My Charm

I feel like now have something worthy to label my "good luck charm."


This is my toy soldier. He's a keep sake from the first ever film we made here at film school, a small, hardly visible prop that was used in the first shot.

I'm not sure why, and am unsure as to whether it's a little too sentimental, but I'm very pleased I have it and will always have it when I'm shooting a film on set...

Because I think, it might just bring me a little bit of, well...

... luck, and that's hard to come by in this business.

Oh future!

I'm going to bring out my old motto. I have to say that the motto is not particularly optimistic, neither is it pessimistic, but more realistic, and in a small way, nihilistic.

Life, huh?

Do you not just hate it when you can't seem to get your life straight. And believe me, this is not one of these drunken, late night blogs where I will read it in the morning and be horrified at how personally pathetic I am, and then become even more horrified when I find 60 000 people have left comments going "hhmmm, what a cringe." No, this is more of a "I'm very very very happy, but I have no idea in what direction I'm heading in" type blog...

...and I think about this. Alot.

Maybe it's kind of stupid to worry about the future. I mean, let's face it, we have no idea. Only seven months ago, it looked like I was going to join the military. That's right! Coming back from New Zealand, I thought to myself, if I don't get into Westminster Film School, then I'll join the Royal Air Force for six years, make some money and then go to New York Film Academy. That was the plan. I mean, look below...

That was me, all clean shaven and short haired, only a couple of days before I went to "Her Majesty's Officer Selection Centre."

The plan was to be there for roughly four days...that's what we all had decided, that was in concrete. So we drove to RAF Cranwell where the worst snowfall in 20 years decided to drop most of it's bounty, and I left for my little room where I hung up my suit, shaved, combed my hair, and then went down to the Candidates Mess where I met the other fellows going for the job. They were all 25 year old University Graduates from Oxbridge and what have you, talking football and drinking pints of beer. Being 7 years younger then them, having just graduated High School and knowing absolutely nothing about football made me somewhat of an outsider, as I sat at the bar sipping coke out of a straw and commenting then and there about how the RAF was really just a back up and I would much rather make films. By 7:30, they had progressively migrated away from the sad, deluded, curly haired fellow playing with the toothpicks and so I went to bed. You must understand though, I wasn't sad or lonely, just rather bored with 'adult' conversation. I mean, it didn't even involve the odd excrement joke, the foundation for any decent conversation.

The next day, I was awoken by the wake up siren, so went to have a shower. I supposedly pushed in front of a bald candidate in the queue. He was big, a phone salesman by day and a bouncer by night, who had cigarette burns up his arms. He subsequently called me the imaginative 'c' word (the nasty one) and so my ego was bruised and pants soiled as he pushed his way past me. Later in the morning, we did Aptitude tests, which is where my story just about ends! I did them for 6 hours and they were all incredibly hard. One example is that they would flash on a number like 5678976543 for five seconds, then it would flash off and they would ask you to remember the 4th digit and the 8th. I guessed the whole time, which is why in the review the briefing officer just shook his head like I had a terminal illness and was beyond help. Anyhoo, I made none of the RAF positions available to me (surprise surprise) and so packed my bags and waited for Dad to pick me up. I spent the time playing by myself in the snow, reading FILM, drinking a pepsi and perusing the "SEX PROBLEMS" in Women's magazines.

But now, now I'm here. Film school. And I'm all hairy again.

(That's Zoltan behind me, by the way. He is Hungarian and has the greatest name in the world.)


But in that sense, all worked out in the end, did it not? But now I'm faced with a new choice...where exactly do I go?

Of course, I would very much like to be a director, as I'm sure would many people. To me, being a film director is the dream, but I'm not sure whether that is the choice I should specialise in! We have to think realistically, in my case anyway (it may be different for others) but employment wise, would cinematography be a wiser choice? Writing? Maybe I could just be a cameraman? Ooooh, how this plagues my mind.

And my room is an absolute tip. Perhaps I should get that in order before I start sorting out my life.

This Sums It Up Really

I have to say, if anyone in the future comes to me and asks why I want to work as a filmmaker, I hope that I can muster up an answer that someone captures the spirit of movie making like this short clip below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4HtMKk4L2g

Poetry Is The Language Of The Heart

I have been doing some writing recently, and I thought I might stick up some song lyrics Ive been working on.

I'm sorry if I've been
Confusing as of lately
I've just got your face
etched across my memory

I come from a good home
My daddy, he never beat me
Am I walking alone?
Or are you walking right beside me?

This Early Afternoon

I woke up this afternoon (1.30pm) feeling rather ill and confused. I had uncomfortable dreams about asking Angelina Jolie for a divorce, then immediately wishing I hadn't done, and so spent the remainder of the dream trying to explain myself. But she was so lovely. She was so loving and caring and she never once shouted at me about it. She just held one of our children and I could not believe how foolish I had been to jeapordise our relationship when everything was going so exceptionally well. I then went and rapped "FIGHT THE POWER" by Public Enemy in my greenhouse, then "Oh My Sweet Carolina" by Ryan Adams.

After this I woke up.

Already confused, I was more so when I sat up and looked across into the mirror. My hair had been perfectly straightened long around my face and I must have slept with all my clothes on, even, my glasses. For a few moments, I absolutely forgot who and where I was. Then my eye line moved to the can of beer resting on the mantel and all seemed to fit into place. It's been a funny week, this move to London. I've been to Tate twice, barely eaten any food, live in disorganised chaos, need a hair cut, walked naked in front of the window numerous times and realised that I really love the show Spaced. And when I'm not doing that, I've been going...somewhere? Doing...something? Ugh...I feel horrid.

Anyway, I figure I'd stick some photos up of my room so you can see how I'm living. They're a bit shaky, but then, I'm a bit shaky this morning...ah! Afternoon!!


mmmm...mess.

The view outside my window... new philosophy:

If thou shouldst avoid humiliation, thou shalt never walketh bare assed in front of open window.

It's just become a real problem that Mum isn't here to help me survive and I have reacted in the normal way...burnt my clothes, sliced HOLY HELL IM AN ADULT into my stomach and downloaded the entire Pokemon series 1 to watch until I finally resort to some child like innocence and have to be cared for by a more authorative figure.

SO! Plan for the day...organise myself, tidy my room, shower and then watch my hair return to it's glorious, curly self!

Life, huh?

Finally...I'm there.

After returning from New Zealand about... (god, how long has it been now?!) 10 months ago, I have been waiting patiently for film school to come around. Well, as of three days ago, it did.

HUZZAH!

Situated in Harrow, it's only twenty minutes by tube out of Central London, which I think is an excellent location. Postcard wise, it's not the prettiest borough in the world, but it has everything a student could need; coffee shops, costcutters, supermarket, pub, gregg's bakery. I have been up there a couple of times now and it's not too bad!

And the campus, it's excellent! It's very green, with fields and parks within and just outside. From my window I can see Wembley Stadium and the distant townships (I'm top floor, 16D - it's one hell of a walk up the stairs) and I also see the hospital. Now, I'm not going to lie, the hospital isn't overly attractive. Covered in soot and grime, people get leaukemia just looking at the place. But hey, if I happen to fall down my very long stairs or overdose on calpol, it's location might come in handy. I will stick up some pictures when I have the time to take and upload them!

We began with an induction to the course which was good fun. It was held in one of the studios and we all sat surrounded by huge digital cameras and sound equipment (terribly exciting!) We listened to the lecturers, which was all well and good, as they introduced what the course would be like, a sharp mix between theory and practical, with an emphasis on collaboration. We had to also write what we wished to specialise in come the second year. I had a slight problem with this, not knowing whether I should go for being a writer or a director. Directing is what I would most like to do, but as everyone seems to want to direct and writing is a very close second with me, I chose writer. Anyhow, many people initially wanting to direct change their mind later due to the full on commitment, so I might jump in and change should that particular path suit me. To the top it all off however, we were filmed individually being asked "What made you want to study film?" Well, everyone I have spoken to were under the distinct impression these films would be shown after the degree was over but, oh my dear lord no. We had to sit through about ten excruitaing minutes of waiting to see yourself pop up on screen and mumble something about being passionate and not being able to imagine doing something else. I can't remember exactly what I said, but it was something along the lines of wanting to be Woody Allen and choosing the course which would make my parents the unhappiest (only kidding.)

Today, the other film students and I all took the tube down to the British Film Institute where we watched Germany In Year Zero (1949), a neo realist film by Italian director, Roberto Rossellini.
Set in the ruins of post war Berlin, the film undoubtedly had alot to say and portrayed a clear insight into the lives of poverty stricken Germans struggling to survive without food, health care and, most importanly, money. A few moments struck as me as incredibly poetic, especially the shot of when the young Edmund has a play gunfight with his own shadow. Another, when the recorded speech of Hitler declaring that Germany shall have victory in the war echoed across the stricken streets of the bombed out city. I have to say though, overall, I did not enjoy the film. It comes down to taste in the end, and as I am not a huge fan of neo-realism in general (with the exception of some films by Fellini) it didn't strike me as a great film, especially when one considers that Casablanca was made around the same era and is so far superior in, pretty much, every aspect. After the BFI screening, me and some others from the course went to Tate Modern for a small while and happened to see some rather disturbing experimental films by Paul Macarthy. As the sign on the door said "THIS EXHIBITION CONTAINS STRONG SEXUAL/VIOLENT CONTENT" I was of course attracted to the idea and so unknowingly entered. What I saw were films being projected onto the wall and my my my, they were really something. A naked man punching himself bloody, some woman smearing what looks like guts and blood and god knows what all over her...it was quite a sight let me tell you, one that allowed my jaw to drop instantly and stay firmly on the floor. Subtle art at it's best, I feel.

Well, the course has yet to start but when it does I shall eagerly write up whats new. Till then

ciao!

This is my film school!

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/mad/page-284

In case for any reason you happen to be interested, this is the film school that I am too attend TOMORROW! Three years of filmmaking, baby cakes! Oh yes, I know this was the right choice because in six years from now...

...I'm going to be him!

...just considerably better looking, richer and more talented.

It's all going to come so easy!

What Happens After Sex?

I don't only count myself as a struggling filmmaker; I also count myself as a struggling writer. So far, I've written two feature length screenplays, numerous short films and a couple of stageplays (and these are only the finished products!)

For the last year, having been stuck in this part of the country before going to film school (2 days!!!) I have been writing a screenplay called "What Happens After Sex?" The story follows two couples living in London; Stanley and Emily and Dennis and Maria, who are all friends and share the same, nagging problem; they have a non-existent sex life. Stanley puts it down to the fact that Emily is not willing to experiment and enjoys mundane, robotic copulation every few weeks while Maria claims that Dennis is not attracted to her anymore. Lacking intamacy, Stan begins a casual affair with a conservative play critic while Dennis torments himself with the truth about his sexuality.

The film is a comedy and barely takes place outside of the couple's separate apartments. I'm trying to write something more dialogue based, a screenplay that attracts it's audience on witty, intellectual conversation rather than explosions and car chases. I'm being realistic here! I want a screenplay which, in a few years time, I can approach production companies with and really try and sell it! The fact that the film only needs five actors and takes place in an apartment should cut down expenses considerably.

Of course, I'm trying not to think of that right now. Right now, I'm just battling through, writing as much as I can so that I know what sort of story I'm dealing with. It really is excellent fun!

Also, some updates on "The Motorbike Killer" (a film I don't regard to be intelligent in...any... way at all!) I am now not acting in the film like originally planned. My reasons for this are purely in regard to scheduling and time. Instead, my brother will be playing my character as well as his! I know, this seems like kind of a risky move but I have total faith. I've dressed him totally differently for each character and his acting is holding up. He plays Joban, a Jewish New Yorker who has just moved into the neighbourhood and who will soon become the Motorbike Killer's main target (god, this is stupid...)

I've tried to dress him in the New York style I imagine. Baggy shirt, backwards baseball cap, hornrimmed glasses (a little tribute to Woody Allen there.) I think it will work out much better this way and it also allows me much more control over the camera which I like. We did some shooting yesterday and today and I've started to feel increasingly fond of still camera shots. I'm not sure why, but I feel it places a much stronger emphasis on what is actually going on within the frame while the camera position is still, rather than tilting or tracking or canting or any of these ways. Of course, I might get to film school and they'll tell me this is all wrong, but I do love it right now when I have my camera perfectly still and my depth of field crystal! It makes for a much nicer shot...and it's ten times easier to edit.

On another, more unrelated note, I might actually be going to New York at the end of this year...just a maybe! But if I do, OH MAN!!!! That is actually my main dream coming true!!! YYYEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!

I dont care how old you are, you gotta love Pokemon.

This all started a few days back when, incredibly bored, I downloaded some old Pokemon games on the computer. More for nostalgia than anything, I thought it might be fun to spend some time playing the game I was pretty much stuck to from 8 years old to...well...15. So I downloaded it, started playing and ended up, once again, pretty much addicted.

And as I sat their training my level 8 Weedle, it got me thinking; how could a franchise like this become so damn popular? How on earth did they do it? What was making me, at that moment, so into the game? Granted, Pokemon in the west has definitely lost the popularity it once held in the nineties, but boy oh boy, back then it was the real deal. Everywhere you looked, people were playing game boy in the street, trading cards, watching the Anime show and movies on every television screen. It was a phenomenon and it was definitely fun to be a part of. But as I sat there playing the game, enjoying the memories it brought back, I decided to delve in a little deeper.


I went and watched the first Pokemon film. The one where Mewtwo blows a whole bunch of things up and then clones everyone's pokemon! Well, watching it, it suddenly became obvious to me why Pokemon took the world by storm like it did.

It inspires!

There is a scene where a whole bunch of Pokemon trainers decide to brave a ferocious sea storm in order to reach Mewtwo's island. And there is a little speech that goes with it...

"Some trainers have no fear. To them this is just one more challenge. They follow their hearts and that's what sets them apart. That will make them Pokemon masters!"

Add some inspiring music, some heroic, high angle shots and there you have it...tingles up your back and you're an 18 year old film student who stopped being into Pokemon ages ago! I mean lets face it! Change the word "trainers" to "people" and instead of "Pokemon master," make it "hero!" Anyone can relate to that! We all want to be that hero!

In a similar way to Star Wars, Harry Potter, Dragonball Z, the genius' over in Japan created a franchise that could appeal to everyone on the sheer feel good factor it radiates! The theme tune alone makes you feel ready to do anything! Like you want to grab life by the horns and sail into the wind, purely because through the music and the lyrics, it makes you feel good. And they do it throughout the whole 12 series! LOOK!

Season 1

Every challenge along the way,

With courage I'll face.
I will battle everyday,
To claim my rightful place.

Come with me, the time is right,
There's no better team.
Arm in arm, we'll win the fight,
It's always been our dream.

Season 5

No time to question my moves
I stick to the path that I choose
Me and my friends, we're gonna do it right
You'll never see us run away from a fight

To be a Master is my dream
All I've got to do is believe (I believe)
I've got a chance to win
I'm on my way to victory (Pokemon!)

I can be a champion if I just believe ...

I'm on a Master Quest (Master Quest!)
I want the whole world to see (I believe!)
I'm gonna be the very best
'Cos all I've go to do is believe in me!

It's all about belief, adventure, fighting for a cause, friendship, courage, being the best! Listening to the music, at any age, makes you pumped! Imagine kids listening to it. With the imagination kid's possess, Pokemon plays off it to offer them a broad outlet where they can challenge all of these good will feelings into any medium! Looking into it deeper, this reasoning seems a little foolish. A bunch of anime kids leave home and go out and capture little magic monsters in 'pokeballs' and then make them fight. Well, on a consumer level, it has everything, but more than anything else, it inspires escapism! This is something kids never have to stop thinking about. They can play it the school yard, at home alone in their bedroom, dream about it when they're sleeping!

And like I mentioned before, almost every mainstream phenomenon such as Star Wars and Harry Potter plays off these attributes. This is nothing new, but looking back on it now that I'm not a kid anymore, it's interesting to see how these franchises affected me and how I could use there techniques. Everyone likes a feel good movie! Sure, we can watch Schindler's List or Babel sometimes, but nothing makes us smile like a kid showing unnatural courage for the good of mankind against a highly sellable, evil foe and then changing his morals for the better!


NOTE TO SELF:

In the future, make movies that are inspiring, feel good, action/comedies with empty characteres anyone can relate and can be used in outer mediums like comics, television shows and wallpaper in order to sell more toys to unsuspecting children.

God, you gotta love Pokemon, eh? I might go out and buy a poster.

New Promotional Pictures

I thought that I'd put up the latest promotional images for my film. These are roughly the images I will use to start promoting the film at festivals. It's not done...in fact, it's a long way off. But I do have this week and next to fly through the shooting and then I can edit it at my leisure during the evenings, at home or in film school.

Also, just watched a documentary on American Zoetrope. Man, them guys starting out were just amazing! I have the utmost respect for what they achieved.

The Motorbike Killer

So, it's film school in 13 days. Yikes. I still haven't prepared myself in any way, save buying myself a mini fridge freezer which I will store in the room I haven't paid for. So, though I have student loans, finances, a job, new people, new course, writing essays and London on my thoughts, I am also thinking alot about a film festival.

Well, I say film festival. I'm not sure it really counts. More a showcase, if you will. In this particular showcase, all the new film students will be showing everyone else a clip (maximum five minutes) of the work they've done in the past. Now, when you think that thats 5o students chosen out of 1000 applicants, you expect the standard to be pretty high! This means that I have spent literally hours searching through my old films trying to find a sequence that I could show but to no avail.

Instead, I've decided to show the opening of my new film (a film I am currently writing, directing and editing) called "The Motorbike Killer." The film itself is a bit of a tribute to grindhouse films, much in the same way Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez did a couple of years ago, but with considerably less money. The film is about the ghost of a Nazi SS Officer who returns from the grave to slaughter one remaining Jew who has just moved into the neighbourhood. In order to do this final act of evil, he possesses a motorcycle and it's rider, using the machine to cause chaos and despair in it's search for the 'one that got away.' The film once again stars Samora O'Neill. I actually shot his scenes while he flew here on holiday, so there's no chance of any pick up shots. I just have to work with what I have...and what I have is alot of shots of people with their backs to the camera, pretending to be Samora.


Let's face it. The film isn't in good taste. I think when one of your lines is "This is for the holocaust, motherfucker" you know you're treading into dodgy ground. But, I find it hard to care! Im so happy that I'm actually getting back into real filmmaking, telling a story, rather than making documentaries or some abstract art piece. This is just a dumb story with funny characters and a cool villain! The only problem is that I've once again do what I always do and fail to stick to a schedule, meaning that I literally writing, shooting and editing all in the same period of time. Not the best way to get a film done effciently, but eh! What are you going to do?!

I'm looking forward to seeing the reaction of this sequence. I wonder if anyone will show anything quite like it?

Fantastic Picture!

Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas and Coppola! What a line up!

We'll just ignore DePalma in the middle there...we don't need to mention him.

My Films Up Until Now

I think that we better take a look at some of the amateur films I have made thus far. These were all done over the last three years in my spare time with school friends who are as equally passionate as myself. Just bare it mind, if you will, that at this time, these were made before I had any formal film training, save two years of much loved Media Studies.

1. Chasing Hope

This film is called "Chasing Hope" and is a short documentary about unemployment in England. It focuses on Dominic Parker, a journalism graduate, who has since found no work and is continually seeking employment.

Looking back on the film, I can't say that I like it. In a way, I suppose it reflects how I was feeling at the time I made it (having just left friends behind in New Zealand and having moved some place I possible hated more, I must say I was tad miserable.) But still, I think technically it is one of my brighter films and love the visuals in the beginning.



This is my latest film and first soiree into professional filmmaking. Of course, it wasn't absolutely professional, but there were some aspects that made me giddy! Firstly, it was funded by an American film production company, Real Ideas Studios, who are based in San Diego. I had to send constant photographs, sequences and updates to my producer, Ron Eltanal, back in the States to make sure that he agreed with my personal vision of the project. He in turn sent back notes. My personal favourite note, if I may toot my own horn, was;

"You have shot some really spectacular cinematography. You have a terrific eye. The shot with the columns is beautiful."

Reading that, I felt rather pleased with myself and finally, I sent the film to the studios. On another note, I earned quite a bit of cash off that film - the first money I've made from filmmaking!Real Ideas Studios took the film to Cannes Short Film Corner where it premiered alongside other shorts. I was in Paris at the time of the festival and unfortunately couldn't make it down to Cannes, which was quite a downer. But hey! I'll be back in no time with something bigger and better.

2. Blackbird

The film above is "Blackbird". This is an abstract piece focusing on the Iraq war and the issue about oil. The film follows a young man who has gone blind and so falls into depravity because of his lack of awareness. Though the film doesn't follow a narrative as such, I do believe that the metaphors throughout serve as a strong indication to the overall ideas presented. Below that is a publicity shot of myself directing and Samora O'Neill on set.

This film went to Cut! National Film Festival in Hamilton, New Zealand, where it won the "Best Actor" award for Samora O'Neill. As you will undoubtedly see, Samora is one of the leading actors in all of my films and proves himself time and time again that he has a future in front of the camera. Not only that, but he also composed and performed the music for "Blackbird." A very talented young man indeed and I'm privileged to call him a dear friend! You can find his music at www.samoraland.com where he showcases Royalty Free music with the ability to download for use in any films.


Samora and I at Cut Film Festival in Hamilton.

3. Liber-rat

The next film on my list is a film which was shot a little while earlier for 48hours Film Festival. The short film is called "Liber-rat" and follows a group of animal rights activists and their fall from grace. At the beginning, their work is moral and pure, but as time takes it's toll, they proceed to commit acts of violence and vandalism, protecting animals by force.

At the 48Hours Film Festival briefing, your team is given a genre of film picked out of a hat. My team, "Ultra Cool X Productions," was unfortunately given the genre of 'animal film.' Deciding not to dub over footage of my pet dog, we decided to explore the idea of what makes something animal, focusing on a reliance on our primordial instincts and a lack of rational thought. This transition, from human to animal, occurs when one renegade activist plants a bomb in a testing facility, causing the group to turn against one another and attack. We didn't win anything for this film, but were just happy to get it in on time under the 48 hour time limit.

4. HK

"HK" is a poetic documentary I shot in Hong Kong last December while I went there on holiday with the family. It was just a bit of fun and subsequently, I haven't entered it into any film festivals.

I'm choosing not to upload the film because I used music on it for which I haven't applied for the rights, but I will post up some stills from the film below because I believe they are quite inspiring.




and the compulsory shot of me behind the camera



5. Beyond Reason

This is "Beyond Reason" the first 48 hours film we ever made, shot in 2007. We had such an amazing time making this and such a crappy week afterward that I have mixed feelings about the whole experience. Unfortunately, we never managed to get the film in on time due to technical problems and so it wasn't shown on the big screen. I remember all of us sitting in the car, half naked and dirty, as we desperately tried to burn the film to DVD. We could hear the countdown from inside the car so we leaped out, laptop in hand, hoping to pull it out at the last moment. Unfortunately, we were just outside when "TECHNICAL ERROR" appeared on screen. I have to tell you, there's not really a worse feeling then standing unwashed, wearing one shoe and totally beaten in the middle of the inner city. It was tough and the week after at school was just appalling.

Let me explain.

First of all, allow me explain something.

My name is Mike Morrell and I am soon to be a film student at Westminster Film School in London. That "soon to be" is in fact two weeks! Man, time flies by when you're...doing nothing.

The idea of this blog is to allow anyone the chance to follow my filmmaking journey. Though I start in humble beginnings, my aim is to make it to the top (and unlike most film students, I don't mean top of the nearest Tesco management scheme.)

Sure, it sounds unlikely.
Everyone wants to be a film director.
Everyone wants to go to Hollywood.
Everyone wants to be in the movies.

But I just think back and realise that even Francis Ford Coppola, the director of 'The Godfather', started in film school. Sure, he was in Los Angeles and I'm in London, but we all have to start somewhere, right?

Though I am often filled with doubt that I could ever make my (and excuse the disney like sentiment) ...dreams come true... I'll do what it takes to work as a productive and finally, influenetial member of this brilliant industry.

This blog will serve as part personal diary, part record of my filmmaking journey, spanning film school and hopefully beyond. I figure that if so many people try and fail on this journey, it might at least help for me to look back on the choices I've made and maybe, maybe get some advice from my readers in the future.

The journey begins. I think it starts uphill.