Sunday, September 16, 2012

SIGNING OFF



Consider this blog "Cine Medias Res 1.0". To continue to follow my filmmaking exploits in medias res, please see version 2.0 at:

==>  erikledrew.tumblr.com  <==

It's been real, it's been fun -- but it ain't been real fun.

Erik LeDrew, signing off . . .

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Friday, June 01, 2012

Goals 2012: a long overdue update



Been a hectic few months, but I didn't just drop off the ol' New Year's Resolution bandwagon, much as it may seem. But being that today is the five-month mark of the year, I thought it a good time to recommit myself to some specific goals.

By 11:59pm, June 30th:

1. I will finish the feature script that I started writing Dec. 30.
2. I will finish The Creative Habit
3. I will read Perspective
4. I will draw an hour a day, 3x a week
5. I will finish my website
6. I will get my daily routine (incl. exercise) under control
Opt'l:
7. I will write a scene to direct as practice with a collaborator
8. I will attend the Pixar Masterclass Jun 28/29
9. I will attend an Improv workshop

On July 1st:

1. I will start prepping my second feature script of the year.
2. I will start adapating my first feature script into a webcomic
3. I will start prepping a separate webcomic with a collaborator
4. I will begin prep for my directing workshop
5a. If #7 is not complete, I will finish writing that scene
5b. If #7 is complete, I will being prepping for the shoot

Friday, March 16, 2012

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Goals 2012: Prog Report #5

It's been a busy week with the move, so I'll keep this short:

Accomplished:
1. I wrote 7 pages in my script
2. I watched the Green Mile in French
3. I re-watched Frank and Ollie
4. I read the first two trade paperbacks of Akira
5. My story-generating partner(?) and I discussed the possibility of adapting my script into a serial web comic a few months from now. Despite being an engineer, he's a fantastic illustrator and to add to that, he is taking daily illustration classes at his work -- a place of no small repute. Meanwhile, I've been deluged with comics from co-workers who want me to write a good comic, so we have some significant study ahead of us. I also see this as an opportunity to finally learn to draw perspective so that I can help with layout. Making a web comic has given me new motivation to finish the script and more importantly, gives me a sense of having taken control of my destiny back from the suits who could care less. I must continue writing this as a movie first, so the adaptation process will have to come later, but I'm genuinely excited.

Not Accomplished:
1. I did not read any screenplays this week.
2. I did not make further progress on my directing group

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Prog Report #4

I got hammered on all sides this week, so my progress was noticeably slowed.

Accomplished:
1. I wrote 10 pages of my script.
2. I watched Charade in French.

Not Accomplished:
1. I didn't reach the midpoint of my script's second act.
2. I didn't watch Kramer v Kramer.
3. Still no progress on the directing group.

This next week:
1. I'm going to complete the first act of my second act.
2. I'm going to read and watch Rob Roy.

After getting hammered last week, I'm moving to a new apartment this week, so I'm scaling back my goals accordingly. I should be able to push forward with renewed aggression in February.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Disrespect for the Paying Audience

I saw a major theatrical movie last night. It was not good, but it at least feels like it was made by a filmmaker, as a opposed to Haywire or Red Tails.

Anyway, I follow the director of said unnamed movie on twitter and I saw this exchange between a reviewer who positively reviewed the film, and the director:

Reviewer: "Odd how much ambiguity in film frustrates some people. Hopefully enough people see the right movie this weekend, so we can have that chat..."

Director: "Bro, they don't have to get it. In fact it would undermine something essential in me if they did. Bozos."

So let's get this straight: he doesn't want everyone to like his film, calls them bozos for not "getting it", and yet hopes his movie will do well.

Something is wrong with this equation.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

GOALS 2012: Progress Report #3

Accomplished:
1. I wrote 22.5 pages this past week.
2. I finished reading Kramer vs. Kramer
3. I watched "I Confess" in German (half-win)

Not Accomplished:
1. I didn't take any further steps to form my directing group
2. I didn't shotlist or draw any thumbnails after reading KvK
3. I didn't watch KvK silently.

This week:
1. I will write up to the fulcrum of my screenplay
2. I will write-out my vision for my peer-directing group
3. I will read another script
4. I will shotlist/thumbnail one scene
5. I will watch said movie with the sound off
____

I'm sort of in tunnel-vision mode now that I'm neck-deep in writing, which is why the directing-oriented tasks keep falling by the wayside. I'll try to make progress this week, but even if I don't, I will dive-in with gusto once I finish this script.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Goals 2012: Week #2

Accomplished:
1. I finished the first act of my screenplay at 5am this morning. It sits at 38.5pages. And yes, I am ashamed.
2. I sketched out notes on my ideas for the peer directing group.

Not accomplished:
1. I did not read Kramer vs. Kramer
2. I did not sketch any thumbnails
3. I did not watch any movies silently
4. I did not contact anyone about the directing group
5. I wrote 29 pages this past week, but what worth is that when 14 of them should be cut?

This week:
1. I will economize the first act of my screenplay down to 30 pages max, though my goal is 25.
2. I will write at least the first two scenes of my script's second act.
3. I will read Kramer, sketch a shotlist, and watch it silently today
4. I will formally write-out my vision for the directing group, and send it to friends who'd be interested.
____

Give the snowpocalypse in Seattle this week, I may get more than those four things accomplished. We'll see.

Monday, January 09, 2012

GOALS 2012: Progress Report #1

My well-worn hardcopy of ALIENS

Accomplished:
1. I've written 10.5 pages of my script's first act in the past week, bringing the total length to 18 pages.
2. I spent three days cutting and economizing, bringing the total page count down to 13 pages.
3. I read the first act of Kramer vs. Kramer
4. I have been comparing portions of Cameron's first and final Aliens drafts, to see how he economized a 134-page first draft down to the 105-page final draft. It's been reassuring to see that I've been using similar tactics of economy, at least in terms of writing description.
5. I have been talking to people about forming the weekly directing workshop...

Not accomplished:
1. But there are few people interested in the workshop who are at a skill level comparable to me. And only one of them is really serious about the craft.
2. I did not finish reading an entire script last week.
3. I did not sketch a single thumbnail
4. I did not watch any movies silently (though I did watch Finding Nemo in German at work, so that's kind of a half-win)

This week:
1. I will finish the first act of my screenplay
2. I will write a manifesto for the peer directing group
3. I will finish reading Kramer vs. Kramer
4. I will thumbnail a scene from Kramer vs. Kramer
5. I will watch KvK with the sound off.
6. I will continue to use Aliens two drafts as a reference point for economy