Themes of the Year

Lately I've been fascinated with image, persona, the way a woman sees herself. And how these thoughts of how should they look can be abused, taken to the extreme-whether it's them doing plasic surgery, getting lifts, or simply putting on- what I call their 'mask'-Makeup.

In the last short movie I directed 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early' is a story that touches on vanity and sexuality. This is just a small dose, there is story that I still have in mind to do about plastic surgery...a major topic (esp. in Hollywood) in various places. In Brazil there are many getting plastic surgery, as well as Japan. High percentages. This fascinates me because it's so psychological. It's all in the mind how we want to be seen and how we see ourselves...and where our influences come from to why we want to look-dress-a certain way.

The other major theme/topic that keeps popping up is the relationship between father and daughter. This is something I've tackled in my lastest scripts-'My Angry Summer' (due to go into production Summer 2012), 'Begin' (feature length), 'Identity' (short-in post production) and the upcoming short 'A Thousand Kisses Before Death' (due to begin production this fall). It's a topic that doesn't grow old and that should be depicted more on screen because the importance of it I don't think people really get it as of yet. The major role of the father figure in a young girls' life and how if this relationship isn't developed in a nurishing way, it has a profound effect on the daughter, and can possibly have a ripple effect for the next generation.  

These stories are leading into the feature length epic 'The Lost Breed'. This movie is to be the kick off to a massive trilogy that dares to go into the murky corridors of the underworld life of prostitution and human trafficking. This is serious business.

After coming off of directing 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early' , my directing and approach to movies has changed-for the better-I dare not to turn back-nothing is mediocre-nothing is impossible. 

'Beautiful' Stills Pt.3

Pic 1. Keith B. (director) Pic. Raimonda S., (actress) Stephen's hand (d.p.) & Keith B. (dir.)
Pic. 2. Keith B. (dir.) Pic. 3 Keith B. (dir.) & Nicole P. (actress) Pic. 4 Keith B. (dir.)

Photos by Raul G.

'Beautiful' Stills Pt. 2

Pic 1: Joy C. (actress) Pic 2. Stephen L. (Director of Photography) Keith B. (director) Pic 3. Stephen L. (dp)

Photos by Raul G.

'Beautiful' Stills

On the set of 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early'.

Pic 1. Nicole P. (actress) Stephen L. (director of photography) Keith B. (director, writer, producer) Pic 2. Raimonda S. (actress) Pic 3. Aija T. (actress)

Photos By Raul G.

bittersweet days with the 'Beautiful' Ones

After nearly 40 scenes, more than 100 shots, with some of the most 7 incredible characters later, a bittersweet feeling erupts inside me. Making my new short movie, 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early'  in 5 days, it has happened at a pace where I haven't let it all sink in. It feels almost like a dream. I was surrounded by a dream cast with a dream crew. We were all connected, focused to bring out the best in the scenes and doing a great job with choreographing each scene.

In the past 13 years that I've been making movies, this has been one of the best times of my life directing a movie. There were so many laughs and precious moments to hold onto. The movie is one of the most uniquely photographed ones of mine, thanks to my wonderful cinematographer Stephen Leon. What a creative mind this man has...and my P.A., Raul Garcia, was incredible!!

Note: To Raimonda S., you are such a thrill to work with!!

The 'BEAUTIFUL' ones

For the past few months or more I have been working along with my dp Stephen Leon on what is to be a great movie experience! The movie I've been losing lots of sleep over (in a good way)  is entitled 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early'. It's an experimental piece, with no dialogue, cut to the music of Chopin and possibly another famous composer. It's a movie hard to explain for the most part but it's main themes are Vanity, Death, Image, Persona. All this and more depicted by some of the most wonderful actress' alive...

This is the first time I'm directing a all women cast. Very exciting, very intense, very important. In the times we live in where media for many years has been telling us this is how you, women, should look, this is how you should dress, this is how you should feel, and this is what is going to happen when you reach this age, etc...the movie brings these things up and challenges the audience one way or another.

This is a very important movie to me because it's going to speak universally to women of different backgrounds and I want to stir up discussions about how women in society is looked at and treated in our present time...

Postponed 'SUMMER'

Production for my short movie 'My Angry Summer'  has been postponed until summer 2012. The script is done. Locations still have to be scouted. And money has to be raised. It'll happen in due time. It's a script I'm proud of.
The young lady who will star in the movie will be making her debut. It's exciting. 2012 will be here quickly.