papy chulo
Member
something is not right
FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget
- Thread starter Deuceofspades
- Start date
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Back to civilization and back to the grind. Auditions, gathering cars for this week-end's scene, preparing... I am now blogging again. I am so afraid I will no longer remember the details of my shoots if I don't pen them down soon! I noticed my blog has 269 entries!! Hard to believe.
Meanwhile, I got an awesome surprise from England. Several copies of Street Gasser magazine, which is the NSRA monthly publication.. Guess what?
I'm on the cover! :thumbup:
Inside, I found a very nice two page write up about DEUCE OF SPADES...
So this makes my third magazine cover. My contact also said there is another hotrod magazine doing a write up to come out in June (so this month)... Curious to see what they will say.
Meanwhile the CGI of the red roadster crash is progressing. The animatic looks real good.
SPECIAL THANKS TO DVX USERS ROBERT AND TONY for their help and support. Tony drove all the way to Palm Springs and then to El Mirage and ran camera for me for two shoots. Robert also joined us in Palm Springs and we had a blast. Robert will be running camera for me this week-end two back to back shoots. :thumbup:
I have yet to meet a fellow dvxuser I don't love. I am grateful, thank you.
Below some photos of behind the scenes, showing Robert Eldon helping out:
Robert (right) brought his crane along and we gave it a test drive
here is Robert behind the camera:
This here is Michael delano, also dvx user member. Great guy, loved working with him! Too bad he had to move to central california
adn was no longer able to shoot with me...
Meanwhile, I got an awesome surprise from England. Several copies of Street Gasser magazine, which is the NSRA monthly publication.. Guess what?
I'm on the cover! :thumbup:
Inside, I found a very nice two page write up about DEUCE OF SPADES...
So this makes my third magazine cover. My contact also said there is another hotrod magazine doing a write up to come out in June (so this month)... Curious to see what they will say.
Meanwhile the CGI of the red roadster crash is progressing. The animatic looks real good.
SPECIAL THANKS TO DVX USERS ROBERT AND TONY for their help and support. Tony drove all the way to Palm Springs and then to El Mirage and ran camera for me for two shoots. Robert also joined us in Palm Springs and we had a blast. Robert will be running camera for me this week-end two back to back shoots. :thumbup:
I have yet to meet a fellow dvxuser I don't love. I am grateful, thank you.
Below some photos of behind the scenes, showing Robert Eldon helping out:
Robert (right) brought his crane along and we gave it a test drive
here is Robert behind the camera:
This here is Michael delano, also dvx user member. Great guy, loved working with him! Too bad he had to move to central california
adn was no longer able to shoot with me...
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strangerthings
Member
Just saw your teaser - this is really looking good. Definitely put me down to find out more when the movie is released.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Thank you
Had a challenging shoot this last week-end. Talk about battling! Did come home with one complete scene and some gorgeous hotrod shots! However today, I found my body was unable to move when I woke up. I am EXHAUSTED.
i think it is time I listen to my body and get some serious rest for a couple days. Or else....
Just watched the teasers ... GREAT stuff!! It's amazing what you pull off.
Two small suggestions: Every scene has a different "look & feel" to it, so color grading them the same way would make them look more consistent. Also, may scenes have guys smoke (love it coz I am a smoker, too :thumbup. You might run into trouble with some organizations when they see that, like many other recent films.
Two small suggestions: Every scene has a different "look & feel" to it, so color grading them the same way would make them look more consistent. Also, may scenes have guys smoke (love it coz I am a smoker, too :thumbup
. You might run into trouble with some organizations when they see that, like many other recent films.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
Yes Faith, please do pay attention to what your body is saying to you. Not doing so is one of the better ways to find yourself exiting it all too early! Enjoy the rest...you deserve it!
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Yeah, I've been getting 10 hour sleep the last two nights. Feel a little better today, but not quite right yet... Need more rest. Regretably I have auditions after work today. Tomorrow I pack. Thursday I drive my deuce to Pomona after work to attend a BIG roadster show and promote the film there... Have some parties to go to... But that should be a nice break from filming... It's my first week-end not filming since April.
:bath:
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Just watched the teasers ... GREAT stuff!! It's amazing what you pull off.
Two small suggestions: Every scene has a different "look & feel" to it, so color grading them the same way would make them look more consistent. Also, may scenes have guys smoke (love it coz I am a smoker, too :thumbup
Thanks for the feedback... I'll kep and eye on consistency... I assume you are talking about the only two scenes up on the net now, right? One is the jalopy race scene, the other the only flashback to 1942, which is a flashback within a flashback. The two are not back to back, there is a good 50 minutes between them. Also the flashback within the flashback should have a different feel because it is not of the same time/era. That said, I am using the same settings for all scenes and all footage currently posted is pretty much raw - no color correction yet. I did play with the idea of starting about 3 of the flashbacks in black and white then going to full color, but not sure whether this will be final or not... Once film is all edited together and color corrected, I will be able to tell if the look is consistent overall... And adjust accordingly...
I do know my flashbacks will be very bright and saturated and my modern day scenes less saturated and more dull in look. Going opposite of the norm on that, but I have my (very good) reasons for that
.As far as smoking goes, people smoked like crazy back in the fifties, so it was necessary to show some smoking going on. Only Tommy is seen smoking and Johnny lights up one twice in teh film (that's about it) In the modern days, Tommy, (who smoked the entire time of the flashbacks) is seen at 73, battling lung cancer. This is mentionned in passing, not focussed on, but it shows possible consequence to smoking.
Of course, I need to also say that I don't care what organizations say LOL. So the cancer thing was only put there because it seemed a realistic outcome of his smoking habbit.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Screengrabs
Screengrabs
Today I thought I'd share a few more screengrabs from modern day scenes we filmed... More to come over the next few weeks, as I finally get around to process them... In the order in which we filmed them...
This great actress originally from Texas fit the JOANN character like a glove.
Pick up shot turns into a low to the ground dolly shot and a reveal on the DEUCE OF SPADES CAR, sitting in a small, open storage room
natural light is used and complimented with a few 1Ks...
The location was rich in built in production value
Another dolly shot follow us from the other side of the stored cars... The color of the cars in the barn compliments JOANN's blue outfit, while I am getting nice side lighting, all of which natural. We were not able to solve the overexposed roof opening, because of its large size and our not-so-large means LOL.
A pan following the two women, as they walk past no less than 8 very old and super cool cars, some of which rare. Joann is talking up a storm, bitchin about her late husband the entire time... This is a very charming / cute moment in the scene, will make a lot of car people laugh.
Second shot of the scene, my character is lost and needs help. Lighting 100% natural, not even one bounce. The lighting in the two grabs below was due to very unusual conditions that prevail at that specific location. I had filmed there before so i was aware of it and took full advantage of it, timing my shots to about 5PM. There are high mountains and the sun will disappear behind them very early, but it still has a lot of strong light left, radiating from behind the top of the mountain. It produces this strange, soft light side lighting, without direct sunlight and shadow problems. This however only lasts about 20 minutes or so.
I utilized all the location's resources to the max...
I love Joann's face, as she stands in front of the house she is now leaving behind (sold).
The smile is gone as she remembers her husband. Notice the supressed emotion in her right eye.
Inside the smaller barn, where the Deuce is stored, we have both natural light and artificial light. And also a lot of problem with masive sunlight bouncing off the groud and blowing everything. We have to use a lot of flags to try to control it...
Below: My Character confesses she is a hotrodder...
here feeling sympathy for Joann's loss.
And so it is that the DEUCE OF SPADES would be saved by two women...
The light was not overly interresting on this shot but considering we only had 5 minutes to get it before we folded and it is not blown or with ugly sun shadows etc, I can say this is as good as it was going to get - we could only get two takes of it and it had some challenging, pan, reframe, follow focus so we got darn lucky we were able to get it.
Oh and I forgot to mention: It was full sun that week-end , both days, except for super early in the morning and that one 20 minute twilight at 5PM. We had a lot of exterior shots to do, and we fared well.
Screengrabs
Today I thought I'd share a few more screengrabs from modern day scenes we filmed... More to come over the next few weeks, as I finally get around to process them... In the order in which we filmed them...
This great actress originally from Texas fit the JOANN character like a glove.
Pick up shot turns into a low to the ground dolly shot and a reveal on the DEUCE OF SPADES CAR, sitting in a small, open storage room
natural light is used and complimented with a few 1Ks...
The location was rich in built in production value
Another dolly shot follow us from the other side of the stored cars... The color of the cars in the barn compliments JOANN's blue outfit, while I am getting nice side lighting, all of which natural. We were not able to solve the overexposed roof opening, because of its large size and our not-so-large means LOL.
A pan following the two women, as they walk past no less than 8 very old and super cool cars, some of which rare. Joann is talking up a storm, bitchin about her late husband the entire time... This is a very charming / cute moment in the scene, will make a lot of car people laugh.
Second shot of the scene, my character is lost and needs help. Lighting 100% natural, not even one bounce. The lighting in the two grabs below was due to very unusual conditions that prevail at that specific location. I had filmed there before so i was aware of it and took full advantage of it, timing my shots to about 5PM. There are high mountains and the sun will disappear behind them very early, but it still has a lot of strong light left, radiating from behind the top of the mountain. It produces this strange, soft light side lighting, without direct sunlight and shadow problems. This however only lasts about 20 minutes or so.
I utilized all the location's resources to the max...
I love Joann's face, as she stands in front of the house she is now leaving behind (sold).
The smile is gone as she remembers her husband. Notice the supressed emotion in her right eye.
Inside the smaller barn, where the Deuce is stored, we have both natural light and artificial light. And also a lot of problem with masive sunlight bouncing off the groud and blowing everything. We have to use a lot of flags to try to control it...
Below: My Character confesses she is a hotrodder...
here feeling sympathy for Joann's loss.
And so it is that the DEUCE OF SPADES would be saved by two women...
The light was not overly interresting on this shot but considering we only had 5 minutes to get it before we folded and it is not blown or with ugly sun shadows etc, I can say this is as good as it was going to get
- we could only get two takes of it and it had some challenging, pan, reframe, follow focus so we got darn lucky we were able to get it.
Oh and I forgot to mention: It was full sun that week-end , both days, except for super early in the morning and that one 20 minute twilight at 5PM. We had a lot of exterior shots to do, and we fared well.
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Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
Great shots, as allways, but that close up of the old Lady is sooooo perfect.
Congrats Faith.
Frank
....by the way, the fiering order of that Blue Flame Six engine is pluged wrong, no wonder it runs like crab
Congrats Faith.
Frank
....by the way, the fiering order of that Blue Flame Six engine is pluged wrong, no wonder it runs like crab
mentatDUKE
Veteran
Im liking it. When do you guys wrap principal?
jasonthewho
Veteran
I do know my flashbacks will be very bright and saturated and my modern day scenes less saturated and more dull in look. Going opposite of the norm on that, but I have my (very good) reasons for that
I did the same thing for my recent DVXuser film entry. It seems actually to be a fairly popular thing recently. I guess we all see the past as a more vibrant, joyful thing that our drab present.
Love the new grabs.
Deuceofspades
Veteran
Great shots, as allways, but that close up of the old Lady is sooooo perfect.
Congrats Faith.
Frank
....by the way, the fiering order of that Blue Flame Six engine is pluged wrong, no wonder it runs like crab
) Thank you Frank! I need to get you the tractor footage... I am going to start working on it this week ... Went to the LA ROADSTER SHOW last week-end to promote the film
There were a LOT of 32 roadsters there, and a few very nice ones, but not that many nostalgia 32 roadsters at all. Mine was the only driver without a windshield, and one of the only few that were on bias plys tires and nostalgia in their theme.
One of the coolest thing that also happened that week-end is that many many people walked up to me and told me they have been following the progress of the film and said they couldn't wait to see the film. Some were from the UK, Australia, Canada and France... Seems the 'entire world' (sorta LOL) is starting to know about DEUCE OF SPADES???
One of the weird things that also happened is that some people walked up to me and said, point blank: "can I shake your hand?"
me: "?????" ... "Huh... Sure... why?"
them: "I wanted to say hats down to you for what you are doing and I also wanted to be able to say that I shook your hand, cause you are going to be famous"
me: "?????" X 2
I guess this will take some time to get used to... Cause I can't take myself THAT seriously LOL...
It was cool, though... A little appreciation for three years for HARD WORK sure goes a long way!!
Deuceofspades
Veteran
never ??? LOLOLOL...
(well at least it sure seems that way!)
But seriously, I think end of July.
Matt Sconce
Veteran
Wow! I sure know how this feels. Isn't it going to be a beautiful thing to have it shot and start putting it together!? We can dream. -Matt:cheesy:
craigbowman
Veteran
Faith as always, its so wonderful to see what your accomplishing. I have no doubt that you could actually land significant distribution and under terms entirely favourable to you.
The publicity you've garnered already is a lot more significant than you may realize. As you get close to wrapping principle you need to weave your infectious magic and enroll help at a post sound facility and color house. Perhaps make it part of a distribution deal.
Go Faith Go! I soooo want to see Deuce of Spades on the big screen!
The publicity you've garnered already is a lot more significant than you may realize. As you get close to wrapping principle you need to weave your infectious magic and enroll help at a post sound facility and color house. Perhaps make it part of a distribution deal.
Go Faith Go! I soooo want to see Deuce of Spades on the big screen!
Deuceofspades
Veteran
FUNNY STORY I thought some of you might enjoy:
So, as you know, I was at this big car show promoting the film last week-end. This older dude walks up to me and goes:
HIM - "I got a copy of your film and I really enjoyed it"
ME - "You got a copy of my film? How?"
HIM (kinda proud) - "A friend ripped it for me."
ME - "Interesting. So you saw my film?"
HIM (sure of himself) - "Yep."
ME - (sarcastic) "Well, that's funny, cause I haven't seen my film yet - IT'S NOT DONE"
HIM - (cought with his pants down but still in denial) "No no, I saw your film. I got a ripped copy of it..."
Me (amused - let's see how far he'll go with this) "Oh yeah? So tell me about the plot..."
HIM (hesitates) - "Oh, I don't remember..."
ME (sarcastic) - "How convenient... Well, can you tell me how long it was?"
HIM (silence) - "huh... I don't remember"
ME (laugh) - "You don't remember cause you didn't see the film. Well, maybe you saw some teasers your friend downloaded from the net... The film won't be done until the end of this year... I am still filming it LOL... But when it is done, I look forward to sharing it with you "
HIM (puts his tail between his legs and walks away)
HOW FUNNY IS THAT????????????
So, as you know, I was at this big car show promoting the film last week-end. This older dude walks up to me and goes:
HIM - "I got a copy of your film and I really enjoyed it"
ME - "You got a copy of my film? How?"
HIM (kinda proud) - "A friend ripped it for me."
ME - "Interesting. So you saw my film?"
HIM (sure of himself) - "Yep."
ME - (sarcastic) "Well, that's funny, cause I haven't seen my film yet - IT'S NOT DONE"
HIM - (cought with his pants down but still in denial) "No no, I saw your film. I got a ripped copy of it..."
Me (amused - let's see how far he'll go with this) "Oh yeah? So tell me about the plot..."
HIM (hesitates) - "Oh, I don't remember..."
ME (sarcastic) - "How convenient... Well, can you tell me how long it was?"
HIM (silence) - "huh... I don't remember"
ME (laugh) - "You don't remember cause you didn't see the film. Well, maybe you saw some teasers your friend downloaded from the net... The film won't be done until the end of this year... I am still filming it LOL... But when it is done, I look forward to sharing it with you
"HIM (puts his tail between his legs and walks away)
HOW FUNNY IS THAT????????????
Deuceofspades
Veteran
If all goes well, my friend Patrick Cicconne has offered to mix the sound for the film. He mixes for Tarantino and all the big studios... I also have a pro studio in Germany who has offered to do all the color correction / grading and filters...
So if I cannot secure a place close to home, so I can be there while they are working on the footage (so I can make sure it looks the way I want), then I might take their kind offer and ship off the footage to Germany... Which would be a bit nerve wrecking for me LOL...
Meanwhile, my CGI shot is progressing. the German company handling that end of things did 4 animatics for me, and #4 is a charm, so now they are moving forward with the details... The shot is pretty dramatic, it's for my crash scene. I am VERY blessed that this pro CGI studio is doing the shot pro bono for me... I certainly could never afford it otherwise.