Back in November, I worked closely with Proximity Minneapolis to create a comedic “video resume” web series for Formica. Check out the freshly launched website, “Laminate Rocks” to see the videos. I wouldn’t share this if the clips weren’t worth watching!
As a teaser, here’s a behind-the-scenes clip of me doubling as a stunt moonwalker. It didn’t exactly go as planned. I blame it on the fact that I had to wear the actor’s shoes, which were huge on me!
Awesome news! Our short film, “Job Security” was recently selected as the Chapter 2 winner of Canon/Vimeo’s “Story Beyond the Still” contest. If that last sentence means nothing to you, check out the contest page. Making this film was a phenomenal experience. It reminded me why I got into filmmaking in the first place. It’s all about the story!
We just got word that our short film entry entitled “Job Security” has been selected as one of 5 finalists in the Canon/Vimeo “Story Beyond the Still” contest! Now it’s up to the online community to vote for their favorite. Voting is only open for 5 days, so please vote for our film before February 25th!
Director Josh Thacker and editor Brian Slater of production company, Runner Runner, recently completed a package of cutting edge comedy spots for Minneapolis-based agency, Brew and client Chicago Lake Liquors. Brew’s creative director, Bruce Bildsten and team wrote the spots playing on the theme of “Suburban vs. Urban” for one of Minneapolis’ most frequented liquor stores.
Thacker took to the challenge of shooting all three spots in one day, with Slater at the editing helm soon after. They ended up with three ridiculously funny spots, going to show that with good creative and a collaborative production team, quality doesn’t need a huge budget.
Check out their article in SourceEcreative’s newsletter
Thanks to Becky Olstad I recently got the chance to work with the new Canon 5D Mark II still camera, which also happens to shoot 1080p video! Instead of just testing out the camera with no concept in mind, we setout to make a short film in one night. I’m pretty pleased with the results.
I was really impressed with this camera’s performance. It creates amazing images in low light conditions. There were, however, two major downsides that I found regarding the camera’s controls. First, the audio input jack is a mini-plug only. We ran sound to an HVX200 instead. The other bummer is that there’s currently no way to manually set your exposure in video mode, which makes for having to “trick” the camera to expose the way you want it to. If this oversight is fixed in the next version of the camera, then I’m sold. I’m wondering when Nikon is going to release a comparable camera…
Thanks to all those who worked on this film:
A Runner Runner/Modern Music Production
Cast (In Order of Appearance)
The Victim: Nels Lennes
The Instigator: Aaron Richey
The Girl: Becky Olstad
Written by:
Nels Lennes
Becky Olstad
Aaron Richey
Ryan Taylor
Josh Thacker
Director: Josh Thacker; Runner Runner
Director of Photography: Ryan Taylor & Becky Olstad
Gaffer: Aaron Richey
Editor: Josh Thacker
Music Performed by: Josh Thacker
Music Composition: Josh Thacker & Daron Walker;
Sound Design & Mix: Bryan Hanna
This spot was just entered in the Grain Belt Beer 2008 “Make Your Own Commercial Contest.” Give it 10 stars at the grain belt site below if you dig it.
Beer Drinker: Dave Tufford
Innocent Bystander: Tommy Ryman
Concept: Paula Biondich, John Lukas
Producer: Amy Brewster
Director: Josh Thacker
Director of Photography: Ryan Taylor, Josh Thacker
Wardrobe: Deborah Fiscus
Production Assistants: Dave LeCompte, Chris Savage
Drivers: Dustin Black
Editor: Josh Thacker
VFX: Tony Mills & Matt Collings
Colorist: Oscar Oboza
Composer: John Lukas
Mix/Sound Design: John Lukas
I’d suggest shooting TTV photography. Katie Carpenter introduced me to this photographic techinque, and now I’m completely inspired. Here are a few samples of my first TTV attempt.
Interested in trying it yourself? Here are 2 links that will get you going:
I’m excited to announce that the video I concepted, directed and edited (in about 2 weeks) a few years back for Motion City Soundtrack is now up on Vimeo! Before today, the video was only available on youtube, where it’s about to reach 1 million views. It seemed like a good time to post a higher quality version.
Lately Josh and I have been playing with some different photography methods and yielding some fun looks. Using an 8 second exposure w/ rear curtain flash and the LED off of the back of his flash as a “light marker”, Josh has a series of interesting light painting photographs. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve been playing with my lo-fi Holga toy camera and coming up with some funky portraits. Being a medium format film camera, there is no instant viewing of your work, so you’re never quite sure how it will come out. In a world of digital everything, there’s something very satisfying about manually holding the shutter open and hoping the shot works, usually with unexpected results such as light bleeds and funky focal depths.
Regardless of your method, grab your camera and get out there and have some fun! I haven’t picked up a camera in a long time and the simplicity and playfulness of the Holga has really got some creative juices flowing for me. As an added bonus, check out the end of our montage reel. You’ll see some quick snippets of Josh’s photos from around our hood at night, very cool.
Runner Runner Launch Video from Runner Runner on Vimeo.
After a few years in the making, we’re launching our own production company, Runner Runner! Thanks to all our co-workers at Fischer Edit/FX in Minneapolis who helped make this happen; to Tony Mills and the Fischer FX crew who always manage to pull off whatever crazy ideas Josh and I come up with; to Modern Music for creating awesome mixes that make our television commercials, films and videos sound so good; to Bill Rogina and Kathy Yerich who figure out how to wrangle our production schedules; to the assistants who put together custom reels and help us get it all done; to our fellow editors at Fischer Edit who inspire us and give us great feedback; and, to jMatt Keil and Natalie Kane who made all of this come together.
Hats off to everyone who helped with the launch video!
China has begun Anti-terrorist drills in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
From the looks of the photo, China is going for “Maximum Intimidation” by implementing a combination of Segways and Nerf blasters. All they’re missing are some tassles on their handlebars. Clearly, no one will be messin’ with these guys…
I was walking out of a gas station bathroom and had to laugh when I saw this. It’s as if the wall is saying “Take your pick, dude. You’re going to have to use one or the other…”
Thanks to all who came out for the launch party at the Chamber’s Hotel. Your support and encouragement means the world to us! As for the party, I hope everyone enjoyed the delicious Runner Runner signature cocktails, and by the moves busted on the dance floor, it looks like everyone did. Thanks to Dory and Daron for breaking out the jams and to all those who threw down. Check out some of the photos from the party HERE. Don’t worry those of you who indulged in illicit activities, those pics were removed to protect the “innocent”. If you want more good party times, our friends at Modern Music are having their first ever party July 31 at the Kitty Cat Klub. Hope to see everyone there!
Another one from the days of yore. That’s me and Bryan Hanna from Modern Music doing the voices. After making this, we joked about taking it to the next step and creating an actual animated show. Unfortunately, we have yet to act on this…but it doesn’t mean it won’t resurface one of these days.
Now that this sweet blog is up and running, I’m going to start posting clips that haven’t had a home up until now. I make a lot of random videos that are just sketches, tests, and blips of ideas. This video is one of my faves.
Over the past two days, I’ve driven behind some pretty sweet looking vans. I snapped both of these photos on my phone (I was stopped, don’t worry). I don’t know…there’s something cool about the look of these images. Now I’m hoping to wind up behind a dozen or so more. Seems like it’d be a great series.
What a horrible name for a movie but what do you expect? I was 10. I think this was the first time I fell in love with filmmaking. Shot on my dad’s old Super 8, this film had all the makings of a blockbuster hit. Secret lairs, terrorist plots, special effects (shooting a bottle rocket from a drain spout), and a full blown Hollywood score composed by me on my little DX100 keyboard. My best friend and co-star’s Mom, had a lady lay it off to videotape for us and sync it up with my soundtrack recorded on cassette tape. It was only a second or so out of sync and we were thrilled. I still have that film in my office. Ask me and maybe I’ll show you sometime.
Props to Fischer FX’s Alicia Reece for bringing her 3D artistry to Runner Runner’s montage reel. Alicia has multiple years of experience in 3D modeling, animation and rendering systems that allow her to create high-resolution characters, environments and visual effects for film, television and multimedia projects. And, ever a team player, she took it pretty well that we didn’t ask her to spell out Runner Runner in growing 3D magic mushrooms for the opener. Thanks, Alicia!
