Feature Length FanFilm "To Know a Jedi"

VVOOKIE:

Thanks for the nod for our trailer man, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

In regards to the length of the film, and my experience as a filmmaker, I certainly understand your (very polite) skepticism. I too share the same concerns with young filmamakers, particularly when it applies to a feature. For those who are interested, here's the bio:

I currently go to film school at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. I've been actively making films since I was 14. I started out with the typical VHS home movie stuff, editing VCR-VCR (gotta love the old school) Over the course of the past 6 years I've written,directed, prduced, and edited seven short films, four of which on 16mm. Aside from my own projects I've worked on the crews/acted in six other short films, five of which were 16mm productions, and acted in the lead role of one 16mm feature film production.

All in all I'm still very much a rookie in the grand scheme of things, TKAJ is my first feature attempt, and like any filmmaker who has faith in his work I am very confident it will maintain the attention of audiences. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the response is to find out for sure

-D. Lake

 

I figured since we're just over a week from our deadline, I'd just give you guys a quick update on the status of TKAJ. The stats are as follows:

MISSION OBJECTIVE:
Complete "To Know a Jedi" The following work remains:

VFX SHOTS FINISHED:
170 of 208 - 80% Complete
Color Correction - 99% Complete

REMAINING PICTURE:
One minute - 99% Complete

SOUND & SCORE:
Overall music - 90% Complete
Overall sound work - 96% Complete

DEADLINE OCCURS: 11 Days

The good news is that we're right on schedule. So long as there aren't any unexpected (and unwanted) surprises, all will be kosher.

As always the thread's here for any questions or comments. I'll likely post another update after the weekend.

-Laker

 

AWSOME!!!! Finally, I cant wait!

 

Me neither

 

I just want to add that I'm really looking forward to this film. You've definately gotten people's attention with a great trailer. I'll download the flick when it hits the net!

 

Waiting... waiting... dude, can't you use your real-life Force powers to speed things up? That and my Red vs. Blue DVD are all i'm thinknig about these days.

 

We're very impatient, so when this comes out it had better be AWESOME. I know it will be!!

 

i was just thinking, couldn't you release it on DVD? People just pay the price of the DVD and the shipping and voila. Instantaneous.

 

This is something that I've certainly considered, and in a lot of ways would prefer. There is an issue though, even though the money sent would be "soley for the purpose of covering for expenses" that fact is that I'm taking money in exhange for the product, which, unless I can show every single penny going to expenses, is a violation of copyright law, no doubt about it. Legally, the only way it would work, as far as I know, would be if I sent the DVD, and then a donation was made afterwards. Since I'm not demanding payment prior to delivery, this would be acceptable. But then my other dilemma being able to afford doing that. Realistically I wouldn't make all my money back, thats a fact.

I've also considered (which won't help if a considerable demand arises) sending it manually via AIM or ICQ to those who contact me. I've got a T3 here at school which would enable me to send a bunch out that way. Any other ideas?


-Laker

 

Can't charge for shipping, friend, as you're aware.

You COULD have anyone who wants a DVD send you the blank media which they purchase themselves, and you burn it and ship it back at your expense.

The idea of a goodwill donation ("if you liked our film, please consider donating something to help us continue to make quality entertainment") is aboveboard as far as I can tell, and I've been planning to do it for my own film as well when the time comes.

M. Scott

 

We tested Ben Burtt's original method of waving a shotgun mic through a an electormagnetic field, but with poor results.

That's so NOT what he did.

He used the sound of an electromagnetic field (60 hz hum from a TV) PLUS the sound of two (2!) movie projectors in non-sync, so they would drift in-and-out of phase in a nice phasey way.

Then he PLAYED this sound through a SPEAKER

Then he waved a shotgun mic IN FRONT OF THIS

NEVER did he wave the mic in the "magnetic field", coz nothing will happen. Waving a mic in front of a speaker, though, gives nice doppler effects and volume changes.

You could use a soft synth and do a 60hz sine wave, and two 24hz square wave with a very low pulse width with a slight detune, put it all through a light distortion or non-linear amplifier, play it through speaker, and wave a mic at that.

/Z

/Z

 

WHOAH!

NICE #/¤%#(/¤"#¤&"#¤% TRAILER !!!!

Fab!

I totally cannot wait to see this!

Okay, the sabers was mostly comped in "normal" mode and looked eechy, but y'all had 'em redone so that wont be an issue in the movie... this is gonna be sweetsie!!!

/Z

 

Zap, a pleasure to see you've found your way to the TKAJ thread. It just so happens that when I mentioned your handle to our effects supervisor he recognized the name, turns out he's spotted you in one or two other VFX forums, the names of which escape me at the moment. Glad you like the trailer, rest assured we've certainly addressed the saber issues.

BTW, I stand corrected on the saber sound creation, evidently I didn't have all the details. I suppose that's why we had such little success in our attempts.

-Laker

 

Can.Not.Wait.


I'll be sending you a PM when it's out.

 

Wow. I'm impressed. Add another fan to your trailer... I'm counting down until you release this one...

Sage H.

 

Totally killer! Can't wait to see this.




-Mac

 

could you not have someone send you a blank DVD and a SASE? That way you wouldn't have to pay shipping costs to send it back...

 

Yes, legally I could do that. If you sent me the good ol' blank DVD-R and a SASE then I could get it back to you with no worries...but do you think you could really trust me? Mwahahahaha.....

 

RRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHT!

I gotta say that's a pritty freekin good trailer, I seriously hope you guys make a Star Wars fan film based around the actual STar Wars movies because after that I think it would be very cool, I really hope you guys do.

Good luck on the release and I look forward to seeing it!



Jonathan

 

It was a huge weekend in the effects department this weekend folks, my Effects Supervisor pulled out all the stops and made some amazing progress over the last four days. My composer finished up the score, all 58 minutes of music, it's locked and final. Fortunately I was able to also finally lock the picture completely, so there's yet another thing out of the way Here are the details for those who are interested.

MISSION OBJECTIVE:
Complete "To Know a Jedi" The following work remains:

VFX SHOTS FINISHED:
202 of 208 - 97.1% Complete
Color Correction - 98% Complete

REMAINING PICTURE:
Nothing - 100% Complete

SOUND & SCORE:
Overall music - 100% Complete
Overall sound work - 97% Complete

This week certainly stands as the closing days before the completion of TKAJ, after almost two years, it's hard to believe.

-Laker

 

Congrats man...that must be an awesome feeling! I hope the final touch-ups go well and thanks for keeping us posted. Can't wait for the release!

-Brad

 

[Yoda] Seeing you post progress brings warm feelings to my heart.

 

looks like a sick trailer, can't wait for whole movie.

 

Here is yet another installation of what seems to be the day-by-day play-by-play.

VFX SHOTS FINISHED:
210 of 216 - 97.2% Complete
Color Correction - 98% Complete

REMAINING PICTURE:
Nothing - 100% Complete

SOUND & SCORE:
Overall music - 100% Complete
Overall sound work - 100% Complete

You might notice there's a few more effects shots on the "to do list". I found that there were a couple of shots that I originally didn't intend to have any effects on, but as it turns out, help out alot.

Got alot of sound work done over the last couple days, it's nice to be done with it.

In other news, a thought occured to me sometime during the night...I have certainly announced this project will be completed on Dec. 21. Rest assured it will most definitely make the deadline, however, come that date (aka this Sunday) I'm packing up and heading home for Christmas. Whats so bad about that? My folks place only has dial up, making it practically impossible to serve up a dosage of the movie. So although friends and family shall be viewing it as scheduled, I'm afraid, unless somebody has an idea, the public release will be postponed until the 30th when I get back to New York. In that event, I have no problem serving it up via AIM to as many people who want it.

-Laker

 

Oh man that sucks... If I had any way to help, I would... Sorry...

Sage H.