It has been said by many an individual that movies are created during post production, and with my thesis production I expect that trend to be no less true. This is mainly because when I was developing The Debt Must Be Paid, I wanted to make a film that would be a calling card for me and a film that plays like a total movie experience.
I’m really excited about the soundscape of this film. I am a big fan of film music and I cannot craft a project without having a playlist made so that when I write the script, I am in the right headspace. I worked with a composer on my last film, The Pull of the Moon, and relished the experience. When I screened my film, many remarked that the music and the use of it was among the best in my class (I also did the sound mix for this film in 5.1 surround sound myself). The opening scene, a one and a half minute single take, was always envisioned as this sonically and visually arresting moment that would set the tone for the entire film and the fight scenes also have a musical rhythm to them. It will again be mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound and I want to have a traditional japanese drum score, mixed with some synth, so that I can underscore the battle between the ways of the father and son, as well as aiding in the cultural authenticity of the piece.
Sounds cool right? Well the first step of this whole process is the edit, which is what I’m in now, trying to get the story right. Without a good story, movies are practically useless, especially narrative films. It’s going to take time to get it right, but after that comes the fun stuff like sound mixing and
More than just a making the movie thing, The Debt Must Be Paid is a chance to learn about getting people involved in a project. I want this movie to generate a community like my last film was able to. In gearing up to make this process I have applied for a grant from the Caucus Foundation but I can announce that next Wednesday I am launching my new indiegogo campaign for this film!
One of the cool things about Indiegogo, other than flexible funding, is that it allows you to form a kind of community around a project that can help you be better as a filmmaker. For this campaign, rather than focus on just treats to send (like cookies and scripts) which can be cumbersome and expensive, I really want this campaign to be more inclusive to the people donating. In other words, I want to invite you into the process as it’s going on so you can see what your money is going towards as well as learn about me as a filmmaker.
For example, a $10 contribution will get you a download of the film, the film’s original score, AND access to a live Q&A with me where you can send in questions and chat with me. There’s so much behind the scenes stuff that I can’t wait to share with the folks who contribute to the campaign, as well as the film itself! There’s even a potential lunch date (if you live in LA).
So there you have it, a quick project update! I should be updating biweekly so you can get a glimpse at how it’s coming along.