My Influence Map

On deviantART, fox-orian started an "influence map meme" and they’ve been popping up all over different artists’ websites. I don’t really put the “me” in “meme” that often, but each time I saw one of these, I couldn’t help but think how nice they looked and how cool it would be to do one myself. I know I’m bit late to the game, but I don’t care.

I knew it would be fun to make but I didn’t realize how hard it would be. Man, narrowing this group down was a challenge. Some harsh, harsh cuts were made. I could’ve done one three times this size.

To make it easier, I decided just put in people (or groups) that create. Not creations. For example, Matt Groening instead of the Simpsons. So that helped by eliminating particular movies and TV shows. And I decided mainly to focus on art and only have a few musicians and directors. Mainly it's comic artists and cartoonists.

I turned mine on it’s side to fit monitors better. Hope you like it. Make one for yourself if you haven't already.

Arrivederci Condimento

The latest offering from Dog Food Productions.

Believe the Hype, it's a Sequel!

I know Chuck D. told you "Don't believe the hype", but in this case you really should. The Dark Knight was greatness. A sequel better than the original. A better comic book film than Iron Man. Iron Man is much more fun than The Dark Knight, that's for sure, a better summer popcorn super hero movie, but The Dark Knight is a better film. Darker. Well, much, much, much darker, but better.

All that talk about "Ledger should get an Oscar, blah, blah, blah." Man, I gotta say, pretty dang valid. I don't know if he will win one, but I really do think he should at least be nominated. He walked away with this movie. He actually ran away with it. Better than Nicholson. Yep, I said it. Better than Nicholson. Do yourself a favor and go see it, but don't take your younger kiddos (like I saw so many doing). The Joker is kinda a psycho.

The Watchmen - I'll Be Watching

Well, if the movies is a cool as the trailer I will be. After seeing some of the costume images awhile back, I had a nervous feeling about this movie. But after watching (get it, watching?) the trailer, I'm much more psyched about seeing this. I guess it's time to pull the book off the shelf and re-read it, I have until March, so I think I've got time. Good grief, it's been like 20 years since I read it. I've forgotten more about it than I remember. It's funny how they call it a "graphic novel" in the trailer. Technically, it's a collected mini-series in trade paperback. But to quote Nigel Tufnel from Spinal Tap... ''That's nit picking, isn't it?''

Click to Watch the Watchmen Trailer

Now, if I can only get ticket to see "The Dark Knight" this weekend.

Hellboy - Inside the Actors Studio

Boo-yah indeed.

Watch our award-winning film

Seriously, it won an award. And it's only 5 minutes, so watch it.

Dog Food Productions (my buddies and I) landed 2nd place (out of 24 teams) in the Auteur division in 2008 24-Hour Video Race, put on by the Video Association of Dallas.

VIDEO RACE REQUIREMENTS
Theme: A twist of fate
Prop: A key
Line of dialogue: "What's this going to cost me?"
Location: Anywhere a sport is played.

So, enjoy "Community Service".

Dog Food Productions in the Finals Again

Somehow, the judges of the Video Association of Dallas 24 Hour Video Race have let DFP slip through to the finals for the 2nd year in a row. Last year we actually managed to nab 3rd place in our division. I'm not sure if we'll be that lucky again this year or not. The competition is pretty strong. Our film is entitled "Community Service" and this years race requirements were:

Theme: Twist of Fate
Location: Anywhere a sport is played
Prop: A key
Line of dialogue: "What's this going to cost me?"

24 Hour Video Race 2008

For the 5th year (well, not in a row), me and my cohorts from Dog Food Productions are entering the Video Association of Dallas 24 Hour Video Race. If you don't know what that is... teams of filmmakers race to make a 5 minute (or shorter) film in 24 hours. We meet at a central location at midnight this Friday and are given elements that we have to incorporate into the final film. A theme, a line of dialogue, a prop and a location. We have to meet back at that location before midnight Saturday, tape in hand. Last year we won third in our division. Our only goal is to finish on time and make a funny film. Placing or winning is just icing on the cake. But We like icing.

Wow.

Iron Man was awesome. Every comic book movie from here on out has got the blueprint to work from.

New Dog Food Productions Web Site

I just redesigned the website for Dog Food Productions, a group of friends I make movies with. There are still a couple of bugs when viewing in Firefox and Camino, but I'll be working on fixing those. So, if you have some time to kill and like stupid stuff, stop by and see what's going on.

Ch-ch-ch-check it out!

Heinz 57 Commercial

Heinz 57 is having this contest where you create your own 30 second commercial, they narrow it down to the top ten, the public votes on those and the winner gets $57,000.

As some of you know, me and my buddies make stupid little movies Dog Food Productions (Those of you who don’t know are probably better off.) Anyway, we submitted an entry and you can see it on the Heinz site (ha, ha, hindsight) here...Dog Food Productions Heinz 57 Commercial

Or watch it right here...

It’s not that good. Mainly because we didn’t realize just how short 30 seconds really is. We had to cut out a bunch of stuff that “sold” the idea more. We shot green screen stuff, floating hamburgers and fries and more things that show me going crazy. The idea is there, just not as good as we planned it out to be.

It will not get in the top ten, that’s a promise, but at least we finished it.

Dog Food Productions DVD Collection

My buddies and I have a little group called Dog Food Productions, if you read this blog regularly, you already know that. But what type of person would read this blog regularly? If it's you, you may have some unresolved issues in your life.

Anyway, we make silly short films with no budget, we've managed to do over a dozen of them. We have now given ourselves (mainly Randy, the director) the task of putting the entire back catalog onto DVD, and in turn cleaning off our plates, enabling us to head into the future to make even more silly short films.

Here is a teaser trailer for the collection that Randy did and some of the DVD covers I created.

Second Sign of the Apocalypse

Once again, Dog Food Productions participated in the Video Association of Dallas’ 24 Hour Video Race. Before, we get to the results; let’s examine our past performances:

2003 - Finished our film in time, but were unable to get it on the tape they required. That hurt.

2004 - Finished our film in time, made the deadline, had it screened, didn’t make the finals.

2006 - Finished our film in time, made the deadline, had it screened, made the finals, didn’t place.

It’s 2007 and I’m proud to say… We won 3rd place in our division. Yeah, it’s not first or second place, but we did win something for our efforts. See semi-snazzy trophy below.

With this pattern, maybe we’ll get second place in 2008 and win in 2009? Could be.

What was disappointing to us is that we were unable to do everything in the film that we had planned. We were getting down to the wire in the editing stage, trying to improve some audio and ran out of time. We left off a funny joke and didn’t get the end credits added, which would have ended our film on a laugh (in theory).

Hey, it’s a race and that’s what it’s all about. We can only blame ourselves for not turning in the film we wanted to. But we did place and we’re happy with that. The night of the race, we were happy just getting it in on time. We made it in at 11:58.

The Alibi

I can't believe I never posted this. Me and some buddies of mine make movies from time to time under the name "Dog Food Productions" and we also (from time to tme) participate in the Video Association of Dallas' annual 24 Hour Video Race. Teams meet at midnight on Friday, they give you a line of dialogue, a location, a prop and a theme. Then you have 24 hours to make a 5 minute film that incorporates those elements and get it to the finish line by midnight Saturday.

We finished the race and actually made it to the semi-finals, where we lost. Anyway, you can watch our entry if you like. We're gonna compete again this year too, just a couple of weeks away. Be warned, it's not good cinema.

Rules of the Game

I just realized I never posted this here, I only posted it at the blog for Dog Food Productions.

Anyway, check out a short film we did several months back. Rules of the Game...

A Sign of the Apocalypse?

If you've ever clicked on the link on the right hand side of this page that reads "Dog Food Productions", then you might know that a group of friends and I often make these little stupid films in our spare time. And I stress "stupid" and "spare". Well, from time to time we also compete in the Video Association of Dallas' annual 24 Hour Video Race. If you're unfamiliar with the reace, teams meet at midnight on Friday, they give you a line of dialogue, a location, a prop and a theme. Then you have 24 hours to make a 5 minute film that incorporates those elements and get it to the finish line by midnight Saturday.

In 2003, we did "The Solicitor". We finished the film in time, had it edited and completed, but were unable to get it on the mini DV tape they need it on due to technical issues. So that sucked. In 2004, we did "Change" and got it in on time and had it screened at the Angelika Theater for the Semi-Finals. And we didn't advance. Oh well, it was still fun to do and great to see our lame movie on the big screen. In 2005, we didn't compete.

This year, we were back. We finished in time. Had our screening. And lo and behold, we advanced to the finals. So on Tuesday, May 23 at the Angelika in Dallas, we compete in our team category. I'm pretty sure we won't win, but it's still cool.

This year's required elements were:
Line of Dialogue: "That's what I'm talking about."
Prop: A measuring device
Location: A statue or other public art
Theme: Cover story

Beware the Were-Rabbit

I can think of only one type film style where you can literally see the fingerprints of the artists on the screen… CLAYMATION!

I’ve been a Wallace & Gromit fan for years. I loved Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. And I loved Wallace & Gromit - Curse of the Were-Rabbit. How could I not? It had everything that makes their short films so great and more. Plus a spooky theme! You can’t beat that with a wedge of cheese.

If you’ve never seen a Wallace & Gromit film, you’re definitely missing out on a good time. Do yourself a favor and go see it.