Month: February 2006

  • MAKING MOVIES AND GHOSTS

    I feel like this making a movie. Fighting a brick wall all the time. Even though you never really succeed, if you work hard at it, you'll have some cool shit that entertains people.

    On other notes, I think my hotel room is haunted. Woohoo, last night there was a dog growling under my bed, and my curtains were moving like the windows were open. Which is to say, I think this is pretty cool. That's another incentive for me to stay for another week here. I wonder whether the other ghost is a hot babe.... would be cool to have a ghost gf from bulgaria I can take home

    I wonder what is wrong with me, I cannot play horror games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill or Fatal Frame. But real life ghosts are the coolest things when I experience them. But for some reasons, I don't know what I'm frightened of when I play the game. I think it's the same idea about people being afraid of movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hostel, those are about real life people but yet everyday we laugh and talk with them. Guess I just don't judge all Ghosts the same way.

    It's the weekend, so I don't have my camera here to see if I can take any Ghost pictures. That would suck if my fantasy ghost woman turned out like this

    Goddess Bunny Footage - Click Here

    Oh well, updates on the shooting. They pulled out 15 Ak47 bullets from the guy shot outside my hotel. Gene Generation is coming along great. If any of you have a myspace website, I just set up a Gene Generation Myspace Films account. Would be great if you could join :)

    http://www.myspace.com/genegeneration

  • ONE DEATH IN REAL LIFE, A MASSACRE IN REEL LIFE

    In real life news, some mafia boss (Ivan 'The Doctor' Todorov) got shot 200 yards from my hotel at around 2 hours ago. But where was I? At work!!! Jesus Christ, what the hell!! My life is never fun, no girls, no gun fights....but hey, I get to kill lots of people in my movies and get away with it. Kill one person and you are a murderer, kill a million and you are a conqueror, kill a billion and you're a film director...

    The best part about it is, the headline news is the bird flu. But some Mafia Boss gets shot, big deal...hahahaha...welcome to Bulgaria! This is awesome! I figured I want to be shot by Christian Activists if I ever get famous. At least I know I'm doing something right.

  • WRITING GENE GENERATION

    I remembered some time 2 years ago (yeah it's been that long!), I only started bouncing ideas and concepts with Keith Collea (Producer). About January 2004, keith went on to do HD Stuff for Collateral (Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx) and in between, writing stuff with me on Gene Generation. Back then, our idea was merely a character named Michelle who was an assassin killing DNA Hackers. A lot of the story has not been fleshed out at this point.

    So why does Keith get to have all the fun damnit. I took it upon myself to make another short, why not? I have time....and nothing like spending time honing your craft. So, I gathered a crew and decided to make a silent film called Take Me Somewhere Nice, it's completely different from my usual 'Horror, Gore and Blood' kinda thing, but then again, we filmmakers have to be flexible don't we? As long as tragedy is involved, why not!!! hahaha!

    I'm glad I made the film, I was surprised it won us the Audience Choice Award in Sedona later March 2005. Too bad it couldn't go to any other festivals, cause after Sedona, I had to drop everything, and get ready to shoot The Gene Generation. Since then, the project has not seen the light of the day. So I decided to put it up

    Take Me Somewhere Nice (Quicktime) Click Here

    Wish I could do more with this short, unfortunately, I've been too busy with The Gene Generation and most film festivals will not accept films 2 years old. So...oh well....at least I enjoyed making it.

  • Blood, Sweat and Tears

    There is a saying that filmmakers (or anybody working hard in general) shed blood, sweat and tears for their projects. Yesterday, I believe I could take that term literally. Yup, got my tattoo. Here's the picture of it, blood and all. Of course, the genius photographer in me couldn't get the damn camera to work right and it looks out of focus. But then, I can't complain for a 60 bucks digital camera I bought. I think with all the xanga post, I should consider an upgrade.

    Here's something else that's funny. KFC in Bulgaria, wow, it's basically chopped up chicken put on steamed rice and mashed potatoes gravy poured all over it. Weird huh. But it actually taste good. A bastardized mixed of Yoshinoya Rice Bowl and KFC. Heh heh...

    Also, just found another reason to like Diet Coke in Bulgaria now. These babies come in silver bottles now. How cool is that, it not only matches my laptop, but it matches my clothing which is pretty much all black for the most part. Having it silver doesn't just make it a drink, makes it an accessory. Like spiked collars...heck yeah....

    Next post, got something interesting for you guys. I'm testing out the server right now, hopefully it would work and stabilize.

  • FEATURING MUSIC BY...

    As some of you can tell, I've been listening to Combichrist. Well, just 2 days ago, I had the pleasure of talking to the band, specifically Andy, and they have been loving Gene so far to agree to work with me! Woohooo, i feel like a blonde who saw Kelly Clarkson! Awesome...combichrist is one of my favorite industrial band. And to have their songs is like a HUGE honor!

    I know most of you not into the whole goth / industrial scene are like...umm...who are they?

    Ok, here's some clips with their music in it. Just press play :P

    their website is http://www.combichrist.com

    I think this is one of the highlights or working in the film industry is that you get to work with people you respect and admire!

    Happy happy mood today...it's rare..I'm usually PMSing... :P

  • GENE GENERATION TATTOO

    BING! My tattoo for this movie. Now the question is where...I'm running out of skin....I have some space on my right arm. But it would look a little un even. My chest is reserved for later on, my whole back and left arm is taken up...shit....looks like I'm gonna have to kill somebody and steal some skin...

  • PRODUCTION DESIGNER LOOK

    Chad Michael Ward, a talented artist and our production designer (I'm so lucky!), has a new book coming out.

    For those who don't know him, you should check out his previous work as well. His upcoming work includes not only photography books of the macabre, but you'll be delighted to know, a new movie that he is directing is in the works too. He's considering some of the cast of Gene Generation but it's in the air right now. He's busy at work on the script. From what I read...it's going to be great. Say Hello, drop a line, be a fan, these are works of a true artist.

    He's the crazy guy behind these photos and design


    For more pictures, visit his website at http://www.digitalapocalypse.com - The Art of Chad Michael Ward

  • STORYBOARDS AND GREEN SCREEN

    So, all the storyboards have been drawn out for the VFX list. Here is just a sample of one.

    In this scene, Michelle kicks a guy out of the window. As he hits the glass, the scene will pause as we show the glass cracks growing outwards before the guy smashes out of the window. Michelle hears some more thugs coming through the corridor and launches herself in the air. The camera follows her up before (like a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber) stalls, spins around and dives to follow the thug falling from the 20 story building. As the thug crashes through debris, his blood and debris are flying past the camera before he finally hits a dumster below and the junk hits the camera...cut to next shot. Here is how the storyboards look (Click to Enlarge)

    This is just a small segment of the fight scene. Basically, just for the last three shots on the storyboard, next week, we are beginning placements of buildings around Michelle's apartment and of course, distance between her and the walls, Night and time of day to match Lighting scheme of what we shot and a whole bunch of other stuff.

    Last friday, I've never seen more people tired walking out of the studio before. But their look of satisfaction and the work quality is something everybody will be celebrating about this weekend. I wouldn't ask for anybody else than WWFX to handle The Gene Generation. I'm trying to refrain from posting too much stuff to give away the movie, but I'm literally excited by everything they have done.

    ARGH! I need to get some sleep now! :P

  • BUILDING AND COMPOSITING

    The team continues to chug the project away, paying attention to minute details in every aspect of the movie. Currently the team can be seen broken up into various departments.

    Here are the walls of demeter being built. Basically, a concept drawing is taken and done into what is known as technical drawings. These drawings are then scanned into the computer and from a 2D image, these guys here are responsible with bringing it alive from all dimensions. Using their specific reference pictures, they built the framework of what will become Demeter.

    Olympia is basically built building by building. These row of guys built wire frame models of the buildings...buildings after buildings after buildings. The fact that these guys can stare and squint for long periods of time is beyond me. But that's what they do, and what they do best. Gotta love it!

    Over here, they are creating the effects of the Transcoder. that term may sound alien to you now, but it's the hero effect of the movie. You'll know what it is when you see the actual movie. I'm trying to refrain from telling much of the movie, and rather the step by step, making-of process.

    Many of you saw the Aereann Flyer Design a while ago...if not...this is how it looks

    Bearing in mind that the Aereann Flyer is not a creature but rather a technological advance. The guys above built every part of the Aereann Flyer, from the mechanism to gears. Yes, that's because I will have a shot of the camera going into the Aereann Flyer. Must be fun to fly in and out of gears, love it!

    These guys create what is known as compositing. Taking the green out and creating mattes for the guys to merge it together with the movie. They have to take every step and care to make sure no detail is left into the picture. Unlike television movies, the resolution is extremely high and mistakes are more easily spotted on the big screens than your regular television. It's either spot the mistakes now or pay later.

    Here is where wire frame models are brought into the actual movie to give a feel of the framing, camera movement and to test whether this is what I want. Obviously, tracking and other complicated shots are done as a rough draft now. The important thing is for me to identify whether we should continue working or try different tactics of VFX framing and work.

    Then, finally, the test footage is brought over to Editing department, where they will insert the shots. The team gathers around and we discuss what needs to be done and changed before we move on to the next few shots. All that work, and they just tests!

  • 10 DAYS IN BULGARIA, 1 DAY OFF

    So I finally got the day to go take a look around Bulgaria. We went to Plovdiv, to see the historical parts of Bulgaria. Ooo..what a blast! We took a walk down the city which was a blast. Although, I'm used to the crowded streets of LA so seeing something empty like this is like...umm...ok...I guess maybe because it was snowing or something (heavy snow too)

    But Simeon (VFX Supervisor) and co. took me into a shopping center. The coolest quaint little shopping center. It looks more like a coliseum than a shopping center. It was later I found out that I was only nearby the famous coliseum so I suppose that was the theme to it.

    So we got out of the shopping center, cause I wasn't interested in shopping in Bulgaria. If I wanted to shop, it would be Hong Kong or Singapore. I had to see something exotic. So we kept walking...and I saw something promising...

    that led to...

    Heh heh, a big cheesy smile for all of ya. Notice how i refrained from doing the peace sign. I was actually going to. I think it's an Asian genes, especially strong in Japanese and Koreans. Almost every photo I see has a PEACE SIGN...still don't know what that means. Are you honestly referring to Peace in the world? ok...I'll give you that...

    Anyhoo, we kept walking, the entire streets of Bulgaria just went off in church bells. Yup, must have been like 5 of them around the area. I found one and wacked my camera at it.

    And here's the coolest part of the day. I went to check out this dude who makes pottery. Ok, sounds normal. But this guy made a vase in under a minute! And it looked better than those university students who spend a whole semester on their pottery project. And there's something about his technique as well, but you could throw his pottery as hard as you can, and it won't break! Whoa! If I get married, I ain't buying my stuff from him.

    But his little studio is close to 200 years old. It's made out of large stone slabs and the huge wooden and metal doors were just...umm....'nifty'...that's all I can think of right now. But anyway, this guy was so nice, he gave me a wine set that he made himself. It's a traditional Bulgaria wine jug with 5 glasses that are so odd looking (I haven't unwrapped them yet) that you can't tell if you are drinking wine or smoking opium. Pretty cool. No guest in my US Home will ever drink from a wine glass again!

    Anyway...the rest of my day was even more awe-inspiring. I had so many movies in my head just walking in Bulgaria. I need to come back and explore this country when I'm not working. There are a lot of places I would love to take photos for you guys, but they do not allow it. To protect the church or something...note: I DID NOT BURN WHEN I WALK INTO A CHURCH...even after I said 'goddamnit' and got away with it cause nobody spoke english there :P This is all I can find in the web of a church I've been to


    So then, as we were walking back to my car. I saw this advert and I was thinking...WTF!!!!!

    Yup, you read it right...DIY silicone....I turned the pictures sideways cause I know all the guys will be slowly turning their heads to the side rather than reading the label on the right side up :P Now...back to work for me!

Recent Posts

Categories