armisiano
Veteran
OFFICIAL TRAILER IS HERE!!!
"STUPENDOUS: THE TRAILER"
http://vimeo.com/3233100
01/09/2009
"Stupendous" is the story of a superhero coping with the loss of his powers.
01/14/2009
Well preproduction is off and running. We have locations secured, a script finalized that I'm VERY happy with (I think it's hytsterical, dry, I love it), and audition listings were posted and actors are being scheduled. I was even able to secure the local Time Warner Television Studio as the audition location (thanks to my knowing the director of programming, it's free of charge). So yay. Auditions are Tuesday the 20th, will post the cast list when finalized.
01/17/2009
So I finished the "first draft" of an animated nighttime news type background to be used during a breif news broadcast. Please share thoughts on it. http://vimeo.com/2867116
Also, have nearly finished construction of a portable set (it's a bus stop). Basically I needed a bus stop, didn't like where any were, but liked a location and felt it needed one, and that way I don't have to worry about a bus coming every 15 minutes. When it's complete I'll post pics.
I'm so excited, I'm fully booked for auditions from 5 to 9 pm on Tuesday. We've got a good turn out this time, let's hope all goes well. Would love to post screen tests of final choices, but don't want to ruin the first viewing of the film by people already knowing a big chunk of the dialogue. Ah well. Maybe I'll just mute them.
01/19/2009
Just finished the poster (see above). About 9 hours of straight work, but totally worth it. Stitched together using nothing but photographs I've taken, I'm pretty happy with it. For anyone who doesn't get the tagline, the original "Superman: The Motion Picture" tagline was, "YOU'LL BELIEVE A MAN CAN FLY". Since no one is cast yet, you'll have to ignore all the scrawl info at the bottom, most of it is just silliness to take up space for now. Nevertheless, Ta-Dah.
01/20/2009
Finished the bus stop (SEE SECOND POST). To date the largest prop I've ever made. In fairness though I'm only 3'2", so it's bairly 5'. In all honesty, I always feel a little awkward showing behind the scenes and making of stuff before the final project is seen. I dunno, I think it sort of takes away from that wonderful mystique about movies we all love so much, the illusion. Ah well, whatever. I know it's fun to watch things develop, and besides, illusion? Who am I foolin' on this site? And yes, I was facing the sun for this photograph, hence the dissappearence of my eyes.
Oh, and, auditions are in less than 5 hours, I'm excited and nervous. Let's hope there are so many stellar choices it's hard to decide. Hope. Hope. Hope.
1/21/2009
Auditions went well. There were some tough decisions to be made, but they were made over Denny's greasy greasy food. The main cast includes the following:
In the role of Mr. Stupendous, our hero, our lead, JAMES COTA. In the role of Diane Laude, our secondary lead, the news correspondent, MEI-LING DOWNEY. And in the role of Brian Donaldon, news anchor, a small but important part, THOMAS L. CRAIN.
There are still several very small roles (a few extras and one role with a line) yet to be cast.
01/22/2009
In trying to emulate the poster a small bit during a particular shot, I have gone to some lengths with color correction and matte work. Here are some low res before and after screen grabs.
Also the poster's been updated with the actors names now added to the crawl at the bottom.
1/24/2009
FRUSTRATION!!! Here it goes, the list of things that suck:
- Okay, so, firstly, organizing people's schedules sucks.
- The fact I have no rehearsal location sucks.
- Tonight I tried setting up some lights to do a green screen test, to discover I have burned out bulbs. Tomorrow I have a gig from 8am to 4pm (no lights needed thank god) but then a gig from like 5:30 to 10, in which I NEED LIGHTS! And the drive from location A to location B is a little over an hour. Also, there's a REALLY good chance that no place in San Diego will have 3 SYLVANIA 500W 3200K bulbs.
- Today I bought a small LCD HDTV from Best Buy to use as an external monitor (I'll be shooting a large chunk in a home, outlets everywhere), only to discover that the one I purchased, discounted a little due to previously being opened, is MISSING A REMOTE AND ALL CABLES AND PAPERWORK!!! IT'S JUST A TV!!!
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!
01/25/2009
Today went really well. We had the first meeting with Barrie Kaufman, our costumer (you can see some of her work HERE), a little upset I forgot to bring the camera for some BTS photos. Also had our first read through/rehearsal (remembered the camera this time).
I'm the one with the clothing and hair style of an 8 year old. The guy with the light colored sweatshirt on is the producer, Ryan Cerutti.
01/28/2009
Got SO much accomplished today, and it all went REALLY easily (I'm scared). Got three, count em' THREE locations secured! Also got a couple extras cast, including Julie Benitez, and Griffin Benitez (both of whom should be awesome). Secured our stunt coordinator, Dominic Sherman. Bought some supplies for a green screened part of the film, and even managed to return that impulsively purchased Best Buy used TV with comfort, speed, and ease. Did a little rewriting of the script, and (sad to say) discovered that the budget is EVER CLIMBING. Ah well.
Two of the three new locations featured below. Location scouting photos taken with cell phone.
01/30/2009
I am happy to say Damian Sanchez, the extremely talented composer who put together the phenomenal score for my last film, "Sixty Seconds" (I love what he did, it suited the film perfectly) will be providing his skill to this project as well.
01/31/2009
4 things. First, the bench for the bus stop is almost done (SEE PHOTO ON SECOND POST). Well, actually it IS done, painted and all, but I only have a picture of it in it's naked form. The really cool thing about it is it's made to be transported and is disassembled with ease into 4 separate pieces (back, seat, and 2 legs). Secondly, finished work on a simple logo for a fake news broadcast.
Thirdly, we finished casting the remaining 8 or so extras. And fourthly, finished a mock up news microphone utilizing the above logo and some other supplies as well.
01/31/2009
All superheroes need an action figure. I've used files and whatnot to get the nose down to the right shape, and painted the eyes to more accurately represent James, our actor. I still need to do work to the jaw and chin. But hey, it's coming along. Funny thing, this may never even be seen on camera, I'd be surprised if we manage to stick it in the background somewhere. Right now though I have some down town. The next rehearsal and meeting isn't till Tuesday, so I've had about a week to just work on all the random little things as you've seen in the thread here. (See action figure pictures below on 2nd post)
02/03/2009
Second rehearsal went really well. Below is another rehearsal collage. First Mr. Stupendous costume fitting was together, went well, some notes were given and adjustments will be made. I'm looking forward to that. No pictures will be posted of the costume though I think before the first viewing date. Also, more work has been done on the Mr. Stupendous action figure, more sculpting of the face, work on the nose, jaw and chin to make it resemble our actor a bit more. I forgot how much I enjoy sculpting. Pictures of that to come some time soon.
02/08/2009
Found some time to do some work on the Brian Donaldson news segment. Still have to adjust some things, and add some more news type graphics, but it's off to a good start, here's a before and after shot below.
Also, I needed some extras. In fact, I needed some teenage extras. How do I do this? THAT'S RIGHT! TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA DEPARTMENT!!! Some of my lovely teen extras are featured below, there may be one or two more yet to come. They are, in order from left to right:
Julia Lusitana, Rocio Arrieta, Craig Merker, Karla Zambrano, Andrew Jesse, Ivy Crocker, & Meg Smith
02/10/2009
Today was the last rehearsal. It went amazingly well, I'm so proud of my actors. A collage of some photos from the rehearsal is posted below in the next post, as well as a fun picture of James and Mei-Ling.
Also, the final Mr. Stupendous costume fitting was today, it too went very well, but no pictures were taken.
Finally, Kim Seidl is being kind enough to work as our on set photographer during the shoot. You can check out her website here: http://kseidlphoto.com/blog/
02/14/2009
Been SO BUSY LATELY!!! So productive though. Shot footage on the 11th, went well, very short clip but VERY funny. Much thanks to my highschool supporting players mentioned above for helping out. Will post screen grabs soon, hopefully tonight.
The main shoot was tonight (well, last night, as it is now 3:30am). Also went amazingly well, I think the footage is absolutely beautiful, very flattering to the actors, so everyone looks great. And everyone did a great job. This was the scene between James Cota (Mr. Stupendous) and Mei-Ling Downey (Diane Laude), the one they've been rehearsing for 3 weeks. The shoot took a long time, people arrived at 6, everyone and everything was FINALLY ready and got started around 7:45, broke for dinner at 9:45, and wrapped around 1:45. It's always so crazy to me the footage to final cut ratio. I have about 2 hours of footage for what is a three minute scene. Oh editing. How you will torment me so.
I will have some screen grabs from that as well hopefully by tonight. Sadly no behind the scenes photos till probably next week, as I have a photographer now getting them all who plans to just give me the whole bundle of pics when shooting wraps, which is Wednesday the 18th.
Anyway, I have to get up at about 9 to start tomorrow's shoot. WHEW!
Reserved.
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