GOLDEN EYEBALL DIARY
10-2-04--The movie is now online! Very special thanks to my good friend, Brian Young for hosting the film, as well as tweaking the sound and picture. This is a lo-res version, but I plan to have a much crisper version online in the future. I hope you enjoy it!
In other terrific new, Mr. Ric Loya has contacted me, and agreed to an on-camera interview about the making of RotGE!
9-19-04--I'm currently waiting on word where the movie will be hosted. However, I put together a trailer. Here ya go:
9-14-04--Mr. Poe's Morgue had to be completely unearthed and moved. Right now, only the ROTGE page is fully active. Now for the real news:
RAIDERS of the GOLDEN EYEBALL:SE was completed September 12th! I'm currently in negotiations to have it available online very soon!
9-1-04--I've completed 3/4 of the movie, and am currently sweetening the sound effects. The new ending was shot a couple weeks ago, and it came out great! I may also have a trailer out soon, but I haven't decided on that yet. In the meantime, a few more screenshots:
8-3-04--I may have to drop the idea of making DVDs for now. My computer just isn't up to making one at the quality I want. But my pal Brian Young, video compression wizard extrordinaire, will help me eventually make the DVDs! For now, I'm concentrating on a downloadable 352x240 version.
I'm currently working on the sound and one more green screen shot. A new ending has presented itself, sort of a cross between the "ROTLA" ending and "X-Files", featuring the return of Col. Bob! For now, here's a few more production shots of inserts that were filmed a few weeks ago:
7-20-04--Sorry about the long delay in updates. Production on the ROTGE:SE was stalled because I took a new job recently. My schedule is now stabilized, so I can now resume production. I have a couple miniature sets to complete which will only be seen in the final product for a few seconds.
6-13-04--The final live insert shot was completed today. Very special thanks to my nephew Lawrence. His face won't be seen, but his arms and legs were integral to making this special edition! Below are comparison shots between Frank and Lawrence:
6-9-04--Filmed all but one "live action" scenes this past weekend with my nephew Lawrence standing in for Frank (Indiana Jones). All went incredibly well. There's only one scene I'd like to reshoot, but other than that, things are moving swiftly. I completed the beginning titles, and the first half of the movie has been re-cut with the new scenes. (No sound FX yet)
5-31-04--Excellent shoot! We filmed the inserts for the Martial Artist today in a park in Cerritos with Matt Ursin. He's a MA instructor from the San Fernando Valley who teaches Hapkido, Taekwondo, Iaido and Nunchaku. Great guy; Matt didn't mind the absurd dialogue or the silly things he had to do in the scene! Check out his website.
Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the rest of the inserts today. My nephew Lawrence will be assisting me with these as time permits on the upcoming weekends. June is VERY busy with real-life goings on. Stay tuned!
5-28-04--Many insert shots completed, a couple more to be filmed this Memorial Day. I've recruited a Martial Arts instructor to recreate one more scene that I felt needed replacing. More info after the shoot!
5-19-04--A few test shots have been filmed, but these need to be redone. The real stuff kicks into high gear this weekend. And the final "live action" prop was completed tonight: the "tile floor trap" that protects the Golden Eyeball!
That scene REALLY needed to be replaced, because in the original film, we were in a hurry, and all I had was a orange piece of paper for Indy to step on at the last minute!
5-10-04--The main star, the Golden Eyeball (2004) is complete!
The clay dried out more than I thought it would, and cracked all over the ball as it dried. I decided to leave it be, as it looks like an ancient artifact now! I cheated a bit and updated it from its look originally. But in the film, the Golden Eyeball never had a close-up. But it will now! Filming the insert shots will begin next week.
5-7-04--Better news! I sought the help of a collaborator on the map, since my Flash skills are still primitive. An After Effects FX wizard named "Zamboni" has completed the map sequences with amazing results! I'm currently working on recreating the Golen Eyeball itself. Originally, it was a styrofoam ball painted yellow. While I can't suddenly make it a shiny gold plated ball since it won't match the old footage, I am subtley updating the styrofoam ball technique!
4-30-04--Good news! I've learned Flash enough to do a basic Indy map. I still couldn't put it together with the tweening, which would have saved a lot of time, but it still works!
4-25-04--Making good headway into learning Flash. I may stray off my gameplan and start two more props today. I have a more definite timeline for the finish of the project; it must be before October of this year. This won't be a problem at all. The folks at Indygear.com are having an annual get-together on the Queen Mary in Long Beach in November. I want to pass out DVDs there, and make sure to give one to a particular attendee: Chris Strompolos. He's the guy, along with a few friends who also made an Indy Jones movie in 1982. His film has since become a cult hit. Here's an article about it:
'Lost Ark,' Resurrected
4-20-04--I've suspended any more prop making for the time being in order to concentrate on my Flash learning skills. Making the map animation is important for two major transitions in the movie.
4-19-04--First prop remake complete! In order to fix an old jump cut scene that didn't work, I need to insert a hand-off scene of the Golden Eyeball map from Colonel Bob to Indy. The original "map" was a stone tablet reproduction I borrowed from the Anthropology class. We taped a big "eye" to it as a joke.
Instead of reproducing an exact replica, I decided to make something more in tune with the movie itself, that included Indy and Pepe's trek through the jungle, and their excursion through the cave that leads to the Golden Eyeball. It will match the old prop easily, as it will now only be seen in medium shots.
4-16-04--Resigned myself to the fact that I must learn Flash in order to make the map scenes that show Indy's flight to and from Peru! I've also decided to use the scenes from the unfinished sequel as a "coming soon" trailer for the sequel to "Golden Eyeball". Of course, it will never come soon, but its a good way to get those scenes out there instead of never using them.
4-14-04--I've begun collecting materials and new props for the movie's new insert shots. I've been asking many questions on the various movie making message boards, and am still trying to contact Frank. No answer from Ric Loya or the lead on Rocco.
4-1-04--Still no success in reaching Frank. I've begun re-storyboarding the movie with new inserts and sound effect cues in a notebook I take to work.
3-28-04--Sent an e-mail to Ric Loya today.
3-27-04--Sent an e-mail to a possible lead on Rocco Garcia. Hope to hear something from "Pepe" soon! I've been calling Frank's number, but so far, no luck. I've collected most of the foley and action sound effects that I want to add to ROTGE.
3-20-04--I talked to Rudy Jimenez this week. He's Frank's cousin, and was also featured in the ill-fated "Raiders of the House of Death". I haven't spoken to Frank in about 15 years, and I confirmed Frank's contact info with Rudy.
3-15-04--Digitized "Golden Eyeball" to practice with on the Movie Studio program