RobMakesMovies.com

So the past couple days have been particularly fun and most definitely interesting. I am sleep-deprived, stressed, and it’s only going to get amplified from here. In my last “update” I discussed a couple of projects I was working to become a part of. The good news, I’m officially attached on both.

Your Vote Counts
This is the film I am attached to act in. It’s being Directed/Produced by a UCF student and we will begin principle photography next week. The cast is going to have a read-through later this week(changing schedules doesn’t have us all nailed down at one specific time yet). I will play a character called Barry Dease. Basically, he’s a giant douchebag. Think Richard, from Van Wilder, only more of the Jock type than Ivy-League prig.

Rise of the Quantum Keeper
This is the film I am attached to crew. Originally I was going to try and be someone’s lackey(P.A.)… but that changed when I was made Art Director. This film is a feature-length, low-budget Indie. It’s supposed to be headed out on the lesser-festival market(as I like to call it). We’re supposed to start shooting the first of November so that our insurance will actually mean something and doesn’t run out before we finish shooting. I will go into a little more detail of what my job is once I’ve worked in it longer. In a general summary of what Art Director is, I’m in charge of adapting the screenplay written scenes, into a vibrant, realistic set. I am working with the Director, as well as the Director of Photography(D.P.) in order to come up with a look for the film. Since this movie is a feature-length, low-budget Indie set for lesser-festival market distribution, the crew is small and unpaid. Thus, I have to take care of all the jobs underneath mine(Prop Master, Set Designer, etc.) as well.

Wish me luck. More updates as I continue working.

- Robert

This is one of the moves I am going to go see this weekend. I thought the trailer gave it a good premise, but it had too much of the standard “Road Trip” style in it. Come to find out, that’s just due to bad marketing. Here’s the first ten minutes:

- Robert

I finally had someone ask me this last night as they saw my site. I knew it would come at some point, so I figure I should probably answer it:

First off, I am a Film Student. As of yet, my “films” are all crap. They are football promos from years ago when I was first starting in media creation and manipulation. I have watched them numerous times, and see many different flaws with each. Experience has that effect. I will not post any of my own productions unless I am satisfied that they are the absolute best they can possibly be.

That said, there are two ways I am going about making movies: Acting and Crewing.

The Acting Angle:
In order to be part of the high-up hierarchy on a film, one must understand characters, actors, methods of acting, and other elements dealing with how to portray the people in your story. It’s also a great way to watch and learn how films are made, without having to crew the film.

I am currently up for an acting role in a UCF student film called “Your Vote Counts.” I still need to do the official audition with the Producer(s), but pending their creative vision not matching with the way I would portray the character, I’m pretty sure I’ll get it. I don’t want to give out any more details than that just because, but I will update once I’m attached.

The Crewing Angle:
The single, best way to increase experience behind the camera is to crew different projects. This increases your knowledge, your skills, and helps you learn what works and what doesn’t. I currently have only participated in one film, and that was only for about two hours gripping. I’m attending a production meeting on Sunday for a sci-fi/action indie film. Hopefully I can get attached as a Production Assistant(PA).

- – - – -

That’s my answer.

- Robert

I know I haven’t updated in quite a few days, but I’ve got a juicy vid for you later today. In the mean time, here’s something cool/funny I saw today on Slashfilm.

- Robert

I don’t understand this analogy, at all. She was comparing being a Best Boy(Electrician on a Movie Set) to a Bus Driver in terms of learning as you go. I can make the connection in my head, because I have the high IQ required to do so. But, this is the kind of ridiculous shit I have to put up with in my classes.

I’ll do my best not to be a suicide.

- Robert

- Robert

Why John McClane?

Why Not? John McClane is a Badass. He’s an American. He doesn’t take shit from terrorists. He smokes. He crawls through air conditioning ducts. He’s a lover AND a fighter. So, shouldn’t we, The United States of America, have someone like John McClane in office? He would be the perfect leader of the free world. He would bitch-slap everyone that pisses him off. He won’t lie to our faces, he’ll tell it like it is. He wears his heart upon his sleeve, when he’s wearing sleeves. He’s not afraid of a little blood. Whether it’s his or a shitty terrorist’s. He has a squinty seriousness about him. He’s got a tattoo, too. Yeah, he’s a goddamn American and he’s goddamn proud of it. America needs John McClane. So, citizens of the free world… rise up and embrace the future of America. John McClane. He takes shit from no one. Ever.

/////// UPDATE ///////
John McClane just added HANS GRUBER as his Vice Presidential Running Mate. It’s the DREAM TICKET! America will be awesome once again in the not-so-distant future!

This comes from: http://www.votejohnmcclane.com/

- Robert

I think that pretty much covers it.

- Robert

In doing my usual snooping of the in-pre-production, production, post-production, and marketing stages of a film, I came across this little nugget of sweetness. This is a video that ILM(Industrial Light and Magic) came out with that shows some of their CGI development work on Transformers, from last year. It’s a part of the Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen advertising campaign, even though they still have not finished principle photography… I hope you like it:

Oh, and here’s a little snippet of the stuff they are up to on the production of TF2:

Here’s another angle of what I think is that same explosion(different take, more than likely). Make sure you click the “HD is OFF” button so you can watch it bigger, in HD. It takes you offsite, but it’s sooo pretty.

- Robert

I don’t have cable at my house, so news tends to reach me whenever I watch the Daily Show on Hulu or check out Google News. Needless to say I just found out about the AIG Bailout late yesterday. I was dumbstruck by the audacity of the government, especially Bernanke and Bush to essentially purchase the AIG Corporation in an attempt to keep it alive. This, though semi-effective, only sets a very bad precedent for future corporations going under.

As I was browsing around, I decided to take a look at what my favorite politician had to say(that’s not sarcasm, he should be president). After finding his response in a video, I also found another, different topic, video of his that I think speaks the truth about the state of politics in this country. Ron Paul everyone:

Tell me he shouldn’t be president. Seriously, try and convince me.

- Robert