Road Kill update…

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to update you on our movie project.  We shot 98% of the movie Sunday and Monday without any unexpected surprises, which begs the question… who was our producer that made things go so smoothly? Well a special thank you goes to Daniella Dalli for making sure everything went so smoothly and our Director John Spencer!

Many thanks to the crew…

Aaron, Marla, Liz, Ryan. You guys performed above and beyond the call of duty.

Many thanks to our actors/actresses…

Daniella, Christine, Mike

 We were up until 2:30 am on Sunday (well by the time we left the set it was actually Monday) and 12:30 of Monday (again it was early Tuesday by then we were so tired to figure out what day it was) there was the agony of the mosquitoes, the unforgiving heat in the set, the noise of the generator. Everyone performed stupendously!

We are very proud of the work we did and can’t wait to share it with the world.

 

Franklin

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for the Shoot!

Location…check
Actors……check
Crew……..check
Script…….Big Check

We will beging production Sunday 26th of April, we are just super excited!

Director’s Commentary for Road Kill the movie!

I recently requested our director  to share his opinion(s)/points of view on the making of this project, this is what he had to say…

Directing From Perspective

When we decided what project we were doing for our next short film I must admit, I was scared.  There is always an element of fear when dealing with the thriller/suspense genre.  My fear was the fact that this genre is saturated with films that have disappointed me and I’m sure some of you.  Most filmmakers focus only on what scares the audience and neglects the story all together.

This is not the kind of movie I set out to make.  I want my movies to have a solid story first and foremost.  I can’t stand getting to the end of a movie and saying to myself, “what was that?”  We needed something that has been done before except do it in a different way.  Now coming up with the idea was the next step.

Collectively, we all laid out what we wanted the movie to be, how the middle would work with the beginning and what would happen in the end.  We started off by setting some ground rules; keep it 10 minutes or less, keep it simple, minimal dialogue and keep the story in focus.

After we decided on what the movie would be about we concentrated on the story for the next four to five weeks.  Keep in mind, that’s a lot of time for a 10 minute short film.  Most people don’t have that amount of time to devote to their short films and/or story.  The process was incredible to be a part of, we had 3 people who knew the whole story, we set them down and had them improv a lot of different scenes and scenarios.  We filmed them and pieced together a lot of the dialogue to see how it worked.  This gave us the direction of the film but the characters needed some work.  So we took a step back and decided to start with the characters.  I knew this was the way to get the story we wanted.

We had a lot of discussion about who the characters were, what they did, their past and how would “so-and-so” react to this or that.  It was amazing.  I began to see the story forming as the characters started to take shape.  After a few days of this we figured out what scenes needed to be tweaked and added.  Where our locations needed to be and how we would shoot it.  

After we had our 3rd draft of the script done we would rehearse and tweak some more.  We finally nailed down what we thought was an excellent script.  The story starts off as a drama and comes full circle and ends on the suspense/thriller side of things.  I was very happy when we discovered the ending.  As soon as the idea was mentioned we all said, nearly in unison, YES!  

The process from then on has been to get our locations, a generator, a make-up person and a garage for the interior car stuff.  What happened next was truly a miracle.  We needed someone with some talent in the effects make-up world.  And along came Marla McDaniel, she blew us away with the effects we were looking for!  It was amazing!  Now we just needed our locations.  

Time drug on, we were clueless and empty.  We looked for about a month and always came up short.  Less than a week away from shooting the film we got word of a location that might work.  I drove out there to check it out and I totally fell in love with the it.  I might add we wouldn’t have this gorgeous location if it wasn’t for our good friend, Allen Clements.  Not only was our connections able to provide us with an outdoor location but our interior location and the generator needed to light up the exterior locations!  We were all overwhelmed by the fact that all this came together for us.  Now we are excited to announce that we have all our locations and our shoot schedule ready to go.

Production begins shortly and we are all very excited to see what happens next!  

-Spence

We will be posting some pictures very soon from our make up effect tests! also visit us at… http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=79106692022&ref=ts

Road Kill update!

Hello folks!

Just wanted to update you on our current project, Road Kill…

Daniella, John Spencer and yours truly just had a 2 1/2 hour meeting to go over the details of the script. We felt that the characters needed more development and basically had to do a re-write.

Sometime the best ideas come, when brainstorming with fellow movie lovers. www.lionspawproductions.com strives on developing top quality productions, and an Independent film should not be any different.  Anyway…we are very happy with the way the Script is shaping up. It is funny that so much energy and thought goes into a 10 minute short, if you would have told me that 10 years ago… I would have laugh. We are still looking for possible locations to do the shooting, there is so much that needs to be done.

Franklin

Congratulations to Allen J. Clements

www.lionspawproductions.comwould like to congratulate our friend Allen J. Clements and his team for recently winning at the Philadelphia Cinefest 2009 with the animated short “American Terror Company Man”.

You can read all about it and see the film at www.postagevfx.com

Franklin

Road Kill the movie!

Hi ya’ll,

We have been working very diligently to put the final touches on this movie! We had a logistics meeting with John Spencer (director) and the rest of the crew/cast. Here is a quick synopsis of the film…

 

ROAD KILL

“Late one night, two sisters bicker through their differences till they encounter what looks like a dead body on the side of the road.  Differences and opinions aside, they stop to help the person in need.  After a quick investigation they find nothing except a small pool of blood where something “was”.  As they return to the car, the mood changes to one of terror.  After a few miles they discover that when they stopped, an uninvited visitor snuck in the car.  The night takes a turn for the worst as they discover the nightmare that lies in their back seat.”

 

More updates to follow soon, maybe some pictures….

 

Franklin

Lion’s Paw Productions Vice President

We have added a new location

We are excited to announce that our coorporate head quarters have been moved to Sweet Valley Pa. So we now have offices in Lancaster Pa. as well as in Luzerne County Pa. This will allow us to better serve our client in central and south central Pa.

Inde Films

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Most low budget Inde films that are needing effects to enhance their production have few options in the practical realm so most run to digital effects.  The problem with digital effects is that the over use of them cheapens the over all product. The simple fact is unless your paying top dollar, digital effects look digital. One solution is to be able to mix affordable practical effects into a film and sweeten them using digital. I realize that that can offer its own set of problems. Practical effects like explosions and bullet holes require one to have a pyrotechnic specialist and permits that again can add to ones already cramped budget. We are currently in the process of developing some affordable solutions to this problem and are looking forward to posting some demonstrations of them in a few weeks.

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error We at Lion’s Paw Productions have a passion for Inde films and want to find solutions to the challenges of tight budgets and fantastic effects so please stay tune for for upcoming posting.

 See Cool Movie

Why Video Can Enhance Your Business Opportunity

“The affective use of media in business is only limited to ones creativity and imagination.” Douglas Hamilton, President, Lion’s Paw Productions Inc.

Why Video can enhance your business opportunity

 

Video can help you turn more website visitors into customers.

 

Video is a proven method to help increase business sales.

 

Video can set your company apart from the competition.

 

Video can allow you to talk directly to potential clients.

 

Videos can make your company available world-wide.

Why Video is a real possibility

• In the last few decades Video has proven itself to be one of the greatest forms of communication world wide.
• Video has always been a popular method of communication with audiences – the sizes of cinema and television audiences are a demonstration of this appeal.
• For business communication, the impact of new video production technologies and software and the development of electronic distribution through the World Wide Web have brought down the cost of productions for promotions, and training material.
• With the fall in prices for new technology smaller studios are able to package and deliver a product with the same “wow effect” for a much more reasonable price than studios with a larger overhead. Material can now be more easily repackaged or reworked for different purposes and different audiences.
• Clients should always be aware of the experience level of the media production company they hire. Not all companies are the same. Look for companies that offer the flexibility of choices in style and type of media that best tells your story.

Why Video is a good option

Seeing and hearing the true expression of your clients as they share how your business has affected their profitability is far more persuasive than a photo and a print ad.

Envisioning new ideas and bringing them to life through video, animation and motion graphics is a great way to create excitement. A new concept can be brought to life, whether it is a product prototype or a fantastic new idea.

Communication in your organization can be made more clear.

A new training practice can be brought to life in a way that effectively informs and inspires.

Business communications can be made more personal.

Media productions use of live people, creative animation and inspiring music are valuable tools when trying to motivate inspire and deliver a clear message to a target audience.

Media Production has the ability to move, inspire, motivate and more truly communicate ideas, in a way that brings the message to life.

How Video can be used

Communication of quarterly results to managers using synchronized video as well as PowerPoint and made available on a website and through email.

Promote the launch of new products to potential customers using media production to demonstrate its potential in the market place.

Video is a great way to train staff on a wide range of policies. It can illustrate real world experience to drive home the significance of each policy.

Short videos that promote your business practices, that can be used on your website or other websites that are excited about your potential.

Videos can be used for legal depositions.

Video animation can be used to demonstrate a prototype in development.

Video can be used in the training customers on the use and maintenance of a product.

How Video can use creativity and style to enhance an idea or concept

·Video can use powerful live imagery as well as motion graphics mixed with compelling music, to excite and inform a target audience to new products services and events.

Video can be used to tell a story in a documentary style to dramatically inform clients of new opportunities.

Video takes advantage of drama, comedy, action and suspense to communicate new ideas, concepts and activities.

Video can be used to enhance Presenter-led explanations by creative shooting, editing and added graphics.

Video can take advantage of new technologies such as 3d animation and motion graphics to add style to a presentation.

How Video can be distributed

Video can be distributed via DVD or CDROM directly through any mail carrier.

Video can be distributed via a business web-site.

Video can be distributed via email

Video can be distributed via through uploading a file to a secure web-site and links being made available for download.

Video can be distributed with support information or integrated in a presentation.

What to consider

Do you know what you want your video to achieve? What should the outcome be?

Do you know your target audience?

Do you have budget?

Do you have an outline of your requirements?

Do you know who will make content decisions for the project?

Do you wish to be involved on the shoot days?

Do you want to use songs that are copyright material?

Do you wish to demonstrate your video to a target audience for feedback?

How the client is involved

The Client is involved at all stages of the production process to insure the story is told

In preproduction scripts and treatments must be reviewed and signed before they proceed to the production stage.

May help with location scouting

May be at sight to offer professional advice in regard to the message.

May watch dailies to see how the process begins.

See check points in the post production process to insure satisfaction.

How the process works

Preproduction

Establish a budget

Develop a concept

Write a script

Draw out story boards

Develop a shot list

Find locations

Outline a production schedule

Pick out music keep copyright costs in mind

Production

Arrive on site.

Follow production schedule.

Shoot footage according to the shot list and storyboards.

Be sure that the sound, lighting and action are effective.

Watch footage to be sure you shot what you need.

Post production

Edit footage

Add music

Add Effects

Render final project.

Deliver on desired format medium.

Douglas Hamilton is an award winning director and producer with over 20 years in business, media, 3D animation, digital f/x, and video and film production experience. He is the President and CEO of Lions Paw Productions Inc. in Ronks Pa.

717-278-6627 doug@lionspawproductions.com www.lionspawproductions.com