Citizen Wumpus Blog

Craig's Variety Show Episode 2... No Really

Okay, you may have read this post and assumed I was lying about a new episode of Craig's Variety Show airing on New Years Day. Evidently they made a mistake and aired our first episode instead. To make up for it, they are airing it this weekend.

So TiVo, tape, or pirate Craig's Variety Show Episode 2 this week Sunday, January 8, 2:40am

Craig's Variety Show Episode 2 Finally

After many tries, we finally have a date for Craig's Variety Show, Episode 2... It's NewYears Day at 6 AM Channel 12. I'm sure everyone will watch it...

Okay, I'm sure everyone will TiVo it right?

Eugene Elliot on TV... Again

"Eugene Elliot" will be on WHYY this Saturday at 4:20 AM.

Stay up and watch it... or just TiVo it.

New Episode Complete

Production on a new episode of Craig's Variety Show has wrapped. Expect to see it on Whyy sometime before the end of the year.

We're on Google Video

Google Video is moving to the next stage of operation, and Citizen Wumpus videos are available for viewing. Very cool. Random people are more likey stumble on to our content.

Google Video Search: CitizenWumpus

New Featured Video

We have a new featured video: Eugene Elliot. It's our first movie, and people still seem to love it. This is part of a bigger push to get all of our content online. Until then, check out Eugene Elliot.

Another one in the can

We completed work on another 48 Hour Film project this weekend. Propostion 27 is a Sci-Fi flick with all of Citizen Wumpus' dark humor.

See the screening, 7:15pm Tuesday April 11th, at International House in West Philadelphia.

Production Tools

One of my minor annoyances with dealing with our film shoots is that recording timecode information is still quickest done by writing it down on a piece of paper. However that timecode information can be turned into a means of automatically digitizing video in NLE like Adobe Premiere. So I built this little web application that takes in timecode info and will export it as a Premiere Batch import file that names all of the clips it brings in [scene]-[shot]-[take].avi.

It also does some smart form creation to ensure that as little input-per-clip is needed: It assumes the end timecode of your last clip is the start timecode of your next clip; It assumes that your next take number, is your last take plus 1; etc.

I see two uses for this:

Quickly converting form paper info into a file.
Replacing paper with a lightweight client inputing time code directly.

Please try it out:

Citizen Wumpus Production Tools

Create your own test cases, you can delete them yourself. If you use an NLE other than Adobe Premiere, and want to try it out, send us a batch import file for it. (I tried to find a Final Cut Pro one online, but no luck.)

Avish Live

Avish Parashar will be performing live in the month of March in a local performance of the play Suburbia.

Description:
High school friends linger long after graduation in their suffocating suburban convenience store parking lot, monotonously drinking beer and drowning dreams. When their friend returns, now a famous rock star, years of seething angst, combined with mindless partying, escalates into a life-changing night of terror. Written in the 1990s, this dramatic portrayal of the disenfranchisement of America's youth screams even louder today.

Schedule:

Friday March 3rd 8pm
Saturday March 4th 8pm
Sunday March 5th 6pm
Friday March 11th 8pm
Saturday March 12th 8pm
Sunday March 13th 6pm
Friday March 18th 8pm
Saturday March 19th 8pm

Location:
Allens Lane Art Center
Allens Lane & McCallum Street
Philadelphia, PA 19119

Tickets:
$15, and you can get info or reservations at 215.248.0546 or www.allenslane.org

Eugene Elliot onDemand

Eugene Elliot will make an apppearance on Comcast OnDemand this month, from it's collection of WHYY listings.

It's free, you can watch it anytime you want, so what are you waiting for?

Have studio, will score...

So, I've been in New York for about 6 months, starting to work in film and T.V. writing scores. And I've learned a couple of things about this business, and how music fits into it. The purpose of this musing is *not* to bitch at directors, or producers. Rather, it is an appeal to them, to remember how important music can be for a film, and, most importantly, how many great composers are out there who *love* to create original music for a small film, and *love* working with directors. You (directors and producers) are missing out on a truly fulfilling experience, both for you and your film, if you have not worked with a composer to create an original score for your film. Since I'm moving back to Philly in 5 months, I thought I'd plug myself, and all my film music friends here in NYC who practice, train, and write, so that we can work on great films with great directors and producers. The following are a couple of standard practices that directors do up here, which I'd like to provide alternative measures for.

]]> 1. Directors and producers never think that they need a separate composer for the score. They seem to think that the film itself doesn't need any music, or that they can just lay down a couple of trance tracks from their CD collection, or whip it out from ACID or Fruity loops. Now, barring the possible legal ramifications of having an unlicensed Tupac song on your film (which, if it goes to festivals, can cost you thousands of dollars), the truth is, most directors and producers aren't very good at writing music to fit a film. This is not a cut or a bash on you, it's just that you haven't spent years of your life playing an instrument, learning how to arrange and orchestrate, studying film music, and, most importantly, writing music for films. That's my job. That's what I've been doing for the last 5 years. I don't get behind Terry's lens of the camera, and I don't take Ryan Kelly' seat at the Avid station. Why? Because I'm not a professional director or editor. Think about it... instead of you struggling through a 50$ piece of "groove-generating" software, trying to get that pesky loop to land right when the villain gets punched, why not get in touch with someone (who's name sounds like Mike Worth), who has spent years and dozens of projects learning how to craft a musical texture that will *exactly* fit your needs? No stress for you, no worries about getting your computer to export that sound file... just fire and forget. :)
2. Directors and Producers never budget enough money for music. Now, in the past, that made some sense. Music budgets could be really expensive. Think about it: you pay the composer. The composer scribbles his score out, then sends it to an orchestrator (who bills the producer). Then the Orchestrator sends it to copyists (guess who pays them)? Then they go to a recording session, with 20 musicians (at union rates), an engineer to record it, and several mixers to mix the track down. Whew, no *wonder* older directors often wanted solo piano scores!! Well, here's the good news. Nowadays, with sampled instruments and powerful synthesizers, the composer can generate a complete, effective score, mix it down, and send it to the director, all from his home studio. No other bills, no other salaries. I've already done several scores with no live players, that my mentor (who is a Hollywood orchestrator) has called "Festival-quality sound". What does that mean? It means that getting music for your film is now cheaper than ever. Often, a composer will score a 10-15 minute film, mix it, and send it to you for under $1500 (especially if the film is going to festivals). That is an absolute steal for you, the director.
In summation, I'm trying to talk to the directors and producers out there, who are just starting to get their films noticed. Most of you want music at some level in your film; why not have someone who loves doing it, who does it for a living, and who will create a truly memorable score work with you to make that happen?
If I've sold you on my ability and earnestness, email me at info@mikeworthmusic.com, and we'll talk about my working with you to make a film score for your film.

Public Screening

Eugene Elliot will be screened as a part of a night of short films out in Wayne, PA.

If you haven't seen it come on and check it out.
If you've seen it before, but you haven't seen it in a theatre, come on and check it out.
If you seen it before in the theatre check out the other movies.

I think there's an informal talking session afterwards to talk about the films shown. Craig and I will be there representing the group. Fairview Films has more about the other movies. Hopefully we'll see you there:

February 23, 2005
Clearview Anthony Wayne Cinema
109 West Lancaster Ave (Route 30)
Wayne, PA
FREE Admission - 8pm Screenings

We got Ratings!!

We got ratings back from Craig's Variety Hour. It was preceded by Birdman of Alcatraz which got a .9 share. We then received a .2 share. How many people is a .2 share? According to Craig, that's 15,000 people.

15,000 people. At 12:15 on a Saturday Night. For a comedy show on a PBS affiliate competing against SNL during the Weekend Update timeslot.

Color me very pleased.

We also received a bunch of mail from people who had caught it without having been told it was on. Thanks for the mail.

Craig's Variety Show - Correction

Craig's Variety Show will air on:

Sunday January 23 at 12:10am

Not on Saturday morning as was previously reported.

To find out more, go to http://www.citizenwumpus.com/cvs/.

Craig's Variety Show

After weeks in development, we are proud to present Craig's Variety Show, a twenty minute variety show based on the Fringe Festival show Craig's Variety Hour. Featuring several sketches from the Fringe show, and Eugene Elliot, Citizen Wumpus' first movie, Craig's Variety Show will air on WHYY Channel 12 in Philadelphia. Additionally it will be available as one of Whyy's offerings on Comcast on Demand, after it's debut.

Watch it or set your TiVo's:
January 22, 2005 12:10 AM
Whyy Channel 12.

To find out more, go to http://www.citizenwumpus.com/cvs/.