Screencaps of a rough “Magnum 44″ intro idea:

While I was putting together the rough cut, something was not quite right with how the scenes transitioned. It struck me that the reason was because each scene looked very different from the one before it. Basically, the film was strongly lacking a visual theme and I’m hoping that by re-entering production, I can shoot the cohesive glue to polish this movie. I have the idea fleshed out, the talent in mind, and the shooting locations chosen. Now it’s a matter of actually shooting.

The final stage of post-production, music, has also been a challenge to identify but I’m much closer now than I was before. What is uncertain is a timeline for the completed film, but I’m looking forward as much as anyone to getting this film completed, out there, and seen. It’s been a long time coming, but coming back to it with fresh eyes will hopefully help me push “Mancrush” to the finish line.

On a different note, while juggling several priority works last year, I got a chance to help out Radio Tribe Productions with a series of short films made by Shawn Miller called “The Weekend Warriors”. I helped a bit on set as well had a chance to literally get blown off my feet by stepping in front of the camera. It’s a great little project and you should definitely check it out.

This is a great time to announce that the Radio Tribe site is now up and running!

http://www.radiotribe.com

I wanted his advice on how a filmmaker can best work with a composer - what kind of language or means of communicating are most effective for collaboration? Do I paint a picture? Is the emotion behind a scene the most crucial piece to know? Do I trust the composer to come up with the music cues or is that something we establish together? If I were to guess Bear’s answer, it would be a non-commital one: that there are many different ways a director can articulate herself to a composer. I would have been fascinated to hear his thoughts on it, though, as a young filmmaker trying to learn the craft with a film school degree and a myriad of unanswered questions.

Speaking for my own work, I’m having a difficult time knowing what I want for the soundtrack to “Mancrush the Movie”. Originally, I thought of assembling an acapella techno band - which probably sounds sillier written aloud than it did in my head - but a long overdue editing schedule is not allowing me the luxury of experimentation. Bear’s interview made me wish I had the talent to compose my own music, or at least, have engaged a composer to work with me early so I wouldn’t be in this rut. In any case, I have nothing but utmost respect for Mr. McCreary - not only for his peerless work on “Battlestar Galactica” but for his easy charm and good humor. Speaking as a fan, he was great to talk to.

I’m by no means an authority on composers, but other favorites of mine are Gabriel Yared, Eric Serra, and Basil Poledouris. I wish I knew more of them in person.

I’m not ready to be sentimental about the series ending. It’s not over yet. But officially, this show’s ending season has become a hotbed of interests that I deeply love: spies, robots, protecting children, and the post-apocalypse. Anything the production team brings to me beyond this point will just be icing on the cake.

The tone has been set for the remainder of the series and I’m inexplicably caught off my guard, as I wanted to be. I’ve been trying to let this last season run its natural course without me reading too much into spoilers. It’s worked out better that way. I’m not bothered by the points that writers choose to omit or highlight. It leaves much to the imagination and if I know anything, this show will not tie up every loose end. As a fan, I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to see this story end. It’s going to be a very difficult last few episodes. But it’s an honor to experience it.

With that said, this episode hit hard. I like watching characters overcome their differences. I like enemies finding solidarity through teamwork. I like when order and chaos find a balance. These are basic Libran principles that get my goat. Working together doesn’t have to mean a compromise of one’s values. I think the humans’ decision to reach Earth together with the cylons was probably the hardest choice they’ve had to make, in light of all that’s happened. Working with your enemy is a lot harder than fighting with them. So to reveal a wasteland that will force the two races to make some hard choices, together, makes all the sense in the world.

I’ve realized that had it been so simple as the humans winning or the cylons winning…I would have felt cheated. I get chills thinking about the direction this is all heading. The shape of things to come. This is no longer about “How am I going to get home?” but “How are we going to make the most of this together?” Whether they like it or not, if this is truly Earth, the cylons are part of the family now. Better get cozy, because the choice is simple: make it a bright future or get back to dying.

As far as everyone’s reactions to the “revelations”, I felt they were all appropriate. This show is usually good about keeping characters consistent - and by consistent, I mean infallible. The characters I like are the ones that can not only admit to their faults, but do something to overcome or make up for it. It’s not enough to accept your failures and soldier on. You have to contribute something back to what you’ve taken away. Well, tonight felt like someone opened the airlock and let out all the dirty secrets looming over everyone’s heads. This was a good change of pace from the shocking cliffhangers we’ve been spoiled with. The silence spoke volumes.

When this show ends, it’s going to be devastating. But that’s why it’s a good thing we live in our reality and not theirs. BSG is an object lesson in appreciating what you already have. So be mindful, kids.

Even though I don’t train in kung fu any more, I appreciated all the anecdotes about master and student, and of the basic principles of training. I think they hit some great points that are very truthful to someone who’s studied martial arts.

I’ve gotten some questions about the movie’s status so hopefully this blog will make it easier to share the answers in one place.

Two weekends ago, I showed some unfinished scenes for the Screen Test Film Festival at the Market Theater here in Seattle. The audience seemed a bit uncomfortable with the characters Randy Naveen and Architeusis Jones (as well they should be), so I feel I’m on the right track.

I’m looking to complete video editing in May ‘08 and move on to work with the audio/soundtrack afterwards. Editing has been a challenge because my previous workstation bit the bullet and I’ve since had to replace it with a new computer that can handle the wonderful complexities of HD post-production (including addressing the issue of ”Where the heck am I going to store all this footage when it takes up 100 MB per minute?”).

I have some ideas about what the soundtrack should sound like, but we’ll see if my crazy schemes actually fit the project. I don’t have a date yet for when the final cut will screen with other Radio Tribe films, but I’ll try to keep everyone on the loop.

In the meantime - keep your shoes clean off the HORSE’S SHIT…

ETA: A friend’s informed me that HD footage actually takes up 300 MB of space a minute. Yowza. Thanks to Shawn Miller for the catch.

I love action stories about the future. Ultimately, I think looking forward is a hell of a lot more fun than looking around or back to the past. I blame it on stories like “Mad Max” and “Battlestar Galactica” (the new one, which is so much better than the one with Lorne Greene)… They encourage me to believe that being a female action director would be a pretty amazing stint. Thanks for checking out my work.

Kris