It’s finally done! The Virgins special edition DVD, with its director’s commentary, 40-minute behind-the-scenes mini-feature, and “The Bull” short film is all finished, the menus built, the case and disc artwork done.
Once I ship The Virgins special edition DVD to the manufacturer in the next day or two (as well as to another festival) I will change hats, from filmmaker to distributor. The voyage is really now just half-done. Along with potential fests I have ideas/opportunities to do some screenings in North Carolina and Virginia but if you know of a venue of any size that is receptive to independent films please let me know and maybe we can make something work and bring The Virgins to your neck of the woods. DVDs will be shipping within three weeks and Video-on-Demand will be up and running in a month or so. Thank you everyone for your continued interest and patience. More news to come!
Those reading my updates via Twitter (which has been moved up to the top of the right-hand column for more visibility) have noticed I’ve been color grading The Virgins now for a couple of weeks. Here’s an example from today:
Original Footage:
Graded:
This shot did not require a complete overhaul, obviously; basically adding some red to the highlights and adjusting the contrast using Apple Color. But it is a noticeable improvement and thus I’ve been going through each shot of the film hoping to make them visually “pop” more, as well as correcting any color issues. I’m approximately 3/4 of the way done with the grading, then just have to do the credit sequences and the film proper will be done (my target date is January 15th).
I cut and graded the trailer with the incredible Larry Gardner mixing audio and helping out with the cut and color.
Post-production has taken longer than expected but we are almost there. And as post winds down, it logically follows that the sale of The Virgins special edition DVD, with its opportunity to get your name in the credits, will have to soon end. Go here to see what features will be available in the special and regular edition DVDs.
Also, new production stills are up on The Virgins page.
“The Bull” will be handled (non-exclusively) by international short film distributor Ouat Media! After having to wait a little bit because they were busy at the film fests in Venice and Toronto, the contract was signed today.
A little about Ouat, from their website:
“Created in 2006, Ouat Media [pronounced "what"] is a global media distribution specialist. Our mandate is to be the premier multiplatform content aggregator and provider of short film content for broadcast, Internet, mobile devices, and all other newly-developed media.
Ouat Media is based in Toronto, Canada, and is part of the Channel Zero Inc. family of companies which also includes Silver Screen Classics, and Movieola- the Short Film Channel.”
To see “The Bull” catalogue page, go here.
Some stills captured from the footage shot on the day we had the car mount. Since the camera was located out of reach outside the passenger side window, we would not stop it between takes and would instead continue rolling while we set up for the next pass, often getting “room tone” or just the actors staying in character – or, as those who buy the DVD will see in the behind-the-scenes footage, Kristi and Carrie Anne singing Alanis Morissette and “Hotel California”, as well as Cyrus the sound guy telling the editor to take a break and get a drink of water (knowing that in the future he will be going through these clips).
(well technically that middle one won’t be in the film since it is too “hot” in regards to the light, but it’s still a cool image)
I’m sure everyone is sick of stills from inside the apartment (where we shot for the first five days of the production) so here is some green:
Just to show I have been editing (while fighting a cold) here are two new stills captured from the raw footage I have been working with. Director of Photography Aravind recently sent me some stills that were taken while on set and I hope to get a couple of those up on The Virgins page soon. As I edit I may not tend to the website as much as I should, but during these post lulls be sure to check the Twitter page, which I update a little more regularly.
Two from this afternoon’s editing session. I’m working through the footage in the order that it was shot so all of these come from the apartment we shot at for five days at the beginning of principal photography.
From today’s editing adventure:
