Archive for the ‘filmmaking’ Category

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

Recent happenings: Gallifrey Academy and Gallifrey One

by Warren

That fine piece of work above is Gallifrey Academy, my latest short Doctor Who film. Every year I try to make a short film in advance of Gallifrey One, the biggest Doctor Who convention in North America (more on that later.) This year I was lucky enough to run it ahead of our Radio Free Skaro live show in front of a big crowd, and it got a pretty decent reception. Kyle Anderson, a friend and writer for The Nerdist, also featured the short in his Gallifrey One wrap up.

The film featured the talents of Eric Fell, Joanna Gaskell and Shaun Stewart in front of the camera, as well as a certain Time Lord whose identity I’m not at liberty to disclose. All those named can be seen here in Vancouver at the Critical Hit Show, a hilarious live Dungeons and Dragons improv that happens every month at the Rio Theatre. Laurel Brown, Vanessa Driveness (who also played an apathetic Shobogan) and Mel Siermaczeski also helped out behind the scenes.

And how was Gallifrey One (or Gally, as its know to its many fans)? Simply amazing. I’ve been for five years running now, and the sheer amount of Whocentric content never ceases to amaze me. Shaun Lyon and the other hard-working people who have been putting on the convention for a quarter-century(!) pour their heart and souls into this yearly event, and it shows. Now matter what you’re into in the Whoniverse, there’s someone else at the convention who digs what you dig.

What’s next? Well, it’s a guarantee I’ll be at Gallifrey One next year, and I’ve got a few ideas for the next short film. I try to be more ambitious with each film, so next year, expect ILM quality visuals and a 6 hour running time. No pressure.

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

The return of splatterfests…now with CGI!

by Warren

While watching Evil Dead 2 last night, I mused to Mel that no-one seems to have combined the Raimi love for over-the-top gore and the obvious possibilities of CGI. How wrong I was! Behold Adam Chaplin, a movie so gory it even has its own name, HABS (Hyper realistic Anime Blood Symulation), for their blood and guts techniques.

I haven’t seem Adam Chaplin, so it could be total crap for all I know, but I give props to any film that takes new VFX technology and does something new, different with it, especially in the low-budget realm.

Any other cool and underexposed horror flicks out there using CG and other techniques to up their game? Tell me in the comments!

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Kickstarting!

by Warren

Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, for those not in the know, are two very popular ways to fund a project. While games, art objects, books and other creative pursuits can all be funded through these platforms, I’m more interested in indie movies, and have contributed small amounts ($15 for one film, $30 for another) to two projects.

I’m not doing so purely out of altruism…the systems set up a series of rewards based on how much you contribute, and my baseline is a 1080p digital copy of the film once it’s done. So really, I’m pre-ordering a film at the same time I help it get made. I don’t even have a DVD player anymore (other than the one inside my Macbook Pro) so for me, 1080p digital is the way to go.

Here’s the films I’m supporting, in my own small way…

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Sunday, September 18th, 2011

Moonsplosion!

by Warren

Just something I whipped up in Maya and Premiere to teach myself how to shatter 3d objects. You’ll not the complete disregard on the part of the moon for the laws of physics.

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Blue Meanie – a short film

by Warren

I’ve worked in television for years, I write professionally, and I make videos for a living…but despite all that I’ve never made a Doctor Who fan film. Well, after attending the fan filmmaking panels at Gallifrey twice and dispensing advice to other cine-nerds, I figured it was time to put my money where my mouth is. I present to you Blue Meanie, the story of one man’s torture by Type 40. I hope you enjoy it, and if you’re going to Gallifrey, stop by the fan video room at 1:40, watch the movie again and say hello!

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Hollywood in your hand via the iPhone 3GS

by Warren

When I first saw the video features on the iPhone 3GS, I was at best mildly interested. I already have a Flip Cam, and with a year or more left on my iPhone 3G contract, I wasn’t about to go out and score a new phone. But Hand Held Hollywood almost makes me want to go out and get a 3GS, just to pull off what these guys are doing. The blog posts periodic updates about all the different apps available for the iPhone to make the lives of filmmakers easier, and it not only looks great but is pretty damn informative about some of the great production tools available via the iPhone.

In fact, this blog makes me want to dig out the Flip Cam and start doing some quick and dirty Freyburg-centric content soon, given enough time. Maybe our upcoming trip to Japan and China will be fodder for some vlogging.

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Why 3D is NOT the future of cinema

by Warren

Because movies tell stories, and 3D is at best a sideshow, according to Cory Doctorow in his latest Guardian column. I’m inclined to agree. 3D is touted as cinema’s saviour, bringing audiences back to the theatre and away from video games and home theatres….but without a story to back it up, which is usually best told in regular 2D, you aren’t going to see people sticking around. James Cameron’s Avatar and other upcoming films may prove me wrong, but I doubt it.

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Hollywood stars lose their lustre

by Warren

A number of big Hollywood stars have released big Hollywood films this summer which have taken big Hollywood nosedives. This downturn in the drawing power of many A-List stars is starting to worry the movie studios, and as usual they’re blaming technology. Apparently the fact that someone can text, Twitter or email their friends and give a film a scathing review in real time is a bad thing. Of course, as Gawker points out, if the movies themselves were any good this wouldn’t be a problem. I just saw District 9 on the weekend and (like everyone else) who saw it, I’ve raved up and down about the action, effects, and great story. And there’s not a star to be found in that film (which was shot for $35 million, and delivers every cent.)

Then there’s the fact that the old saw about people “escaping through movies during tough times” just doesn’t hold water anymore. That may have been true in the Thirties or even the Seventies, when the alternatives were few and far between, but nowadays people can either play video games, watch Youtube, or find any other number of free alternatives on the internet. Sure, they may not be quite as shiny as Hollywood product, but they also don’t take away $15 from your wallet and steal two hours of your life away.

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Launch Party 7 video is here!

by Warren

Just a little something I put together for Launch Party 7, a Vancouver event where startups strut their stuff for the tech community and VC types.

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Clowns vs. cops!

by Warren

All in a weird still picture tableau. Dunno what in the hell it’s saying, but whatever it is, it’s mighty cool.

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