Thank you again to everyone that helped us win the “Drobo“! You can see the winners on the Data Robotics Inc. website.
-Red, Ross, and Josh
We Won a Drobo!!!
June 18, 2009 by JoshDROBO!!!!
June 14, 2009 by JoshWell here it is! The official Popcorn Island entry into the “Drobo” Contest. For those of you that do not know what that is…let me enlighten you. A company by the name of Data Robotics, Inc. makes a product called a Drobo. It is essentially a mass media storage enclosure that can house multiple hard drives for safe and convenient storage of large amounts of “stuff.” In our case…lots and lots of media. Mostly pictures Ross takes of himself in the mirror. He shoots in Extra Extra Large JPEG, and Really Really RAW. So the very generous people over at Data Robotics, Inc. decided to hold a little competition giveaway.
All you had to do was create a 15-60 second video explaining, 1. Why you want a Drobo or 2. If you already own one, why you want or need another one. In our case we NEED a Drobo. So away we went using Ross’s stellar idea! So 4 days later, after a load of help from our friends, and a gallon of “real” blood from Red’s collection, here it is! And let me take the time to thank our friends … Adrian DiGiovanni, Michelle Henniges, Joe Hoffman, Tyler Lang, and our beloved Crystal Warren THANK YOU!!! We could not have done it with out you!
Oh! and for all of you that love the behind the scenes stuff… I’ve included a little special treat for you all to enjoy. And don’t forgot to check out the competion on Flickr!
watch: Contest Entry
watch: Making Movie Magic
CBM “Official” Teaser
June 9, 2009 by JoshWell guys, it seems as though this CBM thing just might take off. Adrian and I got together again and did what we wanted to do well over a year ago. We made the “official” teaser. Now..this is not necessarily part of the vignette series of webisodes we will be making, but it is a fun little highlight into Cardboard Man’s look and feel. I actually wish we had made this one first before the chase scene. I guess when you make this stuff up as you go you never know what you’re gonna get. So… alas! Here it is. The official Trailer/Teaser for CBM! Enjoy!
watch: Suit Up
CBM Begins!
June 2, 2009 by Josh
Last night marked the first “actual” production day of shooting for the new CBM vignettes. Part of a plan to showcase short teasers of the new vigilante series. Armed with two jibs and a steady cam jr, some lights, and no crew members, just a Director, a DP, and two Actors, we took to the Chicago side streets and starting making magic. But I have to say we got the job done and in a fairly short period of time even with very very little help. I, however, vow never to do it again! Unless of course Adrian sweet talks me yet again, using the only leverage he really ever has…. “Come on Josh! We’re making movies!! ” I’m a sucker I guess.
watch: Teaser
The road to South Africa…
May 20, 2009 by Josh
Thanks to Michelle Henniges, I was introduced to Iris Dawn Parker, a Teacher and filmmaker at Columbia College. Iris is currently working on two feature documentaries. One of which, titled “Portraits from South Africa” is about a group of South African children whom 11 years ago (1998) were impacted by Iris’ visit to their townships. While there, Iris taught them photography, a skill none of them had ever had the chance to learn or experience until that time. Unaware of the impact Iris had made on these ten children, 10 years later in 2008, one of them sought her out and found her just to let her know she changed his life. Iris went back to South Africa to track down the rest of the kids she worked with in 1998. She brought a camera with her and began the process of documenting their stories. Iris is currently raising funds to help finish her film. I had the privilege to help her in her quest by cutting together a promo/trailer to help her show investors and to start spreading word. Iris and I are planing to return to South Africa in early 2010 to complete the filming.
watch: Trailer
Grant Hindsley’s 1st Photo Exhibit a Success!
May 7, 2009 by Josh
Last night I had the pleasure of attending Grant Hindsley’s 1st Photo Exhibit in Prospect Heights IL. I went out to support a fellow creative artist and friend in the hopes he will continue working for me for free. (haha) Aside from the fact that he’s only 18 years old his work is well beyond his age. So I think a congratulations is in order. Good job Grant! When I was your age I was still trying to figure out how to work the family VHSC camcorder and bribing the local city media guy to edit my crappy movies for Little Debbie Snack Cakes! It worked! haha. And a big Congrats for getting into Missouri State for photojournalism. I’m sure we’ll all see your work out there in the world soon enough. All the best from the entire Popcorn Island Team!
By the way… my favorite shot from the exhibit is clearly the amazing, deep gazing, look of the bald guy in the phone still I nabbed. (see pic to left) That’s one good looking dude!
“Comedy Accident” Promo
May 5, 2009 by Josh
Last Wednesday I went out to do a little filming for Comedy Accident, A Sketch Comedy Group. The show was hilarious and I took it upon myself to cut together a little promo to help them spread the laughs. They perform every Wednesday night at 8pm at the Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago. Tickets are 10 bucks, 7 with a DePaul I.D. I definitely encourage fans of Improv or Sketch Comedy to check these guys out! The venue is small, but intimate, so get there early. It’s a great place to take a date! For more info check them out at www.comedyaccident.com tell them Tallo sent you!
watch: Comedy Accident Promo
Chicago Blackhawks – One Goal Trailer
May 4, 2009 by Ross
To show our hometown support for the Chicago Blackhawks, and selfishly attempt to win tickets to the Tuesday game, Red and I decided to participate in a Chicago Blackhawks Twitter contest. According to the Blackhawks twitter you are supposed to cast a player or two in a movie about the Hawks 2009 season. This sounded right up our alley, but obviously we had to up it a bit.
We decided to create a small trailer for the movie “One Goal,” showcasing our picks and some choice clips from the soon to be film. Now technically the contest entries have to be submitted in under 140 characters, but there were never any rules about those characters being a link!
We really enjoyed making this little guy, and despite a long stretch of effort from Saturday till this morning, we feel the time was well spent!
Click on thumbnail below to watch the trailer, we hope you all enjoy it, and regardless go HAWKS!
One Goal - The Trailer
Elgato Turbo.264 Review
March 14, 2009 by RossWe just snagged ourselves a new piece of hardware known as the Elgato Turbo.264. It is a USB h.264 hardware encoder, allowing compression offloading to this device instead of your computer. We have been testing it out for the day re-compressing a number of our own videos and looking through the pros and cons. This is that we have come up with.
Dead British Kid
March 11, 2009 by Josh
Tag Line -”Josh and Sarah’s realtor neglects to tell them that their new condo comes with a roommate.”
This film was one of those hurry up and shoot it kinda deals. Directed by Adrian DiGiovanni, we spent all of 8 hours shooting it, and a few days editing. All to submit it on time for the Chicago Comedy Film/Video Festival last year, 2008. Much like the success of Mercy Date, which placed 2nd in 2007, Dead British Kid took home the 3rd place honor. Not bad for the time we spent making it. We had fun and that’s what’s important.
watch: Dead British Kid
