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Oh shit! This is really fucking cool!

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:22:00 -0400

Oh shit! This is really fucking cool!

Beyond the Frame: How Should a Film Company Leverage Technology?

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:33:21 -0400

Beyond the Frame: How Should a Film Company Leverage Technology?:

Unless you can top 5,000 unique visitors a month, your film production doesn’t need a blog. A single person visiting your blog once is not going translate down the line. The daunting hurdle of online media is to remain part of the conversation week after week.

The web is a resource - the…

Welp…this just changed the way I use social networking. Thanks! (and that’s sincere. For whatever reason, it seemed sarcastic when reading it back).

gifsploitation: Thanks, Ray Harryhausen Film lovers today owe...

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:43:59 -0400

gifsploitation:

Thanks, Ray Harryhausen

Film lovers today owe a great deal to you, Mr. Harryhausen. Thank you, indeed.

Sony Wants to Keep Community Alive

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:20:49 -0400

Sony Wants to Keep Community Alive:

swan2swan:

With Community’s fate still uncertain, Sony, who produce the series, launches a video campaign to encourage fans to watch the show live.

trampolinesandsteppingstones: natashakline: For all the...

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:32:10 -0400

trampolinesandsteppingstones:

natashakline:

For all the artists out there. xoxo

I needed this. Thanks :)

^^Me too^^

Home is Where the Haunt is:

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:58:40 -0400

Writing 493.

I’ve yet to update this blog with information regarding new choices I’ve made for my class project—the horror podcast.

I’ve previously written about my intention to produce a non-linear (choose your own adventure) horror story in the vein of the slasher subgenre. This idea included five characters who acted as the roles of: The Jock, the Girlfriend, the Scholar, the Prankster, and the Virgin. (except, y’know, less 1990’s and more 2013).

I made the realization of how difficult this was going to be: five characters in four episodes with one choice to be made per episode—there’d be very little fleshing out of characters (that is to say, *no* character development) as well as very little plot progression. I believe that the story would be very stale.

So, the question reared its ugly head. What do I do?

Well, in the last two weeks, I’ve watched both Scream and Scream 2. It was upon my rewatch of Scream 2 that I was seemingly struck in the head with the large bright bat of epiphany. It showed itself in the form of the opening of each film. The Drew Barrymore scene from Scream and the Movie Theatre scene from Scream 2.

For this project and for reference, I’ll explain the scene from Scream.

Drew Barrymore’s character (who I’ll refer to as Drew Barrymore) prepares for a night at home with popcorn and a movie. She unexpectedly receives a telephone call from, who she believes to be, a prankster. The call quickly escalates to violence and Drew feels threatened for her life. It becomes clear that the caller is a killer, not a mere jokester. She does her best to avoid the killer, but she’s quickly confronted with her boyfriend’s tied up body on her back porch. She goes to save him, gets threatened, and winds up watching him die. She continues to barricade herself in perceived safety, but her attempts are fruitless—she ends up dying.

She’s given many options throughout this scene. Pick up or ignore the telephone? Go to her boyfriend or stay inside? (And many more I failed to acknowledge in my brief summary). The scene plays out at, if I remember correctly, about ten minutes.

This is the format I’m adapting to for this project. The protagonist and the antagonist. Two characters. (Potentially one or two more, who play *very* supporting roles (such as the Boyfriend in the example from Scream).

I believe this will streamline the options the audience can make. It will not inhibit the progress of the plot nor the development of the characters. In fact, I believe it will not inhibit any part of the writing process.

I look forward to trying this out.

An Outsider's Perspective: Why I Find This Awful.

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:33:46 -0400

An Outsider's Perspective: Why I Find This Awful.:

*As of my writing of this article, I had not realized that this clip came from September of 2012. This article has been written from my perspective that this event occurred earlier today, April 28th, 2013.*

Demi Lovato ‘X Factor Judge gets burnt to shit X Factor USA Dont normally upload stuff like this, but comon Get Fucking Burned! Want to make beats so hot you…

First, let me state: I don’t watch X Factor (in fact, I don’t know whether it’s *The* X Factor or just X Factor.) I had no idea that Simon Cowell still judged reality competitions. I had no idea people still cared about Britney Spears. I had absolutely no idea that Demi Lovato (Heart Attack being my current jam) is such a massive bitch.

Expectations: I opened up this video via Facebook as it was titled,

”[Original] That’s why you use auto tune and I don’t - Get Fucking BURNED! Demi Lovato”

Accompanying the video, was a set of images and captions exclaiming that, when one burns themselves, “to apply ice directly to the burn.” I was ready for a joke—a viral-worthy burn—and then to laugh and continue unconcerned with my internet browsing lack of a life.

Reality: “A lot of people work really, really hard for their dreams—but it’s not meant for everybody.” - Demi Lovato.

I have a strong and odd feeling (Strodd?) that this phrase will terrorize me for the next few days. I get that these reality television events get off on providing harsh criticism without the constructive element added in. That viewers prefer to sink their life away mocking others for their inability than put their own selves on the line for criticism. I. GET. IT. But that doesn’t mean I like it.

I don’t know whether the man onstage (Henceforth known as: The Burner) sang poorly, picked the wrong song for his voice, or whatever else—all I know is that he’s right. He doesn’t have to put up with [the judges defamations]. He’s worked too hard (he’s worked even a little bit) to better himself as an artist. The least these judges could do is acknowledge that and stoke the flame that exists inside of him to become better—to try again—to do whatever he can to be better than he is now. As dictated by his burn, he has morals. Let those assist you, my friend. They may not guide you to the success that Lovato or any of the other three judges have found—but you’ll at least be producing work others, like yourself, can appreciate.

“A lot of people work really, really hard for their dreams—but it’s not meant for everybody.” - Demi Lovato.

I have a message for Ms. Lovato. My dreams are my dreams and they’re meant for me. My dreams will guide me through my life. They’ll lead me through my failures and my successes, but if I can continue to work “really, really hard,” for my dreams—I expect them to lead me to happiness. And no one, not even successful pop stars like you, can take that away from me. Nor from The Burner. Nor from anyone else.

I imagine, in a life like that which Ms. Lovato has led, one can mistake success as an easy thing to achieve. That only the best of the best make it to the top of the totem pole. Well News Flash Demi! Kubrick never won an Oscar. Don’t mistake your luck as art. You have a wonderful voice that’s been forever tainted by the *bullying* words you expressed to The Burner.

If I understand correctly, thanks to folks on Facebook and the great knowledge-bearer known as Wikipedia, you’re an avid advocate of Anti-Bullying and an active participant in various campaigns in that name. Excuse my callousness, but how dare you align yourself to such an important cause and yet promote the very attitude you’re seeking to extinguish? You’re the worst kind of bully—one who mistakes cruelty for kindness.

I fear I may have lost track of my point—in an effort to attack Demi Lovato. I fear I may have become a bully of sorts in this rant of mine. For that I apologize (I recommend that you do too, Ms. Lovato). I hope you continue to make such fun, exuberant pop music that I can pump my fist to. I also hope that, one day, someone makes you feel true sorrow for your behavior. If it’s not gonna be over punching a back-up dancer, if it’s not gonna be over slamming a man’s desire to make music, I hope it’s before your inevitable descent into obscurity—that way, at least, I’ll feel sorrow and pleasurable nostalgia when I hear your music twenty years from now.

As for you, Mr. The Burner. I can’t wait to learn your name. That way, when I think about everyone who tells me “I can’t accomplish my dreams,” I can think of you and smile. I’ll think of you and say, “Maybe. Maybe not. But I do intend to follow them to very end.”

- An Avid Fan of Yours.

shirtoid: No Power in the Verse by geekchic_tees is $11 for a...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:36:13 -0400

shirtoid:

No Power in the Verse by geekchic_tees is $11 for a limited time at Epic Embrace

I HAVE TO OWN THIS.

sexifiedsoul: Arrested...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:36:58 -0400

sexifiedsoul:

Arrested Development

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH

I echo ^this^ sentiment exactly.

Timeline for: Home is Where the Haunt Is

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:58:00 -0400

Week Four: April 22-26

Mon. 22: (Britt 251) Term-project final proposal due.

Wed. 24: (Taylor 226)

Fri. 26: First Episode Written

Sat. 27: Record First Episode

Week Five: April 29-May 3

Mon. 29: (Britt 251): Second Episode Set Written

Wed. May 1:(Taylor 226): Finish First Episode Edit

Fri. 3: Record Second Episode Set

Sat. 4: Release First Episode Online

Week Six: May 6-10

Mon. 6: (Britt 251): Half of Episode Set 3 Written; Half of Episode Set 2 Edited

Wed. 8: (Taylor 226): Finish Second Episode Set Edit.

Fri. 10: Episode Set 3 Written

Sat. 11. Record Episode Set 3; Release Episode Set 2 Online

Week Seven: May 13-17

Mon. 13: (Britt 251):

Wed. 15: (Taylor 226): Half of Episode Set 4 Written.

Fri 17: Finish Episode Set 3 Edit

Sat. 18: Release Episode Set 3 Online

Week Eight: May 20-24

Mon. 20: (Britt 251): Episode Set 4 Written

Wed. 22: (Taylor 226): Record Episode Set 4

Week Nine: May 27-31

Mon. 27: Memorial Day (No class): Finish Episode Set 4 Edit

Wed. 29: (Taylor 226): Term-project presentations: Release Episode Set 4 (To Class Only)

Sat. June 1: Release Episode Set 4 Online

Week Ten: June 3-7

Mon. 3: (Britt 251): Term-project presentations

Wed. 5: (Taylor 226): Term-project presentations

The last of the bunch. They’re not my best set so far, but...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:12:25 -0400

The last of the bunch. They’re not my best set so far, but I don’t think they’re bad. I can do better—and I’ve learned a bunch as to how.

Most of these weren’t taken on the automatic settings of my camera, like so many of my past ones. With these, I started experimenting with all my options in the hopes of bettering my familiarity with my camera.

I’d say more, but I need to get to work. Perhaps more later, yes?

More from the past few weeks. Haven’t gotten around to...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:07:49 -0400

More from the past few weeks. Haven’t gotten around to uploading lately.

This here — this is me just playing with how lights look...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:53:17 -0400

This here — this is me just playing with how lights look out of focus, trying to get them to…well…look just like they look here.

A Rough Draft for a Proposal on an Audio Project in which...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:50:43 -0400

A Rough Draft for a Proposal on an Audio Project in which Viewers Control the World of the Characters who Happen to Live in a Slasher Story.

Or,

Assignment 3:

What’s outlined above is, I hope obviously, not the working title for this project. Honestly, I’m none too certain what the title ought to be. I’ve spent much of this weekend working on other facets of this project. Truth be told, and you could probably figure this out from the time of this post, I’m posting this in-class on Monday, April 15th, Tax Day. Since I walked in late, I’m not sure that this is what I’m supposed to be working on—but I’m, say, 75% certain. That’s good enough for me.

Anyway, back to the title…

1. Home is Where the Haunt is — this is so far my favorite option. Seeing as I intend to set the story inside a haunted house, I believe this play on ‘Home is where the heart is,’ to be indicative of the story (however you choose to let it play out).

2. An audio-based choose your own adventure story—horror themed.

3. Similar to radio shows of times-gone-by, Home is Where the Haunt is, tells the story of five teenagers who find themselves in a haunted house. In a similar vein to the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books we may have encountered as kids, the viewer can choose the actions of the characters and therefore alter events in each viewing.

4. Home is Where the Haunt is combines radio-dramas with choose your own adventure books. It is an audio-based horror series wherein the viewer has the power to determine who lives…and who dies.

This project will be released in-full. That is to say, there will be no waiting for weekly segments. The viewer will be able to begin and end the story within the same evening (ideally an hour - 90 minute commitment). This being said, the whole project will be separated into segments to benefit the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style of experience.

Home is Where the Haunt is plays on the conventions of the Horror genre. More specifically, on the slasher subgenre. The story will begin with five characters—similar to the traditional: Jock, Cheerleader, Nerd, Rebel, and Virgin. However, these characters shan’t be represented by their 1970’s personas but, rather, by their modern day equivalents.

I’ve spent hours considering the topic of dominant culture as represented in slasher films of the 1950’s - 1990’s in an attempt to subvert the expectations that those films set up in a contemporary context. The exact details of this process, I’ll reveal in a future post.

This project will utilise both audio and photographic elements. Episodes will be released in an embedded Youtube video (or something similar) that contain images the viewer can click on in order to link to the next episode.

For Example:

Characters A & B separate from Characters C, D, & F. While on their own, they encounter two objects: A locket & a record player.

On the screen appear two images: One of the locket and the other of the record player. Both images are links to the next episode—two different episodes. By clicking on a certain image, the viewer choose the object that Characters A & B interact with.

In the creation Home is Where the Haunt is, there will, without a doubt, be a ‘Core Story,’ the one that (were the viewer unable to choose actions) would unfold naturally. From this story, the different events branch off creating their own story. This way, I always have neutral zone I can refer back to.

I tend to slip away when working in a room where I can hear everyone’s conversations, so if this is a bit sporadic I apologize. I find it to be very useful (describing my project in a sentence, paragraph, and a page), so I may very well return to this process in the future.

5. I intend to produce a 1 hour - 90 minute podcast series that will unfold in a variety of ways.

Medium - Audio Performance.

Audience - Students & Faculty at Southern Oregon University. I intend to share this project with my social network as well. My modest following on Twitter, my connections through friends and websites like Machinima.com and SomethingAwful.com.

Purpose - Entertainment. To enhance the connection between audience and character in the realm of performance entertainment. Which I guess also sorta covers Situation, doesn’t it?

More on Situation - To examine the topic of culture in a performance piece. Who is the dominant culture? What is dominant culture? What are the focal subcultures of modern society?

End of Part 1; Likely to be Revisited and Edited.

Yo, this is a filmed recording of a buddy of mine’s music...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:53:57 -0400

Yo, this is a filmed recording of a buddy of mine’s music duo ‘Spoonwielder’ performing their single: Lost in Thought.

It’s cut together, but that’s it. I’m using it as a means to learn more about Speedgrade and After Effects CS6—but, needless to say for those who have used those programs, they’re not as simple as one might wish.

That being said, enjoy!

Shot on a Canon 7D; Edited on Final Cut Pro X.

Perhaps I’m misinterpreting this assignment, but when I think of...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:43:37 -0400

Perhaps I’m misinterpreting this assignment, but when I think of Digital Writing (and, by association, of MMAPS) I think that all forms of writing are eligible so long as they can be interacted with digitally.

This, too, would include mediums in which the actual ‘writing’ is not the final product. I’m referring to such mediums as playwriting or screenwriting. In a case such as this—digital, I mean—I believe screenwriting to be the more appropriate of the two mediums.

So, what I’m fiercely interested in doing, is creating a web-series of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” variety. Using, as pictured above, the board game: Betrayal at the House on the Hill, as a drawing board.

Allow me to refer to the film, Cabin in the Woods. In the film, the five ‘Cabin-lodgers’ happen upon various antiquities (am I using that word correctly?) that have the potential to summon forth monsters that will bring about their demise. Only one such thing can be chosen, and because of the film’s format—it being a film and all—the object is a diary that summons forth the Zombie Redneck Torture Family to murder the five Cabin-lodgers.

Now, what if the viewer wasn’t confined to re-watching the film and every single time being forced into the corner with the Zombie Redneck Torture Family via the little girl’s diary? What if, and hear me out here, what if the viewer could choose the item for the group? And therefore summon forth something different each and every time (up to a total of 5 or 10 times) one re-watches the film. What if the viewer chose for the character to investigate the conch shell and therefore summon the Mer-people! The relationship between audience and character(s) would enhance ten-fold. (I imagine it’d also make for a pretty fun drinking game.)

This is, essentially, what the board game, Betrayal at the House on the Hill, does so very well. You play with a cast of characters who explore a haunted house (not knowing that it’s haunted, of course). You find various trinkets in the forms of: Items, Events, and Omens. When an Omen is discovered, the player must make a ‘haunt roll.’ This haunt roll must equal/exceed the number of omen cards on the table, or else the haunt begins. As the game progresses, the number of haunt cards drawn increases, and the stakes of the haunt roll reach dire straits (again, am I using that term correctly?). Finally, the haunt begins.

The haunt is determined in part by: Who rolls the dice, which room they’re in, and which omen they just received. This haunt typically dictates a single ‘Traitor,’ and thus makes the rest of the players the ‘Wannabe Survivors.’

There’s more to the rules, but that should cover it for the purposes of this assignment.

I’ve been in love with the ideas behind web-series for quite some time. I really enjoy most of Geek and Sundry’s work, and that all began with The Guild. One of the most inspiring things about The Guild is that, while watching all six seasons, one notices a dramatic increase in production value. It began with a very low, could-be nonexistent budget, but grew exponentially. To the point of having episodes featuring very famous actors in (and I deplore the use of this term, but it fits) ‘Nerd Culture.’

I don’t imagine the production of this show would be much different than that of the first season of a show like The Guild. It would be low-budget, but it would unique (as far as I know).

I feel as though I’ve outlined some of the strengths above, but I’ll do so again here:

1. Creating a piece of interactive digital television that enhances/strengthens the relationship between viewer and character.

2. A very defined audience — fans of the horror genre. Fans of interactive media. Low budget enough to not be excluding, but not too broad to be unenjoyable.

3. Opportunities for community-based writing. A project like this could potentially grow into something too large for a single person to write.

Now, I may be looking into something a bit *too* ambitious for a term project. In that case, I’m prepared to change this project into something more manageable. However, until such a time as that is either laid out in front of me or I discover it for myself—I intend to go on, full steam ahead.

Wanted to add earlier, but only just remembered — the addition of video connotations on video archive websites (Youtube, for example) allow for in-the-moment decision making on the viewers part. Transforming video consumption from a passive activity, into a far more active one. Very similar to playing video games (especially Western RPGs, such as Mass Effect or Knights of the Old Republic—Bioware, y’know?) …I think it sounds exciting. :)

**EDIT: Pardon the weird formatting. It’s almost...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 20:43:00 -0400

**EDIT: Pardon the weird formatting. It’s almost impossible to post to tumblr without something going completely wrong in the text.**

My third Screenwriting Prompt. I gave myself approximately 30 minutes for this one. (If you notice the lack of a second one on this here blog—it was really, really bad. Normally, I’d still post it— but it was embarrassingly bad.)

Anyway, io9 prompted this from the above image. So this is what appeared. If you read it, I hope you enjoy. :)

Int. Kenmouth Family Dining Room - evening

MARTHA, a 52 year old woman places plates and silverware, wrapped in green napkins, for dinner.

She calls out to the KITCHEN.

MARTHA

Kevin, dear? Is dinner almost done?

KEVIN

…Just a moment.

Martha places the third and final napkin on the table—between the other two.

KEVIN enters, carrying a covered platter of food.

KEVIN

Where’s Christopher?

He places the food on the table.

MARTHA

Oh you know him, he’s just up in his room playing with that globe of his.

KEVIN

Our little geographer. Christopher! Dinner’s ready!

They both sit down at the table.

Christopher (O.S.)

You don’t have to yell, I can hear.

CHRISTOPHER enters. He’s tall, slender, and unmistakably green. He has large, black eyes. Definitely an alien.

He sits down between Martha and Kevin. He eyes the platter.

CHRISTOPHER

So—meatloaf?

MARTHA

Refer to your father appropriately.

CHRISTOPHER

No, Mom—are we having meatloaf?

MARTHA

Oh…

KEVIN

No, green bean casserole.

CHRISTOPHER

Thanks, Meatloaf.

MARTHA

Christopher!

KEVIN

It’s okay, dear. Slender here can either behave or not eat tonight.

CHRISTOPHER

So what if I’m slender!? It’s your fault!

MARTHA

Pardon?

CHRISTOPHER

We’re learning about deoxyribonucleic acids and the passing of traits in Biology in school.

MARTHA

…Human Biology?

CHRISTOPHER

Duh, Mother. The biology of pigs isn’t really relevant, is it?

KEVIN

Oh I don’t know about that. Back in my day we’d—

CHRISTOPHER

Anyway, Mrs. Frogbreath says that we all carry traits from our parents. So, then, I’m only skinny because you and Meatloaf carry skinny traits.

Kevin and Martha exchange glances.

CHRISTOPHER

Were you both skinny when you were my age?

Kevin and Martha exchange glances again.

KEVIN

Well, son, you see your Mother and I—we’ve—

MARTHA

—Been this size just about our whole lives! It’s what made me fall in love with your father. Two sides of the same healthy coin, we were.And then we had you and everything has been just—absolutely hunky-dory ever since—!

Kevin stands up. Determinedly stopping Martha.

KEVIN

Honey!

Martha stops speaking. She shrinks in her seat.

CHRISTOPHER

Is something, like, the matter?

Martha remains silent.

CHRISTOPHER

Dad?

Kevin sits back in his seat.

KEVIN

Son, there’s something that your Mother and I have been wanting to tell you. For some time now.

Martha mouths the question, “Now?” to Kevin.

KEVIN

Yes, honey. I think now is the right time to tell you.

CHRISTOPHER

Oh my god! I’m adopted, aren’t I?

MARTHA

Yes! Honey, yes you are! But it’s okay, because your Dad and I love you so much. And it’s good that you know now, so that way you, too, can feel unconditional love for us—

KEVIN

—There’s more.

MARTHA

Don’t you think that adoption is a big enough bomb to drop today!?

Christopher spews acid all over his plate.

The trio all glance at the plate before Christopher continues to eat it.

KEVIN

Christopher. Have you ever wondered why your mother and I don’t…do that on our food before we eat it?

CHRISTOPHER

Why? I always assumed you liked your dry cooking?

KEVIN

…Letting that one slide. Well, son, it’s because your Mom and me—we—aren’t like you.

CHRISTOPHER

What do you mean?

MARTHA

Oh dear…

CHRISTOPHER

Mom?

MARTHA

I didn’t want to hide this from you, sweetheart.

KEVIN

You’re an—

Silence.

KEVIN

—You remember last month when we went stargazing?

MARTHA

YOU’RE AN ALIEN!

Silence. Kevin glares at Martha.

MARTHA

I’m so sorry. I couldn’t handle the suspense.

Tears begin to well in Christopher’s eyes.

CHRISTOPHER

You too, Mom?

MARTHA

What do you mean?

Christopher stands up from the table.

CHRISTOPHER

It’s bad enough that all the kids at school call me alien! Now you too!

He rushes to the staircase.

CHRISTOPHER

I HATE YOU! YOU’RE NOT MY REAL PARENTS AND I HATE YOU!

Christopher’s footsteps echo until they finally conclude with a door slam.

After a few moments—

KEVIN

—That could have gone better.

MARTHA

I’m sorry. I really thought blurting it out was gonna work better than another lengthy anecdote.

KEVIN

I had a much better one planned this time.

MARTHA

Anything would be better than, “Your Mom and I are like Meatloaf. You’re more like lettuce.”

Kevin sighs. He picks up his fork and takes a bite of the green bean casserole.

KEVIN

Try again next week?

THE END.

scarlettjen: 29 ways to stay creative. (Bet they had a creative...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:59:58 -0400

scarlettjen:

29 ways to stay creative. (Bet they had a creative block trying to come up with number 30.)

beforevfx: Oz: The Great and Powerful Not that I don’t...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 05:08:00 -0400

beforevfx:

Oz: The Great and Powerful

Not that I don’t appreciate special effects, but with all the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things that Oz: The Great and Powerful did (beyond being neither great nor powerful) it did one thing correctly—The China Girl.

I credit much of her believability to her being a marionette and having a solid base in reality (unlike the VAST majority of the film). I don’t understand why puppetry, make-up, and visual effects have taken such a backseat to special effects in this day and age.

Before Oz: The Mediocre and Unfulfilling, my largest gripe was the Mother in Mama. CG just about ruined that—character. In fact, the test footage of the real people who inspired the character was far creepier than any footage in the film. Why not use prosthetics and only switch to CGI for the shots that can’t be accomplished otherwise. Isn’t that the basis of special effects anyway?

It’s like in writing, only use a voice over if there is no—absolutely NO other way—to get specific information across to the viewer.

Call me old-fashioned, call me wrong. Just don’t call Oz: The Great and Powerful and good, strong film to my face.

Edit: I’m very sorry for some mistakes I’ve made in this post (And flattered, entirely because VFX messaged me the corrections. Thank you!) The little China Doll was completely CG. The marionette doll was an on-set reference, but the performance was never used. My gripes with the story and performances aside, if it weren’t for the animators, lighters and compositors at Sony Imageworks this film would have no ground to stand on. Their work was fantastic, and I apologize for sounding unappreciative of their hard work. God knows that so many other people treat them poorly, they certainly don’t need the audience against them.

With all that said, and again—no disrespect to the technicians at work—I firmly believe that having the on-set reference of the marionette helped bring to life the character. In the same way that Motion Capture has helped so many other timeless characters come to life.

I acknowledge the hard work that goes into creating a world almost entirely out of thin air. I just, personally, prefer to see additions and alterations to our very own. I think that makes for more engaging filmmaking. The technicians who do this are no more or less capable than the ones who make entire worlds in my eyes. They’re just the ones I’d feel like taking out on a date.

As a point of reference, before I finish this edit, in the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the river in which Arwen summons the horses in not one, but two rivers spliced together with the help of computer animation (the precise term, I do not know). In reality, these two rivers are separated by miles of land—homes, fields, etc. It’s such a little change and yet, it really helps to identify that river as Middle Earth-ian.

This, for me, is why I love cinema.

Treks and Paths,

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:19:08 -0400

A photography (or, potentially, videography) assignment for today.

To take photos of different paths, roads, walkways, etc. Southern Oregon is filled with so many different areas to walk. So what’s stopping someone like myself, or unlike myself, to document these in some way.

It sounds like a fun little event to me. So, that being said, Imma go on and do it. Just try and stop me. I dare you. LET’S DO THIS.

…Also, goodnight. :)