New Short and New Blog!

I've been neglecting this blog for too long. Got a new short to share that I finished last month. It was made for the Questfest over at dvxuser.net Got a lot of useful feedback from the users on that forum. You can check the short out below:

The Smile Search (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

Also, I've started a new blog:

Go See It... Or Not

I'll post movie reviews on that blog. I usually see a decent amount of movies, the only question is if I'll be able to keep up writing reviews for each of them!

More Duty!

Just finished another "Duty" video. I didn't anticipate making a series of these, but they are a lot of fun b/c they're pretty quick and easy to make. Also, they let me be productive during my downtime between my "bigger" shorts. Speaking of which, I hope to shoot a short with real people (and not toys) next week, and another one pretty quickly thereafter.

For now, check out Duty in The Club:

The Club (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

Duty tries to enter the super cool kids club!

A... (gasp) sequel!?

Here's that "sequel" to Stuck that I mentioned in the last post. I just like calling it a sequel because I like the sound of it, haha. But it probably makes more sense to call it the next episode, or a continuation. Whatever you want to call it, you can check it out below:

The Crown, The Guard, and The Duty (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

Still running strong w/ writing and ideas. I've spent much of the last week revising a script I'm planning to shoot in a few weeks, as well as brainstorming a short, simple project that I hope to do very soon.

Momentum

Another new short to share! Battlestar Galactica fans will appreciate a song choice :) I'm really happy w/ the progress I've made with each short film I make. I have a long ways to go, but with each finished project, I learn more and get more comfortable. Still have several scripts in queue waiting to be made, so lots of planning in the near future. I might make a sequel to "Stuck" next, though. Something really simple and small.

The Duel (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

A BATTLE of Chinese Checkers.

Loads of New Stuff!

Haven't had a chance to update this as much as I'd like, but the good news is that since the last update, I've been productive! I finished an experimental short,which I produced in one day on a complete whim. I had a simple idea, took about an hour of filming, three or four editing, and by the end of the day... well, you can see the results below:

Stuck (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

Up next was a mock ad I made to help a friend with a pharmacy school project. I used this as a challenge in "improv" directing, so to speak. I wrote the script in 15 minutes and shot it in about an hour with no shot list, similar to the above video (just with human actors). I'm happy with the results:

Tibusec Cupid Ad (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

And finally, my 24 spoof, entitled "4". I was really excited for this one and spent a few weeks prepping this. I'm really happy with the results and other people have reacted positively as well. It's made me want to continue the story and do future episodes soon! Hope you all enjoy it:

4: 8:56PM - 9:00PM (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

My creative drive hasn't slowed down in the last couple weeks since I finished "4." I have five scripts completed, waiting in queue to be filmed. The next one will hopefully be in production this Sunday, the day before Memorial Day. It involves a story of two individuals playing a game of Chinese Checkers. Looking forward to it! Until then...

When The Lights Go Out

A new short for your entertainment! (Watch it in HD on Vimeo)

When The Lights Go Out (HD) from Sean Uyeoka on Vimeo.

Up next... a 24 spoof.

Back in Action

Finally got around to shooting a new short this past weekend! A simple one-character/one-location piece. I referred to it as Blackout in my last entry, but now the title is up in the air... I'm leaning towards When The Lights Go Out, but that could change.

Busy editing now, but here's some raw screen grabs (no color-grading):

IMDB!

I've achieved one of my goals in life... to have a profile on IMDB (The Internet Movie Database).

Check it out here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3319123/

I've been visiting IMDB for a good 12 years, ever since I got access to the internet. It may seem funny, but seeing my name on a page with actual listings is mind-blowing to me. Plus, two of the listings are for actual short films that I made. Really cool stuff!

I picked up Robert Rodriguez's book "Rebel Without a Crew" yesterday and have been reading it non-stop. I've been a fan of Rodriguez for many years, mostly because of his enthusiastic nature, but somehow never got around to reading this book. I really wish I had earlier, because it's a great read. It really motivates me to go out and make my own movies. When you learn about how Rodriguez pulled off his first film, El Mariachi for just $7,000, you feel really empowered and think that anyone with some talent and a lot of commitment can pull it off. (Granted, I know the version of El Mariachi we can rent today has been post-produced a lot by Sony after they bought the picture, but something about the original version must have been pretty great in order for them to be interested).

I have three short scripts done and ready to be shoot: Revisions (the drama/romance), Lefty (the drama), and Blackout (horror). I'm planning on shooting Blackout next weekend w/ my friend Mike. It's a one-man script in one location, and the hardest part will be making my apartment look like it's vacant. The other two shorts are more ambitious, so I'll have to prepare more for those before shooting. But since I'm Rodriguez's book, I feel the need to get these things done ASAP.

I also am working on (yet another) short script. This one has a much stronger comedic element than any of my others, and involves a novice hitman. I always wondered how hitmen get their start, so I decided to explore that. This script has more dialogue than anything I've ever written. Quite a challenge. Anyway, back to reading!

Writing and Revisiting

I've been spending a significant amount of time writing recently. More and more ideas for short screenplays have been popping in my head faster than I can outline/write them. I currently have three shorts close to being done (after several drafts each) that I hope to shoot soon. They sort of increase in ambitiousness: the first is a horror, the second is a drama, and the third is a romance (and drama too I guess). I think I mentioned a couple of them in previous blogs. Writing has become easier as I work on it more, but I am by no means skilled. In fact, I'd say I'm pretty unskilled. My dialogue feels unpolished and I tend to think too realistic/get focused on minutia. But hey, practice makes perfect, right?

The hardest part about writing (once the basic outline gets pounded out) is knowing when you're done. I think the answer is that it never is. There will always be second guesses and room for improvement, but you have to work on something until you're satisfied with it... until you're convinced that it's the best work you could do given whatever particular circumstances you're under. It drives me crazy!

Nothing against writing, but I'm looking forward to shooting these things already. I tend to be more energized and excited by the visual aspects of film. Of course, I still have a lot of prep to do for each one before I can turn on my camera but I'm really excited about how these projects are coming along. I already have at least one more short in my head that I haven't put down on paper that will be more "fun" than all my other shorts. I look at making these shorts as my own personal film school. I know these films won't change the world and probably won't even be particularly good, but as long as I can try out new things and learn from my mistakes, I'll be satisfied.

In addition to this, I've been rewatching a number of films from the past. Most of them I've seen, but don't remember too well. So far this week I've caught Brokeback Mountain, The Blair Witch Project, and Reservoir Dogs. I've got The Usual Suspects and Assault on Precinct 13 (1976 version) up on my queue next.

Top 10 of 2008 in Motion... and Quick Update

A short video counting down my Top 10 films of last year. The text version (along w/ brief explanations) can be found a few posts down. This was just something I did for fun.

I finished first drafts of TWO shorts last week and got some great feedback. Spending this week revising them. They are definitely the most ambitious screenplays I've written yet, which will make shooting them fun... NOT.

Updates

The two shorts I've been working on the last couple of months, Burdened and Snapshots have been locked, picture-wise. There are still some minor tweaks to be done with sound, and both currently feature temp. scores, but it's getting pretty close. Of course, as I mentioned in an earlier post, music is the lifeblood of these shorts, and I can't wait to have the complete finished product.

I've already submitted rough cuts of these shorts to the LA International Film Festival. Maybe I'm in over my head, b/c this is a pretty big festival, but I figured I might as well try. I'm also looking at a number of smaller festivals which might give me a better shot at being screened. Exciting times!

I'm also 8 pages into writing the first draft of my next short, which will be the most ambitious of anything I've done yet. N0, there's no explosions, fancy special effects, or epic landscapes, but there will be dialogue! I spent about a week outlining the major beats of the story before I started writing, and I'm excited to have a finished draft within the next week. It's a story that features a number of more personal elements when compared to my other works.

All right, that's all the updates for now. Back to work!

Filming on Location

While scoring on my new short, Burdened, is currently in progress, I got a chance to shoot another short film while I'm at home. I wrote this new short (currently untitled) specifically to produce while back home, taking advantage of our beautiful outdoors. It's a more optimistic and lighter story than Burdened, so it'll let me showcase a wider range of emotions and try something different.

I did a hectic but fun guerrila style shoot on Wednesday afternoon with the generous help of a few friends, and a couple of hours of pick-ups yesterday w/ my sister's assistance. Shockingly, we finished the majority of the shooting in a handful of hours, with wrap coming JUST as the sun was about to go down. My small cast/crew were helpful and really easy to work with, which helped me a lot considering how much I had to get done. I couldn't have asked for a better shoot day:































Now, I'm diving head first into editing. This short is looking like it's going to be about 5 minutes, just like Burdened. The most difficult part may be color correction, as a lot of the shots range in consistency due to the brutal sunlight. But the magic of Final Cut Pro and Magic Bullet will come through... I hope. Updates on progress coming soon!

Top 10 of 2008

Now that 2008 has come and gone, I can reflect on the ten films I consider represent the best in filmmaking. I'm not sure if I find these films the "best" of the year, or if they are my favorites... the list is probably a weird marriage of both. Keep in mind that I probably haven't come close to seeing every single movie released last year, but these are the ones that stuck with me...

10) Gran Torino: If this is Clint Eastwood's swan song (as an actor), he went out with a bang. The movie isn't perfect, with some iffy dialogue and one-dimensional antagonists. But Eastwood's simple yet confident direction and lead performance makes this film feel more important than it might be.

9) Revolutionary Road: Yes, it's Kate and Leo reuniting after 11 years... but the brutally honest and tragic portrayal of their characters and relationship makes being on the Titanic seem like a more pleasant experience. Not an easy film to sit through, but the two lead performances are absolutely spectacular.

8) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Stunning visuals and aging effects, but more importantly, a film about people who seem real. David Fincher may have seemed an odd choice for the subject matter, but he's crafted the most humanizing and touching film of his career. The film does run long with no real plot, but the examination of life and death is something everyone can relate to.

7) Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Consistently hysterical but with a heart. The whole film is perfectly cast and well-written. One of the best of the Apatow-produced flicks so far.

6) Iron Man: Who would have guessed that a movie based on a C-level comic book hero starring an unbankable/troubled star and directed by "Pete" from Friends would end up being so good. Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as Tony Stark, with his supporting cast providing solid performances. From start to finish, it's popcorn entertainment at its best.

5) Frost/Nixon: I don't usually care for Ron Howard's pictures, but this one seemed different from the others. The subject matter was compelling, and the two leads did a phenomenal job inhabiting their characters. For a film whose bulk is composed of two men talking, you'd be surprised how engaged and on the edge of your seat you'll find yourself.

4) The Wrestler: This film holds a special place with me because of it's frank and honest portrayal of professional wrestling, which I am an avid fan of. Simple, yet stunningly effect, thanks in majority to Mickey Rourke's oscar-caliber performance. He seriously owns this film and gives it his all.

3) Wall-E: Pixar are among the best in the world when it comes to telling stories with images, and Wall-E may be their crowning achievement thus far. A simple story that somehow manages to draw you in and keep you stuck in its world. Add in compelling characters, commentary on the state of the world, and huge entertainment value, you have one of the best pictures of the year.

2) Slumdog Millionaire: A film that has everything. You'll find yourself laughing, scared, sad, elated, and just about every other emotion during this two hour ride. Danny Boyle's directing style doesn't seem like it would mesh well with this story, but it surprisingly does, creating a visually arresting film with a hero that you can't help but root for.

1) The Dark Knight: What else can be said about Christopher Nolan's crime masterpiece? A truly epic film that will question your own values and continually haunt you. The film transcends the "comic book" genre and establishes itself as a mature, thought-provoking piece of art that only gets better with subsequent viewings.

Music is Key

Shooting on my new short Burdened is 98% completed. The film just needs three quick insert shots that are VITAL to the story that I didn't get a chance to get before the winter break. Here's just a couple of quick stills from another day of shooting a few weeks ago:





























I'm currently working on scoring the short, with my good friend Jeff back here in Hawaii graciously accepting the task. He's great with music, and a MASTER on the guitar. Seriously, his ear was made for music. We just had a spotting session today and talked through the majority of what we need to do, and even started with some samples. I'm excited to hear what he comes up with (the stuff he's already played for me has been awesome) as music, especially in this short (which is essentially a silent film) is the backbone of most films.

Barring any unusual circumstances, I also plan to quickly shoot another short this week while I'm at home. I wrote the script specifically to take advantage of some of the gorgeous beaches we have here in Hawaii. It's also lighter in tone than Burdened, so it'll be nice to have a change of pace.