The grand transition. Day 1
Last week I returned from filming in Haiti and I was ready to give everything up in my life and move there for some time to shoot. Since my employer only hired me to do a short doc (really short, at this point it’s looking like it’ll be a solid ten, if that) I felt that to tell the story I wanted to tell I needed to develop things a little more. Also, the terms I had cut when I got the job were that I owned rights to the footage… but I would soon learn there was a clause. I couldn’t tell the story I wanted because, like in so many other things I’ve produced, my employer did not want me to push the envelope. In this occasion I can honestly say the envelope NEEDS to be pushed. My heart, was officially broken.
I wanted to push because what I was capturing was a human rights violation of monstrous proportions and I felt like I could have delivered a solid hour that would have ignited a fire inside anyone who watched it. I fought, kicked and screamed but was turned away and in the end I asked the powers that be to do everything in their means to help those I wanted to try and help with my camera. I stated that if by January I did not see some action that I would come back and film on my own, without their permission or access. For legal reasons I cannot tell you what this was but as soon as I get a thumbs up on releasing a teaser I cut about the topic at hand I will make it public and share with you all.
My return after such an emotional event was less than grand. I was in New York and I missed home. It was cloudy, rainy, and cold, just the way I like it, and seeing my friends and several colleagues made me want to return even more. I had a phenomenal conversation with my good friend and director Tim Hotchner where I came to the conclusion that I needed to branch out and execute on my scripted ideas as well. I needed to be able to control the narrative if I were to deliver the message I wanted. But, this takes time and experience… and time, and more experience. At least to do it well. I was in a shitty mood and in need of change.
I have been listening to the new Monsters Of Folk album religiously and, like many albums and songs, my mind can’t help but wonder and create little stories to certain songs. Some songs really ignite little stories in my head, and the more I listen to the song the more refined the ‘cut’ in my mind becomes. It’s great, it’s like a creative palate that has no limit.
Ruben Blades has this song called Pedro Navaja that since I was a little boy I’ve wanted to make a music video for. It’s a story about a Puerto Rican immigrant in the Bronx who becomes a thug and gets killed by a prostitute he tries to mug. Both the prostitute and Pedro die in the scuffle and a drunk homeless man finds their dead bodies and takes their money and walks away singing ‘La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida’ (Life will surprise you).
So with this passion for music and the visuals that some songs arouse in me, why not give music videos a shot? This is the type of change I need! Besides, those who read the blog know my obsession with music videos and basically it was music videos that got me into Film/Tv in the first place. Yes, music videos are a struggling medium, yes, I’ll starve to death trying to make any money doing it (most likely) but the feeling created in a music video, the length of a song, and the collaboration with musicians to create individual pieces of art, individual stories seems like such a great place to grow creatively. I don’t want to just shoot bands jamming, I want to (someday) do some Jamie Thraves, john Landis type of epic music videos. Stories that make the viewer feel like they’re the guy on the Maxell ads.
The trick is, how do I get my foot in the door? I need to network and learn what in the world I’m getting my self into. Once I figure that out find someone who will mentor me… hmm…
I started today by helping a lighting director friend of mine do a pretty big PSA with a ton of celebrities for the NAACP. It was great but it made me realize one thing: I need to get my tech chops back. I am fucking LAME when it comes to lighting, it took me about ten minutes to build/patch two kinos…Lord help me! And, if the Gods ever grace me with their love and A) hook me up with a director willing to mentor me B) give me a shot to direct C)get me a big enough budget to do a proper video… I better be able to translate to my crew what it is that I need from a technical standpoint to execute on a vision.
Baby steps. And today was a humbling one. Luckily the vibe on set was super mellow and the tech director took the time to help me and give me some refreshers.
But this was not enough, I got some tricks up my sleeve that I hope will expedite my climbing up the ladder to use very soon, and I’ll share that in the next entry.
Call me a crazy fool, but here goes nothing. Less money, for sure, more creative flex, you bet!
Enjoy one of my all time favorite directors and photographers, the incredible talented Mr. Chris Milk for Audioslaves ‘Doesn’t Remind Me.’ The man is good and apparently a super nice down to earth cat too. Maybe I can tag along with you for sometime Mr. Milk? Please!
