Work for G.H.O.S.T. started back in January with the launch of the MVP Blog here at Mutantville.com and the beginning of intense pre-production on G.H.O.S.T.. The cast and crew put in many a long day and night throughout production during October and November and we’ve carried that level of intensity into post-production by shooting pick ups all through December. We started editing during the second week of filming and are finally nearing completion of the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T.. There is so much going on behind the scenes that’s it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep producing timely updates in addition to doing the actual work. This has been an amazing adventure so far. The footage looks great. The performances were fantastic and the special make-up FX are spectacular. Just as it seems we’re nearing the end – we are in fact reaching a new beginning. It’s not official yet – but we are working on ideas for new scenes to shoot for the movie – to expand it from it’s intended half hour format into a full length feature! That’s right – we will still be able to cut G.H.O.S.T. down to a very tight half hour TV pilot s intended – but there is enough material there that with a few smart additions – we can expand the story a touch and turn G.H.O.S.T. into a full movie. I’m so excited that I can hardly contain myself. While this is good news for us – it also means that this non-stop rollercoaster of work that we’ve been on since July will continue for the foreseeable future! Thank you all for your help in making this dream a reality. Everyone in MVP plays an important role and we couldn’t have made our movie without you! Keep checking the MVP Blog for more updates as they happen!
With it comes to making films with your partners there really is nothing more important than keeping the lines of communication open. Film making is stressful. The more the folks sharing the load communicate, the more things will magically fall into place when you’re on the set.
The members of Mutantville Productions meet 2 – 3 times per week via phone conference when we don’t have any shoot scheduled for the weekend and considerably more frequently when we do. Take today for instance, we’ve already had a 3 way phone conference and will have a business lunch meeting at 12. From lunch, we’ll take a short break and meet up again at 2 to start preparing the triage set and getting folks into makeup. The shoot will most likely run until 11 tonight or so.
Before you ask, we all work standard 40 hour per week jobs in addition to our duties in MVP. Experience has shown that the more we communicate, the better the finish product, ultimately, the film on DVD will be in the end.
Increased communication with your cast & crew will likewise make your life so much easier while in active production. Don’t presume that because you’ve sent the details in an email that everyone has taken the time to read it or has the important stuff present in mind. People get busy and forget. Put in the extra time to make that phone call and make sure every remembers the shoot schedule, what to wear, not to cut their hair when to arrive etc etc. You’ll be glad you did.
Remember this above all else Mutantville Players, Johnny Brento loves ya!
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago at 10:19 am. Comments
I find that the life of a productive artist is one that requires constant motivation. The creative process for film is so multi-faceted and long that it’s easy to get side tracked. Take my role in MVP for instance. As editor and visual effects artist, much of the hoopla and excitement has died down by the time my work begins in earnest. The actors have moved on to other projects and except for the occasional “When will it be done” message I’m left to my work. In the case of Streebo as a director, we’ll he is a bit of a control freak and thusly is here for %100 of the assembly edits. So there is that to help keep me motivated and it helps quite a lot, but the visual effects work is a whole different matter. I always try to push the envelope with each project and assimilate new techniques. I spend a ton time alone watching tutorials, finding new After Effects plug-ins and generally researching how things are done by the pros.
Music is another great motivational tool. It constantly shapes my artistic mood. I’m fond of all kinds of music and can be found listening to Pandora.com radio almost all of my time I’m in the editing suite.
When it comes to branching out to assimilate other skills such as improving my writing or building myself as a director, I find that nothing motivates me more than someone saying or implying that I can’t do it. For instance, “I don’t think you have what it takes to be a director.” or “You don’t know how to build a story.” Ha! I’ll be damned before anyone else defines me as an artist or as a person. OK, so here comes my arcane movie quote. Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis’s character from Armageddon) “I have never missed a depth that I have aimed for.”
I truly believe that we make our own reality. Very few people start out as great artists or directors or guitar player/songwriters. These are skills one acquires and hard work beats talent that doesn’t work hard. Mutantville is all about defying the odds and breaking boundaries with very little resources. All of us are capable of so much more than those around us would ever believe through dedication and focused effort.
Remember this above all else Mutantville Players, Johnny Brento loves ya!
Poor weather conditions forced the postponement of shooting our dream sequence this past Sunday. Not wanting to rest on one’s laurels, Brent decided he would rather spend that time developing a new sci-fi based web series. The project is titled Respawner about a heroine who’s super powers are activated after she’s killed. For more information join the group on Facebook.
Last night saw the Mutantville Players return to the opera house once more for another round of pick up shots. Luckily we weren’t just shooting windows and door frames this week as we were able to suit up and get bloody for another cool special make-up FX shot. Alan Whitley out his boomstick down and picked up the latex to play the part of our supernatural visitor. Alan underwent a grueling 3 hour session at the hands of special make-up FX kingpin Todd A. Britt. The air was chilly but Alan’s spirits were warm under layers of silicon, tubing and buckets of blood as he brought our ghostly friend to unatural life! With this shot in the can – we have only two major FX shots left and G.H.O.S.T. will be complete. This Sunday, the Mutantville Players are heading to the green and grassy hills of South Carolina for our final pick up shots with two of our leads – Kathy Sandvoss and Scott Thomas. The journey to make G.H.O.S.T. has been an amazing one. It will be sad to see it all come to an end. Be sure to keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news!
Principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. ended two weeks ago – but you would never know it on the Mutantville Mothership. The producers have been hard at work keeping the websites updated, shooting pick up shots, designing posters, and editing the actual movie. The first assembly is coming together and we couldn’t be happier with the results so far. We keep producing new promo posters so keep checking here and on Facebook for the latest designs. Be sure to add your feedback so we know which posters people like. Speaking of posters – here’s a strong early contender for final poster status. It’s a simple still shot taken during filming – but it says everything about the project in one powerful image. What do you think?
Keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news and more.
Make-up FX Maestro Todd A. Britt brings another ghostly creation to life during the wee hours of the night.
Last night, Mutantville Productions wrapped principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. after a long fifteen hour shoot. Kathy Sandvoss earned her final Scream Queen stripes and Super Diva status by battling her way through another challenging shoot. Thanks to our good friend, couture designer, Luis Machicao for lending his tremendous talents in supervising the filming of his costume designs for the finale of the movie. Lead actor Scott Thomas persevered another bloody and bruising shoot to bring our central ghost to life. Clint Jones showed his horror heart by enduring several make-up sessions. Dave Tunik gave his all in taking another bloody bite out of his role and a gelatin prop. Jason Wheely gave a heartwrenching performance as a haunted young TV producer. Jack Stecher pulled out all the stops to give a bravura performance as the crazy caretaker of the opera house.
Special thanks goes out to MVP’S own maestro of make-up FX – Todd A. Britt for bringing all of his Sith talents to bear in creating several macabre make-ups over the course of the fifteen hour marathon. Additional thanks goes to Sylvia and Sierra for lending their talents to the make-up department by resurrecting our supernatural visitors once more. Thanks again to Allan Whitley for toughing out another long night to lend a strong hand and keep our boomstick steady for another night. Special thanks goes out MVP’S own Costume Diva, seamstress and assistant to Mr. Machicao, Angela Pritchett who although unable to attend our final shoot due to schedule conflicts, put in many a long night on the set of G.H.O.S.T., lending her considerable costuming talents to help bring the production to life. Thanks to John R. Sexton for putting on a layered performance as Grandfather last month. Thank you to Kayli Tolleson and her mom Janna for lending their talent, energy and support to G.H.O.S.T. over the course of the shoot. And last but not least a very special thanks goes to my mom, Momma Streebo, for being a beacon of strength and inspiration to me over the years and for dusting off her sewing machine to create Johnny Reb’s jacket in whole – mere days before the first shoot. And to anyone that helped that I may have overlooked here, thank you for your help, we could not have done it without you all. Thank you.
This project has been an amazing journey and I thank you all for sharing it with me. Production may be complete – but post-production begins immediately as we will continue with editing, sound design and shooting final make-up FX shots of the movie. Be sure to keep tuning in to Mutantville.com and Mutant TV for your up to the minute news on G.H.O.S.T., C for Chaos, and MVP.
Welcome to Mutantville Productions MVP Blog. Join Streebo, Brento, Geo & the rest of the Mutantville Players as they set sail on the high seas of guerrilla filmmaking in their ongoing quest to bring you the finest in genre entertainment.
With it comes to making films with your partners there really is nothing more important than keeping the lines of communication open. Film making is stressful. The more the folks sharing the load communicate, the more things will magically fall into place when you’re on the set.
Poor weather conditions forced the postponement of shooting our dream sequence this past Sunday. Not wanting to rest on one’s laurels, Brent decided he would rather spend that time developing a new sci-fi based web series. The project is titled Respawner about a heroine who’s super powers are activated after she’s killed. For more information 
Last night saw the Mutantville Players return to the opera house once more for another round of pick up shots. Luckily we weren’t just shooting windows and door frames this week as we were able to suit up and get bloody for another cool special make-up FX shot. Alan Whitley out his boomstick down and picked up the latex to play the part of our supernatural visitor. Alan underwent a grueling 3 hour session at the hands of special make-up FX kingpin Todd A. Britt. The air was chilly but Alan’s spirits were warm under layers of silicon, tubing and buckets of blood as he brought our ghostly friend to unatural life! With this shot in the can – we have only two major FX shots left and G.H.O.S.T. will be complete. This Sunday, the Mutantville Players are heading to the green and grassy hills of South Carolina for our final pick up shots with two of our leads – Kathy Sandvoss and Scott Thomas. The journey to make G.H.O.S.T. has been an amazing one. It will be sad to see it all come to an end. Be sure to keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news!
Principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. ended two weeks ago – but you would never know it on the Mutantville Mothership. The producers have been hard at work keeping the websites updated, shooting pick up shots, designing posters, and editing the actual movie. The first assembly is coming together and we couldn’t be happier with the results so far. We keep producing new promo posters so keep checking here and on Facebook for the latest designs. Be sure to add your feedback so we know which posters people like. Speaking of posters – here’s a strong early contender for final poster status. It’s a simple still shot taken during filming – but it says everything about the project in one powerful image. What do you think?