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Muckfuppet
Romance hides behind a bashful soul.
Thursday, October 27, 2005:
The strange dynamics of muckfuppet
Muckfuppet is largely based in truth. The character names aren't even that far removed from reality (which prompted one of my readers to comment, "Why can't you filmmakers ever use names of people that you don't know?") -- Kevin = Kenn and Celia = Neely.
Yes, I know Celia and Neely aren't that close. But can you think of a name other than Celia that even comes close in sound?
This, fellow writer/directors, is the importance of bringing in outsiders to work with you, and being open to their input:
Because it's so largely grounded in truth, I know how it ends (and yes, I'm aware that the "ending" of the script is sort of transparent from the work go, and I'm okay with that). It colors the tone of the entire piece in my head, and thus makes the lines read a very specific way to me.
When Melissa sat down with me for the first read-through, we discussed the character and the lines at length.
(Melissa knows Neely, but she's not playing Celia as Neely, which I feel is a good choice. In fact, I mentioned that she might play Celia as reacting to Kevin as me -- if that makes any sense.)
But when we got to the mid-section, and she was asking me how I saw certain lines being played, her approach made me realize that there were many more options for the final outcome than reality, than the eventuality that is stuck in my head. And it opened everything up on so many different levels, and honestly made me more excited about the script than I've been since it was written.
And about the strange dynamics: Melissa is my ex-wife, playing Celia, who is based on Neely, one of my closest friends, who is dating Scott Ross, playing Kevin, the character based on me. And the first time I ever met Scott, he was in a play that involved him kissing Melissa.
It's a strange small world, this Birmingham. But filled with a scary amount of talent.
casting refugees
An interesting aspect of working on this project is seeing how it all comes together (or falls apart, as I've seen on other shoots).
We've heard from hopeful actors and crew members not only from Birmingham but Alabama and the Southeast. Normally, I'd write it off to those seeking their fame / fortune fix. But quite a few are just hungry for experience, a foothold in the industry.
I've seen only a fraction of those applying, but I'm looking forward to meeting them in person and seeing how they do under fire.
Plus, between Kenn and me, whoever makes the most people cry wins a dollar.
We've heard from hopeful actors and crew members not only from Birmingham but Alabama and the Southeast. Normally, I'd write it off to those seeking their fame / fortune fix. But quite a few are just hungry for experience, a foothold in the industry.
I've seen only a fraction of those applying, but I'm looking forward to meeting them in person and seeing how they do under fire.
Plus, between Kenn and me, whoever makes the most people cry wins a dollar.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005:
Putting the "fu" back in fun...
I have a feeling that making films turns out to be well worth the effort for some people, but to date, I've not made anything that I would think is worth the time and energy expended on the project.
The writing is the easy part, for me. It hits me in a flash; I put the story on paper, in some level of detail; I sit on the script for a month or so, doing my best to forget about it; and then I return to the script and make tweaks as I need to.
It's really that simple for me. Always has been.
Making the film, though... that's another story altogether. Reminds me of making a song that was written on acoustic guitar into a full-blown arrangement in the studio, only more torturous. There's a billion more things to think about, it's more expensive, it requires more people to help out and do it right...
Oh, and thinking visually is not something that comes naturally to me. Not like thinking aurally (and that's not even something that I feel like I do well).
No, what I do is tell stories. Thank god I've got a lot of friends and acquiantances who know all the other parts of the equation.
The writing is the easy part, for me. It hits me in a flash; I put the story on paper, in some level of detail; I sit on the script for a month or so, doing my best to forget about it; and then I return to the script and make tweaks as I need to.
It's really that simple for me. Always has been.
Making the film, though... that's another story altogether. Reminds me of making a song that was written on acoustic guitar into a full-blown arrangement in the studio, only more torturous. There's a billion more things to think about, it's more expensive, it requires more people to help out and do it right...
Oh, and thinking visually is not something that comes naturally to me. Not like thinking aurally (and that's not even something that I feel like I do well).
No, what I do is tell stories. Thank god I've got a lot of friends and acquiantances who know all the other parts of the equation.
Monday, October 03, 2005:
And so it kinda begins
Muckfuppet pre-production has begun in earnest. In fact, I'm not entirely sure that it actually started. It all seems to have a life of its own, in a way. So far, I've got Melissa Bush and Scott Ross (both with extensive stage and film experience) signed on in the principal roles, with a few leads on filling the waitress part. Chance Shirley (writer and director of Hide & Creep) has signed on as director of photography, and his wife (along with Chance and H&C; co-director Chuck Hartsell - collectively, Crewless Productions) has agreed to produce. I've got a couple of leads on locations. Music is being worked on right now (namely, acquiring synch rights to Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic). Mary Catherine Cutcliffe, a friend in California who used to work with Sidewalk, is going to help with the art direction. I've got the word out to two other local talents in the editing and cinematography departments, so hopefully I'll be able to drop those names soon.
Next up is finalizing a budget, raising money (hopefully, that shouldn't be too hard, but I also have no idea where to begin with that...), and starting some rehearsals.
I have a really really good feeling about this.
Next up is finalizing a budget, raising money (hopefully, that shouldn't be too hard, but I also have no idea where to begin with that...), and starting some rehearsals.
I have a really really good feeling about this.