Do Something

48 Hour Film Project

If you've been reading, you know I was working on a project. That project is on hold for now, or at least until the universe ceases its bombardment. I can't sit around doing nothing, so with the project on hold, I answered opportunity when it came calling. 

The 48 hour film project was in full swing, and I was asked to be part of a team of people with whom I'd collaborated in the past. I said yes. I had already guessed what my role would be, as people were chosen for their strongest traits.

I was on standby for creating visual effects. My participation was not guaranteed, simply because they had no idea whether or not they'd need any VFX. We all waited patiently for the revelation of what genre we'd be given. The genre was chosen. I would be needed.

Immediately, they went to work on brainstorming plots and stories. Within a few hours they had created a script and I was preparing for whatever they may throw at me. The following day, they shot their footage and began sending me files. They were large enough to make online transfer impractical, so I drove to them, copied the files and returned. I could begin.

The first 2-3 minutes was to be converted from day into night. The idea was simple enough. I experimented with the first 12 second clip. I knew right away it wouldn't work. They agreed and I moved on to the meat of the FX.

It was only 5 shots total, but with the deadline fast approaching, I had to work quickly and efficiently. In doing so, I had forgotten to eat. I won't say I did the bare minimum, but I had to call the shots done when they were done. There was no time to make every second into perfection.

Render time.

Footage delivered and dropped into the final edit.

My work here was finished.

It was a good day, a work day. Keep your eye open for opportunity. If you don''t see one, make one. Do something.

Cumulus Conundrum

Poofy Clouds II: The Sequel

Sunday came and is almost gone. Despite our efforts to alter weather patterns through force of Will, we did not prevail in our mission. 

Shoot one page of script. One. That's all we needed to do. Nature had other plans. Instead of writing about visual effects and filmmaking, I am writing about the weather. Well played, nature. Well played.

We chose to make the most of our time by shooting costume tests and fx reference footage. 

The shoot is postponed, pending schedule conflict resolution. But we still move forward.

Poofy Clouds

Weather, or not.

As we awaited the arrival of our talent, we noticed picturesque cumulus clouds approaching over the mountains. I thought they would be great in the background. Who doesn't love a good cloud? 

The talent arrived on time and we proceeded to location where we set up equipment and rehearsed what we had planned to shoot. All was well. The atmosphere was perfect; overcast and warm. With the exception of swarms of gnats clinging in clouds around us, all was well. We framed up the first shot, ready to call for action... then rain. A light sprinkling. We covered the equipment. Then it stopped. Apparently the worst had passed.

Again we attempted. Again the rain came. This time it was steady, persistent. Not exactly a downpour, but enough to soak within a few minutes. Thunder rolled through the valley and the rain increased. With our equipment, we retreated to cover. More thunder. Lightning flashed beneath the gathering storm. Smoke appeared in a field not far from us. I suspected lightning had struck nearby, but no one was sure. Spirits once high were now dampened and we began to pack up the equipment.

The rain became a torrent and the wind whipped through the valley. All was grey through the veil of rain. The clouds, heavy and laden with moisture were slung low atop the mountains, now were crowned with fog and lightning, and we were besieged by unforgiving beauty. The sky fell on us that day.

So, on Sunday next we go again into the elements to try once more.

Pre-Production

Works in Progress

In two days, myself and an associate of mine will be shooting footage for a great project. It will most likely become a Web Series when all is said and done. This is the infancy of this project as the proverbial ink has yet to dry on outlines, plot points, and characters. Stick around. I'll be posting progress reports as we move forward.

Stay tuned...