This is a resource I wrote on clapboard operation. It is not by any stretch of the imagination meant to be definitive. It is is only meant to illustrate the method of clapboard operation we prefer to use on our productions. However, if you find it useful for yours, please feel free to download and refer to it.
Click here to download “Code of the Clapboard” in PDF format.
It has been a little while since I’ve posted about the progress on The Green Machine. Things are still moving along. I just finished editing the longest scene of the movie this morning and besides a couple of sloppy edits which I’ll fix later on, it looks pretty good. It still amazes me what people who can act can do to dead words. I’ll go back to editing this evening once I get off work and try to knock out another scene.
Something connected to The Green Machine in a very roundabout way is my recent rediscovery of Dr. Syn, a series of stories written by Russell Thorndike (check Dragon’s post Thee where I’ve posted some on Thorndike and his stories). The stories loosely center (very loosely I might add) on the character of Captain Clegg, a retired pirate hiding out as a vicar named Dr. Syn. Syn and his men ride about the marshes dressed as scarecrows scaring off the King’s men (I think… to be honest I don’t know. It’s pretty hard to pay attention to a story where characters keep on talking about “rascally pirates”). It is all pretty Scooby Doo and awful to be honest. However, I really like the idea of scarecrows. Among other characters, the original Ameviathan universe was to feature two scarecrows (who knows, it one day still might). The scarecrows of the Syn-verse are pretty dark, and at least in feel suggest a very spooky vision that artists like Mark Masztal have picked up on.
I was interviewed today for a young lady’s research paper. Thought I’d share with you my responses; knowledge is power.
[Mr. Webb sic] When I looked at your profile on www.thecpgroup.org I was unsure of your connection to cerebral palsy. Do you have CP or do you work with individuals that have CP? In any case, I compiled a couple lists of questions so you can answer those which are appropriate:
I have cerebral palsy and I work with folks with a wide spectrum of disabilities, including CP. My CP is mild compared to most, I walk with two canes for balance and have limited range of motion in my hips, legs, and feet. My speech, vision, and hearing is not effected. My cognitive ability, although some may beg to differ, is unaffected.
Behold I am become Quirt Evans! Casually imperious in the saddle, Swinging mighty staves to batter down my foes, Fists clenched, quaking in rightous Quaker rage, Run amok in bar and bordello, Hurling cornsilk-haired hussies wrecklessly through the air. What smart tounged sneak-foot sheriff Would loan this outlaw new rope? Or What forward doe-eyed Friend dare slack His bad man's thirst for violence And divine spark enkindle?
What is this I hear going on about me? Needing to conceal that I had little hope Perhaps I was worried about what wouldn’t be Unsure if these feelings will ever know it’s not a joke I pen this looking from the outside in Delighted in revealing that thoughts can evolve Calm shadows cast by generations of souls within They would never have sought my help to solve Outcomes, solutions, conclusions, the end Later we will discover the epilogue’s brightness Now we must adapt and bend and avoid the trends Knowing that eternity will demonstrate her genius
We have done a rough edit for 5 of 24 scenes. (Note: There are 26 scenes total, but the last two need to be created.)
Beware of polar bears passing on ice, giving advice, to stay out of Newfoundland, cause I've never heard them talk.
Well, all the footage has been imported. It looks good. It’s all been labeled and sorted, and the sound has been synced. We burned 2 dvds of the footage to review. We watched those tonight. Now it is time to start editing.
Here’s a frame capture. Looking good!
Production on “The Green Machine” has come to a close and we have officially begun post-production. Post-production on “The Green Machine” will last until or around April 22nd, at which time we should have a final cut of the film. At that particular juncture, we will then seek out someone to score the film and tentatively have the whole thing in the can by May or June.
Overall, production on the “The Green Machine” was successful. Going into it we had three major goals:
To cast and work with trained actors
To work full shooting days (i.e. 12 pages a day – the script was actually 25, so we did a 12-page day and a 13-page day).
Not only did we accomplish all three goals, but as Tim indicated, we did so 21 minutes ahead of schedule.
There were some minor mishaps along the way, such as the fire alarm we set off with a fogger and a near brush with the Chestertown Fire Department, but otherwise everyone walked away from the weekend relatively unscathed. Even temper wise, there weren’t any major fights. Tim and I (rather amazingly) only came close once to really going “gallaghers” on each other. The greatest cause for worry the whole weekend was a certain “seasoned beef” smell in the cottage, which we later learned was human waste in one of the trash cans.
There is still a lot to be done on “The Green Machine” and a whole lot more to be reckoned with. But the worst is over. I can’t even begin to communicate how much I’ve learned working on the project, nor can I communicate how fun it has been. It has truly been one of the greatest experiences in my life so far.
I should probably let Mike write this, but I won’t. He can do another post or reply in the comments.
We finished taping The Green Machine this weekend. Very tiring, but we finished 21 mins ahead of schedule. I’ll try to get a few pictures up in the next few days.
Pete, I think you will like what we did with the Green Machine itself.
