I’m so in love with the cast of Ingenue. I don’t know how I got as lucky as I did to work with such an amazing group.
My husband filmed some interviews with the cast and honestly it makes me tear up hearing the sweet things they say about me and my work.
I’m really humbled.
It’s Mother’s Day and I want to tell you something I tell very few. I do all the things you see me do publicly (books, films etc) because I’m a mom.
When my oldest was born I promised her that she could be anything she wanted in this world. If she came to me at age 15 and said she wanted to be a magician I wanted to have the courage and the knowledge to say “yes, let’s learn what we need to learn to have you be the best magician you can be and make a living at it.” But I knew I could only do this if I truly gave it everything at my dream and showed them that it was worth fighting for.
Since a young age I wanted to work in film. I thought of it as the Wonderful World of OZ. I wanted to live behind the curtain where men pulled the strings. At the time I had my first daughter, I wasn’t persuing my dream of working in film. I was a stay at home and I was determined to be the best stay at home mom I could be – but I wasn’t happy. I didn’t feel whole.
Then I made a deal with my husband. I would stay at home with our children (I have two girls now) and pursue my creative dreams of writing and filmmaking. If by the time they were both in school full time and I was not making money, I would return to the standard workforce.
Over the last 7 years I have tried my hardest to balance my company, Karmic Courage Productions, and my family life. It’s a hard balance but I’ve been able to manage. In that time I’ve published 2 books (The Belief Test, The Celebration Diet), 13 short film projects, and worked on over 30 freelance film projects. None of it I can make a steady living on. The work is risky, I’ve been attached to more projects that get cancelled due to fundraising than I’ve actually worked on.
It’s now coming up on the eve of both of the girls being in full time school. I have till Fall 2013 to hope for a miracle or get ready to say goodbye.
I knew that if I looked back 50 years from now I’d regret never making a feature film. So this summer, which maybe the last big project I get to do, I’m making Ingenue. It’s a film I’ll be able to show my daughters when they ask again, “What did you want to be when you grow up?” I’ll be able to say whether I am currently working in a office cubical or flippin’ burgers that I tried, I gave it everything I had and it was worth fighting for. Fighting for your dreams is always worth it.
Odds are filmmaking and writing will never truly leave me, regardless of what happens this year. I’m sure I’ll find weekends to make something small and fun but it won’t be a career. I’d be trading in the idea of making indie feature films for earning my kids college money. And I’m okay with that because when it comes down to it, I’m a mom.
But I’m not giving up without one hell of a fight. I’m going to put my heart and soul into Ingenue this summer. I’m so excited about this project, it’s themes and story fuel me. It’s the story that’s been hiding in me since I started this journey. It’s the cornerstone of everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve fought for. It’s the perfect piece to see if I can make some kind of money in this crazy film business.
Please, if you’ve dug my work. If you like what I’ve stood for: compassion, human rights, family and strong female characters, please continue to support me. Like Ingenue’s page on facebook, donate to our campaign (ends May 22), see my films, buy the DVD’s, or write me a note.
Win, lose or draw it’s going to be an awesome year. Because of you, my kids and my family I’ve gotten this far and I truly appreciate every moment of it.
I’ve always wanted to write a book on filmmaking but I know that I still have a lot to learn. Plus I don’t have the credentials that a lot of filmmaker book authors have. But I do know what I’ve done and should done and if that helps other filmmakers with do’s and don’t than I think that’s helpful.
So as I go through production on my first feature I’m writing in a production journal. Think Rebel Without a Crew but without the medical trials. This journal will be published at the completion of post for Ingenue. It will have all the trials and successes that go into making a film; casting, funding, scheduling, costuming. Anything and everything will be in this journal. When it’s published it will also include the full shooting script of Ingenue.
I’m going to try to find some sections and published them here on my blog for a taste.
If you’re interested in getting a finished copy of the book before anyone else, it’s one of the perks on our Indie Go Go campaign.
For $250 donation you receive (ends May 22)
Besides the photo from my actual journal here is a sneak peak
3/13/12 I need to send out press releases. Don’t know if I should send some out now or wait for the Indie Gogo campaign. Perhaps both. Hitting press with releases as many times as I can with new information is favoriable.
April is going to be as nutty as March. This month was Days of the Dead, trip to Michigan to see my nephews and the Gamer Chick shoot. April will be the casting call for Ingenue, River Bend Film Festival, Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival, and possibly LA Comedy Shorts. That sucks up a lot of time from Ingenue prep. I’ll need to get as much done in between as possible.
I’ve made a living doing Script Supervisor work since 2009. I’ve been asked to use logs that the producers/editor created, I’ve paid money for the standard industry forms, and I’ve made my own forms based on the request of directors/editors/producers.
I’ve come to realize that a large proportions of independent producers/directors don’t know what a SS does and doesn’t do. Even industry standard forms and the script markup are confusing to some. I won’t bore you with the details of what a SS actually does because there are many more great websites for that, but I do recommend that those who know and don’t know what an SS does check out this great interview http://therumpus.net/2011/07/whats-a-script-supervisor-the-rumpus-interview-with-andrea-manners/
For “Home Security” I wrote/directed/edited for “The Collective” for Jabb Pictures I worked with Kylee Wall as SS. She used the standard industry form.
It wasn’t still I was deep into editing that realized what a pain the paperwork for a editor can be. I had the SS log, a sound log, and notes on each film clip about performance, shot, etc. Most times I referenced all three logs and thought “can’t there be a better way of having all the information an editor needs on one document?
For my next gig “Gamer Chick: Season 3” I made a new log, combining the industry standard form and adding/subtracting what fields are actually referenced in independent film productions.
For example, I used to write down what lens size and F stop for each shot. This documentation is designed for reshoot info, but some of the productions I work on won’t have the funds for reshoots so they need to get it now or fix it in post. The field for lens, though helpful, wasn’t being used. Where as adding a “Sound File” field was more likely to be used to pair the visual film clip with the separate audio file.
I recommend that a SS fills out this log with pencil so an editor can correct sound/clips file names as needed and continue to have one log for reference.
I offer this form free of charge. Download it, edit it for your specific needs. I don’t need any credit for it, I just hope it helps.
Download here: Script Super Log
A New Year. An opportunity for a new start? I don’t really need a new start, just a plan to keep the awesomeness going and keep myself centered on what matters.
Film projects for 2012
Writing Projects for 2012
Things to promote in the New Year
In the New Year I need to remember to say something in all my work. Make sure it has a message. I can have a message that isn’t in tent pole movies. I can make something more daring, more enlightening, more thought-provoking like the movies I used to watch as a kid. I have to give myself permission to make a film that people will want to watch over and over again because they get something new out of it each time.
I have to remember that people are gonna hate. They will want to strike me down because they feel competition, jealously, or see in me something they hate in themselves. I can’t please everyone. I just do the best I can and let the chips fall where they may. Stay away from flame wars, they only hurt everyone.
I do have to continue to remove myself from those who are unhealthy for the person I want to be. I’m a sponge at times and absorb other people’s energy. I need to remember to stay away from the idiots who don’t know what they are doing or have nothing to say. Remove myself from people who are negative and push other people down to make themselves feel bigger. Keep away from people who are trying to harm me or my family. Stay away from those who spend more time bad mouthing others than working on creating their own work.
I need to remember that it’s not about the money. How much I have, how much a friend’s film makes, about how high the budget is. I’ve made more with less. I’ve had better creative outlets knowing there is little to no money to throw at it. Money doesn’t equal better. Money also doesn’t buy class. Working on another person’s film just for the money doesn’t mean I will be treated well or even respected for the work I put into the project.
It’s not about how many films I work on in a given year anymore. I want to focus on the quality not the quantity. 2011 was the first year that Karmic Courage had in production or screening 4 projects. The goal has always been 2-3 projects in a year. I still think that is a good number.
I do want to garner a wider fan base. I do want to reach out of Indiana. I think travel will help. I don’t want to leave Indiana just have a wider perspective of writing and filmmaking.
I want to get more independent in my filmmaking and not have to worry if the right equipment will be able to get on set. I’d like to be able to just come up with an idea on a Friday and shoot it that weekend.
My Superhero Family
I have to remember that I only have a few years left of being at home. I only have a few years left for this filmmaking dream. I need to show my girls that is was worth it, that I did some great stuff in that time and that they helped me and motivated me to do my best with the opportunity I had. I need to be able to show them that it’s worth fighting and working hard for your dream even if you need to walk away from it at some point.
I’d like to blog more. Not sure about what exactly but I’d like to write more. Even if they are little film enlightenment pieces, I think it would be nice.
I’d like to do the best I can. I know I’ll anger people in the New Year but I also make some new amazing friends. I’ll have some adventures and setbacks. I’ll see my children grow and my parents get older. I’ll learn more about my complex husband and fall in love a little deeper. It will be a good year, like all the rest. I’m moving forward with the path I’ve worked hard for and that is the best I can. No longer looking back but striving to do better.
I’m back in the director’s seat again. This time it’s a short Horror film for The Collective V3 by Jabb Pictures. Production starts in early December. DVD release will be in March 2012 as part of the all female-directed Collective V3.
My production company, Karmic Courage, is growing and growing.
We are currently sending and exhibiting “Leah Not Leia” in film festivals and conventions nationwide. We are working on a DVD and internet release for this winter.
“Love Dance” is in post production. A rough cut will be ready to view this week.
Next up is a short Horror film for “The Collective V3.” The Collective is a project of 10 short films by 10 filmmakers. Volume 3 is the all female filmmaker edition. I’ll be directing. Production is slated for November, 2011.
Next Summer is slated for the first feature film production from Karmic Courage entitled “Ingenue.” Casting and interviews will begin in the spring.
JUST IN: I’m set to direct and co-produce a web-series with an all female creative team. The project is currently in development and going to be flippin’ genius!
If you dig films by a chicka like my company on facebook and subscibe to our you tube channel. Great stuff to come and we can’t wait to share it with you!
The wonderful ladies at the Tipton Public Library put on in incredible event August 13th for the Karmic Courage Film Retrospective Event. They rolled out the red carpet, made a movie marquee, had fresh popped popcorn and snacks a plenty! It was really a great night!
We showed 7 of the films I’ve produced with Karmic Courage Productions. A mix of drama and comedy, narrative and documentary, live action and stop motion. The films were: Laundry Day, LOSS, First They Came for, Debra Kemp Interview, Spoon Heist, Screenplay Workshop Episode 2 and Leah Not Leia.
I answered questions and told the stories of how one film lead to another. So wonderful to see family, friends, cast, crew, fans, and new friends at the event.
We raised $20 to go towards the next 3 Karmic Courage Productions. Thank you to all who donated. If you were low on cash we do have a paypal account. All donations go towards Karmic Courage Productions. Click here to donate to Karmic Courage
Current KCP Logo
The wonderful ladies at the Tipton Public Library and the Tipton Arts Commission have asked me to come and show Karmic Courage films and talk about the process of getting my films made.
When I first entered into this it was just for “Leah Not Leia” a film I wrote and produced, but to my surprise they wanted to show all my films. I’m excited and nervous and I’ve grown a lot since the early work. I also worry that such a night as this will come of egotistical. I keep telling myself that it’s an educational experience to show how filmmaking evolves with challenges and growth.
It’s going to be a great night because my early work, LOSS and Laundry Day are not on the internet, so this is a great opportunity to come see the films that many people haven’t seen.
The ladies putting on the event are doing a fantastic job. There will be movie snacks, popcorn and soda presented on a “red carpet.”
Hope you can make it!
Tipton Public Library
Saturday, August 13th
127 E. Madison Street, Tipton, Indiana
7pm-9pm
Films include:
Laundry Day
LOSS
First They Came For…
An Interview with Debra Kemp
Spoon Heist
An Episode from the Karmic Courage Screenwriting Webseries
Leah Not Leia
I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I directed a film. Trust me, I haven’t been away from film at all in that 4 years. I’ve been working over 2 dozen independent productions in various roles. But it’s time and this is a great project. Love Dance is a sexy comedy about a married couple looking to spice up their love life and get a little more than they bargained for.
The script it wonderfully written by Terry Shepard, who was a student of the Karmic Courage Screenwriting Workshop, has great female characters and such a hilarious twist to the ending that I can’t wait to get on film.
All the casting info is on my company website http://karmiccourage.wordpress.com/category/films/love-dance/
I’m excited and scared, I guess that’s a healthy mix for a filmmaker. 
Hi! I'm Kate! I'm a filmmaker, author, and public speaker.
My screenplays and upcoming novels contain mythic themes of strength, personal power and identity.
I do have two light non-fiction list books out called "The Celebration Diet" and "The Belief Test."
I've worked on a couple dozen indie films, a few of which have gone on to win some cool awards. I even run my own production company, Karmic Courage Productions.
I teach filmmaking and writing workshops at festivals, libraries and schools.
I hope you find what you are looking for on this blog, if not message me, I'm always looking to help out writers and filmmakers.
