Mentoring at SXSW 2013

Last year I was lucky enough to on a +SXSW panel with a director I had just finished editing three projects for (+Kyle Henry) and an editor I have long admired (Sandra Adair). The panel was a workshop where the three of us would give notes on fundraiser reels that filmmakers brought in for us to watch in a room full of strangers. It was an informative, practical and useful workshop that I think people really dug and that we should try to resurrect next year.

This year, I'm a panelist of another sort: A SXSW mentor. Mentor workshops operate like this: Attendees read the bios of the mentors of a given session, then sign up for one-on-one time with the mentor they most want to hear from. You can sign up to meet with one or you can meet with all of them.

I've never done it before, so I'm looking forward to meeting some new folks and seeing what the experience is like. I hope my professional experience in production and (mostly) in post-production will help answer some questions for other working filmmakers.

I'm in the Producers/Production 2 session on Tuesday, March 12th from 330 PM - 5 PM. There are some great folks in that session, several of whom I've worked with. If you're coming to SXSW 2013 consider signing up for any of the offered Mentor Sessions!

Mentors: Production/Production 2

The Lowdown on GOOD NIGHT at SXSW 2013 (includes trailer)

The second of two films I am a part of that world premieres at +SXSW this year is Sean Gallagher's Good Night. I was one of the film's editors alongside Don Howard (and uncredited editing Gallagher - because once you are writer, producer, and director on the film, I think most people will assume you had a hand in the cutting).

This film has traveled a long and windy road. I've jumped on and off it just by virtue of its director's approach to making it. This film was a labor of love for all involved. I know that phrase gets tossed off easily but many of the cast and crew worked well below their pay grade or for nothing at all. There is something about this story and about these characters that I think everyone was drawn to, and we just wanted to help Sean see that it end up on a big screen someday... even if that day was further away than we thought it would be when we first came aboard.

Over the course of this film's development, many of its themes have touched the lives of its creators in ways we never could have expected nor would have wanted, in some cases. For me personally, its surreal how closely some of the events in the movie played out in my own life.

It's a challenging, darkly funny, scrappy little movie. I think Sean and producer Jonny Mars assembled the right crew to see it through.

Good Night world premieres Monday, March 11th at 945 PM at the Rollins Theater. Visit this page for its other screening times.

The Lowdown on THE BOUNCEBACK at SXSW 2013 (includes trailer)

I worked on two films at +SXSW this year. On the Bryan Poyser's latest, The Bounceback, I came on board just before production began as the film's post production supervisor. I've worked as an editor on a number of features now. Post supervising gave me an opportunity to have something closer (but not exactly, let's be clear) to a producorial role on the film.

Responsibilities include tasks I'm used to such as digital workflow, coordinating between departments during filming and in post, and troubleshooting/tech support. I expanded on my experience by hiring personnel, scheduling and negotiating with vendors, and being a point of contact for the director, producers, editing team, graphics team, and our post house.

It wasn't all technical and bureaucratic, however. I watched nearly every cut of the film and provided feedback throughout the post process. I was a sounding board, at times, for the director and producer, who are good friends of mine. I felt like I was still part of the team even though I wasn't in the editing chair - which is where I'm used to sitting.

I feel more confident now in a role like this. It's not a role I want to be in as much as I enjoy editing and direction, but in independent film there is no downside to having a multitude of skill sets.

"Do Over" and "Test Day" screen at Short Indies

It's been a busy few weeks leading up to +SXSW, so I'll be updating this blog in several posts in a short time span (I hope) to cover everything that's been happening or is about to happen. Why several posts? Why not one post, seeing as this is, in fact, a blog meant for long, descriptive posts?

1) Each topic deserves it's own blog entry!

2) It makes my blog look super active!

3) I get to make a list where each item ends with an exclamation point!

So on with it as there is a lot of ground to cover...