We spent our Labor Day Weekend filming the entirety of the "Mud Dawg Teaser" , in conjunction with freelance producer Josie Collier. The actual teaser is about five minutes long and took three 5 hour days to shoot. Now the project is in the capable hands of our editor, who is also conveniently our Director of Photography, with the help of Adobe After Effects to make a sweet project out of our little venture.
Got to work with some new talent that provided some quality acting, as well as a more diverse look to the cast. Robert Lambert as Dirty Jack, Robert Walker as Chucklehead Dale, Bianca Pisa as Hooligan Teenager, and big ups to Girard Kinney for looking like a badass hunter while playing Badass Hunter. Along with a few familiar performers Zac Crofford as the hero Vernin Hobbs, Stephen Brent as murderous Sheriff Bill Cooley, and Josie Collier as the whistling witch Myra Cullins. Even Zac Crofford's dog Lucy made an appearance as the Badass Hunter's dog.
So far "Old Man Chaos" has been good to us for the most part, in regard to our little flick. Like the rain that only fell between shoot periods, which made our outdoor locations all the more muddy and moist, to help give it that Texas wetland look we really wanted. The only real problem was we couldn't find a Jon boat in time for the shoot. An obstacle that was remedied by a bit of ingenuity on the part of effects specialist Stephen Brent.
The best part of little projects like this is creating a short polished piece for your portfolio, and it also serves as a promo to show possible investors. Like any art form the more you practice the better you get, giving good basic skills that you can build on as your projects progressively get longer and more complex. I often like to take what are going to be the hardest components of a feature and design shorts around them, as an exorcise in the greater vision.
Been a long and productive weekend . . . dream on ya crazies.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Mud Dawg Teaser
An associate of mine presented me with an opportunity this Labor Day Weekend. To film a teaser so she can offer it as part of a double feature when she's shopping for investors. We happily agreed and I dusted off an old concept I shelved, because we needed investors to shoot it. Its called "Mud Dawg" and its about a Gator Skunkape.
Pre production has been interesting, but still very productive. Josie Collier, the aforementioned associate who spearheaded the weekend venture, and the bulltiger team haven't worked together in almost five years and it's like we never stopped. I worked on script and scheduling, Steven on location and tech, and Josie on cast and crew. Just like the old days of "Kung Fu Hillbilly". Well maybe a bit smoother, okay a lot smoother.
The flick takes place on the Texas Gulf Coast in town called Big Cypress, where some of the locals have gone missing. The legend of the Mud Dawg has endured for decades and often any mysterious disappearances are blamed on the creature. There is much more than what's on the surface going on.
What I'm trying to do is spice up what is a cliche' creature feature with little differences that at very least may keep the watcher from expecting everything. Like making the main hero a round, bald, older guy. Like making the monster share the spotlight with a serial killer. A few other details that are in the works. A meaty and complex story for a bloody creature feature.
We got this. . . Dream on ya crazies.
Pre production has been interesting, but still very productive. Josie Collier, the aforementioned associate who spearheaded the weekend venture, and the bulltiger team haven't worked together in almost five years and it's like we never stopped. I worked on script and scheduling, Steven on location and tech, and Josie on cast and crew. Just like the old days of "Kung Fu Hillbilly". Well maybe a bit smoother, okay a lot smoother.
The flick takes place on the Texas Gulf Coast in town called Big Cypress, where some of the locals have gone missing. The legend of the Mud Dawg has endured for decades and often any mysterious disappearances are blamed on the creature. There is much more than what's on the surface going on.
What I'm trying to do is spice up what is a cliche' creature feature with little differences that at very least may keep the watcher from expecting everything. Like making the main hero a round, bald, older guy. Like making the monster share the spotlight with a serial killer. A few other details that are in the works. A meaty and complex story for a bloody creature feature.
We got this. . . Dream on ya crazies.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
8/31/10 "Old Man Chaos"
I'm a huge fan of the movie "Lost in La Mancha" if you have not watched it you should. In fact, if you have ever asked your self "Does the universe want to stop me from making this picture" you need to see it. It's a prime example of "bad to worse" turning into "Are frikkin' kidding me?". The real lesson in the movie is, even if you got the resources and the man power to make your film, "Old man Chaos" can be a dusty A' Hole.
Well dang Bulltiger, you must think your pretty special to think the universe itself is pelting your precious project with volley after volley of pure untainted CHAOS to keep you down. Well sure, it sounds egotistical when you say it like that. To be sure, unlike poor Terry Gilliam who was "Lost in La Mancha" our current hiccups are fixable, a little recasting, replenish some funds and BAM! We back in Bid-Ness!
So what's the bloody point? Alright already, geesh! The point is "Lost in La Mancha" taught me something that has given me a freedom that many people in my position don't always understand. Here's the truth of it. You are going to fail. It is a part of the game. Keep that in mind always and you will know no fear. And in my experience it is fear that ushers mediocrity.
"Old Man Chaos" is not an enemy, he is a teacher. Sometimes he's the teacher that ticks you the Hell off, but that is how one sharpens one's adaptability. Adaptability is the second most important thing a filmmaker must have.
Dream on you crazies!
Well dang Bulltiger, you must think your pretty special to think the universe itself is pelting your precious project with volley after volley of pure untainted CHAOS to keep you down. Well sure, it sounds egotistical when you say it like that. To be sure, unlike poor Terry Gilliam who was "Lost in La Mancha" our current hiccups are fixable, a little recasting, replenish some funds and BAM! We back in Bid-Ness!
So what's the bloody point? Alright already, geesh! The point is "Lost in La Mancha" taught me something that has given me a freedom that many people in my position don't always understand. Here's the truth of it. You are going to fail. It is a part of the game. Keep that in mind always and you will know no fear. And in my experience it is fear that ushers mediocrity.
"Old Man Chaos" is not an enemy, he is a teacher. Sometimes he's the teacher that ticks you the Hell off, but that is how one sharpens one's adaptability. Adaptability is the second most important thing a filmmaker must have.
Dream on you crazies!
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