The Drawings Look Like That Of A Serial Killer

Kazakh Dispatch - Day 3, Ok so we have been given the opportunity to work with a great Russian storyboard artist. Now, for all my non film friends, a storyboard artist is essentially an illustrator who's "Whole Job" it is, is to visualize via drawings and sketches all of the planned shots of a film to allow all departments on a film to properly prepare for a shoot. I had originally sent over my descriptions for the big action scene at the end of the film to the Artist in Moscow, but apparently due to translation reasons the Artist was not sure what I wanted, so I opted to try and draw the stuff out myself. 2 words on that: Bad, Idea. As my dear comrade Langford, the witty Brit who's also from UCLA and part of this lovely endeavor pointed out: "Oh god man, the drawings look like that of a serial killer, I mean what is that?"
So all I will publicly humiliate myself by posting some of the most egregious of the drawings to see if you all make heads or tails of them.

I mean come on? Is this not absolutely clear

a work of modern art?

Especially classy is the lack of scanner so I had to take photos from Photobooth












Today we did visit the top of the spire which gives you a great view of this intricately planned city, and then we went to get us some souvenirs. Which was really a trip to a mall but wait till you see the photos you will all thing we were in a hut in the dessert somewhere. 

Anyway, tomorrow is the big pitch day, I do hope to have a bit better concept art to support my pitch and then we will see what happens. All in all the best part of this trip has been the relationships created with dear Langford, our other" AFI Guy" Geoffrey, and our French contestant Emmanuelle.


Over and out

Geographer

Just found a new sound, from a New Jersey guy now based out of San Fransisco with the band Geographer. I just heard their song Kites on indie feed and am actually playing it once a day. Has those great harmonies with a small beat behind a sing songy vocal. They are playing in NYC on July 1 and 3.

To listen to more go to their myspace http://www.myspace.com/geographermusic

You are connected to Dolf Lungdren's Macbook Air

So, Day 2 Kazakh Dispatch - I write from my hotel room at the King Hotel Astana, not the Rixos Hotel (where I am pictured above) which we spent most of our day. The Rixos is where the "VIPs" are housed including, the infamous Dolf (of which this post is dedicated), Hillary Sawnk, and Harvey Wienstien. We stayed at the Rixos for most of the day working with our stories and spying who else was on our network other than Dolf. I did manage to snap a photo with the fine Ms. Swank, and Dolf did a wonderfully cheesy opening at the ceremony last night in which he got on stage with 4 cronies in tuxedos holding wood broads and he chopped them in half and did some fancy karate movie on each of the poor young offenders. It all made for a fabulous show that included a live orchestra in full Kazakh garb. The festival has been a bit of a "storied' affair if you will, but we're making the most of it.

We've decided that tomorrow will be a day to take on the town which has approximately 4 sights to see, and 1 of which is a spa at the Rixos.  This city is still completely under construction and is quite reminicint of Vegas, where its totally barren landscape then suddenly incredibly gaudy gold sky scrapers which jut out of the vast open plains. The streets are all newly paved and the driving is reckless. What we have yet to figure out is where the people live, we suppose somewhere in the big high rises but this is a city that is being built to hold millions upon millions and we doubt more than 1 million live here. Its like a sim city experiment project but in real life.

Signing off for now and leaving you with the key image

From Vienna

Live blogging here from the museum quarrier platz after a ridiculos flight over we climbed 356 stairs to the top of the cathedral. Just talking shop seems like our fest is quite legit. We're in search of coffee and food but we're planted on silly pink couches and enjoying the sun more to come

The Festival Gets Hollywood Cred in The Hollywood Reporter

Well Today we made it to the First page of The Hollywood Reporter in this little blurb which was much cooler in the print version than in the online version. But who am I to complain, guess I got to catch up on the Twilight Series.

Our Little Moment in the sun (or ink, if you will):
The festival is also running a screenplay competition, with the winner receiving a cash prize as well as a chance to develop their script with Bekmambetov’s production company, Bazelevs.

Musically Obssessed

So as I've told some I am an indie music fanatic. If its a band with a small following I tend to love it. Though the music industry may be crumbling I think music fandom is at an all time high. We as fans are getting so much good music so quickly it's hard to keep up or listen. I'll try to post all of my current obsessions but below are a few:

Fol Chen - Something quite unique


Sleigh Bells - Can't get enough of it .. and I just don't know why

Bat For Lashes - She's got some voice

The Kazakh Dispatch - Intro

As a finalist of the Astana International Film Festival I will get to Pitch the screenplay I optioned for a panel of Judges in Astana Kazakhstan. All expenses paid! So the first order of buisness getting there! Below is my gnarly flight schedule:

Dear finalist of the AAIFF Screenplay competition.

We are happy to present the schedule for the Astana Festival, which will help you plan your visit. We hope you will enjoy Kazakhstan and take part in all main events of the program.

SERVICE        FROM                TO                     DEPART  ARRIVE
-------------- ------------------- --------------------- -------- -------
AUSTRIAN - OS 7998
SAT 26JUN      LOS ANGELES CA      NEW YORK NY            0610     1439
NON STOP       INTL                JOHN F KENNEDY
               EQUIPMENT:BOEING 757-200/300
 UA 0084       FLIGHT OPERATED BY UA UNITED AIRLINES
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - M ECONOMY
 
 
AUSTRIAN - OS 88
SAT 26JUN      NEW YORK NY         VIENNA AT              1750     0835
NON STOP       JOHN F KENNEDY      VIENNA INTL                     27JUN
               EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/200ER
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - M ECONOMY
 
 
AUSTRIAN - OS 697
SUN 27JUN      VIENNA AT           ASTANA KZ              2025     0540
NON STOP       VIENNA INTL                                         28JUN
               EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - M ECONOMY
 
 
AUSTRIAN - OS 698
SAT 03JUL      ASTANA KZ           VIENNA AT              0710     0905
NON STOP                           VIENNA INTL
               EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
 
 
AUSTRIAN - OS 93
SAT 03JUL      VIENNA AT           WASHINGTON DC          1130     1515
NON STOP       VIENNA INTL         DULLES INTL
               EQUIPMENT:BOEING 767-300/300ER
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY
 
 
AUSTRIAN - OS 7867
SAT 03JUL      WASHINGTON DC       LOS ANGELES CA         1725     1939
NON STOP       DULLES INTL         INTL
               EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/300
 UA 0967       FLIGHT OPERATED BY UA UNITED AIRLINES
               RESERVATION CONFIRMED - Y ECONOMY