Popsicle - A Super 8 Short Film - Official Production Journal Thread

Justin Aguirre

Justin Aguirre

Well-known member
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Hello DVXusers!

This is my first post and I thought what better way to get to know many of you and for you to get to know me is with this Production Journal.

First a little background on myself:

I am a born and raised California native currently enrolled at Orange Coast College in fabulous Southern California. I am majoring in film and plan on transfering out in a year to two years. I used to want to be an actor but soon realized I can't act so I moved behind the lens. Since then I have become a pretty big filmmaking geek with hopes of working in the industry one day.

Now on to the Production Journal:

Overview​

Title: Popsicle

Genre: Drama/Art House

Run Time: 4-5 minutes

Format: Super-8 - Kodak PlusX

Budget: 1k dollars

Locations: Newport Beach, California

Synopsis: A lonely girl who believes a single popsicle can change her World.

Crew​

Writer & Director: Myself
1st Assistant Camera: Kathryn Felder
Script Supervisor: Natalie Nesbitt
Grip: Cory Riley
Location Scout: Leilani Lokeijak
Still Photographer: Melissa Pardue
Composer: Herman Witkam = http://www.herman-witkam.com/​

Talent
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The Girl: Kaitlin Loukides​

Notes​

- The camera I will be using for this production will be:​

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The Canon 1014XLS​

- The camera as of right now it is in the repair shop but will get it back by the end of this week. I am also buying a brand new battery pack to replace the original one.​

- I hope to do principal photography early next month.​

- I have talked to many of my fellow film students in class about helping me out with this production and I have many who are eager to participate.​

- I have already talked to have have faxed over my production notes to Joe Cleary the film commissioner of Newport Beach. We talked about the fact that since my college does not current have an active insurance policy we might be able to work something out so I will still be able to shoot... If that falls apart then there is always guerrilla style.​

- Wish me luck! :)​
 
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A Popsicle Update​

Below are the photos I took with my location scout around two beaches in Newport Beach. All these photos were taken with my Olympus OM-G slr camera with a 50mm and a 28mm lens only. The film was Kodak PlusX 125asa black and white negative film.​

The film will most likely be a combination of these two locations.

The Wedge:

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Little Corona:

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You can see my location scout in this one...

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Please excuse the poor quaility of these photos. I scanned them from a contact sheet I got back from Samy's Camera.

More to come soon...
 
Wow, way to really mix it up on a DV board! I like the idea, and the look of the location.

Any chance we'll be able to end up seeing this online?
 
ffaf07 said:
Wow, way to really mix it up on a DV board! I like the idea, and the look of the location.

Any chance we'll be able to end up seeing this online?
Click to expand...

ffaf07: I haven't really thought that far ahead as to where it would be playing online.. At the very least it will be a youtube link. I'm still in the process of building my own website so hopefully in the very near future it will be placed there.
 
A small Popsicle Update​

I got my test footage back from the lab today and the PlusX performed quite well. Hopefully I will find some time this week and do a quick off-the-wall transfer to show you guys.​
 
Excellent -- Super 8 is a great little format with its own vibe. Nothing else like it, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
A Popsicle Update​

Well, it's been a little while since I last updated this thread so it seems fitting to do so now...​

A lot as happened since my last post. Below is a list I've compiled of all the excitement.

- I guess the biggest change is my budget. I've been able to up it to roughly $640.00.

- I was able to get my beloved Beaulieu back from the repair shop. He did a lot; tightened the handle, realined the trigger, redrilled the trigger hole so the lense can lock again, and cleaned the shutter so it's now free of buildup. And all for $98 bucks. The repair shop is called Camera Tech in Anieheim CA and Mick the owner is such a great guy I highly reommend them.

- I was planning on buying a brand new battery pack from ebay and a socket adaptor for the Beaulieu but instead I found a Buy It Now auction for a Canon 1014XLS with a very low low price and couldn't resist. So I recieved the camera on Tuesday and it's in really good shape and all the functions seem to be operating correctly and I have moved now from Beaulieu to Canon as the camera I will be using for this short film.

- I finished up all the storyboards with little not so pretty pictures on them.

- I was able to post the first camera test on YouTube and you can view it here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPey2ze_zSo

- And I found more crew members.

All-and-all everything seems to be coming together nicely.

Things still to come:

- I am doing the 4 pack of film discounted package from Spectra and plan on picking it on Friday after my first production meeting.

- And speaking of the production meeting, I was able to find a nice restaurant willing to donate lunch for the meeting as well as for the day of production. So I'm really happy since I'm not paying any of my crew or talent, that at least they will get two good meals from me.

- Principal photography looks like it will happen next Friday if everything continues as planned.

I think that's all I can think of for now... Till next time. :)
 
A Popsicle Update​

I was able to fill the last three crew spots while at school today (Updated Top). I'm still looking for a compsoser and I have the girl 99.9% committed for the project... Actual production feels so close now! :grin:​
 
A Popsicle Update​

The Production meeting went very smoothly. We were able to cover very aspect of the production book and then I took my script supervisor and 1st AC to Spectra Film & Video in Burbank to pick up the film and to Filmtools to pick up a few things for the camera. My crew liked the mini-fieldtrip and after Spectra we drived around Hollywood and Downtown LA and saw the sights...​

This is my first production in dealing with a lab for telecine and the guys over at Spectra were super nice, they even let me sneak a peak at a preview copy of Westsider by Charles Doran.​

I will most likely give one more offical update before the production day which will most likely cover any loose ends I might have overlooked.​
 
A Popsicle Update​

It's like super late and I know I should be in bed.​

Call time for production is 6AM, we are all meeting in Orange Coast College's parking lot and carpooling to the beach.​

I have all my crew and my actress good to go and a few hours ago I had my actress meet my crew for the first time. It went pretty well, everyone was really friendly and within like ten minutes everyone felt like they knew each other for years.​

I have my Camera set with extra batteries, lens cleaner, orangewood sticks, and compressed air at the ready.​

The production book is complete with everyone's contact information on it.​

Everything is go!​

I will post production photos after the shoot...and after a nap haha, it's going to be a long day tomorrow. Wish me luck! :dankk2:​
 
A Popsicle Update​

Greetings DVXuser!

After a much long delay it's time to update.

First let me say that I was contacted by the talented composer Herman Witkam and I am lucky because he is doing the score for my film and what I've heard so far is awesome.

Also I had to reshoot a few scenes due to them being under exposed. I'm kinda laughing at that because I was shooting at the beach so I'm still trying to figure that one out. I talked to Spectra yesterday and I'm picking up that film this Friday.

Day One​

We started the day at 6AM and met in the parking lot of Orange Coast College. By the time we got to the beach the sun was just coming up over the mountains... But before I get more into the details of the shoot I think it's picture time!

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Let's begin with the camera that made it happen. The Canon 1014xls. I used a Cokin P Series Yellow filter for all the shots and at times a Cokin P Series ND .6 filter (mainly in the later part if the shot).

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Here is my crew and myself shooting the ending of the movie. We ended up using that reflector for about 80% of the shots.

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I have no clue what they are looking at.... Just thought it was funny.

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Another overview of the set. We were lucky no one got really hurt on those rocks they were really slippery. Pretty much everyone slipped and fell once during the whole shoot, including me.

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Also, for each shot I shot a few frames of a grey card for the telecine.

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A nice shot of my friend Cory who was our Grip on the film.

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A nice shot of myself operating the camera.

We ran out of time the first day but we got all the shots we needed for that location. I would say we ended around 9AM.
 
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Day Two​

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Our actress getting ready for the scene. We have been friend's for about a year now and I was lucky to get her, she is always busy it seems.

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Another shot of Kate holding the popsicle stick. There was about five minutes of panic because we had placed the popsicle stick sticking out of the sand when a rogue wave came and took it away. Lucky we found it sitting on a rock about five feet away.

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Here I am explaining the scene to Kate. This is the opening scene for the film and it is of her writing in a journal.

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Another one of myself lining up the shot of Kate watching down the shore.

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This is one of my favorites. The Cast & Crew Shot.

Some Photoshoped Shots​

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Overall I am very pleased with everyone who helped out. Everyone brought their A game and it shows in the film. I will post some grabs of the film later today.

One last thing. I am starting to gather a list of festivals I would like to submit this film to. Can anyone of you recommend a festival for short, black & white, super8, or art house films?
 
This looks like a great project. Super-8 is peachy and I am very interested in any grabs/footage you might put up.

For festivals, definitely register at WithoutABox.

Off the top of my head, definitely submit to The Other Venice Film Festival. Festival takes place in March in Venice Beach and they love local filmmakers. I had a short film play at the festival last year and had a good time. Definitely "art house".


Good luck in post. Would love to see some grabs/footage.

Cheers!
 
cinealma said:
This looks like a great project. Super-8 is peachy and I am very interested in any grabs/footage you might put up.

For festivals, definitely register at WithoutABox.

Off the top of my head, definitely submit to The Other Venice Film Festival. Festival takes place in March in Venice Beach and they love local filmmakers. I had a short film play at the festival last year and had a good time. Definitely "art house".


Good luck in post. Would love to see some grabs/footage.

Cheers!
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Thanks cinealma,

I will check out that fest!
 
A Popsicle Update​

Popsicle is all finished!​

I want to thank everyone who was part of the making of this film I am so proud of what came out of all this.​

Here is a link to it for anyone to watch:​


I have submitted it to:​

Seatle Internation Film Festival (Student Selection)
Newport Beach Film Festival​

Let me know what you guys think.​

Happy Holidays Everyone!​
 
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