2007

Hoplophobia

Date:
October, 2007

Working Title:
Hoplophobia

Positions:
Actor: The Thug

Notes:
Principle photography for this 3-minute short was done in two nights during the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. By the end of that time, I had gone 66 hours with less than an hour of sleep, and some of our crew members were in even worse shape. We poured all the energy we had into this production because it was supposed to be impossible, but we knew we could do it. We wanted to get all the Christian filmmakers at that festival and across the country to consider how serious they actually are about their productions.

That's one of the biggest reasons ... to do this project: ...inspiration to Christian filmmakers to challenge themselves and just — when they're tempted to think, 'Well, there's no way I can do THAT,' to actually challenge themselves and say, 'Well, WHY NOT?' Because this is something that you're not supposed to be able to do. And we're doing it.
— director David Thompson

Website:
http://www.freedomwarriorproductions.com/hoplophobia.html

The Relic

Date:
Summer 2007

Title:
The Relic

Positions:
Special effects, music

Notes:
Just for fun, I took some video that friends of mine had already shot and added muzzle flashes, sound effects, and really awful music (stock music from Soundtrack Pro) to the footage.

Watch Video:
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Through the Years

Date:
May-July, 2007

Title:
Through the Years

Positions:
Picture finder/scanner, editor, interview planner

Notes:
With the help of Timothy, one of my brothers, I produced a slideshow for the high school graduation of Benjamin (another brother) and Joshua (a friend).

• For Joshua's part of the slideshow, I was provided with 42 pictures, some voice recordings, and a script, and edited them together under Joshua's parents' direction.


• For Benjamin's part of the slideshow, Timothy and I dug through pictures taken over the last eighteen years, scanned in about 250 of the best pictures, and together worked out interviews with each of our siblings. Then Timothy helped the other siblings to record their interviews while I chose the best pictures to go with the sound recordings and edited everything together.

I was expressly told to add no color correction or motion to the slides (with one or two specific exceptions).

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The Meaning of Choice

Date:
May, 2007

Title:
The Meaning of Choice

Positions:
Actor: Joe Blackmun

Notes:
The first "real" production I've been privileged to help with. I played the part of Joe (the "bad guy"), and learned that even a mediocre actor can do well when he has an experienced actor to play off of.

Production Blog:
http://meaningofchoice.blogspot.com

Website:
http://www.meaningofchoice.com

The Mystery of the Missing Mask

Date:
April, 2007

Title:
The Mystery of the Missing Mask

Positions:
Voice Actor: Constable Dobson

Notes:
This production will be a Flash-based logical thinking skills game hosted on ChristianLogic.com. I played the part of a British constable, Constable Dobson.

More information:
Announcement on Trivium Pursuit homeschooling blog

2006

Moserkids 2006

Date:
Winter, 2006

Title:
Moserkids 2006

Positions:
Lighting technician, cameraman, interviewer, B-roll finder, editor, color-corrector

Notes:
We produced this documentary of sorts as a Christmas present to our grandparents, to show them what we had accomplished throughout the year. I set up the lighting and camera for the interviews, which wasn't too hard. I also dug up good B-roll footage to accompany the interviews and edited and color-corrected the footage. As I was using Final Cut Pro for the first time on this project, it was a good introduction to the power of that program's color-correcting and rendering tools.

Watch Video:
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Path of Honor

Date:
July, 2006

Title:
Path of Honor

Position:
Emergency audio editor

Notes:
I was asked to try to repair some serious audio problems in this movie (directed by Mike Thorn). As it turned out, the audio was irreparable and the crew ended up doing ADR instead. Still, the work I did was not in vain, as it helped me to build my skill in audio repair.

2005

Island in the Son

Date:
June-August, 2005

Title:
Island in the Son

Positions:
Cinematographer, interviewer, editor, titles/graphics

Notes:
This was a 40-minute documentary of our church's VBS program. My equipment wasn't great, and my end product was far too long, but the families of VBS attendees and volunteers were pleased enough with the product to purchase about thirty copies. All the profits went to the VBS missions fund.

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Companions

Date:
April-October, 2005

Title:
Companions

Positions:
Co-writer, director, actor, stand-in cameraman, editor

Notes:
My first serious production, this 40-minute project started when we and some friends decided to try to produce a movie to enter in the SAICFF. For about a month we collaboratively fleshed out a plot, then my brother and I wrote a script (which we were constantly re-writing all the way up to shooting each scene). I learned many important lessons from this production, most notably of which are:

• It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to direct from in front of the camera. There is almost no good reason for a director to also play a major part in the film.


• Night scenes should not be shot at night, unless the scene is very well-lit. Well-lit footage can be darkened and given a blue cast; dark footage is difficult to brighten.


• Good audio is absolutely essential to the film. All air conditioners (and old-fashioned burger grills) should be turned off or denied access to the microphone. Room tone and sound effects can be added in post; hisses, hums, and white noise are practically impossible to eliminate.


• I say this without intending any offense toward the people involved; they are good people and I'm thankful to count them my friends. However, the fact remains that friends do not always make the best actors. If unprofessional actors are all you have, don't be afraid to coach them. Lines must be spoken clearly and distinctly; actions must be delivered naturally.


• Use only one camera unless the action absolutely must be captured from multiple angles at once. Using a single camera will save hours in color-correcting footage to match from one tape to the other. Furthermore, using two cameras results in twice as much footage as you need.

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2004

Idiot Invasion

Date:
November, 2004 - February, 2006

Title:
Idiot Invasion

Positions:
Co-writer, director, actor, voice actor, editor, CGI team

Notes:
My siblings and cousins spontaneously decided to make this movie just for fun. The project ended up being more involved than we had expected, but the end product turned out better than we had anticipated.

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Lying in Wait

Date:
September-November, 2004

Title:
Lying in Wait

Positions:
All
(writer, director, producer, cameraman, actor, effects, composer, editor)

Notes:
This was a really horrible film which nevertheless taught me a lot about what is required to produce a video. Everything I did in this movie I did wrong. The story is lousy and the production not worth watching. But the project provided a jump-start to my career.

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