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Cybel Martin Blog February 19th 2007
This week was all about the snow. The absolute greatest part about being a freelance artist is unless I already booked a job, I don’t have to go to work. My frig was stocked enough that I spent the majority of this week indoors. I had three important meetings scheduled for this week and all got pushed. There is the feature and short by the same director. I can’t remember if I have mentioned her already, but this is sure to be one of my favorite collaborations of all time. Once the projects have actual legs I can discuss them in more detail. The producer is also incredible. We get each other. I was also supposed to meet on a documentary. The director said the idea was so incredible that I could only be told in person. The last meeting that got push to next week is the BIG one. Meeting with some big guns. I am very excited for this and again – when it has true legs, I can discuss it further. Cybel Martin: More DVDs So I did my required dvd watching. I saw “Day of the Locust”. If anyone needs confirmation that Conrad Hall is Cinematic God, all you need to see is that final scene. I love reading interviews with Conrad Hall. He sounded so humble. Also, I think in Masters of Light, he talks about being anxious on set. It’s a relief to hear that even someone that great could have trepidations. I also watched “Half Nelson”. Ryan Fleck, the director, is another NYU alum and really gifted. There was such subtly and compassion in that film. Really incredible. I had met Ryan at a Sundance panel at NYU. I gave him my reel soon after. I wish I had been able to shoot Half Nelson, but the DP (another NYU friend) did such a superb job. I can’t begrudge anyone. It takes some mental strength building to deal with rejection. And the homework I give myself is to really focus on the jobs I do have and how to make those extraordinary. I have a handful of directors with whom I work often. And I really respect them and their vision. My ideal situation is to be part of a Bergman/Nykvist, Coen Bros/Deakins or Woody Allen/ Gordon Wills. I romanticize those Director/DP relationships that last decades. Other films I watched included “The Illusionist” and “Ikiru”. Loved both. God bless Nexflix.
Cybel Martin: The Reel Continues My DP reel is almost completed. Tonight I am going to work on my website and give it a new layout and new life. I am really so excited about this new reel. As mentioned, I am a black DP. And I have had producers ask if I know how to shoot white people. Ugh. Sigh. My last few reels have showcased as many white characters at the beginning of the reel as possible to pre-empt this thinking. This reel showcases my strongest work. I’m not the only one who has to deal with this. My theory is that because filmmaking is such an expensive medium, most people’s choices are ruled by fear. For example, an editor friend has cut a number of car commercials. However, she didn’t get the job for a truck commercial, because there were no trucks on her reel. I like to read the forum discussions on Cinematography.com. On that site, a number of DPs have advised putting the most famous actors on my reel at the beginning. Even if its not a very strong clip. Cybel Martin: Leaves the House On Saturday night, I threw on a fake fur and went for cocktails at a producer friend’s house. She truly has a gift of parties. They are always an intimate affair, fascinating people and interesting conversation. There were a number of people there with incredible film credits. Like Oscar award winning. I’ll probably write up something on my other blog Auntie Carrie’s Speak Easy about that night. That blog deals with networking/parties/nyc nightlife. Anyway, networking really pays off. My biggest jobs of last year came from attending a friend’s party. The operative word is friend. If I can give you one tip on networking, focus on what you have in common first. I had so much fun on Saturday because I liked the people I met and was inspired by them. And I have to say, even if none of them ever hires me for a gig, going to a party with working artists is a lot more fun & fascinating than going to a starving artist party. Cybel Martin: Friend Spotlight of the Week I have a saying “my greatest assets are my friends”. Most of the people whom I was with this past Saturday do not need introductions or extra PR. However, for my friends who have yet (yet) to win their Oscar, I am all about promoting them as well. At the beginning of 2006, I worked with CC Stinson on a documentary and she is being featured in Essences Magazine this March, page 86. Check her out.
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