I Write Big

Can't help it. I started with a cast list of 7 and now it has grown to 20. Yes, yes, of course I'm going to cut it down. No choice. I'm only going to have a budget of around 7 grand. Although now I'm contemplating going for 10. I mean the key here is to make it look HUGE with an immensely small budget.

Whatever it is, be it 7 or 10 grand, it's gotta look like it's somewhere in the hundreds of thousands.

Yeah, I'm in it right now. That place where I have to somewhat stifle the high concept creativity so I can keep it to no to low budget logistics.

This will be easier if I had an office. Literally, it would be my location, my studio, a place for rehearsals and then a place we would shoot at. And I've only budgeted around 2 grand for it. Wait no $1,500. I went on a budget cutting spree and that's what I ended up with.

Ahhhhhh. I'm driving myself nuts. Mainly with these scenes. Right now I'm trying to achieve these specific scenes, in the right pacing, so I can execute proper character arch, and all under budget.

So I'll cut out the cast completely and I'll use sock puppets. Not that the cast is actually getting paid much up front. This is all about deferred payment baby! But I wouldn't have to feed sock puppets.

Also, I hate pitching the script to everyone before it's done. I know many of you in this production want to know what it's all about, so I'll just say that it's a murder mystery comedy injected with action and horror. And it's got Vampires.

So yeah, it's pretty typical of me.

What is this epic no budget flick called? CREEP

It's called CREEP.

So yeah, it better be a horror movie, right? Well not to worry, it is. Now I go back to finishing this script so we can raise the $15,000. SEE! It went up again.

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ok so if I go through and cut out the gold toilet in my trailer, I think we'll be fine.

Round 1: FIGHT!

It's like a fight, a war almost. The battle to strive to reach those goals. A new year's promise to give you another chance to make this year better than the last.

January 2010 = Round 1

What are we fighting for exactly? Improved income, improved lifestyle, and to make a kick ass bunch of videos and movies that will not only help in achieving those improvements, but to inspire and entertain the world as a whole, and hopefully change things for the better.

I'm excited actually. I really see the previous years as preparations for this one. 2005 I moved here to NC. 2006, 2007 was all about healing and grieving after my wife's mother died. 2008 was about getting back on our feet. 2009 was about solidifying what the goals are and preparing to move towards them. Which brings us to 2010. The move towards those goals.

The ball dropped on the first year of a new decade on the night of a Blue Moon. Sounds magical doesn't it. Like the beginning to what should be a magical and adventurous story. Like Once Upon a Time. Which only makes us all pine for a happily ever after.

Oh, but you gotta fight for it. Work must be done to reach that next level. Gotta climb that hill to get to the top. If you want to succeed you have to rise from your failures. How many more ways can I state this?

Oh I've got a few more.

You gotta drive right if you wanna make it down that freeway of life.

You wanna win it, then you gotta get in it.

No guts, no glory.

No fish, no fowl.

No cheese, no sandwhich.

yeah I lost it.

Bottom line is, there is much work to be done, and I'm ready for it.

Production wise we've still got the same goals:

First up, it's MONSTER COPS. Now that the holidays and hectic schedules have settled down, I have more time to work on our little monster killing web series. I hope to make enough episodes and webisdoes to warrant a pretty nifty DVD to put out. I'm finishing up editing on this next episode and we'll start shooting for the next one and the next few webisodes this month.

REDD. My little Red Riding Hood short. I'm aiming for it to be a mind blowing 5 to 10 minutes. Will start back to work on finishing the Werewolf body and stilts. Already finished the head and hands. Not quite sure when we'll wrap this one up, cuz I'm kind of holding out til I get the new camera in.

BOBBY'S CLOSET. In early pre-production. Going to continue to fill out the official site with art work, may even try to shoot some sample scenes from the script. Not going to go into principal photography til we get the full budget, and we are still fundraising. 53,000 for actual production, and 20 to 40,000 for marketing and distribution. And I don't feel at all comfortable going into it without the money for either. I'm confident we can get the movie out there and make money back as well as raise money for Cancer Charities, as long as we get the full budget. We shall see.

PATRICK'S SUPER SECRET SPECTACULAR AND AMAZING NO-BUDGET FEATURE FILM.

Bobby's Closet was supposed to be a high concept on a low-budget. Something we can make with little money. A million dollar film for less than 100,000. And while I haggle with investors and go out begging for money, I'm still itching to make a truly filmic cinematic feature. So as I was ready to dive into low-budget moviemaking, turns out I'm not quite done with no-budget moviemaking just yet. So this project will only require the new camera, and utilize resources we already have (as per usual.)

Not going to say what it's about, because it is ever evolving. If you recall I wanted to make an Untitled Vampire Movie, then it was a Paranormal Film (which was turned off of when I saw Paranormal Activity), then it was that one about Russian Hookers and Filipino Pimps. Just kidding. Or am I? (muwahahaha)

I'm half way through the script, and I'm very excited about it, but I'm not going to tell anyone about it til it's done and ready to be xeroxed and given to the respective players and crew members. Just know that it's going to take a TON of preparation, and it's going to kick my ass. But it's something I'm confident we can shoot before the fall.

Any other projects will be Video and Commercial work. (Gotta support that green tea habit.)

Oh yes, and I'm working on another screenplay. This one I don't plan on shooting, it's just I've been missing the contest and festival circuit for a while and I kinda wanna throw my hat back in the ring. Came up with a nice concept and I'm writing through it. So many more opportunities and resources for script writer's have developed in the passed decade, why not try em out. Besides I miss getting those rejection letters from Endevour, Paramount, Warner, and Village Roadshow. There must be a ton more companies now that I can get rejected from.

I've been such a script hog for the passed decade. I didn't want to part with any of my scripts for a while, because I was intent on shooting them all. Now I'm wise enough to see that is impossible, so why not let my babies out into the world, let them grow, and evolve into the movies they're meant to be under other filmmakers effort. Or at the very least options that pay up but never get a green light. Dare to dream.

So let the fight begin.

right after I take this nap.

Building The MKX300

Finally got this segment done. Only took me 2 days, but somehow it felt like forever. Editing this video seemed to be more complicated than editing the actual episode. I think it was just due to trying to put all the right pics in order.

This gun was fun to make. It's amazing what you can do with what you've got or can get for cheap. The most expensive things on the gun is the camera, which I already had, and then the spotlight, which was about 30 bucks. Aside from that this gun cost about 30 bucks to make. Put a second one together minus the camera and spotlight for about 20 bucks more. And I'm putting together some new weapons using these same techniques for the next Monster Cops webisode.

MC Vlog Scene 28

I had alot of fun shooting at the stables. All the cops, all the zombies and everyone in between were a blast to work with. It was really one of those nights that was very productive and extremely fun at the same time. And here's a video blog to show you just how fun it all was. Thanks to all the zombies for getting bloody, and to Kelly Emerson for letting us shoot there.

Zombies

Here are the freezes from the last scene we shot this past Saturday. The zombie scene. If you were someone who wanted to be a zombie and you were not there, not to worry, there will be plenty of opportunity to be a zombie, especially coming up in July.

This was a fun shoot. I had a lot of fun and I certainly hope that everyone else had as much fun as I. I always love those days when there's a set full of people. William Stine did an excellent job on the zombie make up. Arlanda M. Robinson did her own zombie make up and did an excellent job as well. Arlanda and the rest of the zombies were awesome, especially Skylar playing our resident brain eating little girl zombie.

And the cops were kick ass as well. Richard Gaither and Aaron Plouffe backing us up as featured extra cops. And finally I was able to get my main cops in action, Nicole, Chris, and Brandon. I decided to take my character out of this scene so I could concentrate on the camera work and directing. Wanted to make sure we got this just right.

And of course special thanks to Jacob Hauser who was our first test subject for squibs in the first video blog, he returned for this shoot to be zombie #4 or is it 5? I actually don't know. Very very special thanks to Brian Tally, our resident production coordinator/key grip/trouble shooter. Thanks for once again backing me up and helping all of us out, and for making every shoot as smooth as possible.

And a very very very truly heartfelt special thanks to Kelly Emerson and her family for making us welcome at their home and for allowing us to shoot so much at the Northwoods Stables as well as helping us out with other locations and props. None of this would have been possible with out you Kelly.

Here come the the freeze frames.

Zombie Megan and behind her Zombie Jacob.


Zombie Randi


Arlanda and her excellent make up job.


More of Arlanda's excellent make up.


The Zombie Elijah and behind him part of Zombie Tally.


Brandon (Agent Weir) calls for back up.


Nicole (Agent Jack) comes in with her pistol.


Nicole aims.


Randi gets a bullet in the brain as Zombie Jacob gets blood on his shirt.


The aftermath


Nicole and Chris Plouffe (holding the MKX100 series weapon) witnessing the aftermath.


Brandon also witnessing holding the MKX300 series weapon.


The Zombie Skylar with brain in hand.


The Happy Zombie Skylar.


Your last line of defense against zombies. Left to right Brandon White, Richard Gaither, Nicole Nastazzio, Chris Plouffe, Aaron Plouffe.


Only a few more scenes to shoot. I'm editing as we shoot, then I've got the rest of the score to do, but all in all I should be at a final cut for this short/episode before the end of the month (fingers crossed.)

Peek-A-Boo

I've been finding much solace in that old Souxie and the Banshee's song. Somehow it's been helping me stay in the right mind set as I embark on creating Monster Wings. Part of the inspiration for wanting to create a creature with huge demon wings is because of Jeepers Creepers. The character of The Creeper is one of my favs and I think is very creepy. He's also the type of character the Monster Cops would go up against.

So in the intro to the show, I just wanted to see a 2 to 3 second clip of the Cops aiming their guns at a creature as it's huge bat like wings pop open. The creature would scream and claw at them, then the Cops would open fire. Much akin to that final scene in Jeepers Creepers.

That is part of what I was thinking in the creation of Monster Cops. How would these guys react if you place them not just up against classic movie monsters, but also if you place them within classic horror scenes. There was one scene I wrote into this current episode that was a nod towards Return Of The Living Dead, but alas it had to be cut.

But the intro I had in my head would show you the different creatures and how the cops would react and defend themselves. Yesterday I started building monster wings. I've looked over all the videos and links you can find of folks who've created costume wings before. I eventually came upon my own design and built the basic skeletal structure. For the next few days I will work on the skin and rigging, and then figure out exactly what this winged creature will look like from head to toe. A tutorial/blog will follow. I like the idea of a creature in human clothes and it's wings popping out from under a coat or a jacket. Something like The Creeper, but not exactly.

I often like to turn to google image search to help me visualize what it is I'm looking for. Here's a few images I came up with that best express what I'm trying for, or at least the idea of what I'm trying for.


The winged creature from Army Of Darkness. Love the creepy face. If I can steer the face or my creature to looking like that, that would be alright.


Of course The Creeper. This is a shot from Jeepers Creepers 2.


Here's a behind the scenes look at the wing fx. If I can make the wings look this great, I'd be in heaven. For more behind the scenes photos of JP 1 and 2, check out www.makeupandmonsters.com/JEEPERS_PIX.htm


One of the Gargoyles from Tales From The Darkside The Movie. One of the better horror anothologies. Yes a bit cheesy, but back in the day it was all good. This is from the final story in the movie called Lover's Vow. In my opinion the best of the 3 plots. It was creepy, disturbing, great monster fx, and just little bit heart breaking. And possibly one of the best horror plots ever.



Here's a shot of the Gargoyles face. CREEPY! Seeing it in the movie was creepy, especially when it talked.

These last two screen caps are from X-entertainment. They have a full review of the movie with spoilers (so beware). Feel free to check em out. www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0842/

I don't expect my wing monster to come out looking anywhere near as good as the above movies. I just hope by the time I'm done, we'll have another decent monster to show you, even if it's just for a few seconds. And if I pull it off right, I'll do a whole episode around it. Maybe.

Monster Research Pics

Yesterday was working on Monsters day. I had started building the frame work for a particular creature, and went out and bought materials for another. The episode itself features mainly Zombies, Vampires, and a Werewolf, but these other creatures I'm trying to include will be featured in the intro and as inserts throughout the show. I'm trying to convey that Shadow Company deals with monsters of all kinds, therefore really establishing the size and variety of this particular universe.

I also spent sometime at Barnes and Noble today. I found myself thumbing through magazines, Fangoria, Gorezone, Horror Hound, as well as others. What started as perusing became me taking pictures with my cam phone everytime I saw an image that intrigued me. A few of these were images from ads for merchandise of T-shirts. I do recognize one image from a retro horror flick from back in the day called RETRIBUTION (creeped me out as a kid).

Mainly these are images that somewhat express the style and structure of some of the creatures the Monster Cops go up against.

By Any Means Necessary

Funding a no budget production is really about spending your day job paycheck here and there. More memory for the computer, maybe you need a new camera, more tape stock, a piece of costuming, etc. It's 50 bucks here, 100 bucks there. And it really does eat up the paycheck especially after the normal bills, groceries, and lately because of gas prices. If only there was that little extra bit of cash to throw at the production monster. Some little side dough to help fund your no-budget vision.

The next Monster Cops feature is budgeted at $275,000.00. Suffice it to say I'll be doing some major fundraising for that one. But before that I'll be making at least one monster cops short film for no money, which really means out of my paycheck. Total Budget is about $1,000.00. I've got most of the equipment and props, but for what I need to accomplish I need much more, and I need to do some upgrading hardware and software wise. Which means a few chunks out of the paycheck week after week. Luckily I've found a great source of extra income to cover some of that needed funding.

I've posted about metacafe before, which has helped pay the occasional bill. If you're a video maker and you haven't heard of Metacafe's Producer Rewards, then you need to learn more about it. Especially if you have any tips or tricks or hacks about almost anything, make a video about it and you could start earning some bucks on Producer Rewards. Here's the one that's made me the most.


Paper Rose - These bloopers are hilarious

ExpoTV.com has been the real deal for me. With Metacafe you really have to have something clever, or something with a hot chick in it. With ExpoTV you just have to review something on video. Anything from house hold items, electronics, DVD's etc. I've been doing quite a few DVD reviews. I have an extensive collection so I've been going through stacks of DVD's and recording myself talking about it. ExpoTV is really trying to become the one place you can come to get decent feedback about any product, food, travel, excercise gear, you name it. They pay a certain amount for each video review you post depending on the product. You can make between $2 to $10 a video. And then you get 1 cent per view on top of that. They send you your payments monthly to your paypal account (if you don't have one get one.)

For each DVD review I do I make 5 bucks a video. You don't even have to do any fancy editing, but you do have to show a sample of the movie to give it a full review. Most people just talk to their webcams about the product and then they point their cameras at a nearby TV and show a clip of the movie. For me I have to edit. I enjoy making videos too much, and I always try to keep it close to professional looking and decent quality as possible. Always good practice to keep up with the moviemaking skills. I shoot mine on a high quality camera, I record sound with a lapel mic, I set up the lights, I edit the video including actual snippets of the movie or trailer, I use graphics, and occasionally my own original music. Here's an example below.

Beverly Hills Cop DVD Review



There's usually a cap on videos you can post. Right now it's at 75. So if you can clear 75 video reviews at about 5 bucks a piece, then thats an extra 375 bucks in your pocket. And I have a blast making these vids and it's helped fund this short film. Here's one of my favs.

300 DVD Review



And expoTV actually sent me an ExpoTV T-Shirt for my efforts on my Shaun Of The Dead DVD review. Thanks ExpoTV. Although the sound seems to be a bit off on this one. Oh well.

Shaun Of The Dead DVD Review



Do me a fav and check out my other DVD reviews on ExpoTV here. The more you watch them on site the more views and money I can make, and the more you can help me fund these indie movie projects. And give it a try yourself.

Online No-Budget FX School part 1

Goddamn this has been a bit of a rough week. Tuesday would make it 1 year ago. Quite a weird day. Didn't know what to expect, what would happen, or what I would be doing to make sure Juli was ok. Thankfully we've survived without a scratch, well, no visible ones anyways.

Since all seems well on that front, I can go back to worrying about this current project. Thankfully as I budget this Monster Cops episode, I find a few resources online that help narrow down my budget. In this episode there will be some fx work that I thought I would have to pay an arm and a leg for. Now I've got my own bag of no budget tricks, but it's so nice to see others sharing online. Here are a few vids I find very helpful, and will certainly be taking note of when working on my monster fx.

Indy Mogul's Backyard FX is pioneering some really great no budget techniques. I posted their previous tutorial on builging a BIG FRICKIN GUN. Now here are two vids on some low budget zombie make up tips. These are steps I've actually used in the past. I did monster makeup back in high school and in college utilizing spirit gum and cotton balls with some black make-up and fake blood. Here, Backyard FX takes those techniques even further.


Here's part two of their Zombie FX, this time with guts and an exposed brain.


In the next Monster Cops episode there will be a large Grim Reaper like character. I've decided on this because of my past experience building a Grim Reaper like character for my previous series, The Living Dead Girls. You can somewhat catch a glimpse of it towards the end of this old Living Dead Girls Promo.


I'll be doing a similar version, but I found this video that comes a little closer to what I'd like to do. This is somewhat similar to mine except this ones jaws move. Very impressive. Find out more about this at villagehaunt.com


I'm going to aim to make the eyes move as well. Also I'd like to make the extended hands move using this technique I found on Metacafe. This is something I've fiddled with in the past as well, but this guy really nailed it.

Simple Animatronics - The funniest videos are a click away

Finally I'd been fiddling with Werewolf costuming for a long time. I actually built a Werewolf for The Midnight Special, but most of those scenes just didn't turn out the way I wanted them to, so they were cut. But building from those old concepts and lessons I've learned since then, I'll be attempting werewolf fx again. These videos have taught me alot about which direction I'll be going in for much of the mask and digigrade silts. Thanks gryphern!

Digigrade Stilts


Articulated Mask


These new techniques combined with some old tried and true indie lessons o mine has definitely put me in the right direction, and definitely cuts down on my budget costs. Next up, news on fundraising.

Matt Hawkins

As if their wasn't enough to be pissed about this week (especially on your behalf Crystal), I just foud out that Matt Hawkins has decided to close down his amazing website. http://www.matthawkins.co.uk/ and his no budget filmmaking resources were an invaluable tool to many no budget indies like myself for the past 7 years. This site is even credited on Monster Cops: The Midnight Special.

Very sad to hear about this Matt, and I hope you will reconsider. Your no budget antics have been an inspiration and your tips and tricks have been a huge help to us all. I hope all is well with you.

Grindhouse Trailer Contest. WINNERS!!!!

Seriously, you have no excuses. I post about it all the time. I tell moviemakers just starting out the same things over and over. With todays technology you literally have no excuses not to make and distribute your own movie for little to no money. I've done that with The Midnight Special and I'm already on the road to distribution. But this particular theme is reiterated when you look at some of the incredible entrys for the Grindhouse Contest.

In order to promote the movie Grindhouse, they created a contest asking movie makers everywhere to create their own trailers for a fake Grindhouse movie. The 3 finalists have been chosen and one of those is the winner. After watching all three I am simply blown away. Incredible stuff. Keep in mind that these are fake trailers for Grindhouse movies, they are supposed to exhibit the very essence of a Grindhouse flick. Sex, violence, horror, action, and all the cheesiness you could ask for. What follows is some of the best tributes to campy, cult, B-movies and exploitation flicks and all 3 of them excellently put together.

I am very very impressed.

THE DEAD WON'T DIE
Impressive make up fx. And I laughed my ass off at the random naked chick with the gun. This feels like Motel Hell, I Spit On Your Grave, and it feels like a Fulci Film. This is what I want the Monster Cop zombies to look like.


MAIDEN OF DEATH
This one was just well done overall. Feels a bit like The Crow meets I Spit On Your Grave.


And the winner is ...

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
The title alone warrants a win. This one really nailed that Grindhouse feel. Now I feel like watching Death Wish. Is that even on DVD?



Amazing job guys!

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten

New Years once again. I know I've changed alot over the past few years, but I'd have to say that I've probably changed the most this past year, and definitely in the past 6 months, and in ways I didn't know I could change. I've grown up alot, and that's saying alot, because I felt grown up before. My views on things that have always been static, are now turned around. Nothing too major. I don't believe much in Bigfoot anymore, I don't think the Lochness Monster exists, and I'm pretty sure Oswald acted alone. Shocking news to my fellow Conspiracy Theorists, I apologize. I still love the conspiracies, but I hold them in a different regard and are now mainly for my amusement.

The feelings I thought would never change have changed completely. The feelings I feared would change have only been strengthened. And with all that myself and this family have had to go through, with all the pain, and anguish, I find myself in awe of the power of Love and family. Ok, enough of that. That's really for another post and one I'm certainly not ready for just yet. What I'm really trying to get at is the idea that now more than ever, I'm ready to get back to work at making this new year even more productive then the last. So let's get to it.

As of right now I'm working on:

1) Zombie Episode of Monster Cops. 5 minutes.
2) Untitled Detective Short Film. 5 Minutes.
Which will supplement ...
3) Untitled Detective Screenplay.
4) Misc Vids and Shorts:
- Dinosaur Killers Episodes
- Video Blogs
- Metacafe Vids
- The Super Secret Project 1*
- The Super Secret Project 2
5) Vampire Episode of Monster Cops.
6) Continued Marketing of The Midnight Special.
7) M&(&#$ C@&%#*$ (which is still questionable)*

The zombie episode won't be a problem. I've got a quarter of the footage I need. The rest won't really be a problem to shoot as long as I can secure some minor casting. FX tests pending. One location down, but I may need another one. Also it would be helpful if someone from the cast (or more than one) of TMS came down. I know Terry expressed interest. That would be a huge help in keeping in many of the same characters from the movie.

For the detective short, there is a problem with lighting in the location I have. It takes place in one room, during the day, with plenty of sunlight. My location has no windows. So I'll be rewriting that bit. Plus there are a few items in this location that I cannot move, and the room has to be completely empty. So some improvising is in order. The minor FX in this one are covered as well.

But as for other upcoming projects, I'm going to need assitance from a professional FX company. Been talking to a couple of em. One in L.A. and another in Canada. A little bit too pricey for what I have, but definitely folks I'd like to keep in contact with once we have a real budget to work with.

As for where the funding is coming from for this, well for the most part, these are all no budget productions, as always. But I'm in the midst of working out a deal with a company for a small bit of funding for the other projects. This is not to mention what may be brewing with our little indie film THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. It's going to be an interesting next few months. Until then we work no budget, as usual, and keep hittin that day job. And of course I'll be posting the little behind the scenes tricks on all these productions and more.

Also some interesting developments at the day job. Digital technology is really picking up within the movie theatre industry. This past year UltraStar Theatres in Southern Cali went 100 percent digital. Carmike Theatres are in the process of going the same route. I've been working as a projection tech for several years now and I'm blown away each day I work with the digital equipment. I find it odd how often I actually have to use a computer to fix a problem in the projection booth. In the past it was always a splicer and tape. Now if you don't have a familiarity with computers to go along with projection experience, you're pretty much useless. Thank god I've been doing both for a while now.

We're only a few years away from having a complete digital system replacing these old 35mm projectors in almost every theatre across the country. It's scary this equipment I get to work with. The things that these computers and digital projectors are capable of are mind blowing. I swear to God the other day the main server booted up, took a deep Darth Vader breath, and in this deep Dr. Claw voice, told me to Fuck off. Seriously. The system is filled with glitches, of course, but the speed at which they are being fixed is phenomenal.

I have to say though, as much as I love 35mm film projectors, this new digital technology will really help out indie moviemakers even more so then it previously has. No need to bust out 3 to 4 grand to transfer your movie to film. Now you can keep your movie digital, film look it if you want to, have it loaded into a portable hard drive and ingested in to the main LMS, or just simply burn a high quality DVD, or even hook up your laptop or camera. Screening DVDs through a digital projector is how we've done screenings in the past, but now the ease at how this can be done and then projected at such great quality, it really is mind blowing.

It's an interesting time to be a movie maker and a projectionist. I'm having a blast being both.

Happy New Year! God I miss being in Texas with a house full of Filipinos singing bad karaoke on New Years Eve. Wherever you are, I hope this will be an amazing new year for all of us.