I found out about this awesome video hosting service called Vimeo. I know this post sounds like spam, but it's not. This service is like YouTube, but strickly for videos that you yourself make. No copyright infringement allowed (and they're much more strict about this than YouTube). But...the quality is better and the site design is lovely.
I urge you to check it out. I'll probably be converting all my videos to Vimeo to host on my personal site.
This is great for hosting our short films, at least.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wrapped
The production phase is officially complete. Shannon Bennett has been brought on to do a rough assembly of the film. We'll start capturing the footage this week. She should have that complete within two weeks. I'll try and post a clip soon, too.
This film has been a huge collaboration of creative and artistic talents from many of my friends. There were three or so people originally signed on to work on the film that ended up dropping out before doing any work, and I can honestly say that I'm glad they did. Having to come up with alternate ideas resulted in stronger ideas.
I really can't thank everyone enough for putting so much time and energy into the film.
I am very happy.
Thank you all.
This film has been a huge collaboration of creative and artistic talents from many of my friends. There were three or so people originally signed on to work on the film that ended up dropping out before doing any work, and I can honestly say that I'm glad they did. Having to come up with alternate ideas resulted in stronger ideas.
I really can't thank everyone enough for putting so much time and energy into the film.
I am very happy.
Thank you all.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
More casting sessions
I'll be doing casting today at school at 5pm - 8pm and again on Sunday at 10am. Let me know if you want to come out. Sunday will be short -- I only have one appointment at 10. I'm also going to be working on the script in between appointments today. Time management at its finest.
http://ucf.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10172692585
http://ucf.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10172692585
Friday, February 15, 2008
One week until shooting begins
I'm on version six of the script right now with my writer, David Sigurani. Is it a bad idea to revise a script so much? I don't know. I know it's unhealthy to think that it's ever going to be perfect. I'm getting happier with it, though it is extremely awkward writing a script to an instructional-type video.
Here's a snippet:
Here's a snippet:
As you can see, we're trying to walk that fine line of parody and reality, though by the end it does become more obvious. But that doesn't mean that there won't be people who watch it and go, "Wait, what?"
Yvonne Vairma is officially producing the project. She's the amazingness that sat in on our Directing III class the other week and actually gave more feedback than most of our class. She's got a lot on her plate, but is handling it very nicely.
We're still in the process of locking down the apartment complex for our location. Beatriz Gomez, our location manager, had to drop out due to conflicts with other projects. This is definitely turning out to be the most challenging aspect of production. If anyone knows of any ideas, please send them my way. A lot of the issues are, "We'll have to check with our regional manager" type stuff. I'm trying to get someone else to work with locations. Any ideas?
Cris and I just completed our camera tests and decided to make it look really digital when we're recording the narration parts, then slightly more film-like with the reenactments. You see this type of stuff on shows sometimes. I've asked Travis to gaff the project. His work is pretty awesome -- he did Jeanette McNeil's capstone. Allie Kenyon has agreed to work with Cris as 1st AC.
Rebecca Kenyon didn't show up to our production meeting today. She's doing production design. She could be dead. My good friend Kristin Aiello is working with Becca, so things should look great. Tyler Sherrier is doing make-up. He's my ex-roommate, actually, and we had our fair share of roommate conflicts. There's certainly some irony in that. Here's an example of make-up he did on himself for his theatrical make-up techniques class:
I had this idea today at the meeting to have one of those vinyl banners that apartment complex have with some fake phone number and something like, "Sign up today!" I'd put it in all the background shots of the tour portion of the video. You'd clearly be able to tell that it's the same poster being moved around, which is what a real complex would probably do. Not sure about that yet. Also, wondering if I should have the narrator of the video holding an "Apartment Place Landings" travel mug at some point.
Deborah Fishkind is doing casting. She's doing good for her first time. Casting is hard, especially for this project. I'm having another casting session at school tomorrow (Saturday) at 5pm. Feel free to show up and help/steal people.
Cast rehearsals next Wednesday. Final production meeting next Thursday. And we're off.
Yvonne Vairma is officially producing the project. She's the amazingness that sat in on our Directing III class the other week and actually gave more feedback than most of our class. She's got a lot on her plate, but is handling it very nicely.
We're still in the process of locking down the apartment complex for our location. Beatriz Gomez, our location manager, had to drop out due to conflicts with other projects. This is definitely turning out to be the most challenging aspect of production. If anyone knows of any ideas, please send them my way. A lot of the issues are, "We'll have to check with our regional manager" type stuff. I'm trying to get someone else to work with locations. Any ideas?
Cris and I just completed our camera tests and decided to make it look really digital when we're recording the narration parts, then slightly more film-like with the reenactments. You see this type of stuff on shows sometimes. I've asked Travis to gaff the project. His work is pretty awesome -- he did Jeanette McNeil's capstone. Allie Kenyon has agreed to work with Cris as 1st AC.
Rebecca Kenyon didn't show up to our production meeting today. She's doing production design. She could be dead. My good friend Kristin Aiello is working with Becca, so things should look great. Tyler Sherrier is doing make-up. He's my ex-roommate, actually, and we had our fair share of roommate conflicts. There's certainly some irony in that. Here's an example of make-up he did on himself for his theatrical make-up techniques class:
I had this idea today at the meeting to have one of those vinyl banners that apartment complex have with some fake phone number and something like, "Sign up today!" I'd put it in all the background shots of the tour portion of the video. You'd clearly be able to tell that it's the same poster being moved around, which is what a real complex would probably do. Not sure about that yet. Also, wondering if I should have the narrator of the video holding an "Apartment Place Landings" travel mug at some point.
Deborah Fishkind is doing casting. She's doing good for her first time. Casting is hard, especially for this project. I'm having another casting session at school tomorrow (Saturday) at 5pm. Feel free to show up and help/steal people.
Cast rehearsals next Wednesday. Final production meeting next Thursday. And we're off.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
My acting inspriaton
My inspiration for the style and tone of acting I'm looking for:
Know anyone that can imitate that? I just had my casting call today and had a very hard time trying to explain the idea to the actors, many of which had training and experience. It really shocked me, actually, how hard it was for some of the actors to act in this way.
I think that's one hard aspect of selling this film. I think the more we talk about the project creatively people are starting to understand what I'm going for. My DP, Cris Mertens, wants to blows his brains out, I know, because he has to really downgrade his skills. I'm still trying to convince him that doing that really shows...dexterity? Right?
It's a hard idea to sell. Let's make something bad intentionally -- and in that, it'll be hilarious.
Send me some headshots/resumes/contact information if you know anyone who could act in this amazing and campy (but unaware) way.
Here is a link to some more wonderful videos: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3E00328D3A166D01
Know anyone that can imitate that? I just had my casting call today and had a very hard time trying to explain the idea to the actors, many of which had training and experience. It really shocked me, actually, how hard it was for some of the actors to act in this way.
I think that's one hard aspect of selling this film. I think the more we talk about the project creatively people are starting to understand what I'm going for. My DP, Cris Mertens, wants to blows his brains out, I know, because he has to really downgrade his skills. I'm still trying to convince him that doing that really shows...dexterity? Right?
It's a hard idea to sell. Let's make something bad intentionally -- and in that, it'll be hilarious.
Send me some headshots/resumes/contact information if you know anyone who could act in this amazing and campy (but unaware) way.
Here is a link to some more wonderful videos: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3E00328D3A166D01
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Welcome to Apartment Place Landings
My last entry was written in a panic because I had not yet figured out what project I wanted to direct.
Thanks to a wonderful brainstorming session with me and some of my friends we came up with a very reasonable idea - an homage to the absurdness of instructional and training videos. It's not really a parody. It's not really a replica. It's something in between the two and I'm not quite sure yet what that will be, but I'm very excited.
I'm directing. David Sigurani, who wrote my directing 2 project "p.s." is writing. Cris Mertens has agreed to DP, which is fantastic. Yivonne Vairma has agreed to produce, though I'm still waiting to hear back from her about some things. Becca Kenyon (you know, that twin with the bangs) is going to do production design. Beatrice Gomez is location scouting at this very moment (either that or clubbing, but either way, that's fine with me as long as she's on board). Those are all the major pre-production crew members.
I'm still looking for someone talented to do make-up. I asked Lindsay, but she's shooting that same weekend. Any thoughts, fellow readers? Ashley Hooker was also asked, but she may be leaving town soon. I need someone to be able to do standard make-up, but also someone to do a CLOWN FROM HELL make-up. So, that's pretty important.
Casting is tomorrow in COMM 148 from 11am-2pm. Feel free to come out. Deborah Fishkind is the casting director, which is awesome. Rich suggested using her in class. She's actually been great so far and has done some amazing things in the short time since we've pulled her on board.
Here's a link to a promotional letter I passed out in class for my pitch. It's a fake welcoming letter to the fake apartment complex in my fake film. Fake fake fake.
Thanks to a wonderful brainstorming session with me and some of my friends we came up with a very reasonable idea - an homage to the absurdness of instructional and training videos. It's not really a parody. It's not really a replica. It's something in between the two and I'm not quite sure yet what that will be, but I'm very excited.
I'm directing. David Sigurani, who wrote my directing 2 project "p.s." is writing. Cris Mertens has agreed to DP, which is fantastic. Yivonne Vairma has agreed to produce, though I'm still waiting to hear back from her about some things. Becca Kenyon (you know, that twin with the bangs) is going to do production design. Beatrice Gomez is location scouting at this very moment (either that or clubbing, but either way, that's fine with me as long as she's on board). Those are all the major pre-production crew members.
I'm still looking for someone talented to do make-up. I asked Lindsay, but she's shooting that same weekend. Any thoughts, fellow readers? Ashley Hooker was also asked, but she may be leaving town soon. I need someone to be able to do standard make-up, but also someone to do a CLOWN FROM HELL make-up. So, that's pretty important.
Casting is tomorrow in COMM 148 from 11am-2pm. Feel free to come out. Deborah Fishkind is the casting director, which is awesome. Rich suggested using her in class. She's actually been great so far and has done some amazing things in the short time since we've pulled her on board.
Here's a link to a promotional letter I passed out in class for my pitch. It's a fake welcoming letter to the fake apartment complex in my fake film. Fake fake fake.
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