PRODUCTION JOURNAL: Monday Morning Mixer - 10.14.13

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1930 National Science Museum copy of 20 frames from the Roundhay Garden Scene
 October 14

 The world's oldest surviving film was shot today in 1888; the year Jack the Ripper went on a killing spree, Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear, Susan B. Anthony organized a Congress for Women's Rights and director F.W. Murnau, playwright Eugene O'Neill and poet T.S. Eliot were born. And on this day 125 years ago, Louis Le Prince filmed the first motion picture: Roundhay Garden Scene.  It was recorded at 12 frames per second and runs for 2.11 seconds. Was it meant to be a scene for a documentary, a fictional film or reality TV?  What do you think?

If you're into movie firsts and vintage film like this then check out this YouTube channel: Change Before Going Productions.
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And now with a little history under our belt, let us proceed with the questions that will make us better filmmakers... 
(FYI: There is a heavy New York magazine tilt to today's mixer because they put out a great series of articles under the banner "How to Make a Movie" that is worth the read. No, they are not paying me for putting the links here.)

 WRITING:What are Diablo Cody's 7 rules for being a screenwriter?

 PRODUCING:How do casting directors find and make new stars?

 FINANCING: Do you know all of your film financing terms from A-C, D-F, G-M, N-R, S-Z?

DIRECTING: What's the difference between directing a movie and television?

 SHOOTING: Want to know how a master DP like Emmanuel Lubezki shot scenes from 5 classic movies (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Children of Men, The Tree of Life, To the Wonder, and Gravity)?

 LIGHTING: What's the 1 simple lighting tip you can do to create spooky smoke, fog or rain?
SOUND: How do you compose a killer score?

 STUNTS & FX: How do you design a superhero costume?

 EDITING: How do you edit an improv-heavy comedy?

 MARKETING: What about your key art game plan do you need to rethink? Parts 1 and 2. 

DISTRIBUTION: Who are the aggregators of VOD distribution you should know?

 LEGAL: Do you need a contract with the author of an article or book about true events?

 Short film of the day: Pull My Daisy
Pull My Daisy (1959) is a short film that typifies the Beat Generation. Directed by Robert Frank and Alfred Leslie, Daisy was adapted by Jack Kerouac from the third act of his play, Beat Generation; Kerouac also provided improvised narration. 

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