Zoe Ladner review

I really liked it visually - especially Dan's piece. Though I feel like
the dialogue that was used didn't always feel natural with the artsy-ness
of the film. And I was a little disappointed with the new beginning
dialogue of Bacci's film, seemed a bit clichéd - and I thought that was a
big point that clashed with the awesome visuals.
Also - as much as I loved how Dan's looked - it was strange cause it was the
only one that had a really really different look to it - where you
definitely could see that it was a different director.
The order was interesting, I think in my mind I stick by my order just
because the Queen was the reason she was running and freaking out, but I
can also see why you chose to put it at the end. [Current running order is Tweedles; Tea Party; Caterpillar; Cheshire man; Q of H… Zoe’s script had Cheshire Man; Q of H; Tea Party; Caterpillar; Tweedles]
Of course, as I think you even told me that it’s scary to see what happens
to your work - and of course I was a little disappointed with certain lines
being taken out and certain new ones being added.... but considering a
whole different style was in my head I guess there was really no other
way. I envisioned it more mocking itself and it coming out more humorous
- there was no way I could have envisioned what they did visually - I
loved the opening and closing scenes.
I don't mind what Trevor did because I felt more like I was organizing his
thoughts for him - and I knew my dialogue wasn't very gangster-esque but I
sort of figured that would work itself out. The only conversations I
really was set on were the Tea Party - which was close enough to make me
happy plus just awesome with the improvisation.... and the Caterpillar....
which didn't come out the way I had envisioned and a lot of my favorite
parts I think were taken out or just different. Da da da da da...
Overall I liked it as itself, but feel my script didn't quite flow the way
I had hoped.
Anyhow, dinner time
Z

Overwhelmed

The covers came in today, in shiny and matt black (to the good-natured consternation of the girls at The Turning Mill) and my they are sexy. Suddenly, this looks like not only a professional product - but a rather well designed one. remember, Trevor Grassi designed it.
Above is me, overwhelmed after two hours folding and inserting. This weekend, a slight remix and we are done. Or rather, 'ALYCE' can BEGIN her journey out into the world, being seen and enjoyed and commented upon. Festivals and suchlike. We'll keep you informed right here.

Recidivists

Wot? Keep coming back? All right. The dvd is being remixed this week, and the packaging will also be done by the weekend. Very spiffy, too. Until then: get a life!

DVD ing

Oh, fancy that! Another posting as the definitive DVD release is prepared. Completists will note (in about ten days) that the ultimate text differs ever so slightly from this more verbose one. had to cut out 250 words, see, cos i couldnae read it. A chastening thought that one is going blind, ah well. Artwork by Trevor Grassi, who has now graduated and is 18 and moved out and on his own feet. Thanks, Trevor.

End of the Line

So that's that. ALYCE had her final premier last night and we are done and dusted. there will, of course, be repercussions - a sound clean-up; packaging; festival entries and hopefully some commercial interest. All of these developments will be annotated here, but the day by day blog is now... oof... over.
So, what have we learnt? Right now - though I know playing favorites is unseemly - I want to thank everyone who made this project happen as stunningly well as it did happen. Everyone needs that thanks. But I'd like to mention just five young people who really made this project outstanding, for me.
let me be selfish.
In no particular order. Trevor Grassi, in his ultra busy senior year, gave us an accomplished, quirky, and wholly 'trevorian' piece. he also spent hours mentoring younger students in visual arts, photoshop and generally added a sharp and intelligent focus to everything which went on at Indie. It was a pleasure to work alongside him.
Joe Bacci - long known as a 'difficult' student, proved definitively that 'difficult' is in the eye of the beholder. He was, first and foremost, totally reliable, turning up at odd times of day, in the sub-zero temperatures, weaving amazing camera images and always in a great, ironic humor. OK, he does curse a bit, but, so do I. I feel he could walk into any film production now and hold his own. we will try to arrange some of that. Not only his Alyce segment, but also his personal 'samurai' film, 'Aisumasen' and his camerawork on Ian Penman's 'First strike' are visually astonishing. Thanks Joe.
Dan Cayea - even though he frightens little children with his haircuts (and his Mom, too, probably) shot a very controlled scene, went away, and came back with a visual extravaganza. I still do not know how he got those images. Hopefully, next year, we can exploit Dan shamelessly and squeeze his secrets out of him. A star.
Bayla Laks put so much creative effort and first class graphics into Alyce (and other things - like Ultra Terra, her first film proper) that when I had a ream of still photos and was tearing out my hair, I asked for her help. The visual work she did made the opening of Alyce breathtaking. Next year she will be allowed to write on the walls, and we are building a special sleep room for her at indie. Thanks Bayla for all your time, energy and skill.
Finally... there's Will. It's been a privilege to work with him - he does not give up on any problem, he's personally taken half a dozen of his contemporaries under his wing, he solves problems, he is a kick-ass editor and a grade 1 cameraman. His own work this year has been stunning, and he may have invented a new cinema form, the 'beat film'. His work in sound design (hours and hours and hours) for Alyce was so powerful it actually made the film. And he's great to be around. Will's done now, I don't think there's anything we can teach him that he can't teach us. This, surely, is the goal?

So that was that. An amazing experience. But guess what?
Just a beginning.
Watch this space.
Over and out.
R.

Where is me camera?

I'm going to have one welded to me forehead. the premier went off very well (despite a few glitches which only the Indie staff noticed... twitchy as we are... a wonderful atmosphere and five of the six directors present . A charming eight year old girl asked to see Cheshire man, and Will went all soft trying to explain he wasn't really scary. No, said the girl, i wasn't scared. But how did you get all those freckles in the film?
More tomorrow, hopefully with some photos.
Pass the oxy-acetylene torch, Doris.

131 Days

It was supposed to be 100 days but somewhere we slipped synch by a month.
Tomorrow is the Premier of Alyce, edited - or rather strung together and cleaned up this week.
Boiceville is a fine sight at 3 a.m. as we have been finding out.
The photo is one of the last unseen shots from the movie.
Bayla did so much work, that we finally gave her a section of her own: she did the whole intro in photoshopped stills.
More tomorrow after the cautious out-of-town opening in Saugerties (Inquiring Mind Gallery) at 7 p.m. before a wilder shared 'out-of-school' show in Woodstock on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Community Center on the lovelily named 'Rock City Road.
Confused by all those clocks? So were we.

Follow the white rabbit.