I'm working on shooting some chromakey footage to test a wide variety of lighting setups.
Yes it would be nice to have enough light so there just wouldn't be any shadows but with no budget that just isn't possible. But it is possible to hide them where the camera won't pick up any shadows!
I do believe that we can accomplish this fairly easily with a little planning. In August there is going to be a networking party that Chris is putting on. It is to promote your projects and to try to get other people involved with them.
I think it might benefit me/us in a way of promoting the studio which should be in full working capacity by then.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Back To Work
Yepper, it is back to work today.
It was a good weekend though. I have made plans with Chris to use his living room for some test footage. I need at least a nine foot ceiling for the green screen rack and mine are eight feet tall.
Once there is some test footage shot the real world learning begins. I believe that it won't take long now to get a firm grasp on After Effects. I've gone through most of the training DVDs and have a good idea on the basics.
Everything after that is encountering problems and solving them.
The studio/hanger is still about two weeks away from moving into, so we have time.
Life is good except I have to go back to work.
It was a good weekend though. I have made plans with Chris to use his living room for some test footage. I need at least a nine foot ceiling for the green screen rack and mine are eight feet tall.
Once there is some test footage shot the real world learning begins. I believe that it won't take long now to get a firm grasp on After Effects. I've gone through most of the training DVDs and have a good idea on the basics.
Everything after that is encountering problems and solving them.
The studio/hanger is still about two weeks away from moving into, so we have time.
Life is good except I have to go back to work.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Grilling And Filmmaking
This has been a pretty decent weekend!
Planning a cookout today, I've got the meats and a new grill, a bag of charcoal, and some grilling tools, which I intend to leave at John's house.
I don't think he has a grill and I have two. Everyone should have a grill and learn how to use it. I'm more of a grill cook than a gourmet cook but by golly, I CAN GRILL!!!!
Grilling is one of the great American past times. I frequently use my small personal gas grill to cook supper. Hot dogs, steak, burgers, pork. All sorts of stuff!
When you want something that tastes good and is fast to prepare so you can get onto your movie viewing or TV viewing, grilling is the way to go!
The real cool thing is that grilling is simple to learn and master. There are any number of fine grilling books out there that take you step by step on what to do. Fortunately I had plenty of experience growing up as we had a small restaurant through most of middle and high school, so grilling came fairly easily.
I often have a fantasy that I'm on a huge shooting set with some high profile stars and after wrapping for the day I go to my trailer and start cooking for everyone. There is something very satisfying about cooking for someone and have them enjoy it.
It is like building something like a movie. You get gratification fairly quickly and pride for a job well done. Filmmaking is very similar to cooking. Well except it takes a lot longer to get the project completed.
You build the scenes, compose them. Place them into an order that relays the story you have in mind in a visual sense. Then you show others your work and hope they enjoy it.
Grilling is just a bit faster.
Planning a cookout today, I've got the meats and a new grill, a bag of charcoal, and some grilling tools, which I intend to leave at John's house.
I don't think he has a grill and I have two. Everyone should have a grill and learn how to use it. I'm more of a grill cook than a gourmet cook but by golly, I CAN GRILL!!!!
Grilling is one of the great American past times. I frequently use my small personal gas grill to cook supper. Hot dogs, steak, burgers, pork. All sorts of stuff!
When you want something that tastes good and is fast to prepare so you can get onto your movie viewing or TV viewing, grilling is the way to go!
The real cool thing is that grilling is simple to learn and master. There are any number of fine grilling books out there that take you step by step on what to do. Fortunately I had plenty of experience growing up as we had a small restaurant through most of middle and high school, so grilling came fairly easily.
I often have a fantasy that I'm on a huge shooting set with some high profile stars and after wrapping for the day I go to my trailer and start cooking for everyone. There is something very satisfying about cooking for someone and have them enjoy it.
It is like building something like a movie. You get gratification fairly quickly and pride for a job well done. Filmmaking is very similar to cooking. Well except it takes a lot longer to get the project completed.
You build the scenes, compose them. Place them into an order that relays the story you have in mind in a visual sense. Then you show others your work and hope they enjoy it.
Grilling is just a bit faster.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
X-Men: The Last Stand
I loved this movie.
However what they tried to tackle was the Dark Phoenix storyline and that just failed completely.
By the end Jean Grey turned into more of an afterthought than a character.
Now for comic fans EVERYONE knows the story of the Dark Phoenix! It is a story of loss, sacrifice, and genocide on a galactic scale. If you aren't familiar with it, just search for Dark Phoenix Saga, I'm sure that someone out there has summarized it or buy the trade paperback. You won't regret it.
Yes there is lots of controversy concerning the true ending of the Dark Phoenix but the point is that the movie failed in that regard and threw her into a different storyline all together.
It could have been done, it would have been about a three hour movie but it would have been epic and quite possibly the best comic based movie of all time. The Ben Hur of comic based movies, if only someone in Hollywood would have read a few comics.
It is frustrating at times when you have this grand idea of how it should be made but can't because of a variety of reasons, like not having the funds to make your vision of the story.
Now at 4:00 P.M. today the Coca Cola 600 will begin! Woohoooo!!!!
However what they tried to tackle was the Dark Phoenix storyline and that just failed completely.
By the end Jean Grey turned into more of an afterthought than a character.
Now for comic fans EVERYONE knows the story of the Dark Phoenix! It is a story of loss, sacrifice, and genocide on a galactic scale. If you aren't familiar with it, just search for Dark Phoenix Saga, I'm sure that someone out there has summarized it or buy the trade paperback. You won't regret it.
Yes there is lots of controversy concerning the true ending of the Dark Phoenix but the point is that the movie failed in that regard and threw her into a different storyline all together.
It could have been done, it would have been about a three hour movie but it would have been epic and quite possibly the best comic based movie of all time. The Ben Hur of comic based movies, if only someone in Hollywood would have read a few comics.
It is frustrating at times when you have this grand idea of how it should be made but can't because of a variety of reasons, like not having the funds to make your vision of the story.
Now at 4:00 P.M. today the Coca Cola 600 will begin! Woohoooo!!!!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Well My Four Day Weekend Is Off To A Good Start!!!!
I bought the final season of Home Movies yesterday, went to Wal-Mart to get some groceries, had a couple of drinks at Winner's, and pretty much stayed out of the heat.
Home Movies is a great show. It is the story of a elementary school filmmaker named Brenden. His friends Melissa and Jason help him and act in all of his movies. Each episode usually has the kids filming one movie and the misadventures they encounter during that episode.
Coach McGuirk is probably the funniest character in the show. A soccer coach who hates soccer, kids, coaching, his life, well pretty much everything but beer.
The Coach usually has the smartest lines of dialogue even though he is an idiot. He is always funny and acts as Brenden's friend and sometimes mentor/father figure.
The best part and worst part about this season is that it was the last season. Sadly the show was cancelled after four years and 52 episodes. They are quality animation goodness friends. I recommend watching an episode or two on the Adult Swim Fix site. There is usually an episode or two there for full streaming capabilities right from their site!
Watch one, its free and funny. Go ahead, you've earned it! Treat yourself!
Home Movies is a great show. It is the story of a elementary school filmmaker named Brenden. His friends Melissa and Jason help him and act in all of his movies. Each episode usually has the kids filming one movie and the misadventures they encounter during that episode.
Coach McGuirk is probably the funniest character in the show. A soccer coach who hates soccer, kids, coaching, his life, well pretty much everything but beer.
The Coach usually has the smartest lines of dialogue even though he is an idiot. He is always funny and acts as Brenden's friend and sometimes mentor/father figure.
The best part and worst part about this season is that it was the last season. Sadly the show was cancelled after four years and 52 episodes. They are quality animation goodness friends. I recommend watching an episode or two on the Adult Swim Fix site. There is usually an episode or two there for full streaming capabilities right from their site!
Watch one, its free and funny. Go ahead, you've earned it! Treat yourself!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Four Day Weekend!!!!
Yes my friends it has turned into a four day weekend for me!
Memorial Day weekend is a good weekend.
The Indy 500, which used to be an actual race is on but the better race is the Coca Cola 600!!!!
600 miles of NASCAR at its finest. The longest race of the year is also one of the most exciting on mid sized tracks.
Daytona is Daytona, large and fast like Talledega. Pack racing. Bristol is every man for himself and lots of busted cars by the end. Charlotte is between those two. The length of the race takes its toll on the cars and drivers. The speeds aren't as fast as Daytona's but they are plenty fast enough to provide a great race.
Watch it, grill something, get some friends, and enjoy a good time and reflect on the real reason why you can do all of those things in peace.
Memorial Day weekend is a good weekend.
The Indy 500, which used to be an actual race is on but the better race is the Coca Cola 600!!!!
600 miles of NASCAR at its finest. The longest race of the year is also one of the most exciting on mid sized tracks.
Daytona is Daytona, large and fast like Talledega. Pack racing. Bristol is every man for himself and lots of busted cars by the end. Charlotte is between those two. The length of the race takes its toll on the cars and drivers. The speeds aren't as fast as Daytona's but they are plenty fast enough to provide a great race.
Watch it, grill something, get some friends, and enjoy a good time and reflect on the real reason why you can do all of those things in peace.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Kingdom Of Heaven: Director's Cut
I just finished watching the Director's Cut of Kingdom Of Heaven.
I might be in the minority and judging by the box office on the theatrical release I probably am but this is a great movie. The Director's Cut fills out a lot of story that was cut from the theatrical version. Just over 40 minutes have been added.
Much of the missing footage deals with backstory and details that probably would have left Summer Blockbuster audiences yawning.
This version, if it had been released probably would not have done better at the box office but in my book it is far superior and shows exactly why Ridley Scott is a legendary director.
Kingdom Of Heaven has more heart than Gladiator but lacks the emotional effect of Blackhawk Down. Yes there are some Hollywoodisms used for dramatic effect but in the context of the story intended to be told work well.
Orlando Bloom is good as a Blacksmith turned Knight who lets principles guide his life, even to his detriment.
Jeremy Irons proves that he is one of the best actors working today. The man is simply outstanding and every word he growls commands respect.
Edward Norton in an uncredited but important role as the afflicted King of Jerusalem is powerful and moving.
Liam Neeson is good but his role along with his companions just doesn't last long enough. It would have been nice to have seen more of their backstory as they seemed to have had many tales to be told.
All in all very enjoyable with a booming DTS track that rumbled my walls.
I might be in the minority and judging by the box office on the theatrical release I probably am but this is a great movie. The Director's Cut fills out a lot of story that was cut from the theatrical version. Just over 40 minutes have been added.
Much of the missing footage deals with backstory and details that probably would have left Summer Blockbuster audiences yawning.
This version, if it had been released probably would not have done better at the box office but in my book it is far superior and shows exactly why Ridley Scott is a legendary director.
Kingdom Of Heaven has more heart than Gladiator but lacks the emotional effect of Blackhawk Down. Yes there are some Hollywoodisms used for dramatic effect but in the context of the story intended to be told work well.
Orlando Bloom is good as a Blacksmith turned Knight who lets principles guide his life, even to his detriment.
Jeremy Irons proves that he is one of the best actors working today. The man is simply outstanding and every word he growls commands respect.
Edward Norton in an uncredited but important role as the afflicted King of Jerusalem is powerful and moving.
Liam Neeson is good but his role along with his companions just doesn't last long enough. It would have been nice to have seen more of their backstory as they seemed to have had many tales to be told.
All in all very enjoyable with a booming DTS track that rumbled my walls.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Biggest Human I've Ever Seen!!!!
Sun Ming Ming, a 7'9 Chinese basketball player. He isn't skin and bones either, he tips the scales at about 370.
He is slow and isn't much of a basketball factor but with more experience I think he could be a force.
We lost to the Legend tonight but it was a close game and we are still the league leaders!
Did I mention 7'9!?!?!?!
He has to duck under nearly every doorway. There are few chairs that are big enough for him. The poor guy looked like he was in pain when he ran. Apparently he comes from a very poor part of China and his parents couldn't afford shoes big enough for him so he had to wear shoes two sizes too small and it has hurt the growth of his feet.
7'9.....
Well now for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.
He had a tumor on his pituitary gland that caused a over production of the growth hormone. At only 22 he would have died from the tumor. He took out a loan and that wasn't enough but a kindly doctor worked out a payment plan with him that he is still paying on.
How does a 22 year old deal with the constant barrage of stares he receives on a daily basis?
I would say from seeing him for myself, with grace, class, and a smile.
You can find more information at this Link
And if you happen to have a extra buck you can throw it his way.
He is slow and isn't much of a basketball factor but with more experience I think he could be a force.
We lost to the Legend tonight but it was a close game and we are still the league leaders!
Did I mention 7'9!?!?!?!
He has to duck under nearly every doorway. There are few chairs that are big enough for him. The poor guy looked like he was in pain when he ran. Apparently he comes from a very poor part of China and his parents couldn't afford shoes big enough for him so he had to wear shoes two sizes too small and it has hurt the growth of his feet.
7'9.....
Well now for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.
He had a tumor on his pituitary gland that caused a over production of the growth hormone. At only 22 he would have died from the tumor. He took out a loan and that wasn't enough but a kindly doctor worked out a payment plan with him that he is still paying on.
How does a 22 year old deal with the constant barrage of stares he receives on a daily basis?
I would say from seeing him for myself, with grace, class, and a smile.
You can find more information at this Link
And if you happen to have a extra buck you can throw it his way.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Another Storm Win!!!!
It was a good Storm game tonight!
Except that there was a local area high school band to play at half time and time outs. They were good but some teachers at their school who sat directly behind Bub and myself were more than annoying and flat out rude.
There were four of them and two of them were extremly arrogant know-it-alls. They had snide comments about nearly everyone around them, for example: The Storm use reserve county deputies for security. It is mainly a volunteer position. Well one of them was standing on the floor directly across from us and the more arrogant of the two asked the lesser arrogant of the two if that police officer would prevent anyone from committing a crime. Then he went on to say he was a disgrace because he was so heavy.
Well be that as it may, it is a volunteer gig. Admission was probably his only pay. He enjoys the games and we see him at most of them. He is a decent guy who sold Bub his Jeep.
Now for the hypocritical part, the teacher who made the remarks had to have been at least 150 lbs. overweight. This made me pay attention to his comments during the game for the rest of the evening. It seemed he had nothing good to say about anyone or anything as he was obviously smarter, funnier, better looking than anyone in the audience and more of a athlete than anyone on the floor.
So that made for a long game listening to those two behind us, well and dodging the frisbees that the cheerleaders were chucking into the audience. Two of them hit a 90 year old man in the row in front of us, one of them smack in the head, the other a ricochette shot off the balcony.
No one in attendence was safe from the cheerleaders. I really mean that.
So anyway there we are, deep into the game trailing by one point! There is less than a minute and a half left! We had the ball and Q White drives around a Long Island defender and gets the bucket! Up by one!
The PA Announcer hits Queen's We Will Rock You in which case a thousand people in unison stand up and stomp their feet and clap their hands....all of them but Bub who is right beside me.
He immediately started off with three stomps and two claps. I elbow him to get him to watch me as I stomp and clap in unison with the other thousand people and in the next two minutes he nearly gets it right. I tell him he has no rhythm and he agrees and takes another swig off of his fourth Bud Light.
All in all it was a great night! Tomorrow should be a better game but it would be hard to top this one!
Dodge City is coming to town, our hated rivals.
They are bringing 7'9 Sun Ming Ming with them....yeah 7'9.
Except that there was a local area high school band to play at half time and time outs. They were good but some teachers at their school who sat directly behind Bub and myself were more than annoying and flat out rude.
There were four of them and two of them were extremly arrogant know-it-alls. They had snide comments about nearly everyone around them, for example: The Storm use reserve county deputies for security. It is mainly a volunteer position. Well one of them was standing on the floor directly across from us and the more arrogant of the two asked the lesser arrogant of the two if that police officer would prevent anyone from committing a crime. Then he went on to say he was a disgrace because he was so heavy.
Well be that as it may, it is a volunteer gig. Admission was probably his only pay. He enjoys the games and we see him at most of them. He is a decent guy who sold Bub his Jeep.
Now for the hypocritical part, the teacher who made the remarks had to have been at least 150 lbs. overweight. This made me pay attention to his comments during the game for the rest of the evening. It seemed he had nothing good to say about anyone or anything as he was obviously smarter, funnier, better looking than anyone in the audience and more of a athlete than anyone on the floor.
So that made for a long game listening to those two behind us, well and dodging the frisbees that the cheerleaders were chucking into the audience. Two of them hit a 90 year old man in the row in front of us, one of them smack in the head, the other a ricochette shot off the balcony.
No one in attendence was safe from the cheerleaders. I really mean that.
So anyway there we are, deep into the game trailing by one point! There is less than a minute and a half left! We had the ball and Q White drives around a Long Island defender and gets the bucket! Up by one!
The PA Announcer hits Queen's We Will Rock You in which case a thousand people in unison stand up and stomp their feet and clap their hands....all of them but Bub who is right beside me.
He immediately started off with three stomps and two claps. I elbow him to get him to watch me as I stomp and clap in unison with the other thousand people and in the next two minutes he nearly gets it right. I tell him he has no rhythm and he agrees and takes another swig off of his fourth Bud Light.
All in all it was a great night! Tomorrow should be a better game but it would be hard to top this one!
Dodge City is coming to town, our hated rivals.
They are bringing 7'9 Sun Ming Ming with them....yeah 7'9.
Back To Work
However it won't be as bad.
I got some things I needed to get done DONE!
Like getting a place for the studio! Check!
Some much needed time away from work! Check!
Today is Mr. Hyde's last day as our supervisor, always a good thing. I missed all of his insanity last week. Yeah I wasn't even there but I know I will get stories of how insane he was....and there will be stories.
Tonight there is a Storm game and tomorrow night as well. When there are days at work when there is a Storm game at night, well they just fly by! I think there might even be a game Thursday night!
In Sopranos news, no this isn't a spoiler so you can keep reading, there is only episode remaining this half season. The last eight episodes are supposed to start airing in January to end the seriesj.
I think the show had a good and bad run. There are people who say that it was a character drama and that all of the forgotten storylines are not necessary to the overall story.
The other side is that there needs to be resolution and that it is lazy not to wrap up the dozens and dozens of storylines that were just left out there in space.
I'm more in the second camp. Simply because a lot of those storylines affected the characters and their motivations for doing what they were doing and could have altered the entire arc of any or many characters.
The show is basically over. With a total of nine episodes left they are going to have to do a lot of good to overcome the mediocre and poor episodes that they have given us. I mean they had two years to work all of this out and they give us THIS?!
It boggles the mind.
I got some things I needed to get done DONE!
Like getting a place for the studio! Check!
Some much needed time away from work! Check!
Today is Mr. Hyde's last day as our supervisor, always a good thing. I missed all of his insanity last week. Yeah I wasn't even there but I know I will get stories of how insane he was....and there will be stories.
Tonight there is a Storm game and tomorrow night as well. When there are days at work when there is a Storm game at night, well they just fly by! I think there might even be a game Thursday night!
In Sopranos news, no this isn't a spoiler so you can keep reading, there is only episode remaining this half season. The last eight episodes are supposed to start airing in January to end the seriesj.
I think the show had a good and bad run. There are people who say that it was a character drama and that all of the forgotten storylines are not necessary to the overall story.
The other side is that there needs to be resolution and that it is lazy not to wrap up the dozens and dozens of storylines that were just left out there in space.
I'm more in the second camp. Simply because a lot of those storylines affected the characters and their motivations for doing what they were doing and could have altered the entire arc of any or many characters.
The show is basically over. With a total of nine episodes left they are going to have to do a lot of good to overcome the mediocre and poor episodes that they have given us. I mean they had two years to work all of this out and they give us THIS?!
It boggles the mind.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
My Name Is Pretty Darn Good!!!!
Once again through the magic of Torrents.To I have fallen in love with a show that might make me rethink my No Network Shows policy.
My Name Is Earl.
A lifelong loser played by Jason Lee (Mostly of Kevin Smith movies fame) that leads a crime ridden life hits a lottery followed by a car. During his stint in the hospital he sees Carson Daly talking about karma and how he leads a good life and good things happen to him. This clicks with Earl and he makes a list of all the bad things he has done and sets out to fix them so he can better his life.
His brother Randy helps him since he is incapable of doing anything without much help. He is usually the cause of much laughter during the show since he usually unintentionally makes Earl's life harder.
He has a crazy ex-wife who is brilliantly played by Jaime Pressly is Earl's main foil. She does trailer trash so well you grow to like her antics to make everyone's life around her miserable. She is vile and self centered and has a motive for everything but you just love her screen time!!!!
Her husband Darnell the Crabman is the father of her second illegitimate child. You would probably remember him from the Office Max Rubberband Man commercials. Yep, same guy! He is good, funny, and Earl and Randy's friend.
The other main character is Catalina a very hot illegal immigrant who works at the motel that Earl and Randy live in. She is their friend and helps out while being the source of a few one liners.
The stories are usually wrapped up in each episode but there is enough of a thread running through each to provide continuity from show to show.
My Name Is Earl is very good comedy. It has some great laugh out loud moments, especially when you are familiar with the characters and their motivations.
Since I really don't like following a show from week to week with the exception of the Sopranos and I'm regretting that one, Earl is a good way to kill a few hours.
Get it, you won't regret it!!!!
My Name Is Earl.
A lifelong loser played by Jason Lee (Mostly of Kevin Smith movies fame) that leads a crime ridden life hits a lottery followed by a car. During his stint in the hospital he sees Carson Daly talking about karma and how he leads a good life and good things happen to him. This clicks with Earl and he makes a list of all the bad things he has done and sets out to fix them so he can better his life.
His brother Randy helps him since he is incapable of doing anything without much help. He is usually the cause of much laughter during the show since he usually unintentionally makes Earl's life harder.
He has a crazy ex-wife who is brilliantly played by Jaime Pressly is Earl's main foil. She does trailer trash so well you grow to like her antics to make everyone's life around her miserable. She is vile and self centered and has a motive for everything but you just love her screen time!!!!
Her husband Darnell the Crabman is the father of her second illegitimate child. You would probably remember him from the Office Max Rubberband Man commercials. Yep, same guy! He is good, funny, and Earl and Randy's friend.
The other main character is Catalina a very hot illegal immigrant who works at the motel that Earl and Randy live in. She is their friend and helps out while being the source of a few one liners.
The stories are usually wrapped up in each episode but there is enough of a thread running through each to provide continuity from show to show.
My Name Is Earl is very good comedy. It has some great laugh out loud moments, especially when you are familiar with the characters and their motivations.
Since I really don't like following a show from week to week with the exception of the Sopranos and I'm regretting that one, Earl is a good way to kill a few hours.
Get it, you won't regret it!!!!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Location Scouting!!!!
Today was spent location scouting for the Fanfilm Project. The script currently calls for a cafe location so John and I went to a couple of small towns to see what there is to offer.
There were some good things to be found and some that were a little sparse.
Overall it was a good day and there were some accomplishments made.
There were some good things to be found and some that were a little sparse.
Overall it was a good day and there were some accomplishments made.
Friday, May 19, 2006
A Good Week!!!!
I have had a good week off.
I needed it. I was getting snippy at work, imagine that.
I have spent this week trying to get me back. I have done pretty much what I want when I wanted to do it. I have started the foundation of a green screen studio as you have all read. Posted about it on a Yahoo group I belong to and had a couple of replies that there are no other studios in the state!
Ours might be simple to start but it is adequate as a first step. Yeah, a beginning.
It is what you would expect in a small aircraft hanger. Think of those temporary storage places and make it a bit bigger and that is what you have. There is electricity and plenty of space to film.
I am bidding on another tutorial for Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, it is a used copy that new retails for about $250.00. My bid is at $78.00 right now and I really feel it won't go much higher.
I have gone over the Sin City special edition again and again to see how the chromakeying was done. I am sure that we can do similar and I am sure that once I have some test footage I can operate After Effects well enough to key out the green screen backgrounds and add any footage we need.
I needed this week. Once our studio is fully operational I really feel that my job won't effect me much anymore:)
I needed it. I was getting snippy at work, imagine that.
I have spent this week trying to get me back. I have done pretty much what I want when I wanted to do it. I have started the foundation of a green screen studio as you have all read. Posted about it on a Yahoo group I belong to and had a couple of replies that there are no other studios in the state!
Ours might be simple to start but it is adequate as a first step. Yeah, a beginning.
It is what you would expect in a small aircraft hanger. Think of those temporary storage places and make it a bit bigger and that is what you have. There is electricity and plenty of space to film.
I am bidding on another tutorial for Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, it is a used copy that new retails for about $250.00. My bid is at $78.00 right now and I really feel it won't go much higher.
I have gone over the Sin City special edition again and again to see how the chromakeying was done. I am sure that we can do similar and I am sure that once I have some test footage I can operate After Effects well enough to key out the green screen backgrounds and add any footage we need.
I needed this week. Once our studio is fully operational I really feel that my job won't effect me much anymore:)
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Studio Location Secured!
Yes!
It is a very exciting time for us as filmmakers. We now have a location to start a real life working honest to goodness green screen studio!
We are going to start small at a T hanger as I posted about earlier. I am going to take over the monthly rent from my brother's hanger and start things.
Words are hard for me to come by to describe exactly how excited I am about this. It is a major step in our careers.
I watched March Of The Penguins AGAIN last night with my photographer friend. It is still an amazing documentary, even after every viewing! What the Emperor Penguin goes through every season is just incredible let alone being in the harshest climate in the world.
I also received my Video Copilot DVD yesterday with the chromakey tutorials on it!
It just so happens that I received my Sin City special edition the day before to replace the stolen one. This edition is a masterwork on green screen filmmaking! What you see, what is filmed, and what is eventually on the screen. It's all in there and more!
It has been a while since I've been this happy....it seems like forever.
It is a very exciting time for us as filmmakers. We now have a location to start a real life working honest to goodness green screen studio!
We are going to start small at a T hanger as I posted about earlier. I am going to take over the monthly rent from my brother's hanger and start things.
Words are hard for me to come by to describe exactly how excited I am about this. It is a major step in our careers.
I watched March Of The Penguins AGAIN last night with my photographer friend. It is still an amazing documentary, even after every viewing! What the Emperor Penguin goes through every season is just incredible let alone being in the harshest climate in the world.
I also received my Video Copilot DVD yesterday with the chromakey tutorials on it!
It just so happens that I received my Sin City special edition the day before to replace the stolen one. This edition is a masterwork on green screen filmmaking! What you see, what is filmed, and what is eventually on the screen. It's all in there and more!
It has been a while since I've been this happy....it seems like forever.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Munich
I had the pleasure of watching Munich two days ago. It has taken me about that long to mentally digest this movie. It might not take some people as long as it took me to talk about it but sometimes you see something and want to put it out of your mind. But it stays there anyway.
Kind of like a splinter where the skin has grown over it so you have to dig it out....or post on a blog about it to exorcise it.
When I was a kid I remember things like Jim McKay talking about his coverage of the Munich Olympics years after it happened. It literally was one of the things that made me take an interest in politics, like the Bobby Sands hunger strike. After I had a better grasp on what actually happened and learned the motivations behind such a horrible event it made me ask the same questions people asked at the time only years later.
Munich was an extremely powerful and moving film. Yeah a film, not a movie. If you saw it you would be able to tell the difference.
Now everyone is familiar with the premise and since the actual files are top secret no one really knows the real story of what happened. So this is a fact based fictional account of what likely happened after the 1972 Olympic Massacre.
Munich puts a human face on the assassins. It examines the nature of revenge, it gives them feelings and eventually plunges them into paranoia as they question if they are doing the right thing or not. It is not a political film even though it is a subject that could come off as preachy or condescending if not handled correctly. That is about as close to a spoiler as I'm going to get in this post, which also lends itself to shorter posts as I don't write as much.
Eric Bana does an outstanding job. It just so happens that he is also the biggest name attached to the acting core of Munich. And this is a film that is directed by Steven Spielberg and a score by John Williams! Daniel Craig probably will be big after he debuts as the new James Bond but that is a ways away and he really isn't a household name yet.
If you watch Munich prepare yourself. I doubt if anyone could watch this movie and not be moved in some fashion.
Munich is as violent as it is powerful. Munich is beautiful and it is sickening.
Watch it, you won't regret it.
Kind of like a splinter where the skin has grown over it so you have to dig it out....or post on a blog about it to exorcise it.
When I was a kid I remember things like Jim McKay talking about his coverage of the Munich Olympics years after it happened. It literally was one of the things that made me take an interest in politics, like the Bobby Sands hunger strike. After I had a better grasp on what actually happened and learned the motivations behind such a horrible event it made me ask the same questions people asked at the time only years later.
Munich was an extremely powerful and moving film. Yeah a film, not a movie. If you saw it you would be able to tell the difference.
Now everyone is familiar with the premise and since the actual files are top secret no one really knows the real story of what happened. So this is a fact based fictional account of what likely happened after the 1972 Olympic Massacre.
Munich puts a human face on the assassins. It examines the nature of revenge, it gives them feelings and eventually plunges them into paranoia as they question if they are doing the right thing or not. It is not a political film even though it is a subject that could come off as preachy or condescending if not handled correctly. That is about as close to a spoiler as I'm going to get in this post, which also lends itself to shorter posts as I don't write as much.
Eric Bana does an outstanding job. It just so happens that he is also the biggest name attached to the acting core of Munich. And this is a film that is directed by Steven Spielberg and a score by John Williams! Daniel Craig probably will be big after he debuts as the new James Bond but that is a ways away and he really isn't a household name yet.
If you watch Munich prepare yourself. I doubt if anyone could watch this movie and not be moved in some fashion.
Munich is as violent as it is powerful. Munich is beautiful and it is sickening.
Watch it, you won't regret it.
Surreal Life Wrap Up
Well the latest season of The Surreal Life wrapped up this past weekend and I have to say it had some good moments but mostly was a disappointment.
Tawny Kitaen was the Janice Dickinson psycho this season. There really wasn't a overpowering personality like Omarosa this time around and the main drama was Carol Brady being a mom to everyone. Everything was about her and just wasn't about anyone else. She was an attention whore and wasn't shy about anything. But when things got rough she immediately blamed childhood trauma blah blah blah. Yeah she wasn't as psychotic as Janice, Chyna, or Brigette Neilson but she was someone I wouldn't want to meet.
Sherman Hemsley was a peach of a guy. Shy and reserved. Someone you could see yourself hanging out with at a quiet drink.
C.C. DeVille fresh out of rehab, did really well with all of the temptations surrounding him. He onscreen struggles to do everything sober was enlightening. You felt for him as he triumphed and found that he does have a sober future.
Andrea Lowell was the slutty model who loved to be shocking but insisted there is more depth to her than being naked. Really?
Steve Harwell was the almost has been lead singer for Smashmouth. Who? Yeah you remember them. The one hit wonders who did All Star and that was about it.
Alexis Arquette was the firecracker who had the hair trigger temper. He/She was constantly struggling with identity. A man trying to look like a woman but having the temper and somewhat the strength of a man but insisting that he is a she all at the same time. Alexis provided most of the drama along with Tawny.
Yeah....hhhmmmmm.....
Maven the B-list wrestler and all around jobber. He was there but eh, who cared, kind of like his wrestling career.
There have been more entertaining Surreal Lifes, I just couldn't get into this one as much. No one was as over the top this year. There was some self centeredness but not as much. Andrea was hot but not as hot as previous models. There were no midgets which was disappointing except for one brief Bridget the Midget segment.
This season was probably one of the weakest efforts.
Now I believe that I am going to call John and Chris to take a look at a T-Hanger at the local airport to set up our green screen studio!
Each one offers a huge area, an electrical outlet and a light. All for the bargain price of $139.90 per month. Once I get After Effects 7.0 down and play with it to build my confidence I believe that we will be able to attract musicians for music videos, other indies who want some special effects, and be able to accomplish all of our own goals!
These are exciting times my friends!!!!
Tawny Kitaen was the Janice Dickinson psycho this season. There really wasn't a overpowering personality like Omarosa this time around and the main drama was Carol Brady being a mom to everyone. Everything was about her and just wasn't about anyone else. She was an attention whore and wasn't shy about anything. But when things got rough she immediately blamed childhood trauma blah blah blah. Yeah she wasn't as psychotic as Janice, Chyna, or Brigette Neilson but she was someone I wouldn't want to meet.
Sherman Hemsley was a peach of a guy. Shy and reserved. Someone you could see yourself hanging out with at a quiet drink.
C.C. DeVille fresh out of rehab, did really well with all of the temptations surrounding him. He onscreen struggles to do everything sober was enlightening. You felt for him as he triumphed and found that he does have a sober future.
Andrea Lowell was the slutty model who loved to be shocking but insisted there is more depth to her than being naked. Really?
Steve Harwell was the almost has been lead singer for Smashmouth. Who? Yeah you remember them. The one hit wonders who did All Star and that was about it.
Alexis Arquette was the firecracker who had the hair trigger temper. He/She was constantly struggling with identity. A man trying to look like a woman but having the temper and somewhat the strength of a man but insisting that he is a she all at the same time. Alexis provided most of the drama along with Tawny.
Yeah....hhhmmmmm.....
Maven the B-list wrestler and all around jobber. He was there but eh, who cared, kind of like his wrestling career.
There have been more entertaining Surreal Lifes, I just couldn't get into this one as much. No one was as over the top this year. There was some self centeredness but not as much. Andrea was hot but not as hot as previous models. There were no midgets which was disappointing except for one brief Bridget the Midget segment.
This season was probably one of the weakest efforts.
Now I believe that I am going to call John and Chris to take a look at a T-Hanger at the local airport to set up our green screen studio!
Each one offers a huge area, an electrical outlet and a light. All for the bargain price of $139.90 per month. Once I get After Effects 7.0 down and play with it to build my confidence I believe that we will be able to attract musicians for music videos, other indies who want some special effects, and be able to accomplish all of our own goals!
These are exciting times my friends!!!!
Monday, May 15, 2006
Kansas International Film Festival
I entered Locker into this film festival this morning....oh....by the way I'm taking off this week to try to find a place to build my green screen studio.
Besides with only 36 more years to retirement I just need time off.
The KIFF will probably be my last festival I enter Locker into. Gary is hopefully printing off more DVDs so I can duplicate them for friends I have unintentionally left out of the first limited batch. Yes I know I haven't sent you one and am going to correct that. I feel horrible about it but my copies were very limited the first time around.
Yes I'm talking to you up North.
My Total Training After Effects DVD set will be arriving today and my green screen tomorrow.
Chris, John, and I will be meeting at 6 to discuss renting a studio for the purpose of filmming and hopefully doing some side projects to pay the rent.
So this will be a busy week and a lazy week.
Besides with only 36 more years to retirement I just need time off.
The KIFF will probably be my last festival I enter Locker into. Gary is hopefully printing off more DVDs so I can duplicate them for friends I have unintentionally left out of the first limited batch. Yes I know I haven't sent you one and am going to correct that. I feel horrible about it but my copies were very limited the first time around.
Yes I'm talking to you up North.
My Total Training After Effects DVD set will be arriving today and my green screen tomorrow.
Chris, John, and I will be meeting at 6 to discuss renting a studio for the purpose of filmming and hopefully doing some side projects to pay the rent.
So this will be a busy week and a lazy week.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Sopranos Rant....Again
Yes this is a Sopranos spoiler laden rant so beware with what you read.
First the gay gangster. This character just isn't working anymore and the storyline is dead. It has become melodramatic and is beating the fans over the head with its preachiness. It contains twin motorcycles for contryside....ahem....rides by a pond. A diner owner volunteer fireman who embodies Vito's fantasies. It has practically everything a gay mobster could want. It is also one of the worst storylines they could think of.
The promise of a few weeks ago seems to have faded into the old Sopranos habit of up and down episodes. Good and bad. The good is the tension that is growing between Paulie and Bobby. Chris is still a moron and my pick to get knocked off by the end of the series.
Tony is still having a ton of problems but that is about the only thing going on that is good. Johnny Sack is probably headed for a prison death.
Janice is still evil and Meadow is still hot!
First the gay gangster. This character just isn't working anymore and the storyline is dead. It has become melodramatic and is beating the fans over the head with its preachiness. It contains twin motorcycles for contryside....ahem....rides by a pond. A diner owner volunteer fireman who embodies Vito's fantasies. It has practically everything a gay mobster could want. It is also one of the worst storylines they could think of.
The promise of a few weeks ago seems to have faded into the old Sopranos habit of up and down episodes. Good and bad. The good is the tension that is growing between Paulie and Bobby. Chris is still a moron and my pick to get knocked off by the end of the series.
Tony is still having a ton of problems but that is about the only thing going on that is good. Johnny Sack is probably headed for a prison death.
Janice is still evil and Meadow is still hot!
Tutorials Ordered
I have ordered two tutorials on DVD specifically for chromakey compositing and After Effects 7.0.
Link
They should arrive Monday! My green screen shall arrive Tuesday so I can have test footage accomplished and edited by this coming weekend!
This shall open up a lot of doors for our small production company! Tomorrow I shall be attending a meeting to talk about the value of adding a green screen and to try to find a place to shoot!
We will be able to shoot music videos and hopefully special effects for other indie productions!
This is very exciting for everyone involved!
Link
They should arrive Monday! My green screen shall arrive Tuesday so I can have test footage accomplished and edited by this coming weekend!
This shall open up a lot of doors for our small production company! Tomorrow I shall be attending a meeting to talk about the value of adding a green screen and to try to find a place to shoot!
We will be able to shoot music videos and hopefully special effects for other indie productions!
This is very exciting for everyone involved!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Barry Bonds Is A Disgrace
He needs to quit baseball now but he won't. He needs to go to jail but he probably won't.
Just this very past week up until last night's debacle Bonds has made it extremely difficult for even the most die hard Bonds supporter to support him.
After catching the 713th homerun of his career, a reported serviceman in Philladelphia and probably the only Bonds fan in that city, Barry Bonds refused to sign the ball. He did give a picture though and then asked for him to sign a release to be used for Bonds On Bonds, his reality tv show which he has complete creative control over....don't want those less than flattering moments to come to light.
Then just last night in the 8th inning Bonds hit a fly pop up with one man on first. Jeff Kent dropped the ball but Bonds didn't know that since he was already walking to the dugout. When his teammates yelled at him that he should run he did and barely beat the double play. He refused to talk about it in the post game press conference.
Simple mistake right?
Not if you are a 21 year veteran and Barry Bonds. Supposedly this generations best hitter.
No those aren't the only events surrounding Bonds, just the most recent.
Bonds is so insulated in his own universe that he probably does believe that the baseball world is on pins and needles waiting for him to tie The Babe and pass Hammerin Hank.
Bonds is not a sympathetic character. He doesn't care if you like him or hate him. He doesn't care for his teammates. He reportedly only cares about winning but his actions would seem to dispute that. It isn't like the Giants are contenders, they sit in last place in the West.
I really believe that if Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., or A-Rod would be chasing the record now there would be a celebration for every homerun hit. The Commissioner would be in attendence at every game.
714 is a milestone, a big one. 755 is a milestone, a huge one.
Bonds is a great player. There is no one who can dispute his numbers. Yes they would be much lower without the steroids, he just needs a steroid to make him more fan friendly and that ain't likely.
Just this very past week up until last night's debacle Bonds has made it extremely difficult for even the most die hard Bonds supporter to support him.
After catching the 713th homerun of his career, a reported serviceman in Philladelphia and probably the only Bonds fan in that city, Barry Bonds refused to sign the ball. He did give a picture though and then asked for him to sign a release to be used for Bonds On Bonds, his reality tv show which he has complete creative control over....don't want those less than flattering moments to come to light.
Then just last night in the 8th inning Bonds hit a fly pop up with one man on first. Jeff Kent dropped the ball but Bonds didn't know that since he was already walking to the dugout. When his teammates yelled at him that he should run he did and barely beat the double play. He refused to talk about it in the post game press conference.
Simple mistake right?
Not if you are a 21 year veteran and Barry Bonds. Supposedly this generations best hitter.
No those aren't the only events surrounding Bonds, just the most recent.
Bonds is so insulated in his own universe that he probably does believe that the baseball world is on pins and needles waiting for him to tie The Babe and pass Hammerin Hank.
Bonds is not a sympathetic character. He doesn't care if you like him or hate him. He doesn't care for his teammates. He reportedly only cares about winning but his actions would seem to dispute that. It isn't like the Giants are contenders, they sit in last place in the West.
I really believe that if Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., or A-Rod would be chasing the record now there would be a celebration for every homerun hit. The Commissioner would be in attendence at every game.
714 is a milestone, a big one. 755 is a milestone, a huge one.
Bonds is a great player. There is no one who can dispute his numbers. Yes they would be much lower without the steroids, he just needs a steroid to make him more fan friendly and that ain't likely.
Friday, May 12, 2006
OJ Is Back
I am not really sure how to feel about this. First of all here is the story.
OJ Simpson is starring in a Candid Camera style PPV. He is playing jokes on unsuspecting people while their reactions are captured for....well who knows what for.
It is a bit sick I guess.
Who will buy this? Probably the same people who are serial killer groupies. The ones who wanted to buy Jeffery Dahmer's fridge.
I don't get it. I know that OJ was acquitted and essentially he is free to do this type of thing. He can't make any money on it though because he owes millions to the families of the people he killed.
Yeah right. Everyone knows that he is getting some kind of money from this. I'm sure that there are several different layers involved to really hide it well but OJ is getting paid somehow.
It just seems to me that OJ is being spiteful. He is flipping the finger to his victims.
He is a glutton for attention. He hasn't had any at all for over a decade now and feels the need to put himself back into the spotlight.
It is a sad commentary that something like this is even getting made.
OJ Simpson is starring in a Candid Camera style PPV. He is playing jokes on unsuspecting people while their reactions are captured for....well who knows what for.
It is a bit sick I guess.
Who will buy this? Probably the same people who are serial killer groupies. The ones who wanted to buy Jeffery Dahmer's fridge.
I don't get it. I know that OJ was acquitted and essentially he is free to do this type of thing. He can't make any money on it though because he owes millions to the families of the people he killed.
Yeah right. Everyone knows that he is getting some kind of money from this. I'm sure that there are several different layers involved to really hide it well but OJ is getting paid somehow.
It just seems to me that OJ is being spiteful. He is flipping the finger to his victims.
He is a glutton for attention. He hasn't had any at all for over a decade now and feels the need to put himself back into the spotlight.
It is a sad commentary that something like this is even getting made.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Storm Are Rolling!
My beloved USBL team the Storm are rolling! They racked up another win tonight bringing them to 6-1!
We have a great team this year! Our D is good but not great, we can score without a true Center. We have outside shooters who have the three point range down cold. All in all we have a very balanced team.
While I do miss Lamont Turner who was easily one of the best players we ever had outside of Ira Newble who is now with the Cleveland Cavaliers backing up LeBron James. Lamont Turner was a true baller. You could build a whole team around him! He was a prescence! Large, fast, and tough. He was a boxer in his spare time.
Mike Mackell is that kind of player now. He anchors our team and gives the shooters, Joe Adkins and Terrance Johnson time to get their shots off.
I believe we will be one of the final teams standing by the end of the post season tournament if not THE final team standing! We are that good!
There is a game Friday night and then another Monday night!
These games are one of the pleasures of life I genuinely enjoy and 15 home games just isn't enough!
We have a great team this year! Our D is good but not great, we can score without a true Center. We have outside shooters who have the three point range down cold. All in all we have a very balanced team.
While I do miss Lamont Turner who was easily one of the best players we ever had outside of Ira Newble who is now with the Cleveland Cavaliers backing up LeBron James. Lamont Turner was a true baller. You could build a whole team around him! He was a prescence! Large, fast, and tough. He was a boxer in his spare time.
Mike Mackell is that kind of player now. He anchors our team and gives the shooters, Joe Adkins and Terrance Johnson time to get their shots off.
I believe we will be one of the final teams standing by the end of the post season tournament if not THE final team standing! We are that good!
There is a game Friday night and then another Monday night!
These games are one of the pleasures of life I genuinely enjoy and 15 home games just isn't enough!
The Poseidon Inferno!!!!
With the impending national release of Poseidon I decided to revisit two Irwin Allen classics new this week on special edition DVD sets.
I remember seeing both as a kid and you can still occasionally catch The Poseidon Adventure on tv once in a great while.
First is The Towering Inferno featuring two titans of acting on screen at the same time! Paul Newman and Steve McQueen! To me this has to have been one of the best pairings of legends of all time in one movie.
Yes Heat had Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro but their actual screen time was very limited. Yeah they were in The Godfather II but in different eras and never shared the same frame.
The Towering Inferno was different. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman shared the best roles of this outstanding ensemble cast which also featured the likes of Fred Astair, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, and pre-trial of the century OJ Simpson among many others.
Come on though, if you are going to watch this movie it is because of McQueen and Newman! Now it is a GREAT movie! Everyone knows the story so I won't go into it but to tell you that on this new DVD set it looks amazing!
Now as great as The Towering Inferno is, The Poseidon Adventure is better! I mean has Gene Hackman ever given a bad performance? Another Irwin Allen adventure movie that involves a capsized ocean liner and the fight for survival. After seeing this masterpiece of diaster films, I am going to stick to my remake policy and not see Poseidon. I admit I do falter from time to time *Cough* King Kong *Cough* but I am happy I made the Kong exception. Come on its Peter Jackson!
The Poseidon Adventure also has never looked better! Who could ever forget Shelly Winter's role or Red Button's fine performance? Ernest Borgnine or Roddy McDowall's great characters?
I admit that Poseidon looks like it could be a very good movie but I know if I go and see it Hollywood would just be that more encouraged to make more REMAKES!!!!
AAARRRGGHHH!!!!
So the past couple of days have been very good!!!!
With Mr. Hyde's new job and revisiting two classics nothing could harsh my happy!!!!
I was smiling all day long!!!!
I remember seeing both as a kid and you can still occasionally catch The Poseidon Adventure on tv once in a great while.
First is The Towering Inferno featuring two titans of acting on screen at the same time! Paul Newman and Steve McQueen! To me this has to have been one of the best pairings of legends of all time in one movie.
Yes Heat had Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro but their actual screen time was very limited. Yeah they were in The Godfather II but in different eras and never shared the same frame.
The Towering Inferno was different. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman shared the best roles of this outstanding ensemble cast which also featured the likes of Fred Astair, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, and pre-trial of the century OJ Simpson among many others.
Come on though, if you are going to watch this movie it is because of McQueen and Newman! Now it is a GREAT movie! Everyone knows the story so I won't go into it but to tell you that on this new DVD set it looks amazing!
Now as great as The Towering Inferno is, The Poseidon Adventure is better! I mean has Gene Hackman ever given a bad performance? Another Irwin Allen adventure movie that involves a capsized ocean liner and the fight for survival. After seeing this masterpiece of diaster films, I am going to stick to my remake policy and not see Poseidon. I admit I do falter from time to time *Cough* King Kong *Cough* but I am happy I made the Kong exception. Come on its Peter Jackson!
The Poseidon Adventure also has never looked better! Who could ever forget Shelly Winter's role or Red Button's fine performance? Ernest Borgnine or Roddy McDowall's great characters?
I admit that Poseidon looks like it could be a very good movie but I know if I go and see it Hollywood would just be that more encouraged to make more REMAKES!!!!
AAARRRGGHHH!!!!
So the past couple of days have been very good!!!!
With Mr. Hyde's new job and revisiting two classics nothing could harsh my happy!!!!
I was smiling all day long!!!!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Green Screen Purchased!!!!
This is the opening of a brand new chapter for this group of filmmakers!
With the purchase of a 9x30 foot green screen we will be able to shoot anything we need to be able to shoot now!!!!
In fact I was thinking about renting a body shop near where I live to open a green screen studio.
At Chris's networking party there were a lot of muscians. A couple of them were pretty talented and could probably benefit from a music video as promotion.
I'm sure that there are other people who would pay to have family videos made and pay for the DVD master. I do believe that this could be turned into a full fledged production studio and we would then be able to have our customers pay the rent and finance our own projects and equipment.
With the skills and equipment that we have as a group, we could be quite formidable. There is only one other production studio in town and in this section of the state and he shoots mainly commercials. We would be no competetion for him at all.
I have no desire at all to shoot wedding videos, NONE. However I do have a desire to do something creative and I do know that there are plenty of musicians with egos who would love to be treated like a star and have their own video made.
I know I know, starving musicians have no money. That is just something we will have to deal with when it happens.
With the purchase of a 9x30 foot green screen we will be able to shoot anything we need to be able to shoot now!!!!
In fact I was thinking about renting a body shop near where I live to open a green screen studio.
At Chris's networking party there were a lot of muscians. A couple of them were pretty talented and could probably benefit from a music video as promotion.
I'm sure that there are other people who would pay to have family videos made and pay for the DVD master. I do believe that this could be turned into a full fledged production studio and we would then be able to have our customers pay the rent and finance our own projects and equipment.
With the skills and equipment that we have as a group, we could be quite formidable. There is only one other production studio in town and in this section of the state and he shoots mainly commercials. We would be no competetion for him at all.
I have no desire at all to shoot wedding videos, NONE. However I do have a desire to do something creative and I do know that there are plenty of musicians with egos who would love to be treated like a star and have their own video made.
I know I know, starving musicians have no money. That is just something we will have to deal with when it happens.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Bye Bye Mr. Hyde!!!!
Yes it is indeed true! Mr. Hyde is leaving our section of shops and going to work for another branch!!!!
Yes he has been very Mr. Hyde lately as well, hyper is not the word for it! He has been pinging off the walls and irritating EVERYONE he has come into contact with.
He has about nine days left. Hopefully he will be gone sooner than that!
When the problems go WAY up in that area they will finally figure out how insane he is. I hope that they just don't send him back to our area when he fails in a spectacular fashion!
Every shop was elated with the news of his departure! It was incredible! Everyone was united in glee and surprise at what an amazing turn of events had transpired! It was like everything was right with the world all of a sudden!
The birds started singing, the grass was greener, and the sky was a deeper blue!
Yes he has been very Mr. Hyde lately as well, hyper is not the word for it! He has been pinging off the walls and irritating EVERYONE he has come into contact with.
He has about nine days left. Hopefully he will be gone sooner than that!
When the problems go WAY up in that area they will finally figure out how insane he is. I hope that they just don't send him back to our area when he fails in a spectacular fashion!
Every shop was elated with the news of his departure! It was incredible! Everyone was united in glee and surprise at what an amazing turn of events had transpired! It was like everything was right with the world all of a sudden!
The birds started singing, the grass was greener, and the sky was a deeper blue!
The Myth That Is Kari Byron
I was watching Mythbusters recently and I have to say I'm a big fan of this show!
I have seen nearly every episode since the first season and the show gets better and better...specifically Kari Byron.
This show is smart, has some funny moments, will actually teach you something, and they blow things up! It appears that Mythbusters has inspired many people to replicate their own myths to bust or confirm. So that means the show has a huge pop culture following!
What else could you want? Kari Byron!
She is not only hot but smart and appears to have a sense of humor on the show. So what is it about this scientific goddess that keeps Mythgeeks enthralled? I'm not real sure but she has it!
I do miss Scotti Chapman though. She was the blond with the longish hair and tattoos. I am not sure what happened to her but she isn't on the show anymore. With Kari and Scotti there was a lot more playful chemistry but Tori and Grant are good as well and seem to treat Kari as a little sister.
So to boil it all down, Kari is hot. Mythbusters is cool.
I have seen nearly every episode since the first season and the show gets better and better...specifically Kari Byron.
This show is smart, has some funny moments, will actually teach you something, and they blow things up! It appears that Mythbusters has inspired many people to replicate their own myths to bust or confirm. So that means the show has a huge pop culture following!
What else could you want? Kari Byron!
She is not only hot but smart and appears to have a sense of humor on the show. So what is it about this scientific goddess that keeps Mythgeeks enthralled? I'm not real sure but she has it!
I do miss Scotti Chapman though. She was the blond with the longish hair and tattoos. I am not sure what happened to her but she isn't on the show anymore. With Kari and Scotti there was a lot more playful chemistry but Tori and Grant are good as well and seem to treat Kari as a little sister.
So to boil it all down, Kari is hot. Mythbusters is cool.
Monday, May 08, 2006
There Is No Super Bowl For Us
That is the problem with being n the blue collar working class. There is no one event we can equate to the Super Bowl. No one event we can champion all year long to work towards to top off our year.
Nothing but a grueling practice eight hours a day, every day with nothing to work towards. Nothing to work for other than your pay.
Well here is what these innovative people have done here.
They know that deep down everyone wants to be a hero and make a difference somehow. And I admit that after I first saw this site I laughed, heck I'm still laughing but I salute their brilliance and what they are trying to accomplish.
They develop alter egos, who they want to be instead of who they really are, and take these new people out and battle with them against kindred souls in modern day Baltimore. They imagine themselves in a medieval world named Darkon and battle for ground on the weekends.
They strive for that one things we all miss sometimes in our own existences. They want to make a difference they are in a make believe world. So is it any less real than the Super Bowl?
No. It is as real as that event, just without the coverage, hype, fame, and money.
Nothing but a grueling practice eight hours a day, every day with nothing to work towards. Nothing to work for other than your pay.
Well here is what these innovative people have done here.
They know that deep down everyone wants to be a hero and make a difference somehow. And I admit that after I first saw this site I laughed, heck I'm still laughing but I salute their brilliance and what they are trying to accomplish.
They develop alter egos, who they want to be instead of who they really are, and take these new people out and battle with them against kindred souls in modern day Baltimore. They imagine themselves in a medieval world named Darkon and battle for ground on the weekends.
They strive for that one things we all miss sometimes in our own existences. They want to make a difference they are in a make believe world. So is it any less real than the Super Bowl?
No. It is as real as that event, just without the coverage, hype, fame, and money.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
A Great Day!!!!
I had heard rumors on message boards, fan forums, and internet articles. I can tell you after reading it in a few official places that it will be officially done in September!
The original theatrical cuts of Star Wars will FINALLY BE RELEASED ON DVD!!!!
This is amazing news! I did the happy dance when I found out it was official. Finally the non CGI'd movies I grew up with and saw over and over again in the theaters, the Han shooting first and non enhanced exploding Death Star are back! The Jabba scene is now absent again, thank goodness!!!!
Up until now the only way you could view the best versions, IMHO of course, was to buy the Definitive Laser Disc set and a player on Ebay. There were plenty of changes and all you have to do is run an internet search to find the differences between the Originals and the Lucas'd Revisionist Versions. There are many.
Now here is the weird part. The Revisionist Versions aren't that bad but they were unnecessary. The Originals could have been released at the same time perhaps in the same set. Everyone would have been satisfied. The people who never saw the Originals and only had the CGI'd versions in the theater and the ones who had the privilege to have experienced Star Wars the first time around.
Then there are those who are growing up with Star Wars now....well the CGI fests now called on to carry on the Star Wars name. Blech.
Star Wars was Star Wars when I saw it, I was seven. I saw Empire only once in the theater. I mowed lawns and saw Jedi five times within a couple of weeks.
George Lucas has built an empire and while only a fraction of a percentage of that was my dollars, I still love the Original Trilogy and will again be in line to buy it as quickly as possible!
Hey, its Star Wars and this time its MY Star Wars!!!!
The original theatrical cuts of Star Wars will FINALLY BE RELEASED ON DVD!!!!
This is amazing news! I did the happy dance when I found out it was official. Finally the non CGI'd movies I grew up with and saw over and over again in the theaters, the Han shooting first and non enhanced exploding Death Star are back! The Jabba scene is now absent again, thank goodness!!!!
Up until now the only way you could view the best versions, IMHO of course, was to buy the Definitive Laser Disc set and a player on Ebay. There were plenty of changes and all you have to do is run an internet search to find the differences between the Originals and the Lucas'd Revisionist Versions. There are many.
Now here is the weird part. The Revisionist Versions aren't that bad but they were unnecessary. The Originals could have been released at the same time perhaps in the same set. Everyone would have been satisfied. The people who never saw the Originals and only had the CGI'd versions in the theater and the ones who had the privilege to have experienced Star Wars the first time around.
Then there are those who are growing up with Star Wars now....well the CGI fests now called on to carry on the Star Wars name. Blech.
Star Wars was Star Wars when I saw it, I was seven. I saw Empire only once in the theater. I mowed lawns and saw Jedi five times within a couple of weeks.
George Lucas has built an empire and while only a fraction of a percentage of that was my dollars, I still love the Original Trilogy and will again be in line to buy it as quickly as possible!
Hey, its Star Wars and this time its MY Star Wars!!!!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
A Great Time!
Last night was a great night.
Lots of people showed up and had a blast!
Drinking and feasting was had by all and some brilliant conversation to boot! Now due to the magic of bittorrents I have now been introduced to Boston Legal.
I guess that I have to say that I am not much of a network TV fan. With that said I don't invest weeks watching one show unless it is on HBO or something similar. But with the capability of watching a show's entire season in one day on my PC or DVD then I am more open to the possibility of such a show since there isn't a lot of time invested.
No my watching the show at my leisure doesn't give a boost to the Neilsen ratings but if the intent is to get the show watched, well I'm all over that part of it!
Boston Legal is a great show! I am not one to enjoy legal dramas unless it is Perry Mason. Boston Legal has smart writing, smart characters, and clever plot lines. Well and then there is Rhona Mitra! Very hot!
James Spader is brilliant. He has always been a great underrated actor however the character of Alan Shore seems to have been written for him. The real gem of the show though is William Shatner's Denny Crane.
Now this isn't Captain James T. Kirk's William Shatner, the confident, swaggering Captain of the USS Enterprise. This is a character who's job is to be a character. He is seemingly bumbling and out of touch with reality but rises to any challenge when he has to.
I was simply amazed at Boston Legal. It isn't a favorite show but for a day's entertainment it works, like House does. It isn't Lost or better yet Veronica Mars but it simply works and I look forward to seeing the second season.
I will also say that I will be giving my money to purchase the DVD set. It is worth a place on your shelf.
Lots of people showed up and had a blast!
Drinking and feasting was had by all and some brilliant conversation to boot! Now due to the magic of bittorrents I have now been introduced to Boston Legal.
I guess that I have to say that I am not much of a network TV fan. With that said I don't invest weeks watching one show unless it is on HBO or something similar. But with the capability of watching a show's entire season in one day on my PC or DVD then I am more open to the possibility of such a show since there isn't a lot of time invested.
No my watching the show at my leisure doesn't give a boost to the Neilsen ratings but if the intent is to get the show watched, well I'm all over that part of it!
Boston Legal is a great show! I am not one to enjoy legal dramas unless it is Perry Mason. Boston Legal has smart writing, smart characters, and clever plot lines. Well and then there is Rhona Mitra! Very hot!
James Spader is brilliant. He has always been a great underrated actor however the character of Alan Shore seems to have been written for him. The real gem of the show though is William Shatner's Denny Crane.
Now this isn't Captain James T. Kirk's William Shatner, the confident, swaggering Captain of the USS Enterprise. This is a character who's job is to be a character. He is seemingly bumbling and out of touch with reality but rises to any challenge when he has to.
I was simply amazed at Boston Legal. It isn't a favorite show but for a day's entertainment it works, like House does. It isn't Lost or better yet Veronica Mars but it simply works and I look forward to seeing the second season.
I will also say that I will be giving my money to purchase the DVD set. It is worth a place on your shelf.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Welcome Home John Party Tonight!
The Official Welcome Home John Party is tonight even though he has been home since last Thursday. It will be a great get together! I bet twenty plus people show up as John is a great guy and well liked.
After reading a big article in this month's Filmmaker Magazine about the big power talent agencies who have indie divisions I have decided to send Locker to three of them. I figured that Locker is essentially a pitch on DVD for what could be a great movie. Well if it were rewritten and shot on film.
I know I am biased but I feel that it could be better than Open Water. Probably not as good as Saw, which I hated but good. Why Locker is gold and full of potential is that it is a single location shoot which can be done very quickly which equals lots of profit potential to which ever studio sees that kind of potential. Rope was shot in one day and while I could NEVER compare Locker to Rope, it is the same style of movie.
Now anyone who knows me knows what kind of Hitchcock fan I am so please don't think I would ever compare myself to that master filmmaker, I'm not.
But I am influenced by his work and the Twilight Zone and so was Locker.
Sending Locker to those agencies probably doomed those copies to a trash can but it is worth the buck eleven postage to try.
After reading a big article in this month's Filmmaker Magazine about the big power talent agencies who have indie divisions I have decided to send Locker to three of them. I figured that Locker is essentially a pitch on DVD for what could be a great movie. Well if it were rewritten and shot on film.
I know I am biased but I feel that it could be better than Open Water. Probably not as good as Saw, which I hated but good. Why Locker is gold and full of potential is that it is a single location shoot which can be done very quickly which equals lots of profit potential to which ever studio sees that kind of potential. Rope was shot in one day and while I could NEVER compare Locker to Rope, it is the same style of movie.
Now anyone who knows me knows what kind of Hitchcock fan I am so please don't think I would ever compare myself to that master filmmaker, I'm not.
But I am influenced by his work and the Twilight Zone and so was Locker.
Sending Locker to those agencies probably doomed those copies to a trash can but it is worth the buck eleven postage to try.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Operation: Baby Bunny
Yeppers, you read correctly so as not to be confused with Brown Bunny which is one of the worst movies ever to spin in my DVD player!
In our shop we found a little baby bunny. We had seen him/her around the grassy areas, hopping around and looking like it was pretty happy. The problem is that he was hopping around in a very busy area where lots of vehicles and aircraft are moved around so it was in danger. It could have been hit by a lawn mower, weed eater, Mr. Hyde, or a animal that happens to like baby rabbits. So I had to do something!
Well after our shop door to the outside was left open he decided to hop in and hide and do its imitation of a paint filter. I quietly cornered it and had it just where I wanted it before he made his escape behind a large metal cabinet.
Then I knew I had it! Well sort of, even though they are small they are still fairly fast and elusive!
Who'd a thunk it?
Well finally after about ten minutes I finally got it to go into a bucket which looked like a big blue den I guess. So he was happy!
Then I found a box to put it in and took it to another guy who's daughter raises baby animals who were in danger and released them back into the wild after they were able to care for themselves.
So this story ended better than the bird in my pool story.
In our shop we found a little baby bunny. We had seen him/her around the grassy areas, hopping around and looking like it was pretty happy. The problem is that he was hopping around in a very busy area where lots of vehicles and aircraft are moved around so it was in danger. It could have been hit by a lawn mower, weed eater, Mr. Hyde, or a animal that happens to like baby rabbits. So I had to do something!
Well after our shop door to the outside was left open he decided to hop in and hide and do its imitation of a paint filter. I quietly cornered it and had it just where I wanted it before he made his escape behind a large metal cabinet.
Then I knew I had it! Well sort of, even though they are small they are still fairly fast and elusive!
Who'd a thunk it?
Well finally after about ten minutes I finally got it to go into a bucket which looked like a big blue den I guess. So he was happy!
Then I found a box to put it in and took it to another guy who's daughter raises baby animals who were in danger and released them back into the wild after they were able to care for themselves.
So this story ended better than the bird in my pool story.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Mission Impossible 3 Or Is Tom Cruise Still A Star?
This will be an interesting weekend. We will all be able to see if Tom Cruise is still the box office heavyweight he has been for the past decade or if his star if going to start to fade.
MI:3 is the first movie since War of the Worlds in which Tom Cruise went nutsy on Oprah and started to rail against the psychiatric industry. Yes, MI:3 is the first movie in which we will know if the world is fed up with Cruise's antics and apparent insanity.
Personally I'll never see another Tom Cruise movie. He comes off as fake, plastic, arrogant, condescending, and well a nut. I'm done Tom, thanks for the memories.
If he comes back to Earth then we'll see.
I would bet that MI:3 will open bigger than average but won't be around long. It will probably capture the top spot come Monday. I would imagine that the American Public will forgive his behavior and will be in the theaters this weekend. That is fine, to each their own, just count me out.
Ever had one of those moments where you were instantly mad and it lasted all day? Yeah, me too.
Our lead, Picky Eater, took it upon himself to throw away years worth of stencils that we use in the operation of our jobs.
I was furious but after a while I decided to throw away something that he will probably need someday just to make his job harder like he has ours.
I felt better after coming to that conclusion:)
He just did it to make me mad. I know him well enough to know that was what he was up to. It was unnecessary to do that but he did it anyway. So once again there I am like in the commercial. I'm the human in the room full of monkeys, each of them equipped with a laser pointer which is squarely aimed at my crotch.
MI:3 is the first movie since War of the Worlds in which Tom Cruise went nutsy on Oprah and started to rail against the psychiatric industry. Yes, MI:3 is the first movie in which we will know if the world is fed up with Cruise's antics and apparent insanity.
Personally I'll never see another Tom Cruise movie. He comes off as fake, plastic, arrogant, condescending, and well a nut. I'm done Tom, thanks for the memories.
If he comes back to Earth then we'll see.
I would bet that MI:3 will open bigger than average but won't be around long. It will probably capture the top spot come Monday. I would imagine that the American Public will forgive his behavior and will be in the theaters this weekend. That is fine, to each their own, just count me out.
Ever had one of those moments where you were instantly mad and it lasted all day? Yeah, me too.
Our lead, Picky Eater, took it upon himself to throw away years worth of stencils that we use in the operation of our jobs.
I was furious but after a while I decided to throw away something that he will probably need someday just to make his job harder like he has ours.
I felt better after coming to that conclusion:)
He just did it to make me mad. I know him well enough to know that was what he was up to. It was unnecessary to do that but he did it anyway. So once again there I am like in the commercial. I'm the human in the room full of monkeys, each of them equipped with a laser pointer which is squarely aimed at my crotch.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Lost Season 2
I spent three days downloading the first 19 episodes of Lost's second season last week and I have to say that Lost has gotten better!
I watched them the weekend before last and have just failed to post about it yet but I am going to remedy that now!
Lost has gone from an amazing show to an outstanding show! Everything that made the first season great has made the second season better. It's all there friends. The mystery. The scifi element. The humor. The adventure, all of it is back in spades.
The odd thing about Lost though is that you really can't put your finger on what makes it a great show. It is a large cast with a ton of stories behind the characters so it stands to reason that a lot of different ingredients make this a great show.
I can point out some specifics but you know how I hate spoilers so I won't.
I was afraid that Lost would have sequelitis and try to over produce the show and just throw more money into special effects and no money into the story but that hasn't happened.
I can't wait until the DVD release to experience this show in all of its glory!
I watched them the weekend before last and have just failed to post about it yet but I am going to remedy that now!
Lost has gone from an amazing show to an outstanding show! Everything that made the first season great has made the second season better. It's all there friends. The mystery. The scifi element. The humor. The adventure, all of it is back in spades.
The odd thing about Lost though is that you really can't put your finger on what makes it a great show. It is a large cast with a ton of stories behind the characters so it stands to reason that a lot of different ingredients make this a great show.
I can point out some specifics but you know how I hate spoilers so I won't.
I was afraid that Lost would have sequelitis and try to over produce the show and just throw more money into special effects and no money into the story but that hasn't happened.
I can't wait until the DVD release to experience this show in all of its glory!
Monday, May 01, 2006
I Got Chills
When I saw the preview trailer for Deadwood in June I got chills. Every major character has a line from the Sermon on the Mount.
The delivery of those words from those characters was more than moving.
Very powerful and it made me understand what a trailer should be about, how it should make you want to see the show/movie.
I remember when I was younger I taped the trailer for Firefox. It was the most amazing preview I had ever seen! I watched it over and over again and got excited every time I saw it!
I couldn't wait until it came to town!
When I saw it, it was a big disappointment. It taught me how powerful a trailer could be. I've seen trailers where those scenes weren't even in the movie! It never made sense to me why they would do something like that.
If the movie was that good why not just use the scenes from the movie?
I know that when they have a dud of a movie they have to hire a real good editor to save it by cutting the trailer with the best scenes. So why don't they just make a good movie to start with?
Good question.
The delivery of those words from those characters was more than moving.
Very powerful and it made me understand what a trailer should be about, how it should make you want to see the show/movie.
I remember when I was younger I taped the trailer for Firefox. It was the most amazing preview I had ever seen! I watched it over and over again and got excited every time I saw it!
I couldn't wait until it came to town!
When I saw it, it was a big disappointment. It taught me how powerful a trailer could be. I've seen trailers where those scenes weren't even in the movie! It never made sense to me why they would do something like that.
If the movie was that good why not just use the scenes from the movie?
I know that when they have a dud of a movie they have to hire a real good editor to save it by cutting the trailer with the best scenes. So why don't they just make a good movie to start with?
Good question.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)