As we continue with pre production for the project and I keep seeing & walking more and more locations I continue to be reaffirmed that we have a excellent array of locations to choose from (we as all filmmakers) in the Rio grande valley.
One location we are pretty excited about is a college that has some beautiful buildings
Today we were able to walk quite a few of the locations we weeenconsidefong for our story
When location scouting factors to always keep an we for;
Times of low traffic vs high traffic (pedestrians and cars)
Nearby trains/ airports/ ambulances/ fire departments
Know the logistics of parking especially if it's a big company and or calling for a lot of extras
Electrical considerations
a/c eléctrica Hunms considerations
Craft devices set up
Holding room, talent holding room, hair and make up/ room, mobile production office room availability
And if exteriors - sunlight direction at x time of day
If ever in the Rio grande valley area (cities of Brownsville harlingen mcallen Edinburg mission) I'd be happy to lend a hand to find the right look for the sake of the story.
For the love of the craft,
laura
10.31.2016
Reflecting on Volunteerism, Ready for Weekend of Film #wkendoffilm
There have been countless of strictly volunteer hours put into this Rio Grande Valley non profit organization, RGV Film Society also known as FiSo. It is something that I had a vision for 6 years ago that has taken a while to form but is finally positioned to grow into the next phase. All of this volunteer film society work that was punched into the last 2 years has helped propel our organization.
It is very rewarding to see this list that only encompasses events we produced/ created/ hosted beginning with 2014; the year we decided to go big and go public with the organization. Prior to 2014 since Jan of 2010 several key meetings in the valley, Austin and Dallas were held to begin to plan and shape the organization. In 2012 we gained our official logo and began forming the rest of the board, by Jan 2014 we were ready with a calendar of events for the year.
Since then we have accomplished;
24 hour race Panel Discussion "A Day in the Life - filming your community" October 2016
Despierta Film Screening Documentary October 2016
Table Read at Sombrero Meeting Room August 2016
Mixer Russos July 2016
Holiday Posada December 2015
Weekend of Film November 2015
Mixer Half Moon July 2015
Community Brainstorming Meeting Galassi Cafe May 2015
Holiday Posada December 2014
1st Table Read at Green Screen Studios October 2014
Ciclo Documentary Film Screening August 2014
Mixer Cine El Rey July 2014
Ciclobia Film Screenings June 2014
Top 10 Movie List 2014
Film Screening A Night in Old Mexico May 2014
Panel Discussion at private screening May 2014
Introductory El Hueso Meeting January 2014
Much of this couldn't have been possible without the generous support of community businesses, leaders, organizations and my very own family and spouse. I am grateful for my mother and father for enabling me to follow my vision, my passion, my dreams. They have helped with odds and ends and most recently with big ticket items (as I was pregnant and now caring for my newborn). My spouse for understanding my drive to serve my community in the arts sector.
Growing up in my household serving our community was normal, expected, respectful and a rewarding fulfilling task. So for me, dedicating time and contributing my skills and expertise for a greater vision that will impact my community was totally OK with me and something I participated in my entire life- even during college and the first years out of college- when you can say- it was hard to afford to volunteer my time.
For my husband, the volunteerism duty was different but I am grateful that he has been on the sidelines the whole way.
 |
| RGV Film Society's 2nd Annual Weekend of Film |
As we get ready to present our biggest film society event of the year, I must take a moment to count our blessings for we have been able to do very much with what most consider "nothing." I am proud to say that we have been able to gain traction for the film industry in the RGV. I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude for all the help along the way. Thanks to God who has always guided and protected me, please stay with us.
I am very much looking forward to this Saturday's Weekend of Film and I hope that this event production is yet another example of why we need to keep cultivating organizations, events, activities, that inspire us, that contribute to the local arts enrichment, that empower filmmakers and the creative community. Support the arts, local film culture, filmmakers, and the film industry of the Rio Grande Valley. #rgvfiso
10.19.2016
New Feature Film filming in Brownsville - Back to Work!
Yes sir,
And just like that I'm back on production work.
Feeling grateful that work on a show came up before the end of the year; the news alone is exciting. I didn't think an opportunity would come up so soon, given I just about 8 weeks ago I left my full time teaching job, and just about 4 weeks ago I had my baby but ... however.. opportunities are meant to be seized. As my Tshirt from my high school youth group says, "I can do all things through Christ." :) amen. I'm looking forward to filming an entire feature film the Rio Grande Valley, mostly in Brownsville but locations are still TBD.
I am joining the team as the Producer of the film- and the work begins right away.
Looking to shoot in December latest Jan, will need to recruit cast & crew, aiming for mostly local but willing to negotiate with out of town talent.
As the project continues, the plan is more concrete I will be able to share more details. Tentative title of the film "THE WHOLE" with the production company "Pink Ape Media."
Exciting #filming. Sorry I can't share more at this point, but stay in the loop and more will unfold.
And just like that I'm back on production work.
Feeling grateful that work on a show came up before the end of the year; the news alone is exciting. I didn't think an opportunity would come up so soon, given I just about 8 weeks ago I left my full time teaching job, and just about 4 weeks ago I had my baby but ... however.. opportunities are meant to be seized. As my Tshirt from my high school youth group says, "I can do all things through Christ." :) amen. I'm looking forward to filming an entire feature film the Rio Grande Valley, mostly in Brownsville but locations are still TBD.
I am joining the team as the Producer of the film- and the work begins right away.
Looking to shoot in December latest Jan, will need to recruit cast & crew, aiming for mostly local but willing to negotiate with out of town talent.
As the project continues, the plan is more concrete I will be able to share more details. Tentative title of the film "THE WHOLE" with the production company "Pink Ape Media."
Exciting #filming. Sorry I can't share more at this point, but stay in the loop and more will unfold.
 |
| Image by JOhn Kissee - I really like the interpretation of a producer especially because I love and practice mediation and yoga now if only it was a female producer :). |
10.16.2016
Welcome mi vida, Alicia Maria
I like the way my good friend Lynne Moon put it- "You're greatest production yet," my daughter Alicia.
Here is the photo I took during her 1st month photo shoot with mommy.
Parenthood is a total life changer. Not only does it change your schedule completely around, but major things like; the meaning of life, the impact of a mother's care, unconditional love, quality of life, a new found meaning of stress... all begin to unfold in the rapid first 2 weeks. Giving birth to my daughter felt like the bravest thing I've ever done. God is good, God is great, he works wonders and is always by my side. Our little blessing Alicia is finally here.
Welcome to world corazon.
Here is the photo I took during her 1st month photo shoot with mommy.
Parenthood is a total life changer. Not only does it change your schedule completely around, but major things like; the meaning of life, the impact of a mother's care, unconditional love, quality of life, a new found meaning of stress... all begin to unfold in the rapid first 2 weeks. Giving birth to my daughter felt like the bravest thing I've ever done. God is good, God is great, he works wonders and is always by my side. Our little blessing Alicia is finally here.
Welcome to world corazon.
 |
| All Rights Reserved, Laura Lilia, 2016. |
2.15.2015
The Creative Process & things I've learned
The creative process is a beautiful thing. Now a days there is all kinds of research on creativity and collaboration and the mind. It's so moving to see the facts and what experiments and research shows on this. It is personally reaffirming since I work day in and day out with some form of creativity- at least I make the choice to include it daily.
I was born into a very creative family. Read that again- Notice I write "creative" not artistic. My parents whether they realized it nurtured creativity in our household... letting us play with cardboard to create toys and games of our own, placing the times tables on our cabinet doors so that my dislexic brother could eventually memorize them, to playing in the rain and seeing what we could make of a play day even though it was raining outside- rivers and channels of mud and paper boats in our backyard gutters... you get the picture.
Through teaching I came across this awesome video by PBS Offbook that explains a lot about the creative process. I highly recommend you spend a few minutes watching it.
Final thoughts:
When you create something we often; Copy Transform, Reinvent, Innovate, Redesign, Redesign Combine, Harmonize.
I was born into a very creative family. Read that again- Notice I write "creative" not artistic. My parents whether they realized it nurtured creativity in our household... letting us play with cardboard to create toys and games of our own, placing the times tables on our cabinet doors so that my dislexic brother could eventually memorize them, to playing in the rain and seeing what we could make of a play day even though it was raining outside- rivers and channels of mud and paper boats in our backyard gutters... you get the picture.
Through teaching I came across this awesome video by PBS Offbook that explains a lot about the creative process. I highly recommend you spend a few minutes watching it.
My notes and observations on the Creative Process:
Brainstorm Analyze, Ponder, Discover
Get inspired
Get to work
Your ideas are not you, criticism of your ideas are not criticism of you (heard this one the video, interesting perspective)
Collaboration
Trust
Expand your views
and Plan to Execute those Ideas
Final thoughts:
When you create something we often; Copy Transform, Reinvent, Innovate, Redesign, Redesign Combine, Harmonize.
1.13.2014
Review of Soccer Ad Campaign for Líbero 2014 #siteloexplicanconfutbol
For the bilingual media types, and the bicultural minds this is a particularly fun campaign to review. When a mind revolves around soccer, the stats, the game strategy and the lingo, it's sometimes best to explain things in that manner. 2014 is the year of soccer. Líbero launches their ad campaign created by advertising agency Lola with this 2 character, one location series of television spots. It's a witty way to illustrate in a surreal form how some minds revolve around futbol soccer. Libero is a magazine from Spain.
Definitely witty, they did a lot with very small production needs. Their powerful tool here is the scripted dialogue.
The campaign also contains a hashtag;#siteloexplicanconfutbol that will attempt to do the same as the commercial, speak to you in football terms with their tweets in an attempt to push the idea that the magazine not only contains football/soccer content but also arts culture and world topics with a football reader in mind.
The following information is research from "AdsoftheWorld.com"
Advertising Agency: Lola / Lowe & Partners, Madrid, Spain
Executive Creative Director: Chacho Puebla
Creative Directors: Francisco Cassis, Sito Morillo
Copywriters: Nicolás Gómez Cal, Sito Morillo
Art director: Bruno Nakano
Designer: Nicolás Ordozgoiti
Client contact: Diego Barcala, Oscar Abou-Kassem
Client Service Director: Daniele Cicini
Account executive: Laura Gerpe
Producer: Cristina Español
Production Company: Blur
Director: Federico Cummins
Post Production: Serena
This one has subtitles.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2014 is the year of soccer! Get ready creatives & media types!
Definitely witty, they did a lot with very small production needs. Their powerful tool here is the scripted dialogue.
The campaign also contains a hashtag;#siteloexplicanconfutbol that will attempt to do the same as the commercial, speak to you in football terms with their tweets in an attempt to push the idea that the magazine not only contains football/soccer content but also arts culture and world topics with a football reader in mind.
The following information is research from "AdsoftheWorld.com"
Advertising Agency: Lola / Lowe & Partners, Madrid, Spain
Executive Creative Director: Chacho Puebla
Creative Directors: Francisco Cassis, Sito Morillo
Copywriters: Nicolás Gómez Cal, Sito Morillo
Art director: Bruno Nakano
Designer: Nicolás Ordozgoiti
Client contact: Diego Barcala, Oscar Abou-Kassem
Client Service Director: Daniele Cicini
Account executive: Laura Gerpe
Producer: Cristina Español
Production Company: Blur
Director: Federico Cummins
Post Production: Serena
This one has subtitles.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2014 is the year of soccer! Get ready creatives & media types!
1.09.2014
Golden Globe 2014 Nominees full list
Golden Globes 2014 List of Nominee
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
(Blue Jasmine)
|
(Gravity)
|
(Philomena)
|
(Saving Mr. Banks)
|
(Labor Day)
|
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
(12 Years a Slave)
|
(Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
|
(Captain Phillips)
|
(Dallas Buyers Club)
|
(All is Lost)
|
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Best Actress In A Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
(American Hustle)
|
(Before Midnight)
|
(Frances Ha)
|
(Enough Said)
|
(August: Osage County)
|
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
(American Hustle)
|
(Nebraska)
|
(The Wolf of Wall Street)
|
(Inside Llewyn Davis)
|
(Her)
|
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
(Blue Jasmine)
|
(American Hustle)
|
(12 Years a Slave)
|
(August: Osage County)
|
(Nebraska)
|
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
(Captain Phillips)
|
(Rush)
|
(American Hustle)
|
(12 Years a Slave)
|
(Dallas Buyers Club)
|
Best Director - Motion Picture
(Gravity)
|
(Captain Phillips)
|
(12 Years a Slave)
|
(Nebraska)
|
(American Hustle)
|
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
(Her)
|
(Nebraska)
|
(Philomena)
|
(12 Years a Slave)
|
(American Hustle)
|
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
(All is Lost)
|
(Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
|
(Gravity)
|
(The Book Thief)
|
(12 Years a Slave)
|
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
(Hunger Games Catching Fire)
|
(Frozen)
|
(Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
|
(Inside Llewyn Davis)
|
(One Chance)
|
Best TV Series, Drama
Breaking Bad
|
Downton Abbey
|
The Good Wife
|
House of Cards
|
Masters of Sex
|
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama
(The Good Wife)
|
(Orphan Black)
|
(Orange Is the New Black)
|
(Scandal)
|
(House of Cards)
|
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama
(Breaking Bad)
|
(Ray Donovan)
|
(Masters of Sex)
|
(House of Cards)
|
(The Blacklist)
|
Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy
The Big Bang Theory
|
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
|
Girls
|
Modern Family
|
Parks and Recreation
|
Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
(New Girl)
|
(Girls)
|
(Nurse Jackie)
|
(Veep)
|
(Parks and Recreation)
|
Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
(Arrested Development)
|
(House of Lies)
|
(The Michael J. Fox Show)
|
(The Big Bang Theory)
|
(Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
|
Best TV Movie or Mini-Series
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
(Burton and Taylor)
|
(The White Queen)
|
(American Horror Story: Coven)
|
(Phil Spector)
|
(Top of the Lake)
|
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
(Behind the Candelabra)
|
(Behind the Candelabra)
|
(Dancing on the Edge)
|
(Luther)
|
(Phil Spector)
|
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
(Dancing On the Edge)
|
(The White Queen)
|
(Nashville)
|
(Parenthood)
|
(Modern Family)
|
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
(The Good Wife)
|
(Behind the Candelabra)
|
(Breaking Bad)
|
(House of Cards)
|
11.05.2013
My friend Shaun Chapa, We met at UNT
Mil gracias Shaun for being an example of tireless work towards the right thing. I'll never forget our conversations on "el movimiento unido de nuestra gente" on political issues, religious rights, student involvement, biculturalism, poverty, Latinos in the U.S., higher education, and just down fighting for what's right.
My heart goes out to all the family & good friends of Shaun Chapa. Through his involvement in numerous strong organizations he left doors opened and inspired minds! I'm so grateful to have shared college years with you. Both of us from South Texas made our way to the University of North Texas campus moving mountains and crossing paths. So proud of all you accomplished in your short life buddy. Thank you for being you and never giving up on the much needed fight.
You will be missed DJ Chapa! :)
It's because of people like Shaun that we can progress in human rights and justice. He felt so passionate about bringing justice to many different topics and he never let go of an opportunity to speak his mind and or do something about it.
My heart goes out to all the family & good friends of Shaun Chapa. Through his involvement in numerous strong organizations he left doors opened and inspired minds! I'm so grateful to have shared college years with you. Both of us from South Texas made our way to the University of North Texas campus moving mountains and crossing paths. So proud of all you accomplished in your short life buddy. Thank you for being you and never giving up on the much needed fight.
You will be missed DJ Chapa! :)
It's because of people like Shaun that we can progress in human rights and justice. He felt so passionate about bringing justice to many different topics and he never let go of an opportunity to speak his mind and or do something about it.
10.15.2013
2014 is the year of soccer - 2014 el año de el Fútbol, de la copa mundial, de Brazil
2014 is the year of Soccer. I've been warning it around the workplace and nobody here seems to care or move an inch towards that piggy bank.
When I used to work in TV at the national level with one of the Nation's top TV networks of prime time alone and as well a pioneer in Spanish Language media, it was a no brainer; Our business was the Hispanic and Latin audience and consumer.
But in the media world itself I am convinced that such a worldly event (whether or not you personally like soccer) is a matter to be brewing some business around.
And maybe it's my marketing mind that automatically thinks and delves; what big annual events are going on and how can we maximize opportunities around it?
Anyway,
It's the year of soccer. Everyone will get football fever. The talk of the town, the water cooler topic to the extent that it will even get.
Brazil is such an attractive country to host it at, after all it is also the nation of futbol legend Pelé one of the first of kind to mesmerize the world with the beauty of the sport of soccer. He also was a key role in Brazil winning their first World Cup 1958.
He's specifically from Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
I'm very much looking forward to it and very much excited to note the campaigns and Ads that will spur around this world attention event.
When I used to work in TV at the national level with one of the Nation's top TV networks of prime time alone and as well a pioneer in Spanish Language media, it was a no brainer; Our business was the Hispanic and Latin audience and consumer.
But in the media world itself I am convinced that such a worldly event (whether or not you personally like soccer) is a matter to be brewing some business around.
And maybe it's my marketing mind that automatically thinks and delves; what big annual events are going on and how can we maximize opportunities around it?
Anyway,
It's the year of soccer. Everyone will get football fever. The talk of the town, the water cooler topic to the extent that it will even get.
Brazil is such an attractive country to host it at, after all it is also the nation of futbol legend Pelé one of the first of kind to mesmerize the world with the beauty of the sport of soccer. He also was a key role in Brazil winning their first World Cup 1958.
1969 Brazil stamp commemorating Pelé's landmark 1000 goals
He's specifically from Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Bill Clinton with Minister of Extraordinary Sports Pelé of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, October 15 1997
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
Photographic Portfolio--1997 Vol. II – William J. Clinton
- image from: www.access.gpo.gov
- first upload: Oct 8, 2004 - de:Wikipedia
I'm very much looking forward to it and very much excited to note the campaigns and Ads that will spur around this world attention event.
5.31.2012
Hello Twenty Seven
Turned 27. Spent time on the beach and with the ocean. With laughs and good spirits.
Life is beautiful. I am so grateful for one more year of life.
Thank you God for this immense blessing, answered my small prayer in impeccable timing you truly are perfect and work in amazing ways, you give me just what I need when I need it before I realized I needed it and I am so grateful.
I have so much creative energy.
I trust that something good will come out of this. I have faith in that what I'm doing right now will lead to some amazing opportunities and experiences in this journey called life.
"Patience young Padawan."