The Shades, Episode 5

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Visibly Shaken, Novelty Hat

ROLE: Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, VFX Supervisor

ACCOLADES:

2017 INDIE SERIES AWARDS - BEST VISUAL EFFECTS (WINNER)

When Kevin Davis and I were developing The Shades, this episode was almost cut. It was so outlandish, surreal, and VFX heavy we didn't know if we would have the time or resources to pull it off.

But it was just too hilarious not to try. So with a total budget of less than $1,000 we sought to make it work.

Even with my background in VFX, this project was too much for one person to handle. I brought on three other artists who thankfully believed in the project enough to work for peanuts and the promise of a killer reel piece. Post production took about 4 months of sleepless nights and lost weekends.

But it was all worth it. I think this is the first narrative piece I've written & directed that I can feel my voice in and my fingerprints all over.

I wanted it to be a very obvious homage to Indiana Jones and classic action/adventure films. I owe our brilliant composer John Koutselinis a debt of gratitude for channelling the spirit of John Williams combined with that of an old Rabbi.

Oh, and this is the piece that won me the 2017 Indie Series Award for Best Visual Effects. Which is, you know, pretty cool I guess.