Presentation Edit Finished at Last!

So work with the film is done for now. 

I am not sure whether the sound quality is good enough but at the moment I just need a break with the film and have a relaxing time before the presentation next week. It's not perfect but I'm particularly satisfied with the result. 

This is a full short film, which in a long time I have not done since I settled here in Amsterdam. It was great to be back and feel that rush during the filmmaking process. Reminding me how I love creating films. 

I do need to recharge and regain my creativity. And I find out that for me it takes some time. But the inspiration does appear unexpectedly.

We shall see what happens next.

Pre-evaluation Session

The pre-evaluation session we had was two weeks ago. It went positively well. With some tips on how to make the version better. I had struggled a bit with sound design. But I can't do anything anymore at the moment for the Presentation day. 

I can however still do a bit more after that day before I probably submit the film in online film festivals.

Will keep you posted.

Trailer's out!

The Interrogation Teaser Trailer

The teaser trailer of The Interrogation is out. Here's a sneak peek of the film.

Here is also the link to the film's Facebook page.

Website is also up and running.

Please visit those site as I will put up more posts in the coming days. Enjoy!

In the middle of Post-Production

I find it really enjoyable editing a film. It's like a puzzle to me connecting shots and sequences together to create a story or an idea. 

I'm learning a lot about myself during the process. I know that after principal photography, it is vital for me to have a day to two rest before I look at the shots again to have a fresh eye. Of course the downside of it is that I see the mistake quite late and can't go back on set for a reshoot. Fortunately most of the errors are minors, thanks to storyboarding and they can be fix easily on post.

Using a RED cam, that means I need to edit at school because it has very fast editing suites. I find that I can only sit through editing for about 6 hours. And then I start getting headaches. 

At home, editing for me is at night time because I can just focus on the bright screen in front of me and block everything else. As you can see in the picture, I edit in an almost dark room. I like it that way. 

So I have a rough cut of The Interrogation, almost 10 mins long. I still want to put some shots! I'm sure I will find a way to shorten it. The trailer is almost ready. Just need titles and credits. 

Deadline is not on Sept. 10, but I need to show something on that day for advice and assessment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Today back on the editing room but will focus on sound and music.

Poster of The Interrogation

I like a simple poster. So this is one of the poster that I will release. I may have to do another one that has Sebastian's character in it. Watch this space.

Special thanks to Mariangela Radaelli for the idea.

Production Photos

After 3 days of shoot, we wrapped up our principal photography. It has been quite a challenge in terms of location and one costume that didn't arrive in time but I managed to get an alternative. Though Sebastian has to really try to fit in it. I apologise to him but there are some things that however you plan, problems will be inevitable.

So for now, website is under construction, production notebook layout is already a work in progress. Post production here I come.

Shooting Day 1 27 Aug.

As usual the first day of shoot is the slowest when everybody is still getting into the rhythm of things. But so far, it was smooth. Though we couldn't do all the shots I need. So we will have to make things faster on our 2nd day. Will post pictures soon.

Reading for the Interrogation

Today, my two leads meet for the first time for their reading and a bit of rehearsal as well.

A lot of story exploration and discussion which I like as we dissect each character's motivations. I like this part of any production whether it is stage or film.

Maikel there seem to be a lot of chemistry between them, well, probably the picture speaks for itself.

I'm very happy with my two leads. So I have a week to make sure everything will be ready for the shoot.

Ideas, Inspiration and Film Language

Shots, color palette, location, costume, props... etc.

Takes awhile to produce everything in time for a shoot. Working on my storyboard. But meanwhile, here is my moodboard. 

Location permission is coming along. It seems though that I need to pay. Costume is also being gathered. Who said finding just one costume is easy? 

Two days before rehearsals on Friday. 

Casting the role of the Immigration Officer

Last July 20, I posted an ad on filmvacatures.nl to begin my search for an actor to play the part of the immigration officer. I received  more than ten responses including one from an ex-immigration officer. What I did, I read all their CVs, most of them have surprisingly vast experiences. Instead of meeting all of them, I narrowed them down to four.

After meeting them yesterday. I can now reveal that the role is given to:

Sebastiaan Geijtenbeek

Sebastiaan had his diploma and masters in Theateropleding at De Trap Amsterdam in 2013/2014 respectively. He is also trained in martial arts and stage fighting.

This was the link to my ad at filmvacatures:

http://www.filmvacatures.nl/?page=prikborden&action=view&id=60991

Casting Announcement

Barbaro Maikel Mendoza Muñoz 

Maikel will portray the character of Barbaro, one of the protagonists in the short film, The Interrogation. 

He is a Cuban dancer, actor, dance instructor and filmmaker. Currently pursuing filmmaking in SAE Amsterdam. He is my classmate whom I've worked with some of my recent film assignments at SAE. 

Yes, I named the role after him although it is entirely fictional. In the original script, the character is only labeled as The Man. Naming it as Barbaro creates an illusion of it being something personal to Maikel. Which I intend to do the same thing with the immigration officer's name once I cast that role.

The Story

I enrolled in a digital filmmaking short course at SAE Amsterdam in 2013. And during a lesson about creative thinking, our instructor Pauline, asked us to do an exercise on how to get creative inspiration from our experiences. We listed five memories of each basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear and anger. 

The next day, we were tasked to write a story and eventually a screenplay of our listed memory regarding fear. We were grouped in class. And my group chose my story to be our short film project. That's how my script was born.

It was my second visit to Amsterdam. The first was hassle-free so I thought the next one, I could be more relax knowing that the immigration officers will only look at my visa and wouldn't ask for anymore questions. Boy, I was wrong! I was taken aside to their office and was interrogated for more than 2 hours. It was a terrifying experience I didn't want to repeat. Until now, whenever I face a Marechaussee, I get so nervous. The trauma will always be there I think.

So I wrote a script about the experience I had but not necessarily the same scenario. Unfortunately, my group mates then changed my script drastically and turned it into a more action oriented sequence rather than my intended psychological driven drama. They made their version into a 5 minute film. It became an unintentional comedy. It was really bad. I did keep my original script though.

Flash-forward to 2015. Although I have a story in mind regarding my final film project, I was conscious that what I want to do may not be easy for the limited time we were given. Having to think of another story, I then went back to this already written script and read it. 

Jackpot! What a coincidence that this story is very timely to what is happening today. Migration issues. But my story is not about a general impression of immigration problems. It's very intimate. It won't be about right or wrong and good or bad. It's about my characters' humanity in the story.

Introduction

This is my first blog entry for my film entitled The Interrogation. 

Inspired by my first hand experience being questioned by immigration officials. It was one of the most terrifying experiences I've ever had in my life. 

But this film is not about who's bad or good. It's about how sometimes people need to make judgements not based on rules but based on human instincts.

And this blog shows my journey into making this short film.