Helpless (2013)

The resources The North Carolina School of the Arts School of Film making provides are just amazing. Where I use to carry around a Sony Cyber Shot digital camera ($80) with a 1G SD card, I was now shooting a 7 minute movie on a Cannon 5D Mark III ($3,500).

Year 1 in my producing class, Bob Gosse, assigns us to pitch a story. The day is February 1st, 2012.
I had images in my head, but no story.

I started writing. "A girl and a guy in a library." "Two kids in a library." Library. Library. Library.

I gave up and went to class. The pitches are going well so I decide to go.

[enter pitch here]

I can't remember what I said but the hands started raising and the questions started.

We go on break and Evan Scott Russell approaches me with something along the lines of "I loved your idea, I totally connected. I want to be a part of it."

That night I post on Facebook:

We start to find the crew, first on the list is our Cinematographer, Chris Ellison. I worked with Chris before and I truly admire and respect him. We really lucked out when he agreed to shoot our movie because he provided a vision that really did the story justice.

Next comes our Editor, Isaac Banks. And then so on and so forth. By the end of the hiring we had an incredibly tight and small crew.

We had a hard time finding a library. Our own school library refused us and the few we looked at wouldn't agree to some aspects of the script. Bob Gosse swoops in and connects us with a contact for a local library and within 2 meetings we lock the library. Our scheduled shooting dates are March 31st and April 1st. April 1st just so happened to be Easter and the Library Manager had plans to visit her family so we had one of our first obstacles of moving our entire schedule a day earlier. March 30-31st. That may seem easy, but we had to accommodate everyone's schedule, including the caterer and the hours of operation of the library.

The casting process was a little unconventional. I already knew who I wanted to cast as Leah, and Evan knew who he wanted to cast as Chayse. They each read (separately) and are offered the roles. We begin to rehearse while Dylan Arnold and Mary Mattison Vallery begin their journey.

DAY ONE-We arrive at the library around noon on Friday the 30th. The Camera crew set up the set while the production crew sets up crafty and makeup and wardrobe. Everyone is equal parts excited and giddy. Our first day goes by without a hitch. We reunite later at Chris' (DP) to watch dailies.

Director/Story By/Art Director: Christene Hurley

Produced/Written By/Special Effects Make Up: Evan Scott Russell (middle)

1st AD- Taylor Zabloski, Co-Producer/Boom Op-Austin Elliott and Director of Photography- Chris Ellison

DAY TWO- We meet at our only other location which is the high school hallway. I luckily locked our very own high school hallway months earlier so we did not have to travel far this morning. The freight elevator also proved convenient when pushing the dolly/crane job through.

Michelle Shiraziefard- Gaffer (left)

We left our special effect shot for the last day of shooting, we took our time to prepare and I think it really paid off. I can't say much more without spoiling the story so I just hope that everyone gets a chance to see this film if you haven't.

Kyle Frank-Key Grip

Chris and Kazmo Kida-1st AC

Dylan Arnold and Mary Mattison Vallery

That's a WRAP! The best part was when I got to announce to my dear crew that we had submitted our film into the Courte Metrage Short Film Corner at the Cannes International Film Festival!! I applied for an internship at the festival and was accepted and offered the opportunity to submit a film. I had so much faith that I submitted a film we hadn't even shot yet!

Top: Austin Elliott, Dalton Price, Dylan Arnold, Michelle, Drew, Kazmo, Isaac, Taylor
Bottom: Evan, Mary, Kyle, Christene, Chris

We were a little pressed for time to submit the film to France so Isaac got cracking quick! After 6 days he had a first cut. We were all so very happy with the way it turned out. This is the birth of "Helpless."

Isaac Banks- Editor

April 24th, 2013 "Helpless" is officially screened with all of the other 2nd year films of the year. The films were incredible, the 2nd year students were riveted. I was excited and ecstatic and also sad that this was all over. Little did I know, my journey with "Helpless" had just begun. 

May 7th, 2013 I drive to Fayetteville to get interviewed for the Fayetteville Observer. Roger Mullen who had covered shows I performed in at The Cape Fear Regional Theatre was now interviewing me about "Helpless"! 

May 15th, 2013 "Helpless" premieres at the Court Metrage at the Cannes International Film Festival

May 24th, 2013 "Helpless" screens for the American Pavilion at the Cannes International Film Festival

August 30th, 2013 Evan is interviewed by the Times-Georgian on his 21st birthday about "Helpless". 

September 20th, 2013 "Helpless" screens at Big Bear Lake International Film Festival in California and is awarded the Jury Award for best Student Film! 

November 8th, 2013 "Helpless" will screen at the Asheville Cinema Festival in North Carolina.

November 15th, 2013 "Helpless" will screen at the Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington North Carolina.

This has been one of the most exciting rides of my life and I can't wait to see how it all turns out. I'm happy to report that Evan and I have just started pre-production on our second production together along with Kazmo Kida, the 1st AC for "Helpless" who will be our Cinematographer. Austin Elliott, the co-producer and Boom Operator for "Helpless" will also join us on our next adventure:
"Roses for Margaret"


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Related articles:

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/05/14/1253196

http://www.times-georgian.com/article_bfd840e8-1751-11e3-8c76-0019bb30f31a.html

David Fincher

David Fincher

"As a director, film is about how you dole out the information so that the audience stays with you when they're supposed to stay with you, behind you when they're supposed to stay behind you, and ahead of you when they're supposed to stay ahead of you."

David Fincher is a name I could not escape during my first year of film school. Before school, I tended to identify films by their actors. But I've learned that a film by David Fincher is mainly that. A film by David Fincher. And everyone involved plays a part to his vision and style. 

Directed: 

Se7en (1995)- 

A thriller/horror/neo-noir film that is not appropriate for an 11 year old. (Which is when I saw it) In my parent's defense, I BEGGED to see it and hid any residual fear it caused.  About 20 years later this remains one of my favorite films of all time. I have a thing for structured and established numerical things like the 7 Deadly sins. (The 4 Noble Truths, The 10 Commandments)

Fight Club (1999)- 

A favorite film while in high school, this movie made me want to be a boy. This is one of those films most people wish they made themselves which proves it's a great idea. As I got older I was introduced to Chuck Palahniuk as a writer. I read a few books and was pleasantly disturbed. When in Barnes and Nobles I tend to skim the aisle and catch up on the sleeves of his new books. I've only been brave enough to read Haunted, Snuff and Pygmy.

Reading about Fight Club, it's hard to believe that it was poorly received when it was first released. Once the DVD was released and sales were high, then were the criticisms retracted. 

Zodiac (2007)-

Fincher's first digitally shot film and the most recent I've seen. Although I think it's a damn good film, it's my least favorite. I found myself missing a lot and having to rewind to catch what I missed in dialogue. It's always fun to catch the trademarks of certain filmmakers, the bird's eye of a moving car through traffic is probably my favorite. 

Zodiac was a star filled cast with really great performances, but the eery 'Fincher feel' was just missing for me. 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)-

Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it's one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen, (I think Cate Blanchett had a lot to do with that.) It's trip through decades reminds me a lot of Forest Gump (1994), with good reason: Same writer. Eric Roth. 

TCCOBB is the first Oscar trumping film with 13 nominations. 

The film rights were purchased in the mid 80s and it took a couple of decades to get together the proper crew and cast to make it work. They chose to take advantage of the filming incentives in Louisiana and filmed in New Orleans. 

The Social Network (2010)-

This semi-biographical film, in my opinion, depicts the youth of the ivy league scene in a very believable way. It was almost dark and eery with a little help from Trent Reznor. Another nomination frenzy.

Fun fact: Harvard has negated most filming on location after Love Story (1970) cause significant damage to the campus. 

The first scene in the film (Zuckerburg & girlfriend) took 99 takes to finish. I can't imagine 50 takes of the same scene!!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)-

Based on the Swedish novel of the same name, it was one of my most anticipated films of 2011. I accidentally bumped into the Swedish trilogy a few years ago on netflix and loved all 3. Then I heard Fincher was remaking them and to be quite honest, I wasn't uber excited. I felt like it was still fresh and great and Noomi Rapace was such a pioneer it would be hard to top that performance. But I don't think Rooney Mara fell short. 

In my opinion, I couldn't imagine this film being any better, and then Fincher puts his twang on it and made it his own. I'm happy to report that he's signed on for the whole trilogy which started filming this January and will be released this Fall. 

An interview with David Fincher:

Sofia Coppola

sofia coppola

"I'm always a sucker for a love story"

Visionary is the word I think of to describe Sofia. She treats film like a painting, in my opinion. The composition and shots are just as important as the story and the actors. She lives in Paris, a filmmakers dream. I can't imagine what it would be like to be around that much inspiration and beauty all day everyday.

Directed: 

The Virgin Suicides(1999) Based on the book by Jeffrey Eugenides. This is the story of the Lisbon family in Grosse Pointe, Michigan in the 1970s and the suicides of the 5 daughters. 

Sofia read the book and decided to make the film but found out it was already in the works, she showed her script to the production company and they used hers instead. Get it girl!

Lost in Translation (2003) Written by Sofia and loosely based on biographical events. This is a story about an aging actor, Bob, who meets Charlotte, a photographer's wife visiting Japan. Immediately they connect while displaced in a foreign country. 

The title of the movie is a reference to a definition of poetry by Robert Frost: "Poetry is what gets lost in translation."

Marie Antionette (2006)Also written by Sofia, this film is loosely based on the life of the Queen consort leading up to the French Revolution. One of Sofia's resources is Antonia Fraser's Marie Antionette which makes the queen a more human character. 

The girl in me wants to mention the fun fact I found that most shoes in the film were designed by Manolo Blahnik. I will own a pair one day, I know it. 

Somewhere (2010)Written by Sofia, this film is about a newly famous actor who's recovering from a injury at the Chateau Marmont. Going through an existential crisis, he is detaching from life which is apparent during the first 15 minutes of the film where no dialogue is spoken. His 11 year old daughter visits him and gives his life purpose again. All of Sofia's film are heavy with themes. They are not subtle in any way, here we see a strong theme in parenthood, (Which my friend, Jack would appreciate). Sofia also wrote in a little biographical details about living in hotels as a child. Perfect example of "write what you know."

Lick the Star (1998) is a 14 minute long black and white short film Sofia co-wrote and directed. It's Heathers (1988) meets Mean Girls (2004), but in the 90s. I'm so grateful my friend pointed out a very important cameo by none other than Peter Bogdanovich himself. [Peter Bogdanovich is a very well known director who just so happens to teach Directing for the upperclassmen.] 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000953/

The Bling Ring (2013) Currently in production. Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the Internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

Get to know Sofia a little better: