'Real Life Superhero' short film gets its own blog!

'Real Life Superhero is the story of a superhero living in a slightly 
dystopian world where the evil "Syndicate" kidnaps people with
superpowers and experiments on them in an attempt to create an
army of super-soldiers. The story follows a man called Simon, 
who races against time in an attempt to save his son, who he 
believes to have superpowers like him, from the Syndicate.'

So basically I'm going to be doing a fair bit of work on this script for a
uni project, and it would be great if I could end up making it. This blog
will atfirst be me talking about ideas and writing the script, but if it 
ends up going into production then this blog will soon become a
production log.

And here is the link to this blog:

http://reallifesuperheromovie.blogspot.co.uk

'Free Runners' video is on YouTube!

I mentioned in my last blog entry that I had made a short observational documentary about free running and that I would eventually get round to putting it online.

So here it is, hope you like it:

If the video above doesn't play then the YouTube link is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoen7noz9TM&hd=1

As far as the other projects are going I'm trying to write something which will be fairly easy to film around London with regards to the new Corrupted script and one of the other projects. Corrupted is near to completion (seeing as the main story was already written it wasn't that hard) so I will most likely start production on that first.

Glenn

Haven't blogged in over half a year...

Well technically that's not ENTIRELY true, I have been doing blogs for my work at Ravensbourne (the university I go to, for those who don't know). Uni work has pretty much been taking up most of my time, but that's not to say I haven't tried to keep working on some film ideas.

The scripts I've written have been either undergoing some major overhauls (more on that later) or have been expanded and worked on in my spare time. I've met some very talented and skilled people at Ravensbourne so if they wanted to help me make these films I'll be able to actually start production on them soon. I'll also try to get hold of some actors too as I've been given some very useful casting websites.

I've had to make a 2 and a half minute "observational documentary" for one of my uni projects recently, so I'll try putting that up online soon. I'm just trying to go over some of the things that were criticised when I showed it to my class at the moment (although it did seem to be well received overall). I chose to make a film about free running and wanted to get some first person perspectives from the free runners using my GoPro camera and head attachment (I wanted an effect along the lines of the Mirror's Edge game), I spliced this footage in with some third person footage shot on my Canon DSLR camera.

Basically this project also doubled up as an experiment for another film I wanted to make. I wanted to experiment with shooting free running & parkour as it is an element that's cropped up in some chase scenes for one of the films. I also wanted to see how well the first person footage would work to see if I could cut it into the chase scenes without it feeling too disorienting. I was very pleased with how the footage came out so expect to see some parkour style chases in one of my future films.

As I previously mentioned, one of the scripts is undergoing a major overhaul. I had the idea today to make the full version of Corrupted into a neo-noir set in 21st century London, rather than the 1930/1940s set noir that I'd originally planned. Obviously some small changes have been made due to obvious changes to the society and equipment we have today compared to in the 1930s, but the main essence of the story and the characters remain the same. Another reason for doing this is for convenience's sake really, as it is much harder to film something in a time period that we're not living in. However, as I said, I re-read the full script and realised that the character types that are present in the script are all present in today's society too.

Hopefully I should get the free running piece online soon and will get cracking with the update of Corrupted in the mean time along with a secret agent movie (which is currently untitled) that I've been writing for a while.

Glenn

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I know it is only Christmas Eve, but I highly doubt I'll be online tomorrow, so I thought I'd post this lovely festive version of one of the images from the 'Corrupted' graphic novel & spread the festive cheer early...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Glenn

First Look at the 'Corrupted' Graphic Novel

So a couple of weeks ago I revealed that I was doing a graphic novel to continue the story of James Abbot from my short film, Corrupted. I also posted a picture that I was mid way through inking.

Here is the finished version of that panel complete with a dialogue box:

I am currently working on several other images for the graphic novel, many of which are familiar to those of you who have seen the film, while some of them are completely new and follow the character's origins and the events that led him to the point where we were first introduced to him in the film.

The first chapter (which follows the story of the short film) should be completed soon, however I have done some rough sketches for future chapters and will start working on drawing them up soon.

Hope you like it.

Glenn

I haven't blogged in a while....

Well, I'd just like to start by saying the final draft of the 'Nameless' script is complete, & is ready for printing as you can see in the picture above (although I am only showing the cover because no one likes spoilers). As you can see down the left side, there are a fair few scenes!

As I mentioned a little while ago, I am working a project which is going back to my roots. I've decided to turn my short film 'Corrupted' into a graphic novel & I will continue the story that way until I am able to film the feature length version of the film.

I have had the outlines drawn up on my Mac for a while, but I am finally getting round to "inking" (well, virtually inking) them, as you can see in the pic below (which is not yet finished by the way).

All I will need to do after "inking" is add the dialogue boxes, which I have constantly reminded myself to leave space for!

With any luck the 'Corrupted' graphic novel should be finished pretty soon at this rate & I'll start posting them on this blog. I have no idea when I'll start filming 'Nameless' as I have been pretty busy recently with uni & work, but I really hope it is soon, especially seeing as Lee has written most of the soundtrack already!

Glenn

Giving the future its past...

I Haven't blogged in a while due to work etc. but I just had a random creative brainwave and have decided to incorporate the idea for the "Nameless" prequel into the main film. 

I will be changing its characters so it follows certain main characters already in the film instead of new ones. I felt the script for the prequel (which has been written now) had the most humanity and depth that I have ever written for a script, mainly because I have been incorporating various experiences and emotions I have felt when I was writing it, which is something I can't say I have really done before with my films (if you have seen them you will probably understand why).

The prequel story will now be included in a form of flashback, giving the film more of a non-linear structure and giving the characters and the dystopia more of a history. I felt when re-reading the script for "Nameless" that there was very little I could personally relate to with the characters, and I feel that with this film, which is very character driven, that the audience needs to form a sort of bond with the characters in order to make it work.

I have also had a plan for a teaser campaign for the film which I have discussed with Lee Carter, and once I have finished casting I will start to go ahead with this. Of course now I need to sort out an updated casting list due to how I am merging the two films together, but that shouldn't take long to do and then I plan to start filming soon after.

Glenn

I've been rather a rather busy Glenn...

Right, this past week has been rather busy, where do I start? Well, I went up to London with Suzi Peet and saw some of the stars at the Inception World Premiere... it was awesome! I got Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and Tom Hardy's autographs, Suz and I got a picture taken with Tom Hardy, and we each got to take home a giant Inception poster from the barriers. I'm looking forward to seeing the film on it's opening day (16th July).

Other than that I have been rather busy working on some new projects, so here they are...

I was challenged a few weeks ago to write a film with a romantic plot or sub-plot in it... but I will say this much now, it will NOT be a "rom-com". The romantic element is only a sub-plot, it is primarily an action film that works as a short prequel to Nameless, showing a young man's (not the protagonist in the film) journey as he signs on to become a soldier in the time that the regime has come to power, a choice which forces him to leave behind everything and everyone he knows and loves. So far I have a bullet point draft of this story and will begin writing the script (which shouldn't be much longer than my script for Vengeful Retribution) shortly.

The second project is something that I feel is a return to my roots (anyone who knew me from primary school or before I picked up a video camera will probably be able to guess what that means). Originally the story for Corrupted was supposed to be somewhat longer, with the short film which I recently made and submitted to Virgin Media Shorts working as both a short film in its own right, or the opening 2 minutes of a much larger film. However, the story I would love to tell is quite hard for me to make as a film with no budget to hire in people to work on certain effects or to help achieve certain stunts.
So I have decided to continue telling the story, but it won't be done as a film. I am still keeping this project close to my chest for now.
Lee Carter said yesterday he would be up for reprising his role as the detective, James Abbot.

My friend, Stefan Cato, and I have also talked about a collaboration, he wanted to write a screenplay, and I have agreed to take his screenplay and make it into a film when he does, so I look forward to seeing what comes of this and reading the script when he writes it.

Glenn

Lee's Blog!

Well, I have mentioned the talented individual that is Lee Carter (who did the soundtracks for and acted in my past films) many times in my previous blogs, and I just thought I'd do a quick shoutout to let you know that he has finally decided to set up his own blog!

You can see the link to his blog under the followers section on this page or you can just follow this link that I've posted here:  
http://megalith-6soundtracks.blogspot.com/

Anyway, check it out, he's only posted one entry so far, but it is a good read and I'm sure the future entries will be just as interesting.

Glen

'Corrupted' is now online!

 Today 'Corrupted' went up on the internet!

Check it out on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI1t4BTDzNs

Or on the Virgin Media Shorts competition website: 
http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/films/entry/343549/corrupted

I have also put up a photo log of the whole making-of process for 'Corrupted' on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=2058737&id=1022921613

Thanks once again to everyone who helped out and supported me. I couldn't have done this without you.

Glenn

A Day Of Music...

Lee came round (actually, he is still here watching as I type this) with the song for the Virgin Media Shorts competition entry, Corrupted. The song is called Lex Maiestas and really fits the mood of the film. Lee cut it into the film footage (which I had edited together yesterday) and we had a final finished version within an hour... this makes us happy.

So now we have finished the footage & the sound we just need to add the titles and then put the video into the format that Virgin Media have asked for.

Then we should upload it at some point in the very near future for your viewing pleasure.

Glenn (and Lee)

A Day Of Editing...

Well, after doing all of the filming in half a day I started the editing process. I finished the first cut of the film this morning and cutting in the voice-over. This first cut had a running time of 2 minutes 53 seconds, however I had to cut down the footage even further during the day in order to meet the time that the Virgin Media Shorts competition had set (2 minutes 20 seconds).

The film is now cut down to a running time of 2 minutes 19 seconds for the competition.

I then focused on adding effects to the footage, which I think works really well with the lighting setup that we used during the shoot to create the large, dramatic shadows that dominate the environment.

Lee Carter has also been working on the music for the film (as well as acting in it) and after our discussions about the film's genre and the sort of effect the music should create I am looking forward to hearing it and working with Lee soon to cut it into the film and fully create the film's atmosphere.

So the film is very close to completion, with only the music and the titles left to add (and I will probably do that by the end of the day), then I will submit it to the competition and put the competition cut (2:19) and maybe the original cut (2:53) on YouTube. Although I am personally starting to prefer the one that is cut down and slightly faster paced for the competition on YouTube, so it depends on whether or not I feel that the extra 34 seconds is important enough for me to upload both.

Glenn

A Day of Filming...

Well, that's it, I just got back in from filming the final shots for the short film entry for the Virgin Media Shorts competition. We started at about half 12, filmed all of the interior shots, finished them at about half 6, then waited until it was dark to go and film the night-shots (which, given it being one of the longest days of the year, was quite a while, but we got it done) and finished them at about quarter past 11.

Lee Carter also had to wear a costume that involved him being completely clad head-to-toe in black on one of the hottest days of the year too... anyone would think we really didn't think this through! I'm also worried that Jake Collingwood may have caught some kind of disease from the amount of times we asked him to fall over in an alleyway in the middle of Gillingham that probably had broken glass and other fun items. These guys really seemed to suffer today, but they seemed to have fun... and we even sung along to "The Final Countdown" during one of our breaks! We recorded the voice-over yesterday too in RMGS's recording studio, which also went really well, so I have to say a huge thanks to Matt Ennis for his help recording that. And last, but by no means least, a giant thanks to my family for all of their support and help in setting this up (and to 2 of them for acting in it), seriously, I couldn't have done it without these guys.

I'll put up a couple of pictures once this film is near to being uploaded, so keep an eye out for them (they will go up on this blog first, and then on Facebook with my photo production log).

So now I sit here by my computer and face a night of solid editing, this should be fun...

Glenn

SCREEN TESTS!

I haven't blogged in a while due to balancing revision for my A2 level exams with writing the script and doing the concept art for the short film for the Virgin Media competition.

I have just finished gathering together the bits for the main protagonist's costume today with the help from friends and family (thanks to everyone who helped) and then tried some screen tests and still photos to work out the lighting, angles and how it would be best to film the costume.

Lets just say I am very pleased with what I'm seeing in these screen tests, in one case a picture has turned out almost exactly like my concept art.

This means I should be able to start filming very soon and you should be able to see the film on the competition's website before 28th June (that's the deadline for entries).

I may also blog some stills from the times on set through to some from the finished project before I post it online so keep an eye out for them in the near future and let me know what you think.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me out in any way and to anyone who is going to help out during the filming and for all of the support. I couldn't do this without you.

Glenn

Virgin Media Short Film Competition

Basically, I got a text this morning from one of my friends, Suzi Peet, saying about this competition and how I should enter it, then later on I got a Facebook message from another of my friends, Lisa Soennichsen, saying pretty much the same thing. So I've decided I'm going to enter this competition.

I have spent a lot of time today thinking of ideas for a short film that would fit 2 mins 20 secs (as that's the duration the short film has to be) and I have finally chosen one. I sent this idea to Suzi and then to Rachel Devlin a bit later on and both of them seemed to approve of it, so I aim to start making this soon. It shouldn't take long to make, seeing as it'll be almost 4 times shorter than Vengeful Retribution (which lasted about 8 minutes), and also because the final deadline for competition entries is noon on 28 June 2010.

I won't be blogging about any ideas for this project in case of  plagiarism (it is a competition after all), however I will blog when I've entered it on the Virgin Media Shorts website.

Glenn

Adversity Breeds Humanity...

Well, I haven't blogged on Nameless for a couple of weeks. Since I last blogged I have written the script for the first episode of a series of short stories that will coincide with the world of Nameless, focusing on individuals and their stories within the dystopia. These new protagonists will be new characters who may only be background roles or unseen in the film.

The first episode is moving into an unfamiliar territory that I've never really explored previously with my writing, and it has an ending that I hope will be shocking, gripping and saddening all at once. I'm quite excited about trying something new again and experimenting with the project.

Lee has sent me the latest song he's written for the film, called Adversity Breeds Humanity..., and I don't know how, but he's done it again! I heard the song and instantly pictured where it would fit into the film. He hasn't even read the script yet and seems to have caught the mood of the film instinctively with the songs he's written so far.

So it's no real surprise that I've asked Lee to help as a producer. We've decided that when the new term starts we will have weekly meetings to discuss music (obviously), the scripts for both the film and the series, and some ideas with regards to casting.

Glenn

Vengeful Retribution is finally on YouTube!!!

Vengeful Retribution is now finally up on YouTube for you all to watch whilst munching on your chocolate this Easter holiday!

Hope you like it, happy Easter!

Glenn

FIRST PIECE OF CONCEPT ART FROM 'NAMELESS'!

This is some concept art I've drawn for Nameless. This basically is a rough idea for the costume that the "Hunters" (as they are currently being called in the script) will wear.

The basic idea is that they will be clad in black from head to foot so that no one can see them as they work from the shadows, the costume will show no sign of human flesh, and will therefore make the person in the costume completely unidentifiable (hence the lenses built into the masks that even cover their eyes). Speaking of the masks, I want the skull stencil so that anyone who does see them is immediately confronted with an image of death (the skull & hood is inspired by Death/The Grim Reaper etc.).

I will be posting more concept art as the process continues, along with pictures from the film shoot which should start soon, I really want to start filming the flashbacks now I have all of the "real-world" footage.

Hope you like it.

Glenn

"Ladies & gentlemen, welcome to the future..."

I have been on a slight hiatus from blogging, but this has mainly been due to writing up the final script/story for Nameless. This has definitely been a long process, and the story has now changed quite significantly from the original draft I jotted down God-knows-how-long ago. But this process is drawing to a close now, and I have the final closing shot of the film in sight. It's a shot that, as I have said to Lee, "I will not stop working on until my gut tells me it's right". I am really quite pleased with it, and hope that it comes across well on film and that you enjoy it.

I have been gathering up footage of various, real-world changing events from places like YouTube, and have quite a large selection of clips to use now for the title sequence, which I was thinking would be in a way like the titles of the True Blood TV series, a montage of slightly grainy clips and flashing up images to create an idea of the world that the series takes place, however, I have different themes to set up for the dystopian world of Nameless, so I am merging real world events with the fictional ones to tie our real world to the one on screen, making it feel a bit more realistic whilst introducing the main themes in the film.

I've decided that some footage can actually be filmed now, despite the script being currently incomplete. I know that making his film will also be a long, ongoing process (I mean, if it took me this long to write a script I'm actually satisfied with, imagine how long it will take to make the thing!) So I will have to start it as soon as possible, which means I'll have the look and feel of the film sorted quite soon, and can sort out some promo pics of the cast soon to put up and give everyone an idea of what to expect.

I don't know how long it'll be before I get time to blog again, but hopefully the project will be well under-way by the time I do.

Glenn

A Day Of Rest...

Well, today I finally got a break from school-work today, having already done my essays/coursework and handing in a 77 page book to go with Vengeful Retribution for my Extended Project. So I decided to relax & work on my script for Nameless a bit more.

I genuinely feel sorry for Lee acting as the lead character, within the first 8 pages (which means approximately the first 8 minutes of film) he has to get chased across a field in the middle of the night from soldiers with dogs, get shot in the back, fall into a ditch and then climb over some razor-wire.

Obviously I will not be working with dogs, and the whole dog-attack issue will be implied, as will climbing over razor-wire, but you can get the idea of the sort of thing I'll be putting the actors through.

The script is really coming along now, I'm just tweaking various things as I think of them. I realised that as long as I don't do anything silly like writing in big explosions or something, that the entire story can be done quite easily as a film. The main thing I need are some tents, costumes (which I've mentioned before), and a few empty rooms, quiet streets & alleyways (and seeing as I've basically been writing about several locations I have seem, it really shouldn't be that hard).

As the script is so close to completion and Vengeful Retribution is almost completely out of the way now, I am aiming to start gathering up props and costumes and really hope to start filming some time in the near future.

Glenn