YOU'RE FIRED!

there's exactly 33 days left for principal photography. counting down on the day that we start filming our movie. today I have fired my wardrobe artist. for the past 3 months in pre production, i have not see a wardrobe reference presented to me. the excuse, " i need more time". just yesterday in mere half a day, he and his assistant came out a so call styling board, mainly made from reference from my previous production. i have paid him a hefty sum for salary for the last 3 months. when the time is drawing so near, he came out with stylings and reference used from my previous production. he sure got the nerves! if u ever do a film production, make sure you really scan thru peoples resume before hiring them. don't make the same mistake i did. now i have to look for a new wardrobe stylist that can actually deliver. oh! the best part is, he send in a requisition for wardrobe purchases, it costs more than MYR20K for wardrobes that you could buy from factory outlet. even though i don't shop much, i'm not stupid either. i went around to look at prices. with a MYR20K budget, i could get stuffs for the whole entire production personnel and all of the artists, even the "extras". i have never fired anyone in my years as a producer, this is the 1st. it was not easy. but like donald trump said "nothing personal, it's business" and for my wardrobe stylist, he is ruining my business. - producer

TEST

in order for us to save up on time and money! every production requires to do "test". so that during on set (when we are actually filming), we won't waste unnecessary time trying to figure out how to it. in hollywood, moolahs are spend just to "test" stuffs out, to make sure it works. they built it, write a software for it. peter jackson's team wrote a sofware to manipulate every individual characters in LOTR. look out for scenes that has lots and lots of creatures/men. all those are designed in a computer. back home, NOT HAPPENING AGAIN! we go back to the old school version. draw it on paper, use ourselves, and dear old "BOB". our action figures. since we're making an action film, must got some posing shots mah! this is what happen when you put a few guys who passed puberty long long time ago. - producer

THE HARDWARE 2.0

the main function of a production designer! "Production Deisgner is responsible for creating the physical, visual appearance of the film-settings, costumes, properties and character make-up, all taken as a unit. The production designer works closely with the director and the cinematographer to acheive the "look" of the film. The production designer will also work closely with the production manager and producer on budget allocated for prop buy/rental/sponsorship. "IN OTHER WORD! HE OR SHE HAS TO STEAL/BEG/BORROW" to make the film look how it supposed to look. here comes the hardware. believe it or not, what you're seeing is all "fakes". nothing works. not a spark would come out from this toys. but they sure look real isn't it? these "hardware" will be modified by our pyrotechnician for "sparks". unlike hollywood whereby you could actually get real hardware for a film production, in where we come from, not happening! too dangerous and too much red tape to go thru to order or buy from overseas. so! we do what we do best! modify the piece and make it do what it was meant to do in the 1st place. of course we have to also have to get permits from the local law enforcement for "special plastic made hardware that can't hurt caused its a toy that don't work". if you have the time, go watch a local tv series thats about cops. see it for yourself on the hardwares they are using. "don't laugh" after watching! - producer

SPECIAL EFFECTS

what do you think? think my line producer got slash on her face and got beat up real bad? welcome to the wonders of special effect make - up! we could go way further than this! we're trying on getting the hand chop off. do come back soon for the next posting! - producer

REACHING THERE!

last saturday we went for a recee on a rally track, how does a rally drive near 180kph on a curvy road filled with nothing but dust and soil? fantastic! the 4X4 we're in was red in colour when we came out. it was black when we went in. i almost proud to say this that we're near to our shooting dates. near in completion of what we're supposed to do in the 1st place. to make a movie without a movie budget. well, a lil better than rodiguez when he made el mariachi for 7,500usd. i got about 2million myr to spend on this. yet it is absolutely not easy to do this. when you want to amke a good movie out, i'm not even talking about making a great movie. and this is just malaysia standard, not even close to hong kong or india yet alone to compare to hollywood.
at times it's a great disappointment that we have such ridiculous budget to run with. i mean, we're trying to make a movie, not just any movie but "A MOVIE", something that will impress. Right now, we're squeezing water out from rocks, asking for favours everywhere, next thing you know, i don't have any favours coupons left to ask for anything. this is actually sad.

well, the only thing i can do is pray and pray hard, i think its time for me to go back to church on weekends. ask "favours" from GOD this time around. wish me luck on my production. - producer