http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLDc0PBlsGA

Hey guys,

Last week I finished the newest episode of my Transformers stop-motion series Transformers: Alliance.  In this episode, tensions rise between the Autobots and Decepticons as Optimus Prime is held hostage. (click on “Continue Reading” below to watch the video).

Comment and rate video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caXMmAo-UcI

As much fun as we had in Texas, it’s still great to be home again!  I don’t know about you, but it’s always hard for me to get back into my daily routine after a trip.  It takes a day or two for my mind to de-program from “vacation” mode and get back into the swing of things.

So, now that I’m home, what’s on the agenda for me?

The biggest thing right now is continuing work on Sir Magnus and the Dragon.  I’ve started working on creating an animatic of the film, taking the voice recordings from the actors and editing them to the storyboards as a way of seeing how the pacing of the film will work out.  This is the first time I’ve gone through this process, and I’m amazed and very excited as I see this first glimpse of the movie coming together.  I’m working with our environment artist, Jeremiah Spoon, on getting the sets and props created, and I’m in talks with a potential character modeler.  Right now it’s looking like my original plan of outsourcing the animation so I can work on other projects simultaneously isn’t going to work out, so I’ve downloaded Blender and will start learning how to use it so I can do the animating.

Another project that I’m trying to get knocked out here sooner rather than later is my feature-length script that I mentioned a few posts back.  With everything else going on in life, it’s been hard to find/make the time to work on it, but I haven’t given up on it!  You don’t work on something for four years just to give up on it before it’s finished.  At least I don’t!

And then there’s editing John’s Miracle, the short film we made at the 2010 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp that I had the privilege of acting in.  I got the rough cut together before I left for Texas, so now it’s a matter of syncing audio, tightening cuts, adding sound effects, color correction… okay, there’s still a lot left to do.  How long is it going to take?  Well, Hearing God, the short from the 2009 camp, was finished right before we left for TX, so almost a full year.  And John’s Miracle is about 15 minutes long compared to Hearing God’s 10-minute runtime.  So your guess is as good as mine.  It all depends on how often I can get to it.  Hopefully it’ll be done before the next camp!

And then on top of all this are any other projects that come up, especially ones that actually pay!  So I’ve got plenty to do, I just need to do it!

In fact, what am I doing sitting here blogging for?!  Gotta run!  So much to do, so little time!

Wow!  That’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking about the week I’ve had.  This has been one of the most enjoyable sets I’ve worked on, with only one exception: Shooting in an attic, in Texas, in July!  Coming from the high and dry mountains of Colorado, the humidity of Texas has definitely been taking some getting used to.  I’ll let you know if I ever do.

The crew has been fantastic.  A group of talented young people learning the art of film under director Stacie Jones and DP Timothy Jones, both of whom I met at the 2009 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.  I’ve been very impressed with everyone’s professionalism, and have thoroughly enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and friendships built.  There have been many, many inside jokes created that I will chuckle over for a long time to come.  I would definitely recommend “Liking” Morning Star Productions on Facebook (click here).

We’ve wrapped the first week of shooting and are almost done with principal photography.  We’re taking the weekend off and should hopefully be finishing on Monday or Tuesday.  The crew has gone home, it’s the quietest I’ve heard the Jones’ house all week.  You usually don’t expect teenage boys to chatter as much as a bunch of teenage girls!  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again on Monday, once again in that stuffy old wasp-infested attic.

As promised, I’ve been vlogging diligently all week.  The first five days’ worth of videos can be found on TheLawOfZack.  I have fallen a few days behind, uploading Wednesday’s videos as I write this post.  Once I get home I’ll work on getting some pictures together to post on here.

Playing five different aged versions of the same character has been a new experience that has been a fun, though at times frustrating, challenge.  I’m very glad for the direction of Stacie Jones, who’s helped bring out acting abilities that I wasn’t aware I had.  Remember her name, I’m sure you’ll be hearing much more about this talented woman in the future!  She and her brother Timothy make quite the creative force to be reckoned with, and it’s been an absolute joy to work with them again.  I’m looking forward to the next project we work together on!

Maybe next time it’ll be in a basement in Colorado in January!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzW9g0wff5Q