Dear Stranger

Back from Annapolis

2006-11-16T00:24:00.000-05:00

Like expected, people generally liked the film. They liked the shooting style, the editing, the eye. But they also liked the story and the actors. But there is something holding it back from a great movie. As I have thought before, there is a general problem with pacing. Not in terms of cutting as much. Which I think I fixed but in terms of story. There wasn't a surprise till the end. The key moment is the entrance of the new guy. He doesn't invade her life. The first time is too normal. That little moment has a huge impact on the second part of the story. It is cohesive but not dramatic. This is what I felt when I watched it. When that scene came, I just looked down, unable to watch it.

I was very proud of Dear Stranger. I would not have traded that film with any other at the festival. But that depresses me. I am not a crowd pleaser. I may not even be the award winner. I am not the buzz creator. I sadly like small moments. I don't think this is a good thing.

I enjoyed being around the filmmakers. But everyone is there for one reason, to promote their projects. It is hard to exchange ideas. Do people do that anymore? Do people only spark ideas within themselves?

I liked being the mini-celebrity (very very mini). I had something to say and have done something of significance. That was nice.

The best parts of the trip was when Kelly and I were lost. Bored in a hotel room. Excited that there was a restaurant at the hotel. Kelly being more nervous than me. Hanging out with people I know afterwards. Talking. Driving late at night, silently challenging myself to do better.

I did see some good work there. Documentaries continue to be more interesting than fiction for the most part. I was looking all around the frame and not the subject. That is fun to do in docs.

I can't wait to do all this again.

(will have pics up soon)

- AAP

[Filmmaker]

Annapolis Film Festival Details

2006-10-30T01:11:00.000-05:00

Dear Stranger will be playing (premiere) at Crown Theater 1 in Annapolis Maryland at 1:30 pm on November 11th. There will be a Q&A at the end of the program, I will be in attendance. If you live in the area, do come. If you know someone in the area, tell them to c0me.

If you make it, make sure to say hello. Most likely, I will arrive on Friday night and leave after the Filmmakers Party on Saturday Night.

I am hoping to film the trip, thinking of doing a little video at the end of it to show you guys.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

I love you Annapolis!!

2006-09-20T08:41:00.000-04:00

Dear Stranger has made the Annapolis Film Festival in the non-competitive section. This festival is one of the major American film festival held in Maryland. I was waiting for a major FF to accept the film before I started submitting it willy nilly.

This is very exciting news! And the fact that it is in Maryland makes it even better because I can just drive up there. So if any of you or anyone you know lives in Maryland, I'd highly suggest you come and see the film. The festival is from Nov 10 to 13th.

Will give you more info as it comes.

Update: Got another email, we are in the competitve section!!! Woohoooo!

Relevant Quote

2006-07-10T14:36:00.000-04:00

"There is a might-have-been which is more true than truth, from which the dreamer, waking, says not 'Did I but dream?' but rather says, indicts high heaven's very self with: 'Why did I wake since waking I shall never sleep again?'" - Absalom, Absalom!

The dirt on Lindsey

2006-06-27T03:29:00.000-04:00

A very hard confession for one of the actors in Dear Stranger.

Check it out

Squigglebooth Launches

2006-05-15T01:04:00.000-04:00

Just recently, I announced the launch of Ticklebooth -- a blog dedicated to finding extraordinary videos online. Now in addition to that, I have launched a companion site, Squigglebooth, that will feature video podcasts from a community of filmmakers. Each week, a new podcast episode will be posted. Currently, one of my films is playing there as episode #1. Check it out.

Maybe someday, after playing out its welcome in the festival circuit, you will find Dear Stranger playing at Squigglebooth.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by "Lucky Seven"

2006-05-07T23:13:00.000-04:00

Hello. This is Lucky Seven. I have several fantasies that I could have submitted, some in the same line as those already on the list, but I have decided to write about this one instead. My fantasy is simple -- my father is alive. He is here, in our physical world, someone with whom I can speak whenever I want, about whatever I want. My father died twice, both times when I was a teen. The first one was metaphoric, of course, whereas the second time was the final, physical death. In my fantasy, neither of these would have happened. I don't necessarily want other details in our lives to change, only that he would be alive, and, importantly, involved. As a teenager, he is there to see me off on prom night and at graduation, and later to visit when I'm off at university. He is there later on through all the ups and downs of the years of trials, victories, love and frustration. He is there to protect me. To love me without reason and question. He is there to understand, as I fantasize that he would, if he were alive, be the person who would understand my many thoughts and emotions. My fantasy is simple. My father is alive.

- Lucky Seven

Quiet on the front

2006-04-20T17:12:00.000-04:00

Not much happening. I have started to submit the film to festivals. Well, actually, just two but I am getting organized. One of the more interesting projects I am working on right now is with the Alain Astruc, a wonderful French photographer. Interesting stuff, we are trying. Check out his photographs here.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Ryan McGinley Photos

2006-03-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

Found an interview with Ryan McGinley where he says something on fantasy that made me think of Dear Stranger:

A lot of people look at my work and assume it is all just an autobiography and that my life is as wild and fun as the images I take. I like that assumption but it's not true. My photographs are really closer to a documentation of my fantasy life. People still take photographs as truth. They look at them and think what they see really happened and while it did really happen, it didn't really happen like that. It is more like pseudo-fiction because it did happen but it might not have happened if it weren't going to become a photograph.

TickleBooth

2006-03-09T10:48:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I have posted. For those who have followed the blog, I apologize. No excuses but I have been working on several things. One of the more exciting things I am working on is a site called Ticklebooth. Here is what it is about:

It has become quite overwhelming with all the things to watch and listen online. Choices range anywhere from podcasts, vodcasts, vlogging, music, music videos, trailers, films, shorts, slideshows, games, etc. Here at TickleBooth, our community of bloggers have assigned ourselves with the task of finding the best and maybe even the worst (when it cannot be helped) of all that can be played online.

Online is quite a big place! Our eyes cannot be everywhere, so feel free to submit links and movies for us to check out. We cannot promise to use it but we will certainly have a look.

The first post was, of course, about Dear Stranger [I love that name]:

Woohoo! The first actual post on Ticklebooth. There is no better place to start it all off with some link love to my own short film Dear Stranger. A short film that I started to work on eons ago when I decided to start casting without an actual script. The pre-production and scriptwriting happened simultaneously. I ended up being a one man crew as all my support staff fell out for various reasons. Though we did shot most scenes they were not really covered enough to my liking. I couldn’t just continue to shoot, like most productions, because I was moving out of town at the end of the month for a job in NC.

Nine months pass before I start to edit. Then life and work interrupt again. Three months pass before I get to finish it (well it is being finished as we speak). My life is polar opposite of what it was when I first started the project. Money seems to slip through my fingers every time I actually worked on the film. The graphic sex scene which can partially be seen in the trailer took about three weeks to complete. A scene that was all of thirty seconds.

I mention all this not for your sympathy or the likes but rather to state that Ticklebooth is compromised of Filmmakers who understand how difficult it is to get those dreams made. So everytime we recommend a podcast or review a film online, we take into account all these difficulties. Simply put: we understand.

I am quite excited about TickleBooth. I am also looking for more writers right now, if you are interested, contact me.

Problems with the trailer

2006-02-14T13:08:00.000-05:00

If you have had problems with watching the trailer, try again. Uploaded to my own server. Sorry about the trouble.

Thanx Trevor

Shooting in Subways question

2006-02-11T13:47:00.000-05:00

Got a question from a reader about the scenes in the subways, thought it would be interesting to share it.

I am planning a 10 minute short where 85% of the story takes place in the subway. I found out about your website and short film from saidthegramophone.com. I really enjoyed the trailer. I look forward to seeing the entire film. I had questions about the sections of your film that are on and around the subway. How difficult was it for you to get those shots? Did you steal them or get a permit? Are all the subway shots close ups? How long was that shoot day; to get what you needed? I noticed you used a subway stops that were elevated; was that a lighting decision? Sorry for the barrage of questions.

Thanks for your comments. Love to answer the questions. Gives me some format to explain what happened on the shoot. The subway shoot happened in two halves, one with the cast & "crew" and second with me and my camera shooting pick-ups (a day before I moved to North Carolina). The main subway scenes took about 4 hours in the middle of the day. I chose that time only because I wanted enough light coming in so the actors were lit. I had initially imagined the scene at the end of day but because of the schedule and other logistics (more crowds, inconsistent light), I decided to shoot in the afternoon.

I had no permits. However, I suggest to anyone shooting in NYC to get them because though we were not harassed, there have been other times where I have been. To our credit, the set-up was pretty light. One camera with a reflector and sound, we just blended in. For the most part we were pretty invisible to the straphangers. One naughty thing we did do was take up a lot of space with our bags. Did not really plan to but it kept people away from us, so we kept doing it.

We went back and forth on the "N" train. I chose that train because I was fairly sure that 1) it was relatively quiet during the weekday afternoons 2) a pretty ride 3) the cars are colorful and clean. I would not suggest any of the trains in Brooklyn because they are pretty crowded all through. The "7" train is definitely a no go for the same reasons. However, I am not sure that the "N" was the best train. I think if you are shooting so many scenes in the subway, I would suggest shooting on the "A" train (I think) that goes to Far Rockaway. It is a long and pretty ride when it goes over the water with no stops and barely any people. I did not do that because it would have taken us almost an hour to get back to the city where we had to film scenes before the day was over.

My choice to shoot on the elevated platforms was purely practical. There are scenes in the actual film that happen on the platform, I had no lights so shooting outside was a no-brainer. Also, the station (Astoria Blvd) we used was very photogenic.

The number of close-ups happened because I liked it aesthetically but also because I had no time to cover the wider shots. I frankly wished I had more medium and long shots. Another reason, I kept shooting Close-ups because we had constantly get off a train and jump on to another (going the opposite way) across the platform. The posters in the back were always different, so I figured for continuity purposes to stay close. However, I think those problems were irrelevant. I have not noticed the background in my editing or watching the film. Just be careful of major jolts not those little things you cannot control.

Hope that helped. Feel free to ask more questions and keep me informed on your progress.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Hunter at Helios

2006-02-05T19:33:00.000-05:00

Pics of our composer, Hunter MacDermut a.k.a The Tourist, putting on a very intimate show at Helios. By the way, his song "Dead Ringer" has been chosen as Indie Rock Song of the Day (Friday, February 10th.) at GarageBand.com. Make sure to check it out.

Getting a DVD Copy of Dear Stranger

2006-02-04T15:01:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in buying a copy of Dear Stranger, shoot me an email indicating you are interested and I will put you on a DVD buyer list. When the film is ready and the DVD's are printed, I will send you a notice. I will not use your email for any other purpose but for this one transaction.

The DVD will consist of:

Dear Stranger (15 mins)
A paper DVD case that will have the fantasies submitted to this site printed on it, so keep submitting.
Deleted scenes or alternate versions
Two of my earlier short films:

Once Upon 13 (college grad film, 12 mins)
Streams of Love (beautiful little love film, 4:30 mins)

The DVD's will be professionally printed and should be priced for $18. I would also encourage you to catch Dear Stranger at your local film festival. Will provide a list of them when I have it.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Dear Stranger Trailer

2006-02-02T20:13:00.000-05:00

Watch the video
Mirror site

Check out the trailer, tried hard to describe what goes on without giving away everything. The music is by Lajko Felix, Hungarian based violinist. I have no rights to this music, so whoever does have the rights, please resist the temptation to sue. This is just a trailer and your music fits real well. Thanks to you for letting me use it and for making such incredible music. To the readers, make sure to comment and tell me what you think of the trailer.

Note: This page will updated to add other links of video on this blog.

Other video:

Imaginary lovemaking (with old music)

Trailer update

2006-01-27T16:08:00.000-05:00

So the trailer should up within the next week. I have arrived at a rough cut which I think needs some fine tuning in the middle. What is cool is that the trailer allows you to look at your work a little differently, see patterns you had not noticed before. I should have done this a while back, maybe even started on this and then assemble the final cut. Will try that the next time around.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #6

2006-01-26T11:57:00.000-05:00

i have kind of a cliche fantasy...it's not altogether exciting. but it's very real for me. it's simple.
i want it all.
i want a husband, a child or two, a house, and a career. but i've chosen a profession that's not easy. i can't just go anywhere to pursue it unless i'm the luckiest person ever...and that's unlikely. i want to be able to have a stable relationship built on love and trust and true compatability and still be able to work.
i'm an actor...none of this will be easy...but i don't care...
i want it all!

Submitted by Anonymous #6

About Linz

2006-01-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

Lindsey is an old friend of mine and also one of the actresses in Dear Stranger. She is easily one of the most talented actors I have met, and mind you I have spent plenty of time at the Actor's Studio (the real thing, not the school or the television show). Anyways, she has started to take her first baby-blog steps with her new blog, About Linz. I was kinda suprised (and intrigued) to hear about the blog because, outside of her work, Lindsey tends to be pretty quiet about what she thinks. I hope she sticks with it because if you know her you will realize that she has plenty to say.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

GreenBean Screening of Dear Stranger (Rough Cut)

2006-01-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Last night, a rough cut of Dear Stranger screened at GreenBean, a cafe/ theater in Greensboro, North Carolina. This was the first time the film was screened to an audience larger than two, wasn't sure how it would be recieved. With all the editing, I had lost perspective on the film and wasn't sure what I was showing anymore.

The screening went very well. For the first time in a long time, I felt excited about the film. I went to sleep on a high. It has been a while since I felt that incredible feeling that I had something beautiful to say and that it was also something people wanted to hear. As I watched the film, imagining how people were responding, I remarked to myself how fast the film moved. It felt like I had compressed a feature length film in 2 mins, the film's actual length hovers around 15 mins. Yet I was able to notice every mistake, every fault, every compromise. It was quite pathetic.

People had a lot to say about the film but the biggest message I got was that the film was ready. Finito! I have the audio to mix and some voice-over recordings left but the film besides the tweaks are set. The actual responses, at times, diametrically opposed each other, however, as I listened to the feedback I realized the film encouraged a subjective viewing. The film's voice is subjective, a lot of what happens in the film is how one person might see the world. That perspective, at times, clashes with the audience. Among the comments, Stephen's comments stood out as he said something to the effect: "that it was a film that should comes straight from you (it is not an audience film). No point for us to tell you what you should do with it."
I'd like to thank Jim for his usual wonderful self. I would also like to thank Neb and the other people of the Triad Indie Group for all their support, and for also providing a space where a filmmaker can screen an unfinished film, get feedback, and then realize he is done. :)

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Voice-over Redo: a comedy with photographs

2006-01-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

So, as many of you know, I am in the final stages with Dear Stranger. Till now, the rough cuts have had to pass with a scratch voice-over. The sound quality of those recordings were simply horrible, I had to paste music over it just to hide the machine hums. Recording at a professional sound studio was out of the question because of the cost. As Kelly felt more comfortable doing the voice-over while the movie played rather than from across the house in a bathroom, we had to record the voice-over in my editing space. My editing "suite" is filled with noisy buggers including my G5, a couple of external hard drives and the fridge in the adjacent kitchen.

For the new recordings, I upgraded from a RadioShack mic to a Samson mic. The sound was better but you could hear the hum of the machines in the background. It was driving me insane. We blanketed the computer, the hard drives, cut off the sounds from the kitchen but it still wasn't enough. I could easily see how this could drive Sound Engineer's nuts.

To tackle the problem, I decided to build a sound-booth made of cardboard packing boxes with foam on the insides to deaden the noise. After a couple of trips around the neighborhood shops, the biggest size boxes ($22) I could find was 25x25x25. I was able to buy some bed foam ($20) at our local evil Walmart.

I figured it would take me about half an hour to assemble it. Wrong! An hour and half later I was still working on it. Here I am deep in it:

I decided to go with glue over Kelly's more sensible idea of using a staple gun. Anyway, the glue thing was a mess, it spilled all over the bloody place, and I kept getting stuck in it. Any second then, I expected a Spider to come and finish me off.

When the box was finally assembled, we had to wait to use it because the fumes were so strong. Half an hour later, the sound box/booth was deemed safe and thus ready for a grand opening. Unfortunately, I had not figured out how to get Kelly into the actual booth. The ceiling was too low to simply lift and place it over her. The construction was not very good and any excessive tilting could cause it to crumble. So pretty much I had to lift and tilt the booth as much as I could and then have Kelly crawled inside. Once inside the booth, Kelly marveled at the craftmanship. Not!

The sound was not perfect. There was still some hum but I figured I could get rid of that with a couple of high pass filters. Anyways, after an hour of recording, Kelly was losing her patience with the "bloody" booth. She had no ways of getting out by herself without tearing it all up, she could not move, was getting high, trying to please my demanding director-self, and could barely read her lines because most of the lights were turned off (so it would eliminate any extra sounds and also for my entertainment!).

Afraid I might lose my talent for good, we took little breaks in between the various scenes. Now for those who don't know me, it might useful to know that Kelly also happens to be my wife. These sort of responsibilites fall on her shoulders all the time. In an effort to help and support me, she never says no and I love her for it.

Anyways, the breaks seemed to get longer with each successive one. Everytime I suggested we get back to work, I would hear violent scratches the inside of the box. It was time to investigate.

Bad idea. Hell broke loose. The voice-over session was over before I could find time (between the laughs) to apologize. So those who plan to attend the rough-cut screening at Green Bean -- be warned that the voice-over in the second half is incomplete.

In the aftermath, I was able to find this on Kelly's notepad:

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Festival Connections

2006-01-15T14:00:00.000-05:00

If any of you have any connections to major film festivals. Make sure to contact me, I could use the help. Very soon, it will be time to submit the film and these things work best if there is someone on the inside that can help you.

Rough Cut will Screen at TIFN

2006-01-14T16:47:00.000-05:00

I will be showing a rough cut of Dear Stranger at Triad Indie Film Night in Greensboro, North Carolina. So if you in the Carolinas and would like to help me polish the film, please make sure to come. Here are the details:

Thursday January 19, 2006
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Event Location: Green Bean Coffee House
Street: 341 S. Elm Street
City, State, Zip: Greensboro, NC, 27401 Map
Phone: (336)691-9990

To Do List

2006-01-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

In a couple of days, I am back working on Dear Stranger. Here is the to do list:

Re-record the voice-over
Create a trailer
Finesse it even more
Create final mix for the film
Submit to festivals
People see the film, love me and say things like "I want you to have my baby."
I take over the world or at least get money to make new films.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

The "Dear Stranger" Song

2005-12-23T18:55:00.000-05:00

Hear the Song

Those who have followed this blog will know I shot a music video recently for The Tourist a.k.a Hunter McDermott. During one of the downtimes we had, Hunter serenaded us with some songs. To say the least, it was quite moving. It is easy to forget how beautiful it is to have someone sing or perform for you. Anyways, after the shoot, Hunter emailed me a rough draft of a song that is based on Dear Stranger. I was flattered. It is quite beautiful.

The Process

2005-12-21T18:22:00.000-05:00

It is an amazing how much time transpires before a 15 min film is completed. Around August 2004, I decided to make Dear Stranger and because I was moving to North Carolina at the end of September, I had very little time to prepare and shoot. Pretty much, I was shooting the day before I left. Once I landed in NC, I had work as an editor on a TV show which sucked time out of my life. It was not till June when I really started to edit Dear Stranger. Then I stopped editing because work caught up in November and December. I won't see the film till January where I will mix the sound and finally be done.

It makes me sad thinking about this. I like working fast because I want to keep pace with my ideas and projects when they are affecting me. I love the short format but it takes as long as a feature film. Well, not really but the length of production is not proportional to the length of the film. Do I keep making shorts or do I go ahead and plan the feature? One will happen (however long) and the other could never happen but if it did happen it could possibly be fulfilling in a way that I have never experienced before.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Is he still standing there?

2005-12-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #5

2005-12-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

Does this classify as a fantasy? In person, I act and think as an atheist. But there are times where I find myself talking to God like it were all real. When I argue over the existence of God, I argue as an atheist (with no guilt whatsoever!). When I talk to God, however, there is no doubt in my mind whether there is someone listening. I don't ask for favoritism or anything fancy but just as a best friend who understands all the reasons why I do what I do.

- Submitted by Anonymous #5

Michael at Target

2005-12-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

I was busy shooting a music video this weekend. Because of the rain in the Carolina's, the crew made a quick stop over at Target for umbrella's. While we were checking out, Hunter says "isn't that guy from Dear Stranger?" I look up and sure enough it is. Pretty Boy Michael Teh was hamming it up on a poster hanging overhead.

The Stranger is actually quite famous! If I had the time and energy, it would be fun to include a scene where Rosie sees the poster and is jealous. Rips down the poster, stomps on it, breaks into two, unsuccessfully tears it into pieces, and then proudly walks out the store. All this edited with jumpcuts of Target customers and staff who are scared to do anything but watch the mayhem.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #4

2005-12-02T08:50:00.000-05:00

In my dreams there is a girl. She is a woman, but only technically. She is not jaded like others, or at least finds a place to hide it away. She finds a place to hide mine away, too. She has ideas and dreams loftier than mine that she speaks of endlessly but will most likely never achieve, instead spends her time knitting, watching movies, and making music. She paints. We talk a lot, all the time, and hours melt away, but we are never aware of ourselves during the conversation while it's happening. I am less aware of things in general, things that ruin themselves when they're realized. She loves the sky and orange leaves but doesn't feel sad when I can't find the beauty in them the same way she does. She lets me discover my own beauty. She is never cold and never allows coldness to enter my eyes. They speak volumes to her. She knows what bothers her about me and rolls her eyes. She isn't really bothered. I am the same way. She is tall, but not too tall. Tall enough so her forehead lines up with my lips when we stand together. She leans in slightly. She makes it easy on me.

- Submitted by Anonymous #4

What I learned from making Dear Stranger (Pt 3)

2005-12-01T17:49:00.000-05:00

Spend some time rehearsing the blocking ON LOCATION. That will make it easier for you to describe to the actors what has to take place. Do not make it too written in stone. The purpose of doing this is for you to feel the place, where the camera can best capture the scene and, most importantly, if it makes sense (logically & emotionally).
The scene where Rosie spills water on her arms, it took several takes over many days to capture it right. Because I had not thought the scene out completely. In my head, the blocking worked but on set Nikki was frustrated. Because of the problems with the blocking, she doubted the scene and I am sure wished the scene was cut. And by luck, the pot happened to blow, it was captured on camera and we reblocked the scene around that. It worked! But it was luck, you lucky bastard.
With actors, make them comfortable so they take chances. But be careful to 1) indicate you know what the hell is going on 2) this is your film and 3) keep enough of the nervous energy because that helps as well.
Plan time for the actors to eat and be somewhat lazy. Because, otherwise they will make it on their own.
With shorts, keep your ideas (especially visual ideas) streamlined. Shorts are a different animal, they want to do a lot in little amounts of time with little variations.
Know that "suspension of disbelief" exists. All through the shoot and editing, you and others will doubt whether something is believable. It DOES! I mean you cannot do anything but as long the film makes its own logical sense, people believe it. They want the mental exercise. Alternate universe logic applies.
Get married or get a girlfriend/boyfriend. Because you are going to need them.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

List of Fantasy Submissions

2005-11-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

1) Started with Kelly talking about a fantasy person helping her better express herself.
2) My reflection on how fantasies had helped me with tragedies (and started all of this).
3) Rachel fantasized herself as a younger, more freer person who was more in touch with nature.
4) Fantasy by Anonymous #1: To be successful so as to be accepted by own family.
5) Treasure wished to reclaim that joy before it all got so serious.
6) Carla fantasized the ultimate creative environment.
7) Trev fantasized the ideal woman for him.
8) Fantasy by Anonymous #2: Wished she had a chance to do something over again with a guy.
9) Fantasy by Anonymous #3: Fantasized about his wonder woman.
10) Fantasy by Anonymous #4: "She is a woman, but only technically..."
11) Fantasy by Anonymous #5: An Atheist talks to God.
12) Fantasy by Anonymous #6: Wanting it all.
13) Fantasy by "Lucky Seven": A living Father

KEEP THEM COMING! This page will be updated as I receive more submissions. I am also attaching a link to this page on the sidebar so you can easily find it.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Video - Rosie & Stranger make love

2005-11-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Watch the video

The video is an old version of a scene when Rosie and the Stranger make love, it is towards the end of the film. This version featured music that is not in the film, the music is "Venice Queen" by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

There were couple of issues: we had no rights to the music or the money to get it. It did not fit well with the other music that was composed for the film. And I think the final music did a better job of staying true to the film.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

What I learned from making Dear Stranger (Pt 2)

2005-11-26T11:25:00.000-05:00

The actual improv's were good but they did not transfer well on the day of the shoot. Maybe it is best kept for day of the shoot.
With directing actors, don't be afraid to repeat yourself. Not everything has to be new. Convince through sheer repetition. Actually describe key plot points even if it is obvious.
I am confused when they ask me a question? Whether to answer fully or have them investigate, no way came out on top.
You should have asked Steve about possibly changing his hair color, his current look was perfect.
Not enough cutaways were prepared prior to shoot. Don't wait for editing or even at the day of the shoot. The best cutaways were the ones that were prepared in advance.
If you are not prepared, you come into work afraid, feeling like a idiot, apologetic, in a haze. If you are not prepared in some aspect, get over it quickly. State that you are not prepared, tell people you need help. That makes them aggressive in trying to help you which is good.
Try as hard as you can to create longer shots, even if the scene does not need it. Easier to cut it down than elongating it with slow mo.
Do not hide behind the camera. Even there is a little break in the shooting. Set the camera down and talk to the actors. They prefer talking without the camera in your hands. They probably think they have more time to discuss and thus are more relaxed.
There is no perfect casting. You have to develop the role for the actor as you develop them for the role. Some sweet spot in the middle is what you are looking for.

What I learned from making Dear Stranger (Pt 1)

2005-11-23T18:12:00.000-05:00

Emotionally hard scenes take longer. They just do. Schedule a lot of time to relax and to sink in the surroundings. So if an emotional scene is half hour to shoot, double it. Don't rush these scenes in terms of schedule.
Get help! Get help with anything and everything way before you can shoot.
Though the actors do not like it, letting the camera roll while they interact is wonderful. They look natural.
Surprisingly, the lack of extra's was not that big of a problem. Don't worry yourself silly about such things. If you don't have everything, focus on cutaways. Build little pieces.
Pacing is not present when directing. I create it in my editing. Not good.
Get sound whenever you can, even if the scene is silent.
Not enough attention to foreground. When you do, it is beautiful.
With Crew and Actors: get people that are excited. Don't demand their commitment because they will surely break it. If they are excited, that is important. People stuck because they were excited. Not because of commitments. This might change when you pay them but as of right now, get people who are excited. They will commit. Don't ask for it, if you have to, then they will surely disappoint.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Michael "The Stranger" Photo's

2005-11-20T17:12:00.000-05:00

I had asked the actors to send their headshots. Michael "The Stranger" was the last to reply but when he did he sent in abundance. He asked to post all the pics.

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #3

2005-11-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

When i was asked to write about my fantasy one of the biggest obstacles i had was to pick among the many that pop into my head on a daily basis. But as i thought more about it i found one that i've had since i was a kid and still think about.

It is the idea of finding a friend, a lover, a parter, an accomplice in arms that will love me unconditionally for who i am. and someone whom i can love with the same intensity dispite the smallest inperfections. so that one day i too can have a place i can call home and be able to share it with my wife and kids.sometimes that fantasy seems just that, something unatainable something i can only dream about. for i am in my twenties and have never had a serious girlfriend and the idea of love is a bit frightning. not only because feelings change but it's also the notion of having someone know all about you. it's something that frightens me to no end and maybe thats part of the reason i've never had a lasting relationship. The good news is that i'm aware of the problem and i'm slowly trying to change.

To put a face on my dream woman i'd have to say she has to have wild beautiful eyes that i could stare at with no end. Eyes that are both strong and fragile. eyes that can convey sadness, hope, excitement. that are attractive cheerful, calm, happy, and inviting. Eyes that know what they want but can also stand down when not necessary. And behind these eyes is a beautiful woman who is strong, intelligent, independent, caring, and takes charge when the situation demands it. A tall blonde, red haired or brunnete with eyes of clear ocean blue, or green emiralds with sparks of yellow sunlight. is it asking for too much? it probably is, but it is my dream and it will be grand. And one of the women who helped shape my fantasy was linda carter, yeah thats right ms wonder woman. she was probably one of the first females i had a crush on. She has the brown hair, blue eyes and such a sweet innocent look to her. i just couldn't help tunning in every week and see her fight crime.

- Submitted by Anonymous #3

Screening Of Once Upon 13

2005-10-27T18:32:00.000-04:00

So Once Upon 13 screened at Flicker Festival. Nothing really happened, people watched, they giggled, the next movie came on. Not even a Hurrah! I expected that. But the moderator/ MC asked if I wanted to say anything before the film was screened and I said "no, but could you say it's a college film" like that would lessen the embarrassment. The film itself does not embarrass me but certain scenes which I would not change are too, shall we say, serious for a comedy.

Anyways, hoping I will have some video up of Dear Stranger very soon. Little glimpses. Just enough to tickle someone's curiousity.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #2

2005-10-21T07:27:00.000-04:00

My fantasy is mixed with regret. A few years ago there was a guy who I knew through work. We were friends first for over a year. When it began to turn romantic, I felt kind of surprised and touched because I did feel real affection for him. One night we got together very late. He seemed kind of impatient and annoyed, maybe due to the late hour. Anyway, when a guy comes at me like that, I have a tendency to just freeze. I keep my feelings inside too much. So, right after that, we didn't really speak again. I never had a chance to explain myself or find out what happened. Yeah, he was kind of a jerk at the end, but I think of it sometimes. I really wish I could have had him, just once even. I guess he's lost to me now. Love really is all about timing as they say.

- Submitted by Anonymous #2

Once Upon 13

2005-10-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

A college film that I completed years after college has been accepted into the Flicker Festival. This the first time the film will be shown to an audience, it is a weird film, good but embarrassing so I am teenie bit nervous. If they laugh early, all is good.

So if you in Carolina (the Chapel Hill area), please come.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

"I was just playing"

2005-10-14T23:04:00.000-04:00

Gasset's Meditations on Quixote

2005-10-06T20:05:00.000-04:00

Don Quixote besides being one of the classic books is also one of my favorites, one of its major themes is fantasy which you all know by now I am fascinated with. Jose Ortega Y Gasset, a Spaniard like Cervantes, wrote what is considered the greatest study on Don Quixote in his book Meditations on Quixote. A book that I am currently reading and I would like to share with you. Here are some quotes from the chapter "to the reader" that seem to me relevant to Dear Stranger:

Things do not interest us because they do not find in us favorable surfaces on which to be reflected, and it is necessary for us to multiply the facets of our mind so that an infinte number of themes may penetrate it.

In a Platonic dialogue this urge to understand is called "the madness of love."

Culture presents us with objects already purified which once possessed a spontaneous and immediate life, and which now, thanks to our reflective process, seem free from space and time, from corruption and caprice. They form, a zone of ideal and abstract life, floating above this personal existence of ours...

Since spirit and logos are nothing but "meaning," connectedness, and unity, all that is individual, immediate, and circumstantial appears to be accidental and meaningless.

All that is recognized today as truth, as perfect beauty, as highly valuable, was once born in the inner spirit of an individual, mixed with his whims and humors.

When shall we open our minds to the conviction that the ultimate reality of the world is neither matter nor spirit, is no definite thing, but a perspective.

I realize it does not have the same potency outside of the context but maybe these snippets will encourage you to read the book.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Trev

2005-10-05T17:48:00.000-04:00

I want to meet the perfect girl. She will be sexy, slutty, love me, I will love her, we will be open to experimenting with others, yet love each other to the end. It is the fantasy that I hope will become my reality. Until then, lot’s of porn, and ignoring the girls who are good for me in that old fashioned way.

- Submitted by Trev

News & Updates

2005-10-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

Still trying to catch up with a lot of stuff with the film and the website. So to those who have submitted a fantasy -- it will be published in the next couple of days.

I finally got around to adding a "Cast & Crew" link to the sidebar links to the left, check them out. Of some relevance, atleast to me, is that Steven's headshot picture with the recent change to the color of his hair which is darker would have actually worked better for the film. Too late now.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Made it!!

2005-09-29T18:40:00.000-04:00

So I was able to submit the film just in time. Well, it has not reached there yet, it is all up to UPS (overnight shipping) now to get it there on time. I submitted the film as a rough edit, do not know if this makes it easier or harder to get in but it is clearly evident that it is a rough cut so I really had no choice.

Overall, the film looks good. Very good in some areas while being awkward in others. The biggest problem is with pacing in middle-to-end of the film. Some of the voice-over has to rewritten.

Here is the DVD Menu for Dear Stranger that I used to submit for the festival.

Am not fully satisfied with this but maybe will like it more if it has some movement which I need to add for the final DVD's. The biggest issue is whether it is easier to pick up some of the buttons to the side. There will be more on the final dvd so maybe it would be easier to find. Don't know. What do you all think?

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Sorry for lack of posts

2005-09-26T18:59:00.000-04:00

The film is on its final leg, very close. Trying to make a festival deadline so I am unable to post too much. Will do after September 30th.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Looking at herself in the mirror

2005-09-22T15:38:00.000-04:00

"You will say I am beautiful."

Indian Giver Lyrics

2005-09-18T20:31:00.000-04:00

Working with a young talented musician on the music for Dear Stranger, you can check out some of his music here. We are also collaborating on another project as I am directing a music video for one of his songs, Indian Giver.

Some of the lyrics of that song are appropriate to Dear Stranger.

How can you be in both places at once?
How can you be both the Earth and the Sun?
How is it you can revolve 'round yourself?
How can you be you and everyone else?

How is it you're so content with your life
When this little world'll eat us alive?

How is it you can rely on your dreams
When I'm right here? You can have the real me
What would you do if I said you were right?
Love is for ever and ever's tonight

Lyrics by The Tourist

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Carla

2005-09-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

I am sitting in the production office, on my current film, going over a few lines with Eminem and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (both in Victorian collars) when ?uestlove called from the studio, up on speaker phone with DJ Krush and Japanese translator, to iron out some details on the score for the futuristic Samauri flick I just wrapped.

- Submitted by Carla

Not Used

2005-09-14T00:47:00.000-04:00

Two stills that were (sadly) not used and will not appear in the film.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy submitted by Treasure

2005-09-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

My fantasy is to reclaim that joy I had before things got so serious. Before I thought being in the right financial and social place at the right time meant so much.

In my fantasy, I write all the time, it's well received and I'm free of all the oppressive stuff that being somebody's mama and somebody's wife lays on you.

- Submitted by Treasure

Fantasy submitted by Anonymous #1

2005-09-10T22:23:00.000-04:00

I have a strange relationship with my family. They don't like me because I've had every opportunity handed to me & they have not. I don't like them because I've made nothing of it. My fantasy is pretty simple. One day, I am successful, they love me again and I don't feel so bad. They are proud of me.

- Submitted by Anonymous

Oscar Wilde Quote

2005-09-06T18:03:00.000-04:00

Oscar wilde is one of those artists I hate to like. I find him witty yet cannot tolerate his cynicism of people. Anyways, found this quote by him that I thought was appropriate to Dear Stranger. In Decay of Lying, he suggests that the proper aim of art is "the telling of beautiful untrue things." What of beautiful true things? I guess then it would just become "the telling of beautiful things" which has less of a bite or relevance. But, maybe, also that truth could be found in untrue things.

Anyways, the same could be said of fantasy. Telling oneself of beautiful untrue things. How similar are art and fantasy. Untrue in terms of reality, true in terms of spirit. Got me thinking in the sense that without fantasy and art, where would the spirit (soul, energy or whatever) reside? Are spirit and untrue the same or just untold truth?

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Rosie at the park

2005-09-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

Fantasy submitted by Rachel Hart

2005-09-02T13:16:00.000-04:00

My latest fantasy is very cliche and it directly follows my recent change of life. About 4 months ago I got a brand new life. After living in New York City for 13 years, living the life as an aspiring filmmaker, my boyfriend and I up and went and had a baby, got married, and bought a house in suburbs, ok, not quite in that order. We made it even more abrupt. Induced adulthood I call it. First we got pregnant, then had the baby, then moved in with the grandmother, then worked on buying the house in the suburbs.

Nevertheless, I now long for a time more untethered, somehow thinking that I was more talented and more productive in that time, but I don't think this is the case. A time when I was more hopeful atleast. So now I long for a younger me. This younger me, she reads like Xena the warrior princess, an Artemis, goddess, the archer, skilled at battle in the woods, but a little bit less grounded – her head in the clouds with time to contemplate the spider web glistening with morning dew, prancing around with leather strap up booties, knee high, all leather and greens - mossy and brown earth tones adorn her. Her/my hair is long and soft, its curly now, but often crinkly and dry, her muscles are sinewy and strong and she can dart from one part of the forrest to the next in an instant, leaping over rocks, quietly, quickly, the animals are my friends. She practically lives off air, eating only occasionally when she'll nibble on nuts and berries like in an Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull song, "let me bring you songs from the woods...let me bring you love from the fields, poppies red, and roses filled with summer rain," eating slowly, savoring every morsel. She can hear every sound, pads of her fingertips rubbing together. We used to prance on fairy hills when I was little. This fantasy is a little fairy, white wicka, a little Celtic, a little medieval. Its kind of a puella – is that the name? The child. The name given to women, dreamy, not quite pinned down here on earth, childlike.

The fantasy character is very much pinned down, but me playing her out in my current existence is very much floating and unpinned. This fantasy does bring me closer to places I want to be - nature, a sensual existence, free spirit, carousing with Ian Anderson in the forrest somewhere. It also brings me closer to feeling like I've lost my sanity. I feel the need to let it go but can't and decide that for a fantasy it is very powerful. Oh, fantasies are so rock n roll. Do I embrace her or let her go? I love Kelly's fantasy because she doesn't fight her person in the least. There is something to learn from this. Ah, I'm signing off in contemplation now.

- Submitted by Rachel Hart

Submit your fantasies

2005-09-02T12:33:00.000-04:00

I am receiving a lot of interesting feedback in regards to the discussion of fantasies. Many people have had similar experiences with fantasies and are excited to share them. So I am going to start post these submissions on this blog. Also, I thought it would be cool if some of these could be printed and included as part of the DVD material for Dear Stranger. So here goes another social experiment.

If you would like to submit a fantasy:

Click the "contact" link on the left sidebar to email me your fantasy. You could also use the comment section by clicking on the comment link at the end of every post.
State if you would like it to be "submitted by anonymous" or not. If you would like to use your name, then please state the exact way you would like it to appear.
State if you would be cool with potentially being included in the DVD material for Dear Stranger. If there is no mention in your post in regards to this -- by default, I will assume that I can include it, especially if the post was made in the comment section and there is no way to contact you.
Including other info including links to your blog is cool but let us try to keep it neat.
Content wise -- I am pretty open. Try me.

Pretty simple. So get those fantasies on paper (or screen) so the world could be join you in some of the fun (or pain).

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Fantasy and tragedy

2005-09-01T15:40:00.000-04:00

As the terrible news of the storm Katrina keeps pouring in, I cannot help feeling somewhat helpless. It was the same feeling I had living in NYC during and post September 11, 2001 attacks. I, like now, would constantly have fantasies of helping people during the attacks. I had been outside of those attacks. Though I knew people who lived through the attacks, I was still unable to imagine what it truly felt like. I wondered what I would do? How I would deal with death or something similar? In the face of death, would I give up? Or find the will to survive? Could I do all those self-less acts that I had fantasized in safety? I soon began to realize the power of fantasy to keep me sane, to find out more about one self and to deal with all thoughts that were so foreign and bigger than me. It was a very, very interesting self-reflection, so much so that I decided to write about it. From that, a one-act monologue was written and then produced on a off-off Broadway theater as part of a collection of monologues. It did not end there, I have remained fascinated with fantasy in all its beauty and ugliness. Dear Stranger unlike the monologue is not so tragic, but fantasy as a thematic element is still strong and relevant. A friend, through email, had asked me to comment on the tragedy of the storm Katrina and the helpless feeling of not even being able to express one's thoughts made me think back to Sept 11 attacks, and how that had indirectly lead to this current project.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Cast & Crew

2005-09-01T14:23:00.000-04:00

NOTE: The listings are not complete

Cast

Rosie - Nikki Alikakos

You can get more information here.

Gordon - Steven Lock

Stranger - Michael Teh

Rosie's Friend - Maryse Karunaratne

Voice-Over - Kelly Cook

Girls at park - Lindsey Glass, Mindy

Stranger's Friend - George Rivas

Crew

Filmmaker - Ajit Anthony Prem

Producers - Rachel Connolly

Executive Producers - Kelly Cook, Violette Harris

Still Photographer - Carl Gunhouse

Music Composer - Hunter M. McDermott

Additional Music - Bill Donovan

Having Lunch by herself

2005-08-30T17:43:00.000-04:00

A Kelly fantasy

2005-08-28T11:51:00.000-04:00

One of the first things I loved when I read the screenplay was the strong element of fantasy and how it is so relevant in our actions in everyday life. One of the positive things about fantasies is that they help you figure out what you like, and they sort out who you are and the things that you like. For example:

I have a fantasy that has been with me for a while, probably for at least fifteen years. I remember it every time I go shopping for accessories -- shoes, clothes, make-up, whatever. I try to imagine I have befriended a person that for some reason just knows how I would like to dress and shows me step by step how to do it (on a budget no less). The really wonderful thing about this person is that she isn't dressing me to look like someone or trying to fit me into the latest trends. This person knows my past, my present,and my future and is able to express what I have such trouble expressing through style.

However, it is not much fun to shop with other people, it is very intrusive in something that I find intimate. It makes me sound like a weirdo but I think it indicates that sometimes fantasies can be more fulfilling than reality and are much more effective in helping you to find your reality.

- Kelly C
[Filmmaker's Wife]

The Premise

2005-08-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

For many of you who are not familiar with Dear Stranger, here is the premise of the film:

Rosie and a Stranger make a beautiful and silent connection on the Subways. Unfortunately, the Stranger has to get off the train in a hurry thus aborting their relationship. But Rosie is unable to think of anything else, and unable to move on. A relationship with the Stranger blooms in her mind that slowly becomes more and more real. This fantasy relationship behaves like any other -- with conflicts, jealousies, attraction, anger and issues of trust. Even when a good and real relationship appears on her horizon, Rosie is unable to give up this fantasy relationship as she remains committed to the Stranger in the hopes that she will see him again.

Will they ever meet again? Will the new and real man stick around? Will she choose reality or a fantasy? Is the Stranger also waiting for her?

Sorry to leave you hanging but if you are intrigued, check the film out at various festivals that are hopefully playing in your area.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Am I going to see you again?

2005-08-26T22:11:00.000-04:00

I love these two stills.

- Kelly C
[Filmmaker's Wife]

David vs King Kong

2005-08-25T14:43:00.000-04:00

Found a production diary of the film King Kong which will be released in December 2005. A lot of this stuff is interesting even if you are aware of the process that is needed to create such a monster. But I cannot help laughing a little bit to think of how it compares to the almost one-man post-production team (me) of Dear Stranger. Though envious of all those resources that Peter Jackson has on hand, I have to say -- it is a little scary to imagine how anyone can possibly organize their mind to visualize or see the end film. There are departments for each aspect of post-production and then more departments that bring it together, and then another department to make sure all the right things are happening. No such head-spinning on Dear Stranger, some hair pulling though.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Time management

2005-08-24T16:27:00.000-04:00

You see the pic(s) to the side? Well, it took me at least an hour or two to figure how to do that (HTML means little to me). Time that could have been well spent working on the film. But it annoyed me that I could not add a default pic to the page and so after trying the pic everywhere else, I was able to place it where I initially wanted it to be -- the sidebar. Nice. Life's little victories.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

Will they come?

2005-08-23T11:03:00.000-04:00

Blogging for a film yet to be released is weird in the sense that I do not expect anyone to read or be remotely interested in what I am writing till people start to see it and like it (hopefully) enough to check out the website. Which will not happen for atleast another three months because currently I am finishing up the editing, then the sound and music have to be done, then the festival circuit, it has to be selected, then the actual screening. Oh, I am getting dizzy thinking about it.

- AAP
[Filmmaker]

A first glimpse

2005-08-22T20:23:00.000-04:00

- AAP
[Filmmaker]