I’m learning that my directorial creative rhythm is like a pendulum. If I swing in one creative direction, the pendulum swings back around. I like to switch it up and find new challenges.
Abandoned Allies was my first feature-length film. It was a documentary about war, love, broken promises, and betrayal. Immediately after finishing it in 2012, I shot a short fiction comedy called Trophy.
While shooting Brewconomy, my second feature-length documentary, I shot another short film using an iPhone titled Landfill Dogs: Behind the Scenes. It was a reaction to the bigger production that required so many hands to make it amazing. The short doc required nothing but what was — quite literally — in my back pocket.
Now that we’ve finished Brewconomy and we’re delivering Kickstarter backer rewards, I find myself aching for another change of pace. Some new challenge that will help me step up my game, stretch new creative muscles, and push me out of my comfort zone.
It’s a lot like cross training.
Now I find myself googling action sequences constantly. Is it the opposite of drinking a lot of delicious craft beer? You decide.
While researching, I haven’t found what I want. There are so many great action sequences out there, though.
What makes me like them? What makes me roll my eyes? What makes me bored with the scene?
Leeloo in The Fifth Element (1997)
The Fifth Element is one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s so weird and I love it so much. It’s a beautiful movie. Taken out of context, this fight scene might not make much sense, but it’s one of my favorites.
There are so many great fight scenes in Kill Bill 1 & 2, however, the entire premise for the movies irritates me. (I’ll save that rant for another post one day.) I do, however, like this sequence a lot. These ladies are so awesome.
Now, this scene with Black Widow. It’s one of my favorites.
I also love the one of Black Widow crushing it in the hallway.
To top it all off, here’s a great compilation that makes me want to get off the couch like right now.
Although I absolutely love documentaries, I have always loved fiction film. I don’t like being pigeonholed because I like to try new challenges regularly. Lately the more I think about action sequences, the more I want to shoot one.
One idea in particular has nagged me for about a year and a half, which usually means it’s worth the effort. I’ve written the screen play and started storyboarding. Now I’m making preparations and lining things up now.
Like Del Close supposedly said, “Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into.”