Stamping the Project!

Before I start, I like to wish me a belated birthday.  It was this past weekend. I am happy to live another year... God Bless!

While celebrating, I also worked on my project... of course! I am really coming close to a final cut. I am in the process of deciding to keep certain scenes or adding different ones. This part is not so hard ... its just making the decision what I want.  So I am trying to keep it simple. I'm looking over some scenes to see if it is moving the story forward or transitioning properly within scenes. So I am at that point right now.

What is great for me being at this stage as well... is that I started working on credits and making titles. I am really happy about that. Personally, when one is starting to work on titles, then that means you are almost done. But more importantly, you are "stamping" the project. The project is official when adding credits.  So I am really happy about that.

I am making titles through Motion. I was about to use after effects, but decided to use motion since the program is linked to Final Cut.  I rather keep the programs linked to help with my workflow. So far I am creating some cool titles. Its my first time working with motion... or I should say its my first time making titles. I figured I had to learn at some point. Plus, its best for me to do it this way.  That way I don't have to depend on anyone.

I am coming real close to finishing... I can smell it! It will be a big weight off my shoulder when I am done. I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but its definitely feels good!

That's it for now.


Junior Gonzalez
The Filmmaker  

B-Roll for the Professor

I had a very quick trip to Los Angeles. I basically drove up late tuesday night and came back on thursday.

I had to do it! 

Its been almost a year where I have been trying to get with the professor to film some additional footage of him.  What made it difficult is that basically he lives down south and I live up north. We completely  had two opposite schedules.

I didn't really really push for the additional shoot until I was done with my rough cut.  It was crystal clear with my rough cut that I needed the extra footage.  Luckily, I was able to schedule something that last week of March.  Otherwise,  I would of had to wait till fall because after the last week of March is spring break and a few weeks after that school is out! And fall was not in my schedule to get my project complete.  Plus, I wasn't sure if I can get another day off in the middle of the week from work , since my job was getting busy. 

All in All... it happened.  I shot the footage of the professor giving a lecture to the students.  At the moment I am already testing the footage. 

Thank god that everything worked out!  

Junior Gonzalez 

The Filmmaker  

Chopping Away!

I've been on a "Edward Sissorhand" tear.  Since my last trip to L.A. all I have been doing is cutting away with my doc. Right now I shaved off about 20 minutes or so.  There was fat in my film that needed to be taken out so that my story can flow.  After hearing my peers and soaking in all their thoughts about my doc... made me realize what I needed to do to enhance my story. The feedback has helped me understand a lot about my film... and has open my eyes to see what my my film is really about.  Like I mentioned before, I was the only one looking at my cuts (edits).  It was good to hear what people thought.

Yes, my film revolves around music, but its a lot more about music. Its about a culture, its about a history,  its about having a voice.  The music plays a major role in my film because its a metaphor of people expressing their thoughts and its vehicle to drive and send the message.  For me .... getting on the mic, podium, TV,  or news means (most of the time) you are always trying to say something about a cause, a problem, and in this case is the importance of representing a culture in a positive light... a culture that has been oppress for so long.

At this moment I am getting really emotional about my project because I don't think I have ever done something at this level and never felt so close to an issue or a film.  I have done many films in the past, but their was never a emotional connection to them. Don't get me wrong their are some films that I feel proud about, but I have never experienced something emotional to a film.  I guess I am now understanding what a filmmaker is about and not just someone who makes films.  Their was a term that I always heard in the past. The term was "give your film a heartbeat." I'm understanding it now...  it just doesn't meant to make it come alive.  Its a little more than that.

I'm really digging deep into my film. Editing at this point is become a lot more fun than the earlier process. I am mostly shuffling around scenes and testing what works within the doc.  I really feel like I am coming close to a picture lock.  Once I get to a picture lock .... I am pretty much done with the editing process.

I'm getting there ... being patient and working efficiently.

That's it for now.


Junior Gonzalez
The filmmaker

Rough-Cut and Artwork in La La Land

Its tuesday morning here in North Hollywood. I'm at a coffee shop killing time while I wait for the greyhound bus to come, so that I can go back home to the Bay!  I figured I would take some time and write a little. I came to Los Angeles Saturday night. I was trying to get here on Friday, but I was stuck at work and didn't get out till midnight. Uuuuugh!

I came to L.A. this weekend because I finally put a rough-cut of my doc together. I worked my ass off this past month to put all the pieces together, so i can finally showcase my story. Plus, I was very anxious to see how people would react as well.  I have been editing for a whole year and pretty much I have been the only person that knows what I have. It was definitely time to get some feedback!

I wanted to show my friends my project out this way (LA) because I highly respect their opinion. They all have some creative minds and their filmmakers themselves, so they understand the "process."  The rough-cut is what it exactly means... a rough-cut!  I needed to know if my structure was working and see what needed to be fix or adjusted before I start fine tuning and really shaping the story.

At this stage of the film, a rough-cut is an IMPORTANT process before you start making your way towards a final-cut stage. And what helps is the FEEDBACK! I was nervous about showing what I have, but it all worked out. Besides learning some mistakes i did with my doc, as far as, needing to clarify some sections, and taking out some edits. For the most part,  people were understanding what I was trying to say in my film.  On that note,  that is really good.  That means my story is almost there... not quite there, but slowly progressing and coming together.  Hearing what people had to say about my doc has helped me look at my project in a different way. That is exactly what i needed to experience. I took some good notes and some pointers from my peers. I am getting a better idea of how I can improve my story.

My friends were amaze of what I have shown them... I believe one of them said finally! "Its been almost five years that I have been hearing about this doc."

Another reason why I came to LA is because I wanted to discuss some artwork being made and inserting them into my doc. I met up with my Salvi friend and we hooked-up in her art studio.  Actually, she is the first person to watch the whole project. She is a cool kat. Very creative, smart, and knows whats up! I'm glad that my life has crossed paths with her.  We came together and went over images of what were going to be sketched. I believe we came to a conclusion of having about 18 drawings.  The drawings will consist of historic and present time events that has happened in the Salvadoran culture.  The drawings will go with the Professor's section as he talks about these events. I think it will be very interesting.

This chick is very talented and I believe you will be hearing more about her in the future. She also exposed me to other organizations that other Salvi folks are involved with. After we were done with our meeting, I went with her to a baby shower.  It was a Salvi party! It was actually fun! I had a good time. At the baby shower is where I met other Salvi organization leaders who are doing some great stuff for the community.  I believe they are putting together a conference in a few months, in which I will attend.  I will be filming the event and including it to my doc.  There is a section in my doc where I talk about leaders are forming, and how education is becoming an important factor.  These folks are making waves. Much respect and love goes out to them!

This is it for now.

Junior Gonzalez
The Filmmaker

One Year Anniversary!

I can't believe it! Today is actually one year since I took my trip to New York. It doesn't feel like I've been editing for a whole year. That is crazy to me! I have to say this has been the most challenging project in my early career of filmmaking. I think the editing has been a huge process for me. I don't think I have ever tackled anything like this, so far.

From the BAY to NY to DC back to SF to LA 

I am still shuffling everything together and I hope to have a rough-cut by the end of this month.  Its going to be very rough but at least I will be able to see my vision come alive. This process is literally like shuffling cards. Since I've been placing everything on the timeline of Final Cut... All I have been doing is moving this scene this way, this scene that way, this scene over here, not good to have scene here.  Man, its not fun. I'm already getting a headache explaining all this.  But the good part is... I am not editing anything. Since all the pieces are already together, I am just moving sequences around.

I like the fact that I am moving quickly... that is good. The part that gets a little frustrating is finding sequences that will connect and flow with people to people.  Beginning this process feels like you don't really have a story and it just feels like people are only talking without having no connection with the following person who follows.  No story is formed at this point. It can drive you nuts!

I am sure everything will form and come together... I just don't see anything developing right this moment. I am very aware of this process, so i will be a little more patient.

Its part of the process...


Junior Gonzalez
The filmmaker

Happy New Year! 2012!

Can't believe another year has gone by. My new years was good. Nothing crazy happened, I just hung out with m family for a little bit. My aunt made some bomb ass Panes de pollo (Salvadoran Chicken Sandwich). Then after I went to a good friends place where I bought some Tic Tack (salvadoran vodka) and made it a night.  I hate to hear or have a new years resolution. I'm good with that.

What's important is to always be moving forward with life an pushing good momentum into the new year and continue on with what I started. That means in a few days its going to be my one-year anniversary since I took my New York trip. Wow! That means I have been editing for a whole year. For a Doc, I think that's average - more or less.

I actually made some progress with my doc this past new year weekend. I stared working on my opening credit sequence for my Doc. I think it came out good. I still have to add sub-titles and credits, but to get an idea how its going to start and look is a good feeling.  I have this thing that I have to ALWAYS work on my opening sequence for any projects. For whatever reason in my head if I can't capture the audience interest in the first few minutes, then they are not going to be interested in what world I represent. So  its always important for me to capture atmosphere and mood. So this weekend I hammered it down and worked before I left to m  new years party and wake up the day after to finish.

Since I have the opening sequence...I can fluently follow what comes afterwards - the story!


Hope you all had a safe and good New Years Day.
Follow your Heart and Dreams!


Junior
The Filmmaker

Chopping and Chopping

I've been going through the professor stuff in the last weeks or so. When I put together all of his material, it came out to be almost 2hrs.  The professor I had so much information, that I wanted to keep everything. I know that's not going to happen! I have been going through different drafts and cutting out info that I don't need. It's been crazy for met to cut-down because there is so much detail information. Not only is their is so much information, I have to follow a timeline of events that leads to the past to present time.

The timeline is very important because it all ties in with my doc, as far as why we're in the US. As mentioned before, I am throwing an educational part to my doc. Its a must and I hope it works out. In my opinion it ties in why I went to different cities and why the salvi community is in search for their own identity and being part of today's American culture.

This past week, I made some progress and cut down the professors conversation to 45 minutes. That's not bad... compare to like almost 2hrs.  The 45 minute version was clean and it got to the point without effecting the timeline that I want to input in the doc.  I believe I was working the professors interview for the last eight days straight. I just wanted to get it done for two reason:

ONE:  I need to give my artist  sound bites of the professors conversation. My artist will be making some artwork that will go along with the professors conversations. In other words, the artwork will be cutaways to the professors interview.  I think it will make the professors section very interesting.  So whenever an event is being talked about, a piece of artwork will be shown! I'm just trying to get creative with this project.

TWO: I have the urge to finally put the whole Doc together. Yup, that's right. The feature begins!

That's it for now


Junior
the filmmaker