2012 game plan: Revised “what was I THINKING?” edition

Posted on 6 February 2012 by Matthew

After my last blog post, in which I outlined my plans for 2012, I was left with a feeling of sadness and restlessness. It didn’t take long to figure out why.

I wouldn’t be making any movies this year.

I am, frankly, tired of not making movies. I love writing, and I love exploring different mediums of storytelling, but film is and always will be my first love. It is, to me, the most interesting, challenging, and powerful means of storytelling. And I miss it. Back in high school I was constantly making movies, and I want badly to be at a similar place in my life once again.

And so.

1. I bought a book on cinematography and a book on lighting. Once school is out, at the end of March, I’m going to read these books, get myself some cheap lights and light stands, and teach myself lighting. I have an old, crappy, MiniDV camcorder that would never do for shooting anything I wanted to show to anyone on anything bigger than a laptop screen, but for doing some lighting tests, it will suffice.

2. I’m getting a tax refund this year, for the first time since, well, the last time I was in school. It’s going towards an HD movie camera, which I should be able to afford come May. By May, I hope to be done with the above-mentioned preliminary lighting tests, and also have some scripts for some short films written. Mood pieces, an extension of my at-home course in lighting in cinematography. Testing my ability to communicate not so much narrative, but emotion, via lighting and photography.

3. By the end of the year, I want to have shot and edited 4-6 of these short films with my new camera, and have a script for a feature ready to go into production for 2013.

This is all in addition to the writing projects I mentioned in my last blog post, but this has to take priority. This is my passion. Which I’ve always known, but laying out my plans for the year without any mention of filmmaking was an excellent slap-in-the-face reminder of that. Sometimes you need to stop and look at your life and think what the hell am I DOING? Deciding to quit school was part one of that, and laying out the above plan simply the logical progression.

So here we go! 2012 is going to be the year I start to teach myself filmmaking again.

Wish me luck!

Posted in Blog, Movies | Comments Off

2012 game plan

Posted on 3 February 2012 by Matthew

So, what am I working on?

The goal this year is basically to put my head down and write. And by write, I mean: every day, treating it like it’s a second job. That’s a big part of why I’ve decided not to continue to pursue my post-baccalaureate degree in film; I simply don’t have the time, with writing and a full-time job. Also, the film program here isn’t concentrating on the things I need an education in.

I have plenty of projects to keep me busy. There’s the alien abduction story “Casey vs. the Space Monsters,” a kind of companion piece to “Possession.” There’s the short story I’m doing for Miranda’s “fear” anthology. There’s the half-finished romance novel, and the finished-but-really-bad-and-in-desperate-need-of-a-rewrite urban fantasy / western / post-apocalyptic novel, as well. There are screenplays, short and feature-length. And there’s research, for a planned series of YA novels, and for an ambitious history / travelouge / photo book I plan to tackle sometime after I move back to California (a move tentatively scheduled for early 2013).

Then of course there’s keeping up with the podcast, as well as continuing my studies in film theory and history on my own.

Lots to do! Watch this space for updates on how it’s all going. Wheee!

Posted in Blog, Movies, Novels | Comments Off

The 366 movie challenge

Posted on 1 February 2012 by Matthew

My friend Elissa over at the Film Chatter blog announced last month that she would be attempting to watch 365 films this year. Now, I’m not actually self-centered enough to think she meant it as a personal challenge to me, but, being me, I naturally took it as such.

So my goal is to watch 366 movies this year. It is a leap year, after all. And none of this “including movies I’ve already seen” garbage. No, I’ll only be counting new-to-me movies. I’ll keep a running total of the rewatches as well, but they won’t count towards the 366 goal.

Unfortunately, I’m off to a bit of a rocky start. I’m not sure how many films Elissa managed for January — in the 20-30 range, I believe — but I only managed a whopping seven.

1. The Lodger (1927; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.)
2. Blackmail (1929; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.)
3. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.)
4. The 39 Steps (1935; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.)
5. The Lady Vanishes (1938; Alfred Hitchcock, dir.)
6. Little Cesar (1931; Mervyn LeRoy, dir.)
7. High Sierra (1941; Raoul Walsh, dir.)

Sensing a theme? We did a Hitchcock episode for the podcast, if you’re not aware. The other two were films from my Gangsters & Musicals class. We also watched Meet Me In St. Louis, but I’m not counting that one, as (a) I had a stomachache and missed about 20 minutes or so towards the beginning, and (b) the projector gave out towards the end and we weren’t able to finish it. Delightful film, though, and I intend to revisit it (and add it to my list) soon.

Anyhow, here’s hoping posting this encourages me to do better in February. For my own filmic education, and also to leave Elissa in the dust. Game on!

Posted in Blog, Movies | Comments Off

A big day for Matthew-on-the-Internet

Posted on 21 October 2011 by Matthew

Big day, lots of stuff happening!

1. My podcast, Wrong Opinions About Movies, now has it’s own website! A big thanks to Heather Noddings for the design and the code. From now on, you can get your weekly helping of film pedantry at www.wrongopinionsaboutmovies.com. All the old episodes are there, and the link to subscribe in iTunes, as well. Check it out!

2. Yesterday, we began the special Halloween feature I’m calling The 12 Days of Halloween. From now through Halloween, every day there’ll be a new mini-episode of the podcast, each featuring a special guest chatting about scary movies. I managed to wrangle some great guests and we had some fantastic conversations, so be sure and check those out. Yesterday, Day One, we had Da7e Gonzales of Operation Kino talking about The Exorcist; tonight, Day Two, we’ve got Devindra Hardawar of the /Filmcast talking about The Ring. Be sure and check back for that, and every day between now and the 31st!

3. I also have a guest post up today at the Film Chatter blog! Check out my thoughts on seeing Suspiria for the first time — which also served as my introduction to Dario Argento and giallo in general. I had a lot of fun writing this for Elissa. You should also check out the rest of her recent posts; her “31 Days of Horror” feature is where I got the idea for the Halloween special on the podcast, after all.

4. I won’t be on this week’s normal episode of the podcast, because (a) I’ve been sick all week, and (b) my parents get into town tonight. However, Alli and Kati are doing the show without me, and it should be up Sunday night as usual. Check back (at the fancy new website!) for that!

Posted in Blog, Movies, Wrong Opinions About Movies | Comments Off

Podcast! GOODBYE MR. CHIPS (1969) and FOOTLOOSE (2011)

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Matthew

Direct download | iTunes | Play in browser:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Time to cut loose! Sure, you know the FOOTLOOSE remake is terrible, but did you know it’s dangerous, as well? Matthew and Kati get into that, as well as take a look back at 1969′s Peter O’Toole vehicle GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (the directorial debut of original FOOTLOOSE director Herbert Ross). They also cast a critical eye over the trailer for 2012′s THE RAVEN, and discuss the conclusion to the recent Netflix PR debacle. It’s the episode with dancing, singing, slut-shaming, and moustaches — what more could you want? Hit play!

And when you are done listening, e-mail us at wrongopinionsaboutmovies AT gmail DOT com!

(Apologies for the audio problems in this episode. Kati’s mic is on it’s last legs and will be replaced soon!)

The rundown and links:

0:00 – 2:00: Intro

ROUND TABLE
2:00 – 9:00: Kati looks at the trailer for THE RAVEN
9:00 – 13:30: Matthew talks Netflix
13:30 – 14:50: Matthew cries about the end of film cameras (preview!)
14:50 – 16:20: Matthew on NANOOK OF THE NORTH (1922)

MOVIES
16:20 – 40:00: Discussion: GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1969). Spoilers throughout.
40:00 – 59:00: Review: FOOTLOOSE (2011). No spoilers.

59:00 – 1:02:00: Wrap up.

Visit our sponsor and help support the podcast by going to http://www.audibletrial.com/WrongOpinions or by clicking below to donate any amount:

Posted in Movies, Wrong Opinions About Movies | Comments Off

Do as I say, not as I do

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Matthew

Eat your fruits and vegetables, kids. Otherwise you might wind up like me. That is to say, constantly sick.

I’ve been getting colds and flus and whatnot a lot these past couple years. Part of it is probably the climate here in Portland. My body is used to a warmer, drier climate, being from California, and the cold dampness up here isn’t doing my body any favors. Part of it is probably the fact that I ride the bus, and no matter how much I try and avoid actually touching anything, I’m still bottled up in a steel tube with a bunch of strangers at least twice a day.

And part of it’s my diet. Something you need to understand about me: I’m terribly lazy. This is a leftover personality trait from being depressed for 10+ years, I think; it’s not even so much that I’m actually lazy anymore, it’s just that I’m so used to being lazy that it’s become habit by now. And habits are very, very hard to break. I’ve never smoked, but I imagine it’s as hard to quit due to simple habit as it is actual physical dependency.

This relates to my health and my diet because I don’t cook that often, and most vegetable-based dishes require at least some small amount of preparation. I need to get over this lazy habit, though, because not only is the way I eat starting to become detrimental to my insides, but it’s not doing anything to help my immune system, either.

So, I need to start looking for some cheap and simple vegetarian (or at least primarily vegetable-based) recipes. And to stop being so damn lazy.

Just as soon as I get over this latest cold, that is.

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Podcast! ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN and THE IDES OF MARCH!

Posted on 11 October 2011 by Matthew

Direct download | iTunes | Play in browser:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Our twenty-fifth episode! Celebrate with us by robbing the DNC headquarters and then sleeping with an intern. That's right, we’ve got politcs on the mind this week; our hosts debate the effectiveness of the script of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and rage over the gender issues plaguing THE IDES OF MARCH. They also check in with looks at RINGER, THE SECRET CIRCLE, SUPERNATURAL, and DOCTOR WHO; and Matthew reports back from film school on THE THIRD MAN. It's a fantastic episode full of spirited discussion and lively banter, so hit play and get the party started!

And when you are done listening, e-mail us at wrongopinionsaboutmovies AT gmail DOT com!

The rundown and links:

0:00 – 1:15: Intro

ROUND TABLE
1:15 – 3:40: Alli's fourth episode reviews of RINGER and THE SECRET CIRCLE
3:40 – 9:15: Kati on the latest season of DOCTOR WHO (mid-season spoilers)
9:15 – 14:00: Matthew on THE THIRD MAN (1949)

MOVIES
14:00 – 35:00: Discussion: ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN. Spoilers throughout.
35:00 – 1:02:30: Review: THE IDES OF MARCH. Spoilers at end.

1:02:30 – 1:04:37: Wrap up.

Visit our sponsor and help support the podcast by going to http://www.audibletrial.com/WrongOpinions or by clicking below to donate any amount:


Posted in Movies, Wrong Opinions About Movies | Comments Off

Steve Jobs: 1955-2011

Posted on 5 October 2011 by Matthew

My mom texted me. “Did you hear Steve Jobs died?”

I had, of course. Via Twitter, on my iPhone. And now I’m sitting in the middle of a huge classroom, typing this on an impossibly thin piece of metal and plastic, unfettered by any wires. Just two of the many, many ways the man literally changed not only my life, but the world.

When the video tapes holding the only copies of my beloved high school films began to deteriorate, I began to save for an iMac and DVD Studio Pro. When I recently returned to film school, my first purchase wasn’t a textbook or a notebook, but a MacPro and Final Cut Pro. When I think of films that move me, I think Pixar. And when I try and think of people who embody the word “visionary” — a term that gets tossed around a lot but can honestly only be applied to a select few — Jobs is one of the names (on a very short list) which comes to mind.

Right up until the end he was innovating and creating, to make our lives richer and our world a better, more engaging and exciting place. He will always be remembered for that, and rightly so.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jobs. You will be missed.

Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Podcast 24! IKIRU & 50/50

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Matthew

Direct download | iTunes | Play in browser:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

A double feature about cancer, mortality, and living life. Alli and Matthew attempt to take an analytical look at Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece IKIRU, and fight over whether 50/50 is worth your time and money. In addition, Alli checks in with a look at two new shows from the Fall TV season, and Matthew gives an off-the-cuff impression of his first week back at film school. It's a fantastic, lively discussion full of wrong opinions (and right ones), so hit play and enjoy!

And when you are done listening, e-mail us at wrongopinionsaboutmovies AT gmail DOT com!

The rundown and links:

0:00 – 1:30: Intro

ROUND TABLE
1:30 – 11:30: Alli on Fall TV: RINGER, TERRA NOVA, PAN AM, and THE SECRET CIRCLE
11:30 – 18:30: Matthew on film school and the difference between film majors and non-film majors

MOVIES
18:30 – 55:30: Discussion: IKIRU. Spoilers throughout.
55:30 – 1:11:00: Review: 50/50. Minor spoilers.

1:11:00 – 1:12:50: Wrap up.

Visit our sponsor and help support the podcast by going to http://www.audibletrial.com/WrongOpinions or by clicking below to donate any amount:


Posted in Movies, Wrong Opinions About Movies | Comments Off

Podcast 23! EIGHT MEN OUT and MONEYBALL!

Posted on 27 September 2011 by Matthew

Direct download | iTunes | Play in browser:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The one constant through all the years … has been movies about baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball movies have marked the time … and in this episode, Alli, Matthew, and Kati take a look at a pair of them; namely, the John Sayles classic EIGHT MEN OUT, and the new Brad Pitt vehicle MONEYBALL. Along the way they also find time to discuss the British drama film THIRD STAR, get excited over a rare 3D screening of the Hitchcock classic DIAL M FOR MURDER, and try and figure out how someone who hates baseball can love baseball movies. It’s a home run of an episode (see what we did there?) so strap on your cleats and step up to the plate!

And when you are done listening, e-mail us at wrongopinionsaboutmovies AT gmail DOT com!

The rundown and links:

0:00 – 1:00: Intro

ROUND TABLE
1:00 – 6:45: Kati on THIRD STAR (major spoilers)
6:45 – 12:30: Matthew on DIAL M FOR MURDER in 3D

MOVIES
12:30 – 28:00: Discussion: EIGHT MEN OUT. Spoilers throughout.
28:00 – 46:30: Review: MONEYBALL. No spoilers.

46:30 – 1:27:24: Wrap up.

Music by Kevin MacLeod
Clips from MATILDA (TriStar) and FIELD OF DREAMS (Universal)

Visit our sponsor and help support the podcast by going to http://www.audibletrial.com/WrongOpinions or by clicking below to donate any amount:


Posted in Movies, Wrong Opinions About Movies | Comments Off