Gillian Fritzsche

Principal Photography!

gilliebean — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:52:11 +0000

So I’ve been busy at work directing the short film I wrote called SONNY. Principal photograph was last week – July 18 thru 23. It was an amazing experience. Quite nearly the best week of my life. I love love loved it!

I’ve directed theatre before and I love directing theatre. I love directing actors! But this was my first time directing a narrative film! And I thought I’d love it… I had a feeling that I’d love it… and I’m happy to say that… I WAS RIGHT! I totally love it!!

I’m going to try to post some thoughts that highlight each day of the week in more detail. In the meantime, here’s a few of my favourite set photography photos!

The Slate

Pondering a shot...

Scripty Jen Hall and Associate Producer Erin Channing discuss the correct info for the slate on Day 1 at the Impound Lot!

Tammie Isbister waits outside the RV for Alexander Wright (SONNY) to emerge...

DP, Graham Fisher, and I discuss how to shoot the insert of the mug...

My awesome First AD, Thom Deason, holds a safety meeting at our only night shoot...

My DP Graham Fisher and I discuss the lighting situation...

The whole crew... Plus cast! Thank you everyone!!

To see all the photos, click here to check out the Facebook album!

A Producer’s Poem

gilliebean — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:32:10 +0000

SHORT FILM

Grasping at straws,

trying to fashion a house.

Feeling large and in charge,

but also small, like a mouse.

Wonder what the next

day-hour-minute will bring.

Worry and faith – simultaneous,

this is what a producer’s feeling.

Bum in chair, then what?

gilliebean — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:51:39 +0000

A little while ago, screenwriter Scott Myers, who runs the blog Go Into The Story, reposted a reader question about how to actually go about writing once you’re sitting in the chair staring at a black page. He asked for his readers to post helpful hints in the comments section.

This was my answer:

I think a writer has to decide if they’re more productive by being disciplined to write a little bit each day or if they’re better to set aside a chunk of time (a couple days, a week or a block of evenings) to focus. I tried both ways and I found that I’m better with huge blocks of time. Once I get going, it’s hard to stop me until I’m done.

Also, you have to decide if you’re the type of person who needs to outline first and write pages second, or if you’re the type of person who needs to “poop out the pages” first and figure out the outline second (rearranging the script). For me, it’s a combination – but it was gold to me to figure out my working style.

Now I don’t stress about it. I just write a rough outline, put it through a few development passes (with outside feedback), and then sit down to write the pages. If another scene comes to me while I’m writing that’s not in the outline, I just write it, but then I keep going with the outline. If I have ideas that deviate from the outline, I make notes, but keep going with the outline. Then once I’m done with the first draft, and I can see flesh on my skeleton of an idea, it’s easier to see if that outline worked or not. Then the real work begins…

Rewriting!

What do you think? What are your tricks?

Sonny on IndieGoGo

gilliebean — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:11:18 +0000

Most of you know that I’m a filmmaker! Now I’m getting ready to be a film director! I’ve been a first AD and producer for a while now and it’s time for me to be what I’ve always been meant to be… A director.

My project is called “Sonny” and it’s about a homeless man that loses his only connection to his past but finds a future and identity he could not have imagined.

We’re shooting in mid-July but we need a bit more moolah for set design, catering, and locations. I’m hoping to raise $2100 in 21 days. July 1st is my deadline.

Can you help?

If you can’t help, but if you know someone who can, then please forward this link! Thanks!

Sonny @ IndieGoGo

gilliebean — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:57:38 +0000

I’m going to direct a short film. It’s called Sonny. It’s about a generous homeless man who loses his only connection to his past but finds a future he could not have imagined. It takes place in present-day Los Angeles.

We’ve got some funds available to make this happen, but we need a little more. Are you able to help me make my dream of being a film director come true? Please visit the IndieGoGo website to see if you feel like a contribution could be in your future.

via Sonny — IndieGoGo.

New Film, New Way of Filmmaking!

gilliebean — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:25:43 +0000

Here’s a great press release for our film, written by the excellent Hearth Creative team in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

New Film, New Way of Filmmaking Will Be Showcased at 2010 Los Angeles United Film Festival.

YouTube – Simply Irresistible on Fox 23 Daybreak supporting Make A Wish

gilliebean — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:51:24 +0000

Here’s one of the characters from our feature film on FOX News in Tulsa OK!

YouTube – Simply Irresistible on Fox 23 Daybreak supporting Make A Wish.

via YouTube – Simply Irresistible on Fox 23 Daybreak supporting Make A Wish.

Duncan Christopher World Premiere!!

gilliebean — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:33:38 +0000

Most of you know, in 2008 I was a Producer / Line Producer on a feature film that was shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma called “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreams of Duncan Christopher.” It’s a quirky comedy about the brutal underground world of competitive karaoke. We were in post for most of 2009 and now we’re about to have our World Premiere at The Method Fest 2010 – a film festival devoted to the craft of acting and breakout performances in independent films. I’m super excited! And just a little nervous.

It’s my first film festival as a producer and I’m having lots of fun hanging with my fellow filmmakers, meeting new people, and seeing lots of films and amazing performances. After the festival is over, I’ll post photos and more about what the events were like. But now, I’ve got to rush out and get groceries! Not much time today! Our premiere is tonight!!

To keep you satiated, here’s a photo of a group of us at the Welcome Reception on Wednesday night.

From L to R: D.W. Stephens, Peter Bedgood, Lizz Carter, Marshall Bell, Heather Roberts, Justin Monroe, Gillian Fritzsche, Ryan Fritzsche, Jack Roberts. Photo Credit: Rhonnie Curt.

New Headshots – Sneak Peak

gilliebean — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:58:13 +0000

I had new headshots taken by the lovely and artistic Amy McPherson, one sunny afternoon last week. Amy is an artist through and through and she made this headshot event a time to remember. We were both a little nervous at the beginning, I think. But by the end, magic was happening.

I’m going to post about 40 or so of my favourites to Facebook soon, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peak! I call this look “Windblown Librarian.”

Good Advice for both writers and execs!

gilliebean — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:45:21 +0000

When I was in the Act One Executive Program, they offered a class on How to Give Notes to Writers! I thought it was a great class. And when I went through the Writing Program, one year later, I tried to give notes like I’d been taught in that Exec Program class. I also tried to receive notes through the filter of what I’d learned in that class. So not only was it helpful for me as a producer, it became helpful for me as a writer!

I just got my CS Weekly email and this was one of the quotes at the top:

“Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
- Neil Gaiman

This is good advice for both writers and executives.

As a writer, I need to hear about what’s not working. However, an executive’s assumption about why it’s not working affects his or her perspective about how it should be fixed! Often, only the writer knows why something’s not working. Or, integrity demands of the executive that he or she let the writer figure out why it’s not working. Often the fix isn’t in the scene that isn’t working. Often it’s several pages or scenes back!

So if you’re a writer getting notes, ignore the fixes and try to hear the underlying truth – something’s not working. Figure out what that is, and then figure out how to fix it.

If you’re an executive giving notes, don’t try to do the writer’s job! Just let him or her know that you’re confused on page 7, page 36 doesn’t ring true, and the climax on page 89 falls flat. Often, the writer will already know why it’s falling flat and will already have three ideas for how to fix it. He or she just needed to know whether or not what they wrote worked!