So Ive opened a blog at Wordpress to see how what the buzz is about, and have made it officially the blog for my band Caracas - even mapping the domain name www.caracastheband.com to it.
I also have it automatically read off this blog all my previous posts - I just can't figure out how to do it the other way around. (So I cant automatically publish my posts from Wordpress here on Blogger...hmmm)
But whatever, I guess I'll just have two blogs, one for film and one for the band. Its a bit of a nuisance but as long as I make sure to cross-promote both blogs no one will get hurt. :)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Faith and Conviction
My latest short film "Faith And Conviction" - a dark comedy on home-grown terrorism. Featuring the archive voice recordings of Osama Bin Laden.
Shot in six hours at Vancouver's www.cineworks.ca on a Canon 5D by my buddy Matt Drake (http://www.mattdrake.ca/), with sound by my buddy Andres Santana and using two 1k chimera lamps from my pals Paul Joseph (http://www.pauljosephphoto.com/) and Doris Cheung (http://andthenfilms.com).
My buddy Shayan Bayat wrote this in a couple of days from an old idea he had in the backburner when I approached him with the chance to shoot a short film over a Saturday. My ex-film school classmates Doris Cheung (www.andthenfilms.com) and SB Edwards (www.sbedwards.com - who also DOP'd my first short film SCARS (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1539013) asked me if I could help out on their film exercises and I ended up making a meal out of it. :)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Raindance and IIFF
www.Raindance.org is now officially introduced to the Vancouver's indie film community - its just a matter of time and steady events for the introduction to become part of the fabric of this great filmmaking city. I'm really excited about the possibilities this international film society can bring to the local scene, including the exposure of our own films, greater integration of the local indie film societies, the connections across the pond and the resources to get more films made! Keep up to speed with our events in Vancouver by visiting www.raindancecanada.com and clicking on the Vancouver links on the left - we're starting small, but we'll be having more courses and events soon. For now, come out to the "Boozin n Schmoozin" networking party every first Monday of every month at the Railway Club (www.therailwayclub.com) where you'll be able to meet other filmmakers, get discounted drinks and food, watch the invited band (and get their songs for your movie), and become a member to get access to online resources!
Also, the influence of the Institute for International Film Financing is also becoming known in town, with my buddy Ben Lu's stellar initiative to bring the non-profit society to Vancouver (www.filmfinancing.org) eight months ago, and my fortune to be a part of the organizing team. All the film professionals we invite to speak at this monthly forum have in one way or another helped create and foster the regional film business as we now know it, and it's really an inspiration to learn from these seasoned pros. I really recommend you attend the townhalls - keep track of them at the website www.filmfinancing.org - and click on the NW (as in NorthWest) link at the bottom of the page.
Also, the influence of the Institute for International Film Financing is also becoming known in town, with my buddy Ben Lu's stellar initiative to bring the non-profit society to Vancouver (www.filmfinancing.org) eight months ago, and my fortune to be a part of the organizing team. All the film professionals we invite to speak at this monthly forum have in one way or another helped create and foster the regional film business as we now know it, and it's really an inspiration to learn from these seasoned pros. I really recommend you attend the townhalls - keep track of them at the website www.filmfinancing.org - and click on the NW (as in NorthWest) link at the bottom of the page.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
VAFF and the Asian-American film community
During Summer I was approached by my good friend, Producer/Actor Grace Chin to direct and produce the behind the scenes clip for the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon, a one-week filmmaking competition done before the Asian Film Festival every year.
That went well (I even used one of the songs from my old punk rock band LyMe as a soundtrack!), so she called me again a month ago to direct and produce the behind the scenes DVD for the 14th Vancouver Asian Film Festival! :D
Now that the Festival is officially over, I can look back and say what a great opportunity that was. I called my buddies Kyle Hollett (Producer/SDLR shooter, who produced the Hot Hot Heat music video "YVR" I had the chance to production design a while back) and Andres Santana (Sound Designer/Producer, who I met during the filming of the indie feature "Neutral Territory", where I was 1st AD for a few days) to be my tight film ninja team and help me capture the highlights of the festival. For a day I needed extra help which I fortunately found in my old film pals Emily Chan (writer/director/producer) and Stephanie Shim (writer/producer) who both helped me in the past with my short films "Scars" and "Henchin".
During the shoot we managed to get interviews from filmmakers, staff and volunteers, got really cool shots of audiences watching films and mingling at galas, and even got into the Tinseltown Theaters projection room to capture the closing night film, my friend Jeff Chiba's feature doc "One Big Hapa Family" which played in front of a packed room. (people sitting in the aisles!).
The festival also gave me and my team the chance to network with other filmmakers and industry professionals, including catching up with a friend I hadn't seen since we worked together on the disaster film 2012 a few years ago, exec producer Rick Tae from http://www.diverseentertainment.com Check him out, his company has grown heaps since I last saw him. All in all I brought home a stack of new connections, interested in working with my company False Creek Films in making stereoscopic 3D content for TV and Cinemas everywhere!
Now its editing time! I'm collecting my materials to dedicate the next month to put together two versions of the event - a short + swanky one to promote the festival and find funding for next year and a longer version, with interviews and a slower pace for general consumption.
Awesome, cutting room here I come.
That went well (I even used one of the songs from my old punk rock band LyMe as a soundtrack!), so she called me again a month ago to direct and produce the behind the scenes DVD for the 14th Vancouver Asian Film Festival! :D
Now that the Festival is officially over, I can look back and say what a great opportunity that was. I called my buddies Kyle Hollett (Producer/SDLR shooter, who produced the Hot Hot Heat music video "YVR" I had the chance to production design a while back) and Andres Santana (Sound Designer/Producer, who I met during the filming of the indie feature "Neutral Territory", where I was 1st AD for a few days) to be my tight film ninja team and help me capture the highlights of the festival. For a day I needed extra help which I fortunately found in my old film pals Emily Chan (writer/director/producer) and Stephanie Shim (writer/producer) who both helped me in the past with my short films "Scars" and "Henchin".
During the shoot we managed to get interviews from filmmakers, staff and volunteers, got really cool shots of audiences watching films and mingling at galas, and even got into the Tinseltown Theaters projection room to capture the closing night film, my friend Jeff Chiba's feature doc "One Big Hapa Family" which played in front of a packed room. (people sitting in the aisles!).
The festival also gave me and my team the chance to network with other filmmakers and industry professionals, including catching up with a friend I hadn't seen since we worked together on the disaster film 2012 a few years ago, exec producer Rick Tae from http://www.diverseentertainment.com Check him out, his company has grown heaps since I last saw him. All in all I brought home a stack of new connections, interested in working with my company False Creek Films in making stereoscopic 3D content for TV and Cinemas everywhere!
Now its editing time! I'm collecting my materials to dedicate the next month to put together two versions of the event - a short + swanky one to promote the festival and find funding for next year and a longer version, with interviews and a slower pace for general consumption.
Awesome, cutting room here I come.
Monday, September 27, 2010
TIFF, VIFF and the hustle of film festivals
Last week I came back from the Toronto International Film Festival, where I attended its final four days.
I went firstly because my friend, Director Katrin Bowen's debut film Amazon Falls got selected to play at the festival (I did storyboards, Key grip and best boy electric on it), and she asked me if I wanted to come to Toronto to see the festival in person. Of course I agreed, and bought myself a flight with the little money I had left. I was going to spend the rest of my savings on my hostel bunk bed and food costs.
I was going to attend TIFF's film market without a pass but I went with the hope I'd get hooked up somehow once there.
Another reason I decided to risk my Vancouver rent for a few days at TIFF was because I started working as producer and head of Feature Films Development at a new stereoscopic 3D film production house called False Creek Films, a cool (albeit volunteer) position I landed through my involvement in a couple of independent short films. I could smell the future and decided to bet on it.
So anyway, it really is all about throwing yourself into the fray and being there at the right time. At TIFF I ended up not only having a great time in parties and exchanging contacts with excellent industry people but even made some good friends, like Sean McConville, director/writer/producer of Deadline, with Brittany Murphy and Thora Birch, and Reza Safinia, score composer and music producer who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears and Madonna. And we were all there just to have a good time. Count me in for next year's TIFF!
Next week is Vancouver's turn and the local international film festival is already making some press. I will make sure to check out some galas (Amazon Falls at home!) and network a bit more than I did at previous years' VIFF. Granted its not as big as its Toronto counterpart, but its definitely one of the best film events in Canada. :)
www.javierbadillo.com - Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
I went firstly because my friend, Director Katrin Bowen's debut film Amazon Falls got selected to play at the festival (I did storyboards, Key grip and best boy electric on it), and she asked me if I wanted to come to Toronto to see the festival in person. Of course I agreed, and bought myself a flight with the little money I had left. I was going to spend the rest of my savings on my hostel bunk bed and food costs.
I was going to attend TIFF's film market without a pass but I went with the hope I'd get hooked up somehow once there.
Another reason I decided to risk my Vancouver rent for a few days at TIFF was because I started working as producer and head of Feature Films Development at a new stereoscopic 3D film production house called False Creek Films, a cool (albeit volunteer) position I landed through my involvement in a couple of independent short films. I could smell the future and decided to bet on it.
So anyway, it really is all about throwing yourself into the fray and being there at the right time. At TIFF I ended up not only having a great time in parties and exchanging contacts with excellent industry people but even made some good friends, like Sean McConville, director/writer/producer of Deadline, with Brittany Murphy and Thora Birch, and Reza Safinia, score composer and music producer who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears and Madonna. And we were all there just to have a good time. Count me in for next year's TIFF!
Next week is Vancouver's turn and the local international film festival is already making some press. I will make sure to check out some galas (Amazon Falls at home!) and network a bit more than I did at previous years' VIFF. Granted its not as big as its Toronto counterpart, but its definitely one of the best film events in Canada. :)
www.javierbadillo.com - Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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