For those of you who have attended my workshops at film festivals, librarys, schools and events — a HUGE thank you!
Now all that advice and support has been put into a video series on screenwriting that you can access anytime and for free.
Check out these great episodes!
After way too long than I want to admit, the Debra Kemp Interview Series is done and online.
With the project done I’ve been thinking a lot about the day we filmed the series.
We acquired the location in a friend’s house. We called the location “The Castle.” Sure it was a house but how many houses have turrets that you can actually stand at the top and pour over boiling oil if you want to?
We set up in the library. This library was 2 stories complete with a circular staircase leading to the second floor. The look was amazing; warm colors, great texture, the sunshine filled the room. We couldn’t have filmed at a better location.
Sure Karmic Courage produced this project but I didn’t work alone. Stacey Mayo did the wonderful make up for Ms. Kemp. Thomas Johnson set up the warm lighting to great detail. Chuck Budreau captured wonderful sound in what could have been a echo-plex. Brian Pearce did a fabulous job running my little Sony camera and logging the takes. My job was to keep Debs relaxed, ask her questions and make sure we had a great interview series to showcase her amazing story. It’s not understating it that Debs was very nervous.
I remember it taking us about 3 hours to film the whole series. We stayed in the Castle for a little longer taking a tour of the home and listening to great stories from the owner. I don’t know if anyone was in a real hurry to get off set that day. It was a wonderful work environment, planned, and went off seamlessly.
Then came editing. Then came me sucking.
Debs is so patient with me – much more than she should be. We filmed the series in June or July of 2009. The first and second episode went online November of that year. Part 3 came in December of 2009. Then I started sucking. I got too busy with freelance gigs and just general procrastination. Part 4 didn’t show up until July of 2010.
Brian Pearce came and helped editing episode 4 and episode that was giving me trouble with the dialogue flowing together. When Veronica Diaz came on board to Karmic Courage she helped with episode 5. We both agreed we needed to finish the series and get it out there for Debs fans.
Episode 4 and 5 went up fast. Then for some stupid reason on my part the last two episodes just sat in a timeline waiting for me to put the polish on them.
I should have had the series done in a month or two after wrap. There was no reason that I couldn’t have. I’ve beat myself over the procrastination but today, with the series complete I think I know why it took so long.
Uploading the last video was a little sad. It should have felt victorious but it didn’t. I didn’t want the series to end. I liked working on it. I love the memory of that shoot. I like the idea that someone (Debs) was asking “when will the new video be up.” It’s so selfish of me that I liked having someone ask when a new project would be done – AKA a fan.
I love the series we did with Debs. She has an amazing story of perseverance to publication. It’s a story that many people, regardless of being writers can relate to. I loved working with her and my crew. It was a day that I am so glad was captured on video.
The entire series (all 7 parts) are on the Karmic Courage You Tube page www.youtube.com/karmiccourage
Posted below are the first and the last in the series.
I should really update the book trailer for my first book “The Belief Test.” It was at the start of learning to use Sony Vegas editing software. I stutter when I watch the edits, but I still like the basic concept.
The Belief Test was born in 2001. Around that time I was starting my own gift basket business and my good friend Sujey would come into my home office and help me out. We’d talk about life, love, religion and politics. We’d read books made up of interesting questions and it wasn’t long before we started making up our own questions. I wrote out 200 questions of what would later become “The Belief Test.” It was just something introspective Sujey and I did.
For years the questions sat in a filing cabinet. Sujey started asking if friends to see the questions. I sent her the list. She then asked when I’d make it into a book.
In 2005 I self published “The Belief Test: Questions to Ask Yourself on the Journey of Life.” I dedicated the book to Sujey.
I didn’t expect much from the release. I knew the book would find the people who need it.
The book has been on and off Amazon.com. The price has changed due to Amazon and Lulu’s costs over the years, but I’m proud to say it’s still out there. I’ll see listings for it in Canada and the UK. There are teenagers who live by it and even a gradeschooler who keeps a copy in the car for long trips. I proud to say, it’s helped people overcome loss, abandonment, and find themselves. Not to shabby for a little book of questions.
Print & Dowload at www.lulu.com
Print at www.amazon.com
Little commercials/mini movies we made to showcase the Karmic Courage Workshops.
This little ditty Veronica Diaz, Dan Demint and I created at Jason Harris’ 30th Beer-day. The first time “spoon” went on location. You should have seen his trailer.
My little production company is working on some stop motion videos. We made two test projects this week.
It was fun and really pretty quick to do. The hardest part was not getting the kids or the dogs in the shot.
How we did it: we used a hard drive sony camera and kept rolling as we moved the spoon into each position. Then in editing we took out frames until we saw the movement we liked.
Enjoy!
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.
