Filmmakers' Blog

Get Ready For Some Changes

Lorie Marsh — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:18:21 +0000

Hello Lovelies!

Our website has been up for your viewing and clicking pleasure since February this year, and we've been evaluating how it's been meeting or not meeting our hopes and expectations. Ari, our fabu web developer, and I have sifted through the many numbers available from our Google Analytics page, and we've determined.... DRUM ROLL. We're not growing in visitors/readership as we would like.

Hm. Well, that's kind of sucky.

So, why? Is it that we're not effectively reaching out to our hoped-for target audience? How do we improve? An army of blogging and tweeting gnomes joining us would probably come in handy.

Is it that our audience has been distracted by fun, summertime, outdoor activities...??? Hey, don't you know you're supposed to stay hooked up to your digital media at all times??? Ha ha.

I think ultimately it's because we're trying something new in the indie filmmaking paradigm: we're working to build a transmedia experience for Lost in Sunshine; expanding the content beyond the movie, building a community, sharing a dialogue with our audience.

We've been putting out our online PREQUEL about the lives of our two main characters via Lyn's Blog and Bob's Manuscript. But, we recognize that it's hard for folks to care about these characters without any other tie-ins ready, yet, like specific ACTORS inhabiting the roles, or being able to view the making-of or the FINISHED MOVIE.

Ari and I also recognize that we've got too much going on on our Home Page. It needs to be more spare, visually easier to grasp quickly. Instead, we've been trying to share on it with you all the multimedia components we're creating for Lost in Sunshine.

I've been wrestling this week with how to address these issues. I could make your eyes glaze over with details on the transmedia, gaming , ARG, and social media strategy sites, articles, white papers, and blogs I've been cross-referencing for ideas for our revamp - but, I won't. :)

Suffice it to say that I could execute a design change to make the Home Page and LIS site more recognizable, or bolder, and more risky.

Guess which one I've chosen...? Stay tuned. :)

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Where does the money go? Post Production costs

Lorie Marsh — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:43:36 +0000

During post production, we may find another nuance to Lost in Sunshine's story that we didn't plan for in the script. This is what can happen during editing. :)

Viewers can glean bits of story and character traits from individual scenes, but the overall rhythm and pacing of the movie will reveal itself first to the editor as she pieces together the footage from the shoot, then to Jentri as she reviews the editor's progress.

So many factors influence which takes get selected for an edit: performance, lighting, camera movement, sound, and the je ne sais quoi of one take over another. Editing is like the final push in a movie's "delivery;" you knew there was a baby coming, you may have known its gender or its size before birthing set it - but, you didn't know it would sport a full head of hair until it finally joined the outside world!

Post production costs comprise the following categories:

Editing
Sound editing
Lab costs
Visual Effects
Music
Titles

Inclusive in these categories are some of the deliverables we'll need to anticipate for the finished movie: soundtrack(s) broken down into particular formats, titling on separate visual tracks, an HD master, masters in other formats, etc. etc. Unfortunately, many indie filmmakers learn the hard way that they need certain deliverables in order to fulfill any distribution deals they may secure. And, they run into problems finding the money to pay for the stuff after the fact! IFP's Rough Cut Lab provided a great overview of these after-the-fact, but essential costs when I attended it with the film, jumping off bridges.

We forecast our post production costs to run about a third as much as our production costs - hovering close-ish to $70,000.

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Sunny Side Up featuring dance teacher & ghost hunter, Carly Bell

Jentri Chancey — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:28:11 +0000

This month's August episode of Sunny Side Up features my very dear friend, mother of two, and ghost hunting bud, Carly Bell. During the day, she teaches dance to kids at a private school here in Austin. On the side, she also teaches adult classes at Lifetime FItness, and is a key member of Aether Paranormal's team, where she searches for all unexplainable things that go bump in the night.

Her endless energy has always amazed me, but her love for life, sense of humor, and kind heart are what blow me away. I think most of you will be able to relate to Carly, because she's honest, down to earth, and hilarious!

This particular episode, related to our film's theme, is about turning 30, and expectations leading up to it. Sometimes it's the simplest joys that can make the biggest impacts on our life, as Carly so intimately reveals.

Enjoy! Jentri

Sunny Side Up Featuring Carly Bell

What projects are you working on?

Jentri Chancey — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:10:23 +0000

Lorie and I had a conversation recently about continuing to produce work, while waiting on Sunshine's magic to manifest. :)

Sure, there are many projects we upkeep and creatively continue to entertain weekly/monthly (i.e. character blogs, social media, Sunny Side Up episodes) with LIS, but we aren't shooting it - YET.

Lately, I've been working on a documentary, What I Know For Sure, as well as our latest Aether Paranormal installments. For a while, I had extreme tunnel vision when it came to LIS, but I now realize that while the commitment is needed, continuing to produce (other) work is as equally important.

First of all, I'm a first time feature director, despite having produced a wellness/fitness video, made three narrative shorts, and co-produced/directed numerous Aether Paranormal documentaries. The more film work I do now, the more I will bring to the table when we physically shoot Lost In Sunshine (I've made it many times in my head!).

Even corporate gigs can teach us lessons! What lenses, or filters to use to produce a certain lighting effect. It's all about experience... and although I KNOW I have loads of experience backing me up on the LIS set, I still want to be able to genuinely, and valuably contribute to the process as frequently as possible. I want to be the best I can possibly be. And for me, that means I keep producing new material in the meantime.

What projects are YOU working on? I want to know! :)

Thanks for caring, and sharing your thoughts with us.

Jentri

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Visualization Works!

Jentri Chancey — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:47:40 +0000

I'm so happy right now.. I have to share my happiness with you!

This morning, Lorie and I had our official kickoff meeting with our new executive producer, Cynthia Litman. We set our (new collective) intentions, worked on our ability to aim at roaming targets, (watch out Top Shot!) and clarified the highest priority on our notepads - securing the rest of our funding for LIS, so that we can make our movie! Will share with you our next goal dates for principal photography in the next couple weeks... but it's getting closer... I can feel it!

And we're not sitting back while it happens... we're doing happy dances, and even video taping them for you (that's my warning - don't say I didn't tell you it was coming!). Why? It's about bringing forth a collective spirit that will draw in the type of energy we want - like the law of attraction suggests. It's about manifesting our visions - making them become a reality. And moving forward with positive attitudes and expectations that will advance our agenda. Who wants to talk to a sourpuss, anyhow? :)

To that point, Ari and Lorie guided me to this video clip today about how and why visualization works. I think this is an oportune time to share such tactics, so you can work on your vision(s), too! One, because I firmly believe they work. Two, because no matter what you or I think, it can't hurt!

The creation of Lost In Sunshine, conceptually to visually, has been an emotional roller coaster for me. Mostly (really) good stuff, a lot of 'challenging' and a little heart break in between. But whatever less than desirable hoopla has flown my way, one thing's for certain - my vision, partners in (non-offensive) crime, and hope have never failed me. Sometimes that's what I think I do best... hang on to hope when it feels hopeless... but why not? There's worst things to hang on to!

With Love & Respect, Jentri

Enjoy the video!

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What's in it for you?

Jentri Chancey — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:14:14 +0000

Have you ever been working away on a project, then suddenly asked yourself, "What's really in this for me?"

Experience? Pleasure? Money? Credit? Exposure? Status? Fame? The Challenge? The Game? Friendships?

There could be many variables that lead you to the thought, but ultimately, I think most filmmakers have thought this - at least once. Maybe you were on someone else's shoot, editing someone else's footage, while someone else was making all the (real) money, or accepting the awards or recognition. Maybe you were working crazy hours, trying to make everyone happy, while battling Gettysburg in your spare time...?

But deep down, we (filmmakers) all know why we do it. There's something indescribable, so completely (insane?) embedded in us, that nothing else makes much sense. To do something else would be resisting our innate ability... our calling. The harder than normal work - ah, whatever. We call it a labor of love. But when's the big paycheck come, yo? That often flickers in our minds. I'm here to tell you today, from working on Lost In Sunshine for the last few years, and a few other indie projects, the check(s) still hasn't come to my mailbox, and I haven't died yet. Or gone hungry (thank you, husband). But I'd be lying and stupid if I said it wasn't challenging, heart tugging, or emotionally exhausting on occasion. :)

So why am I doing this?

For starters, I'm following a dream that's precious to me. I can't imagine going thru life without giving it all I got. This process is beautiful, insightful, and challenging (in a good way) too. I took the leap of faith a long time ago, and it's what's kept me from taking a 9-5 job. Every time I get stressed about bills, or a less than desirable circumstance, I think about what we've accomplished thus far. The support from my Sunshine makers has given me yet another reason to keep going strong. The friendship that Lorie (LIS' producer) and I have developed has been uplifting to my spirits, and lent me comfort when there was little. The fact that my husband, Shad and I can collaborate on film projects, and he's supportive, is pretty wonderful, too.

All these little things add up to one big, complex, colorful rainbow. And so many of them have to do with my undying love and gratitude for LIS and the people that occupy this journey. It's far greater than a pay check (although I'm not against them!) and I know that I'm getting way more out of this experience than it's getting from me... ok... perhaps an equal reciprocation. We're even. :)

Why do you do what you do? Are you following your dream(s)?

Either way, what's in it for YOU?

I'd love to hear your response, thoughts, and perspective on what makes your world move.

With love and respect,

Jentri

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What is Spiritual Cinema all about?

Jentri Chancey — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:18:09 +0000

According to Stephen Simon, co-founder of Spiritual Cinema Circle, Spiritual Cinema (movies) do three things: 1) Awaken your sense of joy and wonder. 2) Inspire love and compassion 3) Evoke a deeper sense of connection with the universe around you.

I recently wrote a blog post on Spiritual Cinema and how it found me in this journey with Lost In Sunshine. For me, this type of visual storytelling is more than about making someone feel good. In fact, at times you may not feel good at all watching something that invokes such a passionate or powerful response you didn't even know you had about a particular topic/event, until after you saw it. But the idea (for me) is to raise a unified higher awareness, and connectedness, through these films, to the world that's all around us, and the one we all desire.

In the end, all spiritual movies (not to be confused with religious ones) have a universal message. The message, when told right, will uplift you or raise your awareness - without your permission. It will transport you, without you ever moving. And it will speak to you, sometimes without any words at all.

But most of all, it will invite you... invite you to participate in learning about something bigger than yourself... than all of us.

How do you feel about spiritual cinema? What does it mean to you?

Thanks in advance for caring, and sharing!

Jentri

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Where does the money go? Production costs

Lorie Marsh — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:38:06 +0000

Production expenses comprise all the costs of actually shooting the movie: crew pay, equipment, food, locations, wardrobe, sets, etc. It's the more sexy stuff one usually associates with movie-making -- actors in costume, sets dressed, boom mics hovering above the actors, camera rolling, the director saying, "Action!"

Our total budget for these costs currently hovers around $190,000, with the biggest sub-categories being:

camera ($28,000),
locations ($35,000 [a lot bigger than an average low-budget indie - but, that's how our story rolls]),
set operations ($25,000 [including feeding cast and crew over a 25-day shoot]),
and crew pay ($18,000).

We have 18 sub-categories in our Production budget, including the four above, so I'm staying very high-level here, so as not to make your eyes glaze over! :)

Ironically, if we'd pursued shooting LIS as a $2.3 million movie, the biggest Production sub-category would have been:

transportation ($230,000 [union drivers for trucks/vehicles, cast and production trailers, etc.]).

Isn't that unexpected?

Next posting, Post-Production. Thanks for reading!

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Sunny Side Up featuring singer-songwriter, Larissa Ness

Jentri Chancey — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:32:37 +0000

Howdy, Sunshine Friends!

This month's episode of Sunny Side Up, (related to our film's theme) with recording artist, Larissa Ness, is about expectations and hopes leading up to age thirty. Larissa speaks intimately about where she is in career, where she hopes to be, what inspires her, what she hopes to inspire in others, and what she hopes to achieve before turning the big three-zero (however, not disclosing her age!).

A little about Larissa (from www.larissaness.com):

When Larissa plays solo, on the keys back home in Austin, she is often called “Norah Jones on Fire.” However, Larissa’s diverse songwriting styles connects with a broad spectrum of music lovers while Larissa’s musical style has transformed from classical to jazzy to pop to R&B over the years...

Artists often used to describe Larissa’s solo musical performance on the piano include Colbie Caillat, Sarah McLachlan & Sara Bareilles.

Visit: http://www.larissaness.com/biography for FULL BIO!

Thanks for tuning in! :)

Sunny Side Up featuring Larissa Ness

Jentri talks about writing in character for Lyn and Bob

Jentri Chancey — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:22:20 +0000

After talking to a few friends about LIS' lead characters, Lyn and Bob, I realized that there could be some confusion about these blogs and fictional characters. Two friends of mine actually thought that I was writing Lyn's life, based on my own! So, I made this video blog to clear things up.

Enjoy, and thanks for listening!

Jentri

Jentri talks about writing in character