26 Feb 09

I will be going to look at the new comp today. Hopefully I will be up and editing again tonight! I will also be getting stuck into re-writing Te Whakapouri. I will be making some significant changes...really reducing it to the raw essence of what I desire it to be.

I met Annie yesterday. The Hui was really constructive. In particular, she asked me a patai (question) which has really made me think about the script and how I want it to be. She said, 'In a sentence, tell me what the script is about'. I replied, 'It is about Tana Tu, a Maori warrior prophet, who rises to greatness, but is undone by the sin of jealousy'. Now actually, that is not, in essence what the script is about. The script, in essence, is about Tana's relationship with Jehovah. Otherwise, if I went on what I said, the essence of the script would be about jealousy and betrayal...It is not. That is a B story. The A story is Tana's relationship with Jehovah...So I am really going to focus on making that happen. I feel that in my 1st script I just touch the surface in that regards.

Also, as I write the next script I will be cutting it to the bone, without losing the integrity of the creative aspects of the script, so that it is as cheap (props, location etc) as possible to make. Not that it is going to be a cheap movie, or look cheap, no. But that I will make it as cheap as possible to make.

Annie mentioned that a Red camera goes for about $20,000. This being so, I am simply going to buy a big red for the making of the movie, as it will actually cost more to simply hire it! A red Camera is basically a 35mm, but which is digital (so you save heaps on film stock, editing etc), and which can be downloaded straight to a computer to be edited on Final cut pro 6!

The crew itself, is going to be a skeleton crew, both for the trailer and the movie. This will not compromise the creative integrity of the story however. So the crew will be thus:
Writer - Me.
Director - Me.
Editor - Me (plus I may have a co-editor).
Producer -
Co-producer - Me.
Production manager - Me (for the trailer only).
1st AD - Top/Annie (?).
Cinematographer.
Focus puller.
Sound recordist.
Gaffer.
Gopher.

So I am now going to throw myself into this project 100%. I am going to write down clear cut goals with clearly defined dates and I am going to ACTION them. The two immediate goals are to get everything ready for the trailer (using scenes which are definitely going to be in the movie), plus start on the re-write.

In a world where death is the hunter my friend,

there is no room for regrets or doubts,

there is only time for decisions.

.