Grafted The Movie

So right now I'm working on two movies:
One is a documentary on adoption.  Its going to be entered into the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.   I 'm part of the crew, I help with whatever needs to be done.  Its not that glorious but working with friends on a movie is so much fun that the work is enjoyable.
They've started a blog about their progress.  Here it is.
Enjoy!
The other movie I will announce as soon as their website is up.  Which shouldn't be too long.
So stay tuned for more info. :)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review

I went and watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes a few days ago.
And just to give warning, the post has some spoilers.
Here's the synopsis from IMBd

During experiments to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, a genetically-enhanced chimpanzee uses its greater intelligence to lead other apes to freedom.

Overall it was worth EVERY PENNY OF THE $9.75 I spent to see it.
I liked the main character (the human).  His drive to find the cure for his dad, who has Alzheimer's was touching.  And it really brought it home when his dad dies in the middle of the movie.
I was incredibly impressed with Andy Serkis's (Gollum from Lord of the Rings) performance as Caesar.  Watching it, I was amazed that it was actually a human, he seemed to act like an ape so much.  The mannerisms were perfect!  A funny thing though (for those who have seen Lord of the Rings) Andy Serkis in the movie bits the the index finger off of a character in the movie.  The exact same finger that he bit off of Frodo's in Lord of the Rings.
It felt bad that I was nearly laughing as this guy got his finger bit off.
The story was thrilling!  I loved watching the final battle on the Golden Gate Bridge.  As it was brute force against guns.  Their is just something cool about massive gorilla's jumping and slamming into helicopters.
The thing that I was most impressed with was that the movie did not thrust evolution down your throat.  And how we evolved.
That was not the point of the movie.  It may have been subtly in the sublayer but it was not the main point.
Their is a bit of romance for the main human character and it felt like it was just thrown in.  As it didn't really advance the story.
It was beautifully done movie overall.  I give it five stars. :)
Watch the trailer below.

Rio Movie Review

I just watched the animated movie 'Rio'.
A quick synopsis of the film.

(From IMDb) When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams.

My thoughts on the movie:
Overall I was impressed on its story structure.  It followed closely the classic three-act-structure like I talked about in a previous post.  Complete with a:

A flawed but sympathetic protagonist                                       

 summons moral courage to face and then overcome                 

 increasingly difficult, seemingly insurmountable moral tests to achieve a compelling desire.

The characters were well defined.  And even in this secular film certain Christian themes bled through(honoring the family, a husband who was devoted to his wife)
Their were plenty of funny moments and great jokes.  The story kept up and held the me interrested. The climax was very well built up to and no
Though their were a few things that weren't so great.
Their was some bizzare humor throughout which was kind of weird.  The end fell a bit flat. Because....
Spoiler ALERT.
Well at the end, Blu and Jewel kiss.  Now how that works don't ask.
That was the only thing that was bad about the movie.
Other than that I liked it.  I give it 3 stars.

And the pop song at the end wasn't bad either. :-)

It is Well With My Soul

Another song that I absolutely LOVE.  So add that genre to the enormous list of genre's that I love.  The story behind this hymn is so amazing.  Horatio Spafford wrote this hymn after his family had died.  If that isn't a complete trust in God, then I don't know what is.  I pray that if that ever happens to me that I will have the same response he had.

So I rearranged it into C, so I could play it with more finesse.
Enjoy.
For sheet music click here.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul, 
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford
  

Viva la Vida - Coldplay Rearranged into C

Okay, I like Classical, and I like Coldplay.  Call me what you will.  But this song is awesome.
Since it was so awesome I looked for a piano cover for it and found this: (Sorry that its a bit grainy.  But the sound is good.)

So then I found the sheet music for it.  So I sat down to play it and it was a bit difficult, because of the key.  I'm not a master pianist (yet, I'm working on it).  So I took it and inputted it into my notation software and changed the key to C which has no accursed flats. :)
So for anyone who really likes this song and wants to get a easier version, they can click here.
Also here's the REAL version:

Have fun with it!

P.S. Watch the Rhythm's of the left hand.

New Classical Song by Yours Truly

I found this old song in my piles of sheet music.  Its a bit classical.  But classical comes easiest to me so...
Its a little rugged so you can add your own improvisations to it when you play it.
I won't be offended. :)
Here's the link to it.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/61205647/Invention-in-C

The Script

As I look at this summer, I'm getting movie fever.  Movie's are coming out, my friends are starting their projects, I'm working on my next project.
As I look at movie's made by big studios or short films made by my friends or other indie film maker's; I see that your script is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the film or short.
I just recently watched the first Transformer movie.  Michael Bay can make movies seem so real with modern technology, CGI, and special effects.  Watching it makes you get pulsed as the massive transforming robots slam into each other, transform, and explode through buildings.  Wide sweeping panoramic shots bring the epic battles close in and we are entranced by the massive battles.

But then we start thinking about the plot.  The movie begins to fall apart, things that we had just gulped down when we were hypnotized by the epic battles now seem stupid.  The plot is suddenly full of holes and we cringe at cheesy lines and it is not so enjoyable anymore.  Why?
The reason is simple: the script.  The script is where the plot is formed and the characters are brought alive from the text on paper.  When the script is strong the movie is strong.
The script is 80% of the movie.  It doesn't matter how much special effects, great acting, sound quality, music, world class director's you have without the script your movie will not be a great movie.  
This is no less true for a short film.  Even if it's a silent film, your script will outline what will happen and if your script is no good, your movie is on the fast track to cheesedom or boredom.
So what is a good script?  How is a good script fashioned?  Isaac Botkin says in his book(which I STRONGLY recommend)

First, take a look at the structure.  Western audiences learn best from this format:               

A flawed but sympathetic protagonist                                       

 summons moral courage to face and then overcome                 

 increasingly difficult, seemingly insurmountable moral tests to achieve a compelling desire.

The best movies you've ever seen follow this structure.  It's not a formula, its a form.  This particular structure is brilliantly complimentary to the Christian worldview because the protagonist is a hero.  This structure can illustrate the truth.  It can teach moral authority.  It can clarify ethics.  It can elucidate the meaning of moral courage and can explain the applicability of biblical wisdom.  It can show the world what masculinity is.  It can show the beauty of manners and family life.  It can tell the truth about evil and show the cast difference bad character.  It can pit evil against good.  It can criticize evil instead of good.

Your script must not just be a good story in the sense of story itself it must (if you call yourself a Christian film maker) proclaim God's truth to all men. Mark 16:15 says  

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

If we are Christian film makers our scripts must not only be good scripts but they need to cry out the hope to this dying world.  
You may have the best actors, the best cinematography, the best whatever, without a good script and a Christian message your movie will not be any good.

A good example of a good script but no good message is the movie, "The Adjustment Bureau" The overall plot is a excellent plot.  Its well built and is thrilling and exciting.  But the theological message is warped.  The message is that God is many people and that we can control our fate.  As a Christian this ruins the movie.  Our scripts must be good thematically and sound theologically as well.
So as Christian film makers and servants of God our films MUST glorify him.  
No Excuses. 

               

How to Train Your Dragon Sheet Music

Now I did not write these arrangements of How to Train Your Dragon music.(I wish I did though)
This guy arranges soundtrack pieces and other things.  These pieces are great for any of you aspiring musicians.  I will warn you though, some of the pieces on there are for a advanced pianist.  His 'easy piano' versions are easier to learn and they don't sound easy at all.
Click Here to go to the site.
Happy playing!

Cool Song

Now usually I like more classical music and contemporary christian music.  I found this off a site of a guy who arranges stuff from movies. 
This song is from the game Portal 2.  Its the ending song.  I really like it.  This guy arranged it into a piano piece.
Click here to get the Sheet Music

Here's the video with the actual music.

New Piano Piece

A couple weeks ago I composed a three part sonata.  I just have been busy lately so I haven't had time to put it up. 
Check the sheet music tab for the new piece.