Some of you already know about Ross, but I also have a 10-year-old named Casey.

He just turned 10 this weekend, and one of his gifts was a camera that he has also figured out how to make videos with.

Much to my surprise, when I returned home from work today, he told me he had filmed one of my scripts!

So this is Casey's version of "Someplace Nice and Dark."

No snide comments, please.  This is something a 10-year-old kid did completely on his own with no help at all.

I love it -- listen for the scream -- and just thought maybe those familiar with the story might get a kick out of it, too.




I have no idea whether this counts as a production credit or not.  And Don, please do not feel compelled to put this on the home page haha.

It is obviously a pretty loose interpretation, but he captured the gist of it, and if this short film makes no sense to you, the script itself can be found here:

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-short/m-1120591666/

Ha ha I love it! Especially the scream. Oh, the good ol' days where when I first got my first video camera, I made stop motion animation every single day of my life. That's pretty awesome that he filmed one of your scripts (especially with stop motion. That takes skill and patience).


As for following the script, it's been a while since I've read it, but I did remember the shadow, and seeing this is pretty much what it is about (well, it's much more than that, but yeah...).


Great!

Sean

Bert, that’s awesome. He did a great job. Have you seen David Lynch’s DVD with a bunch of his shorts on them? There are some early animation shorts that are just crazy, alphabets and stuff. He was clearly just experimenting. This type of stuff is where even the best filmmakers begin.

I’m sure your son worked very hard on this short. What a wonderful thing to come home to.


Breanne

That was very cute bert.  But something troubles me...

Quoted from Zombie Sean Oh, the good ol' days where when I first got my first video camera, I made stop motion animation every single day of my life.

You've been warned.  ;-)

Oh yeah, I remember that short. I loved it.

Looks like Douglas Trumbull has found his heir...

Michel 8)

Quoted from Sean Oh, the good ol' days where when I first got my first video camera...

Quoted from Cornetto You've been warned...

If Casey shows anywhere close to the talent you have exhibited at your age, Sean, I would be most pleased.  Maybe not the zombies so much, but the rest of it.

Quoted from Brea What a wonderful thing to come home to.

Yeah, it was.  They can be a big pain in the ass -- but then they go and pull something like this.  That's why we keep them around, I suppose.

Haven't seen the Lynch DVD, Brea -- and I may get "lynched" for admitting that I am not his biggest fan.  He tries my patience more often than not.  But I may give it a look if it is on Netflix.

Quoted from Michel Looks like Douglas Trumbull has found his heir...

Yeah, that would be more like it haha.  We'll see.

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to disagree with the others.  The pacing was terrible and it didn't really build up to anything.  Terrible use of lighting.  Problems with audio.  Who did the post work?  The shaky camera technique was fresh and new in the Blair Witch Project, but that was, like, ten years ago.

Still, it's better than Ben's films.


Phil

Priceless! Thanks for sharing!

Very nice work, I can't wait to see what this kid could do with a decent script.  :P

I'm sure to find it as a bonus or an eastern egg on BlueRay Disc in ten years

Very nice bert. That bit with the black legos to represent the shadow in waitiing was pretty cool. Right now, my 13 year old son has an idea for a script called PILE UP which we are going to work on this summer. Can we contact Casey for production ideas? Or should we contact his agent? ;D

Loved the scream!

Where's the fire??? no 10 yo should ever be without matches. What kind of father are you??

I actually have a video of me reading this one somewhere on my "BigMac". I just haven't finished with it.  :B Typical of me not to finish though. My husband says my ability to focus is worse than Mr. Magoo.

Anyway, lots of fun and tell him he did great.  :-)

I thought about doing something like this years ago. Stop motion lego is fun to watch but actually doing takes some time and patience.

The real question is how would he come up with this way as opposed to the tried and true hands in the shot technique most kids and teenagers use?

That's awesome that he put the time into it.

I would definitely not tackle something like this.  I just don't have the patience.  With that being said, congrats to Casey on his entry into the film world.

Very cool stuff Bert, you should be proud of your boy, like shelton I wouldn't have the patience to do something like that.  K0ol stuff.

That was pretty good for, what, a 4th grader!? I didn't understand it at first, but it compelled me to read the script, and now I see it's actually a very loyal adaptation of your concept. You should be proud of him!

Lot of funny comments.

Quoted from bert Haven't seen the Lynch DVD, Brea -- and I may get "lynched" for admitting that I am not his biggest fan.  He tries my patience more often than not.  But I may give it a look if it is on Netflix.

Bert, if you’re not much of a fan you won’t enjoy the shorts. They’re really for fans. I can appreciate the weirdness. Not all his movies are weird though. The Elephant Man and The Straight Story are two amazing movies that show David is a legitimately talented filmmaker.

Anyway, back on topic. Bert, you need to start saving money to finance his picture. :)


Breanne

Quoted Text Throughout his early teens, Spielberg made amateur 8 mm "adventure" films with his friends, the first of which he shot at a restaurant (Pinnacle Peak Patio) in Scottsdale, Arizona. He charged admission (25 cents) to his home films (which involved the wrecks he staged with his Lionel train set) while his sister sold popcorn.

Some ideas for your son.

Besides that, why did you call the Thread "Something Silly"? It isn't silly, rather cute.

Michel 8)

Quoted from Breanne Mattson Lot of funny comments.

Indeed.  I do not have a snappy comeback at hand for all of them, but of course enjoyed them all -- even the digs, both subtle and not-so-subtle -- and I suppose the thoughts from that infernal Z stung the most.  :)

Quoted from Wesley The real question is how would he come up with this way as opposed to the tried and true hands in the shot technique most kids and teenagers use? That's awesome that he put the time into it.

I think so, too.  I have not even discussed stop-motion with him.  And yes, Sham, it's 4th grade.

I think he may have watched some Lego stuff on-line, but this is a completely independent little project nobody even knew he was doing.  That is why I am so fond of it, I suppose.

Perhaps he needs a better camera?

Quoted from Michel why did you call the thread "Something Silly"?

Eh...some people really spring into attack-mode when somebody posts a short for some reason.  I guess I just wanted a caveat in place to deter the snide stuff.

Thanks all for taking the time to drop some comments.  I will probably show Casey this thread tonight.

This was really good, Bert.  Is your son planning a career in movies?  Or is this a one-shot project?


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe This was really good, Bert.  Is your son planning a career in movies?  Or is this a one-shot project?

Who knows, Phil?  If you were to ask him, he is still at the age where things like "astronaut" actually seem like viable options.

But if he starts asking for a better camera, I would probably give the request a little more weight than I would have before.

Bert,

I hope this link will encourage Casey to keep on with this... as long as he enjoys it.

I remember your script. I think he did a great job in plucking the heart of it out and showing it in his own way. :-)

I was impressed with his creativity, and it's another example of the apple not falling  that far from the tree. :-)

Cindy

Hi Cindy.  I also enjoyed the way he plucked the core out of that script.  There are lots of things in this 30 or so seconds of video that make me smile, actually.  I suppose I should thank everyone again for indulging me haha.

As for steering him towards something new -- I will try to tread that fine line between encouraging, and not encouraging so much that he decides he wants no part of it....

Well, that was a lovely little short. Reminded me of the White Stripes' video for a song I can't remember the name of right now. An impressive start for a young nipper.

Andrew