Kudej Log

Question of the Day

So the question of the day is: At what point does something profound become cliche? Don't ask me why I'm thinking about this, but it brought me some amusement on the drive to work this morning. I think the answer is 3. One for the person who said it first. One for the person who repeats it. And one for the next guy that that still figures it's a good idea. I figure after the third guy then it'll probably become something if it isn't already...if only a cult...after that, it's all downhill.

Eh, it's a take on it anyway.

The Sandman Part II

When we left off, I was babbling incoherently about the crew in a fasion not dissimilar to the announcer from the powerpuff girls...so I suppose I should finish what I started and continue babbling incoherently in grossly long winded sentences about the importance of being ernest in an impractical world where the monkeys will play in their pajamas all day and the cup ran away with the spoon...still with me?

Anyway, it was a night shoot for three nights. Friday night we finished around 2 am. Sat we finished about...well I went to sleep at 7 am. Then on Monday I got home around 3. Keep in mind now that I have a full time job...40 hrs a week and all that...needless to say I was tired come Tuesday. Tuesday night in fact I fell asleep at 6 PM and woke up at 6 AM...it was a really wierd morning...and I fell asleep in jeans and a collar shirt...let me tell you that really sucks in the morning. I never would have thought that a collar shirt could mess up your kneck like that. Go figure.

So it was cool being the assistant director. I pretty much got to do every job that wasn't specifically assigned and then some that were...granted that's a lot, but I'm starting to get used to doing everything...I hardly ever use a big crew for my own projects. It kind of makes you better organized and helps you think on your feet. Anyway, I ended up spending a lot of time with the sound guy rigging the camera and figuring out where to set the boom...that's kind of a chore when the director wants all the windows showwing and man there were a lot of windows showing. I also did a lot of searching around for strange and exoptic set pieces, shot set up, called attention to issues. I don't know, a lot of stuff. Man I love making movies. I do it for free if they paid me;)

hehe.

Impression DVD Creator

I got the new impression software last night from the ebay guy. I haven't gotten to use it, but it looks lagit. Pretty sweet! I've always wanted this thing, but I never had an excuse to get it until I needed it to do a job:)

The Sandman

So I've been working as Assistant Director on this film called the Sandman. The film is by second time director Richard Boyton. His first film was a short called "Oops" if you ever stumble across it. Anyway, working on the film was a blast! There were three actors, a man, a woman, and a girl. All three of them were simply awesome! We really couldn't have asked for better talent. They were reading pages and pages of dialog while everyone else was trying not to fall asleep...I suppose I should mention it was a night shoot, so we were all practically asleep while shooting it...okay, maybe some people actually were asleep, but that's beside the point. Honestly it was a sight to see.

Richard was a great director and fun to work with, as was Darrell our DP who amazingly mananged to hold the camera still for an entire six minute scene. I could go on and on about how great the crew was but unfortunately I have to go back to work...anyway, I'll rant later...and I'll put some links up to their sites when I get around to it.

Later!

The Dreamer

After a rather long and silly hiatus, I've once again started work on The Dreamer. You can see the intro trailor in the 2d flash section. Don't hold you're breath, cause it might be a while...it's kind of a side project...but rest assured it will be completed. So far it's looking pretty good. Maybe I'll post some screen shots...

Film Update

There's new stuff in the film update section.

Enjoy!

Who needs special effects???

The storm is rising.

From the distance...a mighty roar...

As night falls on Gotham.

And hell incarnate springs eternal...

The rain begins to pour.

The Weather Outside is Frightfull!

The area I live in is pretty strange. Call it polution or weather conditions or something, but I've seen more strange cloud formations and strangely tinted skies since I moved in to my current appartment than I have in my entire life. How bizaare. I've seen more bright blue, or green, or blood red sunsets than I could shake a stick at. Once, at four in the morning I woke up and noticed that everything was salmon colored. All my walls and everything outside was this wierd shade of salmon. At first I thought I was dreaming, but I actually made a point of getting up and walking around and it turned out that it was just some really, really cool diffusion of the rising sun. So, anyway, that's my apartment location for you.

So half the time I wish I had a camera on me...or my video camera or something, but unfortunatley I don't make it much of a priority. Tonight however, I actually made an effort, and man was it cool.

It started to storm around 6 or 7. It was just kind of a buildup of wind and stuff. The sky was this kind of dark hypercolor. So I grabbed the camera thinking I'd get some cool wind noise and some stock shots. So then I climbed up onto this hill by my house and shot the whole area as the rain moved in and the tornado sirens started blasting. So right about there I decided it probably wasn't such a good idea to be standing on a hill when the lightning started reigning down. As much fun as it would have been for all the people that were watching me, the doctors really don't need any more of my money, so I went back inside but I left the camera near the door in case something cool happened.

So something cool happened...it started to pour down, like in sheets, and lightning, and everything got kind of fuzzy. The sirens were blaring and I was shooting, and the footage was just sweet! I was only short a tornado sighting, but lets face it, who really wants one of those?

Anyway, I was thinking that it would be cool to make a short film using this footage spliced together with something else. Granted, that's another project for the list, but it wouldn't be difficult at all. I'll have to let you know how it goes. First things first, however. The Crisis goes in the can this summer, then maybe this will be the next project.

The Details

So I've posted some new information up on the Film Updates section of the site. Check it out. For those of you who've been inquiring...the law firm we looked at was sweet!!! Mucho magnificado...pero mi espanol es mui mal.

Anyway, the next section should be on either the script or the storyboards. Not sure. You'll just have to wait and see;)

Hollywood Stock Exchange

Okay, so I've been playing this game on line...kind of a stock market game where you buy and sell movies like stocks based on their box office take. It's a fun game, I've got kind of a friendly competition with Jeff going...though he's beating me badly, if only I had more time...I'd kick your ass Jefe...um, yeah. Anyway, I haven't paid attention to it for the last three days and my stock is dropping like a rock. I've fallen about 200 thou...kind of crazy. Kind of sucks. I sold a good chunk of it for a loss today. So now I have to get it back.

...I have a feeling that might take a while.

Location, Location, Location!!!

One day left and I get to see the location we're shooting at...yeah!!! I'm getting really curious as to what it looks like since I haven't actually seen it. The writer wrote it into the script before I even got attached to the project. It will be interesting to see how his vision translates into an actual location. Now all we need to do is finish the rewrites and start on the storyboard.

Then...casting.... More to come...

Shameless plugs of the day

I updated the links section. Of special note is Brian Stemmler photography. If anyone actually reads this page and you're looking for a DP or photographer in LA, he's a really great guy to work with...also, ask Jeff to set up an internet photo archive for you. He'll be ecstatic:)

...oh yeah, and the other links are really great too.

Change in dogma...

...so to speak.

Well, I've decided to move the film postings to the film updates section and this section has become my area to ramble endlessly about stuff that doesn't nessesarily pertain to anything...so how boring is that anyway.

So I was thinking the other day, what does one do with all this stuff...this stuff being this website and all the things on it as well as all the things you don't know about yet. I guess I just like making stuff and I don't care too much if anyone sees it, so I've never bothered...but I suppose what's the point in making it all if no one ever does. That is pretty much the idea here...just a spilling of thoughts onto the page so to speak. Granted, I'm a little more organized than that, but you generally get the point. The idea is kind of like just keep adding stuff and see what happens. However, while that idea sounds interesting in my head, it really annoys people to no end if you don't give things a little direction. Anyway, it's slowly working up to form, but I'd like to add more content. I think it's time to crack the whip...not literally mind you.

Crisis

My next film is call The Crisis...at least that's what it's called now. I'm still undecided if I like it or not...anyway, it's a collaboration between myself and my friend Alan. It's a good script so far. It needs a little fine tuning, but it's well on it's way. unfortunately, I'm not telling anyone what it's about until we finish the script, so you'll have to come back if your curious.

Last weekend, my friend Jeff and I shot a test roll. We messed around with the camera and shot with a bunch of different gels and stuff. I'm curious to see what it looks like.

I dropped the film off today at Delden in Bloomington, MN. I've never been there before. They were very low key, kind of non-chalant really...though they seemed pretty nice. It was just different than I expected. Anyway, if the reel turns out well, I'm sure I'll have a lot more business for them.

Next up: The Set

Film Stuff

Okay, so I'll talk some more about Sense of Persephone. Sense of Persephone is a short film about a young couple whose marriage is stressed due to their differing ideas about the direction of their lives. Specifically, one wants to have a child while the other does not. Sense of Persephone deals with a moment in time when they are confronted with the actuallity of having to take care of a child which brings their conflicting viewpoints to a head.

Basically it was a character study with the aim being something simple that everyone could identify with on some level or another. Anyway, it turned out pretty well...though it gets a little quick toward the end. It was a one day shoot and when you get rushed it becomes very evident on film. I'll have to keep that in mind on my later projects. As it is, I'm shooting some more this weekend to make the ending longer. I think it will turn out pretty well. My friend Joe is doing the music and my other friends Jeff and Mary Beth are both starring...as well as a baby, Sydney. Her and her actual father are both in the movie...imagine that.

Anyway, I think I might submit it to be viewed on Minnesota Public Television. Regardless of whether it gets in, it was a worthwhile project. Arguablely its one of the best things I've done. I just wish I'd had more time to work on it. Oh well. It's still a nice little film. My next one will definitely be bigger...

...oh will it be bigger.