A couple months ago, I went to L.A. for a work-caytion. I was going to the HapaJapan Festival to meet and blog about one of the films being showcased. The trip was great. I met with friends in the industry, toured the studio lots like I did when I was a kid, and visualized my life back in L.A. working in the industry. When I returned home, I found myself without a day job, half way through my entertainment business graduate program, and reaching itching to get back into working in film. I applied to a few AD and PA jobs, and spoke with a producer that was looking for a crew that could help teach these two friends how to make their first movie. These guys had written a script for a short horror film but didn't know anything about filmmaking. What started out an AD position turned into a co-producing role by the end of the conversation.
I came into the project a few months later than the rest of the team, the only person that really had any experience in film. I read the script and with gentle critique ripped it apart. While at the auditions, the first meeting I had with the writing/directing team, I explained how every script must have a three-act structure and particular format, character development, etc. They were so precious about the work, believing it was perfect in their first draft that by the end of the day I said I would continue to help if they wanted but I wouldn't want my name on the project. It was a sad start to my re-entry into film, but I couldn't in good conscious tell these two their film would work with the script they had at that moment. The next day I got a call from the producer saying he loved the suggestions I made to the guys and wanted to know if he could make MY movie. My movie? Um, sure, yes let's do it!
The producer was pretty focused on making a horror, so I got to work on a script about the first vampire. Over the last two months, I have been tightening the story, having industry friends critique the script, and planning for a Kickstarter campaign to raise fund. My script is almost ready for production and I am very excited. When I graduated from film school in 2003, I had big hopes of being the female Francis Ford Coppola. How I was going to get there, I had no idea. What ended up happening is that I had to get a "real" job and I have worked as an Office Manager, Operations Manager, or an Event Planner ever since. Sometimes I would get a short gig on a film, or work for a festival, but like many college graduates I didn't end up doing what I loved. When I decided to return to school for my masters in Entertainment Business, I decided that even though it would be a financial drain to my husband and myself that I HAD to do it this time. Upon my return home from L.A. I was fired without cause. And incident that occurred at my work place while I was not there lead to my boss letting me go on the phone at 10:45 PM the night before I was suppose to return to work. While I hate that I was fired, especially for something I wasn't present for, I was unhappy in my position and being fired gave me the excuse and motivation to finally start pushing towards my dream of working in film. I didn't think it would take me to directing my own short only a few months later.
The film, Origins, is about the creation of both the first vampire and the first witch 4,000 years ago. It jumps back and forth between modern day and the day of their creation. My producer and I will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in the next few weeks and filming will begin in August. I may veer off course in this blog for the next few months from talking about exclusive Mixed-Race in Media issues, and talk a bit more about this film (self promotion ;P) so please don't lose interest. The goal of Mixed Girl Moving Pictures is to get films made by Mixed-Race filmmakers. Even though my film doesn't deal wit Mixed issues, I hope that it opens up a world with which more stories, including Mixed stories, could be told. Stay tuned for more updates on Origins.
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