Humm, I think this is my third week here I think and again, I am here with nothing to do. I can't get access to my file on the public share server probably because the other computer is not on.
Tammy and Augustine are not in yet and it's almost 11am. I am seriously considering decreasing my days to be here to like 1-2 days a week and for shooting. I need to find another place where I can learn more about filmmaking. But I think at the same time i need to be more aggressive and ask Tammy a lot of questions that I want to ask her. I think I have earned the rights to ask by volunteering for three weeks.
I was disappointed that I will not be helping for an interview, which could have happened today. But I understand how there is an event at 3pm at the Art Centre which would make it really rushed. I felt like I am not valued here.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
3rd Week at Visible Record
I think Tammy should give me food. That's a pretty reasonable request since I am working for free. Now I am working Tuesday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Pretty standard hours I would say but I am seeing if I can get 1-2 more days off because I am free and a lot of the stuff I can do at home. Actually, yet just doing stuff at home so I can be more flexible with my time here.
I was watching Secondary School again and it is a little more entertaining than the last time I saw it. Some of the teachers are kind of cute. The English reminds me of Singaporean English and that actually supports my theory that Singaporean English is basically Chinese trying to speak Chinese. Actually, that's a well known fact. Just like the Singaporeans, Hong Kongers a lot of time put "ah", "la" and other Chinese expression sound in their English.
Then I thought about a story about a young couple of teachers in different school. The young wife is super stressed with school work and also go to work on the Saturday. The husband feel weird that the school gets more of his wife than him. He has to deal with this teenage student's breakup. Well, he sees a fellow girl student crying uncontrollably and he looks around for another teacher, preferably a female teacher but no one was around so he told her to his office and gave him tissue to try to understand and comfort her. The student was ditched by her boyfriend or something like that. At the same time, the husband is meeting up with a female friend and they find themselves dealing with problems of intimacy with their spouses.
I find Tammy to be a rather extreme person with his perspective. She has a strong character and act like a teacher to everybody. She's somewhat an absolute person. She is not reserved at all except when someone ask her something personal. She asks me a lot of personal questions and I find somewhat invasive of my privacy. She wants to know about my family background, like if I am from a rich family or not. Maybe it's a bit strange for her that I am working for free and coming all the way from Fotan and she has this image of these overseas Chinese or young Chinese Hong Kong people who grew up overseas. She's not keen on rich wealthy or well-to-do people and I think she's being a bit too much judgmental. I can say that she dislikes if not hate rich brats. She probably thinks she's a crusader or something. She's pretty full or herself. A bit rude actually. I think she considers herself to be a sophsicated or civilized or well-educated person but not really. She has some prejudice and some old ancient Chinese thinking in her.
I was watching Secondary School again and it is a little more entertaining than the last time I saw it. Some of the teachers are kind of cute. The English reminds me of Singaporean English and that actually supports my theory that Singaporean English is basically Chinese trying to speak Chinese. Actually, that's a well known fact. Just like the Singaporeans, Hong Kongers a lot of time put "ah", "la" and other Chinese expression sound in their English.
Then I thought about a story about a young couple of teachers in different school. The young wife is super stressed with school work and also go to work on the Saturday. The husband feel weird that the school gets more of his wife than him. He has to deal with this teenage student's breakup. Well, he sees a fellow girl student crying uncontrollably and he looks around for another teacher, preferably a female teacher but no one was around so he told her to his office and gave him tissue to try to understand and comfort her. The student was ditched by her boyfriend or something like that. At the same time, the husband is meeting up with a female friend and they find themselves dealing with problems of intimacy with their spouses.
I find Tammy to be a rather extreme person with his perspective. She has a strong character and act like a teacher to everybody. She's somewhat an absolute person. She is not reserved at all except when someone ask her something personal. She asks me a lot of personal questions and I find somewhat invasive of my privacy. She wants to know about my family background, like if I am from a rich family or not. Maybe it's a bit strange for her that I am working for free and coming all the way from Fotan and she has this image of these overseas Chinese or young Chinese Hong Kong people who grew up overseas. She's not keen on rich wealthy or well-to-do people and I think she's being a bit too much judgmental. I can say that she dislikes if not hate rich brats. She probably thinks she's a crusader or something. She's pretty full or herself. A bit rude actually. I think she considers herself to be a sophsicated or civilized or well-educated person but not really. She has some prejudice and some old ancient Chinese thinking in her.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Beginning of Second Week
What am i doing now? I am doing quality control on DVDs at Visible Record. So basically I am watching a lot of Chinese documentary films. All of them are good, I saw "Rice Distribution" for the second time and it still awed me and I saw some familiar faces in there who I didn't know the first time I saw it including someone from Tin Chuen and the head of HK Police Department. They are both big men. They could easily put on traditional Chinese robe and be ancient Chinese generals.
So not much to do today and I am actually wondering if I could work fewer days? Last week, Tammy gave me some of her time and e chatted a bit and basically heshe just quized me on Chinese history and literature. She asked me what is my life's purpose? and what do I want to do? She told me to read more Chinese while I am in Hong KOng and be fluent in it. I actually knew this ever since I came to Hong Kong and for a long time wanted to learn more CHinese.
I actually suppoes to get Monday off but Tammy said there's some rushes so I came today. But it turns out that there's nothing to do and she's not here today.
So not much to do today and I am actually wondering if I could work fewer days? Last week, Tammy gave me some of her time and e chatted a bit and basically heshe just quized me on Chinese history and literature. She asked me what is my life's purpose? and what do I want to do? She told me to read more Chinese while I am in Hong KOng and be fluent in it. I actually knew this ever since I came to Hong Kong and for a long time wanted to learn more CHinese.
I actually suppoes to get Monday off but Tammy said there's some rushes so I came today. But it turns out that there's nothing to do and she's not here today.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
beginning of summer
I am, as of right now, at VisibleRecord, a documentary film promoter and distributor founded by Tammy Cheung, a respected Hong Kong documentary filmmaker.
Today is my second day hereand I came at 10am as told and only Pat was here to open the door for me. I wonder if I should not come as on time so that I won't have to wait at the door. Gigi, the secretary came a little after I did. I found out it's not that bad to tke the MTR to Wanchai. It actually took only 35 min or so. Way better than my commute to SKW.
So right now I am watching a Chinese documentary. I think I watched 8 so far, including this one. MOst of them are pretty good. Actually, all of them has a good story, it's just the audio and the picture might look amateurish at times, but the technical faults can be easily forgiven because of the strong narrative of these documentaries. Hopefully my Chinese, especially , Mandarin will improve. I am, again, a bit of a handicap because I can't type Chinese and speak fluent Mandarin.That's the way , if you want to work in China. You need to be able to type and read Chinese and speak Mandarin.
I am seeng if I can get a standard hours here and work for 4 days. Nothing is set and I want to set some boundary, some schedule so I can schedule my time better. And also give myself some free time to do my stuff and maybe tutor some kids.
Tammy seems to be a a pretty gentle person and she talks to her staff as if talking to school children. But I know shes tough as well. You have to be tough to be a director. The people are alright. But then, I am a volunteer.
Today is my second day hereand I came at 10am as told and only Pat was here to open the door for me. I wonder if I should not come as on time so that I won't have to wait at the door. Gigi, the secretary came a little after I did. I found out it's not that bad to tke the MTR to Wanchai. It actually took only 35 min or so. Way better than my commute to SKW.
So right now I am watching a Chinese documentary. I think I watched 8 so far, including this one. MOst of them are pretty good. Actually, all of them has a good story, it's just the audio and the picture might look amateurish at times, but the technical faults can be easily forgiven because of the strong narrative of these documentaries. Hopefully my Chinese, especially , Mandarin will improve. I am, again, a bit of a handicap because I can't type Chinese and speak fluent Mandarin.That's the way , if you want to work in China. You need to be able to type and read Chinese and speak Mandarin.
I am seeng if I can get a standard hours here and work for 4 days. Nothing is set and I want to set some boundary, some schedule so I can schedule my time better. And also give myself some free time to do my stuff and maybe tutor some kids.
Tammy seems to be a a pretty gentle person and she talks to her staff as if talking to school children. But I know shes tough as well. You have to be tough to be a director. The people are alright. But then, I am a volunteer.
End of 1st Semester
I finished my first semester at UTS as a grad dip MAP student about 2 weeks ago. It was the Spring '90 semester.
I don't know what grade I got except for FV1, Credit. I also got a credit for my last major assignment for FV1. I am a little disappointed in the sense that one lesser bolex film got the same grade as I do.
I am hopeing I get credit for Issues in Documentary and Film and Video Drama. I hope Tracy would be lenient on us postgrad students coz our skill level is not up there with the undergrad at this point. We have a lot of catching up to do.
I don't know what grade I got except for FV1, Credit. I also got a credit for my last major assignment for FV1. I am a little disappointed in the sense that one lesser bolex film got the same grade as I do.
I am hopeing I get credit for Issues in Documentary and Film and Video Drama. I hope Tracy would be lenient on us postgrad students coz our skill level is not up there with the undergrad at this point. We have a lot of catching up to do.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
the answers
Why am I doing this?
This is something that I had wanted to for a quite long time. I want to fish out the prejudice in people and reveal it in a uncondemning, reflective kind of way. It allows the audience to know about themselves on their own.
What is the film about?
It is about the Australian identity, how it had changed over the years, and how people have different opinions of what it means to be an Australian.
My Background
I think I can call myself a Chinese-American-Australian. I was born in Hong Kong and came to Sydney when I was 7. I lived in the southern part of Sydney in Kingsgrove and Beverly Hills. I went to a private school, St.George Christian School, for year 3 all to year 7. Then I and my family moved to Arcadia, California in the US. After 13 years away, I am back in Sydney, Australia. When I grew up in Sydney, I had a conflict in which although I knew I was different from most of my classmates in being a Chinese and born in a different place and not having English as my first language, yet, a part of me does love this place. However, being foreign born and Chinese, I was not accept as Australian by my peers. Even a Chinese who was born in Australia can only be half-Australian according to my peers. Chinese were recognized as people from another place, unlike the Europeans here, and I find that to be a conflict. Aren't we all from somewhere else originally? I believe there to be a racism but it was undefined or unrecognized. I think at the time, it was only the beginning that there was a mass population of young Asian Australians who were born here and growing up and the concept of people of other skin tones other than black and white can been seen as Australians or native to this place.
There was a concept of Australian way of life, which is a basically more of a Irish/British life mixed with their adapted customs to suit their lives in Australia. It was enriched by other European cultures as other came during the post-WWI and then the post-WWII period. Asians and others were considered as outsiders. Australia also has a history of discriminating against non-white. Chinese actually came during the gold rush but because of legislation and other ways of discrimination, there is very little of that history and the Chinese community disappointed and dispersed very quickly after the gold rush even though it was quite possible that Chinese would be able to benefit in some other trades outside of the gold mines.
I chose the story because I want to find the definition of what it means to be Australians in the 21st century in this multicultural Australia that we live in now. The Australia or the Sydney now is a lot different from the Sydney I grew up in 13 years ago. I used to feel people judging and staring at me because I was Chinese in restaurant, shopping center and etc. Being Chinese was a novelty. We were curious creatures to the general population but not anymore in this day and age. It was okay to discriminate back then but I think the general Australian population has matured about diversity, multiculturalism and about racial discrimination.
There is part of me that is Australian. I know that living in Australia changed me and I have inherited something from living in Australia. Part of me identify myself as Australian even though I also identify myself as a Chinese-American, a Hong Konger, Cantonese and Chinese.
So this is also a personal journey since while looking for the Australian identity, I am also looking for my own identity and how I fit into the puzzle or big picture if at all. Are there Australians that are kind of like me? Are there Australians who I can identify with?
This is something that I had wanted to for a quite long time. I want to fish out the prejudice in people and reveal it in a uncondemning, reflective kind of way. It allows the audience to know about themselves on their own.
What is the film about?
It is about the Australian identity, how it had changed over the years, and how people have different opinions of what it means to be an Australian.
My Background
I think I can call myself a Chinese-American-Australian. I was born in Hong Kong and came to Sydney when I was 7. I lived in the southern part of Sydney in Kingsgrove and Beverly Hills. I went to a private school, St.George Christian School, for year 3 all to year 7. Then I and my family moved to Arcadia, California in the US. After 13 years away, I am back in Sydney, Australia. When I grew up in Sydney, I had a conflict in which although I knew I was different from most of my classmates in being a Chinese and born in a different place and not having English as my first language, yet, a part of me does love this place. However, being foreign born and Chinese, I was not accept as Australian by my peers. Even a Chinese who was born in Australia can only be half-Australian according to my peers. Chinese were recognized as people from another place, unlike the Europeans here, and I find that to be a conflict. Aren't we all from somewhere else originally? I believe there to be a racism but it was undefined or unrecognized. I think at the time, it was only the beginning that there was a mass population of young Asian Australians who were born here and growing up and the concept of people of other skin tones other than black and white can been seen as Australians or native to this place.
There was a concept of Australian way of life, which is a basically more of a Irish/British life mixed with their adapted customs to suit their lives in Australia. It was enriched by other European cultures as other came during the post-WWI and then the post-WWII period. Asians and others were considered as outsiders. Australia also has a history of discriminating against non-white. Chinese actually came during the gold rush but because of legislation and other ways of discrimination, there is very little of that history and the Chinese community disappointed and dispersed very quickly after the gold rush even though it was quite possible that Chinese would be able to benefit in some other trades outside of the gold mines.
I chose the story because I want to find the definition of what it means to be Australians in the 21st century in this multicultural Australia that we live in now. The Australia or the Sydney now is a lot different from the Sydney I grew up in 13 years ago. I used to feel people judging and staring at me because I was Chinese in restaurant, shopping center and etc. Being Chinese was a novelty. We were curious creatures to the general population but not anymore in this day and age. It was okay to discriminate back then but I think the general Australian population has matured about diversity, multiculturalism and about racial discrimination.
There is part of me that is Australian. I know that living in Australia changed me and I have inherited something from living in Australia. Part of me identify myself as Australian even though I also identify myself as a Chinese-American, a Hong Konger, Cantonese and Chinese.
So this is also a personal journey since while looking for the Australian identity, I am also looking for my own identity and how I fit into the puzzle or big picture if at all. Are there Australians that are kind of like me? Are there Australians who I can identify with?
Friday, November 6, 2009
writing...treatment
i m writing the synopsis and find myself actually or maybe writing the treatment...
i m getting confused.
i m getting confused.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
FREAK!
I forgot to pick up the PMD from the shop...i totally forgot about it and now it's 6:28pm...i went down at 6:24pm when i looked at the time.
crap... crap... crap... i knew i needed a reminder. i should've picked it up earlier when i remembered it. it was my whole point for coming to UTS...
man... i just have to think of something else to work with... i need an organizer...
but then...i was a bit amazed at my concentration when editing...i was in the zone... that doesn't happen all the time.
by the way, chaparral pro is a cool font which i m using on Butterfly.
L'Aventure Australienne شعب استراليا
澳大利亞冒險 Australska avantura
Australská dobrodružství
những cuộc phiêu lưu Úc περιπέτεια της Αυστραλίας
Peuple de l'Australie
First Part
Introduction-Raising the question
Michael Koo was born in Bathurst, NSW. His father came over to Australia illegally 7 years before he was born here. His father came to Australia to work at his friend’s Chinese restaurant in Sydney. His father met his mother at the Chinese restaurant they worked both worked at. Later, his father went to work at another restaurant in Bathurst and there Michael was born.
Micheal grew up in southern Sydney in Illawara. –
crap... crap... crap... i knew i needed a reminder. i should've picked it up earlier when i remembered it. it was my whole point for coming to UTS...
man... i just have to think of something else to work with... i need an organizer...
but then...i was a bit amazed at my concentration when editing...i was in the zone... that doesn't happen all the time.
by the way, chaparral pro is a cool font which i m using on Butterfly.
L'Aventure Australienne شعب استراليا
澳大利亞冒險 Australska avantura
Australská dobrodružství
những cuộc phiêu lưu Úc περιπέτεια της Αυστραλίας
Peuple de l'Australie
First Part
Introduction-Raising the question
Michael Koo was born in Bathurst, NSW. His father came over to Australia illegally 7 years before he was born here. His father came to Australia to work at his friend’s Chinese restaurant in Sydney. His father met his mother at the Chinese restaurant they worked both worked at. Later, his father went to work at another restaurant in Bathurst and there Michael was born.
Micheal grew up in southern Sydney in Illawara. –
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
lost in Australian Identity
I m getting a writer's block. And a bit lost in my Australian Identity documentary script/treatment process.
I think it's going to be somewhat autobiographical.
"I am a bit confuse about my identity I guess. I don't have an Aussie accent, I have more of an American accent, but I hold an Australian passport. I am a fan of the socceroos and I don't really care for the American football team."
"I think part of me is dealing with the memory that Chinese can not be Australian. We can only be half-Australian according to my old classmates from high school."
But now that I am back, Australia is a lot different now, especially Sydney. I feel less alone now being a Chinese.
I don't think there was or ever will be an absolute consensus on what is "Australian", a lot of it is personal.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Brave Faces and Australian ID Script/Treatment
BRAVE FACES
A documentary about ordinary heros.
Brave Faces is about a collection of a few ordinary people who
"Australia: a nation in search of an identity
July 3 2003
We embrace America's power, but fear its culture will overwhelm ours, writes Gregory Hywood.
Australian identity is a nebulous concept. We certainly are not an ethnocentric member of the old world. But nor have we taken on America's high moral role as refuge and land of opportunity for the dispossessed. We are multicultural but pick and choose whom we let in on a seemingly random basis.
As the lack of consensus on asylum seekers underlines, Australia is still figuring out what it stands for. We are a nation undecided - or at least lacking a consensus about some fundamental values."
I am writing my script/treatment for my Australian ID documentary and it's haven't been going on any progress at all.
Maybe I should use the mind map like Xin.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Editing Distance
It's at the editing that you realize how many mistakes you made during the shooting.
You really need to know specifically what you want from each shot.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
guerrilla filmmaking
I finish my shooting around Central today. I was blessed with a good crew, fantastic actors and fabulous weather from God.
it was sunny, not clouding or raining according to the AccuWeather report. it was very nice today, it was sunny but with a nice breeze, and we stayed in the shade.
I was actually late going to UTS. I booked the equipment at 9:30 am but I was still at home making sandwiches for my crew and actors at 8:44 am and realized that I would be late so I texted my crew to meet at 10am. For some strange reasons I thought we were to meet at 10:30am.
So I got there at just a little before 10am and Mojean was there. He forgot to come to the Sunday's rehearsal but he made sure he was early for the shoot. He's 19 or 20. Very young, a kid but a good actor. A good teenage boy actor. He is very devoted to acting. And he was amazing, had his ideas and was great, particularly in the bathroom scenes. He was all him. I admire his endurance and willingness. He never complained. You grow to love your actors despite their short-comings. I feel bad that my sandwich wasn't enough for him.
Kristen came a little late and sick. I had to run and get some Panadol for her at 7 Eleven. Something I learned on this shoot, 7 Eleven is cheaper than most other convenient stores. I checked the prices at 3 convenietn stores and 7 Eleven won both the AA battery and Panadol contests.
Kristen listens and do whatever you tell her to. She was great. I had to tell her to be more happy but i think the sickness was getting to her. I was probably killing her. I hope she gets better real soon. She was getting a headache. Luckily the weather was rather nice today. It was sunny but there was a very nice breeze which kept things cool for us.
When I arrived at UTS, Martin and Thukten were already with their hands going throught the equipments, testing everything. I was impressed, no teasing, just professional and getting the job done. When we work together, I love these guys. There are some culture differences between us but when we work, we are pros.
I think that's one part of filmmaking which I really LOVE, it's the teamwork, the team spirit. Everybody striving for the best possible result is just an amazing thing. No half ass effort, everybody just devoted. I just love that atmosphere, from the actors to the crew to the director. It's like putting a lego set together. I love it.
The shoot was quite relaxing. We had a lot of time actually. The shoot was long, it was originally planned to be 10am to 5pm (which is a bit crazy for a 3 min of script) and we basically finished around 4pm. It was really laid back, we were enjoying ourselves a lot, I guess the crew for most part, it was tougher for the actors. I also wanted to not rush stuff and make it comfortable for the actors.
Mojean was nice to reassure me that he would do anything I want him to do, same goes to Kristen. It was my first time directing trainned actors. They were more experienced than I. I was the idiot and surely if things are shitty, I have no one to blame but myself.
Thukten had a easy day actually and I realized that we actually didn't get a reflector when I returned the reflector back to the store! I got screwed! Crap. Too late.
At the end of the day, we had a group photo. Best to you my actors.
Thanks everybody!
Afterward we moved the equipments to Martin's place. Martin was obviously sunburnt. Thukten, the most tanned one was also the smartest one who put on sunscreen lotion.
I was pretty good all the way until my walk to home from the station when I just felt so tire that I just went into the oval on the way and the grass was just so inviting. I let myself drop on the grass and rolled down, lying there several minutes, taking pictures, watching the cockatoo in the center of the oval eating something off the grass and the two cyclists cylcing around the oval.
I headed back and couldn't wait for dinner. I was exhausted. While taking my clothes off for shower, I realized that I was sunburnt too. My face to my neck were red and so were my arms. Ahhh.
I will probably get a look at the footages tomorrow and I will see what I got. Hopefully good.
how much was the shoot?
Equipment FREE
Pack of 4 AA = $6.95 (because the rechargeable ones were half dead)
Crew = Free (fellow classmates)
Actors = Free!
Lunch for crew and and actors:
600ml x 6 bottle water =$4.00
Roast beef slices =$0.93
Honey Leg Ham slices = $3.50
Bread =$1.80
Miscellaneous
Panadol for Kristen=$4.00 (she was getting a headache)
Mojean's request for change=$0.20 (to get his salad i think, Thukten subsidized 10c)
TOTAL = A$21.38 which is about one hour of labor in Australia. (I need to find a job and make some Australian dollars)
it was sunny, not clouding or raining according to the AccuWeather report. it was very nice today, it was sunny but with a nice breeze, and we stayed in the shade.
I was actually late going to UTS. I booked the equipment at 9:30 am but I was still at home making sandwiches for my crew and actors at 8:44 am and realized that I would be late so I texted my crew to meet at 10am. For some strange reasons I thought we were to meet at 10:30am.
So I got there at just a little before 10am and Mojean was there. He forgot to come to the Sunday's rehearsal but he made sure he was early for the shoot. He's 19 or 20. Very young, a kid but a good actor. A good teenage boy actor. He is very devoted to acting. And he was amazing, had his ideas and was great, particularly in the bathroom scenes. He was all him. I admire his endurance and willingness. He never complained. You grow to love your actors despite their short-comings. I feel bad that my sandwich wasn't enough for him.
Kristen came a little late and sick. I had to run and get some Panadol for her at 7 Eleven. Something I learned on this shoot, 7 Eleven is cheaper than most other convenient stores. I checked the prices at 3 convenietn stores and 7 Eleven won both the AA battery and Panadol contests.
Kristen listens and do whatever you tell her to. She was great. I had to tell her to be more happy but i think the sickness was getting to her. I was probably killing her. I hope she gets better real soon. She was getting a headache. Luckily the weather was rather nice today. It was sunny but there was a very nice breeze which kept things cool for us.
When I arrived at UTS, Martin and Thukten were already with their hands going throught the equipments, testing everything. I was impressed, no teasing, just professional and getting the job done. When we work together, I love these guys. There are some culture differences between us but when we work, we are pros.
I think that's one part of filmmaking which I really LOVE, it's the teamwork, the team spirit. Everybody striving for the best possible result is just an amazing thing. No half ass effort, everybody just devoted. I just love that atmosphere, from the actors to the crew to the director. It's like putting a lego set together. I love it.
The shoot was quite relaxing. We had a lot of time actually. The shoot was long, it was originally planned to be 10am to 5pm (which is a bit crazy for a 3 min of script) and we basically finished around 4pm. It was really laid back, we were enjoying ourselves a lot, I guess the crew for most part, it was tougher for the actors. I also wanted to not rush stuff and make it comfortable for the actors.
Mojean was nice to reassure me that he would do anything I want him to do, same goes to Kristen. It was my first time directing trainned actors. They were more experienced than I. I was the idiot and surely if things are shitty, I have no one to blame but myself.
Thukten had a easy day actually and I realized that we actually didn't get a reflector when I returned the reflector back to the store! I got screwed! Crap. Too late.
At the end of the day, we had a group photo. Best to you my actors.
Thanks everybody!
Afterward we moved the equipments to Martin's place. Martin was obviously sunburnt. Thukten, the most tanned one was also the smartest one who put on sunscreen lotion.
I was pretty good all the way until my walk to home from the station when I just felt so tire that I just went into the oval on the way and the grass was just so inviting. I let myself drop on the grass and rolled down, lying there several minutes, taking pictures, watching the cockatoo in the center of the oval eating something off the grass and the two cyclists cylcing around the oval.
I headed back and couldn't wait for dinner. I was exhausted. While taking my clothes off for shower, I realized that I was sunburnt too. My face to my neck were red and so were my arms. Ahhh.
I will probably get a look at the footages tomorrow and I will see what I got. Hopefully good.
how much was the shoot?
Equipment FREE
Pack of 4 AA = $6.95 (because the rechargeable ones were half dead)
Crew = Free (fellow classmates)
Actors = Free!
Lunch for crew and and actors:
600ml x 6 bottle water =$4.00
Roast beef slices =$0.93
Honey Leg Ham slices = $3.50
Bread =$1.80
Miscellaneous
Panadol for Kristen=$4.00 (she was getting a headache)
Mojean's request for change=$0.20 (to get his salad i think, Thukten subsidized 10c)
TOTAL = A$21.38 which is about one hour of labor in Australia. (I need to find a job and make some Australian dollars)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
You Can Buy Love 買愛
I saw one of those usual ads that say, "You can't buy love, but...". So I got this idea about a story/film titled, "You Can Buy Love." 買愛/你可以買到愛
I haven't figure out the story yet but it will be about "Buying Love."
And I think the concept doesn't have to be using money to be "buying love," you can buy love with other currencies.
Love will be the isolated, incorruptible object that can be bought.
But it might not be returned. It can be one way. It can be created in a manipulated way, but still stay as "love," pure.
You Can Buy Love
It exists.
(你可)買愛
它的存在是真實的。
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Audition for 3 films
We did our auditions for our short films for drama yesterday. I must say it went well even though one or 2 actors didn't show up.
We all agreed that Amie was the best looking one, just like a model and one of the better actresses we had. The actresses were actually quite well. The actors were a little behind but most of the were good.
For the role of Sarah, I think Amie, Jennifer and Kristen would do well. Even Kerrie maybe. For Kent's part, I am thinking of Mojean and maybe Allen. Ben was too nervous and I didn't want to deal with that on the shoot. But one thing about Ben is that his age is right and he understood the character well, he just couldn't act it in the audition. That might due to poor preparation or his own nervousness and bad acting. And he actually had some time to prepare while waiting. He probably lack the experience coz he was quite young. But Mojean was young too but carry himself much more professionally.
I find it encouraging that most people especially the actors understood my character, Kent, very well and liked the character. That's especially true for Allan and Mojean. I like them a lot. The problem is, I found, is that the actresses are all older than the actors. Even bigger in some ways. Matching them will be a big task.
We all agreed that Amie was the best looking one, just like a model and one of the better actresses we had. The actresses were actually quite well. The actors were a little behind but most of the were good.
For the role of Sarah, I think Amie, Jennifer and Kristen would do well. Even Kerrie maybe. For Kent's part, I am thinking of Mojean and maybe Allen. Ben was too nervous and I didn't want to deal with that on the shoot. But one thing about Ben is that his age is right and he understood the character well, he just couldn't act it in the audition. That might due to poor preparation or his own nervousness and bad acting. And he actually had some time to prepare while waiting. He probably lack the experience coz he was quite young. But Mojean was young too but carry himself much more professionally.
I find it encouraging that most people especially the actors understood my character, Kent, very well and liked the character. That's especially true for Allan and Mojean. I like them a lot. The problem is, I found, is that the actresses are all older than the actors. Even bigger in some ways. Matching them will be a big task.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wk9
Now I am working on 2 major projects, one for drama and the other for Issues of Documentary. They both very important. They are final assignments (I just hate the word assignment for some unknown reasons) for the two classes and has to be done well.
Jeni actually told us to go have a little "meditation" everyday during my brain time to think about my project. It's kind of like doing devotion and reading the Bible. I was like, now I need to have two meditation time when I am already struggling with the one I got.
But it's a good advice. And I do actually do that.
Jeni actually told us to go have a little "meditation" everyday during my brain time to think about my project. It's kind of like doing devotion and reading the Bible. I was like, now I need to have two meditation time when I am already struggling with the one I got.
But it's a good advice. And I do actually do that.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Week 6
this is probably going to be my busiest week this semester and it's actually not too bad.
i must say that i m quite impressed by the quality of work in Film and Video 1, every group has got their stuff on. We had a rough cut viewing today and everybody's stuff were all pretty good. Everybody got their act together, even us! We got some quality stuff here.
We might not have the best instructor but the students got it. I think that's the difference in grad school. It's up a notch from undergrad, people are more serious and know what they are doing. no time to mess around.
I was a bit surprised that we got some really good comments from the class. I actually didn't think it was that good. It was all James' footages and editing mainly. I didn't really appreciate but everybody thought it was amazing and James actually didn't want to show it and rather show the finished piece when it is finished. so we actually didn't get any critique at all (not too helpful). But I like James. He seems to be a guy that's keep a lot to himself but he's forefront and is serious about his work, which is a very good quality. And it proved that he know his stuff. He got good eyes.
I need to get my butt working on the editing.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
5th Week
I kind of have been ignoring my Film and Video Drama class a bit while spending most of my effort into the Issues for Documentary because that class is really preparing me to make a documentary on a topic that I want to do-the Australian identity and how it reflects racism.
I have been talking to Jeni a lot about my treatment and proposal but she somewhat interpreted as a documentary about racism. My idea is more about expending the audience's awareness and have them examine themselves to find the racism that is present around them. It's kind of like opening a dialogue.
But back to my Drama class, a project is due on Week 7 and we are at sketch board right now. Somewhat badly prepared and I just freaking knew it. I was getting the guys together and saying that we should set a date but no. We waited 2 weeks and now we really only have a week to do it. It's crazy. So, but it will be okay. I think we will have to BS a bit in our presentation to make us look better. I knew it, it's so sad, but I just knew it.
I have been talking to Jeni a lot about my treatment and proposal but she somewhat interpreted as a documentary about racism. My idea is more about expending the audience's awareness and have them examine themselves to find the racism that is present around them. It's kind of like opening a dialogue.
But back to my Drama class, a project is due on Week 7 and we are at sketch board right now. Somewhat badly prepared and I just freaking knew it. I was getting the guys together and saying that we should set a date but no. We waited 2 weeks and now we really only have a week to do it. It's crazy. So, but it will be okay. I think we will have to BS a bit in our presentation to make us look better. I knew it, it's so sad, but I just knew it.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
How to write a documentary treatment or proposal…..
How to write a documentary treatment or proposal…..
Scripts are often not used in documentary films—because you cannot predict what will
happen when the camera is rolling. In place of a script, filmmakers use treatments,
proposals, or even outlines--to describe and help plan a documentary project. There is a
lot of overlap between these concepts and different filmmakers use them in similar and
often interchangeable ways.
A treatment is a short story narrative written in simple, non-technical language (ie. no
camera angles, transitions, etc.).
A proposal, which frequently includes a treatment, is a thorough description of all
aspects of a project. It is created in the pre-production stage of a documentary project to
persuade funders, distributors and others to support the project.
Proposals
An effective proposal will:
• Tell a good story
• Make human truths emerge through images—not just verbal description.
• Present a personal, critical perspective on some aspect of the human condition.
• Inform and emotionally move an audience
Usually a proposal will contain the following information:
• Length of work, format.
• Who is the intended audience?
• Goal or intended purpose(s) of the film
• Has any media work already been produced on this subject? If so, what is new,
different, interesting, engaging about your approach?
• Style (Any key stylistic elements in writing, shooting, audio, editing, etc.)
• What about the soundtrack? (Any music, narration, etc.—If so, who? what?)
• Who is working on the project? And what similar projects have they done in the
past? (Credibility of production team)
• How will this work be distributed? (Which markets, any distributor on board
already?)
• Project history or current status of project.
• Historical background or context of the story
• Who, what, where, when, how, why?
Depending on the situation, you may choose to include the following: How will the
project be funded? An outline production schedule.
A proposal will usually be accompanied by a budget and a sample reel or work-in-
progress edit.
.
The goal of a proposal is to communicate your idea to someone who may know nothing
about either you, your previous work, or this project—don’t make assumptions. Usually
a proposal is a key element in securing resources to produce a project--so the credibility
of the production team, and such factors as ‘Why this film?’ ‘Why now?’ and
‘Why these producers?’ are important.
Treatments
Whereas a proposal presents its argument rationally via categorized information,
the treatment evokes how an audience will experience the film on the screen.
Write in the active-voice in present tense. Tell the reader what they will see and hear on
the screen.
Describe the story and introduce any characters. Write colorfully, so the reader
visualizes what’s in your mind’s eye—but avoid splashy adjectives and hyperbole
wherever possible (ie: Do not write: “This spellbinding story will be magically brought to
life by the remarkable camera work of Jane Spriggs…” You have to show how the story
is spellbinding and demonstrate that Ms. Spriggs work is remarkable by providing
supporting information. A treatment is not necessarily brief! (usually 2-10 pages,
double-spaced)
Be specific—don’t use words like may, might, possibly—your film will do xyz. If
you don’t know exactly which music you will use—make your best guess—you can
always change your mind later. It is not always possible to answer all these questions, in
many cases you will write what you expect to occur.
Treatments and proposals are used to:
1. Describe a project so that people involved share an understanding of
interpretation and approach.
2. Create a paper document that can help secure funding, distribution, and other
resources.
3. Provide guidance in the structuring and editing of a documentary project.
You should only write a treatment or proposal after conducting the initial research
that will answer as many of the questions listed above as possible. You might visit a
library, scan a newspaper archive online, or contact institutions and individuals by phone
or email to expand your knowledge of the subject at hand.
Be professional—not personal. Never make up partners or awards etc. (For
example, Do not write that, “Disney is on board…” if you do not have such an
agreement. Often letters are attached to a proposal to certify such relationships.
Write and re-write the proposal until it is fluid.
Some funders and agents have their own format for proposals—they will not read
documents that are not in the prescribed format. Check first.
Scripts are often not used in documentary films—because you cannot predict what will
happen when the camera is rolling. In place of a script, filmmakers use treatments,
proposals, or even outlines--to describe and help plan a documentary project. There is a
lot of overlap between these concepts and different filmmakers use them in similar and
often interchangeable ways.
A treatment is a short story narrative written in simple, non-technical language (ie. no
camera angles, transitions, etc.).
A proposal, which frequently includes a treatment, is a thorough description of all
aspects of a project. It is created in the pre-production stage of a documentary project to
persuade funders, distributors and others to support the project.
Proposals
An effective proposal will:
• Tell a good story
• Make human truths emerge through images—not just verbal description.
• Present a personal, critical perspective on some aspect of the human condition.
• Inform and emotionally move an audience
Usually a proposal will contain the following information:
• Length of work, format.
• Who is the intended audience?
• Goal or intended purpose(s) of the film
• Has any media work already been produced on this subject? If so, what is new,
different, interesting, engaging about your approach?
• Style (Any key stylistic elements in writing, shooting, audio, editing, etc.)
• What about the soundtrack? (Any music, narration, etc.—If so, who? what?)
• Who is working on the project? And what similar projects have they done in the
past? (Credibility of production team)
• How will this work be distributed? (Which markets, any distributor on board
already?)
• Project history or current status of project.
• Historical background or context of the story
• Who, what, where, when, how, why?
Depending on the situation, you may choose to include the following: How will the
project be funded? An outline production schedule.
A proposal will usually be accompanied by a budget and a sample reel or work-in-
progress edit.
.
The goal of a proposal is to communicate your idea to someone who may know nothing
about either you, your previous work, or this project—don’t make assumptions. Usually
a proposal is a key element in securing resources to produce a project--so the credibility
of the production team, and such factors as ‘Why this film?’ ‘Why now?’ and
‘Why these producers?’ are important.
Treatments
Whereas a proposal presents its argument rationally via categorized information,
the treatment evokes how an audience will experience the film on the screen.
Write in the active-voice in present tense. Tell the reader what they will see and hear on
the screen.
Describe the story and introduce any characters. Write colorfully, so the reader
visualizes what’s in your mind’s eye—but avoid splashy adjectives and hyperbole
wherever possible (ie: Do not write: “This spellbinding story will be magically brought to
life by the remarkable camera work of Jane Spriggs…” You have to show how the story
is spellbinding and demonstrate that Ms. Spriggs work is remarkable by providing
supporting information. A treatment is not necessarily brief! (usually 2-10 pages,
double-spaced)
Be specific—don’t use words like may, might, possibly—your film will do xyz. If
you don’t know exactly which music you will use—make your best guess—you can
always change your mind later. It is not always possible to answer all these questions, in
many cases you will write what you expect to occur.
Treatments and proposals are used to:
1. Describe a project so that people involved share an understanding of
interpretation and approach.
2. Create a paper document that can help secure funding, distribution, and other
resources.
3. Provide guidance in the structuring and editing of a documentary project.
You should only write a treatment or proposal after conducting the initial research
that will answer as many of the questions listed above as possible. You might visit a
library, scan a newspaper archive online, or contact institutions and individuals by phone
or email to expand your knowledge of the subject at hand.
Be professional—not personal. Never make up partners or awards etc. (For
example, Do not write that, “Disney is on board…” if you do not have such an
agreement. Often letters are attached to a proposal to certify such relationships.
Write and re-write the proposal until it is fluid.
Some funders and agents have their own format for proposals—they will not read
documents that are not in the prescribed format. Check first.
UTS Online for Issues for Documentary
| Welcome to ISSUES IN DOCUMENTARY (57061) 2009 GUEST LECTURE : Mitzi Goldman: documentary filmmaker, (Looking Glass Films & Executive Director, Documentary Australia Foundation) will join us Wed 12th August: Week 3 Seminar - Documentary Production in Australia (& international funding and distribution). Room 327 at 6pm - 7.30pm; after a short break I will continue the class at approximately 7.45pm- 9pm.
Mitzi's bio: http://www.hotdocs.ca/index.php/popup/delegate/mitzi_goldman Executive Director, Documentary Australia Foundation http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/da/ Issues in Documentary facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Australia/Issues-in-Documentary/225120905045?v=wall&viewas=648629386 Other relevant documents are now loaded in to UTS online Subject Documents. 1. Seminar 1 ppt notes 2. Weekly Themes and Core Readings 2009 - with active urls to the ereadings. Please note I am still in a process of working on updating 57061 UTS online - some urls & readings are out of date..... The documentary film financing landscape is constantly changing: see the Australian Government's new screen agency: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/ For a great site on the history of documentary - with links to the present online environment of documentary. See the link below and read this article for Seminar 1. It is a good, survey style intro to the terrain of documentary: http://media.rmit.edu.au/students/projects/wiki/index.php/Interactive_Online_Documentary The web is exploding with on line documentary sites and data bases. See this article on Youtube for a thoughtful discussion of a way of looking at its historical context in the tradition of documentary: http://scan.net.au/scan/journal/display.php?journal_id=109 Cinema of Attractions ie Thriller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o UTS LIBRARY - and Support for Assignments The University Library: http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/ has the resources you need for your assignments. Some items such as electronic journals, databases and e-reserve require a login and password in order to be accessed from your home or office. Information and instructions for off-campus access are available at : http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/services/off_campus 1. Discover your library - Computer availability, orientation, tours, workshops, online tutorials: http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/students/discover-your-library 2. Research and Essay Writing: http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/information/writing_skills 3. Finding books, readings and films: Closed reserve http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/finding/collections/reserve_collection ON CAMPUS/ON LINE SUPPORT FOR ESSAY WRITING AND RESEARCH : The UTS: BELL site : http://www.bell.uts.edu.au/ : The Harvard System is recommended for referencing of assignments. Help with your study (writing, seminar presentation or study skills) contact the ELSSA Centre: http://www.uts.edu.au/div/elssa/ Level 18, Tower Building, telephone 9514-2327 . See you Wednesday 6pm Room 327 Bonne Marche, cheers Jeni Thornley
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 | some great on line film journals http://www.offscreen.com/ film festivals, retrospectives, film forums How documentary texts are read: http://www.horschamp.qc.ca/new_offscreen/documentary_truth.html http://www.rouge.com.au/ Rouge, edited by Adrian Martin, is a simple, user-friendly online film journal http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/ http://www.mastersofcinema.org/ Art house DVD releases across all DVD regions. http://www.realtimearts.net/ Inside Film Magazine : http://www.if.com.au http://www.film-philosophy.com/ | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| some relevant documentary and media sites Documentary Blogs by documentary filmmakers, critics, and filmgoers. http://documentaries.about.com/od/blogs/Documentary_Blogs.htm About.com: http://worldfilm.about.com/od/documentaries/Documentaries.htm ABC's Future Tense (on media and change): http://www.abc.net.au/rn/futuretense/ | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| Errol Morris has a NY Times blog and great web site Errol Morris is a documentary filmmaker whose movie The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara won the Academy Award for best documentary feature in 2004. He also directed Gates of Heaven, The Thin Blue Line, Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control and A Brief History of Time, among other films. His new film, "Standard Operating Procedure," will be released next year. A companion book, co-written with Philip Gourevitch, will also appear in 2008. http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/ http://www.errolmorris.com/ Interview with Errol Morris in Mumbai by Homi Bhaba http://www.errolmorris.com/content/lecture/theantipost.html | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| EngageMedia is a video sharing site about social justice and environmental issues in the Asia Pacific http://www.engagemedia.org/ Facebook application that allows you share the latest videos on EngageMedia with your friends on your Facebook profile. If you are a Facebook user go here to install the application: http://apps.facebook.com/emlatest As a small caveat: EngageMedia thinks that 'Facebook can be rather problematic (privacy, intelligence gathering, corporate control etc.) but we also think it's a good opportunity for outreach and for distributing videos from our community more widely. For one interesting critique of Facebook see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/14/facebook | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| Resources, links for documentary digital storytelling http://www.digitales.us/resources/documentary.php | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| ITVS: Sell your documentary to Public Broadcasters in USA http://www.itvs.org/about/ ITVS funds, distributes and promotes new programs produced by independent producers primarily for public television. ITVS is looking for proposals that increase diversity on public television and present a range of subjects, viewpoints and forms that complement and challenge existing public television offerings. http://www.itvs.org/producers/international_apply.html INTERNATIONAL CALL 2009 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS http://www.itvs.org/producers/international_apply.html WRITING A BETTER ITVS TREATMENT http://www.itvs.org/producers/treatment.html | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| Australia's first 24-hour Indigenous television service http://nitv.org.au/ The Government-funded National Indigenous TV (NITV) broadcasts to more than 200,000 people across Northern Australia, Queensland, and South Australia. | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| Exposed: a journal of our blurring culture Exposed is a journal that publishes essays about the blurring of the boundaries between the real and the fake in our culture. http://www.realityblurred.com/exposed/contact/ | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| stream interesting and provocative documentary films for free http://www.freedocumentaries.org/index.php
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| Flaherty Documentary Film Seminar The Flaherty is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the proposition that independent media can illuminate the human spirit. Its mission is to foster exploration, dialogue, and introspection about the art and craft of all forms of the moving image. http://www.flahertyseminar.org | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| Autobiography Seminar Jonathon Caouette's documentary Tarnation (2004) is about his turbulent childhood in Houston. The internet is now exploding with autobiography/mockdocs: performative works. In subject documents Autobiography I listed one last year: Lonelygirl 15, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonelygirl15 Another one, is overnight YouTube sensation, Chris Crocker, the latest to be inducted into the world of reality TV. his performance on YouTube has been linked to Jonathon Caouette in Tarnation http://www.youtube.com/itschriscrocker http://www.theage.com.au/news/web/britney-drama-queen-inks-tv-deal/2007/09/20/1189881661178.html My 1978 autobiographical film, Maidens, was put on the Australian screen on line site in 2007 ; Youtube clips and internet release created some ethical issues for me, which had to be resolved before I could grant permission to the site's producers. http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/maidens/ | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| join the Edna mailing list - http://emergingdoco.com.au/edna/ When you register, check out useful on line links at Resources sources: on line doco | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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| The top 25 documentaries of all time (?!) Discussion blog | Posted by: Jennifer Thornley |
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