Comments on: Episode 7 - “If you give a mouse a cookie…” http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/ Four Eyed Monsters Feature Film and Video Podcast. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:41:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Kathleen http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-69391 Kathleen Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:24:27 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-69391 Wow. all I can say is it really sucks to work with people who are driven by selfish ambition. You guys clearly had a message to send within the making of the film, and it is a dismay that the people who claimed to have such an interest in helping you only wanted to get their names out there. I work as a musician and have chosen very good people to work with. I write my own music and play the guitar in my demos. When it comes down to recording, I let a more experienced guitarist play on the track before I record the vocals. I have a message that the people I work with support. There is a lot of favor there, and they have been passionate about getting my name out there and aren't the least bit worried about their own. I might choose to give them credit; however, thats the choice I can make as a writer and no one else can make it for me. I hated watching your Q&A being turned into a dispute over ownership of the film and who did what. It just seemed as if there were a lot of people stirring things up long before it even got to that point, and a few people may have unfortunately missed the message because they were more focused on trivial matters. Keep up the good work. I have seen your film four times within the past couple of days. Thanks. Wow. all I can say is it really sucks to work with people who are driven by selfish ambition. You guys clearly had a message to send within the making of the film, and it is a dismay that the people who claimed to have such an interest in helping you only wanted to get their names out there. I work as a musician and have chosen very good people to work with. I write my own music and play the guitar in my demos. When it comes down to recording, I let a more experienced guitarist play on the track before I record the vocals. I have a message that the people I work with support. There is a lot of favor there, and they have been passionate about getting my name out there and aren’t the least bit worried about their own. I might choose to give them credit; however, thats the choice I can make as a writer and no one else can make it for me. I hated watching your Q&A being turned into a dispute over ownership of the film and who did what. It just seemed as if there were a lot of people stirring things up long before it even got to that point, and a few people may have unfortunately missed the message because they were more focused on trivial matters. Keep up the good work. I have seen your film four times within the past couple of days. Thanks.

]]> By: miss-paraguay1991 http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-65524 miss-paraguay1991 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:23:13 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-65524 Hey, I've just seen your movie, and got hooked with YOUR story, so I came around to watch some more. I just wanted to say: How could you be so polite with these people? Yeah, 'thanks for your help' and all that thing, but... they're off their heads, man! Ha-ha-ha! I think you've realised by now. Shame that you had to go through that bad moment of 'unenjoyment' in your world premiere (just because you're are too polite to say what you think! Might be a kind of a side effect...), but, just in the case you're still not sure: THIS IS yoUR wORk... youR MOviE... YOUR aRt... YOur IDEA... NOBODY ELSES. They are what we call collaborators (not just nowadays with the internet and all that, but since always! imagine if every person that opens the mouth in a shooting is gonna be called a director!), doesn't matter how bigmouthed they are, that's all they are (collaborators I mean, but could also be bigmouthed if you prefer so). Just wanted to say that. Cheers. Nice one, keep working! MP1991 Hey,

I’ve just seen your movie, and got hooked with YOUR story, so I came around to watch some more. I just wanted to say: How could you be so polite with these people? Yeah, ‘thanks for your help’ and all that thing, but… they’re off their heads, man! Ha-ha-ha! I think you’ve realised by now. Shame that you had to go through that bad moment of ‘unenjoyment’ in your world premiere (just because you’re are too polite to say what you think! Might be a kind of a side effect…), but, just in the case you’re still not sure: THIS IS yoUR wORk… youR MOviE… YOUR aRt… YOur IDEA… NOBODY ELSES. They are what we call collaborators (not just nowadays with the internet and all that, but since always! imagine if every person that opens the mouth in a shooting is gonna be called a director!), doesn’t matter how bigmouthed they are, that’s all they are (collaborators I mean, but could also be bigmouthed if you prefer so).
Just wanted to say that.
Cheers.
Nice one, keep working!

MP1991

]]> By: Spencer http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-49420 Spencer Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:37:42 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-49420 Credits. Yeah, that's a tough one. When doing a freebee, you really have nothing to pay your people with other than credits. On most days on most of my projects, it's just me and my actors, but my credits are a mile long. It makes people feel like they belong - that they are appreciated and at the same time it makes your film appear to be more significant to the viewers. Like it or not, film is a team sport. The idea that anyone is the "auteur" is bogus. I do find though, that it is dangerous to let anyone feel like they have a LOT invested in the film. If you accept too many suggestions without question, then the contributor gets excited about making "their" film, and become truly insulted and hurt when you eventually don't like one of their ideas. This is one of many reasons why people on larger sets have more compartmentalization - working on just the lighting or the set design or whatever. I also have been on the other side of the coin and I have to say it truly hurts. The first time was when I worked on a short film. The DP wasn't really any good, but was a nice guy, so as the job wore on, the director would frame the shot, i would light the shot, and the DP would press the on and off switch. The film went on to win a bunch of cinematography awards and was written up by the American Society of Cinematographers. The DP got a bunch of jobs out of it and I got bubcus. Of course, people eventually realized that the DP wasn't any good and he eventually left the business, but it set into motion years of jobs where producers or directors would hire me to light and often frame their films, but would give their friend or political hire the title of DP. After awhile, it really really blew hearing other people get praise and jobs from my work while I continued to work on low budget crap never advancing my career. Credit have real power unfortunately. Anyway, be confident about your position as the lead creative force, but freely recognize that it was a team effort and everyone should be happy. -Spencer Credits. Yeah, that’s a tough one.

When doing a freebee, you really have nothing to pay your people with other than credits. On most days on most of my projects, it’s just me and my actors, but my credits are a mile long. It makes people feel like they belong - that they are appreciated and at the same time it makes your film appear to be more significant to the viewers. Like it or not, film is a team sport. The idea that anyone is the “auteur” is bogus.

I do find though, that it is dangerous to let anyone feel like they have a LOT invested in the film. If you accept too many suggestions without question, then the contributor gets excited about making “their” film, and become truly insulted and hurt when you eventually don’t like one of their ideas. This is one of many reasons why people on larger sets have more compartmentalization - working on just the lighting or the set design or whatever.

I also have been on the other side of the coin and I have to say it truly hurts. The first time was when I worked on a short film. The DP wasn’t really any good, but was a nice guy, so as the job wore on, the director would frame the shot, i would light the shot, and the DP would press the on and off switch. The film went on to win a bunch of cinematography awards and was written up by the American Society of Cinematographers. The DP got a bunch of jobs out of it and I got bubcus. Of course, people eventually realized that the DP wasn’t any good and he eventually left the business, but it set into motion years of jobs where producers or directors would hire me to light and often frame their films, but would give their friend or political hire the title of DP. After awhile, it really really blew hearing other people get praise and jobs from my work while I continued to work on low budget crap never advancing my career.

Credit have real power unfortunately.

Anyway, be confident about your position as the lead creative force, but freely recognize that it was a team effort and everyone should be happy.

-Spencer

]]> By: rachel lehcar http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-37335 rachel lehcar Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:15:43 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-37335 honesty. what can I say except thank you for your honesty and I LOVED the line of the people carrying more of their personal experiences than the success of the film! God I wanted to tell those people YOU DON'T GET IT. TAKE THE HIGHER ROAD. Maybe they didn't know there was a higher road. Thank you for sharing. Talent. So much Rachel honesty. what can I say except thank you for your honesty and I LOVED the line of the people carrying more of their personal experiences than the success of the film! God I wanted to tell those people YOU DON’T GET IT. TAKE THE HIGHER ROAD. Maybe they didn’t know there was a higher road. Thank you for sharing. Talent. So much Rachel

]]> By: AJ Matulevich http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-537 AJ Matulevich Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:47:57 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-537 Emotional struggle is a difficult theme to document, and furthermore, to spell out to an audience. These Podcasts let viewers experience an emotion that is hard to speak and control. I believe your shorts have touched people (including myself) in a way that produces a different outlook on our lives. It is clearly evident that amount of work you both have put into these episodes. I am excited about the movie, and wish you both the best of luck. Cheers. Emotional struggle is a difficult theme to document, and furthermore, to spell out to an audience. These Podcasts let viewers experience an emotion that is hard to speak and control. I believe your shorts have touched people (including myself) in a way that produces a different outlook on our lives. It is clearly evident that amount of work you both have put into these episodes. I am excited about the movie, and wish you both the best of luck. Cheers.

]]> By: Alyssa (Andrew's Sister) http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-389 Alyssa (Andrew's Sister) Sun, 16 Jul 2006 20:43:23 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-389 WOW!! This episode brought tears to my eyes. I never knew that the film industry could be so shallow. Having mentioned that; I think that is exactly the beauty of this project. Erin and Susan's project reaches so many emotional levels. It not only combines their real personal lives, but it also brings others in the middle of everything they own. It's almost like they are having a lover's quarrell with about 6 different people staking claim to their life. Everyone who is in the business of art will treat this collaboration as exactly a business venture, yet the people who have a true emotional tie to it personally and emotionally, (appreciating this for exactly what it is ART), will be there when the chips are down expecting nothing and donating more than words can express. These podcasts give all the credit where credit is due and to EVERYONE involved in this rare realistic dive into an animated romance; I stand and applaud you. Sincerely, Alyssa Director of my own life WOW!!

This episode brought tears to my eyes. I never knew that the film industry could be so shallow. Having mentioned that; I think that is exactly the beauty of this project. Erin and Susan’s project reaches so many emotional levels. It not only combines their real personal lives, but it also brings others in the middle of everything they own. It’s almost like they are having a lover’s quarrell with about 6 different people staking claim to their life. Everyone who is in the business of art will treat this collaboration as exactly a business venture, yet the people who have a true emotional tie to it personally and emotionally, (appreciating this for exactly what it is ART), will be there when the chips are down expecting nothing and donating more than words can express. These podcasts give all the credit where credit is due and to EVERYONE involved in this rare realistic dive into an animated romance;
I stand and applaud you.

Sincerely,
Alyssa
Director of my own life

]]> By: stephen folorunsho http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-346 stephen folorunsho Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:05:29 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-346 yes guys as we say in London England wicked!!!! love the emotion in your peices and the clarity of ideas keep on - by the way i joined youareTV because of your recommendation check out my film car free day takes a while to load but i think you might like it !!!!! and by the way you have a point about the merging of roles however experience has taught me that some one needs to have an overarching vision or everthing just goes tits up. I think the reason that your films are so successful i think is like i said, they exude clarity and paradoxically you've had to use the tools and techniques that traditional communicators have always used - narrative unity visual and metaphorical hooks, mottiffs establishment of characters and most importantly emotion. So in sense its misplaced to talk about new forms of film making as we all rely on the well of collective knowledge " standing on the shoulders of gaints " yes guys as we say in London England wicked!!!! love the emotion in your peices and the clarity of ideas keep on - by the way i joined youareTV because of your recommendation check out my film car free day takes a while to load but i think you might like it !!!!! and by the way you have a point about the merging of roles however experience has taught me that some one needs to have an overarching vision or everthing just goes tits up. I think the reason that your films are so successful i think is like i said, they exude clarity and paradoxically you’ve had to use the tools and techniques that traditional communicators have always used - narrative unity visual and metaphorical hooks, mottiffs establishment of characters and most importantly emotion. So in sense its misplaced to talk about new forms of film making as we all rely on the well of collective knowledge ” standing on the shoulders of gaints “

]]> By: Jonathan Hartwig http://foureyedmonsters.com/e7/#comment-301 Jonathan Hartwig Sun, 02 Jul 2006 21:41:23 +0000 http://foureyedmonsters.com/index.php/e7/#comment-301 Hey guys. I know I've emailed you briefly in the past asking if I could use footage from your film for another project I was working on. Sadly, and for reasons beyond my control, it was never finished. I guess that ties in pretty well with the last two episodes of your podcast. I absolutely understand the power struggle within production groups. And I know this sucks to hear, especially after the blood, sweat and tears of completing your first feature with almost no payback, but it's the truth- it only gets better. I remember the first film I ever did and it was a nightmare. Everyone was sure they had the best way to do everything. Production roles were absolutely thrown about. We had a team full of kings and absolutely no peasants. But that's just the mark of your first few films. If you guys take it upon yourselves to do more (and I'd suggest shorts for a while just to establish that on-set hierarchy, no matter how good you are at writing and directing) I can almost guarentee you that the next experience will be smoother and more pleasant. So with that, good luck. Don't give up. You've already made gold, even if you didn't get picked up by a major distributer right off the bat. Try, try, try again. Jonathan Hartwig Before All This, Inc. Hey guys. I know I’ve emailed you briefly in the past asking if I could use footage from your film for another project I was working on. Sadly, and for reasons beyond my control, it was never finished.

I guess that ties in pretty well with the last two episodes of your podcast. I absolutely understand the power struggle within production groups. And I know this sucks to hear, especially after the blood, sweat and tears of completing your first feature with almost no payback, but it’s the truth- it only gets better.

I remember the first film I ever did and it was a nightmare. Everyone was sure they had the best way to do everything. Production roles were absolutely thrown about. We had a team full of kings and absolutely no peasants.

But that’s just the mark of your first few films. If you guys take it upon yourselves to do more (and I’d suggest shorts for a while just to establish that on-set hierarchy, no matter how good you are at writing and directing) I can almost guarentee you that the next experience will be smoother and more pleasant. So with that, good luck. Don’t give up. You’ve already made gold, even if you didn’t get picked up by a major distributer right off the bat. Try, try, try again.

Jonathan Hartwig
Before All This, Inc.

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