Loud & Proud... Standing up for where you come from!

If there's one thing pretty much everyone seems to agree on - world leaders, trend setters, artists, filmmakers, spiritual leaders and personal development coaches - you can't have a future without first dreaming about it and then TAKING ACTION towards it.

Well, here's a story that I hope will inspire you.

A couple of years ago, my friend and I decided to make a film for Tropfest. We had never made a film before. We had no idea what you had to do to make a film. But we had watched PLENTY of films and seen Tropfest for many years running, so we figured, what the hell, let's just make one.

And we did.

From the point where we committed and decided to make a film, we wrote, directed and shot it ALL within TWO WEEKS!

Now, this was no filmmaking feat. I'm not claiming brilliance of any kind. But what we did do, is we got in there and had a go, from exactly where we were at and with what we already had - Passion and a Love of StoryTelling!

Actually, the film we produced was very much a first film. A student film. A first encounter with the magic of the black screen.

To tell you the truth, by the time we had finished editing it and I sent it off festivals, I had already starting judging the work. My tail was already between my legs. The stinky part was that I felt embarrassed. I'd already started comparing what we had produced to all those amazing directors and films that I loved so much and I had become painfully aware that THIS film, was not a match. For my dreams or for the kind of product I could be proud of.

Not surprising then, with that kind of energy behind it, it did not find a place in the festivals I sent it off to. I had spent hundreds of dollars on entry fees to festivals that I thought weren't aiming for the holy grail but a realistic place for our film and I became even more embarrassed and disheartened... So I put it away in a drawer and tried to forget about it. Whenever anyone asked me about it, I tried to fob it off as quickly as possible and move onto other things, probably making a joke out of it.

Thank god I didn't let that cynicism and resignation actually stop me from pursuing my career as a filmmaker! If I'd listened to that snarky little voice and let it poison me completely, I would never have been able to continue taking steps towards my dreams. Luckily, my friend and I had already started Lunar Wolf Productions and we moved our focus onto new projects.

But the other day, I found the quicktime version of my film and I watched it again. In some parts I still cringed, in other parts I found myself nodding my head and thinking - Actually, for a first time director, this sequence really worked, I'm actually feeling the tension here - or - oo, that's not so good, what would I do now to cover that scene - or - oh yeah, I remember that moment on set. I was frustrated and I let that get in the way of communicating with the actor. I wonder what I could've said to help them find a fresh moment...

And by the end, I watched it through again. With less of the cringing and more of a growing sense of pride. Sure, it was definitely a first film and I had made PLENTY of mistakes. But in amongst it, was some gold, some space for true reflection, and a sense of gratitude for this first record of our baby steps into filmmaking.

So I decided to take action. In stead of leaving the film to rot in the drawer, I decided to make it into a new exercise. Seeing as I had never cut a trailer for my films, I thought, what the hell! This is a first film - what better material to cut a first trailer from?! Can I make it exciting? Can I show the tension? Can I hint at the story? Can I create the impression of the film I meant to tell?

Here is the result. It's the trailer I loaded onto our youtube channel for Lunar Wolf Productions. The channel URL is www.youtube.com/lunarwolfproductions.

The short film is called UNEXPECTED HAPPENINGS.

I am proud to have this up as an example of where we've come from. I'm proud because I hope it will encourage other beginning filmmakers to get out there - LOUD AND PROUD - show their work, gather the feedback and enjoy the process of making films. Because filmmaking is a practical art. You have to be in the game to win it. You win be telling stories, learning on the job and finding bigger and better solutions every time - always chasing that illusive image that is haunting the moments just before/after sleep...

Enjoy!



Love Miri
From Lunar Wolf Productions

PS as you can probably tell - this film was made on $0, for the love of the thing. All the talented people that came together to help us make our first film are all legends - especially Jemore our DOP and editor, Irma our art director, Katey our producer and all the others that spent a weekend with us, often late into the night, to capture this story on tape. You guys are all legends and I hope your work is blossoming out in the industry! Big thanks must also go to Mario Leonti & Michelle Scullion from New Zealand who created a kick ass soundtrack to the film.

365 movies - the concept

Ok, firstly, let me introduce the concept.

I was talking to a photographer friend of mine and he said a phrase which I'm sure I've heard before, but for some reason, it stuck with me and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since...

"What better way to get better at making movies than by watching them"

he was referring to also watching the Special Features and especially any interviews with the filmmakers themselves - be they the writers/directors or producers.

Now I've always had a bit of a love affair with watching movies.

I wouldn't say so far it's been an addiction... but I have the sneaking suspicion that that is only because I haven't fully given myself over to it (as opposed to coffee which I can't stop drinking since I came back from my recent italian viaggio)

And then a couple of days ago I had this idea.... I am committed to making movies. Like, I have given my life to it as surely as I have given my life to my partner and fiancee who I am about to marry in, oh, about 7 weeks! AND I know that in some areas I have a natural talent, a flair and a passion and that is starting to get out and about to people in the industry... but I still feel that I have A LOT to learn. No, correct that, I KNOW I've got EVERYTHING to learn!

And I had this idea.... what if I watched ONE movie EVERY DAY for a YEAR???
How much more would I know by a year's time?
How many more works by directors I love and director's I've as yet not heard of would I have been able to see? Worlds I would have encountered? Characters would I have discovered that titilated, disgusted, intrigued, made me fall in love with...

And ever since that nasty little possibility slid into my brain in the shower... I have not been able to throw it out. I forget about it, I think about other things, become absorbed in my writing, watch a movie on tv... and then, out of nowhere, it comes BAM.
How good would that be???

But I didn't jump on it straight away because I was scared. I was nervous of declaring this crazy intention to the world. Beginning a blog, doing it for a while and then life coming along and all my good intentions might get submerged by the benal, the important, the other things...

and today, on cheap tuesday while my partner was playing ultimate frisbee, I went to VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA and I couldn't help thinking... that would be a great movie to start this experiment on. Coz it was so... unexpected. Bizarre. Quirky....

So let's start.
Today is DAY ONE of 365. The movie is Vicky Christina Barcelona, directed and written by Woody Allen.

Inspiration and tinklings of movie magic coming your way,
Miri

www.lunarwolfproductions.com

Plugging into Source during the pre-holiday madness!

Wow, the holidays are really coming up fast, aren't they?

I've been blown away by how busy I am this year in the lead up to the holidays. I've also had the realisation that filmmakers don't really do 'holidays' - that just becomes time to really get stuck in to your film projects while everything else lies low!
lol

Having been experiencing an amazing sense of abundance, it's also been coupled with an increasing experience of stress... I don't know about you, but the 'to-do-list' this year seems to be a drop down menu stretching to infinity!

So, in lieu of the fact, that yes - life is fast; yes, there is no time like the present; and yes, we should get on top of everything while we can.... I have also been mindful to take TIME OUT to bring myself back to Source.

I don't know what Source is for you. Now, I don't mean christmas pudding sauce - but the Source where your job is only to plug in. But for me it is:
Walks on the Beach,
Walks on the Headland,
Walks in the Bush...

It is also:
Swimming in the Ocean,
Diving off the pier at Balmoral Beach,
Snorkling around the Foreshore,
and getting Tumbled in the Sydney Surf...

It is Travelling to Exotic Lands - by imagination or in reality...
(having grown up in NZ and living in Sydney, my dream is of a white christmas! for you it might be stretched out on tropical beaches)
It is Dreaming of future projects and then living inside the skin of the characters, stretching out into the tendons and thoughts and dreams of a whole new person...
It is watching Movies - new films, old films, films I've seen a million times...
Scrapbooks and Dreamwalls, Colouring pencils and scissors, Playing at the beach with my neices and nephews, Writing in a diary, Writing a blog, getting out into my community with a Stills Camera or even getting in the car and driving to someone elses community to see theirs...

But whatever it is for you... at the busiest time in life, there is always time to get back to Source.

Source fills up the well. Source opens the synapses to intuition and creative impulse.... I don't know about you, but for me, Source keeps me Sane.

So, instead of getting fully tumbled by the stress of pre-holiday madness, work deadlines and shopping lists... Why not take a few minutes out of your day for YOU and PLUG IN TO YOUR SOURCE :)

Love Miri
from Lunar Wolf Productions...


Here's a picture of a sand sculpture made by a guy who was preparing for corporate team building event he runs...




My partner and I caught sight of it in the early stages while we went for a swim... I was lucky enough to catch this shot of the final product when I was taking a TIME OUT later that day, treating myself to a walk along the beach. Magical, isn't it?! I don't know about you, but it makes me want to get out a bucket and trowel and start building!!!

We are LIVE - LIVE - it's ALIVE!!!

Lunar Wolf Productions is proud to present...

www.LunarWolfProductions.com

Our very own cyber-home! Horrah.

Check it out :)

Miri
from Lunar Wolf Productions
"We make films!"