Monday, 21 November 2011

Moving On - Director's Cut Online NOW!

Today it's one month since the deadline for the 90-second Ghost Film competition and it seemed a fitting time to park up my three-and-a-half minute 'Director's Cut', here's the link:

http://vimeo.com/32436659


It's always a challenge to maintain the original intentions of a script the greater the amount of time that passes from inception to realisation and this film is no exception. Originally conceived as a fantastical study of a broken heart and fragile mind, I pushed the snowball over the hill and surprised myself by the momentum it gathered; family, friends and colleagues all supported me to make a much bigger and better film than I ever expected.

It is what is mind you, everything was shot on one day, everything on the storyboards that is. But - and here's the thing - the actors brought something more to the performance than I'd envisioned, effectively changing the ending - and for the better.

I pushed out the 90-second version within a week but spent a lot longer piecing the Director's Cut together.

Once again, serendipity played it's part and creativity, unburdened by a tight deadline, flourished. Once I had the rough cut before me, I could see what more I'd like to add... Well reshoots weren't an option, so I had to make do with using out takes, harsh crops and split-screens to make up the image I really wanted.


The finished film is best seen as a highly-evolved animatic, I think of it like The Evil Dead when compared to The Evil Dead II: The first film was a balls-to-the-wall experiment in film making, getting ideas out of their heads and onto the screen; the 'sequel' was more of a remake, now they know what they're doing with the cameras!

Will I ever remake this? I hope I never have to!


Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Joint Second... Along with EVERONE ELSE who didn't come FIRST!!!

Well, we were in good company at least!

There were some fourteen minutes of 90 second films being shown last night and Laura Degnan, of Writers' Block, announced that this was one of the strongest field of entries in the [admittedly short] history of the competition.

The winning film failed to play on the night mind you - we saw the first and last ten seconds and heard the full soundtrack - but we're assured it was outstanding.

So, well done to everyone; at this point we don't actually know how high the bar was set but next time, I'll give everyone MORE time, and we'll go for the win once more!

Here's a link to the 90-second cut of 'Moving On':

http://vimeo.com/31419992

The next competition entry must involve puppets. The current level four students are making puppets. Sadly, the deadlines are the wrong side of one-another. Ho-hum, life, eh?

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Friday, 21 October 2011

Dead-On the deadline, but I'm not Moving On yet!

Technological failure couldn't stop me, and frankly, it might have done me a favour...

I was unable to upload the 90-second Ghost Film entry, 'Moving On', today at work but I had arranged to meet James at seven pm to drop off a data disc.

Good job I did; I watched the lo-res version on my phone and realised I had some sound-synch issues. Although I left work late after jump starting a car (belonging to one Jamie MacDonald, photography course leader and documentary film maker) I felt that I had just enough time to do one last tweak...

Well, you know how it goes; one tweak leads to another and before you know it, you're meddling in areas that didn't need attention.

Since the deadline of 7pm was drawing near, I managed to stop myself and whiz over to Writers' Block HQ to drop off the disc.

Job done.

Now, two things followed from this: I came straight home to work on the three-minute 'Ditectirs' Cut' - that's coming along nicely, thank you - and James Harris has asked me to partake in a film project they have planned for tomorrow... Excellent, it's been too long between projects and this is just the medicine I need to het my mojo back.

I'll blog back tomorrow when I know what the story is... Unless its under embargo for some reason!?!

Deadline Time...

As the Writers' Block 90-second film competition deadline looms large, technology has once again become my enemy, after having been my best friend all week...

The competition rules stipulate the film file must be uploaded to 'Wettansfer.com' by today - and the computer firewalls at work are preventing this!?!


A few calls later and I've arranged to drop off a data cd with James Harris tonight - Phew!

I'll post pictures from the set this weekend - but no spoilers mind you!

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Post production almost done, with one day to go...

So how can I possibly stop myself meddling until the last minute and ruining it?!?

The running time is now a perfect 90 seconds. The ADR we did yesterday is dropped on, additional sound effects added and a musical track created with a piano keyboard and my dads new violin..!

Tonights mission is to colour correct the shots and to balance the sound levels.

The last link in the chain is actually getting the film to the competition; the rules stipulate using a virtual drop box - I sure hope my Internet signal stays strong this week!

Monday, 17 October 2011

Editing going well...

My second night of editing sees me off to bed with a ninety-second version of 'Moving On' - thus time yesterday it was 2mins 45seconds, so I'm really pleased.

The story I wish to tell really takes a little more than 90 seconds to do it justice, to give the characters room to breath, but the necessity to crop it back has resulted in some more unexpected pleasant surprises.

What in most pleased about is that all the tough shots have stayed in. I would have been strung up by the crew if I didn't use the apparition-in-the-reflection bits!

Tomorrow night I'll add the extra sound effects then plan the music, which I should be doing with Curtis Rowlands... The longer version will benefit from music for sure but this shirt one, well, I might just fro a few piano keystrokes on and a little violin for atmosphere...

Anyway, that's tomorrow nights business, I've got a full days work and a night class to attend first!