Don't Be the Good Guy... Be the Good Director

Control the Image
For the most part, no one wants to be the jerk. You don't like it when people are mean to you, so you try not to act like it to others. Thus when it comes to filmmaking, the first instinct is to make sure you are on everyone's good side. The truth is, however, that that is a mistake if you want to make a film true to your vision. I am not saying be mean to your crew because you should always treat them with respect. What I mean to say is you cannot act like everyone's friend on set. You are the director and have to make sure you are getting what you want out of the crew.

The Film is Your Idea... Not Anyone Else's
You have to make sure you idea is being shot and this was a lesson I learned from experience. I had a cameraman who was very good at getting certain shots. However he was the more artistic type who would take as long as it would take to get the shot. The problem with that is we only have so many hours in the schedule.

On the first day, I let him do his thing. Looking back on it, it was a pretty bad rookie mistake. We fell behind tremendously and if it wasn't for my producer at the time, I might not have realized soon enough the effects of what was going on. Also there were certain shots that I would not have wanted. It looked good artistically, but I felt as though the shots did not have the same weight to tell the story. The next day, I made sure to push him forward. I did my best to not sound angry, but I was stern enough to mention we were running out of time. Luckily for me, he was understanding so there was no tension between us during and after production.

No one likes to be "that" guy. The one barking orders and making people angry at him. Still if you want the film done the way you want it, sometimes you got to make those choices. You can't be everyone's friend on set, but you HAVE to be a good director.

Do Not Panic! Get the Shot!

That Last Important Scene

Do not panic... One of the many mantras that filmmakers have been taught. I try to remind myself every time I am shooting something. It makes sense after all. If I waste time panicking, I have less time to actually fix things. Unfortunately I am also the type of person to fixate on whether or not I left the gas stove on, despite checking it numerous times. Considering this, filmmaking is probably not the best path I should take. Still I find it to be my calling, so I am willing to take the stress... The unbelievable, heartbreaking amount of stress.

Picture this if you will. Imagine you are on the last shoot of your senior project. What is to be shot today will be what holds the film together in editing. It is also shot during one of the last days in fall and the place you are at has winter sucker punch you when you least expect it. The scene has to be during the fall, but snow tends to ruin that illusion.

At times like this, everything you want to go right will probably go wrong... As the responsible director, I got onto set first. It was an overcast day and the forecast said there would not be any rain. So far so good. My crew arrives, and by that I mean two people, and it all seems to be on track... Then it dawns on me that my cameraman is not there. Do not panic...Do not panic...


You overslept?! Reallly!?? Of all days, today!!!!? Now granted this was not said during my phone call, but I certainly felt that. Breathe. Just breathe. After about 30 minutes of pretending not to try and destroy my car in anger, my cameraman arrived. The actors arrived soon after and production moved ahead. Five shots down. Seven shots down. I think we might pull this off.

I just had to have that thought... Just when my guard was down, Mother Nature cold clocked me. In the middle of the shoot, snow flurries started to fall. Maybe... just maybe they were too small to see in the camera... Bang! The snow fell harder. I sent back the actors to the cars to warm up while I contemplated what to do. In full view of my crew, I started to prey to whatever deity figure would listen to me. I just need to get this out of the way. PLEASE!!!!

It kept snowing for a good 20 minutes. Just then, the flakes started to get weaker. They were just light enough to be invisible in the camera. This is as good as it will get, so we are doing this. I called for the actors and we got down to business. Heaven knows when it will snow harder again, so it was a race against time where the deadline was more or less unknown. Only one thing mattered...Get the shot!

And cut! After 5 hours of stress and fighting mother nature...the last possible shots needed were done. I thanked everyone involved and helped pack up the equipment. Now off to months and months of editing and color correcting... That, however, is for another time.

The Importance of Networking

Know a Guy Who Knows a Guy

The filmmaking world has an old saying: "it's not what you know, but who you know". In other words, if you know the right people then talent does not matter as much. On one hand, it shows the unfortunate truth that the wrong people can often get positions that they are not qualified for. However this phrase also demonstrates the importance of networking. Making a film is a team effort and it is incredibly hard to create one if you don't have a team to begin with. If there is a skill set you don't know, it's best to know someone who does.

What Can You Offer?

Starting out, you need to find out what your strengths are. While you may be well-rounded in skills, it is best to have one particular talent. For example, you are really good with sound mixing or color correcting. It is even better if the skill you are advertising is something you actually enjoy doing, since for you it will seem less like a job. In my case, my talent is in fight choreography. I can take people with little to no skill and make them look dangerous.

Test Out the Waters

If there is a local film group around you, don't be afraid to contact them. Most people who start out don't mind doing collaborations for they offer good experience; at the very least, they would appreciate the extra crew members. One of my first instances of this involved the now defunct IndyMogul. When they showed one of my videos on their show, they expressed interest in working with me. I found out they were in the area, so I sent a message saying I wanted to work with them too. Soon enough, I made two episodes for their show.

Learn to Mingle

While it is convenient to contact people via the internet, sometimes a face-to-face provides a better opportunity. Be willing to go to film festivals or other film gatherings to promote yourself. Keep a demo reel handy, work on a 60 second pitch, and sell yourself as a person who is destined for greatness.


Whether it is extra people to work with or a distributor, you are going to have to find others in order to make a film work. Brush up on your people skills, print those business cards, and take chances. Rarely does opportunity come to you, so you must go to it.

Joey Min- Indie Fight Choreographer

Every Story Has a Beginning...

When I started out making martial arts films on my own, I barely had a clue as to what I was supposed to do. Also being a big guy, I was not that confident in my abilities to perform in front of the camera. This changed when I found a guy named Joey Min online. Here I was worrying about my size while this guy, who was slightly bigger than me, was making videos left and right. His speed and technique were excellent and his fight scenes were good. Joey Min inspired me and is now a good friend, so I wanted others to know who sparked my call to action.

Can you please introduce yourself and what you do?

My name is Joey Min and I am a indie filmmaker / action choreographer.

When did you start making films and what kind?

I started making films when I was 16 and they were usually martial art videos. Though martial arts was an easy topic to translate onto film, I found myself doing other genres, from comedy to romance.

What do you like about martial arts films?

What I love about martial arts is not the application of techniques, but more on the concept of the movement of the human body. If there is such a thing as poetry in motion, martial arts is definitely my example. Now apply that to choreography and you have the amazing motion of technical mastery of one's body in a deadly dance of duel (aka it's badass to watch martial art masters fight each other).

 

 

 

What martial arts styles do you know? 

My main style is Shaolin Kung Fu for 20 years.

Senkotiros, a Filipino Martial Art, translated as "the 5 strikes," and focuses on single stick fighting, for 12 years.

Kyokushin-Kai Karate for 10 years.

Hakkyoku Ken, a Japanese interpretation to the Chinese style Bajiquan, for 8 years.

Bajiquan, for 5 years.

What do you think about film making today considering the technology now available? 

Filmmaking is definitely easier for someone to get into, but of course, the mastery is still difficult. Digital filmmaking reduces the time of process of filmmaking, so practice of the craft is much more accessible. 
 
Are there people you look up to in the field?

Since I am an action filmmaker, I usually looked up to previous action filmmakers and choreographers, like Lau Kar Leung or Yuen Woo Ping, but I also appreciate the work of directors like Edgar Wright, who I consider to be one of the great visionaries of visual storytelling and uses both imagery and auditory techniques to immerse someone into their films.


What is the hardest part about your craft?

If we're talking about the process, then pre-production is the hill that I loathe. Planning for filmmaking can help you, but those who are privy to it will tell you that nothing goes to plan. Sometimes I feel that I need to force the start of projects, even the big ones.

What is your dream project?

My dream project is to create a great romantic martial arts action comedy. Then again, that might change... since basically, what I'm doing at the moment would be what I consider to be my dream project.

Any advice for people trying the same thing?
Like martial arts, the only wasted movement is the ones not taken. If you are to pursue this art form, then do what you feel is right. It's an art form that is ever evolving that freely expresses the visions of its creators. Don't stop filming.

If you are interested in seeing more of his work, please visit his YouTube channel.

Film Adaptations of Video Games (Why They Tend to Stink)

From the Arcade to the Silver Screen

Film and video games have had an interesting relationship for a few decades. At first, it was never really considered that video games could be adapted into feature-length  films. The most popular game around at one point was Pac-Man and there is no story to that arcade classic that could possible carry an hour long film. However as time passed on, technology improved and video game creators became more ambitious. Better tools meant the ability to add a story to the game play. With this added story, Hollywood now saw an opportunity to make more money. What resulted was a film genre that tended to bring disappointment for everyone: moviegoers and fans of the games.

Regarded as THE worst of this genre. (IMDB)

Fall of the Mushroom Kingdom

Even if you are not familiar with video games, you are at least somewhat familiar with the character of Mario from Super Mario Bros. The premise of the game is simple: it is about an Italian plumber who has to save a princess from a dinosaur/turtle. Because of its popularity, Hollywood saw a chance to make a quick buck. The film was a disaster. Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, the leads of the film, hated the experience and would often get drunk to get through filming. Although it was one of the first live-action adaptations of a video game, it certainly was not the best. In fact it would be more accurate to say it set the stage for how bad these films can be.

Why Do These Films Mostly Fail?

A film from the infamous Uwe Boll, known for his video game adaptations. 

It should be noted that how you enjoy these two media is fundamentally different. A film you watch passively while a video game allows for interaction; as such changing one to the other takes away how the material would have been enjoyed in the first place. One of the biggest reasons why these movies do not work is because the ones who make it do not understand the source material. By straying away from the source material, you alienate the fans (the target audience). Since there is not enough effort put into understanding the video game, the same lack of effort would occur toward making the film competent. Case in point would be Street Fighter: The Movie.

The game Street Fighter 2 had the simple premise of being a fighting tournament with Ryu, a karate master from Japan, as the main protagonist and M. Bison as the final boss. The film abandoned that concept completely and made the main character Guile, an American. It also shoved in too many characters from the game for the sake of fan service, and thus you could not care about any of the characters. While today it is enjoyed as 90's cheese, at the time of its release it was a big disappointment..

Are There Any Good Ones?

There have certainly been more misses than hits, but good video game movies do exist. I will warn you that your mileage may vary. If you do not like the video games adapted, then it is likely you may not enjoy these movies. Nevertheless, here are some of my choices:

1. Mortal Kombat- Considered by many to be one of the best video game adaptations. What this movie does right over Street Fighter: The Movie is focus on fewer characters and keep the central premise alive. It is a fighting game about a tournament, so it was a movie about a tournament. While it is PG-13 compared to its gory origins, for the most part it stays faithful and is a fun time. 
2. Tomb Raider- Starring Angelina Jolie, this film was another faithful adaptation that knew what it was. Tomb Raider was about a woman who was a modern day treasure hunter, thus the movie followed the same route. It had entertaining action and Jolie certainly had fun with the role. 
3. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time- What makes this interesting is the fact that this was made by Disney as another attempt to re-create the Pirates of the Caribbean magic. Although it did not do so, it certainly did not bomb completely. It is certainly a competent film and the effects with time manipulation is interesting enough to take a chance on it. 

These movies are nothing to close to Oscar worthy. Nevertheless, the good ones at least entertain and that is what film should be able to do: provide a slight escape from the norm. 

Tricks to Performing a Fight Scene

A Different Type of Magic

For the most part, any performance in a film requires a level of talent from the actors on screen. If a performance is not convincing enough, the illusion is lost; the same thing can be said for an action scene. The amount of athleticism and skill required to pull off a fight scene is expected to be high. However, the truth is that what makes a great fight performance involves the camera and how certain moves are done. While this post will not teach how to perform a fight scene entirely, it will touch base on key aspects that make it look convincing.

It Is True...From A Certain Point of View

It should be understood that what a camera sees and what human eyes see will usually be very different. Because a person has two eyes, there is the ability to see depth. Since the camera only has one lens, it will flatten the image and make it harder to distinguish distance between objects that are near and far from the camera.

As such, you can use this "flaw" when hitting someone. The top priority is safety, so by using effective camera angles the illusion of a strike can be accomplished. For example, here is a shot of me about to punch someone.

 It looks like we are face to face against each other, but here is the truth.

No matter how far I swing, I should not be able to hit him. However, the most important thing is to have proper timing between both performers. If the one being hit reacts too late or too early, then it looks fake. The sweet spot for when to move is when a strike swings within the width of your nose. This window of opportunity is pretty small, so it is highly recommended you practice with your partner. Both fighters make each other look better.


It Does Not Have to Hurt to Look Like It


People today may notice a disparity between real MMA fights and a fight from a movie. Fights with real martial artists tend to throw punches and kicks that do not look as powerful as one seen in films. The reason for this goes back to the camera. Because a camera cannot distinguish depth, an actor would have to exaggerate their movements in order to look powerful on screen. Fighters do not do this so they will not telegraph their moves to their opponents. A punch for fighting will look like this:

 

A fight scene punch will look like this :

At first glance, the second punch looks to have more energy than the first one. This is because the whole shoulder is moving along with the punch. I also swing wider than I should to emphasize the hook punch. If this is done during a real fight, my opponent would know exactly when I would be swinging.

All in all, technique and ability is important for a fight scene. However, that is only half the battle. The proper camera angle and right amount of exaggeration can make it look better. The only way anyone can get better at this is to simply keep practicing. So get out there and film.

The Use of First-Person Perspective in Film

Are You the Protagonist Now?

For a while now, films have been using a first-person perspective more frequently. This can be seen in numerous "found footage" films and various GoPro videos all over Youtube. Part of the reason why there is a sudden explosion of first- person videos has to do with the technology. GoPro cameras are light, portable, and have great image quality to allow for the simulation of being in first-person, such as in a fight scene.

While it is more or less a gimmick, it is still a fascinating new way to present film. Recently a writer from Film School Rejects wrote a post about this particular trick. In his article Why Are Movies Shot Fully In “First-Person POV” Such a Bad Idea?, Chris Campbell admitted that while it will be entertaining, first-person POV just does not work in the way people think.

His main argument is that people commonly think that using this perspective makes them feel like they are the protagonist. The problem is that film is a passive experience and so these films are more like being strapped to the back of the hero instead of being the hero. For the most part, I agree with his main idea. I recall the usual reaction to first-person videos being, "it's like a video game". Video games allows actual interaction and thus more sense of control. As Campbell mentions, these are times in which one medium is trying to be something it is not.

What I would disagree on would be some of the words he uses. First off, the title of the article comes off as too harsh against the film technique. The writer himself admits that it can create worthwhile experiences, so having a title calling it a "bad idea" will give the wrong impression. Also he says that these "first-person" moments should be called second-person cinema, which I disagree on solely for technical purposes. When mentioning second-person perspective, I would think it takes from the point of view of other people looking at the main person.

Nevertheless, it is a good simple article that addresses a recent trend with film and Youtube videos.

My Young Auntie Wiki Update!!!

Don't Mess with Perfection

A short while ago, I posted about an edit I made for a Wikipedia article. The article in question was for the Hong Kong film My Young Auntie.  The summary was good, however I felt as though it should have more information. Thus I took it upon myself to add a little bit more to the synopsis. Upon checking the revision history, no one else has made an edit since then.

There are certainly reasons why it may not been touched. One reason may be because other editors thought what I wrote was good enough for this article. Regardless of why, it feels nice to be uncontested about this topic for the time being.