In May 2010, we shot our latest short film over a weekend in Toronto.  It’s a drama about two people living on the streets called The Climb

SYNOPSIS | The Climb centers on Cameron and Destiny and their struggles living on the streets.  Each of them must face their terrible pasts in order to move on.  While Destiny lost all hope long ago, Cameron holds to his belief that he will find a way to change things one day.

The film is on track to be completed by the end of 2011 but it’s still been a year so I thought I would pass along another update.  Cutting the film was always meant to be an experiment.  At first, I cut it exactly how I originally envisioned it on the set.  The footage looked amazing but I really wanted to try different approaches.  Editing The Climb has been a fantastic opportunity try new techniques and styles.

Eventually, I thought of a completely new direction to take the film and I’ve been blasting through the edit ever since.  It’s incredible how much tighter and shorter the film has become.  Certain key lines of dialogue have slowly disappeared and I’m extremely proud of the film thus far.

Throughout the process, I’ve been teaching myself sound mixing and color correction techniques with the intention of doing the work myself.  As you can imagine, this is a long process especially when you factor in my full time job as an editor.  Honestly, I’m happy I never really imposed a deadline for this project.  Rest assured, it will be completed and I can’t wait to show off a clip or two this summer.

Until then, here is a recap of the pre-production process, our three day shoot and my adventures with Final Cut Studio.

PRODUCING A LOW BUDGET SHORT FILM | PRE-PRODUCTION
25 posts detailing the entire pre-production process including the screenplay, casting, make-up, location scouts, budgets and more.
Click here to read.

DIRECTING SHORT FILMS: PLAYING THROUGH VS THE CLIMB
A look at what I learned after directing my second short film.
Click here to read.
Find out more about Playing Through here.

PRODUCING A LOW BUDGET SHORT FILM | PRODUCTION
Another 12 posts about how we made the film on a cold May weekend.
Click here to read.

EDITING A LOW BUDGET SHORT FILM

Editing A Short Film: Planning The Trailer

Editing A Short Film: Taking On The Big Scene

Take That Opening Scene!

Think About The Edit And Nothing Else

How A Dialogue Heavy Script Became A Quiet Movie

Editing A Film You Directed: The Annoying Part

You Have To Start Somewhere

MARKETING A LOW BUDGET SHORT FILM

Does This Poster Sell My Independent Short Film?

The Climb’s Poster Is Here!

VISIT 17WEST.CA FOR MORE ON THE FILM & 17 WEST PRODUCTIONS

Understandably, you can’t really shut down city streets when you are making a low budget short film.

Obviously, we didn’t have much money to do so while filming The Climb.

For the most part, we used to steady traffic flow to our advantage but it backfired on two occasions.

Picture this…

It’s a cold Saturday afternoon and you’re 30 years old.  Clearly you’re on your way to buy dish soap because you have nothing better to do with your weekend.  After all, it’s on sale so why not pick up a bottle.  Maybe two bottles? Nah only one, you don’t need two…

While you ponder the future of dish soap in your dwelling, you come across a film shoot.

Two thoughts go through your head.

1. “Oh look, a film shoot!  I’m going to be courteous and drive by without disturbing those nice people.”
2. “I should really honk and screw up that film shoot.”

There were two idiots who chose Option 2 during production of The Climb.

They literally HONKED repeatedly while yelling out of their windows.

Who does that?

Here is what I think happened after the honking stopped…

They rolled up their windows and cranked Celine Dion while laughing to themselves.  However, something happened next that they did not expect.  They glanced at themselves in the rear view mirror and the smile disappeared.

They thought to themselves…

“I don’t have any friends to share this joke with…  Perhaps it’s because I’m an idiot who finds it funny to honk while people are filming.”

It’s okay idiot…  At least you’ll have clean dishes…

Anyone who has or is planning on directing a short film may experience the pressure I’m feeling now.

My thoughts over these last few days have been focused on whether or not we will deliver an entertaining movie in the end.

As the shooting date approaches on any movie I work on, I get anxious.  My new short film, The Climb, is no different.  I’m starting to feel a little nervous.  Now, some people may think a nervous and anxious director isn’t good for the production.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

The truth is, I’ve been through this before.

I was a wreck before we shot Playing Through a few years ago.  Going into it, I didn’t know if I would be able to pull it off.  So I worked tirelessly to make sure I’d be taken seriously on set.  It was the first professional crew I had ever worked with.  It was one of the best week’s of my life.

All of the pressure and anxiety I put myself through disappeared the second we completed the first take.  From that point on, I was just making a movie and having a blast doing it.

Click here to read the whole story on the making of Playing Through.

I was comfortable on set because deep down I knew that I had used all the time I had to prepare.  I didn’t waste a second.

Don’t waste a second!

The pressure I put on myself ends up motivating me to work harder and think things through.  Instead of wondering why I’m nervous, I’ve been spending my time rehearsing the script like any actor would except I’m visualizing the movie.  I’ll never know if my ideas for shots  and style will work until the actual day but I take comfort in knowing I’ve put a lot of thought into the movie.

Making the movie on paper first makes me feel a whole lot better when I get on set. Even though I usually throw all my notes out the window and go on instinct.  It still gives me a starting point.

People tend to put pressure on themselves to succeed and it can eat away at you.  I have a different theory.

1. Being a director means having a vision and being able to articulate it to your cast and crew and creating an entertaining movie.
2. Being a successful director happens after the work is done.  That’s when you watch a cohesive and entertaining story that people can relate to and enjoy.

It all hinges on being proud of the work your put into it.  All the built up pressure actually ends up improving the movie because I am concerned about the final product.  I do want the movie to be successful and I’m willing to put the work in to become a successful filmmaker.  That’s why I put the pressure on myself in the first place.

Any aspiring director puts pressure on themselves.  It’s normal.

I recommend using it to your advantage.  Take the weeks leading up to your shoot and really think about what you want the movie to be. You can make up any shots you want!  If that doesn’t get your blood pumping I don’t know what will.

I’m loving the fact that we are actually making a movie soon.  Being creative in a collaborative environment is inspiring.

I can’t wait to start but until that time, I’ll be rewriting, rehearsing and story boarding my brains out.

Time to get to work.

Good talk…  I feel better now.

I wish I could draw. Having the ability to see an image in your mind and translate it perfectly on the page is a skill I would love to have.

As a writer…

I have to rely on my ability to describe what I want people to see.  A part of me hopes there are artists out there who wish they could write.  It helps me sleep at night even though I remain insanely jealous of talented visual artists.

As a director…

I have to be able to communicate what I’m looking for clearly with as many tools as possible.  I’d like to present key crew members with beautifully drawn storyboards but  I can’t draw!

This coming Spring, I’ll be directing The Climb.  I wrote the script a while back and I have a very clear vision in my head of what I want the movie to be.  We’ve reached the point in pre-production where I have to start bringing people up to speed on what I’m looking for visually.

Storyboards would be perfect at this stage but I don’t have the budget to hire an artist and we’ve already covered that I can’t draw…

So what’s my answer?

The Cahier

I’m bilingual by the way.

Among my film friends, The Cahier is now a household name on productions I’m a part of.

It’s basically a notebook you would use as a journal in the second grade.

I start a different book for each movie and inside, I plan every single detail I can so I’m prepared when the cameras roll.  Playing Through was the first time I used this system and I loved having it around on the set.  It was well worth the effort.

Essentially, I plan one scene at a time.

First, I describe each shot I want to achieve.

I then write notes on what I think will be needed to pull them off.

I also do my best to draw stick figures and simple shapes to help convey the framing and composition I want in the shots.

It’s not a perfect system but the results are the same.

You have to know what you want on set. I like to have a clear idea before I get there.

Some directors like to arrive and plan each shot in the moment.

I like to have a plan going in while doing my best to remain open to new and better ideas. I think that’s the reason why I rarely use The Cahier on set.

Planning, storyboarding and thinking in advance can seriously help you artistically but you can never ignore your instincts when you’re in the moment.

Regardless, the whole process is unbelievably fun because after all, I’m making movies!

To quote M. Night Shyamalan from the documentary found on the Signs DVD:

“This visual script should represent the absolute worst that this movie can be.”

Still…  I wish I could draw.