I first met Mike Carroll about a year into my own attempt at becoming a filmmaker. He came out and did a story for KCRA 3 on a feature film that I was camera operator on. I never saw the story but I remember my mom calling and leaving a frantic message on my voicemail that she had seen me on the news. You have to love moms. Without my mom, I don’t think I would have any fans. But I digress.
After the feature wrapped, I came across Mike’s first “one man” film, Year. I was blown away. Here was an excellent film, shot on the same camera that I owned (a DVX-100B), on a very small budget, by one person. I emailed Mike, and he was very cool and down to earth. He was very forthcoming and helpful with advice. We stayed in touch, he sent me the script for his second feature, Nightbeats before he started shooting it, and he even had me out to shoot some behind the scenes for Nightbeats (part of the making of Nightbeats is here). Both Year and Nightbeats are available on Amazon.
Also, Mike is leading a Sacramento Filmmaker- Cameraman Meetup on Sunday, June 27th on the west steps of the capitol, with the goal of people bringing their cameras or interest in cameras and sharing information. Go to his website nakedfilmmaking.com for more information.
I found this in a box in the back of my closet. It is an underground classic. Me and Jay shot this in front of his mom’s house in North Highlands (Sacramento) with my Sony HandyCam. The elusive Blak Rik Rubin edited it. This video started it all. Funny stuff.
Dumbworld is one of the sites “handpicked by Sacramento Bee editors for their consistent quality” to be included in the launch of their new Web 2.0 network called Sacramento Connect.
Don’t worry. We won’t let it go to our heads, and we will continue to give you the lack of quality that you expect from Dumbworld.com. Below is a video on how to use the network.
From the Capital Film Arts Alliance’s Newsletter, 10 Tips for Networking for Filmmakers. In part, it is based off a list for London filmmakers (my people!!!) from Raindance.org.
I don’t usually post entire articles, but this is worth it. If you are a filmmaker in the Sacramento area, and you aren’t a CFAA member, go to CFAA meetings, or don’t receive the weekly newsletter, you should be (contact them and ask to be added to the list. Tell them Dumbworld sent you). Whatever meager amount of success Dumbworld has had is in part due to Laurie Pederson and networking with the CFAA, and like Laurie says, “It is not what you know; it is who you know.”
1. Memento Remember the power of little notes that Leonard Shelby used in Chris Nolan’s film. Use his tips even if you have not “this condition” – use the power of business cards. Take and collect them from anyone who gives them to you: you might not know when you need a help of make-up artist or a professional florist. Make your own business cards especially for your filmmaking “you”. If you are a student you can use some cheap resources – like free business cards templates or www.vistaprint.co.uk
