I was described today as "motoring on" with the project. I had to smile. Motor running a little slower at the moment after the strain of sorting out cashflow problems. All ended well but it's been a tough month. I'm a lot clearer now about what I want this business to be doing in five years time - still making revenue from Sanctuary. For that to happen, I'm going to making some changes to the way the project is run. More business and production support and personally, a greater focus on what's necessary to keep the funding and experience rolling in. There is no point in doing a half-baked job on the film and now the challenges is to complete things as soon as possible but not at the expense of MOD Films and its as-yet original idea.
To sort things out, this film-maker is contemplating going back to the project management drawing board. The biggest mistake to-date has to not lock down a realistic post budget for the film. Here we are in Aug and the film is still far from finished. This week I have to decide whether the best way forward is to take a job offer at the BBC Interative Drama dept, cutting overheads down further, while business planning and design continues. I'd been holding out for a part-time or consulting gig but one thing is for certain. We don't have the right team in place at the moment to move forward without further planning. We can't afford to lurch from one week to the next. The edit, sound, and motion graphics elements all require some further work before they can be simply handed over to a post house for finishing.
Putting some time in at the Beeb might also be an opportunity to get a feel for what other interactive crews are up to and make sure we're developing something that will be of use.
DRINKS NEXT WEEK
Take a break from the virtual and meet us for drinks at 9 Wyndham Street. Next Friday 12th at 6pm. Time to re-group and see who is still around. RSVP to Michela on 07775 840 950
http://thequality.com/contact.html
STOP PRESS!
West London investment group, West Focus, think Sanctuary is “way too ambitious” but they liked the preliminary demo (Michela’s jetlag notwithstanding) and have just offered us a small grant to refine the business plan. A show of support like this is just what the project needed. Thank you!
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/business/working/ventures/westfocus/
POSTCARD FROM LONDON
What a week. Michela writes up being back in London (after SEVEN months away) with 13Kg of film negative, about 85% of an offline edit, a stack of DV tapes, miscellaneous props including very grenade-like nanobats (pictured) which somehow made it through Customs, and a whole lotta admin still going on... *groan*
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/blog/archives/002170.html#002170
WILL LEAVES PROJECT
Thanks to Will Newton for a sterling effort in developing the demo over the last six months. It hasn't been an easy gig, working remotely and largely unassisted, in parallel with the shoot. He's now off to do further graphics wrangling in Leeds. We wish you all the best.
VIDEO TRACKING
Even with delays to post, the Sanctuary asset library is taking shape. Here is an album tracking individual plate shots (35mm and miniDV) used in the edit.
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/gallery/album61
MOD #1
It is not strictly a MOD but make some noise for team member Roger Bolton who has released a cool little CC-licensed VJ app called Quartonian. Exploring how this can work to demo Sanctuary’s Switch mode is going to be fun. And we’re working hard to distract Roger from his day job on small-fry flicks like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and some Harry Potter thing...
http://modfilms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=145
URGENT HELP WANTED
Contact Michela direct if you can help with any of these urgent areas. No/low budget.
Linux Sysadmin
One day on-site needed for repairs or remote guidance
Pre-viz Art
Need help with tweaking info graphics placeholders for the offline.
Editing (in central London)
Need some fresh eyes on the offline and help setting up the edit over here (Avid OMFs/EDLs from Sydney) to re-work the beginning and insert some additional infographics.
HOLLYWOOD SPECIFIES THE DIGITAL CINEMA EXPERIENCE
The Hollywood movie studios have agreed on Version 1 of the Digital Cinema Initiatives specification for an all digital movie experience. No real surprises. Certainly no mention of sampling culture and no shortage of issues which are going to need help sorting out.
http://thequality.com/massive/weblog/archives/002172.html#002172
NESTA FINAL MILESTONE
Last week Michela submitted the documentation for the final NESTA Milestone - Finalised Design Document and Commercials Plan. On receipt of the final funding instalment, the investment will convert from a loan to an equity stake in the project.
What a week. I arrive back in London (after SEVEN months away) with 13Kg of film negative, about 85% of an offline edit, a stack of DV tapes, miscellaneous props including some very grenade-like nanobats and one hell of a backlog of admin. *groan*
Then on Sunday some bastard stole my handbag which was full of gear...
We tried really hard to complete everything in Aus neatly but it wasn't to be. The state of the post industry combined with the hefty list of VFX shots was never going to be easy . I've brought everything back (bar the wooden Sanctuary signs!), take a breather and regroup.
Thanks to everyone who's chipped in and really helped to-date. We could use more. The funding is fast running out.
Volunteers, here's a list of the most pressing tasks ahead.
General
* Get-together. Enuff of this virtual team blarney. You're invited to drinks at Control Secret Headquarters (9 Wyndham Street) next Friday the 12th at 6pm.
* More gigs. Every cent and penny of the project funding that not spent on what goes onscreen at this point is a waste of money. Help us cover overheads and eat by sending in job leads. The prototype lab is crying out to be used by other projects.
Film
* Pre-viz elements for the edit (the offline needs some additional infographics elements for the narrative - I need some help with this)
* Looking for new editor to help me finalise offline. Requirement is for Avid (or FCP HD with Automatic Duck plugin so we can import Video OMFs to my suite)
* VFX - the gig is still up for grabs. We need to lock this down and finish the film.
* Sound design/composer - any recommendations?
Console
* Test -> Revise -> Review -> Test... We have a number of different demos now. Now they need to be pulled together into a coherent package. Delays to the film have exacerbated the difficulties here but the Shakespeare app is getting some good feedback.
Community
* Roger B has unveiled an exciting new VJ app he's working on and we're exploring how this could be coupled with the Switch MOD.