Clean Energy Future

Clean Energy Future

I very rarely post my Bearcage work on this blog... then again, I guess very rarely post. 

However, last month I completed a job I'm rather proud of. I directed three short spots for the Nature Conservation Council and Department of Climate Change. I'm very happy with the content of these spots and I guess anyone familiar with my work can see that I've shied away from allot of the visual gimmickry  that I'm always so comfortable with. 

Whatever your political views, you cannot deny that we need to move to renewable energy. I feel that the migration to green technology in Australia has stagnated for far too long and our nation should be world leaders in this area. We are an informed society charged with a responsibility to generate a change in social attitudes towards climate change. It was a very real privilege to direct these shorts and meet some truly inspiring and proactive individuals.

Props go out to people involved, Geoff Ellis for the beautiful cinematography, and Andy Hogan for the sound on location.

Check out the videos here...

Super Freakin' Soaked!

I apologies for the lack of updates (to the few that read this blog). Life has been hectic!

Work has ground me to a husk and I've barley scratched the surface of preproduction on the next big short "Girl + Ghost." A short that I'm hoping will bring the Numbskull boys and myself a little bit of recognition.

However, amongst the myriad of countless work projects, we've been able to produce a short for a competition advertising Supersoakers. We'll find out how we fair in the coming days, but for now please enjoy some screen caps from the program.

Gears is finished!

Gears is done!!

What a journey! The film won't be online for a while due to circulation around festivals, but I'll have a trailer up at some point in the close future.

It's been an exhausting, laborious, alienating, fun, uplifting and wonderful experience making this film, and I cant thank everyone evolved enough. Film is such a collaborative medium and it takes very talented people to pull it all together. Furthermore, the support and encouragement of friends and family is priceless.

I'm already knee deep in the next Numbskull production; Girl + Ghost. This one's been in the works for years. Gears was a mole-hill to this new film's mountain!!!

Sputflicks

Check out the new demo reel as well as a bunch of Numbskull projects throughout the years at my vimeo page.

Numbskull People Demo Reel

So close yet so far...

So close yet so far...

Gears is in the last legs of it's exhaustive journey. Everything is in it's final stages and it's going to be a sprint to the end. I'm hoping that the film has a long life life in film festivals, but who knows? 

It sucks to think that someone can make a flash judgement on a work that people have poured months of their lives into. I guess that's something to remember every time we criticize or dismiss a film. (even though it is has generally been made by professionals who have been paid handsomely for their expertise)

I want to thank everyone who has donated their time and effort to this film... I'm sure you will be excited by the final result!!

Fingers crossed... we'll get there soon!!

Two posts in as many days??

...madness, I know. Gears rumbles on in the late of the night. (is that even a sentence?) I've had a good session in after effects tonight. Ben Folds, The National and Bloc Party have been blaring and I've enjoyed quite the sing-along. One more hour then I will head home to bed.

I'm going to try and post updates frequently now that gears is in the final stretch. Watch this space!

Will this ever end?

Gears is never ending. I don't feel like I'm making progress as much as scrambling to get it finished before the end of the year. This project has taken its toll physically, emotionally and socially. The base of the robot special effects are all laid down but there is music, sound design, colour grade and a world of atmospheric stuff to go...

Hope we can get there...

Gears...Gears...Gears...

Nothing of value to report... Post production moves along ever so slowly. I find it rather hard to finish a day of work at Bearcage and continue on the short late into the night. However, I'm determined that this film will be finished before the end of the year.

Head down and fingers crossed!!

Gears creeps along

Gears moves along at the pace of a snail.

Designing Gears

Today I began sinking my teeth into the design and special effects of my new short film Gears. I feel a little in-over-my-head at the moment. However, I knew this moment would come. I guess that's how you do good work... pretend that everything peachy, do what you need to do to capture what you can on the day and stress about the rest later.

The time for stress has come. It's the long weekend in the ACT, I've cleared allot of other work of my plate and I'm hitting the ground running.

I can only cross my fingers and hope I can emerge from all the hard work with a short I'm happy with.

"Gears" in post production

The new Numbskull project; "Gears" is in well into the early stages of post-production. I have been chopping away in my free time, trying to edit the film as quickly as possible. The duration is going to be much longer then I first envisioned, sitting around the ten minute mark. However, the edit feels like it is paced correctly.

There is quite allot of diverse action crammed into the timeframe.

The main character is a puppet that  interacts with a real-life actress. It's very challenging to create intimate moments between the pair as I origonally conceptualised. Fingers crossed, it will all work out and the team and myself will produce a film we are all happy with.

"A New Beat" is now online

A New Beat is now online. The short film was produced as an entry in the Pepsi Shorts Tribeca film festival competition. This version is a tad nicer edit then the other one minute version that is floating around on the internet. Once again a giant thanks to all involved, check the credits for your name.

"Gears" in production

The Numbskull boys and I shot another short this week. It was two, long, hard days but we captured some great stuff.

I'm extremely grateful to everyone who donated their time, effort and expertise over the weekend. It's a real joy to be able to make these little projects  and share the process with wonderful people. 

Now that the film has been captured, I'll be beginning the long an arduous post production process. I think it's going to take some time to tease the story the story I want from what we've captured and as usual, the film is heavy with special effects.

Below is a little preview of the main character Gears in motion. Keep checking back here for updates.

Collaborators

One of the best part about making any form of video work is collaboration. Check out Sam Dignand's page for more information about his production work and original compositions.

Take a look at Michael O'Rourke's page to find out more about his fantastic cinematography.

http://michaelorourke.net/

Quantum Leap TVC

It's been along time since I posted anything. I've been unbelievably busy, but in the midst of the chaos I had a trip to Thailand. Before I left I finished a commercial for Quantum Leap dance group Canberra. Check it out on their Youtube channel...

Blip launches onto the internet

My short film Blip lands on the internet for all to see. Check it out

Pics from "A New Beat"

 I haven't posted a thing in ages. I've been so busy with work and other bits and pieces, but the main thing that has been occupying my time is completing my new short film. It's 95% there and I'll be showing it to everyone who worked on it very soon. However for now please enjoy some screen shots from the final piece.

Work for a new shot film comp

Next week I'm shooting a minute short for a competition. Here are some quick character concepts I threw together this weekend. They're just quick scratches to get some sort of feel for the piece. I was thinking about giving some sort of Ashley Wood vibe to a live action piece so I tried a similar look and feel. The sketches were quick so I wasn't successful, but I might try the style properly one day.

Sputflicks

I have just uploaded a short experimental animation I compleated some years ago.

Check it out along with other bits and pieces on my  Vimeo page.