Unfinished Movie

Ass War: The Unfinished Movie will eventually be posting to asswar.com

The unfinished movie is a conceit borrowed from Daniel Johnston. The idea is that these are rough cuts, unpolished scenes, in story order. The unfinished movie is free for all over 18, and visible at AssWar.com after the days of shooting.

Why an unfinished movie?
The way the movie is being shot resembles an episodic television show than a feature length film. A TV show has a shoot date per week over the course of months. A film shoots daily over the course of month. Making the best of my life situation, shooting one day a week is more attractive. Hence, posting a rough edit of that day's shoot online becomes the episode.

Actors benefit because they have access to their days shoots within a few weeks of shooting. Normally actors only receive footage upon completion of the fine cut of picture, which can be months or years after their shoot day.

I as a director/editor benefit because it charts progress. There is seldom any instant gratification in filmmaking. It's an exercise of patience and stamina. Posting your movie online makes you feel like you've finished, and keeps the ball rolling.

As an editor, it removes the daunting pile of 25 plus hours to edit down to 90 minutes. A little each week goes a long way.
At the conclusion of shooting, the unfinished movie will be fully online. And then cutting together the scenes and filling in gaps commences. This results in the Finished Movie.

Actors and crew have the unfinished movie to add to their credits and reels.
I work will concentration on the Finished Movie. This involves a complete cut, color correction, sound design, titles, and visual effects shots.

There you go. That's the deal of an unfinished movie.

Actors, Part 2

The previous post ranted and granted how-to info for actors and play producers to post online info on offline materials. This is a called a crumb trail.

I put that question to an actor after seeing the new program for Mad Cow. Not one web link was provided in any of the bios, yet thanks to girlfriends and boyfriends. (...sigh...) The reply was "great if you have a professionally built website. Myspace isn't appropriate..."

I understand about Myspace. Most everyone posts photos that they wouldn't want others to see. But unless your account is set to private, others can see them. JKW had/has a lot of funny stuff posted to her myspace, yet since she's out of college now and looking for work, a lot of the crazier posts have been removed.

STILL: That's not to dismiss Myspace as a free resource. It's to dismiss other's personal focus on myspace without realizing that 1.) You could clean up your myspace for prof. use or 2.) Get a new account for strict professional purposes. No drinking shots, no self effacing captions, no spontaneous nudes.

Alas, asking the actor and receiving a response was calming. I spoke my piece.

I had the good fortune to work with someone who totally gets it, and totally works it on the highest level of working it.
It was inspiring.

I was granted 2 hours to shoot in Land O Lakes on Monday, August 5, 2008. It was a first on many levels, more importantly the first day of shooting for Ass War. The shoot was for the opening title sequence, as I'm shooting in story order. Names are being withheld until the movie is more complete. Though they signed the release, taking credit was left until they could see more of the project. I liken it to shooting a supermodel's elbow. They're allowing you shoot their elbow because you need an exceptional elbow to shoot. It's up to them if they allow their name, as well. Otherwise, this anonymous exceptional elbow is yours to use, anonymously. From the supermodel's point of view, the shoot is not about them as a carefully crafted persona, it's about the elbow. From my point of view, I'm grateful irregardless of whether they care to have their name associated or not. I have amazing footage I can use.

Now, I don't think I'll post this movie on the unfinished movie. It'll be for a closely censored trailer, and uncensored finished movie. More on that, later.