Apr/18/2009 11:16
Are you ready for some EPIC stuff?! Panzer Corps the complete film is on Panzer Corps exclusively!!!! That is the biggest news, so go watch it! And if you have and you like it (say like ohhh 8 stars worth then go rate it on IMDB) 
Also I added a ton of new things to the site:
-reordered the main pages to what you guys are most interested in
-new particles tutorial
-new get organized tutorial
-new branding tutorial
-new music tutorial
-updated the film tutorials page
-updated the sound effects page
-renamed the blog
-NEW production videos (that are old) uploaded in behind the scenes
Added “tutorials” or fancy links to Video Copilot for some of awesome war film tutorials. I wish i knew about this stuff when I was getting started!
-after effects tut
-motion tracking
-compositing in after effects
-blood slatter
-realistic gun blow back
-simulated light
Added ugly annotations on my youtube videos pointing to panzercorps.com and the complete film.
I will be canceled my Personal and Panzer Corps Myspace account on myspace... Damn I need a social networks tutorial. (just get a film page on facebook and if you blog with blogger you can link them, and twitter). Anyways, I have meet some great people on Myspace on the Panzer Corps page, but I Never check it. All things must die.
On a sad note, all the black boxes are ads that haven’t started being ads yet. I really didn’t want to advertise on this site,
On a good note Panzer Corps made it to round two in the Dances With Films Festival. That would a great premiere of the film!!!!
AND! I wrote the mega tutorial script showing how I made the effects for the film, hopefully I can get that done this week. After that I am considering this site Done.
Also I added a ton of new things to the site:
-reordered the main pages to what you guys are most interested in
-new particles tutorial
-new get organized tutorial
-new branding tutorial
-new music tutorial
-updated the film tutorials page
-updated the sound effects page
-renamed the blog
-NEW production videos (that are old) uploaded in behind the scenes
Added “tutorials” or fancy links to Video Copilot for some of awesome war film tutorials. I wish i knew about this stuff when I was getting started!
-after effects tut
-motion tracking
-compositing in after effects
-blood slatter
-realistic gun blow back
-simulated light
Added ugly annotations on my youtube videos pointing to panzercorps.com and the complete film.
I will be canceled my Personal and Panzer Corps Myspace account on myspace... Damn I need a social networks tutorial. (just get a film page on facebook and if you blog with blogger you can link them, and twitter). Anyways, I have meet some great people on Myspace on the Panzer Corps page, but I Never check it. All things must die.
On a sad note, all the black boxes are ads that haven’t started being ads yet. I really didn’t want to advertise on this site,
On a good note Panzer Corps made it to round two in the Dances With Films Festival. That would a great premiere of the film!!!!
AND! I wrote the mega tutorial script showing how I made the effects for the film, hopefully I can get that done this week. After that I am considering this site Done.
Apr/11/2009 13:18
I’m a Dick:
It has almost been two months since my last post. In the meantime I have received some awesome emails asking where I have been and what is happening with the film. The bummer is nothing is really happening with the film, and that has lead me to do a few things. Let me break this up.
Panzer Corps is entered into 10 more festivals, I don’t plan on entering any more. I’m done sinking money into the film.
Good Plan:
After I hear back from Dances With Films (the next festival we’re entered), I am going to post the whole film free for viewing! Yep, time to let this little bird fly away (that was a crappy metaphor).
Okay on the flip side I am going to monetize the site, meaning throwing advertisements on each page. Yay for ugly ads..... not really. I haven’t made a penny off this film, not one. I have spent about $5000 and the website costs me each month. I would love nothing more to sell this war film to some studio (HA!) but the Easter Bunny didn’t poop that golden brick for us. So, if the website can make about $8.00 a month I will leave it up for FOREVERS! Yes, I pluralized that.
Evil Plan:
The plot thickens. (this is where I divulge my evil plan) This is evil, check it. When you come to panzercorps.com there will be the trailer (and some ads), then there will be a big link that says “See the whole film”, you click to see the whole film (and some ads), THEN there is another link to a mega tutorial (more about this in a second), next you click that link o see themega tutorial (and more ads!). Muuuhahahaha Muuhahahaha MUUUUAHAHAHAHA!....
More pages that are viewed = more money made = panzercorps.com staying alive. HOORAY everyone wins!
The only thing I don’t know is if the film will be hosted on youtube or vimeo. I prefer to keep it on youtube to strengthen the Panzer Corps channel, but I’m not sure if there is still the 10 minute limit.
OH HELL:
So i keep promising a mega-tutorial on how I did the effects. I want to do this, I Need to do this yet I just can’t get myself to sit down and freaking do it. I’ve planned it over and over again. I will do this, I will do this. By God, I WILL DO THIS! *viking yell!*
Totally off subject:
I’m talking to the young filmmakers that maybe reading this. DO NOT START SMOKING! I’m 31 and I started smoking in college in film class because it seemed like every artist was doing it. Just don’t.
1. It is really hard to quit, i’ve done it about 6 times.
2. EXPENSIVE, say you smoke a pack a day. After a year you could have bought a nice HD camera.
3. Girls hate it! There are some smoking girls out there, but what happens is you date them for a few months then they decide to quit. Then they Nag nag nag nag you to quit for months and months. This has happened to me a few times. Sucks.
4. You smell like ass.
5. Your car smells like ass.
6. Your ass smells like ass......? anyways
7. Your actually less “cool” in the long run. (your never really cool actually)
8. Your weaker now that you need a crutch to get you through he day. No one likes a pansie.
9. The whole kiling you aspect.
10. And quiting sucks ding dong and it costs More money.
I’m a week into quitting and I’m so on edge I could punch cute anythings in the face. Sorry for the rant, just learn from my mistakes.
Moving on:
If you google War Film we are still on the first page!!! AWESOME
Panzercorps.com is still getting about 10,000 page views a month from around the world! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys spend more time in the tutorial section than anywhere else on the site.
Africa is the least interested continent in the film. Oh well *snap*
The main keyword that people use to find the site (on accident or organically) is Cheap Prop Guns. As you know, buy a cheap airsoft gun and paint it.
The second main page is Blood. You guys are messed up! Guns and blood.... That would be a good movie title GUNS & BLOOD! Starring- Vin Diesel and a naked Scarlett Johansson (thats why I would see it!) annnnnd Seth Rogen who shoots (with a Gun) Vin Diesel in the opening credits (who bleeds to death) ((The Blood)) then makes a funny joke, we all laugh, then it’s three hours of naked Scarlett doing various things, like brushing her teeth.... perhaps like also like making pancakes or whatever. End credits- BLOCK BUSTER! Best idea EVER!
Wrapping up:
Okay, keep your eyes peeled in the next month, the posting date for Dances with Films is one month from Today. Shortly after (depending if the film gets in or not) I will post the entire film.
Thank you for so much for coming here to learn about filmmaking and to see our film!
It has almost been two months since my last post. In the meantime I have received some awesome emails asking where I have been and what is happening with the film. The bummer is nothing is really happening with the film, and that has lead me to do a few things. Let me break this up.
Panzer Corps is entered into 10 more festivals, I don’t plan on entering any more. I’m done sinking money into the film.
Good Plan:
After I hear back from Dances With Films (the next festival we’re entered), I am going to post the whole film free for viewing! Yep, time to let this little bird fly away (that was a crappy metaphor).
Okay on the flip side I am going to monetize the site, meaning throwing advertisements on each page. Yay for ugly ads..... not really. I haven’t made a penny off this film, not one. I have spent about $5000 and the website costs me each month. I would love nothing more to sell this war film to some studio (HA!) but the Easter Bunny didn’t poop that golden brick for us. So, if the website can make about $8.00 a month I will leave it up for FOREVERS! Yes, I pluralized that.
Evil Plan:
The plot thickens. (this is where I divulge my evil plan) This is evil, check it. When you come to panzercorps.com there will be the trailer (and some ads), then there will be a big link that says “See the whole film”, you click to see the whole film (and some ads), THEN there is another link to a mega tutorial (more about this in a second), next you click that link o see themega tutorial (and more ads!). Muuuhahahaha Muuhahahaha MUUUUAHAHAHAHA!....
More pages that are viewed = more money made = panzercorps.com staying alive. HOORAY everyone wins!
The only thing I don’t know is if the film will be hosted on youtube or vimeo. I prefer to keep it on youtube to strengthen the Panzer Corps channel, but I’m not sure if there is still the 10 minute limit.
OH HELL:
So i keep promising a mega-tutorial on how I did the effects. I want to do this, I Need to do this yet I just can’t get myself to sit down and freaking do it. I’ve planned it over and over again. I will do this, I will do this. By God, I WILL DO THIS! *viking yell!*
Totally off subject:
I’m talking to the young filmmakers that maybe reading this. DO NOT START SMOKING! I’m 31 and I started smoking in college in film class because it seemed like every artist was doing it. Just don’t.
1. It is really hard to quit, i’ve done it about 6 times.
2. EXPENSIVE, say you smoke a pack a day. After a year you could have bought a nice HD camera.
3. Girls hate it! There are some smoking girls out there, but what happens is you date them for a few months then they decide to quit. Then they Nag nag nag nag you to quit for months and months. This has happened to me a few times. Sucks.
4. You smell like ass.
5. Your car smells like ass.
6. Your ass smells like ass......? anyways
7. Your actually less “cool” in the long run. (your never really cool actually)
8. Your weaker now that you need a crutch to get you through he day. No one likes a pansie.
9. The whole kiling you aspect.
10. And quiting sucks ding dong and it costs More money.
I’m a week into quitting and I’m so on edge I could punch cute anythings in the face. Sorry for the rant, just learn from my mistakes.
Moving on:
If you google War Film we are still on the first page!!! AWESOME
Panzercorps.com is still getting about 10,000 page views a month from around the world! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys spend more time in the tutorial section than anywhere else on the site.
Africa is the least interested continent in the film. Oh well *snap*
The main keyword that people use to find the site (on accident or organically) is Cheap Prop Guns. As you know, buy a cheap airsoft gun and paint it.
The second main page is Blood. You guys are messed up! Guns and blood.... That would be a good movie title GUNS & BLOOD! Starring- Vin Diesel and a naked Scarlett Johansson (thats why I would see it!) annnnnd Seth Rogen who shoots (with a Gun) Vin Diesel in the opening credits (who bleeds to death) ((The Blood)) then makes a funny joke, we all laugh, then it’s three hours of naked Scarlett doing various things, like brushing her teeth.... perhaps like also like making pancakes or whatever. End credits- BLOCK BUSTER! Best idea EVER!
Wrapping up:
Okay, keep your eyes peeled in the next month, the posting date for Dances with Films is one month from Today. Shortly after (depending if the film gets in or not) I will post the entire film.
Thank you for so much for coming here to learn about filmmaking and to see our film!
Feb/01/2009 11:00
WIN! Click below for the full story.
Triple awesome! ToolFarm yesterday, and today this AND Micro Filmmaker reprinted Michele Yamazaki’s story from ToolFarm!!! As you might have guessed Panzer Corps’ won MicroFilmmaker’s February roundup.
Ahhh it feels good to have some pay off for this film. After half a dozen rejections from the top festivals (I was hoping for a miracle) I was feeling down, this is the Perfect “lift me up” that Panzer Corps and I needed. This year is going to be good for the film.
Jan/31/2009 11:34
Jan/13/2009 18:48
Oh Yeah!
Lists,
1. I love them
2. Quicker to write
3. More fun to read
4. .... okay
Jan 13th 2009
1. I have deemed Tuesdays Panzer Corps day for myself, as any filmmakers may know you can drive yourself Nuts thinking about the 10 million things you could do to improved your movie, market and general happiness with your project. Well that can also take a toll on your life. That said (and I have already failed some), Tuesday is going to be the day that I devote to Panzer Corps.
2. Michele from Tool Farm is going to do an interview of Panzer Corps! Tool Farm sells plugins for software packages like After Effects, Final Cut, Shake, ect ect ect and without their site Panzer Corps would be a bunch of guys running around with nothing awesome happening. I’ll post and link to that when it goes up.
3. see below
4. The film tutorials are now split into preproduction, production and post because the list was getting way tooooo long for it’s own good. It is Rad, therefore it is made of Win.
5. Updated the Stock Footage film tutorial under post-production.
6. Updated the film festivals page
7. Updated the film tutorials page under war film tutorials.
Okay, i’m off to answer some questions for Tool Farm (#3 see above). I’ll see you next Tuesday.... This isn’t going to work, I need to add some stuff this weekend. DAMN You Plans!
Lists,
1. I love them
2. Quicker to write
3. More fun to read
4. .... okay
Jan 13th 2009
1. I have deemed Tuesdays Panzer Corps day for myself, as any filmmakers may know you can drive yourself Nuts thinking about the 10 million things you could do to improved your movie, market and general happiness with your project. Well that can also take a toll on your life. That said (and I have already failed some), Tuesday is going to be the day that I devote to Panzer Corps.
2. Michele from Tool Farm is going to do an interview of Panzer Corps! Tool Farm sells plugins for software packages like After Effects, Final Cut, Shake, ect ect ect and without their site Panzer Corps would be a bunch of guys running around with nothing awesome happening. I’ll post and link to that when it goes up.
3. see below
4. The film tutorials are now split into preproduction, production and post because the list was getting way tooooo long for it’s own good. It is Rad, therefore it is made of Win.
5. Updated the Stock Footage film tutorial under post-production.
6. Updated the film festivals page
7. Updated the film tutorials page under war film tutorials.
Okay, i’m off to answer some questions for Tool Farm (#3 see above). I’ll see you next Tuesday.... This isn’t going to work, I need to add some stuff this weekend. DAMN You Plans!
Jan/10/2009 13:09
Panzer Corps, my War Film baby. While waiting for Sundance and Slamdance I became complacent not improving the film and entering festivals. But now I feel on top of it all again (see below).
Oh yeah, I turned 31 yesterday. We went to a Korean karaoke bar in the ghetto of Baltimore. I feel blessed that I didn’t get stabbed. Yay for not being stabbed!
Movie Stuff
1. Still on the first page of google if you search War Film
2. New cut of the film is shorter: more action = more fun
3. Sent a revised copy to SXSW
4. Panzer Corps is on IMDB, currently there are only 4 people listed. The complete listing can take 2 to 4 weeks, once it is fully up I will post a link.
5. I had an awesome conversation with Chirs Holland. He offers a free book (see link below) and film consultations. In my opinion, Totally Worth It!
I got the $99 Shorts Special (he does feature length films as well)
For short films (under 40 minutes) only! Filmmaker receives a written report on his/her film with the following:
* I (Chirs Holland) watch the film and comment on my opinion of its overall festival viability.
* Submission tips and sample cover letter to an upcoming festival of your choice.
* Completed festival pyramid (prioritized festival recommendations as described in my book) with recommended festivals for your film's specific genre and content.
* Suggestions for branding/giveaways/merchandising to do at the festival
In addition, filmmaker receives one hour of phone consultation time. This is a great deal for filmmakers looking to make the most of their short films on the festival circuit.
After receiving the written materials and speaking with him I was filled with great ideas and a direction for my film. I suggest if you buy the package to take notes during the phone conversation, he has a lot to offer! Click the pic below for his site:
Oh yeah, I turned 31 yesterday. We went to a Korean karaoke bar in the ghetto of Baltimore. I feel blessed that I didn’t get stabbed. Yay for not being stabbed!
Movie Stuff
1. Still on the first page of google if you search War Film
2. New cut of the film is shorter: more action = more fun
3. Sent a revised copy to SXSW
4. Panzer Corps is on IMDB, currently there are only 4 people listed. The complete listing can take 2 to 4 weeks, once it is fully up I will post a link.
5. I had an awesome conversation with Chirs Holland. He offers a free book (see link below) and film consultations. In my opinion, Totally Worth It!
I got the $99 Shorts Special (he does feature length films as well)
For short films (under 40 minutes) only! Filmmaker receives a written report on his/her film with the following:
* I (Chirs Holland) watch the film and comment on my opinion of its overall festival viability.
* Submission tips and sample cover letter to an upcoming festival of your choice.
* Completed festival pyramid (prioritized festival recommendations as described in my book) with recommended festivals for your film's specific genre and content.
* Suggestions for branding/giveaways/merchandising to do at the festival
In addition, filmmaker receives one hour of phone consultation time. This is a great deal for filmmakers looking to make the most of their short films on the festival circuit.
After receiving the written materials and speaking with him I was filled with great ideas and a direction for my film. I suggest if you buy the package to take notes during the phone conversation, he has a lot to offer! Click the pic below for his site:
6. Speaking of festivals I got myself up to date with festivals I want to enter, added Chris’s suggestions and sent out four submissions. 2009 is going to be a great year!
7. I'm about to watch the new Indiana Jones, must be better than being stabbed right?!
Jan/03/2009 11:40
Double Oh my Gods (DOMG) ((i made that up))
1st OMG
Adding a film to IMDB is painful. So painful. I'm 100% sure that I screwed up something, I just hope that it passes their inspection in the first pass.
2nd OMG
I exported the new version of Panzer Corps from Final Cut, that took around eight hours. (Here is the OMG part) Now I am exporting the film from After Effects adding the film grain and the conversion to "24p" with Red Giant's Frames, the estimated time is 48 hours! After this finishes then comes encoding the first DVD takes about eight hours (from what i recall). I remember the whole thing taking around 40 hours last time... This time we are looking around 56 hours total to get the first DVD.
PREVAIL DAMNIT!
All that said, once this is finished I'm going to hit the festivals hard again.
I am waiting on:
Cinequest Film Festival (San Jose) - 10-Jan-2009
Boulder International Film Festival - 15-Jan-2009
South by Southwest - 16-Feb-2009
Florida Film Festival - 20-Feb-2009
Ann Arbor Film Festival - 25-Feb-2009
1st OMG
Adding a film to IMDB is painful. So painful. I'm 100% sure that I screwed up something, I just hope that it passes their inspection in the first pass.
2nd OMG
I exported the new version of Panzer Corps from Final Cut, that took around eight hours. (Here is the OMG part) Now I am exporting the film from After Effects adding the film grain and the conversion to "24p" with Red Giant's Frames, the estimated time is 48 hours! After this finishes then comes encoding the first DVD takes about eight hours (from what i recall). I remember the whole thing taking around 40 hours last time... This time we are looking around 56 hours total to get the first DVD.
PREVAIL DAMNIT!
All that said, once this is finished I'm going to hit the festivals hard again.
I am waiting on:
Cinequest Film Festival (San Jose) - 10-Jan-2009
Boulder International Film Festival - 15-Jan-2009
South by Southwest - 16-Feb-2009
Florida Film Festival - 20-Feb-2009
Ann Arbor Film Festival - 25-Feb-2009
Jan/02/2009 20:17
Hello 2009! This is the year Panzer Corps dominates, or at least gets into a festival or two or 50. We will see!
Okay where to begin? Soooo I've needed to tweak the film for quite sometime but I was just plain burned out. After Slamdance and Sundance didn't work out I felt like I needed to get back on the ball. Then I received a comment that the film dragged in the center (Thank you Aidan) so I got to thinking. The pretty b-roll is boring and added NOTHING to the film. So I was able to trim almost two minutes from the film!!! I also did a ton of sound tweaking and added even more folley. Annnnd cleaned up this one 20 second section that I always hated. Here is a timeline of the film.
Old timeline:
open / battle / important talking / boring stuff / fight / break / FIGHT / credits
New timeline:
open / battle / important talking / MEGA FIGHT / credits / adopted by Spielberg / call my dad and give him the bad news
oh sometimes I make myself laugh. Anyways it is a better film. Also Nick Pasqualichio, I finally changed your name in the film, sorry about that!!
----
I just received an email from IMDB/Withoutabox about being accepted to have an IMDB page. Cool! I post that when it is up and live.
----
Stats from June 08 to Jan 1st for panzercorps.com
Top three pages:
1. main page (i think that had to win)
2. tutorials landing page
3. blog
The tutorials combine have way more views than the landing page.
Average time on site: Three minutes, 16 seconds
Top 10 Countries
1. USA
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. Australia
6. Belgium
7. France
8. Finland
9. Netherlands
10. Spain
Top to states:
1. California
2. Texas
3. Maryland
4. Virginia
5. Illinois
6. New York
7. Florida
8. Iowa
9. Pennsylvania
10. Georgia
We have a NEW state in last place (every time I do this that state moves up in the ranking)
Wyoming..try harder. *hug*
----
Youtube
92% male
8% female
Pretty even on age stats until age 55.
30 thousand video views for all the Panzer video together.
----
No more pictures Search Monkey? Wheres the love?!!
----
Alright now I need to export the film, add the film grain, convert to "24p", and encode the first dvd. Last time that was 40 something hours of rendering.
Okay where to begin? Soooo I've needed to tweak the film for quite sometime but I was just plain burned out. After Slamdance and Sundance didn't work out I felt like I needed to get back on the ball. Then I received a comment that the film dragged in the center (Thank you Aidan) so I got to thinking. The pretty b-roll is boring and added NOTHING to the film. So I was able to trim almost two minutes from the film!!! I also did a ton of sound tweaking and added even more folley. Annnnd cleaned up this one 20 second section that I always hated. Here is a timeline of the film.
Old timeline:
open / battle / important talking / boring stuff / fight / break / FIGHT / credits
New timeline:
open / battle / important talking / MEGA FIGHT / credits / adopted by Spielberg / call my dad and give him the bad news
oh sometimes I make myself laugh. Anyways it is a better film. Also Nick Pasqualichio, I finally changed your name in the film, sorry about that!!
----
I just received an email from IMDB/Withoutabox about being accepted to have an IMDB page. Cool! I post that when it is up and live.
----
Stats from June 08 to Jan 1st for panzercorps.com
Top three pages:
1. main page (i think that had to win)
2. tutorials landing page
3. blog
The tutorials combine have way more views than the landing page.
Average time on site: Three minutes, 16 seconds
Top 10 Countries
1. USA
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. Australia
6. Belgium
7. France
8. Finland
9. Netherlands
10. Spain
Top to states:
1. California
2. Texas
3. Maryland
4. Virginia
5. Illinois
6. New York
7. Florida
8. Iowa
9. Pennsylvania
10. Georgia
We have a NEW state in last place (every time I do this that state moves up in the ranking)
Wyoming..try harder. *hug*
----
Youtube
92% male
8% female
Pretty even on age stats until age 55.
30 thousand video views for all the Panzer video together.
----
No more pictures Search Monkey? Wheres the love?!!
----
Alright now I need to export the film, add the film grain, convert to "24p", and encode the first dvd. Last time that was 40 something hours of rendering.
Dec/10/2008 20:09
Dec/07/2008 22:13
Dec/06/2008 12:52
Nov/29/2008 11:10
New side by side effects shot comparison video!
HA! This is the blog from exactly one year ago!
"Still not online Buuuuut making massive updates to the site and film. I "should" have DSL by the 5th. I'm trashing the whole gray look for a simple black and white theme for the website; much more direct and easy on the eyes.... or I'm bored of the gray?. Anyways i live like a monk and drink like a pirate; i need to get out more. Damn the holidays, i guess the movie will be my gal.... pathetic. HA! "
I do have DSL (it sucks *coughVerizon*), I forgot the site was gray with blue highlights (eww), I drank a lot (yeah...), and not having a gal was really the best thing for me at the time. I remember the point where I started the effects, it felt like I had to swim across the Pacific wearing lead shoes. Word to the wise, get someone else to edit and do effects for your film.
HA! This is the blog from exactly one year ago!
"Still not online Buuuuut making massive updates to the site and film. I "should" have DSL by the 5th. I'm trashing the whole gray look for a simple black and white theme for the website; much more direct and easy on the eyes.... or I'm bored of the gray?. Anyways i live like a monk and drink like a pirate; i need to get out more. Damn the holidays, i guess the movie will be my gal.... pathetic. HA! "
I do have DSL (it sucks *coughVerizon*), I forgot the site was gray with blue highlights (eww), I drank a lot (yeah...), and not having a gal was really the best thing for me at the time. I remember the point where I started the effects, it felt like I had to swim across the Pacific wearing lead shoes. Word to the wise, get someone else to edit and do effects for your film.
Nov/28/2008 19:01
Holy shenanigans, I've been off the ball! (Aidan, thank you for calling me out on this!!!) It has been two months since I've posted?! Really.. Simple answer, new gal.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Film Threat! I am so damn slappin' happy Its hard to relate my first feeling's seeing the review. Panzer Corps received 4 our of 5 stars and an awesome review from Gerard Quinn. Film Threat will review films for free and they can be really brutal, so when I saw 4 stars I almost crapped some turkey. I jest. But it took me several attempts to actually read the words on the screen- 4 out of 5 is really really good! Full story is under the Press Kit section or click the logo.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Film Threat! I am so damn slappin' happy Its hard to relate my first feeling's seeing the review. Panzer Corps received 4 our of 5 stars and an awesome review from Gerard Quinn. Film Threat will review films for free and they can be really brutal, so when I saw 4 stars I almost crapped some turkey. I jest. But it took me several attempts to actually read the words on the screen- 4 out of 5 is really really good! Full story is under the Press Kit section or click the logo.
On a similar note I was feeling amazed that I haven't done anything publicly for Panzer Corps in quite some time so I sent the film toMicroFilm Maker to be review (fingers crossed) and Tool Farm (they sell plugins for After Effects, Shake, Nuke, ect) asked for background on the Film so they can write up a story. Got those DVDs out.
Site Updates:
-Added the Film Threat review under Press Kit
-Deleted the Podcast Page until I get that running
-Deleted the FAQ section, it didn't get very many hits and it was ugly.
-Switched out the Behind the Scenes Teasers to YouTube videos
-Moved the Sneak Peek stills to behind the Scenes
Web Stats:
-Still on the first page if you search google for War Film (awesome!)
-Alaska I am proud of you, keep up the great work!
-Wyoming you are dead last in page views, I'm just saying China is doing better...
-Thank you Saint Kitts and Nevis, I hadn't heard of you before!
-We need an ambassador to Greenland. perhaps Vikings...or did they go to Iceland?
Sep/21/2008 12:51
Sep/20/2008 11:29
Putting the new tracking code up really makes a difference in stats. You guys are very interested in the tutorials, in fact the guns and blood pages are the top tutorials. You guys are sick.. just kidding.
New tutorial pages:
Video Sharing- tons of sites to post your trailers ect.
New EPK (electronic press kit) page under the Press section. More will be added to that soon.
New podcast page, I'm still figuring this out.
Todd (the actor who played Kurz) received our posters and post cards which look awesome! Sadly these are not for sale because I need them for festivals. Speaking of that we got rejected from our first festival WOOOHOOO! St. Louis is an Oscar booster festival (very hard to get into) and they got a preliminary version of Panzer Corps, so I was expecting that. Next up on the rejection list is AFI.
New tutorial pages:
Video Sharing- tons of sites to post your trailers ect.
New EPK (electronic press kit) page under the Press section. More will be added to that soon.
New podcast page, I'm still figuring this out.
Todd (the actor who played Kurz) received our posters and post cards which look awesome! Sadly these are not for sale because I need them for festivals. Speaking of that we got rejected from our first festival WOOOHOOO! St. Louis is an Oscar booster festival (very hard to get into) and they got a preliminary version of Panzer Corps, so I was expecting that. Next up on the rejection list is AFI.
Sep/02/2008 01:58
Could not sleep so the trailer is up! (front page) and YouTube has a much better player now. First off it knows that you uploaded a widescreen video and it doesn't squish it and the embed code scales the video inside their player (adding black bars IF necessary). And you can force HD in the embedded player by tacking this in two spots. Thier encode looks pretty good for flash, not perfect but really good. Try to sleep time.
&ap=%2526fmt%3D18
Nifty!
&ap=%2526fmt%3D18
Nifty!
Sep/01/2008 19:24
Updates WOOT!
-New festivals page in the tutorial section.
-Added more stills to the Muzzle Flash Study under tutorials.
-Got rid of the statics page.
-Got rid of the bookmark feature. (more like ugly annoyance)
-Added tracking codes to the sub-pages to I can see what you guys like and don't like.
I took a whole weekend off and I feel behind so I spent Labor Day weekend cutting the trailer together. The trailer is finishing AS WE SPEAK! (and perhaps before I publish this- current time 7:59pm). I really need to start marketing the hell out of this F-er. In short the trailer is like this: Logo,quick line, shooting, quick line, shoooooooting things blowing up, someone talks, more stuff blows up, end logo. Guy movie. If only I had girls running around in their underoos this would be a blockbuster!
Missing my old stats page already, here you go! Top 10 countries that visit panzercorps.com
1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Netherlands
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. Belgium
8. Finland
9. France
10. Sweden
and not much love from Africa as a whole or China... I'm going to air drop computers with google on them, or panzer corps t-shirts... or food. Anyways.
Top 10 states.
1. California
2. Virginia
3. Maryland (YAY!)
4. Texas
5. Illinois
6. Florida
7. New York
8. Indiana
9. Iowa
10. North Carolina
and Hawaii beat Delaware. Don't get mad at me Delaware, you need to do your part as well.
What you are interested in.
1. Main page
2. Tutorials
3. Behind the Scenes
4. Sneak Peeks
5. Cast and Crew
9:22 still rendering with another hour and a half to go. Seems the trailer will come out tomorrow (if everything is good to run)...
-New festivals page in the tutorial section.
-Added more stills to the Muzzle Flash Study under tutorials.
-Got rid of the statics page.
-Got rid of the bookmark feature. (more like ugly annoyance)
-Added tracking codes to the sub-pages to I can see what you guys like and don't like.
I took a whole weekend off and I feel behind so I spent Labor Day weekend cutting the trailer together. The trailer is finishing AS WE SPEAK! (and perhaps before I publish this- current time 7:59pm). I really need to start marketing the hell out of this F-er. In short the trailer is like this: Logo,quick line, shooting, quick line, shoooooooting things blowing up, someone talks, more stuff blows up, end logo. Guy movie. If only I had girls running around in their underoos this would be a blockbuster!
Missing my old stats page already, here you go! Top 10 countries that visit panzercorps.com
1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Netherlands
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. Belgium
8. Finland
9. France
10. Sweden
and not much love from Africa as a whole or China... I'm going to air drop computers with google on them, or panzer corps t-shirts... or food. Anyways.
Top 10 states.
1. California
2. Virginia
3. Maryland (YAY!)
4. Texas
5. Illinois
6. Florida
7. New York
8. Indiana
9. Iowa
10. North Carolina
and Hawaii beat Delaware. Don't get mad at me Delaware, you need to do your part as well.
What you are interested in.
1. Main page
2. Tutorials
3. Behind the Scenes
4. Sneak Peeks
5. Cast and Crew
9:22 still rendering with another hour and a half to go. Seems the trailer will come out tomorrow (if everything is good to run)...
Aug/24/2008 23:15
I got Super excited to see an email from Slamdance, but it seems I didn't do the online payment. hahahahaahhhhh. Crap.
My grandma is too funny, she had no idea what the movie was about BUT it was great because I did it. That would really suck if it was the other away around!!
New sidebar image on the homepage.
My grandma is too funny, she had no idea what the movie was about BUT it was great because I did it. That would really suck if it was the other away around!!
New sidebar image on the homepage.
Aug/21/2008 21:55
Alright what is going on....
-We entered Florida Film Fest, Cinequest FF and Boulder IFF.
-I sent out something like ohhhh 25 DVDs to all the crew people, and I found out I spelled two names wrong in the credits. I'm sorry guys, in the Super Deluxe version this will be corrected.
-Sent the film to be reviewed by Film Threat
-Received great feedback from Bob at Detonation Films (I love that place!)
-Ordered posters and postcards
-ha, finished the poster design.
Guess what?! No work for the Corps this weekend, wait I lied. I'm going to show my film to grandma this weekend. I'm trying to persuade her to bake cookies for the Festival Directors (and lace them with dollar bills! = nice) So I won't be playing DVD factory this weekend.
Ah and posted a ton NEW stills in the Sneak Peek section.
Adam OUT
-We entered Florida Film Fest, Cinequest FF and Boulder IFF.
-I sent out something like ohhhh 25 DVDs to all the crew people, and I found out I spelled two names wrong in the credits. I'm sorry guys, in the Super Deluxe version this will be corrected.
-Sent the film to be reviewed by Film Threat
-Received great feedback from Bob at Detonation Films (I love that place!)
-Ordered posters and postcards
-ha, finished the poster design.
Guess what?! No work for the Corps this weekend, wait I lied. I'm going to show my film to grandma this weekend. I'm trying to persuade her to bake cookies for the Festival Directors (and lace them with dollar bills! = nice) So I won't be playing DVD factory this weekend.
Ah and posted a ton NEW stills in the Sneak Peek section.
Adam OUT
Aug/12/2008 19:52
I've been neglecting you blog, I am sorry. Alright what has happened??
I got my printer working so I can print on the DVDs, thank you Epson.
I got a DVD copy now that doesn't strobe at random, thank you Compressor.
Sent off more entries to Slamdance, Sundance and Ann Arbor. Getting into any of these would be an epic success but I'm really hoping for Slamdance. It is long shot but I feel we would do well there. Dreams, lets keep them alive!
Still working on the poster. Trying to keep up with email inquires. Talking in fragments. Thinking of several projects large and small... And we got bumped off the #3 spot for War Film on google but we haven't left the top of the front page. Success.
Total side note: I finally got an iPhone and I have Panzer Corps encoded all pretty so I can show strangers at random. "Get back here and watch This!!!".
Alright, back to work.
I got my printer working so I can print on the DVDs, thank you Epson.
I got a DVD copy now that doesn't strobe at random, thank you Compressor.
Sent off more entries to Slamdance, Sundance and Ann Arbor. Getting into any of these would be an epic success but I'm really hoping for Slamdance. It is long shot but I feel we would do well there. Dreams, lets keep them alive!
Still working on the poster. Trying to keep up with email inquires. Talking in fragments. Thinking of several projects large and small... And we got bumped off the #3 spot for War Film on google but we haven't left the top of the front page. Success.
Total side note: I finally got an iPhone and I have Panzer Corps encoded all pretty so I can show strangers at random. "Get back here and watch This!!!".
Alright, back to work.
Aug/04/2008 23:12
What a great/annoying weekend. Lets kick off with the great part.
Great:
Hung out with two of the actors (Lt. and Kurz) which was awesome fun!! Plus they treated me out, what more can you ask for? Thank you guys!! They are both in the Army and a few other Army dudes came over to watch the film. Here is the super great part, they understood it and liked it!!!
Annoying:
I have tried to burn the festival DVD at least oh 10 times now. In different scenes I'm getting a strobing pixilation. FAIL! I tired high and low bitrate VBR and CBR with no luck. AND Compressor is dead on my machine double Awesome!!! So i'm going to take the project work and try Compressor there and if everything is cool I'll start sending out DVD for cast, crew and festivals first. Annoying part II- I bought a DVD printer and after installing, uninstalling and reinstalling drivers for half of Sunday I have no luck. FAIL! WHY can't things that i pay for just work?... Annoying, but like all problems you bash them into submission until they go your way. Or return said problems and give someone else your money EPSON! *shaking fist*
Well that prompted me to accomplish Something this weekend so I started working on the poster. I have to finish this pretty quick since my printing connection is going away at the end of the month. Here is a glimpse, any feedback is Welcome! Yes there will be more info.
Great:
Hung out with two of the actors (Lt. and Kurz) which was awesome fun!! Plus they treated me out, what more can you ask for? Thank you guys!! They are both in the Army and a few other Army dudes came over to watch the film. Here is the super great part, they understood it and liked it!!!
Annoying:
I have tried to burn the festival DVD at least oh 10 times now. In different scenes I'm getting a strobing pixilation. FAIL! I tired high and low bitrate VBR and CBR with no luck. AND Compressor is dead on my machine double Awesome!!! So i'm going to take the project work and try Compressor there and if everything is cool I'll start sending out DVD for cast, crew and festivals first. Annoying part II- I bought a DVD printer and after installing, uninstalling and reinstalling drivers for half of Sunday I have no luck. FAIL! WHY can't things that i pay for just work?... Annoying, but like all problems you bash them into submission until they go your way. Or return said problems and give someone else your money EPSON! *shaking fist*
Well that prompted me to accomplish Something this weekend so I started working on the poster. I have to finish this pretty quick since my printing connection is going away at the end of the month. Here is a glimpse, any feedback is Welcome! Yes there will be more info.
Jul/24/2008 20:21
We're almost there. Run down of what is happening:
- New teaser has 800 views in a week! Feels great getting positive feedback, feels real good.
- Still hanging out in #3 in google for War Film!!
- The site is getting more hits (soon as this Mother-F'er is done there will be more tutorials!)
- Jeff, Dave and I picked the film grain out of 20 choices. After Effects won over Shake.
- The editor of baltimoresun.com helped re-write to opening to the film (Much better!)
- Sound mixing is done
- I just snatched a great press lead, thank you old friend.
In all honestly I'm finding it very difficult to keep pushing this last little bit. At this point it is what it is (I hate that statement), but without tearing the whole thing apart it can't get much better. I have learned a lot, this film has really showed me where to go with my next project and what NOT to do. Once things calm down I'm going to write an inspiration page because film making is tough, and it is real tough when it is no longer fun and no one is pushing you but you! Just keep pushing and make it happen.
Adam
- New teaser has 800 views in a week! Feels great getting positive feedback, feels real good.
- Still hanging out in #3 in google for War Film!!
- The site is getting more hits (soon as this Mother-F'er is done there will be more tutorials!)
- Jeff, Dave and I picked the film grain out of 20 choices. After Effects won over Shake.
- The editor of baltimoresun.com helped re-write to opening to the film (Much better!)
- Sound mixing is done
- I just snatched a great press lead, thank you old friend.
In all honestly I'm finding it very difficult to keep pushing this last little bit. At this point it is what it is (I hate that statement), but without tearing the whole thing apart it can't get much better. I have learned a lot, this film has really showed me where to go with my next project and what NOT to do. Once things calm down I'm going to write an inspiration page because film making is tough, and it is real tough when it is no longer fun and no one is pushing you but you! Just keep pushing and make it happen.
Adam
Jul/15/2008 20:35
New teaser is doing well!
After two days it already has 200 views. The youtube and fxhome community is already giving great feedback! Getting there, time is running short and lots has to get done. On a super good note I watched the film on Jeff's BIG screen, it needs tweaks but it looks like film! This weekend is more sound mixing and ~hopefully~ next week i'll being doing the "final" output.
After two days it already has 200 views. The youtube and fxhome community is already giving great feedback! Getting there, time is running short and lots has to get done. On a super good note I watched the film on Jeff's BIG screen, it needs tweaks but it looks like film! This weekend is more sound mixing and ~hopefully~ next week i'll being doing the "final" output.
Jul/13/2008 21:33
So much stuff has been going on. Okay I sent the film to St Louis Internal Film Festival and AFI (scheduled rejections). After that... made more edits so the end moves right along (there was a funky pause). More and more sound mixing. Teaser III uploaded to youtube and a quicktime in the Behind The Scenes. What else?... Been hanging at number 3 in google for war film. Awesome.
Well less than a month and it finally has to be done. Finally, the deadline.
Well less than a month and it finally has to be done. Finally, the deadline.
Jul/08/2008 20:40
Output Test
I'm going to send the film off prematurly to a few festivals plus i wanted to test the whole final output. So the film is about 20 minutes, it took 8-10 hours to output from Final Cut (uncompressed), 25 hours to add grain and convert to 24p and not sure how much time to encode the first DVD. Overall a looooong process. But it was well worth the knowledge.
I'm going to send the film off prematurly to a few festivals plus i wanted to test the whole final output. So the film is about 20 minutes, it took 8-10 hours to output from Final Cut (uncompressed), 25 hours to add grain and convert to 24p and not sure how much time to encode the first DVD. Overall a looooong process. But it was well worth the knowledge.
Jun/22/2008 23:56
Got some sound into the opening credits. I spent almost the whole day categorizing thousands of sound effects into folders. I am going to dream about many many things tonight such as cows, telephones and ice cream trucks. (and none of those sounds will be in the film)
Five new sections are in the tutorials section. A preprouction, production, post-production and marketing and preproduction teasers. I have been neglecting that area for a while.
I heard on Friday we made it to three on google for War Film, one of the gals at work got a screen grab for me!!
Adam Valuckas
Five new sections are in the tutorials section. A preprouction, production, post-production and marketing and preproduction teasers. I have been neglecting that area for a while.
I heard on Friday we made it to three on google for War Film, one of the gals at work got a screen grab for me!!
Adam Valuckas
Jun/19/2008 22:52
1. Well 99% of the effects are done, there is still one shot that bothers the hell out of me because it isn't as cool as I pictured. Uhhhh and its being a bastard, I LOVE Shake but sometimes the normal logic doesn't apply for some reason. Whatevers.
2. I did my first full test of the total finishing/grading process and it looks AMAZING! The film will be converted into 24P, a nice luma curve will be slapped on, a nice thick layer of grain and it looks like film. Here is the flip side, a fifteen second clip took a half hour to render.... Its going to take a week to render this. Killer. But it looks really really good.
3. This weekend i'm going to take a deep stab into the sound effects and cleaning up the sound. We'll see how that goes, I might have to take another week off to finish this. I have had Sound Track Pro for years and I really never used it, tell you what, editing sound in 5.1 is easy!!! Its flipping awesome! I have to make a tutorial about that after i learn more.
4. WE MADE IT NUMBER 4 ON GOOGLE for WAR FILM. FOUR!
5. Two new sneak peek stills are up of the grading test.
2. I did my first full test of the total finishing/grading process and it looks AMAZING! The film will be converted into 24P, a nice luma curve will be slapped on, a nice thick layer of grain and it looks like film. Here is the flip side, a fifteen second clip took a half hour to render.... Its going to take a week to render this. Killer. But it looks really really good.
3. This weekend i'm going to take a deep stab into the sound effects and cleaning up the sound. We'll see how that goes, I might have to take another week off to finish this. I have had Sound Track Pro for years and I really never used it, tell you what, editing sound in 5.1 is easy!!! Its flipping awesome! I have to make a tutorial about that after i learn more.
4. WE MADE IT NUMBER 4 ON GOOGLE for WAR FILM. FOUR!
5. Two new sneak peek stills are up of the grading test.
Jun/16/2008 23:05
Jun/14/2008 23:01
Worked on the ending of the film all weekend. The last shots are epic and they can kiss my ass. Serious, they were brutal..... Image you HAVE to do something but it fights you to the bitter end. I spent 48 hours minus sleep fighting a handful of shots. But it looks 100% better then the first rendition and about 10,000% better than the temp Fighter Bomber that was there. I feel like a large ape beat the crap out of me all weekend.
May/28/2008 23:00
Part 2 (actual movie update)
Last weekend (three day memorial day weekend) i got to the end of the film for special effects. I'm actually "happy" with 8/10 of the film at this point. I still need to get the epic ending done and edit the open credits. Damn i wish i could take another week off to hammer the visuals out.
Last weekend (three day memorial day weekend) i got to the end of the film for special effects. I'm actually "happy" with 8/10 of the film at this point. I still need to get the epic ending done and edit the open credits. Damn i wish i could take another week off to hammer the visuals out.
May/28/2008 22:50
May/20/2008 21:19
I'm falling behind on getting back to people. I need a secretary HAHAHAHA! This memorial day weekend i WILL get back to everyone and I WILL keep hammering on the effects. Last weekend I got a lot done, i'm finally "happy" with the first third of the film (minus the opening credits). This weekend i'm going to try to knock out the main battle. Motion tracking is your friend and enemy.
To the dudes who are watching this stuff, Thank You!
May/13/2008 23:11
Popped up to 17 which is page TWO for "war film", man that is awesome. Right now we're hanging around 26, i can't wait to cut a trailer and see where that takes us.
Other news- still hammering on effects. Right now there are 111 "heavy" effects shots and the number just keeps growing and growing. Once you start adding "roll over effects" such as someone shoots in this shot so Now the next two shots need smoke, they add up. I think I'll make the August date but there is still a ton to do. Will it ever end?
May/06/2008 23:22
May/02/2008 08:26
We're still hanging in the upper 30s for war film! Most awesome!! But honestly I haven't gotten much done this week, GTA4 came out and I have been glued to the set. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's only the best video game EVER! Okay okay, i know. This weekend i work like mule, okay?!
On a side note: The new teaser has just as many views on youtube as some of my other videos that have been there for a year!
Apr/28/2008 07:17
Apr/16/2008 21:24
Apr/12/2008 21:29
Jeff and I went to the National Archives, whew talk about really cool and boring all at the same time. Really cool that there is hundreds of tapes ready for you to copy, boring- the copying. It was a very weird experience being checked in 10 ways to sunday but we each got a researcher pass funny picture included. If you can make a government worker laugh your doing something right!
Apr/09/2008 22:45
Apr/08/2008 19:27
Apr/06/2008 00:54
Holy crap, i jacked up the movie something fierce today. I was working on the opening title sequence and i wasn't paying attention to how i was shifting and deleting clips. Well I got most of the film out of sync to the point that I reverted back to an earlier save in the day. No real harm done, just a few minutes of terror! 
Thankfully my own motto saved me "Save and Save Often".
Anyways, new Muzzle Flash Study added under War Film Tutorials.
Adam
Thankfully my own motto saved me "Save and Save Often".
Anyways, new Muzzle Flash Study added under War Film Tutorials.
Adam
Apr/04/2008 23:33
Mar/31/2008 20:47
Once again a lot has happened since the last blog. I was able to take a week off from work and do solely effect! Twelve hours a day for nine days and there are over 100 effects so far. With the vast majority at least roughed in i can now spend time make each shot look as best as possible. Right now the new teaser (teaser II) is posted on the main page.
Enjoy
Adam Valuckas
Enjoy
Adam Valuckas
Mar/13/2008 21:38
Lots of stuff has happened, tons of test screeners went out and lots of feedback came back.
One need "sneak peak" image has been added- The EFFECTS HAVE COMMENCED! Sadly i won't have a vacation soon so this is going to be even slower than i anticipated. This sucks. I really need a month off, but i can't even have a week. Really sucks. Anyways, go look at the muzzle flash.
You want a war film, i give you a war film!
One need "sneak peak" image has been added- The EFFECTS HAVE COMMENCED! Sadly i won't have a vacation soon so this is going to be even slower than i anticipated. This sucks. I really need a month off, but i can't even have a week. Really sucks. Anyways, go look at the muzzle flash.
You want a war film, i give you a war film!
Feb/28/2008 20:18
Feb/24/2008 20:59
Feb/19/2008 22:39
Rough Cut V2 DVDs sent out and updated myspace with cast and crew pics. Myspace... What has the world come to?
I have no heart to add a million friends that just want to add to their numbers on myspace ("myspace whores"). But what i find uplifting/amazing are our true fans!!!! It keeps me going honestly.
I have no heart to add a million friends that just want to add to their numbers on myspace ("myspace whores"). But what i find uplifting/amazing are our true fans!!!! It keeps me going honestly.
Feb/17/2008 15:19