Independents’ Day

Alien Invasion!

It’s happening again!  Huge, giant flying saucers are appearing around the world!
What do they want NOW?!?
This was really a fun movie to shoot.  We flew two Red Epic Dragons with Optimo DP zooms for a lighting fast two-week shoot.  This science fiction, alien invasion movie was my first time wearing both hats (Director and DP) for a feature film.   I couldn’t have asked for a better team to get me through it!  Most of the shoot centered around a core ensemble cast of 7 , and they were  truly a delight to work with!

I loved the 1983 mini-series “V” and the TV movie “V: The Final Battle”, and when “Independence Day” came out in 1996, I was one of the nerds jumping up and down about how it was just a remake of “V.” haha.  I love science fiction and I remember all of these stories with great fondness.   So, of course I jumped at the chance to tell a story with nods to these fun movies!

Greenscreen, spaceships, and “bunkers”…

Nearly every location on the shoot was a cheat of some sort, culminating in a totally CG environment and interacting with CG characters! That’s always a challenge, but the actors hung in there and did a great job.  I can’t wait for them to see the f*’d up room they were REALLY in, haha.  …  I kid.  But not really.   On these kinds of quick shows, there is little to no time for pre-vis, so the actors and crew really have to just trust that it’s all going to work out.  My actors were professional, talented and trusting and it’s all coming together great!

Laurel Canyon Stages provided a terrific home base for our greenscreen and spaceship needs.  I’ve shot there many times now, including Ark: the series, and it’s always a cool and comfortable space.

Thank you!

I’m actually right in the middle of editing this movie, so I’ll have to finish fleshing out this portfolio when I  have a little more time.

But for now, I just want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to my cast and crew.  You guys were great.  And I can’t wait til we can all do it again!

***Update:  “Alien Wave” is finished.   It’s now officially called

“Independents’ Day” (shocker) and I’m very excited to show you guys all of the hard work that the team has put in over the past 5 months!  Rent or purchase here!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/independents-day/id1108704699

I’ve updated this post with a few frame grabs of HUMANS but there are lots of fantastic vfx shots to share as soon as the trailer is officially released!  Joe Lawson’s Asylum VFX team and Mike Verta split a staggering 260 VFX shots for this movie.   Thank you guys so much for your hard work!

Mike Verta also composed the score and contributed a lot to the initial sound design for the film.

Looking forward to sharing more!  And thank you again to everyone who supported me on this first venture as Director/DP!

I want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to my cast and crew.  You guys were great!  And I can’t wait til we can all do it again!