• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Star Trek ~ Project Potemkin "Red Sky at Night" S02-I NOW ON-LINE

P

Potemkin_Prod

Commodore
Commodore
NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE

S02-I "Red Sky at Night"
http://youtu.be/O0sniHl1kcc
http://vimeo.com/108604642

The Potemkin visits the planet Skidola to pick up xenosociologist Lawrence Colby, who has spent two years studying this arachnid-like race of latent telepaths. An overture to diplomatic ties between the Federation and the Skidoli hinges on Colby's report, but is Humanity ready to embrace a completely alien culture?

Starring Jeffrey Green. Guest Starring: William C. Searcy and Sean Mulkey. Written by David Eversole. Directed by Bill Mackenzie. Edited by Rick Foxx. VFX by Chris Cameron and Rick Foxx. Matte painting by Sean Eric Mulkey. Music by Tony Lunn. Co-Executive Producer: Rick Foxx. Web Series Creator/Executive Producer: Randall Landers.

Running time: 8 mins 4 sec

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0sniHl1kcc[/yt]
 
Thanks to Chris and Rick for their work making this look like Lou Feck's evocative (in my layman's opinion) artwork.

Sir Rhosis
 
I like the idea of this, but I'm honestly surprised Grigory didn't even challenge Larry with a "You say 'we're not ready'... what makes you different?" Larry migth've snapped, after all, or have some other ulterior motive.

Technical:
You're likely aware of it, but you've got a serious matte problem in the last shot... Larry casts a shadow on the sky because he casts a shadow on the greenscreen. I can tell you've got a hotspot on the green (to the left), but since you were able to pull off a pretty clean matte, this should be correctable.

The ship must be orbiting the planet at an altitude of 10,000 feet to show up in the sky like that at the end and for the whoosh to carry through the atmosphere. ;)
 
I'm gonna cop for the closeness of the ship. Originally it was higher and I asked for it to be "lowered" to match the Feck painting we were aping.

Sir Rhosis
 
Story: Good point about the plot.

Tech: Fooled you! :) That's a physical painting on a wall by local artist Sean Mulkey. There's a shadow there because he cast a shadow on it. We were unable to fix it in post.

Here's an article on the painting of the wall:
http://www.projectpotemkin.com/index.php?id=218

The look we got...
redsky001.jpg


The look we were aiming for...
3d9373bb-8964-4deb-9711-b64f1ea59237.jpg


And in one of our preliminary shoots, the ship was REALLY close, too close really. Chris Cameron will be releasing this shot soon.
 
Last edited:
You know, my first instinct was it was a painted backdrop. I should have followed my gut!

Anyway, you could fix the issue if you have a clean empty plate and someone wants to do a lot of rotomatte work. ;)
 
We saw it well after the fact, and said, "Well, dang." We thought about fixing it in post, we really did, but with our current production/release schedule, well, we just moved on.

The painting was done on an inside wall at Fast Copy (which I owned). I sold the business last May, and the first thing the new owner did was paint over it. :(
 
In fact, when I first saw the rough cut there was a light switch visible on screen right (Colby's left). I didn't see it this time. I think one of FX guys blurred it or put a "glob" of red over it. :)

Removing the shadow would be a frame-by-frame job, right?

EDIT TO ADD: And to credit the artist Sean Mulkey again -- he is the transporter operator.

Sir Rhosis
 
Sir Rhosis said:
In fact, when I first saw the rough cut there was a light switch visible on screen right (Colby's left). I didn't see it this time. I think one of FX guys blurred it or put a "glob" of red over it. :)
Click to expand...

Rick Foxx handled it in post production. There was also a hand held light that was removed from the shot, and if I recall, a power outlet as well.

Removing the shadow would be a frame-by-frame job, right?
Click to expand...

Well, it would've been extensive. I'm not saying we couldn't do it; I'm saying it would've taken far longer than it was perhaps worth.
 
Everyone has their wonky issues. I sent my pet peeve to Randy privately, but I still thought it was an interesting idea. However, it did seem to me that in the end, the UFP would not take his suggestion, particularly since he chose to remain on the planet.
 
Barb, I don't want to come across as telling you (or any poster) how to do things, but I do stress that we are open to any critiques -- good, bad, indifferent. You will not hurt my feelings if you post disagreements (however "wonky") openly on this or any forum, and I'm sure that Randy agrees.

Sir Rhosis
 
Barb, I agree. The Potemkin crew are grown-ups who consider and handle criticism and suggestions graciously and with a great sense of personal security, so I am certainly not averse to making some points publicly. That said, I have in the past passed along some comments privately simply because I thought it was more appropriate. Everyone's mileage will vary, but Randy and Co. have the kind of thick skin it takes to make the most of criticism.
 
Barbara's criticism was: Why does Colby wear a helmet?

My answer: Because he did in Lou Feck's artwork which we were emulating.

I think David explained it quite nicely that Colby wore the helmet because his eyes had adapted to Skidoli norm (hence why the lighting was reduced to that level after he'd beamed aboard).

As far as criticism goes, I think viewers of this forum will recall that we complete redid the audio for "Command Decision" after criticisms were raised here about its quality. We want it right afterall.
 
Yes, the lighting was the reason I used to justify the helmet. Still wish we could have found a good old-fashioned ROBOT MONSTERS (I think that was the title -- apes in helmets, 1950s, low budget) glass helmet, but the darker one made the point better. :)

Sir Rhosis
 
You just needed an old cardboard globe, a plastic flowerpot and some aerials. I've seen it done. :)
 
In general, I am more comfortable expressing criticisms in private. There is a long personal history to this which would be a bore to you, but it is a hang-up of mine... and not one I'm interested in overcoming. On the whole, I am not unhappy with my hang-up. I was not suggesting anyone couldn't handle criticism.
 
Barbreader said:
In general, I am more comfortable expressing criticisms in private. There is a long personal history to this which would be a bore to you, but it is a hang-up of mine... and not one I'm interested in overcoming. On the whole, I am not unhappy with my hang-up. I was not suggesting anyone couldn't handle criticism.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, we all have different ways of approaching such issues. I think I come down somewhere in the middle...raging moderate that I am! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top