Trevor Cunningham

  • Outskirts

    • 7 Feb 2011
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    • Filmmaking Outskirts Student Film
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    I’m taking a short break from doing screenplay breakdowns to bring you a brief post. Back in the mid 80s, after I my volunteer days at Cable Regina, I enrolled in the University of Regina’s Film Program. One of the films I did was a strange journey involving a ‘Driver’, ‘The Wheelchair Man’ and a character by the name of ‘Lindsay’. Though there is a linear plot about a killer on the road, driving a Ford Galaxy to destinations unknown, don’t ask me what it’s about. But there’s something about the film I still love, maybe because it’s a half-baked cocktail of ideas. Perhaps it’s my-then-art-school-nihilism combined with Ronald Reagan’s vague threats of a nuclear apocalypse. Mix those notions-up with a lot of hanging out at the University pub called ‘The Lazy Owl’ and you have this weird little number called ‘Outskirts’. It’s 19 minutes long, shot on 16mm black and white. As a matter of fact, it’s the only project of mine that I ever shot on actual film stock. Ever. And that was in 1987/88.

     

    The other thing I remember was financing it myself after a car accident. You see I was driving a 1967 Monkey-shit brown Chevy Malibu that never let me down. On a winter day, a girl slid into the back of my car. The front end of her car crumpled and mine received a mere dent. Instead of fixing the bumper and a minor injury to my 400-dollar boat, I used the insurance money to make a film. Pretty stupid, but worth it to me in the end. How else was I going to buy film?

     

    Anyway, long story short, I shot on film, had it transferred to ¾ inch tape and edited from there- cutting edge over 20 years ago The only remaining copy is now on VHS (so forgive the shoddy screen captures). Just thought I’d post this for a few friends out there since I’ve been on a bit of a nostalgia trip of late. A short ‘trailer’ is at the end for your viewing.

     

    Cheers,

    Trev

     

    Outskirtsmannaquin
    Outskirtsleaning
    Outskirtsparked
    Outskirtsdeaddrive
    Outskirtsthreecharcters
    Outskirstwheelchairspill
    (download)
    Click here to download:
    Trailer.mov (1.63 MB)

     

     

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  • Supply Your Own Light

    • 1 Feb 2011
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    It’s a deep-freeze with a record amount of snow in the Ol ‘Peg. February has started with a cold snap and general crankiness with shoveling on my part. This can be the tough month, but it tends to be one of my busiest for some reason. For those you putting together various proposals for March 1st deadline for funding, you know what I mean. I have a project I would like to put forward, but I’m waiting to hear about a gig, and that answer will come down tomorrow (Wednesday). If it goes ahead, then my proposal will have to be put on the back burner for at least two months. I don’t mind because it’s work. And work means money. I don’t mind my can of beans cold, but they’re better warm when you can pay the electric bill.

     

    Today I listened to the CRTC Hearings and was amused by the Internet-throttling, the Hearing’s odd buffering problems, and swore at my slipshod knowledge of French (since for no reason at all the French channel would bleed in to the English channel). As most of you know, there is a stink over the CRTC’s incredibly stupid decision to allow extra billing for Internet usage. A petition was signed with over 200, 000 signatures and now everyone on Parliament Hill was roused from its winter coma to agree with pissed-off Canadians (as much as Canucks do get pissed-off, which usually entails a stern letter to the editor, followed by an afternoon nap).

     

    Anyway, updating my CV offset the general crankiness and the onset of becoming another Winnipeg winter somnambulist. It was a reminder that I actually work. Try it some time. It can be a real ego-boost. The CV was updated to reflect my professional life on LinkedIn, so that it would feed to http://flavors.me/trevorbcunningham#_">my new site. More importantly, this exercise was a chance for me to take-stock of where I am. I’ve worked on a lot of stuff, especially as a 1st AD. I’ve written a few things that have gone before a camera, and some that still wallows in development hell – projects I still like, but victims of various fates.

     

    Going over my last 14 years can also be a bit like opening an old diary. A teenager’s diary to be exact, where some of your preoccupations, crushes, old partners and teachers can make you wince. However, all of them have taught you something valuable. Even the bad ones. So what did I conclude? Well, I feel I’m still learning. I feel I must go forward with my crazy micro-budget project this year. I feel I must get my book done this year as well. I have solid starts on both and they push me in new directions creatively and technically. And both scare the hell out of me. I’m liable to lose my shirt, my sanity and open myself-up to ridicule.

     

    I wouldn’t have it any other way.

     

    Cheers,

    Trev

     

    H/T to Chuck Wendig for finding this. I think it’s good for all of us in the dark-days of winter...now if you’ll excuse me, I have to answer a Producer’s email about doing another version of a shooting schedule.

    Tumblr_lfvbt5nvab1qzfb1eo1_500

     

     

     

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  • New Horizons

    • 30 Jan 2011
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    Meandthesky

    Well here we are. My first entry using a new tool. I have used Blogger in the past, but found the templates and look of the thing to be unappealing. I tried a paid hosting site called Squarespace, but found it expensive for what I was getting for my buck. Squarespace’s Gallery was buggy and the final straw was the jumpy, inconsistent nature of its blog entry function. If something as simple as writing text and posting an entry becomes a chore, you can bet your bottom dollar (especially in January after Christmas) that it will get the boot. It was an easy decision. So I have made Flavors.me my hub. I love the design and the ease. I plan on staying here a long time. I apologize to those of you following me on other sites, but I had to do it. I hate crappy hosting and limited design that is not pleasing to the eye. I hope you stick around.

     

    So come here often and feedback is welcome. If you’re into what I’m up to, from the mundane to the useful, checkout my Twitter Stream and my Facebook updates at the top of the site. My work and CV are also available. In the lower left corner you can Contact me, or make your own Flavors.me site.

     

    As of this Sunday, I’m taking stock of a few projects (one a book, the other a video project) that will go ahead this year. The book should be ready by October and the video project will be ongoing until November. A couple of First AD gigs have been rumoured and bandied-about, however both features have either pushed or gone quiet. This year I look forward to more music video work using my Canon 5D and Mr. Maddin always has something up his sleeve.

     

    So poke around and come back regularly. I plan on updating at least twice a week (sometimes more) and don’t be a stranger.

     

    Cheers,

    Trev

     

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    writer, filmmaker, content creator

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