All things come to a head...

Been working on some modeling lately. Here's the head I'm currently working on...

Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes....

Wow! Quite a while since I updated this puppy. Lot's has been going on... No, we're still not finished with that short! The director got stuck with "real" work, so he hasn't been able to get the darn thing finished. So much for shooting for that end of August deadline. We were, however, able to get a short little 1 min. 15 sec. opening clip worked on for a showing at the Tower Theater (Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah). Supposedly it went over very well, I was unable to attend, so I gotta take people's word.

I start shooting a couple of shorts tomorrow. The first is for the DVXUser.com HallowsFest. That's all I can say. I'm not even posting to say that I'm joining, until I've got some footage shot. The second short will be another Halloween based film.

Sony has been showing off their XDCAM EX1 camera. This is going to be a sweet addition to the already well known Panasonic HVX200. Both camera's record to memory sticks, for a tapeless workflow. Google "Sony XDCAM EX" for more information.

Sony has also released v8 of the popular Vegas NLE. Now sporting a new name "Vegas Pro 8", this looks to be a pretty decent release. I've got the demo, and will provide more info once I can get around to testing it out.

Well, it's back to the grind....

...more movie making...

So we were supposed to be finished, fin, complete, done and over with at this point in time with actual shooting of this short film entitled BIRDS OF PREY. However, weather and schedules just didn't mix well together. We were going to get together last Tuesday (5/22/07) and shoot the final fight sequence. Well, things didn't work out for the director. Then it was pushed to yesterday (5/24/07) and the weather kicked up, as well as one of the lead's injured her wrist while longboarding. So, we're currently scheduled for a Tuesday, May 29, 2007 shoot day. Then the only things left, will be pick-up shots that the director can do. I've already started on moving into the VFX portion of my duties for this short. We've got some 3D elements that needed to be created, so modeling has commenced. I've also been working on different muzzle flash elements to make roto'ing them in much easier. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the way things are going right now.

In other news, I've started writing a couple of stories down that have been floating through my grey matter lately. A couple of these stories would make for some wonderful animated movies. I know that one would be a feature length film, so I've thought about splitting it up into a trilogy of shorts. Who knows, maybe it'll happen. I wanna focus on getting several more short live action films out the door before committing to anything strictly animated. Animated is gonna take some time, even though I do have several people interested in helping out.

So, enjoy your weekend, I'm going to be working on VFX stuff, if I get the urge, I'll see about posting some stuff up here!

Movie making.....

So around a month ago I was trying to make a poster for my friend's short film that he was preparing to shoot. Well, for the past week, we've been in production mode. Monday was used to shoot some footage for use later on in the film. That seemed to go off without a hitch. Then starting Thursday, May 10th, 2007 we started shooting. We had 2 full days of shooting, and then we've got a break until Tuesday, May 15th.

Early poster for a friend's movie.

Update...

Okay, so I think I might have a handle on images. Don't know where I'm going to post my animations and video stuff yet.

Looks like my previous hosting solution for video/animations is now dead. The entire site is gone. Only getting a 404 now, and no one can get hold of the owner! I know he's busy, but it would have been nice to have heard what was going on. So, at least you'll be able to see my lovely images until I can get another place for big stuff.

No images

Ok, looks like something has happened to my hosting service, and images are currently down. Not sure how long they'll be gone for.

**EDIT** Just found out that it looks like the server ran out of bandwidth. Not sure how that happened, but it should be worked out soon. I hope!

Drawing and 3D...

Most people know that to get around in 3D you need to be able to draw. While this isn't entirely true, being able to draw does give you an understanding of form and function. Which then makes 3D that much easier for you.

So, I was surfing around while waiting on a render to finish, and came across this blog.

Check it out, and draw damnit, draw!!!!

Working hard....

So, I've been working hard during the first month of the year, and it wasn't on film related stuff!!!! I offered my 3D modeling services to my friend Chris, since the company he works for had him needing to model a low poly version of the Forbidden City in China. If Chris had to do this all by himself, on top of his other duties at work, low poly would have meant boxes trying to fake being buildings. While my model was almost exactly boxes trying to be buildings, there was enough shape to actually fake it more than what Chris would have been able to do (in the time alloted), and he's told me as such. So, this not only gave me an in to this company (his boss loved the model), it also saw me getting a paycheck for 3D for the first time in almost 8 years. It was fun modeling again, and I'm looking forward to doing another project for these guys.

Here's a render of the model, with no textures...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

As the old year passed, I was busy working on fixing a disc image that wasn't wanting to burn correctly, while chatting with my friends in Louisiana. My wife mentioned to me the other day that what ever you are doing when the New Year starts, is what you will be doing for the entire year... God I hope not!!! That image was a pain in the rear!!

So, the New Year starts, my one son is a year older, and I'm still trying to get off my butt and finish a project. This _WILL_ be the year it will happen. I'm planning on making at least several shorts this year and hopefully start on a feature project. The past year I did get involved in several projects, which are still being worked on. Even started a couple myself that are still ongoing. Post work can be a bitch!

So, have yourself a safe and happy New Year! Happy Birthday Cole! See you all around!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone who reads or at least glances at this blog. Here's hoping to get what you want, even if it is just Peace on Earth, and Goodwill toward Man.

Alas poor Gloria...

So, here we are at the beginning of December. I've been busy, pissed off, upset, and a crap load of other stuff for a while. On November 15, 2006, I found out that my Mother had passed away on October 5, 2006. No one had bothered to contact me, even though a close friend of the family had given the social worker from the care center my Mom was in, my phone number. There's still somethings that I won't talk about, nor have I read the poem/story that my wife wrote about my Mom. Too painful I guess. Never having the chance to properly say goodbye. So, yeah, I think I've got a pretty damn good reason to be pissed.

That little VFX based short film never happened. Trying to find the right people and getting everything together just wasn't meant to be. Made more progress on my friend's short film, than I did on mine. At least we got around to actually shooting some material! :) Anyways, as it stands right now, another friend, Chris Smith, and myself are currently slaving away on our CGTalk.com Challenge. We're working on a movie trailer for the book EON. We've got until January 15, 2007, so this one should be doable, especially since the maximum length can only be 90 seconds. I'll post some stuff here when we get around to having material ready to show. More to come later...

This blog is dedicated to Mom:

Gloria Colleen Swensen Rhoads - Born May 1, 1943 - Died October 5, 2006 - Rest In Peace.

It's over.... Let it begin!

Well, the project that George and I were working on fell through. He got busy at his day job, and I got busy working on my own stuff. We still want to finish the project, but for now, it's been placed on the back burner.

I do however, have a new short film that I'm working on, and it will contain some VFX elements. It's a horror based short, so there should be some cool stuff in it. Hopefully, this new short will be finished in time for the Horror Fest that I want to enter it into on October 11th. I'm planning on keeping this site updated a little more often now. I guess we'll see! :)

Back to the Beginning...

Ok, so this "test" is shaping up a little more. Everytime I think I'm going to get a chance to work on this, something always comes up, and I get taken away. I know the same has been happening to George. But we are still committed to this project, and I'm now slowly getting back on track.

I'm starting over on the story, and George is still working on the design of the creature.

Look for more updates soon.

Contrary to popular rumours on the net...

...we are not dead, and neither is this project!! What with Sundance happening here in Utah right now, I've been a little busy. George has been busy at work too. He was able to take a small break this past weekend (right George?). I've been attending some of the screenings at the Sundance Film Festival as well as some of the "tag along" fests that happen at the same time. One fest that didn't tag along that I tried to attend and get involved in was the LDS Film Festival. Ever since first finding this festival almost 2 years ago, I've been wanting to submit something to it. I would have been able too this year, if I had heard about their 24 Hour Film Contest more than 3 days in advance. Anyways, that's all water under the bridge. If you're gonna be attending TromaDance 2006 (one of the tag alongs) on Saturday, January 28, I'll be there to check out some of the action going one. Check out Troma's website for more information.

As for the project, more of it has been nailed down. We are now looking at shooting a 5 minute long short to show off some visual effects that we can do. This 5 minute short may end up being a precursor to something further down the road, but nothing is set in stone just yet. Work continues on the design phase of the creature that will be showcased in the short. Here is an early sketch of the creature. Be watching for the first draft of the script to pop online soon.

Holidays can sometimes suck...

Okay, now that the holidays are over with, we should be able to get back to working on stuff. I'll be posting some stuff in the next couple of days (hopefully) and things should start to progress.

Welcome...

... to the first message in the blog for Vong Visuals. Vong Visuals is a teaming up of me, and my friends, to create Visual FX work for zero to low budget movies. We are currently working on our first VFX test, and you can follow along here. More info will be posted in the days to come.