S c r e e n l a n d http://screenland.posterous.com Hollywood is a place where a man can get stabbed in the back while climbing a ladder posterous.com Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:22:00 -0700 Starting Over - Disaster Becomes Opportunity http://screenland.posterous.com/starting-over-disaster-becomes-opportunity http://screenland.posterous.com/starting-over-disaster-becomes-opportunity

Well, crap......

Ironically, while updating my backup system with two new hard-drives and Acronis software, I deleted 90% my work on 9314. My sets, my characters, my notes, my sound files, my music, my scenes: everything. The only thing left is my shot list, which if I could ask for one thing to be spared, it would be my detailed shot list. 

So after feeling stupid for a week, I've learned a valuable lesson to always back up your projects every time you work on them. I've purchased a small, USB hard-drive which I will use to copy/backup all files after each working session. 

I've also decided to look at this loss as an opportunity to re-work my script in a better format and do some re-writing as I go. I've decided to use Adobe Story, since it comes with my Adobe Premium Package. So far, I'm enjoying it very much and have everything up to Scene 2 (about 3 pages) done. I'll spend the next several weeks re-working my script and starting from scratch on the design. 

Screenland_adobestory
My plan for the rest of 2011 is to finish the script, then do a full storyboard before I launch into creating the sets and characters. I realize I probably don't need a storyboard, but I want to do one for the experience. I might even cut it together as an animatic so I can see how the film looks in a very basic form. 

And as Muvizu develops, I'll use any improved tools or models that are supplied and fold them into my new script. 

It's actually kind of exciting to be starting over. Now that the big lump on my head has gone done from the smack I gave myself. 

:-)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Tue, 03 May 2011 13:14:00 -0700 Pix from Original 1928 Silent Film http://screenland.posterous.com/pix-from-original-1928-silent-film http://screenland.posterous.com/pix-from-original-1928-silent-film

I've been waiting for the upgrade to Muvizu to continue production, so while I"m waiting I thought I'd share some screen-caps from the original film, "The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra" directed by Robert Florey and Slavko Vorkapich (1928). The film has a remarkable visual style and holds up even today. You can find out more about the film at the wikipedia entry. I'll post more on my production process and development soon.

Extra1
Extra9 Extra16 Extra10 Extra13 Extra14 Extra15 Extra19 Extra27 Extra36 Extra34 Extra39 Extra57 Extra17h Extra28 Extra65 Extra73 Extra76 Extra82 Extra108 Extra110d Extra115 Extra121b Extra75 Extra114 Extra121g Extra125 Extra122
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:41:00 -0700 Completed Character Designs (well...almost) http://screenland.posterous.com/completed-character-designs-wellalmost http://screenland.posterous.com/completed-character-designs-wellalmost

I've been working on character designs for the last week. I'm limited a bit right now with two types of males and two types of females, but with careful adjustments in eyes, ears, noses, facial hair and such (which you adjust using sliders in the character creation window), it's possible to create enough variation in look that the characters seem individual to me. Muvizu is still working on adding new characters, but that will be down the road a bit. 

Agentpix
The agent isn't really seen that much from the front except for the lower part of his face near the end of the film, but I wanted to go towards a weary, know it all look for the guy with a bit of a vanity stache. Turned out very well, imo. 

Actingpix
The acting coach is seen even less than the agent, but he has an important role. I'll probably add a front shot to him because he turned out so sleazy-looking. The beard really makes the "At the Actor's Studio" look just right. 

Starpix
The Star isn't quite there yet, just needs a few more touch-ups. I wish I could add a cravat or a jacket, but these aren't in Muvizu yet. The basic attitude (and hair) is right though. 

Here's a shot of all of our 4 male characters so you can see the size differences I've created for each of them as well. Mr. Jones/9413 is the smallest, of course. 

Males
The female starlet turned out very well. Not that close to the orignal, but I like her look very much. She has an independent look to her that is different from the submissive quality you see in the original. I love the Louise Brooks haircut, too. 

Female
You can see what she looks like compared to the original film character:

Female1

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:50:00 -0700 Character Designs for Mr. Jones/9413 http://screenland.posterous.com/45902649 http://screenland.posterous.com/45902649

In pre-production stage now. Celtx is a big help as I can use it to organize the entire production. I've created lists of sets, characters and props to design, all nicely tucked into my Celtix Screenland project. 

Re: character design for main character Mr. Jones/ 9413. I'm not slavishly adapting the original film, so I don't feel obligated to duplicate anything directly, but I do like the lead actors face and demeanor very much (played by actor Jules Raucort), so I'm using his face as a starting off point. Of course, Muvizu has some limitations in character design (they are working to improve this), so I can only go so far. But I like what I've come up with. There must be a strong contrast in appearance between 9413 and the two actors who become stars. They will be more attractive, taller in size and their faces will have balanced features (Hollywood loves good-looking people). Here's a shot I took during the design process:

Jonescomparison_blog

Design characters in Muvizu is pretty easy. Basically you go through the list of body parts and choose what you want (nose, ears, eyes, etc) and then adjust the size and position of the parts using sliders. You can also adjust the color of each part, too. Since I'm shooting in B&W it doesn't make much difference what the colors are, although I'm not 100% sure it might have an impact. Lighting will also be an issue since so much of the film takes place in a kind of limbo gray land. 

Here's an earlier design I started with using the "fat" character:

9413_charactertest
Although I like the innocent look of the character and him being heavy-set would be a good contrast with the two starts who can be thinner, I didn't go with this design and I need fatter character designs for the Agent and the Acting Teacher. At some point, I'll pose all of the character designs for you and contrast them with stills from the film. 

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:20:00 -0800 Shooting Script Completed for 9413 http://screenland.posterous.com/shooting-script-completed-for-9413 http://screenland.posterous.com/shooting-script-completed-for-9413
I've completed the shooting script for 9413, the first in the Screenland series. It has approx 100 shots (several repeated) and is a re-working
of the early 20's avant-garde American film "9413: The Life and Death of a Hollywood Extra" by Robert Florey and Slavko Vorkapich. Since
the original script was written as a shot list, I've followed this format. I'll be using this script to set up my storyboards, then a quick animatic
and on to shooting the final film. 

I've tried to update the film to the present day and at the same time keep it tied to a silent era aesthetic. Similar to the films of Canadian director
Guy Maddin. I hope to experiment with using live-action shots taken on Hollywood Boulevard at night and various big Studio lots around Los Angeles. 

I'm very excited about this project and hope to have it completed in a month or two. The main tool with be Muvizu, but I'll be using models created
in Cinema 4D and Sketch-up as well. 

-Ricky

 

Script3 Script1 Script2
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:08:00 -0800 Screenland is about Hollywood http://screenland.posterous.com/screenland-is-about-hollywood http://screenland.posterous.com/screenland-is-about-hollywood

I've started work on a series of films about my experiences, both real and imagined, working as an actor in Hollywood. The films will be in a variety of forms; some animation, some live action, perhaps even cut-outs. And they won't all be set in contemporary Hollywood. All of them will be experimental to some extent. So much has already been written about Hollywood, I want to be sure that what I'm working on is personal and unique. 

You've already seen some test clips from the first film, 9413. This film will be mixed BW and Color; a partial talkie in the style of 30's silent films. I'll be mixing in live action footage and rear-projects shot here in Hollywood where I live. 

2010-05-13_0016
Trailer will come sometime in the spring. Early summer release. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:17:00 -0800 More tests for 9413 http://screenland.posterous.com/more-tests-for-9413 http://screenland.posterous.com/more-tests-for-9413

This second clip is an effort to create an expressionist shot similar to the ones in the original film. By combining basic models, moving lights and strong camera angle I think it came out pretty well.

building_test.mp4 Watch on Posterous

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:47:00 -0800 First tests for 9413: Life & Death of a Hollywood Extra http://screenland.posterous.com/first-test-for-9413-part-of-the-screenland-se http://screenland.posterous.com/first-test-for-9413-part-of-the-screenland-se

building_test.mp4 Watch on Posterous
These are my first tests for the short film "9413", which will be the first film in the Screenland series. Shot inside of Muvizu. The first clip features a close up of the actor 9413. I was trying to work out how close I could get to the model and at the same time create strong uplight for a high-contrast shot. I've got more work to do in order to get the render to look better

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1009924/PoseterousProfile1.jpg http://posterous.com/users/he6wXb1qaqYMG R i c k y G r o v e RL R i c k y G r o v e