Remember...

8:58pm: 48 Hours
Another 48 Hour Film Challenge come and gone- the hard part anyway.  Nothing left but the watching and winning awards!

Come watch Ghost Beef Sandwich
Monday June 22nd
7pm
Riverview Theater in South Minneapolis.

I think this one is even better than our last one, Open House.

(yes, we went wildcard both times and yes, we got "ghost movie" both times.)

-j

5:44pm: What makes a beautiful day better?

Motorcycling!

And what improves upon that?

Riding my brand new motorcycle!



-j

7:18pm: Update
Wow, haven't posted here in a while.  Still alive and doing fine!

Work is great, staying busy and learning new stuff all the time.  Finally found a place where my talents are useful and my desire to try new things is rewarded as well as getting creative input.  Awesome.

Midnight Chronicles movie- there is good news.  That's all I'm allowed to say about that.

Recently helped out some folks with a History Channel shoot on the North Shore.  Beautiful!  The scenery and the Red camera footage.  Was really good to be back on a shoot and networking with some great people.  Forgot how much fun and work it is, but definitely want to keep working on set, and looks like I'll continue to have opportunities both for work and outside it.

Spending most of my free time learning new software and film techniques.  And motorcycling! 

Just doubled my motorcycle collection!  Woo hoo!

-j

9:49pm: alive!
Yes, I'm still here, kicking ass and forgetting names... Great news and more on the horizon-Midnight related, can't talk about it.  My job remains hard work, and I love it... and think I'll look good with all the grey hair.

( Final Cut Pro Problem )

-j

11:44pm: Cheesecake cutting conversation:

Zansabeef: How much do you want?

Person1: And give that in fractions of a circle.

Person2: 10 degrees.

Person3: Get out your compass.

Zansabeef: My compass doesn't even point north.


-j

I believe it's a Bailey's flavored cheesecake with chocolate chips and mocha whipped cream topping.

12:04pm: news
Finally, secret is no longer a secret.  FFG has a brand new and improved website, of which I worked on the flash videos, as well as a brand new game that is shipping, that noone outside of the company knew existed, which is pretty huge news for a company that sometimes announces games years before they hit game stores.  Very exciting.  Check out the video trailer miracle we knocked together in a week.

Android


-j

9:20pm: newest video project
I think this has been done for about a month, but it's taken a while to get all the approvals.

Battlestar Galactica The Board Game video

-j

11:52am: 28 degrees
It's beginning to feel like winter, eh?  Several days of gray and cold, snow.  I was wrong last time I said this, but I'm going to risk it again " I think the nice riding weather is behind us for this year".  Anyways, I went for a motorcycle ride today after not having ridden in too many days, and when I saw 2 other riders out I knew I wasn't totally insane.  Though one of them seemed pretty excited to see another rider out.  Finally sinking in that I have to put the motorcycle away pretty soon.  Just don't think I'm diehard enough to ride in snow and sub zero temps - yet.  Maybe if I had a heated garage to store the bike between rides and a motorcycle better suited to the hazards of MN winter.

-j

9:10pm: Hmmmm, gas prices dropping even faster than they've been rising?  Anything to do with the election next month, ya think?

-j

6:34pm: highlights
Rode over the new 35W bridge on my way to work this morning.  No, I didn't get up at 5 am for the opening.  And yes, the bridge is the opposite direction from work- hey, with so few nice days left for motorcycling...

-j

7:00pm: update

So the hurricane is only a tropical storm.  It's grey and windy, with a little bit of rain once in a while.  The storm is supposed to come ashore about the same time as high tide, so that should be interesting.  Other than that it was beautiful yesterday and still had a fair amount of sun today.  7pm here and half the wedding party is on the beach the other half is on the balcony.

-j

11:22pm: update, maybe the last
So I am alive and (now) well. 
Renaissance festival is going on and I'm not there.  It's kinda weird to not be out there after 5+ years.  About to enter the 4th weekend and no Jack the Fool.  Missing in action first weekend because of globetrotting, missing two weekends because I was sick, due to globetrotting.  The way this weekend is shaping up, I might be missing fest forever: about to leave for my sister's wedding- a beach wedding- in Myrtle Beach SC- smack dab in the center of the projected path for Hurricane Hannah.  Cool, it's been a while since I've seen the ocean, esp. the Atlantic, and I've never experienced a hurricane (come on Cat. 1 !!!).

Checked out the first 2 episodes of Showtime's The Tudors while packing tonight. Holy Fuck!  Why did noone punch me in the face, pry my eyes open and make me watch this show before?!?  Seriously, check it out.  Awesome costumes, sets, acting, lighting, stories, history, production, I could go on and on.

The future holds more The Tudors, more motorcycling (if Keith doesn't wreck it while he's "watching" it), a crapload of exciting projects meaning 10 shittons of work, and even renfest.

The best part of today so far- riding my motorcycle with a full face helmet, gloves, and new riding jacket at sunset.  Keeping warm while being cool.

-j

P.S.- Hi Morgan!

9:41am: PUNY - check out their talent
Puny gallery show this saturday

http://www.punyblog.com/2008/08/puny-30-more-commercial-gallery-show.html
http://www.punyblog.com/2008/08/puny-30-more-commerical-sneak-peek.html

"Best known for their animation on Emmy Nominated TV Series "Yo Gabba Gabba" and high-end interactive development; PUNY's twenty-two artists, designers, and programmers throw shit against a wall to see what sticks. For one night only their corporate overseers allowed non-billable hours to be put towards un-artdirected art, interactive pointlessness, and animated mash-ups. On display are secret passions, resume killers, and a clear bias against race, gender, and economic backgrounds..

Is it art or a capabilities pitch? We're not sure they know the difference. Salary DOE."

Live Music by

CAVERNS IN CAVERNS
and
Mark Fox is a DJ

5:56pm: Got back from Gencon the other day.  It was a good trip- the van I co-captained was first down and first back.  Just saying.  No tickets either.  (Peter, wait til you hear the Keith Story.)

Gencon itself was work.  Keith and I took turns demoing Tannhauser the whole time and ran off to shoot video when we were free, which meant a lot of running as we had events in 3 separate locations.  We had movie screenings 2 nights (Midnight seemed to be received well- full screenings both nights and laughs in the right places-everyone seems very interested in what's next) and I spent a fair amount of time after hours video documenting FFG's world champion events.

There was some requisite drinking and meeting new people, saw my parents briefly, and I even got to spend time with Morgan.  The only downside is the cold/sore throat/crap that so many seem to get at conventions.  And I tried so hard to wash my hands and not touch my face.

Mostly I'm glad to be back home and enjoying a little time off before I jump back into a whole new cycle of exciting work projects.  And I really missed my motorcycle- driving a 15 passenger van doesn't have quite the same appeal.

-j

9:14pm: Update time
man, it's been awhile since I sat down to make an LJ post.  Here's what's going on.

The movie is being screened.  Showed it to the cast and crew a week or so ago.  I think everyone agrees that we've come a long way and exceeded expectations on so many levels.  It's nice to finally have something tangible for all the people who have worked on this project over the course of the last two years.  It's been an amazing ride, and I wouldn't trade a day of it. 

Segueing from the movie- we are screening it several times at the biggest gaming convention (Gencon) this week.  Excited to see what our audience, those who haven't been part of the production, thinks.  Looking forward to distribution and more movies down the road.

Gencon should be a blast.  3rd time going and once again driving a van. At least this year I won't be working through the night before the trip instead of sleeping.  The video team was hoping to have a bit more free time this year, but they need help demoing games.  And since we're such great  demoers, we're helping out.  I'd like to have more time to put together some new video projects, but on the flipside, it's really cool to show so many people one of our awesome games and get a vibe for the folks I'm making videos for.

The motorcycling continues.  If it isn't actually raining, I'm riding.  I'd be a bit miffed that I've gone so long without a motorcycle, but I'm too busy enjoying the ride now.  It certainly helps that my girlfriend loves riding.  Oh yeah, I fill up about once every two weeks, depending on if I take longer trips.  Haven't broken 8 bucks a fill up yet. Eat your hearts out.  Already thinking about a larger bike for longer trips.

Another segue- Been dating Morgan, a most interesting and wonderful woman, for over 3 months now.  Amazing experience.  It's got me thinking about how much I've learned over the years- how far I've come as a person and how much work is still to be done.

Ont he horizion- more interesting new work projects, renfest, sister's wedding in Mrytle Beach.

Summation: work is good, motorcycle is good, woman is good, health is good, prospects good; life is good.

See you on the flipside.

-j

8:11pm: zombies
Zombie Survival Quiz

Are you ready?

-j

8:10pm: smiles
Today was made for long motorcycle rides.

-j

8:56am: Sacramento is prepared...
for a zombie attack.


-j

10:52pm: Steampunk time waster
Starwars/steampunk

There's a bunch of other cool stuff on the site.

-j

1:53pm: Motorcycle
Just finished the Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic rider course, culminating with the skill test.  Passed!- only missed 4 pts (you can pass with up to 20).  Instructor said I was an excellent rider.  Most of it was fun and easy, some was very challenging.  I think only one of the 12 in my class didn't pass the test, and it was pretty obvious she wasn't going to.

Just have to stop into the DMV, show my voucher, and I get the M on my license.!

Then I get to ride at night, on freeways, without a helmet, with passenger!   Well, it becomes legal for me to do so.

-j

7:25pm: Picture Lock!!!
Midnight Chronicles has once again achieved picture lock!  That's the point in a movie production when the edits are all made and approved.   We theoretically had that last year, but there were so many little things left undecided at that time. It's a very different movie now that it's had some breathing room and been finessed a bit.

So now it's off for color correction and sound.  The cast/crew screening is set for the last day of July!

Another milestone is that all the visual effects shots for the movie are finished.  Spent the last few days creating establishing shots from whole cloth (establishing shots do just that, establish where the hell you are in the world/space.)  It's been fun having a lot of creative input but very frustrating at the same time. 

Speaking of visual effects- the co-producer and myself sat down and counted every shot that had been created/augmented in the digital world and came up with 300.  The rough estimate is that Keith and myself cranked out nearly 3 finished shots a day.  Which is pretty incredible considering how little pre production was done before we started.  The hard part is looking back at my earlier shots (a few months earlier, ha!) and seeing very clearly how far I've come... the good part is knowing I'll be able to look back on this day with (hopefully) the same sort of growth under my belt.


Other than work I've been spending my time with Morgan and the motorcycle.  Life is good.

-j

10:45am: Midnight Chronicles
We're about to send out invites to the cast/crew screening of Midnight.  Seems some of our contact info is not up to date.  If you or anyone you know worked on Midnight Chronicles, send an email with your current contact info to jbeaudoin@fantasyflightgames.com

Alis, I'm looking in your direction.

-j

9:50am: On the internet so you know its true
Morgan is beautiful.
Morgan is 365 days of crazy.
Morgan is cute (def. 1-3)
Morgan is coming home.

I'm lucky to know her.

-j

10:42am: Motorcycle and Girlfriend
Quote: "Holyshitholyshitholyshit." 

I think she likes the bike.

-j

7:54pm: News
So the hot girlfriend is on the road for the week. In fact, she spent the day riding rollercoasters.  In order to stave off loneliness and give ME something fun to ride, I've replaced her.

-j