DON'T GO CATCHIN' FEELIN'S ('CAUSE IT'S ONLY A GAME) [FILM]

A down and out rapper finds a reason to run the game.

This past weekend went as smooth as butter, no egos, no gossip, no bologna. Simply the creation of a Film we all firmly believe in, and each having faith in the process in the way(s) that they needed to craft movie magic. So started my third round of the 48 Hour Film Project.



The bell rung Friday when we picked up the equipment from Cinequipt including the Red One. From there we went to Aquilo Studios and met up with John and 'G' to sign the location release, discuss the rules of the house, as well as the layout out of distro for the joint. Form, Northeast Minneapolis we made our way down 35W to Bloomington our pre and post production house. We got things together, and waited to head over to Walden Entertainment about a mile away.



As I stood in line to pick our genre with Hoskins I felt a bad moon rising with my hands, so I had Hoskins reach in after I rubbed his head for luck. Good thing, we drew Buddy Film! I knew instantly the story and characters for the film. The one Justin Johnson and I had talked about the night before for mockumentary. The story of a down on his luck rapper. Even the title song was already in my head. So, I made some calls and got things in place with my lead actor Jon Krivo and Taylor Trygstad who created the main title track we used in the film. The character of Paul Williams a Chef, the prop of a pair of pliers, and the line of dialogue "What do you want to know?" round out our elements for our film.



We grabbed some seats out front of the house and brainstormed out our main plot points for the film. I called the actors to set things up with them for the next shooting day. Meanwhile, Daniel and Joseph worked on the Red One 4K HD workflow and things looking stunning under tungsten bulbs. As the sun went down and after some breaks and rethinks we began to write our script, and by about 2am it was done for the most part.



I woke up at 5am Saturday, and went over the script and changed a few things as well as cleaned up a few things. I was a happy boy with this blue print in my hand. We got our equipment together and headed back over to Aquilo Studios arriving around 8am to shoot the studio and rapping scenes. We were wrapped and struck at Aquilo by around 3pm and head back to the house to shoot the scenes of the Rapper at home. After some ten hours we wrapped principal photography on the film at around 1am. We cooked the footage, and got it on the timeline. I went to bed and once again got some three hours of shut eye.



With Sunday morning I woke up at 5am and began the rough edit of the film which was done by about 8am in the morning. Hoskins and Joseph went to pickup our opening title shot, and soon returned with awesome footage which wrapped the production side of the film. Another great feeling was to give Steinberg hours to color correct and to his beautiful and subtle tweaks to the film. By about 5:30pm we were getting her ready for submission which we did the first time around 6:20pm and again with a better compression around 7:15pm. We headed back home and got some rest. We returned things to Cinequipt come Monday morning. I scored us some Arri swag from Jeff, and now just like I promised him, Daniel has his own Arri hat to wear on set. We all then went home to get even more rest and recoup. Nothing could have felt better.



Then came Wednesday, and the World Premiere of the film at the Riverview Theater. The film went over great, and I've got some good feelings about this one. Check it out for yourselves and let us know what you think of the film.

Shoutouts to everyone who's help, support, and skills made this all happen. John Edel, 'G', John Hensen, Brian Hoskins, Justin Johnson, Jon Krivo, Michael Latterll, James Norgard, Mccrea Olson, Jon Sadeh, Daniel Steinberg, Taylor Trygstad, Teddy Berg, Joseph Young, and last but not least Richard Oxley. My eternal thanks to you all. Stay tuned, much more on the way.

Corrigenda

Don't Go Catchin' Feelin's @ Riverview Theater

I love it when a plan comes together, and that's just what happened this past weekend when we crafted yet another 48 Hour Film Project Film. Everyone, and everything just came together to nail this one. I can't thank you all enough for you time and efforts we made magic, and yet I'll try once again. Thank you. Come one, come all and show your love and support as well at the World Premiere of Don't Go Catchin' Feelin's ('Cause It's Only A Game) at the Riverview Theater, full info below.

WHO: Media Storm / Old Abbot

WHAT: The 48 Hour Film Project Screenings

WHERE: Riverview Theater, [3800 42nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406]

WHY: We made a Film and submitted it on time

WHEN: Wednesday, June 23rd at 7pm

HOW: Eight bucks gets you in to the show

Crescit Eundo

"Don't be afraid, my Son. No one is more powerful than God."

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


A Bene Placito

WAR AT PEACE [FILM]

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 ~

E Pluribus Unum

"Michael! Open your eyes! This is the life we chose, the life we lead."

School's out for summer! Well sorta kinda...


(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.

Respice Adspice Prospice

"For you, Sir. From the Yankee War Department."

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

Dei Sub Numine Viget

MAYDAY: In The Heart of the Beast [FILM]

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 old Sony 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 video A 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 celluloid Nine. 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.

Per Volar Sunata