What is the Paintrix?
It's the frankly absurd name of a short film soon to start production that evolved from discussions in this thread.
Following on from that thread, we've decided to give it a go and make a short film putting the laws of the Matrix films into the realm of paintballing. The premise is simple - Neo must fight 9 Agent Smiths in a Sup'Air field. We've lost the real-world dynamics of my original concept which no-one seemed to like. No one "dies"; if they get hit they simply break down into Matrix code and disappear.
The CGI artist likes the concept, I've storyboarded the movie, and we think we've worked a way to do some Matrix-style action without the expense! It's not "true" Matrix effects (we won't have cameras spinning around the action, etc) but we've got a pretty good composite of the style in mind and, well it's looking quite promising. We're aiming to do it on a budget of zero
I've pencilled in Saturday August 30th for the shoot, though it's pretty ambitious and shooting could actually require that Sunday as well (we'll have to see).
So now, before we definitely go for it, we need a few things, hence the post! Firstly "Actors". OK we don't actually need actors, just regular paintballers, but I'm trying to be professional about it and technically it is acting, although there'll be no actual dialogue on the day! We need a Neo, the lead actor. No you don't have to look like Keanu Reeves, in fact it's not faintly important - you'll be in a mask all the time! Must be athletic and, ideally, be able to jump very high (don't ask). We also need 9 Agent Smiths. The catch is, we need 9 people of roughly the same height and weight, with the same hair! You've all seen the movies so you know the type of haircut I mean 9 people who, in paintball masks, all look alike. I'm hoping there's a team of clones out there who'll help us out....
Actors will have to bring their own clothes and equipment. Sorry guys but this is zero budget film making! Neo will need, well Neo-esque clothing (long flowing jacket is essential, don't worry it doesn't get shot in the sequence!). Smiths will need black suit and tie, and white shirt. They'll all need the same mask (ahhh!). And everyone in a suit will get shot.
Just to put potential actors off even more, I should warn you that filming isn't as "glamorous" as it appears on TV! OK maybe it is if you're shooting a sex scene with Angelina Jolie, but unless she agrees to appear in this film there isn't a sex scene in it It'll be a day (or two) of standing around rehearsing action then 10 second bursts of shooting it, it isn't hard work but it is disciplined. Due to the nature of paintballing safety is a big concern and we don't want anyone who won't take it seriously.
On the plus side, you'll get to appear in a fun little paintball film!
Bring your own guns; we also need 2 paintball pistols, semi-automatics.
We also need a sup'air field, and it must be tubeless (else I'll keep tripping over with the camera!). Ideally located around the M25 (south?), a field we can control safely. We're only having a small crew (2 or 3 people).
Also, we're looking to borrow some scaffolding for the day; we'll be setting up a portable green-screen at the location and in the greatest tradition of zero-budget film making we need something to drap the tarpaulin over We'll need two step ladders as well.
Lastly, if anyone happens to have a track dolly we can borrow, ideally with a Z-arm, let me know! If not, the field needs to be near an Asda so we can nick a shopping trolley
Sorry for not going into more depth about the film here, if anyone wants more info I'll be happy to provide it. If we shoot end of August, we should have the film ready around November / December, but it's very dependent on the post-production CGI effects which can take a while. The film should come in around a minute or two, which doesn't sound much but you'll be surprised how much action you can pack into that period!
And finally, Yes the name "The Paintrix" is stupid, but if I didn't coin it someone else here would, so it'll do until someone comes up with another name!
Matt
matt@chainsaw-films.com
www.chainsaw-films.com
It's the frankly absurd name of a short film soon to start production that evolved from discussions in this thread.
Following on from that thread, we've decided to give it a go and make a short film putting the laws of the Matrix films into the realm of paintballing. The premise is simple - Neo must fight 9 Agent Smiths in a Sup'Air field. We've lost the real-world dynamics of my original concept which no-one seemed to like. No one "dies"; if they get hit they simply break down into Matrix code and disappear.
The CGI artist likes the concept, I've storyboarded the movie, and we think we've worked a way to do some Matrix-style action without the expense! It's not "true" Matrix effects (we won't have cameras spinning around the action, etc) but we've got a pretty good composite of the style in mind and, well it's looking quite promising. We're aiming to do it on a budget of zero
I've pencilled in Saturday August 30th for the shoot, though it's pretty ambitious and shooting could actually require that Sunday as well (we'll have to see).
So now, before we definitely go for it, we need a few things, hence the post! Firstly "Actors". OK we don't actually need actors, just regular paintballers, but I'm trying to be professional about it and technically it is acting, although there'll be no actual dialogue on the day! We need a Neo, the lead actor. No you don't have to look like Keanu Reeves, in fact it's not faintly important - you'll be in a mask all the time! Must be athletic and, ideally, be able to jump very high (don't ask). We also need 9 Agent Smiths. The catch is, we need 9 people of roughly the same height and weight, with the same hair! You've all seen the movies so you know the type of haircut I mean
9 people who, in paintball masks, all look alike. I'm hoping there's a team of clones out there who'll help us out....Actors will have to bring their own clothes and equipment. Sorry guys but this is zero budget film making! Neo will need, well Neo-esque clothing (long flowing jacket is essential, don't worry it doesn't get shot in the sequence!). Smiths will need black suit and tie, and white shirt. They'll all need the same mask (ahhh!). And everyone in a suit will get shot.
Just to put potential actors off even more, I should warn you that filming isn't as "glamorous" as it appears on TV! OK maybe it is if you're shooting a sex scene with Angelina Jolie, but unless she agrees to appear in this film there isn't a sex scene in it
It'll be a day (or two) of standing around rehearsing action then 10 second bursts of shooting it, it isn't hard work but it is disciplined. Due to the nature of paintballing safety is a big concern and we don't want anyone who won't take it seriously.On the plus side, you'll get to appear in a fun little paintball film!
Bring your own guns; we also need 2 paintball pistols, semi-automatics.
We also need a sup'air field, and it must be tubeless (else I'll keep tripping over with the camera!). Ideally located around the M25 (south?), a field we can control safely. We're only having a small crew (2 or 3 people).
Also, we're looking to borrow some scaffolding for the day; we'll be setting up a portable green-screen at the location and in the greatest tradition of zero-budget film making we need something to drap the tarpaulin over
We'll need two step ladders as well.Lastly, if anyone happens to have a track dolly we can borrow, ideally with a Z-arm, let me know! If not, the field needs to be near an Asda so we can nick a shopping trolley
Sorry for not going into more depth about the film here, if anyone wants more info I'll be happy to provide it. If we shoot end of August, we should have the film ready around November / December, but it's very dependent on the post-production CGI effects which can take a while. The film should come in around a minute or two, which doesn't sound much but you'll be surprised how much action you can pack into that period!
And finally, Yes the name "The Paintrix" is stupid, but if I didn't coin it someone else here would, so it'll do until someone comes up with another name!
Matt
matt@chainsaw-films.com
www.chainsaw-films.com
