Jim Henson Styled Film, "Buddy System" Selected for Malibu Film Festival
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Our film "Buddy System" has been made an official selection of the Malibu Film Festival and will be screened tonight. I was the Director of Photography for this fun little movie, which was our creative nod to the Jim Henson style films mixing puppetry with live-action.
Since we did not have ample pre-production time, or a Jim Henson/Frank Oz budget, we had to get really creative when it came to introducing our puppets into the real world. We have some complex setups where the puppets are driving a car, sneaking around a Los Angeles home, climbing up a hedge, etc. Although we had one split-screen digital effect, we only had a single day for post so most other effects had to be practical gags. We had a good laugh during the first take when the sound playback sounded horrible. It turned out that the boom mike was pointed at the puppets instead of the puppeteers hiding under the table. It just goes to show how your disbelief is so easily suspended when these characters come to life - even when on set!
The logline for "Buddy System" reads; A story about camaraderie, honor and the big pitch. Two [furry] screenwriters discover just how treacherous Hollywood can be when an unscrupulous studio exec (Robert Alan Beuth, "The West Wing", "CSI-Miami", "ER") steals their masterpiece screenplay.
Although I cannot attend the Malibu screening, director & puppeteer J.P. Pierce and producer Kennedy Stone will be on hand to provide Q&A to fellow filmmakers and festival attendees.
"Buddy System" was shot in only two days, in hi-definition using the Panasonic HVX-200 and posted with Final Cut Pro Studio 2. "Buddy System" was produced by Genesis Films in association with Brilliant Screen Studios.
The Malibu Film Festival is supported by Barbara Streisand, Pierce Brosnan, Keely Shaye Smith, and other notables.
-Ace Underhill
Brilliant Screen Studios
http://www.BrilliantScreen.com
Posted byAce - Indie Filmmaking Studio Mogul at 9:56 PM
Ha ha ha! Pointing the boom mic at the puppets. I heard that always happens with the guys at Jim Henson studios...there is just something about that Miss Piggy.
In all seriousness, congrats on getting "Buddy System" into the Malibu FF, it is such a heartwarming and fun short that ::cough cough:: should be a feature! ::cough cough::.
I always look forward to seeing what comes from you, JP and Kennedy next!