This past holiday I've made a new resolution and decided to go see a movie every week at the Theater.
I decided to create a group on Facebook and create weekly events to watch a different movie every week.
To promote this new type of hobby of mine I created a movie trailer...
and here it is...
enjoy:
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Interactive Treats for halloween
Watching scary movies lately? What about a scary Interactive movie... that will probably scare the shit out of you! Interactivity started with videogames and now has reached the online community
Interactive Movies
An interactive movie is a movie which the viewer decides the movie's path. The viewer is given a number of choices throughout the movie and depending on these decisions the story unfolds in a different way.
There have been a few games like that in the past which I had a chance to play with. Space Ace and Dragon's Lair which first appeared in the Arcades, and later on the Commodore Amiga computer system or the other way around, i don't remember which one came first but either way it were great games for there time... the player had but a few seconds to make decisions about which path to take...left, right, up, down... i remember i used to sweat alot and i'd never make it after a certain point because i'd freak out and made the right decision too late.... Ahhhh the good old days.
View a YouTube Preview of the 1983 Arcade version of Dragon's Lair. (I was only 2 years old back then!!!)
Another game of the sort is Angel Devoid: Faces of the Enemy A windows PC game that came out around 1996. I have to say pretty good for its time too, not for its story or gameplay but the way compositing was being done in that time, putting "photorealistic" and real actors in the same environment. Same concept with the added puzzle games here and there. This action-thrill game was good fun. Owning 4 CDs for only 1 single game made you feel pretty darn special too :)
Game's like these lacked a good story and were obviously made for one thing satisfying the gamers need. Times have changed and as it seems, interactive movies seem are popular again.
Survive The Outbreak
Here's an entertaining one for you Halloween Thrill Seekers. The Outbreak, in the style of Resident Evil, is a online interactive game which sets you right off in the middle of the action. You make the decisions this time as well and the outcome is pretty well done no matter what ending you take. Of course the goal of the game is to make it to the end without getting killed and its not an obvious decision. Check it out.
GPSFILM.COM
For you windows mobile users, if you have enough bandwith per month on your phones, check out gpsfilm.com, a new media interactive GPS driven movie... only works on mobile phones or pdas with GPS capability. You install the application on your phone and depending on where you are in your neighbourhood(park, city, bus stop) you get to watch a piece of a movie in a non-linear way.
With that said I wish you all lots of candies, horror movies, and a Happy Halloween!!!
Interactive Movies
An interactive movie is a movie which the viewer decides the movie's path. The viewer is given a number of choices throughout the movie and depending on these decisions the story unfolds in a different way.
There have been a few games like that in the past which I had a chance to play with. Space Ace and Dragon's Lair which first appeared in the Arcades, and later on the Commodore Amiga computer system or the other way around, i don't remember which one came first but either way it were great games for there time... the player had but a few seconds to make decisions about which path to take...left, right, up, down... i remember i used to sweat alot and i'd never make it after a certain point because i'd freak out and made the right decision too late.... Ahhhh the good old days.
View a YouTube Preview of the 1983 Arcade version of Dragon's Lair. (I was only 2 years old back then!!!)
Another game of the sort is Angel Devoid: Faces of the Enemy A windows PC game that came out around 1996. I have to say pretty good for its time too, not for its story or gameplay but the way compositing was being done in that time, putting "photorealistic" and real actors in the same environment. Same concept with the added puzzle games here and there. This action-thrill game was good fun. Owning 4 CDs for only 1 single game made you feel pretty darn special too :)
Game's like these lacked a good story and were obviously made for one thing satisfying the gamers need. Times have changed and as it seems, interactive movies seem are popular again.
Survive The Outbreak
Here's an entertaining one for you Halloween Thrill Seekers. The Outbreak, in the style of Resident Evil, is a online interactive game which sets you right off in the middle of the action. You make the decisions this time as well and the outcome is pretty well done no matter what ending you take. Of course the goal of the game is to make it to the end without getting killed and its not an obvious decision. Check it out.
GPSFILM.COM
For you windows mobile users, if you have enough bandwith per month on your phones, check out gpsfilm.com, a new media interactive GPS driven movie... only works on mobile phones or pdas with GPS capability. You install the application on your phone and depending on where you are in your neighbourhood(park, city, bus stop) you get to watch a piece of a movie in a non-linear way.
With that said I wish you all lots of candies, horror movies, and a Happy Halloween!!!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Writing your Script
You have to Start Somewhere.
Writing a script
is maybe the most boring part to me. To have to think of how the story should unfold from beginning to end sounds like a long task indeed. And it might be, but this long and boring task will be the motivation to your filming process. You will have a complete story which you care about, which you wish to bring to life.
Writing a script
is starting with a First Draft, and writing a Second draft while consolidating the content, and writing a Third Draft while consolidating even more the content. Removing repeating lines and information. You must not be afraid of writing anything down, you must remember, its your First Draft, A.K.A your Bad Draft... you don't make a first draft and it becomes your good script. It takes several passes and reviews in order to filter out the script for it to become the Good Draft.
The following quote also applies to my last post regarding how a Story should unfold:
"A good short film needs a story in which something happens that has a discernible effect on the main character. All successful short films focus on one moment/event. That moment is likely to be:
Writing a script
is maybe the most boring part to me. To have to think of how the story should unfold from beginning to end sounds like a long task indeed. And it might be, but this long and boring task will be the motivation to your filming process. You will have a complete story which you care about, which you wish to bring to life.
Writing a script
is starting with a First Draft, and writing a Second draft while consolidating the content, and writing a Third Draft while consolidating even more the content. Removing repeating lines and information. You must not be afraid of writing anything down, you must remember, its your First Draft, A.K.A your Bad Draft... you don't make a first draft and it becomes your good script. It takes several passes and reviews in order to filter out the script for it to become the Good Draft.
The following quote also applies to my last post regarding how a Story should unfold:
"A good short film needs a story in which something happens that has a discernible effect on the main character. All successful short films focus on one moment/event. That moment is likely to be:
one of universal significance
a moment that is of significance to the protagonist (whether s/he knows it at the time)
one that produces a situation in which the stakes are high for the protagonist."
Reference url: entertainment.timesonline.co.uk
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Online Networking Addiction & Copyright
The world we live in in North America is an open world... open source... we believe in freedom and we share that freedom amongst almost everything and everyone... although this looks like a Utopian life, it has its share of consequences.
Social Networking in the Web 2.0 Era
Facebook, MySpace, Flikr,... if you have internet at home and you live in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, or Middle East, you've probably experienced it one way or another.
These are some of the newest generation free tools available for people to connect with old friends, make new friends, and stalk others. It all goes back to the old virtual communities such as IRC. Chat programs where you can join groups on different Channels and discuss about anything to anyone, and step back into a private session with a specific user.
People used to spend hours in these chat rooms trying to find someone with a similar interest, trying to find the perfect friend, or lover. Being wanted and noticed had a new meaning in people's life... virtual life.
Just like anything else, certain people become addicted to such thing, and we all know what addiction leads to. A piece of advice for those in need: Moderation has better taste.
The Parlor, directed by Geoffrey Haley, is a short movie showing the truth about chatting on the internet.
A great cast, a surprising ending, and although very simple but very good use of the camera.
I especially love it when the camera slowly zooms in on Slappy Sue and Skatter...dramatic and suspensful...you gotta watch till the end.
Watch The Parlor on YouTube Here.
On another note, I had made a small html art project in one of my first classes on the same concept of internet chat addiction. You can check it out on psaad.com
CC - Creative Commons
"Share, Remix, Reuse — Legally
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from 'All Rights Reserved' to 'Some Rights Reserved.'
Social Networking in the Web 2.0 Era
Facebook, MySpace, Flikr,... if you have internet at home and you live in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, or Middle East, you've probably experienced it one way or another.
These are some of the newest generation free tools available for people to connect with old friends, make new friends, and stalk others. It all goes back to the old virtual communities such as IRC. Chat programs where you can join groups on different Channels and discuss about anything to anyone, and step back into a private session with a specific user.
People used to spend hours in these chat rooms trying to find someone with a similar interest, trying to find the perfect friend, or lover. Being wanted and noticed had a new meaning in people's life... virtual life.
Just like anything else, certain people become addicted to such thing, and we all know what addiction leads to. A piece of advice for those in need: Moderation has better taste.
The Parlor, directed by Geoffrey Haley, is a short movie showing the truth about chatting on the internet.
A great cast, a surprising ending, and although very simple but very good use of the camera.
I especially love it when the camera slowly zooms in on Slappy Sue and Skatter...dramatic and suspensful...you gotta watch till the end.
Watch The Parlor on YouTube Here.
On another note, I had made a small html art project in one of my first classes on the same concept of internet chat addiction. You can check it out on psaad.com
CC - Creative Commons
"Share, Remix, Reuse — Legally
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from 'All Rights Reserved' to 'Some Rights Reserved.' We're a nonprofit organization. Everything we do — including the software we create — is free."
Reference: CreativeCommons.org
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
How to Structure your short movie
Structure
Something I am having a hard time adapting is structure... without structure you will not only take more time to get something done but you will make enormous mistakes along your path.
Along my postings I will be referring a lot to this funny how-to video tutorial I found, starting Jack Black, on how to create, develop, shoot...your short movie.
In building your story, to quote Jack Black: "you always start in a situation and end up in a new situation, we call that Crossing the Threshold"
"All stories...have 8 things in common. Someone or Something, with a Need, Enter's a New Situation, Adapts to it, Find what they Need, and Takes it back To its Original situation"
Screenshot of the 8 things a story has in common
reference: acceptable.tv
But this doesn't mean you have to follow these rules completely, sometimes, to captivate the viewer in your story even more you can bend these rules and the surprise element comes along... I love it when a movie has tons of twists and turns, its not good to be too predictable. At least I don't like predictable movies. I like to be puzzled, I like it when the movie makes me think at the end, makes me wonder why? what if?
How do you like your movie endings? How do you like its unfolding story?
Something I am having a hard time adapting is structure... without structure you will not only take more time to get something done but you will make enormous mistakes along your path.
Along my postings I will be referring a lot to this funny how-to video tutorial I found, starting Jack Black, on how to create, develop, shoot...your short movie.
In building your story, to quote Jack Black: "you always start in a situation and end up in a new situation, we call that Crossing the Threshold"
"All stories...have 8 things in common. Someone or Something, with a Need, Enter's a New Situation, Adapts to it, Find what they Need, and Takes it back To its Original situation"
Screenshot of the 8 things a story has in common
reference: acceptable.tv
But this doesn't mean you have to follow these rules completely, sometimes, to captivate the viewer in your story even more you can bend these rules and the surprise element comes along... I love it when a movie has tons of twists and turns, its not good to be too predictable. At least I don't like predictable movies. I like to be puzzled, I like it when the movie makes me think at the end, makes me wonder why? what if?
How do you like your movie endings? How do you like its unfolding story?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A little video Inspiration
Some Inspiration
I've been checking out a few websites to see whats going out there on the web.
Turns out there's alot of video out there. Most of which seem to be online episodes which you can't find on regular tv.
Most of you know TetesAClaques.tv
The famous French Canadian humour which was at some point the most visited website in quebec's history, has now turned .... English?
Yes, well if you are not too familiar with our french slang you'll find an English version of most of the first episodes.
I'd love to hear your comments on these english episodes... Do you think they are funny?
Especially, I'd like to hear from those english speaking people who never saw this online tv show.
Other Stupid/Funny comedy episodes:
Gorgeous tiny
MediocreFilms
Film Your Issue
Here's a chance for all you amateur and non amateur film makers that are between the age of 14 and 24 to make a movie that matters. There is a competition for best films and the jury cast is pretty famous... you'll get a chance to be seen by the top of the industry.
FilmYourIssue.com
I've been checking out a few websites to see whats going out there on the web.
Turns out there's alot of video out there. Most of which seem to be online episodes which you can't find on regular tv.
Most of you know TetesAClaques.tv
The famous French Canadian humour which was at some point the most visited website in quebec's history, has now turned .... English?
Yes, well if you are not too familiar with our french slang you'll find an English version of most of the first episodes.
I'd love to hear your comments on these english episodes... Do you think they are funny?
Especially, I'd like to hear from those english speaking people who never saw this online tv show.
Other Stupid/Funny comedy episodes:
Gorgeous tiny
MediocreFilms
Film Your Issue
Here's a chance for all you amateur and non amateur film makers that are between the age of 14 and 24 to make a movie that matters. There is a competition for best films and the jury cast is pretty famous... you'll get a chance to be seen by the top of the industry.
FilmYourIssue.com
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Welcome
Hi Everyone,
Ever wanted to make a movie? Well here's your chance.
Who are we and what do we want to do?
Simply said, we are a bunch of young adults who decided to film whats on our mind.
When you were a kid,
Haven't you ever acted one of your favorite cartoon or movie character ?
Haven't you ever sang the movie's main Theme while you were acting it out?
Haven't you ever built a movie scene out of your household items?
A little about me,
I still dream of making a movie. I never went to film school, or any technical video school.
I studied in Computer Science and Computation Arts at Concordia University. Learned how to use multimedia technology to interpret an idea. I had no ambition in getting into video until I decided to take 1 year of video classes, and it was the best courses I had ever taken. I learned the basics but not enough to get comfortable with video. I started a dream...
That dream was dormant inside of me for a while.
I had completed my degree in University and started working as a web designer/developer.
In 2007, I traveled to Western Europe with a small digital camera, I snapped away and filmed alot of great moments. Made a video and photo montage, and so my dream continued...
I recently had an opportunity to join a Canadian telecommunication company which believed in using video to promote their services and so I incorporated my video skills into the company's interest making video technical documents, advertisements. It awoke my dream yet again and now I wish to push it even further.
Bring your ideas together
Everyone is more then welcome to post their comments, ideas, and suggestions.
Wanna join the team? Email us at: Ace.MovieBlog@gmail.com
Thanks for reading this blog, come back soon, we'll keep you up to date with the latest updates.
Take good care,
Patrick Saad
Ever wanted to make a movie? Well here's your chance.
Who are we and what do we want to do?
Simply said, we are a bunch of young adults who decided to film whats on our mind.
When you were a kid,
Haven't you ever acted one of your favorite cartoon or movie character ?
Haven't you ever sang the movie's main Theme while you were acting it out?
Haven't you ever built a movie scene out of your household items?
A little about me,
I still dream of making a movie. I never went to film school, or any technical video school.
I studied in Computer Science and Computation Arts at Concordia University. Learned how to use multimedia technology to interpret an idea. I had no ambition in getting into video until I decided to take 1 year of video classes, and it was the best courses I had ever taken. I learned the basics but not enough to get comfortable with video. I started a dream...
That dream was dormant inside of me for a while.
I had completed my degree in University and started working as a web designer/developer.
In 2007, I traveled to Western Europe with a small digital camera, I snapped away and filmed alot of great moments. Made a video and photo montage, and so my dream continued...
I recently had an opportunity to join a Canadian telecommunication company which believed in using video to promote their services and so I incorporated my video skills into the company's interest making video technical documents, advertisements. It awoke my dream yet again and now I wish to push it even further.
Bring your ideas together
Everyone is more then welcome to post their comments, ideas, and suggestions.
Wanna join the team? Email us at: Ace.MovieBlog@gmail.com
Thanks for reading this blog, come back soon, we'll keep you up to date with the latest updates.
Take good care,
Patrick Saad
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