Marginalia, Graduate Blog

Blog Topics: Film & Video – Cinema Directing

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Film & Video – Cinema Directing

Anything I Ever Needed to Know…

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1104 S. Wabash

1104 S. Wabash

Another week, another semester, another year has flown by. As some of my fellow classmates and ambassadors face life PCCC (Post Columbia College Chicago) I started to think about the importance of my Columbia education. Sure, I’m learning about cinema, the film industry and proper craft services…but what else? To borrow and adapt an expression…anything I ever needed to know I learned in film school.

Anything I Ever Needed to Know…

…anything I ever needed to know I learned in film school.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Bang For Your Buck

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Big Film, Little Budget: Julian Grant

Big Film, Little Budget: Julian Grant

Oh, the stress of being an artist in an ego driven medium. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all want to be famous directors. The thing is, we all need to be working directors. What to do? The first step to achieving either goal is to get your material made. Last week Professor Julian Grant gave a great workshop on how to make big movies with little money. Obviously I can’t reveal all of his secrets, but I can give you a few snippets of what he told us.

Bang For Your Buck

Oh, the stress of being an artist in an ego driven medium. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all want to be famous directors. The thing is, …

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Would You Rather

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Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field

Things are never boring in Chicago. You’ve got top notch sports teams, great restaurants, night life, and more improv troupes than you can shake a stick at. (Quick side rant: How many things can you shake a stick at? Have you ever gone outside and started shaking a stick? You look like a raving lunatic.) Anyway, let me get back to Chicago not being boring. When I left another Columbia College Chicago Directing II shoot last weekend, I strolled past Wrigley Field on my way to the train. I literally pushed my way through a sea of red and blue Cub fans. As I was skipping past ticket scalpers and photo bombing touristy snap shots I thought, “Where would I rather be?” Just so you know, that’s a loaded question.

Would You Rather

How many things can you shake a stick at? Have you ever gone outside and started shaking a stick? You look like a raving lunatic.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

3Ds (Directors, DPs, and Dairy Queen)

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Pull Location Shoot

Pull Location Shoot

I’ve said it time and again; film is a collaborative medium. Well, maybe I haven’t said it time and again, but I have mentioned it. Over the last two weekends our Directing II class was pushed to the limit by working together to complete our location shoots.

3Ds (Directors, DPs, and Dairy Queen)

When you expect to be working hard over a series of days it is always best to start out easy. It tends to build confidence in the crew and strengthen the moral of all involved.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

No Wrong Choice

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Courses

Courses

Can I be honest with you? We’ve had an amazing dialogue going on since I’ve started writing for this blog, and I think you’ll really appreciate this entry. So here’s the truth. It’s time for me to pick electives for next semester at Columbia College Chicago, and it’s driving me totally insane. There are so many great classes to choose from, and there is no way I can pick everything I want. I almost want to pull my dreads out…almost.

No Wrong Choice

Can I be honest with you? We’ve had an amazing dialogue going on since I’ve started writing for this blog, and I think you’ll really appreciate this entry. So here’s …

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

New Faces, New Places

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Film and Video Admitted Students Day

Film and Video Admitted Students Day

The signs that spring has arrived are all around us. Birds are chirping. Winter frost has turned to winter slush. Productions are in full swing at Columbia College Chicago. And the latest group of Film & Video MFA students arrived on campus for Admitted Student Day. Students came from all over. We had homegrown talent from Chicago and students from as far away as scenic Utah and exotic Belgium.

New Faces, New Places

The door to Columbia has been opened and now they have to decide if this is the right time to walk through.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
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A Day at the MPC

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Media Production Center (MPC)

Media Production Center (MPC)

Last week in our Directing II class, we had two hours to film a “master shot” on the sound stage of the Media Production Center (MPC) at Columbia College Chicago. I’ve been dying to be able to do my own work there, so I thought I’d walk you through the basics of the shoot.

A Day at the MPC

Don’t be the one that holds up production because you just had to stop at Dunkin Donuts to get coffee and a bear claw.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Winterizing, Columbia Style

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Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

I really should know better. Not only do I go to school at Columbia College Chicago, but I also grew up in the area. So I should not have been surprised when Mother Nature unleashed her latest one-two combo of wind and snow. I can adapt to this pretty quickly because I grew up in the cold. I felt bad for people that don’t know how to adjust. Therefore, I dedicate this blog to those people coming to Chicago who will be exposed to frigid winter weather for the first time.

Winterizing, Columbia Style

Never ever buy cold weather clothing in warm weather environment. That big puffy coat you bought in Miami may look winter ready but it wouldn’t stop a light breeze.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

The Director’s Fault

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CCC Resources

CCC Resources

I came to Columbia College Chicago to learn the skills needed to become an Indy film director. Whether it’s knowing how to frame a shot, how to format a script, or the most effective way to distribute craft service, I’m picking up a new skill everyday. But, the most important thing I’ve learned (and some of you may disagree with this) is this: it’s the director’s fault.  More specifically, in independent film everything is the director’s fault.

The Director’s Fault

…the most important thing I’ve learned (and some of you may disagree with this) is the following: It’s the director’s fault.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Films for Filmmakers: La Jetee

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LA JETEE

LA JETEE

We come to Columbia College Chicago with a creative vision that has been influenced by “our favorites.” By “favorites” I mean favorite movies and directors. For example, after seeing A Clockwork Orange, I would call Stanley Kubrick a favorite. The amazing fight scene in They Live makes John Carpenter a favorite. The list could go on and on: Taxi Driver – Scorsese; Django Unchained – Tarantino; Madea Goes to Jail – Perry. While at Columbia College Chicago, I was introduced to a new favorite—director Chris Marker’s 1962 science fiction short film, La Jetee.

Films for Filmmakers: La Jetee

By using a series of images together with voice-over narration and musical score, this time traveling story challenges how we perceive memory and time travel.

Film & Video - Cinema Directing MFA Bubba Murray, james.murray2@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

The Graduate Experience

Trying on the gown
Trying on the gown
Poets are my Heroes
Poets are my Heroes
Manifest
Manifest
Changing With the Seasons
Changing With the Seasons
My view for the past month.
My view for the past month.
Student Artwork!!
Student Artwork!!