Hello again!
I'm glad you've come back to read more. Here's a what's on my mind today.
Let's get into it, shall we....
I just recently watched a semi-rough cut of a short film I worked on. And, it's always interesting because you never really know what it's going to end up being. You may make a greatly detailed set giving insight into the character and the story. You spend a good amount of time turning your friends' home into the home of three adventurers who are always getting themselves into perilous and yet wacky situations. You find some really great stuff, and you try to set it up so that it will be showcased in the final film. Then the director and director of photography decide their shot list. And, after that the editor takes the footage and edits together the final product. Then you watch it and find that a wall you spend hours loading up with artifacts and trophies is only shown for about a tenth of a second. And then sometimes you wait a year before you can even see a cut of the project you've worked on.
This reminded me of another story told by a production designer/art director from the old school of art direction who worked with the great Alfred Hitchcock.....
I recently re-watched one of my favorite films Vertigo (1958) after watching a documentary about art direction in films. It is a great documentary, and I've actually watched it three times now. The name of the doc is Something's Gonna Live (2010), and I highly recommend it not just for aspiring production designers but for anyone who is a fan of film, especially classic films. The documentary profiles the careers of mainly three production designers/art directors and the cinematographers they worked with (the topic of the difference between a production designer and an art director I will save for a whole other post. There was a time when the terms were interchangeable, and it's a really interesting topic, but it will have to wait). It gives an interesting insight into the relationship between cinematographer, director and production designer, sometimes known as the holy trinity of filmmaking. It was really helpful for me to hear what other working relationships were like after working on a few projects with different DPs and directors. On one project, I was not involved in the process at all of what was being framed in the shot. There was no dialogue really between the director, the DP and me. And, I began to feel like a glorified Art PA. However, on another project I had multiple meetings with the director and the DP. And, we would screen films that we were influenced by even furthering our dialogue of what we wanted the visuals of the film to encompass.
I found it comforting to know that production designers working with the biggest directors on classic, iconic films have the same problems as people like me who work on smaller productions.
The main focus of Something's Gonna Live is Robert Boyle, production designer on such films as North by Northwest (1959), The Birds (1963), and Marnie (1964). He was also Art Director on In Cold Blood (1967) and Cape Fear (1962). Another production designer that worked with Robert Boyle and also Hitchcock (notice a pattern here?) was Henry Bumstead. And, he is my favorite designer that is featured. It also helps a little that he was one of the art directors on Vertigo. I mentioned that it is one of my favorite films, but it is a little bit more than just that. I happened upon Vertigo one day on TCM. My dad is an avid fan of classic movies, especially westerns, and he is responsible for me becoming interested in film. I started sitting with him and watching whatever he was watching. Eventually, I started watching movies on TCM on my own instead of Saved By the Bell, and other things normal ten year olds were watching. On one very special day, this movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock was coming on. And, I had never heard of it before, but it was directed by Hitchcock, and he was supposed to be one of the best directors, even though I really didn't know what that meant exactly. So, I watched Vertigo and fell in love with film. I wanted to live in the San Francisco of 1958 that Hitchcock and Bumstead created. I wanted to be Kim Novak in her grey suit set and drive around a big green Jaguar. I knew I wanted to somehow be involved in that process. I just didn't know how yet.
Now back to the documentary, Henry Bumstead talks with Robert Boyle about what it was like working with Hitchcock. He relates what happened on the set of Vertigo, and I found it to be really interesting. He recalls that when he would ask Hitchcock his opinion on things, he would be indifferent and already working on his next project. Also, he talks about one of the great sets he put together for the main character Scottie's (played by James Stewart) apartment. There was so much detail and thought put into Scottie's apartment, things like what hobbies a retired police officer would have. Bumstead thought he would be a stamp collector and dressed the set with a lot of great items a stamp collector would have. He recalls that he doesn't even know if any of the stamp collecting detail can be seen in the final film.
It's kind of sad, but it makes sense to me. There are so many factors involved with making a film, everyone working on it has there own idea of what it should be. Ultimately, it's up to the director because he has the final say. And, if that director isn't willing to give up the slightest amount of control or trust the people they have working for them to make the right decisions, it ends up being less of a collaborative effort. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I think it depends, but ultimately I think that you can't be obsessed with having complete control of a project. A whole work is only good if it's sum parts are good as well.
Well, that's all for today.
Until next time
--A
Monday, August 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
First Entry, July 23rd, 2013
Hello there friend,
Maybe you already know me, maybe you don't. This first post is a little bit about who I am and why I created this blog.
I always thought my problem in life was that I couldn't decide on the one thing I wanted to do as an occupation. I once thought that I wanted to graduate from college with three different majors. Deciding I had neither the money or time to accomplish this feat, I settled for something safe and practical majoring in Psychology with a minor in film. The funny thing is, I'm back in school now doing something completely different. I decided I didn't want to attempt a masters degree in Psychology, even though I proclaimed I would upon hearing that the majority of people who go on to get a masters degree are men. Side note, I always love proving people and statistics wrong. But, I didn't have a passion or the money for it. Sure, I'm fascinated by Psychology. I love reading books by Oliver Sacks and the latest issue of Psychology Today. And I use psychology in many of my design decisions. But listening to people and their problems? I already do that at my current job working in a restaurant where I am constantly pressured with questions about my future.
I am constantly asked, "Are you STILL in school?" "You're STILL here?" "What are you doing with your life?!" First, just because I work in a restaurant doesn't mean I'm not doing anything with my life. And secondly, yes I am still in school because these days everyone has a bachelors degree. Maybe 20-30 years ago, you could get away with just going to college for four years and then getting a good paying job once you're done. But the world has changed. Everyone has a bachelors degree, it isn't enough. You've got to find out how to make yourself stand out somehow. It's all about the skill set you create for yourself. Which is what I'm doing in school now.
Art has always been my passion in life. My mistake was thinking I couldn't have a career that somehow incorporated art. I didn't have anyone in my life saying pursue your passion. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite. There were a lot of people saying "go into nursing!" Even my inner thoughts were telling me to abandon art and just have it as a hobby. And that worked for a few years. But, after substitute teaching middle school for a year (which if you ever want to feel invincible, like you can do ANYTHING, try substitute teaching middle school and make it to the end of the day) I decided I need to enjoy my profession whatever it was.
So, I decided to work on becoming a PRODUCTION DESIGNER! Why a production designer? I'm assuming you were just about to ask. Well, I have always been obsessed with film, ever since I was ten. I was mostly fascinated and still am with the work of Alfred Hitchcock. I will probably talk in the future about the production designers that have worked with Hitchcock to create some of the memorable moments from his films. I've always been fixated on the why and how of the way a film looks. And, the fact that it's someone's job to do that!? I always secretly wanted to be a production designer, but I never dared attempt such a risky career! Until now. In defiance of doing what sensible people should do, I am following my dream where ever it takes me.
And that is what this blog is about. It is about my quest to become a production designer and the things that have happened to me working on short films and some feature films I've worked on.
Also, I started this blog because in my two years so far as a student production designer I haven't noticed many resources on the subject. Go into a book store. Go to the section of film books. Count how many books there are on the subjects of directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and editing. Now count how many books there are about production design. And, I feel that production design is a mystery to most of the students in film school and people working in the industry. Yet, it is one of the most important jobs on a film. Yes, of course I think that because it's what I do. But think about it. You can set up the camera, lights, block the action, actors can figure out their characterization. But what about the costumes? Where is the action taking place? Production design is that subtle extra element that is meant to be unnoticed. But watch a film with bad production design, and you notice it right away. And it takes away a little bit from the movie. Production design is that visible yet invisible thing that makes some films irresistible to look at, people try to emulate the look of a film in their own lives.
It's powerful stuff. So, keep reading and hopefully this blog will be informative and at the very least entertaining. It will be full of real life stories and disasters from my life, things and people that influence me, and the pre-production of the current film I am working on, Blackwater Rd.
Until then,
Keep reaching for the stars my friends.
-A
Maybe you already know me, maybe you don't. This first post is a little bit about who I am and why I created this blog.
I always thought my problem in life was that I couldn't decide on the one thing I wanted to do as an occupation. I once thought that I wanted to graduate from college with three different majors. Deciding I had neither the money or time to accomplish this feat, I settled for something safe and practical majoring in Psychology with a minor in film. The funny thing is, I'm back in school now doing something completely different. I decided I didn't want to attempt a masters degree in Psychology, even though I proclaimed I would upon hearing that the majority of people who go on to get a masters degree are men. Side note, I always love proving people and statistics wrong. But, I didn't have a passion or the money for it. Sure, I'm fascinated by Psychology. I love reading books by Oliver Sacks and the latest issue of Psychology Today. And I use psychology in many of my design decisions. But listening to people and their problems? I already do that at my current job working in a restaurant where I am constantly pressured with questions about my future.
I am constantly asked, "Are you STILL in school?" "You're STILL here?" "What are you doing with your life?!" First, just because I work in a restaurant doesn't mean I'm not doing anything with my life. And secondly, yes I am still in school because these days everyone has a bachelors degree. Maybe 20-30 years ago, you could get away with just going to college for four years and then getting a good paying job once you're done. But the world has changed. Everyone has a bachelors degree, it isn't enough. You've got to find out how to make yourself stand out somehow. It's all about the skill set you create for yourself. Which is what I'm doing in school now.
Art has always been my passion in life. My mistake was thinking I couldn't have a career that somehow incorporated art. I didn't have anyone in my life saying pursue your passion. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite. There were a lot of people saying "go into nursing!" Even my inner thoughts were telling me to abandon art and just have it as a hobby. And that worked for a few years. But, after substitute teaching middle school for a year (which if you ever want to feel invincible, like you can do ANYTHING, try substitute teaching middle school and make it to the end of the day) I decided I need to enjoy my profession whatever it was.
So, I decided to work on becoming a PRODUCTION DESIGNER! Why a production designer? I'm assuming you were just about to ask. Well, I have always been obsessed with film, ever since I was ten. I was mostly fascinated and still am with the work of Alfred Hitchcock. I will probably talk in the future about the production designers that have worked with Hitchcock to create some of the memorable moments from his films. I've always been fixated on the why and how of the way a film looks. And, the fact that it's someone's job to do that!? I always secretly wanted to be a production designer, but I never dared attempt such a risky career! Until now. In defiance of doing what sensible people should do, I am following my dream where ever it takes me.
And that is what this blog is about. It is about my quest to become a production designer and the things that have happened to me working on short films and some feature films I've worked on.
Also, I started this blog because in my two years so far as a student production designer I haven't noticed many resources on the subject. Go into a book store. Go to the section of film books. Count how many books there are on the subjects of directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and editing. Now count how many books there are about production design. And, I feel that production design is a mystery to most of the students in film school and people working in the industry. Yet, it is one of the most important jobs on a film. Yes, of course I think that because it's what I do. But think about it. You can set up the camera, lights, block the action, actors can figure out their characterization. But what about the costumes? Where is the action taking place? Production design is that subtle extra element that is meant to be unnoticed. But watch a film with bad production design, and you notice it right away. And it takes away a little bit from the movie. Production design is that visible yet invisible thing that makes some films irresistible to look at, people try to emulate the look of a film in their own lives.
It's powerful stuff. So, keep reading and hopefully this blog will be informative and at the very least entertaining. It will be full of real life stories and disasters from my life, things and people that influence me, and the pre-production of the current film I am working on, Blackwater Rd.
Until then,
Keep reaching for the stars my friends.
-A
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