Dexter Photo Contest

Dexter photo contest from therpf.com.

The contest is to create a single crime scene photo that might be seen in the Showtime produced television show Dexter. The scene can be one of Dexter's crime scenes, or the crime scene of someone Dexter would target.
An additional rule was no photo editing.

Here is the finished product. This is straight from the camera. I could go into the story I'm trying to convey with the photo and the items I included, but instead I will let it speak for itself. The goal was to create a photo that provides a new detail every time you look at it. Continue reading for a behind the scenes look.

I will start with a humorous story that happened during the photo shoot:

Slime, Mucus, Snot

Guess what we're making? Slime!

Slime

Chainmail Hauberk

Who doesn't want their own chainmail hauberk?  Stylish and functional.

Night out on the town? Chainmail.
Dinner with friends? Chainmail.
Swordsman bent on slashing you? Chainmail.

A chainmail hauberk.

So, You Need a Mask to Frighten People

This is a great introduction to foam building. Foam is an easy medium with which to work, cheap, and requires few tools.

This mask uses EVA foam. It can be found at various retail outlets and automotive retailers. I buy the interlocking 24" square floor mats.

You will need a hobby knife, a hot glue gun, and a heat gun. A wood burning iron or solder iron is useful too.

The finished mask.

Bracers

I wanted leather bracers, but I didn't want to pay leather bracer prices. Not to mention, I've never worked with leather.

The finished product.

Medieval Set Design

Here is a run down on a medieval set. The skills employed here will work for any set.
The panels are all 4' wide x 8' tall.

The completed set.

Automotive Fiberglass Work

Going way back for this one.  My first foray into fiberglass work. And let me say, I miss this truck.  I wish I had just kept it and replaced the transmission, but that's another story.
 

Fiberglass steering wheel cover

Budget Video Editing

Until Lightworks changed their business model to offer free video editing software, I had no way to edit professionally looking video. Something I had wanted to do since a college course.

Lightworks is a professional non-linear editing software used in a number of big budget movies.  Pulp Fiction, Raging Bull, Shutter Island, The Departed, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels- all great films, all edited with Lightworks.

I have been able to implement any editing and video trick I have imagined so far.

Here is my work flow.

The Lightworks interface.

Medieval Style: Parchment & Scrolls

For whatever explicable reason you need a scroll and letter- something medieval looking. I've got just the thing. Here is a tutorial for your viewing pleasure.

The sealed letter.

The finished scroll.

Short film: Invasion-Intrusion

I had always wanted a single script tackled by two different directors. Everyone tells a story differently. How would that unfold in film? After viewing End of Watch, I had the idea for a short film.

I and a friend took my concept and filmed our own interpretations. It's a simple home invasion. The story is a bit dark. My version is below.

Click for full-size video.

It's low-budget; everything I do is low budget. I wish the gun effects could have been better, but it's my first attempt and I'm pleased.

I hope to finish the alternate interpretation soon, but the delay is with my friend as he finalizes his edit.

And so, it begins

As this is my first blog post, I feel it only appropriate to explicitly  reference the fact. I'm learning as I go. Now that I've done that lets talk about content.
Since my interests strongly favor creative endeavors, my blog is going to discuss those topics.  The plan is to build a resource of tutorials and catalog my endeavors.

Look forward to posts discussing short films I have and will create, and hopefully my feature length project will gain momentum. You'll get the scoop here first.

That's not all, I've built furniture, cars, props, and costumes.  You can expect tips and hints on how to build stuff. I'll even provide pictures.

I enjoy graphic design and writing. I had hoped to self-publish a collection of short stories this year, but I'm behind on that too.

An ancillary goal is feedback. If this blog gains an audience, I'd like opinions, so feel free to comment.

Thank you for your time. Expect a number of posts to start as I update you on a number of projects currently underway. Hopefully future posts will be more entertaining (and contain more pictures).