dhpfilms's Xanga

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:59:55 GMT

For those that of you that still wanted to watch the movie even after that clip was posted, it's done. The movie is up on dhpfilms.com now.

If you enjoy it (and even if you don't), we wouldn't mind you commenting on the site. Thanks!

Miss us? ...No? Who cares.

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:37:30 GMT

OK, so we've got a new movie coming out (several, actually, if they ever get edited - beside the point) and if you believe me, which you probably shouldn't, they are gonna be awesome!

So right now, to whet you appetite, I will post -courtesy of Drewsie, our favorite dude - an outtake from filming.

Enjoy.

(Personally, my money is on Kevin.)

Movie acting vs. stage acting

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:26:24 GMT

Our latest movie for DHP just came out. It's a spoof of "The Man From Snowy River". If you have not seen it, do not consider this a "Go out and see it today" post. We had a blast filming it. We'd recently seen the original (Drew and I had never seen it previously), so it was fresh in our minds. We planned to film the afternoon before, but we ran out of time while figuring out the adaptation structure so we figured to start early Saturday morning. It was filmed up in the mountains above Hemet. Some families at church were doing a camping trip and we'd already hung out most of the weekend doing different stuff. This time we got a couple of the girls involved since they were around and frankly, they were necessary if we were going to spoof that particular movie (besides, we didn't want to alienate our female audience.) Spending the morning on it, we all had a grand time and then headed home in the afternoon. No pictures at the moment.

After watching the completed version, I was remembering the morning we made it and the different goofs we'd make or something being funny and everyone breaking up. In our children's ministry that the DHP gang works in, we do a lot of skits. In my thirteen years of school, I never learned to count as high as the amount we've done. Okay, so maybe not that many. But when you run a program for 3+ years on virtually every Wednesday and probably at least 2/5 or more of those are skits...it adds up. Include in Sunday School and VBS skits and you've got a handful. Quite a lot of those I've been in.

But to get back to the point that I meandered off from, it's interesting how people act differently between the two. There's good and bad things with both. I'll try to outline some of them here, but take note that I'm speaking almost exclusively with regards to comedy here.

Suppose for a moment that I'm in a movie. I stutter on a line or flub it altogether and then say something cute about missing it. The cast and crew all laugh and have a merry time and make cracks about things that are totally unrelated to the movie. The director finally calls for a new take and we do it again. Sometimes we'll miss numerous times and just having trouble coming up with things to say (remember, we almost exclusively adlib our scenes in regards to dialogue). It can be irritating or fun, depending on the overall mood of the group.

Suppose on the other hand that this is skit and Justin says something ridiculous by mistake and the kids laugh. Spurred by the error, Justin makes a crack about his goof and more laughter ensues. Kyle pitches in something smart about me always trying to steal the crowd. We then continue on as planned. Playing to the crowd is something you really can't do on film. You can see some reactions later online, but mostly, you're making the movie for yourself. And frankly, if you're not having fun making it, why would anyone else have fun watching it? Some of that has to bleed through, which means mistakes aren't really a bad thing if it makes you relax and have fun.

On stage, if you goof, there's no 'take 2'. You make a knot on the rope or break something early, you have to roll with it. Adapting to the situation is what it's all about. Improvising. Fortunately, we're in the business of making folks laugh which is much more forgiving than Shakespeare. Imagine how funny I'd look saying, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen! I come to praise Caesar not to bury...uh...wait...strike that and reverse it." In our brand of entertainment, we can get away with, even make a better skit out of lulu's like that.

The tough part on stage comes when the guy talking to you says something you weren't expecting that's incredibly funny. If you're filming, you can bust up right there if absolutely necessary, or after the take is finished. On stage, it's usually better to try to keep a straight face. Sure, it still works if you laugh. Kids often laugh more if the actor breaks up, but the general rule of thumb is to play it sober socks.

Anyhow, just thought I'd throw that out there since it relates to DHP sort of and doesn't really fit on my blog. Check out DHP's new movie (based on The Man From Snowy River) even if you haven't seen the original flick. Is it cutting edge filmmaking? No. Not even a little bit. But it is funny. When we stop being funny, please leave. Thank you.

Justin - your faithful and philanthropical movie blogger.

P.S. If no one reads this, I will cry.

Behind the Scenes on "Secret in the Book" - Picture edition

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:23:48 GMT

Pictures, everyone!

... Don't everyone get excited at once.

These here pics were taken on my camera-phone. So, they are not much in the way of quality...but I think it's still possible to make out what's going on, so here they are.

The guys chortling at the humor they've created and will soon spread world-wide.

Filming a pivotal search-the-church scene.

Here's a scene that didn't make the cut. . .or the trailer. Maybe a deleted scene some day...

"Sorry, Kevin, I can't find the fake hippie beard in our all-purpose costume closet of costumes."

"You know, Kevin, when I said that was a funny looking book before you grabbed it...I actually meant the one next to it."

"So...who wants to go up the steep roof after the cross first?"

Four great figures of film...a nearly iconic pose. Until it comes along, you'll have to settle for this.

Well, impressed? No? ...Who asked you, anyway?

The Secret in the Book

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:27:18 GMT

The subject of Doughnut Hole Production's next movie is one of particular significance to myself. In the past, we've always taken great care as a company not to present anything of which you could not possibly approve. For this reason, we've stayed mainly in the realm of comic mayhem because straying into drama is a much more challenging genre to pull off.

Therefore, it is with great pride that I announce our first drama based on actual fact. The Secret in the Book, our next film, not only involves a secret in a book, but also a painting of my grandfather and a former janitor who had more to him than met the eye. To say any more at this time would be ill adviced and for that I apologize.

I regret to announce my lack of pictures, but I was absent for the events in which this situation took place. On my return, I searched out the facts of the matter. To this end, I am certain you will agree with my that the adventure which overtook my friends - Kevin, Brian and Drew, is one the like of which few people have or will ever experience. I can also candidly say that if the walls of our church could speak, they would tell far more than even those young men have discovered.

The trailer is up, the film is coming very soon and the story...is perhaps yet unfolding as I speak.

Yours truly,

Justin Orman, for Doughnut Hole Productions

P.S. Gotta dig that nifty new DHP logo at the start of the trailer! Good stuff, kiddies.

Filming Pictures

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:43:52 GMT

Here are some pictures from filming on Friday:

Here we are on the roof of a house in the rain. We got completely soaked during this time.

Kyle managing the camera in the rain. It was challenging trying to keep it dry and get a good shot at the same time.

This shot shows the rain real well.

Here we are filming indoors. Much drier.

Behind the scene...

Brian looking perplexed...

Justin in the spotlight.

Here Comes The Rain

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:21:40 GMT

... and that is a good thing. We thought it would be cool to have it raining (or have just rained), for a scene we are planning on filming today, but we thought there was no way we could time it right. We were already planning on filming today, and it just so happened that the weather forecast said there was a 90% chance of rain. That is unusual for this spring; we've barely had any rain at all.

I can report that it has started raining, and is supposed to keep on raining till tomorrow, so we have a shot at getting a shot in the rain. If nothing else, it will at least look like it just rained, which was more than we originally thought we could get.

On a more downside, Justin is sick, so there is a possibility he won't be able to film today due to having no voice. Also, Andrew Ouatu can't make it today and today's scenes were his only scenes. If we film today, we are going to have to cut his character. One of these times we will get the timing right and he will actually appear in a movie...

Andrew

One Step Closer

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:35:25 GMT

Justin here...You know, despite being a member of Doughnut Hole Productions (you can drop the envious looks now), I'm really just like you folks 99% of the time. Sure, I get the experiences of being there during the filming and seeing a lot of it unfold. But the fact remains that after the day or so of filming, I'm stuck with the rest of you just waiting.

That's not to say that being a member of DHP doesn't have it's advantages. To be completely honest, I just got a 3 minute clip from the movie to watch today. And, speaking as myself here, just another member of the audience, patiently waiting the release of "In the Eagle's Nest" each day: I was very impressed by how it looks. Low quality clip and very small video size. But it looked really good. Opening credits with a sweeping score that encompassed the vast reaches of the desert. Kevin and Stephen and I in our first scene together. It had felt rough for me when I was filming it, but it didn't turn out bad at all. More on that later.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we'll be filming a couple-hour job that'll fill out most of the remaining footage we need. We've got one more area we need to head to after this, but we're getting close. Movie is looking to be about 30 minutes long. No promises on a release date, yet. Quite frankly, it may still be quite a ways down the trail before we (I'm talking about me too, folks) get to see the final cut. But if what I saw today is any sign, it'll be well worth it.

Should have another report for you later. For now, thanks for sticking with us and waiting. Believe me, it's been just as tough for us. So long now. See you down the trail.

"A Promise is A Promise...

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:40:45 GMT

Don't make it if you can't keep it."

Fill in your own captions:

There and Back Again

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:32:37 GMT

Before I go any further, I'll say right now: I know what you're thinking, but it's not true. This isn't an April Fool's joke. This just happens to be the first opportunity I've gotten to give you folks an update on our latest movie.

Filming for "In the Eagle's Nest" wrapped up for yours truly, Justin Orman, on a shot of himself walking out of a mine. This also happened to be the same shot which I filmed first the day before. Now put your eyes back in your head, you read it right. Because of technical difficulties, it became necessary to reshoot my first shot. There were other scenes filmed after I finished.

Looking back on it, I'm pleased overall with how it turned out...But it was a totally new experience for me. I'll just say at the outset that I'm not a huge hiker, but I have friends who are. Well sir, normally our filming locations are within crawling distance of our car. Not so on this occasion. From the car to the shoot it was around a mile, much of it uphill. Carrying equipment up that grade was a pain...for me, at any rate. Admittedly, I was the last one to the top and first to the bottom.

With car troubles to work out down below (it worked out fine, thanks for asking), it took us longer than expected to start shooting. By the time we got up there and the cameras were rolling, it was around 4 PM. We filmed till after 6 and headed back. Next day, we got up there by 10 AM (cut us some slack...the trip wasn't all about filming) and, including lunch, we filmed for 8 hours. Hopping back for supper, we filmed a night scene near our camp (the second, actually, we'd already filmed one the first night) and then headed for bed again. The last morning, we filmed a couple of quick scenes by camp to wrap up production in Blythe.

The production took somewhat of a toll on all of us and, especially on the second day, it got a bit tense. Nothing major, but the air was a little thick with dynamite for a while. Everything cleared up after filming finished, though.

For my own part, I think things went fairly well. Obviously, it's never perfect, but I think that the other guys did good. On me, I try not to critique myself on general principles, but I felt most of it came easily. There were a couple moments where I was just stuck in the middle of the Mojave, flailing about with no idea what I was doing. Honestly, I don't know how it all turned out, but I'm crossing my fingers that it wasn't too bad.

Lord willing, the rest of filming should wrap up right here in town over the next week. Assuming all goes as planned, I'll have another report for you in about a week. Until the next time...

Justin "No Kidding" Orman

PS - Pictures should be forthcoming this week.