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.

thinking of you

A catharsis of video tape, a banquet of left-overs at a state dinner, a scathing criticism of someone who'll never get it so there's no point in dropping a name (public adoration is my enemy's most desired treasure).
Video by E. Ballinger
Narration by C. Manson

Withered

My new Peacemaker video was mentioned on Headbangers Blog

Wow, I'm stoked that my latest video of weirdness was mentioned on the Headbanger's Ball Blog. I must confess I never expected much from the Peacemaker vids in terms of attention-getting because they are so strange and that can be a challenge for some viewers.
Thanks Rich, you're the man.