Merry X-Mass!

From whole Grave Films crew!

New off movie (OFF2)!

So, after about half a year of workin' on sth else, we're making another off movie. First - the Pillow, was a bit of a film kindergarten for part of our team. Now, we all have more (lot more) experience than before, so it's going to be something good (or even better, hopefully).

Script is written, crew is assembled, casting - currently goes on, gear - gathered and checked, storyboards - almost done.

If everything goes according to plan - we'll shot somewhere in the middle of January, then fast edit and so, and at the beggining of February you'll be able to see the final result.

To see, and to hear, as really, really talented people are working on music for this picture.

I hope I'll be able to write more soon!

New web-page arrived!

www.gravefilms.com - here it is, please let us know what U think!

New page WiP

Currently we're workin' on new web page, as the current one looks... Well, you know how it looks. It seriously needs some improvements. And we're adding some color. Not much, just a bit. And a little spoiler, main logo will look like this:

More - in just a few days...

Brafitting clips

Some time ago I shot and edited three short clips for ewa-michalak.pl.

Nothing fancy, just tutorial-comercial clips ;) All three embed below:

Latajacy Dywan - Concert

First live video shot during Latajacy Dywan's concert in Warsaw. Song is called Kolysanka dla Baligrodzkiej Cerkwi (Lullaby for the Cerkow in Baligrod).



Kołysanka dla baligrodzkiej cerkwi from Grave Films on Vimeo.

Showreels

Today we begun a huge amount of work included to create our gear showreels, ie. "that was created using that", hopefully first results soon!

Recognise finally released!

After all those days of waiting, finally, I give you the Recognise official music video:

Recognise by Lily of the Valley from Grave Films on Vimeo.

Please, let us know what you think!

Videoclip for FREE!

Grave films got 100% on-line, webpage is still under construction, but fully available and workin.

We're so happy to be "here" with you, that I've decided to make one videoclip for free! One band, with music we'll like the most, or image we'll like the most, or idea we'll like the most, will get a videoclip produced, shot and edited for FREE!

Need more info - mail us at office@gravefilms.com

Oh, and our webpage resides at gravefilms.com!

Recognise - Making of

Making of Recognise - straight from the Grave Films:

Making-of Recognise from Grave Films on Vimeo.

Recognise - finished!

Yesterday we've finished shooting Recognise, during the night I've done the editing, so whole clip is DONE! Bad news - you can't watch it till the album is released, so please - be patient. And now - some BTS pics (taken by Kasia) from yesterday:

Recognise - DAY TWO

Today we worked on one location, shooting the band playing and singing, surrounded by smoke (at least some smoke, not as much as Mark Fiore used while making Linkin Park's "the Catalyst"). As yesterday, some pics from the location for you (by Kasia and Agata):

Recognise - day ONE

First part (IMO bigger one) of Recognise makin' is done. Two places, five different locations, eight actors (including two musicans from the band), whole team, everything wet (it rained for best part of the day, stopped exactly at the moment we've finished), all in all - I'm happy with most of the result. Tomorrow - finishing touches, then - editing, after effects (if I'll use them) and we're ready to go! And now - some BTS pics from today (taken by Agata and Kasia):

Release!

Arachna, leader of the Lily of the Valley, posted a release on their myspace profile, showing off some of the secrets about their new single, which will include videoclip RECOGNISE! More HERE.

Recognise

2 weeks till 30 and 31, when we'll record the Recognise video for the Lily of the Valley. Whole crew ready to work, actors know their parts, let the countdown begin!

Merciless Dreams

At the very beginning of July we start the production of Merciless Dreams clip. Song, written and performed by my friend Tonid, is a base for the whole story included in the script (so it won't be another boring music video of band playing and singing). Stay tuned, as I plan to edit in less than a week!

Logo and headdy!

Finally, Grave Films has its own logo:

For our videos, we also have our grooooovy headdy! Watch out!

Recognise!

Finally, we began to work on the Recognise music video, song by Lilly of the Valley. Currently - our work mostly involves in drawing concept drawings and first storyboards, completing crew and not-sleeping at nights, but soon this will change. Stay tuned!

the Pillow - almost done

So, after about 10 000 of crushes, fails etc, we finally managed to get all shots we need. The Pillow is now safely on my HD, and I work on editing (really slowly at this point, as I still wait for about a half of music). Anyway, great experience!

the Pillow - gear choices

Not the most important thing, but without gear no film were ever produced. As we don't have an enormous budget, we won't be shootin' on Red or so, but some key elements we'd like to keep on high end.

So, first things first, the camera. Choice is simple, due full frame sensor and good quality in low light, Canon 5D mk II. First DSLR with video mode, still more than reliable.

As we'll be using FF camera, we also need FF lenses. My choices are Canon 17-40/4 for whole rooms, wide plans and tight spaces, Canon 85/1,8 for most of the work, Canon 100/2,8L for close-ups, and, to get more quality to some shots - Zeiss 28/2 and Voigtlander 58/1,4.

To stabilize the camera we took Manfrotto tripod with oil head, for steady shots, 120cm slider for panning and close-ins and wide-outs, Glidecam HD-4000 for more dynamic shots (there won't be many in this movie, but we'll need it).

Lighting will be pretty simple. Two 60x60 softboxes with 6 daylight (5400K) bulbs in each. Simple, but that's all we need this time.

For our camera we'll be using Red Rock follow focus, basic set, we won't need speed crank or wip, as well as wireless focusing (I'll be both camera operator and focus puller, tough a bit, but doable).

Well, I think that's enough talking, now I must ask you to remain patient, as by the end of the May you'll be able to see the movie!

the Pillow - screenwriting and storyboarding

After quite a lot of work, we finally have our screenwriting done, and storyboarding almost done. As we'd like to get a very very moody picture, screenwriting has became a real horror. But now, as it's done, it will be really helpfull to achieve the effect we're after.

As our combo went down last weekend, and I draw storyboards on paper, I cannot show you any sample by now, hope that'll change soon.

Oh, and finally we've made our gear choices, what we need, what we don't, et cetera. But I'll write more about that tomorrow.

the Pillow

Script - written. Director finally agreed to work on that project. Actress one and actress two (the movie will show only two people - Lila and Sara) - will be chosen by Wednesday, and I'll do quite a lot of work (after writing the script), next week - finishing storyboards, then - lighting, camera, editing. Oh, and last but not least - music will be exclusively written and performed for this movie! More info - next week.

Glidecam, IE preparations phase II

Today we've got our claws on brand new Glidecam HD-4000, very very nice thing, though real pain in the ass to balance it right. This week we'll be runnin' some another test shots, as the Faceless is closer and closer. Stay tuned!

Torch Test I

As I'd mentioned before (yesterday, to be precise) today we've spent a few hours on testing light effects with simple LED torch (which I'd like to act as a prop as well as a light source). Few learning points, the most important one - either use the biggest, meanest torch there is, or go and find another technique to use. Long story shorts - here is the test result:

Welcome to Grave Films!

Hi, hi, hello. After about a year of preparations, finally, we have enough knowledge, gear and creative ideas to start the filmmaking company - The Grave Films. Soon the website will follow, but currently - stay tuned, tomorrow I'll submit some test shots for our film Faceless!