2.12.2008

STAN 12 props: part 1 of 3

As we make more and more web shows, one simple rule occurs to me: do it right the first time so you don't have to go back and do it again OR have to spend a life time in post fixing mistakes.

this "rule" has often lead us to do MORE work than we need to prior to a shoot, to sell a shot, because if youve done your job right people won't question it. they accept it.

it's this sort of overcompensation that lead me to do this: a full newspaper front page, complete with articles that no one would ever read. why? because i wanted people to accept it, rather than getting distracted by the crappy looking special effect, or poorly glued together newspaper, i wanted to make one that actually looked real.

a lot of crazy research went into this. not only from a design and typography point of view, but also in terms of production. obviously, my first reaction was that i wanted to do a short run of these on actual newsprint, and then hand out the extra 99 that we wouldnt need at the screening. needless to say this didn't go over too well with our bank account, plus nowhere would be able to turn it around fast enough for us.so our second thought was buying newsprint, folding it over and printing one half, then the other. note to the reader trying to fake a newspaper: do. not. do. this. it's stupid and messed up our printer pretty bad and didn't work.long story short: large scale printing at a nationwide printing chain. it costs an arm and a leg, but it's nice to not have to shoot around anything or hide the glue or tape, etc.

photo of the top half.


and a photo of the bottom half, that CAN be seen in the episode, but only for a moment, and upside down.

below are copies of the design file (click for larger)






next time, more practical props.

2.08.2008

stan 12 production stills

hey everyone. here we have a few production stills from "The Defenders Of Stan-Ep. 12"

when two brothers run for office, the phones dont stop ringin'


Captain Ultra's fake family. Kids in spandex=comedy. i also love that all three of them (Amanda, Pat and Josh) have blonde hair in this shot, and Ultra clearly doesnt and just found a random family to pose with.


Superheroes, pose!


Stan and Fantastic 4 News reporter, Vicki Valiant. this is what it looks like if your camera is in your car in 20 degree weather, and then you bring it into a house and take a picture with it. it fogs up and looks like a hazy dream sequence from Saved By the Bell.


The saddest thing about this scene is that in the two earlier takes, i'd been singing into one of the combs that Ultra gave Stan in our holiday episode. looking at this photo, it's no wonder people find Captain Ultra so attractive.


Mike Setti makes his way back to Capital City this month, going batshit crazy screaming "yeaaahgghhh!" which, in fact, IS written in the script. At least he wasn't on fire this time.


posers. i'd love to know what made Austin and I decide to look so concerned. because then, maybe, i'd have something interesting to write under this.

"The Defenders Of Stan-Ep 12: United We Stan" is up on www.thedefendersofstan.com (high res.), channel102.net (med res.), and now our youtube (little-to-no res.).

props photos, including the entire newspaper (articles and all), coming soon.

2.05.2008

To The Limit.

Hello hello everyone.

We wanted to thank everyone who voted for "The Defenders Of Stan" ep 12 last night at channel102.net, where we took second place.

The video has been added to www.thedefendersofstan.com, and will be uploaded to you tube and channel102 soon.

expect production still and lots of prop photos soon, but for now here's the comic cover.



booyah