Although I’ve talked a lot about the pitfalls and embedded barriers in the studio system in making a quality and worthy film, viewing the process close-up has been nothing less than illuminating. I can now appreciate the difficulty in producing quality films and will therefore temper my impulses to simply deride the Crappola of the Week that rolls through the local multiplex.
Well, I’ll still deride… but maybe not so harshly.
We were treated to the manic side of post-production this week, leading up to the first test screening with a run-of-the-mill, no preconceived notions audience. Watching the layers of the film come together – sound editing, color quality, voiceovers, additional shots, extra budget levied, and on and on – I saw how passionate, how dedicated, how far you have to go to not just create a film, but to create anything worth creating.
In other words, to put form to a dream you have work your ass off like it’s never been worked before. But if you can pull it off, the rewards will almost surely be worth the effort, psychically and spiritually, if not tangibly.
The fate of Feast was still not completely known by the end of the show (and the series) because of the divorce between Miramax and Disney and the no man’s land status that placed Dimension (Feast’s studio backer) in. Fortunately, Feast looks as though it will make it to the uplands of wide distribution as the Weinstein brothers, we were told, had selected the film as one of the projects that will help to kick off their new production company.
After living through the process of the making of this film every week on Bravo, I’d like to see Feast when it comes out this winter. Will I be able to see the struggle, the in-fighting, the sweat and the fear that went into the making of this half-horror, half-comedy about pelt-shrouded monsters attacking a bar in the desert?
I don’t know, but I’ll be looking for something. Maybe a dream taking form.
Or maybe just scantily-clad actresses getting sprayed with gore.
Who knows?
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Article comments
1 - Bennett
Like an Eloi hearing the sirens that promise a tasty dinner, this is my second week of being drawn to the Ray.
Good stuff Eric, what time is Contender on? (and how have I not seen this program?) I guess my Survivor habit is way too lowbrow for your weekly Ray? ;-]
2 - Tom Johnson
Eric, have you been watching Veronica Mars? I'm very surprised if you haven't - this has been one of the highlights of the season for me, making Tuesday nights a very complex routine of running from room to room as our DVR attempts to capture everything we need to see (Gilmore Girls, The Amazing Race, Scrubs, The Office, and Veronica Mars all intersect in one way or another (GG overflowing into the 8 o'clock hour, annoyingly!) And if you haven't, please do catch up when it's eventually released on DVD. The season finale Tuesday was a stunningly intense occasion - only Lost has managed to outdo this show's twists and turns. It only wants to be a teen-oriented drama, but it's far too smart and complicated for most hormone-addled kids, apparently, because I only hear of adults watching it. And this show certainly deserves a much bigger audience.
3 - Eric Berlin
Bennett -- Eloi drawn to the Ray... I love it! I'll have to try to work that in for next week. Contender is on at 8 or 9 on Sunday nights. There's only four boxers left right now, but you are absolutely guaranteed great matches leading up to the $1 million title fight.
Once upon a time, I did consider myself too high-brow for reality television, but as you can see, that was in the deep dark past (probably 2002 or so). So no, not too high-brow to watch Survivor. I've just never gotten into it, but I've also never likely given it a proper chance to grow on me.
4 - Eric Berlin
Tom -- I chatted with Chris B. recently about Veronica Mars. Sadly, I just missed out on it this year. At any rate, up until a few weeks ago, I was covering 10 shows, which was just about the max for what I can handle. I will try and pick up on it next season, however.
I've never seen GG, though I've heard good things about it from time to time.
5 - Chris Beaumont
You only watch 10 shows a week?
I do that in 2 days! plus I go to the movies and watch DVD's.
It's true I have no life! The RAY IS ALL!
6 - Eric Berlin
You are truly a ray-a-holic Chris... *but* we have different styles. I'll write 500+ words if I really dig a show, which takes a wee bit of a hit on my overall quantity. Plus... have to admit I'm a bit of a TV snob, so the idea here is to promote the best shows on TV that I receive, that I watch, that I end up writing about.
Skewed and biased? Oh for sure!
Seriously: I'm looking to up the ante on the shows I watch by a degree, and tone down the writing quantity. The C Ray Fray is pushing 2,500 words a week, which leaves precious little time to get to my other writing duties, I'm afraid.
7 - Chris Beaumont
Mine is going to be late, if you couldn't tell. I was helping a friend move today and that took all day, It will probably be up tomorrow evening.
Yeah, you do write more than me on it. I only started it to give a quick overview of my viewing habits. But different is good, don't want to have 2 essentially the same columns now! :)
8 - Eric Berlin
Yeah, absolutely. I noted a while back that the two columns are very complimentary -- quick overview of many shows vs. my in depth on a smaller number.
So you can tell me (as you have) what I've been missing out on!
9 - Bennett
Contender.... Yes! Recorded it last night and just found time to zoom through it. Ouch, those punches! All you had to say, to get me to the Ray, was Rocky and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Leonard was a big part of our teen years, no?
You wrote ('nuther thread)
"Bennett - Grew up in Alameda, eh? I spent five years in and about the East Bay: Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond. One of my wife's best friends lives on the water in Alameda with her husband, two kids, and a whole host of dogs, cats, ducks, hamsters, and so forth. A cute little dog (name of Janet Reno) would usually stop by as well. Rumor had it one of the guys who played with the Allman Brothers for a bunch of years lived next door. Great area, great views of the Bay."
Yeah! We lived one street over from Balena Bay Yaught (sp?) Harbor, before anything was built up. Paradise for us, always fishing, busting into the Navy Base, getting caught. (MPs have NO sense of humor), delivering newspapers to Lamonica and Stabler... True!
Grand parents lived two houses from the beach on Grand Ave. Many great memories from my childhood.
10 - Eric Berlin
Stabler? Very very cool.
I have a lot of good memories of the East Bay but in general am very glad to be out of there now.
Contender was great last night once again with an amazing fight at the end. Loved finally being able to see these guys go seven rounds. It was actually tough because I wasn't rooting for either one, but I wound up being really happy for Manfredo. You can't not like and admire that guy.
11 - Bennett
The crush of humanity became too much and I moved to Seattle for a few years, then to Vermont. I don't see moving again. Alameda was a nice place to grow up in, but 40 acres in Vermont is where you want to go through middle age.
Since I didn't know either of the fighters, I wasn't really rooting for either. The openning of the show had the knockout from the previous show... That'll give you brain damage!
Looking forward to Sunday, then Tuesday for the final fight.
Thanks for the heads up, to Obey The Ray.