Am I tired of moving around?

Yes I am. Last three months I've been living in suitcases, figuratively and literally. My "stand-by" situation for over three months now has been a real challenge to me. Well, at least I now have a little more understanding of how it is to be homeless!
And I am thankful to my parents and my dear friends, letting me live a little here, a little there. God is taking care of me. Such is the life of an adventurer!

Yesterday we had a chat with our fellow director again. And now new things are happening. Key people are persevering on this, in spite of uncertainties and resistance. And, we, the to-be interns, at the moment have been moved to.... Hawaii! I don't know if to dance or sigh or if I'm even "in" still. In a couple of days we'll have more information. But let's be positive, he? In the long run it'll all be better than we first could imagine.

Am I being abstract? Sorry. I hope to be able to clarify as soon as possible.

Another things I haven't even talked about here is my new sales job at an international film company in Gothenburg. A company that both produces film and holds workshops in filmmaking. Quite interesting! I'll tell you more later!

Promotion video for YWAM

Last Saturday was fun. We made another promotion video for YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Or better said, we recorded it. Most of the job was made in all the hours of idea development, planning and phone calls during the weeks before. Anyway, I hope to be able to post you some pictures soon. It's the seventh of our "new" promotion films (the previous ones can be seen at http://www.vimeo.com/ywamrestenas).

I also look forward to tonight. We'll have another direct chat with our director for the upcoming "big" project. We haven't heard from him for a month so I'm excited. I'll keep you posted.

Shifts taking place

Dear readers,

I wish I could say "I'm leaving", but I'm not yet there. Isn't that unbelievable? But this is "normal" for many projects in Hollywood - they remain uncertain until distribution. But as you know many films that have been considered "uncertain" show out to be successes.

From what I we hear some major shifts have taken place in this project and one of the major companies has backed out. The biggest company is still in though, and they seemingly want to move forward but we are waiting for the start approval.

For myself all this of course is a challenge, regarding finances, housing, practical things and so on. Thank you for your involvement and support. I'll keep you updated as soon as I know more.

Closer to launch! (but still waiting)

Dear friends.

Yesterday we got to know that the project where I have been invited to join as a film intern is coming closer to a launch date - probably around end of September.

As you know the Discovery space shuttle recently was delayed before departure, but didn't it finally take off? It did. Anyway, I think you get my point. Things are being considered, scheduled and triple-checked, all to maximize the project's potential. And can I be more specific? At the moment no. :)

Meanwhile I try to use the waiting time somewhat. Recently I informally participated in a 24-hour film contest, “Noo-maraton”, where we had 24 hours to make a film according to specific requirements. It was great fun. I also continue some scriptwriting and help YWAM Sweden with video promotions. I intend to look for a short-term job also, even if it can be hard to find one under the current circumstances. These coming weeks I will spend in Gothenborg and Ljungskile.

Friends and supporters, thank you so much for your involvement in this voyage. It is you who make it possible.

Waiting for the green light...

Dear readers,

I am sorry I haven’t updated this blog for over two months! The reason is I have been waiting for a green light to go to Dallas for my internship at a major film production. I thought as soon as I got the greenlight I would update the blog, but I think it’s time to tell you what’s going on.

At the moment it seems the green light will come very soon. The reason the start date has been postponed is that the project is going through the last preparations to be secured financially. This shows this is a serious project.

Anyway, meanwhile I try to use the waiting time wisely. Except taking a good portion of rest, enjoying summer in Sweden and connecting with family and friends, I have been doing things as:

• Writing on my own feature film script
• Helping YWAM Sweden preparing for new videos
• Studying film financing and distribution
• Helping out in a YWAM "photo exhibition cafe" in Uddevalla

One thing I am very thankful for is that my apartment will be rented out and that I have several people who have committed to support me financially during the internship - although I still need more to cover the expenses.

Thank you so much for taking interest in my journey and please remember me in your prayers – I need them. I’ll be back soon!

Last weeks in School of Digital Filmmaking

Can you imagine, this school was so intense, I didn't even have time to write in my blog the last three weeks. Now, we have had our short film Premiere night (picture here) and our final test, we have received our grades (I got an A, yipee!) and everybody is getting ready for either departure or another school. Something that I am really proud of, is that our whole team got a 100% grade on our last film, and I just want to send a big thank you to my team; Alex, Emmanuel, Catherine and Sean.

The last weeks were awesome and some highlights were:

• Studying film history
• Acting/directing seminars with Kallan White, an experienced TV actress
• Production classes with Hollywood producer Mike Leahy
• Planning, shooting and finishing our short film "Let it Out" (see picture below)
  
• Premiere Night, showing all our films for the whole campus

I should be really tired, because several nights I stayed up until early morning to edit our film. But I'm not. At least not now. Joy gives energy!

In a couple of days I will be going back to Sweden. Originally there was supposed to be an internship coming up here just after this school, but that internship is now offered in the fourth quarter of the year instead. But there is another intership that attracts me even more, and that is one offered in Dallas, starting in August. This is a big project intended for world cinema distribution.

The project has just begun and in August we will be part of the starting preproduction. Director is going to be a very established one and some real Hollywood companies will be involved.

Our classes with Mike Leahy were awesome. Mike has produced 25 feature films and shared generously from his vast experience in Hollywood. What does producing mean? Producing means to oversee and administer the whole production. While the director has the artistic responsibility, the producer is responsible of planning and financing.
Anyway, Mike has a lot of credibility and he also has an interesting vision of how to continue in the future. It's a person to keep in touch with.

So how can I summarize this school? It has been extremely intense. I would even say it corresponds to a year of "ordinary" film school (a former student, when showing his credits from here, was allowed to skip two years in a four year film program in Canada).

Thank you all of you who have been with me in prayer and support. This is not the end!

Eighth week in School of Digital Filmmaking

This week we had the opportunity to present ("pitch") ideas for our final short films in the school. Only three ideas were to be made into films. All the students and staff voted for the ones they found best. I was nervous when I presented my idea - about a guy whose crazy body "tics" show out to be hip-hop moves. But it worked and I got selected!

That means I will get to direct another film... which I look forward to. I immediately had to start working on the "first draft" (the first script version) and submit it, which I have now done. The next step is to finetune the script, then start the preproduction process (prepare locations, actors, props*, storyboard etc). Lots to do...

Another highlight this past week was a second session with Hollywood director David Cunningham. He had a workshop and gave us some advice for working in the movie business.

We have also gone further into lighting, which is a whole science. There is so much to learn about it. Today we made some assignments and we learned how to light a fake moving car (see picture).

Simultanously we are editing our first projects (see picture). Luckily it seems I don't have to reshoot anything.

Now I wish you a good week wherever you are!

*Props are physical things that actors use in the film.