CALL FOR ZOMBIES!!!

When: Saturday, August 30th, 6:00 pm

Where: Northwoods Stables, Winston Salem, NC.

What?: Zombies for indie movie project MONSTER COPS.

We need people to play zombies. Yes that's right, the living dead. Slow (and some fast), moaning, flesh craved, zombified, walking corpses. So if you don't mind us putting some make up on you, or even have your head blown up then, by all means, come on out.

Notes: Wear clothes you don't mind getting messed up or bloodied, especially if you want to die or get shot. Our blood may stain some clothes. Please nothing with any print or logos.

There may be much sitting around waiting while we set up shots, so feel free to bring a lawn chair of some sort.

We'll be doing this whether it rains or not, so be prepared to get wet as well as bloody. Bring an umbrella if you like.

No pay, but there will be snacks and refreshments, and you will be credited, and you'll receive a DVD copy of the final product.

Address:

Northwoods Stables
5225 Murray Rd
Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Feel free to google maps the address or click HERE. (opens in a new window)

First Official Selection

MONSTER COPS: SHADOW COMPANY

OFFICIAL SELECTION

DARK CARNIVAL FILM FESTIVAL

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

Got back a few hours ago from shooting Dead By Dawn. Just got the email a little while ago from the fest organizers. It's always exciting to know your movie is going to screen somewhere. Even more so when it's a fest. Honestly I was getting a little antsy, waiting for somekind of notification from a fest, so it's nice to actually get this news.

Horror icons Ken Foree and Tiffany Shepis will be there. It really looks like it's going to be a fun festival. Definitely going to try to make it out there. Very exciting.

Waiting

Waiting. It's a necessity in movie production.

I'm on set for Monster Cops: Dead By Dawn. I am currently waiting for the costumes and the make up stuff to get done. All the lights and electrical is ready to go, just waiting on the Vampires to get done with make up and for costume issues to get fixed, then we can knock this stuff out.

I'm posting just to kill some time. Here are a few pics I just took.

Still Obeying The Master

It's been a while now since I've received the winnings from the HandK contest. The video ended up being showcased on joblo.com. Even got a great comment from one of the directors of HandK, Jon Hurwitz. Eventually the video would be one of the winners in both phases of the contest. I'm blown away. I made a simple tutorial on metacafe about making a rose out of a napkin. That video has also gone on to make a bit of money. I think about that paper rose video and this Obey The Master video, and I'm blown away by the idea that one can make money by making stuff out of paper, animating a Unicorn's head, and whispering odd quotes about punching a hamster. Cool. Odd, but cool.

I still continue to recieve messages and comments on youtube about the Obey The Master video, all of them talking about how much they love the video. And I am so very flattered. Didn't realize what would take me only one night to make and submit would reap me such great rewards and comments. So, thanks to everyone for their kindness. I'm glad my odd sense of humor paid off for something. And as strange a video as it is, I am quite proud of it.

The Dark Knight (with kids)

This was brillant. Thanks Crystal.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

I can't believe it.

Isaac Hayes.

There are no words.

I am sad. That's really all I can say. It's a heck of a week, man.

One heck of a week.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

WTF?

Once again, I am truly shocked to find out that yet another well known, well loved artist/celebrity has passed away. I can't believe that I'm actually writing that Bernie Mac has died. Bernie Mac. BERNIE MAC!!!! What the hell is going on here?

Always respected his comedy. He did the kind of routines that you would memorize and repeat back with your friends. He was a welcome and familiar face that would pop up on the movie screen. Great in Ocean's 11, completely underused in the following 2 sequels.

I honestly cannot believe he is gone.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2008-08-09-mac-death_N.htm?csp=34

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.

I'M GEEKING OUT!!!!!!!!!

I just found out that they are making The Last Starfighter 2! HOLY SHIT!!!!!! And Nick Castle is involved. I'm gonna cry.

Not only that but at the last Comic Con footage for TRON 2 was revealed. Just watched the bootleg video here.



If you can't watch the embed, watch it here.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/244767.html

The light cycles, the new graphics, and that's right bitches! JEFF BRIDGES!!!! I applauded when I saw him. It's not a remake fuckers, IT'S A SEQUEL!!!! The 80's are back bitches!

Ok I'm gonna go watch this like 300 more times.

Dead By Dawn: Help!!!!

Ok so I've set up a google site sepcifically listing what else is needed for the production of Monster Cops: Dead By Dawn. Check it out here and find out how you can help.
http://sites.google.com/site/mcopsproduction/Home

I think I've got all 3 Vampire Brides covered, I'll find out today or tomorrow.

Thanks to Richard Gaither we may very well have some locations covered, as well as a coffin, and some fog machines.

We still need a bunch of stuff as well as some locations so check out the site and lemme know if you can help.

88 Days left

So the Halloween Spirit continues to reign. The signs are everywhere and I'm feelin it. Helps that I went to Michael's in search of Monster making materials, only to find they were in the process of putting up their Halloween display. Of course I took pics. They also had one of the latest animatronic displays for this year. A headless bride holding her own head. Motion activated as usual. The body turns around, the head opens it's eyes and her voice can be heard inviting you to her wedding in a very eerie and ghostly tone. See the video below. Yes, of course, I took video!

It's just an illusion

By 1984 my obsession with movies was in full throttle. Indy, Superman, Rocky, Bond, they'd all gotten good hold of my attention. When 85 hit and movies like Back To The Future and The Goonies came out, my obsession exploded. So when the hits kept coming in 86 I was headed over the edge, right over the edge into the passions of moviemaking, a movie titled FX would put me there.

The story of a special fx artist hired by the government to help fake an assasination. Of course the fake assasination turns out to be a real assasination, and our fx guy hero is framed for the murder. Now on the run from the law, he must use his special fx genius to defend himself and get back at the people who set him up.

How the hell was I not going to love this movie.



By 86 I had already read Tom Savini's Grande Illusion front to back and had every fx diagram memorized, I had watched every ILM documentary I could find, I had created my earliest form of blood squibs (using ketchup, tylenol capsules, and a sling shot. Yes, it hurt), and was already working with latex and make up appliances (my parents were quite confused when I'd ask them for money so I could buy liquid latex and spirit gum, when other kids were buying action figures.) I was at the very beginning of learning how movie FX worked. So of course this movie was right up my alley.

I was propelled back into those old nostalgic feelings when I was flipping channels only to find that FX the Movie was playing. I caught the tail end. It all came rushing back to me. Everthing. The first time I saw this movie. How excited I was. How much cooler it made me feel wanting to work on fx and make movies. The thrill of learning how an fx shot worked. And the fun of learning the hard way how one 10 second shot is usually accomplished through hours and even days of tedious work.

A valuable lesson I learned when I was a kid, something that would prepare me for my work now. Today in fact.

Currently working on some fx stuff for a project. Learning new tricks everyday, every minute, aplying them to the old techniques. It's kind of a fun time right now. Feels like 85, 86, 87, all over again. And in the end that's kind of what I'm working towards. Achieving those old nostalgic feelings I felt when I was kid. Trying to capture that old magic, put it in my own work, and hopefully share it with the world.

OK enough delay. This blog was partially just to get a break from the long and tedious work of keyframes and compositing. 6 hours of work for a 5 second shot. Just like old times.

Back to work.

Upgrade

Yes Chris, you are correct. This is a MONSTER!

Thanks to Mr. Plouffe for helping me get everything squared away. This thing is kicking ass.

You read the bible Ringo?

PUMPKIN
Not regularly.

JULES
There's a passage I got memorized.
Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the
righteous man is beset on all sides
by the inequities of the selfish and
the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is
he who, in the name of charity and
good will, shepherds the weak through
the valley of the darkness. For he
is truly his brother's keeper and
the finder of lost children. And I
will strike down upon thee with great
vengeance and furious anger those
who attempt to poison and destroy my
brothers. And you will know I am the
Lord when I lay my vengeance upon
you." I been sayin' that shit for
years. And if you ever heard it, it
meant your ass. I never really
questioned what it meant. I thought
it was just a coldblooded shit to
say to a motherfucker 'fore you popped
a cap in his ass. But I saw some
shit this mornin' made me think twice.
Now I'm thinkin', it could mean you're
the evil man. And I'm the righteous
man. And Mr. .45 here, he's the
shepherd protecting my righteous ass
in the valley of darkness. Or it
could mean you're the righteous man
and I'm the shepherd and it's the
world that's evil and selfish. I'd
like that. But that shit ain't the
truth. The truth is, you're the weak.
And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But
I'm tryin' Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to
be the shepherd.

Pulp Fiction
Written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery.


Thanks G. I needed the reminder. So back to work then.

Halloween In July

I've always been a big fan of Halloween. And you already know this if you've seen my Halloween Nerd Vlog above. But I have to say that the past few years haven't been keeping me in that old Halloween spirit. Until today that is. Honestly it started with an email from an old friend from highschool I read a few days ago. She and I always shared the same kind of enthusiasm for Halloween. So reading her email made me a bit sad because I haven't really felt that old Halloween spirit in a while. It all came rushing back though. I decided to go to AC Moore. And yesterday all of a sudden felt like fall for a bit. The cold front, the clouds, felt very refreshing. Then I stepped into AC Moore and saw that they actually had their Halloween stuff out, right as you walk into the store.

So, of course, I took some pics.



Yes I'm fairly certain a few folks were disturbed by the stalk filipino gentleman enthusiastically taking pictures of Halloween decorations with his camera phone.





I'm pretty sure that my Halloween mood was preset by the fact that I had just bought The Dark Knight soundtrack and had been listening to it in the car all day.


So let's see. Projects to work on, working on Monster Cops: Dead By Dawn. Simultaneously will be working on a mock trailer for a movie called Archangel. I think I'll have to find time to fit in a new Halloween Video this year.

Estelle Getty

I'm a huge, HUGE, Golden Girls fan. I think it's jut great comedy writing, and great performances from a great cast. So it saddens me to hear that Estelle Getty has passed away. And now I go to buy the Golden Girls boxset.




Emmy winner beloved for 'Golden Girls' role

Out of a great cast of females it's hard to pick out the funniest one. But Sophia certainly had some great lines.

Sophia: When I feel bad, I have to take my mind off it. There's only one thing that does that to me.
Dorothy: Cooking a big meal...
Sophia: No, making love in a closet.

Rose [entering cheerfully]: Sooo, who's the luckiest girl in the history of the world!
Sophia: Well, it wasn't your mother.

Sophia: Blanche, a terrible thing has happened to you. But when life does something like this, there are a couple of things you got to remember. You got your health, right?
Blanche: Yeah.
Sophia: You can still walk, can't you?
Blanche: That's true.
Sophia: Great, go get me a glass of water.


Sophia [about her late husband Sal]: May he rest in peace till I get there.

Find more great quotes from the Golden Girls here.

Monster Cops: Shadow Company update

The short/episode that we've been working on for the past few months, Monster Cops: Shadow Company is finally completed. Edited to a final cut, QC'd (quality control, that's what that means. ;)) and is ready to be burned to DVD and submitted to screenings and fests. I hope to get copies to those involved. The overall short/episode is 24 minutes.

I'll be taking a small break from shooting, but then we go right into the next Monster Cops project, a 5 to 6 minute short called Monster Cops: Dead By Dawn. This one I hope to have monster filled as you may have geussed if you read previous postings on One Spartan.

Ooh I'm excited for people to see this last one. Even more excited to show you this next one.

And speaking of NPH.

As I was watching Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, my wife bursts through the door to make me look up something on YouTube she just saw on TV.

NPH really is my hero now.



Jeez this guy is everywhere. To think this guy helped me make some money. Thanks NPH, you rock. I swear Old Spice has some of the best ads. First Bruce Campbell and now Neil Patrick Harris. I gotta meet the guys that some up with this stuff.

My Freeze Ray

I think Joss Whedon is a brilliant writer. Ya know, Buffy and Angel and all that. But he must be brilliant if he's actually gotten me to like musicals again. Or at least his musical.

This is hilarious.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Thanks Andrew.

If you come upon a lamp with a genie in it, don't wish you had a magic wand.