Informal Interview with Nox Director Jimmy Woll
By · CommentsListening to: State of Man-Be Still My Heart (eagerly waiting for these guys to get big)
Mood: Content
This is just one of several videos coming up for the trifecta of film shoots I participated in last semester. I’m knocking out all the videos for Nox hopefully by Tuesday so expect a few more over the course of tomorrow and the next day – then onto 4HRSMN and Hard Cost (I square).
This was the first one-on-one director [extremely informal] interview I participated in with the one and only, Mr. Untouchable, Jimmy Woll. Had a blast putting it together and trust me when I say that there were tons of other great stuff I could have included but yeah, if you’re like me and have ADD, you want to see the best of the best. And in case you were wondering, we shot it on the drive down from Vista to San Diego. Had nearly an hour of footage to work with on the interview alone and kept trimming until I was down to the cut you see now. I used a Smart Pod to get that shot from inside my truck.
Without further adieu – I present to you – the interview:
Interview with Nox Director Jimmy Woll from Ben Avilez on Vimeo.
Post Script: If any other directors/producers/directors of photography/grandparent’s uncle’s ferrets/etc. would like to participate in an interview, I’m game for it. Hit me up - I assume you know where to find my contact info on here. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, all interviews with grandparent’s uncle’s ferrets will be cancelled immediately.
Post-Post Script: Obviously never lived up to that hope of getting those videos done by Tuesday. Nonetheless, they will be done with time. Diecast calls in the meantime!
DVD Glory
By · CommentsListening to: The Beatles-Hide Your Love Away (been listening to them a lot lately – old school is awesome!)
Mood: ‘Pressin’ On!
The Diecast Director’s Cut has been taking way longer than I thought. I decided to work on some other things so I don’t get bored/overwhelmed/more pathetic/more sleep-deprived than I already am. So I finished the DVD cover, lookie!
Not sure if I’ve fully dedicated myself to the synopsis on the back yet. “Eager to kill”? Really…? Eh, maybe it works. Then there’s the actual disc:
Bottom line: I need to have it done by the week’s end – which is tomorrow…shoot…
PRESS ON!
Wondering what the heck I got myself into this time…
Project Montourage
By · CommentsListening to: Alston-Carried Away
Mood: Whenemigonasleep?! (Sleepless and have work in 4 hours)
This has been a project in the making for the last 3 weeks or so. I was originally inspired by the song “Carried Away” by Alston. I assume no one has ever heard of Alston outside of Rafer in the NBA. They’re one of my favorite alternative rock bands. But yeah, I’ll let my iTunes playlist do the talking:
With that in mind, I was a behind-the-scenes videographer on three different sets this semester: 4HRSMN, Nox, and Hard Cost. I compiled over 10 hours of footage on all the sets combined. All of these shoots were directed and filmed by seniors as well. Ipso facto, I felt like expressing my gratitude to them in the best way I knew with my favorite song. It took me over 50 hours to completely finish (most of it being spent on going through footage, haha).
This video/film (fideo? or vilm?) is dedicated to all the senior film majors whose sets I helped out on! I love you guys and will definitely miss you all next year =’(.
Project Montourage from Ben Avilez on Vimeo.
Post Script: I failed to mention that you can see the HD version of “Project Montourage” by clicking the respective link below the embedded video.
DIECAST IS IN!
By · CommentsListening to: Diecast-These Days (Man, it would be sick if these guys were in the movie too)
Mood: Sleep-deprivedly-upbeat
It’s a fact: Diecast is an official selection of the SDSU Student Film Showcase! Also, another project of mine, “Miracle At Any Cost” got accepted into the festival as well! It’s a documentary examining the tough situations parents of autistic children go through. They were 2 of only 13 films chosen for the festival. Typically there’s about 80 submitted every semester so it’s cool that the films managed to garnish the attention of the panel.
Anyways, if you want to see what all this Diecast/Miracle At Any Cost madness is about, come to the SDSU Don Powell Theatre tonight at 7PM. There will likely be a massive entourage of people wearing these shirts:
Represent!
SDSU Film Festival?
By · CommentsListening to: Lacuna Coil-Spellbound (Italian Goth band meets pop singer)
Mood: Accomplished
Yesterday we officially finished Diecast! I had to wake up at 6 that morning, drive to the Lansky’s house (guy who laid down the soundtrack for Diecast) in O’side. Then drive down to San Diego, drop off the film score, and then drive back to Vista for work by 10am. ‘Twas exhausting but it’s now beginning to feel like it all was worth it. We managed to get all the sounds to comply with the film score and entered it into the SDSU Film Festival that day. We had to take out the cursing because the film festival is communist wouldn’t allow it but we’ll deal.
We’ll find out sometime next week if our film made it into the festival or not. I’ll keep you guys posted!
In the meantime, check out the stellar theme song Lansky made for the film. Great stuff, yeah?
In other Diecast news, Mr. Jerad Cullen, editor extraordinaire for Diecast, is putting together a DVD cover for the film as I type this. All I can say is that it looks sick! You’ll see what I mean when it’s completely finished.
I’m doing some research online in regards to other film festivals we could submit it to. In other words, just because the film is finished, it hasn’t been completely abandoned…yet…
Diecast Is Wrapped!
By · CommentsListening to: Straight Line Stitch-Black Veil (She can sing and scream -- I dig!)
Mood: Thinkin’ Positive
I’ve been ridiculously busy lately, hence the tons of updates I’ve made. Just recently finished up directing Diecast. We’re hoping to have everything edited and ready by the end of next week so we can submit it to the SDSU Film Festival (and beyond, maybe?). Here’s a brief look of the shoot:
Post Script: Those of you waiting on behind-the-scenes footage will have to wait a bit longer; I’m booked until the end of the semester =\.
My Friday Night
By · CommentsListening to: Adema-The Way You Like It (anyone know what ever happened to Mark Chavez?)
Mood: Nerdy
Here’s a vlog on the more recent stuff: My film got pitched chosen to go into production, I’ve been busy, spring break is finally in full swing, life is good. Right?
The Tribe Has Spoken
By · CommentsListening to: Candiria-Without Water (unstructured rap + metal + jazz=pure bliss!)
Mood: Excited
14 Films Pitched • 6 Chosen
DIECAST IS OFFICIALLY IN PREPRODUCTION!
Diecast Film Pitch
By · CommentsListening to: Nirvana-In Bloom
Mood: Hopeful
I pitched a film in my intermediate film class on Tuesday. I had Jay from Jabronie Pictures there to help me deliver it. He’ll be casted as the lead actor. My original intentions of recording the pitch were so I could learn from it, see how I look on camera, obsess over myself, etc. Instead, we didn’t get through all the pitches (meaning we’ve been given an additional day of pitches before the final 6 films are decided) so now the video I had Amin shoot (thanks again Amin!) can serve another purpose as well: promote my pitch! So, if you’re in TFM 260 please vote for my film! If you do, I agree to either 1) vote for yours, 2) be your behind-the-scenes set videographer if yours gets pitched, or 3) be your best friend. Unfortunately, I’m limited on the first two… Nonetheless, here’s a refresher in case you weren’t there, didn’t give a flying shiz, love looking at me, etc.
Bottom line, I’m passionate about this project! I think the implications of doing an action film could ultimately change what other students will attempt to do from now on. SDSU NEEDS AN ACTION FILM FOR ONCE!
Behind the Scenes of Barton Fink
By · CommentsListening to: Downthesun-Medicated
Mood: Blah
I recently participated(!) in a shoot for one of my film production classes. I was the Director of Photography -- good times. Here’s the behind the scenes look of that shoot, a scene replication from the movie Barton Fink:
