Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Ideas For Creative Movie Props?

Ideas For Creative Movie Props? (Page 8)
Thread Tools
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 10, 2021, 03:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
But what smarmy ad copy can you put about FLOUR? How do you spin that? OURS DOESN'T HAVE WEEVILS?
A diet of bread fashioned from our competitors’ flour eats your good-looks, strength, and even in time, your life
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 10, 2021, 07:29 PM
 
"Many people have eaten our competitor's bread for a lifetime.
We have noticed a lot of them are dead today.
Give our bread a chance for your lifetime.
Perhaps you will have better luck.
You will definitely enjoy fine bread all your life."
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 26, 2021, 11:47 AM
 
It suddenly became T-minus 6 days to the production resuming.

I’m terrified.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2021, 02:10 PM
 
Are you recasting the two young girls? Reshooting their scenes?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 27, 2021, 07:30 PM
 
We only have one key scene left with them and rewrote it so they can be older.

Surrealism to the rescue!

That’s actually the scene we’re shooting on Friday.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 2, 2021, 08:20 PM
 
Well, we somehow survived! Aged girls were great, and it was officially their last shoot.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 2, 2021, 09:10 PM
 
Good news.

Did you consider solving missing shoots with CGI? ie - cast body doubles matching their old sizes. Then edit in the faces & voices?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 2, 2021, 11:28 PM
 
Not sure if serious, so I’ll give two answers to cover both possibilities.

1) That’s well beyond our means.

2) We’re not going to deepfake 14-year-olds. Jesus, get your mind out of the gutter.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 3, 2021, 07:12 AM
 
If I were you, I would have just hired ScarJo to play both the girls, Lohan Parent Trap style.
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 3, 2021, 07:56 AM
 
Hiring Scarlett, even for just one day, would probably swallow their budget three or four times over.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 3, 2021, 09:23 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
2) We’re not going to deepfake 14-year-olds. Jesus, get your mind out of the gutter.
I’m worried this joke landed badly, and want to make clear my mind is in the gutter, not reader’s. Apologies if it looked any other way.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 27, 2021, 06:45 PM
 
One of the few remaining props. I’m not thrilled with it, but it’s probably good enough.



A saying the director uses often. The elf character with the black eyes is going to be drinking from it.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 08:14 AM
 
w e l l
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 09:13 AM
 
Y e a h, yeah… like I said, not thrilled.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 10:42 AM
 
It's no effing birds, but with the space you had that seems acceptable. The weight is properly on the second word for enunciation... I don't care for the kerning between the E S but without making a ligature not sure how else you'd manage with that font.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 11:28 AM
 
That also bothers me.

If I was 100% on my game I would have gone through all my fonts, but I was being kinda lazy and instead just worked with what I had installed at that moment.

I showed it to the director and told him I wasn’t thrilled, but I wanted to see if he was bothered by the problems before I junked it. He was fine, so I moved on.

Luckily, it’s not supposed to get a closeup.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 11:34 AM
 
At least the “S” kerning is consistent. The O-S kerning is wide too. Not as obvious as with the E, but we were looking for that.

The real question is how much screen time the mug will get. The lettering is clear, bold, and easy to read, so if it’s just a brief time, the message will be there and viewers won’t have a chance to really critique it.

But as you say, it’s not ideal. I’m sure there are a bunch of fonts that look like they fit your setting that would kern better. Or that you could manually kern better.

Remember, films are never “finished.” They just escape at some point.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 28, 2021, 12:49 PM
 
I decided to pitch the idea the mug sucks again, but got back an “it’s fine”.

The big issue the director has is he would rather the mug was black and the letters were white, but the place I got it from only has white exteriors.

Said place, Vistaprint, I can recommend. They’re cheap, no minimum, and a rush order only takes a few days.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 19, 2021, 11:17 AM
 
We have an audience today.

     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 19, 2021, 12:41 PM
 
^^^ Post-credits scene. Revealing the new masters of the world.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 19, 2021, 02:20 PM
 
I asked. She’s union.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Oct 15, 2021, 05:37 PM
 
Production is wrapping up. We’re officially out of the house that was our exterior location.



It’s kinda sad. I really love this place.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 3, 2021, 08:10 PM
 
On the final shoot!

I’m glad it’s over, but I’m going to miss it too.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 4, 2021, 10:07 AM
 
so how long for editing etc before it's released?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 4, 2021, 06:13 PM
 
6 months? A year? Maybe more?

In hindsight, this project was way too ambitious.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 4, 2021, 06:43 PM
 
By any chance, are you the editor? The one everyone will be leaning on to finish it already? Begrudging you every bathroom break?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 4, 2021, 07:05 PM
 
I’m the one the editor leans on to finish the effects work so he can get back to editing.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 5, 2021, 02:56 PM
 
Just took delivery on an M1 Mini! Not for me, since After Effects isn’t native yet, but Premiere is, so this’ll be the core of our editing setup.

No autocorrect… not our “edit it img” setup.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 5, 2021, 05:05 PM
 
Unboxing highlight:

     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 6, 2021, 05:53 PM
 
Late to the party, but Big Sur is kinda ugly.
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 6, 2021, 06:24 PM
 
Yeah. I upgraded just because one app I need will be updated, and won’t work with Mojave anymore.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 6, 2021, 07:43 PM
 
I’ve got the new Mini right next to a Mac running High Sierra, and I’m going back and forth between them. It’s really driving the ugliness home.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 7, 2021, 12:54 PM
 
My only complaint about the hardware so far is it could use a couple more ports. Four isn’t enough.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 22, 2021, 02:59 PM
 
My new server home in my laundry room.



The rack enclosure kinda sucks, but was only $250, so I can’t complain. It’s designed as a wall-mount box, so no way to get at the back. Also not very deep, which is why I need the dual UPS. The magenta things underneath the UPS are stacks of post-it notes I’m using as cribbing.

Will ultimately hold 6 Minis as render nodes, but I’m stuck with Intel at the moment, and don’t want to max it out with legacy hardware.
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 22, 2021, 09:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
My new server home in my laundry room.
I'm tripping on the "Laundry Room" part. That looks like a few thousand, and I wouldn't want water anywhere near it. Not even clean, soapy water.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 22, 2021, 10:08 PM
 
As laundry rooms go, it’s relatively large. More a “utility room”. It’s also has HVAC, cable/telecom, and the boiler. Last one is a water hazard too, but at least the server box is off the ground.

Both water sources are a good 7 feet away. Here’s a wide-angle shot (so it’s kinda distorted) with me in front of the washer. That’s the dryer on the left.

     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 23, 2021, 02:40 PM
 
I’m with reader…I’d feel very anxious about that cabinet being on the floor. Where is the floor drain in that room? It could be that where you have the cabinet is so far from the drain that room flooding is not an issue.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 23, 2021, 03:36 PM
 
It’s on casters, so the water would have to be over 2½ inches deep before it reaches the bottom.

Not counting basements or FEMA-tier disasters, does that happen?
     
reader50
Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 23, 2021, 06:58 PM
 
Generally not, unless there are kids in the house. Then all bets are off. Rolled towel under the closed door (to stop drafts), plugged sink (to fill it), teen on phone. Or teeny bopper re-enacting a Great Flood.

These all seem unlikely in your house though. Unless you're in a flood-prone area.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 23, 2021, 07:33 PM
 
Basement floods are a big hazard in the city, but thankfully not flood floods.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 23, 2021, 09:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
It’s on casters, so the water would have to be over 2½ inches deep before it reaches the bottom.

Not counting basements or FEMA-tier disasters, does that happen?
Do you live in a sitcom world where your neighbor who has never done laundry before puts the whole package of soap in the wash, thus causing the entire laundry room to fill with suds until it comes bursting out the door in a tidal wave?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 24, 2021, 02:00 AM
 
I do… but that also means there’s a long piece of tape dividing “my side” of the apartment from “their side”, and the washing machine is on my side.
     
Waragainstsleep
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 24, 2021, 07:55 PM
 
The thing about server cabs is they are very expensive if you need one, but utterly worthless if you have one you don't need. If you're patient, you can usually find one not too far away for peanuts.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 24, 2021, 08:35 PM
 
The selling points with this were:

1) On Amazon, so no hassle
2) Cheap as server boxes go
3) On casters
4) The perfect size to fit under that shelf and not get hit by the door
5) Vented
6) Has two cooling fans on top

Unfortunately number 6 was a bust. They were server room loud and I yanked them.

The only real complaint I can make about it is it claims to be 15U, but it’s really 14U because of the shelf, which looks like it’s necessary to keep the rails from warping. It worked out though. Gives me a platform to take the strain off the hanging UPSs.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2022, 01:42 PM
 
Our two girls return.




We shot some quick-and-dirty footage last weekend for TikTok. Our idea is to use it to keep some form of Internet presence going while we finish the main project.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2022, 02:39 PM
 
so are you going to make us wander around tiktok or are you going to post the link?
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 10, 2022, 02:54 PM
 
Oh, absolutely!

This is still in the early stages. We don’t even have a channel yet.
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 18, 2022, 03:57 PM
 


My python script works!
     
subego  (op)
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 19, 2022, 05:43 PM
 
That was from during testing, but the final product is also (barely) working.

We’re dubbing in all the dialogue, spaghetti western style, so I need to make one Logic file with the right clip preloaded… per actor, per shot. It’s over 500.

I managed to do 40 by hand before it made me want to blow my brains out. Python to the rescue!
     
ghporter
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 21, 2022, 02:09 PM
 
Excellent work. Python is easier to learn and use than Java - and that’s from someone who had (and aced) formal classes in C. Java is based on C and C++…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
 
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:24 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,