Daniel Riser @danielriser - Tumblr Blog

I'm sorry I've been away for awhile. Honestly, in order to channel my energy in the most thoughtful way -- a way that seeks to build bridges between divided people -- I need to distance myself from social media, which has become a battlefield of ideology. I find participating in an environment like that is toxic for me, and worse, limits my ability to focus on how I can truly be effective in this world. As a result I must take some time away to recalibrate myself so that I can best serve the filmmaking community moving forward. In the meantime, isn't backlit scotch beautiful?

Filmmaking is pretty much the same no matter what you're shooting with. Fancy toys and all that are no match for where you place the camera. A better placed shot and great performances will outdo 4K or 35mm any day. It still comes down to the time consuming drudgery of placing camera, lighting the shot and fixing problems. The quality of your film is wholly dependent on things like: your cast, your crew and your storytelling. Your movie will get noticed if it's thoughtfully made with story in mind. What won't get you noticed is a shitty movie shot on Red or Alexa or even Panavision. So before you go out of your way to get the best camera, first ask yourself if you have the best team, armed with an understanding you want to tell. Those are the elements that will make the filmmaking experience, and the final product, great.

I love directing with film. The #Panavision Millenium Gold XL2 is an incredible camera. I'm so humbled by this opportunity. The discipline film demands made me a better director. Even if it's 16mm you should try to shoot a short on film. It will demand your utmost attention and discipline. It will make you a better and more responsible filmmaker. Also, keep making films and find people you like to work with. You'll never know what opportunities they'll bring to you. #panavised #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector

Day 1 was fantastic! LOVE shooting #Panavision. This could be my favorite directing experience of all time. Thanks cast and crew for being amazing!

#panavision

Tomorrow I get to direct my first film on #Panavision 35mm. I owe this to the amazing @patrickouziel of AFI. A brilliant cinematographer who has shot four films with me. This is an honor I can't put into words. Thank you, Patrick. I can't wait to make this movie with you.

#panavision

Merry Christmas everyone. May your blu rays-- I mean days... be merry and bright. :)

Get out and take pictures. Don’t be afraid if you think you don’t know composition. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about trying over and over and over again until you DO know composition. Study well composed shots, yes, but get out take pictures as often as you possibly can — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

There is a certain symmetrical pattern to narrative. A mirror image of key moments in your character’s journey can often times provide the contrast necessary to drive home the most thematic moments in your story. What I mean is sometimes you can punctuate change in a character by simply placing them in the same location, situation or composition, but under different circumstances. For example. Imagine I wanted to tell a story about a character who learns the hard way that power is temporary. I could do this by introducing him behind an ornate desk on the top floor of a major corporation, then at the point in his journey where he’s starting to see the truth, I could return to that location but this time someone else is behind the desk. One step further, I could block and stage my first scene to feature him dominating the frame by hovering over subordinates on the other side of the desk in a low angle, and in the later scene I could have him seated where the subordinate was while the person who has taken his place is now hovering over him. Why is this so effective? Because it compares and contrasts where our character was and where our character is — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

A lot of us start off making films about serious subjects, only to botch them up so poorly they’re barely unwatchable. Usually it’s because the subject matter we’re “tackling” is so foreign to us we have nothing personal to say. It’s better that we make movies about subjects that truly interest us. Does that mean they’re going to be great? No. In fact they’ll probably be just as terrible, but not for long. Eventually you will dive deeper into the things that plague you and arrive at deeper truths that can resonate with all of us. That’s what great films are all about. They tap into something universal. Why do you think memes targeted at specific people are so popular? Because we all want to RELATE to each other. Right now you are going through something that others have gone through. Those are the stories worth telling. Punch your audience in the face by finding what kicks YOUR teeth in — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

We are taught, from a young age, to swallow our pain. But pain is a signal from our mind that something is wrong! When we try to ignore pain our choices become controlled by a false identity; an identity founded on the unresolved material hidden in our pain. When we confront our pain we allow this material to be articulated in such a way that brings resolution. So long as we don’t judge ourselves in the process, we can acknowledge and accept the reasons for our regret, grief, resentment and fear, moving forward with a new understanding of ourselves and our past. Again, the most important part of the pain-confrontation process is to exercise non-judgmental evaluation. That means if your past actions have caused you pain — as mine certainly have — you must accept responsibility for those actions, recognize that you hurt yourself, forgive your past self for the harm they’ve caused and plan what you’re going to do to counteract that damage in service of your future self. Of course this is easier said than done, but the rewards are worth the effort. I once believed I was doomed to failure because I wasted too much time. Now I am more productive and focused than ever because I forgave myself for the time wasted and started treating every second as an opportunity for growth — Have a fantastic weekend, everyone :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

Depression can make you feel incapable of being creative, or being anything at all. I'm not going to lie to you with promises that there is any easy way out of its grip. There is no silver bullet that guarantees freedom from this state of mind, but there are some things we can do as rational adults that are both wise and helpful. First, talk to someone. Every single human being has experienced depression and they can empathize with you. Second, force yourself to get out of your routine. It's imperative that you change your physical state by doing something as simple as yoga or as profound as a cross-country trip. Third, write out what's in your head, either through words or drawings. Project your raw emotion onto something tangible. Depression can often times be a result of our thoughts controlling our emotional state because we're stewing in them instead of having dominion over them. Fourth, consider meditation as a means to help distance yourself from emotional manipulation caused by your thoughts. Finally, try to avoid sugary foods as sugar has a negative effect on our brain chemistry -- although sometimes we all need some ice cream -- See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

I can’t tell you how many short films I’ve watched with “stories” full of two people talking to each other. Essentially, the camera is recording little more than a transcript. This isn’t how cinematic language communicates! It “speaks” first and foremost through IMAGES. It is through the right combination of actor blocking, camera placement, lens choice and lighting that we FEEL the EMOTION driving the story. Without a thoughtful application of these elements your short films will drown in a sea of ambiguity, making your audience apathetic and even bored! So, if you must make a short about two people talking, ask yourself “What is compelling about their conversation? What is it doing to each character? And how can I convey this VISUALLY through actor blocking, camera placement, lens choice and lighting? But keep in mind one VERY important thing. You can’t make a compelling “two-people-talking” short unless you have PHENOMENAL ACTORS. If you don’t have access to top tier performers, you should find a story you can tell with as little dialog as possible. Actually, even if you have access to phenomenal actors. Yeah. Just don’t make films about two people talking — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

Don’t be seduced by complacency. If you’re waiting for life’s circumstances to become easier before you make a move you will never change the outcome of your life. Find what you can do with the resources and influence you have and DO IT. That doesn’t mean you have to abandon your current life. Everyone will have a different threshold. Some need to sell everything and move to a different country, while others need to take a day off just to write. But whatever you do, if you’re not content with the trajectory of your life then CHANGE SOMETHING! Try a new way to pursue what you love — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

Though it certainly doesn't feel like the winter holidays here in So Cal, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving weekend. It's been nice to relax with my family and take a break from the weight of the world. I'll be back to my regularly scheduled filmmaking encouragement on Monday. Have a fantastic weekend everyone.

Get out of your head. Put your fingers to the keys and get those ideas out. Even if it’s gibberish. And don’t stop to ask yourself HOW you can make something work. Just write it down. Do you have an idea for the some little connective tissue that might come in handy later? Write it down. Do you have no idea what the next line of dialog should be? Then just have the character say “I have no idea what the next line of dialog should be?” Did your plot fall apart before your eyes? Who cares. Super glue it together with the most contrived, bullshit scene you can imagine. Just get something down on paper. The rawest ideas written down will grow into something more sophisticated and refined. But the ideas trapped in the mind are always open to being destroyed by critical thought before they ever get a chance to be seen. And those are some of the very best ideas. Sure, they may not look like much on a scribbled piece of paper, but tomorrow you’ll see the body of your data in a whole new light. New ways of connecting things that were once impossibly disparate will pour out of your raw notes like wine! So before you try to meticulously map out your characters arcs using only your cerebral prowess, just put your fingers to the keys and get it all out— See you tomorrow. :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

Brevity and tediousness — and in that order! The core of your story should be simple. It should be crystal clear. Your characters reasons for why they do what they do should be simple. Their actions should be rooted in the simplest ideas: love, lust, revenge, etc… All of the essential elements of the story should be so simple you would be able to give a brief pitch to someone and they would understand the narrative. Now tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes… that’s a different story. That’s when you take your simple narrative and add complexity and nuance to its telling. Their motivations for why they do what they do may be simple, even primal, but the way in which these motivations manifest can be multi-layered and reveal other simple motivations that were hiding underneath the surface. But don’t you see? Simplicity should be the foundation for your basic story elements. Complexity is what you get by exploring the the subtext of simplicity — See you tomorrow :D #filmmaker #director #screenwriter #actress #actor #cinematographer #filmmaking #directing #screenwriting #acting #performance #setlife #Spielberg #videographer #videography #filmmaking101 #filmmakingencouragement #indiefilm #serveothers #begreat #worthy #community #instalike #hollywood #actorslife #motivation #video #filmdirector #studentfilmmaker #studentfilm

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Daniel Riser