KERBEROS Movie - Ambitious Work
KERBEROS film director Kely McClung, on pushing himself and others to raise their levels and ambitions...
I just returned from a much needed rest and a rejuvenation period by watching other's work and being lucky enough to mentor and encourage filmmakers on their own efforts at the Indie Fest USA Film Festival in Downtown Disney.
Though I had meetings with both distributors and post production companies in LA, I was lucky enough to see a dozen films (shorts and features), and get to spend time beyond the two workshops I presented on film making with several other directors, actors, and producers. I also got to see and know the Indie Fest festival directors Ray and Don that much more. These two guys are really dedicated to presenting and creating a first class festival without compromising their status as 'really nice guys'!
The fest itself was definitely bigger and better than last year where our film BLOOD TIES won the top award, "Best of Festival". It's nice to see the progression and to be a part of things as they grow. I was invited to present 4 of the awards including the Best Feature and Best of Festival.
A big part of my reason for accepting the invitation was the opportunity to see the KERBEROS trailer and a couple of select scenes on the big screens at the Disney AMC Theaters. These screens, projectors, and sound systems are about as good as it gets, and watching the projected images on a 60 foot screen is fantastic feedback for where I am going with the final look, grading, and sound design of KERBEROS.
Part of my developing style is the use of many close up and very few cutaways - once we are in on a dialog scene - I tend to stay in. Of course, the scene has to work on an I-Pod as well as a big screen TV, and hopefully work the rare times it gets projected.
From my own perspective and the other couple dozen people who saw the work in the theater, it does. And works well. Really well. Cool!
It's nice to move on with confidence that I can satisfy my own standards. As a filmmaker, at least at the stage I am in making independent films, that is the main requirement.
One of the things I am struck with at the various festivals I have attended, is what I perceive as a lack of ambition. It's hard for me to understand and hard to define. Time after time, I see work which is poorly shot, has nearly no evident attention paid to art direction, lighting, costumes, acting, story, or sound design and delivery.
Having watched such films, I have to wonder why they were made, and/or what need they satisfied in the filmmakers and those involved.
The good news, I think, is that instead of patting myself on the back, I get so fearful that I too may get caught in the trap of thinking my own work is better than it is, that I find myself re-examining and renewing my commitment to work even harder at raising the level of my films. BLOOD TIES benefited from that push and now I am excited to try to take KERBEROS even further than we originally envisioned.
My advice to other filmmakers, should any be reading these words, is to not only raise your own ambitions, but work hard enough to reach them.
As the world's favorite Jedi Master stated: "Do or do not - there is no try."
Couple quick notes on the fest itself. Besides the other films and winners, Stan Harrington (our 'be-hated' - my newest made up word - Tony Menacci) screened two of his own films, IT'S ALL A GAME and SO YOU WANT MICHAEL MADSON?
"Madson" was nominated for several awards and "Game" won "Best Comedy". Not bad - in fact - pretty damn good! And they were good. I am hoping 'Madson' gains the legs it deserves. The content and structure are really done well, and the content immediately relevent to filmmakers of all levels. Plus, it's fun seeing a man who is becoming a 'icon' captured in his unihibited, natural state - and seeing his own love and enthusiasm for both films and filmmakers.
Congrats again Stan. And if anybody was at the fest to see the girls hanging on Stan's arms, including his beautiful date Meghan Cox, they would understand where the moniker 'Stan the Man' comes from!
Stan also arranged for So-Cal rocker Katy J to perform at the House of Blues after party - and within the first few notes of her first song - I knew one of the biggest unknown pieces to KERBEROS had been found. Katy J rocks! With voice, style, and presentation reminiscent of Melissa Ethridge, Chrissie Hynde, and Sheryl Crow, it's like she fights and frequently loses the battle to contain the power and angst in her voice and lyrics. And the girl can play guitar - not play... PLAY guitar. Watching Katy J perform made me want to jump on my return flight early and get back to work. And meeting and talking with her after her set, even in just those few minutes where everyone else was demanding her attention, it's obvious she is a real person delivering the real deal - a glimpse of that intangible element we call 'soul' as she performs.
I'm excited that she seemed genuinely excited to contribute her songs and talents to KERBEROS! I know the level of my film just jumped up again.
So it's back to work. The three-headed monster is growling, slobbering, and gnawing on me to get back to it.
Kely McClung
I just returned from a much needed rest and a rejuvenation period by watching other's work and being lucky enough to mentor and encourage filmmakers on their own efforts at the Indie Fest USA Film Festival in Downtown Disney.
Though I had meetings with both distributors and post production companies in LA, I was lucky enough to see a dozen films (shorts and features), and get to spend time beyond the two workshops I presented on film making with several other directors, actors, and producers. I also got to see and know the Indie Fest festival directors Ray and Don that much more. These two guys are really dedicated to presenting and creating a first class festival without compromising their status as 'really nice guys'!
The fest itself was definitely bigger and better than last year where our film BLOOD TIES won the top award, "Best of Festival". It's nice to see the progression and to be a part of things as they grow. I was invited to present 4 of the awards including the Best Feature and Best of Festival.
A big part of my reason for accepting the invitation was the opportunity to see the KERBEROS trailer and a couple of select scenes on the big screens at the Disney AMC Theaters. These screens, projectors, and sound systems are about as good as it gets, and watching the projected images on a 60 foot screen is fantastic feedback for where I am going with the final look, grading, and sound design of KERBEROS.
Part of my developing style is the use of many close up and very few cutaways - once we are in on a dialog scene - I tend to stay in. Of course, the scene has to work on an I-Pod as well as a big screen TV, and hopefully work the rare times it gets projected.
From my own perspective and the other couple dozen people who saw the work in the theater, it does. And works well. Really well. Cool!
It's nice to move on with confidence that I can satisfy my own standards. As a filmmaker, at least at the stage I am in making independent films, that is the main requirement.
One of the things I am struck with at the various festivals I have attended, is what I perceive as a lack of ambition. It's hard for me to understand and hard to define. Time after time, I see work which is poorly shot, has nearly no evident attention paid to art direction, lighting, costumes, acting, story, or sound design and delivery.
Having watched such films, I have to wonder why they were made, and/or what need they satisfied in the filmmakers and those involved.
The good news, I think, is that instead of patting myself on the back, I get so fearful that I too may get caught in the trap of thinking my own work is better than it is, that I find myself re-examining and renewing my commitment to work even harder at raising the level of my films. BLOOD TIES benefited from that push and now I am excited to try to take KERBEROS even further than we originally envisioned.
My advice to other filmmakers, should any be reading these words, is to not only raise your own ambitions, but work hard enough to reach them.
As the world's favorite Jedi Master stated: "Do or do not - there is no try."
Couple quick notes on the fest itself. Besides the other films and winners, Stan Harrington (our 'be-hated' - my newest made up word - Tony Menacci) screened two of his own films, IT'S ALL A GAME and SO YOU WANT MICHAEL MADSON?
"Madson" was nominated for several awards and "Game" won "Best Comedy". Not bad - in fact - pretty damn good! And they were good. I am hoping 'Madson' gains the legs it deserves. The content and structure are really done well, and the content immediately relevent to filmmakers of all levels. Plus, it's fun seeing a man who is becoming a 'icon' captured in his unihibited, natural state - and seeing his own love and enthusiasm for both films and filmmakers.
Congrats again Stan. And if anybody was at the fest to see the girls hanging on Stan's arms, including his beautiful date Meghan Cox, they would understand where the moniker 'Stan the Man' comes from!
Stan also arranged for So-Cal rocker Katy J to perform at the House of Blues after party - and within the first few notes of her first song - I knew one of the biggest unknown pieces to KERBEROS had been found. Katy J rocks! With voice, style, and presentation reminiscent of Melissa Ethridge, Chrissie Hynde, and Sheryl Crow, it's like she fights and frequently loses the battle to contain the power and angst in her voice and lyrics. And the girl can play guitar - not play... PLAY guitar. Watching Katy J perform made me want to jump on my return flight early and get back to work. And meeting and talking with her after her set, even in just those few minutes where everyone else was demanding her attention, it's obvious she is a real person delivering the real deal - a glimpse of that intangible element we call 'soul' as she performs.
I'm excited that she seemed genuinely excited to contribute her songs and talents to KERBEROS! I know the level of my film just jumped up again.
So it's back to work. The three-headed monster is growling, slobbering, and gnawing on me to get back to it.
Kely McClung
posted by Kely McClung at
Sunday, August 17, 2008
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