I had wanted to speak of this earlier, but I had to have a personal conversation with E.B. before I made it public. I obviously wanted him to hear it from me instead of through here, or from another friend. The good news is; he's fully supportive of my decision. The better news is; I'm almost half-way done the first draft of Episode IV.
I've renamed the episode, changing its direction dramatically. It was previously titled "Nostos", which comes from the Greek for a return journey in a story. The episode was meant to be about Derek's return to Toronto to face the consequences of all that had happened and prepare himself for the trials ahead. I've abandoned the need for him to return to Toronto to accomplish those things.
The episode is now titled "Burn the Fleet", which is a song by Thrice, but inspired by the story of Hernan Cortes. Cortes was a Spanish explorer who first travelled to what is now Haiti as a teen and gained favour with the local governors. After amassing a small personal wealth, Cortes sought to travel to Cuba and Mexico, but his personal relationship with the governors was waning. He disobeyed orders to travel Mexico and was labelled a mutineer. Aware of his situation, he ordered the ships his crew had arrived in destroyed to rally his men to arms. What followed was one of the most bloody and well-fought campaigns of the Spanish Inquisition, leading to the acquisition of much land in the Mayan-held Yucatan Peninsula.
While Derek isn't going to burn Riley's van to the ground to motivate his crew, it illustrates the desperation of his cause. With the entire band fugitives labelled from the law, the hopelessness of their situation is what drives them forward. There is no turning back for them. Their return journey can not happen yet. This puts the crew on a roadtrip East to St. John's, Newfoundland, seeking evidence against conspiracy mastermind, Danielle Parsons.
The plot in Toronto hasn't been abandoned. Episode III saw the beginning of the alliance between Derek and Dana Steele, Nathan Davis' former partner. With someone on the inside of the investigation, Derek manages to stay one step ahead. Furthermore, safely inside the city, Steele can attend to the things Derek can not - including warning Eveleigh Dawn to leave town.
With the police closing in on both Derek and Eveleigh, Steele races against the clock to get Eve to safety before she's caught by Parsons' agents.
The episode is flowing wonderfully so far. I've struggled with starting Episode V without a concrete ending to IV. The dialogue is flowing naturally and the situation with the main crew confined to the van for most of the episode provides an excellent opportunity for the viewer to get to know these characters. Episodes III and VI have higher budgets, but this episode requires few sets, and no special effects or fight choreography - thus, its a necessary cheapy.
With the characters firmly established, this is essentially the time to switch gears, allow for some character interaction and let background characters take the reigns for a while. Though never the intention, this is turning out to be Steele's episode - and I think it's absolutely perfect that it merged in this direction. Steele's not necessarily going to make it to the very end of the series, but her contributions to the story are going to be some of the more important ones of any character besides Derek and Danielle Parsons.
There have been lots of jobs popping up on media job search canada so I'm remaining optimistic about finding a full-time position in a reputable production company. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Winter's approaching fast and I'm living in denial. It's hard to face the fact that it's just going to get colder and darker from here on out. Here's looking forward to March. I hope you're all having a great week, and I'll be talking to you all soon!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Ready Three, Take Three
You say the title of this post a lot when you direct a show - which I've been doing a lot of lately. It's pretty fun, though a little overwhelming. It requires a tremendous amount of concentration and the ability to hear selectively. You also have to communicate with a team of about six people. Some of the people at Rogers TV make it look easy, but trust me, it's not. I now have a new found respect for directors.
I've been doing quite a bit of writing on Episodes 4 and 5 but their progress isn't coming along nearly as fast as 1 through 3's. I feel like I have something to explain there. I didn't just sit down one day and write the script for an idea I had. It came from a tremendous amount of scribbles and notes. The first three episodes exist in pencil and paper form dating back to April of 2008. Episode 6 is rather fleshed out as well, but these two bridging episodes were always pretty vague. It's taken me a lot of time to try and formulate something that would be a substantial contribution but also allows for me to connect the first three episodes to the finale. The finale is what conceived the idea of Soundtrack and everything before that is just the path. Episode 5 has its direction, but it doesn't have the substance yet to be anything but a bridge right now. It needs work. Needless to say, there now exists a large pile of paper notes that detail the progression of Episode 5.
An idea I've been struggling with lately is the concept of freedom. What is true freedom? Are we really free to do whatever we want? Though it wasn't my deliberate intention to do so, I feel like this theme is very present in Soundtrack. Riley and Cain both struggle with the notion to be free. Riley eventually has to deal with the fallout of her adventure with Derek in her personal life. Cain, though a powerful man, wasn't free to do whatever he wanted and now has to deal with the consequences of his new found self-liberation. Does freedom always come with a cost? Hunter S. Thompson said that without the freedom to commit suicide at any time, he would always feel trapped. He later committed suicide in his study with his family in the next room.
Danielle Parsons/Lidless represents the other side to this argument. Through clairvoyance, she yields to determinism and makes no attempts to stop things from happening - only turning them to her advantage. Following determinism, Parsons has found herself within reach of becoming Prime Minister, while Rhett, walking the free path, is slipping into the underworld of his city.
To be honest, I think it was great to find this unintentional theme in the subtext of the show. In episodes 4, 5 and 6, the characters are going to have to face the decisions they have made so far. I'm hoping that it will feel like an honest transition when some of these characters resolve to change the way they're living.
Anyway, a friend of mine is leaving for the West coast tonight so we're having a goodbye party for her. I hope you all have great weekends and don't let the bad weather get you down.
Dustin
I've been doing quite a bit of writing on Episodes 4 and 5 but their progress isn't coming along nearly as fast as 1 through 3's. I feel like I have something to explain there. I didn't just sit down one day and write the script for an idea I had. It came from a tremendous amount of scribbles and notes. The first three episodes exist in pencil and paper form dating back to April of 2008. Episode 6 is rather fleshed out as well, but these two bridging episodes were always pretty vague. It's taken me a lot of time to try and formulate something that would be a substantial contribution but also allows for me to connect the first three episodes to the finale. The finale is what conceived the idea of Soundtrack and everything before that is just the path. Episode 5 has its direction, but it doesn't have the substance yet to be anything but a bridge right now. It needs work. Needless to say, there now exists a large pile of paper notes that detail the progression of Episode 5.
An idea I've been struggling with lately is the concept of freedom. What is true freedom? Are we really free to do whatever we want? Though it wasn't my deliberate intention to do so, I feel like this theme is very present in Soundtrack. Riley and Cain both struggle with the notion to be free. Riley eventually has to deal with the fallout of her adventure with Derek in her personal life. Cain, though a powerful man, wasn't free to do whatever he wanted and now has to deal with the consequences of his new found self-liberation. Does freedom always come with a cost? Hunter S. Thompson said that without the freedom to commit suicide at any time, he would always feel trapped. He later committed suicide in his study with his family in the next room.
Danielle Parsons/Lidless represents the other side to this argument. Through clairvoyance, she yields to determinism and makes no attempts to stop things from happening - only turning them to her advantage. Following determinism, Parsons has found herself within reach of becoming Prime Minister, while Rhett, walking the free path, is slipping into the underworld of his city.
To be honest, I think it was great to find this unintentional theme in the subtext of the show. In episodes 4, 5 and 6, the characters are going to have to face the decisions they have made so far. I'm hoping that it will feel like an honest transition when some of these characters resolve to change the way they're living.
Anyway, a friend of mine is leaving for the West coast tonight so we're having a goodbye party for her. I hope you all have great weekends and don't let the bad weather get you down.
Dustin
Sunday, October 11, 2009
I have to admit, I’m not proud of the fact that I have not written in some time. My focus has been somewhat shifted as of late, but Soundtrack is still at the forefront of all my efforts.
Though I am Soundtrack’s lead writer, my responsibilities also lie in music supervision, editing and more importantly, directing. I have people I consult for casting, cinematography and production, but since the vision of the show exists solely inside my head, I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure it’s translated onto the screen as fluidly as possible.
I’ve taken film courses, but I was never a film student per se. There are technical skills I never learned in an educational institution that I know I’d be lacking if I were to successfully bring Soundtrack to life. While I’m not exactly prepared to go back to college to learn these things, I’ve been taking it upon myself to acquire the skills through any means necessary. I thus spend a lot of time at Rogers TV – a lot – probably in the neighbourhood of 30-40 hours a week.
I started with the basics of camera work. Cameras aren’t overly complicated. There’s a zoom function and a focus function and everything else is just a variant of those two elements. Anyone and I mean anyone can hold a camera, focused, on a fixed object. The true skill of camera operation is making the camera an extension of your hands and eyes. I’ve constantly found my camera-work to be improving, but I found for possibly the first time last night that I had developed a groove, a fluid connection with the camera. I’m no expert, but I definitely feel that if I were to step behind a camera and begin shooting Soundtrack, an audience would have no indication that I am an amateur.
The monster I’ve been tackling lately is editing. There have been situations where I’ve heard that a good film was lost in the editing process. I don’t think I’d risk leaving that job to someone else – for the pilot at least. So I’ve taken it upon myself to be able to do that job on my own. I’ve only recently started learning the editing programs, but already I’ve edited two pieces that made it to air on First Local news on Rogers TV. It’s not an overly complicated process but it involves some finesse and an attentive ear.
I’ve spent some time expanding the unofficial soundtrack for the show. Keeping with the tradition of all Canadian artists, I’ve found some great musical acts that I know are going to contribute greatly to the show. I’ve found great tracks on all the following albums;
I suppose the last thing I'd like to address here is that I'm moving this blog to another location. I've had a developing professional friendship with a young artist here in Barrie who's beginning a blogging network for artistic entrepreneurs in the area and I thought it would be appropriate to migrate in the interest of gaining exposure in the local arts scene. So from now on, The Soundtrack Blog can be found at Artistic-Tendency and I'll be providing you all with a link as soon as one is available.
Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend with your families!
Though I am Soundtrack’s lead writer, my responsibilities also lie in music supervision, editing and more importantly, directing. I have people I consult for casting, cinematography and production, but since the vision of the show exists solely inside my head, I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure it’s translated onto the screen as fluidly as possible.
I’ve taken film courses, but I was never a film student per se. There are technical skills I never learned in an educational institution that I know I’d be lacking if I were to successfully bring Soundtrack to life. While I’m not exactly prepared to go back to college to learn these things, I’ve been taking it upon myself to acquire the skills through any means necessary. I thus spend a lot of time at Rogers TV – a lot – probably in the neighbourhood of 30-40 hours a week.
I started with the basics of camera work. Cameras aren’t overly complicated. There’s a zoom function and a focus function and everything else is just a variant of those two elements. Anyone and I mean anyone can hold a camera, focused, on a fixed object. The true skill of camera operation is making the camera an extension of your hands and eyes. I’ve constantly found my camera-work to be improving, but I found for possibly the first time last night that I had developed a groove, a fluid connection with the camera. I’m no expert, but I definitely feel that if I were to step behind a camera and begin shooting Soundtrack, an audience would have no indication that I am an amateur.
The monster I’ve been tackling lately is editing. There have been situations where I’ve heard that a good film was lost in the editing process. I don’t think I’d risk leaving that job to someone else – for the pilot at least. So I’ve taken it upon myself to be able to do that job on my own. I’ve only recently started learning the editing programs, but already I’ve edited two pieces that made it to air on First Local news on Rogers TV. It’s not an overly complicated process but it involves some finesse and an attentive ear.
I’ve spent some time expanding the unofficial soundtrack for the show. Keeping with the tradition of all Canadian artists, I’ve found some great musical acts that I know are going to contribute greatly to the show. I’ve found great tracks on all the following albums;
Final Fantasy – He Poos Clouds
Lights – The Listening
Thunderheist – Thunderheist
The Junction – Another Link in the Chain
The Danks – Are You Afraid of the Danks
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
Alexisonfire – Old Crows / Young Cardinals
Arkells – Jackson Square
Handsome Furs – Face Control
I suppose the last thing I'd like to address here is that I'm moving this blog to another location. I've had a developing professional friendship with a young artist here in Barrie who's beginning a blogging network for artistic entrepreneurs in the area and I thought it would be appropriate to migrate in the interest of gaining exposure in the local arts scene. So from now on, The Soundtrack Blog can be found at Artistic-Tendency and I'll be providing you all with a link as soon as one is available.
Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving weekend with your families!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Obligatory
I feel this obligatory urge to post something.
Yes, there's an elephant in the room. I haven't made a post in over a month. That is not to say I haven't been productive.
There has been significant development on the pilot's script, direction and production status. There will be more on that to report when it becomes concrete and official.
I've been spending a lot of time tackling logistics and developing my technical skills. I can tell you I'm becoming a natural at camera-work and I've even directed a few shows with Rogers. There have also been a lot of bands that I've come across lately that are going to make excellent additions to Soundtrack's already great potential unofficial soundtrack.
I hope that's enough to tide you over for now, and I promise more lengthy and substantial updates in the future. Hope everyone's doing well and keeping warm in this awful weather.
Yes, there's an elephant in the room. I haven't made a post in over a month. That is not to say I haven't been productive.
There has been significant development on the pilot's script, direction and production status. There will be more on that to report when it becomes concrete and official.
I've been spending a lot of time tackling logistics and developing my technical skills. I can tell you I'm becoming a natural at camera-work and I've even directed a few shows with Rogers. There have also been a lot of bands that I've come across lately that are going to make excellent additions to Soundtrack's already great potential unofficial soundtrack.
I hope that's enough to tide you over for now, and I promise more lengthy and substantial updates in the future. Hope everyone's doing well and keeping warm in this awful weather.
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