Boiler Room

Boiler Room
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

I went down into the Boiler Room again today, this time with my tutor to look at lighting, camera angles, and positioning. This will be the opening shot, and the final shot of the film, so not only does it have to be good to capture the viewers attention, it has to be good as it will be the last thing the viewer sees. And they will remember the last scene in the film.

I have a good feeling about the film, especially as the news channel sequences have turned out so well.

News Reports Finished

My gear all set up
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

As part of my 'Spider' film, I have a series of news reports. I filmed them in the Sound Studio at the Plas Coch campus of NEWI.

I also had a sound student named Ben helping me out on the day as well. We recorded the audio and the visuals separately, and linked the two up afterwards in post. Ben has also been adding some special sound effects to the last report, when the news studio gets attacked by the 'Spider' virus.

Ben sent the final audio over this morning, complete with sound effects, and I have to say... I nearly crapped myself when I watched it for the first time. The sounds and effects used really reflect the situation, and is exactly what I was after. I have a really good feeling about using Ben for the rest of the film.

Script Meeting

Went over to the acting studios today.

Met the lead male and lead female, both are great for the parts in the film and we went over the entire script today. The most important thing is the suitability and professionalism of the actors, and I have to say that both of them are professional enough to be able to go straight into the lines which I provide.

 

Also worked out logistics for the 4 days of shooting as well. We had a discussion about which bits were still to be filmed, and I realised that I'm about half way there with everything I need in the film.

 

I'm hoping to get the shoot finished my Christmas, then I can edit over the holidays, provided I get some time off from work, that is.

News Channel Sequences

Tracy looking at script
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

I wraped the news channel sequences shooting last thursday.

Tracy (who works with me) was the top notch news presenter on the day, and she did a real good job. There were 3 main sequences to shoot, with the final report ending in chaos as the studio being used gets infected by the virus.

It took most of the afternoon of the wednesday beforehand to transport all the equipment I used over to 'The Wall' sound studio at the Plas Coch campus of NEWI (I'm based at the Reget St site, and we have no studio, even though we have all paid studio fees - but dont get me started, thats another blog post away)

A sound engineering student also helped out on the day, named 'Ben'. He took charge of the audio recording, using the very very expensive mixing desk in the gallery above the stage. - He did an ace job as well, helping me lug stuff around, too.

Some fly-on-the-wall footage will be posted on YouTube as part of my latest v-log very soon.

Audio Recorded For SAWPC Ep 4 + 5

Well I finally dragged Tom (the guy who did the voiceover for SAWPC eps 1-3) into the sound recording room on Thursday.

 

I now have the voiceovers for the next (and final) two episodes of SAWPC (San Andreas Wildest Police Chases) which have been wildly popular on YouTube, with numerous requests for me to make more.

 

These two episodes will be the last two I make of SAWPC, as I don't want to get known as 'the guy who makes gameplay videos' - even though it has a point to it.

 

The main reason I made SAWPC was an exercise in Machima film making, and to test out my new video capture device. Also, seeing as how no-one had made a version of World's Wildest Police Chases using GTA footage, I thought I'd give it a go.

 

Since then, some people have tried to make their own versions of SAWPC, but in my opinion, they aren't as good. I must have spent about 30-odd hours in total playing the game to get just the right type of footage to use, and then there was the edit as well. Episodes 4 and 5 will be up soon, as my other projects take priority at the moment, oh, and speaking of which, I'm filming a news channel sequence this coming Thursday in the Sound Studio over at Plas Coch site.

Sound Studio

Sound Studio
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

I have been location hunting (again) and found a perfect studio for the news channel sequences I have in my film.

This studio is complete with gallery overlooking the studio stage. Again I'm not going to go too much into what the sequence is about, just that the news article 'goes wrong'.

This place needs 2 weeks notice of filming, which gives me more than enough time to script the sequence. The main site at Plas Coch really does have some good equipment, it's just a shame that the Regent Street site has little or no resources for filmakers, even though we're based there.

Film Location Hunting

DSC00348
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

I had a quick look in the boiler room today at NWSAD (North Wales School of Art and Design) and was amazed at what I saw.

It was a scene reminiscent of Half-Life. Now, the thing is, I need a room like this for my film, and this seems absolutly perfect.

I need to get permission from the estates department to film down there, but if I get permission, then I'll be super-happy indeed

Dramatic Developments

Eye
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

Well, not really dramatic, but menaingful all the same.
I had a really useful discussion with my tutor on Thursday, and I've pretty much re-wrote the whole structure of my 'Spider' films.

Film 1 was going to be about how and why the virus was made,
Film 2 was going to be about a group or people who get trapped in a building, and try to survive the virus' attack
Film 3 was going to be about 'Spike', who used to work with 'Spider', and was going to focus on how 'Spike' saves the modern world from this unstoppable virus.

SO, in conclusion, these 3 films will be rolled into 1, with various bits chopped up and out.

Pangea Day

Ok, I forgot to add the link to the Pangea Day website in the last post, here it is:

www.pangeaday.org

 

I really think this is gonna be huge, if you think you have a story to tell which can change the world, or just want to make a statement, then get rolling, and put something together, then go over to the site.

 

I'll be having a good hard think about what I'm going to do for this.

Pangea Day - May 10, 2008

The world is full of division now, and its pretty hard to see that we're all part of a whole. There is so much division by borders, difference, conflict, race, and attitudes. So much division makes it hard for us to remember that we were once all part of one continent, Pangea.

 

Pangea is the name of the original super-continent which contained all the world's land mass before the continents started splitting apart 250 million years ago.

 

On May 10, 2008 -- Pangea Day -- sites in Cairo, Dharamsala, Jerusalem, Kigali, London, New York City, Ramallah and Rio de Janeiro will be linked to produce a 4-hour program of powerful films, visionary speakers, and uplifting music. The program will be broadcast live to the world through the Internet, television, digital cinemas, and mobile phones.

 

Ask yourself this. If you had the entire world's attention for just a few minutes, what story would you tell? Perhaps you think the world looks at you, your country and your culture... and just doesn't understand. Then do something about it. Make a film and help change the world.

Movies can't change the world. But the people who watch them can.

Maybe in my small part I can do something that makes a difference.

YouTube Project:Direct

http://uk.youtube.com/projectdirect

 

YouTube has a new competition where you are challenged to make a short film, between 2 and 7 minutes.

 

The only criteria are: 1 - A character facing a situation above his/her maturity level, 2 - It has to include the following line: 'I Demand an explanation for these shenanigans! What do you have to say?' and 3 - The passing of a photograph has to be included in the film.

 

First prize is a 10-day trip to a major international film festival, and a $5000 gift card!

Photo Realistic Life

35mm
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

Last night, in the Photocentre at the local supermarket, a manager comes up to me and asks why I was wearing a small bracelet thing on my wrist. She went toally ape shit on me.

Now, two things spring to mind,
1 - How the hell did she see it, as my shirt sleaves were down, and she must have the eyes of a hawk, oh, AND I KNOW she's got it in for me, as she seems to target me above all others to pick on, but then I guess some people are just like that, and...
2 - Does it really matter? I have lost count of how many people wear bangles, bracelets, chains, rings etc... on the shop floor and dont get stopped, even when the management can clearly see them.

In itself, this isnt a big deal, its just the fact that this woman has double-standards when it comes to me, she hasnt even made an attempt to like me since day 1. And to be quite honest, its getting to the point where I'm going to challenge her on how she talks to me.

Its not just me though, there are so many others who have had enough of how she speaks to people, making them feel right fools when she speaks to them like they are stupid.

Anywho, typing this entry has helped to get this off my chest, oh, and on the plus side, I got some good shots of 35mm films, before being sliced up.

FilmsByNick website revamped!

Well my brand-spanking new website is up and running like a well trained runner!

 

I have kept the old version up, so people who want to see the old one still can, from the 'In Development' section.

 

I think it all looks very professional, and its very very easy to update now, thanks to using PHP and the 'include' code, linking to .html files for the navigation and footer sections makes it super-easy to add a new page, or change what adverts appear on the site (yes, I have adverts, I'm a student, I need the money)

 

go have a gander: www.filmsbynick.com

Oh, The Waiting...

I'm sitting here, waiting, waiting and waiting for my friend to get his ass up here so we can go out filming.

 

I'd do it by myself (no jokes please) but the equipment I use is worth quite a bit, and if I'm on my own, I feel I'm more likely to get something robbed.

 

I think I'll give him a ring..............Hello?

Candle in the dark

Candle in the dark
Originally uploaded by nickcummins

I took this on my cameraphone the other night, and I'm really impressed with it, turned out much better than I thought.

I sometimes look at this, and just sit and think, when I'm in a reflective mood, that is.

Halloween Props

All the Halloween stuff went out in my supermarket last Monday, fake blood, fake scars, smoke machines etc... SO, I'm going to be stocking up on blood and scars, and maybe a few severed limbs again this year, they WILL come in useful for my upcoming films, and even if they don't get used in my main features, I'll make some cheesy Blair-Witch films or something similar.

 

You can get some good film props this time of year.

ASDA + Computers = Fun Times

Yesterday, in the local supermarket in which I work to pay my rent, A discussion came up about a display model computer that had been sold to a customer. NOW, the thing is, when we set up a computer as a display model, we password protect the account, so customers don't mess up the computer.

Anywho, this guy bought it, got it home, but no-one could remember the password used to protect the computer. So I suggested reformatting the machine, he had no data on it as he couldn't get into it anyway, so it was agreed that either asda would pay for a taxi for me to go to their house and reformat etc...

Called them, left a message, 6 hours later, they called back, they didn't take all the discs with them when they bought the computer, SO I cant reformat the computer, well, I could, but they'd have no windows vista disc to use. long and short of it is that he's bringing the machine back for a refund.

I had looked forward to meddling with yet another computer in asda, as I'm the only guy who knows ANYTHING about computers in that place, and everyone knows me as the 'computer guy'

On the up side, there's a vista disc lying around the warehouse somewhere, if I can just find it though...

New Film Ideas

Bit of a slow news week for me, just pulling some overtime at the local supermarket, getting the pennies in, along with other things you might have noticed in this blog...

 

I think I'll be going out shooting a video with one of my workmates at asda, named 'Lee'. I also have ideas for various films along the lines of self-discovery, observations etc... so some quite meaningful films coming soon, oh, and one about 'emo' people, and no.its not going to be attacking them like on YouTube, but actually explaining why emo people are the way they are - one to keep your eyes open for. Oh, and I now HATE Hotmail!

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The next generation of Hotmail is here - Windows Live Hotmail

New look blog

I've just upgraded to the new style of Blogger - not that much difference really, just a few tweaks here and there, but it's a lot easier to add elements, such as a bar of my images from Flickr, and YouTube videos

Photos from recent music video shoot

Here are the photos I took from the recent music video shoot at Talacre Beach, North Wales: