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Cybel Martin Blog June 1st/2007I think – but am so not sure – that Vittorio Stararo once said that he took a few years away from his film/DP career and pursued other interests. Again it may not have been Vittorio, but the lesson that was shared was that time away from one’s career can still enhance it. We joke by calling the Sun, “The Big Gaffer”, by truly all one needs to learn about filmmaking has its references in nature somewhere. Plus, I am sure if I were to spend 5 years learning about architecture or organic produce, I might transfer some of that knowledge to filmmaking. It’s a lovely thought to ponder when one has chosen their sabbatical, but not when one is unemployed with no signs of career resuscitation. Then advice like “don’t worry about work, admire the shadows from a tree” seems down right patronizing. This past weekend was Memorial Day and I absorbed all I could from nature. I traveled through Vermont and New Hampshire with some dear friends and also took pleasure of not running into any “industry people” with conversations consisting of “so what are you working on?” When I returned to NYC, I had a delightful, fascinating chat over coffee with Alice Hurwitz. I know her from my days in NYU and she just completed a documentary about her family and race relations in the south. Her doc is getting superb attention and making the rounds. Certainly the best part about going to Film School is whom you will meet. This week, I’ve also been working on illustrations for a children’s book. This is the sixth author who has approached me to do illustrations. The funny part here is that he, the author, once gripped for me on a film and that’s how we met. Anyway – I’ve been working on maintaining some optimism about my career when it feels like an EF Hutton commercial. Silence. And just like a scene from an Indie Film – no, more hopeful like a Hollywood film circa 1961 – in one hour: a friend wants to shoot two films, I get a call from HBO and I get booked on a feature Forever the multi-tasker, I am also watching “The Good German” at the moment. The Cinematography is like candy. I’m not too sure about the story line. True, I am distracted but its not keeping my interest. It feels one step away from parody. Like kids playing in their parent’s shoes. I’m still on my one movie a day plan and also watched “Hollywoodland” which was far far better than I expected. Diane Lane has a moment in there were I swear she morphs into Gloria Swanson. Brilliant. Other flicks: “Running with Scissors” which was painful and “Chisolm ‘72” also produced by a friend from NYU. It was as inspiring as one would expect. Time permitting, I am going to see “28 Weeks Later”. Nothing I love more than a good horror movie and I heard it won’t disappoint.
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