Tarazod Films Comes to a Close

Filmmaking has been our passion for nearly two decades. From short films to our feature-length documentary, Mad City Chickens, from the non-profits and university work to the commercial gigs, it's been a fun adventure. 

However, in 2019, we were coming to place where we wanted to go in a new direction. The creative storytelling process of shooting and editing was still ever-fulfilling but not for the kind of projects we were used to working on.

Our goal was to finish up the three films we had on our plate, plus the several commercial jobs that were in the pipeline. Then we'd explore new avenues.

But the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In early 2020, we were making a huge push on our two narrative projects. One after another, we had to cancel our scheduled shoots with cast and crew. All of our fiction projects came to a halt as did most of the commercial productions. 

We did complete a few commercials in 2021, but it is now time to move on. We've made a decision to dissolve Tarazod Films LLC.

What does this mean for our three films? At some point, we had hoped to upload the unfinished versions of No Sleep for Ronni and Strindberg's Assistant just for the sake of all the wonderful people who worked so hard on these projects. But even this was not meant the be. Not one, but both hard drives that contained the film projects failed. Thanks G-Tech. As for Benjamin's Ride, it's the one film that still had a chance of being completed, but not by us. We sent it on to an interested party who may or may not complete it.

Was it disappointing not to complete these films? Yes, of course. Did it feel like we let down all those people who were involved? Sure. But hey, that's life. Looking back, all the projects seemed like a good idea at the time. But that was then. We feel really good about what the future holds. And having those hard drives die was a blessing in disguise. Freedom baby! Like lifting a refrigerator off our shoulders. Moving on!

"Strindberg's Assistant" Movie Poster

Get a high rez poster image here:

https://presskit-strindbergs-assistant.blogspot.com/2019/11/movie-poster.html

"No Sleep for Ronni" Movie Poster B

Get a 300 dpi hi-rez image here.

Also see poster "A" in an earlier post.

It's OK to Dream...

How to Fold a Collapsible Oval Green Screen

During a break in shooting for our No Sleep for Ronni project (back in September 2018), actor/filmmaker Bryan Royston demonstrates the proper way to fold up a collapsible oval green screen. He makes it look easy. 

 

Audio Gear Upgrade

There's probably no aspect of modern digital filmmaking where the distinction between professional and amatuer is more obvious than in the audio. Getting good sound certainly requires knowledge and skill, but you also need the best quality equipment you can afford. We're really excited to have recently added two new pieces of gear to our equipment arsenal.

• Shure SM7B mic
• Sound Devices MixPre-6 series II recorder/audio interface 

From narration and voice-overs to podcasts and other sound design projects, this mic and recorder will help elevate our game significantly. We also added an O.C. White ProBoom Elite mic arm too. Only the best.

STOCK IMAGES COPYRIGHT RESPECTIVE MANUFACTURERS

Mum's the Word

It's been 4.5 years since we last posted an update on our documentary, Benjamin's Ride. Most anyone who might have shown the least bit of curiosity in the project has most assuredly moved on. The phrase, "dead in the water," comes to mind.

So for now, it's best if we simply keep quiet about the progress it has made... even though there is some to tell. Life has been nothing if not interesting these last couple of years. Will we actually complete the few short film projects still on our plate? That is our goal.

4K UHD HDR

While streaming services seem to be replacing home video libraries for many people, movie buffs aren't giving up on the disc just yet. Blu-ray and 4K UHD HDR (Ultra High Definition High Dynamic Range) deliver some truly wonderful picture quality, far superior to DVD. And many titles not available via streaming continue to be released on disc.

A USED DISC SHOP WE LIKE TO VISIT; THEY CARRY LOADS OF BLU-RAYS AND A GOOD NUMBER OF 4K UHD DISCS TOO.

 

University of Wisconsin Editing Gig Completed!

Back in 2019, Robert was hired to edit a series of videos dealing with depression in young adults. The project was co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin, the University of New Mexico, and the Health Experiences Research Network.

The goal was to use interview footage provided by the universities to create a 15-20 minute film, plus 6 additional short stand-alone segments. We had meetings and discussions on how the project would look, but nothing could move forward until the raw footage was ready.

Nearly a year had passed before the post-production finally began, and it would take many more months of editing, submitting to committee for review, fine-tuning, and submitting again before the films would be completed. And we're now happy to say, the project is completed! It was a long time coming.

Commercial Project for Moving Company Finished

Robert was hired by videographer Jeff Modjeska to edit two promotional videos for the Madison-based Reynolds Moving & Storage Inc. The company has two divisions: residential moving and heavy machinery moving. We covered both. 

We began shooting interviews with the owners and employees back in January of 2020. We continued into March; then the pandemic arrived. Nonetheless, additional testimonials as well as many more hours of b-roll footage would be shot by Jeff (following social-distancing protocols) over the next several months. The clips were logged and captured, the best sound bites chosen, and the story lines developed for both videos. Robert then wrote the narration scripts and brought on board voice talent Ron Miles to record the voice-over.

Many months later, the client has finally signed off on the latest edits and the project has come to a long-overdue conclusion. Yay!

That's why we do it...

Sony a7S III Announced!

The long-delayed Sony a7S III digital camera is said to finally start shipping on September 24, 2020. We’ve been waiting a long time for this news, and we’re extremely interested in seeing the reviews and test footage that will begin popping up on YouTube.

If the a7S III is really as good as Sony claims, this could be our next go-to camera for all our filmmaking projects.

STOCK IMAGES COPYRIGHT SONY

PICTURED HERE WITH SMALLRIG MASTER KIT.

It's calling to you...

Connect with your inner muse... be still and listen.

Modjeska's Jib

Over the last few years, we've collaborated on several projects with videographer, Jeff Modjeska, including short films, music videos, and commercial gigs. And he almost always brings his jib with him to the location. You never know when you might need a good jib shot.

Veronica Narang is Ronni

Veronica Narang has the lead role in our yet-to-be completed sci-fi film, No Sleep for Ronni. Actually, she plays multiple roles in numerous scenes that were shot over a period of several years.

Scouting for Strindberg

In a couple of weeks, we'll be shooting a few newly added scenes to our Strindberg's Assistant project. These will include two therapist office visits with our protagonist, Agda (played by Joyce Aasen) and her ally the Therapist (Tashona Smith). So today, we scouted the location which happens to be the house of our good friend Barbara Bolan. Joining Robert in planning out the shoot were Jeff Modjeska (camera operator) and Randy Slagle (assistant director).

Robert and Randy sitting in as Jeff takes a few photos with his Artemis Pro viewfinder app.

Other than covering the windows and then setting up the lighting, the room will require very little in the way of prep/art design.

MARCH 1st UPDATE: Some of our cast were feeling under the weather so we had to postpone our shoot which was set for March 1st. We're currently working on rescheduling. Unfortunately, some of our crew have other obligations so we're re-filling those roles now.

MARCH 16th UPDATE: Our shoot was on again, scheduled for Sunday March 22nd. Our cast was ready to go and our new crew set. Then the coronavirus threat nixed everything. We'll have to regroup when it all blows over. 

Updates Continue on Strindberg Scripts

As we continue to convert our short film, Strindberg's Assistant, into a series, each episode is taking on a character of its own. We're hoping to complete all the scripts before too long so we can begin shooting the remaining scenes.

The Magic is in the Details

As the edit of No Sleep for Ronni progresses, we're adding small b-roll details here and there. The result, we hope, will be a robust visual imagery that will move the story along in even more interesting ways.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL HOLLY

In one scene, we learn there are 12 test subjects who have been brought in to be experimented on. Our lead character, Ronni, resists the procedure, but the other 11 have succumbed to it. While these other subjects are not really a part of the story, we still want to briefly flash their photos on screen.

This means, of course, that we need to actually go out and shoot photos of 11 additional people in hospital gowns. And they need to look like they've come under the control of the research doctors' methods. Fun stuff!

Revamping the Strindberg Script(s)

When our friend, Colin Cameron, first came to us in early 2011 with a story idea involving August Strindberg--Sweden's most prolific playwright--we weren't too excited. Apparently, the 100th anniversary of his death was fast approaching. To celebrate his life and achievements, a Stockholm-based group was sponsoring a short film contest where they were accepting outside submissions.

At the time, Robert had never seen or read a Strindberg play, so the excitement Colin was feeling wasn't reciprocated. Yet, as Colin continued to present his idea, a few things stood out. The story would take place in 1910. A period piece! That would be cool. Colin would play Strindberg and we'd give it the feel of an old-time silent film. Groovy.

Colin's concept was to recreate a one to two minute scene from Strindberg's later life, couched in the format of a documentary. Robert agreed to help make the film. However, the more they talked about Strindberg, the greater the allure was to do something bigger.

The thing that sent Robert off and running on his own tangent was the fact that Strindberg had read spiritualist writings and dabbled in alchemy. Now we're talking! The possibilities for a narrative film just got interesting! Colin thought Robert was kind of a weirdo sometimes, but the feeling was mutual. So they decided to produce both projects, making use of the same footage for the pair.

Unfortunately, we never pulled the pieces together to submit to the Stockholm festival. However, by August 2011, we were shooting scenes for Robert's story called Strindberg's Assistant.

So why are we still talking about this in late 2019? Long story; short version: life happened. We got busy with other things. Then death happened. Colin passed away unexpectedly in November of 2016. To honor his memory, we want to finish this project.

In 2017, Robert invited fellow filmmaker Michael Holly (a John Truby disciple) to join the writing team. The two collaborated to clean up the Strindberg's Assistant script.

But the big news is this: Just about a month ago (November 2019), we realized we were trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Strindberg's Assistant is not a movie; it's a series. Michael and Robert are currently dividing up the script into multiple episodes. Additional scenes and characters have been added. Shooting will occur in the new year and the series will be released online in October 2020. Booyah!

UPDATE April 2020:  The Covid-19 pandemic put a kink in our plans; the remaining shoots and release date have all been postponed until the air clears.

More "Ronni" Pick-up Shots

It's been well over a month now since we finished up several commercial projects that had been on our plate. As a result, we've taken advantage of this window of opportunity to ramp up the edit of No Sleep for Ronni. In addition, we've been checking off the remaining pick-up shots that are still needed.

Earlier this evening, we filmed in the basement of camera operator Jeff Modjeska, knocking off two different pick-up segments. The first was a scene featuring Jeff Blankenship as a research surgeon conducting an experiment on his test subject, DW Wanberg. Actor Chris Weis played a security guard while Jeff Modjeska doubled as another research doctor.

Additional scenes were filmed on green screen and involved Chris doing security guard things. Fun stuff!

While the edit of the movie has come a long way, it's a complicated project, the most intricate one we've ever worked on. Loads of keying, compositing, masking, and more. So unfortunately, we still have quite a ways to go before it's finished.