Filmmaking

FEB 6 — When you make films that deal with real events and people, there are always sensitivities that are of concern. The responsibility that comes with being a non-fiction filmmaker is tremendous. So tremendous that I almost quit years ago when I was criticised for not being a responsible filmmaker.

I made a documentary film about people who travel in public busses entitled ‘The Black, White & Grey’. It was a documentary centred around the chats I conducted with random people in a bus. One of the passenger I spoke to was a teacher who spoke to me about his private life (ie: sex life). Then he tried to hit on me!

I produced my documentary and that guy became the star of the show. To cut a long story short (and to avoid legal issues), somehow, somewhere, I made a big mistake. I judged him, made my own assumptions and portrayed him in a bad light which could have cost him his career and reputation. But I didn’t realise this until the public screening.

Many of those who attended the screening and were professionals in the industry as well. There were other filmmakers, producers, writers and journalists. I felt quite proud when laughter erupted from the crowd during the screening. Then came the question and answer session.

Someone (An editor of an arts magazine… are you reading this P**g Kh** T**k? Heheh!) stood up and asked me about my motivations for portraying the individual the way I did. My answer was quite stupid and I basically said that I did it for fun (I was young!). Then came the barrage of criticisms from him and the audience.

“Why did you judge him? Did he actually do anything wrong?”

“Should you punish someone for his or her sexual preferences?”

“Did you do this just as a cheap stunt to get laughs?”

“You need to have some ethics.”

“You’re the professional filmmaker. You have a responsibility to your subjects.”

“Don’t make assumptions about people.”

This went on for some time and I tried my best to crawl under the stage but unfortunately, there were no openings, and I had to just make do with smiling sheepishly in front of everyone. I was quite relieved when the show was over and everyone went home.

I went home and pondered about the evening, and my film. I wanted to quit and not make films anymore. It was too hard I thought to myself. And I did stop entertaining any thoughts about making any more non-fiction films for a while. I thought I would just concentrate on other things.

But the call was too strong. I couldn’t just give up. I was young, and that particular film was one of my first ones. Give it some time. You don’t want to have make your best film early on and then have everything go down hill after that. Why not just learn from the experience and make better films? Ohh… I was maturing!

These days, my number one priority when making my non-fiction films is towards my subjects (Second priority is my own fame and glamour!). I try my best to respect them and to feel their full weight on my shoulders (Can you imagine how hard this was during my stint as a producer on The Biggest Loser Asia? Ok… lame!).

I’m the professional and not my subjects when it comes to non-fiction films and the media. So I need to be the one who know best how to tell the story. And I take this very seriously now. I think more now when I make my films instead of just putting in everything that makes me laugh. Everything that appears in a film has to have a purpose and mean something.

I also do realise that making assumptions, judgements and adding your own opinions does have a place. But you must do it properly. You do this to provoke and encourage thinking among the audience and definitely not in a way that is imposing. Don’t push things down people’s throats. Hand it over and let them fiddle around with it. If they like it, they can take it. If they don’t, then so be it.

‘The Black, White & Grey’ was a turning point for me. I wouldn’t say that I regret making the film. Because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have evolved they way I did. Credit is due to the audience who were kind enough to criticise me too (But they didn’t have to make me cry dammit!). I don’t know if the end result pushed me to make better films. What I do know is that making films now gives me much more satisfaction.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Tony Damjanov of Port St. Lucie High School is preparing himself for a career in filmmaking, thanks to a TV production program at his school and a real-world video contract from the University of Florida.

Damjanov, 18, is one of 120 students in Bryan Smith’s production class who not only are learning how to shoot and produce films, but also are preparing professional “reels” that will enable them to build a resume and launch into careers, Smith said.

Smith works with JP Gellermann, growth management extension agent with IFAS at the University of Florida, to work out the content before handing the project to a student, in this case Damjanov.

“I’m working with JP because it’s a pretty technical stuff, and so I am working with him to try to hash the script out, but the kids are actually doing the technical work — the shooting and the creating of the graphics,” Smith said.

Gellermann is a planner by trade whose job at IFAS is to offer courses and support materials to planning and zoning boards. He said he saw Smith’s class as the perfect win-win opportunity. Gellermann applied for a grant and now is paying Smith’s program $2,500 to produce at least two videos that will be seen by planning and zoning boards statewide.

“Some professionals were saying that basically there’s no formal training for folks in government to make decisions concerning planning in the state in Florida. The way it works is you get appointed to a planning and zoning board (with little or no background) and all of a sudden you are making decisions on development projects. So as extension agents, we are trying to provide that training,” he said.

Through the short videos and other media, Gellermann hopes to make learning about growth management enjoyable and informative, and if video students get real-world experience in putting films together, all the better.

“To really sell yourself in the film business, you need a reel as examples of your work,” said Principal Terry Davis, whose brother also makes videos. “To be marketable, they really need this, so to work on a public document that will really be out there is just something that doesn’t usually happen in high school. This is a huge opportunity for our kids to be involved in and it’s going to be an opportunity for them to have their name and stamp on something that is relevant.”

Damjanov realizes these films can lead to a successful career. He said he likes being the director.

“Brian wrote the script, I filmed it and we are in the process of editing it,” he said of the 7-minute short he just finished.

Damjanov said he thinks a career in filmmaking will be stimulating.

“I like the fact that no matter what I take on in this industry, I’m always learning something new. It’s like constantly being in school,” he said. “Depending on the project you have, you learn pieces about what you’re doing because if you don’t know what you’re trying to film, there is no point in filming it.”

Student filmmaking competition gets underway

By DAILY SOUND STAFF — Feb. 3, 2010

Local student filmmakers and screenwriters paired up with film industry professionals yesterday during the kickoff of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s annual 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking Competition.

The competition, which spans 10 days of the festival, features 10 writers selected from 28 submissions from local high school and college students of their best screenplay, stage play or short story.

The five best scripts in the high school and collegiate categories were chosen, and the finalists were paired off with industry mentors before submitting a final draft on January 28.

Yesterday, the 10 screenplays were matched up with student filmmakers selected from a pool of 57 local students. The filmmakers will direct a 10-minute film during the 10 days of the festival, and the shorts will be screened and judged based both on filmmaking and screenwriting.

A judging panel will select winners from the high school and collegiate level, and the winning films will be shown during closing night festivities at the Arlington Theatre on February 14.

The filmmaking finalists are Erik Choquette, SBHS; Taylor Fisher, SMHS; Jorge Flores, SMHS; Samuel Foley, SBHS; Paul Leutheuser, SMHS; Matt Holwick, Brooks Institute; Josh Sexton, SBCC; Ali Sommer, SBCC; Chris Thompson, SBCC; and Jasmin Toutounchi, UCSB.

The screenwriting finalists are Stephen Amspoker, SMHS; Erik Choquette, SBHS; Dylan Douglas, SMHS; Katie Elster, SMHS; Frances Rozhko, SMHS; Koriayn Christensen, UCSB; Ramsey Feaver, Brooks Institute; Cora Hirashiki, UCSB; Peter Manthei, Westmont College; and Brittany Sandler, SBCC.

The 10 student-created films will be shown on February 14 at 1 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. More information on the film festival is available at www.sbfilmfestival.org.