Meet Agra Aghasa, Paco Ibarra, Jonathan Sutton and Stacy Gerard, members of the StudentFilmmakers Filmmakers Network. Visit their Network profiles below to connect.
Agra Aghasa
Filmmakers Network profile: agranih
Agra Aghasa currently works as a director and serves as the Creative Manager for Four Colours Films, an independent production company based in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. FCF’s filmography includes festival award-winning films, A Ride Down Nostalgia Lane, Half Teaspoon, Be Quiet, Exam is in Progress!, and others. Most Recent
Production: Jalan Sepanjang Kenangan (A Ride Down Nostalgia Lane). “This film is about the complicated relationship between a husband and wife while pregnant… Made in November 2007, and won The Konfiden Award (Jakarta Indonesia) as Best Short Movie.” Upcoming
Projects: “In 2008, we want to produce Jalan Sepanjang Kenangan (A Ride Down Nostalgia Lane) as a feature film, and make a short movie in four countries. These projects are now in progress.” Unique
Challenges: “For me and Four Colours, every project has its own unique challenge. Sometimes it’s about place, setting and location. Other times, it’s about the actors and permissions. But there’s one thing that is always the most unique challenge for me and Four Colours ~ that’s money,” says Agra. “Why is it unique? Because we never have enough money to make films, but we always make them… Ten short movies from 2001 to 2007, and all of them were made in the poor conditions…”
Solutions: “Solutions for our challenges are spirit and friendship! Sounds innocent, but true. Sometimes we can get free locations. Other times, we get actors [who are willing to work for free], and many times, our crewmembers [are also willing to work for free]. That’s us, but this condition not only makes us in one vision and mission, but also makes all the films we’ve produced owned by all the crew and actors. Everyone who gives their hands into the films can say, ‘That’s my movie!’.”
Paco Ibarra
Filmmakers Network profile: pacoiba
Paco Ibarra’s short films can be found within the blogs of his networking page. From his very first short film, Obito, to his films, Tuesday, Cassandra, and Perpetuo. Paco’s most recent short film, Rancho Macho, was shot in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Upcoming
Projects: “I’m currently studying film at Full Sail University. I have several other shorts that I plan on doing on my vacations. One of them is Dorotheo, the sad story of a mime who becomes obsessed with his performance – which I am counting the days to start shooting.” Challenge and
Solution: “I think everyone will agree with me that being an indie student filmmaker – it’s not easy. When I was producing and directing Rancho Macho back in Mexico, we needed to get some really dynamic shots of a car chase at high speed with a jibb. It was difficult, but I think we pulled it off.”
The solution: “… A light jib on a truck, and me and my AD holding on to it, making the shots in the Mexican Highway.”
Indie tip: “An incredibly easy way to make the close-ups on an actor’s face while the actor is walking or running [like in Requiem for a Dream] is to simply open a light tripod with which an actor can put its legs around his or her body, and just tilt the camera so that it’s looking at the actor. If using a wide angle ~ works way better.”
Jonathan Sutton
Filmmakers Network profile: boo6585
Jonathan Sutton is a filmmaker, musician, and composer from Birmingham, Alabama. His first film, Sans Inspiration, is a short film following the journey of an uninspired writer. “As he attempts to find inspiration in the world around him, he is led to an unexpected destination.” The film currently broadcasts on his networking page. Most Recent
Project: “My last film was an experimental short called Elk Cloner that I wrote, directed, edited, and scored.” In his story, a man ignores danger looming near and begins a surreal journey. As with Sans Inspiration, his director of photography is Rick Sutton, and the film stars actor Aaron Branson. Upcoming
Projects: “I am working on a documentary.” Challenge and
Solution: “Having an actor drop out… I ended up in the film playing the part.”
Indie tip: “Always be flexible and focused.”
Stacy Gerard
Filmmakers Network profile: Geerawrd
Stacy Gerard is part of a film production group called Kneetoe Productions that she and her friends put together, and thus far, have won the grand-prize in a contest for the band ‘Ima Robot,’ as well as placed in other various contests, such as the ‘One Robot’s Dream’ contest for Joe Satriani, and the New Numa Contest. Stacey’s short, Episode 7: The Escape, currently broadcasts on your networking webpage. Most Recent
Project: “My friends and I just finished a short, five minute film for Arkansas Thespian Festival. We planned, shot, and managed to get through post in a week, and considering the time constraints pulled something great together.” Upcoming
Projects: “Right now, I am focusing on portfolio production and creating some interesting short films that will impress colleges and give my friends and me something productive to do!”
Challenges: “Many times, we have not-so reliable people cast in our films. Mostly high school students, and often they forget to come, or like to take directing into their own hands.”
Solutions: “Re-using reliable people in unique ways throughout the production helps, as well as keeping a professional attitude with the others. If people decide they don’t want to be there, let them go. They will probably make things go less smoothly anyway.”
Indie tip: “Be creative in problem solving, don’t give up! My friends and I were looking for an alternative way to get a track shot in a short film we were making… We used a wheelchair as an alternative, and it worked just as well.”
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