ratling_prod

I love my job.

2009-12-24T22:26:05Z

That's something to be thankful about.

On the flip side, I have four days off. That's something to be thankful about too!

Happy thought - Scotch & Exploding Eggs

2009-12-22T23:19:19Z

Thankful that starting today the days ARE getting longer.

Happy thought, a rainy Wednesday shared with wonderful friends, scotch & exploding eggs. Oh yeah! Sad that we all don`t live closer together. Remedy, need to find another night to drink scotch. But I`m good if we pass on the exploding eggs.

Monday

2009-12-21T23:05:27Z

So I`m walking home and it`s dark and it`s cold. And then I think:

Warm house at the end of the road, supper, sweetie. Wow! Life is good!

Friday thankful

2009-12-18T23:14:43Z

I`m home. It`s Friday. It`s me and my sweetie time. Oh Yeah!

Sometimes the nicest thing about going to work is coming home!

Thankful

2009-12-17T23:24:09Z

I`ve just listened to angel voices sing and then shed tears for a friend`s grief. It`s been a year funerals where I`ve lost a very dear friend, a father-in-law and a mother. It`s been a year when too many friends found themselves in dark places due to health issues. Sometimes it`s hard to be thankful, or see the light behind the clouds.

Looking back on this very sad year I am thankful - that my life has been touched by so many wonderful people, however briefly. Life is a journey made bearable by those we share it with, crafting us, letting us become the people we are. To those friends who have gone I raise my glass to the memories we made. To those still here, I can hardly wait for the next steps we will take together.

Thank you

2009-12-16T04:08:19Z

To everyone who sent their thoughts and best wishes as I dealt with my mother`s passing, I say thank-you. Your kindness went far to help me deal with an awkward and confusing jumble of feelings.

Conflicted

2009-12-07T12:00:19Z

So my mom finally passed away. After many close calls over the last year. I had rushed out to BC in Sept 2008 because that was supposed to be it. But she recouped. Two weeks later I was called again that now it really was it. But it wasn't. I told my family out there that I couldn't keep flying out all the time. So they would always let me know when it looked bad and my mom always fought back. Roughly two weeks ago she went into hospice care and slipped into a state of semi-consciousness. But she still kept fighting. A few days ago she finally told my sister that she was tired and didn't want to fight anymore. On Saturday she slipped into unconsciousness and passed away.

Growing up my mother and I were best friends. Then two things happened. First, the AH came into our lives and he subsummed all of my mother's love and attention. Second, my first marriage began to disintegrate. I took the steps to free myself, something my mother, in her own personal marriage dilemma never had the courage to do. From that time our relationship changed. Over the years it crumbled more and more. Once I re-married and found happiness my mother began to be hyper critical every time I spoke to her. Phone calls frequently ended with me in tears, feeling inadequate, that I was a bad daughter, bad mother. I tried to patch things up many times but each time she pushed my emotional triggers harder and harder. When I flew down last year she would tell the visitors from her church how blessed she was in life with wonderful children and two amazing husbands. When they were gone she would bemoan the fact that her life was nothing by heartache and sorrow, that her children were a bitter disappointment to her, with us in the room. She came to Toronto earlier this year and I asked when she came to give me call so I could go and see her. She never did.

And so I'm trying to sort out my feelings now. I'm not looking for sympathy or anything like that. By writing things down I'm trying to understand the conflict of emotions. One minutes I'm glad the witch is dead. The next I'm crying because my mom has passed. So I'm flying out to BC today. I will not be going to her funeral because the AH she married will be there. And if I see him I will not be nice. But I'm hoping that by being with my sister and daughter I may find some peace in my heart.

THE NEXT FILM PROJECT

2009-11-03T00:22:15Z

So I'm putting together the production team for the next film project. If any of my LJ buddies (or lurkers) are interested drop me line.

You can check out what's happening on www.ratlingproductions.com

Come on, come on, come on. It'll be fun! Really!

Week-end Movie fun

2009-10-26T09:52:21Z

So, quite accidentally, I found out that there was something happening this past week-end called the Indie Lounge here in town. It was a series of seminars/workshops aimed at the Independent film producer. I went, had a blast and learned a whole lot of really cool stuff that will make for a better film next time around. Also was able to make some connections with professionals actually working in the industry. Cool, cool, cool!

Movie stuff update

2009-10-17T12:27:00Z

The premier went well. About 80 people attended. They seemed to like the film. Their comments were pretty much as I had hoped they would be. The web page has been updated. You can see it at: www.RatlingProductions.com

The first Ratling Newletter went out. I've got 19 people so far who are subscribed which is cool. We are showing a clip/extended trailer at a local film festival today. I was a little hesitant to enter the submission. But the organizer of the festival said my film was really good for a no budget first time production. On the good side, I will have access to a second camera and sound equipment on the next project. Which is great. The sound equipment will go a long way to fix the problem of the on camera mike. And the second camera will ensure that I don`t miss any of those reaction shots.

Movie premier two days away.

2009-10-03T04:42:48Z

So, the copies for the cast and crew are done. Nothing fancy, just the DVD although I did put the nice colored covers on the cases. Sale DVD's are almost ready. Posters are done. The display items are packed. The popcorn machine is on reserve. Web page is up and running at: www.RatlingProductions.com The guest list is filling in........ Tomorrow shop and prep the nibbly foods.

Kivetching about fencing

2009-09-21T20:59:27Z

I heard a lot from both sides on the week-end. Bottom line, as far as my two cents goes, is that fencing is not 14th Century. Period. Yes, I will concede the point made by someone that there were schools that taught sword play - but not fencing. Their Majesties are trying to do a 14th Century reign. So they are offering fencers a way to play. The other option was to banish fencing completely for the duration of their reign, which they are within their rights to do. Sometimes the lesser of two evils turns out to be the better option. I for one look forward to playing within the context that they have set. Better than not getting to play at all.

My web page is up

2009-09-18T11:22:46Z

You can check it out at www.ratlingproductions.com

The Movie is done!

2009-09-12T16:26:01Z

So the movie is done. The DVD cover is finished. The posters are ready to go to print. I'm in the process of booking a space for the premier showing. The web page will be up and running soon.

Ratling Productions is on the verge of officially launching!!!!!!!! Pass the word on.

I'm hoping to book space for the first or second Sunday in October. Anyone interested in coming let me know so I can send you a personal invite.

Looking for someone to help create a video logo

2009-06-27T21:32:52Z

Just putting it out there. I'm looking for someone to help do up an animated logo for my production company. Any suggestions? Names? Don't have too much money but we can work something out.

Shimea - the first official trailer has arrived.

2009-06-26T00:06:38Z

I've just finished and posted the first trailer for my film. You can check it out on You Tube. Do a search for RatlingProductions. You'll find Shimea Trailer. Would love to get feedback.

The passing of Fathers

2009-05-13T13:20:30Z

My father died on December 26, 2004. I wasn't there. He was in BC and I was here. He went into the hospital in the morning with a bad cold to get checked up and a few hours later he died peacefully. My father had Alzheimer's and no longer recognized anyone. I was, of course, berated by both my mother and aunt for not coming to see him before he passed away. However, I had spoken to him by phone several months earlier while he still retained some sense of touch with this reality. By the end of the conversation he was lost and no longer knew me. I spoke briefly to him just once afterwards but it was like speaking to a stranger. So I never went down to see him. My critics thought me a callous, unloving daughter. They couldn't understand that I didn't want my last memory of my father to be drowned in the confusion of his Alzheimer's. I did fly down for the funeral, though I missed his cremation. And I said my last good-byes to my father.

My father was an awesome man and a special person in my heart. He taught me how to play chess. We read the same books and spent hours discussing them. He made Robin Hood hats out of newspaper, taught me how to make whistles from willow twigs and built me a pair of stilts that I walked everywhere on for a whole summer. He half buried a car axle in the back yard so we could have our very own merry-go-round. He built my sister the ugliest bike ever by cannibalizing spare bike parts and it was her pride and joy for many years. He worked hard to provide for us a safe and happy home.

Siting vigil last night by my father-in-laws bedside brought back a great gulf of feelings I had thought I had dealt with. Brian Sr. was the opposite of everything my dad was. But he welcomed me into the family without reservation or question. In my being there last night, I finally found the closure I missed with my father's passing.

What Kind of Boots Are You?

2009-03-22T10:49:44Z

You Are Rain Boots

You are a very playful and fun loving person. Nothing can slow you down.
You are dreamy, and you can find the romance in anything. The littlest things make you smile.

You are outgoing and friendly. You always find yourself talking to strangers.
You are optimistic about the world. Even when it's raining out, the sun is shining in your heart.

What Kind of Boots Are You?

What's Your Celtic Animal?

2009-03-20T21:04:23Z

Your Animal is the Bee

You are a very social and cooperative person. You thrive in a crowd.
You are charismatic and engaging. You are good at organizing and leading a group.

You are a spontaneous, busy person. You love leading an active life.
You find that communication comes naturally to you. You are are able to express yourself without frustration.

What's Your Celtic Animal?

The Movie

2009-03-19T11:20:01Z

So my motherboard died. Bummer. The whole film was trapped on the computer.

Retrieved all the files. Burned everything to disc. Downloaded everything to the new computer (oh, and by the way, Vista sucks). Opened the first scene. There were a few bits missing. No problem. I could fix that. Discovered that the recovered raw footage - Vista won't show me the thumbnails. Gotta open every single file to find the footage I need. Next scene, missing about half. Next scene some of the sound was there. By scene seven, I only had one of the sound effects.

I opened scene 8 last night. Nothing. Zip. Nada. Back to square one with the film. There are 22 scenes in the film.

Bummer. A 100 plus hours of work down the crapper.

Conversely, now that I know how my program works I think the new edits are better. But what a pain. Hope to spend a great deal of time on the week-end re-editing.

On the good side all the CGI is done and I have all the music now.

SCA meme - I'm game!

2009-01-15T20:39:06Z

Taught a class at Pennsic (informally - never on the class schedule)
Ran a court
Fought or fenced at an event while drunk
Worked the "Puking Duke" shift a Chirurgeons Point at Pennsic
Been an Event Stewart/Autocrat
Been an officer
Had a name and/or device accepted by the SCA College of Arms
Had a name and/or device rejected by the SCA College of Arms
Worked in at least three different volunteer departments at Pennsic
Written a scroll text
Ran a bardic circle
Attend a foreign war (Pennsic - since it's in another Kingdom)
Traveled more than 10 hours each way for a one-day event
Had the privilege of begging a boon for a Peerage
Spent the night in a hotel room with more people than the bed space holds
Slept in more than 1 tent at a camping event
Fought/fought for in a Crown/Coronet Tourney
Been to an SCA event/function in every Kingdom except Drachenwald and Lochac
Lived in three Kingdoms
Been in the SCA more than half my life
Won a tournament in five different kingdoms
Been authorized in a fighting style not legal in your home kingdom at the time
Met your future spouse at an SCA event
Taught at a Collegium
Had a Marshalate Complaint as a Heavy Weapons fighter or fencer
Had anyone request permission to conflict with your authorized device
Have at least one story that involves a camping event, alcohol and a porta privy
Ever had both a suzerein and vassal at the same time
Ever been present at the formation of a Crown Principality...
Worked in at least three different volunteer departments at Great Western War
Ever been to an SCA event which was being covered by the press
Ever been quoted by the press regarding the SCA
Remember the Rattan shortages of a couple of decades ago
Ever participated in an experimental weapon program
Been to a "Known World" event
Been to another Kingdom's Crown/Coronation
Shouted another Kingdom's name at the end of a Royal Court
Ever made out with foreign Royalty at an event
Been the responsible officer during an "issue"
Woken up at an event next to someone and couldn't remember their name
Flown to an event
Written a Coronation or Peerage Ceremony
Received a Peerage from your future spouse before you were involved with him/her
Streaked a campsite at a War
Autocrated/Stewarded a kingdom event while pregnant
Had the same office twice
Watched one of your students accept their own peerage
Created a Kingdom Office or Deputy Office - kind of. I was the first person to hold the office; someone else created it
Written an article for your Kingdom Newsletter
Had your peerage vigil at the Runestone
Ridden in a golf cart at ~~Estrella~~ Pennsic
Own more than one pavilion/period tent at the same time, both usable

Alyce’s three:

Was Chronicler at the local, Baronial and Kingdom levels
Had the privileged of being a Landed Baroness
Got to carry the winning flag out of the woods battle one year

Movie update

2009-01-15T15:34:12Z

So here's what's happening.

I've finished the initial editing of the film. And I've started to put it all together with the music and effects. It's actually looking pretty good. The only thing slowing things down is waiting on the last of the SFX to be done. There is one scene near the end that I will need to re-shoot. Bummer. It's been shot twice already. There's good moments in both takes but I can't join them seamlessly. Of course, it's an exterior shot, and oh look, we have snow now. So I need to find one of those creepy unfinished basements in an old house or the like and turn it into an interior dungeony shot. No one said movie-making is easy.

That said, it's actually been a positive experience overall. I think I actually like the editing better than the directing, though. And as I continue to discover what my editing program can do I keep make each scene better. However, at some point I have to stop tweaking otherwise the film will never get done. But I guess that's part of the art in any medium.

So, I have the prologue, opening credits and first four scenes done (or forst 8 minutes). The prologue has changed from it's original format. It was going to be a comic book with some voice over. I got the voice-over work recorded without to much hassle. But, after some back and forth with an artist the conversations yielded no artwork. So I scrapped that whole concept, cool as it would have been. Instead I pulled good old Alice Sheffield from the shelf, dusted her off and had her do the Prologue/Epilogue as a storyteller. The results, I think, will work nicely.

My sister, of course, is really curious as to what I'm doing. Throughout the course of the filming she's asked about several scene and has registered some surprise about changes. She's the co-writer of the script so she's concerned I may have breached the integrity of our work. I think she'll be pleased with the results.

Here's the bottom line. I am aiming on getting the film finished by the end of January. Copying and making arrangements for the showing follow. Hopefully by the end of February I will be able to screen the film at a gala opening for cast, crew and family. Then off to the internet for marketing.

My expectations? I would like to make enough from sales to purchase a second camera and tripod, as well as expand my editing suite. I kinda drool over After Effects. So, somewhere between $3 and $5 thousand.

Then on to the next project: Rick Starr and the Queen of the Arachnid People. A black and white 1940's style space adventure. (I keep thinking musical but we'll see)

Florentine Masque

2008-11-23T14:08:15Z

This little event yesterday was sparsely attended. Not sure why. Maybe it was the threat of weather. But it was a great little event! Here are the highlights for me:

- Fencing for the simple pure pleasure and fun of it. It's good when winning sometimes is not the ultimate goal of a tournament.

- Food. Lots and lots of food. Yummy, scrumptious food.

- A chance to make people laugh. A lot.

- Warm companionship and convivial company.

- Did I mention food?!!!!

- Singing and getting others to sing too.

-Dancing. Vigorously.

- Oh, and food.

Muse

2008-11-14T22:19:24Z

Your muse is Calliope!

30% Calliope, 0% Thalia, 10% Urania, 10% Clio, 0% Erato, 20% Euterpe, 10% Melpomene, 10% Polyhymnia and 10% Terpsichore!

Calliope is the oldest and wisest of the muses. She is called "The One of Beautiful Speech." Calliope is the muse of epic or heroic poetry and may have been the very one that inspired Homer when he wrote the Illiad and the Odyessy.

Allow Calliope to inspire you.

Hard Core SCA? Somewhere in the middle

2008-07-09T21:22:11Z

Your result for The hardcore SCA Test ...

The Queen's Champion

You scored 53% hardcore SCA!

You are really involved in the SCA. You probably have some really cool garb. You put a lot of work into playing the game and making sure its fun for others too. For a lot of folks an event wouldn't be the same without you. You probably have a tendancy to over do it sometimes. You may need help knowing when to say "No" or when to stop sewing and go to bed.