Advertising the Day

www.meinckebrothers.com

2010-03-21T20:29:00.002-05:00

All my beautiful pooshtings will now be at our new website below....check us out!

www.meinckebrothers.com

Enjoy with moderation,

March 1st, 2010

2010-02-09T20:21:00.003-06:00

Forgive the absence, for it has been both busy and exciting here in the west. New projects to work on, old projects that have finished, and a plan for the future.

A new website encompassing my brothers and I is in the works, and the hope is to have it ready by March 1st, 2010. Although the web address has not been determined quite yet, I will be sure to post it here when it is finalized.

Although we enjoy our artistic ideas and adventures, we rarely get to share them with each other given our geographic differences. So, we felt it was best to design a new online venue where we could not only talk about our own projects, but perhaps share others as well.

When the new website makes its debut, this blog will unfortunately be shut down. I have very much enjoyed blogging, despite the fact that I wasn't always around to post. So, here's to you blogger.com. And here's to the next step.

If Your Not Already a Fan...

2009-11-18T23:30:00.003-06:00

The Meincke Brothers fan page...hopefully not too pretentious. We don't do it because we love ourselves, we do it because we love what we do, which is write, act, produce, and broadcast.

Daniel Meincke is a fan of

The Meincke Brothers

Create your Fan Badge

Recession? Uh...Yeah.

2009-11-15T21:48:00.004-06:00

Last week I was listening to a morning radio broadcast nonchalantly claim that the state of the economy was better than it was a year ago today, and that America was quite possibly out of the recession.

Yet I look around me…and things aren’t so hot.

The state of California’s economy is in disarray, especially after the state government approved a 10 percent income tax increase, effective immediately. Sure, California officials claim that residents will receive this money when they file their taxes next spring, but I hear rumors that the state will pretty much have to deliver IOU’s to nearly half the population.

Oh man I’m looking forward to this! Angelinos, please file your taxes early if you want to see a single penny from the government next summer.

Economic pressures have long plagued California, and now it seems like other states are facing fiscal crisis as well – such as my former home, Illinois.

California’s unemployment rate for September was an astronomical 12.2%, and Illinois was not far behind with a 10.5%. California faces a budget gap of approximately $7 Billion, which means that the spending cuts in 2010 will effect nearly every department.

So I call out to friends back in Chicagoland. If you plan on coming out to LA, be ready. I’m not saying it is a bad idea. (After all, Illinois is not doing much better)...But be very safe with your money, and for that matter, start saving now.

(sources include CNNmoney, Fox news, Los Angeles Times)

Feelings of Nostalgia

2009-11-09T16:10:00.002-06:00

Upon returning from a trip to Chicago for the weekend (for which I was in the area for a mere 38 hours) I needed to take a few minutes and reflect on the life I had there only 6 months ago. And I’ll be perfectly honest, the nostalgia was so thick that it literally stopped me from walking a few times. I couldn’t concentrate until getting back on a plane.

I’ve had this “Never Look Back” attitude since early this year, and I think returning to the old stomping grounds made me truly appreciate where I started. Not only places like Flashpoint Academy, but Illinois State University, and even all those years working in retail.

Even on those really really bad days…

Perhaps I didn’t realize it upon moving to Southern California, but the cultures of these two regions are wholly different. I have made such a die-hard effort to make myself known in Los Angeles, which included waking up early every morning and sending out my resume to at least 6 different possible employers.

I did this for 38 days. It was the scariest 38 days of my life, because it was the first time in 9 years I had been completely unemployed.

Now, I’m lucky enough to be an Executive Assistant, but I find myself wondering about where my path will take me. I love Los Angeles, and I look to continue my career here for many years to come, but it has never been my plan to stay here forever.

This, of course, depends on the career path, but travelling the world sounds real good to me right about now…

Time to Watch Climbing Kili

2009-10-07T23:33:00.004-05:00

Got 15 minutes to spare? Check out the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominee Climbing Kili below!

Climbing Kili from CNGM Pictures on Vimeo.

The Chicago Emmy Awards

2009-10-03T15:09:00.006-05:00

At long last I return, and with good news.

Yesterday evening I received a text from my partner in crime, Mr. Mike Noens, to let me know of some exciting news. Climbing Kili has been nominated for a Chicago Emmy Award in one of its student categories. In my excitement, I sent him a text back, and then immediately called him because I suddenly found reception on my phone. (I'm currently in the Rockie Mountains for a long weekend, so phone reception is non-existent haha!)

As it turns out, the Emmy nom was announced the night before at a party in downtown Chicago.

Both Michael and I are thrilled to hear the news, and we can't wait to see what unfolds for Climbing Kili in terms of Festivals and showings in the future...

Looks like I'll be on a plane back to Chicago in early November. Suppose it's time to return to Flashpoint Academy for a weekend after a long absence...

Comic Con International 2009 - Part 2

2009-07-27T19:44:00.011-05:00

Here are some more pictures of the final two days of Comic Con 2009. You can view these and more here.

Lost...yikes...not until 2010

Michael Emerson pays a visit...and is that a brain in a jar?

One of these days I hope to have one in my home...

Hopefully this one doesn't need work on the shocks, suspension, brakes, transmission and new tires...like the last one did.

Arkham Asylum Panel...And yes, Mark Hamill did give us a psychotic Joker laugh.

Buried Treasure Fail

I may have some more pictures in the future, but you can check the flickr link above and check out other photos from the event in the coming weeks...

Comic Con International 2009 - Part 1

2009-07-24T23:30:00.015-05:00

Hey gang,

I have been privileged to have made some great friends out here in California - some new, and some I have reconnected with since making the move west. As it turns out, they had an extra ticket to Comic Con, to which I happily obliged.

Saying this place is busy is an enormous understatement. The main hall was filled with booth after booth of comic books, tv shows, movies, books, video games, graphic novels....need I go on? (More on this in later posts) After exploring the floor for well over a few hours, we stood in line to get a glimpse of some of the films releasing through the fall and into next year. Besides the panel of actors and filmmakers answering questions and talking about their projects, we were also able to view trailers and unseen footage.

We entered during an opening for the presentation of 9. This post apocalyptic nightmare film encompassing creatures fighting for survival from killing machines was rather thrilling. We were able to catch a clip from the film, which was extraordinarily intense, especially since we only saw about 10 minutes. Legion was a project I had not heard much about, but after a 4 minute trailer about the apocalypse, Adrianne Palicki, and a Demon Ice Cream Man crawling on all fours, I was hooked. District 9 was the biggest hit for me, considering that I have been waiting for this film for a couple of months now. We were lucky enough to view a roughly 10 minute reel from the film which pretty much clearly drew opened the doors to what the movie is really about. I won't spoil it, but I doubt you'll be disappointed.

In the later part of the evening, a couple friends and I stuck around to watch a panel with James Cameron and Peter Jackson. They answered questions, talked about their films, discussed the possibilities for future projects. You know, filmmaker stuff.

So, despite a horrible sunburn and not being able to find a Mass Effect 2 booth, the day was pretty exciting!

Here are a few pictures from day 1. (Which is technically day 2, since Thursday is the first day)

These poor guys had to stand there all day long...

Dead Space 2 Anyone?

So it's safe to say that attendance at Comic Con is good, despite worldwide recession

He looks really confused...

Apparently these guys are a big deal...guess they make movies or something...

More to come tomorrow...and you can view a few more pictures here.

Climbing Kili One-Sheet

2009-07-11T14:07:00.002-05:00

This is an early One-Sheet for Climbing Kili, the next Meincke/Noens Documentary. The film is being submitted to festivals around the country over the next few months...

Hopefully, we'll be seeing more on this later...

The Future of Me

2009-07-03T04:42:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy month. Suppose I should fill you in.

Following graduation from Flashpoint, I spent much of my time preparing for interviews in Los Angeles. One week into June, I flew into LAX to speak with several companies, most of which seemed to be involved in the television business. To make a long story short, I spent 9 days in the west, and returned to Chicago knowing that I would make the move.

6 days later, I packed up the truck and left.

I feel that leaving Chicago behind has allowed me to revitalize my love of film. Even the trip through the Rockies allowed me to reflect on my successes and failures in the past 2 years. My brother accompanied me on the journey, and we kept each other awake with jokes through Nebraska, but we practically didn't speak in Colorado, simply because we were too busy observing the majesty of the mountain landscape. Funny, how mountainous terrain can make one reflect on their own life.

I didn't always plan to move to Los Angeles (just refer to earlier blog posts!) but perhaps it is for the best that I begin a new chapter in a completely new and exciting environment. Although this type of change is probably the biggest I have ever made, I don't think it has set in, at least not yet. After all, I've been independent for quite some time, which allows me the freedom to simply go where I need to go.

I certainly miss my friends, and I hope they will join me soon. I do feel bad about leaving everything behind in such a hurry. Hell, I don't even think some of my friends know I have left Chicago yet! But as one of my enthusiastic professors told me, you can't fear the success in your life. If you think you can do it, then you can do it. It will happen, and it will happen effortlessly. Take the opportunity. Take the job. Don't sit down and wait for things to fall into place, because they won't. More importantly, don't believe that you can't do it. You have failed by not taking the opportunity that could have made you happy.

This goes both ways - personal and professional.

Some may find these comments a bit generic and unoriginal, but they are the truth. Do not fear the thought of not succeeding, for if you do not try, then you will never know if you really could have made a difference.

I have passed on opportunities in both my personal and professional life. It's time to change that. So I can tell you this much, when an opportunity comes about next time, I'm going to take it. Hands down. No fear of success.

And that's why I moved to Los Angeles. No more hearing other peoples success stories. It's time to write my own.

Flashpoint Academy Professionals 2009

2009-06-01T10:17:00.006-05:00

This past Friday, Flashpoint held the graduation ceremony for its inaugural class of 2009.

Congratulations, Graduates. See you...

Great Heights Teaser Trailer

2009-05-07T08:45:00.005-05:00

There is a new trailer up for Great Heights. Check out the teaser trailer here.

Over the next couple of weeks, you will be seeing a series of interviews and mini docs on greatheightsmovie.com as well, so be sure to check in on that!

FP Portfolios...

2009-05-02T13:47:00.005-05:00

This crazy schedule over the last 3 weeks has really kept me from getting a solid blog post in, but I figured I would at least put up a link for you to explore.

Check out the link to the Flashpoint student portfolios. There are a number of really impressive projects in the works, and there are more on the way.

http://www.flashpointacademy.com/graduates

More to come...

Producing Reel 2009

2009-04-17T09:52:00.005-05:00

Just a brief update today - Check out my producing reel for Spring 2009.

Producing Reel Spring 2009 from Daniel Meincke on Vimeo.

Remembering Creativity

2009-04-11T22:00:00.007-05:00

How does one return to the creative element? How can I say "that project was my idea" rather than "I did the paperwork for that idea"?

I bring up these questions because a good friend of mine, my best friend in fact, kinda let me have it after I told her that there is no creativity left in this industry. It is a simple and disheartening realization because of how much red tape is involved in filmmaking. This conversation took place two months ago and I have since thought about how I need to remember that being in business does not mean that creativity is completely gone.

The sad truth is that sometimes, in order to pay the bills, you have to give up time to be creative. But this doesn't mean you should not forget about conceiving new ideas. That's why I joined Flashpoint in the first place.

I've spent the last 18 months focusing the majority of my work through the business side of filmmaking - paperwork, producing, red tape, negotiations, so on and so forth. It's hard to get excited about an idea when all you do is make production binders and copies all day long.

So how do I get back? How can I get back to that element that I had when I directed Lost Wallet in 2007? I recently had the opportunity to be an impromptu director for a project. Even though it was for a short period of time, and even though it wasn't originally me directing, it still felt pretty good.

I want to do that again. I want to have the satisfaction of being passionate about something. I want to really, truly, deeply enjoy every facet of a films creation, from conception to execution.

I'm not saying I don't like what I do now. It is something I consider myself pretty good at, even if the projects I work on are not my own. But it certainly would be nice to get back to a level where I can write something and show it off.

Who knows, perhaps development awaits me in California.

What I do know is that it's time to stop thinking about it and start doing it. It's time to re-ignite my passion, my desire, my potential. Let's start by putting the pen to the paper, then we'll see what I can really do.

Charles Leslie: 1st Assistant Director

2009-04-07T00:19:00.004-05:00

Yet another small project to share with you loyal readers/viewers.

Some time ago, Mike Noens and I headed up a short documentary on Charles Leslie, the 1st Assistant Director for The Intruder. This project was filmed in the spring of 2008 and the documentary was filmed and edited during the same period.

See for yourself.

Charles Leslie: 1st Assistant Director from Daniel Meincke on Vimeo.

More to come...

Evil Bread II

2009-04-01T20:27:00.005-05:00

The short film below is EVIL BREAD II, a joint effort between Flashpoint Academy & McDonald's. Last year, McDonald's contacted Flashpoint for help with a viral marketing campaign, which resulted in several clever entries. Below is one of the award winners, about a man who returns home to find his quarter pounder is mysteriously missing...

Hope you Enjoy.

Evil Bread II from Daniel Meincke on Vimeo.

Evil Bread II was produced by Flashpoint Academy Studios, and involved Dorian Weinzimmer, Danny Crook, and Jeremy Hoen. Starring Jor'don Hodges....and a quarter pounder with cheese.

Young Voters in Chicago

2009-03-28T17:09:00.005-05:00

So as a part of this resurgence of blog posts, I want to begin posting some of the short projects I have done over the last few years. I will kick it off with a more recent project, Young Voters in Chicago.

With the extreme importance of this recent election, Flashpoint Academy sent us out into the world to see what people were doing about the campaigns, candidates, and future of our country. We found 4 young voters who had some very different opinions. This ultimately made for a more entertaining project.

Hope you enjoy!

Young Voters in Chicago from Daniel Meincke on Vimeo.

Young Voters in Chicago has interviews from -

Conor Kendrick

William Meincke

Alan Jankowski

Josh Nordmark

As a side note, check out www.michaelbartello.blogspot.com. A good friend and gifted cinematographer, Bartello always has something cooking over on his site. It will be living in my links section from now on...

Check it out.

Welcome back, Mr. Meincke

2009-03-27T13:08:00.003-05:00

Long time no post....

I begin this afternoon with just a brief update on the newest Flashpoint project, The Couch.

This program is a small session, geared towards reviewing upcoming and currently released films in the domestic market. Although we will have a main series focusing on the various upcoming mainstream films (they will be judged upon their theatrical trailers), there will also be some small side sessions, where others will voice praise or dislike for a recently released film. We are filming two sessions, of which I hope both are able to be posted online here at the site for your viewing pleasure. I'll keep you posted!

In other news, Flashpoint has been gearing up for the final stretch of its inaugural class. While students have been preparing resume's, business cards, and portfolios, Flashpoint has been getting ready for sending them out into the working world - or at least out to the interview.

We shall see what develops for the first class of Flashpoint in the coming months.

More to come. Promise.

The 2008 Innovation Awards

2008-10-31T17:42:00.016-05:00

It's been a while, but I'm finally back to blog about a recent event I attended with the Flashpoint faculty and staff. I was lucky enough to attend The 2008 Innovation Awards at the Goodman Theater in Chicago on Tuesday night.

The most innovative products and services of this year included the National Pasteurized Egg, Cleversafe Data Storage, Tundra Fire Extinguisher (that would be fire extinguishers in a small can) and, of course, Flashpoint Academy.

Here is the link to the video, which played before Flashpoint received their award.

http://feedroom.businessweek.com/?fr_story=85b78c267e7e078153c1c8f775cbddf185625c2a

Below are a few pictures from the event, provided by Flashpoint President & CEO Howard A. Tullman.

A special thanks to the faculty and staff of Flashpoint for inviting me to this prestigious event. I am honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

More to come...

Great Heights Pre-Production Diary #1

2008-07-19T22:50:00.008-05:00

Hello all,

It's been a while since the last post! Why? Because we have been in pre-production for Flashpoint's first feature film! I wanted to give you a few pieces of information in our first pre-production diary, which will appear on our feature website in a few days.

www.greatheightsmovie.com

Here's a few pictures of locations we will be shooting in. The locations range from the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park to the Lamplighter Inn Restaurant in Palatine.

Production begins on the 27th of July, and will go through late August. This romance/drama focuses on two young lovers who meet in a vivid dream every night. Through their growing obsession with one another, the two drift further apart from their real lives.

More to come,

The League

2008-06-22T19:56:00.005-05:00

www.theleaguefilm.com

Click the link, and get to know the site. One of my good friends Alec Siegel is one of the writers and producers.

Very exciting stuff, and quite a stellar website.

Notebaert Nature Shoot

2008-06-10T13:16:00.025-05:00

Just wanted to give a quick update.

Over the last month we have been working with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to film a series of 90 second shorts that will be displayed on the website and at the Museum. Here's a few pictures to show you what we've been up to.

More to come,

Reflection

2008-05-20T22:06:00.004-05:00

It's been a pretty hectic couple of weeks, but very productive, nonetheless. We are in the final stretch of the first year at Flashpoint, and I am already so busy that my schedule has filled the summer.

In fact, my schedule actually filled up way back at the end of January.

After being here for a year, and reflecting on my time at Flashpoint, I can proudly say that it is much more than a school. I don't feel like I come here to do school work, I come here to better myself as a filmmaker, and as a person. I am in a workplace, and I work with students and faculty to bring projects together.

I have been on 3 internships, two of which will continue into the summer, and I have worked on at least 10 short films over the course of the last 9 months. I have set up and run a weekly film screening for the school and crafted a plan for a student government. I am tired, but I am adjusting, and I feel far more qualified to be in this business than I did a year ago.

What Flashpoint Academy provides now for me is a path, which is my choice, of course. I just don't know what it should be. So, as we reach the end of the first chapter at Flashpoint, the time for reflection has begun.

A decision soon,

Go Go Speed Racer

2008-05-08T23:47:00.008-05:00

What makes a trip to IMAX such an exciting experience is not only the movie you see, but the fact that you can sometimes get an early screening - for free. I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Speed Racer earlier this evening, and all I can say is that was one wild experience.

The movie begins with Emile Hirsch as Speed, racing around a dazzling display of lights and dodging cars left, right, up, down...well...pretty much any way you can dodge a fast moving vehicle.

The films greatest strength is also its greatest weakness - editing. The quick cutting between takes can get you really excited about a racing scene, but it can also drive you up wall. That said, I felt the racing scenes were spectacular. The color and VFX were quite unlike anything I had ever seen before, but at the same time, I wish there had been a little less going on in front of me. I kept wanting to push all of the extra stuff out of the way so I could just see what was going on in the background!

To the credit of the Wachowski's, they pretty much through the rule book out on this one. This movie was undeniably insane, and yes, people did walk out after the film saying "that was really unrealistic." Yet, I'm pretty sure that they wanted it that way. Yeah it's unrealistic, and they knew it, so they went way overboard! For that, I applaud them.

Sometimes unrealism in a film can really drive me crazy, but not this one. This one was crazy enough already.

Go see Speed Racer, at IMAX. Go Go.

Chicago & Formosa Betrayed

2008-04-28T23:49:00.007-05:00

These past couple weeks, I have been lucky enough to intern on a feature film, known as Formosa Betrayed.

I won't divulge too much information on the movie, but here is a brief synopsis for you to read through.

Formosa Betrayed is set in the 1980's, where a young detective investigates the murder of a well known professor. During the investigation, he uncovers truths that send him on a collision course with the chinese mafia, chinese government and U.S. state department. He must then not only uncover the mystery of this professor's murder, but also fight for his own survival.

That's pretty much the idea. My life in the production office wasn't nearly that exciting, but I'm not complaining.

Working as an intern gives you the opportunity to do several things, from distributing script revisions to running errands - to places that you don't really know about. (This allowed me to get to know some filmmaking places that I will be using in the future, provided I shoot a film in Chicago.)

Chicago filmmaking is on the rise with films like Formosa, Dark Knight, ER, and much more. (Yes, ER has been here a while) But the industry is returning to Chicago over the next several years, and the hope is to have a thriving film community as soon as possible.

Some say we can only hope...I don't think we need to. Filmmaking is on its way back to Chicago. It's simply a matter of time.

Son of Rambow

2008-04-20T19:38:00.006-05:00

Last week I was able to attend a screening of Son of Rambow, starring two young actors, Bill Milner & Will Poulter.

Set in the 1980's, this film is about their fascination with a pirated copy of First Blood, which prompts the start of their own homemade sequel, against the wishes of their school and their families.

Rambow is fun and entertaining, but I didn't feel that it was anything extraordinary. I'm not saying that Rambow was bad, but maybe I expected something a little different because of some preconceived notions.

Nick Goldsmith and Garth Jennings make up the team Hammer & Tongs, who started work on Rambow more than 8 years ago. That's not to say they were constantly working on it, because they weren't. They were in fact working on a studio picture for much of the time, known as Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Perhaps some of you have heard of it?

Hammer & Tongs paid a visit to Flashpoint the day after the screening, and we were able to ask a few questions about the process of filmmaking, and how Rambow became what it was. They talked about their lives during the process of making a film, and working with child actors (since there were plenty in this film) and what it's like coming off of a studio film and doing something on a smaller scale.

All in all, Rambow was entertaining, warm, and heartfelt. Unfortunately it suffers from the cliche story line at times, and one of the side stories could have been done without. I won't spoil it for you though, in case you plan on a viewing.

Later this week I'll have a report on the feature Formosa Betrayed, which I am currently interning on.

Chicago 2016 - Part 1

2008-04-14T18:28:00.009-05:00

In 2016, Chicago holds the possibility of hosting the Summer Olympic Games, which would turn the city into a hub of activity.

Not that it isn't already...

But hosting the Olympics would present Chicago with the opportunity to improve the city's economy and quality of life on a grander scale, even after the Olympics have come and gone from the city.

The USOC picked Chicago over Los Angeles last year, since only one American city is allowed to compete for the Olympic bid. From that point on, the city has been preparing and praying for an event like this to come to the shores of Lake Michigan.

And why shouldn't they? There's 29 miles of shoreline, a beautiful skyline, and plenty of able venues to host the games (i.e. The United Center & Soldier Field.) We are a hub of sporting activities, and we have a powerhouse of great players. Even if you disagree, you can't say it hasn't had a lush history with some of the greatest players in the world.

And nothing represents diversity like Chicago. There are over 25,000 people in each of the more than 25 nationalities in the area. The Mayor and others have overseen making the city the greenest in the United States. Over half a million trees and the restoration of parks and landmarks are making Chicago more beautiful than ever.

This may seem like a bit of an advertisement for the Olympic bid, but what I am getting at is the amount of manpower involved. Just imagine the magnitude of people working towards an event like this.

Carlos & Will

2008-04-06T22:12:00.005-05:00

Amidst all the chaos these last few weeks, I had a chance to see R. Carlos Nakai and Will Eaton in concert this afternoon.

For those who don't know, R. Carlos Nakai (RC) is a rather famous Native American Flute Musician. He plays a wide variety of flutes, and has released well over 30 albums since the 1980's. His music is soothing, peaceful, and extraordinarily graceful. This is the perfect kind of music to let your mind wander.

In fact, that's what RC said during the concert. When he plays his music, he wants you to use your imagination to take you places.

Will Eaton joined RC on stage, and played the double head harp guitar, which is so elaborate it has its own computer built in. Yes, a computer. It even has its own little monitor. This allows Will to play multiple instruments in one, and bring in certain elements of song that you wouldn't normally be able to do with only two people playing.

What was really impressive was their collaboration on improvisation. After a standing ovation at the end of the performance, the two walked back on stage to play one more tune. Will turned to RC and said "you wanna just do another improv?"

The crowd cheered, and they began a 7 minute song. They fed off of one another, using plenty of instruments to quickly find the right beat and then bring the song to life. Everything from the bass, to the guitar, to the piano, to the Native American flutes were used.

This music took my mind out of the stresses of life for two hours. Sometimes that's all you need.

9 to 5

2008-03-31T22:34:00.007-05:00

As I sit here putting the finishing touches on the production binder for Don't Russian, I realize one thing...

There is not much time for sleep.

I'm not really bothered by it, since this is a profession that I am choosing. If I wanted plenty of sleep I would go work a 9 to 5 job.

The thing is, we don't do that as filmmakers. I am constantly in contact with my group, and other groups, (and for some reason everyone calls me at the same time!) I am up many hours of the night, sending and recieving e-mails from anyone throughout the day. I think my phone bill will be rather high this month...yuck.

If you are a passionate filmmaker, you think about a project all day. You constantly tweak and improve the concepts. You make plot and character changes that alter the experience. Then, when all is said and done, you go back home and you think about it some more.

We are on the ball 24/7.

Am I a workaholic? Say what you will, but I am constantly on the move, and I am finding it very rewarding.

Before I get back to my work, I must recommend the film Gone Baby Gone. A pleasant surprise of Ben Affleck's directing abilities, not to mention that his younger brother Casey had a solid performance in the lead role. It is ultimately a moral story that will leave you guessing until the end of the movie, and thinking about it long after the credits have rolled.

DM

That's a Wrap

2008-03-23T17:38:00.010-05:00

There isn't much time for sleep when you produce. Last night we wrapped the second Flashpoint film project and celebrated a successful shoot. I don't really have the energy to give out a lot of details, but I will post a few pics. Hope you enjoy them, and I'm sure we'll be having more soon.

It feels wierd not seeing the crew. It's awkward not talking to the director every hour. A bizarre feeling indeed.

Get some rest, gang. You did fantastic.

DM

Take your job seriously, not yourself

2008-03-12T21:58:00.008-05:00

With the second film project underway for Flashpoint, students have been bustling about trying to fill their various roles to make each film a success. I have been selected as a Producer, which perhaps you can gather is why I haven't posted here in several days.

A producer's job is endless. You are always adding, changing, doing more to keep things under control. You are the boss. The buck stops at you. The nice things about it is that you have a great degree of control over everything that happens. Since you run the show, you have the final say regarding just about everything.

Just don't screw it up.

Being a producer has opened my eyes to many new ideas of how to make successful films. I can have more of a creative impact on a film. The lesser exciting part is the business aspect, but I'm not saying it is enormously impossible. It's time consuming, daunting, and sometimes very aggravating. But it gets better as time goes on, and trust me, nothing is more rewarding to a producer than getting clearance successfully.

I feel it legitimizes what we do. With all the red tape, and all the legal issues, it's nice to have permission to film somewhere.

Just don't get too wrapped up. Keep yourself in check and don't get angry with others. You may be the boss, but ultimately that means the film is your responsibility, so pissing off the crew isn't going to get the job done.

Since most of the people who read this are filmmakers, just remember this. Have fun with those long hours, don't forget to laugh, because people can be so easily frustrated with all the tedious work that goes into filmmaking.

You do it because you love it.

Student Film Screening

2008-02-29T21:21:00.008-06:00

On Wednesday, Flashpoint Academy & Flashpoint Film Society hosted the 1st Official Student Film Screening. We organized the event over the last few weeks, in hopes of getting a pretty big crowd.

After all the planning, stress, and running around, it was an amazing success.

Along with the extraordinary turnout, we had some fantastic short films by several students, who were very excited to see their finished products on the big screen. I talked to a few new students after the screening who were inspired by the films. We even had a visit from Howard Tullman, the President of Flashpoint, who gave congratulatory remarks for all the students efforts.

Here's some pics from the event. Thanks to Howard Tullman for the pics...

A great success, indeed.

DM

Red

2008-02-19T20:28:00.004-06:00

The top dog, the head hancho, the Camera of Cameras. The Red.

I'm not super saavy on the technical aspects of the camera, but I can tell you how it worked on the set of "The Intruder." For starters, it has the ability to shoot at 4K, which is unbelievable considering that HD is just over 1K (1080). The picture is simply amazing.

Before the shoot, the production team decided to use 8 gigabyte cards instead of a 350 gigabyte hard drive. Seems like an odd choice, but they have their reasons. First of all, if by some chance the hard drive becomes corrupted, the entire days footage is lost. Is it likely? No, but nonetheless I can understand the argument.

The other reason is because of downloading time. It takes forever to download a gigantic hard drive at the end of the day, while doing smaller cards is done throughout the day at a much quicker pace.

These are just a couple of the features I got to witness while on the set of the film. The Red Camera is said to retail at about $18,000, but I have seen prices from everywhere from $15,000 to $60,000

There was one delay. Apparently there is a setting on the camera that shows more than is actually seen in the viewfinder. This almost plagued the shoot because of lights and equipment being seen in several shots. With the 4K recording ability, however, the editor was able to simply crop the image and knock the resolution down to 2k. Basically, no one would know the difference. The picture is that good.

Maybe someday I will work with one...

DM

Key to Success

2008-02-05T16:44:00.000-06:00

Today, several students along with myself began shooting a documentary on the short film "The Intruder." We had the opportunity to interview the 1st and 2nd assistant directors, as well as the director of photography and the 1st assistant camera. (You can see below the DP and his 1st assistant working on a crane shot.)

All four of these jobs require great discipline and an extraordinary knowledge of the subject matter, but none of these people could do their jobs effectively without someone to help them along.

"Anticipation is the key to a professional" said the 2nd assistant director during our interview. Knowing your superiors next move is essential to becoming a better employee. If you can make their job easier, than you have become much more important in the grand scheme. This can be true of all professions, not just filmmaking. And yes, the name of the game is collaboration. If you can't work with each other, then you can't do it at all. The assistant director has to bark at a lot of people to keep them moving, but it's not because he's a jerk and it's not because he doesn't like you. It is because he has a schedule to keep, and a budget to watch. People have to work together to get things done, and that's what measures how successful a production is.

The documentary shooting went rather well, and we will actually begin the editing process very soon. Once complete, it will be posted here along with other projects I have been working on over the last couple months.

An unrelated side note: It is Super Tuesday. If you have not already done so, please vote.

DM

It's Flickr Time

2008-02-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

With my resolution to carry my camera around with me more often, I have decided that it's time for a flickr website. People can now take a good long look at my photos, rather than having them disappear from my blogger as I continue to update.

I will update the flickr website regularly, with all new photos as I get them uploaded onto my prehistoric computer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22723302@N07/

The reason flickr is so fantastic is the same reason webcasting and filming and blogging are all fantastic. Everyone can do it. People are smarter, savier, and more influenced by this media world than they have ever been, so why not get your own site with your own photos!

Short post today, but I gotta get some rest. I shall also add flickr to the links section below, so keep an eye out for that.

DM

Western Resurrection

2008-01-31T21:04:00.000-06:00

Many say the western is dead. They do have a point, since good western films these days are few and far between. But "3:10 to Yuma" helps me remember how much I love a good western movie experience. It has always been a genre where I can sit down and genuinely feel that every character is in danger. Western films are not afraid to put all the characters in peril, and yes, sometimes the bad guys win.

Maybe that's what makes the genre so exciting, and at the same time, maybe that's why some people don't like it. People want a happy ending, and westerns don't always deliver.

"3:10 to Yuma" is a well crafted film, with a solid balance character development, suspense, and good ol' gun fights. There's even a stagecoach chase. Classic.

Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are both excellent in their roles, of course I can't really think of a movie where they didn't act well. Even clunkers like "Reign of Fire" were made slightly tolerable because of Bale's performance. But the real show stealer I felt was Ben Foster. No western film is complete without a wacko bandit running around shooting everything he sees...and enjoying it.

So is the western dead? Since westerns were popping out of the oven in great supply years ago, maybe people think it has overstayed its welcome. I feel that the western may not be nearly as influential in the movie industry as it once was, but that's not to say it's gone the way of the dodo.

Perhaps if these westerns only came about every so often. It seems to have worked out rather well so far. After all, I don't mind having a good western once in a while. Maybe it makes the genre more exciting to see. The less there are, the more entertaining they are when they arrive at the box office.

So here's to waiting for the next great western.

DM

So Young

2008-01-22T21:29:00.000-06:00

During pre-production of "The Intruder" I caught some extra time to take some shots of the set. It's obviously still under construction, but rather impressive looking...considering that 4 days earlier it was an empty stage. Take a look at these photos.

On another note, Heath Ledger died today. 28 years old. It is very unfortunate in this day and age when someone with so much going for him can have his life end abruptly. Especially at that young age. I mean, i'll be 24 in less than a week! I can't imagine why someone would want to end their life at such a young age.

Maybe I just don't want to imagine it.

Work hard, have fun, live happy.

DM

Cloverfield

2008-01-17T21:28:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to attend an early screening of "Cloverfield" yesterday afternoon, and after stewing for a day, I feel it's time for a review.

MINOR SPOILERS HEREIN!!

You've probably heard about this film at some point over the last 6 months. From the moment that unnamed teaser hit movie theaters, this film has been cornering the market in advertising.

The film focuses on Robert Hawkins, who is leaving for Japan to start a new job. His friends throw him a surprise going away party, but drama ensues, and people are gossiping back and forth. You know, a typical college party - until a gigantic fucking monster decides to take a stroll through Manhattan.

The reason I say it like that is because it is catches you off guard. One minute your listening to people gossip about breakups, the next your dodging a Statue of Liberty head. This movie doesn't waste much time on the setup, and at only 84 minutes long, you don't really have time to spare.

A friend of mine said that the camera is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. So here we go...

The camera - extremely shakey. Trust me on this one. One in our group did, in fact, get sick following the screening. Just be prepared for a lot of movement. Perhaps you should eat after the movie this time. On the flip side, the camera movement added to the sense of urgency. This movie engages you and then turns you upside down. You are in the movie, running alongside these New Yorkers. I found myself pointing at the screen at one moment, almost blurting out "RUN! IT'S THERE BEHIND THE BUILDING!"

The characters - Rob is our likable fearless leader. He is emotional, and usually that's what people get like in a psychotic situation. Lily and Marlena tag along. Marlena was accidently thrown into the mix, while Lily is good friends with Rob. The real show stealer though is Hud, our funny camera man. Hud breaks the tension with silly remarks, but we can't help but laugh. His character is behind the camera most of the time, but make no mistake, when the shit hits the fan he is just as scared as the rest of them.

The Music - Stay through the end credits. Just stay. Listen.

The Monster - scary as hell. No more or i'll spoil it.

How scary is it? - Do you remember sitting through Spielberg's "War of the World's"? Yeah. Do you remember being literally on the edge of your seat because you were terrified of those tripod machines vaporizing everything in sight? Yeah.

This is ten times scarier.

All in all, "Cloverfield" is a movie well worth seeing. Now, is it ground breaking that will revolutionize the industry. Some have said it. I'm not ready to agree. But this movie will most certainly keep you moving back and forth in your seat until the very last second.

4.5 out of 5.

DM

Directing vs. Cinematography

2008-01-13T17:23:00.001-06:00

A couple of things today-

I hope you can spare a few seconds to look at these awesome production photos from a movie called "The League" which is currently in production. Click the link below to view the pics.

http://greyraven75.blogspot.com/

This is also the link below known as "Alec Siegel - Filmmaker" which is where you can view more information on the film, due out later this year.

In other news, "Lost Wallet" is expected to be finished this week, which begs the question, what's next? Flashpoint has made it known that the next productions will be bigger and longer, but at the same time not everyone will be directing. I know that I will want to be involved with the cinematography. That's not to say that I won't ever direct again, but lets just say that I enjoy using the camera a little bit more.

The director and the cinematographer have always worked very closely. They almost have to in order to come out with a great looking film. I feel that, in many cases, a film and its director can only look as good as its camera work.

But I suppose this is true of the art direction, sound, music, etc.

Lastly, here's a couple photos to chew on. Still walking around with that camera in my jacket pocket.

Enjoy,

DM

The Strike

2008-01-09T21:00:00.000-06:00

Flashpoint Academy is back in full swing for its second semester, and with the writers strike underway for several weeks now, a friend of mine recently joked about how easy it would be to get a job as a writer now.

Yes, and once the writers strike ends, you'd never work again. Ever.

It has been the topic of discussion for some time now, as well it should be. One of my film teachers is even sporting a beard, much like David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, who recently returned from hiatus.

After going on for several weeks, those who had a confident feeling that the strike would end by Christmas, now agree that it may not even end until spring. The last writers strike took place in 1988. Costs were in the $500 million area after a 22 week bout with the studios.

This strike is shaping up to be quite a battle.

(I just hope it ends before Scrubs does!)

DM

A Rare Resolution

2008-01-02T21:45:00.000-06:00

To ring in the new year, I have made a resolution.

Yes, I know lots of people make resolutions for the new year, but I don't! Usually if I have a plan to start something...I just start it. I don't wait until the new year to begin this.

This time it's different. After testing out my new digital camera, I realized that I need to work on my photography more often. As a young camera man, it would serve me well to have at least a still camera at my side at all times.

So there it is. My resolution is to have my camera with me as much as possible. I will take photos and post them to this website, and perhaps i'll make a photo section for people to look at my work. Who knows, maybe i'll get good at it.

Here are some Navy Pier photos I took on the 26th of December. A few test shots, but I rather enjoy them. Hope you like them as well.

Hope your holidays were wonderful.

Sound Challenges

2007-12-20T23:10:00.000-06:00

When I started filmmaking, I knew that at least one department would be a challenge beyond any other. Sound is that department, and I recently had a chance to work on the sound design of "Lost Wallet" with the film's talented sound designer, Kevin Weber.

I have a profound respect for recording artists, for they have the patience and determination to take on such a task. Kevin sat through the film a couple of times and gathered notes on what sounds he needed, and then went to work. The level of care and detail that goes into sound design is unparalleled. Each frame is important, and although most movie goers may not notice great sound, they can certainly notice bad sound.

That is why Kevin, along with other Flashpoint recording arts students, are working hard to make these films work. "Lost Wallet" is very sound dependant, and with its complicated story already, it is quite a challenge to overcome.

For you filmmakers reading this, I will have picture lock tomorrow morning. Very exciting.

DM

The New FFS

2007-12-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

Just a short post today...mainly about Flashpoint Film Society (FFS)

This is the new FFS Logo - created by my very talented roommate, who does the graphic designs for mugglenet.com. With the society returning from hiatus, we aim to make a change at the turn of the new year. FFS hopes to start showing student films. We recently had the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a film called "White Out" which came to our attention through a student at Flashpoint.

The Society has focused on showing several films that are, for the most part, pretty well known. Films like "Ghostbusters" and "Pulp Fiction". I don't think we will turn away from this method, but we may also include a more independent film setting in the near future. Perhaps showing some lesser known films will interest more viewers.

Now, as we are in the holiday season, I feel like I should start my Christmas shopping.

More during the holidays,

DM

Chevy Chase

2007-12-11T19:26:00.000-06:00

Today, Chevy Chase made a visit to Flashpoint to talk to students about his experiences in film and television. Apart from obviously being extremely funny, he gave us some lessons that I, personally, did not expect.

One student asked, "What did you do to become successful in the business?" Chevy talked for a few seconds about how he got started and then said "collaboration."

The audience had to hold their laughter, because the idea of collaboration has been smashed into our heads with a sledgehammer over the last several months. For a second there, I thought someone on the Flashpoint staff had told him to say that.

But it's the truth! Collaborative efforts where everyone works well together is the key to achieving a good project. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you can't work with people, then you can't do the job.

Chevy wasted no time in making the crowd laugh. He made everyone chuckle just by making a face. He also talked about his father, who passed away in 2005. He was an extraordinary role model to Chevy, who taught him that having a sense of humor is the greatest human characteristic.

"When asked to identify the most important human characteristic, most people said concsiousness. My father told me having a sense of humor is the answer. You have to be able to laugh."

Words to live by.

DM

Natural History: Part 1-4

2007-12-07T20:33:00.000-06:00

Many of the films at Flashpoint will stand out when they are screened to the rest of the class, but one in particular will make a statement far different than any others.

"Natural History: Part 1-4" is the short film I am thinking of, and today was the first of a two day shoot. It was a rather interesting setup, with a set of three walls with an opening of roughly 6x6. See for yourself below.

It has in its title "Part 1-4" because of its chapter setting. Although this is a short film, it encompasses a mans entire life. From birth (yes, there is a baby) to a teenage boy, to a middle aged man, to an elderly man. It is rather impressive work. For now, just enjoy the poor quality pictures I took with my cell phone. I'm sure I'll be posting more on the subject of Flashpoint films at a later date.

Until next time,

DM

Easy Like Sunday Morning

2007-12-06T15:08:00.000-06:00

This picture is Daley Plaza on a cold sunday morning. I find it amazing that a city so busy with life on a weekday can look like this on a Sunday. Granted, it was rather early in the morning but nonetheless, downtown was empty and cold for much of the morning.

Sunday was the day I officially started working as Director of Photography on another short film. This film was much different than my own, since it was indoors and in only one location. This made filming a lot easier.

Don't get me wrong, it was still a lot of hard work, but it was very refreshing not having to rush from one location to another, only to be halted by authorities who don't want you to film there. I have two more films to work on, both of which I am producing. Although I am excited by all of these films, I am eager to sit down and edit my own film.

On a side note, I loved being the cinematographer. I feel like it is where I belong.

DM

Lost Wallet

2007-11-30T20:03:00.000-06:00

The film "Lost Wallet" finished filming today after a few quick insert shots were filmed on the north side of Chicago. After going through a 3 day production on what will likely be a 3 minute film, I can only say this...

It was cold. Too cold.

That was pretty much the biggest downside, along with the cloudy skies on Monday. Even the weather, however, wasn't horrid, and we were able to finish what we needed to. Now we get down to editing the film in about a week.

With location shooting, you have to be very careful. Careful not to piss off people who think you shouldn't be there. For that matter, careful not to piss off people who know you shouldn't be there. We had several different locations, and there were many changes to these places on the days of shooting.

If you're a student at Flashpoint, and you heard that my film was stopped several times by several organizations, then what you have heard is true.

But we persevered, and we succeeded. Now we must make the most of this post production time and be prepared to take that camera back out if need be. Although I should hope we have everything we need.

Yes, it may have been cold, but I had a lot of fun doing this.

DM

Hope for the Best...

2007-11-21T22:39:00.000-06:00

"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst" is what my new Assistant Director is pounding into my head. He could not be more right, and I feel this is a motto many filmmakers should live by if they don't already.

With production on my first film just a few days away, many have been excited to see what it will be like during shooting. I have decided that I will use my GL2 camera to show off some of the behind the scenes filming, even though it is only a two day shoot. With this material, we can craft a short documentary on the making of the film. Coupled with what hopefully will become a great film, we can show the two off as part of our film reel.

In fact, if prospective students can see this short film and the making of it, perhaps it will be a helpful advertisement for how Flashpoint film students spend some of their time on a school day.

Monday & Tuesday we begin shooting "Lost Wallet" in downtown Chicago.

Pray for good weather. Please.

DM

I AM 3D BEOWULF!!!

2007-11-16T22:53:00.000-06:00

He is Beowulf, and he is very angry.

Tonight was the Film Society's long awaited IMAX premiere of Beowulf in 3D. If you see this film, it is imparative that you see it in IMAX 3D, since it added greatly to the entertainment value. There's nothing quite like putting your hands to your eyes to shield from flying arrows...or was it because the 3D glasses were too damn big for my face?

There hasn't been too much posting going on lately, and that is because of pre-production on my film. I will likely give you an update later this weekend or maybe next week and show off some location pictures and props.

In other news, here are a few pictures of working with the crane and another hi-def camera. After spending some time on the dolly and operating the camera, I feel like its where I belong.

It just feels right to be sitting there, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at times.

If we get to play with new toys for class every week, then i'll be a very happy student.

DM

A Little Lighting

2007-11-09T23:34:00.000-06:00

After sitting through a few classes with the Panasonic HD camera, I must say that I am rather impressed with its quality. Yes, reviews seemed to say that it was bulky and heavy, but last time I checked, most cameras of this quality were like that.

And at the "ahem" affordable price of $5000, you couldn't pick a better camera.

I decided to take a few pictures with my phone of the lighting stage. The class was expirimenting with lighting techniques. I'll tell you one thing - I never thought it would take so long to set up a shot with the proper lighting.

Filmmaking takes time, but it's worth it. At least to me. I'll let you take a look at the rest of these picture. More on this later.

Until then,

DM

Moby Musica

2007-11-03T19:24:00.000-05:00

The ever popular Moby. Alas, I am not well educated on his music, but I'm sure that all of you have at some point listened to it. He has written everything from the hyped-up techno to laid back downtempo genre.

The reason I bring up this subject is because of his website http://www.mobygratis.com/. This website was brought to my attention by one of our film professors at Flashpoint, and with good reason.

The link sends you to a portion of the Moby's official site where you can discover a hub of his very own music. That's right filmmakers! This music is for you, as long as your non-profit. Students, independent filmmakers, and even kids just looking for music to listen to are able to browse this hidden vault and find something they enjoy. This music is not for those who wish to use it for financial profit. As long as your project is non-profit, then your good to go.

Oh one more thing. It does require a little information from you, but it is well worth it. Take advantage of it. I know I will. Thank you, Moby.

http://www.mobygratis.com/

DM

Film Society Future

2007-11-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

This weeks screening for the Flashpoint Film Society was "Brotherhood of the Wolf" which I had never seen before. This French action film turned out to be quite an adventure, and another good turnout allowed for a great movie experience.

In the coming weeks the society is aiming to broaden its horizens, by including trips to festivals and screenings outside the boundaries of Flashpoint. In mid-November students will be making a trip to Navy Pier to witness the IMAX opening of "Beowulf" which I'm sure will be a great success.

In December and January we will begin showing student films from both in and out of the classroom. Students will submit their short works and we will screen it before a feature. In fact, we may have a night where we just screen student work.

So many possibilities at this point, and that's the best part.

DM

Now We're Cooking

2007-11-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

With Flashpoint Academy in full swing, filmmaking students have had a taste of acting, directing, production, and screenwriting. Although I love all these aspects dearly, the best part is just beginning. You see here the Panasonic AG-HVX200, which is the camera of choice for the school, and the camera in which I will shoot my first film.

I have heard a number of excellent things about this camera, most of which are good. The few bad things are that it is a little heavy and the viewfinder is low res. Beyond that, this camera seems to be exactly what we need.

I will try and have a more detailed review after I have used it myself, so expect a full report in the coming weeks. Nonetheless now that we're going to be working with these cameras, I feel like the next couple of weeks will be the most challenging and exciting.

Another Flashpoint Film Society screening tonight - Brotherhood of the Wolf. Also, on the 16th, of November Beowulf at IMAX!

More to come,

DM

Flashpoint Film Society

2007-10-26T12:35:00.000-05:00

Recently I sat down with a group of fellow film students with a plan to start a society aimed at showing films to other students. Each Thursday night we now screen a classic movie in the screening room on Flashpoints main campus.

This weeks film was Ghostbusters, and it was a blast.

This film was the groups debut, and I must say the event went rather well. We had a good turnout and that made for a great movie experience. Someone once told me that seeing a film on the big screen is so much more enjoyable than on tv.

He was damn right.

The organizing members will keep you posted on what the next film will be. To all those who helped out or attended the screening, thank you for your support and we hope to see you again next time around.

Remember that all Flashpoint students and faculty are welcome to join! Spread the word!

DM

Lesson Learned

2007-10-21T15:43:00.000-05:00

This past Friday the students at Flashpoint took part in an all day filmmaking event. Students were divided up into 8 different groups to make their own 30 second film with the recently released game "Team Fortress 2."

Following a storyboard session, the students would record shots and dialogue with this game using 3 of the characters seen on the left. Then the editors would go to work by constructing the short in time for a screening at the end of the day.

This proved rather difficult, primarily because of the lack of time allowed to construct this film.

Our group had a great idea. Everyone was contributing to the pre-production of our film. Story ideas were mixed together to create a clever 30 second short. Storyboarding allowed for our short to have a clear direction.

Unfortunately, with the lack of time to prepare the camera shots and fact that known of the team members knew little about the game (myself included), the experience took a hard turn and almost fell apart.

We got down to business, however, and were able to turn out a short film that we are allowed to revise this coming week. Although it was rather hectic, and at times aggravating, the overall experience is undeniably helpful to our future careers.

If you can't collaborate successfully, then you can't be in this business. Period.

DM

The Darjeeling Experience

2007-10-18T21:40:00.000-05:00

For all you film people out there...

This past week I had the priviledge of attending a free screening of "The Darjeeling Limited" which I thought was quite a fantastic film. Rather than going into detail about why I liked this movie, I will tell you that the experience was more than I had hoped for since Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman showed up after the screening for a Q&A.

I have a couple pictures of Wes and Jason (joined by Capone from aintitcool.com) and a video about a possible sequel to this film. Enjoy.

More to come from the film world soon enough,

DM

The Midnight Circus

2007-10-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

In 6 weeks I will be shooting my first film. This is a short film, but that doesn't mean it gets any easier. A first draft has been written, but there will be some revisions this weekend. Then I must pitch to fellow students and assemble a team to work with during shooting and post production. There is much to do.

For those of you living in Chicago, may I suggest a trip to Daley Plaza this weekend. "Midnight Circus" will be performing over the next few weeks leading up to Halloween. I caught a glimpse of the acrobats and performers as I was leaving school, and it was quite an excellent show. You can see on the left that the show is performing at numorous times everyday, so perhaps you'll be able to catch a show...

Click over to http://www.midnightcircus.net/ for more information.

Not very good quality, but I did manage to capture a few videos with my phone. Enjoy.

Until next time,

DM

Atom Films

2007-10-08T12:25:00.000-05:00

The blog today focuses on a recently discovered website. Well, I'm sure it's been around for a while, but I just recently learned of its existence. http://www.atomfilms.com/ has a vault of short films, with everything ranging from horror, to comedy, to action.

In recent weeks, I have been planning on shooting my own short film and possibly uploading it on this website. If you have any short films yourselft, I would almost advise you do the same. Whatever the genre of your short film is, it's a pretty good bet they have a category for it. You can view anything from documentary shorts to blood and gore.

Something for everyone.

So click over to atomfilms.com, (there's a link posted in the column on the right) and enjoy what it has to offer. Hopefully within the next couple of months, you may find a short film of mine somewhere in this vast library of movies.

DM

Gapers Block

2007-10-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

I write to you from the quiet computer labs of Flashpoint Academy. Today's blog is focused on Gapers Block, which is a new link placed down below for all you readers to click on (but only after you finish here). The term 'Gaper' is much more than just some made up word. The folks at this fine website write about the many terms people use to describe a traffic slowdown. Here in Chicago, it is known as a "Gapers Block" or "Gapers Delay." More specifically, it is a traffic jam caused by an accident. I guess you learn something new everyday.

Need something to do next Saturday night? No problem. Just check out the upcoming events, which is overflowing with good stuff to check out. Or how about reading a review on a new movie or book. You can even read about restaurants and dishes at some of the establishments around Chicago.

There is even a 'Fuel' section where people can vent their frustration on the Bears quarterbacks, review the fall tv shows, and even give input on the status of the U.S. economy.

So please, when your finished here, take a moment to parooze Gapers Block. It's loaded with blogs, news, reviews, and listings of upcoming events. Who knows, perhaps you will find something in there that will take your mind off the frustrations of the day. Enjoy.

DM

Side Job Anyone?

2007-10-02T22:35:00.000-05:00

Today the class learned about blogging. Of course, I already know what it is because....well, your reading it. What I have learned is that everyone has the potential to profit financially from their very own blog - provided that they talk about something more than what they ate for lunch...

With the blog scene now bigger than ever, bloggers everywhere do more than just talk about their days. They review movies, rate restaurants, talk about upcoming events, introduce new products, all right from their very own home computer. Some bloggers can make up to $1800 a month! That is pretty good money for someone who may try and do it as a side job.

Perhaps a way to rake in some money on your blog is by advertising. Simply having a small advertisement on your website can help bring in revenue. This is not necessarily the answer to making money out the eyeballs, but it's a start.

Just try and avoid the trash talking...

DM

The Fun Part

2007-09-24T21:14:00.000-05:00

After a first full week at Flashpoint Academy, I must say it is good to be back in the swing of things (school things that is). Over the next couple of weeks, we will be introduced to a variety of technology that we will be using for filmmaking, video game design, etc. The trick is to not freak out and drop something.

What is most exciting to me is the classroom space. I originally anticipated the location being nothing more than a few white walls and some desks, but it has turned out to be an entirely different atmosphere. Keycards allow entry to every room...even the bathroom, and editing suites and cinema rooms await our projects. Theres even a screening room, where we can not only view our own films, but screen our favorite films of all time.

As I have said to pretty much everyone that has asked, there is a lot of terminology being thrown at us, but it is all for the best. In very few days we will be diving into the fun part of school....the filmmaking.

I just have to make sure some short film ideas come to mind within the next couple of days...

More as the week progresses

DM

Pictures do the Talking

2007-09-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

Here is Flashpoint Academy's classroom space. This is only the 5th floor, and Flashpoint also has a lobby on the 1st floor and more classrooms and labs on the 6th floor. Enjoy.

Here We Go...

2007-09-12T22:55:00.000-05:00

Well here I am sitting in front of my computer, and no idea what I should write about... I do have pictures of the Flashpoint classroom facility nearing completion, so I figure i'll just post a few of those for you to look at.

Within the next week I am hoping to have some of my own photos of the classroom facility, since these are from the fine people over at Flashpoint. If you want to see the rest of the pics, just head over to flashpoint academy's website, located in the links section.

I suppose it is a little awkward returning to school, although I'm really only saying that. I haven't felt any affects of hitting the books again. Perhaps this will change over the course of the next week.
Along with preparing supplies for school and gearing up for orientation on Monday, I am hoping to get a few short film ideas out in the open. I just have to make sure they are presentable first, since most of my ideas are so unorganized at the moment.

Although, since this school is going to be a collaborative effort, perhaps a few other students wouldn't mind bouncing some ideas around the table.

Here comes the fast track.

Let the filming begin

Macbook Pro

2007-09-09T10:47:00.000-05:00

This would be the current object of my affection. Not only will I eventually need a laptop to haul around between classes and work, but buying something like this will allow me to do much more than just whip out essays and check e-mail.

While preparing to attend school as a full time student, I feel that having my work with me at all times would be an extraordinary benefit to my portfolio. After researching the possibilities of how I could make this a reality, it was pretty obvious that I needed to upgrade to a Macbook Pro since movie editing seems to be a hell of a lot easier on that.

What I hope to achieve will be the ability to film something on my camera, perhaps even something spur of the moment, and take it home and edit it within the same day. Yes, it may be farfetched for some people, but it is probably not as uncommon as you would think. I'm not saying i'll be shooting full length features, but I would like to capture a moment and be able to reproduce it online within hours of finishing the shoot. Perhaps I would even post something here on the blog.

Maybe I'm just dreaming of what I could do with a laptop. I do have a desktop that has worked great for years, and yes I have stations at Flashpoint that can assist me in my work, but I just like having my material at my side - easy to work on, where and when I want to.

So I will begin saving money, and with a student discount - and a little luck - I should hope to have one within the next couple months. I just have to remember to keep it with me always, since laptops have a knack for disappearing...

DM

Lifetime Connections Part Duex

2007-09-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

Once again, I ponder how I will work with many of the people I will meet at Flashpoint, as well as how these relationships will pan out throughout the next several years. Beyond this, I also think about relationships I have already developed - through family.

I have 3 brothers, 2 of which are in college pursuing careers that are not so different from my own. One is nearing his final semesters as an ambitious film student, who can likely stump me with his knowledge of how to shoot on 16mm. The other is entering his sophomore year with plans to manage music - likely blues and jazz (Although I am sure he will be playing a little too).

Will I work with my brothers often in the future? I suppose that many say they can't work with family - in any profession. But perhaps it will be different for me. Only time will tell, but I can gaurantee that I will be bouncing film ideas off of them on many occasions in the future. Well, for that matter, I already do. I am constantly bothering them with my own film ideas, no matter how silly they may be. We shall see.

DM

Lifetime Connections

2007-09-01T23:18:00.000-05:00

With the Flashpoint school year approaching fast, I can't help but think about the relationships that will develop within the next two years. Not only do I hope to create friendships that will last a lifetime, but I hope to also establish connections with various people in the industry, and not just the film industry.

It's not just about making a film. You have to connect your film to other elements of the industry. Along with the film program, the school is offering recording arts, visual effects, and video games. Recording arts is already a popular subject, and with video games and visual effects making advances every few months, I can imagine that I would be using one of them in the near future.

So these next two years will help develop not only my filmmaking skills, but it will also help me establish connections with people already in the industry, as well as people within the same program I am in. I wrote in a previous post that film is a directors vision brought to life by his/her cast and crew. Perhaps establishing connections gets that building process started. More on this later...

The Film Army...

2007-08-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I attended a shoot in Chicago for a short film. It was being shot in the very studio where I hope to be working in the near future on some of my own films. Although I was there for no more than 6 hours, there was plenty to take in.

That evening I thought about what I had learned throughout the day by sending a short journal entry to one my future teachers. After thinking about it for pretty close to an hour, I decided to write about the collaborative effort involved in film.

When working with my friends on short films during high school and college, I knew that we had to work as a team to successfully put something together. But it took an experience like this recent film shoot to show me how necessary it is for everyone to do their part. Every person had a job to do that they would squeeze in between takes. Then, as expected, everyone quiets down when the camera starts rolling. The director must rely on the group of people that help bring the story to life, since he or she cannot do it alone.

As a director, if you want to realize your vision, you need an army to make it happen.

Superbad & the Hollywood Epic

2007-08-26T21:20:00.000-05:00

Today I ventured out with friends to see the supposed comedy hit of the summer, "Superbad." While I found this film hilarious, I still walked out of the theater thinking "all they really did was try to get to a party with alcohol." I almost felt like I just wasted $8 on a movie that made me cringe every time one of these sad students screwed up a sentence with the girl they wanted.

Although the plot lacked depth, I wasn't expecting something extraordinary. And, after discussing the film with a friend online tonight, I feel better about it. Hollywood is so focused on epic movies, that sometimes you need a comedy like this every once in a while to top the box office. So many films have been about the destruction of earth, or the threat of mankinds extinction. Sometimes we forget that some of the best films out there don't have that epic scenario where one man must save the planet.

Now I'm not knocking the epic. Apart from some films rehashing the same story, many are very good. I guess I just enjoy the thought of something more down to earth, or easier to relate to. In this case, "Superbad" has all the right moves. Movies like this follow something that (in a sick way) relate to the lives of many young teenagers and young adults. These nasty jokes may offend people in the theater, but make no mistake about it, people are probably 3 times more vulger in real life.

I suppose this touches on censorship a little, but that discussion is for another day...

Blogger Beginnings

2007-08-25T23:09:00.000-05:00

Hello to all. I suppose I should give you a little history of myself, since some of you may be new readers. My name is Dan, and I am looking at a future in filmmaking. I graduated from Illinois State University last year, and I loved every minute of it. It is, however, time to start a new chapter in life.

The particulars on my future career are still being worked out, but fortunately for the next two years I will be working with some of the industry's best at the new Flashpoint Academy. I have a little time until the unveiling of the new classroom center in Daley Plaza, so I'll be saving up some money and looking for an apartment in Chicago. Easier said than done.

Anyway, with this being the inaugural season for Flashpoint, there is a level of excitement that I (and I'm sure other students) feel. This is not just another school that I will attend for a degree, and it is not something that will involve sitting through boring math classes every morning. This is the real deal. Hands on. These people will immerse you in the film environment, as well as three other programs that they offer - digital media, recording arts, and video games. What's not to like?

Although the hardworking staff at Flashpoint will do quite a bit to help students into these four markets, it is ultimately up to us. If we don't have the passion and commitment to be a part of it, then we're in trouble. We must be prepared to take on the challenges that the school will present us with. Not to worry, since right now I feel like I could take on the world. Only 400 students are allowed during this first year, so it is much smaller than my last educational experience.

I'm sure it will turn out to be something big. Really big.