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Latest Updates from Our Project:
Introducing our Sound Designer, Felix Davin
about 5 years ago
– Sat, Feb 23, 2019 at 06:33:06 PM
Hello Dear Friends,
Everything you see on the screen in Frank & Zed is made by hand - and we work very hard to bring it all to life. Nothing makes the magic more 'magic' than sound: this is when I finally see the world as I imagined come to life.
We are all incredibly lucky to have Felix Davin on board as our sound designer. Felix's resume includes the Oscar-Nominated film Song of the Sea (a truly beautiful film that I hope you all see).
Below is a chunk of the intro with only Felix's sound work.
Got any questions for Felix? If so, comment below or send them to me. I'm doing an interview with Felix next week (for you, of course) and I'll ask him as many as I can.
Happy Holidays: Four Minutes of Frank & Zed!
over 5 years ago
– Thu, Dec 20, 2018 at 07:26:51 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Pictures from my Frank & Zed desktop
over 5 years ago
– Thu, Nov 08, 2018 at 07:02:12 AM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
The Dark Bargain
over 5 years ago
– Thu, Oct 04, 2018 at 06:55:47 AM
Hello There Zed-ites!
The opening of this film has been, by far, the most difficult part to crack. Trying to find a balance between what rich and rewarding versus confusing.
Ivan, The Yellow
The film has a big backstory. Initially, I told this with a narrator over stained glass (this is what was in the screening in April.) But, I just wasn't happy with it; I wanted you guys to be there when it happened!
Of course, the reason it was originally done with stained glass was it is a big story!
Recreating the village for new prologue shots
The good news is, our new intro is 90% done. It's a really fun way to start the film that puts you with the Ivan the Yellow as he trades the lives of his descendants for his own. (What a terrible thing to do!)
But the question is: Who does Ivan the Yellow make the trade with? Well, there's a big hint above! Bringing Velnius to life was a whole new challenge and a whole lot of fun. I'm not going to spoil his look just yet.
More good stuff to come! Thanks so much for your patience and support.
Jesse
Practical Magic - Creating the Storm Cloud
almost 6 years ago
– Mon, Jul 30, 2018 at 09:39:54 PM
Hello There!
How can I __________?
This fill-in-the-blank question has dominated every step of this film. Recently, I was asking myself: How can I create a Thunderstorm? The answer: Cloud Tank!
Cloud Tank: Practical Storm Cloud Effect
A cloud tank is technique that dates back to Charlton Heston and the Ten Commandments for creating storms and weather. You've seen it in tons of pre-CGI movies from Ghostbusters to Raiders of the Lost Ark.
We decided to use this for the Thunderstorm on Frank & Zed. Once we did, a whole slew of new 'How can I' came into effect. (How can I purchase 20lbs of salt? How can I drill a hole in glass? How do I light and focus on something that isn't there?)
The tank set-up with wiffle ball suspended to check lighting and focus.
To create this effect, you fill a tank halfway with salt water and then, very carefully, pour freshwater on top. If you do it just right, the two layers won't mix. Then when you shoot a liquid (heavy cream in our case) into the top layer it stays above the salt water giving the effect of a cloud forming.
Final cloud effect composited in.
Finishing up insert shots
Lastly, we've been knocking out the remaining inserts shots including this one of the Priest setting up a couple villagers for a run-in with the Drac Macat.
Thanks Randy for helping us get the Priest back for this pick-up.
The film continues, as always, to go way better than I expected and way slower. Thank you so much for your patience. We are getting close!
