True Facts About Bats

I am continuing my film-making practice! This time I learned some more about editing and what equipment to get for the next one.

Making movies is fun.

Thanks to Matt Sichel for starring in this while wearing a weird bat hat.

How To Make a Short Film

If you spent any time perusing the films on my YouTube Channel, you will see that, well, the quality varies wildly. That’s not to say I don’t love them all, because I do.

There is something really fun about coming up with an idea, filming it, and putting it out into the world. If no one watches, who cares? In my mind, it’s about finishing something. Now you have a thing that didn’t exist, and it exists because of you and (most likely) your friends.

Which brings me to Pickled. Recently, I dug out my old camera and installed some free editing software on the PC. I had made one film in the past few weeks, Liminal Mario, but that did not require me to actually film anything.

I wanted to get the camera working and do some real filming, so I layed on the couch until I thought of a movie idea that would be fun, and practical, to make. That’s where I came up with Pickled. It took me 15 minutes to write the script, 2 hours of running around the house to film it, and maybe another 3 hours to edit it together.

5-6 hours of work, and it’s done! Worth the time? A viewer would probably say No, but for me, it is an absolute Yes.

Why? Because I learned a lot. Mostly technical stuff. A few structural things as to how to film/edit scenes more clearly. What to pay more attention to next time.

Also, I made a thing! It exists! You can actually watch it below.

So, to answer the title of this post, just go make one! You probably have a camera. Or at least a cell-phone. You probably have a laptop/pc where you can install DaVinci Resolve or something similar. And I know you have an imagination.

Think of a potential film project as exercise for your creative brain. Just make anything and you’ll learn a lot. So when the time comes to start a big project, you will be ready.

Before you start though, watch Pickled.

Liminal Mario – Austin Micro Film Festival

I have a new short film premiering at the Spring 2023 Austin Micro Film Festival on Saturday March 11th, 2023 @ 3pm.

Liminal Mario is a comedy/drama/experiment relating real-life philosophy to the world of the original Super Mario Bros. Or… it’s a goofy video montage of video game footage.

Either way you look at it, I think it’s quite fun.

It’s narrated by the great Seth Hunter Perkins, who nailed it. He’s easily the best part of the short.

See it in Austin! And more locations to come! In the meantime, check out the trailer:

Seven Minute Manos!

Are you a fan of the classic MST3K episode MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE? Or are you just curious what all the fuss is about? Check out my video below to watch a 7 minute cut of the original film.

I tried to cram all the fun and plot-forwarding bits into one small delightful package. I hope you enjoy.