Writer/Director Michael Eldon Lobsinger

Writer/Director Michael Eldon Lobsinger  

first time blogger

Hi everyone. Welcome to my first blog. I've decided to try and reach out to more of my fans (and hopefully new fans) of 'Darktooth Films' by beginning a blog such as this. This one's gonna be a long one I'm sure, being it's my first.  So, if you're not a reader like me, you may not make it to the end, which is okay.

The main purpose of my blogs will be geared more towards sharing my mid-life career-change experiences, challenges, struggles and achievements and share many things I've learned. I'm hoping to help others here that may be wanting to live their passion as I am doing now, regardless of what chapter they're on in their life.

discipline and sacrifice

For the longest time, I've been asked by several fans and a lot of students of mine about how I've managed to completely drop a 25-year career and achieve my goals, knowledge and experience in filmmaking in a very short period of time. Well, I have two words for that...discipline and sacrifice! 

Hand held work on pick up shots for 'Miss Fyer'

And, if you're already a filmmaker, you know that this type of career path is very difficult but fulfilling. It's a passion...and it ain't easy by no means. We just love it and were made for it. So we do it.

And this is surely not a rags to riches story...it's more like a rags to starving artist story right now, with a big dose of happiness tossed in.  Again, my underlying goal here is for me to help, guide, assist, teach and/or add my 2 cents to any other new filmmaker or wanna be filmmaker out there that is feeling the same way I did before making this crazy, awesome, leap of faith. I've been a filmmaker for only five years now and this first blog will be more of a personal one about the goals I've achieved as a filmmaker from day one to now.

I'm gonna need to give you a little backstory. So, from Heath Ledger's award winning character as 'The Joker' (Batman Begins 2005):

'Here....we....GO!'

study, shoot, sleep...rinse & repeat

I enrolled and began classes at the Palm Beach Film School on February 12, 2007.  I was 46. When I met the director of the school, Jim York, I remember saying to myself and envisioning it, that someday, I'll be teaching/working at this school here after I'm done. I could feel it. And I kept that vision with me all the time.

I saved up enough (well, not enough, but some) funds to quit my high salary 'dead-end' job after 25 years. I left if all behind on September 8, 2007, and I never looked back. Why? Because I didn't want an opportunity (called 'desperate money') to be calling me back to a job that made me feel desperately dead inside.

I'd much rather learn how to write, shoot, direct and edit a short film in which I did. My debut short film, 'Miss Fyer' was completed by the beginning of that September. I was told to 'keep it simple' when it came to writing the script and I did; one location, two characters, 12-page script! The extra 'fun-stress' (as I call it), was when I decided to act in my film - which I'm very proud of but highly don't recommend it for first time filmmakers. 

Debut Short Film by Director Michael Eldon Lobsinger

I graduated from the Palm Beach Film School when my film premiered on my 47th birthday, September 25, 2007.  I considered myself a writer/director for the first time. 

I've spent countless hours on many other film shoots...all for free. Anything I could get my hands on from grip to gaffer to standing around observing...I was there! And continued my studies online at least six to seven hours a day/night. STUDY, SHOOT, SLEEP...rinse, repeat. Not necessarily in that order. After writing many goals down of what I wanted to achieve, several came true quite quickly.

Richard Arnold, Dan Stiles & MEL for Golf Channel

I was soon hired by NEP, a huge company out of Pittsburgh to work as a Cameraman Assistant and a Utility Crewman for The Golf Channel in October 2007 for the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Port Saint Lucie. I was still very green for this type of big production but I didn't care. I was finally making green while I was on the green!


On November 4, 2007, Jim York hired me to be a Line Producer at the school that I just graduated from. Wow, now I can put all my efforts into helping other students learn the craft of filmmaking and hopefully inspire them as much as I've been inspired over the past few months and make a little money at it. 

Later in November, 'Miss Fyer' won two awards at the Rochester International Short Film Festival in Missouri; Best Audio and Best Female Performer (Carole Wood). That came with a $200 prize for the director in which I humbly accepted.

Line Producer Michael Eldon Lobsinger with student Julio Coutinho, 2009

But now that I'm a line producer, I had to step up my game even more being that I would be the one that students would be looking up to. More pressure, meant much more studying, more research, more learning and more sacrifices. I loved it all and dove right in. As my funds were dwindling down fast, I had to really buckle down even more, (no dating, no dinner outings, no a/c in the house and no heat/or drying laundry; other things like no subscription magazines, no pest control, no clothes shopping and I mostly ate cereal, grill cheese and PB&J sandwiches and was just loving life.

At times I even thought to myself, 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' cause, man was I rolling fast, working periodically on 14 to 19 hour day film shoots (that's being kind); mostly from West Palm Beach to South Miami, Cooper City and even Belle Glade, FL. And I live way out of the way in Port Saint Lucie, FL. My longest film shoot was 26 hours down in Hollywood, Florida. But hey, my was passion screaming loud and I was earning the respect in this business. 

Actor C. Todd Vittum and MEL (Commercial)

With many compliments during my on-set filmmaking/teachings, I was always uncomfortable when asked how long I've been doing this. When you've only been in the film business for less than a year and you're out on location teaching students everything about basic filmmaking (confidently), and being able to inspire them as they achieve their own passion, it was quite exciting but difficult to spit the answer out. Of course some students and a lot of actors thought I was doing this all my life which was a huge compliment I'd always take.


But that's the energy, knowledge and enthusiasm I wanted to bring to the table. What was more important to me than anything was to gain the respect from the students and other teachers to let them know and see that I was a thousand percent into making them as excited to make a film as I was and still am.

Darin Perron of DMS

What I was really trying to do is cram 10 years of film business into three being that I found my passion really late in life. About this same time, I decided to call a former classmate of mine, Darin Perron. His company, Digital Motion Studios (DMS) specializes in filming commercials and marketing videos and I asked if he needed any help. He brought me on as a freelance cameraman and soundman. A little more work, yes! Not only did I do some assistant camera work but also acted in a couple paid commercials. Things were falling into place for me slowly but surely.

First Music Video Directed By MEL

For the production of my second film, I chose to do a music video for the song, 'Falling' written by Aerik Nagel, the lead guitarist for the band former band, Godwired, in which I was the guitarist. I like the fact that the project was another step or two up for me and not too big for me to handle; a two page shotlist and treatment of the storyline; five characters (musicians), three locations and lots of 'B' roll. I had 14-one hour long DV tapes to edit for a 7 minute long music video which included an intro. I might have went overboard on the 'B' roll footage. The music video premiered in April of 2008. I was very pleased when my second film was complete! It got some wonderful rave reviews at private screenings and via internet streaming.

Next was the opportunity to work for The Medical Tourism Association which promotes health care overseas. MTA, being a huge client of DMS, Darin was hired to produce and direct promos for the company which in turn, he hired me to be one of his cameramen for the filming of interviews and conventions they have yearly. So, I did some traveling to Mexico (2008), L.A. (2009 & 2010) and Chicago (2011). Now I felt like a filmmaker at work and was building my portfolio very well.

Filming in Mexico for M.T.A.

After a while, I became the  only LP for all the students at both the Palm Beach and Miami Film Schools (2008) and soon I logged in being on over 150 film locations. It was now time to write another screenplay and direct again. So, after a bit of a writing block, and after writing for 10 months and finishing several drafts, 'Interfearence' was filmed and release October 2009. It was a 5 day shoot which took 8 months to film. I took on more characters since I was now experienced and knew what to expect on set. (Four locations, six characters, 24 page script).

'Interfearence' - Florida's Choice Award at the TCIFF 2009

I know what you're thinking. It took 8 months to film a five day shoot? Welcome to filmmaking with volunteers and no budget and working with other people's schedules. I accomplished it though and ended up playing the main role after unsuccessfully not being able to cast anyone (again). Some things are just meant to be. I was actually very happy with the outcome.

The film went on to win Florida's Choice Award at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival in 2010. This was the third film where Darin Perron was my DP. 

Other experiences for me included filming Horse Training Shows for a few companies. I've been to Ocala, Wellington and West Palm Beach, FL for clinics and filmed interviews and horse riders from all over. That's what's great about this business, you just never know where you'll end up and what you'll be filming. 

Let me tell you, if you're in need of some camera experience in trying to follow moving objects and maintaining focus and keeping a steady frame, filming horse riders is the perfect solution for any green camera op.

Jim Brandon Equestrian Ranch

It really trains your eye and hand coordination in moving the camera and keeping the appropriate shot continuously.

In 2010, more freelance work came around when another one of my students, David J. Cowan, Sr. of Palm Beach Video wanted an experience cameraman for web videos, depositions and other marketing videos.

David J. Cowan Sr. of Palm Beach Vide0

I had a goal of being on at least 200 film shoot locations by February 12, 2010, three years later after I sat down for the first time in class. Well, I ended up with 205 under my belt ranging from student films, commercials, infomercials, music videos and even documentaries. 

I was now in progress with my fourth film, a musical documentary, 'Birth of a Band' (2010).
 
Jim York and our client, singer/composer Tommy Mitchell, trusted me as a producer, director and editor as I  followed and filmed the behind the scenes of 12 talented musicians that all came together for one live concert. I needed good camera op's so I brought on board professional cameramen who were actually the ones that taught me a lot in this business just a few years back, my teachers, Matt Miller and Steve Devlin. Also on board were, two other awesome camera op's, David J. Cowan, Sr. and Zac Rakszawski. The project took over a year to complete and the film premiered in December of 2010.

Co-Winner for Best Documentary at TCIFF (2011)

In April of 2011, the film was the Co-Winner for Best Documentary at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival.

Now, as all this was feeling very good to me, I thought by now my 'three year plan' would have kicked in being I thought I would be able to make some sort of living by now, but that has not happened yet. I was sinking badly with my financial duties and was asking myself, 'go back to my old life?' NO! Not an option! Some work was available and even if it wasn't there, payment-wise, I took it anyway, again  just  for more experience.

Once the documentary was complete, I was overjoyed by knowing I finished another huge challenge. Now is was time to relax some but I knew still that I wasn't capable of doing that. By now, being that my three year plan has now turned into a 5 year plan, I just knew I had to accept it and keep on making films.


Within a month, I was all ready to take on another project, my fifth film. But since 'Birth' was my biggest project to date, I decided to lay low and collaborate with a very good friend of mine for my next film.

Amanda Sofia & Dylan Fernandez

Director Jack Mendes of JVM Productions and myself listened to a song called 'Buried Traces' that was written by Amanda Sofia (formerly of Godwired) and we both were blown away by it. Jack and I decided to co-direct and co-edit a music video for her. So, for almost a year with difficulty in finding time to shoot, deciding on the story concept and dealing with scheduling conflicts, we finally completed the video. It was released via internet streaming on August 30, 2011.

Co-directors MEL & Jack Mendes

  

Co-Directed by MEL and Jack Mendes

So, there you have it, five films in film years and I've been on over 350 or so film shoot locations now (I've stopped counting) and have been a cameraman for several in-state and out of state projects.

I've won awards for three of my films. But I've always taught my students to not concentrate on the 'award thing' and just to make films they're passionate about.

I believe, seriously, that films should be made because of personal interests and to never think about winning awards. I felt the same when I was coaching my daughters softball team. I'd tell them 'it ain't about winning at your level right now, it's all about about learning the discipline and earning the respect' along with the game'. 

MEL at TCIFF (2011)

And I have earned respect in this business as a filmmaker and only wish to earn more. I'll never know enough about it as it just continues to move forward vastly, but that's the beauty of it.

It may seem like a boasting blog here but let me be clear again; I'm blogging only to build up my fan-base to inspire others and mostly because, I know there is someone out there that is at a dead end street somewhere. And that person may want to change it for the better (whether to become a filmmaker, firefighter, carpenter or whatever). And I am one to tell you that if it's your passion, it can be done.

My oldest student was 72 and he said to me, 'I just wanna make a movie before I die; it's something I've always wanted to do'. It surely ain't easy and I don't want to mislead or say that following your passion is easy, cause it's not. It will take a lot of those two words I said before: 'discipline and sacrifice' plus a severe amount of positive attitude and a smile on your face to let others know you're just fine. 

Jack Mendes of JVM Production

Hey, I'm still broke but my spirits are richer than ever and I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. And that's what makes it worth it.

If you can get to a point in your life where you feel that every day is a Friday...then, my friend, you've made it, in my opinion.

I have always been a firm believer that money comes from extreme hard efforts. And it will. Of course this damn economy surely didn't help matters for me. It hit hard at the same time I quit my day job. Did it stop me. NO! I followed my gut!

I just kept going and will continue to keep going 100mph in this film life until I can feel like I can't go anymore.


And hopefully, I can be rocking it like my idol, Clint Eastwood and still be making films when I'm 82. The legend is 82 today, May 31, 2012, and was filming in Georgia just a few months ago.

next blog about latest film

Just so happened, two years ago, on May 31, 2010, (on Clint's 80th birthday), I began taking napkin notes on a new idea for my first feature screenplay. Finally, I felt I was ready for the writing adventure.

One of my idols, Clint Eastwood

And what a writing adventure it was! But during this time, I was able to complete my sixth film, another documentary about a young boy with Asperger Syndrome. More about all this coming soon on my next 'shorter' blog. So, anyway, it would make my day, (since you read this blog up to this point), if you'd could jot down any comments or questions. 

So, as I close out this blog out, finally...I'll quote a little catch phrase from the Academy Award Winner, Legend, Clint Eastwood from his Dirty Harry days as Harry Callihan (Sudden Impact, 1983):

'Go Ahead, Make My Day!'

I hope I've made yours, Peace out... -MEL

D.P. Michael Eldon Lobsinger with Director Michael Chasin on set of Chasin's Award Winning short film,  'Death & Life'.  Filmed at The Miami Film School. My longest film shoot to date, 26 hours. With Actress Jane Irelan and Director Jo Ellen Hoffman (on Sound)