Home Coming

So its been two weeks since I was called to Texas to check in on my grandfather and the rest of the family. Good news is everyone is doing fine now. It looks like I'm getting ready to head back to L.A. in the next day or so once we get everything finalized here. Our crew begins production on another film starting next week. Updates to The Cypherian will be coming very soon after I get back. Before leaving I turned the film over to our sound designer and composer. Its been almost two weeks since I touched the film, and I'm a little anxious to put the final touches on before it is sent out to festivals.

Also come this winter I will be starting work on writing the feature length version of the film for my thesis project. I do not plan to shoot the feature right away, but as it is part of my graduation requirement I figure why not get a jump start on it. I think for my second year project I'll go back to an original short. I've been kicking around some ideas with crew members, and a comedy seems to be where we are heading. I've never written one so I am excited to be out of my element a bit. I've worked on several comedies, but nothing of my own. I'll keep everyone updated as to the progress on that one. Now onward!

The Pieces Are Falling Together

So a big day today. After a night of editing we have a extended trailer for the film that will premiere at our Producer's, Shannon Marie Welch, graduation on Friday August 29th. The trailer is strictly for personal use and won't be released to the public until the original music is added. I did however, meet with our composer today, Christy Carew, who also scored "B-O-M-B" for me back in May. She has some great ideas and I'm really excited to see what she comes up with for the film. Over the last week I interviewed several production houses and people about sound and visual graphics. I'm happy to report that we have brought on Jory Hyman as our visual effects artist. He has some great ideas for the special effects that will be used in the film. There will be some photos below showcasing what he has envisioned for the film so far. As for sound I think we will have a deal very soon that will insure that we have a final sound mix down and promotional material for the festivals come this winter.

Everyday I look at the film and get excited at what this group has helped to create. I love feeling that others share in my excitement for this project, and only want to see more. I plan to fill their need in due time. For now its back to work. I start work on another film tomorrow, and through the rest of the week. I think it might be great to take my mind off the film just for a few days. Anyway off on another adventure. Now onward!

-DK

P.S. Here are some concept photos Jory has sent over. Enjoy!

Rough Cut Almost Done

So its been three weeks since we wrapped on The Cypherian, and the rough cut is very close to being done. I've gone through several drafts according to the pile of burned DVD's sitting my desk. First cut was about 21 minutes long. Now we are down to under 19 without credits of course. Those I'm working on right now. I'm very happy with what we have created and early responses from the few scenes I've completed are in the positive area. Let us hope that is a good sign for the future of the project. After picture lock the film will get a soundtrack and added visual effects before finally getting mixed down into the final cut for screenings.

An extended trailer is also being cut right now for the graduation screening of our Producer Shannon Welch on August 29th or 30th. The school has yet to make up their mind about the date.

I start working on another film project directed by crew member Faizan Kareem. I'll be on a week-on week-off schedule until late October. Luckily I did not waste my time these past few weeks. Thanks go out to all of you who have been continuing to help and support me and the project since its creation. Check back in soon. Now onward!

-DK

First Days of Editing

So its been almost two weeks since we started the production on "The Cypherian", and just under a week since we moved into post production. Here is where we are. ECSTATIC! I've gotten to take a closer look at all the footage and I am so happy with the results. Another round of applause for my cast and crew for helping me to to create this story. Of course now we move into the difficult part of putting it all together.

I had to wait a few more days then I wanted in order to get all the parts for my new computer, and get everything settled. Stupidly I forgot to add a wireless card to my computer which was just a simple click of a button, but some how I managed to miss it completely. So I had to run to the Mac Store and get one. Thing is Macs were never really made to be messed with by their owners. In fact when I got the card it was so small I thought they gave me the laptop card so I took it back. Turns out the same card for the laptop is also used in the tower models. Way to be cross compatible Mac! So I get back to install the thing which a Mac guy had to sit and explain how to do it for 20min. It was no cake run. Took me an hour to get the damn thing in. I even called Mac Support and they told me the part was not user installable. Well guess what MAC! I got it in and it works great so HA!

Anyway moving on I spent three hours downloading Mac updates and another three installing the editing software. Then finally I got to begin importing the footage into the program. This meant labeling and downloading the footage to the new computer. Day one ending with only one more card to import. By then I was ready to sleep.

On day two I woke up early and got the last bits in and began importing the audio. Now was the really boring part. Syncing all the clips with the correct audio. Always fun. This took about six hours. Afterward I took a long break and cleared my head. Now the fun begins

I ran through all the footage again trying to decide where to start. Then I thought why not just start at the beginning? Normally you get the smaller scenes out of the way first so you can spend the rest of the time on the more complicated scenes, but its not like I'm pressed for time. Though I don't have the voice overs yet I cut a rough edit of the opening sequence and began on the first dialog scene. Got about half way through and decided I had not eaten...at all that day and stepped out of the house.

I loaded my ipod (Yes I know I own a lot of apple stuff) with a trailer music playlist I had been working on during the week and headed out. I already had some music in mind, but I want to put myself back in the editing mood. While at the store grabbing food one of the songs really jumped out at me. It was a number just over a minute I got off a friend in Anchorage a few years ago. I had not heard the track since then, but suddenly lines from the film began to jump into the music as I was listening. I put the song on repeat and listen to it the whole way home. By the time I got in the door I opened my laptop and starting writing the description and lines I would need to add into the voice over session I hope to have next week with Chris.

After a first draft I stepped away to eat dinner. Then I read through the script while listening to the music and it timed out almost perfectly. So at around 7:30pm I starting cutting. At around 11:30pm I had the first rough cut. I watched a few times and made corrections and at around 12:30am I watched it on my TV. It was an interesting experience watching these images. I've cut trailers before just for the hell it, because they are so driven by their music. Something about this one really got me excited. I've honestly seen this trailer in my head for years, and to see it in front of me last night, even with the stuff that still needs to be fixed, I couldn't help but watch it over and over again for at least 15min. The trailer is just over a minute if that says anything to you. I know I am a ways off from having a totally viewable trailer, but I have a trailer...and that just inspires me to no end. The Trailer will eventually be released publicly when original music is put to it. But we are a ways from that so everyone...be bare with me. Now onward!

-DK

Day Six - Final Day of Shooting

Well it is official...as of 9:45 pm "The Cypherian" has been wrapped. Great big thanks to all our cast and crew this week who have help to bring the story to life. For so long these characters have been rattling around in my head just waiting for the right moment to show themselves. With the help of this crew, we brought the ideas to screen in more ways than I imaged. I'll be taking a week off to get my bearings straight before I start looking at all the footage. My brain has been in over drive for the last six days and its needs a pit stop.

Again thanks to our cast:
Christopher Corbin, Maddie Bukowsky, Dylan Vox, Brett Weinstock, Vince Allen, Jeremiah Page, Jacob Newton, and Benjamin Watts for the terrific performances. Also thanks to Maddie's brother Sam Bukowsky who stepped up on Saturday to be an extra for one of the final scenes of the film.

Our crew:
Shannon Welch, Søren Viuf, Katherine Johnston, Shawn Aly, Nico Schwierz. Faizan Kareem, Bea Soto, Sol Kohli, Brian Lammert, Eva-Lena Karlsson Porscha Sims, Bret Watkins, Trevor Grace, Dan Parsons, and Melissia Fisher. You all were the best crew I could have wished for to make this film happen. Also thanks to Chris Johnston for providing us with the final indoor locations. My Parents for providing financial and moral support. Finally I'd also like to again thank my wife Katie for her love and support these last few years as we worked to make this film a reality. I'm sure I am forgetting people and I'm sorry, but this sounds like a long Oscar speech, but I'm just practicing. This film is going to be something big I can just feel it. Now I'm going to get some sleep. Love you all. Now onward!

-D.K.

Day Five of Shooting

Today the production moved inside to the NYFA building's underground parking garage. Though despite the fact we were out of the sun finally we didn't beat the heat. The bottom level of the building with all our lights aimed at the cast and crew made things pretty heated. Spirits remained high as we powered through scene 10 of the film. Maddie's brother Sam stepped up to play a warrior monk, along side myself, Jacob Newton, and Jeremy Page, as the captures of young Amy, our mother-to-be. Of course Christopher Corbin was there to bring Servius into the mix in an attempt to rescue Amy and her child.

The crew functioned very well under the heat and small spaces of the parking garage. our Director of Photography, Søren Viuf, created a very unique environment for the shots today. I'm looking forward to taking a look at the footage either later tonight or tomorrow. Today Maddie, Ben, and Jacob were wrapped for the film as we head into our last day. The cast and crew have been so great on this film I can't even describe how much help and devotion they have all shown towards this project. Many many thanks are due and we still have one day more to go. Now onward!

-D.K.

Day Four of Shooting

So another early day for some of the crew. Shannon, Søren, and myself were up at 5am to head out to a public yet remote location in Hollywood. Grabbing only the camera and tripod Søren and I hiked up the dirt hill above the Ford Amphitheater to the Hollywood Cross. If you have ever driven south on the 101 freeway into L.A. you will have scene this cross on the hill as you enter the bowl. It took almost two weeks to originally track down who owned this cross and get permission to use the image in the film, but really I wanted it and we got it. Afterward we broke for a few hours to take a nap and get some food before the rest of the cast and crew met back at Eylsian Park to shoot scenes 1 and 9.

Another hot day in the L.A. area as we set out to create a desert like feel to re-create our own view of the death of Christ. Don't worry we didn't nail anyone to a cross, but shot the hill where a CG image of the cruxifiction will be placed. Chris was given a longer beard by our talent makeup artist Brian Lammert, to play himself only two thousand years earlier. Dressed all in white with his symbol worn on his neck, he stands alone on a rock top looking at Christ and making the choice at that moment to never allow the Cypherian line to continue and vanish into the pages of history.

After lunch we came back to shoot scene 9 which is the final meeting between Servius and the Archangel Gabriel. Servius must decide whether or not he will once again rise to protect the girl and her child or let the world sort things out on its own. A big day for Chris, but at least he had gotten some sleep and came to set refreshed and ready to work. We returned to the area of the fight scene over looking L.A. and the shots came out looking great with Gabriel and Servius conversing with the city backdrop.

Tomorrow we head to the NYFA building and its parking garage to shoot scene 10. Perhaps I'll get my cameo in for my Hitchcock moment. You didn't think I would miss the opportunity to be in my own epic would you? Now onward!

-D.K.