With the warm weather and bonus time I've been biking around the lakes of Minneapolis. Also, takin' some pictures, makin' some pictures, and watchin' some pictures on the side. Most recently I've watched Rain Johnson's Brick, the classic Step Brothers, and Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi.
This past weekend I was hired on by Moving Walkway Productions to help out on the Fireworks Music Video for the band Standard Thompson. Friday night was loading and lighting time at Aquillo Studios. It went buttery smooth and we got done a bit early which is always nice with a shoot the next morning. With Saturday came time for the band's performance in front of a green screen. The guys we're great. An, indy band with a billboard band's energy and unity.
Once, Justin Staggs the Director called wrap the real fun of roadying all of the stingers used on the studio side of the shoot began. Another surgical job, and as Beth Van Dam one of the Producers for the Music Video noted we may just have left the soundstage cleaner then we found it. Wax on, wax off.
Then came, Sunday and the twenty hour day that fallowed. All-in-all the shoot again was like ice, mostly. The day side of the shoot was the classic country love story, and even with the clouds coming in and out as well as a little spell of rain. We got ourselves some glowing shots in that tall grass. The only real SNAFU was on my head, when I was refueling the generator gas spilled out off the gas can and got itself in the air intake. Dead, at least for a few minutes. Thank, the film Gods she started up after a little tinkering. The saga continued, and the Horror Film side of the Music Video was shot through the night. I even got my hands bloody in the picture, as I was the hand/arm double for the actor . I don't wanna spoil much, but I'll say this when you see the bloody hand print, that's my first hand model credit. A bit after four in the morning we had shot our final shots with the lycanthrope, and by five in the morning everything was struck and I was driving down 212 back towards the heart of the city. Minneapolis, home sweet home.
Back on the topic of the Aquillo Studios. I spoke with John who runs the joint and asked him if Media Storm/Old Abbot's entry in this years 48 Hour Film Project could use the versatile space as the principal shooting location for our film, and he said, "Yes". When I asked him for a quote on the place he told me "nothing" due to the fact it's a student project! Fella's I'd say we're golden.
Lastly, Peep a peek at Them Damned Young Livers' All Hell Music Video from their Sophomore album PSALMS OF ILL-REPUTE. Release Show(s) are at KCMO Riot Room on July 10th, and then July 16th at Minneapolis Club Underground. See ya' then, perhaps before. Stay Tuned
This film is dedicated to my Grandfather, Father, Brother, and all who have served the Untied States of America Armed Forces. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank you, and God Bless.
Memorial Day, a holiday for us as a nation to take time out from doing what we as Americans do best, and remember those who served the United States of America Military. All of whom have, and will no doubt make sacrifices, some making the ultimate sacrifice to insure our liberty, and very way of life for this generation, past generations, and future generations.
"We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others." ~ John F. Kennedy ~
(Courtesy of Minday and Brian Johnson at Hope Feathers photography)
I'm in the midst of edits on two soon to be released projects. The first will have it's world premiere here [via Vimeo] shortly, and that's all I've got to say about that right now. The second is the Wedding of Mister and Miss Wangnoo who just happen to be my housemates and awesome friends. Thank you's and congratulations go out to Abraham, Lindsey, their Families, and everyone who was involved in the beautiful and joyous day. One more congratulation goes out to the newlyweds who are now expecting the greatest of all blessings. The gift of life! One love.
As President of Media Storm, a self-driven student group made up of IDVP [Interactive Design & Video Production] students from Hennepin Technical College. One of my many goals is to request funds for competitions that we are involved with. A bit of a crash course in Producing Motion Pictures in some ways. Big smiles, everyone. With the request for five grand made and approved things are chooglin' along. This past Spring, Clayton Ebeling and Samantha Hanus went golden as they took state, and are now going to the National SkillsUSA contest in Kansas City, MO. Now, payed in full. I wish the both of them the best of luck. Let's make it two years running with IDVP and HTC on top again. I must say I love my 'job'!
With roughly four grand left after covering the trip for SkillsUSA the plan is for Media Storm and Old Abbot Films to craft an entry for the 2010 48 Hour Film Project in Minneapolis, MN. This will be Round 3 for myself at the helm of a film for the project. The first time we used a Sony HVR-Z1U, in 2009 we used a Sony HVR-V1U, and now we'll be using a Red One. Looks like my Sony HVR-Z5U will be relegated to behind the scenes camera. In a couple weeks here we'll be shooting a dummy or test film so we can learn the workflow and overall camera operations for this powerful bad boy. I sorta know how that one kid at Toys 'R' Us who finally got his Power Wheels DeLorean [The one from Back to the Future Part II] felt. Soon, our hands will be playing with the big boy toy of our dreams. Shouldn't hurt the résumés too much either. Thanks again to Grand Poobah Richard Oxley.
On the silver screen I've seen Iron Man 2 and [Gladiator 2] I mean, Robin Hood. Both films were well put together, with a few actors and actresses truly shinning and raising the quality and enjoyability of the pictures. However, both of 'em clocked in at some two plus hours, they felt bloated, in need of fat cutting, and character development to boot. At home I've recently [re]watched The Road, Spartacus, Dog Day Afternoon, Road to Perdition, and Kick-Ass. Outside the world of celluloid, and into the the world of silicon. Super Street Fighter IV is still spinning in my PS3 tray. My mains are Sagat, Guy, and Master [Abbot] Gouken. I just hope with Marvel vs Capcom III next year I finally get to fight as Mike Haggar. Sorry, 'Gief but your alternate just isn't enough. Also, been falling asleep to the sweet game play and sharp dialogue of Rockstar Games' ode to Sergio Leone and Spaghetti Westerns as a whole Red Dead Redemption. Thus far they've done it again, and yes someway somehow even better! The story is epic and characters are dead on! They come off as almost believable. Unlike, most games where at best characters come off as possessed mannequins or at worst talking corpses. Either way with horrible lip sync and just as terrible voice acting on top of that. As I play, I begin to care about the folks and the stories of the dying Wild West circa 1911 America. Jus' need myself a semi-automatic Colt model 1911. I'll settle her for sure than.
Thirty years ago, and before my time. The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters, and years later I would see it on VHS thanks to my Brother Jay. I know it to be the best of all the Star Wars films the quintessential second act played to perfection and frozen in carbonite. Not even a crazed Lucas and his Special Editions decades later could muster much damage [yet] against Director Irvin Kersher's vision. Much like the studios did back in the golden age of Hollywood. A system, George worked in spite of and despite of in his youth. I've got something up my sleeve, or in this case on my DVD shelf. Here's a clue to tide you over: Lucasfilm LTD. and ABC studios were involved and it's hard to tell who was more lost in the production(s). Stay Tuned.
Well it's official they now pay me to go to school! As I said earlier it's getting close to the Minneapolis 48 Hour Film Project and well we were in needed of funding. So, as I like to do I went and got it. To date I've asked and got $23,000 from the Student Life Board at Hennepin Technical College. Our plan is simple, and yet a bit complex. We'll be shooting this film on a RED One Camera with a 4K workflow using good old Final Cut Studio. To put this in context peep the diagram below.
What we've used in our previous endeavours have been in either 720p [blue] in the case of the JVC GY-HD110u, or at best in 1080p [green] with my Sony HVR-Z5U. With the Red One we'll be shooting at 4K [pink] which is what they've used to shoot the major motion pictures District 9 and Gamer. *turns into six year-old boy
With my eyes on the Master Sword in the stone, I pause and present you all with a scene I shot and edited form a larger fragmented film from Vanessa Horrocks. Feedback and comments and very much welcome. Stay tuned
Since the spring of 1975 the In the Heart of the Beast Theater has thrown the Annual Mayday Parade in the Powderhorn Neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year's theme was Roar!. I took the good oldSony HVR-Z5U to the parade and what's above is the result.
The goal was to recreate something straight out of the 1960's with that 16mm home camera feel. I wanted capture the moment and mood of the festival, and make you feel apart of it all. I was merely a conscious observer of the experience. Honestly, the old music videoA Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum was by far the biggest influence. As always your thoughts and comments are very much welcome.
A Thank You From The Heart was selected to take part in the The Best Films from the The 28th Annual Minneapolis- St. Paul International Film Festival this Sunday, May 9th at Saint Anthony Main Theatre which is just of Main Street Southeast in Minneapolis. The film also got my name credited on IMDb as a Cinematographer. I hope to see some of you at the screening the weekend. Thanks, for all your support!
When I'm not on the hustle I'm often watching films. Again, I watched The Big Sleep this time however it was the 1945 prerelease version of the film, I'd been watching the 1946 theatrical release of the film for years. The cut is a more raw and straightforward, but I must say I've really come to love the '46 cut of the film. Also, The Girl Next Door, as homage to the 136th Annual Kentucky Derby Seabiscuit, and as an homage to my life in celluloidNine. Lastly, fresh from the Sapphire Series of Blu-ray films comes Saving Private Ryan. Even with the Spielberg clichés and the fact he was also "Directing" Jurassic Park: The Lost World at the same wtime. This film captures the hell that was D-Day, and is War. Somethings, somethings never change.
What started in Mid-June when I was a kid has since moved up to the first weekend in May. It's the Blockbuster Summer Season! Hey, Batman Forever only left me slightly jaded. Jon Favreau returns to the helm with Iron Man 2 starring Robert Downey once again. I just hope he can keep that unblockbuster feel the first film had for the most part. Yeah, the final fight was a scam and surely rushed through production. Still for the first time I gave a crap about the drunk rocket-footed Bruce Wayne. Whoops, I mean Tony Stark. In the "new" Robin Hood The duo of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe return, and I'm just thankful Bryan Adams didn't. I have faith in this one. He gave us BLADE RUNNER, enough said. With Jonah Hex I get Josh Brolin and Megan Fox in one spot! Acting and eye candy, I can't lose! So very stoked for Toy Story 3 and Christopher Nolan's Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio! I'm sucker for Paul Rudd so Dinner for Schmucks makes the list for sure. Low on the list, but still with promise comes the buddy cop comedy The Other Guys with Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, and yes Samuel L. Jackson. Joinin' 'em are Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables starring Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Mickey Rourke. I know I'll discuss 'em as they hit the silver screen. Keepin' my mind open for all these films and a couple others. Can't wait to see 'em and decide. No, not you, A-Team!
Just got my hands on Super Street Fighter IV, and I must say the game is epic in every way. Only building upon it's predecessor. As of this blog my mains are Ryu, Ken, Guy, Gouken, and I dabbling a bit with Cody. Metsu Hadoken!
On the celluloid side of my life. Peeped on the Shaw Brothers classic that's often imitated never duplicated The 5 Deadly Venoms. Also, on Blu-rayAkira Kurosawa'sSanjuro and Yojimbo from the Japanese monster house that did so much more than just Gojira [Godzilla] Toho studios. These films sing with an authentic, simplistic, and yet elegantebb and flow much like those of John Ford of which yet again I watched his masterworkThe Searchers. John Wayne performance is awe inspiring and in some ways chilling in his animalistic drive for revenge. Lastly, the noir by which others are judged The Big Sleep starring Humphrey Bogart and the stunningly beautiful Lauren Bacall.
It may surprise you but I also read books, and as of late I've gone through Why We Make Mistakes by Joseph T. Hallinan and the very pithyGeorge Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. Both were those change your way of viewing/thinking kinda books. I recommend both highly.
Over at the Gone to the Undead Blog I've gone and posted our teaser trailer which I also present to you here, but for the full scoop hit the link. The Minneapolis 48 Hour Film Project returns June 18th-20th and I can't wait to meet the challenge and insomnia! Stay tuned.
Here is the recut I made of Standby Productions entry in this year's Minneapolis Film Race.
I tweaked some of the time of the cuts, mostly for comedic timing and also to keep the film under four minutes as it had to in the contest. Added in the opening Standby Productions animation created in one night at QCTV studios during last year's 24 Hour Film Race by the talented Justin Tholl. Also, the dialogue about handing over the phone, and a few miscellaneous shot and take changes. To see the edit seen at the 24 Hour Film Race theatrical premiere [click here].
Shout outs to all the folks who helped make it happen once again! Rich Millhouse Oxley, Clayton Ebeling, Kassandra Langum, Nicki Andert, Joseph Young, Brian Hoskins, Samantha Hanus, Daniel Steinberg, Mccrae Olson, Justin Aarestad, Vashti Knazze, Joey Giovelli, Jesse Feltz, Bre Füss, Alana Bloom, Justin Cooke, and Frank Gores. Also, to the Langum's who gave us a house to call homebase, and Saint Therese for giving us a shooting location.
On the recent watch list: once again The Hurt Locker which truly is raw and is indeed a near perfect motion picture. It's like a nasty car crash, only with this it only gets more jarring upon a second take. No Country for Old Men [flawless victory], The Phanton, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and the Blu-ray release of the theatrical cuts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. My jaw hit the floor when I saw middle-earth in high definition! Let's not get into those eerie specular highlights. More coming soon, stay tuned! RRRrrrRRRrrr...
