LOOKING BACK: AYA

In a way if feels like I was in New Zealand just yesterday and in another it feels like it was years ago! Either way, it definitely has been an adjustment – it kind of felt like I was a bullet shot out of a gun and traveled at speeds un human in New Zealand, only to get lodged and stop almost instantly when I arrived back in Los Angeles.
There really are no words to describe the experience. It was a dream come true which is just one of the clichés that come to mind to describe it – I guess clichés are there fore a reason- they are true! From the moment I learned that I was a finalist, my heart did not stop beating at a quickened pace. On the plane ride over, I did not sleep a wink, nor watch movies as I storyboarded “Sweet As” over and over again, tweaking things and also editing the script. In the back of my mind I had so many questions and unknowns.
Luckily, I landed in Queenstown and was met by my amazing production supervisor who quickly put my mind at ease. Everything was so well organize and thought out that it really enabled me to concentrate on directing – a luxury that I have never been afforded before as I am usually wearing multiple hats on any set!
Filming “Sweet As” (even with its challenges) was so much fun. The crew, the cast, the locations etc all came together for one of those rare moments of “cosmic magic”. I remember a moment where I was standing behind the video playback screen and thinking “wow” both for the image that I saw as well as a quick reality check where I could not believe that here I was in New Zealand, directing my own movie!
Things moved at such a quick pace over there that I had very little time to think about things that I had done as I always had something new coming at me. Production was over before I knew it and it was off to Wellington to do post (what used to be my least favorite part of the movie making process)! As everyone keeps saying, Park Post in truly an amazing facility. I know I sound like a broken record, but you step inside and it is as though you have been transported to film nerd heaven! It is beautiful, functional, state of the art and comfortable – I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the chocolate factory (only my candy was post equipment)!
Again, you could not have asked for a better team of people – everyone was the best of the best, but also extremely supportive and respectful. Not only that I feel as though I have made some friends for life!
At the screening of my movie, I was asked to make a little speech. I was not expecting to do this and although not a great public speaker, I thought I would rattle off some thank yous and be able to sit right back down. Things did not go as planned! After talking about loosing my way since the early days of making movies, I started to cry – not little, dainty, Oscar winning tears but large, fat, blubbering tears that did not stop for the next few minutes as I attempted to express my gratitude, my renewed belief that I CAN and WILL make this a full time job etc. My emotions really overwhelmed me, and there was no holding it back (how embarrassing)!
Thank god I had little time to mull over that as the next morning I was on a fight back home. I remember getting on the plane and then getting off but nothing in-between – I must have passed out for the 13-hour flight!
Back in Los Angeles I was greeted by my beloved dog “Little Pig” along with my husband Ryan and all my friends. I slept for what was almost an entire day and then began the whirlwind of catching up with everyone so lots of lunches, breakfasts, afternoon teas etc! I think I managed to gain about 10 pounds in my first week back (agh!).
It was since been time to knuckle down – There are two directing fellowships that I am applying for (Barrie Osborne has been kind enough to write me a recommendation for one of them!) as well as a short film that I had been wanting to make for quite some time about my friends mother. I wrote, shot and edited the 2 minutes by myself and it made me want to fight to get to a position where I have the money and ability to hire others to help me out! Nothing like a reality check to go from having a DP and the RED to shooting yourself on your digital SLR!
Anyhow, the short was completed and I am now waiting to hear back if the financing came through for an untitled Tupac documentary that I have been asked to co-direct. In addition my friend that I met years ago on the movie “Solaris” and I have been working on a one-hour TV drama for over 3 years now. We are determined to get it ready to pitch and distribute to show runners in the coming months (if indeed anyone wants to listen to us – hint hint to any show runners out there!). In between the madness, I also managed to enter my dog into the annual Bulldog Beauty Pageant (it is a fund raiser for animal shelters here in Los Angeles). Over 400 bulldogs entered. Sadly my Pig did not win anything (not even best legs)… we believe that he was robbed!
Last but not least, my husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the Independent Spirit Awards this past Friday. It was an AMAZING experience that I shall update you all in another blog update! Also, if you are looking for more photos and gossip from me, you can always check out my blog www.ayaadventures.blogspot.com

In a way if feels like I was in New Zealand just yesterday and in another it feels like it was years ago! Either way, it definitely has been an adjustment – it kind of felt like I was a bullet shot out of a gun and traveled at inhuman speeds in New Zealand, only to get lodged and stop almost instantly when I arrived back in Los Angeles.

Passed out with my dog "Little Pig" - this is what I did for the first 24 hours that I was home!

Passed out with my dog "Little Pig" - this is what I did for the first 24 hours that I was home!

There really are no words to describe the experience. It was a dream come true which is just one of the clichés that come to mind to describe it – I guess clichés are there for a reason- they are true! From the moment I learned that I was a finalist, my heart did not stop beating at a quickened pace. On the plane ride over, I did not sleep a wink, nor watch movies as I storyboarded Sweet As over and over again, tweaking things and also editing the script. In the back of my mind I had so many questions and unknowns.

Luckily, I landed in Queenstown and was met by my amazing production supervisor who quickly put my mind at ease. Everything was so well organized and thought out that it really enabled me to concentrate on directing – a luxury that I have never been afforded before as I am usually wearing multiple hats on any set!

Filming Sweet As (even with its challenges) was so much fun. The crew, the cast, the locations etc all came together for one of those rare moments of “cosmic magic”. I remember a moment where I was standing behind the video playback screen and thinking “wow” both for the image that I saw as well as a quick reality check where I could not believe that here I was in New Zealand, directing my own movie!

Things moved at such a quick pace over there that I had very little time to think about things that I had done as I always had something new coming at me. Production was over before I knew it and it was off to Wellington to do post (what used to be my least favorite part of the movie making process)! As everyone keeps saying, Park Road Post in truly an amazing facility. I know I sound like a broken record, but you step inside and it is as though you have been transported to film nerd heaven! It is beautiful, functional, state of the art and comfortable – I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (only my candy was post production equipment)!

Again, you could not have asked for a better team of people – everyone was the best of the best, but also extremely supportive and respectful. Not only that, I feel as though I have made some friends for life!

At the screening of my movie, I was asked to make a little speech. I was not expecting to do this and although not a great public speaker, I thought I would rattle off some thank yous and be able to sit right back down. Things did not go as planned! After talking about losing my way since the early days of making movies, I started to cry – not little, dainty, Oscar winning tears but large, fat, blubbering tears that did not stop for the next few minutes as I attempted to express my gratitude, my renewed belief that I CAN and WILL make this a full time job etc. My emotions really overwhelmed me, and there was no holding it back (how embarrassing)!

Thank god I had little time to mull over that as the next morning I was on a fight back home. I remember getting on the plane and then getting off but nothing in-between – I must have passed out for the 13-hour flight!

Having one of many lunches with friends once I got back - this one with Alia and my dog "Little Pig"

Having one of many lunches with friends once I got back - this one with Alia and my dog "Little Pig"

Back in Los Angeles I was greeted by my beloved dog “Little Pig” along with my husband Ryan and all my friends. I slept for what was almost an entire day and then began the whirlwind of catching up with everyone so lots of lunches, breakfasts, afternoon teas etc! I think I managed to gain about 10 pounds in my first week back (agh!).

It has since been time to knuckle down – There are two directing fellowships that I am applying for (Barrie Osborne has been kind enough to write me a recommendation for one of them!) as well as a short film that I had been wanting to make for quite some time about my friend’s mother. I wrote, shot and edited the 2 minutes by myself and it made me want to fight to get to a position where I have the money and ability to hire others to help me out! Nothing like a reality check to go from having a DP and the RED to shooting yourself on your digital SLR!

Dying on a hike with LA in the background (trying to loose the weight from all the lunches)!

Dying on a hike with LA in the background (trying to loose the weight from all the lunches)!

Anyhow, the short was completed and I am now waiting to hear back if the financing came through for an untitled Tupac documentary that I have been asked to co-direct. In addition, my friend that I met years ago on the movie Solaris and I have been working on a one-hour TV drama for over 3 years now. We are determined to get it ready to pitch and distribute to showrunners in the coming months (if indeed anyone wants to listen to us – hint hint to any showrunners out there!). In between the madness, I also managed to enter my dog into the annual Bulldog Beauty Pageant (it is a fund raiser for animal shelters here in Los Angeles). Over 400 bulldogs entered. Sadly my Pig did not win anything (not even best legs) … we believe that he was robbed!

With my dog "Little Pig" at the bulldog beauty pageant

With my dog "Little Pig" at the bulldog beauty pageant

Last but not least, my husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the Independent Spirit Awards this past Friday. It was an AMAZING experience that I shall update you all in another blog update! Also, if you are looking for more photos and gossip from me, you can always check out my blog.

Aya

AND THE WINNER IS …

I thought the standard of all 5 movies was very high, and I liked the way all managed to capture the themes described, especially NZ being the Earth’s “youngest” country.  There were a variety of tones and different ways to feature the natural landscapes – but the technical polish was equally high throughout.  It really was a situation where any of the 5 finalists deserved to win.  It came down to personal choice.
AYA TANIMURA – USA
TITLE – “SWEET AS”
This was a fun, well concieved idea which was cleverly shot with strong editing and good performances from all the cast. It had a good sense of unity and delivered on it’s opening premise in a delighful way.  An affectionate portrayl of life in New Zealand that captured the kiwi sense of humour really well.
ANDRES BORGHI – ARGENTINA
TITLE – “WORKING DAY”
This short film stood out as a fresh and original piece of storytelling. I loved the whismical way it showcased the natural beauty of our country; it’s humour kept the viewer engaged and entertained from begining to end. Most importantly it made you want to see more of the stunning landscapes of New Zealand.. I was particularly impressed by the director’s use of camera, the editing and the strong visual story-telling. This was an extremely accomplished piece of filmmaking. Congratulations Andres  - I will defintiely be keeping an eye out for your future work.
KRISTI SIMKINS – USA
TITLE – “SOMETHING SPECIAL”
Of all the short films this showcased the landscape in the most dramatic and spectacular way. It was well performed and beautifully directed. The idea of contrasting the peace and beauty of New Zealand with the horror of war was an interesting and ambitious undertaking. I commend Kristi for taking risks with the story-telling.
RAJNEEL SINGH – NEW ZEALAND
TITLE – “BLANK SPACES”
This was a beautifully told short film with an understated and delightfully wry sense of humour.  It was very assured piece of storytelling.  Interesting use of location and a very novel concept.  I enjoyed watching it immensely.
TIM MCLACHLAN – NEW ZEALAND
TITLE – “FROSTY MAN AND THE BMX KID”
This captured the Kiwi spirit and sense of humour very well. It was engaging and funny in the very  best way. Imaginative use of camera angles and snappy editing. It worked at 3 mins, and could just as easily form the basis for something longer. Hopefully, we’ll see more of the BMX Kid!
Thanks for allowing me to judge these movies – I always feel a great sense of excitement (and relief) when new talent makes its mark in our industry. Welcome, all of you, and I look forward to your future movies!
Peter Jackson
Feb 2010

Andres pic 1

Drumroll please …

The winner of Your Big Break is Andrés Borghi for his film Working Day! Many congratulations from all of us at Your Big Break – may the exposure and experience your New Zealand adventure brings launch your filmmaking career on the world stage.

It’s been an incredible journey getting here, and our five finalists couldn’t have made such wonderful short films without the support and encouragement of the Your Big Break community. To everyone who entered, and especially those who shared their thoughts and well-wishes on the blog, on the Facebook page and via Twitter – thank you for making this an experience we’ll never forget. We hope to see you in New Zealand before too long.

But who am I to go on, when there are finer voices in the room? For the run-down on the final judging session, exclusive to the Your Big Break blog – allow me to hand over to Kiwi filmmaking legend and uber-judge extraordinaire … PETER JACKSON!

I thought the standard of all 5 movies was very high, and I liked the way all managed to capture the themes described, especially New Zealand being the Earth’s “youngest” country.  There were a variety of tones and different ways to feature the natural landscapes – but the technical polish was equally high throughout.  It really was a situation where any of the 5 finalists deserved to win.  It came down to personal choice.

ANDRÉS BORGHI (ARGENTINA) - WORKING DAY

This short film stood out as a fresh and original piece of storytelling. I loved the whismical way it showcased the natural beauty of our country; its humour kept the viewer engaged and entertained from beginning to end. Most importantly it made you want to see more of the stunning landscapes of New Zealand. I was particularly impressed by the director’s use of camera, the editing and the strong visual story-telling. This was an extremely accomplished piece of filmmaking. Congratulations Andrés  - I will definitely be keeping an eye out for your future work.

AYA TANIMURA (USA) - SWEET AS

This was a fun, well concieved idea which was cleverly shot with strong editing and good performances from all the cast. It had a good sense of unity and delivered on its opening premise in a delighful way.  An affectionate portrayal of life in New Zealand that captured the kiwi sense of humour really well.

KRISTI SIMKINS (USA) - SOMETHING SPECIAL

Of all the short films this showcased the landscape in the most dramatic and spectacular way. It was well performed and beautifully directed. The idea of contrasting the peace and beauty of New Zealand with the horror of war was an interesting and ambitious undertaking. I commend Kristi for taking risks with the storytelling.

RAJNEEL SINGH (NEW ZEALAND) - BLANK SPACES

This was a beautifully told short film with an understated and delightfully wry sense of humour.  It was a very assured piece of storytelling.  Interesting use of location and a very novel concept.  I enjoyed watching it immensely.

TIM MCLACHLAN (NEW ZEALAND) - FROSTY MAN AND THE BMX KID

This captured the Kiwi spirit and sense of humour very well. It was engaging and funny in the very  best way. Imaginative use of camera angles and snappy editing. It worked at 3 mins, and could just as easily form the basis for something longer. Hopefully, we’ll see more of the BMX Kid!

Thanks for allowing me to judge these movies – I always feel a great sense of excitement (and relief) when new talent makes its mark in our industry. Welcome, all of you, and I look forward to your future movies!

Peter Jackson

March 2010


LOOKING BACK: ANDRÉS

Hello y’all!

Well, I’m back at home.

Ginew tokusentai with friends

Ginew tokusentai with friends

At first it was very weird. I woke up thinking I was still in New Zealand even when I was staring at my own room and someone from my family was waking me up. Normally the effect was over once I stood up and walked some steps. Everyone, my family and my friends, is very happy for me and my Facebook exploded with congrats messages. Thank you all! :)

In the distance everything starts to feel like a magic dream that we don’t know if we actually lived or it is only in our imagination. It was an incredible trip. I met lots of friendly and professional people that made me feel like I was home and I’m very grateful to them for that. I know we’ll meet again sometime!

Now I’m back to some unfinished projects and some new ones that are bursting from my brain. Can’t wait to start again! The ideas are popping out of my head all the time like babies wanting to be born right away. They can’t wait to see the sunlight and it is my job to make that happen. And, who knows, maybe I’m offered some cool projects thanks to YBB.

Me and my family

Me and my family

I’ve actually never made a film like this before. Not only regarding budget but mostly the tone. I’ve made comedy before but never with this charming and naive feeling. My favorite genre is horror and when I do comedy it’s dark and full of irony. So, this is new for me too.

Mau, my cat

Mau, my cat

I’m very happy about how the film came out. It is exactly what I had in mind and even more (thanks to the help of the wonderful crew). Not everyone will enjoy it, but that doesn’t matter to me at all. There will always be people that judges your work and think it’s bad but if it’s good to me it will be good for somebody else too. I still have a long way to get to be a fine director but there’s no rush. I have the rest of my life to do that and I know that more wonderful people will help me along the way. And it will be very fun too!

And now to wait for the final judgement by Peter.

Take care you all!

Andrés

Hello y’all!
Well, I’m back at home.
At first it was very weird. I woke up thinking I was still in New Zealand even when I was staring at my own room and someone from my family was waking me up. Normally the effect was over once I stood up and walked some steps. Everyone, my family and my friends, is very happy for me and my facebook exploded on congrats messages. Thank you all! :)
In the distance everything statrs to feel like a magic dream that we don’t know if we actually lived or it is only in our imagination. It was an incredible trip. I met lots of friendly and professional people that made me feel like I was home and I-m very grateful to them for that. I know we’ll meet again sometime!
Now I’m back to some unfinished projects and some new ones that are bursting from my brain. Can’t wait to start again! the ideas are popping out of my head all the time like babies wanting to be born right away. They can’t wait to see the sunlight and is my job to make that happen. And, who knows, maybe I’m offered some cool projects thanks to YBB.
I’ve actually never made a film like this before. not only regarding budget but mostly the tone. I’ve made comedy before but never with this charming and naive feeling. My favorite and predilect genre is horror and when I do comedy it’s dark and full of irony. So, this is new for me too.
I-m very happy about how the film came out. It is exactly what I had in mind and even more (thanks to the help of the wonderful crew). Not everyone will enjoy it, but that doesn’t matter to me at all. There will always be people that judges your work and think it’s bad but if it’s good to me it will be good for somebody else too. I still have a long way to get to be a fin edirector but there’s no rush. I have the rest of my life to do that and I know that more wonderful people will help me in the way. And it will be very fun too!
And now to wait for the final judgement by Peter.
take care you all!
AndrÈs.

LOOKING BACK: KRISTI

And………..ACTION!
Greetings from Seattle, Washington!
After the whirlwind adventure of making my film “Something Special” in New Zealand, it was a bit of an adjustment back to real life.  For days afterwards, I was still working on my film in my sleep.  I would wake up every day with a new edit idea or sound change and then remember that my film is finished. :-)
Thank goodness for the Olympics!  The 2010 Winter Olympic Games began as I arrived back home and helped me through my adjustment period.  I admit I am a sucker for the Olympics, both winter and summer.  Every day of the Olympic Games is filled with real-life dramas (both triumphs and tragedies).  There is nothing like watching the pure joy that lights up the human soul when lifelong dreams are attained, and when people realize that in that one perfect moment they did their best and it was the best in the world.  It is difficult to watch the disappointments and even tragedies of the Games, but they are of course a part of life, there are lessons to be learned in them, and they make us appreciate the triumphs even more.
So, what now?  Well, I am throwing myself back into my screenwriting with renewed passion.  Before flying off to New Zealand for the YBB competition, I was in the process of promoting my most recent feature screenplay “Act of Faith,” an emotionally rich, dramatic thriller.  It has been very well reviewed and now I am trying to get it into the hands of interested studio execs.  I am also working on a new thriller which takes place in the complex world of microfinance.  I know it sounds boring, but microfinance is an amazing new field that is changing the world.  Then for something completely different, I am also now working on a romantic comedy script.
Additionally, I have ideas for more shorts and am connecting with fellow filmmakers in the Seattle area to try to get more projects off the ground.  If anyone reading this is interested, contact me at KristiSimkins(at)hotmail.com or find me on Facebook.
Looking back on my YBB experience with a bit of distance now, I feel even greater appreciation.  When I first came up with the title for my script (and now film) it felt right, but since then its meaning has expanded to encompass so much more.
Some of the things I will always remember:
-meeting Barrie Osborne, discussing my script with him and receiving his wise advice
-how generous, helpful, and talented everyone was from the organizers of the competition, cast, crew, and all the pre- and post- production professionals
-the amazing Park Road Post facilities
-the magnificent beauty and diversity of the New Zealand landscape
-New Zealand’s paper thin ozone layer and blazing hot sun :-)
-Pineapple Lumps (What can I say? They’re addictive! :-)
Making this film has also reminded me how much I enjoy hiking (or tramping as the Kiwis call it :-) and exploring the great outdoors.  I can’t wait for the weather here to warm up so I can get out there.
Most of all, I am grateful for this amazing opportunity because it confirmed unequivocally that I NEED to do this.  I absolutely love filmmaking and its unique way of storytelling.  In the past when I turned away from filmmaking and went in another direction, filmmaking was always in my heart and soul calling me back.  I know I was right to heed that call.  I need to make films that move people, make them think and feel as only films can.  I believe I have done that with my film “Something Special” and I have many, many more stories to tell.
I am proud of my film and the amazing work of everyone who helped me create it.  I never expected my film to be universally loved; no film ever is or could be.  We all have different tastes and that makes life interesting.  However, I did hear from many people who were deeply moved by my film and that makes it all worthwhile for me.
I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in this project from beginning to end.  I wish the very best for Tim, Aya, Raj, and Andrés, as well as all of you.  Thanks for reading, thanks for watching, and keep filming!
Kristi
CUT!   That’s a wrap!   :-)

And … ACTION!

Greetings from Seattle, Washington!

After the whirlwind adventure of making my film Something Special in New Zealand, it was a bit of an adjustment back to real life.  For days afterwards, I was still working on my film in my sleep.  I would wake up every day with a new edit idea or sound change and then remember that my film is finished. :)

Thank goodness for the Olympics!  The 2010 Winter Olympic Games began as I arrived back home and helped me through my adjustment period.  I admit I am a sucker for the Olympics, both winter and summer.  Every day of the Olympic Games is filled with real-life dramas (both triumphs and tragedies).  There is nothing like watching the pure joy that lights up the human soul when lifelong dreams are attained, and when people realize that in that one perfect moment they did their best and it was the best in the world.  It is difficult to watch the disappointments and even tragedies of the Games, but they are of course a part of life, there are lessons to be learned in them, and they make us appreciate the triumphs even more.

So, what now?  Well, I am throwing myself back into my screenwriting with renewed passion.  Before flying off to New Zealand for the Your Big Break competition, I was in the process of promoting my most recent feature screenplay Act of Faith, an emotionally rich, dramatic thriller.  It has been very well reviewed and now I am trying to get it into the hands of interested studio execs.  I am also working on a new thriller which takes place in the complex world of microfinance.  I know it sounds boring, but microfinance is an amazing new field that is changing the world.  Then for something completely different, I am also now working on a romantic comedy script.

My script "Act of Faith".

My script "Act of Faith".

Additionally, I have ideas for more shorts and am connecting with fellow filmmakers in the Seattle area to try to get more projects off the ground.  If anyone reading this is interested, contact me at KristiSimkins(AT)hotmail.com or find me on Facebook.

Looking back on my YBB experience with a bit of distance now, I feel even greater appreciation.  When I first came up with the title for my script (and now film) it felt right, but since then its meaning has expanded to encompass so much more.

Some of the things I will always remember:

  • meeting Barrie Osborne, discussing my script with him and receiving his wise advice
  • how generous, helpful, and talented everyone was from the organizers of the competition, cast, crew, and all the pre- and post-production professionals
  • the amazing Park Road Post Production facilities
  • the magnificent beauty and diversity of the New Zealand landscape
  • New Zealand’s blazing hot sun :)
  • Pineapple Lumps (What can I say? They’re addictive!) :)
A bag of Pineapple Lumps we brought back from NZ in our fruit bowl ... They must have some real pineapple in them, right? ;)

A bag of Pineapple Lumps we brought back from NZ in our fruit bowl ... They must have some real pineapple in them, right? ;)

Making this film has also reminded me how much I enjoy hiking (or tramping as the Kiwis call it) and exploring the great outdoors.  I can’t wait for the weather here to warm up so I can get out there.

Most of all, I am grateful for this amazing opportunity because it confirmed unequivocally that I NEED to do this.  I absolutely love filmmaking and its unique way of storytelling.  In the past when I turned away from filmmaking and went in another direction, filmmaking was always in my heart and soul calling me back.  I know I was right to heed that call.  I need to make films that move people, make them think and feel as only films can.  I believe I have done that with my film Something Special and I have many, many more stories to tell.

One of our cats watching me from above while I write.

One of our cats watching me from above while I write.

I am proud of my film and the amazing work of everyone who helped me create it.  I never expected my film to be universally loved; no film ever is or could be.  We all have different tastes and that makes life interesting.  However, I did hear from many people who were deeply moved by my film and that makes it all worthwhile for me.

I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in this project from beginning to end.  I wish the very best for Tim, Aya, Raj, and Andrés, as well as all of you.  Thanks for reading, thanks for watching, and keep filming!

Kristi

CUT! That’s a wrap! :)

PRESENTING … THE SHORTLIST

Our judges reduced the entries from 1080 to just five finalists. There has to have been a shortlist in there somewhere, right?

Right. Entries were judged independently, and a shortlist compiled for the session where the judges would meet face-to-face to decide the five finalists.

Last night, I donned my black bodysuit and balaclava (not a pretty sight, I can tell you) and sneaked into YBB HQ. I had painstakingly pieced together the combination to the safe from scraps of paper I found in Barrie’s rubbish bin. I dunno about you guys, but I had to know. I had to know who those people were – the ones who came just this close to being YBB finalists. Enough time had passed; their guard was down. I made my move, effortlessly dodging the security system to reach the safe.

And there it was: a single piece of paper. 46 scripts that were on the radar for Barrie, Christian, Philippa, Catherine and David, but ultimately didn’t quite make the final five. Nevertheless, yours is a roll of honour, and in order of entry (this selection was never ranked) the list goes like this:

Newer Zealand - Alex Ryan

To Earn A Crust – Owain Hopkins

Fish Don’t Speak, Kiwis Don’t Fly – Sarah Grohnert

The Super-Duper Tour Bus - Kyle J. Shephard

Play Time - Cameron Baity

Friendly Competition - Joe Case

Scream - Rajneel Singh

The List - David de Latour

The High Country – Juliet Bergh

The Window – Chad Simpson

Blank Spaces – Rajneel Singh

Spirit Food – Fred Neuen

No Regrets – Michael M. McGuire

Mr. Whippy and the BMX Kid – Tim McLachlan

Run Rabbit – Nathalie Boltt

Forbidden Fruit – Jane Evans

Homecoming – Clinton J. Isle

Cells – Les Petersen

The Lost Child – Denby Weller

Mmm … Cake! – David Harris

Jack & Kayla – Michael J. Herbert

Copy/Paste – Shahir Daud

Giant Kiwis – Les Petersen

Working Day – Andrés Borghi

Wind – Sun Liang

Colour Printer – Les Petersen

Two Weeks – Matthew Barker

Lost & Found – Jordan Kandell

The Lads – Mick Andrews

Grumpy – Mick Andrews

The Location Scout – Haydn Butler

The Koru Effect – Javier Prato

Oscar and the Land of the Long White Cloud – Tessa Chong

Back 2 Purity – Bernado Rao Vieira

Homecoming – Sven Jurshevski

Time – Hannah Radcliff

Dandy and the Land of the Long White Cloud – Stu Willis

Something Special – Kristi Simkins

The Unwrappers – Daniel Keane

100% Gone – Sarah Nicholson

Talking Heads – Frank Nesemann

The Fisherman – Giorgi Pineda

Pure Imagination – Kade Robinson

It’s all a lie! – Brandon Reichard

In The Park – Bernado Rao Vieira

In Our Own Words – Mark Hutchings

Congratulations to all – remember, these entries were chosen out of over 1,000 entries, so getting this far is a mighty achievement! And that goes for you threefold, Mr. Petersen …

Discuss!

– Your Big Break Critic

LOOKING BACK: TIM

Tim McLachlan here!

As my whole Your Big Break adventure comes to an end, several things have solidified in my mind:

(1) Having money and a professional crew to make a film is freakin’ awesome!

(2) Low-budget, do-it-yourself filmmaking translates unbelievably well into the professional world.

(3) Larger projects with more money at stake needn’t be a stress-fest – in fact they can be (and should be) just as much fun as the low-budget variety.

(4) Having great people behind the scenes and fantastic teamwork on set is essential, and even heart-warming.

(5) Never underestimate the power of sound and the time it takes to get it just right.

(6) RED cameras may putt-out on you when you’re in the process of shooting your dream shot!

(7) Filmmaking is cool!!!

(8) Park Road Post is cool!!!

(9) Bombs are cool!!!

(10) James Cameron is an evil genius! I’ve seen AVATAR three times and it just keeps getting better.

(11) It’s time to leave my low-budget roots behind me for awhile and take a few steps up the ladder.

(12) Not everyone will understand my ideas or think they are any good, but even so, I need to keep making the films that make sense and that mean something to me.

(13) Some amazing and important industry people will eventually notice you and give you a shot if you keep at it for long enough and stay true to yourself – this is a cliché for a reason, cause it’s been proven true over and over again.

(14) James Cameron really is an evil genius. Has anyone seen Avatar? It’s freakin’ ridiculous! He’s such a hard-ass (in a good way!) and yet he writes and directs projects that effortlessly combine raw adrenaline with heaps of heart – and all with such a gentle, humanistic touch.

(15) Heavy Metal is the greatest music on the planet. Truly! I dare you to give it a try. You just might like it. Oh, and Susan Boyle is awesome too – her album is still playing in my car! Her Britain’s Got Talent audition on YouTube never ceases to inspire me either – check it out if you ever feel like you’re the only one out there being ignored and having a tough time being seen or heard.

(16) I have so many ideas for feature films and I know that I may only get the chance to make a couple of them in my lifetime.

(17) Even though the odds are stacked against me (and probably you guys too), I’m going to try my damndest (is that a word?) to bring a couple of these ideas to life.

(18) More studios and rich people should invest in feature film projects with heart and with something to say. And I’m not just talking about arthouse dramas and biopics – take Avatar or District 9 or Up for example – kick-ass films with heart.

(19) Trey Parker is also an evil genius! I just finished watched the South Park movie again – the songs, the writing, the voices, the execution and yes, even the message, are nothing short of flawless. He’s the mother-freakin’ man!

(20) Writing an overly long and indulgent blog entry once in awhile can be extremely therapeutic, fun and maybe even good for one’s health! BAM!!!

So now what?

Well, first things first, I’m going to try and get myself some directing work to pay the bills … and then, most importantly, I’m going to work my butt off trying to get some of my feature films made – beginning with a supernatural thriller/horror called The Ghost!

So if anyone has access to lots of sweet moolah and wants to have some fun making an awesome, potentially critically and commercially successful film (I said potentially!) then feel free to knock on my door – I’ll be more than happy to welcome you into my interesting world! (I stole that line from the Boy trailer – that film is going to be damn cool I can tell you, so make sure you check it out!)

A big thanks once again to everyone involved in this great project, and to the other four finalists, Raj, Kristi, Aya and Andrés (and all you other filmmakers out there as well), I wish you all the very best! Keep it fun, keep it real and don’t forget to eat some ice-creams and do some bombs once in a while – it’ll do you good. :)

Tim McLachlan

hyperactivefilms(AT)hotmail.com

www.youtube.com/fireandicepictures

26/02/2010
As this whole Your-Big-Break adventure comes to an end, several things have solidified in my mind: (1) Having money and a professional crew to make a film is freakin awesome! (2) Low-budget, do-it-yourself film-making translates unbelievably well into the professional world (3) Larger projects with more money at stake needn’t be a stress-fest – in fact they can be (and should be) just as much fun as the low-budget variety (4) Having great people behind-the-scenes and fantastic team-work on set is essential, and even heart-warming (5) Never underestimate the power of sound and the time it takes to get it just right! (6) RED cameras may putt-out on you when you’re in the process of shooting your dream shot! (7) Film making is cool!!! (8) ParkRoad Post is cool!!! (9) Bombs are cool!!! (10) James Cameron is an evil genius!!! I’ve seen AVATAR three times and it just keeps getting better! (11) It’s time to leave my low-budget roots behind me for awhile and take a few steps up the ladder (12) Not everyone will understand my ideas or think they are any good, but even so, I need to keep making the films that make sense and that mean something to me (13) Some amazing and important industry people will eventually notice you and give you a shot if you keep at it for long enough and stay true to yourself – this is a cliche for a reason, cause it’s been proven true over and over again (14) James Cameron really is an evil genius!!! Has anyone seen AVATAR??!! It’s freakin ridiculous!!! He’s such a hard-ass bastard (in a good way!) and yet he writes and directs projects that effortlessly combine raw adrenaline with heaps of heart – and all with such a gentle, humanistic touch! He’s definitely the Antichrist!!! I don’t trust him one bit!!! :) Anyone seen Lars Von Trier’s ANTICHRIST? Phenomenal!!! (15) Heavy Metal is the greatest music on the planet! Truly! I dare you to give it a try! You just might like it! Oh, and Susan Boyle is awesome too – her album is still playing in my car! Her X-Factor audition on youtube never ceases to inspire me either – check it out if you ever feel like you’re the only one out there being ignored and having a tough time being seen or heard (16) I have so many ideas for feature films and I know that I may only get the chance to make a couple of them in my lifetime (17) And even though the odds are stacked against me (and probably you guys too) I’m going to try my damndest (is that a word???) to bring a couple of these ideas to life (18) More studios and rich people should invest in feature film projects with heart and with something to say – and I’m not just talking about arthouse dramas and biopics – take AVATAR or DISTRICT 9 or UP for example – kick-ass films with heart (19) Trey Parker is also an evil genius!!! I just finished watched the SOUTH PARK movie again! The songs, the writing, the voices, the execution and yes, even the message, are nothing short of flawless! He’s the mother-freakin man! (20) Writing an overly long and indulgent blog entry once in awhile can be extremely therapeutic, fun and maybe even good for one’s health! BAM!!!
So now what?
Well, first things first, I’m going to tweak the edit and the sound of FROSTY MAN AND THE BMX KID so that it’s exactly how I originally intended (we just ran out of time during post to get it exactly the way I wanted it). The new version will be on my youtube page in the next couple of days (www.youtube.com/fireandicepictures).
Then I’m going to try and get myself some directing work to pay the bills… and then… and most importantly… I’m going to work my butt off trying to get some of my feature films made – beginning with a supernatural thriller/horror called THE GHOST!
So if anyone has access to lots of sweet moolah and want to have some fun making an awesome, potentially critically and commercially successful film (I said potentially!!!) then feel free to knock on my door – I’ll be more than happy to welcome you into my interesting world! I stole that line from the BOY trailer! That film is going to be damn cool I can tell you, so make sure you check it out! And for God’s sakes – pay to see it you stealing bastards! ;)
A big thanks once again to everyone involved in this great project, and to the other four finalists, Raj, Kristy, Aya and Andreas (and all you other film-makers out there as well) I wish you all the very best!
Keep it fun, keep it real and don’t forget to eat some ice-creams and do some bombs once in awhile – it’ll do you good :)
Tim McLachlan
hyperactivefilms@hotmail.com
www.youtube.com/fireandicepictures

CONTACT THE FINALISTS – UPDATED AGAIN!

Want to let our Your Big Break finalists know what you think of their work? Or perhaps you’ve got a great project that’s looking for a writer and/or a director. Why not contact them directly?

Here’s how you can keep in touch with Tim, Kristi, Aya, Raj and Andrés via email …

Tim McLachlan: hyperactivefilms(AT)hotmail.com

Kristi L. Simkins: KristiSimkins(AT)hotmail.com

Aya Tanimura: aya_tanimura(AT)phobicfilms.com

Rajneel Singh: raj(AT)rajneelsingh.com

Andrés Borghi: andresborghi(AT)gmail.com

Don’t forget to change the (AT) to an @ before you send …

– Your Big Break Critic

THE FILMS ARE ONLINE!

Yep – they’re all here. Tell your friends, tweet about it, put it in your Facebook status – help us give Tim, Kristi, Aya, Raj and Andrés the big break they’ve worked so hard for by getting their films seen by as many people as you can!

And, of course – discuss them below! Now, most importantly … is that popcorn ready yet?

– Your Big Break Critic

THE FILMS ARE COMING!

First off, let me just say this: the films are coming! They’re all done, the wheels are in motion, they’re in the pipeline and really really really soon, you guys are going to be among the first in the world to see them. Really. Soon.

And while you’re judging the films, Peter Jackson will be too. The big announcement will be made on March 5th, so you’ll have till then to watch the films, discuss them, debate them and decide which is your favourite – and believe me, that’s going to be a tough decision – and then one of our five finalists is going to get their big break at the 25th Film Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles!

Did I mention the films are coming? Stand by …

– Your Big Break Critic

FINALIST BLOG: RAJNEEL 02/21/10

I open my eyes and find myself lying in bed.

Sunlight dances playfully across the ceiling and I wonder what time it is. I vaguely become aware that the ceiling that’s greeting me is familiar – not the ceiling of some hotel room, but the ceiling of my own bedroom in Auckland. I’m home.

For a few seconds, my brain still lilting gently in some fugue state between sleep and wakefulness, I wonder to myself if the last 17 days have been some kind of blissful, beautiful dream. A fantasy crafted with such perfection that it could only have been wrought from my own imagination. For a small moment, the pit of my stomach turns cold as I suspect the Your Big Break experience was all in my head.

Then I sit up…and see my still unopened suitcase in the corner. The tag on the handle clearly tells me that I flew from Wellington to Auckland the previous night. I check myself in the mirror and see my characteristic ‘director’s beard’ that I get hit with every time I’m filming (when I get too tired and lazy to shave). And then it all comes flooding back to me: memories too potent, too real, too vivid to be a dream. It all happened. I was a Your Big Break finalist. I journeyed across the country, experienced amazing things, met incredible people, shot a film in the most magical place I’ve ever seen, finished it in one of the most advanced and luxurious post-production houses in the world…and it all actually happened.

My mind reels for a second and I lay back on my pillow … and then it becomes impossible to suppress the happy grin that spreads across my face.

The last couple of days at Park Road Post swim by me in a daze – I vaguely recall that I had a sparse day of meetings on Thursday and a fair chunk of free time. I decided to walk the whole whopping 5 minutes up Park Road, where it slowly bends and eventually takes a sharp right angle to become Camperdown Road, and past Weta Workshop (which, in contrast to Park Road Post, is one of the most inconspicuous buildings you’ll ever see. It literally looks like a regular old factory, possibly a packing warehouse or a food store) and up to The Weta Cave.

Dr. Grordbort characters on display at the Weta Cave

Dr. Grordbort characters on display at the Weta Cave

“The Cave” is a part retail shop/part free museum of the props and collectibles produced by Weta Workshop. On display are a range of gorgeously designed and detailed collectibles – from replica props to miniatures, action figures, clothing, weapons and more – from films that Weta have worked on and also original franchises that they’ve developed in house (like the awesome pulp series “Dr Grordbort” – a sort of “John Carter of Mars” style sci-fi series based on collectible ray-guns). I browsed through their awesome stuff, took lots of photos and watched a 20-minute ‘behind-the-scenes’ video (Chan if you’re reading this, you’ve GOT to go see that video at the Weta Cave. It’s got a hilarious interview with Gino Acevedo that you HAVE to see to believe!).

Do not climb on Lurtz!

Do not climb on Lurtz!

Interspersed with my meanderings as a cheap tourist, I was working with Park Road’s incredible sound team to get the audio of Blank Spaces into shape. We quite literally hit the ground running as the astounding David Whitehead (sound designer for District 9, booyah!!) delivered a musical score for the film that was so brilliantly assembled that I immediately fell OUT of love with my temp tracks and spent the next two days humming Dave’s amazing music in my head! Armed with his brilliant score, David, sound designer Tim Prebble (30 Days of Night), dialogue editor Chris Todd (The Lord of the Rings) and the Park Road Post foley team began to breathe life into Blank Spaces with a vast array of designed and sourced sound effects, atmosphere tracks and sweeteners. Most of Thursday was spent coming and going from various sound offices, listening to audio and FX tracks, making adjustments, discussing ideas, figuring out how we could nail the narrative drive of the film, expand its scope and so forth. All of this is merely preparation, of course, for the BIG day which was Friday – the sound mix.

Mixing Blank Spaces

Mixing Blank Spaces

I’d never done a cinematic sound mixing session in a proper mixing stage before and it was one of the few aspects of post-production I was eager to experience, mostly just to learn how it’s done and what procedures have to be in place before a film’s audio can be mixed. We were going to spend the whole day at Park Road’s Mixing Theater 3, aka the ’small’ theater which was still the size of an average cinema except only with seating for a dozen and a massive mixing board built into the floor at the center of the room. The mixer – a lovely gentlemen by the name of Tim Chaproniere – would sit at the mixing desk and pilot the levels while each department head (Chris for dialogue, Dave for music and sound design, and Tim Prebble for foley and additional sound design) would drive the Pro-Tools suite that fed the sequence in and back out of the desk. Each HOD would set up their tracks, conform them to however the mixer would like them and then run the sequence while the mixer would, in real-time, adjust levels over and over again until they were just right! These would be done in passes – first we’d mix the various instruments of the music, then we’d mix the foley, then the specific sound design work and then the vocalizations and finally we’d mix them all together into one seamless 5.1 surround track.

Sound is half of any movie and what was achieved over those eight hours in Mixing Theater 3 was like the bolt of lightning that sparked life into the Frankenstein’s Monster that was my film! From pure silence, it soon was layered with the clinking of Dave’s backpack, the scraping of his fingers on the rocks, the whisper of high altitude wind, the gentle sway from the waters of Lake Unknown and all balanced against Dave’s whimsical and infectiously catchy musical score.  Blank Spaces was alive and lurching forwards into the light! Of course there was little time to pat ourselves on the back as our premiere was immediately happening moments after we locked off the sound mix. We invited anyone and everyone who had 10 minutes to spare to come and watch the film and once everyone was happy with it, I had to grab my stuff, hop into a cab and head for the airport and fly back home … my Your Big Break experience coming to a close.

In that short time since, I’ve had the pleasure to check out Tim’s Frosty Man & The BMX Kid, Kristi’s Something Special and Aya’s Sweet As and I have to say that Sir Peter Jackson has got his work cut out for him. Every film is flawless and yet plays on vastly different strengths – Tim’s has a proud, pure and glowing heart which is anchored by two extraordinary actors, a brilliantly warm and funny script and the most beautiful Queenstown day you’ve ever seen captured on film (or digital sensor in our cases). Kristi’s is an emotional powerhouse that’s punctuated by (easily) the best cinematography and scenery out of all of our films and an achingly melancholic musical score, once again pulled off by Park Road resident music genius Dave Whitehead. Aya’s is slick, fast and boldly tongue-in-cheek with clever flashbacks, flash-forwards, transitions, turns and a believable, comedic world that you want to visit and possibly never return from. And I’m sure Andrés will blow us all away with his own unique brand of humor and his extremely clever use of visual effects to nail the central theme of the Your Big Break films to the wall.

I can only echo the sentiments that the YBB Critic has expressed here – the quality of these films are remarkable and their execution is astonishingly pure, filmic and unique to the individual. This will not be a contest judged by how well made a film is because they are all flawless and jaw-droppingly professional. Rather it will be a contest of ideas, directorship and which film is the best product that best adheres to the central themes of the “Your Big Break” competition as a whole … and boy that’s going to be a tough nut to crack.

I’m gonna get off my soapbox in a minute and I really don’t have much more to add beyond what Tim McLachlan has already intimated in his final blog post. I am proud to report that Aya, Tim, Kristi and Andrés all truly deserved to be here because their talent is astonishing and at the same time, I’m certain that there are countless HUNDREDS who applied who could have produced works that are just as amazing! It is an absolute privilege to call them my peers and to work around them as I make my little film which I hope will live up to the incredibly high standards they’ve set here.

Last of all, but certainly not the least, some Great Big THANK YOUS to…

Howard Greive, Barrie Osborne, Sir Peter Jackson and Tourism New Zealand (especially Ben Crawford and Brad my guide!) for creating, executing and running Your Big Break.

The incredibly dedicated and passionate Catherine Madigan, Jill Soper, Sarah Hinch, Narelle Wilson, Gary, Heidi, Carey, Vanessa and everyone else at the Production Office in Queenstown for working all those hard hours to ensure that we had all the gear, people and resources we needed to shoot “Blank Spaces”. Best producer and production team EVER! Without you guys, I would have been shooting this film on the banks of an inflatable kiddie-pool. The achievement of these five films are testament to your dedication and skill!

Rewa Harre, my amazing cinematographer who was always calm, collected and pushing me to find that better angle!

Ken Sparks, my awesome and fun editor who polished up my work and kept me calm in moments of crisis!

David Van Horn – dude you are the SOUL of this film and without you, there would be nothing to show anybody! I thank you for everything!

Junior Apeti and Tom Maxwell – you bunch of name-taking, butt-kicking, super-actors! You guys were amazing!

Ken Turner and his incredible art department team – including Kevin who I think was driven mad by our ridiculous props!  Blank Spaces is all about art department you guys did an incredible job and I can’t thank you all enough!

Johnny Yarrell and Sam Matthews – the awesome mad bastards who saved the n00b director and cinematographer from taking steps into strange and weird directions with the RED Camera!

Joe, Sol, Chris and Eoin for being an absolute bad-ass and dedicated lighting, camera and grip team!

Kathy Muggeridge and Flying Trestles for keeping us warm, fed, watered and comfortable at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level!

Stefan Crawford and Mark Gabites – Stefan for finding, securing and browbeating all of us into shooting at Lake Alta (a brilliant and masterful move!) and Mark for spending a lonely night up in the Remarkables with our gear and also being one hell of a Safety Officer onset!

Alison Ingram and her amazing team at Park Road Post Production who hosted us, guided us and saved our butts – including Tony, Tim Prebble, Tim Chaproniere, David, John Neill, Chris, Matt, Daizo (who did all of the smartphone and computer displays!), Katie, Cameron, Robyn and the foley and edit-assist departments!

Our infamous Your Big Break Critic, the most unsung hero of the contest by far!

The team at Strutta.com for creating and managing the awesome YBB website! A very VERY fine piece of web development if ever I’ve seen one!

And last, but by no means the least, all of YOU out there who’ve supported us through our blog posts and through your comments on the YBB site and Facebook page and who’ve given us the emotional and moral support we needed to make it to the end of this (especially you Les Petersen!)! Thanks so much for reading and for being there for us!

Ah, Wellywood - you never know who you're going to bump into for a photo op.

Ah, Wellywood - you never know who you're going to bump into for a photo op.

This is Rajneel Singh, director of Blank Spaces, signing off!

Adios!

I open my eyes and find myself laying in bed.
Sunlight dances playfully across the ceiling and I wonder what time it is.  I vaguely become aware that the ceiling that’s greeting me is familiar – not the ceiling of some hotel room, but the ceiling of my own bedroom in Auckland.  I’m home.
For a few seconds, my brain still lilting gently in some fugue state between sleep and wakefulness, I wonder to myself if the last 17 days have been some kind of blissful, beautiful dream.  A fantasy crafted with such perfection that it could only have been wrought from my own imagination.  For a small moment, the pit of my stomach turns cold as I suspect the “Your Big Break” experience was all in my head.
Then I sit up…and see my still unopened suitcase in the corner.  The tag on the handle clearly tells me that I had flown from Wellington to Auckland last night.  I check myself in the mirror and see my characteristic ‘director’s beard’ that I get hit with every time I’m filming (when I get too tired and lazy to shave).  And then it all comes flooding back to me: memories too potent, too real, too vivid to be a dream.  It all happened.  I was a “Your Big Break” finalist.  I journeyed across the country, experienced amazing things, met incredible people, shot a film in the most magical place I’ve ever seen, finished it in one of the most advanced and luxurious post-production houses in the world…and it all actually happened.
My mind reels for a second and I lay back on my pillow…and then it becomes impossible to suppress the happy grin that spreads across my face.
The last couple of days at Park Road Post swim by me in a daze – I vaguely recall that I had a sparse day of meetings on Thursday and a fair chunk of free time.  I decided to walk the whole whopping 5 minutes up Park Road, where it slowly bends and eventually takes a sharp right angle to become Camperdown Road, and past The Weta Workshop (which, in contrast to Park Road Post, is one of the most inconspicuous buildings you’ll ever see.  It literally looks like a regular old factory, possibly a packing warehouse or a food store) and up to The Weta Cave (http://www.wetanz.com/cave/).
“The Cave” is a part retail shop/part free museum of the props and collectibles produced by The Weta Workshop.  On display are a range of gorgeously designed and detailed collectibles – from replica props to miniatures, action figures, clothing, weapons and more – from films that Weta have worked on and also original franchises that they’ve developed in house (like the awesomely pulp series “Dr Grordbort” – a sort of “John Carter of Mars” style sci-fi series based on collectible ray-guns).  I browsed through their awesome stuff, took lots of photos and watched a 20-minute ‘behind-the-scenes’ video (Chan if you’re reading this, you’ve GOT to go see that video at the Weta Cave.  It’s got a hilarious interview with Gino Acevedo that you HAVE to see to believe!).
Interspersed with my meanderings as a cheap tourist, I was working with Park Road’s incredible sound team to get the audio of “Blank Spaces” into shape.  We quite literally hit the ground running as the astounding David Whitehead (sound designer for “District 9″, booyah!!) delivered a musical score for the film that was so brilliantly assembled that I immediately fell OUT of love with my temp tracks and spent the next two days humming Dave’s amazing music in my head!  Armed with his brilliant score, David, sound designer Tim Prebble (”30 Days of Night”), dialogue editor Chris Todd (”Lord of the Rings”) and the Park Road Post foley team began to breathe life into “Blank Spaces” with a vast array of designed and sourced sound effects, atmosphere tracks and sweeteners.  Most of Thursday was spent coming and going from various sound offices, listening to audio and FX tracks, making adjustments, discussing ideas, figuring out how we can nail the narrative drive of the film,  expand its scope and so forth.  All of this is merely preparation, of course, for the BIG day which was Friday – the sound mix.
I’d never done a cinematic sound mixing session in a proper mixing stage before and it was one of the few aspects of post-production I was eager to experience, mostly just to learn how it’s done and what procedures have to be in place before a film’s audio can be mixed.  We were going to spend the whole day at Park Road’s Mixing Theater 3, aka the ’small’ theater which was still the size of an average cinema except only with seating for a dozen and a massive mixing board built into the floor at the center of the room.  The mixer – a lovely gentlemen by the name of Tim Chaproniere – would sit at the mixing desk and pilot the levels while each department head (Chris for dialogue, Dave for music and sound design, and Tim Prebble for foley and additional sound design) would drive the Pro-Tools suite that fed the sequence in and back out of the desk.  Each HOD would setup their tracks, conform them to however the mixer would like them and then run the sequence while the mixer would, in real-time, adjust levels over and over again until they were just right!  These would be done in passes – first we’d mix the various instruments of the music, then we’d mix the foley, then the specific sound design work and then the vocalizations and finally we’d mix them all together into one seamless 5.1 surround track.
Sound is half of any movie and what was achieved over those eight hours in Mixing Theater 3 was like the bolt of lightning that sparked life into the Frankenstein’s Monster that was my film!  From pure silence, it soon was layered with the clinking of Dave’s backpack, the scraping of his fingers on the rocks, the whisper of high altitude wind, the gentle sway from the waters of Lake Unknown and all balanced against Dave’s whimsical and infectiously catchy musical score.  ”Blank Spaces” was alive and lurching forwards into the light!  Of course there was little time to pat ourselves on the back as our premiere was immediately happening moments after we locked off the sound mix.  We invited anyone and everyone who had 10 minutes to spare to come and watch the film and once everyone was happy with it, I had to grab my stuff, hop into a cab and head for the airport and fly back home…my “Your Big Break” experience coming to a close.
In that short time since, I’ve had the pleasure to check out Tim’s “Frosty Man & The BMX Kid”, Kristi’s “Something Special” and Aya’s “Sweet As” and I have to say that Sir Peter Jackson has got his work cut out for him.  Every film is flawless and yet plays on vastly different strengths – Tim’s has a proud, pure and glowing heart which is anchored by two extraordinary actors, a brilliantly warm and funny script and the most beautiful Queenstown day you’ve ever seen captured on film (or digital sensor in our cases).  Kristi’s is an emotional powerhouse that’s punctuated by (easily) the best cinematography and scenery out of all of our films and an achingly melancholic musical score, once again pulled off by Park Road resident music genius Dave Whitehead.  Aya’s is slick, fast and boldly tongue-in-cheek with clever flashbacks, flash-forwards, transitions, turns and a believable, comedy-stricken world that you want to visit and possibly never return from.  And I’m sure Andres will blow us all away with his own unique brand of humor and his extremely clever use of visual effects to nail the central theme of the “Your Big Break” films to the wall.
I can only echo the sentiments that the YBB Critic has expressed here – the quality of these films are remarkable and their execution is astonishingly pure, filmic and unique to the individual.  This will not be a contest judged by how well made a film is because they are all flawless and jaw-droppingly professional.  Rather it will be a contest of ideas, directorship and which film is the best product that best adheres to the central themes of the “Your Big Break” competition as a whole…and boy that’s going to be a tough nut to crack.
I’m gonna get off my soapbox in a minute and I really don’t have much more to add beyond what Tim McLachlan has already intimated in his final blog post.  I am proud to report that Aya, Tim, Kristi and Andres all truly deserved to be here because their talent is astonishing and at the same time, I’m certain that there are countless HUNDREDS who applied who could have produced works that are just as amazing!  It is an absolute privilege to call them my peers and to work around them as I make my little film which I hope will live up to the incredibly high standards they’ve set here.
Last of all, but certainly not the least, some Great Big THANK YOUS to…
Howard Grieve, Barrie Osborne, Sir Peter Jackson and Tourism New Zealand (especially Ben Crawford and Brad my guide!) for creating, executing and running “Your Big Break”.
The incredibly dedicated and passionate Catherine Madigan, Jill Soper, Sarah Hinch, Narelle Wilson, Gary, Heidi, Carey, Vanessa and everyone else at the Production Office in Queenstown for working all those hard hours to ensure that we had all the gear, people and resources we needed to shoot “Blank Spaces”.  Best producer and production team EVER!  Without you guys, I would have been shooting this film on the banks of an inflatable kiddie-pool.  The achievement of these five films are testament to your dedication and skill!
Rewa Harre, my amazing cinematographer who was always calm, collected and pushing me to find that better angle!
Ken Sparks, my awesome and fun editor who polished up my work and kept me calm in moments of crisis!
David Van Horn – dude you are the SOUL of this film and without you, there would be nothing to show anybody!  I thank you for everything!
Junior Apeti and Tom Maxwell – you bunch of name-taking, butt-kicking, super-actors!  You guys were amazing!
Ken Turner and his incredible art department team – including Kevin who I think was driven mad by our ridiculous props!  ”Blank Spaces” is all about art department you guys did an incredible job and I can’t thank you all enough!
Johnny Yarrell and Sam Matthews – the awesome mad bastards who saved the n00b director and cinematographer from taking steps into strange and weird directions with the RED Camera!
Joe, Sol, Chris and Eoin for being an absolute bad-ass and dedicated lighting, camera and grip team!
Kathy Muggeridge and Flying Trestles for keeping us warm, fed, watered and comfortable at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level!
Stefan Crawford and Mark Gabites – Stefan for finding, securing and browbeating all of us into shooting at Lake Alta (a brilliant and masterful move!) and Mark for spending a lonely night up in the Remarkables with our gear and also being one hell of a Safety Officer onset!
Alison Ingram and her amazing team at Park Road Post Production who hosted us, guided us and saved our butts – including Tony, Tim Prebble, Tim Chaproniere, David, John Neill, Chris, Matt, Daizo (who did all of the smartphone and computer displays!), Katie, Cameron, Robyn and the foley and edit-assist departments!
Our infamous “Your Big Break Critic”, the most unsung hero of the contest by far!
The team at Strutta.com for creating and managing the awesome YBB website!  A very VERY fine piece of web development if I’ve ever seen one!
And last, but by no means the least, all of YOU out there who’ve supported us through our blog posts and through your comments on the YBB site and Facebook page and who’ve given us the emotional and moral support we needed to make it to the end of this (especially you Les Petersen!)!  Thanks so much for reading and for being there for us!
This is Rajneel Singh, director of “Blank Spaces”, signing off!
Adios!