• Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Topic: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Filming started 2 weeks ago on my film Toy Soldier. I'm making it for my film class at school and it's shaping up to be great! For anyone who hasn't seen it, my film Camping Misadventures has been in 7 film festivals worldwide and won 4 awards! It's also gotten me attention statewide!

Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BKbRmm69ak

Toy Soldier is a film about a terminally ill boy who has one last wish. I cannot reveal who I've casted because I'm working out the details. Included is an untouched still frame... The scene looks great on FCP with the color correction! Imagine a light orange with a hue of pink...

http://i62.tinypic.com/2vrybf7.jpg

Last edited by Choyce97 (February 20, 2015 (05:31pm))

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Joined: August 14, 2010

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

That shot is simply marvelous! It's a spectacle to look at, and is fairly reminiscent of such classic Hollywood pictures such as Citizen Kane! However, I'm not quite sure what you wanted to do with this shot - focus on the girl, or the guy listening to her...

If the focus is on the guy, then, the girl being in complete silhouette is perfectly fine. However, if she's supposed to be the center of attention in the shot, I'd suggest not lighting her so darkly.

Either way, I'm a sucker for warm colors, especially when they are used correctly in color correction. I'll be looking forward to seeing this on, that's for certain! mini/smile

https://i.imgur.com/Z8VtGae.png
  • Location: Gravity Falls, OR
  • Joined: February 4, 2009

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Uh Dyland, have you ever seen Citizen Kane? Citizen Kane is known for its deep focus, which is the opposite of this. It is clear that the woman is the focus of the shot as she is the only thing in focus, a bit of bounce light onto her face would make this otherwise good shot into something much better.

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  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Dyland wrote:

That shot is simply marvelous! It's a spectacle to look at, and is fairly reminiscent of such classic Hollywood pictures such as Citizen Kane! However, I'm not quite sure what you wanted to do with this shot - focus on the girl, or the guy listening to her...

If the focus is on the guy, then, the girl being in complete silhouette is perfectly fine. However, if she's supposed to be the center of attention in the shot, I'd suggest not lighting her so darkly.

Either way, I'm a sucker for warm colors, especially when they are used correctly in color correction. I'll be looking forward to seeing this on, that's for certain! mini/smile

Thank you! I haven't seen Citizen Kane since Freshmen year. I thought the film was boring when I first watched it (I was 13 gimme a break mini/tongue haha), but now with an appreciation of film, I'll have to go back and watch it.

I will add more light to her face in the editing process. The whole sunset scene took me a day. mini/eek  I needed to make sure it was close to perfect! Love the back light that reflected off her hair. Check my next post. I'll include the opposite photo. The film is set to be complete by late April - mid May.

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

SlothPaladin wrote:

Uh Dyland, have you ever seen Citizen Kane? Citizen Kane is known for its deep focus, which is the opposite of this. It is clear that the woman is the focus of the shot as she is the only thing in focus, a bit of bounce light onto her face would make this otherwise good shot into something much better.

Thanks! Yes I will definitely take yours and Dylands advice on adding some more light. mini/smile

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Here is the photo, looking towards the man.

http://i58.tinypic.com/1552c5x.jpg

A photo of his P.O.V. looking at her.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2zr2mtv.jpg

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Joined: August 14, 2010

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

SlothPaladin wrote:

...Citizen Kane is known for its deep focus, which is the opposite of this. It is clear that the woman is the focus of the shot as she is the only thing in focus...

Citizen Kane is known for it's use of deep focus in shots like this one:
https://behindtheseens.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/citizen_kane_deep_focus.jpg?w=640

However, it's also known for it's use of interesting and different approach to cinematography by a practically newbie director. It also featured pretty "technically standard" shots like this one:
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5465/ryumovie23032013.jpg

Choyce97 wrote:

A photo of his P.O.V. looking at her.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2zr2mtv.jpg

This is a bit better, but, still a little dark. I'd suggest, for dramatic effect, going for one of the extremes if possible.

Something like this:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/DylandBrickfilms/Film/brickfilm_light.jpg

Or like this:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/DylandBrickfilms/Film/brickfilm_dark.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Z8VtGae.png
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Recently I worked on the scene when the dad is about to go on his date. The dad is a single dad, it's never mentioned what happened to the mother of the boy. Here's a still of him hugging the boy before he leaves. Thanks to post production, you wont see the missing bricks, plate etc... It looks perfect so far!

http://i58.tinypic.com/affotj.jpg

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

I've been working the past few days on the introduction scene. It'll be about 1:30 long... The whole film is shaping up to be around 10 minutes long. Since it's about a terminally ill boy, this is the CT scan machine.

As always, color correction is working wonders. So here is the raw pic.

http://i61.tinypic.com/msekww.jpg

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

I'm happy to announce that I've cast Phil Proctor in my film. Phil is probably known by anyone who watched Rugrats! He's also done voice work on many major Disney animations.

I also have Jennifer Bannet doing some music for the film. She was the lead guitarist on 3 of Michael Jackson's world tours and his Super Bowl performance! Woohoo!

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

I have 8 more scenes to film... Hoping to get at least two of them done this afternoon. Here are some recent shots...

http://i62.tinypic.com/15hfrzt.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/dlhn6d.jpg

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Maine
  • Joined: February 9, 2015

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

In negotiations with more actors from sunny L.A. and working on getting a few of the final scenes done. Then I'm onto editing! I have CBS coming to interview me about this and my previous films this week. mini/sunnies

Teaser Trailer for Toy Soldier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp9klvKY1FM
Starring numerous celebrities and proceeds going towards charity
  • Location: Avant Gardens
  • Joined: March 26, 2014

Re: Toy Soldier - Production Log

Choyce97 wrote:

In negotiations with more actors from sunny L.A. and working on getting a few of the final scenes done. Then I'm onto editing! I have CBS coming to interview me about this and my previous films this week. mini/sunnies

Oh wow. That's amazing.

"Bless you for making this." -Sloth 2016 * on "Chicken Shaped Lighthouse Attacks Police"
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Ephesians 4:29 -"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."