Thursday, July 19, 2007

Danny Boyle Interview

Here is my interview with Danny Boyle. Some side notes: I had 10 minutes with him. I was sandwiched between the ABC reporter and the CBS reporter. His microphone fell off during my intro so I did it a second time (not as well). His camera didn't stop rolling so it rolled out of tape with 15 seconds left. My camera rolled out on my last word. When I say I had 10 minutes, I had 10 minutes, the camera crew used 10-minute long tapes. We were probably rolling 45 seconds after I entered the room.

For a guy who is typically behind the scenes I did OK. Danny enjoyed it enough to send over an autographed poster. Let me know your thoughts. It's nine and a half minutes long. We discuss his film Sunshine, collaboration, sound design and how to get into the business. I previously embedded the clip here, but I think following the link is easier. It is 9 and a half minutes long.

PeterH


http://www.veoh.com/videoDetails.html?v=v823930TyTaa8Wj

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Busy Busy

This post is mostly for my parents, who as they say, can't "get up on" the internet to get pictures I e-mail them. Here is hoping they can "get up on" Filmmaking 101.

It has been a busy few days for the dumb filmmaker. On Saturday I went to the Chicago Film Festival tribute to Jacqueline Bisset. On Monday I went to a screening of Danny Boyle's new film Sunshine (That's me with a student and the director.) And yesterday I did a TV interview with Danny Boyle- me on camera yikes! Jim and I are editing it today, I will post it later this week. For those who don't know, Danny Boyle directed Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Shallow Grave and others.



That's Jacqueline Bisset, looking good, and Roger Ebert and his wife, looking not so good. He is a trooper. Hard to tell here, perhaps, but he has been sick for a while with salivary gland cancer.


More Later.

PeterH

Monday, July 16, 2007

The Music Man

A dynamic sound track is critical to making a successful film. I argue that good sound design is perhaps more important than good looking pictures. If you have ever seen a film that is "thin" when it comes to sound, you know what I mean. Of course the most obvious part of the sound track is the music and for us it is one stop shopping with Eric Sproull at Earhole Studios. http://www.earholestudios.com/

I have known Eric since college. He played keyboards on a music video I made (I have pictures of him dressed in all sorts of garish costumes that I threaten to give to his kids) and we have been friends since. On more then one (five?) occasion(s) he has given us just the right bit of music to create the mood. Once he gave us some temp music that the client liked so much, we kept it. Other times he has created demo after demo for us looking for the right sound. When not bailing us out he does high end commercial jingles- check out his reel on the Earhole website.

Here are some facts that don't make his professional bio.

1) About 15 years ago he decided to go to law school at night. He did, passed the bar and until recently worked one day a week at the public defender's office in Evanston, IL.

2) He and his wife have two kids of their own and a bevy of foster children and their relatives. At any given time he has at least six people and as many animals living in their house.

3) He is a committed parent and supporter of the Waldorf Schools. http://www.awsna.org/

4) A year ago he moved his family to Ann Arbor, MI. There he has a goats, horses and an in-ground swimming pool. He has created a small recording studio there and comes to Chicago three days a week.

PeterH