In preparation for the Spinning the Compass music video I’m doing, we’ve put together a quick advert for the goggle props that I made for the video. Just for fun more than anything really.
Seems to have been quite well received – one chap from New Zealand commented on a forum ‘Hope you don’t mind but I have copied the link to my evil Mates down at Weta. Coolness!’
If I’d been drinking coffee I would’ve spat it over my keyboard.
I went along to the Frightfest ’International Short Film extravaganza’ at the Empire Leicester Square today. ’To My Mother and Father, the horror film I did some effects for last year was in the line-up along with ten or so other shorts.
I’d seen the film beforehand at the BFI but the soundtracks now been refined as has the grading. I also thought the edit had been tinkered with as well, but that might’ve been my imagination. The film really does look fantastic in terms of production values and looks like it was shot with a much bigger budget than it actually had.
It went really well and got a good reception from the audience. It was nice to see my work up on a big screen in front of an audience. You’re always critical of your own stuff, but a few shots of the effects that made me wince previously actually looked fine this time round.
There were also loads of other really great shorts on the bill as well. The ones that stood out for me and certainly got the biggest audience reaction were the ones with a comedic edge (not to say the more serious ones didn’t too – check out ‘Through the Night’ if you can).
I guess it’s because you only have a short time to grab the audience so if you can make them laugh then you’ve got them straight away. The biggest hit was probably ‘Papa Wrestling’ which is a spanish short about a retired wrestler who goes on a violent rampage after bullies steal his son’s lunchbox.
Absolutely hilarious, it had everyone in stitches. Luckily the whole thing’s available on YouTube so I’ve posted it below.
There was also ‘Nelly and Lio’ which is a french language Canadian production with a thelma and louise vibe which was really quirky and very good. The two leads were fantastic.
There was also ‘Rise of the Appliances’ which was about household electronics taking over the world. Sounds silly, and is, but it’s also hilarious and very well made.
I could only find sections of those two on Youtube but I’ve posted them nonetheless.
Here’s some footage I’m thinking about using for my werewolf vid. This is intended to be from the poor dude who turns into the werewolfs perspective, waking up dazed in a field having been attacked and staggering into a nearby derelict house where the transformation takes place. If I do use it it’ll need some insert shots of a bloodied hand things like that.
Couple of bits. I’ve actually taken a slight break from doing the werwolves as I’ve been ebaying a load of stuff so I could buy a new camera to shoot the final vid on.
That’s all done now and I’m the proud owner of a Nikon D90 which (for all you cameraphiles out there) is a digital SLR which also shoots 720p vid. The advantage of this over a regular camcorder is you can use your SLR lenses to get some excellent video effects. Here’s some test vid using an f1.8/35mm lens.
I’m also starting to make the molds now- partly because I’ve run out of clay halfway through building the old man so I need the clay from the werewolf sculpt.
Here’re some pics of the old man:
And here’re some pics of the molds:
I’m laminating the plaster with glass fibre to give it some structural strength.
I’ve finished my Oldroid video. Came out quite well, abit longer than anticipated, but no bad thing I guess. Already thinking about the next one, which will feature werewolves ;0)
Finally coming back to my Oldroid (or 0.L.Droid). The effects for the horror film and masks I’ve been working on got in the way, but I’ve now got the time to turn my attention back to it.
I’ve done a little work on the 0.L.Droid puppet itself, mostly the eyes which are now more or less working, however I’ve mostly been concentrating on a new background character which is a more primitive version of the 0.L.Droid, maybe 5.L.Droid or something ;0)
The model’s made from a silicon cast of the face of the original puppet plus various bits and pieces such as bits from old action figures, batteries, bits of wood etc etc. It has some degree of motion – the head moves left to right and up and down and the arm also moves. I’ll be adding a hand too. I think I’ll animate it to put on a top hat or something ;0)
I’ve put together a rough test video to show how the effects for the horror film will work. Should look alot better (and more horrific) once it’s filmed properly by a professional cameraman (and not by me in my front room) and once copious amounts of blood have been added.
So finally got around to finishing my food colouring and water skit. I’m not really trying to be arty, but I figured this would be a cool way of producing some interesting shots without spending much money! I also thought it’d be good to do something that doesn’t involve blood or monsters as most of my stuff tends to do……
And yes the title is a league of gentlemen ref ;0)
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