SFSDF Student Interview – Franck Tabouring

From time to time, we are going to feature a student and learn more about what makes them tick. First up, Franck Tabouring, Class 10, One-Year Digital Filmmaking Program. Franck is not only a filmmaker, he also runs a well-regarded movie website called The Screening Log. Although he’s super-busy keeping up with his classwork and his blog, Franck took a few moments to answer some questions.

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Why did you choose SFSDF as the place to follow your filmmaking dreams?
I chose SFSDF for several reasons, one being the small class sizes and the school’s focus on really getting students involved in the process of filmmaking. Most schools I considered just seemed too big and less intense, but the structure of the SFSDF program and the school’s promise to have students be involved in dozens of films over the course of one year were the most appealing to me. Additionally, I fell in love with San Francisco when I first visited and decided it would be the perfect place for post-college studies. That’s also part of the reason I picked SFSDF.

Franck looking serious in stripes

What has been the hardest part of learning filmmaking so far?
For me personally, that would be the process of screenwriting. I am more of a visual person who very much enjoys the technical aspects of filmmaking, and I never really saw myself as a big storyteller. Coming up with a satisfying idea for a script and then developing it was definitely the most challenging thing for me so far this year, but I now feel I learned a lot to make the process easier.

Who do you look to for filmmaking inspiration?
My instructors and colleagues at SFSDF, of course, but also to my favorite filmmakers. Actually, I generally look directly to the big screen for inspiration. More specifically, I have grown very attached to the work of David Lynch, my favorite director, and the style of Wong Kar-Wai and Christopher Doyle. Other filmmakers I really examine are Paul Thomas Anderson, Clint Eastwood and Richard Linklater. They have all created some unforgettable masterpieces that just made me want to become a filmmaker.

Tell me about Screening Log. How did you get involved?
I previously ran my own movie Web site in my home country of Luxembourg, but when I came to the U.S. in 2006 to attend college, I had to shut it down. As a journalism major in a very competitive environment, I then decided to connect what I learned with my passion for film, which is why I launched The Screening Log in December of 2007. It started off as a short blog carrying reviews only, but I soon extended the content. The site now offers the latest film news, box office reports, reviews, previews, trailers, clips and anything film-related. The site also boasts an average of 75,000 unique visitors per month, which is not all too bad for a blog run by only one person without a budget. (By the way, I’m looking for talented writers with a passion for film to jump on board)

Franck sizes up SF and decides to stick around.

What are your plans after you finish school?
That’s a tough one to answer, primarily because I believe the film industry is unpredictable. Right now though, I plan on getting on sets and get as much experience as possible, even if the jobs are rather simple at first. I recently interviewed a director (Lynn Shelton) who told me that getting yourself on bigger sets at any cost and showing commitment and hard work are the best ways to break into this industry. She did it the same way and recently released a critically acclaimed feature (“Humpday”), so I will follow her advice. I also recently spoke with Guillermo Arriaga (“21 Grams”), and he told me that another way to get your films done is to convince people out there that your work is important. That’s another piece of advice I will go head and try.

What is your favorite line from a movie, ever?
That’s a question I really can’t answer because I have so many, but if I really had to pick one, I would go with a line from my favorite character of my favorite TV series of all time (I’m cheating a bit because it’s not a movie), Special Agent Dale Cooper in “Twin Peaks”:

“Harry, I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.”

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Franck is blogging about his experience here at SFSDF, too. Check it out here. And you can see his first film while at SFSDF here. And while you’re at it, become a fan of The Screening Log Facebook page.