memphis blood

inspiration: Bus Ride

2011-11-21T00:37:00.004-06:00

So, with guns on the mind...so to speak, I hop on the bus to get to work(Hey! where's this goin?!), I almost didn't take the bus, I had enough time to walk, but it was cold, and I needed to pick up some supplies(that's me, being funny, supplies=milk + tea, for my shift). When I get on the bus, it's almost empty, (the 10pm Division Bus on a Sunday Night usually is), Okay, almost empty...except, where I usually sit; the back of the bus. so I sit somewhere else, when I sit down, I notice the graffiti(I tend to, normally...I was a graffiti writer, a billion moons ago, so it's in me blood)...this Pic is what I saw...okay...so here's where the inspiration, comes in to play. I've been wondering how to rename "submachinegun"...I liked the idea of MP as in machine pistol...I also liked the idea of "rapid fire" in some form. So when I saw the tag "RPK", it spoke to me. In that instant I knew "RFP", rapid fire pistol. I'm titling this phenomenon "an omen of influence"...It's happened before, in which, I'm uncertain or indecisive about some detail I'm working on, then something will happen and I get an answer...so from here on out "RFP's", for many a weapon of choice.

INSPIRATION: Dungeons and Dragons (part 1...maybe)

2011-11-17T05:11:00.007-06:00

Truth be told, I was a crappy player...most of the time, disruptive(sorry Mel,the DM), always making with the jokes(albeit, I had a partner in crime on that; R.I.P. Ronnie)..anywho, Of course, I was a hypocrite, because as a DM, do you think I would want some joker playing...well, it depends...no, of course not...anywho(x2), my point is that, preparing a campaign, I found to be quite rewarding making up stuff...naming towns, making maps(I like maps), making up magic items...,more than inspiration, really, it was a way to work...
to put it another way: "Asmodeus is in the Detail"...

* FYI that fiend to the left is "Asmodeus"...in D and D terms, no one to Fuck with...

yet another....

2011-11-17T04:10:00.012-06:00

yeah-yeah-yeah's....
the third and final Prototype submachinegun...this one is for our "heros"...
a little background: much like the Lokian ancestors a.k.a VIKINGS, wood handles are needed to carve or burn in runes(futhark)and stain with blood. Hence the sawed off-ness...
wood is used not only for ease of adding runes, but wood also has magickal properties.
so within "AT"(that stands for Among Thieves) lore/doctrine, Lokians are relegated to use weapons with enough wood material for runic purposes*...

* this is open to debate, and generally only applies to Orthodox Lokians, do to the fact that metal can be used(for runic inscriptions),and forgoing the use of blood staining as well as not caring about the magickal properties of wood(hey, it's their funeral, scratch that...pyre)

Below is a spearhead dated from the early 3rd century, found in Kovel,Ukraine and sidenote; of course it was stolen by the nazi's..of course, and of course those fuckers would lose it...shhhesh

Additionally, about the gun design...inspired by the MP5K, I originally had a handle in the front like the tommygun, making it closer to the MP5K, I might bring it back...that's why it be a prototype...

another gun "design"

2011-11-16T06:17:00.004-06:00

"gun of Choice" for worshipers of the Flying lizard god Quetzalcoat.
(a combo of a Sten MKII and Sterling L2...)
P.S. I donut have a name,caliber,manufacture, or country of origin...yet...yet

A gun design For "Memphis Blood"

2011-11-16T02:54:00.009-06:00

So, piggy-backing on previous post, here's a prototype sub-machinegun. This will be the Set(h) worshiping mobsters, gun of choice. I've avoided using the drum magazine, even though it's iconic(it was featured on the Tommygun)between casting and wardrobe, I think my point will get across(that they're mobsters)...
Below are the three sub-machineguns that I used to make this one. I started with the Russian one, then the Thompson M1A1(a WWII modified/stripped down version of the "Tommy gun", to speed up wartime production)...finally, I took the barrel from the MP18...it looks meaner than the M1A1 Barrel. Since this is a prototype, I might lose the wood foregrip, or at the very least change it so that it's not so "Thompson-y"...oh, yeah I also used the barrel sight from the Russian gun...

Its not a GLOCK 26...but it is

2011-11-15T05:14:00.008-06:00

what the hell does that mean, you might ask....
Well, the prop IS an airsoft version of a glock 26, and yes the dialog states that it is a "Glock 26...", but in an early draft it was a "Wilks Type 8", which is a made up ... I changed it, because I wanted to give the scene some weight in reality. I wouldn't do that now, Because I would use this situation to add a layer of otherworldly uniqueness(to coin a phrase) also, in a perfect world I would have made/designed a "Wilks" for the scene...but at the time I didn't think I could do that...get a gun prop made, now I know different.

this was shot with the SONY XD-CAM by Paul Priciple and sound was handled by Travis Bird.

The "Star Wars Effect" AKA Prespective within Inspiration.

2011-11-15T03:59:00.011-06:00

Okay, when I was seven, I saw "Star Wars" for the first time. Now, among many elements of this movie, I was affected by the weapon design(s). It's an inspiration that I've carried with me to this day. It's a detail,(I guess) that resonates...Han Solo's gun(blaster) looked "Cool" to me... It still does(kinnnda), as did, all of the weapons throughout;I call it: the "Star Wars Effect"...Here's the however part, within the last year or so, I've been causally, researching guns(to a large extent WWII guns)...so with a little knowledge, I come to find, Han Solo's blaster... not... so...original(basically, a Mauser "Broomhandle" w scope and flash suppressor) ...so what, it's original enough, and the only thing that matters is that it inspired me to design my own weapons for this "series"...I guess what I'm trying to say is, the fact that my perspective changed, it can't change me initial drive(feeling)...Art is transitory, and although, I look on that movie with different eyes...it got me here...or there...I'm not quite sure what the point of this post is..."everybody be hate'n on Lucas(?)"..."don't turn your back on the earlier you"...oh wait! inspiration is a gift..."moment-moment-monent"...blahhhhhh

2011-10-13T06:42:00.000-05:00

we shot here....

Short on Story, Long arm of the Law

2011-10-11T05:26:00.000-05:00

when you don't have much of a story you find other ways to pad. I used dialogue, pertaining to "The Crews" History, and that came with naming locations i.e.counties. Retrospectively, three is a bit much, but live and learn, live and learn...I mean I would now stretch that over a couple of episodes.

This Here Blog.

2011-10-10T00:45:00.000-05:00

I was inspired by, and then ripped off this here blog. a City to Make meRyan Miller(W/P/E/D) Needs help with funding Kickstarter

Music Featured

2011-10-10T00:31:00.001-05:00

"Some Dark Holler" - Nick Jones (cold open)
"Mockingbird"- Palliard (opening theme)
"In A Parking Lot" - Big Buildings (transition)
"In With The Out Crowd" - Big Buildings (transition and closing theme)
"Nature Time" - Big Buildings (transition)
"Battleswords" - Big Buildings (transition)
"Leaving Cheyenne" - Nick Jones (background music)
"Ain't No Grave" - Nick Jones (background music)
"To Be Alone Tonight"- Nick Jones (background music)
"I Wanna Get High" - Cypress Hill (cemetery scene)

Palliard "Won't heal alone"

Big Buildings "Wampum"

Nick Jones "Moonshiner and other songs"

Opening Credits+Mockingbird

2011-10-09T05:40:00.012-05:00

I had absolutely no idea for opening credits. we(Joe Gallo - DP) shot this footage, because we had some time left over(from shooting a couple other scenes), and the location was perfect....(*) ....(if memory serves, we had about an hour remaining to shoot)...everyone helped out, quickly moving gear/props....so that we could use the whole space....This was primarily Joe's baby, in terms of composition..and even though, I didn't know where I was going to use the footage, I knew not to worry about sound, cause I figured I would put music on top of it. So when I heard "Mockingbird", by local band "Palliard"...oh,man...dead fuckin on....

"should I take it as a sign, or do we get what we deserve?..."
...
Here's a Blog/review on Palliard.
http://kirstiecat.com/archives/2126

* Nothing says "menace/ing", like an oldie freight elevator

List for Cemetery Scene

2011-10-08T05:33:00.003-05:00

I don't make lists much(if at all) in my every day life, I guess I just don't care if I forget to pick up laundry detergent...But in "film-making", I can't afford(pun intent) to not...this seems self-evident, but surprisingly(or not), I didn't start out making lists, or even storyboards...it took about two years to get on board(yeah-yeah), with that one. I kept things simple, and in turn, made it more complicated. Now I do stick figure storyboards...Shot list, and a wardrobe/prop list. We re-shot the cemetery scene a year later(cast was gracious) (Matthew Hughes as DP), and by that-this point, at least we had a shooting diagram....No storyboard, but an additional loosely composed shot list...we deviated, but that's the point...you keep it loose, because you can.....save your brain for ideas, not remembering....

BTW

2011-10-07T13:28:00.001-05:00

if you look to the right with cast pics, you can note/notice, that "Leroy"'s, middle name
is Aleister, that's just for you, dear readers, I think actually making THAT reference* in the series,
would be lame(not very subtle in my book), but in HTMLand...why not?...However, I do have every intent on mentioning Jack Parsons
at some point...

* FYI. Aleister Crowley

screenshots@cemetery aka RoseHill can fuckoff...

2011-10-06T04:19:00.002-05:00

we got kicked out...which is fine, considering we didn't have permission,COMPLETELY understandable, HOWEVER, the reason given "we have to respect the families and their kin buried here", again COMPLETELY understandable...HOWEVER, if that is the case, then why the fuck did "BackDraft" get to shoot here(amongst other films)...YES, I'm cranky as all hell this Morn...
P.S. it really wasn't a big deal, getting kicked out, I didn't give it any thought until, I started writing this entry...long story short, I had a back up plan, assumed we would get kicked out, I figured we would shoot at a forest preserve.
well, Film God(s) were with us that day, because unbeknownst to me, there was another cemetery(a cooler one, naa!)...right next to the forest preserve....kids have a back up plan, and then pray to the film gods....
Additionally, this was shot by Matthew Hughes of Hyphenated-Pictures. The colour* screenshot is of FX man/sculptor Dan Driscoll (yep, he did make-up on himself)
* I use the british spelling because I'm an asshole.

inspiration cost me five bucks

2010-11-06T23:32:00.000-05:00

I got home tonight from an event, with not much time on my hands,
before having to leave for work, so naturally, I get it in my brain, to start
working on AT-U (among thieves universe)...I finished naming all of the episodes of season one,
for the TV Show "Tales from the Red Museum"...(There's a Fan page on FB, please join
and feel free join in on the silliness) Anyway, it really didn't take long, especially when I armed myself, with a few but effective motifs...for one, every episode I just named after an "acquisition",
an acquisitions' were relegated to only a few options...stuff that's old timey(pocketwatch, locket), or could be, body parts, if there was a person's name in the title, the first name sounds old timey and the last name, I took from French Cooking Terms...I took a small leap from "scallion" as in Viktor Scallion., and also I have a couple of insects thrown in...so anyway, I was late getting out the Door, just missed the bus, hopped in a cab, to catch me up to the bus....but here's the best part....when I got on the bus I sit down, I look up, to find an advertisement for a haunted house "Chronicles of the Cursed"...and I think to myself, hey, that could be a title for an episode, then I look to my left, and it's an advertisement for the Cordon Bleu Culinary Program....thank you universe, money well spent....Here's my thought about coincidences'...you can say it means something and blah, blah, blah...but my take is, it's a little nod from the universe, your brain and surroundings are in tune...I mean the further your away from being in the here and now, the less you can potentially notice...if that makes sense...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/tales-from-the-red-museum/episode-list-season-one/140167939365180

The BODY SNATCHER; a character from episode two

2010-11-06T06:02:00.000-05:00

The BODY SNATCHER character is based on a character played by Boris Karlov from the film of the same name . However, this is where we simply start and we quickly add my nod to Keith Richards, firstly the(his) energy, or vibe of keith, suggesting a look at the Documentary “Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll“ for his is a mature keith, and definitely the brand of vibe, we are after.. Secondly the black eyeliner.

Third in this construct is how he communicates , which is a series of monotone grunts, as well as giving written notes to people, when the need to be more articulate arises . (He carries a small hardbound red note pad as well as a vintage fountain pen. )He took a vow of silence for his God Set(h). This also grants a certain wave of admiration among his peers, However this admiration serves no master. It grants him is healing powers, as in “lay on hands”…for this is his motivation for all things relevant. To heal his ten year old daughter. “dandelion”.(also a nod to keith, it's his daughters name)

“The BODY SNATCHER” is dressed in sturdy yet baggy attire. Gray Work Pants and Black Combat boots. Or work boots. Additionally He is wearing a charcoal grey Hoodie, under a Dark Green Carhartt jacket. (of course , green doesn’t matter, because our series, is shot in B/W)

The BODY SNATCHER has a Horizontal scar that starts on the left side of his mouth and extends about two inches out. Also on the left front side of his neck is a typical set(h)ian jailhouse tattoo. A Set(h)ian Script to be exact…I don’t have a sketch yet

"Pilot" and Video Tapes.

2010-10-31T01:42:00.001-05:00

ahhh, The Video Tape...A simpler time(perhaps, perchance).
So, Here's lies one of my Motif's...well, actually it's two.
one the MOTIF as Prop. The Video Tape. Two, "Art within Art"...
Big, big fan. It's pretty much a "Duh" Hammer to the back of the head,
I mean, if your tempting and attempting to create your own world,
then by default, you gotta populate it with "stuff"...
some of my "Stuff"...TV Shows. People talk about TV. So you make up
a TV show, or two, or three, and presto, you got yourself some dialog,
and Boom, you got yourself another layer to your world.
"Pilot's" Favorite TV Shows are as Follows:

"Tales from the Red Museum", this is a nod to an X-files episode as well
as based on a Marriage of "Tales from the Darkside" and "Friday the 13th(TV series)".
"Tales..." is mentioned in the 4th Episode of Among Thieves "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons".

Pilot searches thrift stores for Video Tapes with Recorded
TV Shows...that leads to Dialog, additionally, ironically, consequentially,
"Tales..." is Leroy's Favorite TV Show, just for different reasons...Bingo,
Dialog...Thanks...

Additional TV shows, loaded up and ready to go.
"Werewolves by Night"...boy, is that a rip-off, from
MARVEL comics and the FOX show WEREWOLF. (I think it lasted one season)
In my brain it's kinda like that show "Roswell", minus the WBness, and replace Aliens with Werewolves....Don't know if I'll "use" it, But it's here...there.

"Cyborg Chronicles" is based on the six million dollar man,
because the original title (from the books) is "Cyborg"..
again, I doubt it actually comes up in dialog, but who knows?

Happenstance has a place in my Heart

2010-10-26T07:44:00.000-05:00

I just stumbled upon this.
It's a story about the disaster, that I based a portion of Carthage's history on.
It's hard to believe that I wrote "Year of the Dog",well over two years ago. If memory serves, than I think I used this "disaster" background, for some earlier script. (unrelated to Among Thieves)

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/10/1026donora-pennsylvania-killer-smog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Houdini

2010-06-29T18:42:00.001-05:00

Leroy can get out of Handcuffs like no other. He doesn't even know how he does it.
We can call it a form of Divine intervention. However, within the fiction, it is actually a "wight" that is attached to Leroy. A "wight" in the Norse tradition is a spirit. The Wight aids him in those time's i.e. in Handcuffs, opening Safes...

Blog_Hoodini from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

Everybody Reads

2010-06-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

I read "the stranger" in summer school. I liked it. A few years later I'm watching "Jacob's Ladder", and in the opening scene Tim Robbins is on a New York Subway, reading a copy of "the stranger",
I felt immediately connected. I guess that idea never left, which is my core reason for using books
in a scene. I also wanted it to help say something about the characters. Leroy reads Heavy Metal, Pilot reads comics...

Blog_everyone reads from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

Pottymouths

2010-06-15T00:06:00.000-05:00

in full disclosure i can not take credit for intent, it simply happened...I'm referring to saying "the f word" five times in less than ten seconds of dialogue...I think it's kinda funny.
so here it is.

Untitled from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

"Quan Yen"

2010-06-10T06:25:00.000-05:00

"I guess we'll avoid houses hanging Quan-Yen, Huh" - Pilot

okay so a quan yen, ain't exactly a talisman with a head of a dog.
However, there is a talisman mentioned in a mythology book . As a matter of fact, most of that dialog is taken directly from the book. The Book doesn't mention the name of said talisman, so I just picked a real thing. A real "quan yen" is a goddess or it's the name of the statue of the goddess.

Here is the scene.

"Quan Yen" from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

"Pilot" is played by William Horan.
This scene was shot by Joe Gallo with sound handled by Anthony Shy.
It was shot in about 4 hours on a Panasonic DVX100B,using existing or natural light, on a late November Sunday of 2008. The Location was Lee's Chop Suey, 2415 W. Diversey, Chicago,IL

on "Morgana"

2010-06-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

"red hair" says Pilot, "something like that" says Leroy.

I like when things stick in me craw(kinda)...the character Morgana is an amalgam of that example . A twenty year old anecdote about a friend of mine, who dyed her pubic hair red,on a dare, is the core of the character sketch.
Morgana working at a funeral home, comes from a friend of mine mentioning that his wife works at a funeral home. From there, I jumped to the idea of stealing a coffin.
The name Morgana is taken from "Morgan(a) le Fey", the sorceress and half sister of King Arthur.

Here is the scene.

"on morgana" blog from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

Carthage, Kentucky

2010-06-09T08:12:00.000-05:00

"some ancient city in Africa"
- Marlowe White

Carthage rests in Summoners County. Population: 2033. Carthage is based on the population and "feel" of Cairo, Illinois. Cairo suffers from a former past. Making it all the more desolate. It presents the gentle reminder of happier if not more prosperous times. Carthage's history is grabbed from another source. slightly based on some small industrial mining town in Pennsylvania, where almost the whole town suffered from some tragic industrial accident, something about a smog that lasted three days or something...I cant really remember...I took the name as the dialog implies, "from some ancient city in africa..."

I wanted to give the town it's own sense of mythology. It's own dread.
This was also a place in the scene, where I wanted to show typical "Marlowe".

Here is the scene.

carthage blog from Francisco Castle on Vimeo.

"Marlowe" is played by Jamal Neff.
This scene was shot by Joe Gallo,using a Panasonic DVX100B, a 320watt fresnel + existing light. Sound was handled by Anthony Shy using an Audio Technica AT897 + Boom. This Scene was shot in about three hours, on a Saturday afternoon in late August of 2008. The Location was C & S Pub 5053 N. Lincoln, Chicago, Ill. Ron was the Bartender.