17th Aug2010

Post Production

by Faisal

Its been a couple of weeks since we finished shooting but we are only getting into the editing now.  Reason is, it took a very long time for my almost five year old computer to transcode the footage from the raw RED files to offline editable files I can work with, as well as converting all the 5D files into prores too.  This has been thus far a learning experience for me, and something I am not used to, since usually I am the tech on shoots and know exactly how everything works – from camera capture through all of post production.  On this shoot, I only learnt how to turn on the RED (I should say boot the camera) halfway through the shoot.

Thankfully, the RED workflow isn’t hugely different on FCP to the P2 workflow that I am very familiar with.  But the process did make me think about how much technical information I have picked up over the years simply because I was making my own films.  This time though I liked not knowing it all on set because if there was a problem other people were there to solve it, rather than me taking up the time I should have been thinking about directing.  On the set of my previous short, Useless Things, we shot on my own HVX200 (along with a Cinevate Brevis 35mm adaptor) and I knew more about how that all worked than anyone on set.  Consequently, when we had more serious technical issues I was pulled away.  That was definitely distracting, especially considering I was acting in the film too…

Dog Sitter

Emmanuelle Francoeur and Bourbon the Bulldog from Dog Sitter (2010)

Speaking of Useless Things, it will be playing at a screening at the Cinema du Parc this Saturday the 21st of August at 1pm.  The screening was set up by Rail City Media to showcase the newly completed Dog Sitter by director Adam Reider, and produced by me.  We’re showing a number of great shorts at the screening, including Eva Cvijanovic’s Play (winner of the 2008 Air Canada enRoute Achievement in Animation award).  Eva also did the animation for Useless Things – and I can’t wait to start showing people her stop motion work in Mr. Crab.  So, back to editing then!

Category : acting, animation, cinematography, Dog Sitter, film, Final Cut Pro, Mr. Crab, producing, Red camera, short film, Useless Things
23rd Mar2010

A few films on the slate

by Faisal

Found an article written about Useless Things on the web, prompted by the upcoming screening in Toronto. The article can be found here.

I also thought that I would plug Adam Reider’s soon to be completed short film “Dog Sitter” which I produced. It’s taken us a while to get this film finished, part because of being busy on other projects, and part because we were trying to find out about music rights (which by the way, as a filmmaker can be an impossible and incredibly annoying task). We finally figured it all out and are working on the colour correction with editor James Hoffman and sound edit with Emory Murchison. On a somewhat related note, I’ve just signed on with Emory and Gabi Kislat on a documentary project as producer, and I’m really excited about it. Their company, Hot Smoked Pictures, is finishing up a doc about a Parkinson’s patient entitled “Musically Medicated” (it’s a subject I am very close to and have given them advice here and there about the production). Now, it’s time to get a new project up in the air, so to speak.

Lastly I am going to be producing a music video for the United Steel Workers of Monteal with James Hoffman directing. It’s for the song “Little Girl” off their latest album Three on the Tree. We’re collaborating with animator extraordinare Eva Cvijanovic and making a part animated, part live action / live show piece which I am sure to post here when it’s made.

Category : animation, culture, documentary, film, film festival, music