Comments on: What’s it like being the writer and director? http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director A ton of useful information about screenwriting. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:28:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jenny http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-30140 jenny Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:52:57 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-30140 <p>josh boelter, i do like "School of Rock" too!!! i can still remember that in the school dormitory,together with my roomates,we watched it.very interesting. that feeling will never come to me again,maybe,since all of us are departed since graduation. and have got the first job all over this country.</p> josh boelter, i do like “School of Rock” too!!! i can still remember that in the school dormitory,together with my roomates,we watched it.very interesting. that feeling will never come to me again,maybe,since all of us are departed since graduation. and have got the first job all over this country.

]]> By: Jim http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12864 Jim Sat, 08 Jul 2006 15:47:28 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12864 <p>Hey John, I'm a filmmaking novice and fan of your site. Over the years I've picked up a few good books on directing. One was an old book by Edward Dmytrik I found at a local public library used book sale called, you guessed it, On Directing. The other was Sidney Lumet's book. Any other good ones that I may have missed? Thanks.</p> Hey John, I’m a filmmaking novice and fan of your site. Over the years I’ve picked up a few good books on directing. One was an old book by Edward Dmytrik I found at a local public library used book sale called, you guessed it, On Directing. The other was Sidney Lumet’s book. Any other good ones that I may have missed? Thanks.

]]> By: Sabine http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12723 Sabine Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:36:19 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12723 <p>John, thanks so much for telling us more. My students believe that directing their own material is the best way to go, without really realizing that writing requires an entirely different skill set than directing. It sounds like you kept these things in mind, and were thoughtful about your process. It sounds like a fantastic experience. Enjoy the post process. I can't wait to see it.</p> John, thanks so much for telling us more. My students believe that directing their own material is the best way to go, without really realizing that writing requires an entirely different skill set than directing. It sounds like you kept these things in mind, and were thoughtful about your process. It sounds like a fantastic experience. Enjoy the post process. I can’t wait to see it.

]]> By: Ron Taylor http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12520 Ron Taylor Tue, 04 Jul 2006 10:19:01 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12520 <p>John,</p> <p>It will be interesting to read about your thoughts on editing the film. All films are made in the cutting room.</p> <p>Some of the best directors in the business started as editor: Scorsese, Schlessinger, Lean. </p> <p>It will probably influence your future writing and directing.</p> John,

It will be interesting to read about your thoughts on editing the film. All films are made in the cutting room.

Some of the best directors in the business started as editor: Scorsese, Schlessinger, Lean.

It will probably influence your future writing and directing.

]]> By: Ian http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12263 Ian Sat, 01 Jul 2006 19:33:01 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12263 <p>An 18 minute take! Are you sure your name isn't John Luc-Goddard?</p> An 18 minute take! Are you sure your name isn’t John Luc-Goddard?

]]> By: ScriptWeaver http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12244 ScriptWeaver Sat, 01 Jul 2006 03:35:05 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12244 <p>Wait, wait! Whatever happened to talking about brads and 12-point courier?! I know, I know... we all need to grow.....</p> <p>And does how does Elle match up to big sis Dakota?</p> Wait, wait! Whatever happened to talking about brads and 12-point courier?! I know, I know… we all need to grow…..

And does how does Elle match up to big sis Dakota?

]]> By: John August http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12241 John August Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:39:16 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12241 <p>To clarify: We shot film -- the old-school chemical stuff that Kodak makes -- for the majority of the movie. The difference is, once we developed the negative at the lab, we immediately transferred it to HD videotape. Those tapes are really the "master" at this point, because we'll never go back and cut the film negative.</p> <p>(For the film-geeky, here's why: We shot 3-perf 35mm, the less-expensive form used in television, rather than 4-perf, the kind that runs through projectors at the cineplex. So we couldn't cut negative if we wanted to. More and more films do this; THE CONSTANT GARDENER is a recent example.)</p> <p>In addition to 35mm, we shot Super-16, a film format that's used in many indie films and TV shows (such as JUNEBUG and "Veronica Mars"). This was also transferred to HD. </p> <p>Finally, we shot a portion of the movie on the SDX-900, a videocamera frequently used in reality TV. It's standard-definition (as opposed to HD), but we up-rezzed to HD. There are a lot of reasons why we decided not to shoot the video section with HD cameras; that's a much longer post, probably better answered by our DP.</p> <p>To summarize, we were largely analog (i.e. film) while shooting, but we're thoroughly digital in post.</p> To clarify: We shot film — the old-school chemical stuff that Kodak makes — for the majority of the movie. The difference is, once we developed the negative at the lab, we immediately transferred it to HD videotape. Those tapes are really the “master” at this point, because we’ll never go back and cut the film negative.

(For the film-geeky, here’s why: We shot 3-perf 35mm, the less-expensive form used in television, rather than 4-perf, the kind that runs through projectors at the cineplex. So we couldn’t cut negative if we wanted to. More and more films do this; THE CONSTANT GARDENER is a recent example.)

In addition to 35mm, we shot Super-16, a film format that’s used in many indie films and TV shows (such as JUNEBUG and “Veronica Mars”). This was also transferred to HD.

Finally, we shot a portion of the movie on the SDX-900, a videocamera frequently used in reality TV. It’s standard-definition (as opposed to HD), but we up-rezzed to HD. There are a lot of reasons why we decided not to shoot the video section with HD cameras; that’s a much longer post, probably better answered by our DP.

To summarize, we were largely analog (i.e. film) while shooting, but we’re thoroughly digital in post.

]]> By: Frederick Pina http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12240 Frederick Pina Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:59:28 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12240 <p>John,</p> <p>Congratulations on your recent accomplishment. You're part of the elite club. I'll be sure to watch it.</p> John,

Congratulations on your recent accomplishment. You’re part of the elite club. I’ll be sure to watch it.

]]> By: Jon B. http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12233 Jon B. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:48:56 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12233 <p>Hey John,</p> <p>I noticed you mentioned "videotape", I was not aware that you were shooting this on DV or was it HD I believe you mentioned before.</p> <p>Could you provide some technical specs for the film you shot? What kinda camera did you use? What are you editing on? Were you especially involved in the choice of lenses & lighting set-ups? How technical were you in your directing, or did you mostly focus on the performances the majority of the time and let the DP do his job?</p> Hey John,

I noticed you mentioned “videotape”, I was not aware that you were shooting this on DV or was it HD I believe you mentioned before.

Could you provide some technical specs for the film you shot? What kinda camera did you use? What are you editing on? Were you especially involved in the choice of lenses & lighting set-ups? How technical were you in your directing, or did you mostly focus on the performances the majority of the time and let the DP do his job?

]]> By: Michael Mancino http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12213 Michael Mancino Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:59:23 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12213 <p>I am about to venture into the same territory where as I will be directing my own screenplay. Putting together a crew with a talented cast seems way more difficult to me then putting the words to paper. Having owned and operated my own company for the past twenty two years giving orders comes natural to me, but I must admit I'm really scared about how actors will react once the camera are rolling. Did you ever get into any confrontations with any of the actors or staff? If so, how'd did you handle it, and did it affect you in any way?</p> I am about to venture into the same territory where as I will be directing my own screenplay. Putting together a crew with a talented cast seems way more difficult to me then putting the words to paper. Having owned and operated my own company for the past twenty two years giving orders comes natural to me, but I must admit I’m really scared about how actors will react once the camera are rolling. Did you ever get into any confrontations with any of the actors or staff? If so, how’d did you handle it, and did it affect you in any way?

]]> By: Zatoichi http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director/comment-page-1#comment-12175 Zatoichi Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:27:55 +0000 http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/whats-it-like-being-the-writer-and-director#comment-12175 <p>I see you shot digital. Judging from your entry, looks like it was a good expereince. Why did you choose tape over film? Which camera did you use? Lasty, how does it look?</p> <p>Zatoichi</p> I see you shot digital. Judging from your entry, looks like it was a good expereince. Why did you choose tape over film? Which camera did you use? Lasty, how does it look?

Zatoichi

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