Only in my part of town...

…can you hear a tire screech, metal/glass cunching/shattering, and then more squealing as an engine revs and fades away, only to rush outside to find no sign of an accident besides the sound of debris on the road as passing cars drive over it.

Dumb One-Liner

Second-rate toilet paper: something about it just rubs me the wrong way.

Fires, School

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update. The Southern California October 2003 Wildfires have come and gone, the weather has turned colder, and Streakers has gone from production into post-production. I will most likely not have time to post another update for quite a while, and I apologize if this one isn’t quite really up to snuff. I’m doing my best, but this blog thing is really last on my priority list.

And that’s pretty much it. Sorry to disappoint. I’ll see you in December, perhaps?

A Visit from the Masters: Patrice Leconte & Steven Poster

Jeremy Kagan arranged for French director Patrice Leconte to talk to us about some of his filmmaking experiences. He was joined later by American cinematographer Steven Poster and the two of them related their experiences working together as it pertains to a learning experience for the student directors. It was very interesting. These two film giants have worked so much in the industry and have so much experience; it was inspiring, a little humbling, exciting, and very informative.

Steven Poster, Patrice Leconte (this was not a “posed” picture) in the Ron Howard Screening Room, Zemeckis Center, USC:

Indochine and The Last Weekend

Last night in directing class, French director Régis Wargnier visited and talked about Indochine and some of what he went through to make it. It was most informative. He also helped a few of us with our scenes for class.

Tonight I have the shoot from hell. We start at 21:00 and go until 09:00 Saturday morning. Then Sunday 06:00 to 18:00. Who comes up with these murderous shoot times? Ah well, last weekend of principal photography. Then I get at least one weekend back…. ☹️

Apple Rips a Big One

After downloading and installing the Mac OS 10.2.8 update Monday afternoon, my ethernet connection drops. Initially I thought it was USC because this happened several times last year, but after four days of downtime I checked Apple’s website and it appears it was Apple’s fault. So I bought a hub as a temporary workaround until they can fix their own mess. I just hope they get a patch out within 14 days, as I can’t return the hub after that. Meanwhile, USC doesn’t let us use hubs on the network so I can’t connect my other computer to it.

Phil’s Philosophy of Filmmaking

(As if looking back on film school) I didn’t go to USC to make good films. I went to USC to make bad films. I wanted to make good films. Anyone who went to film school and thinks he made only good films wasted his money.

Film School Funniness or When I Stopped Caring About Reality

It’s funny, but whenever my classmates and I get together before a class we never really talk about current events. A category 5 hurricane is about to slam into the East coast, the October 7 gubernatorial recall election has been put on hold, and all we talk about is filmmaking. This seems to be a recurring issue with me—how focused we are in our own little worlds and really how insignificant all those petty little things seem when compared to the larger picture. Then again, it’s always nice to have a passion.