Toward the Mark

 So, here we are. It’s been a week, and we’ve accomplished everything we’ve set out to do. CGI is still taking longer than we hoped, but that’s to be expected. This last weekend we shot, edited, and added effects to the scene that last week’s snowfall delayed. A screen capture teasing the content will be added below. 

 Several visual effects have also been tweaked. One Bein Sidh phase-out was sped up to match the scene pacing, the heads-up display in a certain suit of armor also got a much needed revamp, and Vern’s weapon has been given some added flair. I’m not quite satisfied with that last one, so it will probably go through further revisions this week. In sound design we only have two more voices to record, both of which have been scheduled for within the next 48 hours or so.  The Bein Sidh scream is also undergoing revision. The current effect, while technically correct, needs a more animalistic feel to it. So… back to the drawing board. :) One major element that I’m having little luck nailing down is the proper sound for the Bein Sidh phasing effect.  That will be Priority 1 this week.

 Anyway, that’s the Othersight news for this week. Thanks for checking in!

And Then There Was… One

 It’s a funny thing, working with a visual medium. Especially when it is being translated from the written medium of the script. The moment when you realize that the words of the script conveyed enough information to make perfect sense, but the translated images can’t, that’s a whole different story. So here I’ve found myself needing to film an entire extra scene with no sets, no actors, and no time. To top it all off, it starts snowing. Not bad by the standards of many northern states, but the Willamette Valley doesn’t get much snow, so it’s enough to make people drive crazy and gives us intermittent power. So apparently the plan for shooting this plot-important cutaway in the next couple days has been quashed, at least until the melt comes. :)

 In better news, the color schemes on the CGI critters are coming together. If that continues apace and the weather gives us a break we might actually finish on schedule. As mentioned on the Christian Filmmakers board, we also discovered a simplified method for integrating our CGI into the After Effects workflow. If the power stays on we might be able to get you teaser images of the CGI in progress.

 Our sound design is approaching completion, with the crashing technology having finally been recorded. A couple more voice parts are required, a few loose effects, and we’ll be done with that phase. :)  

As It Is

  Well, this has been quite the week. Unfortunately, very little of that had to do with the movie. As far as movie news goes, we've recorded and synced another voice actor (who did an amazing job, by the way), and I'm going about the tedious job of equalizing sound and applying ambient sound (the creation of some of that ambient sound caused quite a few bumps and bruises). Often dull, but necessary work nonetheless. In the more interesting but still tedious category, the pit beast CGI model is being refined prior to texturing and animation. On a related note, I have discovered that Daylight Savings wrecks productivity for at least 48 hours afterward. :)

Flying

 This week has been a whirlwind. I've been finding my way around the Christian Filmmakers website, meeting new people, swapping ideas. David, our composer, is glad that I'm there to field questions as well. We now have two major voice recordings down, and should have another done this Sunday. Extensive foley (created sound effects) work has only hit a minor snag when it comes to finding computers to destroy for the cause. :) Other than that, everything goes exceptionally well. CGI is slated to be finished by the end of this month, give or take a week or so.

On loosely related filmmaking news: We had a read-through for another impending project Monday night. I am very pleased with the results. We may have that up for review in two or three months time, if all goes well.