Ostrich with a Bigfoot

Emily Trempe takes you on a Filipino adventure with the Bigfoot Ostriches at Bigfoot Entertainment. Filmed for Bigfoot TV on site in Cebu, Philippines. Emily pulls off an Australian accent quite well, though at times I admit thought she may have been a South African. To commemorate the ostriches and our dear parodied Steve Irwin (RIP), here are a few ostrich facts for your trivial knowledge:
Ostriches lay the largest eggs of any species
Ostriches eat plants and bugs - insects!
Ostriches are from Africa
Osterich is commonly mispeled.
Ostriches are nomadic - they move from place to place in groups of 40 or 50
Ostriches run fast - 65+ kilometers per hour!
Ostriches are on the menu at BigBucks. Get your Ostrich burger today!
mmmm.....

Midnight Movie Featurette

Midnight movie was made in a flash on a down-to-business schedule of only 22 days. Director Jack Messitt enlightens you with this inside piece on the cast & crew's experience while shooting the film, including an earlier casting and words from the production designer. Since this film is an homage of sorts, it is one of the only horror films with a villain that is not only a difficult-to-kill monster but also a spirit who can appear and disappear at will. Enjoy the featurette!

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

On Behalf of Bigfoot Entertainment and the orphans of the Albert Schweitzer Foundation we wish you Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year 2009!

photography by michalgarcia.com

Intern at Bigfoot!

Liam is a new editor intern at Bigfoot, working under Fashion TV. He's been here just three weeks, and is working in our 6-month program. Liam says he likes working at Bigfoot because you get involved in projects as soon as you arrive. In editing you can edit so many different ways; it's very creative and you start to figure out your style. In a way, the internship is a test run for the real world of filmmaking.
Prior to coming to Bigfoot, Liam had graduated from filmschool and worked on a few shorts in London. In the Fashion TV editing suite, Liam gets a taste of Filipino culture - the Filipino editors break out in song and it makes you want to add a bass line to accompany them. The country is quite famous for Karaoke (it's practically the national sport), and Liam notes that even a waitress in a restaurant will sing as she serves you.
An interesting thing Liam has found in Cebu is getting used to the transport system. "You have to make your own way" - Jeepneys and taxis take a while to get used to but it's worth the effort of learning to use the system. Then, you're free to roam about Mactan Island and Cebu city.
You can apply for the internship program here.

Education and Work

Brian Valdez came all the way from Dallas, Texas to the International Academy of Film and Television over a year ago and truly made his mark in that time. Not only did he win the award for best thesis film (in 16mm no less!) but he has been working the past four months as assistant production coordinator on Bigfoot's latest feature film project Tears From Afar. Brian has nearly finished his work with Tears, as we call it back at the studios, and the last major shots are currently being filmed in the south of Viet Nam. Congratulations Brian, and best wishes for Los Angeles!

Click here for further information about Brian and the International Academy of Film and Television.

Exploding work day

Part of the fun of working at a film studio are company e-mails like this one:

"Hi Everyone,

Please note that the shoot for today's explosion scene will be between
15:00H to 17:00H.

Please be guided accordingly.

Thank you.

DEEP GOLD
PRODUCTION GROUP"

Explosions? What?!? But never fear! With a pyrotechnics team from Manila, a firetruck and ambulance on standby PLUS multiple test runs and a very well-coordinated effort by our First AD Ken Siu, you're as safe as can be.

Here's a closer view of the pyrotechnics:

Thanksgiving at Abaca

Thanksgiving this year was absolutely fun! We all participated in the year-old tradition of sharing what we were thankful for. Among the thanks, most were very happy with their close workmates whether filming "Tears from Afar" or back in the office. With so many actors and filmmakers coming from Los Angeles we had a turnout of over 50 employees at Abaca restaurant on Mactan Island.

On site with the Bigfoot Foundation

Every other weekend, the orphans from the Albert Schweitzer Foundation come to Bigfoot Entertainment for a morning of activities, and as they're being picked up from Cordova (or when we go for a visit) we get to play with the kids and they do fun things like dance around on video. Fiona shot this short clip on her mobile phone, but a more hard-hitting documentary is being produced of their story and likely available by February.

Tears from Afar: humor

Bigfoot is on the loose and shooting a new film called Tears From Afar. This film will shoot in the Philippines, Viet Nam and Florida. Though the subject matter is very serious, here is a fun look at at the production of the film. Above, Rick and Bebe smile for an in-car green screen shot.


The first rule (about to be broken by Rick) is you never use a hot set as you would in real-life.


bathtubs and bubbles! Adi attacks Bebe with a handful of bubbles :-)



Rick Robinson is having a peachy day with the Red Camera.


A.D. Jenni gives the camera a quirky look.


The crew take a quick break from working for a photo opp.
Photography by Johannes Bichmann

201

Warning: explicit language, gore



At the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) students complete a series of projects in their studies. At the end of the basic level the 101 students or 101's do their "MOS" which is a film without dialogue. The 301's get to do a final thesis project and go all-out in terms of cast and locations and equipment used. The 201's are in between but nowhere near forgotten. They do great work and come out with quirky films like the one above, Beat Sushi Sushi. For more student films, visit the IAFT youtube channel.

Postcards from Cebu

We're working on a series of photographs showing the scenic parts of Cebu, for a series of postcards to send out to potential clients/students/friends. Take a peek at some of the work!


Eveningscape of Cebu


Cebu City Hall


IT park, in the heart of Cebu


Hilton Hotel on Mactan Island (really close to Bigfoot)
And lastly, a view of the bridge connecting Cebu City to Mactan Island as seen from the Cebu Yacht club (Highly recommended)

photography by michalgarcia.com

New IAFT images

The International Academy of Film and Television is rebranding itself with a series of more captivating images of student life and of life around Cebu. These are a few in the running for this new branding.

Fun, free photography seminar :-)

Today, the first day marks the beginning of the first session of my photo masterclass for employees and interns at Bigfoot Entertainment. I am including 70 links that will provide inspirational and practical material for the course. Check them out:

Inspiration:
Zena Holloway
Nicoline Patricia
Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir
Jill Greenberg
Joseph Cultice
Chase Jarvis
Vincent Laforet
Richard Avedon
Lawrence Winram
The Year in Pictures
Paolo Roversi
Björk
Super Models.nl
Joey Laurence
Thomas Tukker
Lane Coder
Russell James
Article on Denis Darzacq's Falling People
Art Partner
Janet Bordeninc
VH Artists
Jed Root Photographers/Talent
Lund Lund
Lithium Picnic
Michael Grecco
Mark Laita
John Michael Cooper
Building Blog
Douglas Menuez
Gray Scott
GMK
Jean Philippe Martin
Julius Von Bismarck - Image Fulgurator
Scott Harben
Greg Booth
Serlin Associates
Wing Chan
Philippe Halsman
Ten Movies every photographer should see
Mark Bugzester
Drip Book portfolio site
TD Photo
Martin Prihoda
Rick Kosick
Carbon Made
Lost at E Minor
Pinhole Day
BBC in pictures
David Griffin speaks about photography at Ted Talks


FYI, How to & technology
Learn at Photo.net
Digital Photography Review - best for cameras specs
Lens Babies
B&H photo video - price check & equipment
Flickr - photo sharing
One Model Place
Studio Lighting.net
Hasselblad Cameras
Article on Tilt-shift lenses
Strobist - learn to light
Wet Pixel - underwater photography
Show us you lights! Lighting setups mandatory
Best Canon Lenses
American Society of Media Photographers
Lomography
All Things Photography
Model Mayhem
Take Better photographs - Wikihow
A digital picture of Britain
Ray Ring Flash

Halloweiners

Halloween at Bigfoot Entertainment! Need I say more?

Lori, Laurence and Daphne live it up at Tiki Bar

Tara and Tabatha won an award later that night for their vampire costumes!

MG and MG's twin Samim


This guy has a triangle for a head.


Nick jokes with the joker


"I'm Chris...I eat people"

Ben and Denise went as a prom couple


Katie, at the Tears from Afar office.


Chiqui and friends put on makeshift masks at Fashion TV
photography by michalgarcia.com

Esta salsa es muy caliente!

Part of the fun of being in a big company with folks of many talents are the intermittent courses and workshops you can take. A few weeks ago, I took part in an acting course and more recently a Salsa dancing class led by Meredith. I'll even be teaching a a photography masterclass starting next week! Above, Daphne enjoys some latin sounds.

Meredith sets the example through the mirror.


We straightened out Keith's feet over 5 weeks. Now, there's a distinguishable right & left :-)


Keith is grateful!


photography by michalgarcia.com