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Film Tropical - October 2006

Writing the Script

October 12th 2006 20:26
Everything starts with an idea. A concept. You take your messy mind and you try to put it to use. You write down that idea. And somehow it does not seem as grand as you dreamt.

So you rewrite it. And you rewrite it again. You think visually. What would appeal to an audience watching my film?

I have no idea. But I have watched films ever since I knew myself. And there's that feeling. Similar to the instinct of a novelist, you can't be rigid, something of you goes into that work.

But a sreenplay is not a novel. So you read other people's screenplays. You laugh and you reconstruct the film in your mind and you begin to process exactly how you would shoot the Goddamn film if you were the director.


Can you really deliver any better than the blokes from Hollywood? You feel fearful because already you can be underestimated. It's your first film and the next mentor for writing and directing your script does not live in your little island or is so busy how can a pipsqeak like you get his/her attention.

So you write anyway and give it a try. You prepare yourself and read as much as you can and talk to various people working in TV. You beg to work voluntary on various video productions. You observe what the director does, what the director of photography does.

You humble yourself and pray to gather that kind of strength and aggressiveness, charm and luck to one day bear that kind of pressure as a filmmaker. You say f*&% it and jump anyway and stick to it anyway when in the middle of the script that ill confidence of writer's block steps in.

Again you say f*&% and continue and pad up that section of the script with some bullshit. Then when you finally finished and come back to the bullshit part, just then you may realize that that bullshit can fly.


You let other people disect it. And you rewite. You rewrite it again. And then you do it again this not for you but for everyone else, until you have something that slightly resembles a timeless story.

That's the best way I believe you can write a script.

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Creating the theory for C'bean Film

October 12th 2006 04:00
This blog actually serves two purposes. Firstly I would like think of it as a personal research blog, if there is such a thing, where I regular post my internal thoughts about filmmaking for the Caribbean Filmmaker from my readings and field observations. And secondly to share this info with like minded persons. I am only a student but I have two years television experience and this also informs my view on Caribbean Films and Filmmakers. I will be also be begging my readers for any info whatsoever about film screenings and the times and access to seeing these films. My biggest complaint is that it shouldn't be hard to see Caribbean Films. As a matter of fact I would have investigate this availability of Caribbean Films sometime in the future.
However for my research I have concocted the following assumptions from general observations. Feel free to email me your comments to me at egocentral@gmail.com:


Working Assumptions
(Research to be done in order to validate or reassess)


The Regional Film Industry

If existent, is presently very small and is in the pre-natal phase of development
Because it is considerably young compared to other modules of film industry in the world it is not as highly specialized. (For example American, European, Indian, African, Japanese, Chinese, German and Russian Film industries.)
A regional film industry would be better off combining aspects from other film industry modules than copying one module wholesale. (For example we cannot expect to able to fund multimillion dollar film projects like the Americans.)
A feasible regional film industry may only work when key territorial smaller film industries are also sufficiently developed.
There is no physical or central "mainland" for filmmakers to meet, exchange ideas or conduct business transactions. (Each Caribbean territory is like a speck of dust compared to other film industry modules where territories are considerably huge, politically and economically more powerful with multi million populations.)
Economies of scale or mini-industries within a regional film industry may be therefore much more difficult to establish.
Thus if we are to make significant impact the only way to do this is to make globalization work for us by:
Creating our own opportunities for example creating a "mainland" for Caribbean Filmmakers Online Communities in cyberspace.
Taking full advantage of the latest technological advancements in multimedia and telecommunications.




The Caribbean Filmmaker

He/She is passionate about filmmaking.
HE/She is a multi-tasker when it comes to filmmaking. (May be able to edit, produce, direct, dub sound, design sets etc all at the same time)
Does not necessarily have all the finances to produce all the film projects they want to.
He/she is in fact an independent filmmaker.
Must be able to engage various multimedia applications in order to survive.

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Rare Breed

October 11th 2006 00:18
Caribbean Filmmakers are a rear breed. As a Trinidadian Media and communications student pursuing a degree at the University of the West Indies in Mona Jamaica, I have encountered many like minded individuals. We all want to make movies. We all have interest in photography and cinematography. We all follow film news, go to cinema often or download atrocious quality pirated versions and then chat about what we liked or didn't like about each film.

So then what's the problem?

There simply are not that many opportunities for potential Caribbean filmmakers to produce feature length films and live comfortably locally in their respective tropical territories.

First to study film you have to endure costs of schooling and living expenses overseas. However there is a new film programme available at the University of the West Indies at the St. Augustine campus which may sound tempting to a Trinidadian since our government covers our full tuition costs. However the programme is now in its second year and for the more serious minded career oriented person this may not be the best option. The newness of this degree programme ultimately means that you as a student are a guinea pig. Not to underestimate the qualifications of lecturers involved but as with any newly instituted programme there are some kinks that will be needed to be worked out in the first couple of years. Another thing is that more well known film degree programmes like the Tisch School of Art film programme at NYU also help you to establish those all important links in the filmmaking world.

Secondly funding opportunities for local feature length films suck. You really have to dig and beg potential sponsors to fund your project. However I haven't really had a film to fund as yet. But most people I have spoken to about the possibility of doing such a thing have been very pessimistic about such ventures. Of course our history has seen some memorable films like The Harder They Come and Lunatic but such filming opportunities are too far apart. Living in the shadow of America, multimillion dollar budget films strike an almost relentless fear in our local sponsors- the risks seem to be too great.

However many unknown film enthusiasts have been recently taking advantage of digital post production and the cinematic effects of filming with the affordable Panasonic 24 frame feature of the AG-DVX 100B camcorders. And the results are optimistic. As a wannabe filmmaker I can only dive into the latest of technologies and improve my knowledge and skill while major multimedia ensures that film production become cheaper with relatively the same quality standards.

From this end a Caribbean Filmmaker can survive locally if he/she can combine technical know-how, a proactive attitude and passion toward his/her filmmaking.

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