Mark and Ted's Excellent Adventure in Drama

Ahh. It's good to have you on the East Coast, Ted. You're an hour ahead of me, and when I am bored here during the morning show, it's nice to see a familiar face on the boards :)

Jason
 
So Jason, you are a DJ on a country music radio station? Is that right? Or are you more like a person who pushes buttons, slides and levers for the station?

And yeah, just waiting for the left coast to wake up and join the rest of us!
 
Tonight there will be a new Variety report with TTN news. However, please everyone take note of this new article and get your butts over to sci-fi channel to vote for our fellow DVXUSER Jack's film Shed:

You can vote for “Shed” and at either:
the Sci Fi Channel
http://www.scifi.com/exposure
and / or
the Sundance Channel
http://www.sundancechannel.com/exposure/

If you've already voted you MUST vote again as the evil competitor directors have mobilized masses who are voting daily. We must do the same to have a chance. Tell your friends and remember that Jack has promised ... no ... GUARANTEED wealth and fame to all who vote for SHED!

VarietyJack.jpg
 
Nice Mark! LOL! Ok, since this is EVERYONE's hangout place... I want to direct you to the Smuggler's Ransom thread in user films, to see the latest update... we've hit a snag, and maybe one of you can help us... Thanks!
 
I'll check out what your 'snag' is, Brandon.

NICE, and I mean stinkin' NICE headline, Mark. I SO envy your creativeness. You and Ted are making a FUN and phenomenal team ... really looking forward to TTN!! :thumsbup:

Simply referencing back to that video I was working on, I've posted a thread in the Cafe for it for feedback, as I'm making some last minute adjustments & wanted to see what else I should look to change ... thing is taking 4+ hours to render! :( http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=778602#post778602

Obviously, so as not to derail this thread much, please post comments in that thread only. Thanks! :thumbsup:
 
Norm, I left you some comments on your thread and hope others take the time to watch what is an extremely powerful and emotional piece.
 
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Thanks, Mark, much appreciated.

So back to TTN, who actually wrote the script? Who's original story idea? Looks like both you & Ted are co-directing, right? Man, I bet it'd be a kick in the pants to be on set with the both of you ... should be an unbelievely fun & rewarding shoot!
 
Hell yeah I'm voting for SHED on every computer I find on campus! Go JDS!

Also, that article was fu#king HILARIOUS! I'm off to see deja vu tonight, man! I can't wait to hear your four lines! How cool is that!?
-Kyle
 
So back to TTN, who actually wrote the script? Who's original story idea? Looks like both you & Ted are co-directing, right? Man, I bet it'd be a kick in the pants to be on set with the both of you ... should be an unbelievely fun & rewarding shoot!
Click to expand...

Norm, it was my original story but Ted wrote the original script after reading my treatment. Although I've assisted in some revisions, I want to make sure Ted gets full credit for his wonderful work writing the script. Ted is going to direct and I am very pleased with our decision in that regard because I was able to watch him during the audition process. He's got great rapport with our cast and I believe he is going to pull some great performances from all of them. I will confess to having some ego tied up in this project because the story has been in my head for a number of years. However, when I read Ted's first script it was as though he had seen inside the story from the outset.

We have tried to make this a truly joint vision and I can't say enough about Ted as a partner. We've tried to figure out the best way to bring TTN to life and we have assembled a team that I believe will allow us to really leverage a diverse array of talents. For instance, my experience working with Jack on Rekindled made me realize just how much I really wanted to work with a truly competent cinematographer. (Jeez, I just realized that makes it sound like Jack and I weren't competent! What I meant was that I'm very proud of what Jack and I were able to pull off but neither of us have the technical background or experience that a true working D.P. in Hollywood does.) Thus, I am so grateful that Kevin has come on board as D.P. We have a reflector group on Yahoo for the production crew and I can tell you that already I feel as though I've been enrolled in an advanced cinematography course. Similarly, our unit producer (to be skewered in an imminent Variety ad) has given us a window into what true organization and preparation is and I now have a new appreciation for what a good script breakdown can do for pre-production and prep.

I'm obviously relishing my role as the VFX supervisor and I'm particularly grateful that I've had an influx of talented FX talents from "my" world ask to join us since a little buzz has been building on some of the FX boards. (I should make the point that the FX are absolutely essential to our dramatic storyline and this is NOT an FX short shoe-horned into a drama festival!)

I also am going to be heavily involved in developing the pre-viz for the film and we will be using FrameForge3D to create a "virtual edit" that the production team can study. FrameForge not only generates beautiful printed storyboards, but is also outputs 3D animated versions of your scenes/camera moves and outputs seriously useful camera information (based on the HVX data that we calibrate for the program) that we will be providing to Kevin for his analysis and input. If it goes as we expect, we will be able to give an animated storyboard to Herman who can begin assembling a rough score based on the timing and pacing that the animated storyboard provides. We're hoping that all of our preparation and pre-production work will be evident on set in January and particularly on the screen February 1.

We have a very large team in part due to the proximity of talented DVXUSERs in L.A. Tommy has been a stalwart at our preproduction meetings and has a lot to offer from his experience with Maliboo. And, of course, Brandon has been an amazing asset. Ted and I both are grateful to him for his insights and observations - not to mention elbow grease. He's going to be A.D. and already has proven invaluable to Ted's work. You'll be learning of some additional DVXUSERs who will be handling meaningful positions on the crew but I'll let VARIETY reveal them first.

Before I wrap up this long-winded response I will say how much I appreciate Kyle Stebbins for plunking down a chunk of change just to come out here from Nebraska to be part of the crew. I'm going to make sure the boy gets plenty of cigars and cognac after each night's shooting.

So, Norm, thanks for the inquiry. In summary, if this thing sucks it's Ted's fault.
 
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Mark Johnson said:
So, Norm, thanks for the inquiry. In summary, if this thing sucks it's Ted's fault.
Click to expand...

Nothing like a bit of pressure for Ted's first directorial effort in California! :thumbup:
 
Well, Mark took the words right out of my mouth.... ALL 723 of them!!!!!

Kidding.

Seriously, Mark is right on the money here.

It was really incredible. During the viewing period of Horrorfest, Mark and I began to PM each other constantly and developed quite a relationship. Then, Mark stated that he wanted to create a film together. I was honor and intrigued! We continue to talk and then Mark broke out his story. It was amazing. The initial screenplay poured out of me in 24 hours!

Since then, it has been an incredible rollercoaster ride!

Norm, I appreciate you noticing the energy and excitement here. We are really excited about this. (And for me, I actually get to work with a crew instead of my one-man show!!!)

And I cannot say enough about the crew we have... I am learning so much, everyday! Even when I am 3000 miles away.

And we really do have a lot to share with you all. But we have given strict orders to EVERYONE involved that nothing is to be leaked until the right time. And since we are only 3 weeks into this.... Now is NOT the right time! :)

But as promised, it is coming. And I am trying to get something on here tonight... but I had 30 lawn and leaf bags of raking today and my butt got kicked!!!

Thanks again Norm. I really do appreciate your excitement for this. We hope to deliver!

And GREAT JOB on your memorial video. That was really incredible. Just amazing.

Ted
 
Well folk, sorry that I couldn't get the info posted that I wanted to.

My wife and I ended up doing yard work all day (working off all that food, you know!) and we filled 30 yard bags with leaves!!! Yeah, we have a lot of trees.

But yikes! Kicked my butt!!!!

I am out all day working the Philharmonic but will have stuff up by Sunday!

PROMISE!

Over and out -

Ted
 
Well... not to get this thread COMPLETELY off track.... but I had to share about my most incredible day off!

I had such an awesome day today!

First, my brother, his fiance, my sister, and me went down to Knotts Berry Farm, which I haven't been to in like 5 years... we hung out there from 11 till about 8... had the famous Fried chicken for lunch, which is SO good... rode one of my favorite rollercoasters (The X-celerrator, which goes 0-80 in 2.3 seconds!) and just had a wonderful time!

Then we drove 5 minutes over to Downtown Disney next to Disneyland, and we went and ate at House of Blues, and I had a White Russian (mmm...) Then I bought a cigar and smoked it while we all had some coffee... then we caught the late showing of The Fountain (which was AMAZING!)

So yeah, I just got home... I am exhausted, but super super happy, because I had such a great day hanging with some people I really love :)

NOW... BACK TO TTN!

Sorry for the brief threadjack....
 
I don't think it's possible to threadjack here.
glad you had a fun day off.
we were up till 4 last night watching the Davinci Code and episodes of Arrested Development on DVD while eating Popeye's fried chicken and giant Hershey and Nestle Crunch Bars.
 
JDS that sounds amazing.

Arrested Development totally rules.

Mark -- Dude, I am the one who is going to be benefitting from the shoot... I can't wait to come out there! I PM'd you about your request to get me out sooner... I think we can work something out, as long as I'm not missing any more class.

-Kyle
 
Kyle, good to "talk" to you yesterday... well, today's car shopping day! What will I end up with, a Scion XB or a Honda Element?? Only time will tell... I'm off!
 
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