Projects from the Cellar

I started a section for showcasing the projects I've worked on. Projects from the Cellar will have stills galleries of FX and videos, with some behind the scenes commentary, and how-tos.

I've already added sections for Amateur Short Films, a Stakes FX gallery, a Monster Planet FX gallery, and a video on how to create a quick and dirty vampire death. Stay tuned for more.

Horrorfind March 2008

Last weekend was Horrorfind Weekend.

As always, Timewarp Films had a table and we were hawking our films. It was nice to actually have a new one to offer. We weren't able to get copies of Dead Hunt for last August's show.

We shared space with our sister organization, Scares that Care (also run by Joe Ripple, our director). It really stole the show. We raffled off Ichabod, a creepy looking head on a stick, and conducted a silent auction--all for charity. It was a great success! We took in over $2000.

I spent most of the weekend hiding behind my laptop. I was updating a script for submission to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition. But I did pop my head up every once in a while to chat with fellow filmmakers, fans of Don Dohler and Timewarp Films (always a pleasure to speak with people that like your stuff), and, of course, the other Timewarpers helping out: Stewie, Rob (pictured; right), Zig, Colleen, Leanna (pictured; center), Eric, and the man himself, Joe Ripple.

Overall it was great fun. Unfortunately, the turnout wasn't what they hoped for. But this was the first time in a new location, and March doesn't bring out the fans like August does.

One highlight for me was getting to meet George Romero (pictured below). As a low-budget filmmaker, getting to meet a legend in the field is a real treat. He was taller than I expected, and a great guy to talk to. We shared our opinions on filmmaking, and he told me his favorite of his own films is Martin, a film I've wanted to see since watching Document of the Dead. Needless to say, I jumped on Amazon when I got home and ordered a copy.

Here's a pic of the table. The barely visible Zig is behind the TV, Stewie is filming Rob taking the picture -- exciting footage, it must be -- and that's me in the center, face buried.

Colleen, Leanna, and Eric pose to promote Dead Hunt.

And finally, a bunch of us went to the local Outback on Saturday to celebrate my wife's birthday.

A very busy and tiring weekend, but a fun one.

Thanks to Rob and Stewie for the pictures.

Timewarp Films at Horrorfind Weekend March 28-30

If you're a fan of George Romero, or just love zombie movies, you don't want to miss the March Horrorfind Weekend. It features reunions of Night, Dawn, Day, and Land of the Dead. Click here for details.

And don't forget to visit us at the Timewarp table any time during the weekend. We'll be selling copies of our films, and will have some of the actors available for autographs.

Is it a Smash, or is it Trash?

Friend and fellow filmmaker Robert Long II has just started a Web site for indie filmmakers called smashortrashindiefilmmaking.com. He's just starting out, but plans to have interviews with other filmmakers, articles, resources, reviews, and lots more. He's already posted an in-depth interview with filmmaker Don Glüt. Check it out.

Horrorfind March 2008 Commercial - Extended Cut

Here's the extended version of the Horrorfind commercial we filmed last month. It's over 3 minutes, with lots of zombie goodness and eerie music. Enjoy.

Horrorfind March 2008 Commercial

Today Mike, the head honcho of Horrorfind, approved our cut of the commercial. So, here it is:

Monday, Joe will pick up the DV tape and get a digital beta (I think that's what it's called)  made. He will then send  it to...wherever you send commercials, I guess. I know nothing about that end of the business. I'm just ecstatic that something I shot and edited will be on local and cable TV.

Stay tuned for an extended version later in February.

Zombies, zombies everywhere!

Saturday we shot a commercial for the March Horrorfind convention in College Park, MD. Since George Romero is one of the guests (along with cast members of the Dead movies) we wanted to do a zombie- themed commercial. One with some zip.

Joe, our director, came up with a great idea: a hip granny reminisces about Romero movies and then kicks some zombie ass. And there was a lot of ass to kick. We were expecting 10 extras at the most, but wound up with at least 25--plenty to pull off a Romero-esque horde. Of course, we only have 30 seconds to work with--it's amazing how short that really is--so we couldn't do all that we wanted.

Overall, the shoot went very well. The weather was cold but clear, and not too sunny; too much sun wreaks havoc with digital video. And the setting was awesome. We have to shoot there again.

To be honest, I was a little nervous going into the shoot. This was my first time behind the camera for Timewarp. That role was always reserved for Don Dohler, our mentor--and this was the first shoot since he passed away in 2006. I was fully aware of the large shoes I was filling. But just kept thinking about making him proud.

Many thanks to Joe for keeping the zombies under control, and for checking to see if I focused the lens :lol: , and thanks to Stewie and Zig, our faithful crew, for helping out. Zig actually reminded me about the ND (neutral density) filter on the XL1. It helps with overexposure so you don't have to stop down too far. That was a big duh.

I mentioned earlier that 30 seconds is a very short time. Well, I did my first pass cutting the commercial, and it came in at 45 seconds, an eternity in editing. After a couple more passes, I'm down to 34 seconds. I've had to chop some lines, and make some shots shorter, and generally be creative. But it's not over yet. I guess I need a chainsaw. Luckily, we plan to make an extended version so we can put the rest in. We filmed a ton of zombie footage. No way we waste that.

And, by the way, everything was in focus. :D

I'll post the final version of the commercial when I'm done.