Light Softener/Reflector

I made a light thingy. It can act as a reflector to bounce light back across the subject, or can be used to soften light if the light is placed behind it. It is a screen and a white sheet. The height might be an issue, but Jeremy's garage is the same height as mine then it should work fine. If it is too tall, I can just cut the legs down. And it is a little under 3 yards wide.

Google Docs

I've opened the idea to Mike and Jay and they seem cool with it.

As a way to allow anyone to contribute scripts as well as to have access to any updated or new script ideas, I figured we could use Google Docs. I have set up a single file and shared it with all of you. Anyone can contribute to it, and if you want to create your own document, you can just hit Share and invite anyone to that document. A single doc can even be open by multiple people at the same time so one can see real time modifications to any document.

If you have a gmail account you can just access the documents through the tab at the top of your email page.

I will soon try to come up with a script idea to add to the one document that I created just as a starter.

An email invitation should be in your box shortly.

Colored lab?

My first color pass. Thoughts?

The Lab

Just got the lab background from Ralston. Black and white still, no color yet.

Discuss in the comments, or save it and take a crack at coloring.

Request for review meeting friday night

I would like any one who wants to have input for the short to meet up Friday night, assuming were still shooting this weekend, so i can show every one the story board(poorly drawn) and script notes I put together. and basically get last minute changes or ideas added so every one has an idea/input on how the shoot will go. And yes in case people where wondering i was always going to and will continue to have a finally pow wow where people will have access to all of my material for one finally hash through. for the show i will try to have the meeting a full week in advance. since show changes are potentially more time consuming. but i am fairly confident for this short the night before will be enough time. I hope so any way.

the Vocal script for first short

Rex: Professor i need a secret weapon.
Prof: what, Rex how did you get past my security, oh never mind. why on earth do you need one of my special weapons.
Rex: Penguins.(pause/dadadah) there invading.
Prof: Penguins.(pause/dadadah) Son of a Bitch.
prof: Here use this.
Rex: thanks professor, this should be perfect.
Rex: It didn't work, do you have anything bigger?
Prof: hmm, i have one thing but the circumstances would have to be quite Dire(Dadadah)
Rex: I didn't want to worry you but the have taken jay.(pause) and you know what penguins do to there captives.(gasp)
Prof: Mother Fuckers! wait one moment while i get something.
Rex: are your sure this is the right one.
Prof: its just the right thing trust me. (Rex leaves) just right for a world without Jay.
Jay: hey professor did you call me.
Prof: jay... what about the penguins.
Jay: what penguins.
Prof: OH SHIT COCK.(nuke goes off)

Explosion?

Are we still looking for an Explosion?
And if so, would this work?

http://www.archive.org/details/OpenSourceBigExplosion

Rex is almost done!

The helmet is not secured in any way yet, the nose isn't actually glued on. The tusks are sewn and stuffed but not attached permanently yet. The wife beater is going to need trimming and hemming, but otherwise fits very well. The neck sock needs to be made, and there's still some trimming from the head that needs doing. My favorite parts so far are actually the military ribbons Amber made for him. None of the pictures show them off very well, but they're really cool. She's doing a couple more I think, and will be making some kind of medals to hang on there too. Let me know what you think so far in the comments. Also, I'd like to repeat to everyone what I said before about voice casting. We really need to figure out who's going to be voicing these two, so if you think you'd want to give it a shot, get a hold of me before this weekend. That way we can have it figured out before shooting, and optimistically the actors could be practicing a rough script.

The professor

Here is a still from test recording of the green screen(one coat), a couple of peeps asked me to post this so here it is.

Checklist

So it was proposed tonight that we might try and actually film the first short next weekend. I thought it would be handy if we had a quick run down of all that is needed still, and if people could sound off on what they're working on, so everybody knows what is and isn't getting done. Also, if you are taking care of one of these things, plan to, or are working on something not mentioned here that is for the show, please mention it in the comments so everyone knows what's going on.

We need:
-More light. Another one of the 4' fixtures and then at least 1 clamp light.

-Some kind of DIY diffusers to help even out the light we do have a bit better.

-Much longer extension cords then we already have for the lights. They are way too short.

-Carpet, for sound dampening.

-A decided voice cast for the characters we do have, and would be able to shoot with as early as next week. To remind you, we have The Professor, and Rex the Racist Walrus available as puppets go. I propose that anyone who thinks they'd like to audition, as it were, for one of these two parts get a hold of me during this next week and we schedule a time for people to come over, and record different samples of their character voices. Those samples can then be voted on.

-Background pictures. We have the green screen, now we need something to replace it with.

-A solid script for whatever our first short is going to be.

Obviously some of these things are already being worked on, but this list is intended more to keep everyone updated as to the status of the show. You all have my email address and my phone number, if you'd like to voice either Rex or The Professor, get a hold of me.

Green Screen!

The wall is painted! Well...mostly. These were shot with just the first coat of probably two coats. It is a little streaky at this point. Also, it's with only 2 of the 4-6 lights we'll wind up using. But personally, even without totally finished paint, and with a half assed light set up, these look pretty good.

Master Character List

So it seems that we need to formally record every character that has been voted IN for the show. So a while back now we all got together and we made this list, but here it is to remind everyone:

1-Jay
2-Murray (the Big Head wearing creepy guy)
3-Claus (tiniest polish chef from Wisconsin)
4-Mailman (super spy)
5-Jack Chimp (Gorilla Reporter)
6-Holly (the Hampster)
7-Rex (The Racist Walrus)
8-Marty Manfield (the suicidal office clerk)
9-The Closet
10-Sven (the Death Metal Owl)
11-Davinicus (the failed puppet)
12-Ms. Catherine (the dignified chicken)

Honorable mentions that just haven't been cemented onto the list:
1-The as of yet unnamed Hobo Puppet with poseable action penis
2-The Chimney Sweeps (a gang of chimney sweeps and the Boss chimney sweep that speak with cockney accents and generally act like toughs.)
3-The Professor (He is a SCIENTIST. He can tell you your future if you let him smell your pee.)
4-Ms. Catherines daughter (smaller version of Ms. Catherine but done up in a flapper dress and hat, and is a total slut for Jay.)

There have also been a few very recent suggestions, but we won't get into those right now. I suggest that if anyone has any big problems with any of the proposed characters they speak up now in the comments. I also suggest that if you feel any of the honorable mentions deserve a permanent spot, you speak up for that as well.

Opening Credit Montage Brainstorm

Alright, everybody post one or two ideas for a quick shot in the opening credit montage. Think '90s sitcom openings and that sort of thing. Also, maybe '80s action shows. It'll be good to get a solid list of ideas to pull from ready in advance for when we start putting this thing together.

1) I'm going to start by using the previously discussed idea of Jay and one of the puppets running and diving away from an explosion.

2) Jay is reading a thick book (probably an encyclopedia or something) while wearing his smoking jacket and holding a pipe in his mouth. He looks up at the camera as if it has just entered the room and he smiles warmly.

3) Jay and a puppet sidekick, wearing lab coats or some such thing, stir something into a glass beaker of strangely colored liquid. The beaker foams up and "boils" over. They high five and give deep, mad scientist belly laughs.

4) Very brief shot of something completely random and unrelated, but mundane. Like a dramatic shot of a bowl of fruit, or a close up of someone tying their shoes or something

Alright, I've gone over the limit I set but these are just some ideas to get things started. Everyone should try to add something in the comments.

Check the Lighting Rig!

So we have two lights!! They are purdy darn sweet. The 2 footer has a warmer, more yellow light, which, Brunner and I agreed produced a pretty rad setting sun kind of glow when the two were used together. So absolutely usable. Brunner suggests a clamp light or two hanging from my garage fixtures to flood the green screen, and he is planing on making another 4 foot fixture to go along with the two we have. Then its a matter of swapping bulbs and playing around to see what works best. But I hope these pics serve to get a bit of a spark going for you all.

More raw puppet heads

Brunner and I were thinking that the bottom one could be a decent base head shape for Ms. Catherine the chicken. And there has been some discussion that the top one would make a good creepy "wall turtle" that comes out of random things. I think it could also be a good start for Marty.

The Indimogul lighting rigs are coming along nicely. With what i finished today before work i can test the overall sturdiness, they are not going to fall over and we wont have to worry about lamps falling off if they get bumped or anything. Also they are easily collapsible for transport and storage. For the benefit of anyone who hasn't visited the site I am making two telescoping lighting rigs, one 2' lamp and one 4' lamp, both capable of extending up to 8 ' and can be oriented vertically or horizontally. I don't have any pictures right now but they should be ready by Tuesday and i can see about taking them over to Jeremy's around then and getting some finished product pictures posted. The only thing left to do is buy the bulbs and make a cord to give the thing juice.

What can we do with this?

In testing out puppet stuff, I have made a few heads. This is one, Jeremy should be posting soon some picutres of a few others. The question to all of you is what should we do with these heads. What characters do you see in them?

HUGZ!

Finished Professor! Costume #2.

Puppet Sketches

Just to put everything together in one central location, here are all of the puppet design sketches up to this point.


Discuss!

show format

Intro + intro skit
Story time
Sing along
Cooking with jay
Mail time
Outro + credits

Welcome!

Alright, everybody this is the show project blog. We've been talking and we think the overall level of communication within the group about the show hasn't been as strong as it could be. So from now on when you have an idea or you get something done or whatever you should make a post about it here on the blog where everyone can see it when they get the chance and discuss it in the comments.

The hope is that this will make sure everyone's on the same page more consistently and things will get done more smoothly. If it also serves to encourage and motivate people, that's even better.

I'm going to try to get the initial puppet sketches and maybe some other stuff up here in a little bit.


Say hi in the comments.