iPhone B-Roll: Flickers

iPhone B-Roll - An Occasional Video Series

Sometimes, you come across an interesting moment and the only camera you have available is your phone.

There's no story here. These clips are entirely b-roll - non sequitur shots that nonetheless have some intriguing quality.
Enjoy.

NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL!

Yeah, so we've been slacking on the blog... But only because we've been swamped with the release of our web series Non-Essential Personnel!

The first three episodes (out of five) are on-line now with new episodes being release every Monday at NEPseries.com. For your convenience, I've embedded eps 1-3 below. Please enjoy it and pass it along...

TEASER: Non-Essential Personnel

NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL Teaser No. 1 from grammar school on Vimeo.

Entertaining You Via The Internets

So, you know how we just wrapped shooting our web-series, Non-Essential Personnel? Maybe we forgot to mention that...

So, yeah, we just wrapped on NEP a couple of weeks ago. Tentatively, we're planning to release the first episode in January.

I know what you're thinking here - how am I going to entertain myself at work until January? How will I find any joy in my cubicle as the days turn dark and grey?

Here is your answer: Wage Slaves.

We mentioned Season One last summer when it was released and we enjoyed the show so much, we signed on to help out. While not technically a Grammar School Pictures production (the show is written, directed, and co-produced by our good friend, Chris A. Bolton), Matt worked as the Director of Photography for Season Two, and several GSP alumni make cameo appearances. It's definitely worth your time...

To make it easy on you, we've embedded the first two episodes of Season Two below. The third episode will be released next Tuesday and there are four more after that (released on subsequent Tuesdays at www.wageslaveseries.com).

Enjoy!

Wage Slaves Season 2, Episode 1: "A Crappy Hell-Suck of a Day" from Chris A. Bolton on Vimeo.

WAGE SLAVES Season 2, Episode 2: "A Whole Lot of Calvins" from Chris A. Bolton on Vimeo.

Big Win!

We made our Kickstarter budget! Big thanks to everyone who contributed it...it's very generous of you and Joe and I will be working extra hard to make sure Non-Essential Personnel is a project worthy of your contributions.

In the meantime, hook up with Non-Essential Personnel on facebook to get updates on the production...

Thanks again!
matt

Almost There...

Hey Friends,

Just popping in to give you a brief update on Non-Essential Personnel...

We had a fantastic table read of the scripts over the weekend... We got (most of) the cast together Sunday evening and it was so reassuring to see them next to each other. Everyone really fits their role - it was almost like watching the characters just walk into the room. If you haven't had a chance to meet our actors yet, check out our Facebook page or our Kickstarter profile to get the run down.

Speaking of Kickstarter... We're featured on the front page today! They have some nice things to say about our project and pitch video, so check it out! We've only got 3 days left to raise the final $788. Now's the time to chip in if you can.

Okay... time to get back to work.

matt

New Project: NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL

You may have noticed that we've casually mentioned our upcoming web series, Non-Essential Personnel several times over the past few months. We've got good new: it's actually a concrete thing now... we've got scripts, cast and crew are coming together, and locations are being scouted. We're scheduled to shoot in August with plans to start streaming episodes in late fall/early winter.

So, what's it about? Non-Essential Personnel follows a group of people working in an administrative support office for a private military contractor (a la Blackwater). Most of them feel conflicted about the moral ambiguity of their employer's mission, but when a 12% pay cut is issued to all non-essential personnel, Jonathan Clark (the office's Document Encryption Specialist) decides he's had enough. He sets a haphazard plan into motion that could impact the entire military industrial complex. And it's a comedy (a dark, political comedy, but a comedy nonetheless).

So there's just one other thing - the budget. While we've previously self-funded all our short films (and the bulk of almost everything.), this project is a little more than we can handle on our own. To do it right, we'll need to buy some props and rent a nice HD camera, and (at the very least) feed and transport our world class cast and crew.

So that's where you come in... If you're reading this blog, that means you probably have watched some of our videos. We're going to assume you like what we do. If that's case, we think you'll *really* like Non-Essential Personnel. In fact, we think you'll like it so much that you might want to receive digital downloads of every episode, or a DVD with lots of special features, or maybe even a walk-on role in one episode. Good news: we can totally make that happen and we've set-up a Kickstarter profile to facilitate those transactions. Please click over to Kickstarter to learn more about the project and what you can do to help...

Thanks!
matt

RECENTLY...

so here's what we've been up to...

we've got two exiciting new projects in pre-production.

A World of Pain marks the triumphant return of Mike Johnson (last seen in The End (which, apparently, wasn't really the end)) to the Grammar School world. Matt is writing and directing and we're very excited to have Melissa Kaiser (of Wage Slaves fame) playing against Mike. That's about all we want to say about that one right now (except also that this one might actually be the end of the sequence (though we hope not (but, sadly, probably, yeah))).

NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL is a web series. it's funny and sad and intense and, um, political... and there's a VERY important audience participation aspect to it. we'll have more to say about this in a week or so...

in the mean time, we're finishing up the edit on a very cool show we shot last month with Curtains For You, Norman, and The Dimes. clips from that show should be trickling out over the next few weeks. we'll keep you posted...

Awesome Others No. 2: "Secret Notebook" by Reclinerland

We love Michael Johnson (as a talent as well as a man). We are fully confident that, if you don't already, you will love him too. As such, we are strongly recommending that you go to iTunes and download his new album (as Reclinerland) called "Secret Notebook". We've been lucky enough to hear several of the songs and they are fantastic.



(If you don't have or like iTunes, the album is also available on Amazon.com for download. So, really, you've got no excuse not to enjoy it.)

VIDEOS FOR MUSICIANS: RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP!

Here's the deal...

We need money to fund our upcoming slate of projects. You need video to promote your band on Facebook (or myspace, your website, iTunes, etc).

Luckily for both of us, Grammar School Pictures is great at making concert videos for bands. We'll shoot your show using multiple HD cameras and, depending on your needs, provide anything from a single internet-ready clip to a full-length concert documentary. As a bonus, you also get a professionally mixed audio recording of the full set (captured from a combination of room mics and feeds from the board).

And the best part: we're cheap (actually, we were previously cheap, but for the next two months we qualify as super-cheap)! For any show scheduled between now and March 1st, we'll work at half our regular rate. You could have a professional video on-line for as low as $100 or a ready-to-duplicate concert dvd for only $500.

Check out some of our video samples below and email headmaster@grammarschoolpictures.com for information on rates and availability.

The Builders and The Butchers - Spanish Death Song (Live) from grammar school on Vimeo.

The Dimes - Paul Kern Can't Sleep from grammar school on Vimeo.

It's Probably Nothing

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

TWO MEN sit across from each other at a small table in the middle of the room.

A: So there's this thing I do in my sleep. I don't usually talk about it. But maybe - I don't know - maybe it has some relevance to what you're going through.
(beat)
A: I don't know...

Q: What is it?

A: Nevermind. I don't think it will help.

Q: But you thought it might a minute ago.

A: Yeah, I was wrong. I'm wrong about a lot of things. Really very unreliable.

Q: It's okay - I'm not going to judge you or anything. Even if I wanted to, what kind of position am I in to judge. All my shit. You know -

A takes a moment to consider this.

A: No, I don't think so.

Q: This is bullshit!

A: It's not that a big deal.

Q: Maybe from your perspective, but I'm the one in the bind here. I mean, Jesus, I come to you as a friend and now you're hemming and hawing over what... How is that supposed to make me feel? I'm out there - looking for a lifeline, man - and you're just like, nah, this is my good rope. Might want to hang on to that for a while. Fuck you. Seriously.

A: I know how it seems, but, really, if I thought it might help I'd have no problem...

Q: Fuck you. Seriously.

A: Yeah, I caught that the first time.

Q gets up and walks away.

CUT TO BLACK.

------

EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY

TWO WOMEN sit on swings next to each other.

G: Sometimes you just have to.

H: I don't think so.

G: Well, if you don't care that's one thing, but otherwise, I think, yeah, you do.

H: I care. Really I do. I'm just done with that. For now, at least.

G: So this is a temporary rebellion? I guess I don't see the point...

H: Why does there have to be a point? Why can't I just make a decision and act on that? He does it.

G: So it's revenge.

H: No. It's not revenge. It's not about him at all.

G: You were the one who brought him up.

H falls backwards off the swing - she hits the ground hard.

G: Oh my god, are you okay?

H remains on her back, staring up into the clouds.

H: How am I supposed to know...

CUT TO BLACK.

------

Let's see a show of hands: Who thinks either of these is a story?

NEW RELEASE: The End

The End from grammar school on Vimeo.

(available for streaming in HD at vimeo)

SCREENING: Icebreaker

To Whom It May Concern:

Hello.

The Grammar School Pictures digital short, Icebreaker, will be screening at this year's Eugene Celebration Film Festival. It will be showing at the DIVA Center on Friday, September 4, at 9pm, and Sunday, September 6, at 2:30pm.

The director and some of the cast and crew will likely be sitting in the back of the room during the Sunday screening, so if you plan to attend, please laugh extra loud.

The full schedule for the film festival can be found here: http://www.eugenecelebration.com/film_festival.html

Thanks and we hope to see you there.

New Release Monday (not this Monday, but next Monday)

We've finally got a locked-down release date for our new short film...

Monday, August 24, will see the internet release (on this very blog) of "The End", which will complete our Mike Johnson cycle (see also: This Song and YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE (Icebreaker, also featuring a character named Mike Johnson, is enough of a thematic departure that it doesn't count)).

That gives you ten days to revisit the characters, relive the ups and downs, and prepare yourself for the next (and potentially final) chapter of this epic story.

In other news, we've got a bunch of really exciting stuff maybe coming up that we can't talk about. So, I guess there's no other news. Maybe later, okay? Fine, a few hints: Satisfaction, t/s, Dufur, Wonder, hammers and cleavers, national security, Payam, baristas, weekend ruckus. There's like four potential projects buried in there - and no guarantee any of them will ever see the light of day. So don't hurt yourself trying to figure it out. Just know that we are busy working on revolutionary new ways to inform and entertain you.

See you in ten days.
MTK

THE AWESOME OTHERS no. 1

The Awesome Others is a new (occasional) series of posts directly your attention to awesomeness that GSP had little or nothing to do with, but that we enjoy and appreciate.

Our debut post is giving big ups to Chris A. Bolton (creator) and the cast and crew of "Wage Slaves" a new comedy web series set in Portland. The first two episodes went live this week and they are terrific. Sharp, fresh, funny, all that stuff. You really should go to www.wageslaveseries.com right now to watch them. If you need further convincing, check out the trailer embedded below.

"Wage Slaves" Trailer from Chris A. Bolton on Vimeo.

NEW RELEASE: YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE

YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE from grammar school on Vimeo.

(available for streaming in HD at vimeo)

Soon.

Greetings!

This is just an advance warning to check in with us often throughout the summer as we are due to release a new short film, YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE, within the next week or so, and some fantastic concert footage from our friends The Builders and The Butchers shortly thereafter.

Plus, we have a few other developing summer time projects to entertain and amaze you.

Seriously.

In Praise of Michael Johnson...

Still one of my favorite GSP productions, This Song (re-embedded below for your convenience), recounts the romantic foibles of of a singer-songwriter named Michael Johnson, portrayed by Michael Johnson.

This Song from grammar school on Vimeo.

Portraying an exaggerated character has a number of inheirant risks, the most significant of which is the potential for the viewer to project a character's extreme behavior or attitudes onto the actor, himself. This risk is further elevated when an actor agrees to allow the character to share his name and portions of his personal history. Creating even more potential for confusion, This Song consists almost entirely of interviews and musical performances with the characters - it never feels quite like a fictional narrative.

And Mike is perfect in that role. We shot about six hours of footage for this 10-minute short and there was not a single false note in his performance. Mike (the actor) fully commits to allowing Mike (the character) to be the punchline of the film. The other characters have their quirks and weirdness, but the camera's critical eye is focused squarely on Mike and his confusions and frustrations. Watching Mike (the character) struggle to articulate the inspiration behind his art is funny and fucked-up and kind of pitiful all at once.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Michael Johnson (the real person). He's a talented, hard-working musician who's extremely studied and articulate about his work. If you want to see the difference between Mike (the person) and Mike (the character), check out this recent interview he did with Willamette Week.



You can see the superficial overlap in cadence and mannerism, but there is no mistaking the sizable gap between the actor and the character.

So, my general point: Mike is a huge talent. We at GSP feel lucky to have him as a collaborator.

the news

it's kind of quiet around here when we are writing and post-productioning.

so what exactly has been going on?

old stuff:
The End and YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE are both undergoing some audio fine tuning. While these are both fairly low key projects, we want them to be in the best possible shape when we send them out into the world. We expect to have CAVE on-line no later than 6/30/09. The End will follow shortly afterward, no later than 7/14/09.

new stuff:
while we are polishing the sounds of the old stuff, we've been writing down a few words for some new stuff. in the active development right now, we've got two projects:
Satisfaction is a 5-episode satirical web series written by Matt Knapp & Joe Ballman, slated to go into production in March 2010. (that seems like a long time from now, but considering we've just completed a very rough first draft of the scripts, it's actually appropriate.)
The Executive is a feature-length screenplay by Matt Knapp, currently mid-first draft. production info TBA.

pretty vague, i know. but we really really like what we're working with and would hate to spoil the surprises we have in store for you. so, just sit tight for another month or so and we'll have something new for you. cool?

FUNNY OR DIE

In case the title of this post didn't already give it away, we're now playing on Funny or Die. A permanent link is available on the sidebar. Vimeo will still be the all-inclusive page for everything we do, but anything that might be considered funny will also be posted to FoD. If you ever get a hankering to revisit the classics, we'd recommend clicking that way - they allow for a much larger file download there which hopefully means better quality. plus you can vote us in as "funny" and maybe get us a little bit of attention from the comedy moguls running that site.

Thanks!

PS - Those two new shorts are coming really really soon, I promise! If you get impatient, bug Joe Ballman about it.