Matt\’s Film Blog

Hello!

It is November now and the American Film Market is just wrapping up. We have some interesting news for Troma as there is a great deal of interest in our ownership of Mad Dog Morgan, and we brought an uncut version of the film to shop around. A few of the workers and the President got to attend AFM itself in LA while I am remaining back in New York to hold the fort down. The office is a little bit emptier than it normally is, but the work is roughly the same. Some interesting scripts have come in, and I have worked through multiple boxes of scripts by this point, with a good five or seven that are of real quality.

Preparing for AFM was interesting, as I had to get prints on foam board for our newest releases, Mad Dog Morgan and The Hanging Woman. They ended up looking great though, to no complaint from the company president. Work is being done on new DVD menus for the upcoming rerelease of Troma’s War, and the Toxic Avenger BluRay is going to be released soon.

Continuing my internship work here at Tromaville in Long Island City. I have been punished for reading a couple of good scripts earlier in the week with a flood of absolutely terrible ones. I have read and gone through quite a few scripts by this point, with many very interesting, and some in need of a little bit of tweaking. Over all, the experience is very positive and I am getting better at recognizing good or bad qualities in a script and putting them into simple terms for those higher than me on the chain.

We have spent a good amount of time assembling materials for the upcoming Toxic Avenger BluRay as well, going through the old prints and components to clean them up and ready them for a new distribution. The Aussie western film starring Dennis Hopper is also getting a brand new uncut treatment from the Troma Team and should be available in the next couple of months, after the work color correcting and converting commentaries for the new version is finished.

I am currently working as an intern at Troma Entertainment Inc. Located in Long Island City New York. It is early on in the internship and I find myself doing things mostly revolving around film distribution and aquisition. I have watched a number of films and determined whether they can be marketed and published by the company, or whether they are no good.

I have also spent a great deal of time as a script supervisor, looking over and making notes and synopsises on the screenplays that are sent to the company. I get to judge what is a quality script and will be passed on to the president as a potential production. I have read one very good screenplay and sent my notes and the script on to be looked over by Lloyd Kaufman, the president of Troma.

The act of human beings committing violence against each other is as old as the species itself. Within the modern context of society, our savage nature is rejected and policed at all times. Human savagery is crime, but what effect does this have on a particularly guilty individual? How does a man feel once he returns from years of violence to the house, bed, and wife he had before? Guilt is an exploration into the mind of a creature trained for violence, but reluctant to come to grips with the memories of someone who’s life he took away.

-By American Psychiatric Association

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR.

Arlington, VA,   2000.

published by The American Psychiatric Association

-By Elton B. McNeil, Zick Rubin

The Psychology of Being Human

University of Michigan, 1977

Canfield Press

P.218

-By Edgar Jones, Simon Wessely

Shell Shock to PTSD: Military Psychiatry from 1900 to the Gulf War

Psychology press,  2005.

p.78-122

-By Edwin Fuller Torrey

Surviving schizophrenia: A Family Manual

University of Michigan 198

p.26-40

Week 5

I have written out every scene that takes place in my film and the things I need in order to complete those scenes, in order to streamline the process of filming.Photography has begun on my picture and I am very happy about it. I have some days off from work to get work done. I’ve found some people to work as my crew for these earlier scenes. I was able to shoot the ending of the short film in an ideal location. A steep hill along Black Lake blvd. owned by an owner couple was what I had in mind, and i was allowed to film in that spot, thankfully. The weather has been perfect for filming. Working with the bayonet style Bolex camera is a little strange and takes getting used to at first.I have written down some solid days where classmates are willing to aid me in the filming process.

Week 6

I have finished one of the more difficult scenes (due to the location.) It was an interesting scene running out of the train tunnel near the capitol covered in blood with tons of people around me. I made a kid cry too, apparently. I’ve cut off all my hair for the movie, so all of the other scenes can be filmed. I am having lots of trouble getting people together to get some of the more pivotal and difficult filming scenes to be done. Work at the shooting range had to be completely abandoned due to communication problems with some of the help I need. I am behind schedule, and need to check out equipment again and possibly take more time off work if I have to.

All props and supplies are accounted for, aside from a few articles of clothing I will be checking out from the Evergreen costume department. The butcher’s apron came in the mail, and my storyboards have been redrawn and refined to further clarify my filming ideas. In week three, I met up with a group of people willing to act and help with my movie, as well as aiding in the physical effects that will be throughout the film. The biggest problem right now is reconciling the times for people, equipment, the weather and work. Im starting to plan for a production time in which I can have more free time to myself to explore these options. I have planned out my shots and have also started to brainstorm for creative lighting techniques to give my film a more horror oriented feel.

I would love to have help from anybody in the mediaworks crew. I am willing to help anyone, as long as I have time and do not have to miss work in order to do so.

In week four, my film finally came in the mail and it is time to begin principal photography. It is still difficult to deal with the time and work constraints. I have checked on my work schedule to have a good five days off to pump through some of the filming that needs other people. I will get the shots I can and likely use shemping methods in order to link many of the shots together later, since I wont have the actors the entire time. This wont be difficult since the actors will have their faces covered with gasmasks half of the time.

I will be filming on DoubleX black and white 16mm.

I finally got my blog working. This is a backlog from my notebook.

Week 1

I have compiled a large list of ideas and themes to go along with in my film. Choosing was difficult, but going with a more guilt based piece, I think I will be able to get some potent imagery and points across. I have written rough storyboards for the entire work, although many of the ideas will have to be refined later. I have gone on the internet and purchased some military gasmasks and somne helmets to go along with them.

One of the troubles I have been having is getting in touch with actors. WHile myself and likely another person from class will be taking parts, I will need some more people to fill in the roles of soldiers. I have not found any proper uniforms yet, but I have been searching the internet. I have also been scouting locations while driving about to deliver pizza and memorizing areas that would be visually appealing and relevant in my production.

Week2

I have spoken with the leader of the Evergreen Gun Club about meeting them and getting footage of them shooting.  I would like some of them to participate in a few simple scenes that involve nothing more than target shooting and standing around. I have found a group of uniforms for a cheap price from a military surplus website, and they are well on the way.

Research into lighting techniques and which film to use in accordance with those techniques has begun. I still have not decided on a final film stock to use, although it will for sure be a black and white stock on 16mm. I would like some input on what types of film have which strengths, since the Kodak website is a little bit vague and confusing with their descriptions. I have a few people signed up to play small roles during the surrealist dreamlike sequences, and supplies have all been compiles (dough, food coloring, sausage casings, white makeup)

I need to spend more time at the prop shop getting my props finished for production. I will begin shooting as soon as i receive film, since I need to get some sequences done before I shave my head for chronological purposes.

Costume and effects elements are being researched and purchased. Research into psychological damage, post traumatic stress disorder and guilt.