Posts tagged first feature

“If you build it, they will come,” or so says the popular bit of dialogue from that feature film we all know, “Field of Dreams.” You remember the scene. Or bits and pieces of it. A guy stands in a barren baseball field, staring out into the distance. The bases are unloaded. It’s just him, on the field, staring. An occasional breeze kicks up dust, carrying with it his memories, his dreams, his vision for the future.

That’s us, standing on the brink of something great with our feature film. Now more than ever, the dreams are slowly becoming reality. We can see it, and the supporters are stepping up to the plate. They want to hold the ball, throw us a towel, share a cup of gatorade, hand us gloves. They want to be on the team! And they can. If there was anything we learned about the LA Rebellion filmmakers, it was that the community should at all times be involved in the production of your own film. We make community by building it at the same time; in other words, we lift as we climb. 

This is so exciting. And even though baseball is the current analogy, I’m a big fan of the WNBA and Golf. I love that our characters love both. I love that they play both. I hope to make each scene look just as amazing, beautiful, and enticing on screen. 

I’m writing this because I started storyboarding my first scene tonight. It’s not the very first scene of the film, but it’s a scene that happens early on in the film. I could see the characters standing there in the frame, the close-ups, the long-shots, the extreme wide shots. I saw the outtakes and I saw the cinematographer and crew moving the cameras into a different position, smiling, ready for us all to call “ACTION.” 

Today, a filmmaker friend, Matthew Cherry, posted an inspiring quote on Twitter. The quote was from Tyler Perry. The quote went something somewhat to the effect of: “You don’t need to permission to green light your own projects. Go for it.” 

Yes! Go for it. Dream big — without inhibitions. Give yourself the green light to begin seeking funding, to begin honing cast and crew, to begin marketing (well in advance), to believe that your base is already solidified. 

Stepping out on faith may be a little bit scary, but it’s necessary to lead, to build, to expand, and to grow. People are waiting on our story, and they are waiting on yours too. 

So, what are you waiting for? Go for it! 

True honest work is always supported in kind. If you understand the meaning behind the Sankofa bird, then you will know where you are going because you are conscious and cognizant of your past — of where you have been before. The journey isn’t easy, says a friend, but it will all be well worth it. 

Many blessings. 

All Light, 

JD

Director, “The Postwoman” (Movie) 

http://www.thepostwomanmovie.com 

http://twitter.com/PostwomanMovie