FLOWER a flyin' monkey films production

[Rodney V. Smith]

No where to rent, Rodders?

Rental is nice and all, but trying to cut back on spending. Can't justify renting when I own a perfectly good camera.

[Rodney V. Smith]

The only issue with the GH1 is recording your sound on a separate sound recorder and syncing it up to the footage later. In many cases, I would prefer that approach to sound recording (film cam and nagra), besides, the camera has more freedom to move around without having a sound mixer tethered to it.


I've actually been planning on having sound recorded separately anyway. Dave has been setting up a 40GB iPod to record directly, but last time I saw that project it was in pieces all across his dining table... I'll have to see what equipment my sound guy out here has. As soon as I find asound guy that is...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Damn I just found the first Jib I ever built down in the basement. Back when I actually used a DVX and this thing could actually support the weight. Considering resuing the parts though. Funny what you find in basements of places you used to live... besides bodies and half conjured demons...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Vesta Goddardz (website (http://makeupbyvesta.carbonmade.com/projects/2039557#2)) has agreed to come on for VFX Makeup. Excellent makeup artist and pretty cool person too. Glad to have her onboard.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Theik Smith (link (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2812369/)) has joined the cast as the bad guy/demon/monster thing, and ill also be handling all our stunt and fight choreography. he's actually a trained stunt fighter, so this shoudl be interesting.

Yes he is my brother. Yes I made him audition. Yes I am a complete bastard.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1701"]http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1701

[ghennek]

Hey the MakeUp Artist is Awesome !!! With her help the monsters will be almost REAL !!!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Oh yeah: I should send Damian the new script....

[AJ Brooks]

Yes he is my brother. Yes I made him audition. Yes I am a complete bastard.

Haha. This is great.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I should have recorded the audition. Oh such fun to torture siblings. :grin:

[jessicalsin]

I should have recorded the audition. Oh such fun to torture siblings. :grin:


You are not nice!

[Rodney V. Smith]

You are not nice!

see above statement. the partwherei state that i'm a complerte bastard.

[ZazaCast]

Yes he is my brother. Yes I made him audition. Yes I am a complete bastard.



Yes he can kick my ass!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Yes he can kick my ass!

I'm a filmmaker not a fighter! So... yeah he could kick my ass, but he's taking damage and I revoke his geekcard hen he rolls a D10 for initiative...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Modelling clay, 5lbs
Latex
Variety of paints and an airbrush.

All wonderful to have.

A plastic mannequin head to replace your brother who actually has a life and a job and wiggles too much anyway: priceless

[Marlon Ladd]

Modelling clay, 5lbs
Latex
Variety of paints and an airbrush.

All wonderful to have.

A plastic mannequin head to replace your brother who actually has a life and a job and wiggles too much anyway: priceless
Sounds like you're really getting geared up. Now I'm afraid. . .very afraid.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Modelling clay is in hand. Time to get sketching.

So my brother got the Extended Cut of the Return of the King, sometime this week, which is lucky for me, since one of my rituals during development of the story (past the scripting stage), is to watch the behind the scenes on those movies. Some of the work that Weta Workshop does in terms of visualization and developing the world the characters inhabit is phenomenal. It's really something that we as filmmakers could emulate in production design and costuming.

Costumes arent just clothes for characters. They are PART of the character, and even little things like amulets, rings, a cut of clothing.... these mean more than just lookign cool and actually help the actors to feel more a part of the world. It gives them some sense of history.

I have some prop buying to do next week and where I had previously considered just using an empty room in the house, I'm now thinking as adding more design to the space. We have these wonderful wood grained walls, beautiful windows and great texture, but now I personally have to take a look back and ask myself: what kind of person has been using this room in the past year and what have they been doing here. My Production Designer, Kelly Diaz is challenging me to really think about the design for the space and what every single item says about the occurences in the film.

Same thing goes for the monster design. I got really inspired by the Return of the King, where they were talking about designing the Orcs. Some of heir design choices got me thinking on how I can improve on just having a man in a mask. So aI started doodling... Not gonna show you my doodles yet, but it's come a long way from what I envisioned and I think I can make it work. I have to talk to my make-up artist, but some of the prosthetics we're designing are going to be pretty cool and reallly work to immerse Theik into the character.

Tonight, we're having a bit of monster training and we're going to develop a style of movement and walking for the character. Monster 101 begins....

[Rodney V. Smith]

More location pics: HOUSE EXTERIOR, FRONT

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yWXQNkzQas0/Sqqu-o50TtI/AAAAAAAAALM/-N90Z21sM_Y/s576/GEDC0162.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_yWXQNkzQas0/SqqvHwHwmGI/AAAAAAAAALU/XznkpXd-iAQ/s576/GEDC0157.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yWXQNkzQas0/SqqvHq9gZTI/AAAAAAAAALg/iw0v1Vgw3H0/s720/GEDC0156.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yWXQNkzQas0/Sqqw5wtTxdI/AAAAAAAAAMg/lnFU53sbyo8/s720/GEDC0163.JPG

[Rodney V. Smith]

I just found my old greenscreen stuffed into a bag in the basement. And I had been wondering what had happened to it...

Well just in time. I'm doing storyboards for the VFX shots right now so I can plan for the shots now and how we're integrating the CGI with the practical effects... green screen will definitely help a lot.

[Charli]

I like the poster and the like the location shots interior and exterior -- very warm and inviting, lol. Looking for to your production.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Jessica has been confirmed for this project. Jaimyon is looking for cheap tickets out to NYC, so he's almost confirmed. Casting the 3rd actor from Brooklyn.

We now seem to be in a race against time. This is going to be shot at my Dad's house and he's been pottering around with some renovations. Now for some reason he's kicked it up a notch and has started scheduling some major construction. I think me asking to shoot the movie in the house may have something to do with it, and despite his denials I know he just wants the house to look good for the shoot... and for our guests during the shoot.

The ever-so-fricking-awesome red brick that I found so attractive is now being worked on. I woke up one morning to the sound of a stone grinder, only to find a mason outside sharpening the edges of the bricks and then filling in the mortar. All in an attempt to make it look newer, fresher. Thankfully it's not a major area that I was planning to shoot. The whole charm of the house for me came from the lack of some of improvements, like the bricks. I guess my dad has just needed a reason to really just buckle down and get things done.

Anyway, the biggest thing he's looking at changing is one of the reasons we're racing against time and I'm trying to convince him to delay this one project. There is an AWESOME window in the dining room with leaded glass... a window that he now wants to replace with a more modern window... something that just about kills the look of the place for me. The new windows look very nice but they just don't have that feeling of age that I was treasuring and was planning on taking advantage of. Also the upstairs window that has been featured in my location pictures may be a victim on renovations.

I'm going to spend this week trying to come up with a proper schedule for us to shoot without workmen in the way (part of the education of my Dad is that we need silence on the set, and no the guys can;t work on another room) or without a room torn apart.

We'll get this done and on the weekend of September 27th. After that, the house is going to be in a major upheaval and looking quite a bit different while still retaining the charm. Just not the charm I'm looking to shoot...

[Sprocketboy]

That's a great Brooklyn house. Tell your dad to leave it alone for at least 2 weeks. He will have plenty of time to work on it.

[Rodney V. Smith]

That's a great Brooklyn house. Tell your dad to leave it alone for at least 2 weeks. He will have plenty of time to work on it.

I know. that's what I've been saying. But apparently this has been the kick in the ass to get moving on renovations he's been only talking about for the past 15 years. I figure if I can delay any of the major ones for 2 weeks then we're in great shape and can really put the effort into it after the fact. Hell, I'll even fly back down to help plan some of the major renovations. My perspective on efficiency has been useful to getting him started...

[ramsaur]

I see you are filming next weekend... Same here. Good luck to you man!

[jessicalsin]

So I've packed my jammies and a sleeping bag, and my toothbrush....I'll also be packing them into my car for a 2 hour drive to Buffalo from Toronto. Since it costs a bloody fortune to fly from here to NYC I'm flying out of Buffalo instead...it makes my heart smile that Jai is gonna come out to play with us on this project!

Also, beware of directors with greenscreens and modelling clay....

Stay tuned...shenanigans to ensue.

Also, I get to be a tourist in NYC for at least one day...so Rodney isn't a total slave driver...but shhh! Don't tell anyone!

[RodThompson]

Also, beware of directors with greenscreens and modelling clay....




I don't care how HOT you are...I resent that. :Drogar-Love(DBG):

[Rodney V. Smith]

Adventures in modelling clay land: I think I need a better head than the one I made out of modelling clay. My dad went out my window today onto the roof and I stupidly didn't move the clay head. Gate swings into head, dents it massively... and gravity took over. 10lbs of modelling clay head falling to the ground...

smoosh.

smack. ick.

Ended up looking kinda like Rod's Mangina over there...

Have to go looking for rose motifs tomorrow as well as some modelling clay I can bake in the oven. Major plot point here so I gotta make it look good.

[jessicalsin]

I don't care how HOT you are...I resent that. :Drogar-Love(DBG):

'Scuuuuuse me?!

What do i look like? Megan Fox?

Hells no...if anything Rodney should use that modelling clay to spackle my face so I'm appropriate looking for the cameras.

[Rodney V. Smith]

'Scuuuuuse me?!

What do i look like? Megan Fox?

Hells no...if anything Rodney should use that modelling clay to spackle my face so I'm appropriate looking for the cameras.

Dammit Jess: sell your hotness and stop being modest. SELL the HOTNESS!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Tickets booked. We're fully committed now.

[Tom Marshall]

Good to hear. :thumbup:

[Rodney V. Smith]

I see you are filming next weekend... Same here. Good luck to you man!

I thought you'd filmed already. This for your second entry?


I don't care how HOT you are...I resent that. :Drogar-Love(DBG):

She's pretty resentingfulthingy.


Good to hear. :thumbup:
Better get my ass in gear.

[ramsaur]

I thought you'd filmed already. This for your second entry?

Shhhh
(But then again my "Thirst" page doesn't have a shoot date, so you have to figure that out, or just wait and see what I come out with, within the next few weeks)

[jessicalsin]

Dammit Jess: sell your hotness and stop being modest. SELL the HOTNESS!


sell the hotness? Ummm....could someone tell me wher to buy some of this 'hotness' Rodney is referring to?

[Tom Marshall]

sell the hotness? Ummm....could someone tell me wher to buy some of this 'hotness' Rodney is referring to?

It's like when you're a waitress... you don't sell the steak, you "sell the sizzle." :thumbsup:

[TMerry]

Love the updates Rodney! Digin the new poster and the shots of the location.
I had to drop by and take a look at how you formated your actors headshots so
I can steal your formatting j/k ;-)

[Marlon Ladd]

Tickets booked. We're fully committed now.
YESSSS! Looks like we're all trying to film this weekend.

[Sarah Daly]

This looks awesome as usual dude - best of luck with the shoot!

[Rodney V. Smith]

bought myself a new toy today: Lazy Susan!

Special prize goes to the first person who guesses how I'm going to use said Lazy Susan for the film...

[Rodney V. Smith]

It's like when you're a waitress... you don't sell the steak, you "sell the sizzle." :thumbsup:

Tom's got it in one. Maybe i should get him to come sell some sizzle.


Love the updates Rodney! Digin the new poster and the shots of the location.
I had to drop by and take a look at how you formated your actors headshots so
I can steal your formatting j/k ;-)
Thanks dude, and steal away! I like to see nicely formatted threads. :D


YESSSS! Looks like we're all trying to film this weekend.
Sweet! The final rush is on to get things shot! Woo hoo and all that good stuff. Good luck to all of ya.


This looks awesome as usual dude - best of luck with the shoot!
Thanks Sarah. Looking forward to it.

[DarkElastic]

For those of you who don't know what one of them is (like I didn't, thought it was some new kind of blow up doll!) here you are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazy_Susan

[ZazaCast]

Lazy Susan... isn't she the one that hangs out at the corner of Union St. & 8th Avenue?
You know, the one with the limp?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Lazy Susan... isn't she the one that hangs out at the corner of Union St. & 8th Avenue?
You know, the one with the limp?

And as usual: no prize for Zaza...

[TMerry]

bought myself a new toy today: Lazy Susan!

Special prize goes to the first person who guesses how I'm going to use said Lazy Susan for the film...

You're going to either be doing a pan around a kitchen table with a center anchor point. OR its for the crafts services table :-P

[Rodney V. Smith]

You're going to either be doing a pan around a kitchen table with a center anchor point. OR its for the crafts services table :-P

GOOD idea, but no.

"Craft Services"? You mean the box of snacks no one is allowed to touch but me?

[ZazaCast]

O.K., so like a QTVR...you have 2 choices, object VR or environment VR...since you're not going to put the camera on the lazy susan and shoot 360 degrees...you must be putting your 'object' on it and shooting it as it moves 360 degrees... or both the object and the camera, kind of like a BulletTime (Matrix) thing. Just a guess.....

[Rodney V. Smith]

Good guess Zaza! But now I'm throwing a dolly into the mix...

Zaza's prize: a bowl of GREEN JELLO!

[DarkElastic]

You're going to put Jessica on it naked, spin her around very fast until she pukes all over herself, in some kind of sexy, disgusting and perverse shot you thought up??? Sounds intriguing, Rodders.

[ZazaCast]

WOW!

Hey Jes... you're going to be in NY...and I have the jello now...????

[Rodney V. Smith]

You're going to put Jessica on it naked, spin her around very fast until she pukes all over herself, in some kind of sexy, disgusting and perverse shot you thought up??? Sounds intriguing, Rodders.

uh... no. tempting. but no.
My rules for the house: no blood on the walls, no holes in the walls, no scratches on the floor, no actors in jeopardy (real or scripted), no camera or production equipment in the house or anywhere within 200ft of the house...oh yeah and no actors in the house. :grin:

should be a fun shoot.

[jessicalsin]

uh... no. tempting. but no.
My rules for the house: no blood on the walls, no holes in the walls, no scratches on the floor, no actors in jeopardy (real or scripted), no camera or production equipment in the house or anywhere within 200ft of the house...oh yeah and no actors in the house. :grin:

should be a fun shoot.


uh no actors in the house?...So am I sleeping in a tent in the yard?

Also, craft services?...HA!

Zaza...serious with the jello?...geez...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Half of that list suffered my my imagination. You pick which ones.

PS: bring a tent. :)

[Rodney V. Smith]

I need an iPhone. Or some other good phone/internet type device. Or failng that, paper for the printer. I ended up walking around most of upper Flatbush Avenue today because of a bad text and then bad backup from my brother. Next time I need help with google, I'm bugging Andrew as usual.

Today is the day i decide to do some props and production design purchases. I decided to start with the thrift stores. A Google Maps search showed there was a cluster of thrift stores in the area, so I plotted a course from one to the next, starting with the closest one. However I failed to write this down. This is important: write your directions down, especially in a new area. I jumped on the train, got out at my stop, hit the streets and promptly got lost. I'm the guy who will ALWAYS pull over and ask for directions, so I called up my brother told him to look up "Pratt Thriftstore" and he gave me an addresss.... which sounded odd, and like nowhere near where I currently was, but who was I to question him? After all he had the mighty google map in front of him. So after a good 15 minutes of walking I came upon the addresss... but it was an ART STORE called Pratt Store. My brother had skipped the "thrift part".

It was still a good find since they had all of the supplies I was needing to complete some of the monster build, you know, latex and paints and stuff. So not completely wasted. I'm goging back tomorrow to pick up the rest of my supplies.

Back on the Thrift Store trail, I had to find a new store now since I was entirely off my original plan. So had to find the nearest train (4 blocks away), head someplace I had never been before and of course... I promptly got lost again. This time through my own error. I got redirected thanks to a very friendly and flirtatious cashier at Starbucks and finally found my first thrift store.

Got some good stuff and definitely have to return with Theik and Jessica for costuming. The best part though was the area in which I found the thrift store had all of these cool shops that really got me thinking of how best we can utilize production design. Take some things from the 2D stage and really bring them out to full 3D.... give the room depth...

Anyway, some shopping ahead of me. Right now my feet hurt like crazy and I think I need a nap. I'm too old for this.

[Sprocketboy]

The iPhone has saved me more than I can count. In New York, you can't do without it and works the way you expect it to work. In San Francisco and neighboring counties its perhaps the worse device you can own. It drops calls, occasionally you get an internet connection. Google Map should be renamed Get Lost. It stinks in that part of the world and its near Apple headquaters. Ironic.

I just picked up some items from a thrift shop today. Its an indie filmmaker's prop and wardrobe shop. I don't know how I would do without it.

Good luck with your search.

[Rodney V. Smith]

The iPhone has saved me more than I can count. In New York, you can't do without it and works the way you expect it to work. In San Francisco and neighboring counties its perhaps the worse device you can own. It drops calls, occasionally you get an internet connection. Google Map should be renamed Get Lost. It stinks in that part of the world and its near Apple headquaters. Ironic.

I just picked up some items from a thrift shop today. Its an indie filmmaker's prop and wardrobe shop. I don't know how I would do without it.

Good luck with your search.

Sounds like you're down this side of the world quite a bit. I'm actually surprised that there aren't as many thrift shops here as would have been expected given the size of the population. I think I had better luck at thrift stores in Atlanta than here and that's just plain weird. Maybe people throw out more stuff here including stuff that normally goes to thrift stores. Apparently dumpster-diving is quite the past time here... if you can get to the curb before the trash comes around.

What I'm experiencing here is a culture shift and the only way to learn and adapt to this culture is to actually live here. I've gotten used to the way things work in Atlanta and I know and can predict the culture there... here and Toronto... I'm just not here long enough to make that adjustment.

it's a challenge but not insurmountable..

[Rodney V. Smith]

hotels in New York City are fucking expensive. Seriously: WTF?

[Sprocketboy]

hotels in New York City are poo pooing expensive. Seriously: WTF?

Blame the European tourists. Their money is pretty strong compared to the US dollar. It drives up prices.

Its time to dust out the cellar and put your actors down there. Its the best price in town. :)

[Rodney V. Smith]

Blame the European tourists. Their money is pretty strong compared to the US dollar. It drives up prices.

Its time to dust out the cellar and put your actors down there. Its the best price in town. :)

So this is all Simon Hofer's fault? I KNEW he was up to something.

Sadly the basement is under construction. Covering up those great walls that are so good for a dungeon with drywall. I wanted to shoot something there before that happens, but my equipment is still scattered over 3 states.

[Christian Vincent Jung]

Blame the European tourists. Their money is pretty strong compared to the US dollar. It drives up prices.

Haha - you have weak money!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Haha - you have weak money!

Speak not of our money in such a way it's very sensitive.

[Sprocketboy]

Haha - you have weak money!

I know. Our economy is pathetic. I wish I had your "strong" money. I guess I just have to earn more.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Doing the first monster effects today with Theik. These are all shots for After Effects so some green screening is in play today as well as some closeups.

Fun, fun, fun.

Still waiting on word about my gear from Atlanta. It was supposed to have been shipped on Saturday but with no word from Dave yet and no FedEx or UPS stops here today, I'm getting little nervous. I'd really hate to have to RENT something I already own. That just annoys me.

I'm going to keep calling him, but could sure use those lights... and dolly... tripod... my entire grip bag...

great. now I'm just pissed off.

[DarkElastic]

Keep the faith Rodders, keep the faith. When are you scheduled to start shooting?

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

That bites! Hopefully you get it all worked out. :beer:

[Sprocketboy]

I can feel your pain. Shipping freight from Atlanta to NYC should take 3-5 days.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Oh I'm keeping the faith. I'm just pissed off. I'll go out and get worklights and florescents if i have to. One is not defined by one's gear... the right gear just helps get things exactly right is all.

We start shooting sunday evening, finish the rest of the shoot on monday.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I can feel your pain. Shipping freight from Atlanta to NYC should take 3-5 days.

I just want a tracking number... if he ships today I'm officially screwed.

[Marlon Ladd]

What's the update??

[Tom Marshall]

Hey Rodney, hope things work out man...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Things are looking up. In contact with one of the New York based DVXUsers so hopefully that goes well. I'll give actual details once I know what's definitely going on there.

On another positive note I finally got in touch with Dave and he's supposed to be packing up the gear today from his storage unit and trekking it over to the UPS store. i think we're just going to focus on the essentials right now... lights, tripod, stands and my G&E bag. The bulky stuff is either going to stay with him or some lucky DVXUser in Atlanta might inherit some of my gear... we'll see how that goes. As soon as i can raise Dave on the horn and he's actualy AT UPS, I'll feel so much better. Paypal rocks for stuff like this, especially when you have the paypal atm card handy...

In other news, didn't do the makeup test yesterday, but we did settle on the final monster effects and most of the costume. We'll definitely be doing application and painting today.... and with that will come greenscreen shots and the final poster photo session.

[TMerry]

Rodney: killer graphics, facebook page for the film, website just for the film, podcast just for the film. You're killin' me over here. What's next a Flower App for iPhone??

Can I borrow some of your energy please? just making my film is a draining enough experience! LOL! Don't get me wrong though, I'm lovin it! :-)

[Rodney V. Smith]

Please welcome Will Clegg to the crew of Flower. He's going to be coming to my rescue in a rather dramatic fashion, so we're definitely getting 'er done.

Met with the lead actor Sohan Ahmad today and he is confirmed and locked in for the production.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1750

[jessicalsin]

Uh...I'm not the lead actor? That's it I quit! Muhahahahahah! Kidding.

So I bought a suitcase today. I have never owned a suitcase so I'm excited about it! Yes. It takes very little to make me happy. Now I just have to figure out what is allowed in a carry on....I'd really hate to have to check my bag....

[DarkElastic]

Yes, and there is the weight limit, so don't expect to take all of your womanly possessions and machinery with you! But you do get handluggage as well, but there are rules on what can go into that! Best to check it all out in advance, as they are not a smiling bunch, those in Customs!

[Rodney V. Smith]

cast pictures updated.

[Rodney V. Smith]

New Podcast, featuring me this time.

Podcast #2: The Directorin New York
a696d2b01710e6c729
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/a696d2b01710e6c729

[Rodney V. Smith]

Just finished the first makeup test with Theik and that was a trip and a half. Spirit Gum, Latex and acrylic paint and lots of "shut up you". I'm having to do the Monster Makeup since I cant afford to hire a makeup artist right now. Too many things are going wrong, so the first thing to get cut was the Makeup artist. Thankfully this monster is one we designed from an amalgam of parts so it was easy enough to build it from scratch. Painting and matching skintones is going to be the hardest, but I'm an artist dammit. I've been matching skintones for most of my life.

Anyway, doing makeup on my kid brother was interesting and it was mainly becasue all professionalism or pretense to it went right out the window. He did good though considering this was his first time in facial prosthetics, so kudos to him. At the end of the day (wish I coudl show pictures) he's going to be one kick ass monster.

Before the paint even dried I had the camera on and found the right kind of look we're using for the show. I had intended to shoot green screen tonight, but after some discussion with Andrew earlier, we make some changes that affects how we're going to shoot the monster. So the monster is going to be going full tilt boogie with Jessica in a brand new action sequence that Theik has been designing.

In any case, the half finished monster tonight was totally kickass and I can't wait to shoot. I've been doing storyboards and extended character sketches all day (between the last of my errands). So lots going on here.

Maybe I'll post some storyboards later... those that don;t give too much away... I could always redact them...

[jessicalsin]

Hahahahahah! "Shut up you"...haha...
I will be there in less than 48 hours now.
I'm getting excited! hehehe....
Still not sure what to pack....I know I'll get there and will have forgetten something. It never fails....
Oh here's my effed up itinterary: Saturday 1am: Drive from Toronto to Buffalo to catch my flight at 5:55am Saturday morning.
Land about 7:30 and hope that Rodney is at JFK waiting for me, cause if he's not...let me tell you...rrrawr!
Saturday: hopefuly get some sleep, though I may be to excited to sleep, thus making me grouchy later...so let's pray for a good nap. Heh
Sunday...scoping out local vegan places so i don't starve. Sunday night: Shooting. Monday (I don't know what the day is going to be) shooting at night again. Tuesday I'm told I get to be a tourist for a few hours before my flight at like 10:40 pm. 8:30 get to JFK, get on plane, land in Buffalo around 12:30am, drive back to Toronto, provided my car hasn't been stolen or severly vandalized at the airport parking facility...it is Buffalo after all...Get home in Toronto, sleep ALL day wednesday.
Phew...

[Sprocketboy]

You are building up some serious steam. Sounds like everything is about to converge and actually happen. Love to see the storyboards.

[TMerry]

Rodney is at JFK waiting for me, cause if he's not...let me tell you...rrrawr!

Sunday...scoping out local vegan places so i don't starve.

drive back to Toronto, provided my car hasn't been stolen or severly vandalized at the airport parking facility


Sounds like high maintenance ;-)

Okay, Rodney to do list:

1. Be on time to pick up Jess
2. Have vegan meals on hand
3. Have limo drive Jessica to and from airport.

j/k :grin:

[Marlon Ladd]

We're all rootin' for y'all. This is gonna' come out great, me thinks. Rodney, I totally feel you on the makeup. We had to do a couple of test runs ourselves and I was the first guinea pig. I now know all about that blasted liquid latex. LOL.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Storyboard #1
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1753

[Marlon Ladd]

Those storyboards are too cool.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Thanks guys. I've uploaded the storyboard as requested. workign on completing the new ones with fight sequences today. We're officially doing the countdown to production, so gonna have some video blogs up every day now. Maybe we'll even record some of the walk throughs for the fight choreography. I get to be Jessica's stuntman, so that might look weird....

[Rodney V. Smith]

Those storyboards are too cool.

8x14 paper, felt tip pen, scribble as i see the scene. I used to try to put all of this detail but it only slowed me down. What i try to get is a combination of what i see and the planned camera movements. On one of the boards I actually missed an insert shot so I made a note to do a REVERSAL looking up at the house. Actually any shots I screwed up drawing I made notes next to as a reminder.

I just try not to look at the boards as art. Just reference. As a trained artist, the artwork would just depress me.

Oh yeah: the boards also help me to set the space conceptually and keep my lines straight. I've established a space where Jessica's character always appears so I'll always tend to frame her to that side. All other characters live in the other space. So visually, I'm planning on following through with that however the camera moves.

[Sprocketboy]

Good job on the storyboards. They communicate clearly what you want. I usually just storyboard scenes with complex camerawork and blocking. It would usually be accompanied with an overhead floor plan of the room with camera and character positions. I've been doing it that way for the last 10 years. The rest is a shot list.

Lately I've been using an iPhone app called Hitchcock and its great in taking quick photo compositions on location and lay them out like a storyboard on your iPhone. It has playback with little features and simple shaded characters you can throw in.

Is Will Ceggs lending you equipment and shooting?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Is Will Ceggs lending you equipment and shooting?

Will is providing equipment and a hand with production. I'll be DPing this one, although Will is a damn good shooter.

[jessicalsin]

Passport: Check
Suitcase packed: Check
Cousin Dogsitting: Check
Concern about going about 24 hours without sleep tomorrow: Check
Insane excitement about seeing NYC for the first time: Check
Sanity: Not Available at this time.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Holding your sanity in check? :)

[jessicalsin]

It doesn't fit in my carry on.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Makeup test featuring Theik Smith.

Podcast #3: Monster Make-up Test
0096d2b21e1fe0c38f
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0096d2b21e1fe0c38f9

[Rodney V. Smith]

New podcast up! The countdown to production is ON!

[TMerry]

Nice work on the storyboards Rodney, I now officially hate you ;-)
I storyboard too, but mine look more like comic strips from
kindergarten - still they work for me (Hee Hee)

[Rodney V. Smith]

Nice work on the storyboards Rodney, I now officially hate you ;-)
I storyboard too, but mine look more like comic strips from
kindergarten - still they work for me (Hee Hee)

DOn't hate yet: save that for after the next podcast. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Rodney V. Smith]

Building and collecting all of the little props and costume details tonight and tomorrow. Once I get a nice little pile I'll take some pics. These are mostly character things so they dont give away anything, and some won't even be really seen in any detail, so this is the one time where that will be possible.

I was gonna build 2 apple boxes ad a half apple but then I go lazy. Maybe I should look into that tomorrow....

[Tom Marshall]

Are you still shooting this weekend? Or did you have to postpone?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Are you still shooting this weekend? Or did you have to postpone?

Forwards ever, backwards NEVER!

That's my motto. I never postpone unless something catastrophic happens. Like losing a passport and being locked out of Canada.... things like that...

**ahem**

we're SHOOTING this puppy as scheduled. And it's going to be so much FUN!!!!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Yom Kippur (Hebrew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language): יוֹם כִּפּוּר‎, IPA: [ˈjɔm kiˈpur] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA)), also known as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn of the Jewish holidays (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_holiday). Its central themes are atonement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Judaism) and repentance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repentance_in_Judaism). Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%27anit) and intensive prayer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_services), often spending most of the day in synagogue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue) services.

What does this mean in the universe of me shooting in NYC, you may wonder? I'll explain, but first a few factoids for any of you who've never visited NYC at anytime during the year.

B&H Photo is owned by Jews.
Adorama photo is also owned by Jews.
A LOT of the stores, including $1 stores and any other store I may want to shop at this weekend to prep for the movie... those are predominantly jewish owned or middle eastern.

This translates to ALL of the stores I currently need are closed for Yom Kippur... until Tuesday. Now to find alternate stores for the rest of my supplies. If Costco is closed I'm going to shoot someone, but slowly.

I just love shopping in New York...

[Rodney V. Smith]

I'm making apple boxes today while I get over the Yom Kippur situation.

Good tutorial here if anybody wants to make some.
http://www.basslinedigital.com/learning/tutorials/appleboxes/

http://www.basslinedigital.com/learning/tutorials/appleboxes/appleboxes.jpg

[Marlon Ladd]

Are you kidding?? Man, that's crazy - all those stores shutting down like that. Well, hopefully you won't need anything from the store. Now get to shootin' and post some grabs.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Are you kidding?? Man, that's crazy - all those stores shutting down like that. Well, hopefully you won't need anything from the store. Now get to shootin' and post some grabs.


Jessica arrives tomorrow morning so we'll be getting somemore video blog stuff. No actual shots until sunday. Hope you can bear with us until then.

[jessicalsin]

Jessica will be on a plane in less than 12 hours. Jessica will be 3 things when she arrives in NYC : Hungry, Excited and tried.
Be prepared
I'm like Hellboy...except instead of Baby Ruths to make peace..it's going to be a nice cup of Starbucks with soy milk and one sugar please....

[Rodney V. Smith]

So... what you're trying to say here is: buy you coffee?

[Sprocketboy]

Yup! She wants a "cup of Joe."

[jessicalsin]

So... what you're trying to say here is: buy you coffee?

Yes please.:)

[Rodney V. Smith]

Yup! She wants a "cup of Joe."

And this is where Zaza shows up....

[Rodney V. Smith]

Apparently today is the day for sharing:

Finally got a call back from Dave and he's shipping the lights, dolly and tripod out on a same day delivery service called "Delta Dash". Here's the link (http://www.delta.com/business_programs_services/delta_cargo/cargo_flight_availability/cargo_products_services/delta_dash/index.jsp).

Apparently they can ship a package up to 75lbs for $90 + taxes ($104 total) anywhere Delta flies to. Delta's main hub is in Atlanta and of course they fly to JFK, so happy dance time!

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:fhFMci0CoE--LM:http://roissy.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/joy.jpg

even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQX2B67KL4

[jessicalsin]

Okie dokie folks! So I'm leaving my place in about 2 hours. I will do my podcast from the road, just for funsies! I brought books to read at the airport...cause I'll be waiting around for a bit...grrr....

[Rodney V. Smith]

Jessica has made it over the border and is at the Buffalo airport right now hanging out until her flight at 6:00AM. She's actually really hyper for this time of morning, especially considering the drive down from Toronto (2 hours tops). Gotta seriously give her credit for making the trip down to shoot, especially considering that there was also nighttime driving involved. At least she managed to avoid all manner of traffic and congestion which is actually pretty bad during the day. Don't even talk to me about driving across the border on a Saturday morning. Ugh.

Anyway, I'll be out to pick her up at 8:00AM at JFK, hopefully with enough time to grab her a coffee. I look forward to the day I can afford a production assistant or a limo driver to go pick up my cast. In the meantime: I'm it.

Jessica is definitely worth it though. With her I know I have a solid lead, someone I can trust to carry the movie. Now to get her through the fight scenes... gonna be fun.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Jessica has landed and now after 22 hours awake, she's finally passed out downstairs. Resting up for her first big day in NYC. On the itinerary: costuming and props...

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I hope it all goes really well.
Good luck! :thumbup:

[Sprocketboy]

Don't let her sleep too long. It will throw her sleep schedule off. She should go to bed really tired tonight and start tomorrow fresh.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Don't let her sleep too long. It will throw her sleep schedule off. She should go to bed really tired tonight and start tomorrow fresh.

Damn. Hadn't thought of that, even though it should have occurred to me. I went to bed at 10PM last night and my schedule is way off.

[Sprocketboy]

Are you shooting next weekend? That's when I'm shooting.

[Rodney V. Smith]

rehearsals today and tomorrow. shooting tomorrow and monday.

[ZazaCast]

And this is where Zaza shows up....

Did someone say "cup of Joe"? Whatever Jessica needs... Jessica gets!

[jessicalsin]

Damn right. Jessica gets what she wants...what I actually want is my big comfy bed and my doggie. i miss him already! It's odd being in an unfamiliar place, though Rodney's folks were kind enough to put me up for the next couple days.
So i was a tourist today and dragged Rodney along with me. NYC is awesome! To bad it costs so much to live here...
We went on a bit of a scavenger hunt for the Macbeth Vegan shoes i so desperately desired...and we found them! woohoo!
So shooting tomorrow and Monday, then a bit more tourist fun on tuesday then back home again!

[Rodney V. Smith]

... then a bit more tourist fun on tuesday...

No.


I'm renting you a friend.

[armisiano]

No.


I'm renting you a friend.


Wow! Hear that Jess!? You're getting a hooker!!! From NEW YORK CITY!!!

WOOO-HOOO!!!!

[dsto]

Looks good. Sitting this fest out. And I just now checked out the thread. Looking forward to it Rondney!

[ZazaCast]

Wow! Hear that Jess!? You're getting a hooker!!! From NEW YORK CITY!!!

WOOO-HOOO!!!!

Exuding class, as always. :huh:

[jessicalsin]

Hooker from NYC....well that wasn't on my list of things to get while I was here! Also...ew. I'm trying to talk Rodney into taking me to Coney Island on Tuesday before I head home. He's being a party pooper. He likes to pretend that he isn't having fun...but I know the truth!
Countdown to shooting...t-minus 5 or so hours.

[ZazaCast]

Break a leg! (but please, don't fall off the roof...)

[Rodney V. Smith]

Podcast #4: New York Monsters
a696d2bd171cefcf29
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/a696d2bd171cefcf29

[Rodney V. Smith]

New podcast up: Jessica's arduous travels, fight training type thing and Times Square.

Now my feet hurt so we can't shoot anymore. Kidding of course.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Oh, we're going to start shooting this afternoon. Have a bit of a rain situation this morning and some missing equipment, so can;t do interiors until tomorrow. Exterior shots we CAN do in the rain, but this kind of rain is the misty kind... you know the type: gets all over the lenses and makes viewing extremely difficult.

We'll see how it looks around 4:30PM. In the meantime, I have to go buy skateboards because my Dolly is MIA.

[jessicalsin]

Break a leg! (but please, don't fall off the roof...)
I'll do my best....no promises though. I have to careful. Hospital visits are costly here! Heheh....

[ZazaCast]

Hospital visits are costly here! Heheh....

THAT is the sad truth! Now tell me can Starbuck's really compare to Tim Horton's? :huh:

[jessicalsin]

THAT is the sad truth! Now tell me can Starbuck's really compare to Tim Horton's? :huh:
Uh...dude...we have Starbucks in Toronto you know....I like Starbucks coffee...they always have soy milk whereas Tim Horton's does not.

[Tom Marshall]

Good luck with the shoot!

And Jess, break both legs. :thumbsup:

[ZazaCast]

Uh...dude...we have Starbucks in Toronto you know....I like Starbucks coffee...they always have soy milk whereas Tim Horton's does not.

I know...but Tim Horton's just bought 5 closed Dunkin Donuts locations in the city. I'm not a big fan of overpriced, fancy Starbuck's coffee. You know what I'm talking aboot?:grin:



And Jess, break both legs. :thumbsup:

No hard feeling there...:grin:

[jessicalsin]

BWHAHAHAHAAH! you boys are hilarious! Yes Timmy's (if you're going to drink it you have to know what we Canadians call it) is reasonably priced and quite tasty.

And break both legs?! Thanks alot Tom... :P

[Tom Marshall]

No, break both legs means extra good luck! :beer:

[Rodney V. Smith]

So, Jessica just fell off the roof and is en route to the hospital. I think she may have broken both legs.

Thanks a lot Tom.

[Tom Marshall]

:eek:

[jessicalsin]

This is me reporting from my Blackberry in the back of the ambulance.....broken legs, bruises, a few scratches...but the good news will be that I get to do the cool pre-boarding thing at the airport on Tuesday for disabled people....

[Rodney V. Smith]

Day one is complete. Gonna do a podcast in a bit to wrap up the day. But only after a few more glasses of wine. :).

And no: Jessica really hasn't broken her legs. Not even a metacarpal.

[ZazaCast]

Congrats on day one!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Thanks. Footage looks great too. Editing it all together now so I can what inserts I'll need for tomorrow. But it's all so good. Sohan is an excellent find, very natural and a great fit for Jessica. I'll post some screen shots later tonight. Right now I think I'm going to find my other P2 Cards and shoot the closing podcast for day one. Hmm. 4(?) glasses of merlot. Need to get my brains back.

[Rodney V. Smith]

SCREENSHOTS from Day One: Flower (location Prospect Park, NYC)

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1779

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1778

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1781

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1777

[Rodney V. Smith]

Ungraded screenshots are now up for your viewing pleasure.

[jessicalsin]

Looks nice....but i'm biased...heh.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I can't find my camera and we've imbibed a little too much "muscle relaxant" at this point to do a proper podcast. Slurring may be involved. Right now AFI is blasting on the stereo and we've started on the vodka. The merlot is all done, but we're bonding on vodka and rocking out to some classic AFI.

Sweet!

[jessicalsin]

AFI. Look them up. If you haven't heard of them. You should be shot. I love them. Fave band by far. Although I swear I'm as good a singer as Davey Havok...that may have something to do with the alcohol consumption....

[Sprocketboy]

Cool grabs. You should be drinking and dancing. You survived Prospect Park. :thumbup:

[Rodney V. Smith]

While there was no dancing, there certainly was drinking...

Podcast #5: Surviving Prospect Park
0096d3b51d1cecc98f
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0096d3b51d1cecc98f

[Rodney V. Smith]

Had time to grab some promo shots last night. Here's one of my favorites. Jessica in allof her badassery. Only thing we needed was to cover her in blood...

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs279.snc1/10635_141061117950_108152737950_2620001_8071814_n. jpg0

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

SCREENSHOTS from Day One: Flower (location Prospect Park, NYC)

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1779



Cool grabs. Bumped my favourite.

MAH

[Rodney V. Smith]

So, yeah: we're wrapped. Ow. Ow and ow. Also woohoo!

Big thanks to Will Clegg for bailing us out of a jam with the lights and some help on crewing. Major kudos to him. Cool dude, very chill.

I'm tired now, so gonna transfer the footage and back it up so I can continue my editing.

[Matt Sconce]

*chanting* screen grabs...screen grabs...screen grabs... CONGRATS ON THE WRAP!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Congratulations!!

[DarkElastic]

Well done guys.

[ZazaCast]

Congrats to cast & crew!

[Rodney V. Smith]

*chanting* screen grabs...screen grabs...screen grabs... CONGRATS ON THE WRAP!

Thanks, and more grabs coming soon. Editing now so more coming... although there is no guarantee the shots will make the final cut of the movie.


Congratulations!!


Well done guys.


Congrats to cast & crew!

Thanks guys. It's almost time for the post-production blues.

[Sprocketboy]

Congratulations on wrapping successfully. You are probably the first film in the can at this fest.

[Marlon Ladd]

Congrats, man! Now the fun really starts. Great promo stuff and grabs. You the hardest working man in show business. Who can compete with this thread??

[Rodney V. Smith]

Congratulations on wrapping successfully. You are probably the first film in the can at this fest.

Nah, there have been at least 6 others that wrapped before us. Didn't someone finish like 2 months ago?

Marlon: just trying to keep you guys interested and entertained.

Just finished my first rough cut and have a couple of pickup shots tomorrow with Jessica. Sohan can't make it back out tomorrow so if I have any pickups for him they'll have to be later in the week and single shots. First cut is looking pretty nifty though. Have some more screen shots coming.

I may let this edit sit for a week andthen go back with fresh eyes and do the style edit... hit the right beats and just work on pacing and telling the story on a purely visual basis. Gonna have a fun week ahead of me.

Tomorrow is Jessica's last day here then she's back to Toronto. Solid performance as always.

[lyonfilms]

Congrats! I am again looking forward to your film.

[ramsaur]

Hey Rodney, your grabs and ext. location shots looks pretty cool. Saw you wrapped yesterday, awesome dude. Can't wait to see this one.

[jessicalsin]

So we wrapped....meaning i have to go back to boring old Toronto tonight...rawr. Hopefully I'll come back to NYC sometime soon!
So be sure to keep checking in everyone! Countdown to MONSTERFEST!!!

[ZazaCast]

So we wrapped....meaning i have to go back to boring old Toronto tonight...rawr. Hopefully I'll come back to NYC sometime soon!
So be sure to keep checking in everyone! Countdown to MONSTERFEST!!!

Safe Travels!:beer:

[TMerry]

Just finished my first rough cut and have a couple of pickup shots tomorrow with Jessica. Sohan can't make it back out tomorrow so if I have any pickups for him they'll have to be later in the week and single shots. First cut is looking pretty nifty though. Have some more screen shots coming.
.

First cut already?!?

I'm must have shot too much, :-)
I'm still loggin my transfered clips. It doesn't
help that since they are upside down at ingest, I have to bring them all in
to start deciding whats hot and what's not. This is my first HD/P2 adventure
so this is to be expected. Next time I'll hook up a second monitor and
flip it up side down! :-P

Great work so far Rodney!

[Rodney V. Smith]

First cut already?!?

I'm must have shot too much, :-)
I'm still loggin my transfered clips. It doesn't
help that since they are upside down at ingest, I have to bring them all in
to start deciding whats hot and what's not. This is my first HD/P2 adventure
so this is to be expected. Next time I'll hook up a second monitor and
flip it up side down! :-P

Great work so far Rodney!

Thanks dude. I did the upside down thing for a while then got sick of the whole mess and got the flip. My head hurts less these days. I always tend to know what shots I want and what I got, so the last scene I shot is usually the keeper. Helps with the rough edit. The rough edit is really to see what shots I missed and how it all flows in the edit. That's the point where I can say: "oh I wish I had this shot here..." So on the second day I can go out and get my pick up shots, focusing on a particular angle.

It's fun innit?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Jessica is gone flying away back to Canadialand. We'll definitely miss her spirit and charm around here. It was actually cool to get to hang out with my actor before and after. Usually its such a short contained burst of activity that you never really get to talk to a person or even learn anything about them. I tell ya: until you've shared a meal (craft services doesnt count) and had a few glasses of wine/vodka/name your poison and hung out and watched movies, you don't really pass the friendship barrier. I'm just glad that she's talented and professional and was willing to come out to shoot with us.

Okay, enough of this schmaltz: time to get back to editing.

[Marlon Ladd]

Jeez, Rodney! You work fast, man. I mean, you've got a rough cut, got bts interviews and all kinds of stuff. I just finished my rough cut yesterday. Like I said, you're the hardest working man in show business. Now, give us some more grabs!

[Rodney V. Smith]

I have ZERO BTS photos this time around. Just stuff before the shoot but none on the actual days of the shoot. I'm a bit disappointed in myself now. May have to go and stage some shots... without Jessica in them.

Shot my credit sequence last night. That was a load of fun, but I think I may get an actor in and give him some additional lines to start the movie off over the main credits. Decisions, decisions...

[Rodney V. Smith]

2 More Screen Grabs...

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1793

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=223&pictureid=1794

[Marlon Ladd]

Damnit! I just can't compete. You're too quick. Great shots, especially the first one. Jessica gettin' her actin' on!

[jessicalsin]

I have officially decided I would like to be Number Six. Damn you Rodney.
And thank ya Marlon...I certainly hope I do not disappoint!

[Rodney V. Smith]

I have officially decided I would like to be Number Six. Damn you Rodney.
!


Right then: one BSG fan flick coming right up...

[DarkElastic]

"I am not a number. I am a free man/woman."

[ZazaCast]

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/35446/1254354962.jpg

[Rodney V. Smith]

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/35446/1254354962.jpg

That's so effin hilarious!

[Marlon Ladd]

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/35446/1254354962.jpg
lol!

Hey, Rodney - more screen grabs are up. I put up like 5, so you owe me 3 more.

[jessicalsin]

Issues...all of you. Major issues you have.

[TMerry]

Thanks dude. I did the upside down thing for a while then got sick of the whole mess and got the flip. My head hurts less these days. I always tend to know what shots I want and what I got, so the last scene I shot is usually the keeper. Helps with the rough edit. The rough edit is really to see what shots I missed and how it all flows in the edit. That's the point where I can say: "oh I wish I had this shot here..." So on the second day I can go out and get my pick up shots, focusing on a particular angle.

It's fun innit?

The funny think is I have the MicroFlip, i just took it off my rig because the
smallHD mounted upside down was letting me see (on set) what I wanted.
I got a cleaner look without the flip. But in post... Aye Aye Aye!

At this point I'm not sure if I'm going to sell the flip or not..

PS, the scene where Jessica is putting out the candles...
I love it, I can see a demonic event with impending doom just minutes away :-)

[Brandon Rice]

Just checked out the grabs! Looking good! Looking forward to seeing this one! :)

[ZazaCast]

Issues...all of you. Major issues you have.

When did you start talking like Yoda? Just what did Rodney do to you at the shoot? :happy:

[jessicalsin]

When did you start talking like Yoda? Just what did Rodney do to you at the shoot? :happy:


Hehe...you have no idea the depths of my dorkdom...Rodney caught a glimpse of it this weekend...I don't think even he realized...MUHAHAHAAH!

[Rodney V. Smith]

Hehe...you have no idea the depths of my dorkdom...Rodney caught a glimpse of it this weekend...I don't think even he realized...MUHAHAHAAH!

New podcast coming up tomorrow and in it we reveal the true dork hiding within Jessica.


****hint: she occasionally snorts while laughing.

[jessicalsin]

Where's the podcast?..Lies Rodney tells.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Where's the podcast?..Lies Rodney tells.

I'm editing here. Making with the scary and thinking about the lack of blood. Thinking of buying a gallon or two to smear on the walls, paint the ceilings with it, etc...

[TMerry]

I'm editing here. Making with the scary and thinking about the lack of blood. Thinking of buying a gallon or two to smear on the walls, paint the ceilings with it, etc...

We need screen grabs of that blood, more GRABS dammit ;-)

[Marlon Ladd]

Exactly!!! What Tommy said.

[Rodney V. Smith]

My petition for spraying the house with blood has been denied. Apparently something about resale value being affected by me being murdered. Sigh. So I'll find an alternate plan for blood. My current plan involves soaking my brother in blood and having him howl at the moon, but that would just be for the fun of it really...

I guess I shouldn't have told the story of the FX shots I had to do on an earlier short film "Call Waiting" where one of the actresses was shot in closeup. We couldn't do the blood spray on the location, so back in my garage (in Atlanta) I shot an FX plate using a condom filled with stage blood. When it exploded.. well it exploded and half of the garage was sprayed in blood, including my wife. I spent the next hour cleaning things up.

That story is never a good one to tell while asking for permission to shoot in any location where blood is involved.

[Sprocketboy]

Blood is a pain. Especially, when it comes to room wide carnage. Depending how complex the scene is - continuity can be an issue. Don't depend on it. Its just a reminder of our mortality.

Then again, I did like the tub of blood in William Castle's "The Tingler." The entire movie is shot in black and white except for the blood in the tub and flowing out of the faucet of a nearby sink. It is vivid red. I'm sure it was an inspiration for Spielberg to use on the girl in the red dress in Schindler's List.

[Rodney V. Smith]

There Will Be No Blood. At least not in the vast quantities that I would like to imagine. Just dealing with bringing the scary for this movie is challenge enough. Time to hunker down in editing and finish this thing. Brad and Damian are both waiting on me...

[EditPhish]

Blood is a pain.

You're not kidding... our actors were very uncomfortable and couldn't wait to hit the showers when we were done shooting. Our lead was particularly uncomfortable because she was covered with the sticky mess the longest.

We all want our next movie not to have ANY blood! LOL

[DarkElastic]

Our lead was particularly uncomfortable because she was covered with the sticky mess the longest.

Hold on... I didn't think blue movies were allowed in the Fest????:thumbsup:

[ZazaCast]

Hold on... I didn't think blue movies were allowed in the Fest????:thumbsup:

OMG... what is this world coming to?

[Rodney V. Smith]

OMG... what is this world coming to?

I know: that was clearly your line.

[ZazaCast]

I know: that was clearly your line.

:violent5:

[DarkElastic]

Muhahahahahaha

[Rodney V. Smith]

Pickup shots are all complete and I think I found the heart of the story. The throughline. it feels good. it feels creepy. it's inspiring more screenshots...

[Sprocketboy]

My pickup shots are on Saturday. I have a love hate relationship with pickup shots. I love the fact that you can take shots to improve upon what you already have. I hate it because it means that you have to race all over the place to get disjointed shots that may not match the primary footage. Mis-matches require additional post work. What am I saying? I love getting pick up shots.

[Rodney V. Smith]

With pickup shots I ghet to add to the cool factor of my movie. It's coming from a slightly different perspective, that being of the editor and all the editor wants to do is make the movie BETTER... or in some cases add some real style to it. Sure you can get coverage on the actual production day... but with pickups you get to get ENHANCED coverage.

i hate pickups too. The frantict running around is my least favorite.

[Marlon Ladd]

I agree with both you guys about the pick up shots. I did that the weekend after I shot and I still have a few more, but luckily these are just b-roll stuff. When I did "Trivial," the first day we shot was terrible. The sun was barely out. Had to do a reshoot for some shots and get some additional ones and I damn near shot the whole thing over cz the weather was 10 times better. Matching the new footage with the old was a task that involved alot of cc. But I say, if you have the time and resources, do it. It's worth it.

Hey Rodney, where are my other screen grabs??!!

[Rodney V. Smith]

My pickup shots are so nice I th8ink I'm goping to reedit the film to be ALL pickup shots. Jessica now has one line and only appears in ONE frame of the movie!!!

[Marlon Ladd]

My pickup shots are so nice I th8ink I'm goping to reedit the film to be ALL pickup shots. Jessica now has one line and only appears in ONE frame of the movie!!!
She will kill you dead, sir!

[Rodney V. Smith]

She will kill you dead, sir!

That is a not-so-distant possibility, but we must all suffer for our art!

I've actually had a bit of a setback with my laptop. Seems something's going around. I reinstalled my windows cuz CS4 was beginning to lag a lot... hell opening the file to edit Flower was taking forever. So I said screw it all, backed up my data, reformatted and reinstalled everything. I'm now in the process of putting all of my software back together, upgrades, plugins and all. So editing has come to a complete halt.

I did however manage to record all of Theik's ADR for the monster voice and have those tracks ready to go (reminds me I have to reinstall Adobe Audition) and added in most of my pickup shots. Definitely more stylistic and cool, so I can;t wait to get back to the edit.

[Marlon Ladd]

Yeah, I was in almost the same boat this weekend. I had to reinstall a few programs and add new ones and plugins on my laptop, so I didn't do any editing this weekend. It's kind of funny, because we wouldn't be acting like this if we hadn't shot so far in advance of the deadline. I better get my azz in gear and get 'er done 'cause October is moving fast.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Yeah, I was in almost the same boat this weekend. I had to reinstall a few programs and add new ones and plugins on my laptop, so I didn't do any editing this weekend. It's kind of funny, because we wouldn't be acting like this if we hadn't shot so far in advance of the deadline. I better get my azz in gear and get 'er done 'cause October is moving fast.

Good thing we're so far ahead then isn;t it. I still consider it late in the process though. Still gotta get sound design done and scoring completed. THis has got to be the longest it's ever taken me to edit a film.

[Marlon Ladd]

I know. I don't know about you, but this has been the most prepared (all around) I've been for a short. Considering updated programs and equipment, early pre-production and production, I'm sitting on a pretty good creative cruise control. I've been able to really take my time with alot of elements and so I'm very pleased and extatic with alot of shots and editing. Wish I had time to do another one.

[Rodney V. Smith]

i have an idea for another one and the location, but need strong actors and the dialog to flow correctly in order to pull it off. Too busy editing to think about any other projects... besides I don't want to piss off the Horrigan.

[Marlon Ladd]

Oh yeah! Don't tell him! Mike, we were just playin'.

[Rodney V. Smith]

FEAR the HORRIGAN! The EYE! The HORRIBLE EYE!

[ZazaCast]

FEAR the HORRIGAN! The EYE! The HORRIBLE EYE!

Oh.. that's his eye? :2vrolijk_08:

[Rodney V. Smith]

Respect the the great canadian eye!

[ZazaCast]

:lipsrseal

[Marlon Ladd]

Shhhhhh!!!!! Here he comes. . ..:eek:

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Smarten up before I lay down the smacketh! :evil:

Now get back to editing or something.... :)

MAH

[Marlon Ladd]

Told y'all.

[cinealma]

Looking forward to seeing this, Rodney. When I get a chance, I'll read through the gazillion posts in this thread. LOL!

Cheers!

John G.

[Rodney V. Smith]

yeah.. navigating this thread is a confusing landmine of confusion and lies. We've changed course a couple of times and in the beginning I didn't want to divulge exactly what I was workign on, so there are a lot of lies and a ton of misdirection. It's only when I got to New York that the current incarnation really solidified since I wasn't making to back to Toronto in time for anything. Man.. i don't even know how far back that is...

Alas, no werewolves this time...

[cinealma]

LOL! Ok. Well, usually, I'll look at the first few posts for filmmakers' grabs and production notes. That keeps me up to speed.

[ZazaCast]

Man.. i don't even know how far back that is...


QuestFest ends 7/25 ..... Rodney posts his MonsterFest thread 7/26! :Drogar-Shock(DBG):

[Rodney V. Smith]

LIES! I waited at least 2 days.

[ZazaCast]

First post:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/images/statusicon/post_old.gif 07-26-2009, 11:06 AM

The QuestFest feed wasn't even cold yet!

[Rodney V. Smith]

First post:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/images/statusicon/post_old.gif 07-26-2009, 11:06 AM

The QuestFest feed wasn't even cold yet!

I'm just going to find a corner and grumble inconsolably...

[ZazaCast]

I fully expect you to start your next films thread 2 days before MonsterFest ends.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Watch it or I'll change my name to "puck_the_mildly_annoyed". :P

[Marlon Ladd]

Busted!!:D

[jessicalsin]

You kids better play nice. Don't make me come in there...

[ZazaCast]

You kids better play nice. Don't make me come in there...

...sometimes you just make it too easy....:happy:

[Marlon Ladd]

Oh, sheeet! Now we got Jessica on our backs.

[jessicalsin]

Listen you hooligans...and by hooligans mostly I mean Zaza...just be good.

[mattspat]

Pumped to see this Rodney!

Hope things have been going well for you.

[Rodney V. Smith]

Judging by the most excellent screenshots coming out.... If Fat Monster is still in I think they're really going to have to fight for 1st. Way to step up and kick some ass guys...

[Sprocketboy]

I sincerely hope Fat Monster is still in. They produce really solid, engaging stories and it would be our loss. There seems to be a family crisis from what I make of their thread. I sincerely hope everything is alright, but the silence from the thread does not point in a positive direction.

[Marlon Ladd]

Yeah, they do set the bar really high and put out super professional stuff.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I'm looking forward to seeing some new Fat Monster content. With them in the competition I think it encourages us to really raise the bar ourselves, possibly without even thinking about it. No chance to get complacent and produce a film that is just "good enough".

[Marlon Ladd]

I agree and it makes you have to be a little more creative, because we just don't have the same type of budget they do. Not to cut them down though, for the budgets they do have, they make films that can rival alot of popular TV shows and films with much larger funds at their disposal. I think the bar they set kind of makes you go back to the grass roots of filmmaking, which is that nothing beats a good story, a good director and good actors no matter how big or small your budget is. We forget that sometimes. I just read that "Paranormal Activity" was filmed in 7 days at basically one location for $15,000 back in '06. Now it's on the bigscreen.

That's part of the reason why I think this competition will be really exciting, because we have all had to create monsters (not easy) with a good story on a shoestring budget. And I'm very impressed with the threads I have seen so far.

[Rodney V. Smith]

So, no editing for 3 days. Felt like I was banging my head against a wall for a bit. Not a nice feeling. So I've been taking a break and trying not to think about the movie for a while. Yes I want to get the score finished and the sound mix and then spend a week doing Color Correction, but I need to find a way first...

[EditPhish]

So, no editing for 3 days. Felt like I was banging my head against a wall for a bit. Not a nice feeling. So I've been taking a break and trying not to think about the movie for a while. Yes I want to get the score finished and the sound mix and then spend a week doing Color Correction, but I need to find a way first...

I hear ya.
We've been editing all this week each night and feeling the same way... until finally last night it started to "clique" a bit better... but it's set us back. We were hoping to be done with at least a rough cut by tonight -- but we really wanted to be done editing by this weekend, which looks like isn't going to happen unless it really goes smooth tonight! We need lots of time for sound and score, but luckily I can be color correcting while JTyner is doing sound stuff.

[TMerry]

Hey Rodney!
A week doing CC???
Damn, that's a long time. I don't think I could keep my eyes fresh for longer that a day or two on a 6min film. How's the edit coming?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Hey Rodney!
A week doing CC???
Damn, that's a long time. I don't think I could keep my eyes fresh for longer that a day or two on a 6min film. How's the edit coming?

Yep 7 days doing CC. 6 Days to frakk it up (called experimenting), 1 Day to get it right (called "under pressure")

[jessicalsin]

Helllllloooooo Everyone!
Just wanted to wish people a Happy Needless turkey Murder day! Im Canadian remember?
Also, getting excited for the movies, looks like a pretty awesome turnout!
Just about 2 more weeks till Monster mayhem!

And Rodney...what in the name of Christmas happened to the last podcast?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Fresh start: brand new edit, brand new perspective. This cut will be wrapped up tonight. I think I just found the rhythm I was looking for.

[Matt Sconce]

Fresh start: brand new edit, brand new perspective. This cut will be wrapped up tonight. I think I just found the rhythm I was looking for.
Congrats! I am looking forward to this!:grin:

[Sprocketboy]

Its a wonderful thing to find your stride. Are you back in Canada now?

[Rodney V. Smith]

Congrats! I am looking forward to this!:grin:

Thanks Matt: I'm looking forward to editing it. :grin:


Its a wonderful thing to find your stride. Are you back in Canada now?

Not back in Canada. Still stuck in NYC and annoyed at the passport office, but what can you do except wait? yeah I;ve found my stride thanks to some great music from Damiian. Much easier to find the beat... if you have something to dance to...

[Rodney V. Smith]

Temperature has dropped in NYC quite substantially. So much so that I'm wearing socks indoors. However, this combined with being on the 3rd floor, and well worn wooden steps and me being clumsy... well let's just say that Jessica only had to RUN down these steps. Running is a heck of a lot more comfortable in the long run than slipping and sliding down 13 steps on your ass.

Ow. Pain. Misery.

I think I broke my editing finger.

[ZazaCast]

So you fell on your ass and you broke your finger? I don't even want to know!

[Rodney V. Smith]

I hate tuesdays.

okay so we've begun scoring the movie. As always Damian's work is awesome and I think you guys will get a kick out of what he's doing this time around. It's certainly helping me to see the movie in a different light and it's quite effective. Hope to get through my VFX this week, finish up my CC and get it uploaded.

did I mention I hate Tuesdays?

[Marlon Ladd]

Hmmmmmmmmm. Sounds like progress. Why the hell is it taking us forever to finish our films? Is it 'cause we can take our times? Because I feel like a lazy punk. I'm continually taking a day off here and there - getting new and fresh ideas and incorporating them. Still have some b-roll to shoot. Have I done that yet? Negative. Then I just had another idea about the opening of the film, but don't know if I'll have time to do it. I need to sit down somewhere and set my own deadline so I'll have several days to get a really good, quality compression.

[ZazaCast]

Man... is it quiet in here or what? Hope all is well.

[Sprocketboy]

I'm up and finishing the DVXUser version of my film. I think everyone is busy getting there films together. 15 more days. I'm sure they will go by very quickly.

Where's Rodney? There is no reason for him to be away from his computer.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I went out to socialize last night actually. I haven't been away from my computer.. its been away from ME. Had a bit of an issue with my install of CS4, so I decided it was time to just do a backup, format the harddrive, defrag all of the other drives and do error checking. Basic maintenance.. but maintenance that takes a long time. So I installed Windows 7 and CS4... but still issues with the install. Photoshop wouldn't even load up. And Premiere was running the slowest I;d ever seen it. Absolutely no reason this should be. So I did it again.

Anyway now I'm running Windows 7 64bit edition, so using up all of my processing power and the computer had never run better. Like it was brand new.

So finally got around to working directly with Damian on the score and as a result of his score yesterday for one particular scene it got me thinking about the flow of the movie. So i made a bold decision and now I'll be screening it for some friends so I can guage their reaction to it.

Color correction is complete. I'll be posting those stills in an hour or so. Right now, rendering out from After Effects., but I really like the look that the film now has. Colorista RULES!!!!

[Sprocketboy]

Could that be a 32-bit version of CS4 running on your 64-bit version of Windows? I know that QuickTime use to have issues until the recent update.

[Rodney V. Smith]

everything is humming along now. i'm working on some VFX in AE tonight. Previews begin tomorrow.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

So i made a bold decision and now I'll be screening it for some friends so I can guage their reaction to it.


You should record their reactions and podcast them! :)