Efficiently. It’s just wonderful. AND, I also discovered that Facebook let’s me pull my BlogPosts directly into my Notes (which are then published into the general conversation). I still have to go back and forth between the blog and Facebook but, now, both venues are doing double duty so I’m getting better quality with less effort. If you look in the sidebars, you’ll see my photo albums (including my recent research trips to New England). There’s also a RANDOM photo feature that changes every time someone visits. Just something to keep it fresh. Now, I’m working on RSS feeds AND looking for a way to manage video. If anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Remember, I’m Mac-based.

If you know of a FOTOBOOK-style plugin that pulls video in from Facebook as effortlessly as stills my life is perfect … however briefly.

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BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — Working on the film trailers has us revisting all of the shooting days and recalling the terrific, dedicated work of our amazing FilmZambia crew. Their dedication and determination were unparalleled. So, a reminder to take a look at their reels if you’re looking for a crew member who will do whatever it takes to get your film done!

• Cinematographer Carlos Espinosa
• Line Producer MK Racine
• Cinematographer and Editor Robby Brown
• Editor, Cinematographer and MakeUp Artist Jeniece Toranzo
• Editor and Unit Photographer
• Assistant Director, Editor and Script Supervisor Nick Marshall

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BY JENIECE TORANZO MESA, ARIZONA— Director and screenwriter, Gina Kim, tells a story of a young woman (Sophie) played by Vera Farmiga, who is married to a wealthy Asian American (Andrew), played by David McInnis. Sophie has a difficult time getting pregnant and discovers how far she will go in order to have a child. In order to save her marriage, she begins a sexual relationship with an illegal immigrant from Korea (Jihah), played by Jung-woo Ha. Sophie then finds her true self while juggling between the two men, one that she loves and the other that she falls in love with. This movie was well shot and edited. The cinematography is just amazing along with the well thought out color scheme. The cast did such an amazing job in their performance in delivering a well scripted movie. You can feel the emotion and pain in each character as they learn to cope with the situations they are put in. I will let you know, for those who care, that this movie is based on a sexual relationship between Sophie and Jihah, which means, be prepared for a whole lotta sex happening. Overall, the storyline well thought out. The ending is controversial which makes it even more appealing. Be sure to check out the Q&A with the Director and some of the cast.

NEVER FOREVER   Post Screening Q&A

Podcast on Monday, February 12, 2007
Cast and Crew of NEVER FOREVER - Large - Direct download link
Cast and Crew of NEVER FOREVER - Small - Direct download link
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BY PAMELA BOWMAN, MESA, USA – While we were at Sundance, I was sitting in front of a small group of very young filmmakers at a funding panel. After eavesdropping, I learned that they had done a movie on some guy traveling around the United States … I can’t really seem to remember much more about their film. Not real impactful or just not my cup of cocoa. Anyway they ended up being indie snobs. They were talking about a site called YouTube. They said that they would never post there or respect anyone who did. During the panel YouTube was discussed. The panelist acknowledged the impact YouTube was having on the industry and how some people have found success with their ideas and been offered movie contracts because of what they’ve put up on that site.

As you can tell I was not familiar with YouTube. I had heard of it, but I had not frequented the site. I have now. We did a test run on some clips from Sundance and have been surprised by the results. We’ve put up several of the vCasts from the last three years at Sundance. We have been surprised at how popular one vCast is in particular. Jared Leto stars in CHAPTER 27 and the Q&A following the screening of that film has been viewed 589 times in the last 72 hours … since we like the whole independent voice thing, we can see how YoYouTube facilitates our goal of allowing us to hear more voices. Even the ones in our heads!

… BUT, (there is always one or two around)… how can and do people generate a salary to support life as we know it? Is YouTube killing the market for entertainment media? There is a huge population that applauds that thought. People swap music over networks that bypass the artists, producers and distributors. TV viewership is down. People are turning to other forms of entertainment. And in many cases they are in the creative end of providing it for others to watch and enjoy. Granted some of the submissions are worthy of the Maury Povich show or the wrath of Simon, BUT, (the second one), we have the ability to click away anonymously. No chance of hurting someone’s feelings. Pain free! Personally, I think YouTube is cool.

One of the big drawbacks about the computer age is the isolation. Humans do not like isolation. The internet is our creative way to maintain contact with other humans. We get depressed in our anti-social life style and we plug into the net. We chat and email. We watch movies and listen to music. In fact, movies and music are traded on the internet like baseball cards. As a person who develops media content, it seems that what needs to be considered is the contribution and the rights of the creators. How can the concept of free enterprise (commerce) continue if everything created in the entertainment field is almost instantly free?

In the end it really doesn’t matter. The people have spoken. YouTube and other sites like it are here to stay. We will all deal with it. And like all good Americans, we will try to find a way to capitalize on it.

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BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — Nick reviewed, CHAPTER 27, the film about Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon at the doorway of the Dakota. Jeniece recorded the post-screening Q&A in the Eccles at Park City. In the Q&A, lead actor Jared Leto talked about his weight gain for the film and how that altered how he walked and talked. Rumor has it that Leto now has gout in one ankle because of the rapid weight gain and loss. There was also discussion about the family’s opinion of the film and Leto’s process for getting into the mind of the character.

CHAPTER 27   Post Screening Q&A

Recorded Thursday, 25 January 2007 Sundance Film Festival

Podcast on Friday, February 2, 2007
Cast and Crew of CHAPTER 27 - Large - Direct download link
Cast and Crew of CHAPTER 27 - Small - Direct download link
Email

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BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, ARIZONA, USA — Producers Pamela Bowman and Cyndi Greening reveal the post-production challenges faced by the FilmZambia upon their return to the U.S. following 28 days in Africa. With the Sundance deadline on 21 days away and nearly 200 hours of footage, the process of shaping a story is examined. Distribution and the festival circuit are discussed. Part Five of Five.

Show Details

Podcast on Friday, November 24, 2006
FilmZambia Production Podcast, Part Five
Direct download link above.
(Right-click or Control-click to download)
Podcast Feed

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BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, ARIZONA, USA — Producers Pamela Bowman and Cyndi Greening continue talking about the production experience in Zambia. The perils and problems of production in an extremely remote location are explored to help independent filmmakers better prepare for their production experiences. Part Four of Five.

Show Details

Podcast on Thursday, November 23, 2006
FilmZambia Production Podcast, Part Four
Direct download link above.
(Right-click or Control-click to download)
Podcast Feed

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BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, ARIZONA, USA — Producers Pamela Bowman and Cyndi Greening describe some of the more memorable moments encountered by the FilmZambia crew filming in the Ngoni warriors at sunset, shooting in Mandevu and Mtendere and at the breathtaking Victoria Falls. The challenges of moving such a large cast and crew is discussed. The challenges of shooting in a country where little or no film has been produced is also covered. Part Three of Five.

Show Details

Podcast on Wednesday, November 22, 2006
FilmZambia Production Podcast, Part Three
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BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, ARIZONA, USA — Producers Pamela Bowman and Cyndi Greening explain the preproduction processes encountered in taking the FilmZambia crew to Africa in the summer of 2006. Carnets, cross-training, visas, customs forms and story development are discussed. Part Two of Five.

Show Details

Podcast on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
FilmZambia Production Podcast, Part Two
Direct download link above.
(Right-click or Control-click to download)
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BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, ARIZONA, USA — Producers Pamela Bowman and Cyndi Greening discuss how 14 students and four (4) faculty members came to shoot the first dramatic narrative feature film and companion documentary in Zambia, Africa. Mesa Community College student Jabbes Mvula’s tragic loss of his son inspired the crew to journey across the world to help establish the film industry in his son’s name. Part One of Five.

Show Details

Podcast on Monday, November 20, 2006
FilmZambia Campfire Podcast, Part One
Direct download link above. (Right-click or Control-click to download)
Podcast Feed

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BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, ARIZONA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA) — More from the Film Zambia crew members as they discuss their experiences shooting the first dramatic narrative feature film in Lusaka and Livingstone. Recorded around a campfire in Mesa, Arizona, the informal conversation offers insight into the thoughts of the crew now that they’ve returned to the U.S. In Part Two, publicist and line producer M.K. Racine talks about the growth she experienced. Associate Producer Pamela Bowman discusses the difficulties with locations, coordinating the actors, communication, craft services and keeping Cyndi on the set. Each crew member is asked if he/she would go to Zambia again and what advice they’d offer to others. An entertaining and informative podcast.

Show Details

Podcast recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Podcast broadcast on Saturday, November 19, 2006
FilmZambia Campfire Podcast, Part Two

Direct download link above. (Right-click or Control-click to download)
Podcast Feed

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BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, ARIOZNA, USA (CINEMA MINIMA) — Film Zambia crew members discuss their experiences shooting the first dramatic narrative feature film and companion documentary in Lusaka and Livingstone. In Part One, Unit Photographer Mike Montesa talks about preparing for the shoot, how many images he captured each day and how he logged them each evening. Make-Up Artist Jeniece Toranzo talks about how she originally thought she would be an editor and ended up taking on new positions to serve the film. Documentary Cinematographer and Editor Robby Brown talks about his memories of Zambian children and the special challenges he faced. Feature Cinematographer Carlos Espinosa reveals the difficulty he had shooting in a nation were someone else was accountable for locations and props. 1st Assistant Director Nick Marshall talks about how he communicated with and coordinated all of the members of the team and the challenge he faced keeping production moving.

Show Details

Podcast recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Podcast broadcast on Saturday, November 18, 2006
FilmZambia Campfire Podcast, Part One

Direct download link above. (Right-click or Control-click to download)
Podcast Feed

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THE BIG PICTURE with COLIN BOYD on FREE FM101.5

Podcast on Sunday, June 18, 2006
Recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, USA

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indieWIRE blog
AZCentral blog
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By Cyndi Greening. Phoenix, Arizona USA (indieWIRE) — Film critic Colin Boyd interviews Jabbes Mvula and Cynthia Greening about filmmaking in Zambia. Greening will produce and Mvula will direct BAD TIMING, the first dramatic narrative feature film to be shot in Zambia. Simultaneously, they will produce VOICE OF AN AFRICAN NATION, a documentary about the making of that feature and the establishment of the film industry in Zambia.

BAD T!MING is the story of Chiku, a respected Zambian social activist who is invited to lead the U.N. Task Force to investigate and improve the future of the African Child. As the head of Children’s Paradise, an organization that cares for orphans in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, Chiku is well suited for the task. Chiku is respected by his peers and loved by the many children in his care. During this period, Chiku is also preparing for his wedding. The son of a Ngoni chief, he is to marry Mutinta, the daughter of a Tonga leader. First, Chiku must visit the bride’s village located near Victoria Falls to make the marriage arrangements with her father. Shortly before he marries, Chiku is seduced by a seemingly innocent neighborhood girl. When the police come to arrest Chiku at his wedding, his bride is horrified to discover that the young woman has accused her new husband of rape. Wanting to avoid a life sentence in prison, Chiku begins an epic struggle to restore himself personally and professionally. A tale of failure, corruption, forgiveness and redemption, BAD T!MING reveals the rich culture and social interactions of contemporary Zambians, set against the rich backdrop of Zambian countryside.

The documentary, VOICE OF AN AFRICAN NATION, will explore the educational and creative journey of Jabbes Mvula from Zambian National Broadcast to Arizona, and it will reveal the cultural exchange that occurs between Americans and Zambians. The film crew is comprised of students and faculty from MCC, where Mvula studied filmmaking. The documentary follows them from their relatively affluent, predominantly white community to this economically challenged nation in Africa. It will explain the efforts of Greening and MCC faculty to provide digital filmmaking training and technology to Zambian producers, directors and teachers.

Mesa Community College, located in Mesa, Arizona, has granted the Media Arts faculty the use of their high-definition cameras, lens packages, production lighting kits, audio production equipment and state-of-the-art editing equipment for the production of Mvula’s film and Greening’s documentary. By making these two compelling and exciting high-definition films, Mvula and Greening intend to accomplish several goals. They hope to bring the stories and the voice of a previously unrepresented African nation to the global cinema. They are committed that their efforts support the growth of film industry in Zambia. Through the films, they intend to reveal the beauty of Zambian regions for potential tourists, visitors and investors. With such a varied landscape and rich culture to offer international and native filmmakers, this joint venture promises growth and expansion for all parties involved.

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One of the great things about working in a creative field is that you meet so many creative, talented people. Today, we met Colin Boyd , film critic and radio host of The Big Picture on FM101.5. He interviewed Jabbes and me about the Zambian feature film, BAD TIMING and the companion documentary, VOICE OF AN AFRICAN NATION.

He allowed us to bring in the cameras and record the session for the documentary. He even did a custom opening and close for us because we are sending the recording on to ZNBC. It was a wonderful interview because he was both inquisitive and supportive. I got terribly excited at one point because he said that Jabbes and I had created a blueprint to help launch the film industry in any country. What an amazing thought! That is why we created the blogs and encourage everyone to write vociferously. We hoped that others could enjoy and learn from our journey.

I was surprised to find a large number of MP3s of Interviews with Boyd on his website. Among the folks he interviews, George Clooney, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson. He even has an interview with Elija Wood about EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, a film by Liev Schrieber that featured music by Gogol Bordello. Our very own MKRacine’s sister is in the band, so of course we find everything about them interesting.

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