Showing posts with label Monster Cops: The Midnight Special. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monster Cops: The Midnight Special. Show all posts

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Shine a Light

The second feature film I've ever made is also the first installment of the MONSTER COPS franchise.

MONSTER COPS: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is back on DVD.

You can buy it on DVD for $12 or you can download or rent it to watch on your PC, HDTV, Bluray, XBOX, or Roku through Amazon Instant Watch.

And remember, $1 from every DVD sold will go to the American Cancer Society.

Click here to find out more about THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.




It was originally on DVD back in 2007. In 2009 I pulled it off shelves because I intended to re-edit it and put out a newer version. Then I realized that I was being a bit too George Lucasy. The movie is perfectly fine the way it is. Recently I had been messaged by a few folks about how they could get a copy.  So here it is back on DVD. In all it's No-Budget glory.

It was the first step towards what I wanted Monster Cops to be. It lacked the kind of FX we have now, and it really could've used more Monsters. But I think it's good nonetheless. It's endearing, it's creative, and I'm very proud of the writing and the performances. And it still cracks me up how frickin funny it is.

With the newer episodes I had created (Shadow Company and Monsters Vs. Cops) I would get closer and closer to that full vision of what I wanted Monster Cops to be.  I'm hoping by late this year I can fully execute that vision with the newer episodes of Monster cops, and put that out on DVD in a Series 1 volume of episodes.

Redd is our other production, as you may know. Plugging along nicely I might add, but with my schedule getting fuller, we may need to extend shooting into Fall.

A winter release will probably be more likely.

I really can't wait to finish this one. It's going to be a great one.

If you haven't yet, check out the fight clip below.


April Crum as Redd fighting Bryan Sloyer as The Monk.



I'm extremely impressed with everyone's performances so far. It's been a blast to shoot. Still need to do a bit more fundraising for it, but I think we'll be fine.

I'm proud to say that the first 4 minutes of REDD on Youtube have reached well over 50,000 views. Hey, maybe it's not 1 million like I wanted, but at least it's alot, and the majority of the comments are positive, so YAY!

If you get a chance check out the front page at REDDMOVIE.COM, look for the comment box towards the bottom, and leave a nice comment about how excited you are to see the movie. Go on, DO IT!

The Yamaha Ad I made, NO ORDINARY PAPER BOAT, was top ten finalist for Yamaha. Earned me a Poptent medal. Quite proud.

Aside from the occasional breakdowns (ala last post) things are good.  And now I work to make them better and even better.

Today's lesson boys and girls? Keep moving forward. Don't dwell on your past accomplishments, move on to bigger and better ones.

Just keep swimming.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Don't you know what the night can do?

I'm blessed. When I need it, the right song comes on the radio. When I'm down, the right words are always spoken. And when I forget, there's something that always reminds me.

Special thanks to Chris Petite for showing his support for myself and for Monster Cops. And to David Koss for letting us use his studio those many years ago to shoot some scenes for the first Monster Cops movie THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, and for taking this awesome pic.

I made a movie with two crappy cameras and really great cast. Let's see what I can do with a much better camera and a really great cast.

Successfully cleaned out all the nonessential, now I can breathe and think clearly enough to get rolling on this untitled vampire movie. Although my wife has indeed given it a title, but I don't like it. Sadly, it's starting to grow on me. We'll see.

This week, more fund raising for Bobby's Closet. Now, working on details for the Vampire shoot this month.


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Let the midnight special shine a light on me

The signs are everywhere and I can't ignore them. I've been reminded full force of things from the past and it gives me clarity when working on the future.

Credence Clearwater Revival's classic song "Midnight Special". I listened to it constantly when working on the first Monster Cops script, The Midnight Special.



It was this song and 2 others.

Whodini's Classic of Hip-Hop "The Freaks Come Out at Night"



And the one that really inspired me when working on Monster Cops (and still does to this day): The Hollies classic "Long Cool Woman"





It's these three songs I had put on a repeat over and over the entire time I worked on The Midnight Special. To me these songs captures a strong part of the spirit that is Monster Cops. CCR's Midnight Special had that down home rock and blues tone that you really don't associate too much with horror and monsters. Which is why I found it well suited for Monster Cops. It was the feel of how the Cops operated while under the strain of hunting creatures. Cool and groovy, a tone you wouldn't put with hammering stakes in to Vampire hearts. That's the tone of Monster Cops.

The Freaks Come Out at Night was a song that felt right over images of patrol cars looking for, well, freaks. Cops on patrol, investigating strange situations hunting zombies and ghouls. Like driving through neighborhood streets on Halloween Night, seeing costumed creatures roaming around. Plus it was an old school song that did remind me of that Halloween feel, only because it would always end up on someones Halloween music mixtape along with Thriller, The Halloween Theme, and Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes.

And finally Long Cool Woman was always a favorite of mine. Definitely my fav song from The Hollies and in my top 10 of classic rock songs. This song always felt like great background narration for some undercover cop closing in for the arrest, or DEA agents on a bust. Desipte what it's lyrics may define it as, to me this was the action theme for Monster Cops. The bouncy rock rhythm and feel of CCR's Midnight Special but with a harder edge and faster pace. Rock and Blues for Cops on the move, and that's Monster Cops. Burnt out and blue on the job, cracking jokes about the bust, and all the while the Vampires burn and the Zombie heads explode.

Odd, strange, quirky, funny, and thrilling with monsters and guns thrown in.

All this means that I'm nowhere near done with Monster Cops. There is that specific feel and vision I'm going for and I feel like if I can really nail it, it will really be something great. Not that I wasn't already aiming for that, it's just tonight has been very motivating, and a little inspiring.

Still have many many other videos to work on of course. The video work never goes away, but I do hope to get on the ball with Monster Cops and get as much of my vision out there as possible, more shorts, more episodes, much, much more Monster Cops.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Here we go again

Once again it's the end of the month and that means it's finals week over at OurStage.com. The Monster Cops trailer is once again in the top 20. Just yesterday we were in the top 10. We need help to get in and stay in the top 10 through midnight tonight in order to stay in the contest.

Some of you don't know what Ourstage is so lemme splain. Ourstage is a monthly contest for aspiring video and music makers with several different categories that you can enter. I've entered the Monster Cops: The Midnight Special trailer in the COMEDY category. You can go to Ourstage and judge videos in order to help determine who gets a hire ranking. It's a little crazy to explain how it works so just click on the banner below and know that whenever Monster Cops: The Midnight Special comes up, vote us up by selecting us the best by far. And if you've got the time to kill, you can continue to vote for us over and over. $1000.00 is up for grabs.

Monster Cops: The Midnight Special TRAILER, by onespartan on OurStage

If you're still confused, you can go to http://www.ourstage.com/ and click on HOW IT WORKS to figure it all out. Then come back and click the banner. :D:D:D

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Obstacles

I think the hardest thing about making a movie is holding on to that fire. It's not that the passion ever goes away. It's just that so many other things take place in life that make it hard to get back to that passion.

Again it's about Juggling things. But not just juggling, but juggling well. Really getting it all done. Putting as much of yourself into your work as you can. And all those other things you have to worry about when you're trying to achieve any goal, paying bills, worrying about your health, car troubles, etc. You have to try to keep up with all of that at the sametime.

This is all a part of the juggle. It's about trying to make that car payment, and keeping yourself healthy, while drawing up those production sheets. It's about making sure you've got all the birthdays covered, making sure you put in enough hours at the day job, make sure you reach your project deadlines, while thinking about what your lighting situation will be for a particular scene.

It is hard enough to have to do your own production design and props and costumes, but having to do all that while your trying to plan out what you're going to cook for the family that night, what groceries you'll need for that week, and whether or not you can get the laundry folded before you put in the next 3 loads. That's beyond juggling.

Of course much of this could be remedied by simply getting paid to make movies, but in order to get there you have to start with nothing. You have to work for free, in order to get to a place where you can work for yourself. The Midnight Special was the first step, the next Monster Cops project is another step, bringing us closer to working on a feature with a budget, or working on a web series with a budget, which ever comes first really.

But again you've got to do what you can to hold on to that fire. I'm convinced that's why so called "bad things" happen. It's the purpose of an obstacle. For something to get in your way, it should only fuel your fire. It's the unexpected bill, the unforseen car trouble, the shitty day job, and the people that tell you you can't do it. It appears to be the thing to bring you down, but it's fully designed to make you work harder for that dream.

So the next time something gets in your way, throws you off course, puts you down, or knocks you out, you use it as an excuse to get up and keep going. You embrace ambiguity. Welcome the fight. Instead of seeing an obstacle as just something in your way, see it for what it truely is. It is the thing that helps define you. It doesn't actually block your path, because when you go around it, it helps define your path. The rocks that were blocking your way are now the landscape that helps create the road way to your dreams.

In truth everything and everyone is actually conspiring to help you. So make your own path, fuel that fire, and keep juggling.

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.
- Frank A. Clark

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Why so serious?

Yes I completed my list of things to do. With the exception of about 3 things. But I got what I really needed to get done out of the way. And I even found time to workout. And also we've got another screening for TMS.

Just when I thought we were all done with screenings, here comes another one. Yay!!!

FILM: "Midnight Special"
WHEN: Friday, February 01 10:00 AM
WHERE: Norhtern Lights Theatre Pub
3893 Commercial St. SE
Salem, Oregon 97302
HOSTED BY: Mid-Valley Video Festival
TICKET PRICE: $3

RSVP via the following link:
http://monstercops.bravenewtheaters.com/screening/show/10167

As part of there Horror Comedy screenings on Friday Nights. Should be fun. Wish I could be there. I've flown over Oregon once, but I've never actually been there. I did contemplate moving there once a while back.

I can stop drooling over The Dark Knight trailer. Check out (and download) the high quality trailer here. http://atasteforthetheatrical.com/deathtrap/default.htm

Here's the youtube embed:

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

As of posting this banner. We are in 10th place. Wow!

Monster Cops: The Midnight Special TRAILER, by onespartan on OurStage

It's been a roller coaster ride. We were in 9th when the quarter finals started. Then for the past few days we've fluctuated from 9th to 2nd to 6th to 1st and now 10th. Which is scary because we need to stay in the top 10 to make it to Wednesday (Tuesday at midnight).

It's a great time killer. Just log in and judge videos.

So if you please, help us out and judge. Tell everyone else to judge. Just click on the banner and click judge. Keep us in the top 10.

I'm serisouly too concerned about this. But being that it seems like such a possibility that we might win and how we actually got to number one last time, I can't help but wanna TRY to win this. Just TRY to get the word out and get people to register and judge. I really feel like I'd be missing out on an opportunity if I didn't try.

So please spread the word and help us get up there.

EDIT: I just looked again and now it says 9th. I actually said outloud, "Thank God!" As if I were falling towards hell and Satan was snapping at my heels, and now an angel has pulled me up to 9th place. LMFAO!!! I'm too into this.

Some one asked me the other day if I thought $5,000.00 would really be any help to me.

YES IT WOULD! Are you crazy? Of course $5,000.00 would be a help to me. It would be a huge help. What idiot would look at $5,000.00 and go "Pff, whatever!" and then walk away?

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Trying

You ever want something so bad that it hurts? And you ache so painfully over the fact that it's just beyond your reach? That's how it feels. That's how this feels. Knowing what I see in my head, and what I feel in my heart, knowing that I need to set it free. To bring that vision to fruition. To finally create the way you know you were born to. But you can't right now. Because all you have is you and nothing else.

It's been a rough week. It's just been bad all over. But at least I'm back to understanding where I stand creatively. The old adage still applies. No one can help you but you. Not saying I have no help at all. I've got plenty of support from many different people. This has definitely been proven with the recent Our Stage contest. But as far as moviemaking is concerned right now and where I'm at, until I have the full budget to do what I know I can do, I have to settle for going it alone and doing what I can with very little. Sort of fitting for one spartan.

Also it really doesn't help that both Juli and I have been thinking about her mom and about the events of last year around this time and in the coming months. We've gotta keep our minds off of it somehow. Try to think about the positive things. Try to remember the good memories. It's so easy to plunge into that darkness again.

I was going to write about it, but I can't. I have to stay up towards the light. For mine and Juli's sake. I need to make something truely great happen. I need to create something incredible, fun, inspiring, and joyous. A movie, a memory. Something amazing.

Please God help me make something great happen.


A very special thanks to the Our Stage team. I received my prize package from them the other day for making #1 in the Trailers category for July. I got a $100.00 American Express Gift Card, and an Our Stage T-Shirt, and a DVD copy of Four Eyed Monsters, which I've been wanting. So thank you so much to Our Stage. Got some other nifty little perks with it as well.

Hopefully this month we can make #1 again. Looks like our best shot is in the comedy category.

Monster Cops: The Midnight Special TRAILER, by onespartan on OurStage

They've done away with Text Voting, as I think I may have mentioned before. This time around it's all about judging the best videos online. Hopefully that's us. But I must say, there are some very good entries on there.

Juli and I had a nice little dinner to celebrate the prizes I had won. She was so proud of me that it made her tear up. I told her it wasn't like I had won the grand prize, but she was proud of me anyways. Proud that I was able to make something and that it's been able to achieve something. It was a good night. And I'm just so happy that she could tear up over something good happening instead of something horrible.

So now it's like my movie making has two goals. One because I have these amazing stories inside my head and heart just dying to get out, and two because if I can make something amazing and something that can do well, it will help Juli see the light beyond the darkness. I like making her proud and I'm so very anxious to show her and the world what else I'm capable of. And I'm so very ready to do that.

Started work on the many other Video Projects and just found out about a few other opportunities I'd like to take a shot at. So much work to be done. At the same time still putting together all the details of the feature I'm going to do. Looks like I'll be working on that in the spring, alone and with no money, unless a miracle occurs. So pretty much the norm, lol.

Gotta get to work on more Expotv vids. Here's another one just recently added to my Expotv account. NIGHT OF THE COMET on DVD.



As you can see this freeze frame isn't as bad as the previous ones. Sadly I was hoping for a trend here. I could've sold myself as the awkward looking Filipino Indie Vidmaker.

Well let's hope we can do well in the Quarter Finals. Right now it's just about staying in the Top Ten til Wednesday. Then it's about going for #1. Damn. I'm getting too caught up in this competition. I've gotta focus on other things. Don't put all your creative eggs in one basket.

Ok, back to figuring out how to make something amazing with no money, cast, or crew, as per usual.

Friday, August 17, 2007

It's Called Death Bed, The Bed That Eats People.

The title is taken from Patton Oswalt's current comedy CD.

Patton Oswalt


It's hilarious. And I really mean that. No really. You should get you a copy. Click the pic to get your own.

Werewolves and Lollipops


It's actually the first comedy CD I've listened to in a while that isn't Eddie Izzard, and I've been listenting to everything Izzard non-stop for the past 6 months.

Eddie The Izzard!


Right now Glorious is in the rotation and is probably my fav. However I have noticed that the DVD performance is different from the CD performance. Same act different performances. They each have different little nuances that make them funny, but I think I prefer the DVD performance. It's the way he says "covered in bees." It cracks me up.

Buy Eddie Izzard's GLORIOUS!


If you love Eddie Izzard and Tetris, then you should definitely check out his official site. It's pretty awesome with everything a website should have, plenty of things to waste your time. http://www.eddieizzard.com/home.izz


New ExpoTV video. This time I'm talking about HELL NIGHT on DVD. As you can see by the freeze frame below they are obviously trying their best to make me look like a big doofus. This freeze frame is by far my fav.




The audio seems to be a bit out of synch and the video lets a digital fart at the end. Other than that, another ExpoTV review DONE.



Looks like we're winning again on OUR STAGE. The other trailer is currently in 6th place in the COMEDY category. Check out the nifty banner they now provide to help promote ya. Feel free to click and vote for us.

Monster Cops: The Midnight Special TRAILER, by onespartan on OurStage



And as you can see below, it is, once again, The Paper Rose video. I'm pimping it out again seeing as it's reaching enough views to pay out more money. I've already been able to pay some bills with this video. God bless making money through online video. So watch it a whole bunch a times will ya. And tell your friends.



Paper Rose - The top video clips of the week are here



As far as the production front. Many many projects in the works. Many are work related. And a few career related. But always for fun. Still pimpin the Monster Cops. Still gearing up for that next feature. Much more later.


Wednesday, August 1, 2007

WE MADE NUMBER 1 !!!!

So thank you to everyone who received that last email and voted in. Apparently it worked because WE MADE #1 IN THE TRAILERS CATEGORY. Now for the next 24 hours the TEXT VOTING begins and the text votes will decide what category wins. In this case we're hoping the trailers category wins. If we win that's $5,000.00 for our indie making efforts.

See the full list of number ones in video here: http://www.ourstage.com/judge?genre=video

So don't stop now. Help us out and text: trailer01 to 78243

Again text trailer01 to 78243.

Fair warning, it's 50 cents per text, so if ya aint got it, I won't be mad at ya. But if you can, then by all means please do so, and tell everyone you know who might care to do so.

Again thank you all for helping out and showing support. Let's see if we can win this thing. THANK YOU!

- Patrick

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

HELP US WIN!!!!

HELP US WIN!!!!

Watch this video to find out how.



or just read below

OURSTAGE.com is an online contest for music and videos where people watch or listen to music or videos and then select which one is "best". The trailer for Monster Cops: The Midnight Special is in 4th place. We could very well win $5,000.00 and much needed exposure for our movie, if we can make it to #1, but we need people to vote. Help us out!

Click here: ourstage.com/judge?channel=27-trailers

Please help us out and tell everyone you know who might be so inclined to vote.

Voting ends August 1st. The number 1 video will be chosen in each category (ours is in TRAILERS, of course)

That's when people can text in their votes to choose which category will win.

We need all the help we can get.

Please pass this on. :D

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

To The Bone

and that's how I'm playin it.

Been working, both at the day job as well as on the indie movie front. Right now deciding exactly what needs to be worked on next. Working on the feature script, the one I hope to shoot soon. But still seeing how I can workout doing a Monster Cops episode. Many factors are involved, not making any of this easy. But hey, these are the problems I like having. And for further annoyance I keep getting emails from distributors I have already told no to, several times. And their deals don't get any better either. The more they persist, the more I feel going full DIY is the right direction.

Still marketing Monster Cops: TMS. Still trying to get the word out about the DVD. But I get the feeling we'll have more of a response towards Ocotber. I am so very anxious to produce something else. That feeling of really wanting to show what I can do, is really getting to me. I just can't wait to have the budget to unleash my full potential, or even my half potential.

Today Monster Squad hits DVD and I will be getting my copy. And I just found out that The Dark Knight teaser will be on The Simpsons movie, so double excitement. Also the Walking With Dinosaurs Live Show is headed this way, even more excitement. Jeez, Monsters, Batman, Simpsons, and Dinoaurs. Jesus I am a nerd.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Our Stage

OurStage

If you haven't been over to OURSTAGE, feel free to check it out and see what all the hubbub is about. The trailer for MONSTER COPS: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is in the contest loop and you can vote for us to help us win some much needed exposure as well cash. Go there and find out how.

Monster Cops is one of their featured trailers in their recent online video. Check it out here:
http://ejblog.ourstage.com/2007/07/10/the-daily-spam-w-julie-pham-new-channels/

Thanks to Julie Pham for getting us more exposure.


Thursday, June 28, 2007

An interview with ... well ... me

Here's a small excerpt from my interview. Click the link below to read it in it's entirety.

"The Office" Meets Zombies, Werewolves and Vampires
An Interview with Patrick Prejusa, Director of "The Midnight Special"
By Kelly Keltner


"Hollywood is crap. I could make a better film than they could."
A lot of people are guilty of saying this exact line, but just how many people actually attempt it?

Not many. It's usually those that have a love of film and respect the medium that go on to make successful films. The ones who grow up loving both the good films and the "bad." A guy like Patrick Prejusa.

When I first "met" Patrick online a few years back, he was still working on his film, "The Midnight Special." Day after day he juggled filming his masterpiece with a real life job, his marriage and life's own nasty setbacks. Today, however, he finally has something to show for it all: a finished film.


Read the whole interview here.


Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Horror Junk!

I've never had so much fun getting a bad review. These guys crack me up!



I absolutely agree with much of what they're saying about the non-existant horror element. Not to worry guys, I'm working on it. Check these guys out at horrorjunk.net

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Special Screening in Baltimore!

Catch the special midnight screening of Monster Cops: The Midnight Special at Balticon 41. Baltimore's Science Fiction Convention.

The convention is at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD. and will take place May 25 - 28, 2007 Memorial Day Weekend.

The Midnight Special will be screening Sunday Night at Midnight at the convention.

For more info and directions to the Con, see their site at:
BALTICON.org



Thursday, May 17, 2007

WE KILLED!

Thanks to Curtis over at the SPOOKY MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL. He's done a tremendous job of helping me out in spreading the word about Monster Cops: The Midnight Special. The Spooky Movie Film Fest in Fairfax, Virginia was one of our first Official Selections for last year. This past Saturday March 12th, Curtis screened MC:TMS again this time at ARTOMATIC Art/Media Convention in Arlington, Virginia.

He just messaged me to tell me that the movie "KILLED". Which made me feel good. YAY! Also he says he's got the movie scheduled for another screening for the final Saturday in June in Hagerstown, Maryland. Glad we're getting screened a plenty in the DC area. Thanks a bunch Curtis. I'm glad you and the Spooky Movie Film Fest enjoy the movie so much.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Holy Crap!

It's been alot of hurry up and wait trying to get through the details of putting this little indie film on DVD. And after trying to get the DVD cover design just right, deciding on the disc graphic, proof reading the hell out of everything, double and triple checking the disc, sending off to CUSTOMFLIX, and then awaiting the proof copy for my approval, FINALLY, we are on DVD.

Got the proof copy yesterday, a week late, but I'm not complaining, I'm just so excited to have my work more widely available to the public. Woke up just in time to see the FedEx truck guy pull up. Met him outside where he gleefully handed me the package. The sun was shining, rainbows formed over head, and a blue bird sat on my shoulder as I accepted the package. It felt good, that package. Nice and firm. A real feeling of excitement and satisfaction holding that package. This is sounding bad isn't it? Mr. Blue Bird flew away as I headed inside. Lemme tell ya, was I excited. I almost didn't want to open it just to prolong the excitement. I love getting mail anyhow, and this was just quintuple all that. Tore into it to find what I've been dying to see.

Understand I designed the cover and the disc design, the menu, the disc layout, etc. I give them the files and master disc, they make the entire packaging happen. Once they make it happen they send me the proof, which is exactly what the customer will recieve when they order it. So not only do I get to finally see the movie I've been busting my ass on for years now reach the next level, but I also get to see what was once just files on my computer, turned into a full professional package, as well as experience what the customer will experience, though I doubt any of you who may purchase my movie will be jumping up and down in your kitchen doing old school Arsenio Hall dog barking noises and gestures, as I was doing yesterday.

I'M A DORK!!!!
HELL YEAH!!!

Lemme tell ya, Customflix is a dream come true for us DIY, Indie Moviemakers. Through them our movie will be listed on IMDB, it's going to available through Amazon.com in a few weeks, it'll be available for download to your home computer, through your XBOX, or if you have a TIVO. Thanks to Customflix for all that, and also without them the following pics would not be possible.

Ooooh, spine labeling, SEXY!
:D

That's right bitches, a REAL LIFE BARCODE!
:)

No crappy computer printed sticker labels here!
Uh!  Take that!

Check out one of the ad banners, which I'm sure you have, if you're on my Myspace. Yes, that's right, a dollar from every DVD sold goes to a Cancer Charity as per our mission to create and heal!


More dorkiness.
DORK!!!!

And now all we have to do is tell the world about it. So there is much much much much work to be done.

Do me favor, and tell everyone you know about it. Check out our site MONSTERCOPS.COM, to see all the trailers and clips, and decide for yourself if you'd like to get a DVD copy of our little Comedy Horror flick. Fair warning though, it's actually more of a Comedy. But it's funny as hell.

Pardon me, I have to go tell the world about it now.

Ahem.... scuse me, um... world?


Friday, April 20, 2007

Monster Research Videos


The idea behind the Monster Cops movies is simple. Take a mockumentary look into the lives of monster killers. So basically Cops vs. Monsters. Of course it would have that comedy twist, so really it's more like Reno 911 vs. Monsters. With THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL I feel we accomplished the mockumentary type comedy. As far as the monster portion, I feel we did ok. We didn't reach the full potential of what I had in mind. This is something I fully plan on remedying for the next feature for sure.

The monsters I have in mind are the usual, Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves. But my stipulation is that they look scary and real. I mean something that would actually scare you or gross you out if you saw it live. A motto I plan on sticking closely too is, if it looks fake live then it'll look fake on camera. Since much of what we are going to shoot is going to stick closely to reality TV/cinema verite, then I want what the camera sees to look as realistic as possible. I don't want you for one second to look at a zombie and think some guy in stage make up. I don't want you for one second to to look at a Vampire and think that the plastic fangs are about to fall out, (unfortunately some of our scenes look that way to me in TMS). And when you see the Werewolf footage, I want you think that we may actually have gotten a large beast like creature of some kind.

Monster Cops is a comedy with realistic scares. At least that's what it should be. The comedy comes from us, the cops. The monsters will remain scary. In other words, you will never see a wise cracking zombie or tap dancing Werewolf. Part of my vision for the franchise is to feature amazing monster footage with decent thrills. Suffice it to say we've got alot of work to do for the next movie, and much money to raise. But I am confident. Until then I'll keep looking for sources of inspiration. Many of these sources come in the form of Online Video.

I am blown away by the videos I've seen of the WALKING WITH DINOSAURS LIVE EXPERIENCE. This is definitely a show I want to see desperately. The following videos give you a glimpse inside this amazing show. My jaw dropped when I saw the brilliant work these people have put into these live action dinosaurs. I'm personally in awe because these are excellent examples of the kind of "monster fx" I'm looking to inspire the next Monster Cops feature. Especially the Velociraptors. The way they move is the way I would love to see a Werewolf or Demon move in the next movie, especially when we shoot it the way we're going to shoot it.

EDIT: What I thought were Velociraptors are actually the Baby T-Rex and the LILIENSTERNUS. Still amazing though.

Walking With Dinosaurs Workshop


Walking with Dinosaurs, The live experience '07 in Brisbane


Walking With Dinosaurs Live Experience. Check out the official site. Lord knows I'll be checking up on those US Tour Dates.


The next video is an example of animatronic dinos sans inside operator. I think.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan



Disney animatronics, as seen on the Travel Channel. I actually have the full program recorded. I watch it often.




And more videos on more Horror/Halloween based fx/animatronics. The Pumpkin and Rock monsters are creatures I'd consider using in Monster Cops plotlines. If we could make it work realistically.

Pumpkin Monster Animatronics at Transworld Halloween Trade Show



Rock Monster Animatronics at Transworld


The following costume by Gore Galore is amazing. I'm definitely considering contacting them to help with costuming.

Freakenstein by Gore Galore



This costume was made for a LARP gig. Amazing work.

Stone Golem






Thursday, April 12, 2007

New Review!

Yet another amazing review, this time from Chad Connolly over
at
He gave us a great blurb that I will surely be putting on posters.


"The Midnight Special is truly one of the freshest and most hilarious films to come out of the (horror/comedy) genre."


Wow! Thanks Chad!





The Movies Made Me Do It


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