Dandenong Short Cuts screening

Husk is having a screening at the Short Cuts film festival in Dandenong in May 2017! Go and see her with her great soundtrack by Bruce Smeaton.

Husk and Orion

A snippet from filming with the new Orion puppet...

Filmed at the Testing Grounds in Melbourne.

Watch this in HD here

Testing Grounds invitation

Husk is being animated tonight and tomorrow night (March 19-20) at the Testing Grounds in the heart of Melbourne.  Come along and see Husk projected onto the side of a building!

Festival screenings:

Screenings:


Melbourne international animation festival, 
June 2015.

New Hampshire Film Festival (Portsmouth, NH), from October 16, 2014

Stop Motion Montreal festival (Montreal, Canada) September 26-28, 2014

Oregon Independent Film Festival, (Eugene, OR), September 2014

Portland Film Festival (Portland, Oregon) August 26 - September 1, 2014

Dragon Con Independent Film Festival (Atlanta, Georgia) August 29 - September 1, 2014

TakeTwo Film Festival in NYC on the 9th of April 2014 at 8:20pm.

Athens International film + video festival (Ohio) 14th of April 2014 at 1pm.

Private screening...

We had a wonderful private screening of Husk at The Butterfly Club in Melbourne last Thursday.  Thanks to everyone who came along and thanks to Tony Plasmo for the fun pic!

Trailer released...

Husk film trailer from Paul Howell on Vimeo.

Post production...

The music is complete, so we are now into post production phase.  This is a fun time and while busy, tools such as After Effects make life a joy.

Music recording booked...

We are all scheduled in to have our music / sound fx recording session at the incredible Ginger Studios on the 18th of December:

The composer, Bruce Smeaton has been able to secure some fine musicians for the recording session.

Post production work is continuing...  it's all go!

Road trip

The production is moving along nicely.  A 1500 km road trip from Melbourne to Binalong NSW was made to visit the music composer, Bruce Smeaton.  The intent of the music for the film was discussed, with options for the up coming recording in Melbourne planned.

Historic Binalong, NSW - once home to Banjo Patterson.  After hundreds of holdups, bush ranger John Gilbert was shot here in 1865.

We always visit this sign when going through Gundagai, NSW.  

Lots happening....

It has been a bit quiet on this blog for the last week or so.  This is because a lot of things are happening to do with secret bits of the film, revealed only to the lucky audience who watch it.

Some information is allowed out though....

In some exciting news, Bruce Smeaton http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006295/ is composing the music for the film.  If you are interested there is a recording of some of his work (and an interview with him) on ABC Classic FM tonight around 8pm.  This was part of a program featuring a number of Australian composers called "The Glass Soldier".

http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2013/11/11/3886391.htm

Other news...

There is still shooting going on, with a plan to wrap it all up this week.

The lanes we filmed most of the animation in have been totally blacked out and new artwork is appearing all over them, amazing how quickly things change.

Kelly came in with me last night and we filmed the title of the film appearing over a wall. 

These walls being painted black was a story aired on Australian national news.

Last night in the city for Husk.

Thanks to Kelly McGillivgray-Brown for her excellent help last night. We raced into the city to film a little pick-up to fix a continuity issue. Husk is now back in Carrum to shoot the final scenes...

Love and puppets...

Thanks to Tony Lawrence for the cartoon..

Milestone

Last night we moved out of the production office in town.

It was very handy to have a place to keep all our equipment and charge batteries etc.  

We might have to go in for one pick-up shot.  Last night we filmed a little bit of time lapse from the car...

Nothing lasts forever

This piece has been a survivor in its little nook in Centre Place for several years.  Last night while filming we were visited by a workman who measured up this very spot with the express purpose of filling it in and restricting access.  Lucky we have been able to use this space before it goes.  

Photo: James Edge

 James Edge and David Hewet were on hand last night to help out with a couple of tricky shots involving the moving van.  We used a conventional tripod and wired it to the van using foam covered wire.  This was surprisingly stable.  It didn't stop Paul from being anxious about his precious Russian lenses...

Photo: James Edge

Photo: James Edge

Tight fit

James Edge and David Hewet did a stirling job last night. We are edging closer to finishing our time in the city. It will be a bit sad when we are done because it is so much fun in there.  The staff of local businesses and residents have been wonderfully understanding while we film.
Husk (the big girl puppet), has had an interesting time in town. Three kisses, several cuddles, two attempted abductions and one marriage proposal. Who knew she would be so endearing?

David on the other hand (here with stocking on his head), has had zero kisses and zero abduction attempts. Not sure why!

Photo: James Edge

Where we filmed, the van just fits between the bins and gutter. 

Photo: James Edge

 Paul animating in Rutlidge Lane.

Photo: James Edge

The biggest prop...

Photo: Jason Reekie
Poor van, when we said "you are going to be a star" we didn't mean that sort of star...

 Last night was a very productive shoot.  It was quite a triumph because the star prop in the film made her debut.  This delightful 1958 Morris JB van was bought and restored just for this film.  There is a blog on her reconstruction here .  Yesterday she was driven through Melbourne to the set on her longest trip since her restoration. She didn't miss a beat, good girl!

Photo: James Edge

Photo: David Hewet

Everyone on set for a key shot.

Photo: David Hewet

This is James Edge being a puppet rig.

Photo: James Edge

David Hewet and Paul share a funny moment on set.

Dope Sheet

This is a dope sheet (instructions for each frame of the film). You can see from the rain splattered paper the trying conditions we are working under. 

This sheet was used for "Husk" when she walks. A classic 12 moves per stride cycle at 24 frames per second.

Cobblestones

Just a tip for anyone doing this sort of thing: animating walks on cobblestones or other rough surfaces will drive you mad.

Photo: David Hewet

Puppets in the same sick play

This appropriate poster positioned above us while we worked is open to a lot of interpretation.
I didn't realize until yesterday how primitive the urge to put your mark on a wall is. Just like cave painters from the stone age, the motivation is a mystery. You are left wondering... who did that? What were they like? And, what did they mean?

On the other hand, "Homp" and "Yo Snowy" are totally self explanatory.

Loser session averted!

"Fix my finger, Master" - Photo: Uncy Dave

Poor David Hewet, coming out to help me on almost a loser session!   "Husk", the big Dryad was very troublesome - she wobbled all over the place during her closeups and her thumb broke off.  That, coupled with equipment failures meant we came home after 2am.  Still, the shots are in the bag (well, on the drive) and we enjoyed the marvelous hospitality of "Hells Kitchen" once again.