Good Apples

Me and David went up to JDC (Joe Dunton and Company) yesterday to do a little camera test for the music video we are shooting in a week or so. The usual suspects were present. Mick brought us 'my' box of Cooke primes and Agis brought 'my' little lens for my viewfinder focusing (I am so short sighted the camera viewfinder won't adjust to my eyesight). Also present was Joe Dunton in the flesh. Later on, me and David got talking to him as he explained how David could re edit our film, Escaping Ornsay. He liked our film and showed another 2 shorts to us shot on Anamorphic (JDC are Anamorphic lovers and now i am too). I very rarely feel small when talking to anyone but one couldn't help but feel like I was shrinking as Joe Dunton spoke with us. He is a decent man and he ended up talking with us for more than an hour. David mentioned Robert Altman (who recently passed away) and Joe says, "he was a friend of mine...". Here is the Vice President of The BSC (British Society of Cinematographers), good friend of the late Stanely Kubrick and we were sat there with him watching our little lucky soul music video. It's a little surreal but I shit you not- it made my day. One felt like a school girl whose skirt just caught a gust of wind...

Despite settling back into London life from my travels at the end of last winter with good progress in shoots and the social life not being too shabby, I still feel the urge to leave this place frequently. Even though I haven't had time to think of Beijing much, I still want to go to Beijing and learn Mandarin. I may have to wait a little longer than originally hoped as this time is, a time of acquisition. My showreel is stating to show signs of a good grade that I am happy with and will have a new one by April that I may hope to get an agent with. Added that David is pitching for music videos now, it won’t be long until we are both shooting them for small, yet reasonable budgets. And it may not be too long until we do get decent budgets and shoot regularly. When, how and what we acquire is important. If this year be a leap forward into regular paid shoots, no matter how important Beijing is to me, it will, have to wait (as the latter financial situation won't exist without the other).

I first came across JDC 10 months ago. After 9 months I bumped into Joe Dunton on my way out (a few weeks ago). And now a conversation. It would be interesting to have a drink with him and ask and learn from him. It would be great. But I guess, we have to be patient and see where the wind takes us.

- J