Punkmonkey Update

Hello interested reader,
Work is progressing on my new short. At present it bears the working title "Some Good Thing" although that will likely change as I don't love it and I love everything else about the flick. Did I say love? Yes, that's right, and as anyone who knows me can attest, that has never happened before. In fact I usually find more fault with my own work than anyone else can. This time my friends, it's all coming together (for the most part).

To be honest I wish the script was a bit better. I mean, it doesn't sizzle the way a Tarantino or Scorsese script sizzles but it's my first attempt at screen writing. I can't expect to walk with the giants on my first attempt, right? This is not, however, my first attempt at cinematography. I've been honing that shit for a while now and I'm finally beginning to see results that I'm pleased with (all things considered).

So stay tuned. This movie, whatever it's called, is coming soon. I'll have lots more stuff to post about it in the coming weeks and months. We'll probably be shooting all summer and then work starts all over in edit, composites, color, sound mix, and on and on. For now enjoy these production stills, kindly provided by the skilled lens of Scott Cameron at iohouse.com.

Thanks for stopping by,
Ed

new movie shooting underway

So, I started shooting a new movie of my own and it promises to be pretty good stuff-at least I think so. The working title is Some Good Thing. It's a dark, sorta creepy story about a prostitute murdering psychopath and a girl who avoids her demise...for now. Here's some screen shots.
It looks like I'll be shooting for a while yet so look for a fall or possibly later release.Some Good Thing
written and directed by Ed Ballinger
cast:
Gwen....................Samantha Elmer
Maggie.......................Jane Horvath
Mike...........................Desi Stevens
Gabe..............Brian DiBonaventure
The Wisdom Tooth....Gerald Prince

yeah baby!

I'm currently mega-stoked about an upcoming delivery.

Cake details

Tagline - The Cake - Purple, Green, and Gold Icing with a romantic filling

View the film: http://www.dvxfest.com/lossfest/index.php?id=2900491

Cast
Margot.................................Samantha Elmer
Tom......................................Dan Maher
Simon...................................Alex Funes
Jessie...................................Robert F. Killion
Black Cat..............................Jane Horvath
Kid on Bike...........................Mason Trauger
Trick or Treater 1.................Marena Trauger
Trick or Treater 2.................Mason Trauger
Spartan Cheerleader...........Jamie Jackson
Fairy....................................Michelle "Micki" Montoro
Baseball Player....................Colleen Johnson
Feathered Friend.................Buddy Thompson
V for Vendetta Extra............Bryan Bocich
Drunk A**hole.....................Sundar J.M. Brown

Crew
Producer..............................Steve Cameron
Producer..............................Maher Mahmud
Director................................Dessaline Stevens
Director of Photography.......Ed Ballinger
Writer...................................Vanessa Kimi Mravich
Production Manager.............Steve Cameron
Production Coordinator........Maher Mahmud
Production Designer.............Vanessa Kimi Mravich
1st Assistant Director...........Jim DiCamillo
Camera Operator.................Maher Mahmud
Boom Operator.....................Luke Ramer
Lighting Coordinator.............Ann Marie Rivera
Lighting Technician...............Moses Garcia
Lighting Technician...............Mark Ritchey
Script Supervisor..................Salome Kingsley
Key Hair/Makeup..................Amy Trauger
Location Manager................Jane Horvath
Production Assistant............Buddy Thompson
Production Assistant............Jamie Jackson
P2 Technician.......................Maher Mahmud
Production Stills...................Scott Cameron
BTS Photographer................Alex Funes

Post Production Supervisor..Scott Cameron
Editor...................................Ed Ballinger
Colorist................................Scott Cameron
Sound Designer...................Sean Cameron
Music Coordinator................Dessaline Stevens
Music Coordinator................Ed Ballinger

Special Thanks.....................Joe Horvath

Allentown Film Crew www.meetup.com/allentownfilmcrew
io house ltd. www.iohouse.com
Punkmonkey Pictures www.punkmonkeypictures.com

Our DVXuser.com festival entry, The Cake

The viewing period for DVXuser.com LossFest is now open.  You can watch The
Allentown Film Crew's entry, The Cake, and follow the discussion.

Direct link to download The Cake
http://www.dvxfest.com/lossfest/index.php?id=2900491

Link to the discussion thread
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=164488

Link to other LossFest films:
http://www.dvxfest.com/lossfest/

You do not need to be a member of the site to view the short films.  However, you do need to
be a member with at least 50 posts to vote.

The Cake is done

I've posted a few "behind the scenes" photos in my Myspace photo area from a movie I just completed work on, The Cake. I'll post a link for the movie when it's available for viewing on the web.
For The Cake I took on the roles of Director of Photography and Editor. I can honestly say that I gave it my best effort and I'm reasonably satisfied with the results. Of course things could always be better but for my first time as a DP on a dramatic production, it went pretty well.
More later.

pretty pictures are hard to make

"Contrary to popular belief, the manipulation of images in the digital world takes a great deal of skill. It offers no easy fix for those who are careless with their exposures, and there is no software that can compensate for poor lighting or shot conception." - Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC 10/08

I just read this article, an op-ed really, by one of the world's great cinematographers, Roger Deakins. I don't really know shit about what real cinematographers do. It's mysterious to me; all the lenses, film stocks, lighting instruments, chemical processes, other magic potions and spells they weave to make beautiful images. What I liked best about the piece was not so much the technical jargon but Deakins humility.

Very soon I'm going to have my first solo opportunity to actually DP on a small dramatic project and I'll admit to being a little concerned about it. I think I'm as prepared as I can be but the short schedule and inability to get "playtime" on set is a concern. It seems like we might be rushing through things and I don't have the instinctual knowledge that an experienced DP would have. To know automatically know that to get a given look under such-and-such conditions I need an X light with Y diffusion at so many feet...not knowing shit always bothers me enormously. I wish I knew the answers before I start so I'd be sure to ace the test. Pencils up.