A few years back when we were all still in school, a group of us shot a music video together in Santa Barbara for The Old Souls (now The Roosevelt Special), which you can still see here (though I swear there's a bigger version somewhere). Devon starred, Figge directed, Alex produced, Max shot, John ACed, Sean gaffed, Matt ADed, Ish was our Best Boy, Roy our production manager, and I the key grip. It was kind of a grueling three-day shoot, but a good experience overall. Nothing like a collection of minor clusterfucks amassing into a slightly more-than-minor clusterfuck to really teach you a thing or two.
And so now, three years later, we're all back together for more. Figge is again directing, Alex again producing, and Devon is once again our lovely leading lady. John and Sean are our DPs, Max is a grip, Matt's our line producer, Ish our 2nd AD, Roy's gaffing, and I'm 2nd ACing.
So, two DPs, what's that about? This project's actually a fairly ambitious one on the technical side. It's an animated short incorporating live-action elements...in 3D. As anyone who's been to a multiplex in the last six months should know, 3D is all the rage right now. Studios love the higher ticket price and inflated box office grosses, and audiences, for the most part, are willing to play ball with the new old technology. Regardless of whether or not you're actually a fan of 3D, though, if you're at all involved in the filmmaking process, making something in 3D should definitely, at the very least, pique your interest. If anything, it's a new tool to learn and play with. Granted, only a certain type of film is suited for 3D, but if you get a chance to make that kind of film, why not shoot it in 3D? Why not be on the forefront of what may or may not be the direction Hollywood is headed in now?
That was our reasoning for choosing to shoot this project in 3D. And to be completely honest, just on a geeky level, it's flipping cool to be messing around with this technology.
The shoot was surprisingly smooth and pain-free, and I think we all had fun. The end product will hopefully be a testament to the hard work everyone put in, but I think the most rewarding aspect of the project thus far is just seeing how far we've all come in the last few years. Looking back, there were a lot of things I wish we knew then that we know now, and I'm sure in a few years I'll look back on this shoot and feel the exact same way. For now, it's enough to know that we've all grown as filmmakers, and will continue to do so.
Until then, keep your eyes out for Ticky in 3D, the story of a loyal alarm clock who's in love with his owner.
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