Tuesday, March 30, 2010
When What You're Working On Isn't Working On You
Basically finished what I thought was going to be pretty damn close to what the final draft of "The There There" today. Printed it out and read it through and...it needs a ton of work. There's nothing more defeating then feeling like you've wasted a large amount of time but there's just something about this script that isn't working for me. I'm going to let some folks I trust read it to get their feedback, maybe I'm just being my own worst critic but I'm not going to make a film from a script I'm not 100% proud of so needless to say, I'm going to have a lot of work to do at the very least. Oh, well. I guess that's why Red Bull exists.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Synopsis
Here's the current synopsis for "The There There":
"The There There" is an experimental narrative feature film about a man named Ben White, an at one time well known experimental filmmaker who, faced with having a child unexpectedly in his early 20s, decides to put his artistic desires on hold and purchases an old repertory movie theatre with his friend and business partner, Zach.
Now, in his early 30s, Ben is confronted with Zach deciding to move on to other pursuits and get out of the business. Ben is now suddenly forced to handle the work load alone, while still trying to raise a young family. Ben juggles being a young Dad and husband, projectionist and free thinker all while dealing with an increasing desire to return to the world of making his own films instead of just projecting
others.
After keeping his increased work load to himself, his wife finally discovers that Zach hasn't simply been "on vacation" and Ben is running the entire operation himself, alone, 7 days a week. After immense pressure from his family Ben reluctantly decides to hire some help - a young art student named Sarah - who's youth, enthusiasm and dynamic relationship with her own filmmaker boyfriend helps him
realize what direction he needs to go in to feel whole again.
While the above is, basically, the plot of the film, it will very much be stylistically informed by the filmmaker's own experimental film background,
drawing on influences like Stan Brakhage, Michael Snow, Maya Deren, Kenneth Anger, Jean-Luc Godard and Luis Bunuel, with some surrealistic dream sequences, film-within-a-film diversions, hand painted film interludes and more lyrical, plotless passages.
"The There There" is an experimental narrative feature film about a man named Ben White, an at one time well known experimental filmmaker who, faced with having a child unexpectedly in his early 20s, decides to put his artistic desires on hold and purchases an old repertory movie theatre with his friend and business partner, Zach.
Now, in his early 30s, Ben is confronted with Zach deciding to move on to other pursuits and get out of the business. Ben is now suddenly forced to handle the work load alone, while still trying to raise a young family. Ben juggles being a young Dad and husband, projectionist and free thinker all while dealing with an increasing desire to return to the world of making his own films instead of just projecting
others.
After keeping his increased work load to himself, his wife finally discovers that Zach hasn't simply been "on vacation" and Ben is running the entire operation himself, alone, 7 days a week. After immense pressure from his family Ben reluctantly decides to hire some help - a young art student named Sarah - who's youth, enthusiasm and dynamic relationship with her own filmmaker boyfriend helps him
realize what direction he needs to go in to feel whole again.
While the above is, basically, the plot of the film, it will very much be stylistically informed by the filmmaker's own experimental film background,
drawing on influences like Stan Brakhage, Michael Snow, Maya Deren, Kenneth Anger, Jean-Luc Godard and Luis Bunuel, with some surrealistic dream sequences, film-within-a-film diversions, hand painted film interludes and more lyrical, plotless passages.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
IndieGoGo
You may have noticed the little link over on the right hand side for the film's IndieGoGo page. What exactly is IndieGoGo, you ask? Well, it is basically a way for us to raise funds for the project via the internet. You can donate for any amount and the funds go directly into the production budget. I tried something similar with "Ugly (Is a Movie)" and it actually worked fairly well, but unfortunately not well enough. It's a pretty interesting trend in the independent film fundraising world called "crowdsourcing". The idea is simple; reach as many people as possible and get a bunch of small donations instead of looking for one big fat check from a heavy hitter investor. If we can reach 3000 people who are each willing to donate $1 then we will be set for our entire production budget. So as much as I feel like Jerry Lewis or Sally Strouthers right now, if you have a spare moment to donate even $1 to the production via IndieGoGo it all adds up. I am trying my damnedest to do this thing for little to no money, I learned my lesson with "Ugly (Is A Movie)" that as much as people support a film with their minds and hearts, they just simply can't support it financially in this economic climate. That's very understandable. I can barely part with my hard earned cash for any reason right now. But if you have even $1 to contribute to the cause, please consider it. Thank you for your time, back to your regularly scheduled programmming...
P.S.
Check out an article from Filmmaker Magazine which discusses alternative means of fundraising, including crowdsourcing, here:
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/2008/01/slamdance-fireside-chats-alternative.php
P.S.
Check out an article from Filmmaker Magazine which discusses alternative means of fundraising, including crowdsourcing, here:
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/2008/01/slamdance-fireside-chats-alternative.php
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Scrip'in' Ain't Easy
In order to feel like I'm not wasting valuable space on the internet (yeah, right), I guess I should post an update of some sort.
Currently I am still working on the script for "The There There". I am about 85% done with it and hope to finish it up completely by the end of this week. Having a nagging cold has actually helped since I've essentially been house bound for a few days and have found myself with nothing better to do.
I am doing something different with this screenplay in that I am not actually writing a full-on "script" like I have in the past. You could call it more of a detailed outline. There's a few lines of key dialogue in place but the rest of it reads kind of like this:
Syd Field devotees might be rolling in their grave but frankly, I am done with traditional screenplay formatting. I used to think screenplays were blueprints for feature films but after working on my own films for a while, I realize that films are not comparable to buildings. Buildings are stiff and rigid, built to withstand the elements. Films should breath, ebb and flow, be open to change.
Currently I am still working on the script for "The There There". I am about 85% done with it and hope to finish it up completely by the end of this week. Having a nagging cold has actually helped since I've essentially been house bound for a few days and have found myself with nothing better to do.
I am doing something different with this screenplay in that I am not actually writing a full-on "script" like I have in the past. You could call it more of a detailed outline. There's a few lines of key dialogue in place but the rest of it reads kind of like this:
18. INT. CAR. LATE NIGHT.
Ben drives home alone on the nearly empty streets. This scene lasts slightly longer than what feels normal for a narrative film. It gives Ben, and us, a moment to stop and take in the quiet of the late night. VERY, VERY slowly as this scene progresses, the faint sound of ocean waves is mixed in on the soundtrack, getting louder and louder progressively. When the ocean waves are at full volume we cut to:
19. EXT. BEACH. MORNING.
Emily and Amy sit on the beach. Amy is reading and Emily is playing with the sand, trying in vain to build a sand castle. Remnants of a picnic lunch are spread out on the oversized beach towel they are both sitting on. Amy asks Emily if she knows what she wants to get Daddy for his birthday. Emily asks if she can draw him a picture and Amy says that he would love that. This is a nice, bright and playful scene. We cut to slightly later in the day as Amy and Emily wade into the water together before slowly FADING OUT.
Syd Field devotees might be rolling in their grave but frankly, I am done with traditional screenplay formatting. I used to think screenplays were blueprints for feature films but after working on my own films for a while, I realize that films are not comparable to buildings. Buildings are stiff and rigid, built to withstand the elements. Films should breath, ebb and flow, be open to change.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
It's no secret that I am personally not a big fan of Twitter. I had a personal account for a bit but quickly got tired of feeling obligated to post my every move. BUT...it is a good way for projects to find an audience and to keep folks updated on random bits of information. So, with that in mind, "The There There" is now officially "tweeting".
twitter.com/thetherethere
twitter.com/thetherethere
Friday, February 12, 2010
Welcome
This is the current home to pre-production news, thoughts and rumblings for the upcoming feature film "The There There", written and directed by me, Jason Ryan.
Instead of crowding the blogosphere with yet another self-serving promotional site, I'd like to use this space to fully explore what I'm feeling as I gear up to finally complete my first feature length motion picture this year.
Over the last couple years I watched a project very close to my heart, "Ugly (Is a Movie)" die a slow and agonizing death. So at the very least, this "mulligan" of a new project should be interesting.
So, let me introduce myself and the project with a few tidbits of confirmed information:
1. The film will be primarily shot on HD video in and around the Seattle area. This is a break from my previous works which have almost exclusively been shot on Super 8 or 16mm film. While I do acknowledge a sadness in letting go of my passion for celluloid temporarily, I just simply can't afford to shoot on film. So video it is. I am going to incorporate some footage shot on film though, which brings us to...
2. The film is about a projectionist, who earlier in his youth was an experimental filmmaker. He abandons the craft to raise a family when he gets his girlfriend pregnant. This structure allows for some narrative diversions (which some my might call my "jam") as "his" older films and some movies-he's-projecting-within-a-movie diversions creep their way into the narrative.
3. "The There There" will be a very bare bones production with a very minimal crew, only an outline of a script and a cast of almost entirely non-actors. While this might smack of "mumblecore", I assure you the workflow I have in place isn't to glom on to some Joe Swanberg-fueled bandwagon. It truly makes sense for a film of this scope and size and I'm looking forward to working this way for this project. I'd like to try a crack at a very produced, minutely detailed "magnum opus" someday but for now the more laid back approach is crucial to actually make this project a reality.
You might be getting the impression that I'm being unnecessarily cautious or pessimistic about this film seeing the light of day and while you may be right about that, the failure of "Ugly (Is A Movie)" was hard to recover from and much like a jilted lover, I'm really trying not to get my hopes up too much with something new on the horizon.
Having said that, I am excited about this film and do think it's within my grasp. So what to expect from this blog? In the coming weeks I will begin to outline the film in detail little by little (without giving too much away, hopefully) and will post any production information as it is confirmed. More importantly, though, this will primarily serve as a place for me to bare all - the frustrations, the inspiration, the excitement, the trepidation, the nervousness, the giddiness - as I embark on the journey to realize a life-long dream of mine: to produce and direct a feature film fully independently. Wish me luck.
-Jason Ryan
writer/director and producer of "The There There"
Instead of crowding the blogosphere with yet another self-serving promotional site, I'd like to use this space to fully explore what I'm feeling as I gear up to finally complete my first feature length motion picture this year.
Over the last couple years I watched a project very close to my heart, "Ugly (Is a Movie)" die a slow and agonizing death. So at the very least, this "mulligan" of a new project should be interesting.
So, let me introduce myself and the project with a few tidbits of confirmed information:
1. The film will be primarily shot on HD video in and around the Seattle area. This is a break from my previous works which have almost exclusively been shot on Super 8 or 16mm film. While I do acknowledge a sadness in letting go of my passion for celluloid temporarily, I just simply can't afford to shoot on film. So video it is. I am going to incorporate some footage shot on film though, which brings us to...
2. The film is about a projectionist, who earlier in his youth was an experimental filmmaker. He abandons the craft to raise a family when he gets his girlfriend pregnant. This structure allows for some narrative diversions (which some my might call my "jam") as "his" older films and some movies-he's-projecting-within-a-movie diversions creep their way into the narrative.
3. "The There There" will be a very bare bones production with a very minimal crew, only an outline of a script and a cast of almost entirely non-actors. While this might smack of "mumblecore", I assure you the workflow I have in place isn't to glom on to some Joe Swanberg-fueled bandwagon. It truly makes sense for a film of this scope and size and I'm looking forward to working this way for this project. I'd like to try a crack at a very produced, minutely detailed "magnum opus" someday but for now the more laid back approach is crucial to actually make this project a reality.
You might be getting the impression that I'm being unnecessarily cautious or pessimistic about this film seeing the light of day and while you may be right about that, the failure of "Ugly (Is A Movie)" was hard to recover from and much like a jilted lover, I'm really trying not to get my hopes up too much with something new on the horizon.
Having said that, I am excited about this film and do think it's within my grasp. So what to expect from this blog? In the coming weeks I will begin to outline the film in detail little by little (without giving too much away, hopefully) and will post any production information as it is confirmed. More importantly, though, this will primarily serve as a place for me to bare all - the frustrations, the inspiration, the excitement, the trepidation, the nervousness, the giddiness - as I embark on the journey to realize a life-long dream of mine: to produce and direct a feature film fully independently. Wish me luck.
-Jason Ryan
writer/director and producer of "The There There"
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