Winter, a Fairy Tale

Tomorrow begins our set build and we're also going to be getting some outdoor footage we require. So far, everyone on the crew who has seen the early test footage is in love with it. Ok, not everyone. There is one nameless dissenter. But overall the reception is very positive. The most common response is "when can we see the rest of it?" I am very pleased with everything so far and I am very excited about the rest of this week and the weekend. The most challenging portion of the film is approaching and I am eager to take my shot.

BTW- The secret mountain hideout also has a dragon.
 
According to the weather folk, our currently lovely fog and freezing temps are supposed to stick around another day or so. In the morning we go to film the adventure portion of the film. This is where the kayak will be coming into play. Our weather has been perfect for our filming schedule. I only hope the gods decide to continue to favor us.
 
According to weather.com, the weather doesn't look good for fairies flying. Good luck with the shoot. Looking forward to seeing this. Have fun!
 
Well, we weren't shooting fairies, (they're out of season now. very short hunting season on fairies) but the footage of the young man in our film on his adventure came out quite nicely.
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Here I discuss the techniques used to keep the kayak nice side up. This particular boat has a very shallow draft and is somewhat tippy. Nick is 6'5'' and so, he was a little unsteady at first. But, being the trooper he is, he stayed with it no matter how many times I had him circle past the camera. This boat is a hand built, strip on frame 18 footer. The paddle is of the old world Greenland style. We were loaned this gorgeous craft on a handshake promise not to damage it and to bring it back when we were done. A world of thanks goes out to Gerald Kennedy in Gatesville, Texas for the use of this boat.
So far, we've been very fortunate to have had the weather on our side every time we've gone out to shoot. We needed a still clear night and in the middle of a week of fog, rain and wind, we got a clear, still night. We needed drizzle and overcast, today, both. It's so nice when things go your way.
We have had only two problems this whole time. The first was me getting sick. the second was when we were trying to bring the material home to start set construction. Little mishap with the Masonite.
But all is well this evening, I'm off to the ER to get cured and set construction will commence in the morning.
Toodles.
 
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Wild Imagination Films said:
Well, we weren't shooting fairies, (they're out of season now. very short hunting season on fairies)
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LOL! :grin:

Hey Will, that is a NICE kayak! Beautiful! Really nice of that guy to lend that to you.

Lucky that you got the weather that you wished for. Man, I would love to see our lakes and rivers flowing instead of frozen!!! I love Texas. I am going to have to get a visit back there sometime soon. (My parents live in Kyle, near San Marco) I'll have to look you up if I ever get that visit in!

Sorry to hear about your ER visit. ouch! Glad you are okay.

Happy shooting!!!

-Ted
 
Ted, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say, on behalf of all of the DVXUser members here in Austin, If you came and see your folks and DON'T look us up, man, I wouldn't want to be Ted Arabian.
The weather is being mean today. My lead actor is working and now it's nice and foggy. Would have made some great footage. Unfortunately, as I don't have a pick up truck, I can't transport the lumber to start construction of the set. (rain+Masonite and boards=Tim Burton set, not Wild Imagination Films set.
Something will happen soon though. I can feel it in me bones.
 
Well, it's Sunday and I think everyone survived. The entire cast and crew are under the weather in one form or another. Our "father" has walking pneumonia, Production staff is battling allergies and exhaustion, everyone is hacking, coughing, sneezing, etc.
Now, about the film. This weekend we built a "library" for a scene between two characters. We turned my friends garage into a menagerie. Saturday we did the build and today we filmed the scene. I think it looks great. I hope you will find it just as appealing.
We're in the home stretch and picking up speed. I hope to finish the edit no later than Wednesday.
 
Hey Will, Thanks for the "nice' sentiment two posts back!!! I would LOVE to meet the Austin DVXuser clan! May have to make a visit to Texas before I am even ready to see my folks that are down there. (Long story, bad childhood, estranged from Dad and Step Mom, reunited only to be estranged again. Now my Dad wants a relationship. Guess I could head Texas... as I said, I now have a GOOD REASON!!!)

Glad to hear that you are overcoming the forces of nature!!!

Looking forward to grabs, bts, film!

Later!!!

-Ted
 
Thanks Ted,
I am really glad I have had the opportunity to work with some really talented individuals on this project. I will never be able to repay them the services they have provided, but I will always remember them.
Here is but one of the scenes from today's shoot. It's a little dark right now, but I am not done with the post work.
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Keep in mind, this is the inside of a two car garage and there was enough room to walk around 3/4 of the set. Only the wall directly behind the actor in the photo was too close to get behind. Set photos later this week.
 
Nice grab. It's really cool to see more and more people building sets as the fests go on. I think this fest has by far the most built sets of any yet. Of course living in NYC, the phrase "Two-car garage" is not in our vocabulary...
 
Wow. Nice looking grab there, Will. I love that "etched" glass panel. Nice lighting on that.

I am curious how much detail you are going to be able to pull out of the dark areas in post. Unless the dark areas are supposed to be "detail-less."

Hearing what I've heard over the past week or so, I am really nervous about moving up to the HVX (when I ever do). I keep hearing about how hungry it is for light. Seems like an extra challenge for the DP.

Thanks for the grab! Glad to see the shoot is happening!

Oh! And I, too, think that it is cool that many sets are being created this go around. I love the advantages of having a set. A two-car garage is better than nothing, that is for sure. I can tell you that I am just loving the space that I have at the Opera House. It is so cool to be able to move the camera around the entire set.

Best!

-Ted
 
Oh.... and yes.... these folks that give their time to help us make these films are truly wonderful and appreciated! We just can't do this without you!!! (Well, I did once. Hopefully never again!!!)

Thanks to the volunteers! :thumbsup: :beer:
 
The scene is pretty dark, but a tweak in post and it pops right out. It's really interesting to be on the set with the lights glaringly bright and then see how dark it is in post. We learned pretty quickly after our first night of shooting. You really can't have too much light. I think it may actually be an advantage.
On the subject of light... Really glad we weren't trying to light this conventionally. We used fluorescent lights. (1 two bank, 2 six banks, 2 four banks) We were in a two car garage in a 16x14 set. The only reason we got warm was because the garage door was in the sunlight and when it became warm... It would figure, when we were outside it was in the 20's.
 
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