On Movies: Film Freak!
I started dabbling in film a few years ago when the big pictures came to Michigan on account of the film incentives. It was fun, but I didn't really do a ton with it. This year, however, I've got the film bug.
In the spring, I had a dream come true when I was cast in a speaking role in a horror film. Actually, I had two parts in the film: I got to be the body double of the lead singer of Mushroom head, and go around killing people on screen as a masked killer and even did a little stunt work. Additionally, I had a speaking part as a land developer. It was an amazing experience.
I just finished two roles as an extra recently. This first was a paid gig working two days on a major motion picture for New Line Cinema playing a teacher in a tornado movie. I actually got blasted with a wind/water machine and had to run around like that, so that was an interesting experience. Then, I worked a day as a bar patron for a short film on behave of the Michigan Creative Film Alliance.
I've also been dabbling in crew positions and trying to learn as much as I can about film production. I've worked as an Assistant Director on two projects now, and have learned a great deal about the film making process.
My main focus as of late, however, has been a film that my friend Shane and I have been working on called "Captive of a Death Mask". I am putting so much work into this one it's ridiculous....I am co-producing, co-staring, doing all the special effects, and scoring the film. Quite an undertaking, but it is going surprisingly well.
I really feel that I have a good eye for this sort of thing, and that many of my traits lend themselves well towards film making: my passion for the arts keeps me motivated, my OCD helps me do things over and over again to get takes done correctly, and my durability and endurance allow me to work long hours without having to stop (two weeks ago, I worked for 31 hours straight). I am trying to get as involved in film this year as I can, but I am staying realistic about it. If something pans out and I get onto something big, great. If not, at least I can look back on all this and smile.