Freekstorm VFX Blog

Eeek!

We have three weeks to go before The DVX Fest deadline, and it looms before us like a big scary abyss, not unlike the bottomless cavern which features in our new, mega-awesome CGI movie extravaganza. Roll up! Roll up! We have princesses, we have heroes, we have oodles of big scary trolls…(near) death, glory and redemption …just what a good Quest-fest needs!

Yeah, yeah, you can tell we’re beginning to panic, eh? We’re less than three weeks away and we still haven’t finished shooting. AND because this is a CGI-heavy movie, I’d planned at least a month in post production. AND we’ve blown the budget, yet again. AND we haven’t even STARTED on the audio. AND the actors are having paranoid fits and declaring that they’re all terrible (why didn’t anyone tell me that producing a movie is primarily about massaging actors’ bruised egos?)

In fact, I think I’m rather struggling at this whole “producing” caboodle. It’s my first time, you know. I guess my mental state veers between “clueless” and trying to keep the cast and crew motivated. I have pinned a large sign to my wall with the slogan “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!” and I’m trying to follow that mantra. Although the whole movie seems to be in pieces at the moment, I’m hopeful that in around a week or two’s time, it will all miraculously and suddenly gel together. It has to! (As I said, blind optimism works for me right now.)


As of today, the only thing that IS definitely on track is the meticulously planned and executed CGI. I wish I could tell you the ins-and-outs about what Rich has been up to regarding the artwork, but it’s so horribly technical (see above) that it goes completely over my head. However, he has promised me that when the movie is over, he’s going to share some of the “how did I do that?” aspects, as well as some of the outtakes (which are paralytically funny, but I would say that because they’re my kids and I think they're incredibly cute.)

So, all in all, despite varying levels of panic from the Director and existential angst from the cast and crew, I am going to say something very Producer-like to my movie-making crew:

Remember, this is our very first movie! Winning isn’t important. No, not at all. Why? Because, we’re really doing it! We are making a movie!!! Do you realise how HARD that is? How few people actually do it? Just finishing will be a huge achievement!

So…

KEEP GOING GUYS!!!

Nearly there…

Labels: cast, producing, visual effects

Name: Rich (as “Dick” or “The Boss”)


Occupation: Act-or, Director, CGI-Artist, Sound technician, Photographer (no he is not responsible for these photos – that highly dubious honour goes to moi, I'm afraid.) Dick is a (bull) whip-cracking, smoooooooth dude with a fetish for fedoras and a fancy for a second (or is it third?) career as an indie film-director…or maybe just as “Indy” (as in Jones.) Oh and he has a degree in physics too, which certainly comes in handy in the movie world: “Nothing shocks me. I’m a scientist.”

Name: Michael (as “Coppertop”)


Occupation: Actor, Michelin Star Chef (one day) who thinks nothing of whizzing up a mega-tub of melt-in-the-mouth vanilla ice-cream for the cast, thus cunningly sabotaging Director Dick’s diet. Attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in year 6 where he diligently studies his spell (ing) book and spends too much time devising dangerous new potions and plotting the dastardly demise of the monstrous Madame Maxime.

Name: Maria (as “The Petulant Princess”)


Occupation: Actress, diva, fashionista, beautiful young starlet. Obsessed with kittens, kitten stories and anything pink. Our young prima donna has the world at her feet and quite rightly expects everyone to worship their pink-slippered loveliness. An enchanting young lady with a natural flair for high drama, this perfectly precious princess is surely destined for fortune and glory in Hollywood.

Name: Trevor (plays himself)


Occupation: Devilishly handsome troll. Despite enduring Extreme Troll Torture where he is pushed, pulled, bent and rendered into all sorts of painful positions, our Trev never once complains (largely because he has no audio yet.) His first break was playing a “scary bloggie troll” designed to repel other evil trolls from harassing the good people of the blogosphere, a role which he fulfilled admirably due to raw acting talent, not to mention devilishly good looks, bulging muscles, a winning smile and a singular wit. Following this dazzling debut, Trevor’s career has since lumbered from strength to strength and he is surely destined for movie stardom. Go Trev!

Name: Sam (crew)


Occupation: Assistant director, cameraman, hero extraordinaire. Wants to be the next Spielberg, but taller and infinitely cooler. Shortly to be cast as hunky vampire thespian in our next exciting epic highbrow horror movie (hits your screens later this year!) Our resident idol attends Hogwarts in year 9 where he shows talent for sarcasm and advanced spell techniques with a particular aptitude for the Imperius Curse. Addicted to computer games, Lolcats and Garry's Mod. Girls aren’t too bad either (although Belgian buns are better!)

Name: Lin (crew - no photo - sorry)

Occupation: No fixed designation, but closest job description would be “minion.” Last week I was in charge of the movie budget (but blew it – I blame the Director.) Yesterday apparently I was “producer” (I’m not sure what a “producer” really does, but it sure sounds cool. ) However I am in the dog-house today because I have been demoted to teasmaid, cleaner and general servant. Next week I am due to prance around in a big green Teletubby suit, oozing blubber and pretending to be Trevor. Yes indeed, I am relegated to a stand-in for a cyber-troll. Well, that’s just great (actually it’s not too bad because I get to spend the entire day beating the Director with a big green stick. Hurrah! Payback for 21 years of suppressed marital frustration! Bring it on, Dick!) Ambition for the future: Writing a decent script would be nice. One day, maybe…

Labels: cast, DIAPP