Day 14 of my diary for Ciara

Two weeks... Two whole weeks you've been away in Europe! Geez I miss you Ciara. Like you wouldn't believe! So you're in Milan now, how exciting! I can't wait to hear from you and hear all about the exchange family!

Anyway today started off like any other. I woke at the usual time and tried to call you, but yet again it didn't work. Starting to wonder whether you just don't want to talk to me... hahaha I kid I kid :P
I went back to sleep and didn't wake until 11.15. I must've needed a sleep in!

The rest of my day was spent helping the family with putting up Christmas decorations and writing more on my screenplay.
Then later this afternoon we headed off to Dandenong for indoor hockey. We won 13-8 which was very exciting! But dear god was the umpiring bad! I mean it always is in our competition, but this was just atrocious! Oh well hey, we won!

Then tonight I had dinner and set about trying to get some editing done on my screenplay. I'm over half way now, so not too long I'll see where I can take it and hopefully get it looked at properly by a professional reader!

But that's all for today, a pretty cruisy and relaxing day all in all.
I hope to hear from you soon babe, I'll call tomorrow at the same time as usual. Let me know if I can call the home phone where you are, but until you do, I'll just call your mobile in case I'm not allowed to for whatever reason.

I love you so much Ciara, I know love is a big word, but I really do.

I'm heading off to bed now so good night my beautiful girl and I'll talk to you in the morning!

Love always,
from
Your Josh xxx

Untitled Sequel

In late 2009 to early 2010 I set about writing my epic action film 'Liquid State' which was based on an idea that I had.
A year and a bit later, I finished Liquid State and took a break from writing to pursue my year 12 VCE (final year of high school in Victoria) studies.

During this time I wrote and directed a short film titled 'The Golden Rule' (which can be found on my YouTube page) for media class. I got an A+ for it and was very happy with myself!

But now I've decided to take up the pen once again! Well when I say pen, I mean the CeltX screenwriting software on my laptop.

My latest project is an untitled sequel to 'Liquid State' where we see the return of the main protagonist, but this time he's a wanted man.

That's all I'm going to say about it for now!


Josh.

P.s. Below is the link to my short film 'The Golden Rule'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Vn0aAo4Qg&list=PL177E9C88E7A3F434&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Inspiring Film Makers - Part 2 - Quentin Tarantino

The second writer/director who has really inspired me to make films is, of course, 

Quentin Tarantino.

I hear many young film makers say this, but they don't really give a reason as to why. It's almost as if they throw in his name to sound like they know what they're talking about, but in reality, they don't have a clue!

Tarantino has been a major influence on me, and I'll give you the reasons as to why.

The first film of his I saw was 'Reservoir Dogs'. This film is by far his best work, and ironically was his debut film as a director.

From then on, I was hooked! 

I purchased all of his films on Blu Ray and had a massive marathon from Reservoir Dogs all the way through to Inglorious Basterds at the cinema when it was first released!

The way Tarantino creates a story and works with his characters is like no other in the industry. Unlike Besson, Tarantino's stories are complex and often interweave lots of stories together. But he does this in a way that doesn't confuse the audience or detract from the overall story.

I read an article once by Tarantino about his 'Five Keys to Telling an Engaging Story' and I will post this in my next blog entry, but this really sums up how he creates his films.


Another reason why he inspires me so much is that he hasn't had any formal training at all. He didn't go to film school or university to study film, but instead he was a video store clerk and a major cinefile (like me!) who just wrote and wrote and wrote. He tried to get some of his earlier screenplays made, but none of the production companies wanted him to direct them, so his first few feature films such as 'From Dusk Til Dawn' were directed by others like Robert Rodriguez. 
But finally Tarantino got his break as a director with 'Reservoir Dogs', and he hasn't looked back since! 


It's this never give up attitude of his that really inspires me, and it shows all film makers out there that no matter what, if you love what you do, just do it!


For these reasons, Quentin Tarantino is one of my favourite and most inspiring film makers.






Josh.

Inspiring Film Makers - Part 1 - Luc Besson

The first and most important film maker that I think has inspired me is the French writer, director and producer, 

Luc Besson. 

He directed some absolutely awesome movies such as 'La Femme Nikita', 'The Professional', 'The Big Blue' and many more. His style is very simple, he doesn't try and cram in lots of plot lines etc, and his films can either be a slower pace, but build up towards the end (especially the films directed by him) or no holes barred action from the word "GO!"

But the film by Besson which has inspired me most is the film he wrote which was directed by another Frenchman, Pierre Morel (who happens to be one of my favourite directors), called 'Taken'. It stars Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills, a retired spy who has to rely on his old skills to save his daughter, who has been kidnapped by sex-slave traders on a holiday in France.

This film is utterly amazing, from the superb writing by Besson, to the fantastic direction from Pierre Morel, to the beautiful cinematography by Michel Abramowicz which blends Bourne-esque violence with a more elegant, fluid style of shooting, to Liam Neeson's brilliant performance as Bryan Mills.

I highly suggest that if you haven't seen this film, go and rent it from the video store now!


It is because of these reasons that Luc Besson is one of my favourite and most inspiring film makers.




Josh.