How To, informative weblog, or keep it to myself?

I have been pondering — for many, many months now — about writing a “HOW TO” book about filmmaking, or really about how to finish a movie.  I am not a famous filmmaker … yet, but what I lack in fame and fortune I make up in notoriety and skills in the post-production department, so that would be the emphasis of the writing — “How to finish a movie and bring to the masses for the beginner and intermediate filmmakers of the world.”

 

Kind of a long title, but that is more of a summary of what would be the context of the book.  Or would it be a weblog series?  A weblog series would be more complicated in making money from it.  Would I want to make money from my experience, knowledge, secrets, and skills?  Who wouldn’t?  But there are two sides of that coin; and both should be considered in detail because each one has its own meanings and possibilities; but at the core of either one of them, the fact that I would be telling, giving away, and handing over my techniques that I have spent $40,000 going to school to learn and spent 25 years honing would be outlandish.

I mean, think about it;  you see those people on tv saying they have found the answer to self financial freedom and if you want to know my secret, send me $$ and I will show you your path to financial freedom.

My question to those people — and to the one’s who buy into it — is, “If it works so well and you are the only one who knows this secret, why the heck would you share it with anyone?  Why have competitors?  Why share in the bounty of the treasure?”  KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

I mean.  If I had the secret of life, riches beyond imagination, and the power to control it, I would NOT share it with anyone; well maybe my kids, some family, and a few close friends; MAYBE!  But to sell the idea to the world?  NO.  If it was that great of a plan, idea, or information you would keep it to yourself.  So the fact that they are trying to sell you a get rich quick scheme tells me it’s not worth the stamps they mail it with.

There is the quandary and the dilemma that I am going through.  I know my information will make beginning and experienced filmmakers in Sacramento, and the world, better filmmakers, or in such a way they would make better finished products that I would enjoy watching; but do I want to create competition for me that it hurts my chances at becoming a paid filmmaker and editor for A-list movies; either my own or someone else’s?  The reason for my apprehension is there are a few, not many, but a few really, really good aspiring filmmakers in Sacramento area.  One thing I have learned about life is, if you are having a party, and do not want the neighbors to complain, you invite them to the party;  also, if you have competition that might beat you, you should ask them to be apart of your team.

That just might be the answer; I need to get these people on my side and work with me, not against me, and in so doing combining our skills and talents into one creating a better chance for all of us to reach the top than battling each other.

 

Tired yet Inspired and ready to go this weekend

I am exhausted but what keeps me going is the exeptional cast & crew that I get to see on the weekends as we walk hand in hand on this epic journey creating a tender, heart touching, and emotional movie that will last forever — a new breed of actors and filmmakers to enterain the masses.

I am so ready for this weekend, I hope you are.

 

 

AAAHHH  Gotcha!!!  I know right.  We should just do it anyway.

We have three options of the interiors for the 13th and the first one will be a small crew, the others will be semi small crew but we will have a simple wrap party for cast & crew and either be potluck or bring your own thing to bbq and a salad. But that is not confirmed yet, just planting the seed.

 

the clips, takes, and media look so awesome and the acting is not that bad.  HA!  you know I joke around and you know I am harder on myself than anyone else, and as I have said before, like with all my other projects, movies, and creations I will spend the same amount of care and time to make this a cherished movie you will be proud to talk about for years to come.

Petite Chardonnay Day 5: debriefing

It was a long day of struggles, heat, distance, learning, and wonderful performances.  Yes all in one day.  We all made it through, some not as well as others, they did survive after all the hard work I made them do.  this was the hard working day for the crew and cast.

The scenes are 90% captured, I guess the other 10% I will have to live without only becuase I came in with a different plan, which was watch the scene and then decide how to photograph it.  It may have worked for others but it didn’t for for me.

I am please, very pleased, with what we have and the actors and crew.  It was a long hard day but WORTH IT!!

 

Thanks to Lori Grbac, Jacob Ambrosini, McKenna Whiting, Gary L. Conovor, Michael Klemp, C.J. Berdahl, and Nolan Bourassa for their talents and time.

Petite Chardonnay: Day 4: debriefing

Sunday, October 16, 2011 was a humbling moment for me on this project.

The cast & crew have settled into their roles — as Jim Heck and Frank Cosgriff noticed and mentioned to me “the crew has become more homogeneous” — probably better discription that settling in, but the fact that poeple like Jim and Frank have noticed it and feel it is important to mention, means a great deal.

Again. I am honored to have been blessed with such a fantastic cast & crew that jumps in when needed, goes above and beyond the call of duty, and takes the time to give ideas, suggestions, and input when they feel it is important — or maybe I am just collateral blessings from everyone else on the project and the good Lord doesn’t want tto hurt the rest of them just becuase I am attached, so I am getting a break; no matter what it is, I am truly humbled at the sacrifice, interest, and love that everyone has for this project, their fellow cast & crew members, and themselves — I wish this were a long running tv show like MASH or something that I can be with them every day.

Wayne Young & Don Weller, the Aerial Ventures people, gave us a show with their aerial maneuvers while capturing some senic clips from the air of Gary L. Conover and Michael Klemp in the vineyard of Lucchesi — up the production value, again.

Lunch was a relaxing spaghetti feed from my lovely wife Tamara and her mother Maureen.  Thank you.

In Chardonnay’s reveal at the beginning of the movie, Karly Avva melted everyone’s heart just the way I imagined it when I was writing the scene; Gary L. Conover actually teared up — course I will not let everyone know that I did as well, we’ll keep that a secret.  Michael’s stirring performace was not only equalled too Gary L. Conover’s presentation of his father, but haunting in his facial expressions as he relived some of his past.  So invigorating.

And one final note for this debreifing and one that should not be overlooked, the wonderful cast we have would not have been assembled as it is without the efforts, time, and talents of first class Ryan McKinney and his group at It Factor Studios, Charla Bybee, Susan McKinney, Jeffery C. Vanacore — who is our 2nd AD and more; Dylan Nelson — who is another member of our team; and Aaron [lastname].  He kept telling me, “You have a great cast.”

What you are missing

Greetings.

For those that have not been staying up to date with the journey we are taking, you are missing a great deal.

We are half way into this production and since day one; a family, caring, and loving feeling has surrounded us, and it is wonderful — trust me it is WONDERFUL, you should take a look.

Chardonnay Facebook page [ no account needed to view]
Chardonnay Official Website
Aria Pictures News Feed
Aria Pictures Official website

To those that look at this once and toss it aside as “Gerald is just pretending. Wasting his time, he’s got no talent or skills.” or “who cares what he’s doing anyway?”  You are not hurting me.  You are hurting yourself by ignoring such great actors, crew, and downright a fantastic group of PEOPLE that are pouring their heart and soul into this story — they believe in the story, themselves, and me and these are perfect strangers that we’ve just met wanting to take this journey.

I am spending $30,000 on this and if that is not serious enough for you, I have locations, such as, Lucchesi Vineyard & Winery and Double Oak Vineyard & Winery welcoming us on their property to help us make this come to life.

Several actors are coming 3 – 4 hours away; the crew is bustin their backs; the actors are NOT acting but making it look real; Ryan McKinney and IT FACTOR STUDIOS spent over 120 hours helping me audition and cast people out of their own time; and they are all doing this becuase of me?  No.

They are doing it becuase they believe.  And to believe is the first step in making your dreams come true.  And for the past 30 years I have had this dream on my own, now I have people beside me with the same dream and that is powerful.

It would mean a great deal to me if you could help support us by liking the page, staying up to date with the journey, and if at all possible tell us how it looks and makes you feel?

God Bless.

- gerald martin davenport

Petite Chardonnay Day 3

Day 3 was initially planned to do the car scene ending up with the conclusion of the car scene with all 5 lead actors.

With the rain out on Day 1, I had to reschedule the scenes with the child actors.  So what day would that be? Day 3.

So while planning it, I find out that Brendan Brooks won’t be able to make that day, nor would Todd Boyd or Scott Slotterbeck, my audio masters, no Mark Hoffman and Lisa West would be coming in around lunch time.

So I figured I’d send Jim Heck and Jeffrey C. Vanacore in the car with Charlie Merlo and Gretta Askew Sosine and I would stay with the child actors and knock out the two scenes with no problems.

Sometimes things don’t work out like you planned — sometimes.

The rain was gone, the day was nice, and I was feeling industrious — or crazy — maybe a little of both.

The stage was set, the players were in their spot, and the clock was ticking I knew what I did wrong but still thought I could pull it off, and with a little push from Frank and my self the day ended with a roar from the crowd as we were mesmerized by the performances of everyone there.

We wrapped Karissa Lee Carleton as Kimmie, Olivia Martinez Prado as Kyriè, Haley Klemp as Oceana, Kayla Rosa as Meadow, Kayla Jagger as Sunshine, Kameron Woods as Forest, Adrien Bourassa as Sean, and Freddie Olmos as Aria.

Michael Klemp said it so well and there is no reason for me to reinvent the wheel, so I am reposting his comment.

This set of pictures means so much actually! It shows the true dedication of the cast and crew working together to make “Chardonnay” the block-buster hit that it is meant to be.
I worked with the young actors in the morning (probably getting in the way:), and then I had the honor of doing my scenes in the afternoon along with Karly Avva, Charlie Merlo, Gretta Sosine, and Gary Conover…
There was no “acting” going on by any of the actors I worked with… Was I disappointed? No, not at all…
None of the actor’s I mentioned needed to “ACT” at all. They were, and they became, the characters in the film! Why “Act” when it was so “real” already?
Karly Avva, in her role as Chardonnay, consistently delivered one stunning performance after another, take after take. Her “looks” of fear, happiness, and curiosity, will surely win your heart over when you see this film!
Gretta Sosine amazed me by the look of sheer fear and apprehension as Charlie Merlo’s character grabs her daughter “Chardonnay” from her arms. Gretta is an unbelievable actress in that she made it all seem so “Real” during the scenes that I worked with her in…
Charlie Merlo was mesmerizing as he “owned” the role of “Jessie…” He is truly an outstanding actor and a powerful one at that. When he and Gary Conover squared off together as Gary’s character “Richard,” armed with a shotgun, demands Charlie’s departure from the Vineyard, true chills ran down my spine as I was standing off to the side between them thinking to myself “This has got to be a movie … right?” Kudos to the two of them!
Gary Conover’s soft spoken exterior pales when he assumes the role of “Richard…” Strong, fearless, opinionated, and tough are only four of the many traits he brings to life to his character who plays my father in the movie. Working with him is a real example of how a professional actor works their scenes!
All I can say (and I’ve said way too much already:) is that I have never been on a film or TV set where EVERY SINGLE ACTOR nails their roles so perfectly.
Gretta Sosine said it best to me as we were talking together in between her car scenes with Charlie Merlo… She said: “I really think that this movie was perfectly cast”.

- Michael Klemp

He did not describe himself, but he was not without merit or distinction in his “non acting” achievement, it was nothing short of brilliance by all of them.

Charlie Merlo may or may not be wrapped, we are in discussion, or actually I am in a decision mode to bring him back to do some pick ups in the car with Gretta. scheduling nightmares.

BUT: I am so proud and honored to be blessed with so many people that care about me, the story, their fellow actors, filmmakers, and themselves.  I have no idea what I have done in he past to deserve this, but I know I will be waking soon as things like this only happen in a dream.

I have looked through the clips and they are breathtaking.

Thank you all.  this is a project that we can all be proud to be a part.

Congrats on being nearly half way done — with principal photography that is.

“the WATERING hole” winner of the Producer’s Choice Award

It came as a huge surprise and I am still dumbfounded that my fellow filmmakers chose “the WATERING hole” as their favorite out of all ten movies for the 2011 Place Called Sacramento filmfestival.

I am truly honored to receive such accolades, as is the cast & crew, since there were many great movies up there that could have easily been the favorite of all.

But on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at the Crest Theater in Sacramento after watching Reluctant, The Chozen, CSI: Sacramento, Stalag Sacramento, The Purse, Borrowed Time, Buddies, The Break Up, the WATERING hole, and Lucky Shot, the audience favorite was The Break Up, and truly deserving.

Of course I was not on stage at this time, as I had my 15 minutes of fame last year for THE GOLdEN TREE, as well as, Treasure Chest of South Sacramento that was written by Guy Pace, and this year I was also a contributor to BUDDIES, I meant no disrespect to the other filmmakers, I am not comfortable in front of a huge crowd — I’m not an actor and the reason I am behind the camera.

Anyway, at this time I am saying movie titles to Jim Heck — Audio Master and DP on Buddies and the WATERING hole — that could, should, or might win when Ron Cooper says “The Producer’s Choice Award goes to the collaborative team work of Rob Tillitz and Gerald Martin Davenport”

“WHAT!?”  I said with confusion, disbelief, and a sense of fear — I knew I would have to go up on stage after that.

I was blind sided by the outcome and being chosen by my peers to recieve the Producer’s Choice Award for 2011 for “the WATERING hole” — yes three days later it has not registered that it really happened.  Something we all do is day dream that our name or projects win awards and entertain people, or be super hero and save the day or the world, and when it happens we step back and wonder if it is real.

Granted it’s not a major life changing experience, but it is one nonetheless.  And I am very aprraciative of everyone for enjoyong my work — that was my main goal to begin with when I started this journey, and lets me know that I am on the right track and I do have the talent and sklills — something we all question and second guess ourselves in life.

Contratulations to the cast & crew for winning such a presitgious award, in the Sacramento fim comminuty, and for giving me such great performances to work with and mold into a award winning movie. 

Truly a team effort

DATELINE: Saturday, October 1, 2011
LOCATION: On set of Petite Chardonnay at Lucchesi Vineyard & Winery, Grass Valley, California

I have spent over an hour contemplating a philosophical essay to explain my life and what this movie means to me; but it either was too sappy, to psychedelic, or just a bunch of rambling from a crazy person — which this may well end up being anyway.

Saturday was a defining day on this journey we take together — hand in hand and side by side — to complete a project we all hope, pray, and dream will be an epic, break out, life and career changing film.

At the helm of the ship, so to speak, I have a responsibility to keep abreast of everything, but that is not possible when we are spread out and with the amount of souls we have involved, so I rely on a few people to keep everyone in line, but mostly I rely on each persons own inner conscience to be self motivating, disciplined, and caring and no one has let me, the other members, or themselves down — the attitude, the feeling, and the excitement on everyone’s face, in their eyes, and their body language shows me that we have an energy, a buzz, a camaraderie that is truly heartwarming.

I am touched that we had people step up to take on new jobs, positions, and responsibilities and to have the rest of us welcomed them into their new role or position with open arms — that tells me that everyone is giving their highest standard to give this movie the best chance it can have to be great.

As always, thank you for being you and everyone was beyond compare; however, there were a few noteworthy people to mention this week that went outside their comfort zone.
Lisa West for taking on the 2nd AC position when McKenna Whiting took over the Script Supervisory role because Krystina Mae stepped into the Marilyn role with flying colors.
It was also the first time we got to see Gretta Sosine, Gary L. Conover, and Michael Klemp, bring their characters to life that allowed Karly to be Chardonnay.

Not forgetting Rob Tillitz and Cynthia Gatlin for their special moments.  Oh my gosh I am tearing up now. 

I hope no one is offended they were not mentioned this week, but there is plenty of time for that and if you know me at all, you know you will get your toast as big as the sun, on top of which thanking each person every week will kind of lose its meaning and power. but you were all fantastic from the photogrpahers to the PA’s; the Make Up Artist’s to the craft and Audio, the only one who honetly did not do much was me.  you honor me by give me the ability to do my job, which I have not yet figured out what that is.  Maybe I’m the weakest link.

God Bless and thank you for another memorable day, it was truly a team effort.
in post, I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!

- gerald martin davenport
your most humble writer, editor, and director of Petite Chardonnay.