Filmmaking
Sister Production
Once again, one of my sisters piggybacked off my idea to gift a family experience for Christmas. Last year, we gifted the family indoor skydiving, which went swimmingly well. This year, the sister collaboration involves an actual production of our very own Christmas show. Producing a live show is in my wheel house since I … Continue reading
One Step Closer to Filmmaking
Starting last year, I declared that I was no longer buying materialistic Christmas presents. All my gifts seemed like sacrifices to all the other junk that my family already had. Even the handmade things weren’t appreciated for the effort that I put in and STILL added to the cathedral of junk. I brainstormed affordable family … Continue reading
Filmmaking Funding Research
Looking for filmmaking grants is as time-consuming as job hunting. I am attempting to replace my day job with something more creative than what I’m currently doing in exchange for income. Since my idea is to make a short documentary, I want to know upfront what the funding parameters are. I already knew there were … Continue reading
Self-Funded Filmmaking
Since being priced out of Austin, TX, I relocated to one of the dramatically less hipper cities in NC. It’s so unhip that it’s hours away from the nearest NC city with either a film school or even a modest film industry. Even Wilmington is known as “Wilmywood” and “Hollywood East.” After recovering from my … Continue reading
Photoshoot Happy Hour
You can tell by the lipstick that I made an effort. Of course right after work, I wasn’t in the mood to make a wardrobe change, but I’m glad I did. Not merely because there were two rooms staged to take pictures, but also, I loved putting lipstick on for the occasion. I also had … Continue reading
Now Hear This
As soon as I wished out loud to be part of a real film set, versus the spur-of-the-moment set where I shot my first short film, the universe granted my wish. Originally, I applied for the “Sound Mixer” position not really knowing what all it entailed. The only other open position was DP (Director of … Continue reading
Art on the Big Screen
This was the moment I’d been waiting for. Not just another excuse to dress up and attend a real live event. Thanks to the membership showcase, I saw my first short film, There’s Always Something, up on the big screen. Additionally, this was the first time I’d met some other board members in real life … Continue reading
In-Person Film Fest
My first in-person film fest event took place about 30 minutes outside of Austin proper. Before heading out to the event, I coached myself not to automatically hug people I knew. After all, this was my third in-person event. I had to show some maturity and restraint. I asked first if someone accepted hugs or … Continue reading
2020 Capital City Black Film Festival
Last year, I volunteered for the CCBFF for the first time because I had never heard of this festival before. This year my very first short film, There’s Always Something, had been selected to participate. With giddy excitement, I experienced the behind the scenes activities of being selected, starting with participating in a prerecorded panel … Continue reading
Screenwriters’ Workshop
A week prior to attending this virtual workshop, I dusted off my one and only script, which I’d edited over a year ago. I’d received a thorough critique with examples of how to improve it, but at the time, I didn’t have the motivation to implement them. This workshop cured that apathy. With fresh eyes, … Continue reading