Dear PENpals,
I'm tired. More from the pressure I'm putting on myself than the actual workload, but... I'm tired. Looking forward to a vacation at the Jersey Shore for Memorial Day. Or as they say in Philly, "goin' down the shuuuuore."
Between now and then, a lot is happening, most of it this week.
Markee Videos
We're shooting the promotional videos for Markee on Thursday. Mauro is directing, and it's a highly technical shoot. I'm working with the actors. We're doing it all in our studios using virtual production and 3D sets. This is a really crazycool thing. We've been doing tests and even the quick, not-color-or-light-matched tests look amazing. It's opening up so many creative possibilities.
Again, this test (featuring Short Order senior producer Christina Reilly) is totally not good, yet somehow it's amazing.
There was a moment when I was planning out all the software animations and looked at my desk and realized I've become a caricature of myself.
The "Walking Every Street in Philly" Project
Started it last week. Check it out.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/08/the-first-step.html
Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips
There are 2,215 miles of roads in Philadelphia, minus a few highways. So if I do a 4-5 mile walk 3 days a week for 3 years, I can easily walk every street. I plan to shoot one roll of film on each of the walks (that's a lot of rolls of film but I can develop and scan myself).For anyone worried about this, please understand that there are a lot of streets in Philly and I'm not rushing right to any notoriously dangerous neighborhoods. This is going to take years. More than anything, it's a fun excuse for me to exercise regularly in a gamified way. I'm not going to be stupid or careless, I'm going to bring people with me for as many walks as possible, and this is just going to be light and fun, cool? This is just walking. I just like to make it a game of filling in every street green because I'm goofy. How cool is this map though?
This Week's Other Posts
I wrote about being a slow reader and how angry I am that all the "fast readers" never let me in on the fact they all cheat.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/10/subvocalization.html
I wrote a Twitter thread of threads to pin to the top of my Twitter profile where I can just keep the ones I think are a good introduction to me.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/04/a-twitter-thread.html
I started a list of practical paradoxes that I have experienced.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/05/practical-paradoxes.html
I wrote about noticing the sensation of resistance as a solution to resistance.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/06/sensations-and-stories.html
I wrote about Authenticity, the second core ingredient in my production house's Original Recipe™ creative process.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/07/the-original-recipe.html
Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips
Here's how the Original Recipe™ process works: As you evaluate ideas (some do this during brainstorming, most wait until after), assign a number from 1 to 10 for each of these five "Core Ingredients" of effective story: - Purpose - Authenticity - Conflict - Spectacle - NoveltyI wrote about an exercise I did in a course I took a year ago.
https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/09/my-favorite-problems.html
Babies
Well, it was Easter, but since I still don't have my film processing capabilities yet, the best pictures will sadly have to wait a few weeks. Sorry. Meanwhile, here's an old one of Wendell in the cold sunshine before he suddenly aged 15 years.
Much love PENpals,
Zach