Oh, Pilgrim...

Yesterday, I had the chance to see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

For approximately two hours my mind was continuously blown apart by the awesomeness that I was witnessing.

This film is unlike anything I have ever seen before.

It made me excited and hopeful that film, even being a little over one hundred years old, still has a few tricks up its sleeves.

It also made me want to make more movies, films, artsy things, etc and not be afraid to try something a little more daring or something that might defy convention.

This absolutely calls for a second viewing.

Or a third.

Or fourth....

The beginning of the end

The second scene shoot has just wrapped.

More details and a reflection to come soon.

Just know, slow motion makes a lot if not everything look amazing and awesome and cool.

Good lighting doesn't hurt either.

Hiccups (Cop Story Production Update)

Something that I am always having a difficult time with, especially as director, is maintaining control.  Over the course of the previous year I have gained experience and knowledge in many aspects of the production process.  I have come to realize that control really is just this nice little illusion that we give ourselves.  Without bringing into question of a higher being overseeing the world or something like that, it can be hard for me to justify all of the accidents and happenstances as pure coincidence. Either way, the most I can do is be prepared and hope for the best.  That's all you really can do. Besides, you don't want everything to be smooth sailing all the way through, where's the fun in that?

I mean, there are some things you can try to anticipate and work around.  But then sometimes it can just rain and rain and rain.

Cop Story's first day of filming had to be postponed because of, you guessed it, weather. It's all, anticipated, clear skies here on out, though.  Principal photography is set to begin tonight at 9:30pm and I couldn't be more excited and nervous and anxious.

It is nerve racking.

So, so, so, so nerve racking.

But...

I love it.

Until next time!

A "Cop Story" Story

As I would hope with every project I undertake, this has been such a huge, gigantic learning experience, and it has made me realize how people off campus are exteremly willing to work with you and be accessible for film shoots, etc.

This project has also been interesting simply because of the fact that this is the first time I've done a film during my college career that is outside of the "KVIK" banner.  It has been a bit stressful but also strangely empowering to be responsible for my own progress, it had really made me look at this whole "film making" thing as more than just holding up a camera and saying action, but that it is about working with you community and being responsible among other things.  Just seeing myself be so proactive during this whole time really has cemented the fact in my mind that I want to do this for as long as I can and also hopefully get paid while doing it too.  Money is always good.

Our first shoot is next Monday at 9pm and we film until 2:30am.

I am expecting at least ten extras, a crew of about six or seven.  This is going to be interesting.


Expect nightly updates, but don't expect them too much.

Sleep always takes priority over updating my imaginary readers.

Oh, and if you're wondering what the significance the picture above has, that's where we are filming.

All week.

At night.

:)

Until next time!

Rumblings...

I don't why I thought that compacting ten weeks of work into six weeks was going to somehow be easier cause, turns out it isn't.  At all.  But it is helping me take more action with projects and homework and other things. So that's good.  

Anyway, amongst the storm of my school work and the rising temperatures of the summer season, I am also developing a new short film that I am directing and editing.

Its about the trials and tribulations of being a police officer in this day and age and the consequences that arise when faced with the difficult choices that must be made in times of danger.

Oh, and mimes.

Cops and mimes.

Should be fun!

Details to follow.

Light Is Calling

A short film we viewed during out "Death of Cinema" portion of my Intro to Film Studies course. A very beautiful film and thought provoking as well.

Looks pretty impressive doughn't it?

As promised, here is my latest directorial effort: The Doughopticon.


The Doughopticon from Nick Nielsen on Vimeo.

This is definitley one of my favorites that I have worked on. We had a really good cast and crew as well as an excellent producer which really helped during the rough patches.  While it was fun, it also had its challenges.  About half-way through filming I had to go to my friends wedding in Philly for a weekend so I had my good friend and fellow filmmaker Gabe Conroy guest directed the entire end sequence with the montage and the reveal.  I unsure how it would turn out in the end but I made sure to go over my storyboards with him so he would get the "feel" that I was going for.  When I finally saw the footage my worries were put to rest, to say the least  The cinematographer was my other good filmmaking buddy Sean Leonard who also the camera operator on Bluebook Odyssey who never ceases to impress me with the work that he puts out.

If I have gotten anything from the experience of directing this sketch I would say that is has rekindled my passion for filmmaking. In all the hubbub of doing very rudimentary work for KVIK I had really forgotten why I was doing this to begin with and how excited I would get to just film in general.  It also got me really excited for my short film that I am working on this summer (which I need to start writing!)

Anyway, hope you enjoy it!

(If you do leave a comment!)