Jayel Draco’s News Blog

Here’s a little update on a previously mentioned project I’ve been working on.
A Music Video for the song “History Lessons” by the band Dinosaur Feathers.

So the Studio shoot day on Jan.23 went really well. There where a couple of snags on production side that where quickly circumvented with cleaver spur of the moment problem solving. The shooting it’s self was excellent we captured everything we need on schedule despite delays. When we finally got the footage back a couple weeks ago, everything was crisp, in focus and as planned. The “R3D cam” it was shot with was an incredible piece of high tech whoopass. Editor Andy Giles cut a rough edit of the video and gave us the specific footage for compositing and effects.

The main bulk of green screen compositing went well. If I didn’t do the compositing myself, I might assume it was practical effects. It’s amazing what a difference ultra high res footage makes.

The animation went REALLY well. Corinne put together a library of animated elements and illustrations for me to put together in to scene which where used as background plates. The background plates then had the hero character composited in for the “Trippy Dream Sequence” . I got say I’m proud of it and can’t wait to see it on the big screen.

For now, it’s all back in the hands of Writer/Director Chris Piazza and Editor Andy Giles.
I’m certain that for the sake of the final edit, we’ll end up having to swap out some of our footage, but that’s to be expected and wont take long.

Looking forward to being able to invite you to the premiere.

Keep Rockin. . .
=j=

So Corinne Alexis Hall and I have been working steadily for the past couple of weeks building our muppet-esque costumes for the music video  “History Lessons” by Dinosaur Feathers. We were hooked up with the band when we won first place in SILVERSOUND Music Video Festival + Band Battle for our work in Cockroach Hotel (written and Directed by Christopher Piazza). Dinosaur Feathers won first place in the Band Battle part of the festival. The two first place winners where hooked up and given a budget for a video which would headline next years festival in August.  The Video for “History Lessons” was conceptualized, written and presented by the talented Writer/Director Christopher Piazza. I can’t say too much about it, but I’m quite certain it will be well received.

Yesterday with our costumes complete we started our day in Monroe, NY accompanied by a small crew of 8 at 5:30 AM. Outside in the snow all day until sunset Corinne and I Puppeteered our hearts out for the camera. With special thanks to the work of “super-on-it” Assistant Director Sara Blake, the first day of shooting was completed on schedule with time for a few extra shot thrown in for good measure. Today I awoke with the sharp pain of deep tissue exhaustion snaking throughout my back, arms and legs.  The pain subsides as I focus on confidence in the knowledge that we gave it our best. I also find myself comforted by the knowledge that we have a week and a half of recovery and costume repairs until the next day of shooting.

The next day of shooting will be the 23rd. A warm indoors green screen studio is where Corinne and I will do the rest of our Puppeteering for the special effects shots. The day will be divided between the filming of our puppeteering and shooting Dinosaur Feathers performing. So in theory it should be a significantly easier day for us. After that Corinne and I will have our work cut out for us as we will be animating special effects and compositing them into the video with Photoshop, Flash, and After Effects.

I’ll fill you in on how the 23rd goes.

Keep Rockin. . .
=j=