What is this Hyper-Reality You Speak?

Several times over the last twenty-two months I've posted bits and pieces about "my as of yet uncompleted 35mm short film epic" Hyper-Reality. The reaction I received after posting the first batch prompted me to look into crowd-funding its completion. (I had made an off-handed comment about perhaps pursuing that option.) Needless to say there is a lot of information on crowd-funding on the Internet. I was too busy at the time to take the notion any further.

It's time I post a TV Guide-style description about Hyper-Reality.

"Four young police officers and two cosmonauts attempt to thwart an invasion by space aliens."

What started as a more conventional concept about four twenty-somethings, turned into a colourful and fantastical one. I had originally written two drafts of the script with a friend of mine. What had been titled "Afterglow" morphed when, through a mutual friend, I met Tim A. Cook. He reviewed the material with me and said: "I'll put some money in if you add a couple of space aliens." I readily, and for some reason, happily, agreed to his suggestion and the two of us worked the concept until it became "Hyper-Reality". (The title makes sense, believe me, and it came to us naturally without trying to brainstorm title ideas.)

Here's another teaser: About six years ago Paramount Pictures (and producer Mary Parent) put into development a similar concept. Its title? Hyperdrive. A friend and former coworker emailed me one day after he reviewed the studio development and production boards as part of his sales job: "(The premise) sounds eerily familiar?"

Something interesting happened....

Soon!

TIFF 70mm Film Screenings Celebrated on TTC

One of the benefits of being a film fan in the magnificent city of Toronto is having access to the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) year-round screenings at the Bell Lightbox; some of which are free.

While travelling on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway I saw "TIFF Magnificent 70mm" adverts for both E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the magnificent 2001: A Space Odyssey.


For more information: Magnificent 70mm

Film Design: Cosmonaut Costuming on "Hyper-Reality"

PHOTO TO BE RELOADED SOON

In addition to directing and co-writing my (as of yet uncompleted) 35mm short film epic Hyper-Reality, I functioned as designer. The script called for a few builds: sets, props, and costumes.

The affixed photo illustrates the show's cosmonaut outfit. The suits were built by Erminia Diamantopoulos -- seen above adjusting her work during the shoot -- from my plans. To be honest, my plans were based on the suits from the 1960 East German/Polish co-production, and visual beauty, Der Schweigende Stern (imported to the West and titled First Spaceship on Venus). The walkie-talkie-like prop the above cosmonaut holds I designed to look as though it came from an old science fiction film or television series. Even though the story takes place today, I want to unify the aesthetic, the "era".

I've done more than a few postings on Hyper-Reality. Tomorrow I will post a TV Guide description of the film's plot: If you were to notice the film's listing my hope would be that you'd want to stay up late and watch it.

Film Design: Science Laboratory - Earliest Sketches

Yesterday I posted a piece about my search for a set flat painted pattern. Film Design: Set Wall Panel Patterns featured some of my sketches for a television pilot/demo I independently produced a few years ago.

Affixed above is a very early set sketch for the same show and illustrates how the flats would be positioned in the studio. The flats at this point "floated" and were not interconnected -- that came later. Over pints of beer with a friend (and production partner) I recounted the Time Tunnel set from the old, and very bad, Irwin Allen television series The Time Tunnel.  I liked the idea of a laboratory accessed by some sort of bridge or walkway, which informed my first approach.


My Time Tunnel sketch (click to enlarge)....

And the science laboratory idea from my own project....

Film Design: Set Wall Panel Patterns

A few years ago I designed a "science laboratory" set for one of my own productions -- a television pilot/demo show. For each 4 x 8 foot flat I wanted a pattern that would make for an interesting rhythm when each panel was fixed together as a complete wall unit.

Above is a page of sketches looking for that panel pattern. Soon I will post a picture of the completed set.

Film Design: Storeroom Concept Sketches

When I'm writing a script or story and I want to get a handle on the layout and look of a location I often sketch out what I imagine that place to be. Sometimes I'll draw up a place to give me story ideas.

I wrote a short-film script a few years ago after I watched the 1924 Russian silent feature film Aelita. The work of its designers, Issac Rabinovich and Victor Simov, inspired me to review Constructivist art. What happened was I stormed-up a story. I could not write it down fast enough.

The sketches above came from my pen when I was writing another story idea.

Artwork: Flukey the Flower's Encroachment

"Hyper-Reality" Alien Makeup Touch-up

Toronto Football Club is a Special Team

As the CityNews website headline states: "Toronto FC wins it's first-ever MLS Cup."

The great city of Toronto has another winning team -- the CFL's Toronto Argonauts won the 2017 Grey Cup final. The NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs are playing a winning season, but in standard Leafs fashion, they will crash. ("Yeah, but this team is different.")

I love football. And I love ice hockey. But only one Toronto-based team can win my love. And it was won yesterday in spectacular fashion.

Go Toronto Football Club!

At 4 o'clock this afternoon, Toronto time, Toronto FC kicks with the Seattle Sounders for Major League Soccer supremacy.

It's possible that TFC Might might make Seattle sound.

Focusing on the Aliens of "Hyper-Reality"

A crew member holds the camera's measuring tape to check focus on the set of "Hyper-Reality".

An Angle on "Hyper-Reality"

On the set of Hyper-Reality: Camera assistant Gary Blakeley and director of photography Dennis Pike ready the Arriflex camera on the studio scissor lift.

Up lift! Getting that high angle shot of the alien lair set.

Behind the Irwin Allen Panel on "Hyper-Reality"

If you've seen the old Irwin Allen television shows Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, or Time Tunnel, you probably remember what I refer to as "The Irwin Allen Panel". In the early 1960s the 20th Century Fox studios prop department bought surplus U.S. Air Force equipment and made some modifications, including taking the indicator lights and hooking them up to a series of chaser-boxes, thereby producing sequenced blinking lights.

The equipment was already "old" but that did not stop producer Irwin Allen from utilizing them for his futuristic television programs. (Makes sense; 1960s aliens in silver face paint no doubt would operate 1950s Earth equipment.)

By the way, the panels appeared in the television series Lost. My guess is they are still available for rent.

When designing my (as of yet uncompleted) short film Hyper-Reality I used the panels in question as a guide. The story requires a retro look.

The photo affixed above features a crew member operating a piece of projection equipment.

Mitchell, Me, on Pardee

Lensing exteriors for Hyper-Reality on Pardee Avenue here in Toronto. That building on the right is 23 FPS Studios' stage 2.

CIFS Screening Series Flyer

(click on image to enlarge)

From the archives:


CIFS
The Canadian Independent Film Series

It's a bad flyer when there are no dates affixed.

The venue: The Bloor Cinema, Toronto


On the "New Voices" part 1 plan:

The Front Seat  - 4 minutes - black and white - D: Barbara Mainguy
Someone to Love  - 15 minutes - colour - D: Shawn Goldberg
Good Night  - 4 minutes - colour - D: Rick Palidwor
Crucero/Crossroads  - 28 minutes  - colour - D: Ramiro Puerta


CIFS was run by Rob Cosgrove and Chris Dwyer. The programs were well done but the series as a whole was short-lived.

Ghouls of the "Graveyard Shift" Graveyard Set

A happy set designer poses with his creation. Note the unfinished left side of the mausoleum. This was done to save money. The right side has a full wall.

The creator poses with the set's ghoul. I'm on the left. (The top photo should have been a clue.)

With the Mitchell at 23 FPS Studios Toronto

Directing at the Toronto Docklands

A Moon Break

I looked out the window and noticed the moon framed by tree branches. The moon as seen from my balcony late Tuesday afternoon.

I hope the Alphans are okay....

Film Design: A Character Sketch; His Name Is....

Sketchpad on the lap. The 'radio' tuned to ZoomerRadio. Think of characters.

A few thumbnails pop onto the paper.

Who is this guy? How did his parents name him? I'm going to use him; I know just the project. He'll be a star.

I can imagine who he might be: He hangs around on a TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway station platform -- specifically "St. George" Station -- but never actually boards a train. He stands there, in some sort of spiritually lost limbo, not sure in what direction to travel, and not sure if he wants to leave, if at all, via the "Bedford" or "St. George" exit.

With further imagination I begin to believe he's a former University of Toronto student; Law was his first course, but switched to Engineering Science after he figured it might be easier. It wasn't easier. And now he's drawn back to this place. Life takes an unexpected course. Can he go back and try it all over again? (That outfit he wears tells me he was the water boy for the Varsity Blues football team, circa late-eighties.)

I speak with a TTC inspector who stands on the "southbound" platform. It is important for my own sanity that I ask the big question.

"He's here almost every time I'm at this station", I offer.

The inspector answers, without editorial or judgement: "His name is Dennis."

Yes. Dennis. Dennis shall be his name!