The Movie Maker Blog

2011-12-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Just a quick little update! There are lots of productions stills and screen grabs to be found across the web now. Take a look at Rememebr on Twitter and Rememebr on Facebook and Remmember on Google+ to find some!

Production is going well, God is providing all we need as we go. We are 95% on schedule and only have a few weeks of filming left!

We have been blessed with and amazing crew, costumes, sets, locations, props and actors.

Many of what were originally designed as "if we had no budget limitations" costumes that would likely not happen have become a reality!

Christian Scifi thriller, on a micro budget in less than 6 months!

2011-11-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

I am making a movie this month! It is a Here is a Christian Scifi thriller, on a micro budget in less than 6 months that is called Remember. Here is the teaser trailer!

We have a web site: http://www.TheRememberMovie.com/ where you can find links to stay updated on what is gong on.

Here is a behind the scenes video of the location scout.

And another video talking about the project and some of the prop guns we are making!

Please tell your friends and family about this movie!

Short Film Review: The Button

2011-10-20T19:46:00.001-07:00

Oficial website: http://thebuttonfilm.com/

I had the privilege of previewing the latest Klejwa brothers brothers film the other evening, The Button. Now, when one usually thinks of a lego film the first thing to spring to mind is not a high quality 15 minute professional production, but that is exactly what Sam and Phillip Klejwa have accomplished , this film leaves other lego films in the dust.
The story is set in the near future and is an analogy of sorts. The film can be a bit confusing at times, but this is acceptable as it is a thinking film where you are trying to guess what is actually happening the hole way through.
I would say that this is easily up there with Isaac Botkin's lego masterpiece Men O’ War as one of the most impressive lego films I have seen to date. I have no idea when to expect the film to be made available to the genoral public, but I would keep an eye out for it in film festivals this year.

2011-10-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Can a sci fi feature film be made in its entirety in only 6 months? We are about to find out!

Crying Wolf Documantery

2011-09-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

A christian film making friend of mine JD King has just released his first 60min documentary about wolfs online for free! I haven't seen it all yet but plan in watching it first chance I get. I was privileged to see some his work on the film last year and can't wait to see it in its completion. This is a powerfully important documentary for our time.

From now until December, Crying Wolf will be available to watch online for free. If this film is going to truly make a lasting impact, I need your help spreading the word! Share it over email, Facebook,Twitter, on your blog, and especially word of mouth. Whatever you can do will make a difference.

Watch the movie here: Crying Wolf Movie

Crying Wolf is an independently produced documentary film by Jeffrey King, a 20 year old Montana resident. His passions are filmmaking, wildlife, and truth, wherever it may (or may not) be found. He finished his studies last fall, when he completed his B.S.B.A. in Business Management via a distance program through Thomas Edison State College.

Movie Making 101 new trailer

2011-08-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished got a trailer together for Movie Making 101:
A Beginner's Guide to Filmmaking. It is nice to finally have that done, you can buy the DVD from out web site at MovieMakers.ca right now.

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play Documentary mini-series

2011-06-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

I am not making this, I honestly don’t even know the folks behind the documentary that well yet. But as you may know I and my family have been acting in this play for the last 8 years and this year I am playing the part of Judas. It is amazing the storeys that come out of the audience, it is an amazing ministry to be part of. And as part of the cast it is really neat to be part of the ministry to the actors and see healing happen in peoples lives.

The documentary trailer looks really good, and I am really excited to see the finished product. Maybe I will even be in it at bit! Please take a watch!

Trailer for the documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRHJj3ZRaMk

The making of the Canadian badlands passion play- CTS presents a documentary on the making of, and the history behind the Passion Play - from its humble beginnings in Obberamergau to the Canadian Badlands Passion play in Drumheller.c- watch it on CTS-TV easter 2012

Promo video for this years summer show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-T8LNDlac

(This year is a new script based on the gospel of John, which is the gospel to the gentiles. It is really exiting, and just like the actual gospel you can’t leave and say that he didn’t claim to be God.)

Mid year VFX reel

2011-06-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

A demo reel just for fun so there are lots of shots in here that would not make it in to my "good" reel at the end of the year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOrL3hTMxgk

From Russia With Apologies

2011-05-31T16:28:00.001-07:00

http://youtu.be/OTTidq-BOfM

2011-05-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Starting Friday, May 27 at 9 AM, CST, Filmmakers around the world will produce a three-minute story on video. 36-hours later, 9 PM Saturday the 29th, they will upload their video to YouTube. Judges will score entries on Story, Cinematography, Sound, Performance and Editing.

I am hoping to enter this again: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/contest/

New Project: MovieMaking 101

2011-03-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a LONG time since I last posted. Well I just want to give a quick update, we are in the middle of production on a 1 hour educational production aimed at homeschool boys: "How to make a movie 101" or something like that, we don't have a name yet. Here are some screen captures:

Standing Firm Movie - Now available on DVD

2010-09-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Kyle Prohaska is a 20-something first time film maker who beet the odds. He made a successful feature length film, with very little experience, and no resources worth speaking of, he has made it though many difficult and trying years of producing an impossible movie.
You may remember that I posted about this film a few months back, well, it is now on DVD and Kyle can not keep it on the shelves of stores in web sites. Wile I have not yet seen the film, I am excited to watch it in full soon and hopefully showing it at our church latter this year.

http://www.standingfirmmovie.com/

David, a widower, is working himself to death. Late nights doing paperwork and running on fumes is normal. Bills are piling up by the week, and foreclosure looms on the horizon. Blaming God for his wife's death, he ends his relationship with the church.

Steven, the remaining Christian of the household, has been watching his father’s unhealthy lifestyle with great concern. With help from his grandpa and best friend Maggie, Steven reaches out to his father in any way he can.

Despite his grieving and worsening financial problems, David begins seeking an answer to the question haunting him since his wife's death...WHY?

STANDING FIRM is a story of suffering, God's purpose in it, and being joyful despite it.

http://www.standingfirmmovie.com/

New Ace Wonder Trailer!

2010-08-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

I think John may have knocked it out of the park with this one, it looks fantastic! Also, there is a rumor that there will be a sneek peek showing of the film at this Octobers San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival!

100 ideas for films that don’t show any face

2010-08-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Over at Christian Filmmakers.org I recently started a brain storming thread called "100 ideas for films that don’t show any face" where the community contributed to making a lost off 100 ideas that would allow ambiguity for the film makers and particularly for the actors. I just thought I would share it as I think it is a very fun list of good ideas.

http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/7464/

Ace Wonder Movie - Teaser Trailer

2010-07-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

Segregation, a documentary

2010-07-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you work with young people, or have young people in you life (youth worker/leader/paster/parent/etc) this looks to be a documentary you should not miss.

http://vimeo.com/13467660

Entrusted With Arrows Premiere a Success!

2010-06-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from last nights premiere. It was a big success.

We have the DVDs!

2010-06-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Praise the lord! We have the DVDs! Now lets go change the world!

Entrusted With Arrows reviewed on Caribbean Wordkeeper!

2010-06-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Ruth writer of the blog "Caribbean Wordkeeper" just posted a review of our documentary! Please take a moment to check it out!

...Set in the United States of America, Entrusted With Arrows is an hour-long documentary film that challenges Christian men to be the fathers God designed them to be (spiritual leaders at home..... responsible, God-led, husbands and fathers). The overarching theme is one of recovery... the willingness to take even drastic steps to recover from the family leadership crisis that seems to be prevalent the world over...

Read the full review at: http://wordkeeperinja.blogspot.com/

One of the key ways that independent films grow is by positive reviews. If you would like to review the film please send us an e-mail.

EWA - SPOILER ALERT!

2010-06-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

SPOILER ALERT!

Watch the first 3 minuets of the film of the film on YouTube!

Watch the first 3 minutes of the film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLRlMZUT3cI

Let us know what you think!

Win a copy of Entrusted With Arrows for fathers day!

2010-06-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

We are having a contest to give away a free copy of Entrusted With Arrows that we will give away on Saturday for Fathers’ Day! There will be multiple chances to enter this week on facebook.

Enter today by suggesting an idea for a home business on the facebook page.

New EWA Teaser Trailer!

2010-05-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4amHK3uSEuM
http://www.vimeo.com/11437143
Tangle coming
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=390533817679

Ziph Desert Stronghold - VFX Shot

2010-04-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g87juUKv4b4

Ziph Desert Stronghold by Dallas Lammiman created for the ChristianFilmmakers.org VFX Challenge #7

Amazing Detectives Trilogy Trailer

2010-04-22T16:56:00.001-07:00

Entrusted With Arrows .com has arrived!

2010-04-14T21:55:00.001-07:00

http://www.entrustedwitharrows.com/

Stage Coach Robbery On Sharp Hill

2010-04-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Way back in 2005 we had finally come up with a business idea for MovieMakers, making educational film for schools! So for a grade 12 project I wrote a script and made an educational film. The reviews said "good story, but it needs another short film to go with it that explains the details a bit". The project fell by the way side and was buried and forgotten as other more impressive projects like Amazing Map came along.
Looking back at it, the progect served as a foundation and starting block for how we aproched and wrote our educational products since. Well, last week I dug it out and said, thats still not half bad, lets package it! I used some b-roll from the film and make a mini feature that I narrate to go with it and sent it off to the Duplicators.
A week latter we have our first run of 50 DVDs on the film that started them all!

Entrusted With Arrows Teaser Trailer!

2010-04-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Facebook:

Youtube:

Vimeo:

Tangle:

Please become a fan on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Entrusted-With-Arrows/110527638982215

Entrusted With Arrows News

2010-04-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

First Big news of the week! I just made a new Face Book Page for my documentary, please join it and help us spread the word! I believe we need to aim for at least 1,000 fans, that is a big number right now, but with a little help it could be achieved.
Thanks so much for all your support so far, please keep praying for us and the project, we want to finish strong!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Entrusted-With-Arrows/110527638982215?v=wall&ref=nf

---
Dallas

Amazing Math to win Remi award!

2010-04-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Big news! Amazing Math: Subitize Me! is up for an award! We have been notified that we are up for one of the top 4 Remi Awards in its category at WorldFest Houston! We are in the top four, and guaranteed an award!

From Wikipedia:
WorldFest-Houston is one of the three original international film festivals in North America, after San Francisco and New York. It was founded in 1961 as an International Film Society. It is the only totally dedicated Independent International Film Festival in North America, as it does not accept films from the major studios. The festival was founded by producer/director Hunter Todd to present a film festival for the independent filmmakers.
Read more->

Homeschool Math Blog reviews Amazing Math!

2010-03-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Homeschool Math Blog reviewed Amazing Math: Subitize Me! Very exiting, she had some good thing to say, check it out!

My children liked the movie and wanted to watch it twice (thus far). It is actually recommeded to watch it repeatedly over time so children can cement the concepts shown in the video.

http://homeschoolmath.blogspot.com/2010/03/subitizing-video-review.html

For more info on Amazing Math: Subitize Me! Visit MovieMakers.ca

Amazing Detectives! The set.

2010-03-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

We are shooting series of 3 short film for kids next week called Amazing Detectives! and since I have been working hard at getting the set done all day I thought I would share my progress.

Become a fan of face book: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazing-Detectives-Film-Series/338921507664?ref=ts

Image Stabilization in FCP 5.1 preliminary testing

2010-02-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

I just found out that FCP has an image stabilization filter, wile not very robust it could potentially save much time and HD space so I don't have send clips with small bumps to Shake.

ChristianFilmMakers.org VFX Challenge #7

2010-02-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Its back! Check it out here: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/6260/

Standing Firm Behind the Scenes with Shaun Smith

2010-02-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

One film I am really looking forward to is Kyle Prohaska's upcoming feature Standing Firm. Kyle has been living the life of the indy low budget film maker, for a month or more lasy year it looked as if the film might not even get finished as the money had run out. But things are moving again, and I confident they will succeed, not only in finishing the film, but if the film is as good as the trailer and BTS look, this film will be going places.

Become a fan of Standing Firm on FB: http://www.facebook.com/standingfirm

"The Mysterious Islands" and "The Voyage that Shook the World"

2010-01-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

2 fantastic documentaries came out last year on Darwin, both are top notch worth the watch and extremely well done. However they differ very much in their approaches.

The Mysterious Islands is an adventure to Darwin's Eden, a modern day expedition to he Galapagos Islands, the expedition explores whether Darwin's interpretation of Galapagos hold water. The film is shot on the Red One camera, and the film is a visual and audio feast to behold. The imagery and music are simply breathtaking.

The Voyage that Shook the World is a more traditional documentary style film, it tracks not only Darwin's original voyage but also from Darwin's childhood to his death. It interviews many experts around the world and has a lot of reenactments.

To learn more about these films visit their web sites:
http://www.TheMysteriousIslands.com/
http://www.TheVoyage.tv/

Review: Homeschool Dropouts

2010-01-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

Technical thoughts:
The production values are high, though not quite as high as Return of the Daughters. There are a few time where I though “they should have taken that again, or split it up to cover that fumble. The segway bits sometimes felt like they shot it multi cam like a live event.

It also felt to me like the end of production might have been rushed to get the DVD out. The DVD menus don’t work as smoothly as they should (like they didn’t test it more than once), and there were few times where I thin they through in a cross fade on a splice of voice over and it messed up the sound a bit. Kinda strange. It just felt like the were 90% done and had it all very good to that point and then had to throw it in to a package in a hurry. Also after the film was done, the dvd kept playing black for about 3 more minutes before returning to the DVD menu, like they forgot to adjust the out point for for export. Just little things, I found slightly strange.

Pulmonary content thoughts.
The material was, as always excellent, well thought out, organized and presented. The problem they identify is one that sure resonates with me, I don’t expect 99% of my home school friends to home school there kids, many home schools near grads are even hostile toward home-schooling. It is rather unsettling.

The mid section felt like it followed some posts on Anna Sofia and Elizabeth’s blog “Childish Homeschooler Syndrome”, which makes sense.

The first 3/4ths of the film I mostly felt depressed, as they covered the problems, I kept thinking “yup seen that one first hand”, identifying each one in myself and in my friends. They never said “we are in a dire situation here” but it sure felt like one to me. The last 1/4th was them saying that they felt there was hope, but I didn’t feel to encouraged. I felt more convinced and convicted of the deep importance of home education, but not all to hopeful.

Overall Impressions:

Highly recommended.

http://www.westernconservatory.com/products/homeschool-dropouts

My Holiday 12h Video Contest Entry

2009-12-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

I wont say to much right now, maybe later. Here is our entry:

Click here to see all contest entries: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/contest/

Mary Christmas!

2009-12-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

Mary Christmas!

No Greater Love: Reveiw

2009-12-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

Many are calling this film "The Best Christian Movie I have see to date!" I had the chance to watch it in order to preview it before deciding to show it at our church (Watch for info on our churches screening), I have seen Brandon Rice's work before hand have always been impressed. No Greater love does not disappoint, it is defiantly in the top of my list for christian movies, especially when it comes to quality, professionalism. If you get the chance to support this film, I would recommend giving it a shot.

Also, Tomorrow morning (12-24) at 8:00am (PST) you will be able to watch the first 15 minuts of the film online! Click here to find out how.

Another contest! Dec 28, win $500!

2009-12-07T09:23:00.001-08:00

I am hoping to make an entree, I got 42st spot last time and 20th before that, hopefully I can swing one in the top 5 rather than get one in 74th place...

Monday, December 28 at 6:00AM filmmakers around the world will producing a one-minute story on video. 12-hours later they will upload their video to YouTube. Entries will be judged on Story, Cinematography, Sound, Performance and Editing. Our winner gets $500.

Our goals for this contest are to (1) have fun, (2) showcase the stories Christians are telling today and (3) connect filmmakers. Even if your film doesn’t win, we’ll help people see it. And if you win, that’s a bonus!

http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/contest/

Documentary crazy thoughts and pie charts...

2009-11-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, working on cutting the film down to size today. This chart shows the total video time ATM, the Fat represents how much must be removed before we hit our target time.

The chart shows how the film may be distributed they way things are going. I think we are going to have to re work it a bit to get it more balanced.

I think we are crazy....

Documentary snapshot at a glance

2009-11-23T15:56:00.000-08:00

This is the documentary in a snap shot ATM, a frame every 2 second I believe. I had seen this with other films to look at color from the big perspective. I thought it might be good to see what our film looks like in the grand picture. What colors are in the film? What colors I would like and how to tie things togather with the graphics.

Article from the Airdrie Echo

2009-11-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

An Airdrie father and son have combined specialties to develop a small business which creates and distributes an innovative educational product.

Greg Lammiman, a retired teacher, joined forces with son Dallas Lammiman, a talented 20-year-old filmmaker, to form Movie Makers – an Airdrie based operation that recently completed its second of two educational films for children.

"Subitize Me: Amazing Math" is a 20-minute adventure film starring 12-year-old Airdrie twins, which focuses on the fundamental math skill, subitizing.

Subitizing is mandated in the new math curriculum, but for most people, including teachers, it's a term we have never heard before, Greg said.

"Subitizing is quite simple," he added.

"It means to quickly see how many without counting.

"Perceptual subitizing is when you instantly see one group of objects, such as dots on a dice."

An individual can only subitize up to five or six objects in this way.

Greg said perceptual subitizing is when you quickly combine numbers of objects to arrive at the total.

"When you see seven on a domino, you may recognize six as on a dice, then see one more and arrive at seven," he added.

So with Greg's skill set as an educator and Dallas's creativity, they went to work on the project that took 18 months to complete....

To read the rest pleas visit: http://www.airdrieecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2171239

Example of "invisible visual effects"

2009-11-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

Can you well me what I have done with this shot?

"Pro Foam Fighter" pilot episode

2009-11-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

I shot this friday before supper, spent a few hours lat night and an hour this mooring to make this up. Tom has got web series thing stuck in my head, and I am wondering about doing something like this every once in a wile. It is a fairly niche audience, so I don't know how well most of you will follow what is being said, but critiques are very welcome.

Behind the scenes on Subitize Me: Amazing Math (Article)

2009-11-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Subitize Me: Amazing Math is a DVD recourse and teaching aid for educators released by MovieMakers just last month. I was the Artistic Director for the project. The main film on the DVD is a 20min adventure film that teaches a fundamental math skill called "Subitizing". I am not going to get in to that much in this article, as I want to talk about the technical and artistic side of things.

Subitize Me was shot entirely on a green-screen stage, and takes place in fully CG sets made from scratch and contains over 250 visual effects shots. In the end, every shot seen in the film is a visual effects shot in one way or another.

Now, for all the geeks who just need to know, we used Blender for all our 3D work, and Apple's Shake for the compositing. I did a little work in Apple's Motion as well, and a few of the titles were done in Final cut pro itself.

Wile that is impressive for a film of this kind, effects and cool eye candy do not make a movie, what is really special about

this film is how he handled the meet of the film. The script.

This is a math film, a sit down and learn something film. I wanted the film to be more than numbers, it had to connect with kids. As a child I was not a math lover, so I knew I wanted to make sure we had the kids attention. The math concepts in Subitize Me are powerful, as we made the film I found that my math skills were even improving in little ways. Story engages people, and that includes children. Stories are a powerful teaching tool, a vehicle that communicates ideas and principles strongly. The kids want to watch films like this, they get engaged by the story and learn all kinds of important lessons along the way.

I always try to use everything I have at my disposal to make sure our films are accessible and engaging to kids, little things like making sure the camera is positioned at a child's hight rather than adult hight can make big differences. In Subitize Me I created worlds that were full of color, and fit in to a child's point of view as much as plausible. We even endeavored to write dialog that, wile being grammatically correct, was also what you would except to hear from child. There is a lot of little details to think about that can easily be missed.

Subitze Me was a lesson in time management for us, we created a project that was much larger and more extravagant than it should have been from a business perspective. That is really good thing for people who will be using this product, they get a lot of bang for their buck.

Written by Dallas Lammiman - Project Artistic Director.

For more information see www.MovieMakers.ca

Documentary update

2009-10-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we have returned from filming our Documentary and are settling down for the edit. Not nearly as exiting to blog about, but I hope to have lots to post over the process none the less, keep watching here for the more technical side, and the production blog for the rest.

The Mysterious Islands

2009-10-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

We have got this film coming in the mail, I am very exited about it! The video and images coming out of the blogs and other behind the scenes things look amazing, I am expecting much.

"As the world celebrates 150 years since Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species," take a surprising journey back to Darwin's Eden -- the mysterious Galapagos Islands -- and uncover its true secrets."

For more info see:

www.TheMysteriousIslands.com

Amazing Math Released

2009-10-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally have released Amazing Math: Subitze Me!, you know, the film that most of the blog posts here are about? In-fact, the blog was basically started the same point as that film! It will be good to more on to the next thing (an afor mentioned documentary)!

Also, we have completely re-vamped our web site - MovieMakers.ca Please check it out, much thanks for all your support!

The Widow's Might

2009-10-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

During our time in the USA while listening to American radio and listening and watching American news, I became strongly aware of the political madness and possible disaster that their great nation is headed for. I had heard grumblings from our southern neighbors but they were very extreme, and I questioned whether it was an overreaction, but after 28 days in the USA, I am not so sure they were overreacting. It was quite troubling. Other than be continually disturbed, I had a thought that continually ran through my head: people need to see The Widow's Might! I thought The Widow's Might was a good film, but a bit heavy handed against taxes in Texas, which honestly, doesn't apply to a lot of people. But as we drove and listened, and observed, I began to see that The Widow's Might is not about taxes in Texas, it is about today, todays government, it is for the people of America today. Just like in the movie, the public has allowed and even helped to create the situation we see today, and just like in the The Widow's Might, those same people are the ones who can repent and then fix the problem. The Widow's Might is an important film for todays culture, urging men to stand up, take responsibility, and bring about cultural repentance and restoration.

If you have not seen the film, I strongly urge you to see it and watch it in the light of todays events. If you have seen if before, I strongly urge you to watch it again with these things in mind and then show it to others.

As the cowboy sang: "Be strong and of good courage men... and then, we'll have justice once again!"

We are making a new documentary!

2009-08-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Our family will soon be taking a trip across the continent and shooting a documentary as we go! We have started a blog to canonical our adventure please check it out at http://dadsandfamilies.blogspot.com/

Still Image to Animation Test

2009-08-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

Passion Play in Drumheller

2009-07-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

Not my video, but I was in the play.

VFX Challenge #5

2009-07-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

This Months Theme is: Action Enhancement
Click here for more info: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/4714/

Canadian Badlands Passion Play Behind the Scenes

2009-07-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

ChristianFilmmakers.org Stuffs I have done recently

2009-07-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Movie: Greyscale

2009-06-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

I have bee watching the progress on this film for quite some time now (since its conception almost!) and this weekend the trailer and a BTS video were released! So very exited about this film!

Greyscale Trailer from Daros Films on Vimeo.

Doug Jones on GREYSCALE from Joseph Hutson on Vimeo.

An interview with Doug Jones (Silver Surfer in "Fantastic 4:Rise of the Silver Surfer"; Fauno/Pale Man in "Pan's Labyrinth"; Abe Sapien in "Hellboy I & Hellboy II") about GREYSCALE, a Daros Film.

Ben Botkin's new blog

2009-06-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Check out Ben Botkin's new blog! Ben Botkin is an amazing film composer, I highly recomend checking out his site!

http://www.benbotkin.com/

Amazing Math: New Trailers!

2009-06-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

VFX Challenge #4 - Biblical

2009-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

The VFX challenge is starting again! This time the theme is Biblical! Film a VFX shot based on a story from the Bible. Go as epic as you want or do something simple. But whatever you do. Make it so we can’t tell, and you have to explain alot… Please note which story your shot goes to (if it isn’t too obvious Click here ti learn more ->

To see Calling #3's submissions click here->

$100 Wrapper

2009-04-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Well, the contest is over, and I did manage to get a film together. But barley.

11:30 - With only 12 hours out of 36 left to go we found ourselves scraping the story about spies, terrorists, Russia and nuclear submarines and starting from scratch writing a brand new script!

4:00 - We had just finished a 3+ hour film shoot and began uploading our 1/2 hour of footage in to the computer.

5:40 - We had finished the rough edit and found some really BIG continuity problems, some missing shots and some unusable sound.

8:00 - Things are not looking good. I cant get a hold of my actors to get VOs and cant finde my way around some of the big problems.

8:40 - Finally contacted my actors parents and got permission to keep them out of bet for another 15 min in order to get VOs

10:20 - I had finished the film, not perfect by any stretch, but we were begining the submission process.

10:45 - Submitted and done!

Here is the video:

$100 Wrapper

It looks like there was over 60 entries this year. You can watch them here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3A139DA9819DCFC1
Enjoy!

CF.org VFX Challenge #3- Glass

2009-04-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

The CF.org VFX Challenge #3 (Glass) submission deadline was yesterday, and now voting for your favorite is open to CF.org members until Apparel 15th. Here are the entries:

Visit the challenge page: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/3224/

CF.org 36-Hour Contest - Win $500

2009-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 10, 2009 at 12:00PM filmmakers around the world will begin producing a three-minute story on video. 36-hours later they will upload their video to YouTube. Entries will be judged on Story, Cinematography, Sound, Performance and Editing. The winner gets $500.

Our goals for this contest are to (1) have fun, (2) showcase the stories Christians are telling today and (3) connect filmmakers. Even if your film doesn’t win, we’ll help people see it. And if you win, that’s a bonus!

Smoking kills

2009-03-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

Ever notice how bad guys are always smoking just before they die? Smoking kills, with bullets. Made for the ChristianFilmmaerks.org VFX Challenge #3 - Feb-Mar 09

2009-03-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

Wile reeding a script recently I came up with these thoughts. The script turned out different than expected, and these thoughts no longer applied. I am interested in some feed back if you have got any.

- --------------- -

Do we really need to show the full depravity of a man in all it sinful state to effectively compare it to God's righteousness and Purity? Because I can think up far worse than that to show, and thus be more effective! Right?

Or can the fate of a good man, who knows he is doomed, and can do nothing about it, because his good-ness is not enough more clearly show in contrast to Gods righteousness?

If anything, bringing the man down, allows more room for justification, thus lowering God. Even making him attainable.

Show me a rights man, who despite this is rightly condemned. And I start to see how holly God truly is.

Dustin the Science Guy:

2009-02-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

If you were just thinking to yourself, where did that Dallas guy get his start, well here is your answer! And if you weren’t, shame on you, and here is the answer anyway!

Dustin the Science Guy: Saturn was our first family film way back in the days when 8 was the peek of home camera technology! Yes, that is 8 not digital8 or even high8. Just 8. Maybe 8mm. Maybe.

Our favorit show at the time was Bill Kny the Science Guy, and so out mom, the creative individual she is, though, here is a way to make a school project fun! And it was! So much in fact we did 4 over the next 10ish years! Here is the first 2.

Subtilize Me! First VFX pass finished!

2009-02-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

Guess what! I just covered up ever bit of green screen footage with their respective VFX shots in this film! That means that if we had to be don today, the film would look finished! I will still need to do a bit of tweaking here and their but for all intensive prepossess I am don with VFX for a wile!

Next up, sound!

And if you missed it check out the trailer:

Demographic Winter Review

2009-02-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

Visit the web site

Last night we watched the 56min documentary Demographic Winter. I had high expectations for this film, and was very exited about it.

The production values and quality of the documentary was very high, they made very good use of the interviewees to the extent that the narrator only had a half duzon lines. However, I think the trailer is essential watching, as I think it gives a better over all picture of what is being said. In a much simpler plain fact way. In-fact, I almost felt like the film was simply backing up the what the trailer said with facts and data!

The film ends abruptly with the words: The End, and then a moment latter a subtitle appears: (of part 1). That was unexpected, I looked around, but have yet to find reference to a part 2. I hope that there will soon be a second documentary to expand on what feels like just a brush off the surface of an enormous issue (wile at the same time drinking from a fire hose of data).

The big question that comes from watching the film is how does this affect us? Wow does it effect our life, financial, and other all decisions in life? Because, how can you look at anything same anymore? For instance, my father is trying to get in to real estate, if what this documentary says is true, how does that effect where he invests?

Another interesting thing that was brought up was that according to Phillip Longman, there are only 2 ways he can see to reverse and correct what is happening, the first is what he calls the "Swedish model", which is basically the government paying people to have children. The other is a return to Patriarchal Families! Mr. Longman says that there really isn't much hope in the Swedish model, because it is being tried, and not working.

This is a secular documentary, but it amazed me how consistently they showed that the further we get away from biblical principles the more things fall apart. God tells us this is the way you should live, not to test us, but because he made the world to work a specific way, and no other way works. Biblical principles and societies don't just benefit christians, but all people.

I would highly recommend this documentary to anyone.

Subtilize Me! Teaser Trailer Released!

2009-01-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Very exiting, we just released the Subtilize Me! teaser trailer! We are getting within what we expect is a a "small" amount of months to completion! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Edit: hi-rez version: http://canadamoviemaker.googlepages.com/SubitizeMe-SubitizeTeaserTrailer-For.mov

(At the time of this posting the video is not yet fully processed on youtube, but will be shortly)

My Film Making Portfolio

2009-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I don't think I posted this yet, but I am putting together a portfolio/list films I have done. I have a lot of work to do still to get it up to date, but I think there is enough of it now to be worth looking at:

Click here to see

Crash Site

2009-01-19T09:29:00.000-08:00

1. My source footage from Christmas. We burned the Christmas tree when we were done with it, because it keped falling over.

2. Shake has a supper “work free” Stabilizing and tracking node called “SmoothCam”, you just tell it to lock the video, rather than smooth it, and click analyze! Vala! Done!

3. Shake also has a cool QuickPaint Node that has a very handy clone brush in it, so you can take pixels from one point of the image, and use them as your paint color. Very simple to remove the swing set.

4. I made a Cessna in blender really quick, angled it so I didn’t have to add windows. layered some textures from http://www.cgtextures.com/ and I have an airplain. I think the wing looks to bit though.

5. The clip had snow falling in it, but it was falling behind the plain not in front. So it make that less noticeable I added some extra falling snow. I exported the snow from Motion. Motion has a great particle system.

6. I add the motion back in to the clip by duplicating the SmoothCam node above and setting it to “match”.

"Simple" Set Extension

2009-01-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

I thought this would be a simple shot to do…

I taped it with a handy cam on the end of a tripod that I held in my hand and it extended out from my hip. I was really surprised at how “smooth” it was, but when I got in to Shake… yuck, I tryed to track this thing at least a dozen times over the last week, some times with tracker nodes, other times by hand with not good results.

I should not I was not “match moving” the church to the camera, but rather stabilizing the footage, to get it, I used 2 different stabilized and smooth cam trackers. It is stabilized, smoothed, stabilized, and then smoothed again. And even then the results are not fantastic.

After I put the church and sky in, and color graded, I placed the camera movement back in to the shot.

Although the shot is not the way I would like it, I am fairly happy with the results.

SAICFF

2009-01-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the SAICFF and am highly encouraged and feel at though my brain is going to explode. It was a very good experience!

Here are some of the feature films of note:

http://www.sperrymovie.com/

08 Demo Real B

2008-12-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

Marry Christmas!

2008-12-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Blessings on you all. I pray you have a very Mary Christmas!

VFX Challenge 2 - Dec-Jan 09

2008-12-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Well, our first VFX challenge has warped up and we are ready to get on to the next one! Last challenges favorit entry was voted to be Gabriel Everson’s Forest Battle. As such he has be chosen to challenge us with out next theme!

This months theme: Set Extension
Deadline: Jan 31 2009

Click here full full details!

To view the VFX Challenge 1 submissions click here

Canadian High Speed Police Chase on the news this week

2008-11-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

New Site look

2008-11-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

We have a new 3 column look! I am very happy with it, as things were just getting to crazy with the 2 column format. The only problem is I can't get my banner to show up on the header, but I will be having some one look in to that ASAP. Though, if you have any ideas about that, I would be glad to hear them!

Also, I am working on an online portfolio my video work. It will take a lot of time befor complete (50 videos is a lot), but I intend to list everything of any consequence!

Check it out here.

You must watch this film! Star of Bethlehem: Documentary

2008-11-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Just watched this Documentary tonight, and had to post! I was amazed at how well this film was done, the production values were VERY high. I had not herd of it until my parents got it a few weeks ago for our church library, last week. What this documentary brings to the table is astounding and staggering as to Gods plan throughout time.

If you are looking for a good Christmas film for the holidays, or after, this is the film to watch. Highly recommended.

At least check out the trailer.
http://thestarofbethlehemmovie.com/
http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

The Big Fall

2008-11-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

Lest we forget.

2008-11-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

I found an interesting article that I think is worth reading regarding Canadian Remembrance day. Read here. Here are some bits:

I didn't get a poppy this year.

I didn't get one last year, either. In fact, this is my fourth straight year without a poppy. It's one of those little things that you take for granted until you leave home, like a Louisiana native who can't find good crawfish in Chicago, or an expatriate German who misses the sausages from home. But this isn't about food. It's about my poppy.

Unless you are Canadian, or have visited Canada in early November, you have no idea what I'm talking about.

...

So why poppies? Why not roses, or tulips, or daisies?

Poppies have a tendency to flourish in lime-rich soils. During the Napoleonic wars and World War I, heavy bombardment caused the destruction of many limestone buildings, creating the ideal conditions for widespread poppy growth on the killing fields. This spectacle caught the attention of Brigade Surgeon John McCrae, who served with the Canadian Field Artillery in Ypres, Belgium. Dr. McCrae spent 17 days at Ypres, tending to wounded and burying the dead during one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. His poem, originally titled We Shall Not Sleep, was published in 1915 and had an immediate impact on those who had lost loved ones.

...

Canada suffered tremendously in World War I. One Canadian out of a hundred died in the war, on a battlefield far from Canada's shores. Picture a modern-day war – if you dare – where 3 million American soldiers die in combat, and you start to understand the magnitude of the sacrifice.

$100 off Christian Filmmakers Academy!

2008-11-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

"[Christian Filmmakers.org] has organized a $100 discount for Christian Filmmakers.org members who sign up for the Christian Filmmakers Academy at the San Antonion Independant Christian Film Festival (www.independentchristianfilms.com). To obtain the discount, email us at info@christianfilmmakers.org and we will send you the promotion code. In addition, Christian Filmmakers.org receives a $50 for each registration that we will use to add features to this web site."

Very cool news!

ChristianFilmMakers.org VFX Challenge

2008-10-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

We are starting a VFX Challenge at CF.org to help us VFX people grow in out skills, check it out!

http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/2399/

Me in Airdrie Life Mag

2008-10-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I got in to a local Magazine last month, I was hoping it would be online so I could link to it, but alas, it is not. The magazine is called Airdrie Life which focuses on local and small business in Airdire, and has distribution of about 40,000 copies. Pretty cool I think!

VFX Pipe Lines

2008-10-20T11:26:00.001-07:00

The above image is actually my VFX work flow.

1. The clip is edited FCP, so thet is where I start.
2. The Clip is exported using QuickTime Conversion, converting to a .png or .tiff image sequence.
3. The image image sequence is opened in shake, and wear all the compositing and VFX are done.
4. The Final Compost is exported by shake as a quick time movie. Usually as a native HDV 30i codec, though that has been giving me trouble in PFC, so I have been using Apple Animation codec allot.
5. I Load the clip back in to FCP, I place clip in the time line above the original clip.
6. If I used Apple’s Animation codec I will need to render it in FCP.

So when I am done, I have 4 copys of the clip on my hard drive. The original, the .tiff image sequence, the .mov movie, and the FCP render file.

What does your Work Flow look like?

This is also being discussed at CF.org join the forum and join us in this thread: http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/forums/viewthread/2308/

Woopsy-daysy!

2008-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Woopsy-daysy!

VFX Reel

2008-10-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

I have come in need of a VFX Reel, not the best put together really quick, hope you like it!

If you want to download it click here.

Leave comments please!

Cloth Physics tests in blender

2008-09-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

And some more physics tests I did today:

Comments please.

Ball falling in to water

2008-09-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a test I did wile trying to figure out how to simulate falling objects.

I was following this tut, I tweaked mine a bit, but not much.

http://www.davidjarvis.ca/blender/tutorial-14.shtml

Amazing Math: Moving up, up, and away!

2008-09-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I am been moving along at a pretty good speed, except the last 2 days, were I spent all the time on ONE shot. It was a lot of render time with a simple animation out of Blender. But it worked out well, and looks really nice I think.

Here is some of my progress:

Update

2008-09-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Wedding DVD Cover Art

Well, I have finally finished the wedding. As of last week, I sent them a copy of the DVD to approve. With that out of the way I can get back to working on Amazing Math.

TT And Bebo explore a ruin made in blender, composited and keyed in shake.

Things are moving along quite well, I have almost finished the first few shots VFX (Ruin, Treasure Room 1 and Arctic) and editing the hole video on to the time line for the first time. The running time looks to be over 20 min.

Demographic Winter

2008-08-27T08:30:00.001-07:00

It has been a wile since I last posted, but not much has been going on. I have finished editing the wedding but have now spent the last wile trying to compress it enough to fit it on 2 dvds! Ya. lots of video.

Now, I am not a huge fan of documentaries. However, I think that is partially due to the lack of docs were I find the topic interesting. When there is a good intriguing topic, I get sucked right in. Well my mom found an interesting looking documentary the other day called: Demographic Winter. After watching the trailer, I was so interested I read the info section!

One of the most ominous events of modern history is quietly unfolding. Social scientists and economists agree - we are headed toward a demographic winter which threatens to have catastrophic social and economic consequences. The effects will be severe and long lasting and are already becoming manifest in much of Europe.

Demographic Winter web site.

Just check it out, it look reeeeeaaaaaaallllllly good!

http://www.demographicwinter.com/

Summer Update.

2008-08-16T18:33:00.001-07:00

Well, I suppose I should post eh? Well I have been working on getting one of my summer weddings edited and finished, looks like I will get it done next week to, so not to much new to post.

Something not really Movie Related, I made a mockup Narnia Poster the other day, here they are side by side:

I made it in about 1-2 total hours, maybe less. Intoresting thing though, I didn't use Photo Shop or even the Gimp. I am so much more comfortable in Shake. So I used Shake for it all! Cool eh?

Gosh I Love Spaghetti! Here is what my node tree looked like for this one.

Comments and Community.

2008-08-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

I would love to start building a community here. One way I am trying to facilitate that is by a new feature I have just added to the side bar (to the right) called recent comments! It shows the last 5 comments, when you click on the name of the poster it takes you to the post so you can add your own comment in reply! Cool eh?

^It looks like this^

So let the commenting begin!

Amazing Math, Black Eyes, Ear Rings and Food

2008-08-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally got a date that worked to film on, and one day before TT goes and gives himself a black eye! Luckily we were in a place in the story that we could work it in and still film. Add to that Bebo got herself some ear rings a few weeks ago without thinking about the fact that she didn't have them before. I don't think they are to noticeable... What an adventure!

The Twins LOVE to eat, especially TT (they are greek). So they were super exited when the time came to eat the sub sandwich!

Mmmmm Mmmm Good!

Actors and bad acting.

2008-07-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

Note: This is just cool picture one of my movies, not necessarily having to do with bad acting or directing.

Rule #1. Bad acting is Always the Directors fault, not the Actors.

Rule #2. Bad lines and shallow character is due to bad script writing, and once again to bad directing.

Rule #3. Directors can make good acting look mediocre by not backing it up with the shot "other". Inappropriate lighting, poor sound, bad location, poor choices in shots and angels.

Rule #4. Editors can make good acting look terrible by choosing the wrong takes.

Extra Rule For Actors #1. Actors are not paid to act, but to hurry up, and wait around to act.

Naturally, some actors are better than others. But in film more than any other medium (like stage for eg.) even the worst actors can be made to look good, and the best actors made to look terrible.

Paul Butler interviews with Doug Phillips and Isaac Botkin

2008-07-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

If you want to listen to some good audio interviews with Doug Phillips, Isaac Botkin, I found some at this blog:

Paul Butler’s Production Blog Good stuff take a listen!

Amazing Math, Almost there!

2008-07-22T15:00:00.001-07:00

My dolly with 10ft 3/4" PVC rails.

Well, we finally got back to filming of Amazing Math, and almost got dun the feature, within a few shots actually. We will still have some special features to work on after that, but they will mostly be VO and come much quicker. I was really happy with the stuff we got to day, some of it was really , really good. We are truly blessed to have such amazing actors working with us on this!

My Dad going over a scene with TT and Bebo

With limited space, sometimes you have to turn the camera sideways to get a full shot.

Our Cat...

It will be interesting to see how this set of green screen images look after import. Also, I will not be posting for the next few days. out next filming session is on Wednesday, so expect a post by or on thursday.

I don't know what to post about...

2008-07-18T20:52:00.001-07:00

I have not worked on video stuff for a wile due to various things, like passion play, so I don't have much to post. I read Blog readers like lists, so here are some things listed:

Videos I know I am editing this summer in no particular order:

Wedding Video for Amazing Map and Math Music Gal
Wedding Video for my cousin
HAMP Short Film
Amazing Math Video

Gume Shoe

2008-07-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

Gum Shoe is a story about a Kid who is also a secret agent, and thinks his parents don't know it. However, when "Aliens" are discovered on earth, he is sent to investigate, only to discover that not only have his parents known the hole time, but that Aliens actually want him!

Gum Shoe was made in 2005-06 and was shot with a film festival in mind. Needless to-say, it didn't get accepted, I wasn't to disappointed however, as it was for me, a great sucses.
Gum Shoe was the first film where I made contous efert on pre-production, such as several drafts of the script, and a story board. Gum Shoe was a sucess to me, mostly becous it turned out looking amost exactly like I had emagened it in my minde, a first for me. I knew the story was a bit lacking, but I has very happy with the peroduction values I saw in it.

Even today, I am very impressed wit the shots. See the project was conceived one night during a snow fall, with big snow flakes, they would slowly fall through the street lights. And I wanted to find a story where I could use that as a background. It was just so moody, and beautiful. The scene that I came up with almost immediately was that of a young boy meeting a shadowy agent under a street light at night. So that is want the hole story was based around. But it didn't snow, instead it got really fogy, and I liked how that looked to. so I called up my actors and said "tonight is the night!" and we did it.

I also did all my own scoring (music) for this film for the first time ever. I have not done scoring so extensively from scratch since. And am quite proud of what I did with it. It was all recorded in GarageBand with my midi Keyboard.

I have included all my story boards here for you to view. You will find that I followed them almost to a tee, with only a few changes. I started out with pencil and paper, but it became to tedious, so I did them all in the Gimp.