Ultima Uploaded

<- "Ultima sits in her bedroom in Texas."

I can't believe I've gotten this far. I am almost done. I'm really almost done.

I'm making a list of things I've learned during this (long) first step into filmmaking, which I'll post when I put the final product up on Youtube.

When that happens, I'll have one more retort for the snarky voice in the back of my mind that keeps telling me I'm only kidding myself, and I'm really too lazy to actually produce any finished piece of art. I really want to believe myself when I tell that voice it's wrong.

Filming At Last

Wow. Long time no post.

Let me first apologise for not having any pictures. My point-and-shoot finally died after a drawn-out and probably painful stumble toward oblivion, so I have nothing but the Nikon, and that is busy filming the video.

Things have gone pretty well so far. My monopod, which I made (with help from my ever-helpful grandfather) out of a desk lamp doesn't work for stop-motion shooting. It trembles ever so slightly, making it useless. Still, my super-adjustable tripod is working just fine, though I'm perpetually worried that my clumsy self will knock it and ruin hours of work. I need to remember to find a solution to that ...

I battled with numerous software programs before finding one that works. I also downloaded a multiple-image resizer, which makes life much easier.

In other, non-Ultima Esperanza news, I have the armature for my next puppet. My grandfather made it for me (more thanks to him!), but I'll be buying the next one. I just can't put him through that much trouble on my account.

I'll try to take pictures of everything for the next update, and I'll try to make sure I update again soon...ish.

June-July recap

This past month has been busy. I've visited two states, 1000 miles apart from each other, to see two seperate segments of my family. I've tried in vain to get a "real" job to support my really real job. I've cut more little silver tiles out of soymilk cartons than I can count.

These are thing things still on the "Ultima Esperanza" to-do list:

- finish hamster cage
- adhere arm and leg plates to puppets' arms and legs
- ask my grandfather to build a chair to match the desk
- attach all the titles to the floor
- scan and print miniature items for miniature bulletin board
- make and attach puppet forearms
- scrap the old miniature computers and make new ones (again)
- finish the flexible camera mount

It's become a short list. I'm doing my best to make it shorter. Meanwhile, I'm also creating OOAK dolls to put up on Etsy to try and make at least a little cash. I'll post a link to my store as soon as I have the first one listed.

Now back to the studio to work on the hamster cage and bake the polymer hamsters.

Memorial Day Weekend

I'm not fond of holiday weekends. They're like line-cutters who jump in and screw up the assigned order.

Nonetheless, they come whether I like them or not, and I try to make the best of them.

This Memorial Day Sunday, I've been twisting yards of wire to make my male puppet's hair:

It's rather dull work. The thought that keeps me twisting is that if I finish it today, I can move on to something more interesting (assembling a minature desk) tomorrow. Sadly, this is the part of puppet films I don't like: puppet construction. In high school, the biggest reason I pulled away from becoming a theatre costume technician was because I hated sitting for hours on end pulling strands of faux hair through wig fabric.

I have a hard time sitting still, even at the computer. I am fidgiting and looking for distractions right now.

If the studio ever has money someday, I will hire an artisan to construct my puppets for me (after hiring a real photographer, that is).

Current Project - Ultima Esperanza

My current (non-commercial) project is a fan-film for The Dresden Dolls' "Ultima Esperanza" (see a few pictures of the pre-production process here).

I decided to start the studio off with a fan-film to prevent any wide-eyed aspirations of earning money off of indie, stop-motion puppet films. My only goal with this is to produce a really cool music video. No profit, no losses, nothing in it for me but the satisfaction of seeing my work. Besides, the idea wouldn't leave me alone.

The start of filming will have to wait until after graduation (only a few days away), and the excitement of moving fully into the production stage is starting to get to me. I've been chewing / filing my nails to the quick as I sit around at the computer tweaking the weareseven.com website. My cats are wondering why I stay up at my desk so late at night instead of going to bed.

Sorry, kitties. No rest for the mentally itchy.