gravity the film

Gravity and getting the boat over the mountain

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:16:32 -0400

We are very deep in the trenches. This film is finally so close I feel it. Working currently on production planning for this summer. Stay tuned.

More Herzog quotes.

[during the making of Fitzcarraldo] I shouldn’t make movies anymore. I should go to a lunatic asylum.

[also on Fitzcarraldo] [The investors] said to me, ‘Well how can you continue, can you… do you have the strength, or the will, or the enthusiasm, or so…?’ And I said, ‘How can you ask me this question… it is… if I abandon this project I would be a man without dreams and I don’t want to live like that: I live my life or I end my life with this project.’

Hardangerfjord

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:04:55 -0400

Another successful trip to Norway. This time I drank a bit too much cider, or maybe just enough. This part of Norway, Hardangerfjord is spectacular and is known for it’s apples and better yet it’s alcoholic apple cider!!!! I attended the http://www.vestlandstreffet.no/ and met many amazing and talented filmmakers from all over the world. I also got to see many sites including having dinner in a Turbine Hall, Tyssedal. This Turbine hall was epic and a fine example of Norway during it’s industrial heyday.

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/357629/articles/hydro-review-worldwide/volume-16/issue-5/articles/preserving-a-century-old-hydro-plant-in-norway.html

We stayed at http://www.hotel-ullensvang.no/ all I can say is WOW!

NORWAY

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:27:11 -0400

I am back again in Norway. I am here mostly for the http://www.vestlandstreffet.no/index.php?page=program . It is always wonderful to be back in Norway. I am excited to meet fellow filmmakers and to discuss international collaboration.

It is now spring here the last time I was here was deep in winter. I have now experienced 3 out of the four seasons in Norway.

I will also be stopping by Denmark this time which is a long story. I am waiting at the gate to board a plane to Kobenhavn (that is Copenhagen.)

Also shot in Norway… Nicholas Roeg’s The Witches!!!...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:59:00 -0400

Also shot in Norway… Nicholas Roeg’s The Witches!!! Wow Scary but awesome!

Photo

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:21:52 -0500

Thank The Film Gods for Film Independent

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:56:19 -0400

We had an amazing work in progress screening at the the DGA. We showed a 10min clip of Gravity along with our other Film Independent, Doc. labs fellows. It was a great weekend.

The most exciting thing for me was showing new footage to the crowd and seeing that they actually got it.

The Art of War

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:45:46 -0400

I am currently reading the Art of War. It is amazing to me how many lessons from this book are applicable to film production.

Here are a few.

“The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.”

“The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.”

“The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.”

Updates

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:51:00 -0400

“The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly.” One of Carl Boenish’s favorite quotes from Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

I have started getting emails asking if I am finished yet? And when will I be finished with the film? The answer, I don’t know. All I can do is continue to put one foot in front of the other. Money is always the issue. We have done as we said we would do on our kickstarter campaign we have transferred considerable amounts of footage, and archived massive amounts of audio and it was been a lot of work, and yes a lot of time. This is a intimidating undertaking and anyone who has looked at Carl Boenish’s huge body of work knows what I mean. Then there is the need to create a film out of the material. This is another matter.

We live this film , we breath this film, we don’t sleep much, but when we do we dream of this film.

We did an amazing shoot in Norway. As most of you know we are a Norwegian co-production and we will be partially financed by Norway.

I am still recovering from the intensity of this trip. It was both fantastic and a epic challenge. It was a growing experience. I grew up a lot as a director. It was painful. It was exhilarating! I learned I need to let other people do things and make decisions for them self. I tend to micromanage, I shouldn’t.

There was a lot of getting to know the Norwegian culture that I landed in. Both of my producers from the States had medical emergencies this left me to helm my own ship some of the time with my very capable co-producer from Norway. This shoot was at times insanity and can best be described as every first time director’s worst nightmare. We however pulled off nothing short of miracle. The footage looks fantastic. I believe most people who were not injured will remember at least a few moments of the shoot with some fondness. It was a tough one but the footage was so worth it.

Jean Boenish came to Norway to be interviewed. Also Erik Fenz came, who jumped with Jean after Carl died. Fred and Einer who were local climbers were interviewed they talked about guiding Carl and Jean up the troll wall. It was fantastic to see everyone together.

We also interviewed a local family that knew Carl and Jean and owned a small hotel that Jean and Carl had stayed in. They were very warm and welcoming and embraced Jean like family. It is in these moments you realize you are doing more then making a film, you are witnessing the healing that is still taking place.

We now have about a year production schedule, this is our plan film god or whatever willing. My form of prayer is how much celluloid has passed through my hands.

and here it is..

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:29:46 -0400

and here it is..

The Very Tiny Room, Arrival in Molde

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:28:00 -0400

Molde again- It is strange to be nervous in such a beautiful place. First day of production in just a few short days, on the Norwegian part of my film. I walk into the hotel and there is an article in the local paper I happen to see that says my production is in town.

http://www.rbnett.no/lokal/rauma/article372837.ece

It doesn’t mention I am directing but talks a lot of about Alex Gibney (our Executive producer), who is awesome yes. I am however directing this film. I feel like everyone has forgotten how hard I have worked on this film for a long long time. My hotel room is so small there is no room for my suitcase. I have to have it upright to fit inside the space and kind of tip it over to get things out. This feeling of not being seen as the director is ego though, and I should know that what we are doing is big. People here seems to feel it is their story. The girl in the hotel at the desk said that she remembers hearing about this couple. She states that it is a beautiful love story. She wants to meet Jean Boenish. This is a good moment. I have waited so long to be finally shooting in Norway. This feels like a dream, it is both happy and anxiety inducing. Making a first feature film fucks with your ego in so many ways.

love to Norway

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:13:26 -0400

My heart goes out to Oslo and Norway today, a place very near and dear to me. I send my love to my Norwegian friends. What icky and senseless news.

More about Sick Mick and The Boys, a project that I have started to help get made… a very...

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:44:44 -0400

More about Sick Mick and The Boys, a project that I have started to help get made… a very entertaining and worthy project that will inspire and deliver an amazing slice of life. Help find out how this film will end, you will be happy you did. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/docriot/sick-mick-and-the-boys-a-documentary

Summer Plans

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:31:00 -0400

We are gathering a team and plans are being made to go back to Europe. I am very thrilled to get to return to Norway! The project is moving forward never fast enough for me, but things happen in their own time. We want to shoots be right and show BASE jumping filmed in ways we have not seen before.

We are also still getting through footage and scanning photos, letters, and the history of BASE jumping. I feel like I have a beautiful story that I can’t wait to share with the world. The footage is inspiring and totally feels like Carl knew how important this footage would be for future generations. He has inspired us to overcome artificial human limitations. I am so inspired and feel so fortunate to have worked with this material.

LOVE- HATE- RESPECT

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:29:27 -0400

On Klaus Kinski: “People think we had a love-hate relationship. Well, I did not love him, nor did I hate him. We had mutual respect for each other, even as we both planned each other’s murder.” Werner Herzog.

So much of making a film comes down to the people you are working with; it is not always easy. When a film is your baby people who stand in your way seem evil. It seems they should just work in harmony with you. In reality they do sometimes and sometimes they don’t. It’s a crap shoot.Sometimes you also work with people who are very good at what they do, but drive you crazy.

I guess being a good producer and director is really about using any relationship no matter how hostile to your advantage.

More scary children’s films from Norway is this a genre?

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:38:00 -0400

More scary children’s films from Norway is this a genre?

In looking for a Norwegian Cinematographers I have come across...

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:02:00 -0400

In looking for a Norwegian Cinematographers I have come across a lot of DP reels with really wacky films for children. I do not speak Norwegian but it seems many films in Norway are made for children but are also really scary and dark. This is the land of the trolls and Edvard Munch after all. There is a darkness in their culture. Perhaps it comes from their long winters?

The Mountain and Gravity

Sun, 01 May 2011 14:10:53 -0400

In my life the mountain has been the 16mm footage and massive amounts of material that I have been gathering for my film. The other limitation in documentary filmmaking is money. Today I was thinking about Fitzcarraldo. I have been thinking about a boat going over the mountain. How does man overcome physical limitations that are seemingly rigid and unmovable? It is in the the belief that all is possible, and not only possible but absolutely what is needed and inevitable. It is the deserved and correct outcome to bring to boat over the mountain. It is our birthright to bring boats over mountains.

It is that physical challenge that brings us to the moment of truth that we are more then physical.

Gravity the film. is coming along nicely. We are most likely shooting this summer in Norway. I have transferred nearly 15,000 feet of footage and have another 18,000 ready to go to the lab. For me it has become about losing the anxiety of the doing of the task and just doing what is needed step by step. Everything is slow moving. Everything is very physical in the pre digital world.

Molde, Norway

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:18:53 -0400

Norway is sublime. Arriving by airplane to Molde there were miles and miles of white snow and mountains, trees like in Oregon in the States. The landscape doesn’t seem real. It is almost too beautiful, almost too clean.

We were brought to Norway by the Western Norwegian Film Council. For me coming here is a dream come true. Since I first saw the footage of Carl and Jean jumping in Norway in 1984 I was looking forward to the day I when I would get to go to Norway to see where these giant cliffs were. This land is big and empty, a place that doesn’t really seem to exist. My time here so far has felt like a dream, a perfect dream where the food is good, the people are nice, and you are supported in the work you want to do. We have been taken care of completely.

Yesterday I spoke of our film Gravity at a film summit, a meeting of many filmmakers from the area. I was very happy with the response and enjoyed sharing our project. They understood what we are doing and understood and responded to the Norwegian aspects of film. They “got it”.

We met some amazing new friends including location scouts from the UK who had great stories about working with famous directors. We also finally met our Norwegian co-producers from Flimmer Films. Flimmer will be working with us to get the Norwegian part of our film finished.

We then went and ate dinner in a cave in the mountains. We were taken around in a boat in this cave with beautiful clear water.The cave was candle lit and very romantic. We then sat and ate an amazing feast. The food here is fantastic. We ate and ate and met more fantastic people.

We then drank late into the night at local bar. Then we hung out in one of the location scout’s rooms drinking Aquavit till the morning. It was epic, it was life affirming. Norwegians know how to party. Norwegians know how to treat their guests very well.

Midnight Sun

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 05:49:00 -0500

I can’t sleep. In Norway it is 11:27 am here in Los Angeles it is 2:27 am. I am so excited about the people that I meeting to potentially bring on to my film Gravity.

I will be traveling to Norway in April to location scout. I have never been before. I have kept photos of it’s landscape pinned to my wall in my NYC studio apartment for over 3 years; a kind of prayer to the universe to get me to Norway to help me finish this epic film.

We are considering shooting in super 16mm and I am getting very excited about this. I hope I can figure out a way to budget this. No one is really using Super 16mm for docs, so maybe we can get some deals. I am excited about the way the land of the midnight sun can be photographed with film.

In attempting to do a co-production with Norway I am attaching Norwegian cinematographers, composers and producers. I astounded by the wealth of talent in Norway and the lack of pretension. The people that I have met mostly via Skype are right now in the middle of a Norwegian Winter. I am here in sunny California missing a really bad New York Winter. Are people different emotionally, mentally that experience winter? Or don’t experience winter, in Los Angeles I really miss weather.

I must sleep to dream of visiting Norway..

Update 2011

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:08:29 -0500

So many people have asked how the film is doing. Thank you!!!

Happy 2011! I apologize for being in a footage tunnel and not updating you on my progress. I have rolled through nearly 700,000 feet of 16mm film(by hand). My muscles are stronger, my eyes are going, my back hurts ,but I have found filmic GOLD!!! I can’t wait to share with you my finds. Thank you for your support again. You have helped save nearly 100 hours of amazing audio footage of the first years of BASE jumping and skydiving, 25,000 feet of 16mm film in the process of now going to hard drive and being edited, and 1000’s of slides that I am now scanning. This is huge and I couldn’t have done it without you. There is a lot of work still to go please be patient. I hope those of you who received your Mike Allen DVDs are enjoying those. I am so proud to offer them to you! I hope this year is treating you well, please stay in touch. Much Love, Marah