Third week through!

This has been an awesome week. (see how I start to sound American?)
The topic has been "Screenwriting", which means how to "write a film", or rather its script. Teacher has been Kevin Miller, who wrote "Expelled", which is a movie that debates evolution theory. He took us on a journey through the prevailing models of writing for the screen, and even shared his own "synthesis" of it all as a Christian writer.

We got many writing assignments during the week, which we were to apply to our short film idea. "It's all about character transformation" was one of Kevin's main principles. I'll try not to forget that.

Can you apply the same principles for feature films as well as for short ones? According to our teacher, yes. It all comes down to: storytelling. "Even if you're passionate about filmmaking, view yourselves primarily as storytellers, not filmmakers", said Kevin.

He also said that if your "called" to filmmaking, the best you can do in this business, is to be good storytellers. And write about what you're passionate about!

Simultaneously I am getting to know my classmates better and better. I am so thankful to be on this place - which place could be better for me right now? Youth With A Mission is such a great place to be if you enjoy international environments - we have got almost the whole world represented here, or at least the major parts of the world. My closest roommates right now are actually African!

Next week we are going further into technical aspects such as lighting and camerawork. 'Gonna be fun! We are also going to continue to develop our short film ideas. The plan is to shoot them during the last two weeks of May, and by then everything has to been set up. So I need lots of inspiration! I am also thankful to you who read this, and for you who are praying for me or supporting me financially. I wish you a super week wherever you are!

Urban

PS. Did I get to see a beach yet? Yes I did, once!

Second week

My second week at the School of Digital Filmmaking in Hawaii has ended. It has been an intense week and the theme has been basic cinematography and sound. Teachers have been mainly staff from the school, going through camera operation, lenses, composition, image continuity and microphone operation. Things I am quite aqainted with already, but the school goes quickly forward and expects us to have a very fast learning curve, which I like.

We have also had several assignments with the equipment. We use video cameras that shoot in "high definition", and the goal is to achieve images that resemble the "film look" of the bigger 35 mm cameras. Something I have appreciated more is practicing working with a "dolly", which is a sled that filmmakers use to make smooth moving shots with the camera.

We have also handed in our first short film synopsis, and I am eager to get some feedback on mine. Next week we are going to be taught screenwriting, also something I have studied before, but I am sure I will continue to learn new things. We are also watching two feature films a week and have to write an essay on one of them.

Filmmaking is teamwork, and I will definitely gain more experience in working in groups during this school.

Prayer requests are my finance and general inspiration and strength. Thanks for your involvement and interest!

Urban

First week accomplished

Hi there!
My first week in the School of Digital Filmmaking in Hawaii has ended! We started out with some classes by a British musician, giving us advice about managing a life as a Christian in a creative and chaotic world.
This first week has also been an introduction of what is to come. We have received our 800-page book - "The Filmmaker's handbook", which teaches not only video but also film ("real" film). We are also to watch two feature films every week and write an essay about one of them.

My impression is it's going to be a quite demanding school, which is good. That means the school is going to keep up its word in the business. They say this is probably the most intense school in whole YWAM. We are expected to be ready to analyze any of the 106 films we were to watch before coming here, and we have already begun "pitching" (presenting) our first ideas about short films. In the middle of May we are going to shoot the first film, but at then everything including script, storyboard, production planning and so on have to be submitted and approved.

Our campus here is about 200.000 square meters wide - quite impressing - and it is situated about 500 meters from the Ocean. About 700 students and staff are living and working here.

An important prayer issue is my finances, so please pray for them! If you are already supporting me - thank you so much, it's really a gift to be here, and I will be praying for you too.

My challenge now is to come up with a super clever idea for my short film. So please pray for my inspiration also. In my next posting I might reveal some of my ideas!

After this 3-month school there are opportunities to do an internship, either here on Hawaii or in any film company. We'll see where the Lord leads!

Thanks again, for your interest in my life and for your support and prayers. I really need it.

Urban

The trip went all fine!

Finally I'm here - on Hawaii! The 23-hour trip went just fine. I'll crash into bed quite soon!
God is amazing - he provided with a friend-of-a-friend who picked me up at the airport and offered a night to stay (before school starts).
And not only that, again I came to share my flights with film folk - first a secular Swedish filmmaker (who films windsurfing!), then a fellow student from my upcoming school.
The same happened to me on my outreach to Cuba. Of all people in the airplane I came to sit at the side of a filmmaker! Thanks for your little signs, God!
Tomorrow I'll take a day off, then school begins Friday. So exciting!

Ja, jag börjar skriva på engelska nu. Så kan flera av mina internationella vänner följa med också! Hör av dig om du vill ha tillbaka det på svenska så kanske jag kan ge med mig.