another logo idea

nothing to do with D.A. but cool anyway...

War of the Worlds graphic novel...click here

just a logo idea for our production co.

The fighting began...

top image: John taking a break
second from top: showing Danielle how to take the staff from the other John
third from top: walk through with John and Danielle
bottom image: showing Danielle how to disarm John

Rumble in the Gym

This Sunday at 6pm at New Haven High School we will be choreographing some fight scenes...

Our lead thought she had to drop out...then we got a new lead...but she needs knee surgery...so our original lead is back in...for good...or we'll shoot her!

More Drifter news

Production has begun on the first scene with Lilly and the Drifters...

DRIFTERS

Talked with Brian last night about the Drifters and he's very excited about starting on them. I like the direction he's going with including rusted and aged armor that is fused with the 'flesh'. As soon as I get stuff from him, I'll post it.

We also have three guys working on weapons now.

Carrie as Lilly

Carrie sent this (though I altered it slightly...got rid of the background, extended the scarf length and added the goggles) idea for her costume for Lilly. Yes, that is her hair and no, I did not enhance that in photoshop.

UPDATE ON SCHEDULE

The gym won't work out for this weekend...we have it reserved for Sunday the 26th at 6:00pm. I need to speak to the cast about weapons and costumes.

asetter304@aol.com

All wings report in...red 5 standing by

I need all departments to report...CG guys, weapons guys, and my two wayward body guards John and Loren.

asetter304@aol.com

we also welcome on board our costumer Mary Montgomery (need to check the spelling of that last name)

correction

we'll be meeting at New Haven High School for the next fight choreography meeting two weeks from Sunday...not one week.

Bit of a Bummer

Today kinda stunk...We were going to work on a fight scene but the people involved didn't show...or call...or email...thus, the bummer. I'm sure there were reasons (like the fact that there was a tornado watch) so I'm not that upset about the choreography not getting done...but come on, people, call...pick up the phone.

there...done venting...one week from Sunday...next meeting. Those who missed this one...be there or were talking possible recasting...

was that harsh? nah...I'm sure there were real reasons peole could not make it...

Lilly

Met with Carrie (aka Lilly) today to discuss charater, costume and location. She has some great ideas for the look of Lilly and has some locations where we can film.

Hopefully I can post some pictures of tonight's fight choreography by tomorrow.

"Cry havoc...and let slip the dogs of war!"

We’ll be choreographing the fight scene between Gwen and Danea’s guards on Thursday Feb. 16 @ 6:30. (1905 Crescent Ave.) Then a week from Sunday we’ll meet at New Haven High School to work with tumbling on the mats.

Weapons

Me and Jon's weapon at the meeting.

The face only a mother could love...a blind mother

Musical Instruments

Here is a three stringed instrument (lower) and a one stringed drum (upper) called a Thunder Tunnel. The three string is played by running your finger along the neck holding down only the bottom string. The upper strings are not depressed (though sometimes a little sad...ha ha) but are strummed and play as drones. The Thunder Tunnel consists of a piano string that echos through the PVC pipe when struck.

updates

Just talked to the CG guys...

Got one guy working on the three virtual landscape scenes.
Another is working on the DRIFTERS. We're going to shoot Lilly in early March so that he has the footage to work with.
Also found two guys who are going to create the weapons.

Something odd about Lilly

Lilly (and the various incarnations of her that have appeared on this blog) is an oddity at best. Several people have asked (including the actress who is set to play her) which Lilly is it? Lilly is percieved by people in various ways. Some see her as strong, mature, a fighter, while at other times she takes on the appearance of a child-like trouble maker. Those who have read the script will understand. For the rest of you, hang in there...Lilly's origins will be revealed.

eyes...the problem...the solution

I've mentioned this before, but others have asked so I'm explaining again. The question: "Why aren't you using experienced actors in your film?" I am to some degree, but I'm also looking for people who 'fit the part' physically and attitude-wise. Most actors (most people in general) act (or express emotion) primarily with their eyes. Watch good actors (Anthony Hopkins or Sigourney Weaver as two examples). Their eyes tell the story. Hannibal Lector has completely different eye movement than, say, C.S. Lewis (Shadowlands). The space heroine in Alien uses her eyes to emote fear, anger hatred yet can bring out seduction and humor in Galaxy Quest.

So...since all of the actors (except for Lilly) are blindfolded, they'll be acting with the rest of their bodies and with their voice. Thus, voice and physic over experience.

Hey...it's just a theory...one I first heard from Kevin Smith re: Ben Affleck in "Daredevil".

fighting has begun

On Feb 16 (that's next Thursday) Danea's bodyguards begin their training. I've expanded their firght sequence because Laren and John are so much into their characters. Both have agreed to shave heads into a mohawk-like style when filming begins because they "really want (our) guys too look like bad warriors!"

another poster idea...

At some point (very soon) we I will start working from photographs of the actual actors...

Sketch of Lilly

This is a drawing (cropped) of Lilly that I started on last night. I plan to finish it and put it in the Faculty Art show.

Poster design

Here's a poster idea...

recently submitted logo design

from GARY

small attendance at the meeting

The meeting Saturday had low attendance...I blame the snow and the fact that the meeting had to be rescheduled from last week. We'll be meeting again soon. John, Jon, Danielle, and Laren...get in touch with me...I need your email adresses. We're going to start 'blind fight' training. What evenings work for you guys?

COSTUMES

Just got some more canvas for the wrist ties and 'boots' for the costumes. I'll be finishing Gwen's up for next Friday's meeting...if all goes as planned.

shooting has officially begun

Almost forgot...the long-lost Jay (the camera man) has reported in...he has reviewed a list of films shot by Tak Fujimoto and has already started shooting tree bark and rain for the opening credits!!!! HOW FREAKIN'COOL is that???!!!

Location scoutting

I went to my in-laws house Sunday and checked out the forest they are planning to buy...it will be perfect for the 'clearing' shots taht are just outside of the main meeting hall and Gwen's home...very excited! I'll post images tomorrow.

Origins of the Garum

Originally I had built this story around the Garum with a strong link to the Entropy Gate story line...the more I pursued the stroy, the further away from EG I drifted. The Garum has had 4 origin stories written and I've finally found the final one. I plan to include the other three in the DVD when we release it.

LOCATIONS

I just scouted out a plot of land where we'll film the "Gwen vs Beggar" fight scene...Bluffton, IN. Cool location...excellent trees.

Long week...but the light at the end of the tunnel...

...might not be a train as expected.

As I sit here at IPFW with my lunch on the table...at home...I was thinking of locations for shooting and outside, just beyond the ceramics building is a river with a little island...and lot's of trees...love it!

SATURDAY'S MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED...WE WILL RESCHEDULE AND POST THE NEW DATE TOMORROW.

Just an idea...

I put this together as a possible home page...

Need a web site

I'm looking for someone to design THE OFFICIAL web site for Darkness Aftermath...any takers?

Call me

Carrie (AKA Lilly). Lost your number. Call me or email me. asetter304@aol.com

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS

This would be cool...it's aman on stilts with large "feet" to keep from sinking in mud...he can gather fruit from the high trees. Perhaps CG in the background if not live action.

weapons

I've really been working on a lot of weapon designs...not sure how many we'll actually have, but I'm looking to put together a team to start building these.

done with that mess...

I finished converting the story boards to photoshop and coloring them the right hue for the scene (rain exterior - blue, interior - orange, exterior with the Garum - blue green, Scenes with Drifters - red)...I ended up with 525. I can now start editing these as they are all saved as jpgs. However, I have since added a few other scenes. One in particular is the "Wedding Celebration Dance". A single dancer emerges from her home and performs a dance with wing-like contraptions on her arms...these catch water and she is able to store water and pour out water onto the ground to create a rythm with the sound of the rain...she also has long streamers tied to her belt that have rocks on the ends. As she spins, the rock streamers fly out. When she stops, the rocks clack together and make more sound. The dance is enjoyed by the audience as they listen to the rocks and water and feel the vibration in the ground of her feet pounding the mud. I have yet to story board this sequence...there are other scenes that are emerging as well...

an idea...

My original idea for the opening credits was a series of blue text credits against a black background with lightning flashing between texts...however, during the rain the past two days i saw the water flowing down the truncks of the massive trees that line the area i live in...i've instructed the camera man (jay) to film close ups of water flowing down tree trunks and we'll place the opening credits over that footage...its a softer opening for the film...i'm pumped! Now it's time to go down stairs and watch the last half of SIGNS...pay no attention to to 'time' that this post is posted... i need to change something on the blogspot so that the time is more accurate...it's actually 11:15 pm...

Film styles

One of my IPFW students today, after reviewing the blog, asked who he thought my style best resembled. There was a bit of a pause as I contemplated saying, “I don’t know” or “Me?”. He suggested that the images seemed a bit M. Knight-like and I realized that I had to agree a bit. Darkness Aftermath is a bit scary at times – like Signs and Sixth Sense – and it is about a spiritual reawakening or testing of faith – Signs. But as mentioned earlier in the blog, I’m also going with the Spielberg/JAWS school of thought by saving the ‘monster’s’ revelation until the third act of the film. I’m also trying the Lucas method of creating the ‘world’ and characters first, then working on the story (not to say that he’s the only one to do that, but I’ve been reading the ART OF STAR WARS 3 and it’s a fascinating read about Lucas’ creative process).

I am hoping to get more artists on board who can start improving on my sketches. Looks like the Jan. 28th meeting is a go, but we’ll start at 3:30 and go till 5:00.

The Garum...again

A profile...I think the main problem with the sculpture of the Garum is the fact that the head is too small.

Wedding dress and Cloak

When Cllar and Gwen get married, I thought that perhaps a costume change would be in order...

WEAPONS

Did some sketches of some of the warrior's weapons.

GWEN FIGHTING

I was just sketching and came up with this image of Gwen fighting.

DRIFTER SKETCHES

Click on the image to get a larger view of the drifters...which one looks the best?

337 and Jaws

Have I mentioned Jaws? I've always loved that movie (the sequels were total trash...though for laughs, watch the last one...it's practically a parody)...so...why mention Jaws? Because the shark is never really revealed until the last third of the film...that's how I plan to handle the Garum...I just added frame 337 of the boards (out of 530) and it's the first time you see the Garum in relationship to a person. Hopefully it'll be a big moment as the audience until this time won't know if the creature is 6 feet tall or 9 feet tall. More sketches posted tomorrow.

Garum sculpture

Here is the latest design for the Garum. I'm not too excited about the color. I'll probably mess around in photoshop and make the flesh more of a gray tone. I also want the skull to have less contrast with the flesh so it'll have to be darkened. I am quite satisfied with the Garum's back. The sculpture was made with sculpy and plumber's putty.

meeting of the minds...

It looks like we'll be getting together for our first meeting the last Saturday of Jan. 2006. @ 5:00 pm. My lovely wife will make snacks and munchies...we'll review the animatics and discuss the shooting schedule...anyone who is all ready involved is invited...that means you, Ron, Jay, John, Danielle, Dorien, Christy, Jen, and the other Jenn and the body gaurds and Olivia and well, you get the picture...(Lana, I'll have a camera ready for you)...this is the date unless something comes up...stay tuned and I'll get you directions to my house...

UPDATE TIME!!!

I've assembled about 110 out of 530 storyboards in photoshop. I've been tweaking the color of these black and white sketches so that the editors (me a some guiy name Greg...you know who you are) can color sinc the final movie for the proper mood. Deep blue for outdoors, a yellow orange for indoors, blue green for when the Garum is near, black and white for flash backs and story telling and finally, brown for the shots where Lilly confronts Drifters. I should have all of the images ready in about a week and then I can edit them into the animatic.

Last night at as one of many Christmas gatherings was winding down and I finished off my second bowl of homemade French onion soup, I did some reworking on the script. I'm trying to limit Gwen's dialog and define the Garum's origins better. I've already decided to include the original two sets of storyboads I made for the Garum's origins on the DVD. Had I gone the original direction, the story would have linked much closer to the Entropy Gate universe. As is, the only connection now is Lilly.

We got our camera man!

I spoke with a student at ITT who has a sweet new video camera that cost like about twenty of my paychecks or more. He's been itching for a project to shoot. I am so ready for March to arrive so we can start shooting.

Costumes go into production over Christmas break as well as starting our first soundtrack recording session.