Test #1

I managed to find time to try out the camera at night... definitely need to fix some settings, but still not bad. I've seen videos with much better quality though, so looking into that. Also, iMovie sucks. Downloading a professional video editor once I have some time.

Equipment

Monday my camera came, complete with the essential suction-cup mount for the car. Today I bought a tripod, 32 GB HD memory card, and a pair of aviators for Archer. Things are coming together quite nicely, except for my bank account, of course.
As far as the screenplay is concerned, I'm nearing completion of the first "Act" that will take place here in Maine. I've already decided on the locations and that sort of thing, and I hope to be ready to film by the 12th, when I'm getting done with my three jobs to relax but mainly work on this project.

GoPro on its way! And a preview of things to come

Purchased my GoPro motorsports edition tonight! It's really a shame I couldn't get it in a store, just because a friend is visiting with a motorcycle that would be fun to play around with. Oh well. On the plus side, I'm saving 50 bucks through Amazon. Now if I can just find the Final Cut Pro my parents got me with my laptop...
These guys in the video have the right idea. This is a lot like what I'm shooting for. Some shots I would like to do differently. An example is the shot from inside looking at the mirror--I don't really like that one, I would just put it outside. I really like the wheel-well shot though.
I'll be writing tonight, maybe I'll get enough done to feel like I can post something. If not, I'll post an old piece I've done since I haven't posted any writing in awhile.

Turn your volume up.

While I'm still unsure if this will make it to Cruise/Moonlit's soundtrack, I think it would make for an excellent chase scene or even a fight scene of some type. Either way, this is pretty sick.

The (very possible) opening song in Cruise/Moonlit

This is a recent favorite of mine. A great throwback at the classic 80's synth, this will work well with the opening, specifically the shots I want happening. The 80's revival songs in Cruise/Moonlit will show the past.

I'm officially writing Cruise

I've started the screenplay tonight and already have what will amount to around 4 minutes of screentime. It won't be until I hit page 10 or so that I post some of the screenplay, just so I'm not over-posting. This is very exciting! In around a week, I might get the camera if I see while school shopping. I'm looking for the motor-sports version though, so I might not find it.
Just another small note on Cruise...I'm considering a new title, "Moonlit" and debating if that's cliché or not. It would really fit Archer's character.

Deadmau5 will be in Cruise...a lot

In general, the soundtrack will be mostly electronic music like Deadmau5...good beats with catchy riffs, great for driving.
This song will most likely fit in nicely when Archer goes for his first drive after he returns to school. He'll be contemplating until the "drop" at 2:35, when he decides to drive again, and fast. This will also go well with slow motion, if I chose to do so.

Cruise Pitch

            The main character, Archer, is recovering from a recent single-car accident in his hometown. His girlfriend, who was his only passenger, was killed while he was left unscathed. Though no charges were filled against Archer, he knows there should have been. Ever since he was a boy he has been obsessed with speed and taking risks—he just took one too many the night of the accident. He feels guilty enough that he gives up driving as a personal punishment.

            The film begins with Archer returning to college for his final year. His social skills have been seriously affected, even around his close friends. His depression worsens, while his desire to drive increases. He goes to the local racetrack and decides to start driving again.

            After his first night drive, his friends take him to a local club, where he first sees Sadie, his future love interest, but doesn’t approach her.

            Archer goes on another drive, this one longer and more daring.

            Several students approach Archer the next day, saying he would be good for a job that’s opened up recently. They tell him to meet at the club where his friends took him. He goes that night and meets Seth, the college’s “go-to” drug dealer, who wants to expand his operation and needs a drug runner to travel to Philadelphia at night. Archer is hesitant, but Sadie enters the room and takes a seat next to Seth, who immediately treats her poorly. Archer takes the job.

            With each drug run, Archer cuts it closer and to getting caught by both the law and rival operations who have taken notice or use the same route. He starts making money, but doesn’t get flashy so people aren’t suspicious. Sadie notices him in the club. His grades are suffering.

            When he gets the chance, he asks Sadie on a drive. A relationship begins to grow. Archer starts defending Sadie when he sees Seth for payment and jobs. Seth notices this and sets Archer up, telling police and letting rival operations know he’s picking up a “large” payload on his next run. Tension builds on his way to Philadelphia as he notices extra law enforcement along his route and several suspicious cars following him. 

           

            Action/Drama/Musical. Very stylistic, especially with the night drives. Pacing can be altered with drives. Dependant on music during action sequences and drives. Limited amounts of dialogue make the action and soundtrack do more work. Camera work drastically changes from drives to normal scenes—lots of slow motion, motion shots, tracking shots with drives, while camera stays still during normal shots.

Sorry I can't let the ending be released, partially because it isn't finalized and partially because I don't want it spoiled. And remember, this is still very much in the works.

            

Music and Writing/Cruise Info

All writing comes from the author, sure, but the author has a lot of help. I'll get more into this another time, but for right now, I want to focus on one of my biggest influences: music.

I've always been involved with music, from playing, listening, and even creating some original compositions. It's another one of my favorite things besides writing. So why not combine them?

I have everything from trailer music to apocalyptic metal of my ipod that I'll listen to in order to get into the mood or deeper into the scene/chapter/stanza I'm working on. As I'm working on a piece, I think it will be cool to post what I'm listening to and explain why, along with suggesting some good writing music to anyone who's interested.

My main project right now is a short film, "Cruise," which will be filmed when I get back to school and written over the summer and even as I film. The thing you may not expect--

It's a MUSICAL.

Yep.

A MUSICAL.

Anyone who knows me will be scratching their heads right now. I'll explain it in more detail later, but I'm calling it a "new breed" of the musical form as most people know it ("Sound of Music," recently "Rock of Ages"). It's not going to include singing. Instead, the pacing will be adjusted according to what song is playing. There will be a lot of driving scenes that have no dialogue whatsoever, just music and ambient noises. It will make the action do all the work showing things and won't depend on dialogue nearly as much as most of my pieces do.

In addition to showing plot details, the pitch, and scenes straight from the script from Cruise, I'm going to include the potential soundtrack as well. It should provide for an interesting take on the film. I'll make them separate posts, though, and explain why I chose the song, when it's going to play, and to what effect.

I'm back

I realize I've left this untouched for far too long. I've been very busy with finals, a trip to Hawaii, and now 3 jobs at once, so I haven't had a lot of time to write. Well I'm making time. I'll be posting old and new material alike from now on (old meaning from the last couple semesters), hopefully at least something each day. This should also help motivate me to write once I get home from work at around 11 at night.

I'll announce a couple things:
I will be purchasing a GoPro Motorsports edition camera for my film currently called "Cruise." The script will be written over the summer and filming will start once I get back to school. More on this later...I should have a developed pitch written soon.
The second and third chapter of The Quietside are "done" (for now, at least) and will be posted soon. Unfortunately, this project might get put on the backburner for at least awhile.
Short stories will be a large focus for me for the next several months, as I will be writing several in hopes of submitting and getting published in an off-campus publication.
These short stories (possibly) include: "Fostertown", "Harvest", "The Dead, Dead West", "Prefab", and "Unjustified/Condemned." That's a lot, so only a couple will actually get written. I'll probably end up writing pitches or outlines for them though. More on those later.


I hope that these random thoughts/ideas/concepts/complaints/suggestions/epiphanies will be enough to keep people interested.