Haven't you always wondered what would happen in you took violin music and turned it into a roller coaster? Well, thankfully Virtual Republic is on the job:
ZKO Rollercoaster // GREAT EMOTIONS from virtual republic on Vimeo.
How'd they do that?
ZKO Rollercoaster // Making Of from virtual republic on Vimeo.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Time lapse goals...they fly right by...
At the end of last year, on one of the screenwriting blogs I follow: Go Into The Story Scott Myers posted a great 10 part series about goals. Here's part 10 with links to the other 9 inside. It really got me thinking and planning. I needed a more solid goal than write X by X. I also needed to get better at working on more than one project at once and I needed to get better at *finishing* them. So I came up with a plan for the first month and year.
I've decided at the end of every month, I'll evaluate the goals I set at the beginning of the month, what worked, what didn't, what I need to change, etc etc. This month, I had 2 main goals. Finish my second first draft to a point where I felt comfortable with it...and outline enough of the next script where I could start writing on it.
I succeeded with the first enough to be okay with it, which is a big step. I think I'm going to put it away until at least after TF..although the third act isn't great...it needs a few more scenes, so perhaps I'll add those and *then* put it away. ....*don't pick at it!* ....yes mom.
The second is a not so much. I mean, I feel pretty comfortable where things are heading. I have all three acts broken down and I have the major plot points mapped out, so I could start in on the first act. Actually, I take that back, I'm totally going to start writing on it. My issue last time was that I outlined and outlined and reoutlined and didn't start writing until it was almost too late. So, my second goal is accomplished as well. Go team. Since I don't have the first act mapped out as much as I'd like to, I think I'll just start with the first few scenes and see where it goes. I know where I need to get to at the end of first act and I have the midpoint, plus I know who I need to introduce and why. So enough storyboarding, let's go shoot something. My boss had that cartoon in her office for the longest time....
What I've learned this past month is I need a better way to schedule my hours. I had a bit of a paradigm shift when I started thinking of writing as a job I'm not getting paid for yet. If I want to prove I can get paid for it, I have to put in the hours, like any job. I tried doing at least 2-3 hours each night having written a page and outlined some. That was great until about it got to be exhausting (and, ahem, I got sucked into a book or two) I ended up feeling bad if I didn't put in the hours each night, then things would snowball and it'd be 3 days later and I'd have to give myself a firm talking to and no biscuit. It was just a bad system overall...no rewards with plenty of self-induced punishments..and not in the good way.
So the new plan...weekly page count and hour goals. If I need a night off, if I'm tired, if I want to play videogames or play with friends or play videogames with friends, that's fine, but it means I gotta make up the time later on or preferably beforehand, but it has to be made up before the end of the weekend. I'm also left with a question of what's the total number of hours? Should it be 15? That's only 2 hours a night, which I can do and still leaves time to make up. But it's only 60 a month...which seems more like an intense hobby. If I kicked it up to 80 a month, that breaks down to a little under 3 each day. I think I can swing that if I have a "hard" hourly minimum of 2 hours/day writing/oulining and the other as "research" reading scripts, books & screenwriter blogs...hey just because it's fun doesn't mean it doesn't count.
And of course the final kicker, I won't know at all if i can keep that schedule until late March as TrueFalse is starting to kick into high gear. Only 30 days and there's a lot to do. I'm cutting back on some duties this year, but picking up others. Scheduling and training videographers, doing the same director skypes that seem to come up every year and then doing a bunch of other technical things here and there. I'm so glad Greg Babush came on board a few years ago. Now he's taken over so much in the projection area I can focus on what I'd really rather being doing...and am actually qualified for. Back then I was mostly winging it based on knowledge I picked up at my day job. Which was it's own sort of fun. But now I get to enjoy TF during the fest, rather than after.
Oh wait...Feb's goals. 15 pages &....30 hours? on the screenplay. I'm assuming I probably won't get anything done on it past mid-february so if I can get that finished in the next two weeks I'll consider myself gold.
And somewhere in the next few months I need to make time to get back into shape as we're doing some Grand Canyon back country hiking in May....which should be awesome. Kat's been playing around with timelapses and I'm jumping on that bandwagon. Hopefully, by May we'll have a timelapse dolly that we can take down with us and if our shots are even 1/10 as good as what Tom Lowe gets, then we'll be in good shape. Here's a trailer for his film, TimeScapes, coming out this May
Current music: Twister by Mark Mancina which always makes me think of double features in KC with Eric. And now that I link to amazon I find it's kinda expensive and out of print. Glad to still have my copy....or, I suppose, the internet:
I've decided at the end of every month, I'll evaluate the goals I set at the beginning of the month, what worked, what didn't, what I need to change, etc etc. This month, I had 2 main goals. Finish my second first draft to a point where I felt comfortable with it...and outline enough of the next script where I could start writing on it.
I succeeded with the first enough to be okay with it, which is a big step. I think I'm going to put it away until at least after TF..although the third act isn't great...it needs a few more scenes, so perhaps I'll add those and *then* put it away. ....*don't pick at it!* ....yes mom.
The second is a not so much. I mean, I feel pretty comfortable where things are heading. I have all three acts broken down and I have the major plot points mapped out, so I could start in on the first act. Actually, I take that back, I'm totally going to start writing on it. My issue last time was that I outlined and outlined and reoutlined and didn't start writing until it was almost too late. So, my second goal is accomplished as well. Go team. Since I don't have the first act mapped out as much as I'd like to, I think I'll just start with the first few scenes and see where it goes. I know where I need to get to at the end of first act and I have the midpoint, plus I know who I need to introduce and why. So enough storyboarding, let's go shoot something. My boss had that cartoon in her office for the longest time....
What I've learned this past month is I need a better way to schedule my hours. I had a bit of a paradigm shift when I started thinking of writing as a job I'm not getting paid for yet. If I want to prove I can get paid for it, I have to put in the hours, like any job. I tried doing at least 2-3 hours each night having written a page and outlined some. That was great until about it got to be exhausting (and, ahem, I got sucked into a book or two) I ended up feeling bad if I didn't put in the hours each night, then things would snowball and it'd be 3 days later and I'd have to give myself a firm talking to and no biscuit. It was just a bad system overall...no rewards with plenty of self-induced punishments..and not in the good way.
So the new plan...weekly page count and hour goals. If I need a night off, if I'm tired, if I want to play videogames or play with friends or play videogames with friends, that's fine, but it means I gotta make up the time later on or preferably beforehand, but it has to be made up before the end of the weekend. I'm also left with a question of what's the total number of hours? Should it be 15? That's only 2 hours a night, which I can do and still leaves time to make up. But it's only 60 a month...which seems more like an intense hobby. If I kicked it up to 80 a month, that breaks down to a little under 3 each day. I think I can swing that if I have a "hard" hourly minimum of 2 hours/day writing/oulining and the other as "research" reading scripts, books & screenwriter blogs...hey just because it's fun doesn't mean it doesn't count.
And of course the final kicker, I won't know at all if i can keep that schedule until late March as TrueFalse is starting to kick into high gear. Only 30 days and there's a lot to do. I'm cutting back on some duties this year, but picking up others. Scheduling and training videographers, doing the same director skypes that seem to come up every year and then doing a bunch of other technical things here and there. I'm so glad Greg Babush came on board a few years ago. Now he's taken over so much in the projection area I can focus on what I'd really rather being doing...and am actually qualified for. Back then I was mostly winging it based on knowledge I picked up at my day job. Which was it's own sort of fun. But now I get to enjoy TF during the fest, rather than after.
Oh wait...Feb's goals. 15 pages &....30 hours? on the screenplay. I'm assuming I probably won't get anything done on it past mid-february so if I can get that finished in the next two weeks I'll consider myself gold.
And somewhere in the next few months I need to make time to get back into shape as we're doing some Grand Canyon back country hiking in May....which should be awesome. Kat's been playing around with timelapses and I'm jumping on that bandwagon. Hopefully, by May we'll have a timelapse dolly that we can take down with us and if our shots are even 1/10 as good as what Tom Lowe gets, then we'll be in good shape. Here's a trailer for his film, TimeScapes, coming out this May
Current music: Twister by Mark Mancina which always makes me think of double features in KC with Eric. And now that I link to amazon I find it's kinda expensive and out of print. Glad to still have my copy....or, I suppose, the internet:
Monday, January 23, 2012
Everybody works on Monday!
Aaaaand it's 2012. First, to post one of the most delightful things I've seen in a while. A woman in LA shot a bit of video each and and at the end of the year, edited it all together into a year-long video diary of sorts. one second a day...or close to that.
2011 from hey_rabbit on Vimeo.
Pretty cool. I haven't done the pic a day thing in a while...I'm not sure if that's something I want to keep up with. I don't seem to have the discipline or the desire, so it doesn't seem such a good thing to devote energy to. What I have been devoting energy to is writing...maybe not a lot, but consistently and that's a good thing.
Writing-wise, my goal last year was to complete the first draft of the feature script by 2012...and I made it with not 12 hours to spare. Woot! right? Wrong! I should've been overjoyed at the success, the completion, the pocketing of keyboard calloused fingers. But no, I was left with a feeling of unease. Is this what a first draft should feel like? Is this how I should feel after typing FADE OUT? And why had I misplaced my ease? Because it was an absolute disaster. I had made adjustments to the script halfway through so I had scenes leading nowhere and I had scenes that had no setup. I have characters in the 2nd act that I haven't introduced because they were born from some necessary realization. I have Chekov brandishing phasers all over the place that never get used. And this could all be perfectly natural train wreck....I just don't know having never written a feature first draft before. I even bought myself a celebratory present: Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 which is terribly awesome and still unawsomely contained in it's shipping box because I don't feel I deserve it.
And what's up with that?! Comma dammit. I have a perfectly fine edition of Sandman on my desk which by *my own rules* I should be able to open and enjoy it's delicious wonderousness. And yet *by my own brain* I can't because my first draft doesn't feel first drafty enough. Le sigh.
Now, I did feel successful enough to go out and have a guilt free new years eve full of friends and fondue and rock band and fondue and punch and fondue because that's what you do on New Years when you have friends and fondue and Rock Band. Well okay, it's what we do and this was the first NYE of many that can take place at Barb and Seth's new digs in Columbia because we're so happy to have them back. So it was a most enjoyable way to welcome in the new year...aaaand I didn't take a single picture. Oh well.
Anywhoo back to my tale of whoh! I now have new rules regarding my current Gaimen paperweight...my *second* first draft will be completed by the end of January. I've been writing at least a page a day (or at least catching up when I don't) and at that point I should have a first draft that feels a little more coherent. Plus I still have my list of the big structural changes that need to happen in the second draft.
I've also been outlining the next script so I'll be ready to start writing that Feb 1. That one I'm a little more concerned with...I have the whole thing outlined in broad strokes and I'm slowly nailing down the first act but I'm not sure if I'll be ready to move on from that point. Plus TF is going to kick into high gear so that's going to eat up a lot of time. I'll have to come up with a reasonable goal for the end of Feb.
Currently listening to James Horner's score to The New World, which I previously didn't know existed. Sounds like working on a Malick film is quite the experience.
2011 from hey_rabbit on Vimeo.
Pretty cool. I haven't done the pic a day thing in a while...I'm not sure if that's something I want to keep up with. I don't seem to have the discipline or the desire, so it doesn't seem such a good thing to devote energy to. What I have been devoting energy to is writing...maybe not a lot, but consistently and that's a good thing.
Writing-wise, my goal last year was to complete the first draft of the feature script by 2012...and I made it with not 12 hours to spare. Woot! right? Wrong! I should've been overjoyed at the success, the completion, the pocketing of keyboard calloused fingers. But no, I was left with a feeling of unease. Is this what a first draft should feel like? Is this how I should feel after typing FADE OUT? And why had I misplaced my ease? Because it was an absolute disaster. I had made adjustments to the script halfway through so I had scenes leading nowhere and I had scenes that had no setup. I have characters in the 2nd act that I haven't introduced because they were born from some necessary realization. I have Chekov brandishing phasers all over the place that never get used. And this could all be perfectly natural train wreck....I just don't know having never written a feature first draft before. I even bought myself a celebratory present: Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 which is terribly awesome and still unawsomely contained in it's shipping box because I don't feel I deserve it.
And what's up with that?! Comma dammit. I have a perfectly fine edition of Sandman on my desk which by *my own rules* I should be able to open and enjoy it's delicious wonderousness. And yet *by my own brain* I can't because my first draft doesn't feel first drafty enough. Le sigh.
Now, I did feel successful enough to go out and have a guilt free new years eve full of friends and fondue and rock band and fondue and punch and fondue because that's what you do on New Years when you have friends and fondue and Rock Band. Well okay, it's what we do and this was the first NYE of many that can take place at Barb and Seth's new digs in Columbia because we're so happy to have them back. So it was a most enjoyable way to welcome in the new year...aaaand I didn't take a single picture. Oh well.
Anywhoo back to my tale of whoh! I now have new rules regarding my current Gaimen paperweight...my *second* first draft will be completed by the end of January. I've been writing at least a page a day (or at least catching up when I don't) and at that point I should have a first draft that feels a little more coherent. Plus I still have my list of the big structural changes that need to happen in the second draft.
I've also been outlining the next script so I'll be ready to start writing that Feb 1. That one I'm a little more concerned with...I have the whole thing outlined in broad strokes and I'm slowly nailing down the first act but I'm not sure if I'll be ready to move on from that point. Plus TF is going to kick into high gear so that's going to eat up a lot of time. I'll have to come up with a reasonable goal for the end of Feb.
Currently listening to James Horner's score to The New World, which I previously didn't know existed. Sounds like working on a Malick film is quite the experience.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Infinite Elephants in D
Someone posted this on twitter recently. It's been out there since the end of last year, but this is the first time I've seen it. Science *and* Art...mix gently, allow to cool and serve with lime
Fabulous!
The video was created by a woman named Vi Hart who does math and music and unique pariings of the two. Similar videos can be found on her website
And if you've never heard Pachelbel's Canon played on a music box....
Same website What a wondrous tool for sharing this internet be.
Peachout, yo.
(it's like peaceout...but fruitier)
Peachout, yo.
(it's like peaceout...but fruitier)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Buck in a Day
This evening I read a blog post that made me think about one of the best films I saw at this year's TrueFalse Film Fest and I realized I never wrote down anything about that film or this year's fest. Generally speaking, my part of TF11 went pretty smoothly. The only hiccup was losing our primary panel videographers (and their cameras) a week before the fest. I ended up finding someone and had to borrow Kat's camera, but there was a recording head malfunction and we lost all the footage. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true, I have 20-30 seconds of every minute recorded. so really, I have 6-7 hours of footage, right? .... le sigh.
One of my main goals this year was to actually see some of the films as I was so busy last year, I didn't see a single one in it's entirety...just bits and pieces as I was moving through or setting up skypes. This year we had, I think 5 or 6 Q&A skypes with directors who couldn't make it. Actually I think I'll go into detail about that in another post as there are certainly things I'd like to commit to text sos I have a record for the future.
One of the best films I saw was our opening night film Buck...about a Horse Whisperererer. And I'm thinking...okay, I don't really care anything about horses..or their whispererers. But I trust David and Paul and they consistently choose some really great films so I might as well see it. Also, I'm going to be there anyway as our first skype is with the director of Troll Hunter and that's right after Buck. Anywhoo, here's the trailer:
And It blew me away, it's a beautiful and powerful film. Buck is such an interesting and passionate person...and his story is so well told there were tears in the theatre that evening. For it to be directed by a first time filmmaker is just amazing. It's also a perfect bookend with our closing night film Life in a Day:
which is impressive in it's own right...there's a powerful montage towards the end that brought me to tears - it's amazing what the right music can do. But really, what I liked most about both of them is they did what all great stories do, show us a truth about ourselves or the world around us. Buck showed us what it meant to be human, to really connect with others, even if they're on 4 legs. He showed us how we're all connected..to each other, to the land and how our actions can affect those around us and it forces us to take responsibility for those actions. Life in a Day took that to a broader scope. It showed us a world that was connected through the actions we all took on one single day. Every day people are born and die and get married and play in the park and suffer and try to just survive, and so we can close our eyes and try to imagine that it's only us in our little bubble ranting at the idiots on TV and slowly dehumanizing those who don't agree with us. Or we can see the world as it truly is...made up of people, doing great things, doing horrible things, but people none the less doing things for their own reasons. Both films show us our own humanity through different lenses, and ultimately, I think both are films of hope...and that's something we can always use more of.
One of my main goals this year was to actually see some of the films as I was so busy last year, I didn't see a single one in it's entirety...just bits and pieces as I was moving through or setting up skypes. This year we had, I think 5 or 6 Q&A skypes with directors who couldn't make it. Actually I think I'll go into detail about that in another post as there are certainly things I'd like to commit to text sos I have a record for the future.
One of the best films I saw was our opening night film Buck...about a Horse Whisperererer. And I'm thinking...okay, I don't really care anything about horses..or their whispererers. But I trust David and Paul and they consistently choose some really great films so I might as well see it. Also, I'm going to be there anyway as our first skype is with the director of Troll Hunter and that's right after Buck. Anywhoo, here's the trailer:
And It blew me away, it's a beautiful and powerful film. Buck is such an interesting and passionate person...and his story is so well told there were tears in the theatre that evening. For it to be directed by a first time filmmaker is just amazing. It's also a perfect bookend with our closing night film Life in a Day:
which is impressive in it's own right...there's a powerful montage towards the end that brought me to tears - it's amazing what the right music can do. But really, what I liked most about both of them is they did what all great stories do, show us a truth about ourselves or the world around us. Buck showed us what it meant to be human, to really connect with others, even if they're on 4 legs. He showed us how we're all connected..to each other, to the land and how our actions can affect those around us and it forces us to take responsibility for those actions. Life in a Day took that to a broader scope. It showed us a world that was connected through the actions we all took on one single day. Every day people are born and die and get married and play in the park and suffer and try to just survive, and so we can close our eyes and try to imagine that it's only us in our little bubble ranting at the idiots on TV and slowly dehumanizing those who don't agree with us. Or we can see the world as it truly is...made up of people, doing great things, doing horrible things, but people none the less doing things for their own reasons. Both films show us our own humanity through different lenses, and ultimately, I think both are films of hope...and that's something we can always use more of.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Trailer Clowns
Speaking of music and trailers, I found this a while ago, left a message for myself and then forgot to give me the message. The editor chose great music. I didn't hear about this film, but it's out there somewhere....fascinating, I'll have to go In Search Of.
The Man Who Never Cried - Teaser Trailer from The Man Who Never Cried on Vimeo.
Many trailers today give away too much for my tastes. To the point where for some films, I just have to skip the trailer altogether (as opposed to the films I skip after seeing the trailer). It does make it all the more interesting when, after seeing the film, I get to experience the trailer for the first time. Come to think of it...I still haven't seen the Super 8 Trailer.
okay, well now I'm even more glad I didn't see the trailer beforehand. While it started off strong and I liked the fact that it built up the mystery, it still gave away too many visuals for my taste. Now I kinda want to see the film again.
But the 2011 "thank you for not giving too much away" award goes to Midnight In Paris
Now frankly after seeing this trailer, I'm not sure it would've convinced me to see the film, but I love the fact they didn't give away the magic, better to let us discover that in the theatah. I also don't think the people who are keeping Woody Allen in business care too much about the trailers. In the end MiP rates right up there with Bullets over Broadway. And he's not in either of them hmmmmm...
The Man Who Never Cried - Teaser Trailer from The Man Who Never Cried on Vimeo.
Many trailers today give away too much for my tastes. To the point where for some films, I just have to skip the trailer altogether (as opposed to the films I skip after seeing the trailer). It does make it all the more interesting when, after seeing the film, I get to experience the trailer for the first time. Come to think of it...I still haven't seen the Super 8 Trailer.
okay, well now I'm even more glad I didn't see the trailer beforehand. While it started off strong and I liked the fact that it built up the mystery, it still gave away too many visuals for my taste. Now I kinda want to see the film again.
But the 2011 "thank you for not giving too much away" award goes to Midnight In Paris
Now frankly after seeing this trailer, I'm not sure it would've convinced me to see the film, but I love the fact they didn't give away the magic, better to let us discover that in the theatah. I also don't think the people who are keeping Woody Allen in business care too much about the trailers. In the end MiP rates right up there with Bullets over Broadway. And he's not in either of them hmmmmm...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Nein!
It wasn't that long ago when the film "9", much like "2001", did not lend itself to being searched for on the internets. And now, lo and behold, all you have to do is put in the numeral and google will send you to the right place. They grow up so fast....
I was really really excited to see this film, the trailer is amazing, it gets me interested and excited with fantastic visuals, pace, tone and an above all, music. I learned way back in my KMOS days how important music is for any edited piece. I discovered this truth around the same time I discovered my love of film scores and composers...then I discovered Eric and many moons were spent driving to KC to see double features with talk of all things film - there, back and everywhere inbetween. The music for the trailer sets the perfect tone and is used in exactly the right way.
One of the great things about this trailer is it doesn't give too much away. The music is Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria
In the end, I enjoyed the film the same way I enjoyed Tron or Cowboys and Aliens...it was a fun ride but the structural and plot issues completely took me out of the film at times to the point where I really don't need to see it again. Which is sad because all three of those films are ones I was really excited for and had high expectations for. Which, I suppose, might've been the main issue...I just wasn't able to settle for mediocrity in the way I am for some films. Oh well. The short that 9 was based on is most excellent and well worth watching again and again...in full screen mode if you please (as with the addition of Parmesan cheese, it just makes everything better)
I was really really excited to see this film, the trailer is amazing, it gets me interested and excited with fantastic visuals, pace, tone and an above all, music. I learned way back in my KMOS days how important music is for any edited piece. I discovered this truth around the same time I discovered my love of film scores and composers...then I discovered Eric and many moons were spent driving to KC to see double features with talk of all things film - there, back and everywhere inbetween. The music for the trailer sets the perfect tone and is used in exactly the right way.
One of the great things about this trailer is it doesn't give too much away. The music is Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria
In the end, I enjoyed the film the same way I enjoyed Tron or Cowboys and Aliens...it was a fun ride but the structural and plot issues completely took me out of the film at times to the point where I really don't need to see it again. Which is sad because all three of those films are ones I was really excited for and had high expectations for. Which, I suppose, might've been the main issue...I just wasn't able to settle for mediocrity in the way I am for some films. Oh well. The short that 9 was based on is most excellent and well worth watching again and again...in full screen mode if you please (as with the addition of Parmesan cheese, it just makes everything better)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Inspiring action
Back from a wonderful vacations with many many thoughts on the script. It's gone from a feature to TV Pilot. BA works so much better as an episodic show anywhoos. I've restructured things somewhat so I don't lose what I've written, but can head in a new direction with additional characters. To meet my goal I have to write at least 3 pages a day, which is doable as long as I have the scene in mind the previous night...or, y'know, not. I feel pretty solid up until the halfway point and hopefully by then I'll have figured out the rest.
Anyway, Kat had a few TED talks playing in her car as we were driving about. I liked one so much I thought I should post it.
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
Anyway, Kat had a few TED talks playing in her car as we were driving about. I liked one so much I thought I should post it.
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Blood on the Robert McKenzie
...ew...what sort of a title is that?
I've been thinking recently that I need to get back into the blog thang. My void online is really a symptom of other things. My writing schedule's been shot, I keep plugging away on the script every other day, but not in any organized fashion. Work is more stressful than normal, I'm producing 2 shows and am responsible for the technical side of a few more so that's certainly affecting things. I feel like I'm flailing about in the dark and it's time for that to end. I would say it's time to make stress my bitch instead of the other way around. However, I can't think of a non-misogynistic way to say that and not have it sound hokey...it just takes more words, which is sad. I blame the booze...and my gender bias for which I feel honest shame.
The other night I went to bed early expecting to get a full night's sleep. Around midnight I decided to abandon that plan as folly. So, I got up..read a bit, played some L4D (perfect bedtime entertainment!) (what?) And then I saw this (for god's sake, hit the embiggen button):
On second thought, don't embiggen it, go watch it on Whitestone's web page, it's a higher resolution version and much better experience. Also bonus features!
I loved the feel of it at the beginning, the music, the color tint, the dialog and accents, the Dread (I'm a sucker for civil-war era malevolent entities) and then the music hit. I love it on it's own, I love it in the context of the film and I love the folklore aspect. I totally believe this could be a song handed down generation to generation over a fire.
I love the realism that works in the world of the film-the costumes are perfect for the dread. It really makes me want to go back to my Civil War Superhero script as it gives me new idears...but I can't touch anything until I finish this one.
Mostly, it just energizes me and gets me excited about film again. About writing...about creating. My first instinct was "oh I so need to post this" So it's great on it's own, but it's also great in that it did that thing that all art should.. it inspired and touched me...but not in the I-need-a-trusted-adult way.
Also, I think it's the folk/storytelling aspect...but it makes me think of Paul Gross:
I've been thinking recently that I need to get back into the blog thang. My void online is really a symptom of other things. My writing schedule's been shot, I keep plugging away on the script every other day, but not in any organized fashion. Work is more stressful than normal, I'm producing 2 shows and am responsible for the technical side of a few more so that's certainly affecting things. I feel like I'm flailing about in the dark and it's time for that to end. I would say it's time to make stress my bitch instead of the other way around. However, I can't think of a non-misogynistic way to say that and not have it sound hokey...it just takes more words, which is sad. I blame the booze...and my gender bias for which I feel honest shame.
The other night I went to bed early expecting to get a full night's sleep. Around midnight I decided to abandon that plan as folly. So, I got up..read a bit, played some L4D (perfect bedtime entertainment!) (what?) And then I saw this (for god's sake, hit the embiggen button):
Blood On My Name from Whitestone Motion Pictures on Vimeo.
On second thought, don't embiggen it, go watch it on Whitestone's web page, it's a higher resolution version and much better experience. Also bonus features!
I loved the feel of it at the beginning, the music, the color tint, the dialog and accents, the Dread (I'm a sucker for civil-war era malevolent entities) and then the music hit. I love it on it's own, I love it in the context of the film and I love the folklore aspect. I totally believe this could be a song handed down generation to generation over a fire.
I love the realism that works in the world of the film-the costumes are perfect for the dread. It really makes me want to go back to my Civil War Superhero script as it gives me new idears...but I can't touch anything until I finish this one.
Mostly, it just energizes me and gets me excited about film again. About writing...about creating. My first instinct was "oh I so need to post this" So it's great on it's own, but it's also great in that it did that thing that all art should.. it inspired and touched me...but not in the I-need-a-trusted-adult way.
Also, I think it's the folk/storytelling aspect...but it makes me think of Paul Gross:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sequels and Zombies
Today, I discovered 2 things...one, the script I'm writing is actually a sequel. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but I suppose it's good to realize that early on. I'm not entirely sure if the first film will ever get written, but I think it's good for a script to know it's mother...even if she'll never exist.
The second thing I discovered was a trailer for a videogame titled Dead Island. I don't know much about the game and the trailer certainly doesn't help in that regard...outside of the fact it's about zombies on an island. However, the trailer in and of itself is pretty durn cool...if you're into that sort of thing.
One of the aspects I like so much is it's non-linear nature. It tells a story and pulls you by making you question what you're seeing and who the people are. Plus it uses slow motion and sound very well. But that wasn't good enough for some people who cut it up and put it back together in chronological order. (thanks to Seth for the linky)
And when you watch it that way, it's a little "meh"..standard story.. zombie meets girl, girl runs screaming, zombie bites girl, girl bites daddy, daddy throws girl through window...just like you've seen a hundred times over. So really, it's a one trick pony, but that just reinforces the notion that It's All In The Execution 'cause that one trick? It's dynamite.
The second thing I discovered was a trailer for a videogame titled Dead Island. I don't know much about the game and the trailer certainly doesn't help in that regard...outside of the fact it's about zombies on an island. However, the trailer in and of itself is pretty durn cool...if you're into that sort of thing.
One of the aspects I like so much is it's non-linear nature. It tells a story and pulls you by making you question what you're seeing and who the people are. Plus it uses slow motion and sound very well. But that wasn't good enough for some people who cut it up and put it back together in chronological order. (thanks to Seth for the linky)
And when you watch it that way, it's a little "meh"..standard story.. zombie meets girl, girl runs screaming, zombie bites girl, girl bites daddy, daddy throws girl through window...just like you've seen a hundred times over. So really, it's a one trick pony, but that just reinforces the notion that It's All In The Execution 'cause that one trick? It's dynamite.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Youtoobing about youtoob
I'm going to give up on trying to post anything but videos until midmarch. I was busy writing...or outlining at the very least, but now all of that time is being taken up with TrueFalsing. Coming soon to several theatres near you. And can I just say, I love the design of this year's website.
So I'll try to post a video every so often, just to keep in the swing of things..but my nights of sleep are slowly slipping away.
Here's a fascinating anthropological introduction to YouTube on YouTube appropriately titled An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube. It's a presentation made to the Library of Congress by Michael Wesch who apparently has no fear of disrupting the time/space continuum by going all metayoutooby.
So I'll try to post a video every so often, just to keep in the swing of things..but my nights of sleep are slowly slipping away.
Here's a fascinating anthropological introduction to YouTube on YouTube appropriately titled An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube. It's a presentation made to the Library of Congress by Michael Wesch who apparently has no fear of disrupting the time/space continuum by going all metayoutooby.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Nuturing Creativity
Haven't posted here in a bit since I've been getting a lot written. 8-10 pages over the past few days, depending on what I want to count. I'm feeling good about it.
Anywhoo, I'm just going to post a great TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert about creativity and leave it at that.
Cheers
Anywhoo, I'm just going to post a great TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert about creativity and leave it at that.
Cheers
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Crazy Heart
I was going to be all productive tonight but I got sucked in by a moovie...I love it when that happens. I've had Crazy Heart sitting around for a week and popped it on during dinner. I had every intention of turning it off after I was done eating and doing some actual work...but I just couldn't. It was such a beautiful story so well told...Jeff Bridges as Bad gave such a great performance that I only saw the singer...I only saw the character. It's rare when that happens...the film just hooked me and I couldn't not watch. And I'm not a country fan..not at all, but I loved the music and will probably buy the soundtrack. I was even more blown away when I found out that Jeff Bridges and Colin Farrell sang their own songs. He sings, he dances, he's a photographer...really his website says it all.
Here's a clip of Bridges singing the main theme song written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett. If you haven't seen the film, don't watch it here. It'll mean so much more when you see it in context.
And here's a link to Ryan Bingham singing the same song.
Here's a clip of Bridges singing the main theme song written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett. If you haven't seen the film, don't watch it here. It'll mean so much more when you see it in context.
And here's a link to Ryan Bingham singing the same song.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Shapeshifter
Most productive lunch evah! So I went to Shakes today because the lunch I brought had turned a ridiculous color. Just glad I saw it before I ate it. Well, generally speaking, I'd prefer to see my food before I eat it rather than after. Regardless, going to lunch alone gave me time to work out a kernal of an idear I had last night as I was trying to get to sleep. That blossomed into a storyline which pulls together the best elements of the of the plots Dave and I had been throwing around. And then I worked on it most of the evening. Imagine how much I'd get done if I didn't have this rather obnoxious urge to, I don't know, feed and clothe myself.
As for today's bit of video wonderfulness, This is the piece that turned me onto Charlex to begin with. Fantastic animation, theme, visuals, music, pacing...and hey, Gabriel Byrne...I mean, you can't go wrong with that combo.
They don't say who directed it, so I assume it was a group effort. And I can't tell you how thankful I was a car logo didn't pop up at the end.
As for today's bit of video wonderfulness, This is the piece that turned me onto Charlex to begin with. Fantastic animation, theme, visuals, music, pacing...and hey, Gabriel Byrne...I mean, you can't go wrong with that combo.
ShapeShifter from Charlex on Vimeo.
They don't say who directed it, so I assume it was a group effort. And I can't tell you how thankful I was a car logo didn't pop up at the end.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
One Rat Short...
A visually impressive CGI short film that will make you care about rats. Unless you do already in which case, kudos, very progressive of you.
It was directed in 2006 by Alex Weil and created by Charlex Films
It was directed in 2006 by Alex Weil and created by Charlex Films
One Rat Short from Charlex on Vimeo.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Indie Shorts
I can't see Harrison Ford in shorts...it just doesn't compute in my head. He's not a short man....more of a pantman. And now I have the 60s Batman theme in my head which makes me think of today's XKCD strip. This post needs to start charging for it's association and get to the point.
After a discussion with Barb about the useful merits of dialog writing exercises, I have decided to forgo the matter entirely. Okay, that's a lie for which I feel shame. Her point, which was well made, is that I should be spending my time writing the damn script (which I shall henceforth abbreviate WTDS) 'cause any time not doing that is *not* WTDS, which, y'know doesn't help anyone, least of all the TDS. I do like the concept of a writing warm up that will have the effect of weaning me off the crap dialog of which I now spew and moving me more towards the Little-better-than-crap-dialog which will hopefully improve every day....except today when I didn't get home until "it's how late?!" that's okay...I make lamb.
Yesterday the following links popped up on many a site across the interwebs, but I gacked them both from Metafilter. Both films have a consistent look and feel so I think they both achieve their objective, whether or not viewers find that style to their liking. I also find both entertaining in their own ways. They were produced on the cheep and it's amazing what the filmmakers did with their limited resources. It's good to be reminded that making a film isn't a herculean task. It's hard and I have no doubt these filmmakers worked a lot, but they turned out decent films based on their own vision.... and the sweat and tears of their friends. When no one is getting paid, the only reason to do this is because it's a work of love, and I think that comes across in both films.
Lazy Teenage Superheroes - By Michael Ashton (dir, co-writer, prod, FX, etc)
This has the feel of a bunch of kids in the barn putting on a movie....except it has a quirky comic book feel and fantastic effect that feel natural and work withing the film world they construct.
This next piece started off as a fan-film in the Half-Life world which was then cross pollinated with Left4Dead. I was enjoying it on one level and then...wait, is that a bile jar? The whole film was consistent stylistically, has great pacing and high production values for the price of a 92 Buick.
Beyond Black Mesa - Director: Brian Curtain
After a discussion with Barb about the useful merits of dialog writing exercises, I have decided to forgo the matter entirely. Okay, that's a lie for which I feel shame. Her point, which was well made, is that I should be spending my time writing the damn script (which I shall henceforth abbreviate WTDS) 'cause any time not doing that is *not* WTDS, which, y'know doesn't help anyone, least of all the TDS. I do like the concept of a writing warm up that will have the effect of weaning me off the crap dialog of which I now spew and moving me more towards the Little-better-than-crap-dialog which will hopefully improve every day....except today when I didn't get home until "it's how late?!" that's okay...I make lamb.
Yesterday the following links popped up on many a site across the interwebs, but I gacked them both from Metafilter. Both films have a consistent look and feel so I think they both achieve their objective, whether or not viewers find that style to their liking. I also find both entertaining in their own ways. They were produced on the cheep and it's amazing what the filmmakers did with their limited resources. It's good to be reminded that making a film isn't a herculean task. It's hard and I have no doubt these filmmakers worked a lot, but they turned out decent films based on their own vision.... and the sweat and tears of their friends. When no one is getting paid, the only reason to do this is because it's a work of love, and I think that comes across in both films.
Lazy Teenage Superheroes - By Michael Ashton (dir, co-writer, prod, FX, etc)
This has the feel of a bunch of kids in the barn putting on a movie....except it has a quirky comic book feel and fantastic effect that feel natural and work withing the film world they construct.
This next piece started off as a fan-film in the Half-Life world which was then cross pollinated with Left4Dead. I was enjoying it on one level and then...wait, is that a bile jar? The whole film was consistent stylistically, has great pacing and high production values for the price of a 92 Buick.
Beyond Black Mesa - Director: Brian Curtain
Link to filmmakers
Beyond Black Mesa from Brian Curtin on Vimeo.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Counterpoint
You take the good, you take the bad.....
I've decided to take the practice dialog and work on little self-contained shorts...1 location, 2 characters, something simple that I can pound out in one sitting and then throw away or dab up the coffee you just spilled. Who knows, I might even post them here. I need to get more okay with the concept of putting my work out into the world and letting it, I don't know, percolate with the fishes. I'm contemplating theme weeks, or perhaps I'll go back to Dave's idear a years ago of basing an art piece a week around one word. Katrina got a whole quilt out of Pentimento...all I got was this lousy joke.
Brief aside..Tron's soundtrack still rocks.
I think I need to talk to folk and get them to come up with random words or scenes. Or I suppose I could use one of many random plot generators out there, but it doesn't have to be too detailed, the goal is dialog and lots of it. While I named the subject of this post "Counterpoint" based on the following videos, I think perhaps that's what we'll base next week's short on. Who knows what we'll get...probably a script about closet quilters.
Random aside: Today I saw a mouse uterus. It would be safe to say I didn't anticipate writing that when the day began.
Anywhoo, onto the videos. I like the idear of short films....2-5 minutes doesn't feel like a long time to tell a story, but it's amazing what you can accomplish in that span of time. The next 2 films are 1:47 and 3:00 respectively and while rather simple in story, they both have a depth of meaning that makes them quite powerful and entertaining. Once again it's all about the execution...and as with most films, they're better in full screen.
After You - Written/Directed by Adam Linzey
I really enjoyed the next film - great music, great editing.
Ribbons - Directed by Brodie Rocca
I've decided to take the practice dialog and work on little self-contained shorts...1 location, 2 characters, something simple that I can pound out in one sitting and then throw away or dab up the coffee you just spilled. Who knows, I might even post them here. I need to get more okay with the concept of putting my work out into the world and letting it, I don't know, percolate with the fishes. I'm contemplating theme weeks, or perhaps I'll go back to Dave's idear a years ago of basing an art piece a week around one word. Katrina got a whole quilt out of Pentimento...all I got was this lousy joke.
Brief aside..Tron's soundtrack still rocks.
I think I need to talk to folk and get them to come up with random words or scenes. Or I suppose I could use one of many random plot generators out there, but it doesn't have to be too detailed, the goal is dialog and lots of it. While I named the subject of this post "Counterpoint" based on the following videos, I think perhaps that's what we'll base next week's short on. Who knows what we'll get...probably a script about closet quilters.
Random aside: Today I saw a mouse uterus. It would be safe to say I didn't anticipate writing that when the day began.
Anywhoo, onto the videos. I like the idear of short films....2-5 minutes doesn't feel like a long time to tell a story, but it's amazing what you can accomplish in that span of time. The next 2 films are 1:47 and 3:00 respectively and while rather simple in story, they both have a depth of meaning that makes them quite powerful and entertaining. Once again it's all about the execution...and as with most films, they're better in full screen.
After You - Written/Directed by Adam Linzey
I really enjoyed the next film - great music, great editing.
Ribbons - Directed by Brodie Rocca
Ribbons from Brodie Rocca on Vimeo.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monsters and...
I keep coming across these animation shorts...I think they must be student final projects from a foreign animation school. I'm not sure where they're from but they're all rather fun and very well made.
Since we received 6-8 inches of snow I took a snow day. I try to take one ever winter just because I enjoy the snow...perhaps I'm trying to reclaim my youth. I don't know. Regardless, I spent the first half going through old scripts I had written, some short, some not so short. And the one thing I noticed is that my dialog has gotten really rusty. It used to be so natural, I could whip out 5 pages of folk talking about nothing in particular, although it was obviously much better when there was a point. I think I had a good cadence and delivery that wasn't overly expository. I'm still amused by what I wrote (I mean, some of it's only suitable for wrapping, but that's to be expected). What I do know is that I can't write like that now...I've tried. I'm sure part of it has to do with just taking too much on last year what with the docs and classes and TF...I did all of it badly and felt really sorry about letting some people down. So I haven't really concentrated on that for a few years...and like any muscle, if you don't use it, it goes to fishwrap.
I also got a lot of work done today on the script, I'm hoping to have enough of an outline so that I can get some words down after next Saturday's meeting with Dave. But I think I also need to get these people talking...so maybe we'll start early...and start watching Sports Night. Nothing gets me in the mood for good dialog like Sorkin.
From the episode: Ordinance Tactics - written by Aaron Sorkin and Paul Redford
Since we received 6-8 inches of snow I took a snow day. I try to take one ever winter just because I enjoy the snow...perhaps I'm trying to reclaim my youth. I don't know. Regardless, I spent the first half going through old scripts I had written, some short, some not so short. And the one thing I noticed is that my dialog has gotten really rusty. It used to be so natural, I could whip out 5 pages of folk talking about nothing in particular, although it was obviously much better when there was a point. I think I had a good cadence and delivery that wasn't overly expository. I'm still amused by what I wrote (I mean, some of it's only suitable for wrapping, but that's to be expected). What I do know is that I can't write like that now...I've tried. I'm sure part of it has to do with just taking too much on last year what with the docs and classes and TF...I did all of it badly and felt really sorry about letting some people down. So I haven't really concentrated on that for a few years...and like any muscle, if you don't use it, it goes to fishwrap.
I also got a lot of work done today on the script, I'm hoping to have enough of an outline so that I can get some words down after next Saturday's meeting with Dave. But I think I also need to get these people talking...so maybe we'll start early...and start watching Sports Night. Nothing gets me in the mood for good dialog like Sorkin.
From the episode: Ordinance Tactics - written by Aaron Sorkin and Paul Redford
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
These boots were made for walking...in circles
Today I came across NPR's Vimeo page and encountered one of this planet's most ancient mysteries...
A Mystery: Why Can't We Walk Straight? from NPR on Vimeo.
I don't know if this was always intended to be animated, but I think the animation adds a great dimension to what's already a very interesting piece. One of the commenters made a good point when he asked if it wouldn't be all the more astounding if we could actually walk in a straight line while blindfolded. I don't have a good answer to that...perhaps it's in our nature to be mysterious...or at least drawn to mysteries. Maybe that's why there are so many conspiracy theories or why people are attracted to confidence and chutzpah. Is it because people with those traits seem like they have all the answers?...or is it possibly because people like that are often surrounded by chocolate? It's true, look it up. There's a proportional rise in world-wide cocoa production that matches the rise in global cults and y'know dictators. You can't make that up...
A Mystery: Why Can't We Walk Straight? from NPR on Vimeo.
I don't know if this was always intended to be animated, but I think the animation adds a great dimension to what's already a very interesting piece. One of the commenters made a good point when he asked if it wouldn't be all the more astounding if we could actually walk in a straight line while blindfolded. I don't have a good answer to that...perhaps it's in our nature to be mysterious...or at least drawn to mysteries. Maybe that's why there are so many conspiracy theories or why people are attracted to confidence and chutzpah. Is it because people with those traits seem like they have all the answers?...or is it possibly because people like that are often surrounded by chocolate? It's true, look it up. There's a proportional rise in world-wide cocoa production that matches the rise in global cults and y'know dictators. You can't make that up...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
3 Minutes
Today I came across a fun 3 minute film, appropriately titled.
it's even bigger on their website.
Why? Who knows...Is it a prequel? A sequel? I sure hope not...I love the mystery and I can't imagine this getting better by us finding out who the old man is or what's his schtick. It's kind of like Tron...it's fast, it's fun and much better if you don't think too hard about it. Overall, I enjoyed it...and not just because it had lightsabers.
it's even bigger on their website.
Why? Who knows...Is it a prequel? A sequel? I sure hope not...I love the mystery and I can't imagine this getting better by us finding out who the old man is or what's his schtick. It's kind of like Tron...it's fast, it's fun and much better if you don't think too hard about it. Overall, I enjoyed it...and not just because it had lightsabers.
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