Nonfiction Scriptwriting (CINE 72)

I'm taking a course this semester on Nonfiction Scriptwriting at SF City College's Cinema Department taught by Denise Bostrom. With all the stuff going on in my life, I can only take one course at a time in the evenings. So for the next four months, my Thursday evenings are strictly devoted to learning the craft of writing non-fiction for the film/video. 

 Already into my third week of class, I am working on a script for a "how-to/instruction" film. In just a couple of weeks, we will move into the "autobiographical/experimental" category of nonfiction film. Our last third of the semester will be devoted to writing the standard "documentary." 

My ultimate aim for taking this course is to continue to improve my craft as an amateur filmmaker. In this case, I think taking this writing class will spark some new ideas for our Intermedia Arts project and also sharpen my skills in cinematic and visual storytelling.

Because I have not taken the traditional route to film education (my second B.A. was an interdisciplinary major in film studies, but was not geared toward production), I try to learn as much as I can from a variety of sources: (a) watching DVD's and movies whenever I get a chance, (S.F. Public Library has been a great resource), (b) reading books on film theory/history, (c) taking production courses at City College, (d) just getting out there and shooting.

 

Sound Mixing at Andy's

Today, Vince Vilan (my technical consultant and editor extraordinaire) and I went to Berkeley to drop off our sound files and other data to Andrew Lackey who volunteered to do some sound mixing for our project. 

He's a pretty big name in the gaming industry (not to mention his sound credits in some big-time Hollywood films like Red Planet, 8 Mile, Matrix Reloaded), but in person he was a down-to-earth, nonassuming guy who apologized to us about his "messy" house. Basically a real nice guy and a privilege for us to have on our project. 

On our way back to SF, Jee (my wife) and I took Vince out to dinner at a Korean Tofu house in Oakland. Vince is not Korean, but he sure ate like one. He says the Tofu soup was not spicy enough for him!. 

Pictures of the Recent Film Festival

Pics from our recent film festival at the clinic (July 21, 2009). Our First Annual Digital Shorts Film Festival entitled "Unheard Voices." Photos of the event taken by Alex Alvarenga.