Don't talk at the movies!

Check out this article I came across. Don't talk in the movie theater otherwise your going to get shot!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/27/movie.shooting/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

"The Spirit" disappoints

Today I went and saw "The Spirit" with my family. We went into it with the same expectations as everyone else that went and saw it. After "Sin City" you can see that Frank Miller has talent with graphic novel films. This one, however, was unimpressive. The issues I have with the film are these: the story, the editing, and the intensity.


The story was not very interesting. It became a romance by the end and bored the audience. There are some good action sequences and lots of quirky jokes but they come no where near "Sin City." I know these are two completely different films, however, you think there would be some defiant similarities when it comes to the writing style and direction. I saw none of it.



The editing was all over the place. Part of this comes from the writing because you can't edit something together unless there is something to edit. Parts of the film became so jumpy I had no idea what was going on. There were snippets of scenes that felt more like a preview or an overview of the actual sequence. I really wanted to get into the film and be pulling into the crazy reality of the world created; that wasn't happening. As soon as I felt the scene start to go somewhere it would cut to a whole different time or place.

Both these factors contribute to the intensity of the story. This could have been a compelling story even if it became a romance by the end. Most good stories do come from tragedy anyways. "The Spirit" unfolds as a strange diversion of what is to be expected, but not in a good way.


On the positive side it looked amazing. This style of filming is very cool to watch. The film noir stereotypes mixed in with comic book layouts. It's definatly amazing what they were able to do with color and framing. Out of all the comments I heard coming out of the theater, the most that were positive focused on the filming aspects of this movie. It looks really cool. I spend lots of time behind a camera and it is quite a feat to be able to create this style. Trying to visualize what they will be doing in post is hard espeically when most of the film is just actors in front of a green screen. I hear people saying that it's easy to film cause they can do what ever they want with the footage. This is true to an extent. If your not able to light someting right then in post you will never be able to match it up to the special effects. The same goes for framing. You have to know what the final product will look like in your head while shooting otherwise this type of film can never be created.


Overall I was entertained. It's not the worst film out there. I was just hoping for something new and fresh; a film to break from the current trend the industry is in. "The Spirit" is worth watching but will not astound or shock audiences.

(Movie Website)

Synopsis: Down these mean streets a man must come. A hero born, murdered, and born again. When a Rookie cop named Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face who has other plans. He's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold hearted killer from the city's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader.

Trailer:

Merry Christmas!

Here is a short little video from an amazing film that's perfect for Christmas.



If you have never seen this film, then go rent it. Tim Burton never disappoints when he makes a film. All are unique and bring something to the screen that hasn't been done before.

The Nightmare before Christmas was rereleased onto dvd. Good film for both Halloween and Christmas.

My Bloody Valentine ... 3D!

I'm so excited to see the new film "My Bloody Valentine." It's been a while since a horror 3D film had a wide release. I'm not sure if I have ever seen one personally. The only thing that comes close is watching old movies like "The Swamp Thing," or "Night of the Living Dead" in 3D. My Bloody Valentine is a remake of a 1981 independent film. I think I will wait to see that version until after the remake. Usually I like to watch the original first, however, the issue with doing this is that you know exactly what to expect in the remake, story wise. I enjoy going to a movie with no idea whats coming.


Here is a synopsis for the movie:
After surviving a fatal accident that claimed the lives of five of men in a mine shaft, Harry Warden performed an horrific killing spree on Valentines night in the town of Harmony, killing 22 people before he was shot to death. Many years later, Tom (the man responsible for the accident) returns to his old town, only to find that the murders have started again. What follows is an adrenaline pumping thrill ride, as Tom, his old flame Sarah and a group of townspeople try to survive the night of slaughter. My Bloody Valentine is presented in stunning 3D, making blood, brains and various other limbs fly at you in a holy grail of gore.

(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179891/)


Might not be the most stunning of stories, but hopefully it is going to be a terrifying thrill ride. I haven't seen a film that has scared me in a while and I'm hoping that the 3D takes the horror to a whole different level.


My Bloody Valentine is a completely 3D film, using new Real D 3D technology, as seen in films such as Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Here is an Explanation of what Read D 3D technology is:

The RealD 3-D system is based on the push-pull electro-optical modulator called the ZScreen invented by Lenny Lipton, an American inventor.

The technique that RealD uses is comparable to the traditional method of 3-D imaging which uses linearly polarized glasses. The traditional method works by projecting two differently linearly polarized images onto the same screen, polarized at +45° and -45° from the horizontal, which are then filtered by linearly polarized glasses worn by the audience. This type of 3-D imaging requires two projectors, and suffers from visible double-imaging if the head is tilted to the side which places the glasses at an inappropriate angle.

RealD however uses a single projector that alternately projects the right-eye frame and left-eye frame, and circularly polarizes these frames, clockwise for the right-eye and counterclockwise for the left-eye, using a liquid-crystal screen placed in front of the projector lens. Circularly polarized glasses make sure each eye sees only "its own" picture, even if the head is tilted. The very high framerate, which is 72 frames per second per eye, makes sure the image looks continuous. In RealD Cinema, each frame is projected three times to reduce flicker, as the source video is usually 24 frames per second. The result is a seamless 3-D picture that seems to extend behind and in front of the screen itself.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_D_Cinema)

Quarantine - A suprisingly good film

Today I went and saw Quarantine in the 2 dollar theater near my house. It's a cool little theater that plays older movies for super cheap. It is pretty funny to see previews for films that came out in September.

Quarantine Website

This film was really good despite what I heard. I had no idea that it was going to be a zombie film. I saw the preview months ago and it didn't look like anything special. I talked to a friend yesterday and she said it was amazing so I thought I would go check it out.


Quarantine is shot like the Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield. Almost the entire film takes place in an apartment building where the fire department was called in because an elderly lady was screaming unbelievably. The film is shot from the perspective of a news crew that was following shadowing a los angeles fire crew for the night. Once they enter the apartment building all hell breaks loose.

Logline: On March 11 2008, the government sealed off an apartment complex in Los Angeles. The residents were never seen again. No details. No witnesses. No evidence. Until now.


I think this film was done really well. The style is one that has not been explored too much. There are more and more films being done this way however out of these films there are very few that stand out. Most become to shakey and loose the focus of the action. Cloverfield was the first big budget film to take on this challenge yet it was done in a way that lost the intrest of the viewer. Why? was the big question when watching Cloverfield. Quarantine, I think, gets rid of that question. The auience is not wondering why they are filming this becuase they are a news crew. They want to get as much footage as possible to show what really happened inside. This idea is solidified when they see the news on the TV telling the general public that everyone in the building has been evacuaded.


With reguards to lighting I think it was beliveable. Most of the film is super dark except for when the camera light is turned on creating the deer in the headlights effect. The end of the film has a sequence that is in nightvision. This was my one issue with the way they were filming. A news camera would not have nightvision on it. Any camera that is anything mroe than a consumer camera does not have nightvision unless a special lense is attached onto the front.

I really don't like the preview that was released for this film. The last 10 minutes are the only parts that have nightvision in it yet most of the trailer is derived from this part of the film. Even the last shot of the trailer is the last shot of the film which is really disapointing because the entire film is given away in the trailer. The main zombie is shown which is the big payoff in the film.



After doing a little research I found out that Quarantine is a remake of a spanish film called Rec. I hear that the original is better than the remake. I'm hoping to get my hand on a copy of the film when it comes out and compare the two. Bellow is a trailer for the film Rec


Below is selected text from a review about the difference between Quarantine and Rec. After reading this I really would like to see the original:

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf

Original Website

Most audience members stumbling into "Quarantine" will have no idea it's a remake of a 2007 Spanish horror film titled "Rec." "Rec" was a beautiful chiller, constructed with resourcefulness and genre filmmaking wizardry that instilled a modest concept with the right amount of armrest-ripping content to fuel nightmares for weeks. "Quarantine" is the unavoidable American replica, only this version has ingested a bottle of idiot pills and washed it all down with a full glass of directorial incompetence.

There's nothing broad to be found in "Quarantine" that directly separates it from "Rec." Director John Erick Dowdle (of the unreleasable "The Poughkeepsie Tapes") crafts a straightforward copy of the Spanish film, preserving the same plot and scare beats, but altering the corners of the writing to put his fat stamp on the picture. To Americanize "Rec," "Quarantine" introduces crude sexual tension between Angela and the firemen, and turns our camera-ready hostess from a frustrated lifestyle reporter to a veritable sorority pledge, with Dowdle encouraging Carpenter to play daft instead of confident, ultimately reducing Angela's role in the overall scheme of things.

The original film spent some time with the characters, "Quarantine" quickly sets up the humans as zombie food. Also, while "Rec" didn't win any awards for steady cinematography, director Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza composed carefully for maximum suspense and exposition. Dowdle just throws his camera around arbitrarily, with huge sections of the film lost to inane handheld blur and iffy technical believability.

Reviewing "Quarantine" on its own merits is a difficult challenge, since "Rec" is as close to perfection as fright films get these days.

--- D plus

Waltz with Bashir - New film in theaters

There is a new film coming out in theaters next week. It is called "Waltz with Bashir." This film deals with the 1982 Lebanon War from the perspective of a soldier in the Israeli army. I think the director, Ari Folman, made a really interesting choice of using animation to tell this tale. This film is a fictional documentary recounting his own life. He explains in an interview that this form (animation) is completely free. He is able to make any choice he wishes when it comes to telling his story. In parts of the film he includes material from the actual war itself. This break in the aesthetic is a bold choice however it has a purpose. Ari would like people to come out of the theaters not just thinking it was a cool film that looked good. He wants people to realize the pain and horror of war. It's not all comradely and honor like the media makes us think.

Below is the complete interview:



Synopsis for the film:
One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there's a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can't remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images.

Film Preview:



Here is what people around the world are saying about "Waltz with Bashir"

"Could easily turn out to be one of the most powerful statements of this Cannes and will leave its mark forever on the ethics of war films in general,"
Dan Fainaru, Screen Daily.

"Waltz With Bashir is an extraordinary, harrowing, provocative picture. We staggered out of the screening in a daze." Xan Brooks, The Guardian

"something special, strange and peculiarly potent" Leslie Felperin, Variety

"The message of the futility of war has rarely been painted with
such bold strokes." Mary Corliss, Time

"Folman unleashes a pastiche of incredible cinematic scenes that are as innovative as they are devastating." Sheigh Crabtree, LA Times

"The artistic choice made by Folman (animation) brings an apocalyptic and surrealistic dimension to this universal and moving film."
Barbara Theate, Le Journal du Dimanche

"An intense, moving animation film as we've never seen before. A masterpiece"
Julien Welter, l'Express

"Ari Folman has definitively moved the frontier berween fiction
and documentary". Philippe Azoury, Liberation

"A clever work of (and about) memory, a powerful, beautiful and usefull film."
Serge Kaganski, Les Inrockuptibles

"It's a shattering war film, full of guilt and shock, and finding a new medium for expressing and exploring familiar themes," Jason Solomons, the Observer

"Folman has made a beautiful, disturbing and deeply compelling film"
Kim Voynar, Cinematical


Personally I am really excited to see this film. It looks pretty amazing and it deals with war in a different way then films like "Saving Private Ryan," where live action is used to bring you into the film. This film is only having a limited release so make sure to look and see if it's playing near you.

Lord of the Dead - George A. Romero

"Horror god George A. Romero looks back on four decades of fright."

In the latest issue of Maxium, George A. Romero has a two page story by Chris Norris. In it Romero criticizes current horror film making and explains how this genre has been twisted to glorify gore and terror. "These days audiences are more likely to get their frights from torture-porn creepfests like Saw or Hostel than Romero's nuanced, socially conscious offering." It's true, when you look at most films in theaters or on dvd you notice that most have lots of gore and no story. I finished watching The Strangers this past weekend and I can't believe I actually sat through it. Yes this doesnt have the level of gore as say Hostel but the film follows the general path horror has been going in. People are stalked, played with, then killed for no reason. We don't get insite into anything and watch from affar as directors attempt to use cutting egde special effects to dazzle audiences rather than a scary story.

"When I ask Romero to pitch one of the contemporary box office hits, he pauses for a moment. 'I think it would be Guy With Torture Implement,' he says." Romero has a point. Rather than being a film that deals with a big issue such as terrorism, films follow the same few ideas. What makes horror films terrifing is when they are based in reality commenting on current world affairs or situations in life. "Romero's demons are, as ever, current events... 'I don't have any supernatural hobgoblins that I worry about,' says the master of fear. 'What scares me is life." In the article Chris Norris sums up Romero's intentions when making each of his films. "...to Romero the undead aren't monsters but a metier. He himself reanimated teh concept several times after Night - once to critique mindless consumerism ('78 Dawn of the Dead), once again to explore military groupthink ('85 Day of the Dead), and later to take on class warfare ('05 Land of the Dead). 'I end up coming back to this franchise whenever I want to make a comment or take a snapshot of the time,' says Romero."


40 years ago Romero made is first cult hit, Night of the Living Dead. It's an awsome concept of the dead coming back to life and very scary when they are slow but unstoppable. However, should we loose the backend of this style of filmmaking? Films are a visual experince and I do believe that we should put a good deal of effort into the look of the film but without a story where are we left? Filmmaking is the art of visual narrative, this means that it is two parts, one part visual and one part story, both equaly important. "In one crowning irony, the revolution Romero launched has since ossified into a Hollywood gore factory that's a nearly perfect inversion of the movement that made it possible: an army of film school dweebs with black dye jobs and studio budgets who crank out hit horror movies with none of the wit, invention, or social resonance that made the '70s classics cool in the first place."

If you get a chance, pick up the latest issue of Maxim and check out the entire article.

Wisdom from David Linstrom

I read an article about David Linstrom. He is a cinematographer who has worked for ABC, HBO, NBC, and National Geographic.

Here is a small word of advice to cinematographers out there. I don't know how many times I've looked over footage with people and hear the wildest excuses for why the image isn't perfect.

"Always keep in mind that no one cares to hear about the anecdotes or reasons about why you didn't get the shot," says Linstrom, "if the sun didn't rise, there's nothing you can do about that and no one is interested in excuses."

If you didn't get the shot, then you didn't get the shot. It happens to all of us. There's nothing we can do about and we need to use it as a guidance rather than a hindering factor in improving our skill as a cinematographer.

Another interesting point David pulls out is this.

"I use a polarized filter almost always when outside."

This is a very good point. It's amazing how much a polarizer will help an image. You could have the nicest camera out there yet if you don't know how to control or work with light then you can never get a good image.

http://www.davidlinstrom.com/

The Money Shot - Production Finished

I just finished working on set of "The Money Shot." This film follows one filmmaker as he attempts to finance his dream film. He tricks a group of people into believing he is filming an art house film yet in reality he is filming a porno.


Today was our last day of filming. It went really well besides a few issues with people showing up on time. Otherwise we didn't have any major issues.

The film will be edited next semester by Cindy Tang. I was shooting for her senior thesis project which will be screened in April with all the other seniors.

All the pictures I have included in this post are screen shots from the footage. I think the film looks really good. I'm excited to see it edited.

The Moral Life - Online

The Moral Life is completely finished. My showing went well in class last night. I was expecting to have the film torn apart, instead after the last shot everyone just sat back with their mouths wide open, which is amazing, because that was the reaction I was going for. Everyone that has watched this film has only had good things to say. From those that are looking at it from a Nietzschen perspective to those who know nothing about Nietzsche, everyone is able to draw something out of this film. I did not intend to be an "intellectual" and make a film completely about a philosophical notion that not many know about, rather, I wanted to take this opportunity to make a film that does have those ideas yet is done in a way that it is accessible by anyone if they have an open mind.

Also, I have uploaded my audio commentary on the film. The audio commentary takes you through all the philosophy I injected into the film. It's a great way to get a better understanding of the Eternal Return and Nietzsche's metaphysics.

If your interested to see any of the photos from the shoot, I have uploaded them on my myspace. www.myspace.com/Jeven_productions

I am looking for feedback and criticism. Please if you have any reactions please let me know. I am looking for feedback on either the film aesthetics/look or the content presented in the film.


Part 1



Part 2

Update on "The Moral Life"

The past three days have been insane. I have been working non-stop trying to get this film done. Sunday I worked from 8am to 11pm, the film was finished by that point however I have been doing some minor touch ups on a few of the scenes. The past two days I have been working on the audio commentary. Monday was spent writing for about 5 hours and yesterday I had another lovely 9am to 12pm day. However, the film is now completely finished. I need to go get my photos from my on set photographer so that I can have my graphic artist build out the dvd covers and posters. I am working on the DVD menu right now and the first screening of the film will be tonight in my Nietzsche class.

The DVD will have the 13 min film, the 15 min audio commentary, a couple versions of the script, and the production photos.

It's a fun short film and if your interested in philosophy or religion it is a good mind blower if you take Nietzsche's concepts seriously.

I will have it posted on youtube and my website either late tonight or sometime tomorrow. Both portions of the film are going to go up.

The Moral Life - Finished

I finished editing "The Moral Life." It's been a very crazy project from the start of the shoot till now. I edited for upwards of 12 hours yesterday trying to get it finished.

Right now the only things I have left to completely finish the project are, to do the Audio Commentary on the philosophy behind the film, finished the dvd covers and finish the posters.

The film will be up online by the end of the week.


(This is a photo I took last week while in Palm Springs. It is from Noah Purifoy's outdoor desert museum.)

der Raum - Film Finished

"der Raum" (the Room) is a short film I wrote last week. Wally and I decided to shoot on Thursday and last night. I edited the piece for a German class I am currently taking. Our assignment was to do a short 2-3 minute film and speak in German. I played around with the idea a bit and made a short interrogation scene out of it. Check it out and let me know what you think. The copy that is currently on my youtube is not subtitled however I will subtitle a version soon.

The Moral Life - Production finished

We finished production today on "The Moral Life." After two long days of filming we are done. It was pretty amazing we were able to get all the footage in two days. Overall shooting went well besides the thousands of airplanes that were flying overhead and the soccer club that decided to have practice next to us. The footage looks great and our makeup artist did a kickass job. Erica looked so beat up and if we didn't have Katie then this could not have been possible. One of the great moments of the shoot was the fight scene. Instead of using quick cutting to show punches and kicks I decided I wanted to shoot the entire thing in one take. Surprisingly it came out looking really good. The actors look like they are in a real fight and as I circle them their body's block the fake punches and kicks. I'm not sure the style in which I'm going to edit the film, however, I am currently working on that and it will be done within two weeks.

Synopsis: God is dead... Louise after a long day of work is walking home. She is making here way through an empty parking lot when she is jumped by Phil. Phil beats her and takes everything. She wakes up in the morning to find Death sitting on a curb eating an apple. He talks about what reality is and takes Louise through Neitzsche's Eternal Return of the Same. Louise must battle between what she believes to be real and what Death brings to her; to add into the mix, Phil comes back and finds her alone, again.

Cast
Louise - Erica Edd
Death - Colin Hoffmeister
Phil - Wally Schrass

Crew
Writer/Director/Cinematographer - Jeven Dovey
Producers - Cindy Tang & Eileen McMillan
Makeup - Katie Kane
Extra Help - Miles Painter, Harry Walling,

The Original Normal

Check out my brothers new site. He released his new clothing line which includes beanies, full face masks, t-shirts, stickers, and bandannas.

If your looking for some new gear that is original, take a look.

The Room 2008

I am shooting a short film tonight called "The Room." This idea of having a single room where everything takes place intrigues me. I have done another film in this same fashion. You have room. Don't know any of the back story for either character. You discover things about both characters through this one interaction. At the end of the scene something is twisted and the audience is left with a question.

The first time I shot a film like this was back in highschool The film was not done very well. However, it was one of the first films I directed that wasn't on my parents Hi8 camcorder. Again this first film was called "The Room," but this one had a completely different storyline then the one I am about to shoot.

This version of "The Room" is a project for my german 101 class. We have to shoot a short where you speak german, and that was they only guideline. The story follows one person interigating another about money. The only issue is one person speaks english and the other speaks german. I plan to shoot in a more serious style yet break the stereotype and make it a comedy. It should be a fun film. I will put my highschool film "The Room" up on youtube to show where this film started.

Quantum of Solace - Interview

The November issue of American Cinematographer had a pretty good article about shooting Quantum of Solace. If you are a cinematographer or have any interest in the production side of this film take a look at the link bellow.

http://www.theasc.com/magazine_dynamic/November2008/QuantumofSolace/page1.php




An inventive car rig helped the filmmakers shoot a high-speed chase. British key grip Kenny Atherfold constructed the truss rig from very light material to help the second unit capture tight shots of Bond in his Aston Martin.

The crew prepares to capture another portion of the sequence where Bond jumps from a tiled roof onto a moving city bus.

Quantum of Solace - Review

Synopsis: Picking up an hour after the events of 2006's Casino Royale, this James Bond adventure finds 007 (Dainel Craig) tracking a traitor who's infiltrated Britain's MI6. The trail leads to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), the charismatic head of a world environmental agency. Behind this seemingly legitimate facade, Greene runs Quantum, a powerful terrorist organization whose plot to overthrow a Bolivian dictator masks an even more sinister plan.

I personally liked this movie. I have heard from many of my friends that it sucked or that it's not like a real James Bond movie. Well, it is different, however I think this difference isn't necessarily a bad one. Dainel Craig plays the badass Bond who takes lives before asking questions. From a story perspective he is the kind of character who has his own agenda and doesn't let others tell him how to do his job. That's fine, I enjoy watching him kick some ass. My biggest issue is with the editing. This film has some really cool fight scenes. More action then previous Bond movies I would say. However the film is edited in a way where you can't tell who is who and what is going on. This is the same kind of thing that happened in the second Bourne movie. There is a scene where Bond is fighting someone at a black tie party. This issue is they are both in almost identical suits and the editing is so all over the place that you never really know which one is bond until they cut to a close up at the end of the sequence. I think this was a fault on the director as well because they could have elimated this issue by having Bond or the other guy have his suit jacket ripped when they fell through the celine. I don't think their clothes would be in perfect condition when falling through glass windows onto scaffolding and swinging around by ropes. That was one of many scenes which could have been directed and edited better.

The biggest complaint I have heard is how the film poses a whole bunch of questions but never fully answers them. I didn't have an issue with this because it keeps me on the edge of my seat and now I can't wait for the next one. These newer Bond films are being shot in sequence of a larger storyline. Each movie is one section of that story where we have the main bad guy however he is working for an even larger operation. This was seen in the earlier films with Sean Connery however it was done in a different way. I'm not sure what side of the fence your on but I can't wait to see Daniel Craig as bond again.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/

"Depeche Bowie" finished!!!!!

I finished shooting and editing The Temper Twins new music video. "Depeche Bowie" should be released soon. Once it's up I will make sure to post a link to the video!

Make Way for Monroe - Videos being edited

A couple months ago I shot a party for Monroe King. It was a black tie event with bar, music, lots of people, and of course an opium den... (?) The videos are in the process of being edited. Here is a short peak of the footage. It is from the pre-party adventures. Take a look, I shot on the fly and had no idea what to expect.

The Conversation

My professor, Bruno Louchourn, gave a presentation before a screening of The Conversation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversation)

This movie is by far one of my favorites. It's very different, in that, the film is a study into the psyche of a man who is slowly getting more and more involved in his work. His job is a surveillance technician and his newest assignment is to record a conversation between two individuals. As he finishes the recording he realizes that he no longer is creating the best sound rather he is listening to the actual conversation and decides he needs to intervene.

If you have not seen this film I highly recomend it. Make sure you set aside a chunk of time where you can sit down and just watch with nothing else on your mind. It moves a little slow if your expecting an action thriller. It's a film based on story, one of the things that many films have lost in today's world.

--------

One of the key elements to this film is the sound design. Walter Murch created a masterpiece in the world of sound design. Before this film was made there was no category of "Sound Designer" in film. He revolutionized the way we see movies by creating a aural world which before The Conversation had not been seen in a film. Most sound designs were flat and pulled you from the ability to suspend reality. This piece however, pulls the viewer into the film and makes you believe what Gene Hackman is believeing. You make every move he makes and take action every time he takes action. It's strange, you get so wrapped up into this film that the ending is such a shock.

This film is a must see!

"The Money Shot" Porn Mockumentary - Production starting

October and November are busy months for me. I have been working on so many films that I pretty much can't fit any more into my schedule with school and swimming being in full swing.

Today I was hired on as Cinematographer for a new film called "The Money Shot" directed by Cindy Tang. It's a mockumentary about a film student who is trying to finance his feature by making a porno. The script is really good and we have a great cast working on this film. Shooting should begin the first or second week of November.

So as of now I have a few films that are slated for this next month.
"The Money Shot" - 3 days of shooting
"The Good Stuff" - One more day of shooting
"Ragnarok" - Finish Voiceovers and ADR
"The Moral Life" - 1 day of rehearsal, 2 days of shooting

There are a few other films that I would like to be working on however with my schedule I am not able to help out on those films.

"The Good Stuff" - 90% shot

It was two decent days of filming. We shot almost the entire film. The only scenes we have left are the final and a few inserts when the main character is job hunting. Overall the shoot went well. We had a great cast and we moved fast because we were able to get a good deal of the shots in one take. Keep checking back for a trailer.

The Good Stuff - Production Started

I am currently working on another project called "The Good Stuff." It's a comedy about a man who gets fired from his job of stuffing envelopes. He goes on a quest to figure out a new career rout however his only interest is in stuffing things. I am working as Director of Photography on this project. We are shooting today and tomorrow with one more day next week. If everything goes right I think this will be a very funny piece.

My project "The Moral Life" will be going into production soon. The script is almost finished and I have almost entirely casted the film.

The Moral Life - Pre Production Started

I am shooting a film for my Nietzsche class which is currently untitled however will most likely be called "The Moral Life."

The film follows one person who finds death after a very intense attack. This person must cope with the voice in her head telling her to forget bout what she finds and come back to the life where a veil is pulled over our eyes. Death on the other hand is lifting this veil and showing a world that is unimaginable to those locked in our worlds current state.

It is a very philosophical film however I think everyone will be able to find something to take from it.

As of now Colin Hoffmeister has expressed interest in playing my Death and Katie Kane possibly doing my makeup.

Ragnarok - Principle Photography finished!!!!

We finished shooting the short "Ragnarok."

Production was very fun. 2 days in the palm springs desert with the sun beating down on the crew. It was around 102 degrees. We had an outlaw being chased by a bounty hunter and a duel at high noon. Katie Kane our makeup artist was running around putting bullet wounds on our actors...and crew. 2 amazing actors! We couldnt ask for better. We had plenty of beer and pool time after the shoot was finished. Basically it did not seem like work for anyone on set. Everyone was lovin it and having tons of fun. Everyone was sad to leave and finish which is something I rarely see on set. Everyone wanted to keep shooting. I can see more films in the future with this crew.

Director: Harry Walling
Cinematographer: Jeven Dovey
Producers: Eileen McMillan, Sarah Frantz
Editor: Miles Painter
Makeup: Katie Kane
Costumes: Mrs. Walling
Extra Help: Jim & Stacy Dovey

Cast
Virgil Dewitt: Collin Hoffmeister
Jo: Erica Edd

Keep checking back for updates. This film will be screened as part of a compilation next semester on campus in Thorn.

Here is a short trailer I threw together last night when I got back from the shoot. This was edited by me and I have not cleaned it up at all so keep that in mind when watching. Enjoy!

Temper Twins Music Video Complete

I have just finished the 2nd music video for the Temper Twins. This is the video for the song "We Temper Twins." I think it came out pretty good. I can't post it yet because the album has not been released yet however keep checking back and I will post it as soon as I can.

The video for "Depeche Bowie" is still being edited. The first cut was shown to sunspot and he really liked it. I just need to finish filming the last bit of the story line and then put the final touches in the editing room.

Keep a look out both these videos should be released within then next few months. I will post as soon as they are.

If you haven't already, check out my youtube at www.youtube.com/jevendovey.

New Western to be shot

I was hired on as DP for a western. The film is going to be called Ragnarok and is about justice, good and evil. It should be a really fun project and hopefully I will have something to show soon. We start casting this Saturday and Sunday.

Keep checking back for updates. I should have some footage to show within the next month.

Sneak Peak of the new Temper Twins Album

http://www.reverbnation.com/thetempertwins

Here are two songs off the new Temper Twins album. I was able to hear the entire album durring the music video shoot and I am very impressed with this cd. Check out these two songs!

Cain Rose Up & Temper Twins

I am going to phase out my Cain Rose Up blog because as of now there is not to much going on with regards to that film. I am still working on funding, however, there is enough to get the project off the ground next year when I start. I am pretty positive we will be shooting in HD rather than 35mm because film cost so much more than going digital. Keep checking back for more updates.

Also the Temper Twins music video is still in production. We have one more section to film. Sunspot Jonz goes on tour this Saturday so if the Living Legends come to your area in the next 3 weeks I would very much recomend you check out their show. More updates to come. Also some of the footage may be released early so keep checking back.

Temper Twins Music Video Shoot

Here are some production shots from the shoot this past weekend. These are the first glimpses of the video that is set to come out in a few months. We are scheduled to finish shooting on the video Saturday or Sunday. This will be a quick shoot finishing the storyline of the video.

I won the Living Legends Contest!

I just received an email saying that I won the Living Legends music video contest.

"Congratulations! Your video has been selected to be a part of the OFFICIAL After Hours video!"

They are going to be using my footage for the actual video which is going to play while they are on tour in a couple weeks. Also once they're done it will become the actual After Hours video!!! Check out some of the comments I got on the video:

"if i didnt know any better id say this was murs. aha GREAT job :)"

" man you killed it..that was awesome"

You can check out the video on my blog or go to my youtube.

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As for some of my other projects, the Temper Twins music video is scheduled to be finished shooting this Thursday. There is also a possibility that I will be shooting a black tie soirée this Friday. I'm still waiting to hear back from that shoot. Also I have been hired on as Cinematographer for a western slated to shoot October - December. The script is still be adjusted and casting starts soon.

Keep checking back for more updates, there is many shoots going on in the next couple months and I think there are going to be some pretty entertaining films coming out soon.

Temper Twins!!! New Music Video

I just woke up from a very amazing sleep. Yesterday I was shooting the new Temper Twins music video.

For those of you who haven't been following who the Temper Twins are, this group is a brand new side project of Sunspot Jonz from Living Legends. It's a fusion group that takes from many other bands to create songs which are new and fresh. The album does not come out for a few months however there is a chance that a couple of the music videos will be released before then.

The shoot was very long however it couldn't have been more fun. We managed to get an abandoned warehouse from a friend of mine and created a pretty nutty set. 10 hours later we have the first half of the video. This Thursday we plan to shoot the remaining scenes.

I can't give you any previews because nothing from the album has been released yet. What I can tell you is that the Temper Twins are amazing. I had a chance to listen to the album while on set and its very cool.

We did have a photographer there as well. He will be getting some production shots to me soon. Keep checking back because I might upload a few photos!

Living Legends Music Video

I threw together a short piece of the Living Legends song "After Hours" contest. The deadline is Friday the 29th so I had a solid day to get it done. This is 2 hours of filming and 2 hours of editing.



Check it out and let me know what you think!

Murs is played by Doug Locke

Are you an Independed Film maker looking for money?

I've got a business plan that could help you fund your next movie. Its a company I just got involved with and if you are looking for funding this could be the way to go.

You will make at least 500 a month which as many of you know would be a great start for your next film. I know other people in this business who are making a few grand a week doing this.

For more information about the deal please contact me at Jevendovey@yahoo.com and I will give you the full details on how to get involved.

DVD's Finally Finished

For the past few months I have been recreating all my DVD's. The four films I have Written and Directed are now completed. These films can all be seen on my Myspace or Youtube however the quality is so much better on DVD especially for Watching the World Die which was shot in HD. (www.myspace.com/jeven_productions or www.youtube.com/jevendovey )

Each of these DVD's are packed with more than just the movie. I have created blooper reels slideshows and even some of my early highschool and elementary school films have made it on to a couple of these DVD's.

If you are interested in purchasing any one or all four please contact me at Jevendovey@yahoo.com. I am selling these DVD's for 6$ for one or all four for 20$. That covers all the cost to build out the DVD get the covers printed and have them shipped to you.

Thanks for all your support!

Chupacabra finally caught on tape??

Here is an interesting video from CNN about a Chupacabra caught on tape! Is there any good Chupacabra films? If you know of one please let me know what it is.

Best Horror Films???

I am looking for good horror films. Recently I have been watching a good deal of horror and can't seem to find a movie that actually terrifies me. So I am on a quest to find a scary horror film. If you have any suggestions please write a comment!

So far these films have been suggested:
Exorcist Beginning
Exorcist 3
Night of the Living Dead
Inside (French)
Exorcist
Jaws
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
phantasm
bubba Ho-Tep
Evil Dead
Army of Darkness

Master of Horror - Pelts Review

I don't know why they call this series the Master of Horror. There is nothing horrific about these films and the plots are so bad for the most part.

Pelts was one of the worse so far. How can you carry a film by raccoons who are not raccoons but smart animals who can make a person kill others and commit suicide if that person touches their pelt? Hmm Ancient temples being not explained, crazy ladys taking care of weird raccoons, person running through a building with his skin cut off after cutting it off himself...

Parts were gross. I'll give it that. There were some cool effects. I just dont get who would read this script and say "oh that sounds like it will be a really good film" Yeah there are some bloody scenes and stuff that hasnt been seen before but you can't carry a film on effects alone. There has got to be a story if your going to put this much effort into it and believe me its not easy making a film. There was a lot of thought going into making this but somehow people missed the lack of story...

"Cell" & "The Dark Tower" 2 possible new films?

Stephen Kings popular books, Cell and The Dark Tower series have been optioned for films.


Cell

It looks like Eli Roth will be directing King's new book Cell in 2009. Here is some information regarding the film.

Plot:When a strange signal pulsates through all cell phone networks worldwide, it starts a murderous epidemic of epic proportions when users become bloodthirsty creatures, and a group of people in New England are among the survivors to deal with the ensuing chaos after.

Directed by
Eli Roth

Writers
Screenplay
Scott Alexander
Larry Karaszewski Screenplay
Stephen King Novel

Producers
Chris Briggs ... producer
Brendan Deneen ... senior co-producer
Mike Fleiss ... producer
Eli Roth ... producer

Personally I am very excited to see this book made into a film. I really enjoyed the book and when I finished it I immediately started over from the beginning and re-read the entire book. It's a cool story and I think Eli Roth will do justice to the film.

Dark Tower

This series is by far my favorite of Kings work. There is so much to these books. I was surprised when I saw that J.J. Abrams optioned the rights to shoot the movie. I recently read an article in which King states that he will never give the rights for these novels. He believes a film will ruin the power these books have. When you make a movie from a book your limiting the imagination. Instead of using your own minds eye to discover a different world your stuck with one persons vision. Then if you read the books after you see the film that vision sticks and your not as free to enjoy the limitless possibilities your mind can create.

I think J.J. Abrams would make a very cool film however I am not sure if I want to see these books turned into a film or not. I think its one of those things you have to sit down and read. If you don't like to read I would suggest you change that because there is a huge world your missing out on. Films are fun and I love making films however books are something entirely different.

My personal favorite from this series is the second book. The Drawing of the Three. Read the first two books and you will be hooked!

"Teeth" Movie Review

This movie was a disappointment. I know what this was film was attempting to imitate however it seemed like a legit horror film at first turning into a campy horror film after a while. Cheesy lines, weird acting, and crazy scenes with dicks or fingers being bitten off. I was hoping that it would have taken this classic horror genre and ran with it. The Black Comedy Horror genre has been lacking in the past few years and new cult classics need to be created.

The plot was all over the place and changed multiple times. I'm not quite sure what the goal of this film was and I was constantly questioning what was real or fake towards the last half of the film. Cuts became jumpy and the story flashed all over the place. One moment shes a clueless girl and next she harnesses her power of biting guys dicks off and takes out her brother who apparently would rather fuck some girl in the ass than save his mom who is passed out in the living room. The writer needed to set up the brothers intentions way earlier in the film. It was a shock when he sicked the dog on his dad and told him that he loved his sister.

There were too many plot holes to get wrapped into this film the way I can get wrapped into Ghoulies, Gremlins, or Critters (some of the classic comedy horror films). So many of the scenes could have been redone or rearranged and this film would have been a gem. However as it stands I was not impressed.

Watch if you are interesed in the material and would like to see a bunch of dudes get their dicks bit off. However if you want a comedy horror film I would turn to some of the classics and hope that someone can achieve that quality in the near future.

Stephen King's "Duma Key"

I am about 200 pages in and absolutely blown away. This book is so good! It's not like some of his other novels where you know something creepy is going on. Rather it starts out as a story about a guy changing his life after a terrible accident. Slowly as he settles into his new home on Duma Key the reader settles into the mindset of the novel. And then together as a whole things start to change. People appear and phone calls are made. Nothing crazy has happened yet but there are things I'm defiantly questioning. I can see something is brewing....

If you are at all a Stephen King fan I would go to the store/library and get this book!!!

1 - 800 - Suicide

Here are a couple new photos being used to promote my newest film 1 - 800 - Suicide.

The poster should be done soon! I am very excited about that.

Funding has started for this film. I am looking to make this a 60's film noir so to do that I will need some very expansive set dressings. If you would like to help out on the film in any way please contact me at Jevendovey@yahoo.com

For more information about 1 - 800 - Suicide please check out my myspace www.myspace.com/jeven_productions

The Ruins

This was a strange film. It was a horror film about plants killing people. Very different and something that has rarely been done.

It was a decent film. The dialog is pretty bad and the set up is pretty absurd. However, once you get past the first few minutes it gets better. The ending sucked. I was disappointed that it ends so suddenly. It didn't really wrap up the film like I hoped.

Overall I would say its worth watching. Entertaining and a decent horror film.

The Road - Best book I have read in a long time!

I just finished "The Road" by Cormac McMarthy today. I could not put the book down. I have been reading it straight for the past few days. It's a crazy tale about a post-apocalyptic world. There is no food, no plants, no animals, just people and the remains of what once was a vibrant planet. The story follows two people, a son and his father. The two are never named making this a window into the life these people live. Rather then being hung up on the characters and particular dellima, you are able to get a complete understanding of the pain and sorrow this world brings. There are some very disturbing parts which made me cringe and look away.

This book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the 2006 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.

If you have some spare time on your hands defiantly pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.

Cormac McCarthy is the author of "No Country for Old Men" which as many of you know is the latest film from the Coen Brothers.

Grotesque and Arabesque

Here is a link for Edgar Allen Poes published collection of his works, "Grotesque and Arabesque." This was first published in 1840.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Grotesque_and_Arabesque

Imitation by Edgar Allen Poe

I really like this poem. It is amazing how many ideas Edgar can catch in his words. He was real master of thought and expression.

If you have never had a chance to read any of Poe's work I would recommend you take some time and read some. His piece "The Fall of the House of Usher" is one of my favorite. Another classic that many people know of is "The Pit and the Pendulum." These poems are very dark. Any good horror filmmaker should be accustom with his work. Even though it isn't film, I believe that filmmakers need to study all forms of visual representation even if it is creating your own picture from your minds eye.

Imitation - Edgar Allen Poe

A dark unfathomed tide
Of interminable pride -
A mystery, and a dream,
Should my early life seem;
I say that dream was fraught
With a wild and waking thought
Of beings that have been,
Which my spirit hath not seen,
Had I let them pass me by,
With a dreaming eye!
Let none of earth inherit
That vision of my spirit;
Those thoughts I would control,
As a spell upon his soul:
For that bright hope at last
And that light time have past,
And my worldly rest hath gone
With a sigh as it passed on:
I care not though it perish
With a thought I then did cherish.

Interesting Article about Heath Ledger and many other actors

BY JANE FURSE
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Monday, July 21st 2008, 4:00 AM

Heath Ledger, whose performance as as the Joker in the summer blockbuster "The Dark Knight" earned rave reviews, died months before the film hit theaters. He is hardly the first movie star to die before release of a final film.

Here's a list of others:

AALIYAH: The R&B star died in a 2001 Bahamas plane crash before the release of vampire flick "Queen of the Damned."

JAMES DEAN: "Rebel Without a Cause" was released one month after Dean, 24, was killed in a 1955 car accident.

CLARK GABLE: Gable died of a heart attack at 59 before the 1960 release of the film "The Misfits."

RIVER PHOENIX: Died of drug-related heart failure four months before his film, "Silent Tongue," came out.

JEAN HARLOW: Harlow was just 26 when she died of kidney disease just a month before release of her 1937 film "Saratoga."

MARILYN MONROE: The sexy star died in 1962 from a drug overdose while still filming "Something's Got to Give," which was later redone as "Move Over, Darling."

SPENCER TRACY: The 67-year-old screen star died of a heart attack after completing "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."

BRANDON LEE: The son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee died in a mishap on the set of "The Crow" just eight days before filming was to be completed.

BRUCE LEE: The marshal arts star died at 32 from a cerebral edema, one month before the release of his last film, "Enter the Dragon."

NATALIE WOOD: The "West Side Story" starlet drowned in 1981 just before the completion of the science-fiction thriller "Brainstorm."

JOHN CANDY: "Saturday Night Live" comedian dropped dead in 1994 while on location filming "Wagon's East."

TUPAC SHAKUR: The rapper, 25, was killed in a 1996 drive-by shooting after completing two films, "Gridlock'd" and "Gang Related," both of which were released the following year.

PHIL HARTMAN: SNL star was shot and killed by his wife, Brynn Hartman, in a 1998 murder-suicide two months before the release of his film "Small Soldiers."

CHRIS FARLEY: The pudgy SNL funnyman died of a drug overdose in 1997, just a month before the release of his 1997 film "Beverly Hills Ninja".

GARY COOPER: Screen legend died of cancer in 1961, just a month before the release of his British mystery film "The Naked Edge."