Standing Firm : Blog

Since we started shooting, the edit has been in constant development. We logged the footage as we shot the film to catch mistakes early. Also we wanted to see how we were doing, and really just for overall comfort so we wouldn’t find out months later we made a mistake we can’t fix. (weather being one of those things).

So here we are, with the edit in a form I wouldn’t call “done,” but not in a form I would call “busted.” There is some tightening to do on scenes edited months ago that haven’t gotten much review since then. What I mean by tightening is removing unneeded shots, and pushing the pace of each scene (as needed) to a faster pace. Dead space is something that can make a film really boring if there is a poorly edited scene or a lot of them. In a film with lots of dialog, there is a need to keep the pace (unless the story calls for a slowdown) so we are trying to find those scenes and adjusting them as needed.

Things are moving along. There is some pretty big possibilities that could be coming our way. Regardless of what happened in LA there is (oddly enough) an even bigger opportunity that presented itself just a day ago. I can’t tell you what exactly but lets just say you can’t shoot much higher before you have to start coming back down and settling somewhere less ideal.

If you all out there want to know what you can do for us the simple answer is pray. Pray that we get the films edit moving along quickly towards a form more worthy of a first time viewing by myself and Kevin. We want to at least get the edit in a form that it can be watched beginning to end (besides sound issues or temporary music tracks, or small inserts needed). I am more excited for that moment than I am any other, even a premiere. I want to be there (and I’m Blessed enough to be that person) when for the first time we get to see what God did, and where he REALLY has been steering this film and its story in the last 6 months of shooting. Very exciting!

OK here is the deal. We have a new trailer cut together for all of you out there. Excited? So are we. The trailer has been shown to many select people for feedback and tweaks and we have something we are really happy with. One slight hang up though. The music used towards the end of the trailer that practically carries its emotional tone will cost us a little bit of money. Problem being, that money doesn’t exist. I wont give you the quote because that isn’t important and is confidential information between us and the licensing company.

What can you do about it? Well there is always the option of donating. We don’t want to push that agenda as much as the next one. We want you to PRAY. PRAY PRAY PRAY. Pray that the amount needed would show up in some way. We don’t have the amount needed and need God to bring it for us to use the song.

After a certain point if nothing happens we will recut the trailer to something we can use. That’ll just prolong the trailer release as we are really trying to concentrate on getting the actual film put together. Trailers are a whole new ball-game in terms of their complexity and making them effective. We also have a big press opportunity coming up I wont shed details of now but it will be big for us, the biggest we will probably get until many many months from now. We can recut the trailer, but God can do anything right? If this is the trailer he wants us to use, the money will show up. If not…then we recut it.

Either way ask God to bring us the answer and quickly, ideally before the big press opportunity. Having the new trailer debut along with it would be extremely beneficial.

Lets see what God does, he could have something up his sleeve.

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UPDATES:

12/05/08 - We currently have 26% of the needed funds!
12/07/08 - We currently have 45% of the needed funds!!

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about all you loyal Blog subscribers and readers

The film is not wrapped yet, we are attempting to schedule the last of the last right now. December as you can imagine causes issues for scheduling, but what month so far hasn’t? Don’t worry we’ll be done soon, I’ve said it before but there really isn’t any other word to use. It’s all very small stuff so we should get it done quickly.

Post-Production on the film is in full swing. What does that mean for you? Well once the picture is officially wrapped we will be creating an entirely new blog directly on the Standing Firm website to serve as our main blog from end of Production all the way until whatever ends up happening with the film (release, premiere, distribution, news, etc.). We look forward to really beefing up the inside info about the film as Post gets going really intensely. What is involved in Post-Production? Eh not too much, just editing, sound mixing and recording, ADR, foley, the score (looking forward to sharing small bits of this in the future), Visual Effects (yes we have a few to do surprisingly…it seems like the fun never ends), Color Correction, Behind the Scenes content, DVD Menus, DVD Artwork, a new completed final trailer, Final Encoding and Mastering to DVD. There are lots of subcategories included in there but I wont mention what those are.What we will try and do as Post-Prod goes along is give you an insight into what goes into Post-Production by visiting each of the corresponding topics. Hopefully the new blog will be a place where you can learn quite a bit about the technical side of filmmaking if you don’t know much already, and for those who already know a lot…maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two.

You’ll be surprised to know the entire film (capture files, Final Cut Pro project, posters, website, encoded web files, audio wavs, etc.) is only reaching bout 520GB as of today. Not a lot considering the length of film we are creating (90 minutes as a goal). Yes we are backing it up, don’t worry.

Till next time…

Anyone who’s ever seen a movie, made a movie, ever wanted to be involved in a movie in anyway…knows it takes funding to make that happen. Some films more than others but regardless, funding is important. The Lord has been faithful in the last year to allow us to raise the funds needed to shoot our film.

We had a large shipment of equipment arrive just days ago with lenses, sound equipment, monitors, cleaning equipment, audio cables, reflectors and lights, and all things in between. God has truly Blessed us and we are grateful to those who donated to help us get to our goal. We now have another…

Post-Production can include lots of fees, all of which we are currently not able to full-fill. Please if you are able, support us and aid in our films completion by making a small donation. The amount given is not important, the heart behind it is.

If your not able to donate, thats ok Please pray for us however, that our film would roll into shooting time prepared and that all things would go well.

Thanks everyone! Your support is greatly appreciated!