Lately I've been getting hired on film shoots that are actually paying for my rent and food. Thats huge, because Im doing what I love and getting paid for it - and you know there's nothing quite like it.
Two weeks ago I worked for www.squarewaveproductions.com (as a Gaffer) on a fun corporate video with lots of kids, for the Prairie Milk Marketing Partnership. That connected me to another job (as a Key Grip) on a public service announcement for the city of Abbotsford, through http://qubefilm.com/. Both companies are run by amazingly talented and friendly producers and filmmakers, and Im very excited for the possibility of working with them again in bigger productions in the future!
The only way this could be any better is if I got paid for directing film - which is what I'm working my way up to. ;D Either way, this is definitely making it easier for me to survive without having a 9 to 5 job. Thank you (again) Universe.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Band progress!
Not only tonight's rehearsal was awesome, we also locked in a name for the band (about time!) - "Space Amoeba". Not a bad name for a fast and loud ska-punk band! FUN!
So we now have a couple songs finished and a few others roughed out. Its a shame we don't have a garage where we can get together and jam whenever we want, for as long as we want -- but for the time being, the usual hourly rental space is alright. Maybe in the near future we'll rent a jamspace where we can move into.
Anyone interested in designing the logo for the band? w00t! :D
So we now have a couple songs finished and a few others roughed out. Its a shame we don't have a garage where we can get together and jam whenever we want, for as long as we want -- but for the time being, the usual hourly rental space is alright. Maybe in the near future we'll rent a jamspace where we can move into.
Anyone interested in designing the logo for the band? w00t! :D
Friday, May 14, 2010
Henchin' intro on Cartoon Brew
Im very happy because Jerry Beck posted the animated intro to my film Henchin' in his fantastic blog "Cartoon Brew"! Thank you Jerry, you rock!
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/titles/titles-for-henchin.html
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/titles/titles-for-henchin.html
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Gaffer for "The Unvarnished Boy"
I just finished working as Gaffer for "The Unvarnished Boy" (formerly titled "The Biltmore", a 15 min short with semi-decent budget, directed by Matt McInnis and Matt Drake. I was called by my buddy, DOP Toby Gorman, to help him out on this gig. We shot the film in four days/nights in various interiors/exteriors in Vancouver, including back alleys in downtown eastside, inside the seedy Ivanhoe Hotel and inside the cool Biltmore Cabaret. Some very nice lighting gear and setups will make this show a nice looking one, and the story of a potty mouthed street-kid growing up and becoming a responsible youth thanks to the help of a random waitress may just be what some film festivals are looking for.
That said, it was also a tough as hell shoot, with extremely long hours and brutal physical labor. We're all masochists in this indie film biz. Fortunately, we are also friendly, collaborative and enthusiastic, which makes it all worth it in the end. :) All for the love of art! lol
That said, it was also a tough as hell shoot, with extremely long hours and brutal physical labor. We're all masochists in this indie film biz. Fortunately, we are also friendly, collaborative and enthusiastic, which makes it all worth it in the end. :) All for the love of art! lol
DGC Kick Start Short Films Gala Screening
The Director's Guild of Canada filmmaker funding program, Kick Start, which funded 5 films (15 min) every year, had their last screening at the Ridge Theatre in Vancouver last week. I say "last" intentionally, as the DGC has sadly discontinued the program indefinitely. But I'll leave that for another post.
I was Production Designer / Art Director on one of the films, the wonderful WW2 fantasy drama "Henry's Glasses", a story about an 8 year old Japanese Canadian boy growing up in a 1945 Japanese Internment Camp in British Columbia. The short was written, directed, co-produced and lensed by my buddy Brendan Uegama, whom I have huge respect. The film turned out absolutely stunning - his cinematography (shot on the indie darling, the Red) was flawless and the performances were pitch perfect. Im biased, but whatever. lol The movie rocked.
The other short films also turned out awesome, and you could see every filmmaker pored their hearts and souls into their creation. My friend, DOP Lindsay George also filmed one, the film-noirish black comedy "Voodoo" - wonderful job with a black and white palette.
All in all, the Kick Start shorts really proved that with a modest but decent budget (every filmmaker gets 20,000 dollars + services), the bar is raised and world-class films can be written and produced with local talent, which we have plenty of! w00t!
I was Production Designer / Art Director on one of the films, the wonderful WW2 fantasy drama "Henry's Glasses", a story about an 8 year old Japanese Canadian boy growing up in a 1945 Japanese Internment Camp in British Columbia. The short was written, directed, co-produced and lensed by my buddy Brendan Uegama, whom I have huge respect. The film turned out absolutely stunning - his cinematography (shot on the indie darling, the Red) was flawless and the performances were pitch perfect. Im biased, but whatever. lol The movie rocked.
The other short films also turned out awesome, and you could see every filmmaker pored their hearts and souls into their creation. My friend, DOP Lindsay George also filmed one, the film-noirish black comedy "Voodoo" - wonderful job with a black and white palette.
All in all, the Kick Start shorts really proved that with a modest but decent budget (every filmmaker gets 20,000 dollars + services), the bar is raised and world-class films can be written and produced with local talent, which we have plenty of! w00t!
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