The Hush - opening night of the Oakland Int'l Film Fest

I am honored and excited that The Hush has been selected to open the OIFF 2011 @ the Grand Lake Theater (the movie theater I grew up in). This is our hometown premier.

The movie screens after three awesome short films around 9PM on Thurs. April 7th.

Check here for tickets or more info on the screening lineup:

http://oiff.org/films.html

If you are Bay Area, CA local come and check out the film. Much of the cast and crew will be on hand and there will be a Q&A afterward. It will be fun. Support indie filmmakers and a festival with a great purpose.

Roamer - trailer and status update

A distant future where mercenaries protect the borders of civilization from a ravaged, infected outside world: 072 is a tired but tough mercenary who only yearns to be home. When he follows a 'roamer' to his hide out he discovers something that will change his world and the very orders he follows.

- - - - -

The film is nearly complete (should be ready by Spring '11). I still have to finish the VFX work (3D modeling is a new venture) but so far I am very happy with the film. Enjoy and stay tuned...

Vincent Cortez - Reel 2 - Steadicam and Music

Here is a reel that features Steadicam/Camera Operation as well as some of my work as a soundtrack/music composer. It's funny to make one reel that encompasses both of those skill-sets/jobs but I thought that the visuals and music went well together. Enjoy and contact me if you have any questions.

HomeMade Gear: Light Stand/Accessory Cart

 
Being organized on a set can help things run smoothly. If equipment is scattered everywhere, especially light stands, you can run into trouble: things can slow down, setups become searches for gear, people can get hurt, location's can get messed up, etc.

This Cart was built for nothing, but has been very useful in keeping things isolated and organized. My father was getting rid of an old shelf that had been sitting in a backroom for a while. The best thing is that it is made of real wood and it is sturdy. It was the ideal height for my light stands and had enough room to fit plenty; it also has a divider in the middle for other accessories.

I first modified the shelf by cutting squares at one end of the shelf (if it were sitting vertically) while keeping the support/structure intact. Then, I cut another piece of old shelving (from a pile of scrap wood) to create the middle and bottom brace. A few tough screws and a drill gun, and everything was done. For now, I have placed it on a furniture dolly (which I already own; though they are roughly $10 - $20 depending where you look) to maneuver it around easier.

The picture above shows four light stands (two bare and two with heads/arms) but it could fit about two more. Across the divider rests gel frames and a few rolls of gels.

I could still potentially add handles to the sides and even rubber "caster" styled, swivel wheels for off road and rougher terrain.But so far, so good.