Being of sound mind...

Hey there. I just finished a four-night intensive class on sound design. Though it (the class) wasn't designed specifically for sound in film, I got a good grasp of the basics, which was very helpful considering I knew very little about it before the class. Of all the people I've been talking to in the industry, everyone has been telling me the same thing regarding sound: bad sound will kill your movie. Bad sound gives you away as an amateur. Do not cut corners when it comes to the sound!!!

Same goes for LIGHTING, another thankless job. Rarely does an average movie-goer watch a film, and notice GOOD lighting as it happens. If it is good lighting, it is natural and expected and it doesn't register, until maybe afterwards when you take more time to think about it. But BAD lighting can stick out like a sore thumb immediately, and is extremely distracting. "Why does there seem to be a spotlight emanating from the base of that potted plant straight up his nose? Mmm, not exactly flattering..."

These are a few of the thousands of things I am trying to absorb, as my friend Phil would say, "like a human sponge." Starting tonight, Phil and I and a few other alumni of our indie filmmaking class are joining our instructor, Michelle Farrell, to work on the set of a 15-minute indie. 30+ hours of free film school, basically. I know it will be a lot of work, long hours, and mostly less-than-glamourous go-fer work for me (Phil's a "grip," which means he gets to carry heavy things), but I am pretty psyched. I am a hands-on learner, and a much better student in action than sitting at a desk taking notes. Stay tuned to find out how it goes.

Oh, and I just realized I didn't follow up on the bank account thing. Setting up a business checking account for the LLC was easy. They do require your charter, notarized Articles of Organization, and Employer Identification Number in hand. As I expected that, I was good to go, and it didn't take any longer than setting up a regular checking account. The checks themselves are more expensive, and I think it cost about $60 for the first set of 125 checks. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $13 if the account doesn't maintain a daily balance of $3000. But it is important to keep your business money seperate from your personal finances, in case anyone should try to sue you down the line.

I can't wait to get started on the set tonight! Check in with me next week to find out how it turned out!