I am a visual artist from Alexandria, VA with a Bachelor of Science in TV/Film production from St. John's University. My interests are in filmmaking, multi-media painting and photography. www.chrisdecourt.com
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Statistics
We looked inside some of the posts by chrisfullsails-blog and here's what we found interesting.
Average Info
Notes Per Post
0
Likes Per Post
0
Reblog Per Post
0
Reply Per Post
0
Time Between Posts
20 days
Number of Posts By Type
Text
8
Video
1
Link
2
Photo
6
Last Seen Tumblr Blogs
Fun Fact
Tumblr has 4 main sources of revenue.
Text
Business of Film
Chris DeCourt
My graduation from Full Sail is approaching quickly. In two weeks, I will officially have a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in film production. This feels good when I say it out loud but it I already feel excitement and any self-congratulation passing because I did not move here to Florida for a year plus merely to get a degree. I came here to immerse myself in a filmmaking mindset and jumpstart a more professionally guided film career than the trajectory I was on before. What I found in this course was a humbling journey of self-discovery and the blunt realization upon graduation that this is more of a beginning period in my life than the end of a chapter.
My life is proof that I don't need you to do what I do. If there's no one to see it, I'll watch it.
- Abel Ferrara
I cannot be sentimental about my accomplishments basically because it’s just not enough to have some degrees. I came here to work and I worked on many productions executing roles in the grip and electric department that I didn’t even know existed beforehand. This is a good thing but I need to raise the bar higher for myself, I am capable of much more and able to do it. I feel there is much more for me to learn and experience before I consider myself as a true master in filmmaking. Maybe this is a good thing too, me being able to annunciate what I need to feel confident on a professional set and an immediate goal is to work on as many sets/shoots as possible maybe even for free early on if the experience is worth it. I regret not working on more of my own films while in school but I want to move past that now and just do rather than lament.
Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.
- Earl Nightingale
The business of film course has been a good recap and reminder of the filmmaking process moving from acquisition to delivery or what to do with your film after you’ve shot it. Fell in love with grip and lighting as an occupation but I still want to make films. I still want to direct and share a vision. It’s been a tough lesson but I’ve learned that nobody is going to just hand me that position, I need to create it for myself. Creating confidence in marketing and branding myself will be an ever-evolving process as well as the navigation of the world of film festivals and distribution. The worst thing that could happen is if I don’t try.
The last day of your life is still going to be a day.
Abel Ferrara
0 notes
Text
Film Production Thesis III: Post Production
Chris DeCourt
Wrestling with Avid this month was a pain in the neck at times but got me thinking more about workflow processes throughout postproduction. I don’t think Avid Media Composer is the ideal NLE system for my editing process but I can now see the advantages it does have and at least have some experience working in more than one professional editing systems. I resonate with the idea behind using the technology and equipment necessary for whatever it is that you’re trying to shoot whether it be for television, film or web. the capabilities of the editing systems and postproduction workflow process are important. In the future I would consult with a professional editor as for what is ideal for my film.
0 notes
Text
Film Production Thesis II: Production
Chris DeCourt
The completion of this academic month and the cohort’s thesis production marks the three-quarter post in my master’s degree program here at Full Sail. It is a bittersweet feeling knowing that I have only three months left at school but I’m excited to continue with the good momentum that I have been building. I had a goal beginning this year to be on as many film sets and get as much experience as possible before moving on. Although, at the moment, I am mainly working on student productions, I am challenging myself to take on bigger roles while being conscientious of not spreading myself too thin and trying to take on too many projects at once. Right now, I’m enjoying working consistently, every week or two (I’ll get paid eventually, I have to remind myself). It’s a great feeling when people ask you to take a pivotal role on their crew because they recognize that you are trustworthy and will follow through and do your best job to make that film a success.
Working on my own class’ thesis was a humbling but ultimately positive experience where I learned a lot about myself, character and what it really means to play a positive part in the filmmaking experience. Of course, I wanted to direct a production under the tutelage of the University but taking a step back I saw more than I expected I ever would. It’s a valuable lesson to be a team player with patience. Patience comes in many forms but I’ve learned that patience is not necessarily waiting idly or waiting your turn for that matter.
I’m finding that I have a new and powerful interest in grip and electric work which gets me excited and challenges me. I’ve learned that there are other ways to direct and other methods to view the filmmaking and/or collaborating process. There are many paths, none of which are guaranteed success. I know more now of what it takes to build a film from scratch as a group even if you don’t meet eye to eye on aesthetic choices or have different ideas of what content should represent. It been good for me to play a role and contribute to a whole regardless of differences.
0 notes
Text
Entertainment Law
Chris DeCourt
As with all months in this year long course, I had created a short list of goals to keep in mind for entertainment law and communication. It was important for me to have a confident grasp on what common legal issues may arise while producing a film. The lectures on the five different areas of intellectual properties, chain of title and RPD3 cleared up a lot of my questions.
My most curious topic of interest in entertainment law and communication involved business entities, namely what it took and meant to start a limited liability entity. I’ve often thought about starting a small business to sell my paintings or produce short films but I wasn’t confident in where to start except for creating an LLC, a term I’d heard before. I realize now that it takes more than filling out the correct forms to safely and properly start a company.
The biggest and most important take away from this month is that I should always contact a lawyer before making a business decision or starting a company. I didn’t go to law school, I went to school to learn about film. I wouldn’t mind paying someone for the peace of mind that all my ducks are in a row and that I am protected legally without question.
0 notes
Text
Visual Storytelling
Chris DeCourt
Like with the past months up to VST, I came in having goals based on my take of the course outline and reminded myself not to over indulge any hope or expectation. And again, like the months leading up to this point, I came out in ways having met my goals while also learning new unexpected lessons and forming new goals in the process.
To some degree, all people to are visual thinkers, pictures are coupled with thinking in words. As a filmmaker, it’s my challenge to not only push myself to, “think visually” and understand how an audience will follow a visual but to learn to control what the picture says by the manipulation of that imagery. The goal is to convincingly steer where someone looks and ideally encourage them how to think of situations and characters.
I have always taken an interest in the visual elements of photography, it’s what initially drew my attention to film. The use of angles, perspective, depth, and composition where always at the forefront of my mind when analyzing a shot or any visual piece for that matter. These traits dealing with the visual image all depend on light to some capacity. It occurred to me strongly throughout this course that light and the use of it to manipulate imagery is paramount to creating a compelling image and that juxtaposed with movement is the essence of visual filmmaking.
This newfound interest in lighting and film lighting practices can be partially attributed to working on productions namely working as the key grip on the last two thesis shoots and of course the labs from class. I learn best by doing so being around the equipment and being able to experiment and see what works and what does not is encouraging and could be chalked up as a success. Light is of course important but like an actor limited by a poorly written script, I’ve realized that art is a huge part of any film. Details and the attention to them are super important and cannot be taken for granted.
As the month progressed, my workflow was a challenge of its own. Having the thesis pitch delayed due to the hurricane made the course more hectic than desired. It was tough organizing our schedules with the actors Nick and I had planned to shoot out short film with and it fell through causing us to have to improvise on our toes. This was a good lesson in prioritizing good time management and encouraging myself to create a strong workflow with the contingency for unforeseen emergencies considered.
Ultimately, this month in VST showed me the importance of what professional experience gives to a person in my position. How you deal with people in times of stress and strife are is key to healthy work relationships and the way people look at you. It’s important that I view the thesis selection process as a lesson in taking responsibility for my own actions and attitude, especially for the future despite any discord or past ill will.
0 notes
Text
Experimental Filmmaking
Chris DeCourt
This month was interesting to say the least. I had high hopes and expectations for JP’s experimental filmmaking course. I was ready to do some meaningful work and ask some new questions which I did get to do but the hurricane put the month on pause for a good week, forcing me to reflect on where I am. Its humbling to lose power or internet for a few days and luckily that’s all that it was. But ultimately it affected my work flow and that was no fun, the saving grace was that I was not alone. The entire school, rather, the entire region was in the same boat. Bouncing back into the swing of things is inevitable and I try to remind myself that even lousy experiences can have weight or meaningful lessons within them.
As for my goals for this course, I met them all with flying colors. I created an unscripted experimental film at the beginning of the course and then again by the end. Originally, I intended to shoot something more narrative but as my interest grew in datamoshing, I encouraged myself to make as any test demos as possible.
Leading me to my second goal to experiment with datamoshing, researching and learning the software. I did more than just experiment and am datamoshing my final project for EFM with original footage, making a sort of Florida collage. I’m starting to approach my own filmmaking with a more encouraged attitude. I’m also learning how important it is to be able to trust your coworkers, how important it is to have quality assistants that aren’t just involved for the paycheck or the credit if they’ve agreed to do more. Discord and lack of communication will ruin a project, it might be tough but sometimes a personnel change is necessary.
My third goal was to stay up on tech and what’s new in the film industry. I participated on all four thesis shoot days as the key grip and learned a truckload of new equipment, uses and practices. I really dug in and had a blast, can’t wait to do it again next month.
0 notes
Text
Directing Talent
Chris DeCourt
I enjoyed Allen’s course of Directing Talent. The three scenes we were tasked with composing were good practice for taking a scene from inception through post. I feel at ease when directing and I am now more confident in my approach to actors or with taking on an emotionally complicated scene.
For this course, I wanted to challenge myself to learn more about the casting process and what it takes to get the best performance out of an individual and a scene. Working the casting call early in the month was informative. What actors go through can be super stressful and sometimes un-thanked work. If they’re doing their job correctly, an audience shouldn’t be able to tell at all. Being asked to act in some of my cohort’s directing scenes put me in the shoes of an actor, something I don’t feel confident in and am not inclined to pursue. Acting is the face of the filmmaking experience. It entails a lot of hard, specialized work and nothing is guaranteed for the individual. I was encouraged by the monthly casting call opportunity and plan to use it to cast any future projects I undertake while in this master’s course. It gives me, the student filmmaker, a level of professionalism that otherwise could be difficult to achieve. Having the actor feel comfortable is paramount. Treating them with respect (especially when working for minimum compensation) and communicating with clarity is a good rule of thumb for establishing worthwhile working relationships.
Another goal was to become fluid and confident while in the act of directing. I wanted to create a list of emotion and action words that I could give to actors and have on hand on set. Between the reading and rehearsing our scene directing projects, I have compiled an extensive list of words. My goal now is to write them up and print them out, make something maybe wallet sized that I can have with me always.
0 notes
Text
The Mutants
The Mutants by Alexandre Dostie https://vimeo.com/220643959
The Mutants (2017) is a sixteen-and-a-half-minute independent film directed by Alexandre Dostie. After sustaining an eye injury and losing his coach to a sex scandal, a teenaged boy, interested in a girl, struggles to find his place on a little league summer baseball team as he is now the default coach.
For this coming of age film, the circle of life is undeniable, as in the old saying, out with the old in with the new. Dostie opens with a mature themed initiation ritual instigated by an older teammate. Two female teammates criticize the boys for their stupid ritual as the paraplegic coach rolls in on a riding lawn mower, wheelchair in tow.
The boy, Guenette, is hit in the eye with a line drive during the first practice rendering him unplayable for the next four months. This inciting incident, sets a hopeful and persistent tone as Guenette continues to participate as a member of the club as an assistant coach. As he visits the nurse with his coach, he overhears them describing their love affair as the first plot point.
The coach continues his affair with the mother and through her window, is caught with his pants down by members of the club including Guenette, his female interest and the nurse’s son. This is the second plot point and as word gets to league officials, the coach is fired. As the boy, Guenette, begins to accept the head coach position, he must encourage the nurse’s son which is the team’s best player to play the first game as he is still upset for the public incident.
This is the film’s midpoint and leads directly to the first game where the team plays its heart out, the climax. After the game, Guenette and his crush share a first kiss, the resolution. The denouement takes place during the kiss wherein the fired coach wheels out onto the field, douses himself in gasoline and sets himself ablaze.
Shot in a hand-held fashion, the camera work is heavy on the use of depth of field. Rich and deep pictures are painted through concise and motivated cinematography. During the daytime, the lighting has a natural feel as if it is motivated only from the sun. At night, the ball field lights, street lamps and in one scene fireworks still feel natural albeit obviously artificial. The composition is fluid when concerning color palette and lighting. A variety of shots are used, close-ups, mediums, long shots, and wide shots, seldom flat.
The Mutants (2017) utilizes many uses of sound. Non-diegetic sounds are heard throughout the film including music during montages and crickets to emphasize focus while practicing. The dialogue, which is in French, moves characters through scenes in a calculated and thorough manner, avoiding filler and adding to the rich visuals without becoming a strict reliance for fluid storytelling.
The locations and sets are convincing of a small town feel or tightly knit community where everyone knows their neighbor. The costuming is consistent throughout the film giving the suggestion that this is a casual baseball team and/or summer league. The scoreboard is handwritten adding to this casual league feel.
Hair and makeup play an important role as plot unfolds. Guenette’s injury produces a large swollen black circle around his right eye. The character wears this in every scene except for the first, a possible continuity nightmare. The hair styles are indicative of Canadian stereotypes including mullets, pretty boy spiked hair, and pencil thin mustaches. It has the feeling that these are real Canadians and not just actors who speak fluent French.
One of the strongest elements of this film lies in the editing choices. With a runtime of over sixteen minutes, the actual screen time for footage is closer to fourteen minutes and forty seconds but it does not feel long. The pacing is not fast but steady, moving forward to the next plot point without hesitation. The cuts are fluid with unquestionable continuity. Transitions are motivated linearly the time of day moves on. Clearly, this story takes place over the span of nothing more than a week as it progresses from the first practice to the first game, the boy’s black eye still fresh. A montage is used in the beginning of the film to introduce the character’s fraternal approach to what this club means to them. Another montage is used when the team plays its first game. This keeps the pace up and pivots attention back to the characters without spending too much time on the baseball element.
Sound is an overwhelmingly important production element in a zero to low resource film. With solid sound production, a filmmaker can add a sense of depth cinematically that is not necessarily going to eat though a budget if done with economically minded equipment and crewing. This element neglected may break a would be successful film showing obvious skill or production hiccups. If I were to shoot Cake Eater I would mic the office conference room for the shoot although the mos script would allow for the majority if not all the sound to be ironed out or beefed up in post.
When considering the practical challenges of shooting Cake Eater, the major challenges are prop based. The protagonist wears a cast and casts are expensive, one time use only medical tools. A sawed-off cast cannot be reapplied. A creative solution would be to wrap the leg in a sheet of thick foam, duct taping the seam and applying papier-mâché like cloth strips. This method would minimize cost and would be easy to replicate from a photograph. A wired jaw, another expensive medical tool is shown in the last scene of the story. Since a variety of methods are used to wire jaws, fabrication options are open. A solution could be found in a thin piece of wood or poster board cut to fit a mouth where paper clips and rubber bands are affixed.
0 notes
Link
Inspirational Post-
Michio Kaku 3 types of Civilizations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GooNhOIMY0
These are basic-macro concepts but they give me inspiration to keep moving forward, I have much to learn.
0 notes
Link
Inspirational Post-
Not everything that my industry produces will appeal to my tastes regardless of its popularity or financial worth. This being said, I can always find substance for personal education no matter what the medium or style. It is how I percieve world that I will find my questions. How I filter that perception is the backbone of inspiration.
Squires, J. (2017, January 3). Ridley Scott thinks superhero movies are pretty dumb. Retrieved from http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3419872/ridley-scott-thinks-superhero-movies-pretty-dumb/
0 notes
Photo
Chris DeCourt logo with additional website address layout.
0 notes
