Wanted to give a little insight on what’s been going on lately. Late last year I published a blog post, ‘The Film‘, explaining very vaguely my plans for my film. I’ve sparsely mentioned the progress I’ve made and this has been mainly attributed to the current stage i’m in (writing). I’ve always liked story writing and in school I was told I was pretty good at it, but post leaving high school I haven’t continued to develop that area. At all. I had some major issues expanding the story of the screenplay, I attribute this to lack of conditioning in creating new story paths. I gave myself the deadline of a year to write it and I still feel good about that decision. With a year I have been able to sit with my outline and synopsis and mature the story in many areas as I deem fit. The goal being to saturate it and make it interesting enough to warrant spending 2+ years of my life actually ‘making’ it.
I’m really happy with how I am now able to generate plot ideas. As soon as the script started taking shape I started getting idea after idea for other stories/scripts. Some things I have been able to integrate together for a back-story or more of an ancillary character’s journey, and some I have put on the back burner with the peace of mind that this one (which has a name but will reveal that later) is the right one for me to be investing my energy into at this time being.
From Friday 18th of June to Friday 25th of June I am staying at my caravan in the Gower for another burst of writing with no distractions like the internet (yes no reception there) no shops, or people even, just peace and empty fields. Last time I was there (May) I had a healthy amount down on paper and this time around I have more than twice the days to have some serious progress.
I have a script consultant booked on 27th August, which is a year on the day I committed to the film. Through getting a professional and an outsiders perspective on my script I hope to take the feedback I agree with and get to a third draft from that information. I think the script consultant will be very beneficial as this is the very first script or substantial story writing I’ve written and the way I may feel about characters and situations may not translate the way I had planned to you. The consultant should open my eyes to these instances.
When I have the third draft, production will steam ahead. Casting, voicing, designing, animatics will follow shortly. Soon i’m going to be launching a new site dedicated to the film (it’s already made and is floating around somewhere) and there I’m planning on regularly posting progress, thoughts on the development, processes, general and hoping to do some production vlogs, not unlike ProjectPedal.com (if I can get over my fear of the camera).
Some other crazy stuff has happened recently, which I wish I could talk about, but can’t at this time. I’ve been keeping a by weekly journal to help me remember that interesting things need to be happening….. it rivals both Anne Frank and Adrian Mole 
Wow you read all this?
-Krys
A couple of 3D abstracts of recent. I’ve gotten into the habit more and more of opening 3d software and just playing with the different tools and seeing what they do. Soon hoping to branch out into creating environments and buildings for long camera pans and other visuals i have for the film, and otherwise. I have also been toying with the idea of using it as a compositing application with pre-made 2d animation and 3 dimensional stylised objects.
Some crazy stuff has been happening recently, i’ll elaborate more later.
Through typical late night internet browsing i this particular night stopped by Kickstarter, which i do from time to time, i’m interested in what current independent film productions are on show, looking for funding to make their dream come to life on the screen. I found, ‘Dennis’, a short film written/produced by Phil Duncan and to be directed by Kyle Aldrich.
Dennis is a grim story about a child-eating monster who is, ‘Crippled by his addiction’ and his encounter with James, a ten year old boy who is neglected at home and in general is living a lonely, miserable life. Dennis wants to help James all the while the addiction inside of him is intensifying.
Here’s a short chat with Phil and Kyle about the film:
How did the idea, the genesis of ‘Dennis’ come about?
Phil Duncan: ‘Dennis’ was originally written as a one-act stage play. I needed a break from my longer-term projects and had the idea of writing an adult fairy-tale for some time. The actual story came together rather quickly. There was something about Dennis and the boy, James, that resonated with me. When I finished, I gave the play to Kyle to read for me and he offered great filmic insight into the story and convinced me (rather quickly) to adapt it into a screenplay. He’s taken off and ran with it, along with co-producer and director of photography Roland Sarrazen, both of whom have some really exciting things percolating for production.
What’s the short’s Demographic?
Kyle Aldrich: Hopefully everyone. That seems a bit ambitious but that’s what’s great about short films – and this film in particular. A wide variety of people are going to see ‘Dennis’ and we’re hoping there’s something in it for all of them. There’s some dark humor – which I love – that is wickedly tongue and cheek, almost so much that you laugh because you don’t know what else to do. There are dramatic elements, especially when it comes to James and his plight, not to mention Dennis and his addiction. There are going to be elements of horror – aesthetically as well as content-wise – and obviously some fantasy. That’s why I was originally drawn to it. It’s got a lot of layers that people can appreciate.
What’s your writing process?
[PD]: The story always begins with characters, for me. Obviously, Dennis was the impetus for this particular story. I started by mapping out his personality, his traits, his voice – before moving to other characters. Once I felt like I knew them, I moved into the actual story. I’m very tactile. I like printing each draft and running through them with a red pen. It gets me away from the screen which can stand in the way of progress at times.
What was your inspiration for Dennis?
[PD]: The idea of writing an adult-fairy tale has always interested me. Something based in fantasy – almost cliched fantasy – and playing with that fantasy by infusing it with reality. ‘Dennis’ really plays with people’s sympathies and hopefully they’ll come away with a muddied moral. I really enjoyed the stageplay ‘The Pillowman’ by Martin McDonagh. The stories within the story in that play are so dark, yet they possess the innocence of a children’s story.
[KA]: I’ve always been fascinated by the tragic-hero; Dennis fits really well into the tragic-hero skin. There’s something about these types of characters that makes you want to reach out and help them and it’s terribly emotional when you can’t. There’s literally nothing you can do but watch them spiral downward. Too me it’s a million times more emotional to watch Willy Loman delve headfirst into the insanity of the American dream than see him overcome his character flaws and have a happily-ever-after ending.
Is this your first foray into you’re writing being actualized into film?
[PD]: Outside of documentary work, this is my first true foray into production. It’s very exciting.
[KA]: I’ve written scripts and have been given scripts from others that have been turned into films, but this is the first time Phil and I have collaborated together. It’s been great to dissect the story with him and try and delve deeper into the mind of this monster. The source material is brilliant, it really is.
How did Kyle get attached to the project?
[KA]: Phil and I were exchanging work for feedback and he let me read ‘Dennis’ the stage play. After I read it, my mind was racing. What’s the monster going to look like? How theatrical will the set dec. be? How are elements of sound going to be incorporated into the atmosphere? Having a filmic background, I slipped pretty quickly into movie mode and told Phil that he should consider adapting ‘Dennis’ for the screen. I can’t remember how quickly it happened after the initial idea was conceived, but at some point I had managed to weasel my way into the director’s chair.
With Kyle as the director, has Phil’s original visions for Dennis been true or evolved into something different for production?
[KA]: I think the film has more or less stayed the same – at least in tone and message – since the first draft. After the initial read, we were messing with alternate endings that would translate better to film and Phil created – what I feel is – the most appropriate ending that we could have have. There were talks of animation and even some whispers of making the Dennis costume the most horrific thing you’ll ever see, but in the end, we came up with a concept for this monster that will envoke both fear and empathy.
[PD]: I think they’ve been strengthened. Kyle and Roland have both done a superb job of putting air in Dennis’ lungs. When writing the character of Dennis, I left his physical description purposely vague so that someone more artistic than myself could truly ‘build’ Dennis. I think people are going to be in for a shock.
Was it all along the plan to self/community fund the film?
[PD]: No. We were actually a little lost on how go about funding, so Kickstarter has been a godsend. It’s such a great resource for creative people and a superb place to create a fundraising hub. While it’s been nice to raise the money and get a lot of people involved online, it’s almost been more beneficial just to meet like-minded people. I think we’ve both made strong acquaintences with people we’ve met through Kickstarter.
Your planning on submitting Dennis to multiple festivals, is the end goal to gain enough interest to develop the short into a feature?
[KA]: We will be submitting Dennis to festivals worldwide. The main goal is to get a many people exposed to this story as humanly possible. If a feature deal came out of it, I think we’d all have a hard time saying no.
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What initially struck me about the short was the vivid concept art for the characters, particularly Dennis, through reading on and finding out that the film is going to be live action i felt compelled to contribute as this is something that i want to see, it’s exciting to think how the renderings will translate into reality with textile materials not paint. That’s partly what the funding is for, the materials and atmosphere. The goal being $3,700 (nearly there already) and only a few days remaining. If this sounds like an interesting project for you, head over to the Dennis Kickstarter page and see the video introduction by Kyle Aldrich and the cool contributor rewards to the right.
Links of note:
I was contacted in January, asked if i’d be interviewed for ArtoftheTitle.com regarding my title sequence for John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’. Of course i accepted, it’s one of my favourite design sites and i often visit when i’m in a slump looking for reference and inspiration from all the great title sequences that exist.
I’m really blown over by it, it’s great motivation to continue doing what i’m doing. I hope one day to be half as good as some of the prior interviewees which includes Kyle Cooper and Danny Yount, which are prime inspiration for me choosing Motion Graphics as a focus in the first place.
Check it out the interview here.
The Thing Video at Qemic is here.
-Krystian
I had quite a nice surprise last week when i was looking through the latest issue of Computer Arts, it was an advert for this book, and it had my name on it so i thought, ‘I’ll get that’.
I think it’s pretty cool, first time i’ve been in a book. Check it out here.
Here’s a link to the video, if you haven’t already seen it. Click here.
A little History
Ok, so some people here may already know that i’m currently writing a script for a film that i intend to make and complete in the next few years. Although at the moment, i don’t want to give to much information about it away, as i’m still developing new ideas and avenues as i’m writing, i have a name which i’m also happy with and will reveal that later too.
I’ve been planning on doing this since the last year of college (4 years ago now) and has been a bit of a pipe dream all my life. But now, it’s happening and i’m really pumped and focused on it (it’s one of the main reasons that the site’s been so quiet as i’ve been prepping research for the project, it was also the reasoning behind starting up the drawing blog to get some, digital drawing practice a year beforehand).
What?
What i can tell you at the moment it that:
- It’s going to be a full-feature length movie.
- It’s going to be completely animated.
- And i’m going to do pretty much everything myself
on weekends, including music (will have help with dialogue of course).
I’m not going to post much more on the film for a while, at least until i’m at the end of the writing stage and am entering the design/production stage. In time the film will have it’s own site, and production diaries, not completely unlike ProjectPedal.com. But until then if you’re interested in knowing more, i’d love you to fill out the form below to subscribe to the newsletter (you wont get any confirmation emails or anything like that), and in a few months i’ll send you a packed email full of info, schedule and stuff like that.
Just wanted to quickly write a little blog about this…before too much time has gone by and it’s then weird.
A few months back i submitted three of my videos the Digital Artist Awards 2009 competition as advertised in Computer Arts magazine.
I managed to get third in the world for my ‘The Thing Title Sequence‘ in the Motion Broadcast. It was pretty cool as i had no clue of my chances. 1st place went to Ben Davies of ‘The Neighbourhood. It was nice seeing my name in Computer Arts again too, as it was a magazine i regularly referred to for inspiration in college and university.
The ceremony was held at Blackall Studios London – it was really cool to see alot of great work up there from graphic design to illustration and was also nice to see screenshots of my video framed on the wall and it looping in rotation on a video display. Makes me want to be better.
I’d like to enter again next year if i make something better.
What would you say is the biggest thing you learnt from the whole production process?
That this *is* what I love doing. That I’m happiest when telling stories. There’s never been a moment when I’ve considered giving up on Pedal. And maybe that doesn’t sound like much a “learning experience”, but for me it was really a question that was always in the back of mind: is all this work going to pay off… is this going to be something I really want to do? Being able to say “yes, without a doubt”, after all these years, is a great feeling.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently, (had something, could be a piece of equipment or a shot you missed etc…)?
There’s always the shot I wish I’d gotten or the camera that might have looked just a little bit better – but really nothing jumps out. That’s not to say I haven’t made thousands of mistakes while working on this film… but each mistake was something to learn from, and I need to keep that in mind when thinking about the times I’ve felt naive or unprepared.
What advice do you have for other documentary filmmakers and filmmakers in general who want to follow in your footsteps and independently create they’re own large-scale film project?
[laughing] I’m not so sure I’d recommend anyone following in my footsteps – but ignoring that, my advice is always:
1) Share everything possible (of course).
2) Be patient, there are much faster ways of making a film that the road Amanda and I have taken, but that road comes with a lot of baggage and compromise. Going the independent route is a slow… terribly slow process. But at the end of it, you will be able to say you made exactly the film you wanted to make.
3) Make as much supporting material as you can stomach… between the first 5 episodes, and our 64 Days series, we have learned so much – and more importantly, we have made countless mistakes that we can now avoid in the finished film. Every bit of feedback and criticism we’ve received is applied towards the film where possible.
4) If making films is not something you want to do *every* single day… If it’s not something you love doing, even at it’s worst, then it’s not for you. Eric Simonson gave me that advice once, and I’m glad he did. Even when things aren’t going as planned, I remind myself that I wouldn’t rather be working on anything else, and it helps focus me.
How would you ideally want a viewer of ‘For Thousands of Miles’ to react when they see the film?
We want the film to shake something awake in people – we want it to inspire, and chip away at the limitations we set on themselves.
To be honest, For Thousands of Miles has very little to do with riding a bike – I think the people who will enjoy it most won’t necessarily be bike-enthusiast, but anyone who has ever wanted to take an adventure and put it off… anyone who has ever wanted to write a book and never got around to it… anyone who has ever felt weak and stuck in their life. Those are the people are trying to reach.
What are the future hopes for ‘For Thousands of Miles’, regarding festivals and distribution?
When FToM is ready for release, we’ll most likely submit to 3 or 4 major festivals: SXSW, Sundance, Ann Arbor, etc – and regardless of our acceptance or rejection, we’ll then release the feature length film online for free. I’ve been keeping an eye on Nina Paley’s distribution method and I’ve been really excited / relieved that it’s working so well. Her model is fairly simple: the content (film) is free, the containers (DVDs) are sold. The creative commons attribution she’s wrapped the film in has allowed her to leave it online at all times, while also continuing to share her film in theaters, and even partner with conventional distributors.
We have no real disillusions about making returns on our investments – or being the next sleeper-hit. We just want people to see it, we want them to be moved by it, we want them to pass it on to someone else. FToM is just going to be something we can look back on and be proud of.
You have alot of behind the scenes content on ProjectPedal.com do you plan on referring the future DVD owners of ‘For Thousands of Miles’ to discover the site and have a whole new experience of what went into what the have on their tv screens, or are you panning a slew of supplementary extras on the ?-disk set special edition dvd of all that content?
We’d like to do a bit of both – we plan on selling the film on it’s own DVD, and the 64 Days series on their own DVDs, for people who really just one and not the other. But our main DVD set will contain both the film and the making of the film. Our plan is to cram as much as we can into the DVD package – make it as fun and immersive as we possibly can. Especially considering the film *and* 64 Days will all be watchable online, we’ll need to be extra creative to have people wanting a physical copy.
But in any case, there are a lot of things that just won’t make it onto disc, and for those things we’ll do our best to draw people’s attention back to the site. And hopefully a lot of new people can get involved in the community and even the next film after Pedal.
Has working on the film been as hard as you’d imagine it would be?
Yes, and then some. The first blog post I ever wrote on our production blog ended with this,
“So stay tuned, and you’ll have front row seats to the long and painful process of independent filmmaking… before this ends I’ll have been turned down, shut out, knocked out of the race, dragged through the mud, riding on the edge of disaster, against all odds, between a rock and hard place… and that’s just preproduction. Strangely enough… I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Which cracks me up to read now, but it has been one challenge after another. I’ve had to push myself every day, some days harder than most, somedays digging slightly deeper than I’ve had to dig before. We’ve had financial issues we’ve had logistical issues, we’ve had legal issues… personal issues… on and on. And they show no signs of letting up before this film is finished.
I know you’re not at the end of your production yet, but as things have been going so far, would you think you would do something like this again? (create another independent film).
Without a doubt. I can’t wait for the next challenging project.
Don’t worry, click here to catch-up.
Keep up to date on the film at ProjectPedal.com. and don’t forget to donate to the kickstarter campaign.