Zach's PEN #37: Virtual Production

2021 Week 14: Getting ready to shoot Markee videos, no pressure

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.

Sorry for the warped iPhone wide lens, but notice the Leica, the vinyl, the Topo Chico, and yes, that is a chess timer. I won’t go into what I use that for. The suggestion box is something I may talk about in the future. Everyone like me should have a suggestion box.

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

It has begun. I did the first short walk today with my friend and colleague Newton. I have a tendency to make projects bigger than they need to be, and I've done that here, but with an emphasis on ease and sustainability. 👇

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?

See that little tiny sprig of green there?

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

Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips

I was almost 35 when I found out that all of you voracious, fast, "good readers" have been CHEATING FOR THIS ENTIRE TIME. No one told me that reading doesn't have to be Alec Baldwin's voice in your head, speaking aloud every word of every sentence in perfect dramatic cadence. 👇

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

Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips

I write threads every day and copy them as blog posts to little dot zachphillips dot blog (my big blog gets no love). This is a growing thread of threads that provide an introduction to my interests and why someone might care to be internet pals with me. 👇

I started a list of practical paradoxes that I have experienced.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/05/practical-paradoxes.html

Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips

A growing list of practical paradoxes. 👇

I wrote about noticing the sensation of resistance as a solution to resistance.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/04/06/sensations-and-stories.html

Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips

I sometimes worry that I'll never be able to reconnect with bodily sensations. I shut them down and out so hard for so long. But I then I can realize that the worry is a bodily sensation and prove the worry false. 👇

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 some more detail on the second core ingredient of story that we measure in my production house's creative process. It's the trickiest of all: Authenticity It's also the only ingredient that should _never_ be compromised. 👇

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 - Novelty

I 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

Zach Phillips (100/100 posts) @zachphillips

A year ago I took @fortelabs's course Building a Second Brain. If you're ready to be done organizing forever because you've spent hundreds of hours designing complex systems that don't work, I highly recommend BASB. One early exercise was to write our 12 Favorite Problems. 👇

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