Joel.Simone

Update: The Doorway movie is complete. View the 2 min trailer on Youtube, The Doorway trailer.  View the full 20 min movie, The Doorway movie.

After visiting SF MOMA, I drove out to the Sunset District, where Nero Nava lives. Nero Nava is producing the sound track for The Doorway. It’s been a while since I’ve gone to San Fransisco or seen Nero, and the purpose of our meeting was to catch up and collaborate on the subject matter of the movie.

First off, it is worth mentioning, I’ve known Nero since middle school, Wells Middle School in Dublin to be exact. Aside from being an incredible producer, musician, and artist, he is a very consistent and loyal friend. When Nero says he is going to do something, I have no doubt he will follow-up with the action. I’m very fortunate for his help in this project.

When I arrived, he explained how his pet taranchula escaped. I was first concerned of having the spider unexpectedly creep up on me, but within a moment, I realized he was genuinely concerned for his little friend. After showing how he hoped to lure the spider back into safety, we left for our dinner lunch meeting.

From the beginning of our friendship, Nero has introduced me to a range of influencing artistic music. In the spirit of the project, he offered me a gift. It was a CD with “The Smiths” hand written upon it, and he said, “This is some of the best…music you can get your hands on; I thought you’d appreciate it.” He explained how the CD included his personal selection of songs by The Smiths. So I popped the CD into the car stereo and track 1, “How Soon is Now,” played. We started driving and talking, and our subject matter was indirectly related with The Doorway and Rob Nilsson’s place in art and cinema among other similar topics and side tracks. After nearly seven blocks of driving, inspired by our conversation, Nero said, “I know where to eat!” He directed me down town, and we continued on our subject matter.

We drove a little ways pass the Embarcadero Center, maybe several blocks before Fisherman’s Warf, and stopped at a little diner on the corner, Fog City Diner. We both ordered cheese burgers and fries, probably one of the best cheeseburgers and fries I’ve ever had, and started our conversation on The Doorway.

I gave a quick break down and explained how the movie will be centered around three aspects: one is Jordan’s real world, two is Jordan’s conversations and contacts on the phone (whether in person or by message), and three is Jordan’s dream world, which is tied in with the room as explained in the parable, “The Doorway.”

Nero immediately followed with how he imagined the music to be. He explained how the sound would be subtle as to complement and enhance the scenes. If there was a tune, then it would hold through the entire piece, as a theme. He explained the power of using this interval with subtle sound effects, and he gave an absolutely beautiful example of the most heightened aspect of a live classical performance, “Have you ever been to an orchestra? What is the most luring part of the performance? It’s not when they tune, but it’s the moment after; when the musicians fingers part from the strings, and the sound of the separation is followed by a silence that heightens an uncanny awareness before the orchestra proceeds. I want to use that effect in the dream sequences.” I immediately understood and was enthralled with the idea. It reminded me of the chemistry between lovers; when passion pulls each together for a kiss, and with a slight graze, their lips momentarily and softly touch before gently recoiling and holding before the anticipation of full union. I agreed upon his idea of using such effects, and I affirmed Nero’s complete control to create as he wished. We decided I would make another private development page where he could reference the scenes as Jason Hitchings an I produced them. He would then provide the music for the particular parts as they were captured, and we would pass the part back and forth as he sculpted the sound and I sculpted the images.

Update: The Doorway movie is complete. View the 2 min trailer on Youtube, The Doorway trailer.  View the full 20 min movie, The Doorway movie.