Tyler Gibb

These days I can’t seem to shake the lyrics “You can always depend on the kindness of strangers…” out of my head. The line is from a Streetcar Named Desire but the lyric is from The Simpsons’s musical version of the Tennessee Williams play… Because I, like most red-blooded americanized kids out there, have picked up most of my important cultural education from The Simpsons.

Anyway, the reason I can’t seem to shake the line is because lately I’ve been putting a lot of faith in that kindness of strangers and so far it’s been going really well… Which comes as a bit of a surprise to a crusty cynical curmugeon like myself. I didn’t spend nearly half a decade by myself animating Minushi because I have a lot of faith in other people, know what I mean?

But lo and behold the universe has yet a new curve ball to send my way (just to mess with my head, I’m sure) in the form of kindness. The kindness that seems to be eagerly bestrowed upon the independent filmmaker by those he calls on for support.

Seriously, I have yet to be disappointed by anyone I’ve gone to with hat in hands, be it to ask for locations, time, talent, back-muscles - what can I say? I’m not sure why I’m surprised; I’d love to help me out. I guess I just didn’t expect such positivity from people sight unseen. It’s led me to question the nature of this kindness… I know, I know, why look a gift-horse in the mouth? Crusty cynical curmugeon, remember?

But wait now, what I’ve come up with isn’t so bad: I think people just generally want to be a part of “the movies” - even little independent ones. And not literally in the movie… I think people just like movies (duh!) and just want to see them succeed.

So - I don’t know - I guess what I’m saying is: Just ask. It’s become my motto anyway. Need help with your project? Just ask.

Cue music!

“You can always depend on the kindness of strangers…
To pluck up your spirits, and shield you from dangers…
Now here’s a tip from Blanche you won’t regret…
A stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met…
You haven’t met…
STREETCAR!”

So we (me and the rag tag band of Refrain crew members I’ve been able to coax into being) held a casting session in Montreal last week. My first official casting session ever, I should add. And wow, who knew there were this many talented actors in this city?

I went in thinking, well, this’ll be easy enough; who ever sucks least is our guy or gal.

Yikes. Was I wrong. Facing the decision of choosing who is going to embody the characters you’ve begun creating is nothing short of heartbreaking! And worst of all every thought on the subject falls into a hackneyed cliche of “you’re all beautiful” or “you’re great, just not great for this part.”

Anyway, that’s the way things go. It seems like when you try to find that embodiment of your characters in live humans it’s always going to lead to a reshaping of the character and in the end you just try to make that reshaping as low impact as possible. So if I’ve got anything to say to aspiring actors (and frankly anyone in a creative profession that requires some kind of audition) it is that it’s not the peg it’s the hole. And I’m not just talking about being on this side of the casting process; I’ve been on the other side myself in various situations: whether it’s trying to sell a script, pitch a concept or even audition to play a role. Bringing all you can is all you can do, the rest is out of your hands and really has nothing to with the quality of your performance.

Sometimes you’re just going to be 5.11 when the script called for 5.10.

So in the other news, shooting has already begun on Refrain! Not with our yet to be finalized cast, but some stuff I could get away with starting on this past weekend. All very exciting.

T

So some of you may have noticed that recently Minushi has been returning to the little screen. One every week for the past fifteen weeks, in fact, I’ve been releasing video versions along side the Flash versions of Minushi’s chapters on Revver.com as well as other video portals.

I’ve always maintained that the entire 19 chapters of Minushi would eventually be released online and I expect to fulfill that promise four weeks from now.

It feels really good to be wrapping up this project. It also feels pretty good to see that releasing the chapters online doesn’t seem to be hurting DVD sales. I’m glad to see that there are viewers out there who can appreciate the enhancement to the viewing experience that the feature length version of Minushi has to offer.

At another time I would probably have posted 500 words on just what a miserable affair it’s been getting the very image and sound intensive Flash files exported properly of online delivery… But I’m in happy place today…

T

As those of you who frequent this site may remember, the new project (now officially called “Refrain”), is a movie about - among other things - music.

Music is a huge source of inspiration for me as well as being one of life’s little mysteries since I, myself, have the musical dexterity of lobster. So with that, music is very much at the core of Refrain and as such, my partner (Vidya) and I made sure to get a head-start on the soundtrack. It’s completely backward way of working for me, but I’ll tell you; it’s great. In the deepest, darkest hours of self-doubt about going balls-out and producing another independent feature film, it’s nothing short of adrenalizing to put the demo soundtrack to your movie on the speakers to remind you of what you’re working toward.

So this week, I’m happy to bring you all a little taste.

Now I hate MySpace just as much as everybody else who’s too-cool-to-be-on-myspace but apparently they still host music well, so I’ve taken my self-righteousness and sucked it up.

You can hear a pre-production track from the movie at myspace.com/hearrefrain.

And check out the Refrain film page in its infancy at myspace.com/watch_refrain.

Link to us, friend us, post us, do whatever it is MySpacers do. I’m giving this a try.

More on casting next week.

T

The search begins.

The experiments continue…

So always looking for a way to get out of this 10′x10′ cell I work in I was delighted to be exploited this past weekend on an no-budget film project. Learning by doing, kids, it’s the only way to go.

Despite its no-budgetedness the production wasn’t for want of talent or expertise. I learned a lot about shooting live-action and was able to refresh myself on photography and lighting basics long since recessed in my mind since college. And all that simply volunteering as a grip/gaffer. There are no small parts, gang. I’ve always been a firm believer in the idea that a captain should know as much about the role of each of his crewmen as the crewmen himself and with my own project setting sail soon, I’m feeling all the more equipped with that knowledge after this experience.

I have no idea where the nautical metaphore is coming from but it ends now.

I have to admit that in the midst of things like laying down dolly track for a tracking shot by a car in a dark garage decorated to fake an exterior, night, driving scene I had pangs of self-doubt about what I was going to be able to accomplish on my own project with even more limited means… After all, these filmmakers knew what they were doing and I’m just some idiot who makes cartoons. But by the end of shoot I felt renewed zeal for my own project. After toiling for consecutive 12 hour days I realized that I don’t have to feel doubt; I can feel unity. I can feel like I’m not the only person out there with ridiculous aspirations fueled by nothing more than words on a page!

It’s going to be alright.