Project Evaluation

 In researching Maya Angelou I was inspired by her hard work with the civil rights movement and wanted to try and reflect this through my own film by making it about a social issue that was accessible to me. Hoping to also reflect the idea of bravery and overcoming fears from the original poem I decided to show somebody overcoming their dysphoria and changing into 'women's clothing'. Considering my late start to this project I’m very happy with the final film I have produced. My film is a shortened version of my original idea, cutting out the narrative and focusing on what I consider to be the core of the idea – I think this was very beneficial overall, helping to avoid distracting from main focus of the film.
 However, with time I would have liked to deeper explore experimental methods of film-making during my research process. With the very stylistic look of my piece because of the bold lighting I think that some non-conventional editing or camera techniques could have added another level to the piece - adding more abstract ideals to reflect the compatibility the protagonist feels with gender binary.

 In future I will try to pay more attention to understanding the contextual importance of my source material, as I feel this is something that lacked with my current piece. I was able to get an understanding of the piece and it's author but I feel I could have better tried to ascertain the context in which the poem was written and tried to reflect it's relevance through my own production.

 I was very happy with the results from our lighting workshop which inspired the bold lighting in my final film. Whilst experimenting with different coloured gels we found that when mixing gels on different lights the colour of shadows could be manipulated. I realised that this was an affective way to reflect the idea of gender binary - using blue lights when the character wears 'male clothes' and pink when they're conforming to traditionally female rules. This ended up as an essential aspect of the film and has been complimented by peers that saw the rough cut and our tutor, Sam.

 During shooting I realised that I had neglected to consider getting a make-up artist to ensure Jack's final look was more polished. However, upon reflection I think that Jack's inexperience reflects somebody starting to explore their gender identity.
 Despite this, if I made the film again I would have liked to pre-plan the outfit as the one from the final film didn't reflect the look I wanted to. This wasn't something I was able to consider during this production due to my limited time and budget; instead the outfit was a combination of clothes that I and my actor had, hoping to keep to the core idea of the film and find something that Jack was comfortable in. 

 The feedback I got to my rough cut was incredibly useful, helping reassure a few worries I had about the piece as it was and also in pinpointing a few extra issues to be fixed. Our tutor told me watch out as the film was beginning to border on something that could seem erotic - to avoid this I cut some clips and added in some extreme close-ups - acquired from re-shoots - hoping to re-focus the film. Sam also noted that the pacing at the beginning of the film was quite slow and implied an unnecessary anxiety to the character. This was a simple fix done by cutting down the lengths of some earlier shots. 

 Early in my research I considered having a big 'reveal' in my film, building enigma with close-ups to a reveal that the person putting on make-up and fishnets was Jack. Whilst this idea did not last long I do think it could have been impactful in the final film. When showing my film to peers I found that there was almost always a big reaction when Jack first took off the beanie to reveal his long hair - in future I could have concealed this till later in the film as it was one of Jack's natural aspects that seems traditionally 'feminine'.

Rough & Fine Cut review

Rough Cut:
My rough cut review re-enforced some of the issues with my film that I had already noted and brought up some extra issues and notes for me to look at.

• Avoid 'music video territory' - whilst the music in my rough cut was only being used as placeholder and more of an example of the type of music I was hoping to use, Sam suggested I focus more on real world sound. There is a small moment in the rough edit where I'd added a clip later on and forgot to remove it's audio - Sam said this was probably where he felt the most engaged as there wasn't a buffer from the music. I'm going to try and add a radio effect to my final music to make it appear diagetic to the piece. 
• Watch out for eroticism - This is something i'd been worried about when using the pink lights as they have a very warm feel and somewhat sexual connotations; combined with the subject of the piece it can appear as if the protagonist is in the window of a brothel. Obviously this wasn't my intention and I don't want to sexualise the protagonist or give the impression that they're cross-dressing for sexual purposes, however it's not something I want to remove completely as I feel the sensuality is important, showing that the character feels more attractive and sexier when dressed as a woman. 
• Cut more early on to add pace or cut less to build tension - Sam noted that the opening of my piece is rather slow and builds a tension that is unnecessary or unused. Since there isn't really a 'reveal' within my piece the anxiety that comes from the drawn out shots early on isn't explained and seems rather confusing.  He suggested to cut more or less but to commit to it: make the beginning choppier to show how disjointed the protagonists feels and how they want to escape that feeling quickly or to keep it tense, reflecting their discomfort in the situation and build to a reveal of cross-dressing.
• Imply meaning to everyday objects - Sam noted that he enjoyed the close up shots of the boots and the nail varnish that I'd used and suggested building on them by considering more, especially towards the actions like using lip gloss. Make up can seem like a very basic, every day object for a lot of people but it can be very important to a queer person who can see it something that makes them feel more complete in themselves. I could use extreme close-ups to highlight this, showing their importance to the audience by making these regular objects seem more important. 

Fine Cut:

 Our tutor, Sam was very happy with the changes I'd made to my piece. I'd fixed the pacing issues at the beginning by shortening some clips and re-shot for some extra extreme-closeups and to capture a couple of extra shots. He noted how the lighting from my new shots matched the old ones without any error and complimented how the whole film flowed a lot better, without any unnecessary anxiety from long, drawn out clips.
 However, whilst he preferred the piece of music used (Port Horizon) compared to the old one, he did note that the electronic sounds lasted slightly too long and were quite jarring to the ear. This was something I was aware of and will search on the site I found it from for a version without the electronic sounds or I will change the volume of it & change the EQ to make it less jarring. Upon searching on Incompetech I found that the only way to remove the electronic radio frequency sound was to purchase the uncompressed version of the track - if this was a larger project with an established budget I would have followed up on this; instead I have turned down the higher frequencies via the EQ, which I think makes the track less jarring.

Soundtrack choice

 I always wanted a piece of music without lyrics as I didn't want to detract from the visual aspect of the film - which was already quite extreme with the lighting cues. I started with a basic song to edit to - which our tutor warned me made the film start to look like a music video. Once my rough cut was complete I began looking for alternatives, searching for a piece of classical music instead of the electronic style I had gone for beforehand.
 I would have ideally used Kaikhosru Sorabji's 'transcendental studies no18 'Liscio. Tranquillamente scorrevole' - a piano piece that's allegro movement up and down the keys I thought reflected the ideas of binary reflected in the piece. However, due to copyright  protections for all versions I found this choice was unusable.

I finally settled on Port Horizon ("Port Horizon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ from Incompetech. I was initially intrigued by it being described as "unclassifiable" which I felt resonated with the themes of my film. Upon listening I found this reflected through the contrast of short wave radio frequencies and  real-world instrumentation. I thought this highlighted the ideas of subverting the gender binary presented through the film.

Gel Test

  To prepare for my shoot, I wanted to test out how the bedroom and it's lights worked with the blue and pink lighting gels I wanted to use on my shoot. I originally tried mixing red and pink gels - thinking that the red would provide a warmth, however I found that the colour wasn't strong enough and that completely pink worked a lot better. 

half Pink (002) gels and half Red (111) gels

completely Pink (002) gels

completely blue (141) gels

half pink and half blue gels

 I have decided to begin by lighting with three blue gels and one pink gel to brighten the room. I am using the lights in the room as they give an extreme, naturalistic light.

 In order to create a half and half look with the pink and blue lights, I needed to include a blue gel on a lamp pointed at the subject in order to get the colour necessary and have the effect in the shadows that worked so well.

To acquire the extreme pink used in the latter half of my film, I used all four of the pink gels. 

Initial Ideas, Proposal and Development

 After researching Maya Angelou's life I knew I wanted to make my film about a social issue, inspired by her time as a civil rights activist. When reading the poem I reflected its ideas through my struggles to feel comfortable as a genderfluid person and wanted to reflect this is in my film by showing somebody battling with gender dysphoria in a way that was very up-close and personal.

My initial proposal: (dated 15/11/18)

"Proposal

Based on: ‘Life Doesn’t Frighten Me’ by Maya Angelou

A gender-fluid student prepares for their prom, searching for the bravery and confidence to wear what they want.

 A group of students walk down the street, chatting excitedly about a party. The girls are deciding what time they’re meeting and who’s helping who with make-up whilst the boys talk about ‘pulling techniques’ – they’re all arguing over who’s going to get more drunk. Having remained silent and not a part of either conversation, one of the group breaks off and walks into their home.
 We see them getting ready for the party through slow, drawn out close-ups. Shaving a leg, painting their nails etc. As the scene unfolds, we realise the student is gender-fluid and preparing to wear what they want publicly for the first time.
 They leave the house and we follow, people stare and a few stop walking to look. They pass beautifully made up women and a group of ‘lads’ on a night out.  As they arrive at the party, the stares and confusion have become confidence and bravery."

I decided to remove the narrative of the idea in order to really focus on the core idea of the film within 5 minutes.

 The lighting workshop was very important to how I want the film to look. We found very interesting effects when mixing colours and how this affected shadows and I will light my film with very strong blue and pink lights to reflect the idea of binary gender and mix them as it breaks down throughout the film.
 I have decided to use naturalist lighting, using the lights in the room, covered with gels for a strong, harsh look that I hope - in a way - reflects Jean-Michel Basquiat's bold illustrations from the original book.

storyboard

shot list

Break Free - Ruby Rose notes

Break Free (2014) [x]
A short film about gender roles, Trans, and what it is like to have an identity that deviates from the status quo.
Written/Produced/Strarring: Ruby Rose Music: Butterfly Boucher "It pulls me under" https://www.youtube.com/user/thebutte... Directed/Edited: Phillip Lopez Styled: Phoebe Dahl

multiple angles
begins by completing 'feminine' look - shoes, lips and hair
begins with feminine look for enigma, so scissors immediately draws you in
then completely flips by chopping hair
slower fps
lots of close ups
handheld and almost shaky
'washes' self to reveal tattoos
has 'macho' moment  to camera - feels like mirror moment psyching self up - reminiscent of Taxi Driver
Can be watched forwards or backwards, reflecting binary sides of dysphoria

 I love the way that this film can mostly be watched backwards to present the same story but reflecting the transformation from male to female. This is an idea I want to try and repeat in my own production, I will try to plan the actions of my piece to achieve this and mirror my first and final shot to bookend the film.

Casting & Location Recce

Jack's screen test / lighting test

Casting: I have decided to use my part-time actor-friend, Jack for a variety of reasons: we have a very strong working relationship and have worked on many projects before and his appearance lended itself to the project.  Ideally I would have opted for a queer actor but because of the films personal themes I decided that mine and jack's past experience on-set was more beneficial for making the shoot comfortable for everybody.

Shots of room taken during recce/lighting test

Shots of room taken during recce/lighting test

 Location I decided to use a student house with white walls as they worked best with the bold lighting design I required for my film. I decided on prominently bare walls with no set dressing as I felt that anything else could have been distracting for the eye.

Lighting Workshop - 20/11

Creates dimension and depth to shots - flat lighting is unattractive and unprofessional

Two main philosophies towards lighting
Naturalism: Intended to replicate realistic lighting, placing lights at points where actual light sources are. EG Windows, Room lights. Naturalist lighting can also be used by low-budget filmmakers to save money and give their movies a more realistic look.
Pictorialism: Placing lights in order to get the most desirable look from the shot, regardless of continuity etc.

image two

Two main types of lighting:

image one

High-Key: Everything is lit, giving full vision to the scene. Typical for lighter movies EG comedies and romance

image three

image four

Lo-Key: Lighting is used sparingly, focusing on highlights and a dramatic, impactful look. Shadows are more defined Used for modern dramas or films with a 'gritty' look. 

The two shots from Harry Potter (image one: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two [2011, David Yates] & image four: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [2004, Alfonso Cuaron]) show how different types of lighting can be used within one continued series. One image representing hope and the other showing fear.

Properties of light:
Brightness - How intense is the light?
Colour - Is it natural day light or artificial lights such as LED or tungsten?? Are you using gels to create an emotional impact?
Quality - Is the lighting hard to create strong, deep shadows or soft to show minimise shadows?
Angle - Where are they placed in relation to the subject? Are the lights direct or being bounced off of a surface to soften them?
Shape

Three Point Lighting -
We experimented with three-point lighting and what happens when combining different colours. We found that by bouncing the backlight off of the wall, we could also influence the colour of the shadows for a very interesting effect.

I want my film to have a naturalist look with low-key lighting to represent the fear and anxiety the protagonist is feeling and to use shadow to show the duality of their personality and the 'two-sides' of their gender. Towards the end of the film, once they're fully dressed and able to show themselves as they feel they are - they will step out into full light, hopefully connoting that they now feel more complete. I want to combine blue and pink gels - opposing the stereotypical gender of the item on screen at the time to reflect the dissonance of their 'self'. 

Life Doesn't Frighten Me

Life Doesn't Frighten Me
Published in '93 and became the title of collaborative book with Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Basquiat's pictures are dark and powerful but considered by some 'too strong' for Angelou's words. His purposely childlike style reflects the simplicity of Angelou's words and reveals the emotions and powerful imagination of a child. 

Angelou said she wrote the poem for all children who whistle in the dark and refuse to admit they're frightened out of their wits. 



The poem is simplistic and repetitive as if from a child perspective
Short, lyrical stanzas that lend themselves to performance 

Jean Michel Basquiat's illustrations 

Angelou: I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

The poem is about overcoming fear - moving past bravado and having a reason for bravery. 

Maya Angelou

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelouhttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/70265/maya-angelou-101https://www.mayaangelou.com/biography/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou#Life_and_career

Maya Angelou

born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri

Varied career including: nightclub performer, composer, and Hollywood’s first female black director. Not to mention seven autobiographies, three books of essays and various poetry books and being Hollywood's first black, female director. 

Also an avid civil rights activist, Angelou worked with Dr. King jr and Malcolm X. She served on two presidential commitees, with Ford in 75 and Carter in 77.

Before her death in 2014, she was awarded over 50 honorary awards, including National Medal of Arts by Clinton in 2000 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest US civilian honour) by Obama in 2010. 


Angelou became a member of the Harlem Writer's Guild in last 1950's where she met James Baldwin, a black writer "whose eloquence and passion on the subject of race in America made him an important voice." (https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Baldwin)

It was during this time she became inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's message and became a part of civil rights movement and became northern co-ordinator for Dr King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Following this, she moved to Ghana in West Africa in 1962 and upon er return to the states became work on 'I know why the Caged Bird Sings', her first book that told her story from childhood to the birth of her first son. The book was an immediate success and is taught in schools to this day despite controversy over her honest portrayal of race, sexual abuse and violence. 

"Angelou’s use of fiction-writing techniques like dialogue and plot in her autobiographies was innovative for its time and helped, in part, to complicate the genre’s relationship with truth and memory. Though her books are episodic and tightly-crafted, the events seldom follow a strict chronology and are arranged to emphasise themes."


A widely-read and highly revered poet, her 1971 Just Give Me A Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie was nominated for a Pulitzer prize the following year. 

Carol Neubauer wrote in Southern Women Writers, “the first twenty poems describe the whole gamut of love, from the first moment of passionate discovery to the first suspicion of painful loss.” In other poems, “Angelou turns her attention to the lives of black people in America from the time of slavery to the rebellious 1960s. Her themes deal broadly with the painful anguish suffered by blacks forced into submission, with guilt over accepting too much, and with protest and basic survival.”

As well as autobiographies and poems, Angelous had a successful career in film and TV too. In 1972 she became the first black woman to have a screenplay produced with Georgia, Georgia and was nominated for an Emmy for her time in Roots in 1977. In 79 she helped adapt her first book into a television movie of the same name. 

Asked by Bill Clinton to read and write an inaugural poem, in the early 1990s Americans across the country heard Angelou read On the Pulse, a call for peace between races and cultures and humankind.

Angelou also wrote several books for children in the early 90s. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me (1993), which also featured the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat; My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me (1994), and Kofi and His Magic (1996), both collaborations with the photographer Margaret Courtney-Clark.

Her poetry was at it's best when performed and she performed to countless spellbound audiences, astounded as she bore her soul and commented on topics like race and sex on a social and psychological scale. She once said “Once I got into it [poetry] I realized I was following a tradition established by Frederick Douglass—the slave narrative—speaking in the first-person singular talking about the first-person plural, always saying I meaning ‘we.’ And what a responsibility. Trying to work with that form, the autobiographical mode, to change it, to make it bigger, richer, finer, and more inclusive in the twentieth century has been a great challenge for me.”

camera technique workshop 'fear'

 I decided to show the emotion 'fear' by contrasting close-ups and obscured long-shots. I tried to ensure a full face is never seen and purposely avoided showing key action such as the blinds being shut. I hoped that by avoiding typical structural forms to make the small piece create a sense of unease with audiences. Our tutor Sam suggested in future considering exploring using much more extreme long-shots to capitalise on the added isolation implied by the shot.

Experimental Shooting

War Story - Aardman
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098620/

"This short animated piece uses a real interview as its soundtrack. Bill Perry relates stories about his youth, his tilted house, and adventures during WWII in Bristol, England during the blitz.
Claymation
Uses interviews as source material, this one from genuine ww2 soldier
canted angles reflect sinking house






Who's Hungry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8srEvrF90-s
black and white 2D animation from animator David Ochs.
“Who’s Hungry” is a modern spin on the Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel”.
Ochs' freshman animation, won class award 
Uses 'Turkey in the straw' as emotional motif - seeming slightly unnerving at beginning but horrible by end. 








Colour Bleed
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1878888/

silent, uses music for mood and  colour to create empathy - protagonist stands out among grey bg
so we understand grey hand is her individuality dying











OPERATOR
https://www.operatorshortfilm.com/

"The script is based on a real 999 call. When Caroline first listened to it, she was completely blown away by how terrifying it was. It became clear straightaway that the story would make a powerful film, and that we could really bring to the audience's attention what an amazing job the operators do, remaining calm and composed in such stressful situations.

The film was funded through Kickstarter and was shot over two days in London."

begins with mentioning fire, then other jobs before focus begins on operator
close ups on face increase sense of urgency.
lack of cuts create anxiety and feeling of helplessness to help empathise with protagonist
sudden silence is very powerful, immediately followed by another call shows this urgency and fear is commonplace


PENCIL FACE

"A young girl is playing on some waste ground when she finds a pencil with a face. Whatever she draws with the pencil becomes real. Just an ordinary day." -  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1352842/

repetitive music immediately begins unease
close up on pencil's face very creepy
uses cgi to show influenced thoughts
repeated shots of pencil face imply danger

BUT YOU DIDN'T

 "Based on the anonymous poem of the same name, often attributed to Merrill Glass. It's said that the author was widowed and died of old age. When her daughter was organizing her remains, she discovered this poem her mother had written to her father back then, titled 'But You Didn't'." But You Didn't is directed by up-and-coming filmmaker John Wikstrom, who also edited the short.


Clips match words, with repeated words for effect
Begins with focus on husband, then turning to daughter when he's gone
matches colours when comparing them




RUBBER JOHNNY

presented in infra red
starts on out of focus close-up, very startling and confusing
handheld camera gets shaky matching johnny's mood
everything stops when sedated
flashing lights jarring in darkness
very surreal
music interrupted with light
cocaine makes video more eratic mixes paces and fast to slow cuts as well as obscured and face on angles - feels hard to understand or pin down
combines the fear with small bits of humour, keeping audiences guessing on their toes





SOVIET MONTAGE
Montage is a serious tool used by filmmakers.

Following 1917 revolution film stock was low so filmmakers used old footage to experiment with editing. Found that people respond to shot differently depending on the shots that surround it.

Kuleshov Experiment (see right)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gGl3LJ7vHc

Lev Kulsehov created a film that showed a shot of a single man intercut with other images. Found that images surrounding shot of man influenced how audiences thought the man was feeling - despite it being the same shot.

Lenin saw the films potential as propaganda.




Dziga Vertov & Sergei Eisenstein 

• combining and contrasting images to convey ideas
• explored how rhythm/pace of editing & use of music can stir emotion

Eisenstein & Vertov considered continuity bourgeois for faking reality and preferred Marxist diaclectic about conflict of ideals. Eisenstein wanted to stir emotions and inspire revolution. 

Eisenstein

Montage theorist, wrote 'Filmform' looking at ideals, including how the duration of shots affect audience reactions.

Used 'intellectual montage', matching and contrasting images such as cows being slaughtered & troops being killed in his 1925 Strike (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWiDciPuSW4 warning, graphic content!)

Also vertical montage, exploring how elements of the image, such as composition and actor movement work with the soundtrack. 

Eisenstein's 5 types of montage:

Metric

Edit follows specific number of frames, based solely on time, cutting irregardless of the action in the Rhythmic

Cutting in time to a soundtrack, useful for keeping pace.

Tonal

Uses emotional meaning of a shot, not just manipulating length of cuts or rhythm.

Overtonal

Accumulation of aboce to synthesise effects for a more complicated and abstract effect.

Intellectual

Combines shots from outside film to synthesise meaning

Vertov

Vertov used montage to try an draw attention to the film-making.

Man With A Movie Camera (1926) is a city-symphony, covering different 'day-in-a-life events.

Uses partial shots of an object, close-ups, low and high angles, patterns and shapes to build sense of time & place. 

Modern Montage

In the 1980's, Geoffrey Reggio's 'Kayaanisqatsi' used a lot of Vertov's ideals but for different reasons. Using time-lapse and slow-motion, Reggio showed modern life as a nightmare, contrasting shots of people on an escalator with sausages being squeezed out of a machine. 

The three-way standoff from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly uses ideas from soviet monatage: dramatic cuts from wide to close-up & extreme close-ups, cutting between close-ups and accelerating editing to Moricone's classic score.

The title sequence of punk sci-fi 'Repo Man' uses rhythmic montage where shots of map sections are precisely edited to an Iggy Pop sountrack, cutting on every bar and beat. 

Transition: Critical Evaluation

Researching this unit was perhaps one of the easiest research tasks I’ve had – purely because of the wide array of media to choose from. Thanks to mumblecore’s low-budget mentality, film-makers have made several movies – Swanberg having made 7 in 2011 alone. To keep in line with Easy’s themes, I started picking apart the relationships I saw in real life, attempting to simulate Swanberg’s own inspirations. Although his work before Easy was nearly primarily improvised by the actor’s, Swanberg had to alter this approach when working under the large production company, Netflix – choosing instead to write in a dialogue-heavy conversational style.

 In order to keep my script within the pre-existing universe of Easy, and to help it seem like just another episode I included characters that have featured in another episode but also created my own – keeping in line with the anthological series. I also tried to simulate Swanberg’s conversational tone of writing; thankful that it was similar to my regular style of writing.
 Although I did not write a full script, I did create a whole story. The rest of the episode involved Howard meeting up with his ex-wife (with whom time has helped to calm things down), they talk long into the night, clearing the air on arguments that have consumed their separate lives. As the morning comes, the pair awake in bed together. Although distraught at first, Howard realises his feelings for his girlfriend are not what he thought and ends the episode by breaking up with her so that she can pursue a relationship that can provide her with what she needs.

 I struggled managing my time for this unit, with it running alongside two others. I was also confused by certain aspects of the unit – with it being the first year it’s run. Despite this, I feel as though my script is a good reflection of both my skills and the show it reflects.

The Duplass Brothers

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kwpvdw/directors-mark-and-jay-duplass-discuss-their-new-series-togetherness 

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/08/609349238/duplass-brothers-on-working-together-and-growing-apart-we-are-ex-soulmates

• Film makers making TV
• Turning 40, feel like outsiders to LA 
• So many stories and so much material, felt more like tv show than movie
• TV is open universe, Film is closed - Arcs shift and change, like real life. Form is well suited to documentary style storytelling
• Takes archetypes and tries to subvert them 
• Draw a lot from own lives and own experiences - some characters being almost fully autobiographical 
• Both act/direct/write
• Improvisational style similar to Swanberg - searching for documentary realism 
• Have control as directors and actors but strong cast allows their own freedom 
• Jay Duplass has been Camera A on all prior projects
• As brothers gave worked together all life and know each other's strengths and weaknesses, stepping up to lead cast, crew etc when other less up to role - other usually having creative breakthroughs from more withdrawn state
• Admittedly very lenient directors - wanted to be like coen brothers in control but "got our asses kicked". Now very relaxed looking for relaxed, inspired lightning strikes on set - as a collaborative effort 
• TV gives more creative and action space on set than film. 
• Very strict writer/directors, used to make a movie every year or two 

TRANSITIONS: Chicago research

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA-9RLPRTY4

Chicago Neighbourhoods
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/an-introduction-to-chicagos-neighborhoods/
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/the-10-coolest-neighborhoods-in-chicago/

• "some sources report over 200 neighborhoods and others stick to a pared down list of 77 ‘community areas"
• Geography, ethnicity and lifestyle are all contributors 
• THE LOOP Heart of downtown and centre of city, Chicago was founded here in 1837. Bordered by Lake Michigan to Eat, Chicago River to North and West and Roosevelt Rd to South.Less residential area, more tourist destination. The central of the business district, housing the "city’s best museums, theaters, hotels and corporations. It’s a youthful area and there are countless options for dining and nightlife"
• RIVER NORTH Usually lumped with the Loop but has it's own distinctions. Towering apartments instead of business blocks, the ritzy neighbourhood for those wishing to live 'downtown'. Less commercial than the Loop, bars, cafes and galleries have more authenticity and history - but area still has tourist traps like Navy Pier and Water Tower Place. However, it's a prime place for a night on the town for Chicagoans. 
• LAKEVIEW A favourite of twenty-thirty somethings and offers something for everyone. Home to the Chicago Cubs who bring a new life during summer, lakeview also offers a host of bars, clubs and sub-neighbourhoods Wrigleyville and BOystown have become popular nighlife districts. What used to be one of the best value neighbourhoods is now becoming too pricey for most Chicagoans.
• HYDE PARK Cultural hub on the south shores, homes Uni of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry. Beaches are popular with local joggers for it's views of Chicago's skyline. Obama lived in Hyde Park before becoming president and still owns a small mansion in the area. 
• WICKER PARK On the west side and along with Bucktown has been one of the fastest growing and changing spots in Chicago. Home to the hipster aesthetic, full of vegan restaurants, off-beat shops and obscure IPAs. " It has a history of European descent, offering community to pockets of Germans, Norwegians and Poles, but with time less of its origins remain. Today its central access to the Blue Line makes it a popular exploration neighborhood for Chicago’s young crowd, welcoming both residents and visitors to the area."

11 Habits from Illinois
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/11-habits-you-pick-up-living-in-illinois/

• Who you root for depends on where you live but you support "The Bears for pro football and University of Illinois and Northwestern for college football."
• "Chicago is famous for Goose Island, 312, Revolution and Lagunitas Brewing, but the Windy City isn’t the only place for superior craft beer." 
• "Whether it’s sweetcorn stands in the summer time or hearty corn casseroles in the winter months, everyone in all areas of Illinois know how to cook this vegetable." "Every autumn several farms design corn mazes for Illinoisans of all ages to wander through. Make sure you get a map!"
• Ranch dressing isn't just dressing and gets used to dip everything from celery to chicken wings to pizza and fries. 
• Sunsets are beautiful and "there are a variety of gorgeous natural wildlife preserves open to the public for beautiful views of the setting sun."
• Winter gets cold and illinois gets hit hard with snow, sleet, hale and any combination of rain/snow storms. Can last winter and spring but everybody's adept at dealing iwth it. 
• "After living in Illinois, you’ll have a bevy of Indiana jokes in your back pocket. Is it a bad habit? Perhaps, but it brings a smile to many people in Illinois."

Things to know before you go
https://www.theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/15-things-to-know-before-visiting-chicago-il/

• Perceived as working-class town known for deep-dish pizza
• Public Transportation (trains) can get you anywhere you need to go - need a ventra card ("1-day, 3-day, or 7-day passes. Visitors also have the option to load Ventra cards with a specific amount of money. Bus fare is $2.25, L fare is $2.50, and an L ride from O’Hare airport is $5.")
• Lake Michigan borders the entirity of Chicago's eastern border, bringing beautiful scenery but also sometimes unpredictable weather shifts."Chicagoans notice temperature dips and stronger gusts of wind as they move closer to the lake year-round." "Chicago has had 75°F (24°C) days in November and snowstorms in April."
• There's more than just deep dish - 187 Michelin-starred restaurants with wide variety in ethnic cuisines. "Devon Avenue in Edgewater is famous for Indian food, and Chinatown and Pilsen on the South Side boast some of the best Chinese and Mexican dishes, respectively. For Vietnamese, head to Uptown, it’s Old Town for Italian beef, and Ethiopian in Andersonville. "
• Winter doesn't mean staying inside, Maggie Daley Park offers skating, Lincoln Park Zoo has Zoo Lights every winter.
• Comedy is in abbundance - "If you’re in the mood for wild original musicals, head to The Annoyance Theatre in the Belmont Theater District. Great improv? Check out CIC Theatre in Lakeview. You might even catch an interview with a celeb or professional athlete at The iO Theater’s The Armando Diaz Experience, after which improvisers perform sets based on the guest’s answers."
• South Side has historic Pilsen neighbourhood - mexican cuisine and many art galleries "Andersonville on the North Side features the Swedish American Museum. Greektown in the West Loop is the best place for gyros and imported cheeses. The list goes on!"
• Lots to do for those on a budget, many free museums (including (but not limited to) the National Museum of Mexican Art, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture. ", "the CTA offers super cheap transportation all over the city, and many restaurants are BYOB, which means spending however much you want on a bottle of wine instead of $10 or more per glass."
• Many festivals and fairs all year round, " Lollapalooza,The South Side Irish Parade is in March, Lincoln Park Wine Fest is in May, Andersonville has Midsommarfest in June, and the West Town Food Truck Social is in October in conjunction with the West Town Art Walk. This is the tip of the iceberg"
• Water taxis can take you from the South Loop through Downtown to Goose Island, near Lincoln Park
• It's not always cold and the highest average temp in July is 28C. Lake Michigan boasts several beaches, open to public between memorial and labor day. "The most picturesque is arguably Oak Street Beach, which offers sun bathers a towering view of the Chicago skyline. Further north, Montrose Beach offers a large expanse of sand for families, as well as beach activities, such as volleyball or soccer."
• Whilst avoiding the extremely touristy Willis Tower, Chicagoans don't take their city, or host of " brewery, museum, architecture, and walking tours available" for granted.

MUSIC:

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/best-music-venues-in-chicago/

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/the-best-concert-venues-in-chicago/

• Music scene is "as exciting as it is diverse". Jazz, metal, up-and-coming DJs etc
• "nearly every weekend, world-renowned bands and artists are hidden in every crevice of the city"
• Theatres and clubs offering mix of historic architecture and modern design
• EMPTY BOTTLE dive bar 20 years ago in Ukranian village is now  the “best place to see any show” (lifelong Chicago resident and concert devotee. Open 7 days a week with 3 artists a night offering "anything from R&B by local Chicagoan DJ Taye to surfabilly by Super Sonic Space Rebels."
• THE HIDEOUT Supposed to be a family home, was built over 2 days 100 years ago. Began as bar and venue just after prohibition. Inviting, jovial vibe. "Artists like Jack White, Wilco and the Flaming Lips have played here, along with countless unknown bands just getting off the ground. Located on the edge of Bucktown, just west of Lincoln Park"
• THALIA HALL  designed to resemble lavish opera house in Prague and is beautiful architecture. Received landmark status in 1989. " Private balconies overlook a gorgeous wooden ground floor and stage. Indie-rock favorites like Yo La Tengo and Of Montreal play the venue, in addition to trending DJs and indie-pop bands. Concert-goers can also sip craft beers, cocktails or homemade punch from the bar."
• THE GREEN MILL COCKTAIL LOUNGE No1 for Jazz nights. Open till 4 and 5 on Saturdays, big brass bands to jazz quartets, string orchestras and organ solos. Speakeasy vibe, rumours state "that underground tunnels run from The Green Mill, across Broadway Avenue and into the Aragon Ballroom down the street—former escape routes for Chicago’s notorious gangster Al Capone."
• BOTTOM LINE Looks like an industrial office centre from outside. "With live music just about every night of the week, delicious sandwiches and tater tots in the front-of-house restaurant, and a patio with exquisite views of the skyline, Bottom Lounge offers a little something for everyone"  "Amazing" sound quality and lack of pretension.
• SMART BAR DJs, techno music and great dance scene. Basement of Metro (another great venue) in Wrigleyville neighbourhood. Wild dance parties in building almost a century old with state-of-the-art sound system. Drag performances on Sunday night's Queen! house music party.
• KINGSTON MINES Started in 1968 and hosts blues musicians from all over the US, every night of the week. Enjoy music along with drinks amd hearty southern cuisine from Doc's Rib Joint. "both the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Music Awards have dubbed the best, most popular blues club in the city. Located in Lincoln Park, and open until 4 am almost every night, Kingston Mines is a Chicago staple."
• METRO Headlining breakouts like Smashing Pumpkins and turning Oasis into household name, Metro continuously pushes both established and rising artists. "The venue houses big, overpowering production sets for its intimate space, easily surprising newcomers and loyal attendees alike. Metro’s nights can go as late (or early) as 5am, thanks to its underground dance club called Smart Bar, which hosts recurring DJs such as James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and Chicago underground house legend Derrick Carter. Blocks away from Wrigleyville’s bar scene, the options are endless even after the concert finishes."

POETRY:

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/illinois/articles/a-poets-guide-to-visiting-chicago/
https://youngchicagoauthors.org/

• Poetry has long played a vital role in the literature and arts scene 
• Many famous poets hail from Chicago 
• Chicago's own Harriet Monroe create Poetry magazine in 1912 to showcase poets and their craft. Led to Poetry Foundation, "Located in River North in a gorgeous building with large windows and a garden 'room,' visitors can read from the Foundation’s library, attend poetry events, view exhibitions and more."
• Chicago by (C.Sandberg, 1914) became an iconic image of working-class life in the city and earned Chicago the name of 'City of Big Shoulders'. 
• Ernest Hemingway was born and lived in Chicago till he was six. His home is a public landmark and "hosts book lectures, film screenings, and a cocktail social event on the third Friday of every month."
• Chicago Defender was a newspaper founded by african-american lawyer, Robert Abbott "and written for the African-American community in Chicago, the Defender encouraged black Americans in the South to migrate north during the 1910s.". Many who settled in Bronzeville neighbourhood were vital to Chicago Black Renaisance during 30s and 40s. "Poets like Gwendolyn Brooks and Fenton Johnson met with other artists around Bronzeville in places like the Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library, which opened in 1932 and was named after Dr. George Cleveland Hall, an African-American surgeon, civic leader, and social activist." The library is a landmark for continued support of African-American writers, poets and activists. 
• Poems While You Wait founded by poets Kathleen Rooney, Eric Plattner and Dave Landsberger in 2011. "patrons offer up a specific topic to a poet, along with a suggested $5 donation. After leaving the poet to his or her typewriter for 15 to 20 minutes, patrons come back to receive their one-of-a-kind, brand-spankin’ new poem."
• After almost a decade of planning, the American Writers Museum opened in 2017. "Its mission is to engage audiences in the world of literature and the spoken word, exposing visitors to a wide variety of artists from around America" Surprise Bookshelf Series - events celebrating the many forms writing takes. 
• Louder Than a Bomb, world's largest youth poetry festival features 120 teams of slam poets from schools and communities nation-wide over several weeks. "Part of the Young Chicago Authorsorganization, LTAB is continuously one of the most hyped and electric arts events that the city has to offer" If you miss the festival, don't worry  "YCA hosts [Wordplay] a weekly open mic and poetry performance perfect for poetry enthusiasts. Every Tuesday night, a workshop takes place at 6 pm, followed by an open mic at 7 pm when students and young adults perform their work. At 8:15 pm, featured artists take the stage. Some big names (Chance the Rapper, anyone?) have come through this open mic, and each week features brand-new material from a diverse range of poets. " "WordPlay is the longest-running youth open mic in Chicago."