Eyeore Performs
I am a weird, weird man.
Entertainment Archives
Craig's Life in 19 Inches
Did you get your tickets to "My Life in 19 Inches" yet? It's this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Make sure you see it!
My Life in 19 Inches Has Arrived
Well, not my life, but rather Craig Liggeons' life. My Life in 19 Inches is a one man show, written by the aforementioned Craig. It's about how Television has not just effected his life, but in some cases, has defined it.
It's coming to the Adrienne Theater in July (July 20-23).
I heartily recommend it. In fact it isn't the first time I've done so. You can check my first impressions when he test ran the show. ('My Life in 19 Inches' )
I can't say it enough: See this show.
Find out more at Craig's Site .
Daily Show - Random Thought
Janice said pretty much all there was to say about our experience at the Daily Show taping, so I'll just say this: I respect and admire Jon Stewart, but I have non-sexual man-crush on Stephen Colbert.
Daily Show Taping
Barring the existence of a retraining order against me because of my hobo advice, I will be attending a taping of the Daily Show tomorrow.
I'm very excited. Janice arranged the whole thing. She's the bestest fiancee ever.
The Religous Right is Stupid
It's not because of the views on religion, or the issues, or even Intelligent Design. No, I'm calling them stupid because they are pressuring to NBC affiliates not to air "The Book of Daniel." It's this new show with Aiden Quinn as an Episcopal priest with a disfunctional family. He also talks to Jesus, and Jesus talks back. Groups like James Dobson's Focus on the Family are against it because it portrays Jesus in a less than Christ-like manner. They've even managed to get two stations to drop the show.
Now, I'm disputing their claims. I agree that the project tends to de-Jesufy Jesus. However, I also think the project looks like it's going to suck. Go watch the trailer if you don't believe me (it's linked from the main page.) So it should get terrible ratings right? Not if news outlets are reporting that Christians are boycotting. Now everyone wants to see what the big deal is about.
In short, Religious Right, if you truly want this show to go away, Shut the hell up!
Craig's Variety Show Episode 2... No Really
Okay, you may have read this post and assumed I was lying about a new episode of Craig's Variety Show airing on New Years Day. Evidently they made a mistake and aired our first episode instead. To make up for it, they are airing it this weekend.
So TiVo, tape, or pirate Craig's Variety Show Episode 2 this week Sunday, January 8, 2:40am
Fraggle Rock
I'm watching Fraggle Rock, and you aren't. Unless you are. In which case stop hidng in my living room.
Craig's Variety Show Episode 2 Finally
After many tries, we finally have a date for Craig's Variety Show, Episode 2... It's NewYears Day at 6 AM Channel 12. I'm sure everyone will watch it...
Okay, I'm sure everyone will TiVo it right?
Searching For Santa
In my rush to get the movie posted, I forgot to thank the stars of the film. Scott, Janice, Ryan and Joe had to put up with me as a demanding director so they deserve more than thanks, but that's all I got for 'em.
If you haven't seen it, check it out.
My Latest Movie Is Done
I finished the movie I've been working on. It's not my best flick, but I don't think anyone will cry over it. I should have the script, and video up after in a week or so. In a new twist, I'll be adding the storyboards too.
Insomniac Blogging
I slept most of the day away fighting off a migraine. So I'm up rendering video for this year's Christmas movie. I just finished the video cut and now I have to go back and start editing the sound.
Rendering takes awhile cause my workstation is two years old, and I applied a lot of video tweaks to the movie:
- Color corrected every shot
- Letterboxed the whole thing
- Added a film look to most of the shots
- Added an effect that looked like it was shot through white diffusion to make a flashback look distinct.
Now comes the awful period that will last until a month after I show this thing at the Christmas party. What I thought was funny has now, after repeated viewing, ceased to entertain me. Doubt creeps in. Will other people find it funny? Will people be offended? Worst, will other people think it's lame?
Okay, it's probably done. Onward to tedious sound design!
You Better Watch Out
Work has an annual Christmas party where we are encouraged to submit videos with a Christmas theme. My first year out, I figured I'd go for a little weird and disturbing, and hence put forth "It's a Wonderful Mensch" where I suggested that the CIO of my company locked up workers in a cage if they gave him a bad Christmas present. I was solidly trounced however in weirdness (and humor) by "You Better Watch Out."
"You Better Watch Out" has finally been put out on the web, and I'll join Dan and Becky in trying to spread the meme. Check it out, it's really worth it.
And while you're at Google Video, feel free to search for Citizen Wumpus...
Last Call With Carson Daly
I find myself embarassed to say this, but not only do I occasionally watch Last Call, but it's growing on me.
I don't know if that makes me current or just really immature.
The Office Imitates Life
Every week, I watch The Office, and it seems like more and more of it is like my work. Granted we don't make paper, and Bob Z is no Michael Scott, but the similarities abound. Michael does improv - I did improv. Pam and Jim have a secret work place crush on each other. Janice and I kept ours secret for awhile. Michael forces employees to participate in an embarassing work party complete with award ceremony. Bob Z...
Nevermind.. there's nothing similar about The Office and my job.
If you actualy read this Bob, I'm just kidding.
Proposition 27 on TV
I forgot about this, Proposition 27, will also be on WHYY this Sunday morning at 5:45 AM.
I can't find it on TiVo. So you all have to stay up and watch it.
Eugene Elliot on TV
Speaking of upcoming TV sightings, Citizen Wumpus' magnum opus, "Eugene Elliot" will be on WHYY this Saturday at 4:20 AM.
Stay up and watch it... or just TiVo it.
Cousin in How I Met your Mother
I got to hang out with my family while I was out in LA after Max. I ran in to my cousin, Robert Michael Ryan. Turns out he's going to be in an upcoming episode of "How I Met Your Mother." He will play brother to the character Marshall for the Thanksgiving episode.
It's a good show (I've watched a couple episodes now.) So watch it, and hopefully we'll give my cousin more residual checks.
Demand Rolodex Girl
Whyy will be presenting Rolodex Girl on Comcast onDemand from November to January. Make sure to watch it, it's free!. I'm not sure what effect it has on Citizen Wumpus if you do so. But I cannot prove you will not die if you don't watch it. I'm not saying you will. But you can't be too careful.
So watch it.
Film Fodder Progress
I'm coming up on the end of my first full week posting at FilmFodder.com. I'm happy to say that getting the hang of it. I'm writing faster, and I'm going to hit the lower threshold of my weekly target (10-15 posts a week.) Here are the posts I'm happiest with:
Addtionally this guy lifted one of my articles, which is kinda cool cause he kept my credit in it.
Punditry Here I Come!
As of today, I'm a professional blogger (sort of.)
I'm writng for filmfodder.com, and getting paid for it.
Here's my first article: Ferrell Starts Production on NASCAR Film.
Craig's Variety Show Episode 2
Finally after months of hemming, hawing, time wasting, procrastinating, and even blocrastinating the next episode of Craig's Variety Show is finished. It includes Magnetism and Rolodex Girl and it should be on WHYY sometime in the next few months.
So make sure you block them off on your calendar. You don't want to miss it.
USA Character Campaign
I'm a huge fan of USA's Sunday night line up. Specifically, The Dead Zone and The 4400. USA has a campaign titled "Characters Welcome" I can't help but find myself riveted by them. They're each little short stories with their characters. Johnny Smith from the Dead Zone sees a girl's doll blown up by her brother. Maya from The 4400 positions her friend just right to catch a homerun outside of a baseball stadium. It's a brilliant campaign because it gives us something we as viewers want to see, but never get to: our favorite characters on their day off. Pretty interesting, I think this is an awesome way to drum up excitement in the shows, while giving fans what they want.
We're up on Google Video!
Google Video is moving to the next stage of operation, and Citizen Wumpus videos are available for viewing. Very cool. Random people are more likey to be mildly bored by our entertainment.
Google Video Search: CitizenWumpus
Flame On!
I was watching a trailer for the Fantastic Four, and heard the Human Torch's signature call "Flame On!" It begs the question to me, how many times did the director have retake that voice over to get "Flame on!" to not sound like a Stonewall battle cry?
Catching up on Intervention
I'm watching yet another episode of the show, ironically, I feel compelled to watch: Intervention. It's been a while since I've caught up with the show. They've seemingly changed the format. One person per episode, more focus on why these people should be saved. I find myself unable to stop watching. They also seem to focus on the interventionist and the strengthening of family. I seem to like that. Congrats on the better format.
Tonight's profile: Sara, a meth addict. She's a sad former beauty queen with an, out of place in this context, Minnesota accent. She's lost a job, marriage, child custody, a house. It's hard to watch the revolving door nature of the addict's life, and I can't tell if the family has been weakened by the addiction, or the weakness helped facilitate the addiction. I have a feeling that it's probably a little of both. I wonder though if the "weakness" I'm seeing is just the fact that the average family can't really deal with real addiction. I feel bad for the family but not so much for Sara. She's walking out, then they call for this guy, "Redding," and he does the trick. They should call him in all the time. That'd be pretty cool.
They showed a really positive denoument, but it's still pretty short. All in all I like this format much better, but I still hope for longer follow ups in the future.
Amy Sherman-Palladino, You Thief!
I was watching Gilmore Girls tonight.
What was featured? A robotic vacuum, a Roomba!
What was Lorelai's (Lauren Graham) fear? That it would consume her.
Sorry, Amy. We did it here first. Proposition 27.
(Yes, I directly address her, 'cause Amy Sherman-Palladino trolls the Citizenwumpus Blogs.)
Proposition 27 Online
In a stunning turn of events, I was able to get Citizen Wumpus' latest movie, Proposition 27, online in record time. Usually it takes me forever cause I have to fiddle with it forever. Not so this time. I only did the following:
- Formatted with letterbox. (Saves space on the download too.)
- Compressed the vocals.
- Tweaked a couple of volume levels.
- Added a film look coloration.
- Color corrected one scene.
Enjoy: Proposition 27 - Video.
Eugene Elliot Online
I finally posted Eugene Elliot up on the main Citizen Wumpus Site. It's our first movie, and people still seem to love it. This is part of a bigger push to get all of our content online. Until then, check out Eugene Elliot.
Another one in the can
We completed work on another 48 Hour Film project this weekend. Propostion 27 is a Sci-Fi flick with all of Citizen Wumpus' dark humor.
See the screening, 7:15pm Tuesday April 11th, at International House in West Philadelphia
Wonder Woman Movie
Wonder Woman is coming to the big screen with Joss Whedon in the director's chair. Now, who is going to play Wonder Woman. My vote is for Lauren Graham but looking at her IMDB bio, she might be too old for the role. Not that it's fair, but Hollywood likes their women young. But maybe someone will make the same mistake I did, and assume she couldn't possible be past her mid 30's.
Imagine that combo, Joss Whedon, who got most of his popular cach� from Buffy, a strong female role model, paired up with Lauren Graham, who plays such a strong female character on Gilmore Girls. It would be magical.
More Intervention Goodness
I'm watching the Gambler and the Shopper epidode of Intervention. My jury is still out. They did a better job of giving us a more sympathetic view of the addicts.
The actress Vanessa was extremely sympathetic. I think they did a really good job of showing her agorabphobia, which drives her addiction. Additionally the self awareness she had was a little heartbraking. Her psychologist seemed to just prescribe drugs and do nothing else. Agoraphobia is usually comorbid or even caused by G.A.D which responds very well to Cognitive Therapy. Quack.
She seems to take the intervention very well.
Gabe, Gabe, Gabe. I had high hopes for him, he was the reason I was here. His sound bite replayed during reruns of Crossing Jordan compelled me to watch. However, his lack of self awareness and addiction-driven selfishless makes him very unlikable. He says things like "I think when you have kids you're responsible for them for the rest of your life... You sell your house if you have to..." Which his parents did.
I felt bad for borrowing money from my parents to buy my house. I did not gamble away $80,000 of their money. Puts my Catholic guilt in perspective.
His intervention was rough. He subltly implies "I will kill myself because of this intervention." His interventioner was awesome. "I will call 911 if you are serious. Are you serious?" Suicide talk ended. Finally, Gabe said his money line:
"You're forcing me to get on a plane tonight when I don't even have all my stuff packed, and I don't have any control over anything...
They made me wait for it. But it was worth it. His intervention is very dramatic, no wonder he was the sound bite guy. He teeters but he finally goes. This episode had me.
But then they blew it. They had a 5 second post mortum on them. And they made it pretty clear that they were unsucessful.
I came for Gabe, I stayed for Vanessa. I fear neither will have a happy ending.
I will say this much more clearly then the last time. (As if the producers are reading...) Rework this show. Interventions are not good ending beats cause they leave the more uregent question in the audience's mind - Will they recover? - unanswered. Cut it back to one person per episode, make me root for the person, then show me what happens to them. The intervention should be the climax, but we need a longer denouement.
More Eugene Elliot
So Eugene Elliot has seen a lot of play recently. Coming off it's inclusion in Craig's Variety Show, it's being screened on the big screen again.
If you're free this Wednesday night, come down and check it out:
February 23, 2005
Clearview Anthony Wayne Cinema
109 West Lancaster Ave (Route 30)
Wayne, PA
FREE Admission - 8pm Screenings
Thanks to Fairview Films for hosting the event.
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
I'm watching a documentary named The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. It's like a chapter on editing from a film textbook except in fun movie form. If you can watch it, do so. It's on Starz this month.
Thanks to Janice for finding it on TiVo for me.
UPDATE:
This movie contains commentary from Paul Verhoeven and Mark Goldblatt the director and editor of Starship Troopers talking about their opus. If there was ever any doubt, they did take it seriously. Wow.
New Video Added
Home taking care of my sick girlfriend, so I finally had time to take care of a couple things I've been meaning to. Like adding the last sketch of Craig's Variety Show to the site.
If you watched on Tivo, you may have noticed WHYY's flexible relationship with time late at night.
So if you mised it, please check it out on the Video section of Craig's Variety Show.
Ratings for Craig's Variety Show
We got the ratings back for Craig's Variety Show. We got a .2 share, which is roughly 15,000 people. At first I was kinda disappointed... Then I realized that 15,000 people is more than have ever watched anything I have ever done.
Very Exciting.
So You Want to Make a Movie... PART 3
An Idea
Okay, you've resolved to endure some shame and go down the path. Now you need to come up with something for your movie to be about. Why? Because invariably some one will ask you "What's your movie about?" It will also be helpful in selling it to your actors, making people want to see it, and oh yeah it helps in coming up with the story. Without an idea, you have no story, without a story, you have no script, without a script you will have a painful period of time recorded on film, and people will ask you for a temporal refund after they watch it.
So what's an idea? What makes it different from a story? An idea can usually be expressed in one sentence. It usually introduces the world in which your movie will take place, and the hook. It usually doesn't include details about the characters. A story, on the other hand usually needs more than one sentence to explain, contains cause and effect and usually has a linear structure. "This happens, so the hero does that, so the villian does this, and the hero has to choose..." More about story later.
What does an idea look like?
- A man has to come to face the truth that he is a superhero, and being capable of more, he is responsible to do more.
- We will live entirely in virtual reality, but we won't know it.
- A young man tries to move on with his life in the subculture of acting-wannabes in L.A.
Of course, I have to ask "Can you guess which idea is what story? As we go down the list, we see the ideas get more specific and more identifiable. Is specific better? I say it depends on your style.
If you have trouble getting started with the whole creative process than absolutely start specific, and this will give you strong momentum. But don't be afraid to deviate if you get a good idea along the way.
If you don't like being creatively limited, then go with the more general ideas. However, don't let yourself meander and not get anything done.
As a cautionary note, I would stay away from mentioning other titles unless the other story is critical to explaining yours. A parody of another story needs to mention it. Otherwise, don't do it .
Bad:
Seven meets Blind Fury in a tale about a blind samaurai master who kills people according to the seven deadly sins.
Ok:
A modern adaptation of A Christmas Carol, set in an office, dealing with a holiday party.
Now, you have an idea, you can start brainstorming about what actually happens in your work, and that's the story.
Here's what movies I thought these ideas referred to.
- Spiderman, Superman 2, Unbreakable
- Matrix, Existenz
- Swingers
So You Want to Make a Movie... PART 2
A Willingness to be Embarrassed
In my humble opinion this is the most important thing one needs to face in order to do any sort of creative endeavor. Every step on the way you have to put yourself out there. You have to show your actors the script. You have to direct a whole bunch of people in public, and security guards will come by. Ultimately you will have to show people your movie. In any of these cases you will have to overcome your embarrassment to get your job done.
I think a lot of closet-artists hide their work out of fear of criticism. They might use excuses like, "My art is for me, I don't do it so other people" or "People don't get me" or "The medium of human skin carving is frowned upon in your society." Nonsense, they don't value criticism. They don't like criticism because they are embarrassed by either positive or negative attention of their work. One can not be objective about their own work. You can only make your work better if you open yourself to the opinions of others. Maybe you'll learn that your script doesn't make any sense, or that you cut to fast and people missed something, or that a particular scene actually had a strong impact on your viewers. In any of these cases you need to show it off, and in order to do that, you need to shrug off your embarrassment to improve your artistic work.
Embarrassment stands in the way of getting the work done, and in the way of improving your work. It has no place in making a film.
So You Want to Make a Movie... PART 1
I wrote out a whole article and then I accidently deleted it. So this will be a series, instead of a single post as I remember what I wrote.
I make amateur films, and the most frequent comment I hear on them is "I could never do that." When I did improv comedy I heard the same thing. I'm going to try and dispell this myth, by sharing exactly what you need to make a movie.
Disclaimer: I make amateur short films. I have gotten my movies onto local TV, and placed as a finalist for the 48 Hour Film contest for Philadelphia. However, I haven't gotten paid for them, nor have I received any awards. So this might be nothing more than advice for making mediocre shorts.
First, plan for the correct size film. I say, for your first outing, plan on a 5 to 10 minute finished project. Any more than that will become unmanagable quickly.
Now what do you need:
- A Willingness to be Embarassed
- An Idea
- A Story
- A Script
- Access to a Camera
- A Computer
In the next couple posts, I'll try and explain the difference between a story and a script, I'll say some things that will piss off the two Mac users who read Aarrgghh!!, and I'll give tips on how to lose your shame.
A Christmas Party
I have a new section dedicated to my newest movie, A Christmas Party. My job has had a media competition for the past two years, and so I did this.
I'm pretty happy with it. I think that I hit a certain base level of competence with the whole thing. I couldn't look at any part of it and see glaring errors. The script's mediocre, not fantastic, but okay. So is the directing, as is the editing, as is the design. No part shines, but no part really is blatantly bad.
That sounds like I'm being down on it. I'm not. It's hard be happy with your own work. I'm honestly content, considering I spent 3 hours on the script, 4 hours planning, 3 hours filming, and 10 hours editing. 20 hours from just one person. Not too shabby.
But don't take my word for it. Watch A Christmas Party, and tell me that I'm wrong.
Set your TiVo's
After weeks in development hell, I'm finally done working on Craig's Variety Hour, and they're putting it on the air.
To find out more, go to http://www.citizenwumpus.com/cvs/.
Watch it or set your TiVo's:
January 22, 2005 12:10 AM
Whyy Channel 12.
My First Opening Credits
I'm putting together Craig's Variety Show, and hopefully I'll post more information about it soon. But I got to design my first set of opening titles meant for TV. I'm thinking it looks pretty good. Any thoughts?
By the way, the music is an original composition by Michael Worth.
I've posted the video in the extended version of this entry.
Magnetism Online
Magnetism, an animated short by Nye Warburton is now available online. I highly reccomend you see it. It's just a beautiful movie, and it lead to Nye getting a job working on Gil Kenan's Monster House.
Check out Magnetism at Atom Films.
Video Article
I just posted an article on simulating night vision, over at the main citizenwumpus site.
I imagine that there is an audience of about ten people for this article, but enjoy.
Spell Check on TV
So I was in a short film named Spell Check about a year back. It was on Whyy this Sunday, and my mom randomly saw it.
Go back in time and watch it, Sunday October 17th at 5:20.
Absurd Movie Promo
So I was just watching a promo for The Alamo on DVD. The selling point: "From the studio that brought you Pearl Harbor". Dude, that's digging a little deep to find something to sell it.
Are we next going to hear: "The distributor that brought you The GodFather is proud to present- Bio-dome?
I hope so.
Short Film Don'ts
Really good list, of commonly seen things in bad short films.
http://filmmaker.com/DUMPS.html
I know Mikey will take umbridge at the "Dolly in Zoom Out" being included, but it it is a bit overused at the student level, because:
1. It's extremely noticible.
2. Compared to other moving shots, it's relatively easy to reproduce.
Interesting and Helpful Production Articles
On Noise Reduction
http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25455
How to get the Saving Private Ryan look
http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25010
On Depth of Field
http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/optics/dofskinny.php
http://www.dvcreators.net/shooting/ (Under the "Tiplets" Heading)
On building a lost cost light kit
http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/lighting/spears1.php
Camerawork Reading
I am by no means an expert cimatographer by any means. However I've had to do my fair share of camerawork. So I do have a couple books up my sleeve that have been very helpful in accelerating my knowledge about how to move a camera.
More Film Sites
I found more sites by teams that did the 48 Hour film Project or the National Film Challenge. Specifically I found more examples of other projects online.
http://www.humanthinktank.com/tazlake/blog2/blog_comment.asp?blog_id=84
http://www.craigrichards.com/act/1068660820.html
http://www.trudang.com/index.html
http://www.freewebs.com/bystudio/
Feel free to post in comments, ones not listed here.
Production Reading
So as part of my goal to give people a reason to come back to this site I'm starting a series of articles dedicated to various topics related to the movies we make.
