I Keep It Underground - Miners & Minors

So I recently had the opportunity to flex my Special Effects muscles with a video shoot for FunnyOrDie.com. The spot was directed by Noah Emmerich, who you'll probably recall as Jim Carrey's best friend in THE TRUMAN SHOW.

The premise was to shoot a low-resolution video that would match the rescue footage of the Chilean Miners that was broadcast the world over. I don't want to spoil it, so here's the video.

New: Unedited Chilean Miner Footage from Noah Emmerich

Additional Credits Include:
Director & Writer: Noah Emmerich

Executive Producer: Dane C Reiley

Producer: Arthur R. Greene

Makeup/SFX: R. Zach Shildwachter

Production Designer: Mac Pohanka

Featuring Rich Giraldo, Javier Marquez, Albert Pero III, Ralphy Guillen, Victor Ramirez & Luis A. Lopez Jr.

Here's some photos of the shoot that include supplies and a better look at my handiwork.

Most of the effects was just mixing up a copious amount of blood which I did with my old school Karo Syrup formula, because of our limited budget. I do wish I would've went with stage blood that wouldn't have been so sticky and a bit easier on the clean-up. The director wanted more of a crazed hunger look, with taunt skin and a dirty look, different than full on Zombie, so interpret the horror of the video as you will.

Another fun thing I was able to do was helping my buddy's wife at her school. She teaches a group of children that are deaf and hearing impaired. I was asked to come into the class and demonstrate some make-up effects just in time for Halloween. I had some left over latex appliances that I bought from the dollar store and brought in my small make-up kit. I wanted to show the kids how they could apply the stuff from the dollar store themselves and not be afraid of doing it themselves. I explained about latex allergies and behind mindful of their subject if they ever put make-up on someone else. I explained that scary movies are really just smoke and mirrors, but they still were apprehensive about fact colliding with fiction.

One kid was picked by the teacher to receive a ninja star that was made to look like it is sticking in the skin. These were all cheap effects you can really find anywhere, but people often gravitate towards masks, often because they're unsure of how to create the effect. It was a simple application, a coating of liquid latex to act as glue, adhering the ninja star, a bit of my foundation to blend the edges and a squirt of fake blood and VOILA!

The other things I did were some paint on cuts, and latex peels which consists of applying a layer of latex to the skin, letting it dry, and picking at it until it resembles sunburn/blisters. The big hit was plain ol' nose putty. The kids had a blast making moles and warts all over their faces. They even gave me one on the forehead. It was a great time and I think they all began to imagine the limitless possibilities for this Halloween. The whole point was to show them fun and realistic things they could do on their own and afford.

I received a message the following day that NONE of the kids washed off their make-up when they came to class the following day. They all wanted to keep it on for as long as they imagined they could make it last. I can only imagine how dinner that previous night went with their families.The other thing the teacher told me was they had to confiscate all the markers from the kids because of me. I was perplexed and asked why. They had taken to drawing tattoos on themselves like me rather than doing their class work. These kids have a bright future.

Updates & Downbeats

The Walter Gropius Comics Workshop is quickly approaching, I actually fly out Thursday and have made arrangements to stay a couple extra days. I'm hoping to really bond with the artists over their work and creative drive. I just received an itinerary update with what to expect.

I am a bit perplexed by drawing out a one page comic. I've only recently started toying with storyboards for my own scripts, but I've never delved into a comic book style narrative. My drawing style doesn't necessarily lend itself to unique and interesting action, but perhaps that's just premature anxiety setting in. I'm hoping to learn a ew perspective on storytelling and presenting a visual story to an audience in a new way. I've been toying with the notion of submitting a piece to Covered, the blog that features comic book cover page reinterpretations from emerging artists. You should check it out, some stellar work. It seems like a reasonable goal and I am all about accomplishing reasonable goals these days.

I've been trying to get the video equipment and such for my entry to Indy Mogul, but I'm losing hope fast. I have a short funny script (in my opinion) but I'm severely tapped on funds with these travel plans already in place. Excuses are easy to come by, I'm just frantically looking for solutions like a lost kid in a department store looks for Mom.

My submission for Indy Mogul is based on two scenes, here's the first look at Scene #1.




FADE IN:

INT.RESTAURANT KITCHEN - DAY

The clatter of pots and pans is heard. The lunch rush is in full swing. With his back turned towards camera, a muscular black man, BLADE, the vampire slayer, steps into the chaos.

BLADE (V.O)
After the first film, war was
declared on Vampires.

Blade turns towards camera. He pulls off his sunglasses and puts them in his jacket pocket.

BLADE (V.O)
With the second film, we were
beginning to win the war against
the Bloodsuckers.

Blade removes his leather trench coat, revealing his muscular build in a wife beater. He tosses the coat to the side.

BLADE (V.O)
The third time around I had a bit
of help.

He grabs a short sleeved white oxford shirt and begins buttoning it up from the bottom.

BLADE (V.O)
The thing was there weren't that
many vampires around anymore. I
mean, we killed most of them in the
first movie.

Blade grabs an apron and turns around. He ties the apron behind his back with the force accustomed for garrote wire.

BLADE (V.O)
That's not so good when you're
vampire slayer. And now it's the
economy that sucks. So I had to
find a new job.

Blade grabs a pepper mill and spins around, bringing it down like a knife. He twists the cap and puts it in his apron. He adjusts his bow tie.

TITLE CREDITS: BLADE - VAMPIRE SLAYER. This job title is crossed out and is scribbled in with FOOD RUNNER.




Then CUT to Scene #2 and the hilarious conclusion and the bloody special effect I have planned. I think it's good, cheap, and shootable, just not sure about the rest. I've been writing alot more, and scripting up the ideas I've had tinkering in the head for a while now. It feels good to get them out, but I need to more actively pursue putting them into the right hands.

On an upbeat, a short film that I served as 1st Assistant Director and Producer on has been selected by the NewFilmMakers Film Festival to screen in June. You can check out set photos and behind the scenes by clicking here. I'm just trying to take the good with the bad as best as I can handle it all.




Here's another storyboard from the series I've promised to post, titled GUN. I really miss water colors. I forgot how fun it is to blend the colors, that's something I always have the hardest time with though I'm more aware of it. My trouble is I like to ink everything out first and then water color and then go back and lay more ink, which is ok, slightly over redundant, but ok. The big trouble is when I forget which inks and pens are water soluble and those that aren't.

I am also hosting another contest on my blog Z For Zombies, where you can enter to win a piece of originally fabricated artwork from yours truly. You gotta be in it to win it.

A Fork in the Road

I recently received the news that SVA is not going to offer the Advanced Special Effects Make-Up class that I was hoping to enroll in. Unfortunately, they didn't get enough students interested to warrant offering the class. My one option is to enroll in the Basic class again and work off to the side with a few of the other folks that expressed interest.

That being said, I don't think I can quite afford the whole bundle and time commitment again. I think with some discipline I can take what I've learned and continue to experiment with what I've previously taught myself by using the money and time I would've invested in SVA into new tools and materials for my own projects. I've taken a few short tutorials at Compleat Sculptor before and I am considering it again. Pictured are the workshops I'm considering.

The tricky thing is that for all the artistry and methodical techniques I've encountered and continue to learn, it's all a bit of fun and games to me. I look at action figures and overpriced sculpted busts in toy stores and comic shops and can't help think, "I can make that." I've found myself pausing the carnage and sci-fi elements of all my DVDs lately to critique the craftsmanship. Basically, I'm saying, I'm just having fun with this, and I'm not entirely sure which way to take it. I'm note sure if I will ever be paid to do what I'm crafting, but I'm not sure if it's art either. I like to draw and paint and craft things from bits of trash I find. I like to cut things up and put them together again. This is just a classic case of good intentions coupled with manic energy meeting a lack of direction. I just hope it doesn't develop into regret and further frustration. I am realizing I need a new project to take me to the next plateau.

I recently unearthed a few story boards I did for a friend. He was crafting a short film about mobsters, hit men, and a zombie's revenge. Looking over them I realised I should revisit some of these. If not for the story that died on the vine, but maybe to help someone else with their vision; to offer what talent others think I have to birth their visions. Perhaps that is where I'll figure out what comes next.

I used pen, sharpie, and water color to craft the storyboards on heavy stock paper that's roughly 5" by 7". It's style was very fueled by Brian Azzarello's 100 Bullets drawn by Eduardo Risso. I'll post one storyboard now and use it as motivation to draw for other projects. I will continue to post more storyboards until you all have the entire series I did for the short.

Here he is; BOSS MAN.

He's definitely got a Paul Sorvino as a Teamster vibe. Maybe you think it's crap, but I have to hope it can only get better from here.

More to come.