Sundance Film Festival

Yesterday was a big day for me. I finally sent out my doc to Sundance.  I'm really happy that I made the regular admission deadline. That was a huge weight off my shoulders. Originally, I was trying to make the early deadline, but that was not possible. There was too much work to do. What matters is that my film was mailed out on time!

This is going to sound funny, but I never thought I would make it this far. As you know already, I've been through a lot with this project and to be at this point is a big accomplishment. It really feels good! I don't think I had the opportunity to just relax and just soak everything in until now.

Yesterday, I was pretty much scrambling around to make sure I had a DVD.   It took me awhile to figure out how to put my movie on DVD, but I was able to work it out. Thank god! Once everything was done I checked my DVD and I actually watched it on my television set. To be honest that was a weird feeling... but in a good way.  Just to be able to watch my film on TV was actually kinda cool. It looked like a real movie! To see my film at this point was very interesting. It seemed like yesterday I was just going to my first Salvadoran Day festival in Los Angeles (the place where my Documentary was born).

I went to a coffee shop afterwards to fill out the admission form on-line. Once I was done with that, I ran to a close by post office. I had to hurry because they were going to close soon.  

I know Sundance is going to be hard to get into... I already know that! But I never want to say that I missed an opportunity. I feel like I did my part as far as making my film and mailing it out. That's all I can do to make something happen for myself. It's way better then not trying at all. I always shoot for the stars! This is all part of the process.  I can say that I've gone through it... I've worked hard and I have paid my dues!  I will always feel good about that. I know it is going to be a long wait until I get a response from Sundance, but I am not going to stress about it. If I don't get in, I still believe I have a good movie. Plus their are other major film festivals out there. Hopefully, one of them will give me a chance.  And If I do get in ... then I will take it from there.  But I don't want to get too ahead of myself. 

So now... all I will be doing is mailing out my film to other film festivals.

Wish me Luck!

Junior Gonzalez

The Filmmaker

Getting it Done!

I just got done with all my subtitles. Doing subtitles was no joke! The good thing is that my movie was probably 30% in Spanish. So it took me a couple of weeks to go through the whole movie. What took long is that I had to place the translations in their proper place and I have to make sure one is able to read it long enough as it appears on screen. It's all timing.

But what was more challenging was translating the lyrics from the rappers. That was interesting! There was so much meaning and metaphors that I had to really think about how to say it properly in English.  I kept playing every song over and over till I had it right.  I had to make sure the translations sounded correctly because sometimes when you're translating Spanish to English ...  it does not sound as effective or meaningful. Therefore, I had to get creative and capture the essence of what these rappers were saying. All in all I got it done!





Working on my doc mostly every night on my train ride after work from SF to SJ

Next time I am hiring someone to do the translations and subtitles. That's when I have a budget! Some day I will! No it will happen!

I made my film 16x9, that way it feels like a film. I added all the effects to certain video clips. It literally took all day yesterday for everything to render. RENDERING SUCKS! I hope someday final cut changes that part of the software! The system takes to long for something to render.  I hate to wait... but that's part of t he process! Once it was done rendering, I watched the movie again and this time around I was really feeling the film!
Well that mean I am done! The final final final step is putting it on DVD. Hopefully that process shouldn't be too difficult. I guess I will let you know.
But I am done!!!! It feels weird!!!

I still have time to make that SUNDANCE film festival deadline! I am crossing my fingers!



Junior Gonzalez
The filmmaker

"It Sounds Like a Movie"

That is exactly what my sound guy told me when he called me, "It sounds like a movie."
I was very happy to hear those words! Its been a long wait and the sound is done.

I rushed to his place to hear it and I was good! We had some minor changes as we were both revising the sound but the sound came out good.

The sound definitely had that raw feel. The sound had a distinct sound as if everyone was talking on a microphone ... like if there was a venue and they were talking to a crowd.  What it added was the feel of a hip-hop artist on stage.  That is the feeling that I got since my doc deals with the Salvi underground hip-hop.  So I loved it.  I loved his creativity and direction that he took.

This is where all the sound cables  begin

Now I can say I'm on my last lap with this process. I am sure that I have been saying that recently, but I am smelling the finish line.

Sometimes I just want to just take a break ... but I know I can't because I have to make the Sundance Film Festival deadline.

Like I said before I still have to finish up with my credits and subtitles.

I am doing it!

 

FINAL CUT!

Yes thats right, I said it! I have a final-cut!  Sorry for not writing in the last couple of weeks. My editor finished his part of the deal. He really came through and fixed my film. I can't thank him enough. When I picked up my project a couple of weeks ago ... I couldn't  believe what I saw! The doc really took a jump from where it started.  The doc is structurally where it needs to be!

One of the reasons why it took me a long to write is because I was working on transitions in between scenes. It took me a couple of weeks to do all that. For me, working on transitions was the very last thing I needed to do to complete the editing process. With the transitions, each scenes connect and the doc smoothly moves forward to each section and interviews.

Even though I have a final-cut ... this does not mean I'm done. What it does mean is that I can move to the next stage of fixing and mixing my sound.  Yesterday afternoon I met with my sound guy, "J-Doc." We finally got together and talked about a game plan to approach this project.  I am in good hands with J-doc. He is another talented dude who is good at what he does... sound.

After overcoming the final-cut stage, everything should be smooth sailing from this point.  All I need to do is sound work and finish up with my credits.

Almost there!

J-Doc getting ready to do some sound work for my film

Thats it for now.

Junior Gonzalez

The Filmmaker

Movie Trailer

Since my editor has been cutting my film, I almost feel naked without my project. But of course, I always have to keep myself occupied. So for the last few weeks I have been working on my movie trailer.

Its been a process to make the trailer, but I feel I got the essence of what my doc is about. Right now the trailer is running close to two minutes.

I realized when making the trailer for the Doc, the process was really different from making a narrative one. I feel like when you are editing a narrative story, its easier to cut to action. Instead of editing to action with a doc, you have to edit to dialogue. The two styles are definitely different.  But I think I made it work.

I am actually going to L.A. next week... Again! Since I'm hooking up with my editor, Ill be taking advantage of going over the trailer.  It will be a busy short weekend, but things will get done!


That's it for now.


Junior Gonzalez
The Filmmaker

Movie Poster

I just want to say thanks to my boy! He hooked me up with a movie poster. I love it! It really represents my movie to the fullest!  Here's a sneak peak of what is coming... Slowly, but surely my doc is coming alive each day. Whenever I see this poster... it really reminds me of how far I came. It feels good that I didn't quit. The long hard work is finally paying off.  

Back from the LA LA!

I spent the last six days in L.A handling some business as usual.

I spent time with my editor and got down and dirty with my project. We went through cuts and had a lot of discussions .... I mean a lot of discussions!   And man, let me tell you,  each day I had about 2 or 3 cups of coffee.  Im not a coffee person, but coffee has been my medicine lately. Im so happy that I made the trip! My editor has been very helpful in this stage of the process. It is true what they say ... sometimes all you need is some fresh eyes!

You see my homie in action...  Since he's been spending so much time with my doc, I think he's turning half Salvi!  Ha Ha. But he's a genius!

I'll admit I am getting really anxious... And I just want to be done!  I know I am getting there and I'm being patient about it.  And I know I say this all the time, but I hate the wait!  On my off time I went to go see some good friends and hung out a little as well.  I actually saw the Venus Transition at Angel Point, an area by Dodger Stadium. Wassup Clau! It was an awesome experience. The whole Venus Transition resembled a new beginning to a new life. This new life is what I am also experiencing as well  ... so it was a special moment!

Junior Gonzalez
The Filmmaker