Film Method

Making an action movie could be a good way to start your career in the film industry...that is if you are practical about what type of action you want and you hire the right person to coordinate your stunts. There are different specialties within the stunt world as well so the guy who will set up your explosions may not be the same guy who coordinates your fight scenes. Fernando Chien stops by to tell us all about being a stunt coordinator in the world of film.

Fernando Chien - Stunt Performer, Stunt Coordinator, & Actor

Fernando Funan Chien was born in Taipei on October 6th, 1974 and has followed a diverse road consequently landing him in Hollywood as a budding Asian actor. Fernando immigrated to Toronto, Canada from Taiwan in 1978. At the age of 17, Fernando reluctantly moved to Montreal and attended McGill University where his interest in performance and film was sparked. While majoring in Evolutionary Biology, Fernando took film courses, attended circus school, studied martial arts, worked as a personal trainer and was a member of Canada's top breakdance crew Mtl Redmask. In his junior year, Fernando was approached to play a small part in a film called False Pretense. This sparked his film career. In 2000 landed a role in The Art of War starring Wesley Snipes. During the filming Fernando was impressed with the stunt performers and befriended actor Ron Yuan. Yuan encouraged Fernando to move to LA to pursue a career in stunts.

In the winter of 2002, Fernando relocated in Los Angeles to pursue his dream. He began his training first at the Lee Strasberg Academy then at the Howard Fine Acting Studio to develop his craft. During this time he also began to train under legendary Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan at the Hayastan Academy in Mixed Martial Arts. In 2004, Fernando studied Wushu Kung Fu and met Sam Hargrave and created Reel Kick Films, an underground martial arts stunt team. Impressed with Sam's action skills they wrote, filmed and produced many underground action shorts when between jobs. In 2005 at the referral of Sensei Gene, Fernando was cast as Saul the Augment in Star Trek Enterprise. This launched his professional stunt career with titles such as Crank, Flags of Our Fathers, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, The Mummy 3, Monk and various commercials for Diet Pepsi where he doubled Jackie Chan.

What set Fernando apart from others was his ability to act. In 2008, Fernando was cast in the web-series The Guild which allowed him to act and display his action skills. Since then he has appeared in NBC's My Own Worst Enemy and The CW's Melrose Place as an actor. 2009 has been his break-out year as an actor playing in the remake of Red Dawn as Lt. Yee and in Lionsgate's MMA film Warrior as gym-rat Fenroy which will be released in 2010.

For this episode, Jenna and Cindy do something a little different and record the show via Skype. They review what's been covered so far this season and talk about what a "day in the life" of a producer is like half-way through pre-production. Come join us for THE SKYPE EXPERIMENT.

Tight Shortz: Short Film, Music and Art Festival is a platform forÂemerging filmmakers, performers, and artists, to showcase their talent and display their work while helping financially distressed small businesses in local areas gain exposure. Twice a year, starting this July, the festival will be held in a different unique urban location, in and around Los Angeles. Join us as we speak with the founder of the festival, Dream Kasestatad, to hear the story of the events that led to the creation of this unique festival.

Dream Kasestatad

Dream Kasestatad grew up in Lubbock, Texas. As a young boy he was very influenced by his grandfather, Choochai Rittiluechai, who was a famous Thai Boxing Champion, and actor in Thailand. Dream spent most of his childhood training and competing in amateur boxing competitions, and carried his passion and discipline from boxing into his love for acting. At 21 years old he went to Tisch School Of The Arts, NYU to study theatre, with a focus on the Meisner Technique. After spending time training in NYC, he moved back to Texas to help with the family's restaurant business, and in 2004 moved to LA. It wasn't long before he started landing national commercials. Dream is the founder and director of a new film, music and art festival that is scheduled to kick off this summer called, Tight Shortz Film, Music, and Art Festival. Dream began Tight Shortz to empower artists to stop waiting for opportunities to happen, but rather take matters into their own hands, and create their own opportunities. Two weeks ago he took Lil C (So You Think You Can Dance), Miss Prissy (Rize), and Deuce (Step Up 3-D) to perform at Loyola Marymount University for the 40th anniversary gala for the African American Students at LMU, and Dance Marathon at UCLA for a pediatric AIDS fundraiser. Dream will be hosting events to promote the festival every month until the festival premiere in July 2010.

To find out more about Dream and the Tight Shortz festival, visit the Tight Shortz website. They can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

The wardrobe department is responsible for a huge part of the overall look of the film. Considering that films are generally about people and people are generally wearing clothing and taking into account that those people usually wear different clothes everyday, the costume design is a major component of your film. In light of all these things, you might want to give your costume designer some time to prepare... it's just a thought. Melissa Wilson joins us to tell us about her experience working with the Wardrobe Department in both theatre and film.

Episode Twenty-Seven Guests

Melissa Wilson- Costume Designer

After graduating with her BA in Design for Performance four years ago at Central Saint Martins in London, Melissa began working in Los Angeles in both theater and film in the costume department. For the past two years she has been employed as an Assistant Costume Designer to the German designer Swinda Reichelt. Melissa is currently working as the costume designer on a contemporary musical at The Flight Theatre, which will open at the end of next month.

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

Ever wonder who is in charge of keeping the neighbors happy when filming in a residential neighborhood? That fun job happens to belong to the lucky Location Manager. Join us as we talk to Justin Besemer about the ups and downs of being apart of the Locations department.

Episode Twenty-Six Guests

Justin Besemer- Locations

Justin Besemer is a Location Professional who grew up in San Diego, California. After graduating from Loyola Marymount with a degree in Film/Television Production, he quickly threw himself into the filmmaking process. Justin has had tours with Camera, AD, and Accounting departments. Around five years ago, a Location Manager talked him into trying Location Scouting and Managing and Justin hasn't looked back. He has worked on feature films, episodic television, and commercials. While enjoying the challenge of time constraints, logistics, and working with a budget in Los Angeles, his favorite part of the job is being outside everyday and getting to meet new and interesting people all the time.

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

The Ronalds brothers join us for this episode to announce the release of their new film The Graves, which was one of eight films selected for the Afterdark Horror Fest this year. The film had a 40 screen release and is playing through the end of this week. This filmmaking duo produce and act in films when they are not writing and directing their own. The brothers have created their own "Hollywood" in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where they make most of their films.

Ronalds Brothers Episode Guests

Brian & Dean Ronalds- Filmmakers

The Ronalds Brothers (Brian & Dean), owners of Ronalds Brothers Productions are passionate filmmakers culminating in a string of award-winning, audience favorite feature length and short films. Their uncanny knack for marketing, and generating excitement has made them among the most exciting up and coming filmmakers. Their film they directed and produced Netherbeast Incorporated was released nation wide in 2009 as well as writing for Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns Season II. More recently their film they produced and co-star in, The Graves hit theatres in January 2010. Also, their new comedic web series they wrote, produced and directed will be released QTR 1 of 2010 starring Judd Nelson and co-starring Traci Lords and Alexis Arquette.

Bill Lippincott- Actor/Editor

A veteran of theatre and IO West's main stage, Bill also works in commercials, TV, new media & film. You can currently see him in Twisted Pictures upcoming The Tortured, Brian Pulido's The Graves and Blank Page Entertainment's H4J. A maker of short films, such as Saft, which is currently finishing up it's festival run. Bill can also be found as an editor for hire. Bill digs working with the Ronalds Bro's and this podcast!

For more information about Bill or to contact him, visit his website at www.BillLippincott.com

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

January 29, 2010

We've got a special podcast today with the makers of the new film The Graves. Brian and Dean stop by the show to talk about their new movie that was released in theatres today!

The sound design on a film is more important than most people realize. Of course it's not until you hear bad sound that you realize how important it is for it to be good. Craig Polding joins us to explain the different roles in the sound department and he also gives some good tips on preparing your production for good quality sound.

Episode Twenty-Five Guests

Craig Polding- Sound Designer

Craig Polding grew up in Ohio where after graduating from high school he attended The University of Akron receiving his degree in English Literature. Craig had the opportunity to travel, backpacking through Europe for 2 months taking in the wonderful colors of the European culture. Craig has always had a love of music and sound and had played in several bands before discovering his true love of Sound Design through a musician friend. He quickly enrolled at Video Symphony in Burbank and studied the art of Sound Editing and Design. Craig has worked on short films, animation, documentaries and feature films as a freelance Sound Designer and Sound Editor as well as for several post audio facilities.

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

Wait a minute, a show about post-production during our pre-production season? Wha? Before you write us off as crazy loons just hold up a second and listen to reason. In order to save time and money during post you will need to consult your post-production team during pre-production to make it easier for your editor to properly handle the camera work-flow.

Episode Twenty-Four Guests

Mark Fletcher- Online Editor/Post Production Supervisor

Mark Fletcher was raised in central Maine, and spent most of his childhood tinkering with computers. In college, he joined the digital filmmaking revolution, and switched his major from computer science to media arts. After working on a number of projects for both television and theatrical release, he discovered that his passion was in post production. Being a techie at heart, Mark very much enjoys online editing and digital intermediate work, and he loves finding ways to use new technology to help aid the visual storytelling process. In recent years, he has gravitated towards the role of post production supervisor, and he is also an Avid instructor at Video Symphony in Burbank, CA.

To find out more about Mark or to contact him, please visit his website at www.postcrew.com

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

Ever wonder what the difference is between a Director of Photography and a Cinematographer? The answer to that has more to do with film credits than the actual job description. Get ready for a tech geek out as we discuss the ins and outs of the DPs job during pre-production, which includes tasks such as hiring a grip and electric crew and choosing the kind of camera your film will be shot on.

Episode Twenty-Three Guests

Matthew Espenshade- Cinematographer

Matthew Espenshade was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Arizona, endowed with a passion and zeal for filmmaking at a young age Espenshade became an autodidact of the cinema, studying and practicing film method with whatever tools he could find. He moved to Southern California where he attended and graduated from Columbia College Hollywood where he discovered his desired focus of cinematography. Since, he has exercised his propensity for the world of independent cinema by serving as the cinematographer on two feature length films and several shorts, commercials, and music videos whilst continuing to diligently immerse himself in both the technical and artistic aspects related to cinematography.

Nick Oberlander- Cinematographer

Nick was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a concentration in Film and New Media and immediately moved to Los Angeles where he's been working as a Director of Photography, grip, electric, etc. He loves cameras and lights and pointing them at things.

For more information about Nick or to contact him visit his website at www.nickoberlander.com

Jenna Edwards- Resident Producing Advisor

For more information about Jenna see the About page or clickÂhere.

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