October 2012 – Small Glowing Pig

One Hour Challenge: Free Max -B

We’ve taken a week off from SpaceBase after finishing the first scene, but found the time to write and record a protest song for wrongfully accused rapper Max -B. We’re not sure of all the details… he may have organized a homicide, he may have done something terrible to someone’s grandmother, and he may be an unexcusably dangerous mix of rappers Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, and Tupac Shakur… but we’ve got his back.

Friend of the label, Jim Hernovich, helps out on the first song written as part of the One Hour Challenge. Technically, this one clocked in at about 1:15, so I suppose we failed.

One Hour Challenge – Free Max -B

1,000 Frames, Hooray!

We did it, folks. We saw our goal shining, like a beacon atop a mountain of clay, and we ascended to meet it in all its glory.

Then the realization hit that we are most likely only an 18th of the way to filming completion. But never mind that… Phantom Hand has returned!

He so rarely shows up to hinder our progress lately, and right before our 1,000th frame BOOM, look who’s just got back from the cutting room floor of Frankenweenie.

This time around the dry cracking bodies of our lead characters had to be addressed, and they went through some refurbishment to keep them pliable for the remainder of the scene. This first scene is really taking shape, and should be completed within the next session or two. Stay tuned for the news, and watch out for floating phalanges!

-Steve

Leave Clay Out – Clay Gets Dry

The pace of production picked up precipitously, and probably permanently! But at what cost?

It seems as if gluing the characters to the floor and leaving them out for months might not have been the best idea. Stupid unpredictable clay! In addition, Cliff was visited by the Melty Man’s ghost and given a terrible curse. His cuff is fused to his hand, all so that he may hold onto a screwdriver. Such a dedicated employee of Sumo Inc.

Cliff succumbs to the Curse of Melty Man!

The good news, though, is that we were able to bang out over 300 frames in only about four hours of work time. This was all despite some long setup times for new camera angles, which we hope to refine in the coming weeks. Also, we ate a delicious baked chicken.

Lighting was less of an issue this week, as the lights in a bag really came into their own. We also made the largest movements in the show so far. One sequence demanded the actors perform and react to special effect sparks that will be added in post. Their performances were inspired and convincing.

Until next time,

-Mike and Steve