Day 780
(Technically: 927)

Congratulations to Alexandra Naides for short film "Knee High" screening at First Run Film Festival last night.  I was the co-editor and sound designer, as well as clapper/loader and DIT on set.

I've noticed this year, though, that there are no audience ballots for audience awards. Perhaps they just didn't want to bother counting them.   I'm really disappointed with the festival this year in comparison to last year's.  This year there aren't even programs! Imagine that! I asked about this and they just replied, "Oh, the Xerox machine broke." You do realize there's a Kinko's right down the street, right? Very frustrating because I want to be able to know what films are coming up in the screening.  Even the projector wasn't working this morning and cut off the first few minutes of Andrew Cannizarro's "A Girl and Her Guardian," which meant skipping most of the animation that I worked on.  Andrew had to run back and make them start over from the beginning.

Anyway, that's beside the point. This afternoon is the world premiere of "NYZ."  I've spent the past few weeks testing it at the theatre, so any bugs or glitches I've been able to iron out in advance.

Day 779
(Technically: 926)

First Run kicked off last night with two blocks of films, including fellow classmate from Yemane's Advanced Production Workshop, Ginny Mohler and her short film "THE ADVENTURES OF GORDON & GRACE."   It's almost hard to believe that's it been two years since we shot our projects. Now they're finally ready to screen!

Tonight at 8:30pm, be sure to watch for "Lifted" by Zachary Goldberg, and, especially, "Knee High" by Alexandra Naides!

Tomorrow, we have another Yemane alum, Andrew Cannizzaro, and his film "A Girl and Her Guardian" at 12:30pm, which features animation by both myself and Eric Pato.  And don't forget: "NYZ" tomorrow at 4:30pm!

In other zombies news...

Day 763

(Technically: 910)

I'm feeling a bit run-down today. All of this running around and staying up till 1AM every night for the last week or so working on finishing up "NYZ."

For First Run, they accept either HDCam tape or Digital Cinema Package (DCP), which I've decided to use for one reason and one reason only: sound.

HDCam tapes can only hold up to 4 channels of audio, and DCPs can hold up to 6 channels, which would be best for the 5.1 surround mix I've prepared. I will be going to the theater to meet with the projectionist again to make one final stab at the DCP.

I downloaded a program that allows Macs to read and write Linux drives, but upon further investigation, discovered that most people didn't have much success with anything outside of directly using Linux, which I've been submerged in the past few nights learning how to use.

If it doesn't work, then I must use the inferior HDCam tape.

Day 761 [cont'd]

(Technically: 908)

No sooner I've exported the LCRLsRsLFE 5.1 sound mix than I find myself running into Andrew Cannizzaro, who was also in Yemane's Advanced Production class with myself, Tristan and Chris. He had just finished outputting to HDCam tape his 20 minute opus, "A Girl and Her Guardian," which myself and Eric did animation for.

I am excited to see it in its full form, having only seen bits and pieces over the past month as I worked with After Effects to animate a few shots in the storybook opening sequence. You should check out his website at www.agirlandherguardian.com. Here is the trailer below:

Day 761

(Technically: 908)

Yesterday I was at Tisch working on the final sound 5.1 mix for "NYZ" when I ran into Chris Hoffman, Tristan Nash (fellow students), and our professor Yemane. It was great to see them again and catch up, and they even came up to listen to the mix and give me some feedback (though not literal feedback, because that would be detrimental to the mix). I am pleased to say that their reactions were very, very positive.

Currently, I am bouncing out the 5.1 files and gearing up for the deadline this Thursday to turn in all the materials for the First Run Film Festival, where "NYZ" will have its world premiere on Saturday March 24th at 4:30pm.

Also, Tristan's film from our class, "No Wing High," will be screening at First Run as well. as well as a few other of my fellow classmates.

Day 758

(Technically: 905)

Today, we recorded the music for "NYZ," mostly the score by Ryan Kupchik, and a song by GioSafari.

Extremely busy these next few days as I prepare the final mix of the film and the DCP.

Just gearing everything up for First Run.

Day 751

(Technically: 898)

Good news! I know it's been a LONG time since I've updated this blog, but I am pleased to announce that "NYZ" is going to have its world premiere next month Saturday March 24th at NYU's First Run Film Festival!

I've been spending the past year mostly working on getting a job and securing my finances. However, I have been slowly chipping away at "NYZ," working on it whenever I can usually on the odd night or weekends, working with composer Ryan Kupchick last autumn on the score, finalizing color correction, making some special effects to sweeten the visuals, and, more recently, the sound design.

I regret not being able to get with a sound editor, but with the budget non-existant, I had to take it on myself, and I am no stranger to sound design, having worked on "The Sunset" by Misha Sundokovskiy from last year's First Run, and "Knee High" by Alexandra Naides, which premiered at the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival last year and will be screening in New York both at First Run and at the Film Anthology Archives for NewFilmmakers NY in two weeks.

Anyway, I'll post more details about the upcoming screening when NYU updates the festival website. Stay tuned!