As a part of my education at Full Sail University, we have 3 different short film formats that our class will end up doing over the course of the program. Digital Cinematography class has a digital short format, obviously. Film Production’s format is on 16mm film, a film format common among television, music videos, and indie films. We’ve handled both of those formats, and they both have VERY different methods with which to shoot. The last format we work in is 35mm film, THE format of almost every theatrical film that is released. That is the format of our Final Project, the quintessential “thesis” for our degree program.

For Final Project, or “35″ as we refer to it, the instructors are relatively hands-off for. We are responsible for writing a script, hiring a crew, and formulating the plans on how to shoot the project, all before pitching the idea to the “Execs.” That all happens before we actually get into the class. I knew the process months ago, and as we were finishing up our 16mm project I began putting together my team for our Final Project. I have very high standards for any project I work on, and so I wanted to do something that was immensely challenging, capable of artistic production value, a story that is worth telling, but more than anything, fun to work on. I decided to write a script about Mikhail Kalashnikov, and the event that inspired his designing of the AK-47.

Well, the script got finished, the crew got hired(a full 27-man crew by-the-way), and we developed a number of plans and backups in order to be ready for the pitch. For the pitch, there were seven other scripts going in. Only two would get selected. For 35, that was actually really good odds. The pitch went great, as we were only supposed to be in there for 10 minutes–we were asked questions so long we were in for almost 45 and two of the “Execs” we pitched to were clearly interested in the project. Pitch was on a Wednesday, and we found out the following Sunday that it was selected as one of the two that would be made. I was THRILLED.

The script “Kalashnikov” is a 13-page human drama surrounded by war, a la “Enemy at the Gates.” I’d be insane to say it isn’t ambitious, since it involves a cast of 9 principal players, 6-10 extras, 4 different types of weaponry, 5 sets or locations, and a T-34 tank, which are all set in 1940s Russia. Perhaps I’m insane anyway? I don’t care, I love it. The story is so intriguing, and from everyone that has read the script, they have agreed. We had a cold read done by a few actors yesterday, and hearing it come to life with the Russian accent made it damn near surreal. I was very happy.

From this point we are finalizing locations, set design, preparing to cast(auditions on the 12th of December at Full Sail), and I’ll be developing the shot list and storyboards. I’ll update more as I go along with this. It’s not my first time directing talent, but it is my first short film production that I’ll be directing solo.

- Robert

At this point I’d happily switch between shooting film and HD video. I had a feeling this would happen once I shot on it, and it definitely did. As so many people say, “It’s just more organic to shoot on film.” I whole-heartedly agree. If I had the money to do it, I’d buy a 16mm camera tomorrow. The advances in the scanning process have allowed Super 16mm to be transferred over and projected in 35mm projectors with near lossless quality.

From here I definitely want to try and shoot a short on Super 16mm. The biggest “issue” is the one that is the primary reason for going digital: cost. Shooting on film is expensive. Money goes into lab fees for processing and digital transfer for editing, not to mention the cost of actually buying the film. Renting isn’t as much of a cost(especially with student rates available most places), but insurance to get the rental and permit fees can be pricey depending on the subject matter and location.

Filmmaking is a business-based form of art. I’m not blind to that fact at all. I just prefer handling the art side first. I don’t like the idea of being a “suit” except for the creative-control part of being a Producer. I’d happily create debt to be a filmmaker. Hell, that’s what I’m doing going to school(student loans). I haven’t decided if I want to stay another year for a Masters Degree in Entertainment Business, but it has been floating about my brain for the past month or so. I don’t know… we’ll have to see.

- Robert

Back in either January or February I became attached to an independent feature film entitled “Into the Forest” as an office production assistant. My initial responsibilities were to add friends to the film’s MySpace page. That was about it. Once actual production kicked up, I was spending twelve hours on set, busting my ass for this legit project that was being put on by Full Sail students and a few faculty members. Apparently my hard work was noticed because I was offered two different promotions. One was as a Production Secretary and the other was the 2nd 2nd Assistant Director. I chose Production Secretary because it will offer me the opportunity to learn about becoming a Producer later on in my career. This project is still ongoing, and will continue to force me into ~4 hour sleep sessions a day.

I’m currently taking Intro to Editing and Visual Effects, where I am editing the D.C. project that I wrote and directed last month, and finding numerous things that I will change for my next production. Mostly, it’s issues with continuity.

The other course I’m taking is Documentary Filmmaking, in which my group’s project is currently set to involve a road trip to New Jersey in order to document the teams PMS Clan and Funk That in their pro-gaming competitions. Whether or not the trip will take place is still under consideration, but either way, we are making a documentary short about those two pro-gaming teams. The Manager of both teams is actually a Full Sail student taking the Entertainment Business Online Degree Program. Small world, eh?

Wednesday I found out about another opportunity I had. Rick Ramsey, my D.C. Course Director and one of the key faculty in the Film Program, gave me a call to let me know I had been nominated to go to Dallas in the end of April-beginning of May to attend the 2009 Apple Educators Conference. Only ten Full Sail students would be going, and they had to interview and be approved by Dave Franko, Full Sail’s Film Program Director. I interviewed yesterday, told Dave and his assistant Bobbi that I was good with pretty much everything I had learned up until now, but I was better on camera than I was with Final Cut Pro. I got a call that afternoon saying, “Congratulations, you’ve been chosen!” So I’m going to Dallas in April.

Whew… that’s a lot. I haven’t even gotten into my private time where I am planning out how to produce a couple of shorts I have ideas for. I currently have three full stories, and about two that are 50% there. This year is going to be intense, and like I tell everyone, I love every minute of it.

- Robert

The first one is Devastator. Now, his torso is made up of that giant wheeled bot from the Super Bowl spot(Alt mode is the giant excavator they have in mining valleys), so just guess at how big he will actually be. And yes, he is a Decepticon.

The Fallen is that second badass brute. I think this film will center around defeating him. I think the title gives that away.

In the third image you see Devastator, The Fallen, and a bot that looks a helluva lot like Megatron. Bad news people, Michael Bay and the writers have said that Megatron is DEAD on many occasions. Then who is it? My guess is Galvatron, Megatron’s second form. Galvatron’s alt mode is a tank, and numerous details keep spilling out about toys and other things with “Megatron” in a damaged tank mode. I think this could be excellent, given that it follows the lore pretty well or a live action film.

Tell me what you guys think!

- Robert

I’m not upset, given that they chose Differences because it was a more difficult to execute script and that’s what they wanted. Now its just a matter of fine tuning the idea into something really good. In it’s current form it strays from a complete script since it gets jumbled and doesn’t connect with an audience. Student filmmakers would go see it just to see other talent, but it’s not where a mainstream audience could connect with it. That’s what I plan to fix. Will the rest of the group go for it, God I hope so.

So aside from writing, I’ll be directing a portion of the short. If I can make at least half of the changes I want to in the script, I feel confident that we can take it to the FilmSlam at the local independent theater, The Enzian, and maybe win. – Side note, I’m going to go see The Wrestler (Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke’s new film) tomorrow. It’ll be sick!

That’s all I’ve got as an update for now. I’m still fishing through ideas for Meaningless Sex. I thought I might want to take a more Noir style with it, but that just ended up heading down a path of stupid.

- Robert

There are distractions in this film that I think take away from the good parts. The most notable is in the music track. The music beats sound great at first, with an ethereal type of curiosity it draws you in, but soon after reaching the party, it sounds as if the CD was skipping and the vinyl scratches don’t feel right. At first I thought it might have been the fact that I was streaming the picture, but having watched it a few more times, it’s the way the track was laid.

The other notable distraction is the emptiness or lack of set dressing in the main character’s room. I understand it is supposed to be a college student’s room, and that is the way most of our rooms look, but it didn’t feel right and I’m pretty sure it caused problems with the audio capture.

Those “cons” aside, I did enjoy a number of aspects of this short. I think the acting of A.J. Napoli was very comical in his interpretation of someone going insane. When not paying strict attention to how each shot is lit, I found that the mood was set well. The color was a bit off, but I can’t tell if that was intended or not.

All in all I did enjoy it. I think that if there was more time to firmly lay down the details that this could have been better, but whatever circumstances there were, I still chuckled.

*** (3/5)

“Closet Party” was written, directed, and shot by Richard Cameron White. It was edited by A.J. Napoli, and stars Ryan Bradley, Jay Janoco, and Nathan Ellering. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWmNUKIi1vs to vote for this film.

In the process of writing my treatment, I thought it to be best to do a running production blog so that others can understand better how, in theory, the Hollywood Machine works. I say “in theory” because I’m not actually a part of the Hollywood machine, but I am a part of the Industry it serves.

Now that I’ve cleared that up, let me start to get into the nitty gritty: Why make a movie? From what we have been taught here at Full Sail, read told, it is to tell a story. From what many people think they know of Hollywood, it’s to make money. Here’s my reason: To create a living, breathing world of people and places, and share it with mankind. That may seem like I’m trying to be “deep” or “ethereal” or whatever, but it’s how I describe it best. Yes, a story is most definitely involved; Yes, it is possible to make money, lots of money, with films. But the key reason that I would make a movie is that.

Mēan•îng•lěss Sěx. I know it caught many eyes over the past couple days in my status. I know this because I was messaged my more people than you would think saying things like, “Can I be in it?” or “Making a porno right out of the gate, eh?” I don’t mind these questions or jokes at all. It’s partially why I posted what I did. This film isn’t even in a full draft of scripting, and it has what is known as “buzz” based on a title, with certain goofy markings that tell you the proper pronounciation.

Here’s the question I’m sure you’ve since been pondering: What is Mēan•îng•lěss Sěx? That is what I want you to think about. Not about the movie itself (I’ll get into that in a later post), about “Meaningless Sex.” How do you define it? Is it thrilling? Is it repulsive? Is it what our generation now defines a meet-and-greet? Those are the questions I am going to put into this Indie Short Comedy. I’m making it such that it would be viable commercially (If it were to be released in theaters), but I believe that its controversial subject matter, as well as the style in which I will tell this story, will look favorably on me submitting this to Festivals next year.

In the mean time, continue to ask yourself how you think of meaningless sex. If you find yourself with an answer, comment and let me know what you think. Since I am still writing, your thoughts could be that of one of the characters in my story. Any opinion is valid. There is no wrong answer.

Thanks for taking interest.

Robert Sloan
Writer/Director – Mēan•îng•lěss Sěx
Full Sail University

The character I play has become more and more interesting as David and I work together. Already, he wants to write another couple scenes, just to amplify how big of a douchebag Barry Dease actually is. I’m fine with that, especially if it entails me acting like a complete asshole. Something about being a jerk is just fun.

In either case, I hope we can get enough scenes shot within the next couple weeks that David will cut together a trailer of some kind. If he does I will definitely post it.

- Robert

Your Vote Counts
This is the film I am attached to act in. It’s being Directed/Produced by a UCF student and we will begin principle photography next week. The cast is going to have a read-through later this week(changing schedules doesn’t have us all nailed down at one specific time yet). I will play a character called Barry Dease. Basically, he’s a giant douchebag. Think Richard, from Van Wilder, only more of the Jock type than Ivy-League prig.

Rise of the Quantum Keeper
This is the film I am attached to crew. Originally I was going to try and be someone’s lackey(P.A.)… but that changed when I was made Art Director. This film is a feature-length, low-budget Indie. It’s supposed to be headed out on the lesser-festival market(as I like to call it). We’re supposed to start shooting the first of November so that our insurance will actually mean something and doesn’t run out before we finish shooting. I will go into a little more detail of what my job is once I’ve worked in it longer. In a general summary of what Art Director is, I’m in charge of adapting the screenplay written scenes, into a vibrant, realistic set. I am working with the Director, as well as the Director of Photography(D.P.) in order to come up with a look for the film. Since this movie is a feature-length, low-budget Indie set for lesser-festival market distribution, the crew is small and unpaid. Thus, I have to take care of all the jobs underneath mine(Prop Master, Set Designer, etc.) as well.

Wish me luck. More updates as I continue working.

- Robert

First off, I am a Film Student. As of yet, my “films” are all crap. They are football promos from years ago when I was first starting in media creation and manipulation. I have watched them numerous times, and see many different flaws with each. Experience has that effect. I will not post any of my own productions unless I am satisfied that they are the absolute best they can possibly be.

That said, there are two ways I am going about making movies: Acting and Crewing.

The Acting Angle:
In order to be part of the high-up hierarchy on a film, one must understand characters, actors, methods of acting, and other elements dealing with how to portray the people in your story. It’s also a great way to watch and learn how films are made, without having to crew the film.

I am currently up for an acting role in a UCF student film called “Your Vote Counts.” I still need to do the official audition with the Producer(s), but pending their creative vision not matching with the way I would portray the character, I’m pretty sure I’ll get it. I don’t want to give out any more details than that just because, but I will update once I’m attached.

The Crewing Angle:
The single, best way to increase experience behind the camera is to crew different projects. This increases your knowledge, your skills, and helps you learn what works and what doesn’t. I currently have only participated in one film, and that was only for about two hours gripping. I’m attending a production meeting on Sunday for a sci-fi/action indie film. Hopefully I can get attached as a Production Assistant(PA).

- – - – -

That’s my answer.

- Robert