Into the New Year

Greetings, one and all! Turns out there was a modest bit of work that was completed before the Christmas mini-break. We managed to get in another music session, for starters. Next up, scene breakdowns for the new version of the script, so now we know who is supposed to be where and when, along with what else needs to be there.

The last big project before things got really crazy was working on modifying the light props that will be used in one major sequence, trying to get them to look more appropriate to the universe.

We also celebrated a birthday, and the decorations provided us with the best opportunity for pictures that are in theme with the nerdiness of what we do around here, so I’ll give you a sampling…

Also, more important to the work, but less eye-catching for the blog preview, here's a picture of one of the work in progress lights... 

Now that the holiday has ended, our minds turn to both the normal life issues that had to be put on hold, as well as casting for the next project. Hopefully some progress will be made in that field in the next few weeks. Next week will also mark the return of the stunt team, so we look forward to that with great anticipation.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!

On the Eve of Christmas

Greetings, one and all! Even with the preparations for the Christmas celebration ramping up, and most of us still being sick, we still managed to get a remarkable amount of work done. First off, we managed to nail down the music for a couple scenes in Block 9. Next up, the revised script was reviewed in its entirety, notes were given, and another pass was made, which includes writing a completely new scene, and rewriting another to eliminate the vestiges of earlier rewrites, and refocus things back onto the main character motivations.

On top of that, after a lot of props experimentation, we made good progress in crafting the stunt version of a worn prop, so that we hopefully won’t replay the disaster of the Stormborn shoot, where a similar prop got torn up, and had to be superglued together in the middle of a shoot, when the actor fell repeatedly during the final fight scene.

Here’s a look at it mid-process, beside the original prop from one of our shorts. With the fast motion of action scenes, small discrepancies are less likely to be noticed, however things like shape and position of elements are vital, as well as anything that's going to cast shadow or bounce a highlight, as those will read far more in the moment.

Between the writing, music, and prop work, we stayed quite busy. We’ll have a few more days between writing and when this blog will be released on Christmas Eve, so hopefully we’ll make some good progress before the extended weekend.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time, wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Impact of the Week

Greetings, one and all! So… We all suddenly got sick this week. Despite that, and some extensive non-filmmaking life demands, we still managed to do some music, get in some script tweaks, and finish a couple more props, specifically the staff weapons mentioned last week.

Sunday saw the last stunt meet before Christmas break, where the team opened with a 101 class on using blunt impact weapons, (there seems to be a theme this week,) followed by developing a bit of a brawling scene, utilizing clubs, short staves, and… other things.

This was then followed up by a half session on quarterstaff technique that we attempted to squeeze in before things got really dark outside.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!

Assorted Props and Team Festivities

Greetings, one and all! This week we opened with a couple music sessions, which we pulled off despite people starting to get sick. This was followed up by work on several props, including making the lenses for one of the advanced binoculars, and shaping the parts for two of the staff weapons. More research has also been done for a more efficient way to make and tint the buttons and lights for the spaceship sets.

On a shinier note, the beauty blade for one of our characters has been completed, and the lacquer finally dried, so here’s a picture of it beside its stunt version.

Probably one of our better cross-material replications, if I do say so myself.

Lastly, the team met again Sunday for our annual Christmas party, in which we eat snacks and play an improv game for several hours. This year they spent their entire session escaping from the prison cells beneath the halls of one of the most powerful guilds in the setting. Hilarity ensued as the thief they were incarcerated with tried to do what thieves do, and pin it all on them. Well, I say "entire session", but it did get capped off with dragon riders and evil bureaucrats, so... good times.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!

 

The Labors of Thanksgiving Week

Greetings, one and all! As this was a holiday week, things were rather chaotic around here. Despite that, we still managed to squeeze in two music sessions, as well as do some prop preparation and experimentation. There was mostly a lot of research being done for the next items on the docket. At the beginning of the week, one of the first props that we could order in also arrived, with some materials for models being due in sometime in the next week.

There were also some developments in the next phase of presenting what we do to people, but the results are still in limbo, save to say that the first meeting went fairly well.

Last up, a slightly smaller group met on Sunday, and focused on learning some dagger plays, followed by the application of that knowledge in brief choreography bouts.

All in all, they learned their lessons well, and the fights were as fluid and energetic as you’d hope they would be.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!

Prop Processes and Proper Puppeteering

 Greetings, one and all! This week was a chaotic ball of random stuff, but we still managed to get a fair amount done. First off, we squeezed in a music session before things got really chaotic, and followed that up with a fairly successful shopping trip to find the materials we’d need for the next phase of prop-making.

Small arms for the security forces are back in the works, with a third prop having to undergo some modifications due to damage. On top of that, by the time you’re reading this, the beauty blade should finally be finished, and I must say it’s shaping up to be quite beautiful indeed, with a simple sort of elegance.

Lastly, the team met again on Sunday, and hid away from the rain whilst doing some entertaining puppeteer exercises, where the veterans gave directions to the less experienced members, before turning it around, and having the less experienced guide the more experienced. This was then followed up by the stunties deciding to start a last man standing exercise in easy striking distance of each other. The results were predictable, and the fights brief. 

All in all, it was a quite funny time. “I am in a horrible position.” “You’re in a great position!” Was a conversation that was heard multiple times in the first hour.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!

Blades in Progress

Greetings, one and all! This week saw a continuation of the work from last week. The ship model saw some more progress, though I’m seeing the virtues of sheet styrene, and wishing it weren’t quite so expensive. Also music has made good progress again this week. On top of that, the script has received its notes, and we’re now going through the next wave of revisions.

A production highlight of the week has to be the fact that we’re now working on the metal “beauty blade” for one of our characters. This is the weapon intended for close-ups, while the plastic ones we finished previously are intended for the fast-paced combat scenes.

Lastly, the team met again this week, and took on some of the choreography for the fight scenes added in the revised script.

We closed it out with an old school exercise in a very tight space. All in all, a good and productive week.

Well, that’s about all for this week. Until next time!