2016 - 48 hours film entry "Why Charlie doesn't order pizza anymore" and NEW web-series News

Alot has changed since my last post, my promotion at work has meant I have been more focused on the daily grind and less on my dream, so I am looking into this and am working on the following things :) That and i played a full football season, played all 21 games and scored 3, though most of it I was playing CDM, I prefer striker or number 10. Not sure about playing for Three Kings again next year, I need a team closer to home and where I can play to my strengths.

Scored a 2nd goal in 2 weeks for my outdoor 7 a side social club, last nights was a mazy run from our third, around 3 defenders and the keeper to a calm finish to the left inside post. Love football :) but wattaaaah! Need to get myself back into kicking contention!

I love making action films - brings out the kid in me for sure! 

Matt Kinsman News

-what Acting work have I done this year? I have done an acting course so learnt some basics I hope to apply in my next project (web-series mentioned below) apart from that, It's been a quiet year so far. So I have taken part in 48 hour film festival again this year :) A link to our finished project and some trivia below it :)

- new website - better layout then the current one on the godaddy basic page, check it out here at Mattkinsman.com

- NEW webseries! -After The Bulletlist I needed a new project because I wanted to make a DVD of work I can put on my website that fans can own and I have come up with a good idea I think. I'm going for an office/mockumentary vibe and a semi-biographical take of this journey, watch this space :)

- A Straight to DVD film - The Temp has been shelved unfortunately as I am working on a feature 'william knows karate',  like the page here to follow it's progress but i will be completing this web-series first before completing this one as will need to raise a small budget i hope to attain by making the web-series a success.

- Sanda Fight - I have to keep fighting Fit! and since I have taken this job at work I have done no martial arts training as gassed at the end of the day, have been meaning to get back into it and Sifu texted me a couple days ago inviting me for a sand invitational, I'm down, working out and will post training videos soon. Content Content Content :)

- Ebook - I'm working an ebook to share with people things I have learned in the sales game. What's knowledge if not shared? Keep you posted. Finished an outline at this point, Gonna be awesome! (I hope)

Basically I know the only way to go forward is build a fanbase, no use making things if its only entertaining close friends and acquaintances, there's a whole world out there so I need to raise my game and apply myself, so the world of martial arts action film can get that one film bigger :)

48 hours 2016 - Why Charlie doesn't order Pizza anymore

The one thing we hate and love about 48 hour film festival is you have 48 hours to make a film. And that includes casting but because everyone wants to know what they are going to be casted for and we can't tell them because we don't know until the launch night you have to assume everyone is unreliable. You know why? EVERY YEAR I have actors/actresses pulling out and having to scramble to find some replacements, and make a story that fits who we can get as everyone works for free (which is part of the rules as most unprofessional teams like me don't have a budget and works out as a leveller with the professional teams (honestly some teams have 20 plus people involved. I have 5. yay)

SuperSuper thanks to my team (from left) Jon Chan (Camera and story), Zoe Boyle (girlfriend), Kevin Chen (friend), Georgina Lamsam (Sarah), Me (director, Charlie, writer, editor etc)

I really wasn't planning to act in this one and you can probably see from the film I sort of tried to make the character up as we went along. I really wanted to apply what I had learnt in my acting course but Charlie still comes across as 2D. The guy who had said yes prior to shooting was going to act as the lead kept replying with smiley faces via FB and text. Meanwhile the camera and crew were all waiting around until 1pm that day from 9am for this guy to show, enough was enough and we needed to film something. He could have txted he wasn't coming and we could have started earlier. Anyway, he txted me saying he was free at 7pm. We were long done by then.

At least he replied. Others just pulled out altogether citing they were working with with other teams which is fine...I can't wait to be professional and pay peoples - reliability is one attribute I hold high and since everyone was volunteering I can't be disappointed, though I was.

Would have loved to have more time to come up with an awesome story but it is what it was and this year we finished on time, with all of the elements so we had that going for us which was nice. The heats night at the Hollywood cinemas event was good, I was a bit worried but seeing our film with the other 14 or so entrants in our heat was good, we were mid table I feel, our story needed work but the camera work and acting was good.

We'll see about next year, paying $225 to enter vs using that cash to fund a film on your terms may be more beneficial, but my argument (to my wife anyway) was that the exposure and networking that make the event worth it - Without a deadline some people never finish and you get to watch on a cinema screen with your friends. Anyway, spiel aside, Hope you enjoy the film, feel free to leave comments on the Youtube page.

It just HAD to rain on the day of filming our 48 hours film - so we filmed indoors. Check out my Umbrella ;)

And well done to Kevin and Georgina for their first time acting on camera, and to Zoe who battled a smoking car and a ride from her folks to get here, AND still managed to act in 2 other team projects that day also :)

Also I have to use my house again for my web series so will have to make it look different haha, otherwise you will be very used to it :) The joys of no budget film making ;)

2016 - Wager (short film) release and The Temp on the way!!

Hi you!

Welcome back to the blog :) I have started putting together the dream team to help make 'The Temp' a reality. I've been trying to make a self made action feature film since I moved up here to Auckland back in 2011. Who knows what reaction and repercussions it will create, but to finish a feature on local DVD shelves has been a dream of mine for what seems like forever. This year I'ma make it real :)

The Script is finished (at 104 pages) and the page is up, www.facebook.com/thetempofficial so head on over and like our page to keep up with the latest news.

As part of the audition process for new people to work (had over 80 applications for both actors and actresses so not easy to sift through as so much talent)  I've made a simple short film with Richard Knight who will be playing one of the roles in the movie, the Wager.

2 strangers meet up to spar to win the contents of the others bag.

Hope you like what you can see, if this is the product of 3 hours work, wait til you see what we have planned for the film. This project also gave me a chance to try out the new Assistant director/ DOP Laura Tait. So all in all it was a great creative afternoon, my only regret is not wearing sunblock (been sunburnt all week sigh). Video link at the bottom of this blog entry :)

WAGER - Short Film below

Also, in other news, I have got a promotion at work (after 3 years so I'm pretty stoked). This also means from March on I will have EVERY weekend off!!!! Means heaps in terms of this blog and the acting side of things as most projects are on weekends, not to mention I can finally play 11 aside Saturday soccer :)

Anyway, Thanks for following the blog and lets keep focused so we can make these big things happen :)

Day 10 of The BulletList -Screenshots from Sunday's Gabriel vs Killer Scene

As an actor/Director the most frustrating feeling you can have is the feeling that you can't be in two places at once. I love to direct and see the action happen on the lens realtime, but I also love to do the acting out. It's as vain as Kayne saying the worst feeling for him is he'll never get to see Kayne live haha. Anyway, I reached out to LJ if she was going to be free to shoot something with us on Sunday and she replied she was keen :) Which is Fantastic cos that meant we wouldnt have to suit our fight the run and tripod way (see My house; or any of my early fight films with Sam)

So with my Sunday off work (finally) LJ was kind enough to donate some time to help us out with shooting the finale episode's fight scene between myself and Steve, who was nice enough to be free on Sunday also :)

I had originally envisioned it to be the best stuff I have ever done, however due to time constraints and budget issues again I had to lower the bar on my ambitions (blood, powder/ breakables) and save it for another day, but what we came up with was pretty awesome in my biased, enjoyed the hell out of our time, opinion. Best stuff I've ever done on film anyway. Got to break something and at least it wasn't the window (almost) LJ (electrical lamp cord, long story) the lampshade (a little) or any bones ;)

The stuff we captured looks great onscreen even though we were playing with shadows most of the time as we were shooting indoors/low light and had no extra lighting.

LJ's camera has much better lens option and quality res than my own 'should be ok' camera I have used for the rest of the series. Only a couple more days of shooting now and a day on ADR....can't wait to have this thing in the bag :)

Below are some screen shots straight from Premiere, as much as I can without spoilers :)

Ending here we come! :)

48 hours 2015 - Film Competition - My entry Review

Why Won't she Love me? - The story behind the story...

FRIDAY 1st May

7pm. From the third floor balcony of AUT, LJ and myself stared down at the AV screen on the ground floor of the centre. A huge crowd of people were there, waiting for the start of the 48 hour film festival (www.48hours.co.nz). Teams have 48 hours to make a short film that's no longer than seven minutes, includes a prop, character and character trait, line of dialog and camera technique all supplied by the competition leaders, to be included in the finished film. Nobody is paid, if you have A list actors, they must be volunteers to stay in the spirit of the game.

Professionals, semi professionals, amateurs and first timers all enter. And it's normally quite fun/stressful :)

When I arrived there, LJ already had our case of V energy drinks (one of the sponsors) and the number 4 in black marker across it. When the genre's are announced, we are assigned whatever 4 equals. We watched the intro, the line we had to use 'Oh really", the character 'Harper' -thoughtless, the technique -Match cut/ match dissolve and then the genre list...

This year we were assigned ROM COM. Wow. This will be fun? I hadn't entered a team in this competition since 2011, and I've eatched the odd rom com but they are always quite tacky, the last interesting one I watched was About Time which was quite smart...LJ was just as excited, ieas were running rampant but we were cautious too -we had seen some big crews at the opening event and it would basically be Her and I running ours.

 It's a short film. It has to have a great start, middle and end, have a stong finish, not necessarily a twist but something memorable to walk out with. And each line has to have a purpose. And it has to be a rom-com. Fish out of water then fishes together or couples that should be together already but something always comes up. what to do? Humor doesn't come from the lines but from the characters playing it straight. Hmm.

On the drive home from the event, A nice 20 minute cruise, I came up with an idea....The story should be of a young man, Dillon, who shows up to pick up a date he's never seen but exchanged messages heaps online, but somehow they don't really gel in real life, the fun and games from this result in a bad mix (the laughs) and a resolution (the twist/finish)

That night I stayed up and banged out a script as best I could.

FIRST CHALLENGE

I txted my actress I had organized a week before as she had said she wanted to be a part of the festival and looking for a team. She didn't txt back. I realised then that the first challenge of the weekend was at hand. I had organized a second actress Kat (who was already part of another team) to play a minor role if she could but that would depend on her team, I txted her to found out they were shooting at a beach miles away so a Saturday shoot was out of the question for her but she was super keen so I mentally penned in a Sunday am shoot. But that still left the main part, I frantically facebooked and txted past actresses for a replacement, everyone had either been too old for the part, busy with another team, our team was below their standards, not interested. Luckily, LJ said as a last resort she was happy to act so for our film it was to be the directors acting as well as editing and writing....frustrating as it was, I was comforted by the fact that it wasn't my first time taking part in this circus. 

I txted my actors, and ended up calling them, they wanted a meeting time but without an actress was hard to come up with one on the spot, decided to tell them beach 11am so done with it and could finish on Saturday as normal rule for me is friday write, saturday shoot/cut. Sunday edit/render/hand in.

The original actress did end up messaging me back, she wasn't in Auckland this weekend and didn't understand it was this weekend. Again, something for me to work on. Next year, I was telling LJ, we should have like 20 actresses/actors on call. And some crew. Cos this year this also meant the wife would have to do camerawork for us. Which luckily for me, she didn't mind..too much.

SATURDAY

Saturday came around, bright and early 6am I was on the computer checking messages having gone to bed 1am, trying for last minute actresses. I txted everyone that we would meet at cockle bay at11am and start shooting, the first scene involved a small action bit as my guy tried to impress the girl with his heroics, only fr it to end pearshaped. Check out the location :)

Been here maybe 3 months before, rainchecked it for a future shoot lol The actors got caught in traffic and not having a GPS found it quite hard to find so ended up getting here at 2pm, during the meantime we shot the beach walk scene and then just waited, trying to plan what else we could do.

After finishing the scene at around 4.30, we went to Maccas for lunch/dinner then went home as lighting was gone and deciding I would edit everything we had tonight. Tomorrow we would then film the montage scene as well as the final scene when Kat arrives. Went to sleep at like 2am, but happy that half the editing would be done. Tried to sleep, was wide awake/worrying/planning/imagining this going downhill fast.. we only had 2 and a half minutes of edited footage... On time so far...

SUNDAY

Lj and Kat met us at out place 8am and we got to it, shooting the interior scenes, then outside scenes on the street.

Apart from dealing with the odd kids in the background or lawnmowers and aeroplanes it went well, especially bread throwing scene. I was a bit concerned with set ups but that's filming isn't it, everything takes twice as long as you think in your head. If it wasn't for this stupid deadline of 7p tonight then it would be OK, but it's the whole point and time was running out. The ducks were happy though, fed them alot of bread haha.

After we finished we raced around a couple of parks and places I had in mind for the final scenes (making sure we got the match cut shot of shell turning to bread - you'll see) then back to my place at 3pm to start editing what we had shot today. It seemed impossible but the very word means 'I'M POSSIBLE' . So I went to work the normal way, importing the raw files into Premiere and reviewing the footage, cutting out the takes, choosing the best ones and trying to make the cuts smooth. LJ sourced some soundtracks and eventually we cut together the short film. We found out that the mornigns shots before we went outside had no sound. It appears the mic app was loose, practically kicked myself for not checking as meant first bit had to be soundless as no time to reshot. LJ and I revoiced our bits but Kat was long gone so will have to get here to resound her bits before I upload here to youtube for you all..Heats version is on the 48hour website.  frantically tried to add some fight sfx, missed a couple but got the main ones in there I think.

 Enough is enough, we're out of time and we started rendering at 6pm, I still hadn't time to watch the final edit, Just checked the cuts and hoped for the best as this laptop isn't super powerful so can't watch things in realtime. I'd find out what it turned out like later that night.

SO with laptop rendering and an estimated finish time of an hour (remember deadline at 7pm so cutting it close) we got in the car amazing race styles and headed to the city centre to hand in what we hoped was a just in time finish. Took as ages to find a park, meanwhile the wife has the laptop open telling me how long its taking when I ask, we find a park about 10 minutes away and jog down the street, holding the laptop, praying it would go faster. When we get to the hand in event there are hundreds of people, we find a table and watch the rendering time. 3 minutes on the clock. 4 minutes left to render. We're done, this year is over...

It finished, I put it on the USB and LJ handed in our finished copy 5 minutes after the deadline, exhausted, proud, relived and battleweary - but this at least means we can see it on the big screen at the heats. Hope people at least laugh...

 THURSDAY (heat night)
It was raining, but Melody and I arrived at Academy cinemas excited/nervous to see it our finished short film in a room full of strangers. During the heats when our short went on screen (5th of 12 shorts to show) I remember sinking into my seat, I want to be an actor but seeing myself up there is still a bit wow - did I do that? Some of the sound was off (again, I never saw the final edit before handing it in) so hard to hear the whisper bits, and missed the kick sfx.

I was happy 'Why won't she love me?" told a story and was simple enough for people to follow and get with. People laughed at most of the scenes that we aimed for laughs so that was good as our genre was a rom com and my biggest concern was getting laughs, I'm an action man, laughing's for villians ;). Competition was tough that night, it seemed everyone in auckland knows how to shoot a film lol but our stuff was just as good so relieved.... 

Anyway, left the cinema with the team who seemed happy with the result on screen, so happy for the team, they worked there ass off and it shows up there, really proud of it and our weekend from hell, now back to The Bulletlist webseries and getting that marathon done and completed :)

REVIEWS BELOW

Below are the reviews. Critics critique so cest la vie, We're happy with what we got all things considered...

'Why she won't love me.' by Dark Pictures

Team name: 

Dark Pictures

Film name: 

Why she won't love me.

Genre: 

Rom Com

Heat: 

5

City: 

Auckland

Average rating: 

2.1625

Your rating: None Average: 2.2 (4 votes)

Dogs Breakfast

3.01

This fell into the awkward romcom category for me. There was some amusing stuff in there but wasn't really tight enough to pull it off completely.
Next year they could improve their film with more attention to sound, it was hard to hear some of the dialogue, but this is what this competition is all about.

spanky_the_dolphin

3.01

I think the actual title for this one was 'Why Won't She Love Me', but never mind.
I think this film was hindered a lot by it's technical issues - mostly the badly captured / mixed audio. There were quite a few lines that were just inaudible.
The thing that stuck out most to me though was the story, or more specifically the ending. I felt like it really hurt the film when the guy ran away from the girl he'd just accidentally taken on a date. They were just warming to one another and it seemed like such a weird decision for him to make. It made the audience think less of him as a character and bad for the girl he left behind who we'd spent the whole film getting to know.

Liam Maguren

2.03

Technical woes aside, I wasn't really into the story on offer. The two never "clicked" on the date - she was downright repulsed by his dwebishness - making me want them to break it off rather than root for their happiness together. When the ending tried to sell you on a potential bond, I just couldn't buy it.
I enjoyed the robbery scene, however, That was well done.

Rooks and Knights

4.06

A little shakey on technical and story, however I still liked that they tried to push for us to see a different side of the traditional "romantic comedy" genre, I was sure if the cringe moments were intentional or accidental but I liked the risk.

Nick Depree

2.03

Decent concept, but it wasn't really sold by the actors or script, I didn't quite buy why the 'wrong' girl would go with him in the first place, why she would change her mind quickly at the end, or why the guy went after the 'right' girl anyway. The robbery scene was done quite well and the actors there were amusing. Sound quality definitely let it down, making some lines very hard to understand. Not a bad effort, but clear directions to work on next time.

 ________________________

Thanks for reading the blog and hoped you could take something from it, I will post the link to the video in the next blog :)

Matt.

The BulletList (Day 6 -Suzy/Gabriel Drama scenes ep2/3) and Commercial Shoot

19 April 2015 - Bullet List Day 6
Shooting digital at night was a learning experience. The eye can see things in a lot more detail than my little old camera can so making sure I was in an environment with lots of light sources was a priority. Sunday night was a work night but I needed to get some action happening on The Bulletlist project, as those following my blog will know, it's taken me a couple months just to get 6 shooting days done!

Anyway, May is the month we can hopefully wrap things up and get it all together in time for late june release each week :)

So for the night shoot it was 2 secenes, one from Episode 2 and 3 respectively, between Suzy (Katherine Mewett) and Gabriel (Steve Heke). I have shared some screenshots with you below. It was a fun, quiet shoot, (apart from the cafe, so much background noise, will have to overdub it later I think....) and the night ranged from asking a coffee place if I could shoot just before they closed, to a retiree who was sailing the world, mentioning the giant behemoth of a boat we shot near was worth 35 million. That's some expensive rubber duck lol - the maintenance alone would be worth more dollars than what most people make in a year.

Suzy (kat) and Gabriel (Steve) get to know each other in Episode 2.

The night, street light contrast was beautiful, Kat brought out the best of it.

This shot might not be in final edit but I'm so damn proud of it! Director Matt lol.

22 April 2015 -Plans, Commercial, Feature Film, 48 hour film competition

Busy week, after the shoot Sunday night, got home 11pm, had work Monday, football Monday night, work Tuesday, work function night and football 9pm Tuesday night, then today, Wednesday, off work and working on a commercial for a credit card company with a sport star, Tonight have an investment seminar to attend then away for 4 days on a long weekend road trip with the wife to rest from work/dreams/sport for a breather.

Once the Ad is finished I will share a link with you guys, won't talk about anything regarding the content to avoid breaking any contracts but it was nice to get back out there and do some filming again. Awesome to see the cameras the big boys use, people lugging around lighting materials, sound crew setting up and away again and the AD's herding the extras - it all definitely looks like a lot of work/fun. Can't wait to get to that stage myself, but for now slowly building my team :)

My feature script is finished now. Just choreography and locations to decide. Will do this once get back from our trip. But I'm super excited to get started on this, just have to sort out a sound guy and I can start my super low budget feature, a feature nonetheless, the action has to be spectacular to stand any chance on video shop shelves and he story has to get people engaged to watch until the showdown in the end.

48 hours 2015 competion coming up 1st  May 7pm -3rd May 7pm. I'm a bit anxious for our entry as this is the first time I have done the 48 hour film competition since settling in Auckland. But I have assembled a champion spirited team and much ass we will kick! (or at least entertain)

Watch this space :)

Powerstation - Finished short film link

As promised here is the Powerstation test short film we shot as Plan B to an original shoot this easter (fullstory last post);

Hope you enjoy! I'm working on creating more things, maybe a couple more short films before Bullet List is done and I start on the independent feature film I have been talking about for so long :) As normal, I welcome any comments/suggestions in the comments section.

ps. Sidenote; The last shot had to be the sound effect as the battery was dead and the last 4 or 5 shots of the day were one takes, and sadly I didn't have a clear one of the final kick, still, looks good for a first time working together, love acting again lol looking forward to more this year :)

Fist of Justice/ Power Station (shortfilm) Making of.

Seriously?

The rain hit the ground trying to inflict lasting bruises on the pavement. The heavens above literally opened up and pissed itself. All this deluge as I open the door on a cloud filled day ready to shoot my short film I had spent the whole week preparing for. No. Not today. For every problem there is a solution. I just have to think. Breathe. Ok.

I've scouted a great outdoor location, problem. outdoor. Raining. Mud. Equipment. Shit.

I drove the around the neighborhood. Something with shelter. Somewhere public. 

Solution. It's Easter Sunday, why not shoot at the mall parking lot, not many people if any, no damage, no advertising or offended companies, should be sweet?

So the plan was changed. I met LJ (my DOP/ camera girl for the day) and Kamy (first time actor) to shoot 'Fist of Justice'. Cool title right? Hope no ones done it before, then again, I don't care, its my short film so I'll call it what I want :) Anyway, I asked them to follow me to the parking lot where the story wouldnt have to be altered. I had bought a blue french shirt to play the part as a traffic warden/cop a couple days earlier ( I mentioned this last post) and wore dresspants and shoes and bam! Character done :)

LJ owned an awesome DSLR camera and she definitely knew her way around it, she even changed lenses for some of the shots and had her own stedicam like rig. I smiled as I knew I'd talked to the right person to collaborate with. I was impressed. I had never met her before today or Kamy, so life has a funny way of working out. He had come to India some years ago, has a TKD background and has learnt other arts on the way, he wanted me to refer him as a ninja since is his latest martial art of choice to study. He had done a TV commercial before and some modelling and had a passion for martial arts his whole life and had wanted to do a film like this for a long time. So our paths crossed and we combined to make the magic happen on screen :)

We barrelled through the drama shots building the story up as the cop catches the thief and the end drama scene. (no spoilers here). SO all the acting was done, the part, the meat of the burger, the FIGHT scenes were all that was left to shoot, saving the best for last :) 

The fight scene will have to be shot another day. This is all that remains. ps. yes, equipment in shot lol.

So we stopped for lunch, then returned to the location -to who do you think?

Mallcops. 

Seriously? I explained to them I work in this mall (I do) and didn't think we would harm anyone shooting a film on an empty lot which didn't influence/intimidate/inconvenience any customers or show any company logos, that the owners wouldn't even recognize the damn place unless we pointed it out. However the two security guards in their golf cart explained now they had seen us they couldn't permit us to continue., lets call them brains and brawn, and pack up our stuff.

I suggested couldnt they turn a blind eye and forget they ever saw us? we have been here the last 4 hours and you didnt show up once? I wanted to ask management for permission to shoot here however as its a public holiday they are closed so catch 22? I didnt even want to film here. Complain to the weatherman. Brains says come back tomorrow when the are open and get permission. I say, how? we all have work tomorrow as you know. Let us finish the hour or so we have to go and I will get the permission form them tomorrow, just for you -.

In the end, there is no winner to an argument, everyone loses. Either respect/ face or integrity. Seeing a waste to valuable time ( we were losing daylight!) I gave him my businesscard and said terminators line (I'll be back) and I asked the team to follow me to the original location, The park beside the powerstation and we'll shoot a practice fight scene there and make a short film out of it. No script, improved fight scene and see what happens. We got this far, lets finish somthing and come back to this later.

So here we are. Old school Matt. A camera and 2 actors ready to go at it for camera. This time the camera moves though with an awesome camera person who took direction really well as well as creative solutions of her own. Decided to shoot this way the way I was planning on shooting JUSTICE. 

I've been watching alot of oldschool 80's HK actions films over the last 2 weeks, keeping myself inspired I guess. They use the zoom ins and zoom outs to great effects so chucked them in there, as well as still WIDE shots with long takes, as well as some of the handheld stuff the Raid series was so good at making the most of. I like it :) Looks good, hope you agree once you see the finished product :)

POWERSTATION is the title of todays film :). This short test film will be edited by myself by the end of the week hopefully as finished rough cut tonight. I just need to add music to it and all done :) Check out some screen shots so far :)

Great shot by LJ, awesome composition and balance :)

Taught Kamy and LJ that people come from everywhere when we shoot in public, this interesting fellow popped out of the bushes behind the container lol. He smiled, nodded and watched as we kicked each others ass for a couple minutes

Stance off :)

Kamy's first action short film, looking pro :)

Getting better with each fight I get to create onscreen, looks cool anyway :)

I just wanted to share with you guys my day today, the dream continues!. Only you can be in charge of the way you feel, and if you set yourself a goal you can achieve it, as long as you are flexible and smart enough to challenge obstacles and be the change you want to see:) Only dead fish go with the flow ;) Keep an eye out for my next blog :)

The Bullet List (Day 5- introducing Suzy)

Thursday.

It finally arrived, First day of our hero with the female lead - the motive to drive the story forward :)

Target or Friend?

Last month I put out a casting call for the role of Suzy as I needed a young woman who was enthusiastic, had some dance or martial arts experience and believed in the project and endgoal.
After many applications, We found our star in Kat!

Kat as SUZY in The BulletList

 She was awesome to work with, friendly, easy going, responded to direction well and brought plenty extra of her own to the role, great expressions and projection. It was a fun shoot made easier by her professionalism. This also pushed Steve who came with some fine acting of his own. Really looking forward to editing this one. (post note, finished editing- looks good :D)

Like all film shoots, everything went wrong before we made things right but as I am known to say, smooth seas do not make skilful sailors. To be a directoor we need to Direct, that includes solving problems! We had to shoot early evening to balance our work commitments, earlier in the day was sorting the mechanic about my car, and sorting out the script/ shooting plan for Day 5. So 5pm planned start turned into 530pm once we found a park, fighting with Traffic to arrive.

The amount of time I was in my wife's car today, I felt like I just got out of a space shuttle when I got home, seriously, that little pod went all the way from Manurewa and town, twice, also to town twice as I went earlier in the day for some DVDS, the shirt for my sunday project (next blog) and martial arts shop investigation. (however didn't find the extra nunchuks or rubber tonfa I was looking for, may have to ebay these) Wish my BMW was back, driving it long distances was my favorite part of having it :|

So with fading light, ( I knew in my heart it would be close) People everywhere (joys of public shooting), threatening rainclouds (rained on the way, rained after, great timing), car alarms, church bells and passing cars - we persevered - and managed to pull off the plan and the results were fantastic! Can't wait to share the scene with you guys, even got a shot of possums in the park which was random but hey, right place right time :)

Below is another screenshot that doesn't give too much away apart from how great these two stars play their characters :) Thanks to this day, I have finished a rough cut of episode one! Five to go :)

Day 5 of shooting complete, Day 6 awaits! :)

The Bullet List - Day One (again) Episode One - Gabriel vs Tom

So as you've previously read I have rewritten The Bullet List so it's coherent, has a story to follow, is quick to film for lowbudget and some great action scenes. (best I've done/attempted anyways)

Here is the link to the Facebook site to stay up to date with the latest news :)

Yesterday we reshot the car fight scene and it turned out great, the location seemed seedy but was quite expansive and the actors sold the story well, can't wait for you guys to see it, in the meantime here are a couple of screenshots below, if we stay on track we should be airing this thing by late June early July! :)