Project: Potemkin, a Star Trek Fan Film

Discussion in 'Fan Productions' started by Potemkin_Prod, Jan 11, 2010.

  1. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    We've been very fortunate that there are three of us responsible for set construction. Van and Randy framed the elevated bridge platform on Sunday afternoon. Randy and Ricky sawed the OSB pieces to cover it on Monday evening. Randy and his son Jeremy secured the OSB with screws on Tuesday. Ricky and Randy built the rear exit from the bridge and our first console frame on Wednesday.

    Tonight, we're supposed to build the starboard turbolift platform and steps down so Randy's wife can walk the platform to her truck. We also have to paint the faces of the platform around the lower section, and then we need to examine the framing we did on the first station and probably square it up a little bit.

    Whew!
     
  2. Melonpool

    Melonpool Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2009
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Are you using large format prints (on paper) or actual duratrans (on plastic sheets) for your back-lit displays? What's the best deal you've been able to find? I'm almost to that stage and want to start weighing the pros and cons.
     
  3. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Our tests so far have been with HP High Gloss Photo Paper and then spray coating it with Clear Acrylic Spray with a Dull finish. The results look good, but we're going to try using a different finish (Satin) on the paper next week. The Photo Paper was easily black lit. We want to know what kind of result we'll get from the Satin. And we also try a transparent film and reverse printing on it.

    Honestly, we may not backlight very many of the set pieces. When we did our test of the non-backlit pieces, we were astonished to see the difference doesn't appear to be work the added cost of materials and the additional labor required...
     
  4. Melonpool

    Melonpool Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2009
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    I know when I was doing my old movies that the backlighting was VERY effective -- moreso than using real buttons -- which tended to get lost on the consoles entirely.

    I was thinking about sandwiching a duratrans (the same stuff they use to put graphics on Coke machines) between a layer of smokey black plexi (outside) and regular plexi (inside). I figured that would make the parts that are not being lit to disappear, but I don't know if I can afford the added expense.

    I have an old Duratrans in my garage from another console I built years ago -- I may do some experiments in the next few weeks.
     
  5. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Plexiglas was simply too an expensive option for us. If I had my choice, I'd be using non-reflective glass pieces cut out to lay over the appliques. But we're hoping that the satin finish will give us a plasticene look...
     
  6. Kelso

    Kelso Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2001
    Location:
    On the destruct button until the last minute!
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Uggh. That's close enough to where I live to be tempting, but far away enough to be too difficult to pull off.

    Best of luck, though. It's great to see more of this kind of thing going on in GA.
     
  7. Melonpool

    Melonpool Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2009
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    I was very lucky in that department. The head of my department decided one day that all the framed artwork in our office was causing too much of a glare so he had me remove all the Plexiglas from them. He told me to throw out 21 2 x 3 foot panels, but thinking ahead, I asked if I could have them.

    When I was designing my set, I tried to make sure all of the consoles were no more than 3 feet wide, so I'm set. If you guys were closer, I totally would donate any leftovers for your production. I wonder if any frame shops or anything in your are would have anything similar? You might also check thrift stores for old plexi poster frames -- I think you'll need something under your consoles or they're going to sag like crazy.

    They don't really have to be long continuous pieces, either -- you can always tape together sections with clear packing tape since you're covering everything with the displays, anyway.

    Just some ideas to stay on the cheap!

    Steve
     
  8. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    You'd be more than welcome, Kelso. You should come down once we get the set completed and filming nearly underway. It's not really that bad of a trip from Atlanta. I head up a couple of times a year (usually for funerals for aunts and uncles these days) as well as visits to my parents in Douglasville.

    We're using 1/4" pegboard-like board that's sitting atop a nice frame with support slats every eight inches or so. It's definitely stable. The hardest part is trying to lay a giant applique on it without any wrinkles appearing. That's one of the reasons I want to try the satiin, too.
     
  9. Kelso

    Kelso Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2001
    Location:
    On the destruct button until the last minute!
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    I'm actually about an hour NW of Atlanta, but I really am tempted to try to get down to Albany to help in some way. I'm absolutely talentless, but maybe I could pass out lemonade or something. :)
     
  10. lennier1

    lennier1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
    Location:
    Germany
  11. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    We will post our shooting schedule, and you'd be more than welcome! Not sure about the lemonade, but we'll have plenty of sweet and unsweet tea on hand. :)

    I agree that looks really nice, but not sure we'd be able to swing that on our first production. I met with our Director of Photography yesterday, and he's excited about the size of the bridge. When he heard the dimensions (and that we were doing it on a carport), he was less than optimistic. After he walked around the bridge three times yesterday, he was juiced and declared it more than large enough.

    We ended up casting three more folks (again, all local actors) yesterday, with another wanting to join us on Monday. Also took on a young man who'll be basically serving as a stage manager (lighting, boom mics, camera work, etc.). Doing a makeup test with one of our Klingons today, and finishing up our to-do list from Thursday. It's clear to Ricky and I that as long as things continue as they are, we will have the bridge finished no later than June.

    I've got to begin ordering uniform tops next, and this coming week, Ricky and I have to visit a local used car parts place (i.e. a junkyard) to find our captain's chair. We're going to put Van on a pivot mechanism for it.
     
  12. stonester1

    stonester1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2004
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    I'm on board Potemkin. I'll be driving the bus...

    :D
     
  13. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Why, yes, you are. ;) We're hoping to get some photos and bios from our cast and post a casting and characters page by next weekend.

    Tonight, we updated the Potemkin website with pics of all the work we've done this week: http://www.projectpotemkin.com/building_the_bridge_4.htm.

    This coming week, we're going to be working on bridge stations.
     
  14. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Tonight, we've updated the website with more pics from our set construction (which is proceeding very nicely) and a CHARACTERS AND CAST MEMBERS page which is pretty self-explanatory.

    The bridge is coming along very nicely, and we're hoping to do more tomorrow. We're expecting to film Wednesday evening, and plan to strike the Klingon set on Thursday so we can finish up framing the bridge set Friday. Turbolifts are on the TO DO list for the weekend!
     
  15. lennier1

    lennier1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
    Location:
    Germany
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    This looks more promising with every new update.

    Have you already tested some major camera angles? Many Trek productions preferred to choose their camera angles carefully in order to not have to add a ceiling to a set (also allows you to add additional lighting from up there). A good example would be Picard's ready room during TNG.

    Looking forward to your choice of actors.
     
  16. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Quite right, and funny you should mention that.

    Last night, after we hoisted the Security and Tactical stations into place, we were looking at that 8" clearing above the piece and trying to figure if we wanted to do anything with it. We're even considering using 80# white, gray or black cardstock cut into 12" strips and securing it to the ceiling and top of the station. We're also going to be adding an individual accent light over each station to better illuminate the actors on what's going to be a dark set.

    One of the reasons we added the scrap board underneath the stations (seen in the picture of the science station) was because when we did some test shots from the forward walkway, over the navigator's station and shoulder, you could see the peach-colored planking from the carport.

    Tonight, we're taking a close look at the sides of the panels as well to see if we need to add a plywood panel there. Suggestions would be most welcome!
     
  17. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    Second Unit Filming took place tonight on our Klingon bridge set. We've updated our website with pictures from the makeup sessions, and will probably post a few clips and vids in the coming days.

    Be sure and check out our site's updates:

    01/02/2010: "Building the Bridge"
    03/05/2010: "The Search for the Right Soundstage"
    03/17/2010: "Building the Bridge 2"
    03/27/2010: "Building the Klingon Bridge"
    04/06/2010: "Props"
    04/21/2010: "Building the Bridge 3"
    04/28/2010: "Characters and Cast Members" *NEW*
    05/02/2010: "Building the Bridge 4"
    05/10/2010: "Building the Bridge 5"*NEW*
    05/12/2010: "Makeup!!!" *NEW*
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2010
  18. Data Holmes

    Data Holmes Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2001
    Location:
    zone.33 lounge at club Planet Noir
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    If they speak klingoneese, will they speak proper or just fake it?
     
  19. Potemkin_Prod

    Potemkin_Prod Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Location:
    Out of Here
    Re: New Star Trek Fan Film

    They're only seen on the mainviewer, so they'll be speaking only English.
     
  20. lennier1

    lennier1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
    Location:
    Germany