Windows Movie Maker

WindowsMovieMakers.NET for Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2 Enthusiasts.
There's been a lot of debate about the validity of using Windows MM as a high end editing tool, it has it's limitations for sure but it does provide all the basic tools for video editing.

Although I don't doubt the quality of Final Cut Pro, (BLOODSHOT was edited on it) I don't think the Mac users should be so dismissive of this nifty little piece of Windows software. In fact, after playing around with a few editing programs, including Sony Vegas 6 (which I will soon update to) I think Windows MM can provide all the basic tools for editing. So check out the above article.

But, in all honesty editing is not about fancy tools it's all about understanding how to tell a story, after all like a camera and lights, a computer is just another tool.

handles basic and advanced editing, and is incredibly easy to use.

Girl Alone Trailer V2

So, with the GIRL ALONE Release date being moved I needed to change the trailer. Here's a new version with new music and titles. Enjoy. Music & Pics by Rich Loffman.

Girl Alone : Update 11 (new release date)

New GIRL ALONE release date : September 27th 2006.

I tell you guys, creating movie music has to be one of the most challenging things I've done. I wrote that very short piece for the trailer but that was just meant to convey a very simple message of isolation, with the complete score I'm challenged with the task of creating a number of different atmospheres, but also to create pace, emotion, and point towards reflection and future occurrences. I will be working on the music throughout August and I really don't think, at this point, that I will ready by September 1st as planned. So...GIRL ALONE will now be released on September 27th (my birthday).

Shinya Tsukamoto - Gemini (1999)

Picked up a new DVD this weekend. Gemini is a Japanese film directed by Shinya Tsukamoto who made the brilliant and groundbreaking Tetsuo (1988).
It's a horror/fantasy based on the story by Edogawa Rampo. It's definitely worth buying or renting. Stunning images and dark subject matter. Great!

Girl Alone : Post Production 7

I've been spending time this week writing the music for GIRL ALONE. I have some demo's of the tracks and I'm now going to start recording the final versions, from this week.

I'm using a combination of acoustic and electric guitars, both clean and distorted. And I'm using some keyboards (just to fill out the sound) and a secret ingredient...a baby's rattle. Those of you who know the script will understand why, but it will add another layer to the score.

The completed music will be in 11 sections, these sections will be called:
Asa / Christmas / Gogo / Sex / Mother / Yoru / Argument / Photo / Door / (secret) / and the final credits will be a track I wrote earlier this year called 'Gloom'

Tengu 天狗 : Update 4

Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce to you Ms. Seiko Sugimura. She will be my Ms. Tengu and we will be meeting again on August 10th for a first rehearsal and hopefully by that point I will have a workable script (right now it's just a Treatment). Seiko is part of the rakuenoh theatre group in Tokyo and is very much into experimental films and plays.

Tengu 天狗 : Update 3

I've talked about this before, but I'm really into the technique of rotascoping. It first interested me at Art College when I studied Animation and in particular the original Lord Of The Rings animated movie. More recently Richard Linklater has used the technique for his movies Waking Life (2001) and A Scanner Darkly (2006).

I obviously don't have the money or studio facilities to create 'real rotascoping' but I've discovered that a mixture of camera settings (low-light, which allows more light into the camera and causes trails and artificial brighter colours) and editing effects (Windows MM has an effect called Film Grain which makes the picture seem as though it's painted on) create an effect with a similar visual quality. I'm calling this technique VideoScoping (VS) and I will be using VS for my next film TENGU as well as using it for the flashback scenes in GIRL ALONE.

Today I went out and took some test shots around my apartment with the idea of catching areas of greenery and concrete. I then edited some of the pictures for the VS effect.

Tengu 天狗 : Update 2

Hi peoples. TENGU 天狗 is hopefully gonna be my main focus post GIRL ALONE. I'm meeting with an actress, Seiko Sugimura, this upcoming Monday (nat hol: Marine Day), hopefully we can think about shooting this August. TENGU is on the move.

Messages

I've noticed that I've had a lot of visitors recently...I'd like to get some feedback on the latest happenings on TP日本 and the GIRL ALONE trailer. Anyone can leave a message. Don't be shy (you can remain anonymous) leave me a comment.

Girl Alone Trailer #1

Here's the first trailer for GIRL ALONE. This is a slightly different version than the one posted on July 8th. The music has been slightly remixed. Pics and music by Rich Loffman. Enjoy.

Girl Alone : Post Production 6

I haven't posted any updates about GIRL ALONE for a while, basically I haven't had time (or energy) to work on it. I also think that when editing you should spend time away from the film just to allow yourself a little objectivity. This is especially pertinent when you are editing your own film and not using an editor. I had Rob Moreno to help me on BLOODSHOT, he could advise me on the areas that needed trimming or cutting, but this time I had to make those cold decisions myself. What stays and what goes???

So, tonight, fuelled by Suntory Premium Malts, I went about the process of doing a final edit (is art ever finished?). I have managed to achieve my goal of getting a 15 minute cut! Hooray! For non-filmy people this means that I can submit the film to short film festivals as the maximum length for submission is usually 15 minutes.

Just one thing left to do before I lock the edit...Music. Yes the darn score. I have narrowed it down to 10 sections of music and I will use my guitar both clean (early on) and distorted (the climax) and a range of delayed effects, in addition will be a little piano and organ used primarily for the flashback scenes.

Anyway, here are the last two stills that I'm making available before September 1st. As ever I won't explain them. But I love the actress' eyes in the natto eating shot and I like the angle of the other one (kind of a nod to Scorsese's Cape Fear, when DeNiro is shot from low angles and keeps walking into the camera).

Viewing my blog

I happened to view this blog on someone else's PC the other day and noticed that the side bar looked kind of messy but I looked at it on mine I saw it was fine. Then it clicked...I view my blogs, and the net, through Firefox and that PC was using IE. Seriously guys Internet Explorer really is a pile of crap. Get Firefox today. It's a much better internet browser.

Roger Walch

rowmuse.com
This is the site of a Swiss filmmaker based in Kyoto who's been making some interesting indie short films for a few years now. Enjoy.
I recommend the trailer to LOST ISLAND, looks interesting.

Girl Alone In Full Colour LAUNCH

I'm pleased to say that I have finished my mini documentary about the pre-production and production of GIRL ALONE.

GIRL ALONE IN FULL COLOUR will we available on tribalpicturesjapan.com very soon. (I need a few hours to upload it to the site). I decided to bring the launch date forward because it was ready to be shown and there was no point to it just sitting on my HD. It may stick a little when playing because it's being streamed live, so those of you with low connection speeds might find it difficult to watch.

Anyway, let me know what you think. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT.