Part 4 of the Behind the Scenes video series for the short film "Death Do Us Part" soon to be released in 2012. This episode is "Part 4: Marcus Talks Special FX" featuring the local horror hero Marcus Koch and Patrick McCall who plays Henry our Zombie Husband. Enjoy!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Behind the Scenes - Part 3: Director Jon Croft
Here is the third installment of the Behind the Scenes video series for my first short film "Death Do Us Part". This episode is about me, the director. It has a couple of questions I got asked during production of the film last year.
There will be more questions I answer in the future about the film and about my philosophy of filmmaking. In time I am hoping to have an 'interview series' with numerous questions I need to answer about being a filmmaker and why I am a filmmaker. These are things I need to do for myself in order to help define what kind of a filmmaker I am and to help me speak more articulately about these sometimes complicated decisions behind filmmaking- not to mention the difficult technical decisions that take place during production and afterwards. Either way, there is more coming in the next few weeks.
Enjoy and spread around!
There will be more questions I answer in the future about the film and about my philosophy of filmmaking. In time I am hoping to have an 'interview series' with numerous questions I need to answer about being a filmmaker and why I am a filmmaker. These are things I need to do for myself in order to help define what kind of a filmmaker I am and to help me speak more articulately about these sometimes complicated decisions behind filmmaking- not to mention the difficult technical decisions that take place during production and afterwards. Either way, there is more coming in the next few weeks.
Enjoy and spread around!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Do My Favorite Directors Know Its The End Of The World?
...Because there are so many upcoming movies and incredible projects by some of my favorite directors that it makes me think that they are making their best and greatest films now- as though there will be no tomorrow! What can I say- I can't wait to see these films!! All of these are going to be must-watch cinema but a few of these I am most in love with. My most highly anticipated are Elysium, Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises, Avengers, Looper, Pacific Rim, The Cabin in the Woods, Django Unchained, The Hobbit, but...
The Most Greatly Anticipated is...
PROMETHEUS.
This film, made by the director who made my favorite film "Blade Runner" is returning to what made him a great director, sci-fi. Especially the fact that directors are returning to practical effects has me so stoked! As it comes to the trailers... I think these two trailers may also be some of the best trailers ever made. I saw it on the big screen and my heart was audibly thumping. I cannot wait to see that film!
From the 'Good' to 'Best'... I'll show you some of the trailers or a link to some of the latest information on these films. I always like to leave the best for last but I got two amazing Prometheus trailers on here! So, enjoy!
The Good:
Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson
Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Timur Bekmambetov
Total Recall by Len Wiseman
Machete Kills by Robert Rodriguez
Gravity by Alfonso Cuaron
World War Z by Marc Forrester
Oz: The Great and Powerful by Sam Raimi
Neuromancer by Vincenzo Natali
Trance by Danny Boyle
Cloud Atlas by the Wachowski siblings
The Better:
The Avengers by Joss Whedon
The Cabin in the Woods Produced by Joss Whedon
Looper by Rian Johnson
The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan
The Hobbit by Peter Jackson
Skyfall by Sam Mendez
Django Unchained by Quentin Tarantino
Elysium by Neill Blomkamp
Pacific Rim by Guillermo Del Toro
The BEST:
Prometheus by Ridley Scott
and the super amazing Extended 2nd trailer that I saw in the theater!
I think these trailers for Prometheus are amazing works of art... they are the best trailers I've seen in a long time! Ahhhh good times! Theres gonna be some crazy apocalyptic movie watchin for the next year or so!! Oh well, I guess if it is "the end times" all I can say is... "It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine."
Friday, April 6, 2012
Behind the Scenes - Part 2: Meet the Crew
The second installment of the Behind the Scenes episodes for my short film "Death Do Us Part" coming out soon in 2012! This one features our wonderful crew!!
------------------------------
Rebecca Croft - Screenwriter, Editor, Producer, Wife (uncredited)
Wheat - Cinematographer
Taylor Girard - BTS Video, Best Boy Lighting (I just squeaked it in there)
John Jones - Gaffer
Trevor Spak - Assistant Camera, Boom Pole Operator
Mici Falvo - Production Manager, Three-Ring Circus Conductor
Antonio Moncada - Production Sound, Awesome Guy
Marcus Koch - SFX Make-up, Backup Three-Ring Circus Conductor
Tom Ingham - Assistant Director, Guy with Coffee
(some of these are not real credits)
-----------------------------
Enjoy & spread it around folks!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Behind The Scenes- Part 1: Joy and Marcus Talk Spoilers
Here is the first Behind the Scenes featuring Joy and Marcus! ...
The next video will be up in about two weeks and.... it will feature the rest of the crew!!!
Enjoy! and spread it around...
The next video will be up in about two weeks and.... it will feature the rest of the crew!!!
Enjoy! and spread it around...
The "Real" Behind the Scenes for "Death Do Us Part"
Last year I shot a film we called "Death Do Us Part" with some wonderful talent and crew that has yet to see the light of day, and yet people still ask me "what is going on with the short film, Jon?" which reminds me that this film has generated some interest out there and that you deserve to know what is going on. Well, I will tell you!
The film is completely finished accepting some audio work. We have also put together much of the behind the scenes work which will be released before the film. The trailer will also get a release before the film is shown. That's kind of how it works for me. We will also, eventually, release it on DVD which will include all sorts of special features, the Behind the Scenes Featurette and an audio commentary by me and Rebecca (the wife, editor and writer... and best friend to the director). I might also be able to convince another crew member to give us an audio commentary with me if it is at all possible.
I will announce when and where the film will be shown and will do the same when the trailer is released. I am hoping to screen the film at a local film festival first - before releasing it anywhere else. Sometimes festivals will only show your film if they get to screen it publicly first, so I will afford them the opportunity to do so fair and square. But, one great thing about all of this is that momentum gets built up to see the film before we show it and that generates even more interest in the film. I get to learn how to do this in the process and get all the hard knocks before I continue on with the next film. If we generate some interest it might prove to some investors that we have enough going on here that we will be able to build a sizable fan base and can sell our next film and generate some income and recoup the investors' hard earned money. But, this is a process we will have to go through.
So for now the news is this... about a week from now we will begin to release the "Behind the Scenes" videos... the real "Behind the Scenes" videos for "Death Do Us Part". Not the "so-called" Behind the Scenes videos I released before I even shot the film, because those were really "Pre-Production" videos. There will be a few of these real "Behind the Scenes" videos, released a few weeks apart from one another and then, we will announce the date for the trailer before it is uploaded. Then we will be looking to screen the film soon after.
If there are any questions or comments please do not hesitate to ask. This has been in imperfect process so far but the film is very intact and it looks GREAT! I hope you will all get as much of a kick out of this film as I will get showing it! Thanks so much for all of your support so far and, as I said, I will be keeping all of you in the loop! Oh happy days! :D
The film is completely finished accepting some audio work. We have also put together much of the behind the scenes work which will be released before the film. The trailer will also get a release before the film is shown. That's kind of how it works for me. We will also, eventually, release it on DVD which will include all sorts of special features, the Behind the Scenes Featurette and an audio commentary by me and Rebecca (the wife, editor and writer... and best friend to the director). I might also be able to convince another crew member to give us an audio commentary with me if it is at all possible.
I will announce when and where the film will be shown and will do the same when the trailer is released. I am hoping to screen the film at a local film festival first - before releasing it anywhere else. Sometimes festivals will only show your film if they get to screen it publicly first, so I will afford them the opportunity to do so fair and square. But, one great thing about all of this is that momentum gets built up to see the film before we show it and that generates even more interest in the film. I get to learn how to do this in the process and get all the hard knocks before I continue on with the next film. If we generate some interest it might prove to some investors that we have enough going on here that we will be able to build a sizable fan base and can sell our next film and generate some income and recoup the investors' hard earned money. But, this is a process we will have to go through.
So for now the news is this... about a week from now we will begin to release the "Behind the Scenes" videos... the real "Behind the Scenes" videos for "Death Do Us Part". Not the "so-called" Behind the Scenes videos I released before I even shot the film, because those were really "Pre-Production" videos. There will be a few of these real "Behind the Scenes" videos, released a few weeks apart from one another and then, we will announce the date for the trailer before it is uploaded. Then we will be looking to screen the film soon after.
If there are any questions or comments please do not hesitate to ask. This has been in imperfect process so far but the film is very intact and it looks GREAT! I hope you will all get as much of a kick out of this film as I will get showing it! Thanks so much for all of your support so far and, as I said, I will be keeping all of you in the loop! Oh happy days! :D
Friday, January 27, 2012
Jon's Top Ten Films of 2011
I hate to say this, but I didn't want to make a top ten list earlier this year. I don't know why I feel so compelled to do so now, but I do. I also have to admit that I might not have seen some of the best films of the last year still, so my list might seem thin or inadequate to some- I doubt it but we'll see. I am aware of a few films I suppose that would be acceptable on my list, except like I said, I've never seen them yet. This list at the bottom will be called "Movies I Should've Seen Already From 2011." So, here they are!
Jon's Top Ten Films of 2011
1. Drive - Dir. Nicholas Winding Refn
An uber-classy film of the highest order. I detect inspirations from the best years of Hollywood's glory with a leading man and a soundtrack to remind us what good filmmaking is. A slight raw indie sensibility is present as well. Refn is almost the new Tarantino in this offering.
2. Hanna - Dir. Joe Wright
An artful action flick with a fairy tale meaning and wonderful performances at its core. Another super soundtrack to keep us all riveted and cheering for Hanna all the way. Really masterful filmmaking where you care greatly about the protagonist and you're involved throughout the film.
3. Melancholia - Dir. Lars von Trier
A more accessible offering from von Trier than we are used to out in the audience. That being said, it still isn't accessible to most people and it is still rife with his themes of nihilism, fatalism and depression. However, it is still masterful filmmaking (especially the introductory 8 minute sequence) and it proves to be Kirsten Dunst's best performance in my opinion.
4. Martha Marcy May Marlene - Dir. Shawn Durkin
A strange paranoia-inducing romp through one young lady's scarred psyche as she tries to put her cult-following days behind her. Maybe I shouldn't call it a romp actually.
5. Submarine - Dir. Richard Ayoade
A fun Wes Anderson-ish account of an english boy's attempts to win over his heart-throb girlfriend and his own mother- to accept his (and his father's) strange depressive or should i say, 'submersive' ways. It's a quirky delight.
6. Fright Night - Dir. Craig Gillespie
A much-better remake of the 80's vampire tale starring Colin Farrell in one of his best performances as the menacing vampire 'Jerry'.
7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - Dir. Brad Bird
The best action flick of the year and incredible visuals and situations that are difficult to believe. Some fun ensemble acting in there as well.
8. Hugo - Dir. Martin Scorsese
A gorgeous, heart-felt film about a poor orphaned child who is working to find his purpose in the world and in the process finds an 'orphaned' early 20th century era Director (Milliez) who created some of most incredible early works of film.
9. Certified Copy - Dir. Abbas Kiarostami
A "Before Sunset"-style film that follows an author and a French woman (who is an enthusiast of his work) as they travel around and take in the Italian art throughout Tuscany. But the film is not a travelogue. Rather the story takes a turn and succeeds at involving the audience deeply in the nature of original art by also examining love and relationships and their connections with our affection for art.
10. The Descendants - Dir. Alexander Payne
A classy, fun and heart-felt tribute to the idea that our legacy on earth and in our family has meaning and value. Some great performances bloom here with George Clooney leading some young actors to some cathartic realizations. The tone of this film stays with you.
Runners up to the Top Ten:
13 Assassins
Hobo with a Shotgun
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Attack the Block
X-Men: First Class
Trollhunter
Captain America: The 1st Avenger
The Adventures of Tintin
Source Code
The Trip
Waiting for Superman
Cool It
Also, there are a bunch of films I still haven't seen from 2011. This may be why they never showed up in my top ten. Here is a list, but if any of you feel like I should watch them right away andn change my top ten list or I should run screaming away from these films just let me know. Here are the films...
Movies I Should've Seen Already From 2011:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Tree of Life
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Future
The Muppets
Win Win
Young Adult
Bridesmaids
Rango
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
50/50
General Orders No. 9
Contagion
The Help
Bellflower
Another Earth
The Skin I Live In
Jane Eyre
Winnie the Pooh
Warrior
Being Elmo
Anonymous
Rampart
Immortals
Tyrranosaur
Horrible Bosses
Machine Gun Preacher
Stake Land
Paranormal Activity 3
Margin Call
Everything Must Go
J. Edgar
Hesher
Moneyball
Beginners
Fast Five
The Hangover Part II
The Big Year
Puncture
The Rum Diary
Thor
Green Lantern
The Green Hornet
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Thing (2011)
Project Nim
Apollo 18
Dirty Girl
Sucker Punch
The Mechanic
Kung Fu Panda 2
Crazy Stupid Love
Soul Surfer
Courageous
Dolphin Tale
Conviction
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
I might have gone overboard here, but honestly, its like my eyes are bigger than my stomach, except my love of movies is bigger than my bank account. So, let me know if any of these movies are worth the expense or if I should have mentioned a different film from 2011! All and all it was a pretty good year for films... somewhat trans-formative I think- but 2012 should be fantastic!
Jon's Top Ten Films of 2011
1. Drive - Dir. Nicholas Winding Refn
An uber-classy film of the highest order. I detect inspirations from the best years of Hollywood's glory with a leading man and a soundtrack to remind us what good filmmaking is. A slight raw indie sensibility is present as well. Refn is almost the new Tarantino in this offering.
2. Hanna - Dir. Joe Wright
An artful action flick with a fairy tale meaning and wonderful performances at its core. Another super soundtrack to keep us all riveted and cheering for Hanna all the way. Really masterful filmmaking where you care greatly about the protagonist and you're involved throughout the film.
3. Melancholia - Dir. Lars von Trier
A more accessible offering from von Trier than we are used to out in the audience. That being said, it still isn't accessible to most people and it is still rife with his themes of nihilism, fatalism and depression. However, it is still masterful filmmaking (especially the introductory 8 minute sequence) and it proves to be Kirsten Dunst's best performance in my opinion.
4. Martha Marcy May Marlene - Dir. Shawn Durkin
A strange paranoia-inducing romp through one young lady's scarred psyche as she tries to put her cult-following days behind her. Maybe I shouldn't call it a romp actually.
5. Submarine - Dir. Richard Ayoade
A fun Wes Anderson-ish account of an english boy's attempts to win over his heart-throb girlfriend and his own mother- to accept his (and his father's) strange depressive or should i say, 'submersive' ways. It's a quirky delight.
6. Fright Night - Dir. Craig Gillespie
A much-better remake of the 80's vampire tale starring Colin Farrell in one of his best performances as the menacing vampire 'Jerry'.
7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - Dir. Brad Bird
The best action flick of the year and incredible visuals and situations that are difficult to believe. Some fun ensemble acting in there as well.
8. Hugo - Dir. Martin Scorsese
A gorgeous, heart-felt film about a poor orphaned child who is working to find his purpose in the world and in the process finds an 'orphaned' early 20th century era Director (Milliez) who created some of most incredible early works of film.
9. Certified Copy - Dir. Abbas Kiarostami
A "Before Sunset"-style film that follows an author and a French woman (who is an enthusiast of his work) as they travel around and take in the Italian art throughout Tuscany. But the film is not a travelogue. Rather the story takes a turn and succeeds at involving the audience deeply in the nature of original art by also examining love and relationships and their connections with our affection for art.
10. The Descendants - Dir. Alexander Payne
A classy, fun and heart-felt tribute to the idea that our legacy on earth and in our family has meaning and value. Some great performances bloom here with George Clooney leading some young actors to some cathartic realizations. The tone of this film stays with you.
Runners up to the Top Ten:
13 Assassins
Hobo with a Shotgun
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Attack the Block
X-Men: First Class
Trollhunter
Captain America: The 1st Avenger
The Adventures of Tintin
Source Code
The Trip
Waiting for Superman
Cool It
Also, there are a bunch of films I still haven't seen from 2011. This may be why they never showed up in my top ten. Here is a list, but if any of you feel like I should watch them right away andn change my top ten list or I should run screaming away from these films just let me know. Here are the films...
Movies I Should've Seen Already From 2011:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Tree of Life
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Future
The Muppets
Win Win
Young Adult
Bridesmaids
Rango
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
50/50
General Orders No. 9
Contagion
The Help
Bellflower
Another Earth
The Skin I Live In
Jane Eyre
Winnie the Pooh
Warrior
Being Elmo
Anonymous
Rampart
Immortals
Tyrranosaur
Horrible Bosses
Machine Gun Preacher
Stake Land
Paranormal Activity 3
Margin Call
Everything Must Go
J. Edgar
Hesher
Moneyball
Beginners
Fast Five
The Hangover Part II
The Big Year
Puncture
The Rum Diary
Thor
Green Lantern
The Green Hornet
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Thing (2011)
Project Nim
Apollo 18
Dirty Girl
Sucker Punch
The Mechanic
Kung Fu Panda 2
Crazy Stupid Love
Soul Surfer
Courageous
Dolphin Tale
Conviction
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
I might have gone overboard here, but honestly, its like my eyes are bigger than my stomach, except my love of movies is bigger than my bank account. So, let me know if any of these movies are worth the expense or if I should have mentioned a different film from 2011! All and all it was a pretty good year for films... somewhat trans-formative I think- but 2012 should be fantastic!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Happy Holidays to our Family, Cast & Crew!
Rebecca and I during our last Color Correcting session for "Death Do Us Part." Everything has been coming along smoothly. And a great big hug and a thank you to Eddie Sturgeon who is doing our Sound Design for us! He has been a real trooper! Thanks Eddie and Merry Christmas!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Finished with VFX- next up... Sound!
After achieving picture lock we have finally finished our visual effects and prepared the product for sound. Honestly, I can see now that we had too many visual effects for my first film. I think it is a good idea to focus on certain goals for each short that you accomplish as a beginning filmmaker and this one had a bit much- not too much for me to chew, necessarily. That's not what I mean. I like a challenge. But, it was more than I had planned for this film. Especially since my wife would be given (proportionately) too large a bite to chew for an extremely part time job. She works full time at the Home Shopping Network, so this amount of effects can make even a relatively short film become a huge ordeal to tackle- but she did eagerly.
The film is now ready for Sound Mixing and for any musical accompaniment while we complete the coloring (which is already mostly done). A few songs may need to be composed but we will see what we can come up with given the right kind of help.
I just have to admit I am very pleased with the pictures here and what we have made from our short production time. Everybody who really worked hard, Wheat, Joy, Marcus, Pat, John, Mici, Tom, Trevor... we really did something great here. Pretty soon we will all see what our hard work accomplished. I will be sure to let you guys know when there is something I can show you! Until then, know that I am very happy with what we have... and I have seen a lot of local shorts and features. We have a good chance to make a dent- in fact I am SURE we will.
I'll be keeping you all in the loop! :)
The film is now ready for Sound Mixing and for any musical accompaniment while we complete the coloring (which is already mostly done). A few songs may need to be composed but we will see what we can come up with given the right kind of help.
I just have to admit I am very pleased with the pictures here and what we have made from our short production time. Everybody who really worked hard, Wheat, Joy, Marcus, Pat, John, Mici, Tom, Trevor... we really did something great here. Pretty soon we will all see what our hard work accomplished. I will be sure to let you guys know when there is something I can show you! Until then, know that I am very happy with what we have... and I have seen a lot of local shorts and features. We have a good chance to make a dent- in fact I am SURE we will.
I'll be keeping you all in the loop! :)
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Skirting the edges of production design
I'm changing my filmmaking strategy this year (you might say). I am going to be skirting the edge of production design for the sake of ensuring good design on my future sci-fi films. That might seem like a big change but it's not really big for me- I am doing this to ensure I'm directing a good film. Getting into production design for me means learning designing and fabricating sets and props. I don't expect to be filling a production designers shoes really but I do expect that expanding my skill set will expand my opportunities and excellence on set- and it will give me a better understanding of what it takes to build some of these props. It will help me make these goals happen... and more efficiently happen.
The general look of a film is something I've always been concerned with but I specifically had hands on experience while being on set filming "Experiment 7" in 2009. While working with the Production Designer, Brittany Stevenson, I became involved in depth, as the Script Supervisor/Producer, with helping the look come along by coordinating how the sets and props interact with the characters and maintained their look. Of course with what I was doing as Script Supervisor, the continuity was king, but as it comes to craft, the desire to do production design myself definitely came into play and one of the old desires I had to do industrial design also cropped up. Yeah, its an old fling I had, like architecture and music... which got subsumed underneath my desire to make films.
For the first sci-film I am working on and for the first feature film I am working on I need to ensure good pleasant aesthetic and functional design so that the audience fully believes the story. I will be attending welding school for the next year so I can get to creating some genuinely functional steel and aluminum props and possibly I can get some animatronics or robotics involved as well. If nothing else I can at least help pay for my first few shorts with welding work (which pays more than what I can drum up right now). So wish me luck on running some good beads on all the types of welders and weldments I need to utilize to complete my tests and get my certifications. Its gonna be a great adventure!
The general look of a film is something I've always been concerned with but I specifically had hands on experience while being on set filming "Experiment 7" in 2009. While working with the Production Designer, Brittany Stevenson, I became involved in depth, as the Script Supervisor/Producer, with helping the look come along by coordinating how the sets and props interact with the characters and maintained their look. Of course with what I was doing as Script Supervisor, the continuity was king, but as it comes to craft, the desire to do production design myself definitely came into play and one of the old desires I had to do industrial design also cropped up. Yeah, its an old fling I had, like architecture and music... which got subsumed underneath my desire to make films.
For the first sci-film I am working on and for the first feature film I am working on I need to ensure good pleasant aesthetic and functional design so that the audience fully believes the story. I will be attending welding school for the next year so I can get to creating some genuinely functional steel and aluminum props and possibly I can get some animatronics or robotics involved as well. If nothing else I can at least help pay for my first few shorts with welding work (which pays more than what I can drum up right now). So wish me luck on running some good beads on all the types of welders and weldments I need to utilize to complete my tests and get my certifications. Its gonna be a great adventure!
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