Monthly Scoop: September 2012

With August over, it is finally time to call it a wrap on the Ashes of Man web-series.  It had a good run, bringing in over 450 views since the trailer aired back in June.  A few production photos will be posted on Stranger Things’ Facebook page shortly, but then that will be the end of that. 

It is definitely time to move onto something new.  What that is exactly is anyone’s guess.  As of right now, I have one of two avenues I am considering pursuing.  I am torn as to which I will choose.  If I can do justice to both simultaneously, I will.  I doubt it though.

The big question is “Movies, or Writing?” 

Ashes of Man: Outtakes

Ashes of Man would not be complete without some form of behind-the-scenes video. 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of that kind of footage taken.  Nor was I inclined to create any new material to accompany what footage we had.  Not that it wouldn’t have been fun to have gotten commentary from the various cast and crew, but after eight months of working on Ashes I do not want to spend any more time rehashing the material all over again.  It’s time to move on to something new.

There were, however, plenty of mistakes: 35+ minutes of mistakes, to be precise.  I compressed it down to under ten minutes to make it more digestible.  Some of it was only funny to us; some required more context than the clips themselves provided; still others were redundant.  What remains is the best of the best.  I hope you enjoy the gag reel.

Ashes of Man: Part III

Stranger Things Studios presents the third and final installment of Ashes of Man.

Up until this point, Wastelander has roamed the remnants of the Twin Cities metropolitan area in his attempt to return to whatever is left of his home.  Meanwhile, “Burlap” has locked himself away inside a garage to escape a pack of cannibals.  Their incessant attempts to break in, along with his gradual starvation, sleep deprivation, and the pervasive hypothermia, has brought Burlap to the furthermost limits of his sanity.

Ashes of Man draws to a violent conclusion as Wastelander and the trapped character “Burlap” at last come into contact with one another in this depiction of nuclear fallout. 

Ashes of Man: Part II

Stranger Things Studios’ film, Ashes of Man, continues the tale of nuclear apocalypse in this second installment.  Part I left off with the unnamed “Wastelander,” in his desperate attempt to survive, murdering a rural couple in cold blood in order to wait out the Armageddon within their fallout shelter.

Part II follows Wastelander as he scavenges the wastelands for necessities.  Meanwhile, and elsewhere in the ruins of the Twin Cities, another man finds himself hounded by a far more tangible and terrifying threat.

Ashes of Man: Part I

At last, here is the long awaited first installment of Stranger Things Studios’ film, Ashes of Man.

Ashes of Man follows the plight of two separate characters as they attempt to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the American Heartland.  Part I revolves around the onset of a nuclear World War III, and how one of the characters attempts to survive.

Ashes of Man

Set in the post-apocalyptic heartland of the United States, Ashes of Man follows the plight of two separate characters as they try to survive in the nuclear fallout of World War III.  Without the convenience of modern technology, government, of even military protection, mankind has dissolved into a cut-throat race of savages, raiders, murderers, and worse…

Due to its length, Ashes of Man is divided into three parts.  

Here are the links to both the videos, and the blog posts dedicated to each:

Movie Trailer    Watch on YouTube

Part I       Watch on YouTube

Part II      Watch on YouTube

Part III     Watch on YouTube

Outtakes   Watch on YouTube

*Due to a major life event occurring sometime in August, I cannot promise to hold myself to these dates.  I will, however, do my upmost to try.

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Monthly Scoop: August 2012

The main event of August for you, fellow fan and reader, is Stranger Things Studios’ film, Ashes of Man.  Even as I write the monthly scoop, the last of the footage is rendering itself on my other computer.

For me, however, this mark the end of the project.  The final product is the best I know how to make at my current skill level; everyone who has been privy to any of the final footage has been impressed; but I could live a happy life if I never have to watch any of it again.  It would take a cult fanatic months of unemployment to watch the flick as many times as I have.

The Stranger Things Triad

For of the release of Ashes of Man, Stranger Things Studios has been given a whole new look!

I’ve spent the better part of two weeks messing with URLs, fighting with YouTube, designing backgrounds, and formatting pages to transform Stranger Things Studios and the JonnyD Weekly into a three-piece, online entity.

Here’s all the big changes:

Monthly Scoop: July 2012

AUGUST 4TH.  That’s the big day, the release date for Ashes of Man!  Mark it down on your calendars.  Clear out a chunk of your evening.  Make sure you’re near a computer.  You want to watch this.  By that date, Ashes of Man will have been eight months in the making.  At last, you’ll be able to see what all World War III, post apocalyptic to-do has been about. 

Ashes of Man: Summer Sets

After six months, filming of Ashes of Man is finally finished!  In whole, we filmed from the northern edges of the Twin Cities, to as far south as Farmington, and as far east as Hastings.  If things had played out differently, we would have pushed into Wisconsin, or even gone as far south as Red Wing!  We were up as early as 5:00am for some sets, and didn’t get home from others until 11:30pm.  We recorded in temperatures as high as 95 with heat indexes over 100; and as cold as 2 degrees, to say nothing of the wind chill.

Ashes of Man: Movie Trailer

At long last, after months of filming, editing, and waiting, I present to you the trailer to Ashes of Man.  

Set in the post-apocalyptic heartland of the United States, Ashes of Man follows the plight of two separate characters as they try to survive in the nuclear fallout of World War III.  Without the convenience of modern technology, government, or even military protection, mankind has dissolved into a cut-throat race of savages, raiders, murderers, and worse… 

Monthly Scoop: June 2012

Look at that charmer wearing a celebratory hat.  Sure, it might be a dunce hat for failing epically during a video game football tournament.  But it might as well be on my head to celebrate the one year anniversary of the JonnyD Weekly.

Monthly Scoop: May 2012

I feel like a junky who’s about to be whacked for not paying back his debt.  “I swear I’m working on the movie.  I’ll get something on YouTube for sure this month!  Please, you gotta believe me!  No, no don’t shoot me.  Noooooooo!.....”

And then its swimmin’ with the fishes for me…

But let’s talk about the movie quick, along with another announcement I have.

Monthly Scoop: April 2012

I don’t really have much to say for the Monthly Scoop this time around.

So instead I’ll just leave you with this funny picture.

Monthly Scoop: March 2012

If I had to sum up how I’m feeling right about now, “exhausted” is the word I’d go with.  Physically, mentally, emotionally exhausted.  I’m not really complaining, but the last half of February went by in a drifting haze, where it was hard to wake up with the alarm clock even after eight hours of sleep; at the end of the day I couldn’t account for getting anything done; and instead of midnight, I was ready for bed before my timer-lights clicked off at ten.

Ashes of Man: Winter Sets

After an intense combat sequence that took a solid 8.5 hours of filming in single-digit temperatures, we have finished filming the winter unit of our movie, Ashes of Man.  It has been quite a ride.  I wish I could tell you guys everything, but there are so many stories.

The first set we filmed was a learning experience for me, let me tell you!  Yes, I’ve made some YouTube films before, but I’ve never really had to work with anyone outside of a few helpers.  This first set was the first time I had to learn to man up and tell people what to do, actually direct them.  I did a bad job; that was to be expected.  Yet, I think I’ve gotten a lot better at this whole thing.

But it all worked out, and we had a good time, and that’s all that matters.  And I've learned a lot, for example:  

Monthly Scoop: February 2012

There is only one thing going on right now; one project I’m working on, have been working on, will be continuing to work on.  Only one.

Ashes of Man

Filming for the movie has taken up all of my time, so much so that I even missed a weekly post this January.  We film every weekend, one day for sure, sometimes two.  Mid-week some of the team meets for set planning and preparation.  I'm in constant contact with everyone, trying to coordinate cast and crew for the next set.  My nights free I am learning how to  make my new video editing software to work; or learning the ins and outs of the new camera; trying to master crisp, clear audio; running test videos; storyboarding the next shoot, etc.

But it’s the best way to learn to be a director.  Crash and burn.  On the Job Training.  Trail and Error.

Monthly Scoop: January 2012

Everyone’s putting out their “Look Back at 2011” lists.  Not me.  Not this guy.  I’m not falling into that cliché!

However, I will do the Monthly Scoop, because that’s what we do here at the JonnyD Weekly.

A lot’s going on, and its all centralized around Stranger Things Studios lately.

StrangerThings Studios

Thanks to a lot of generous Christmas presents, and gift cards from some close friends saying “put this towards your movie making,” as well as some of my own spending from my holiday money, Stranger Things Studios is now sitting on a big, warm, steamy pile of potential.

Upcoming STS Film: Ashes of Man

I just finished the script to my third movie! It's called Ashes of Man.  Now the fun begins: picking out a cast and crew.

Ashes of Man is intended to be Stranger Things Studios’ third movie. However, it is quite an undertaking.  I’m estimating it at 8-12 minutes when all is said and done.  It’ll be shot in roughly 11 outdoors locations, 4 indoor locations, plus dozens of setting shots throughout the cities.