May
02
2009
1

Final Mix and a screening

**Correction** Today’s screening (Friday) is now in the 2-4 slot.  Somewhere in the middle of it.

Had the final sound mix yesterday.  Next step online-ing.  Almost finished.

For those of you in the LA area, the last week of school at CalArts consists of nothing but screenings of all the films made that year.  Igloo will be playing twice.

Thursday the 14th - 10:00AM - 12:00PM (near the end)

**Friday the 15th - 2:00PM-4:00PM

Bijou theater, 2nd floor - CalArts

24700 McBean Parkway Valencia, CA

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Apr
19
2009
0

foley fun +/- celeb spotting

This post originally mentioned something about seeing this guy.

note the tail

note the tail

I reread it a few times and decided to nix it.  It made me feel slimy.  Nuff said.

About the foley, Gregg Barbanell was absolutely amazing to watch work.  Highlight of the session - his recreation of rabbit footprints in the snow.  That and the baby shaking.

Gregg Barbanell and a car door

Gregg Barbanell and a car door

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Apr
08
2009
0

Igloo receives a foley grant

Good news on the Igloo front, we just received a grant which awarded us a free professional foley session ($1000 value - whoohoo!). For those of you who don’t know what foley is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley_artist

I originally didn’t think of applying to it because our production sound is relatively decent, but my sound designer Yin recommended that we at least try for it. And I’m glad we did. I’ve always been curious about the world of foley and this will be a good opportunity to learn more about it.

Other than that Igloo is pretty much picture locked. Aside from sound and some tweaking of credits, it’s almost done. Very exciting.

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Mar
05
2009
0

Making progress

I’m in the thick of editing. Everything is there - it’s just a matter of doing the work to make it work. I have to confess though, I’m terrible at receiving feedback. After every group critique I go through the same cycle. I show a version to class - they give me feedback. Most of which is helpful and I agree with, but there are always a few comments that don’t quite sit right with me. I go home wounded and defeated. Self doubt creeps in. Than defiance. Then outright rejection of the whole feedback process. And when I finally settle down, I get back to work and try to make it better. It’s the same thing every time. One of these days I’ll rise above it. I think the more personal a film is, the harder it is to take criticism. Your decisions are a direct reflection of how your brain works. It’s like receiving criticism about your synapses. What can you say? Uh…sorry? At the same time I want it to be good. Not just good, great. So I know I just have to take it. Wrestle with it. Toughen up.

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Jan
28
2009
1
Jan
28
2009
0

Igloo-a-mation

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Jan
27
2009
3

Looks like we made it

Some stats:

139 blocks of styrofoam

13 (ish) rolls of film

13 crew members

7 days of shooting

6 script pages

3 igloo builds

3 actors

2 hours and 13 minutes of footage

2 live rabbits

2 cabins

1 rabbit suit

1 very happy and exhausted director

More pictures to come soon, I promise.

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Jan
18
2009
2

Day 2

Has anyone heard of Mac Davis?  Last night I had to pick up a few records for the set, and at 10:00 I walked into Amoeba records and grabbed three of the most random selections, entirely based on cover art.  One of which was a Mac Davis album.  For kicks we played “Music in My Life” during a scene with Jimmy and Kate, and it was eerily well suited for the moment (as was Gorav as Jimmy).  Sometimes randomness works.

Other than that, day 2 was another on schedule, super fun time.  I think I have the dream team.  I couldn’t be happier.

Side note:  Directing a film in an igloo is not so good on the back.  Half the day is spent bent over.  For those of you who know I have back issues - send your good back thoughts.  I need um.

How could you resist this?

how could anyone resist this?

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Jan
17
2009
0

Shooting rabbits

Day 1 - went well, amazingly well.  

1 - The igloo did not collapse - that’s a plus.  

2 - Rabbit wrangling was ridiculously fun and funny.  I’ve never watched rabbits hump that closely.  It’s soooo fast.  By the end of the day, Jimmy’s sister/mother/we don’t know, was clearly worn out from being chased and humped and chased and humped. 

3 - We’re on schedule!  

4- Bad news - we burned through a lot of film (here Jimmy - come here!  Come here!  No, not there.) and Kodak is closed until Tuesday.  Good news!  Miraculously, there was a guy selling our exact stock on craigslist.  Sketchy?  Yes, very.  Cross your fingers for us.

Must sleep.  Pictures later.  Oh the anticipation.

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Jan
14
2009
1

Live rabbits - check!

Wendy from the rabbit rescue center did eventually show up (traffic), and she was absolutely lovely and helpful and well versed in all things rabbit.  Things I learned:

-Rabbits like cilantro

-Rabbits like hoping into cave-like places.  And hopefully igloos.

-Jimmy humps everything, including his sister, who could actually be his mother, but in this film will be playing his girlfriend.  Yay rabbit incest!

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