So, as far as my acting career goes, I've got a few important updates..

1. I'm auditioning for a notionally renowned talent agency in Cincinnati! To be a model and an actor.

2. I acted in a TV Miniseries! 3 episodes of it.

3. September 5th, is the premier of the first Indie feature film I've ever done!

4. I know the show schedule for Miami this school year, Heda Gabler, Down in Mississippi, and....ARABIAN NIGHTS which is pretty much the perfect show for me, as most people agree. Auditions for that aren't until Spring semester though, so I'll have to be patient.

I've come to terms with the fact that movie making requires the sale of one's soul. More development on this later, for now, more editing and composing...

So. Thursday, April 10th marked the beginning of the Oxford International Film Festival, the one my film could have been in if I had gotten it done in time. Anyhow I was talking to the people who are running it this year, and they were in need of volunteers, so I said I would help out. Yesterday, I spent 8 hours working at the festival, I met a couple filmmakers and saw some wonderful films, a  few of which were premiers. Anyhow, nearing the end of the night I was with a  friend interviewing some filmmakers who then turned the camera on us, lol. So much for the interview.  We went on to talk with them a bit about directing, acting, writing, etc. and gave them a ride to the reception. While we were in the car I told them how I was working on my first film here, and they asked me what about. So I told them, and as I was telling them about it, they seemed really interested in the project. They were asking me questions about it, and when I was finished they said they'd like to see it when it's finished, that it  sounded like a really cool film. So hopefully over the next 2 days I'll get to know them better and maybe get an address to send my film to. This festival is about making connections, meeting actors, directors, etc. and seeing their latest films. This is only my first year at the festival and I'm already meeting people! I can't imagine what it's gonna be like when I'm a senior here, and have been in, and directed a handful of films. Anyhow I've gotta head back over to the festival soon...

So,  now that I've finished filming the movie, I began editing more of the footage, putting it all together bit by bit. Today I spent 10 hrs at the library, 8 of which I spent editing my film. It was a very productive day, a little slow, but special effects take time. I won't reveal what effects in particular, it's a secret, just know that I had to edit for a specific effect FRAME BY FRAME. Needless to say, it was a time consuming process and involved the sale of my soul. (not really, but it required a lot of effort to figure out how to make the effect work the way I wanted it to.)

Anyhow thats all for now, I'm tired and I wanna go to bed.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! I FINALLY finished filming my movie, ya know the one I've been working on since....OCTOBER?!  Anyhow, after 3 and a half hours in the broadcasting studio today, I finished up the last of my scenes. I'm very happy with how they turned out. Thanks to a generous Japanese restaurant, I acquired various pieces, and my set looked believably like a Japanese bedroom. Now all I have to do is edit it, write the rest of the music, and record it! I plan to be done with this film in 3 months or less.
Im also changing the name of the film I think. Anrui will be the new title when its all finished. It means silent tears. Very appropriate for a film with no dialog, except, there is crying in the film, does that matter?

So just came across this short film contest that I think I have a good shot at winning with the idea I came up for it. I even found someone to co-direct it with me, the problem is, the deadline for submissions is March 12th, and I'm already working on another film next week. I don't think I can write this script shoot it and edit it, as well as edit my mom's company video this week, and finish filming my other project next week. I really wish I could, the prize is $5000 and a trip to a Hollywood premier. Maybe I'll go ahead and make the movie at a later date because it's still a good idea that I would like to use eventually. I've got like 5 different ideas circling around in my head for my next film, but I don't know which one to pick. Anyhow in the meantime, I've got 4 days to make a professional quality movie for my mom's boss, guess I'd better start editing it...

I figured since its been a while since I updated my entry about the progress I've had on my movie, I would make a new one. So,
Yesterday, Feb 10th. we finally started filming again, however looking back I kinda wished we had just done it all in October.　The reason I waited in the first place is because I wanted snow for a couple of the scenes, which we didn't get. so instead of filming the rest of the outdoor scenes back in October when the weather was nice, we filmed in Feb. on a day that it was 18 degrees out, -2 with wind chill. I learned something yesterday....KIMONO ARE NOT WARM! Anyhow, after filming outside in the cold for about an hour and a half, it was time to head over to the broadcasting studio to begin work on the indoor scenes which, with Tom's experimentation with lights and camera angles, and with the help of a few set pieces, turned out to look really cool. *Sigh* after seeing some of yesterday's work I kinda wish I was filming all in color...Anyhow, through everyone's hard work and patience, this project is going to look really cool when it's done. I however did miss the deadline for the Oxford International Film Festival, so I will be looking for another festival to enter it in in the next few months.

So yea, I've been trying, trying and failing to get a group together in my hometown to make movies and music videos for a while now. Occasionally we'll get a music video together, but nothing major, and they're rarely professional looking. Well, here at Miami there is a group called M.A.F.I.A (Miami Association of Filmmakers and Independent Actors) they own about $50,000 worth of film making equipment: Jibs, track dollys, boom mics, $4000 cameras, FINAL CUT 2 (professional video editing software), etc. and I am now a member of this group, and am already working on my first film. So i guess I'll give you guys a description of the project (as best i can w/o giving anything away).

short synopsis: Shingen no Sakura is a short-film with no dialogue that takes place in a non-existent feudal Japan. A woman suffers from Tuberculosis and it is up to her lover to bring her a lifesaving medicine before she expires.

genre(s): Action, Drama

run-time: 15 min

I'm casting this show in September, filming it in October, and it should be finished by December, so keep checking for the updated status of my project, also you can go to http://oxfordfilms.com/mafia/ to see the progress of mine, and other films.



Update: Sept. 1st, I have scheduled my first production meeting for the project for Tuesday. As of now, the script is finished (its 5 pages of stage directions), the storyboard/shot sheet is almost finished too, and I found a camera man. The tentative shooting dates for the project are, Oct. 5th, 6th, 7th, and 12th.

Update: Sept. 7th, Production meeting was postponed until this morning. It went very well, I have narrowed down my shooting dates to Oct. 5th 6th and 7th. I have gathered up props and costumes, my project will be up on the site in the next few days, and I went out looking for filming locations for my project today and was was very successful. ^_^

Update: Sept. 11th, My film is on the site!!!!! ^_^ and my props are on their way!

Update: Sept. 18th, I've gathered/bought almost all of my props and costumes.
I have a cast and crew, except for an actress, I've found someone interested but she is gone the weekend of filming. I am currently working on finding another time to shoot her scenes, as well as looking for someone else who can be there on the shooting dates.

Update: Sept. 24th, I have a full cast and crew, and everyone is going to be at tonight's production meeting. I cant WAIT to start filming!

Update: Sept. 24th, production meeting: Started at around 5:15, at the meeting we discussed choreography, the shot sheets, the script, locations, and the filming schedule, which has now been set to Oct. 6th and 7th noon- until were done.  The meeting was a success and as soon as we finish the fight choreography this film will be ready to go.

Update: Oct. 1st, Movie making is stressful...... I think I prefer acting in other peoples' films. Although when this is finished it will be really nice to be able to show it to people, as the first high quality, high 'caliber' film I've made, i.e there is no way in HELL I'm posting it on youtube or facebook, or whatever. However, look for the trailer in about 3 weeks or so, I will definitely be posting that online. ^_^ Anyhow, there is something exciting going on following the completion of this film, but it all depends on whether or not the film meets my standards, so I've only told a few people about it, I will make the 'exciting' announcement upon the completion of the final product of my film, again thats if its up to par.

Update: Oct. 4th Had our second fight choreography session, and it's starting to look good, we're gonna practice the fight and add to it some more tomorrow, so that it will be ready to go on Saturday.

Update: Oct. 5th, Holy crap! We start filming tomorrow! I just finished the last of my fight choreography sessions, and I'm exhausted, but it was well worth it. The fight scene is intense, it flows really well, and is probably some of the best choreography I've ever had a part in. My stunt coordinator is amazing, putting his knowledge of European choreography, and 'safety' with my skill in Japanese fighting styles, has created an accurate, but flashy, heart-pounding fight sequence. I only wish that I was filming the whole movie this weekend, instead of just the 1st half. Not sure when were doing the second half, but my Assistant Director is amazing and will help me get this thing together.

Update: Oct. 7th, Filming went well yesterday, we got a lot done and we have a lot of great shots to work with. It took us about 5 hours to get everything we had planned done. Only 1 more day of filming to go ^_^, anyhow time to crash, I was exhausted yesterday, and I still am today....X_X
Update: Oct. 8th, PHOTOS!!!! (Day 1 of filming)

Update: Nov. 1st, I have begun to edit the footage from day one of this project, its looking good so far, but this film is gonna take a loooooooot of work to get it 'up to par' Also after a lot of thinking, i may be adding another day of filming to this project.

Update: Nov. 21st, I've finally figured out exactly what im doing with this film, to make it more artistic. I felt that film needed another layer to it visually, other than the authentic costumes and props, and not just plain old color film. I'm not giving anything away, so everyone who knows about this project will just have to wait and see what it looks like in the end. I have also determined the shooting schedule for the rest of the film. Look for some major steps forward in the next few months.