Wednesday, April 29, 2009

I Will Update this List Regularly;

APRIL 29, 2009

The name’s Zach, MuZach. Music is perhaps the most critical aspect of SOUNDTRACK. Canadian artists will fuel the supercharged official soundtrack of the series, and will be absolutely instrumental in its success.

I’ve began to compile a list, tentatively, of the music I’d like to see represented in SOUNDTRACK. On a side note, I’m looking for someone with industry connections to assist me in securing the rights to use any of the following songs. I’ve included the song name; artist; album; year of release and record label for all selections. There are in absolutely no particular order.

Dbell Productionz

APRIL 29, 2009

Production notes. I’ve been talking to a few people lately about forming a production company. Here is a list of a few things I’d like to have accomplished over the next few months.

MAY 15th – EPISODE 3 FIRST DRAFT COMPLETED
JUNE 1st – D. BELL PRODUCTIONS INC. FOUNDED
JULY 1st – EPISODE 1, FINAL DRAFT, PRODUCTION SCRIPT COMPLETED
AUGUST 1st – STORYBOARDS for EPISODE 1 COMPLETED
AUGUST 1st – EPISODE 4 FIRST DRAFT STARTED
AUGUST 15th – THIRD DINNER (obviously this is tentative)
AUGUST 30th – TENTATIVE SHOOTING LOCATIONS for EPISODE 1


As of right now, April 30th 2009, I do have several key contributors to the shooting of EPISODE 1 nailed down. I have provided initials for everyone’s names.

EPISODE 1: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

WRITTEN BY: DUSTIN BELL
DIRECTED BY: DUSTIN BELL
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR: E.B.
STORYBOARDS – G.F.
DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY: J.W.
MAKEUP: M.C. and K.S.
HAIR: J.B.
MUSIC SUPERVISOR: DUSTIN BELL

(I will add credits as people become more committed to the project)


Quite an impressive list of talented people. All Canadian, all wildly enthusiastic about the project. If you’re ever interested in joining a production team that’s passionate about creating entertaining films and television, please, don’t hesitate to contact me at dbell.productions@gmail.com

Dinner Part 2

This is the second of two entries on the dinner party. This one’s a little bit more about what I, as the series creator, got out of the event.

Hearing dialogue spoken out loud has two purposes. You can gauge what it actually sounds like outside of your head and it also gives you the opportunity to find those writing errors that go virtually unnoticed when read silently.

There were definitely some lines I need to revise. There were also some lines that sounded awful – but I feel that provided a gifted and professional actor/actress would come across as more genuine. I’m not trying to diminish the acting capabilities of any of my friends or guests – but there were specific lines read that just weren’t delivered correctly.

This gives me insight into the directing aspect of the series. It also compels me further to direct the series myself. Most of these characters, Trust, Eddie, Riley, Dana, Cain, etc. I have a pretty good idea of who these people are. I feel like if I were to explain their motivations to someone, they’d understand a bit more about them, and have greater insight into how they say things, why they say things, etc.

Cain for instance; Eastern European, perhaps even Russian, but he definitely speaks with an accent. His lines come out a little bit slower than most – as the most significant aged character on the show, he’s seen a lot and perceives things in a way unlike most of the characters.

I personally struggle with modernity. I think its rather unfathomable to perceive a world filled with nearly seven billion unique people spread across almost two-hundred nations and probably ten-fold more individual cultures and ethnicities. I struggle with the notion that the generation gap between ourselves and our parents is widening further and further. Was life examined so profusely forty years ago? Did they ask themselves these same questions? It’s arguable that perhaps this generation does find itself in very different circumstances that the previous one did – perhaps even tougher strugglers; however, I find it almost certain that our parents generation viewed themselves in a similar position in contrast to their parents’ generation. This is the concept I’d like to explore with Cain. I’d really like to be able to identity and explore the conflict that rages between these two generations. Is contempt for previous generations inherent in today’s youth – or inherent in all youth? Life on Earth would never progress or change if there wasn’t some level of dissatisfaction with modernity.

The relationship between Cain and Derek will eventually become that of the surrogate father-and-son. Through this unlikely relationship I’d like to explore some way to mend the broken relationship between past and present; modernity and post-modernity. I fully believe that a lot of conflict in this world is based on the sins of the father – and how long can that conflict continue? Juxtaposed with the youthful Daniella (yes, I’d to change Danielle to Daniella) Parsons, who makes her decisions based on her perception of the future as opposed to her perception of the past – Cain will make a remarkable foil for almost every character on the show both enemy and ally.

Now I know I’ve veered from the discussion of the dinner quite a bit – but these were certainly issues I was pondering while everyone else was reading. While I did the narration, which is needless to say, monotonous, it was interesting to see the emotional level that these other characters were given.

L.B. and C.C. (I’m using initials to cover up for my friends real names) both did a wonderful job of Riley. The innocent girl who breaks traditional gender stereotypes, yet finds herself wildly fascinated with the events unfolding before her. I liked that that Riley was a character that came off as easy to understand and interpret. E.B., who I’ve been collaborating with extensively on SOUNDTRACK, had a thorough understanding of who Eddie is, and for the two events, provided an excellent interpretation of the character.

To summarize – I think I’ve gotten all I can get out of these dinners. They are exceptional, entertaining and useful things for reviewing the script – but in order to get anything more out of them I’ll have to mix them up.

If there is to be a third dinner – which of course there will be, perhaps coinciding with E.B.’s Collingwood Chalet retreat – but it will be much more heavy on directing. For participants of past events reading now, expect to be coached a little bit more in your character. I’ll be making extensive directing notes for the third episode in order to effectively create a more entertaining experience for the next dinner.

Thank you so much for reading what has dragged on way too long. Hope you all have wonderful days, and expect a few production-related posts coming in the next few days.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

How to Prepare a Dinner and a Show

APRIL 25, 2009

This is the first post-dinner blog entry. I had originally planned to do two entries, one pre-dinner, one post – but that didn’t work out so well. I think I’ll title this “How to Prepare a Dinner and a Show”.

First things first; this is a two-person job. The amount of preparation can be done by one chef alone; but the shear monotony and boredom of the situation calls for a partner in crime. They will assist in serving, preparation, greeting the guests, etc. You, however, will be busy with other things. Think of them as your Executive Officer (XO).

Second things second; you will need a good two days preparation. One day for cleaning, one day for cooking. Yes, you should try and plan a meal that can be prepared a day early and then heated to serve. Sounds gross? Wrong. Keep everything freshly sealed, and make sure everything is ready for the big day. Trust me, so long as you’ve done a good job preparing anything, you’re guests won’t mind some freshly heated leftovers. The importance of cleanliness in the venue is paramount – like dinner guests of any restaurant from McDonalds to The Gilded Truffle, a certain level of cleanliness is expected in both the kitchen and the dining area. Providing your guests with both of these is essential in letting them know your level of responsibility and appreciation for their dining experience.

Third; have a great guest-list. The event in January consisted of mostly the core group, which was fantastic – but I thought I’d mix it up just a little bit for the second and possibly last get-together. Having some ‘newbies’ attend was a great way to expand the circle of friends, and get a good mix of people who share interest in the project. As a final goodbye party, the dinner was a good excuse to invite some people together that otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to meet. As much fun as hanging out with the same group of friends is, it’s even funner, 100% of the time, to introduce some new faces. No number is too high for a guest-list, but keep in mind you have to COOK for all these people. I had around 16-18 guests at the last get-together and I don’t think I’d want to cook for a single person more than that. If you get along with your all friends, chances are your friends will get along with your friends so never be too nervous about inviting someone new.

Fourth (but really first); have your project completed before you’re ready to invite and serve guests. There were a few forgivable grammar and formatting errors – but aside from that, Episode Two was complete. Nothing would be more embarrassing than inviting your guests to an event that was in someway unprepared. There were some issues at the beginning of the reading (such as assigning characters/actors) that probably could have been taken care of earlier in the night – before everyone was liquored-up.

Which brings me to Step Five; Booze. Every good party has free booze – it’s a fact. Ours’ had free booze and a roulette-wheel drinking game. Dinner took longer than expected, but by the time everyone was shitfaced drunk, who cared? By the time dinner was served, everyone was moderately drunk, decently fed and ready for some D-List entertainment.


The final, optional Step Six; sobriety. I can vouch 50/50 in favor of this one. I had a good time at the first one where I was considerably wasted, but I also had a great time at the second time where I was not. Sobriety is essential for a first time cook. For one who’s a bit more comfortable around the cooking-wear, it becomes optional. It can be quite dangerous operating hot cooking-gear while intoxicated but use your own judgment when making this decision. One thing to consider is that in a way, you are responsible for providing both the food and the entertainment – and your chances of doing either successfully decrease with every drink you have. You be a sober host, a drunk host, or anywhere in between, but make sure it’s at a level that makes you a good host.

So what we’ve concluded here is that:
Good Friends + Good Food + Good Booze + A Little Effort
= A lot of fun had by everyone.

I think that summarizes what went into the dinner party and what made it successful. I think that’s enough for now, but there will probably be a second post soon detailing what was so successful about the dinner, as well as some updates for SOUNDTRACK itself.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Briefly on Themes and Nationalism

I caught the Caprica premiere, and while I won't stray into an unnecessary review of that, I'd like to touch on the idea of themes.

Caprica's theme is almost definitely identity. We have several characters all in the same situation and all reacting differently. Taurons behave one way, Capricans another. This is before the Colonies united under one nation. In short, if Battlestar Galactica had lingering racism, then Caprica has blatant racism. Zoe Greystone's digital copy is remarkably similar to the eight manufactured cylon models - but for some reason doesn't carry that characteristic of true autonomous identity. Kind of like a Pinocchio while he was just a freshly cut tree.

That being said it raises a lot of interesting questions that I'm sure you'll have raised yourself upon watching. What I'm here to talk about is the main theme of 'Soundtrack'.

Nationalism:

Questioning who we are as Canadians is one of the things that make us Canadian. Soundtrack, as both a show and a character will explore the theme of national identity. Derek Rhett's journey leads him to question who he wants to be as a person, and what role he can take in preserving what he thinks Canada should be.

Inspired by the mosaic that is Canada's culture, I'd like to have as ethnically diverse cast as I possibly can. I've written parts specifically for Francophone actors/actresses, and I've been encouraged to worked with a translator to get some authentic Quebecois dialogue into some of the future scripts. With any luck, I'll be able to effectively construct the multicultural makeup of our nation's landscape.

Perhaps most importantly is the contributions that Canadians like you and I can make to the entertainment industry. From the actors and actresses to the camera operators and lighting technicians, to directors and musicians - I want to work with and highlight the terrific and exemplary work that Canadians contribute to an industry dominated by Americans. There's a reason a lot of American films and television series are filmed here in Canada; our landscape is beautiful; our artists and crew have world-wide renown; and most important, because there is plenty of economic opportunity for this industry.

If the show is picked up as a longer series - I'd love to explore these ideas even deeper. I'd hope that the audience asked themselves what they thought it meant to be Canadian - and the things that they can contribute to their nation. Through Separatism and other issues, it's clear Canada's geography and history can weather its overall sense of national identity; I hope to address these conflicts as well and find a way to focus on the things that make us a country worth standing united. In the past, it's been media that has united this nation - and with that in mind I'll set out to explore whether or not that can be repeated.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Further Synopses

1x04 - NOSTOS

Semi-successful in their operation to rescue Detective Nathan Davis, the trio returns home for some much needed rest before they can pursue their latest target; mastermind of the whole affair - Lidless.


1x05 - IN MEDIAS RES

After a friendly-face is kidnapped - Lidless' true plan is revealed. She races against time to prevent Soundtrack from bringing an end to her vision of Utopia.


1x06 - THE THINGS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Soundtrack breaks into the heart of Lidless' operation to rescue his friend and for the first time, he and Lidless come face-to-face and duel for the fate of the nation.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Episode Synopses

EPISODE 1x01 - FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

Meet Derek Rhett. A man with an incredible gift who can't seem to find a path in life - until a gruesome murder leads Detective Nathan Davis to his front door. Linked to the murder through his shady employer, Derek has to rely on his best friends to evade the cops - and the real killer.


EPISODE 1x02 - CHASING RABBITS

Hot on the trail of adversary-turned-ally, Detective Davis, Derek turns to his criminal employer, Marcus Cain, to track down information on those responsible for Davis' kidnapping. Davis' partner, Dana Steele, pursues Derek with relentless force.


EPISODE 1x03 - 401

The team now split up, heads in two different directions. Riley takes Derek to confront Simon Trusseau, a possible key-player in the conspiracy. Eddie and Cain head for the home of Nathan Davis, hoping to find answers.

EPISODE 1x04 - NOSTOS
EPISODE 1x05 - IN MEDIAS RES
EPISODE 1x06 - THE THINGS WORTH FIGHTING FOR

Monday, April 13, 2009

A Side Note

Soundtrack has always been a very personal project to me, and as such, I'd like to bear most of the load. That being said, I know there's many parts of the production process I'm not capable of doing myself. I'm always interested in meeting people pursuing a career or interest in the television and film industries.

I'm always looking to meet;
- Fellow Writers
- Graphic Artists
- Sound Editors
- Lighting Technicians
- Film Editors
- (Motion) Camera Operators
- (Still) Camera Operators and Cinematographers
- Make-up Artists
- Hair Stylists
- Actors and Actresses
- Musicians and Musical Composers
- Directors
- As well as anyone else who's ever been interested in this amazing industry.

So for those of you who read this, help a brother out! As Mayor Quimby's campaign says, "He'd vote for you!".

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Updates:

I finished my final undergraduate paper, and I'm currently studying for my final undergraduate exam. I'm excited! But, alas, busy.

I did some work to what's becoming the second draft of episode two 'Chasing Rabbits'. There's some things I'm having trouble with. Eve and Derek's relationship to be honest. Eve was always based on Katie, and the further I get away from her the further I get away from Eve. Eve and Derek have been apart so long, and I'm not sure what they'd say to each other now. Why does Eve want anything to do with Derek? Good question.

There's a second dinner planned for Thursday, April 23rd. Wings will be served. Criticism will be taken in full stride. I'm excited, the second episode is a lot less introduction and a lot more play.

Anyway, getting tired, just wanted to let you know I don't forget about you!