About a Frame

The importance of pre-production I’ve been carelessly...

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:16:00 -0500

The importance of pre-production

I’ve been carelessly blogging at random whenever I have time because things have gone bananas on my end. I shot a bunch of TV shows, one of them with my good friend, and non fiction, law enforcement rockstar Allison Howard, in Detroit where we literally wore riot gear and stormed the house of drug dealers. But now, onto the task at hand that I had for the fall, to direct a music video.

I’m in the thick of preproduction for a shoot taking place this thursday and, I gotta tell you, all you folks that want to make movies, pre-production on any kind of fiction is 90% of the game. From casting, to wardrobe, technical direction, finding the right DP, the right team, locations… and to stay on budget… It’s fucking stressful and a lot of work. Yesterday was the first time I showered in like three days (TMI, I know) but I completely forgot about myself while scrambling to make this happen.

The worst part about it, the hurdles. Team members getting better offers, insurance companies dragging their ass on certain things, permits, crafty… God damn, why am I doing this to myself???

Anyways, things have been going from cinematic to now looking more run and gun and documentary, but fortunately the DP (who’s done MAYOR big films and I’ll reveal once the video is in the can) and the gear and gaffin team is looking super solid, so it will look great.

So just letting ya’ll know, if you ever want to make a short, a music video, or a film spend a least a month on pre-production. It is SO important. And really, fully understand your vision.

It’s getting to the point where I’m almost crying whenever I hear the song… I think it’s because of the power of it and seeing the actors who have joined the cast now in place of the make believe people in the images in my mind. Seeing the sets, even filming test shots… my ideas now have beating hearts and the power of what I want to convey is becoming reality…. or maybe it’s because this whole thing has got me a little crazed.

I got what I was asking for, now I gotta bite the bullet and make it happen at all costs and make it look good. I cannot fail.

Somehow, the toughest TV days aren’t emotionally matching up to this. Careful what you wish for. Keep on keeping on, and as usual, don’t stop fighting for your dreams and visions.

Your pal - Ramirez

Above, Monsters of Folk - Say Please. I’m just digging these guys right now (wink). Directed by Lost In Translation awesome DP, Lance Acord.

These aren’t our parent’s SLR’s anymore. The...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:57:55 -0500

These aren’t our parent’s SLR’s anymore.

The game is changing with the introduction of these Single lens reflector camera’s that can shoot video. Even if it is just a software manipulation on the camera, which means you aren’t ‘really’ shooting film or video, the fact of the matter is that as everything moves on to the web, these cameras will hold up and make the average joe shoot beautiful looking stuff.

They’ll never be able to handle feature length films, proper broadcasts, or a variety of other platforms, but for now, they are the hot item in the video world.The single reason for this is the fact that you can throw an actual piece of glass on these cameras, not like the video workhorse, the HVX, or even a super expensive P2 varicam.

How will scarlet from RED change this even more? We’ll have to wait and see…

When I still gave a shit about TV. I pitched this...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:39:52 -0500

When I still gave a shit about TV. I pitched this...:

Was told by the networks that I was crazy, that it had been done before and no one would want it.

Should have brought it to ABC.

Now the dumbasses who turned me down, and me, are both broke. Fortunately I’m not the one with the dunce cap.

The end.

If this isn’t inspiring enough for anyone to want to...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:03:56 -0500

If this isn’t inspiring enough for anyone to want to direct a music video, I don’t know what is.

Amazing.

ACCIDENTES!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:48:31 -0500

Brilliant!

As a Latin man, I approve!

Isabella Rossellini rocks! Alright, at times it makes me...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:42:09 -0500

Isabella Rossellini rocks!

Alright, at times it makes me uncomfortable, but I’m still into getting through a whole piece for that same reason. Because it makes me look at nature in a whole other light.

This is Green Porno. A series of videos made by Rossellini that shows us the incredible and complex ways in which the natural world around us mates, self reproduces, and passes it’s genes on.

This is why the woman is who she is. Thinks outside the box, performs flawlessly in all she does, and always remains passionate.

What I was up to in Haiti. So here is one of many vignettes to...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:29:00 -0500

What I was up to in Haiti.

So here is one of many vignettes to come from the short documentary I was working on. It tackles the human rights of prisoners in Haiti’s overcrowded jails. 80% of the people in haitian prisons are there on pre-trial, have never really been commited of a crime and a huge majority of them are innocents. Furthermore, their conditions breed drug resistant strains of TB, Malaria, and Dengue.

So you can see why I would be so upset when my employers curbed my enthusiasm of building a much bigger documentary.

In any case, on to other topics. Directing and launching my first solo, feature, doc (yikes) on top of my directorial debut on the music video/advertising scene.

Stand by for that entry.

To learn more about the problems in Haitian prisons visit http://www.haitijustice.org, http://www.pih.org/ or get super inspired by picking up a copy of the best seller ‘Mountains beyond Mountains’. Changing the world might be a lofty goal, but changing a country is within reach, and this story is proof of that.

Journalism- Ahh, I’m once again in that bad mood where I...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:32:00 -0500

Journalism-

Ahh, I’m once again in that bad mood where I remember that Journalism nowadays not only stinks but sides with too many people/governments and institutions who don’t have the general public in their interest.

Check this piece out about Swine Flu from sixty minutes…. from 1976! We’ve been down this road already and, just like this ridiculous whoopla feels, this swine flu vaccine is a load of shit that can do more harm than good.

Don’t get me wrong, it is brutal, and my mom had it just two weeks ago, but she survived.

Don’t believe the hype, don’t be forced to take the vaccine. Wash your hands, watch what you eat, and keep your defenses up… oh and don’t listen to these poorly thought out news reports on the tube, these TV journalists are hacks. Want a good news report? Check out Russia Today (www.rt.com) or Dan Rather reports.

Thanks Be. @ The Legends League for bringing this up on his blog.

Have been hustling like crazy, currently on a 26 hour stint from...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:57:00 -0500

Have been hustling like crazy, currently on a 26 hour stint from editing a piece. But in my delirium, as I uploaded a rough of the cut for the overlords, I came accross this this kids show ‘Yo Gabba Gabba!’

Holy chewbacca, what a cool show. It’s like a hip, less creepy, smarter version of teletubbies. It works almost like a sketch comedy show with the host, a DJ, throwing to all these little stories. The coolest thing by far is that they have Biz Markey teaching kids to beat box!

Man, I’d be so much cooler if I’d have grown up on this show.

FYI: My update on directing so far is that I’m writing on spec treatments for directors of music videos and commercials for an ad production house. But, crazier then anything else, I got a green light on this documentary subject who’s door I’ve been knocking on for a couple of years now. Very exciting stuff.

off to bed now

…zzzzz…. there’s a party in my tummy….zzz

Karma Police- Radiohead. Classic video.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:34:00 -0400

Karma Police- Radiohead.

Classic video.

The grand transition. Day 1 Last week I returned from filming in...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:52:00 -0400

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!

Even the funny guys are down with using media for...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:37:52 -0400

Even the funny guys are down with using media for change.

Something’s in the air.

An apology to Mr. Perry. I’m one of those haters who was...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:29:00 -0400

An apology to Mr. Perry.

I’m one of those haters who was scratching his head about Tyler Perry. I didn’t get him, so I dismissed him, and his purpose. I was so ignorant I managed to do the before mentioned without even watching one of his movies or TV shows.

Oh ignorant me.

It’s funny that I bump into this 60 minute piece while I’m on this vibe of figuring out how to deliver a bigger message, an inspiring, empowering message without getting preachy, making sure I’m telling a good story and, most importantly, making sure I’m entertaining.

I’m a firm believer after watching the piece above that Tyler Perry is doing just that, his way. All we have to do, even if we don’t enjoy his movies, is to give the boy from New Orleans a shot.

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is at the top of my netflix cue.

Check out the piece above.

The inspiring ‘we-can-change-the-world-with-TV-and-movies’ blog continues.

Tomorrow is my first day of ‘heading into film’. Standby for that entry.

PS: Kids, do NOT use Byron Pitts as an example for how to interview…. NEVER. Look up Ed Bradley, Charlie Rose, or for someone more young/engaging Strombolopolous instead.

An Ode To - Part 6 Joan Ganz Cooney I would cheapen her legacy...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:44:00 -0400

An Ode To - Part 6

Joan Ganz Cooney

I would cheapen her legacy by attempting to write anything about the life of the person that shaped your life. Yes, Joan Ganz Cooney shaped your life. She helped you to read, she helped you to enjoy numbers, and she helped you dream.

Long before she ever entered your life, she had heard children singing television ad jingles and realized that television was a medium that could change education.

A long journey, the knocking on many doors, trips through Canada and the US talking to educators, and several reports later, Joan found enough money and enough support to create the Children’s Television Workshop. A non profit television production company to create educational programming for children.

Their flagship show: Sesame Street.

The rest, you already know and carry in your minds and hearts.

If you ever get a chance to visit Kaufman studios in Astoria Queens try to schedule a trip to see the Sesame Street set. I stumbled accross it by mistake one day as men loaded gear into the building. Nothing can describe the feeling of seeing this place in person.

Please go rent, or purchase, ‘The World According To Sesame Street’ and be inspired.

Click here for part one of the doc (Youtube has removed the rest of the doc).

Thank you Mrs. Cooney for believing and sharing your dream with us.

I’m back! crickets I know, I’ve been gone for far...

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:42:00 -0400

I’m back!

*crickets*

I know, I’ve been gone for far too long but, alas, it is time. The economy is still in the crapper, we’re all struggling financially, the industry keeps making bad 80’s remakes, most dummies…err… baby boomers don’t get ‘Where The Wild things Are’ and somehow some people still care about Lindsay Lohan! These truly are dark times. Who will save our little sphere covered in a mixture of oxygen, dirt, water, and a bunch of horny/destructive beings running around waving Bibles, Koran’s (sp), and Torah’s?

TV! Just ask the awesome writers of Foreign Policy magazine.

If only some of us had paid attention to the folks at Sesame Street who knew DECADES ago that introducing their show to developing world markets would do things like lower aids rates and encourage equality in places like Bangladesh. Television can change the world…

Anymawho, I got into Television with this mentality, I really thought that I would bring an intellectual/emotional/entertaining smack down on the world but, alas, the advertisers won and I learned that I’m the smallest fry in this town, even with almost a decade of hard work and ‘connections’ - selling tv with heart is tough stuff! Still, my fight was not in vain, I did do some stuff which I thought helped some folks, and my most recent project I know helped some folks who really needed the help (stand by for that entry), but that international change I dreamed of is still to come… and I’ll make it happen. Give me time.

But this entry is more than a rant about the power of story telling and how it can change the world. This is my return to About A Frame! Hooray! No one reads the blog anymore because I fucked off while I was swamped and living in the annals of Alaska filming bears and eagles! Yay! I survived, I got a bad ass beard now, and I’ve returned determined to change career paths… I’m selling insurance now.

I keed.

I’m going into the movie making business kiddies (hence the transitional tone of the entry). Come along for the hellish, underpaid ride… It’s gonna rock!

Talk soon. Your pal.

dramsu

Long time coming

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:04:16 -0400

Hey all, whoever remains.

I’m going on hiatus for a while. Life/Production and the move to Cali have gotten in the way of my blogging time. To the handful of you who are still around hang in there until August when life should return to normal and I promise to return better than ever.

Expect big things outside of blogging too, working on a ton of exciting stuff both personal and for third parties and I can tell you that my time away has been spent working hard to reach that next level ias a story teller. It’s not easy but I gotta fight hard while I’m still passionate.

Much love, God Speed in all your projects, ideas and pursuits and always remember that if you need to you can always drop me a line to talk shop.

See you closer to the fall.

Your pal,

Daniel Ramirez-Suarez

dan.a.ramirez@gmail.com

While we're talking about bad movies being funded.

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:20:35 -0400

While we're talking about bad movies being funded.

Funding- You know, there are so many incredible young...

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:09:00 -0400

Funding-

You know, there are so many incredible young filmmakers, with strong ideas, skills, and true desires for their stories to come to fruition. But one thing that has always, and will always, be a principal hurdle and their greatest hinderance is money.

Every year thousands upon thousands of movies, like the one you see above, are made. I know people who live off of these ‘B’ movies and make an incredible living. How, or better yet, why are these movies being funded??? Why are they being made?? Is it really that difficult to realize how bad this movie is… I feel like these things are made to clutter up gas stations, or is it just me? I’ve never even seen these on daytime cable tv.

I don’t really have much of an argument or a point but I just wanted to share the above for a few reasons:

1. Kudos to whoever managed to wrangle enough money to make this…or should I say ‘shame on you?’

2. I don’t know any of you reading this but like everyone on the planet you probably have an idea for a movie. Well my friends, your idea is better than this one, and I haven’t even heard it. So you deserve to have your idea about flying llamas come to reality.

Somewhere in the afterlife Orson Welles is overly pissed that he didn’t finish ‘The Other Side Of The Wind’ due to lack of funding while these yahoos get to make sharks that take down airplanes… shit, it’s a cruel world.

An Ode To Pt 5- Russell Brownley As you all may or may not know...

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:36:29 -0400

An Ode To Pt 5- Russell Brownley

As you all may or may not know I have a slight obsession with board films (skate, surf, snow). Out of all categories surfing DP’s are perhaps the most talented due to surf film traditions that haven’t changed since the 50’s. The use of old 16mm bolex cameras for that ‘true’ surf feel, shooting at ridiculous frame rates to catch drops of water flying through the air, using white outs or film burns as transitions, and a million other technical details I won’t bore you with… Yet, surf filmmakers generally stay within their circles and rarely break out into other areas of production, despite their innate skills.

Recently a friend introduced me to Russell Brownley. Russell is relatively young as a surf DP (considering some guys shoot until their bodies can no longer do the job) but I feel like I have found a diamond on the rough since this guys footage keeps blowing me away more and more and he wants to break away from the surf world. Not only that, Russell is as down to earth as they come and hungry to tell stories that matter about the human (and inhuman) condition.

I’ve worked with guys like Kenny Woo and David Finch and these guys travel with trucks full of gear, varicams, arriflex super 16’s, etc to achieve what Russell does with an HVX and his natural surroundings. On the other hand it was David Finch who told me that it doesn’t matter how much gear you got if you don’t have an eye for your shot… I guess Russell has one hell of a fucking eye.

Above is the reel to his company ‘the wuss productions’. Check more of his stuff on his vimeo here.

Russ, looking forward to doing some beautiful productions with you brother. This my friends is what a DP (and to that effect an editor) shoots like. Intuitive, good composition, smart use of natural light and clean transitions (uses his tripod! Kids, use your f*ing tripods!!)

The future is bright.

Italian Shorts I feel awful for not having said hello in...

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:12:00 -0400

Italian Shorts

I feel awful for not having said hello in sometime. But alas, I survived Ice Road truckers. not my fondest production experience but learned a lot of what to NOT do in production and continued to learn more about the ugly side of producing in LA.

In any case, I’m back, have internet access (hooray!) and will continue to share some beautiful things like the short film above. Made by Daniele Napolitano an Italian photographer.

He used 45000 stills from his canon EOS. It gives the short an awesome texture (love how he isn’t afraid to go out of focus on some of the wides) however, what really wins with this is the clever feel good story, more of a feel good moment really but many of us have felt something similar to this I’m sure and I think he knows that.

He doesn’t complicate things, keeps it simple and pretty. Sometimes that’s what it’s all about.Looking forward to seeing what else this photog does in the future.

PS: The vimeo link above might die on you so try clicking on Daniele’s name, it’ll take you directly to the short in his site.

About a Frame

The importance of pre-production I’ve been carelessly...

These aren’t our parent’s SLR’s anymore. The...

When I still gave a shit about TV. I pitched this...

If this isn’t inspiring enough for anyone to want to...

ACCIDENTES!

Isabella Rossellini rocks! Alright, at times it makes me...

What I was up to in Haiti. So here is one of many vignettes to...

Journalism- Ahh, I’m once again in that bad mood where I...

Have been hustling like crazy, currently on a 26 hour stint from...

Karma Police- Radiohead. Classic video.

The grand transition. Day 1 Last week I returned from filming in...

Even the funny guys are down with using media for...

An apology to Mr. Perry. I’m one of those haters who was...

An Ode To - Part 6 Joan Ganz Cooney I would cheapen her legacy...

I’m back! *crickets* I know, I’ve been gone for far...

Long time coming

While we're talking about bad movies being funded.

Funding- You know, there are so many incredible young...

An Ode To Pt 5- Russell Brownley As you all may or may not know...

Italian Shorts I feel awful for not having said hello in...

I’m back! crickets I know, I’ve been gone for far...