Yup, it's been a really long time. Again.
I've been casting director, gaffer, writer, director, and lead actor in small projects recently.
Here's the video for the BYU 24-Hour Theatre piece I wrote. I had been out at birthday parties for friends until midnight and wrote it in the wee hours of the morning.
Enjoy!
Until next time....
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Getting Crazy!
Dear Readers,
It's been only a week and I'm already posting again! Baby, I'm back!
It's been a busy and fun week. This weekend I went up to the mountains with some of my buddies from church. We slept out at a homestead and shot a ridiculous amount of ammunition in the morning. We shot targets, pigeons of clay, cans, and an old license plate, among other things.
Here are a few pictures from the epic weekend:
Here are also some short promotional pieces I acted in for the BYU Political Review. There are one or two more (with others yet to be made, potentially) that will be released later.
Enjoy!
Also, I alluded to working on a zombie video two weeks ago and here it is! Be sure to watch it in full screen with the highest quality possible for the greatest viewing experience. Warning: gratuitous blood is involved. But it's a great video and worth watching if you're not too squeamish with fake blood.
Until next week, my loyal readers...
- Mont
It's been only a week and I'm already posting again! Baby, I'm back!
It's been a busy and fun week. This weekend I went up to the mountains with some of my buddies from church. We slept out at a homestead and shot a ridiculous amount of ammunition in the morning. We shot targets, pigeons of clay, cans, and an old license plate, among other things.
Here are a few pictures from the epic weekend:
Here are also some short promotional pieces I acted in for the BYU Political Review. There are one or two more (with others yet to be made, potentially) that will be released later.
Enjoy!
Also, I alluded to working on a zombie video two weeks ago and here it is! Be sure to watch it in full screen with the highest quality possible for the greatest viewing experience. Warning: gratuitous blood is involved. But it's a great video and worth watching if you're not too squeamish with fake blood.
Until next week, my loyal readers...
- Mont
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Two Months Later...
So, my friends, it's been a while.
That's an understatement. In the interim, I've worked on several different film projects:
I have worked on the Locations and Electric teams for the BYU student capstone "Dante's Hamlet." It was quite a challenge to find New York City in the predominantly suburban Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah area. But it was done!
New York Subway station exit real vs. scouted (not necessarily chosen):
Real Station:
Scouted (underpass on BYU campus):
A little big, but it has the right look if you throw up some advertisements on the walls.
Here is an apartment building just outside of downtown Salt Lake City that I submitted as a potential spot. It could fit in nicely in a Queens neighborhood:
I never got to go to the final locations that were selected (none of mine were) as I could only work the last day of shooting, but our classroom at Provo High School worked brilliantly.
Another project I worked on involved me doing the hair, makeup, and wardrobe. It was my friend Josh Contor's Advanced Directing scene. He adapted Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It was the scene where Anakin first begins to turn on Obi Wan. It took a lot of work between Josh and me to finesse the scene and give it a very different look to accentuate the themes and archetypes of the scene. We went through about a dozen different art design concepts, from Steampunk to revolution styles, finally settling on a fancy evening-at-the-theatre look. Here are a couple of photos I snapped on set.
Cast: Anakin--Joshua Cooper, Padme--Noelle Houston, Obi Wan Kenobi--Mike Foncannon
That's an understatement. In the interim, I've worked on several different film projects:
I have worked on the Locations and Electric teams for the BYU student capstone "Dante's Hamlet." It was quite a challenge to find New York City in the predominantly suburban Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah area. But it was done!
New York Subway station exit real vs. scouted (not necessarily chosen):
Real Station:
Scouted (underpass on BYU campus):
A little big, but it has the right look if you throw up some advertisements on the walls.
Here is an apartment building just outside of downtown Salt Lake City that I submitted as a potential spot. It could fit in nicely in a Queens neighborhood:
Another project I worked on involved me doing the hair, makeup, and wardrobe. It was my friend Josh Contor's Advanced Directing scene. He adapted Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It was the scene where Anakin first begins to turn on Obi Wan. It took a lot of work between Josh and me to finesse the scene and give it a very different look to accentuate the themes and archetypes of the scene. We went through about a dozen different art design concepts, from Steampunk to revolution styles, finally settling on a fancy evening-at-the-theatre look. Here are a couple of photos I snapped on set.
Cast: Anakin--Joshua Cooper, Padme--Noelle Houston, Obi Wan Kenobi--Mike Foncannon
(left to right: Noelle Houston, Mike Foncannon, Josh Contor, Joshua Cooper)
(left to right: Noelle, Josh, Mike)
(left to right: Josh, Joshua)
Tomorrow I will be involved in two more shows--I play Gerard Lambeau in another Advanced Directing scene from Good Will Hunting. I will then be wardrobe, makeup, props for a third Advanced Directing scene, though I have not yet received the details of it yet.
And on Tuesday I did FX makeup and played a zombie killer for the soon-to-be-released latest video by Warialasky channel on youtube. Check out some of their stuff here. Especially Epic Tebowing.
I'll post again soon. I promise.
Til then, my faithful readers...
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Deepest Apologies...
I am so sorry, my dear readers, that I haven't posted in eons. Life has been busy and I've been delinquent.
Here are some things that I've been up to:
- School started. I've got a producing class, a digital video technologies class, and (my favorite) a makeup class, in which my sister is one of my TAs. And no, there's no nepotism going on with grading.
-Still freelancing, though I haven't had time to finish up my documentary work. I will probably spend a bit more time this semester developing my own projects.
- I created a few videos during the end of the summer:
Here are some things that I've been up to:
- School started. I've got a producing class, a digital video technologies class, and (my favorite) a makeup class, in which my sister is one of my TAs. And no, there's no nepotism going on with grading.
-Still freelancing, though I haven't had time to finish up my documentary work. I will probably spend a bit more time this semester developing my own projects.
- I created a few videos during the end of the summer:
MEBATEFL Highlights
This is a highlight reel of innertubing wipeouts from a boating trip I was on this summer. It was also my first project done on my new computer and in Adobe Premiere.
Join the Club
This is a one-act short that I wrote in about three hours as part of the BYU 24-Hour Theatre Project. I had twelve hours to write, the actors and directors had twelve hours to rehearse. Then the curtain went up. There were five pieces, five directors, and twenty-five actors involved.
Just a Little Longer
This is another piece from the same 24-Hour Theatre Project that was written by a faculty member. My buddy Addison plays Ringo for his BYU stage debut.
BYU vs. Utah Holy War 2011
I didn't film this, but this was my video response to the University of Utah ("the U") Utes' crushing defeat of the BYU Cougars 54-10 at BYU last night. Sad day for Cougars and fans. Dazzling night for Utes and fans. Billy Crystal puts it in great terms.
I have also been working on my FX Makeup skills and will post some photos later in the week (before Sunday, I promise). Needless to say, they will not be for the faint of heart, but they are pretty dang cool to see!
I leave you with another hilarious video. Until next time (not too long, I promise)...
(#EPIC WINNING!)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Free(lance) Life
So, my wonderful readers,
My life as a freelance videographer continues. I have been hired by a production company to film the construction of a huge set they are building. I am not at liberty to discuss too many details, but it's a pretty breathtaking set out in the Utah deser. And with no clouds in the sky, it's a scorcher there every day. The wind blows dust everywhere and there is little shad to be found. And I am out there during the hottest hours of the day, from about 11:00 am until 4:00 pm--the sun is at a pleasant "right above me" angle. Suffice to say, my tan has developed without any effort on my part.
From a technical viewpoint, the capturing of a multifaceted development process with a camera is tricky. I have had to try and develop protocols for my methods of filming so that I don't end up in Final Cut wishing I had filmed something, while at the same time not shooting too much of what may ultimately be useless or irrelevant for the final product.
It has also been challenging for me and my personality to really get involved in the lives of the workers while respecting their space and privacy. I try not to be an obnoxious cameraman, but in order to get high quality footage, a modicum of aggressiveness is required. Trying to tightrope walk that line has been hard, but I am gaining confidence in my ability to judge how much is "too much." I have also further increased the degree to which the construction crew is comfortable with my presence, which allows me to get more information and more genuine interaction without them being self-conscious that there is a camera around. I have found that introducing myself, my intentions, the purpose and final use of the product, and reminding them that I am more than happy to respect their personal space and privacy has gone a long way towards embedding myself in the construction environment.
I have found some crew members more than happy, and in fact eager, to share what they do with me and my camera, while others don't mind me being around, and others prefer me to minimize the time that I need to be around them as they ply their craft--and craftsmanship is indeed what they are doing.
It has also been scintillating to be around and find out how they do everything--how they build facades, how they fashion worn stone steps with a mud mixture, how they streak the walls to give them further age and authenticity. After my first day I though that I had already captured the best of what there was to see. I wondered what else I could film the other days. Then I further explored the construction microcosm and discovered just how much more was going on than I noticed before. And as the set evolves, tasks begin to take the place of tasks that have been completed.
I will be out filming the set a few more days next week and from then on out I will only be visiting once or twice a week until they begin principal. The bulk of my time will be spent building from footage a masterpiece of my own, just as the workers have built an astounding city out of the dusty Utah plains.
Until next time...
My life as a freelance videographer continues. I have been hired by a production company to film the construction of a huge set they are building. I am not at liberty to discuss too many details, but it's a pretty breathtaking set out in the Utah deser. And with no clouds in the sky, it's a scorcher there every day. The wind blows dust everywhere and there is little shad to be found. And I am out there during the hottest hours of the day, from about 11:00 am until 4:00 pm--the sun is at a pleasant "right above me" angle. Suffice to say, my tan has developed without any effort on my part.
From a technical viewpoint, the capturing of a multifaceted development process with a camera is tricky. I have had to try and develop protocols for my methods of filming so that I don't end up in Final Cut wishing I had filmed something, while at the same time not shooting too much of what may ultimately be useless or irrelevant for the final product.
It has also been challenging for me and my personality to really get involved in the lives of the workers while respecting their space and privacy. I try not to be an obnoxious cameraman, but in order to get high quality footage, a modicum of aggressiveness is required. Trying to tightrope walk that line has been hard, but I am gaining confidence in my ability to judge how much is "too much." I have also further increased the degree to which the construction crew is comfortable with my presence, which allows me to get more information and more genuine interaction without them being self-conscious that there is a camera around. I have found that introducing myself, my intentions, the purpose and final use of the product, and reminding them that I am more than happy to respect their personal space and privacy has gone a long way towards embedding myself in the construction environment.
I have found some crew members more than happy, and in fact eager, to share what they do with me and my camera, while others don't mind me being around, and others prefer me to minimize the time that I need to be around them as they ply their craft--and craftsmanship is indeed what they are doing.
It has also been scintillating to be around and find out how they do everything--how they build facades, how they fashion worn stone steps with a mud mixture, how they streak the walls to give them further age and authenticity. After my first day I though that I had already captured the best of what there was to see. I wondered what else I could film the other days. Then I further explored the construction microcosm and discovered just how much more was going on than I noticed before. And as the set evolves, tasks begin to take the place of tasks that have been completed.
I will be out filming the set a few more days next week and from then on out I will only be visiting once or twice a week until they begin principal. The bulk of my time will be spent building from footage a masterpiece of my own, just as the workers have built an astounding city out of the dusty Utah plains.
Until next time...
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Accomplishments and Attempts
Greetings, my dear readers,
This past week has been pretty eventful. We wrapped production for "Imagine" after three days of shooting in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. Two and a half days were in Park City and one evening was in Salt Lake. It was great to reunite with my crew family. It had been about three weeks since we had seen each other so it was fun to do some catching up as we resumed our hectic, long shooting days.
On Friday, the day after wrapping "Imagine," I swung by my friend's house to see what he was up to. I ended up getting the chance to practice my extreme sports videography skills while Lance Williams took some stills. I also took some stills as well as filmed Joseph Britton and Jeremy Rich riding through Josephs' (and his brother and friends') homemade course in the Raintree Commons parking lot. Joseph's brother Jamie helps run Orem bike shop Urban Downfall (just off University Parkway on the west side of the building that houses Seagull Book and Tape.
Notice that these fine gents are wearing their helmets. Like the motto painted on the sign in front of Urban Downfall, "Safety First. Then Danger."
I realize that my photography skills have much to improve upon, but here are a couple of shots that I liked from that evening.
This past week has been pretty eventful. We wrapped production for "Imagine" after three days of shooting in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. Two and a half days were in Park City and one evening was in Salt Lake. It was great to reunite with my crew family. It had been about three weeks since we had seen each other so it was fun to do some catching up as we resumed our hectic, long shooting days.
On Friday, the day after wrapping "Imagine," I swung by my friend's house to see what he was up to. I ended up getting the chance to practice my extreme sports videography skills while Lance Williams took some stills. I also took some stills as well as filmed Joseph Britton and Jeremy Rich riding through Josephs' (and his brother and friends') homemade course in the Raintree Commons parking lot. Joseph's brother Jamie helps run Orem bike shop Urban Downfall (just off University Parkway on the west side of the building that houses Seagull Book and Tape.
Notice that these fine gents are wearing their helmets. Like the motto painted on the sign in front of Urban Downfall, "Safety First. Then Danger."
I realize that my photography skills have much to improve upon, but here are a couple of shots that I liked from that evening.
I am now in the process of editing a BMX video of them doing their thing from that evening. I'll post a link once it's done.
Since I am happening to have a lot of free time on my hands these days, I'll probably be able to be a lot more active on this blog.
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
One Month Later...
Hello, my readers!
So it's been, like, a month + since I last posted. Many things have happened--I met some local filmmakers and producers, I went to China, I came back from China, etc.
Oh yeah, and I got dismissed from my job. I was kinda bummed, but I was thinking about quitting anyway. I was not feeling like I was getting any better at what I do as a filmmaker, and they were getting frustrated that I was not producing their media fast enough. My strengths are in the creative side of filmmaking, not in the corporate montages they were always asking for. I think the end of a professional relationship was the right step. I just wished it could have ended on my terms.
Nevertheless, it opened a new door for me: freelance. Since I have started building contacts and references, I think the time is ripe for me to explore the market for freelance filmmaking, crew work, marketing, and writing. I have already got my first freelance gig--paying better than my last job. I am swapping in translated text for the organization's logo. I am doing about 50 different languages and the work is simple go-through-the-process stuff. I am blazing through it and getting to listen to legal shows while I work (I am a sucker for a well-done law show).
Life is heading in the right direction. This gig should be done just in time for me to go up to a nearby city for a four-day shoot to wrap a short film I have been the 2nd AC for.
More details to come--this post is mainly for me to get back into the swing of things. I promise to write more tomorrow about my exciting life in the freelance world and the adventures I've had this summer.
Peace,
- Mont
So it's been, like, a month + since I last posted. Many things have happened--I met some local filmmakers and producers, I went to China, I came back from China, etc.
Oh yeah, and I got dismissed from my job. I was kinda bummed, but I was thinking about quitting anyway. I was not feeling like I was getting any better at what I do as a filmmaker, and they were getting frustrated that I was not producing their media fast enough. My strengths are in the creative side of filmmaking, not in the corporate montages they were always asking for. I think the end of a professional relationship was the right step. I just wished it could have ended on my terms.
Nevertheless, it opened a new door for me: freelance. Since I have started building contacts and references, I think the time is ripe for me to explore the market for freelance filmmaking, crew work, marketing, and writing. I have already got my first freelance gig--paying better than my last job. I am swapping in translated text for the organization's logo. I am doing about 50 different languages and the work is simple go-through-the-process stuff. I am blazing through it and getting to listen to legal shows while I work (I am a sucker for a well-done law show).
Life is heading in the right direction. This gig should be done just in time for me to go up to a nearby city for a four-day shoot to wrap a short film I have been the 2nd AC for.
More details to come--this post is mainly for me to get back into the swing of things. I promise to write more tomorrow about my exciting life in the freelance world and the adventures I've had this summer.
Peace,
- Mont
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Long time, no post
My dear readers,
I apologize for not posting for so long. But here is something, at least, to slake your thirst. I am currently in China on a short vacations, well-earned, if I may say so myself, and so I am not on my usual computer set-up. I just got back from Xi'An, home of the Terracotta Warriors and Great Goose Pagoda, last night.
I have my brand new Canon EOS Rebel T2i camera with me--picked it up from the delivery address the afternoon before I left. I went nuts with it. I filled the 32GB card before the 48 hr trip-within-a-trip was over and had to go back and delete the duplicate photos I had so that I could keep rolling and snapping. When my trip is over, I plan on cutting together a short documentary on day-to-day life in modern China, with an emphasis on the milieu--the sights, sounds, and smells of the cities. Going back through my photos this evening as I dumped the card onto my hard drive, I think I've got some good stuff to work with.
Because I know you're all wanting something from the trip right now, here's a picture of me in front of the terracotta warriors:
PSYCH! Blogger is not letting me upload a photo, or is but is moving exceptionally slowly, so I'll try again later.
Rock on!
- Mont
I apologize for not posting for so long. But here is something, at least, to slake your thirst. I am currently in China on a short vacations, well-earned, if I may say so myself, and so I am not on my usual computer set-up. I just got back from Xi'An, home of the Terracotta Warriors and Great Goose Pagoda, last night.
I have my brand new Canon EOS Rebel T2i camera with me--picked it up from the delivery address the afternoon before I left. I went nuts with it. I filled the 32GB card before the 48 hr trip-within-a-trip was over and had to go back and delete the duplicate photos I had so that I could keep rolling and snapping. When my trip is over, I plan on cutting together a short documentary on day-to-day life in modern China, with an emphasis on the milieu--the sights, sounds, and smells of the cities. Going back through my photos this evening as I dumped the card onto my hard drive, I think I've got some good stuff to work with.
Because I know you're all wanting something from the trip right now, here's a picture of me in front of the terracotta warriors:
PSYCH! Blogger is not letting me upload a photo, or is but is moving exceptionally slowly, so I'll try again later.
Rock on!
- Mont
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Last 24 Hours Have Been Insane!
1) Osama Bin Laden was killed--a little confusion over when the mission was authorized and executed; sources say a week ago, President's speech said that day.
2) Osama Bin Laden's rotting corpse was ditched into the ocean--a little sketchy and seemingly hasty, but still, good riddance.
3) Another film day is done. Jordan Petersen's senior capstone film Weighted shot it's second day--interiors in a local house. Some tricky shots and logistical challenges that came with working on multiple floors and inside/outside spots on the property without radios, but my crew (I was Best Boy grip) built two-story C-stand scaffolding to black out windows with duvatine, while concealing kino-flo light banks under the cloth to create a nighttime effect at 4:30 pm in the afternoon. I love my grips, they rock!
4) ... Isn't that enough for you? How much more am I supposed to accomplish in a day? Sheesh! You all expect too much from me.
... not that I couldn't have accomplished more and wowed you even further.
Here's a fun video for today. You'll watch it more times than you will ever imagine--it is suprisingly addicting.
First, the review by the New Yorker--an excellent preface to the masterpiece.
Now, the video iteslf, "Shine on Me" by Chris Dane Owens:
Enjoy!
Peace!
- Mont
2) Osama Bin Laden's rotting corpse was ditched into the ocean--a little sketchy and seemingly hasty, but still, good riddance.
3) Another film day is done. Jordan Petersen's senior capstone film Weighted shot it's second day--interiors in a local house. Some tricky shots and logistical challenges that came with working on multiple floors and inside/outside spots on the property without radios, but my crew (I was Best Boy grip) built two-story C-stand scaffolding to black out windows with duvatine, while concealing kino-flo light banks under the cloth to create a nighttime effect at 4:30 pm in the afternoon. I love my grips, they rock!
4) ... Isn't that enough for you? How much more am I supposed to accomplish in a day? Sheesh! You all expect too much from me.
... not that I couldn't have accomplished more and wowed you even further.
Here's a fun video for today. You'll watch it more times than you will ever imagine--it is suprisingly addicting.
First, the review by the New Yorker--an excellent preface to the masterpiece.
Now, the video iteslf, "Shine on Me" by Chris Dane Owens:
Enjoy!
Peace!
- Mont
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Ever-Present Obstacles
If life was easy, life would be too easy, right?
So, I had a great summer started--playing basketball, biking, frisbee--and then BAM! Yesterday I was chasing down an airborne frisbee that caught a gust of wind, ran out of grass in my cleats, went sliding along the parking lot pavement ice skating-style and POP goes my shoulder--a dislocation. The second it popped, I knew what had happened. I had to wait for several minutes for my friends to come over and for one of them to gather the nerve to help me pop it back into place. Needless to say, it still smarts something fierce.
But to my credit, I completed a day on a film shoot with minimal occupational accomodations. I carried equipment, swapped lenses, and clapped slate for the day's filming--I think I proved my value as a worker and as someone determined to get the job done, regardless of the challenges, and such an illustration is, I feel, appropriate because I feel that I am that kind of a film crew member. My career goals is to never give someone reason to believe otherwise. I have my work cut out for me.
In other news, I have decided that "A Snickers a Day Keeps Betty White Away," and as I have been bequeathed a big bag of mini Snickers bars (is there really a size that can't be considered "fun size"?), I have been snacking on those here and there througoutt the day. They are a great pick-me-up on a long afternoon.
In light of this, I offer you one of my favorite Snickers commercials ever! It's not high-quality, but it's a classic. Enjoy!
And remember, don't run in cleats on pavement!
- Mont
So, I had a great summer started--playing basketball, biking, frisbee--and then BAM! Yesterday I was chasing down an airborne frisbee that caught a gust of wind, ran out of grass in my cleats, went sliding along the parking lot pavement ice skating-style and POP goes my shoulder--a dislocation. The second it popped, I knew what had happened. I had to wait for several minutes for my friends to come over and for one of them to gather the nerve to help me pop it back into place. Needless to say, it still smarts something fierce.
But to my credit, I completed a day on a film shoot with minimal occupational accomodations. I carried equipment, swapped lenses, and clapped slate for the day's filming--I think I proved my value as a worker and as someone determined to get the job done, regardless of the challenges, and such an illustration is, I feel, appropriate because I feel that I am that kind of a film crew member. My career goals is to never give someone reason to believe otherwise. I have my work cut out for me.
In other news, I have decided that "A Snickers a Day Keeps Betty White Away," and as I have been bequeathed a big bag of mini Snickers bars (is there really a size that can't be considered "fun size"?), I have been snacking on those here and there througoutt the day. They are a great pick-me-up on a long afternoon.
In light of this, I offer you one of my favorite Snickers commercials ever! It's not high-quality, but it's a classic. Enjoy!
And remember, don't run in cleats on pavement!
- Mont
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Martini Shot!
"Martini Shot." Definition: (n) the final shot of a day of filming before the blessed call to "wrap" is announced.
So this morning was an early morning. I was up at 4:30 to make it on time to my bike for a 5:30 am call time. The sound stage it was at was only a couple of miles, and it only took me 15 minutes to make it over, plus the weather wasn't too bad. But 4:30 is 4:30.
On set we were filming the VFX element of a student, Jordan Petersen's, capstone film "Weighted." More info on the film can be found here. We shot on a green screen and had a harness with a rope-and-pulley rig to hoist the actor up. It was the first time I have ever worked around harness and rigs, though not my first time on a VFX shoot (my first experiences in the film industy involved working as a VFX assistant on a green screen shoot). It was pretty cool to see how it all looked, and knowing the skill of the VFX supervisor, Nick Dixon, it'll turn out excellent.
After we wrapped for the day at 12:30, it was off to another student's capstone film: "Mr. Bellpond's Masterpiece." The two films are so different in style, and each should be exceptional in its own right. Since equipment was being rented from the same school facility, Bellpond's crew had to wait until we checked in our gear before they could take it out. I ran swing between the two projects, moving stuff back to be checked in and helping set up other equipment at the locations. I was only there for a few hours as I needed to go home and get something to eat and take a dearly-needed nap.
As a sidenote, for lunch I ate a bacon cheeseburger from Dairy Keen in Heber, UT. It was exceptional. It was not the most delicious thing I have ever eaten, but it used real meat and the bacon was cooked to perfection. And it was real bacon to boot! It was complimented by a scrumptious rasberry shake. I love that the "small" sizes at these kinds of joints are a fast food place's "medium" size. It's like stealing extra goodness. Without doing anything wrong!
I have finished my first year of college and my first semester in the BYU film program. Huzzah! To celebrate, I'm posting the link to my final fiction film for my Basic Media Production class, TMA 185, entitled "Brothers." If you feel so inclined, you can compare it to the rehearsal cut that was done a month or two ago and is also up on my vimeo account. Leave some comments: what worked, didn't work, confused, or impressed?
It's late, I'm gonna sign off for the night.
Keep it real, yo!
- Mont
So this morning was an early morning. I was up at 4:30 to make it on time to my bike for a 5:30 am call time. The sound stage it was at was only a couple of miles, and it only took me 15 minutes to make it over, plus the weather wasn't too bad. But 4:30 is 4:30.
On set we were filming the VFX element of a student, Jordan Petersen's, capstone film "Weighted." More info on the film can be found here. We shot on a green screen and had a harness with a rope-and-pulley rig to hoist the actor up. It was the first time I have ever worked around harness and rigs, though not my first time on a VFX shoot (my first experiences in the film industy involved working as a VFX assistant on a green screen shoot). It was pretty cool to see how it all looked, and knowing the skill of the VFX supervisor, Nick Dixon, it'll turn out excellent.
After we wrapped for the day at 12:30, it was off to another student's capstone film: "Mr. Bellpond's Masterpiece." The two films are so different in style, and each should be exceptional in its own right. Since equipment was being rented from the same school facility, Bellpond's crew had to wait until we checked in our gear before they could take it out. I ran swing between the two projects, moving stuff back to be checked in and helping set up other equipment at the locations. I was only there for a few hours as I needed to go home and get something to eat and take a dearly-needed nap.
As a sidenote, for lunch I ate a bacon cheeseburger from Dairy Keen in Heber, UT. It was exceptional. It was not the most delicious thing I have ever eaten, but it used real meat and the bacon was cooked to perfection. And it was real bacon to boot! It was complimented by a scrumptious rasberry shake. I love that the "small" sizes at these kinds of joints are a fast food place's "medium" size. It's like stealing extra goodness. Without doing anything wrong!
I have finished my first year of college and my first semester in the BYU film program. Huzzah! To celebrate, I'm posting the link to my final fiction film for my Basic Media Production class, TMA 185, entitled "Brothers." If you feel so inclined, you can compare it to the rehearsal cut that was done a month or two ago and is also up on my vimeo account. Leave some comments: what worked, didn't work, confused, or impressed?
It's late, I'm gonna sign off for the night.
Keep it real, yo!
- Mont
Thursday, April 21, 2011
It's Done!
Two big things have happened. First, I officially ordered my Canon EOS Rebel T2i with a 18-55 mm lens kit and a 50 mm prime lens to boot from rythercamera.com. So far customer service has been great. With free shipping I'm supposed to get it by May 4th, a day or two ahead of my departure to China for a few weeks, for which I really need that camera.
Second, I just finished my last final exam for the semester. It was for an American Government and Politics class. One of our essay questions was about the principles of a "just war" and comparing and contrasting the Afghanistan and Libya involvements. It was a lot of fun to write about. The other hour and forty-five minutes I spent writing the exam were less fun.
Heading into the weekend, I am seeing work tomorrow editing a documentary featurette, a drive up in the mountains nearby, a wedding reception, and an early morning Saturday film shoot for the VFX elements in a senior film I'm working as Best Boy Grip for.
It's been a heckuva busy week, but the NBA playoffs are in gear, the semester is done, and life is starting to feel good... real good!
Stay classy!
- Mont
Second, I just finished my last final exam for the semester. It was for an American Government and Politics class. One of our essay questions was about the principles of a "just war" and comparing and contrasting the Afghanistan and Libya involvements. It was a lot of fun to write about. The other hour and forty-five minutes I spent writing the exam were less fun.
Heading into the weekend, I am seeing work tomorrow editing a documentary featurette, a drive up in the mountains nearby, a wedding reception, and an early morning Saturday film shoot for the VFX elements in a senior film I'm working as Best Boy Grip for.
It's been a heckuva busy week, but the NBA playoffs are in gear, the semester is done, and life is starting to feel good... real good!
Stay classy!
- Mont
Friday, April 15, 2011
Down to the Wire
SNAP!
Today was nuts. I was up on campus to film a language fair for my work. I spent hours yesterday blocking out where our three other videographers were going to be and when, as there were five sets of events happening simultaneously and things had to be prioritized to cover as much variety as possible. Turns out, though, that there were actually only going to be two other guys besides myself--we were not able to secure a fourth. So there were some last-minute changes that had to be made at 7:30 this morning.
Also, the schedule of events kind of fell apart--participants in performances were not on time or cancelled last minute, so the prioritizing principle went out the window. But I figured it didn't matter. What mattered was that my guys and I were where we planned to be, filming what whatever was happening then. Whatever we missed, we missed and will just have to live without.
But kudos to my second and third guys--they were reliable and on top of everything, buzzing between locations for different events without a moment's hesitation. I am proud of them.
In the end, everything seemed to work out all right. It was an early morning--I went up at 6:55 am and left work at 1:30 pm after 5 hours of high-pressure performance, and a long afternoon--tax deadline. I spent two hours on the 1040 "EZ." I'm a moron.
I then spent about 40 minutes looking at Canon T2i prices. I am really starting to lean towards buying one, but I am steeling myself for the expense. $800 is a decent chunk of change and I want to make sure I'm not rushing the decision.
Tomorrow will be another early morning--7:30 call time for an ad shoot at a local shopping center. I'm working grip/electric, so not too much to have to think about or plan for, but some good old-fashioned grunt work.
Sometime tomorrow I'll also work on a fellow student's class project so that I can get the credit for one of my production classes. And edit my own final project. And finish assembling the final binder presentation. And author the DVD. And write another essay on a documentary I shot this semester. Yay.
Stay cool, everyone!
-Mont
Today was nuts. I was up on campus to film a language fair for my work. I spent hours yesterday blocking out where our three other videographers were going to be and when, as there were five sets of events happening simultaneously and things had to be prioritized to cover as much variety as possible. Turns out, though, that there were actually only going to be two other guys besides myself--we were not able to secure a fourth. So there were some last-minute changes that had to be made at 7:30 this morning.
Also, the schedule of events kind of fell apart--participants in performances were not on time or cancelled last minute, so the prioritizing principle went out the window. But I figured it didn't matter. What mattered was that my guys and I were where we planned to be, filming what whatever was happening then. Whatever we missed, we missed and will just have to live without.
But kudos to my second and third guys--they were reliable and on top of everything, buzzing between locations for different events without a moment's hesitation. I am proud of them.
In the end, everything seemed to work out all right. It was an early morning--I went up at 6:55 am and left work at 1:30 pm after 5 hours of high-pressure performance, and a long afternoon--tax deadline. I spent two hours on the 1040 "EZ." I'm a moron.
I then spent about 40 minutes looking at Canon T2i prices. I am really starting to lean towards buying one, but I am steeling myself for the expense. $800 is a decent chunk of change and I want to make sure I'm not rushing the decision.
Tomorrow will be another early morning--7:30 call time for an ad shoot at a local shopping center. I'm working grip/electric, so not too much to have to think about or plan for, but some good old-fashioned grunt work.
Sometime tomorrow I'll also work on a fellow student's class project so that I can get the credit for one of my production classes. And edit my own final project. And finish assembling the final binder presentation. And author the DVD. And write another essay on a documentary I shot this semester. Yay.
Stay cool, everyone!
-Mont
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Crewing, Classes, and Canons
So...
It looks like I've got a spot on the film crew, though things are not finalized yet. I will be super busy this summer, but I think it's a good thing because I hate sitting around when there's exciting stuff to be doing.
In one of my film classes today we watched the material that we will be writing our final exam on--a series of short films and songs. There was one very interesting piece that I wanted to share: Erlking, by Ben Zelkowicz. I found it to be quite compelling. The animation is beautiful and the music is superb. There were other shorts that we watched that I loved, but I'll share them one at a time so as not to overload you.
I will be filming two pick up scenes for one of my other class finals--final video to be posted online once we finish the class, so stay tuned--and will most likely be working on a commercial this weekend in addition to editing another final film for my "film bootcamp"-style class.
In other news, a Canon Rebel T2i may be in the near future--I am in desperate need of a camera to shoot films on and I have loved using my friend's Canon 7D, but it is out of my price range. The T2i has gotten great reviews and is about $150 cheaper than the T3i, which was almost my first decision. If I go through and buy it, I'll post short test footage.
Well, I've got a pick up football game tomorrow morning, so I'm gonna hit the sack.
Keep it real! Happy end of the semester!
-Mont
It looks like I've got a spot on the film crew, though things are not finalized yet. I will be super busy this summer, but I think it's a good thing because I hate sitting around when there's exciting stuff to be doing.
In one of my film classes today we watched the material that we will be writing our final exam on--a series of short films and songs. There was one very interesting piece that I wanted to share: Erlking, by Ben Zelkowicz. I found it to be quite compelling. The animation is beautiful and the music is superb. There were other shorts that we watched that I loved, but I'll share them one at a time so as not to overload you.
I will be filming two pick up scenes for one of my other class finals--final video to be posted online once we finish the class, so stay tuned--and will most likely be working on a commercial this weekend in addition to editing another final film for my "film bootcamp"-style class.
In other news, a Canon Rebel T2i may be in the near future--I am in desperate need of a camera to shoot films on and I have loved using my friend's Canon 7D, but it is out of my price range. The T2i has gotten great reviews and is about $150 cheaper than the T3i, which was almost my first decision. If I go through and buy it, I'll post short test footage.
Well, I've got a pick up football game tomorrow morning, so I'm gonna hit the sack.
Keep it real! Happy end of the semester!
-Mont
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Genesis
So, world, I guess this is gonna kick off a new blog. I am usually pretty bad about keeping my blogs up to date. But I guess that's what happens once you become a film student--you spend all your time studying and producing media for classes that you fall behind in your consumption of it. I am approximately 168 videos behind on my Hulu queue. Those who know just how many shows I was current on last year can vouch that that is a huge change in my media diet. Of course, 130 or so of those are old Stargate SG-1 episodes...
I have started using Twitter more this semester because I don't have the time or frequent computer access to keep up on facebook very effectively. For those interested, you can follow me at @torontomont. I tweet about all sorts of things. I currently have a whopping 26 or so followers. And a handful of those are the spammers. I hate tweet spammers. I wish I could tweet them spam back. But I guess it probably wouldn't be very effective with only 140 characters of the text: "BOMB."
On another note, I got a phone call today from another student at my college. I have been asked to be part of the crew of a project that will be filming this summer. I have an interview at 8:00 am tomorrow morning a few blocks from my apartment. I am pretty excited and hope that all goes well.
Wish me luck, and keep it real!
- Mont
I have started using Twitter more this semester because I don't have the time or frequent computer access to keep up on facebook very effectively. For those interested, you can follow me at @torontomont. I tweet about all sorts of things. I currently have a whopping 26 or so followers. And a handful of those are the spammers. I hate tweet spammers. I wish I could tweet them spam back. But I guess it probably wouldn't be very effective with only 140 characters of the text: "BOMB."
On another note, I got a phone call today from another student at my college. I have been asked to be part of the crew of a project that will be filming this summer. I have an interview at 8:00 am tomorrow morning a few blocks from my apartment. I am pretty excited and hope that all goes well.
Wish me luck, and keep it real!
- Mont
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