foolish tree films

Inspiration Information

Ian — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:37:36 +0000

Inspiration. Something that is said to come and go at its own behest, and not at ours. Sometimes true; and in my experience, sometimes not.

Inspiration, for me, is often a matter of getting down to it. It’s my understanding that many writers (for instance) get “writer’s block.” Well, when I’m writing, at least for the past 7 years, I don’t have any problem actually writing. The words come. The trick, for me, is getting to the computer. I get, “sitting down at the computer” block.

One way to combat that is to have a regular schedule for writing. Every morning for a half hour, or every evening for an hour, or, if you simply don’t have the time, 20 minutes every other day. I had a teacher once, in Chicago, named Dr. Robin Herndobler. She was an amazing woman, and really the strongest “womentor” I’ve ever had. She taught English and writing and women’s studies. What she told us was something along these lines: “If you can’t find at least 15 minutes, every day, to write, then you shouldn’t be a writer.” Strong words, but I think she’s right (for the most part). A writer writes. That’s it. Getting published – and getting paid – are wonderful. But they do not make you a writer. Writing does that.

I adore being a creative person. If I thought that I could no longer create…that would be a bad, bad day for me. Part of the trick about running this business is allowing my learning about the business to be as creative as possible. Simply enjoying the newness – the creation – of the business. Tricky for me, sometimes, but worth it. This is the path, and it’s a way for me (and my lovely lady wife / CEO) to make our dreams happen.

So here I am, sitting at the computer, and pounding it out. It’s creative – and I hope inspirational for you all.

Best,

Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!

Location Vlogging – Part 3 of 3

Ian — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:13:37 +0000

Part 3 of 3 in a vlogging series done around a fabulous day location shooting. The day ended at Baker Beach here in SF, with some amazing shots of the Golden Gate.

Part 1 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog1/

Part 2 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog2/

Thanks so much for watching the vids, and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and comment. Thanks!

Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!

A couple of days with Dad

Jo — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:09:01 +0000

Bill Nemoyten is my dad. He a pretty cool dude for being born in 1928. In the past several years since he “retired,” he’s written over 50 stories, essays and articles about music, the arts, and his considerable catalog of life adventures. He also occasionally performs a show called “The Hornman” in which he plays 13 different horns ranging from a conch shell through a didgeridoo, all the brass instruments and ending with a 12.5 foot alp horn and his own invention, the Hose-A-Phone. And in between playing each horn he does a few jokes and educates about the world, music and life. Then there are the hats and props. Find out more at www.TheHornman.com . Then there are the other bands and groups he belongs to.

One of the main reasons that foolish tree films became a reality is my desire for many years now to make “The Hornman” documentary. I spent Monday and Tuesday with him cataloging and organizing his stories for a book and that time with him fomented in me an even stronger resolve to make this movie a reality ASAP. I didn’t realize that until just now, when a number of ideas flooded in as I started to write this blog about a totally different topic. Ah, well… the nature of the beast called my brain.

We presently have no funding for the project except our own sweat equity. But my first task will be to create a facebook fan page for The Hornman. We have a million video clips, photos, letters from audiences of all ages, audio files and of course, his written material. Maybe I could even get him to blog … Dad? Are you reading this? At any rate, duh, a FAN PAGE. I will for sure let you know when it’s posted.

Meanwhile, here’s a little video I took when I was at his place earlier in the week.

Here’s the famous photo of Al Gore in his office. See, Dad? It’s similar… although he has a much better computer and a giant frog on the wall. You have personally autographed photos of Totie Fields and Marylin Horne though. I bet Al doesn’t have those!

Location Vlogging! Part 2 of 3

Ian — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:29:29 +0000

Part 2 of 3 of a fabulous day location shooting. Includes gorgeous shots of the presidio and the bay, along with a review of a tuna melt from the Bean Bag Cafe on Hayes and Divis!

Part 1 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog1/

Part 3 of 3 can be found here: www.foolishtreefilms.com/blog/ian-blog/iansvlog3/

Thanks so much for watching the vids, and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and comment. Thanks!

Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!

Lighting – for Film, and Otherwise

Ian — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:49:56 +0000

I’m an independent filmmaker. And that means that lighting is critically important to me. For instance, if I can’t separate my foreground subject from the background that subject is in front of, I’ll have a muddy image that no one will want to look at. Well, it might be an artistic curiosity, but it won’t be a clear image. And most of the time, what I want is a clear image.

This is also true in my life as a whole. If I can’t see what I’m doing, it makes it a lot more difficult to get it done. And lately, around here (San Francisco), it’s been overcast like Seattle, which has made it a heavier prospect keeping my eyes on my dreams. The light coming into my eyes and into my skin (killer vitamin D source, don’tcha know) helps make it possible for me to lift up my eyes – and my head – and look ahead.

And the truth is, because of my ability to keep going, and hold that light inside me, I’m living a number of my dreams right now. I’m in an amazing relationship – personal and business – with the partner of my dreams, my wife of almost 12 years. Wow! I’m making movies for a living, writing scripts, shooting film and editing like a madman. Yes, there’s an enormous amount of administrative work that goes along with that, and yes, sometimes that’s a drag…but the light of the dreams I’m actually living in help keep me going.

So, anytime you’re having a hard time keeping your eyes on your dreams, because it looks pretty dark around you, find what light you can find. Don’t worry if it’s not a light anyone else can see. That’s not the important thing. Not that having other folks support your path by being on a similar one themselves isn’t wonderful and wonderfully helpful; it is. But it’s not as necessary as the truth of that light for you. If it’s true for you, then it’s true enough.

As Brian Setzer sings, in his song “We are the Marauders:” “Life is one tall order / You gotta do what you wanna do / You gotta do what you were born to do / But this whole life is way too short / If it feels right to you / Well, there’s a start.”

Light your way, fabulous ones!

Ian Carruthers
Filmmaker
www.foolishtreefilms.com
Let’s make a movie!