BLOOD

Been messing with the two flavors...strawberry and chocolate...found that a 5 to 1 strawberry to chocolate mix plus some corn starch and a dash of Cabernet wine works really well...blood in rain...problem solved.

Why oh why...

Someone asked me the other day why I was doing this project...I replied, "Shut up!"...no actually I gave a real answer. When I was in college, we never had the opportunity to do something like this and I was always trying to do something like this...in college we made two films..."Harbinger" and "Matlock 304"...of course, that was before Andy Griffith made Matlock...

But I digress...I wanted a project that college students could get into and have a portfolio that did not look like the typical college crap...thus...a film.

So, ultimately there will be a DVD with bonus features...one such feature should chronicle the creation of this beast (i.e. the blog and up dates...) I have posted a sample...enjoy, chew, savor, critique...

It's a bit of a contest...

One of my friends, Doug, asked why Danielle had the cloth pulled over her eyes. I realized that anyone not privy to the story line might asked the same question. At two scenes in the story, Danielle, as Gwen, will be seen with her eye coverings off. We'll get some red contacts for those scenes. So...here are three ideas for a promo poster. Vote on the best or send some advice.

Lilly kills a Drifter Demon

Lilly approaches the Drifter Demon...

Drifter: A death has occurred…we are naturally drawn…


Lilly pulls out her cross and holds it before her…it glows bright green…the Drifter moves in close…

Drifter: That does not scare me.

Lilly: It’s not supposed to scare you. It’s supposed to hurt.

She hits the drifter upside the head with the glowing cross and the drifter explodes into dust…

Lilly: Fool!

All but DANEA...

We've cast every main character but DANEA...we need a super tough woman who has some serious muscle. I've been looking at a local female "roller Derby" group for some possibilities...

STORMS APLENTY

...but I'm stuck inside. There are several storms moving through today and I'm stuck in the basement of the University without so much as a window to watch the excitement...

Tonight we dine IN HELL!!!

"Uh...excuse me king, I thought I'd just pop on over to purgatory for a pint!"

As far as rallying cries go, "dining in hell" isn't on the top of my list! So, this is a review of the much anticipated 300! I sorta liked it...sorta hated it. What I liked was the nonstop action and the way the Queen dispatched the bad guy. I also enjoyed the cinematography...however, I also didn't like it. When it worked, it ROCKED, when it didn't it was just plain unprofessional.

Any close up of our hero worked...however, the nature of the beast (digital) makes every flaw obvious...like the fact that twice I saw inoculation scars on two characters...not good. Also, any time that the ultimate villain was on camera, it was SO obvious that there were latex appliances keeping the piercing on.

Also, why, with all of the spraying blood, were our heroes never covered with blood?

Now, I did like the elephant attack, and, well, basically all of the attacks at the valley.

I also liked the "wall" segment...see it...you'll know what I mean.

So, bottom line, I am inspired, but I also see what not to do...

blood recipe

Two students of mine suggested chocolate and strawberry syrup mixed with water for blood. Chocolate was used in "PSYCHO" but it was black and white film...the strawberry should work, but it's too pink. Adding the chocolate will thicken and darken it. We'll test tomorrow...

Alias Sketch Book Pro 1.0

Some people have asked what software I'm using. It's sketchbook with some Photo shop for lighting...I have some more works in progress that I'll post soon.

Serenity

Been listening to the commentary track to Joss Whedon's "Serenity"...one thing that bothers me is how often he keeps saying that "we needed to cut this scene because the audience would be bored by it or it doesn't advance the story"...but here's how I look at editing. No one notices a spice unless it is there and then is not. If your instinct tells you to include a scene...keep it. If a meal needs pepper, add it. If it isn't there, sure, people won't miss it...but if it is there, and it adds to the flavor (as most of the deleted scenes from Serenity did), then forget your concept of what the public might or might not want and put it in your movie. The die hard fans will love it and the other's might enjoy some spice!

The face of evil...

This is my version of the demon drifter...we'll see what Mawete does with it.

Scout...or nose ninja...

It wasn't until after I finished this that I saw the resemblance to the Ninj. His nose is exposed so that he can smell, but his mouth is covered to help stave off his breath. The clothing is rubbed with tree sap or moisture from weeds to hide his oder from the Garum.

of blood and rain...

Traditionally blood for film is corn syrup and food coloring. When "Conan the Barbarian" was being filmed they had to mix vodka in the mix to keep the cornsyrup from freezing during the winter fight scenes. Several members of the crew were caught with red tongues when a gallon of the blood went missing.



Well we have a different problem all together. We have continuous rain. We will need to devise a 'blood' that will flow smoothly and mix with the rain while not staining the clothing as paint or food coloring would. Starting Monday the 19th we are doing "BLOOD TESTS". We'll post the results.

New artists added to the team.

We just added Rachael, an IPFW artist, to the team. She draws all sorts of dragons and mythical beasts. She is designing the 'dog' creature that Danea uses for the hunt of the GARUM.

Also, Mawete has finished his Senior project (I hope to post images of it as soon as he gives me permission because it ROCKS to the stars...trust me) and is ready to begin the opening sequence and the DRIFTERS!

ITT did not renew my contract this quarter...a bit bummed...a bit not...

Color change

I messed with the color some more to give it the look of evening. Also, I was asked by Andrew how we were going to shoot this scene. I'm thinking that the sculpture will be a model. The background will be CG. Gwen most likely, since she is small here, will be CG. The waterfall could be a combo of CG and something they used for the waterfall models of Naboo in Star Wars Phantom Menace. I will need to revisit that disc, but I believe they used salt and...I'll get back to you on it. But any way, this shot is just an establishing shot. It will only be on a few seconds. We'll cut to a close up of Gwen entering the framing of the cave-like entrance of the sculpture.

The Library

There is a point in the film where Gwen seeks out the advice of the LIBRARIAN...she goes to his Library which is a ruined sculpture of a "king". The sculpture has fallen into a cliff-side-waterfall and the head has split. The water pours through the top of the sculpture's head and runs out through the eye sockets as tears...it is as if the sculpted king weeps for his children...

PG, PG-13, R ?

Some people have asked what sort of rating I would be shooting for with this film...Not an R, but probably not a PG. There is violence and there is some blood. However, most of the violence takes place off camera and tho the GARUM is quite monstrous, he exists in the shadows. The SURVIVOR also exists in the shadows and emerges from them only briefly. These days its hard to see why certain ratings are given out. When CSI can show chest cavities torn or cut open but a group of anti smokers want to make any movie with smoking a hard R, it confuses me...

The only survivor of a GARUM attack...

I realized that Lilly was the "good angel" on Gwen's shoulder...but I needed a "bad angel" or temptress "or devil" to try and convince her to do wrong. I sketched a few ideas and ran them past a few people. One person in particular "Megan" latched on to the character. What she may not have known was that she was perfect for the part. We needed a woman who was physically attractive, but deep in her heart, she was evil (Megan is not evil in her heart, but she has the ability to show evil...I have seen it in critiques...just kidding Megan). This character had turned from a life of good to evil because (tho she had escaped the GARUM'S assault) her outward beauty was destroyed by it's attack. Now, the people of the "DARKNESS" world would never have seen her physical beauty, (tho blind people can appreciate physical beauty through touch) but she 'knew' she was special...she was, until the attack, quite beautiful and rather vain. She has no idea why the GARUM let her live, but deep in her heart, she wonders if it had to do with vanity, perhaps GARUM recognized an old emotion of his in her...therefore we needed an attractive woman who, through hours of make up, we could "UGLIFY"...Megan has agreed to the make up and is very excited about the roll...she will be the 'devil' on Gwen's shoulder...here is the "SURVIVOR" in her cave...

What can I say...Ron's a genius...

Meeting with Tau (name might be misspelled) tomorrow...wanted a quick sketch of Lilly for her...

A little color...

I took Ron's concept drawing and added some color...

As promised...here is Ron's sketch

Ron has taken the GARUM to an almost zombie state...creepy.

GARUM

Tonight at ITT, Ron brought out the WACOMUS MAXIMUS and drew the GARUM's face...I was diggin' it. Hopefully he'll send it to me TONIGHT RON!!!! so I can post it...but then Ron dubbed the Garum, 'Gary the Garum'...Ron must die a tragic death in a cameo in the film for such a tragic joke...

Did some work on Danea...

It's sort of subtle...but it's better...

If the fire's too hot...

Here's Lilly after she's wiped out the DRIFTERS...she's covered in soot...

More Lilly designs...

Working on Lilly...I'm liking the new look so far!

Sickness...

Last Tuesday I started feeling bad...actually, the feeling started on Sunday, but I have a tendency to ignore illness, pain, small badgers, whatever...so I trudged ahead. But then, Tuesday I had no coffee...because it didn't sound good. That should have been my first warning. Then, no appetite. Then high fevers 102, 103,...sweats, cold spells, a desire to watch Bob Ross! It was maddening! From Tuesday night to Friday night I slept only for short spurts of time (a spurt being increments of 5-7 minutes). So at one time I had slept for many spurts...that would be one and a half hours. That was the most at one time. I became cranky and irritable. Yes, there is a significant difference between the two.

Horizon...cue sunrise music...

Today we celebrated my 40th birthday a few days early and my wonderful wife surprised me with a WACOM tablet. If this means nothing to you, don't worry...but if you understand what a WACOM is, well, let me tell you, it's a 6 x 8 in and it has all the bells and whistles a guy could hope for! Once my computer gets upgraded (Monday by my brother) the artwork should come spewing forth!

ps. Kristi-the-fantastic (as I shall call her now) also got me FIREFLY the DVD box set for Valentines day! Be envious!

At least there is some good news...

Mary dropped off some costumes last night and Ted sent these low res roughs of a tower he is designing.

Lilly, meet fly girl, fly girl, meet Lilly...ooh boy...

So, last night I get sick. BONE-ACHINGLY sick and I decide I need to go to sleep early (11:00) and sleep in. We were supposed to have LOTS of snow so I knew I could sleep in. We are currently in a Blizzard State of Emergency which means all of the schools and the three colleges I teach at are closed. So, I slept in...and then it happened. My eight year old says, "That looks like Lilly." I go downstairs where they are watching "The Tales from the Never Ending Story" (2001).



And there she was...a petite red head with hair sprouting from a WWI leather flight helmet complete with leather jacket and GOGGLES! ARRRG! Lilly needs a revamp!

Key Scene for Ron

This should help establish scale. It's a rush job...

I'm working on another key scene today. Hopefully I'll be able to post it soon.

I was working on another poster idea. I really can't wait to start shooting this summer.

This just in...

Celebrating The Art of Ralph McQuarrie


I've always been a big fan of McQuarrie...I will need this book. The Star Wars.com web site is promoting this book. click on the link above.

Lilly fighting off the DRIFTERS...

I've been doing these small, rough 'sketches' with photoshop so that the CG guys can get a better understanding of the scene. This will be entirely CG. The DRIFTERS, using the last of their strength, have once again taken flight. Lilly has exhausted her power with the 'launcher' and is now using what strength she has (the bright blue energy blast) to destroy the DRIFTERS.

Garum

doodling

GRRRRR...ARRRRG!

Joss Wheadon is no longer working on the Wonder Woman project! Very upset. For some reason, the 'link' won't work here...but this is the site where you can read more

http://www.darkworlds.com/hs/art_27484.html

And it happened while most people were watching the Super Bowl...

Last night on the way home from the in-laws, Kristi and I saw a 'shooting star'. It had orange and green fire in it's tail and it was close.

This morning I read this on one of the on line newspapers I visit.

Spectacle in Midwestern sky was probably meteor, military says

02/05/2007

Scores of people all over the central United States reported seeing flames and fiery explosions in the sky Sunday night.

Calls flooded 911 operators and area police departments, the Missouri Highway Patrol said. Callers described the spectacle in various ways, some saying it looked like a plane crash and others calling it a ball of fire in the sky.

A preliminary report Sunday indicated that the lights were from a meteor, said Maj. April Cunningham, a spokeswoman for North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, which watches for airborne threats to the United States and Canada.

"We had a pilot reporting seeing a meteor, and that's really all the information we have tonight," Cunningham said.

The patrol forwarded the information to the Federal Aviation Administration and had no reports of damage or landings from the potential meteor or space debris.

Lilly vs Flying drifters...

Lilly Lilly senses the Drifters...she turns to see them FLYING! They have summoned dark powers to enable them to fly despite their lack of wings. Thick, black, powdery smoke oozes out from their burning bodies. Lilly uses a 'rocket launcher' to take them out.

This just in...

Andew sent this low res map of the 'land masses' of the planet. Now keep in mind...this is in the early stages...and already I'm psyched! Mawete also has some good stuff I'll be posting soon.

Music

We have another addition to our music team. We're up to four. I'd like two more for some extra diversity. Calling all drummers!

Ted's Stilts

There is a scene in the film where 'fruit pickers' are on stilts in the background while Gwen talks to an elder about a frightening new development in the GARUM's attack pattern. They will be seen through a haze of rain, but Ted has sent me some early, low res images of the base of the stilts. They are large at the base so that the harvesters don't sink into the mud.

The Drifters are Coming...

This is sort of what I envision when the DRIFTERS fly in and try to manipulate the GARUM...Lilly blasts them with the "LAUNCHER"...I'll post Friday...hopefully...

so...Kate Bush is who? She's a very attractive British Gal who has an equally attractive voice...she has sung with Peter Gabriel and has had several American hits...then America embraced Madonna and our musical taste went to that dark burning place where music becomes rap or pop and smothers in eternal dark embers of stinky-ness...so there...buy her CD!!!

I'm listening to "Hounds of Love"
tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 (creepy), 10, and 12

DRUMMERS!

Talked to our lead drummer! She's psyched about our MARCH recording session...

We're listening to Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Blue Man Group, Stomp, and Christopher Franke! Let's ROCK!

And a little side bar...my son got bag pipes for Christmas...if he can manage it, I want him to play a dirge for the scene where Sy is floated down the river...Zack is 8, but he is SO TALENTED Musically...Thursday he is doing a demo at school on Scottish culture and bagpipes! A dad could not be prouder!

sort of...odd...

I've killed a lot of fictional people. In my Entropy Gate series I killed some of my favorite characters to move the plot and tell the story. But tonight, I storyboarded the death of the "Old Caretaker" who is played by my good friend John Gruse. It was surreal offing him with the attack of the GARUM. I found myself, as I was drawing the image of him turning in slow motion with a small blade in hand to face his killer, hoping he'd move fast enough to evade the vicious attack...but John died on paper and he spat blood. He'll be happy...I'm sort of wigged out! I'll post the boards tomorrow.

What a night!

I saw the digital work of the "tree harvesters"...oh wait, I haven't posted those scenes yet...

I also saw that my logo guy was creating sparks for the logo...

I added two new scenes to the film...

Oh, and my son had to go to the emergency room because he chipped a tooth at a basketball game when a cousin fell on his head...long story...quite expensive...

YET, the glass is still half full and brimming with great tasting liquids.

The new script is almost done...it is far better than the original!

I've had a rare opportunity today...almost 3 hours of freedom to edit my second book in the ENTROPY GATE series. I've been listening to two CD's as inspiration...1) KASHMIR symphonic Led Zeppelin...if you don't have it...get it! And the "Last of the Mohicans" sound track...I've got so many ideas for our soundtrack it almost hurts...

John...a good friend...he must die...

John is a great artist and a good friend, but he is also the old caretaker and in scene one he passes on the responsibility of the caretaker to Gwen...he thinks that he will live out his retirement in peace, but noooooooooooooo...I have plans for him...he dies a rather gruesome death...gurgling, sputtering, coughing, retching...finally dying...