Ciné-surfer: Stella Pacific Management’s Resources Re: Child Labor Laws

Stella Management has a great summary California child labour laws and work hours for film sets here:

http://stellapacificmanagement.com/?page_id=8

Though your production may not be based in California, for early planning purposes anywhere, this page gives you an excellent overview of what hours you can expect are reasonable for child performers. Of course as you near production, ensure that you abide by the local laws.

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

3… uh, 10 (& more) Reasons It’s A Great Time to be a Filmmaker

Does the new year have you needing inspiration from multiple sources (to help you with direction in the industry)? My publisher charged about 50 MWP authors to come up with 10 reasons it’s a great time to be a filmmaker and assembled them into an eBook.

Rather than pages and pages of lists, the eBook is like a living room full of about 50 diverse authors who all take the idea “10 reasons…” and speak from their POV on the subject. Some of the many interpretations are bound to reach you at whatever stage you are in your career. Check it out on the MWP website (where I believe it’s free when you sign up for the MWP newsletter). You can also find it on Kindle. A nice, inspiring new year’s gift to yourself.

Rather than a list myself, here are 3 of my most favourite nuggets from the eBook… Why it’s a great time to be a filmmaker:

1. “To transform our characters, our audience and ourselves” (from Stuart Voytilla, author of Myth and the Movies)

2. “You are a storyteller” (from Rona Edwards, co-author of The Complete Filmmakers’s Guide to Film Festivals)

3. And from MWP’s own VP, Ken Lee: “…push yourself in your areas of weakness rather than relying on your strengths and what you know you can do. You’ll learn more about yourself when you challenge yourself.”

What speaks to you in the eBook?

Cheers & an inspiring new year to you,
Deb

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How Many Parkas?

I have an industrial-strength parka that’s so big and thick that it stands up by itself. It’s perfect for standing around on set amid the depths of a Canadian winter. I’ve tried various combination of gloves and mitts over the years and found a combo of liner and mitt that actually warms my hands during those frigid outside days that never appear to end. On the feet… liners, sub-zero socks and heavy-duty Sorel winter boots, of course. I can be ready for the worst of outside winter weather.

Or so I thought…

After a trip to the Yukon in January and taking a dog sled ride I was rightfully humbled. The host – barely regarding me as he organized to prepare our trip – handed me a parka. I protested, saying that I had brought my own “real” parka, and started to explain its sub-zero features. He looked at me plainly and said: “You’ll need this one too.”

I was speechless.

I’ve filmed outside in minus 30, wearing but 1 parka. I’ve filmed dog sledding – albeit in Ontario – and wore only 1 parka. I’ve seen “Snowbuddies” and other films featuring dog sledding. No matter how bad the weather, I swear they were each only wearing 1 parka.

But sometimes film does not reflect life.

My host was so right. Layered parkas were essential. A human parka blimp, my body could take the cold and windchill as we sped across the frozen Yukon River. And what a ride it was!

Remember a time when your preconceived notions (from film life) surprised you in real life? Sure it’s great to watch it (on film) but it sure is awesome to live it, no?

Cheers & a warm shoot to you,
Deb

Inspiration at the Movies: Jeeves & Wooster – Kidnapped

“Yeah!!!”
“What are you cheering about, Barmy?”
“I finished MILES ahead of you fellows!”
- Barmy Fotheringay-Phipps (Jeeves & Wooster: Kidnapped, 1990)

The band members at the Drones Club are practising… sort of together – they’re all playing different parts of the song, and the cacaphony is eardrum-splitting. Barmy, finishing ahead of the rest of them, leaps up with his cheer like he’s won something. ‘Tis an hysterical moment.

And in this moment we are reminded that racing ahead to the “finish line” is not always the “right” way. Music needs team work, team pacing, team expression to be “right”… to resonate with musician and listener. Transferring this thought to our lives – as we are apt to review our lives, its direction and speed as the new year rolls in – do we need to “finish first” or do we need some “life pacing” to truly resonate with the world around us? Interesting question to mull…

Cheers & a good 2012 to you,
Deb

P.S. On that note of life pacing, I’ll be posting at least bi-weekly from now on… unless events or your encouragement inspire me otherwise. All the best for the new year!

Gladys Comics: Jon Meets Olive Xmas Movie

There sure are a lot of Christmas movies out there, n’est-ce pas?

Happy festive season watching both the classics and the new ones! (and see you in 2 weeks)
Deb

Ciné-surfer: Choosing A Charity… by Cause or Celebrity!

Charity giving comes to mind more so around this time of year than at other times. With so many worthy charities needing funds, how do you choose? Well… how about:

• by Charity name
• by Cause
• by Celebrity supporter

At Looktothestars.org there is a list of 1761 charities listed in all 3 ways!

And while you’re surfing and choosing, swing by Charity Navigator too; they have lots more information on each charity, plus a great page of advice on how to be a saavy donor.

Happy, thoughtful choosing… and good on ya!
Deb

Wordsearch – How Many Film Genres?

Time for another wordsearch! How many genres can you find in this one?

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Creative Tail Credits: Black Adder III

Tail credits are so often a text roll: white text on black. To spice things up, sometimes the font is tweaked. Sometimes images or outtakes are included for the earlier part of the roll. In the case of TV, it’s text on cards that flash by. Name & role. We’ve seen it before. We expect it.

Black Adder (Third Season) is different. The tail credits are creatively in keeping with the style of the season: Regency England… and you can’t help but want to watch the entire credit roll. The final shot of the episode dissolves into a drawing of the same image and the roll begins… like the pages of an historical book of its era, the tail credit roll goes like this:

For the
BENEFIT of SERVERAL VIEWERS
MR CURTIS & MR ELTON’S
Much admir’d Comedy
BLACK ADDER The THIRD
or
[EPISODE NAME]
was performed with appropriate Scenery Dresses etc.
by
EDMUND BLACKADDER
butler to the Prince,
Mr. ROWAN ATKINSON
Baldrick, a dogsbody, Mr. TONY ROBINSON
The Prince Regent, their master, Mr. HUGH LAURIE
Mrs. Miggins, a coffee shoppekeeper,
Mifs. HELEN ATKINSON-WOOD

[etc..]

MUSIC, (never perform’d before), Mr. HOWARD GOODALL

designer of graphics, Mr. GRAHAM McCALLUM
buyer of properties, Mifs. JUDY FARR
designer of costumes, Mifs. ANNE HARDINGE
designer of make-up, Mifs. VICKY POCOCK
mixer of vision, Mifs. SUE COLLINS

[etc.]

the producer, Mr. LLOYD

To conclude with Rule Britannia in full chorus
NO MONEY RETURN’D
(C) BBC [logo] MCMLXXXVII

Such creative use of overall visual style, font style & size, uppercase & lowercase and even camera zooming to highlight where needed! The tail credits are so very much in keeping both with the comedy of the program and the historical era portrayed. You’ll have to see an episode for the full effect. Would that we could be inpsired to make more tail credits as creative and inclusive to the film as a whole!

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Browsing Books Virtually… in the MWP Book Catalogue 2012

Oh to browse through bookstores… and industry books especially!

Well, the new MWP Books catalogue 2012 is out. You can peruse the PDF catalogue online to find out what’s new at: http://www.mwp.com/catalogs/MWP.com_Catalog_2012.pdf (2.2 MB). My book (being published last year) is now on page 37. Browse the pages and then let me know… what books peak your interest? What topics do you find lacking?

As a MWP author myself, it’s an honour to be part of such a professional team of industry workers & writers. I’ve read many MWP books over the years and have never been disappointed by a single book. So if your thinking of Christmas, thinking of your career, or thinking of just browsing… enjoy!

Plus you can join the many folk at MWP Books FB page (http://www.facebook.com/mwpfilmbooks) where the is much industry discussion, announcements, and I’ve seen free book giveaways now and then.

Might “see” you there!

Cheers & happy industry browsing to you,
Deb

Why Craft Service & Catering Should be Good

It’s a big budget production…  the production can afford it! Craft & catering should be good. It’s expected; it’s respectful.

It’s a low budget production… the production may not be providing enough time or money to the cast & crew to buy groceries. Craft & catering should be good. Production needs a healthy cast & crew; it’s respectful.

Good food, respect & a good shoot to you!
Deb