September already!?

Say it's not so....where has the time gone??

My show has been keeping me super busy but in between I am trying to find the time to get stuff done with 'ninety-one' among other things.

The biggest news is that I finally got a chance to host a cast and crew screening and it was a huge success!! It seems, I am very happy to report, that people really liked the film. They were moved by it, had questions about it and were taken enough by these 5 characters to ask for more. Everyone is asking about a feature. I am not sure it gets better than that!! So thank you everyone - for coming out in support!

I am still waiting on festivals but you know how that game goes.....

In the mean time I have a hiatus this week and I am away writing.... procrastinating?...no writing! It is the first time I have left the city to write and I think it is a really good thing for me....well so far anyway.

I promise there will be more to come.....
Jill

The waiting game.

Well - the waiting game is the name of the game. So far I have made about 9 submissions to festivals. So fingers crossed!

Over the Canada Day weekend (ok mid-week) get-a-way to Ottawa we screened 'ninety-one' for a small group of friends and family. We wanted to say thank you for the support. Sylvie (exc-producer) and Suesan (co-writer/co-producer) hosted the party at Suesan's house. It was a really nice evening - full of well wishes, love and support. The response to the film was terrific! One of the attendees was Tom Shoebridge (friend of Suesan's - his daughter is a filmmaker as well). Tom founded the film school: Canadian Screen Training Centre - now in it's 28th year. I had just met Tom that evening and he is a lovely man and he gave 'ninety-one' two thumbs up so, you know, pretty pleased with that one. All of this makes me even more curious to see how the festivals will receive it.

In the mean time it is back to more submissions, getting more of the press-kit stuff together, finding a place and time to finally host my cast and crew screening, sending off my clip to Frank for the 140 project, developing a stage play, thinking about shooting a short with script I didn't write, getting down to writing one (or all) of the 3 features I am working on and finally on to a 'day' job. I am starting work on a new TV show next week - Copper - a Grey's Anatomy for cops. You will find it in the future on Global in Canada and ABC in the US.

I think I have my work cut out for me - so I better get cracking! Later......

Yippie - It's Done!!

Brendan Wall (Ben) and
Shauna MacDonald (Simone) hard at work.







So I just had a family gathering over an extended long weekend....But now I am back and even better - so is the film. I am pleased to announce that 'ninety-one' is now complete and I have already made a few submissions to some film festivals.

These photos are from the week before, the sound mix and the tiny little bit of ADR we had to do. I never did ADR on my last film so it was interesting and fun, especially since we didn't have the pressure of having a lot to do. Not to mention some of the dialogue was off screen so that also made it easier. I am still learning about sound mixes but I feel like I am continuing to grow which is great.

You know it's funny - almost everyone working on this project in the post end of things has at some point pushed the film towards the more serious or heavy side and I have fought them on it - feeling like the story and performances will carry the audience where they are supposed to be. Again it all comes back to trusting the story you have told and the film you have made.

I am really excited to see what happens to 'ninety-one' and am very proud of the results. All the hard work that everyone has put into making this film possible has been fantastic. Thank you.

Over the weekend I showed the film to my mother and I was touched by her reaction. When you finally see the film you will understand.

So it is on to a new stage - wish us luck with the festival submissions and stay tuned to this spot for updates! xo

Round two.

Well last week was a big learning curve for me. The most important thing I took away was to 'know your film' and 'trust you that you know your film'.

This end of production...the post end with color corrects and sound mixes, as I have mentioned is the area I am not as familiar with, so help and guidance was what I needed. I had my color correct session and through a series of conversations, suggestions and compromises found myself when I left unsure of what we had done. It did not feel right. Now it is not anyone's fault and we were all there to do what we thought was best - agendas can sometimes be different. With that said though I found that after sleeping on it and showing the results of the session to someone close to the film I trusted I realized I had some changes to make. I know I did the right thing. It looks and feels right now and I am really happy with the end result.

So let my lesson be a lesson to all of you out there feeling the pressure of making important decisions regarding your film. You have lived with the film longer then anyone else. At times that can be a bad thing as it might be hard to have perspective but it can also make the difference in situations like these. I learned that sometimes no matter what you have talked about - pulled and selected for reference before making your film - in color palette or what have you - when all is said and done, what does the film you actually shot and edited say to you. Does where you thought you were in the beginning really hold true when you are done? I found that 'Ninety-one' become its own being irrespective of what intentions I had for it. That is not to say that I didn't make the film I set out to make it is just to say that it is now it's own life force and speaks to me from that point.

Thank you to those who indulged me last week, I really took a lot with me.

So bring on the this new one. I am ready!

Brand New Day

So tomorrow starts a whole new part of post. We have final picture cut and we are locking it in the morning. I'm very happy - looking good! This week we start the color correct, sound mix and all the things that will come and go in between.

On Friday I vetted the cut at School (edit company) with Chris (my editor) - Kyle (asst. editor). Kyle rallied a couple of people who had no connection to the film or even knew anything about it. The response was great. A huge sigh of relief. It is always good to vet the cuts as you go along so it is not just you and your editor thinking you are done or that it's working. Hopefully the people you ask will be honest with you.

Music is still not nailed down so I will continue to work on the with the gang that is helping me.

I am really looking forward to getting on to the next stage. It is the part of post production that I know the least about and have the most to learn from. So it is going to be challenging but also really interesting. I will definitely be relying on the experts to help me out.

Two weeks and we should be done!

Mine that Bird

As you may have guessed from my headline.....were are almost at the finish line of picture lock! In fact I am at my editors right now pulling a late one. This is my editor - Chris. I am getting excited! Looking forward to the next stage of post.

Also some things that have been a little tricky finally look like they may be falling into place....like music. We found a great song.

Tonight I may have also secured and amazing graphic designer to help with posters and such. All is happy in Jill's film world.

Keep the blood flowing.

I almost gave my editor a heart attack today. I didn't mean to...an innocent comment to give him something to think about while I was out snapping photos to maybe use as a back drop of my title card. Chris is over worked and over tired - definitely burning the candle at both ends. The fact is, this puppy has been in need of an edit for a while - but timing is everything, so they say and some of us work better under pressure so here we are. Under pressure.

The music was leaving something to be desired - not in the fact that is was bad but more that it just wasn't working with the picture. Here I was thinking....oh - it went so smoothly last time I don't need a music supervisor just get myself a composer and away we go. Wrong. So guess what I have now.

I am still not sure the deadline will be made with the changes we have had to incur this week but we are working diligently - so we will see where we get and hope for the best!!

Money

I'm thinking that money gives you freedom. It's not that you can't do it without money obviously you can but in the end it just offers you more options and allows for more opportunity. I am not talking about a lot of money but when you have none (for argument sake) something more than that is helpful. But these, once again, are the challenges facing filmmakers and in the end where there is a will there is a way. It really forces you focus in on what is important and think about creative ways to get around something. My two cents for the day.

This is a hard one...the edit, the music, the look - getting it just right. Probably one of the most challenging things I have had to face in this business. With that said it is challenging in the best of ways and one I certainly up for!

I'm nine days out from the first official deadline in post and progress is being made although not fast enough for my liking (will it ever?) but things are moving forward and in the right direction so - good!

UGH!!!!!!!!

Deadlines are fast approaching and trying to make everyone come together on the same schedule is VERY tricky!! Especially tricky when people are helping you out and doing something pro-bono. Obviously when you are making films on ultra low budgets these are some of the problems you face. Love 'em and hate 'em but can't live without them!
Keep your fingers crossed and do a little dance for me - that's what I am doing.......

Photos from the childhood memory portion of the film.....including the one in the post below.

Sunny Vancouver?

Ok so it's a little longer than I thought but today is the day that I post some photos so that has to be worth something?!

I am out in Vancouver - over the weekend I attended a wedding of a friend. She and her now husband and yours truly met on a film we all worked on that was shot in Toronto and Cologne, Germany - now 3 years later they have done it!! It was a beautiful weekend in Cultus Lake - many cocktails and one beautiful day.
I am hanging out here a little longer and then back to T.O. But don't think that doesn't mean I am not working away on 'Ninety-one'.

We have FINALLY started editing and some of the scenes we have cut are looking great!! But we do have our work cut out for us. As I thought this is definitely one where the editor is so important! I have also met with the composers and they have started the process. I am excited - I feel like we are all on the same page - which is nice. I am getting post production schedules together and have managed to get an extension on submitting the film to Toronto International Film Festival but the new deadline is so tight I have my fingers crossed we will make it.

So...a brief update....more to follow but pics are on the way!

Too Long......stay tuned.

Oh my gosh....I have been totally delinquent!! I'm sorry.

Aside from finishing the 'shooting portion' of the production of Ninety-one I started a "paying" gig. I promise I will write and post some photos this weekend.....

Things are moving forward...slowly but surely!

Jill

Ready to roll.....

Ok so who knew so much could happen in a few days......
Back up arrived (Suesan- phew).I have had a few major and minor heart attacks starting with losing an actor then thankfully gaining a great actor in their place. Hemorrhaging cash. Feeling excited, worried, nervous, happy. Amazed and thankful that great people are giving of their time. Hating our actors union who have made things very difficult. (now I finally get what so many people complain about). Realizing that whether you have $5 or $20 million the problems are the same - the difference is you just have more money to throw at them.

First day tomorrow....my AD has planned a good schedule...easing us into our 2nd day which will be a little more challenging but good.

Anyway off to bed...got to get up early - 7am at the location.
Wish us luck!!

Happy New Year!

So we are officially in 2009 and exactly 7 days from rolling film. Yes we are going old school baby - S16mm all the way.

So much has happened since I last posted....I must confess with everything that has to be done I get a little distracted from posting and get myself wrapped up in other things. No matter.

A week or so before Christmas I had what was to be my last casting session..... Also as an aside let my lesson be a lesson to all of you out there.....never make your shoot dates of your film just after Christmas and New Year. I clearly was not thinking when I thought that I wanted to get this in the can before everyone got busy on other things or began to feel like they were unable to help out because they worried about what paying job was or was not coming down the pipe. But now I realize I should have made it a week later as what has now become very apparent is that no one is back to work until the 5th which is 3 days from rolling cameras.....but I digress and really I KNOW it will all work out as so far so good. Sometimes you just have to bite the proverbial bullet and go for it. Things always work out some way some how...that I do believe.

So back to casting.....it is hard....or for this I found it hard. My first film seemed so easy in comparison. There are so many factors that come into how you get your cast and it is such a crucial part of making your film great...really half the battle is have a great cast. Having what you feel are the right people to bring your people to life. It is hard to have confidence in your choices sometimes but I think gut is important. It also doesn't hurt to have a second set of eyes and ears that you trust to turn to. With all of that said I think I've done it. Working with the actors union and with the agents has been frustrating at times but interesting. I have certainly gained much more insight into how the system can work both for you and against you.

I also now have a really great Line Producer on board - David. He has been a god send!! He has freed me up to think about what I need to think about which is directing. My girl friend/best friend and co-writer Suesan lives out of town so she has not been able to help out as much as she would have liked to so a lot has fallen into my lap. Which is all fine and good but film is a collaboration and we can sometimes get swept up in our own shit and not look for help. At the urging of my very diligent and wonderful 1st AD Chi (he did 'moment' as well) I finally was able to find some to share the work load. Of course all of the amazing people I have been able to enlist are going to be called upon more and more now that we are days away.

I have been discussing the look I want with my DP John - we continue exchange ideas and references. It is always interesting.

I feel very lucky to be able to have the cast and crew I have not to mention the support I have had and continue to have from friends, family, investors and work colleagues.

The last big story of the week is - I found our second location. It's going to work really well and they were very kind to give it to me for a great rate!

Things are falling into place....wish me luck as we head into the last week of production - Suesan's arrival to lend a helping hand and be my second set of eyes and ears, nailing down the last few crew members, putting all the things we talked about in our art department meeting yesterday into action, finalizing the cast and equipment, tech scouting, production meeting, wardrobe meetings/fittings, hair/make-up meetings, camera tests, cast readthru/rehearsal.....you get the idea.

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2009!
Jill