299,792 kilometers per second ... Real or FX?

299,792 kilometres per second ... Real or FX?
movement to old-school sci-fi creativity in a kickstarter project 
a DCIFF Short by Russ Imrie

Computer Graphics (CGI), green screens, rendered 3-D models, particle generators and wireframe models are part of the modern film toolkit. They enable time and reality to be molded and mashed up at will by the filmmaker. 



But in an article at TechZwin, Sci-Fi filmmakers Derek Van Gorder and Otto Stockmeier tell how they will work with  models, not computer generated  vehicles and scenery on their film "C 299792 kilometers per second."  (The title refers to the speed of light as it is accepted to be today.)

The film is about occupying technology and diverting it from war, a dramatic theme that  is  facilitated by a softer, more artful feel.

sector screenshot from trailer

Freed from the need to accommodate lighting parameters of green screen or  staging or to try  and match imperfect rendered objects, they can focus more on emotional intensity, story, and  character development. It can mean savings too. And it "looks better."


(see our article "Money, Money, Money" on crowd funding for Indie Film) 

Film Production in the District, December 5, 2011

Film Production in the District, December 5, 2011

An update from DCIFF, 

Film DC, on Facebook  pushed out news Friday (December 2) that Mayor Gray met with film producers in New York to encourage filming in the District, as he has in Los Angeles.  As locales from Seattle to New Orleans vie for productions which bring jobs and public relations manna, DC has a unique "something" that brings big production here. Argo (Warner Brothers),  Marcher (Universal and fourth in the 'Bourne Identity'/Ludlum features) and HBO series Veep, are all filmed in DC.  While the large, top-tier productions sustain a viable film industry, our constant concern is the environment for the independent filmmaker and we hope this will have a positive impact on the independent film world too.  Two innovative local indie film productions to keep an eye on are the DC-based web series Anacostia the web series  (2nd. season, 80% shot in DMV area) and  Different Daze, shot by Howard University students. 

 Location and permissions costs are always a challenge, but the DC Film Office's  Crystal Palmer is a supporter of independent filmmakers having their due and being able to film freely in DC.  Production costs and taxes always seem to be central to the focus of the Independent Film "On the Hill" event that DCIFF hosts every year during the festival: March 1st, 2012. Watch this space.