Below the Line with George Peroulas interview of Kent Smith and Jessica Pickman

Avid vs. Final Cut Pro

Here is a new podcast that has Kevin Tolbert, Emmy Nominated Sports Television Producer and Brand Development Specialist,working on Final Cut Pro and comparing to the Avid system.

To See some of his handy work.  Check this out.  SEC Football Plays Of The Year

Behind the scenes of “The Last Passport” which is a full feature Film made in 30 days.

Here you can see the behind the scenes filming of “The Last Passport”.  It was completed in just 30 days.   From submission to the film’s big screen premiere, it was a mere 46 days, an astonishing achievement in the film world.

Part 1 of 4 on youtube:

Part 2 of 4 on youtube:

Part 3 of 4 on youtube:

Part 4 of 4 on youtube:

THE LAST PASSPORT- 30 DAY FEATURE FILM- WRITTEN, SHOT, EDITED, SCORED

What Was Seemingly IMPOSSIBLE Has Been Accomplished.

First time filmmakers, Kent Smith and David Temple have done what no one else has done before, made a feature film in just 30 days.

Let’s break down just how spectacular this accomplishment is.

Most movies take over a year to make, and that is fast according most standards. Concept creation, script writing, casting, rehearsing, shooting, then scoring and editing, it is time consuming.  From concept to Film Festival submission, The Last Passport was completed in just 30 days. From submission to the film’s big screen premiere, it was a mere 46 days, an astonishing achievement in the film world.

How was it done? With a lot of perseverance and a dream in mind, that is how co-directors Kent Smith and David Temple made this happen.  Kent was heading out on a trip to the Virgin Islands when he realized his passport had expired. Dreading it, he knew he had to make a last minute trip to the passport office. In his 3 hours of sitting around, instead of pulling his hair out, he began to observe everything that was going on around him. The concept jumped into his head. While he was sailing in the sunny Virgin Islands he could not get the thought out of his head, the ideas kept coming to him. Upon his return he called David and ran the concept by him. “Yes!” David said, “let’s do it…but do you think we could have it done by June 6^th, the deadline for Solstice Film Festival?” This was only 31 days away. They thought it over and decided they were going to do something crazy and finish the film in just 30 days. That meant they had to start writing the very next day.

Well, that is exactly what they did. They wrote for 7 days straight, while a team of friends and volunteers whom had assembled around them, worked to get the rest of the stuff done that was needed to make the film. From DP’s to PA’s, craft services to Port-O-Jons, GRIPS to actors, everyone was working hard to make this happen. On Wednesday the cast was given the script and Friday morning the shooting began. Steve Saxon was on hand as the DP.  He shot everything on a single camera, one of the best in the biz, The Red One. They shot for 3 long days, with cast and crew spending up to sometimes 20 hours on the set. The wrapped on Sunday and then it was on to the hard part, scoring and editing.

Kim Planert of California (who subsequently does the music for the TV shows The Castle and Lie to Me), scored the entire film in a week while the producers and editors poured over all the footage trying to make this monster into a film. After weeks of sleepless nights, the film was shipped on June 5^th in time to meet the Solstice Film Festival June 6^th deadline.

When most films are made, they are premiered and then shuffled off to DVD (if they are lucky) without one single accolade, not The Last Passport. Lucky You Films co-directors walked away with Best Director accolades and lead, Jimmy Hager, won Best Actor.  Following that success the film was then premiered in its hometown of Charlotte NC where they played to a sold out crowd of over 200 people. All of the proceeds were donated to Goodwill Southern Piedmont. They raised $1,500 for the local charity that helps needy families in the area.

So what is The Last Passport? It is a story about real people with real thoughts. It’s about you and me; a story that takes an interesting look at who we are as people. The entire story takes place in a passport office…or so you think. The lead, George Miller is a 70 year old man who takes us on a journey through his life to show us we are not all that different. Each person he meets throughout the time he spends at the passport office make a profound impact on his life, something that is likely to happen to you after watching this film.

To view the trailer go to www.TheLastPassport.com, it will change your life.

Lucky You Interview with Kent Smith

Starting Your Own Business

Independence!  Personal rewards!  Vision!  These are some of the many reasons for starting your own business. Before jumping in with both feet and starting our own venture it is important to know that being a business owner has its ups and downs for sure. Personally, I have found it takes more energy and discipline to work for yourself than it does to work for someone else.  You have to have passion and drive, which is often far from the norm of most human beings.  You have to possess a sense of overwhelming desire to make the most of whatever you are doing.  It’s passion that will drive you.

Charlotte Has Game

I am often asked, what is it like to have so much free time working for yourself? My reply is always, what free time?  For me, I can never shut it down; business is always in the back of my mind.  I am constantly thinking, how am I going to make a better image or a better movie.   After all, you are only as good as the last image or film that you make.

As a visual artist, and businessman you must learn to cope with both sides of the project.  Lets face it, show business and photography, both business ventures, take time and complete attention to detail.  It takes a lot of time and business smarts to make the correct deals.  Some of them work out for the best while others just sit and fizzle.

Working for yourself has a lot of rewards as well.  For one, it always gives you the personal freedom to go in the direction that you find most rewarding for you and your business.  Owning my own companies has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to many more years of doing what I love…creating images, both still and motion.

Kent Smith Photography and more

Lucky You Films