Video Update: Day 1 of Shooting

Day 1 of shooting has come to a close! As some of you may know, we'll be sharing video updates throughout production. Click on our YouTube link for a little taste of things to come! P.S. And remember to wear your sunscreen!
http://youtu.be/jLItFLMp7-A

The Pre-Production Meeting

Beginning filming on our webseries this weekend isn’t the start of this project. Beyond brainstorming, ploting, and breaking down the script there was a lot of experimenting and planning.  Filming is the halfway mark and this has been a long time in the making already.

Testing Effects

We have been meeting regularly for months but more and more often leading up to today- the first shoot day. Last Sunday we had our first Crew & Cast Production Meeting.  We checked wardrobe, did our first make up tests, talked over the talent releases and did a read through of the first episode.  Talking over the script/story with the cast is no less important than putting film in the camera.  Figuratively speaking.  We shot digitally like the rest of the modern world.

We were glad to have that time, and we are thankful for everyone who was able to come. We’ve posted more photos on our facebook page.

Some pre-production is testing what visual effects we can do on set and what we’ll need to do on set to accommodate the post-production visuals. This has become a major part of our webseries. We’ll be utilizing a variety of techniques both practical and in the computer.

Most of pre-production is the planning, breaking down the script into manageable parts.  We created Prop Lists and Supplies Needed List.  Effects, Wardrobe and Makeup breakdowns for continuity. Arranging Locations to shoot, shoot days, then getting people to location. On a low budget project like ours there is no producer to help make arrangements. IT’S ALL ON YOU.  But it’s vital and makes everything else easier…if done correctly.

Casting Notice - Boone County, MO

We're ba-ack! And we're ready to start casting for our scary web series! 

WANTED:

Men, women and children of all ethnicities.

Speaking and non-speaking roles!

No experience necessary!

No pay, but you will have fun and food.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The majority (but not all) of these roles require wearing makeup. Please let us know if you are allergic to anything.

Auditions are by appointment only. 

This Saturday (June 8th) from 2pm - 4pm

Stephen's College Campus

If interested, or want to learn more, please email us:

ObscuraOperandi@yahoo.com

Or 'Like' us on Facebook and send us a message:

facebook.com/ObscuraOperandi

2013 GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS

 The Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning. A lot of love for Lincoln (7 nominations, 5 apiece for Argo and Django Unchained and even Joaquin Phoenix and The Master got some love.). I'm personally excited to see Cloud Atlas (Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil) among the nominees for Best Score. Well-deserved! See the complete list below!

1.    BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
a.    ARGO
Warner Bros. Pictures, GK Films, Smokehouse Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures
b.    DJANGO UNCHAINED
The Weinstein Company, Columbia Pictures; The Weinstein Company/Sony Pictures Releasing
c.    LIFE OF PI
Fox 2000 Pictures; Twentieth Century Fox
d.    LINCOLN
DreamWorks Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox; Touchstone Pictures
e.    ZERO DARK THIRTY
Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing

2.    BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

19th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS

I know I'm a little late to the party, but the SAG nominations were announced yesterday! I love this time of year. It's cool to see what different organizations across the film and television industry think of the years' films. Sometimes I'm dumbfounded with each groups' decision, but still excited - especially when a favorite film or two get some recognition. That being said, I would love Argo to go all the way and am so glad the entire cast got a nomination! I'm giddy Alan Arkin got singled out, but would have loved for John Goodman to get a supporting nom too. They play off each other so well. Have a look at the nominations below. What do you think? Were you disappointed with any nominations? Who do you think was snubbed and deserved some recognition from their fellow actors?

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
BRADLEY COOPER / Pat - “SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK” (The Weinstein Company)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Abraham Lincoln - "LINCOLN” (Touchstone Pictures)
JOHN HAWKES / Mark - "THE SESSIONS" (Fox Searchlight)
HUGH JACKMAN / Jean Valjean - "LES MISÉRABLES" (Universal Pictures)
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Whip Whitaker - "FLIGHT" (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Oscar Watch: For Your Consideration - MUSIC

So now we're getting into the thick of Oscar season. Based on recent rumblings from lucky viewers who got to watch its first screening (The Hollywood Reporter) (Huffington Post), Les Miserables may be the film to beat this year! Harkening back to Oscar winners of past, it has everything from epic sweeping shots, grand musical sequences and transformative roles that could very well guarantee noms for Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman - something that has been lacking in recent years.

While I'm excited to see how the film will make waves this Christmas, another movie is on my mind: Cloud Atlas, based on the book by David Mitchell. You see, I was visiting with my family over the Thanksgiving weekend when this film came up. My relatives were quite taken with the film. I had watched it opening weekend for fear that it wouldn't be in theaters too long (as there were only two showings available), and while it had a lot to offer, at the time I thought it was really good, but not great. However, since watching the film, I have grown to think more and more about it and come to like it more and more. Rarely does a film stick with me that long after watching it in the theater (these days, at least). True, the ambitious film may have not fully hit the mark in some places (the controversial and distracting makeup for habitants of Neo Seoul caused an uproar), but I still liked it a great deal and continue to find it truly thought-provoking. I'm sad that it hasn't been doing so well at the box office and am concerned it may wrongly get passed over when nominees are announced. But if there's one category I hope Cloud Atals gets recognized for, above all others, I hope it's for best score.

A huge character that truly brings the film together is the beautiful music composed by Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil. If you haven't heard any of the music, just look up the soundtrack or this composition in particular: All Boundaries Are Conventions.
I dare you not to emote! The music truly is breathtaking, exciting, and humbling to listen to. Below is a lovely piano cover of music from the trailer that Thilo Voissel posted on YouTube:

Where's Candace? The Trailer

October is flying by! We're excited that our "trailer" for Where's Candace? was completed just in time! We had a lot of fun working on this project. Take a look and feel free to let us know what you think.