Our Stage June

To my surprise both BROKEBACK DINOSAUR and WOLF HUNT are in the top ten in the quarter finals in the Our Stage monthly contest. BROKEBACK DINOSAUR is in the COMEDY category and WOLF HUNT is in the SHORT FILMS category.

So if you don't mind, we sure could use the exposure, especially for Monster Cops and the Wolf Hunt scene.

If you're not familiar with Our Stage then find out more here:
http://www.ourstage.com/

Now you can click on the banners below in order to see the video, then click JUDGE at the top to start watching and judging videos in that particular category. If you don't mind, try to vote favorably for Brokeback Dinosaur or Wolf Hunt. And I'm tellin ya, this is a great time killer.

We've gotta get to and stay at Number 1 in either category through July 1st to win.

George Carlin

It's just been week after week of heart breaking shock. One of the true kings of comedy, George Carlin has passed away.

I am truely and honestly in shock.

He was one of the first comedians that I ever really learned from. He pioneered what I call smart comedy. He took filthy words to an entirely new level without having to dumb down his material. He always took it to a higher level and was never afraid to speak his mind or call it as he saw it.

Carlin on White People


Critical Thinking


Things You Never See


Back In Town


Thank you Mr. Carlin. Thank you for your timing, your mind, your courage, your honesty, and for showing comedians everywhere how to take our comedy to a higher level. You are missed.

Comedian George Carlin dies at 71.

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.)

Coming Down To The Wire

Currently editing the zombie scene.



More later.

The Passing Of A Legend

I'm a movie geek, no two ways about it, I've loved movies forever. My obsession has always been part of my education in cinema and especially in special effects. Early on I understood moviemaking and special fx and the process that is taking what someone has written on a page and figuring out how to make it happen visually. My earliest memories of this education would come in the form of the early episodes of Movie Magic, a behind the scenes special fx show. It would come on late at night and usually as filler for whatever late night movie couldn't fill in the full two hours.

It seems the one they kept showing the most was the behind the scenes look of The Terminator. This would be the first time I would learn who Stan Winston was. It wasn't til much later in 1993 that his name would be burned into my brain as the man who helped create the amazing dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.

Stan Winston has crewed, worked on, and created monsters and special fx and special fx make up for some of the biggest and most popular movies in history, and is a maestro of fx work who has greatly affected the field. In the field of make up artistry alone he's up there with the greats, Dick Smith, Rick Baker, and has worked on some of the greatest movie franchises of all time. Simply look over his imdb page to see how much his creativity has contributed to so many movies.

It's heartbreaking news to hear of his passing. He is a legend, he is an artist, and he is one of the truest and one of the original Monster Makers and FX creators. My heart is with his family, his professional family, and every single one of us who know his name and associate it with the very essence of creative genius. You've influenced me dear sir, and you will be greatly, greatly missed.








Special-effects maestro Stan Winston dies at 62

Nice Shootin

After a pretty crappy past few days, it was finally so very nice to have gotten a great productive night of shooting done. It was the zombie scene and it was alot of fun. I cannot wait to post pics from the evening. Met some new folks, most of them first time zombies. Got bloody, got wet, but we got alot done.

More later, right now I just wanted to post about how great last night was.

Tim Russert

I am absolutely shocked. I turned the TV on for the first time today about 30 minutes ago and quickly saw each news station, Fox NEWS, CNN, and of course MSNBC all of them reporting the death of Tim Russert. I was stunned.

You talk about the last person you'd ever think of dying. I don't talk much about news and for the most part I try to keep politics and the like to myself, but Tim Russert was one of those people that I always saw on TV, on NBC and MSNBC, and I realize just how much he had become a part of my weekly routine.

I never went out of my way to watch Meet The Press or any weekly news talk program for that matter. It was always something on in the background and I'd look up or stop on the channel if something interested me. But I got use to seeing Tim Russert on Meet The Press, I got use to seeing him report on the elections, seeing him a part of the news broadcasts and media we all take for granted.

You don't know what you've got til it's gone. And now that Tim Russert is gone I realize how the landscape of my weekly routine will change, and how the news as I receive it will be affected. It is nice to see each news organization reporting about how much they all love the man. It is obvious what kind of a talented, well loved, well respected individual this man is both in and out of the news game.

My heart goes out to his colleagues at NBC, all the other journalists and news folk who he's touched, the people that he worked with day after day in the war zone of politics and media, and most definitely to his wife, his children, and to his family.

In 2008, Time magazine named Russert one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Watch the news today, and that will be obvious.

NBC’s Tim Russert dead at 58

Good Night Saigon

It's one of my favorite Billy Joel songs of all time. It's wonderfully written, an excellent tribute and remembrance to those soldiers of the Vietnam War. It really captures the spirit of brotherhood and conflict that comes from war. Not that I truly know what that is, only a faint familiarity after talking to my father about Vietnam, and speaking to my brothers about the first gulf war. It's the kind of knowledge you gain from being part of a military family.

This song makes me cry. And now when I hear it I realize it's one of the few things that really expresses that particular feel I want to instill in some of the Monster Cops projects. Along with the horror, the comedy, and the B-movie fx, the passionate fervor of patriotism, empathy, and pathos that comes from brothers in arms, and humans at war. I don't think those words properly express it. Just listen to it.



I found this video on youtube. I posted this version because I remember when Billy Joel went to Russia. I remember watching the concert footage in 88 of his tour there. It fed my fascination of Russia. Always had a strong interest in the Soviet Union, even more so after I visited Russia in 93. Lemme tell ya, you haven't really lived until you visit the rest of the world and experience another culture completely different than your own. I highly recommend it.

Alien Research

Although the subject of Aliens isn't something I really plan on showing in any of the Monster Cops episodes, the videos I keep seeing come up are great examples of shots I'd love to see in future "monster sighting footage" in Monster Cops. And although the Cops may never deal with aliens there may be talk about them, as I do like to include dialogue of all sorts of paranormal/conspiracy subject matter. Here are a few videos I wanted to take note of. Some really great effort here. Whether it's real or fake these vids have pics and footage that would be worth duplicating for other types of creatures besides aliens.

Alien Creature


Captured Alien


Captured Alien in Isolation Room


Peeping Tom Alien


Gaurdian

War

As I was working on the score for this current Monster Cops episode I randomly decided to make a beat. And then days later decided to enter the beat in the Beats category on Ourstage. Feel free to click on the banner and give it a listen, and while your at it you can judge a few rounds, if you like.

Absolutely Brilliant

There is no secret ingredient.


It's honestly not just for kids. It's, in my opinion a near perfect movie. Great cast, great animation (really great), excellent score, and great writing. Maybe I'm just a softy for anything Kung Fu, and maybe I just get a kick out of really good animation. But for someone who holds Pixar in the highest regard I'd have to say that Dreamwork's Kung Fu Panda rates right up there with some of Pixar's best. Ok, maybe I'm over stating, but that's just cuz I'm so excited about this one.

I honestly wasn't expecting this to be great. I knew on some level it would be entertaining, but I walked out of the theatre blown away. And who would've thought that we'd ever see David Cross and Jackie Chan in the same cast, granted it's a voice cast, but a cast nonetheless.

It's a great movie, and in my opinion great moviemaking. This movie made me fall in love with martial arts all over again, and I never stopped loving it. I even spent most of today with Kung Fu movies on in the background. Honestly I'm a huge fan of this movie now. So much so I will now post publicity photos while, Kung Fu Hustle plays in the background while I listen to the Kung Fu Panda score. Did I mention what a truely great score this is? Hans Zimmer and John Powell, great job.

I even love the Kung Fu Fighting cover done by Cee-Lo Green and Jack Black.

Jack Black

Angelina Jolie

David Cross

Dustin Hoffman

Jackie Chan

Lucy Lui

Seth Rogen

Directors John Stevenson and Mark Osborne with Producer Melissa Cobb


After what is turning out to be a crappy summer movie season, it's truely a pleasure to know there are still some great movies out there. Our old heroes may fail us, but there are new ones to saves us, or at the very most show us how to save ourselves.

The best wedding toast ever

I was a drama geek back in high school. Lord knows I've changed quite a bit since then. For instance I actually really hate musicals now. To think of it I don't think I ever really liked them. Just kinda went along with whatever was the trend for being a theatre person. But I have to say that this is brilliant. As far as musicals go, I'll make an exception with this one.

Don't tell me there's no love in the world.

You built a time machine out of a Delorean!

My obsession with Back To The Future cannot possibly be described in words, outloud or in print. It's one of the few movies

I never get sick of watching and is possibly one of the best examples of one of the kinds of movies I'd like to make for the

rest of my life.

I'd researched DIY FLux Capacitors in the past but this one I came upon seems to be the most accessible to me. Saw this

tutorial on Instructables. God I love instructables. Here's the video of the final product.



Here's a link to the instructables tutorial.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Flux-Capacitor/

A while back I had this great idea for a multi fandom fan film which would call for a prop Flux Capacitor. I'll save this for later in case I ever have the time or money to waste on such an endeavor. It would be entirely too much fun. But then I'd also have to build one of these.

Break Through

You just never can predict when you're going to receive one. I had a break through moment today. A click went off in my head. There was something about this Monster Cops episode that I knew I was missing, something about the way I was cutting it together. I just haven't been completely satisfied with my cuts. And just 5 minutes ago, it all just clicked together. Break through, hell yeah.

This of course does not change the fact I have 3 more scenes to shoot before we are actually in the can, but a break through nonetheless.

:)

Monster Cops Series First Look

Here's the first few minutes of the 22 minute Monster Cops Episode 1, condensed into short form. This is the Lycan scene then the show intro.

From Crackle: Monster Cops Intro

Freezes: Lycan and I'm squishing your head.

Been busy busy busy. Nearly done with the episode, now it's all about action and monsters. More on that later. For now here are some freezes from the last few shoots.

Cutter directing the local police.


The local police. Thanks Shena ;)


Lycan approaching.


Windows firing at Lycan.


Lycan still approaches.


and approaches.


Thermal image, Lycan descends upon camera man.


Windows kills Lycan.


Mid Take antics. Chris crushes my head.


Brandon prepares to crush my head.


My head is crushed.


I hope to have more time to blog more extensively, also I think we are way over due for a few video blogs, and be prepared because you just may get to see some video of the actual episode here very soon.