SAW THE RUSHES TONIGHT!

Yeehaw!!!!! They ROCK!

Yes, I DID lose my loops, and earlier than I hoped (but not as early as I feared). And there WAS a bit of light leakage early in the second roll. BUT — Thanks to finding my frame rate dial set incorrectly, I re-shot everything that I needed to re-shoot. It’s all dead in-focus. It’s all correctly exposed. The titles kick butt – better than any others in the class so far. The slow motion really looks good.

I played with the idea of getting my unedited footage telecine’d so I could digitally edit it in parallel and have a copy to post on the web before September — but el Professor vetoed that, in that he REALLY doesn’t want to know if I do any such thing. VERY strictly against LAVC policy. *sigh* I may yet do it, but only as a backup — this thing of working on reversal film and therefore having NO backup and physically cutting the film itself is nerve-wracking.

But if I do that, then I won’t be able to start editing until, possibly, Tuesday. This telecine-now idea occurred to me this morning and I asked about it at Yale, but their telecine machine is booked through tomorrow — and they’re not open on the weekend. So it would be done Monday at the earliest, which would eliminate Saturday and possibly Monday as editing dates. So — I think I’ll pass.

On a related note, Mari brought me a lovely album of prints of the production stills — and there were many great shots I didn’t have! I’m missing 24 photos because she was having trouble sending them to me. She’ll resend them as soon as practical, so I’ll have even more wonderful photos on the web site.

Running on empty…

Today – Interviewed a student for assistant position. Practiced physically cutting and splicing film.

Bottom line — I’m as exhausted as I ever get. The heat wave here w/no A/C in the house hasn’t helped. And tomorrow I have to go pick up my reels and find out what’s on them, as well as pass a practical exam for film splicing.

Lest y’all think I’m whining — I wouldn’t do anything differently over the last two weeks. I’d just like to try this sleeping stuff I keep hearing about… understand that it’s nice…

No-assistant Blues

A little whinging ditty, like many blues songs…

Well, she up and quit me last Monday night late.
Yeah, she up and quit me last Monday night late.
Now I’m stuck with doing all the work that I hate.

The uh, stuff in my office, well, it’s piling up high.
The uh, stuff in my office, well, it’s piling up high.
Can’t find what I need though I know it’s nearby.

More work and less leisure are the things that I’ve got.
More work and less leisure are the things that I’ve got.
But some time to do hiring, that is what I have not.

Errands…

I finally got the film to Yale Lab! and also got my editing gloves. Since I went to try editing at school, I now know WHY you need editing gloves. Still, I’ve done more physically difficult things this semester already. Prof. Swelstad didn’t get (or possibly didn’t recognize) the email postcard announcing the production stills website; so I’ve sent him another at his request. Still need to clean up my camera reports before turning them in Thursday, but I’m almost caught up with all (except reading).

Back to … lucrative work.

I’m not going to call it a Real Job any more. It’s not my real job — I’m a filmmaker. It’s lucrative work that enables me to learn more about filmmaking. Nyahh.

But I’m way behind the 8-ball there. Grading piled up, assistant quit, had to quit a committee. Need to get paperwork in for “flex time”. Tenure committee chair is nagging me regarding some website work, and that means he’s in my office and there’s something else that I need to do that’s not getting done. But then, interacting with him and all my other colleagues is part of the job.

And then too, I’ve committed to teaching this summer. I’d rather go to PA boot camp — not that I think I’m qualified yet. But teaching will pay for the new air conditioner which we desperately need in the 100F-plus temperatures this “spring”.

Post-production begins

I tried to get editing gloves and to submit my film for processing today. No dice. This morning I got caught in a massive SigAlert (mondo traffic jam to non-LA people) and barely made it to work in time – no time to stop in Burbank to drop off film or buy gloves. This evening I got held up by a student I suspect is cheating, so didn’t get to Burbank in time to buy gloves or drop off film.

On a positive note, I DID manage to return the armor to Western Costume. And having my computer in Paul’s Old Room/ The New Studio is going to help as I can have my music playing at any hour, and otherwise can work w/o disturbing the spousal unit.

Tomorrow night, after editing practice, must sit down and clean up camera reports. Blah.

Cleanup

I got the easel and other stuff out of the car at last. Taking advantage of the fact that I’d actually moved my art gear for the first time in ages, I began the process of moving the studio into Paul’s old room. Tomorrow’s agenda includes getting my film to the lab, and buying a pair of editing gloves at Christy’s. Next hurdle: the editing practical exam.

Apres shooting

Today I decided to kick back, telling my conscience to shut up about practicing for the editing practical exam next week, and the work that’s waiting at my Real Job. Instead, I mostly fiddled with my network and started up this way cool website with the production photos Mari sent.