Filming update

     Filming had officially finished filming and has moved on in post for editing! I want to thank everyone involved with this project for helping me create this vision!

Nicholas Prieto

Kayla Joza-Henuke

Franco Loyola

 

Prop-Master: Franco Loyola

     I here Welcome the inclusion of Franco Loyola as this project's prop master due to his involvement in the creation of damaged flags, planned explosion spot, and serving as an advisor for these fields. Franco is someone who has helped me many times in my separate works, something usual of a twin brother. More than excited enough to include him in this project.

Make Up..Update

     Due to a recent change in circumstances, the planned use of special effects makeup and prosthetics will no longer make it to the final product. instead, a simpler approach will be made with fake blood and other improvised methods. The look will be taken from the concept art provided by Kayla Joza-Henke. 

Prieto First Look

 Here is the first Look at Nick Prieto in Defiled Nations Fall and The Lone Witness!

Shooting Dates

Filming of Defiled Nations Fall and The Lone Witness 

Between Wednesday 3/24 and Thursday 3/25

Film Test: Color In The Everglades

     As We approach the filming, Testing comes in the way as I began to look for a decent color scheme to fit the scenery of the everglades. The everglades seemingly surround the entire set I mainly wanted to elevate the green while maintaining a lower exposure as seen in the concept movie poster. Below is an image of the footage and the setup from FilmicPro

Flags That Have Seen Better Days

     Over the last couple of days, my twin brother, Franco Loyola, and I have been working on damaged flags for the film. They will be shown destroyed and on the ground as a representation of the state of affairs through the story. Bellow is the current look of each flag after being soaked in dirty water. While the Floridan it fitted for the film location, it is the nation's flag that will hold more symbolism such as missing stars to represent fallen states. 

Make Up Design and Concept Art

     Provided Bellow is the concept art for The film's lone character. From the talented Kayla Joza-Heneke, she provided a look into the wounds and overall dirty and gritty loom of the character. She has also provided the material that will be used as prosthetics. Very excited to see the whole thing on our actor along with costuming. 

Make Up

 

    I am pleased and excited to announce the inclusion of the great Miss Kayla Joza-Huneke as the film's makeup artist! as provided in the right photo, she is experienced with special effects makeup and has expressed her support for the project. here help will provide a realistic look to the main character's injuries that will be established. Her work is extraordinary and I am excited to have it included in the project! Welcome Kayla!

War Photography: Why it becomes part of a Character

     War Photography is a position in the military that has always peak my interest. it's quite unsurprising considering my current interests in film and camera work. It was a while before I got into production that I had actually thought of going to the military myself. Even then, I found interest in wanting to document and film the ongoings of the military. This became a combination of two different perspectives of military life, both on and off the battlefield. I familiarized myself with the U.S. Army's 25 Victor position: Production specialist. 

    It was interesting learning about what the job entails, but the interest in the military was very short-lived. the desire to create my own pieces and my own stories took over. However, with this newfound knowledge of this life along with war films that covered the same topic, war photography is something I have come to know very well. 

    The practical reason for introducing this trait to the lone character of the film was to adapt. Adapting to the limit of not actually showing any firearms. Switching the character to become a war photographer, would enhance him as an observer to the story's conflict. the war and invasion of US grounds. 

Poster Concept

 

Here is the concept Movie poster for the Film Opening assignment. The shot was edited on Lightroom in order to create a darker, sort of, overcast tone towards itself. The Shot is loosely based on a concept for an opening shot of the entire film, is located just a few steps away from a post. 

Defiled Nations: Title and Font

I here, present the offical title and font for the upcoming film opening: Defiled Nations Fall: And The Lone Witness. I was recently inspired by the title and font of Steven Spielberg's Empire of The Sun, mainly for its block like struccutle with the title rather than a singular line. The title leagth is actually a deviation from most war films. From research, war films typically have short titles that put focus either on the film's characters or the setting, indicating what war is being presented. This includes films such as 1917, Hacksaw Ridge, Dunkirk, Brothers, platoon, and many more. There are only a few films that bring about a more symbolic name for the film. This can be represented of many things whether its the war itself or the characters. Films such as Full Metal Jacket and the aforementioned Spielberg film do just that; inspiring me to have a more symbolic title. 

Equipment

I recently Have gotten all available equipment organized for this upcoming project. This ranges for both for filming and set design.

Featured Equipment 

ShiftCam Anamporphic Cinematic lenses 

Gimbal

Gimbal weights 

Stabilizer 

Tripod (Large and Small)

Mic for Foley 

Nikon Photo Camera 

Canon Camera 

ACU Suit 

iPhone XR Camera

A World Without Music

     Using licensed music is a true desire of mine for this project, for I feel that certain songs could fit the tone of this project without using actual scores from other films. I have Contacted two bands: the Australian Extreme Metal band Make Them Suffer and Finnish Metacore band Atlas. Both bands feature songs that don't use metal instruments, in lieu of intermissions of gentle yet epic-like scores. 

    However, these are busy people and a reply is very uncertain. being on a time crunch, I must be prepared for a lack of response and rely on the materials. I am currently working on a plan for foley and sound mixing to fill in the lac of music for natural ambiance. More on the plan soon. 

Filming and Music Part II: Atlas

 

Another Possibility of Music 

    Atlas is a Nordic Metalcore band originating from Finnland. Their music combines Folk elements of storytelling and poetic writing along with the heavy tone of metal. They, personally, have become one of my favorite bands in recent times with an album that is heavily repeated. Their record UKKO carries a track called "Joki" the center focus and possible song for the film opening. the track is a completely instrumental song that lacks any heavy metal instruments. Fitted with Nature ambiance and acoustics instruments, "Joki" would fit the overall tone of the film opening. Unlike the previously mentioned song, "Joki" has a lighter tone that more connects to the setting both natural and unnatural. I have contacted the band and am now waiting for a reply. 

"Joki" by Atlas 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrkTQ_bE2ck 

Character Concept

     As mentioned in previous postings, The Story of the film opening will feature a lone soldier traversing invaded territory. Characterization can be done in multiple ways when it comes to war films such as a soldier's rank (Norman in Fury), civilian life (Desmond Daus in Hacksaw Ridge), military position (Chris Kyle in American Sniper), and many more. The position is one that seems to have inspired me in the creation of the film's lone character. As for the character, He will be a war photo and videographer. with the position to document war, it puts the young troop in dangerous situations and more weight on his soldiers, literally. it bears a large sense of reasonability especially when the character is separated from the main war front. 

developments of the character are still at work.