RE-SHOOT STORYBOARDS AND VIDEOS

The last two weeks I’ve had the pleasure of working with the folks at New Regency films and Fox on the movie, “THEY CAME FROM UPSTAIRS”. The movie was shot a year or so ago , as this is the re-shoot I mentioned in my last blog. Thanks again to my colleague Darrin Denlinger (who can be seen in a meeting with Ed Norton and Gale Ann Hurd the Special Features of THE INCREDIBLE HULK dvd) for hooking me up.

 The trailer for THEY CAME can actually be seen on YOU TUBE.  You’ll get a good sense of the film.  I’ve had a good time learning to draw cute aliens. I can’t discuss my work, as this is an on going project, but I look forward to seeing it in the theaters.  Props, to director John Schultz, who is a good guy.

 In a correction to something from my last blog, the ABC promo I worked on with my friend, director Maurice Marable was not for “FRINGE”, but for a new Tim Roth show called “LIE TO ME”.  Maurice mentioned FRINGE in our conversation and … there you go.  Mo and I will be working together soon on a video.  Yes!!!!  I’ve lost out on a few feature gigs recently so I am quite happy when anything tangible pops up.

What has me (and EVERYONE) worried is the possible SAG strike.  Like we need this after the WGA. For those of you with a spouse or especially children to take care of, you know this won’t be pretty. 

Nothing against what people have to fight for but the industry hasn’t even recovered from it’s last strike. I sure haven’t.  

Lastly, special regards to Marjo and Casey Bernay. We Union (formerly Local 790) storyboard artists miss you both and wish you greater success in the future.

A LITTLE 20TH CENTURY FOX GIG

The week has started out well, and as things go, once it rains, it pours (on in this case, drips faster).

On Monday, my buddy, Darrin Denlinger (who has been mentioned in a previous blog) recommended me for re-shoot boards on a Fox film. I’ll discuss that when the gig is done. Basically, it is a few days of drawing new scenes for a children’s film that has already been shot.

Believe me, a few days will come in very handy with bills. If it is a week, it will be even better. It is good to be back on a feature. Hopefully, I will make some new connections.

The same day, I got a call from my old client, the commercial company Hungry Man for a job Tuesday (today) with a new director I haven’t worked with. Unfortunately, I had to turn the job down as I am now on the feature. My friend Steve, who has freelanced there for years, always looks out for me. Very cool guy.

Then, I get a call from a producer friend who needs spec boards ASAP for a possible project. He can’t pay unless he and the director get the gig, which is fine, as they are close friends and great guys. I might be able to fit it in, but I won’t know until I get some of the feature boards done.

Slowly, but surely. Hopefully, I will get a long-term gig very soon. Or, sell my screenplay. One has to think big.

 

A CHANGE WILL DO US GOOD

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, so sang Sam Cooke, and it’s a song I emailed to some close friends tonight.  I will NOT use this blog for politics, but I am in a good mood.

My old and close friend, director Maurice Marable (he directed the title sequence for ENTOURAGE and I did some of the boards) called me on a last minute promo spot for the ABC show FRINGE just before “President elect Obama’s acceptance speech.

I was with 100 or so of my “closest friends”.  Actually, 99 percent of them were strangers.  Very happy strangers.

I will meet  “Mo”  (we call him by both names, including Big Willie, Grand Puba, and and Lens Master ) and the crew during a location scout tomorrow (Nov 5^th for you all) and at least get a day’s pay.  The production company only “limited” funds do to it being a rush gig,  but the money is close enough to my rate and it is money coming IN.  Always beats money going OUT.

I am VERY grateful to Maurice, as he has used me for years and has always been a true friend in every sense of the word.  Mo is also a director of color (rather than being translucent, of course) who is has transcended the confines of what a Black director should do. If there is a story, Mo wants to tell it, and he will tell it in a visually dynamic manner.

This is a link to his reel, and you will recognize a good number of these commercials.

http://believemedia.com/director.php?director_id=24

I have to get to get my equipment ready for tomorrow. I will use paper and pen, do to the fact I have to draw on the spot and be quick about it. No Cintiq.

I think I can make it the old fashioned way.

Good night and good morning to you all.