Colin makes a home movie
on June 5th, 2010, by Colin LevyHello folks!
Okay, there’s been a lot going on the past few weeks. Sorry it’s taken so long to get a blogpost up! Things are really heating up here and I’m happy to report that we’re all beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! There’s a LOT of work left but it seems *almost* doable!
So although we do have some stuff to show ya, I thought I’d let you know what I’ve been up to recently– I just got back from the States! Just had a short, sorely needed trip to Savannah, Georgia and back. I was nervous the project would totally collapse without me (who am I kidding?)– but seriously, it was nice to not have to scream at Blender for a short while! 
Ton asked me to give everyone a full report, so I hastily put together a home-movie-style video of the trip. (Should be entertaining enough, though I beg you not to screencapture my face onto anything else. I feel like I’m handing you some serious ammunition.)
Anyway, to preface real quick: Over a year ago when I got the first email about Durian from Ton, I was in full production on “En Route”, and as it worked out, I was able to finish principle photography by the time I left for Amsterdam. Since I had a committed visual effects team and sound design team in place, I was able to oversee post-production in my ‘free time’ (haha) during Durian.
You can check out the site here, and below is the trailer. Yes, we used Blender for some of the VFX!
“En Route” Trailer from Colin Levy on Vimeo.
We’ll be back soon with some Sintel renders that will blow your brains to pieces. Just have to make them first.
–Colin
BTW, can this count as a Directorial Address? I’m a bit behind…
June 5th, 2010 at 1:33 am
Uuuu… that trailer sure looks interesting! But apparently ends baaaaad… cheers on the recognition!
On the other hand, you surly are grate to build expectation!!! Please tell me you have taped the “reactions” and will make a post!!! Hahaha…
June 5th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Nice. Hope you had a great trip!
June 5th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Rock on Colin!
June 5th, 2010 at 2:04 am
Nice Colin, really nice, would love to see ‘En Route’ soon on the net.
Of course, if ‘En Route’ won awards, us blenderheads are gonna expect even more than from ‘Sintel’!!!! I don’t want to pressure you, but, do you feel the pressure??
Randy
June 5th, 2010 at 2:09 am
Congrats on the awards, Colin. En Route looks good from the trailer. I’m guessing it’s a short? Will you have it on-line when it’s done?
Keep up the great work on Sintel. I’m glad it’s getting great feedback.
-Mitch
June 5th, 2010 at 2:19 am
That video made me twenty times more excited to see Sintel.
June 5th, 2010 at 3:06 am
NOT AT ALL! this IS NOT a DIRECTORIAL ADDRESS.
By the way Great short, very proffesional looking!
Waiting for our DIRECTORIAL ADDRESS!!!
June 5th, 2010 at 3:51 am
So much communicative joy and enthusiasm ! Thanks Colin, now I really can’t wait to see more…
+1 Revolt_Randy about “En route”
June 5th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Judging by the (movie) poster alone, great work. I’m assuming that you used, given the non-commercial nature of the project, off-the-shelf digital video equipment to record the live action sequences. So what software or processing technique did you use to make it look like film (shot using a traditional movie camera)?
June 5th, 2010 at 4:19 am
Oops. Just read the movie’s About page. Appears you were using some high-end camera for the live shots. Still great work. Just don’t call it a home movie!
June 5th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Congratulations for En Route, Colin!
And congratulations in advance for Sintel!
June 5th, 2010 at 4:44 am
Well Colin, you asked for:
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=188760
June 5th, 2010 at 4:52 am
(reposted from your own blog)
Hey, Colin, that was fantastic! Congratulations on the awards you raked! You truly deserve it. Nice facial expressions, btw. And great melody from your friend too. Good luck on finishing Sintel. I’m pretty sure that’s gonna blow everyone’s minds away! ^_^
-Reyn
June 5th, 2010 at 4:53 am
rpgsimmaster: hahahaha! That was epic! Sorry but I can’t help to post the link on my blog. ^_^
-reyn
June 5th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Wow, congrats on the awards for En Route! You and your team totally deserve them!
Best of luck to you guys on finishing Sintel, you are all incredibles
June 5th, 2010 at 6:38 am
Colin you are going to be a great movimaker, i hope to work with you some day.
June 5th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Maybe En Route could be on the Sintel dvd?
June 5th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Congrats on the success of En Route, Colin!
June 5th, 2010 at 11:28 am
looks promising!
I wonder if we will be able to preorder a blu-ray version with all project files etc included? I really want to preorder so I can support you guys but I only want the blu-ray version. I know the dvd box includes full HD versions but I do not have a blu-ray writer =\
June 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
that was an amazing trailer.
And sounds great ’bout Durian. Can’t wait!
June 5th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Thank you for this…it is awesome, i love it! so postive and “easy”, it lighted up my mind.
congrats! You really, really deserve the award. Hope to see your film (en route) soon.
but to see others watching Sintel made me really impatient!
June 5th, 2010 at 11:53 am
oooooo my god!!
June 5th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Sorry Colin. :3
http://anicator.com/gallery/3.2d.png
June 5th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
“Why am I doing this?” – Ron Stuart
http://anicator.com/gallery/Big.Buck.Bunny.-.Frank.png
June 5th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Come on man! You know you are epic! You shouldn’t have been so down XD
June 5th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Whaahaha, priceless!
Congrats with the awards, can’t wait to see En Route online!
June 5th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Thank you Colin
i’ts so fresh to see those moments too! It’s always good to have a break from hard, really hard work, to recharge “your” battery then come back to work more relaxed and openminded 
Great trailer En Route, you know, very great but now.. arghhh you make us all impatience for Sintel one!
I’d like to see responses and reactions from people watched the wip Sintel premiere!!!
June 5th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Hey Colin, congratulations on En Route being a huge success!! After looking at the trailer I am not surprised though (Even though I didn’t see any of the other films.) I have to say the cinematography and VFX’s were top notch. Congratulations to you and the entire team. You guys earned it.
As for the directorial address, I guess we can let it slide seeing as how Sintel is turning out to be so epic!!
June 5th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
in this photo http://anicator.com/gallery/3.2d.png Colin is trying to speak dragonian (dragon’s language)
June 5th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
I love the trailer for the short film. It’s nice that Blender is used for some of the FX. Maybe the world should get Blender it’s rightful place in the world as an FX tool.
Anyways, I can’t wait for the real thing though. I hope you guys can have a release date?
I’m not sure why is Colin so popular that he became an icon in the image macro world. It is sure funny to see those photos lawl
June 5th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Thsi one of the best updates so far.
June 5th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
This is*
June 5th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Hahahaha… Amsterdamian plug!
June 6th, 2010 at 7:47 am
I think I remember that there was a release date for sintel for sometime this month … any word from anyone if that is going to happen?
June 6th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Colin speaking dragoniam is awesome
June 6th, 2010 at 10:28 am
WoW, the sound effect on the trailer are awsome, made my hair stand on end. I kind of get the story from that trailer and it sure does deserve five 5 awards.
As for the documentary, colin: have you seen the newst post on blender artists in the Speed Modelling contest(check them out). the documentary was good, could of been longer though.
June 6th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
release date. July 15. the week before siggraph
June 6th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
@wo262: where did you get that date?
June 6th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
@jayden “- Trailer will be published most likely this thursday. Delays were mainly because of incontrollable hair systems… we’re doing final renders for many scenes, and all of these should be good!
– Film release date has been shifted into july now, around the 15th. Siggraph is a week later, so I will check on having a real Hollywood premiere as well
Thanks,
-Ton-”
here it is http://www.blendernation.com/blender-developer-meeting-minutes-may-9-2010/
June 6th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Wow, congratulations Colin! 5 awards out of 6 nominations, that’s really cool
however, I think you had to expect at least one person to make another picture out of those weird faces, lol
ooh, we got to see a bit of Sintel! oooooh, can’t wait to see it…and it’s coming out soon!!!!!!! YAAAAY!!!!
…ok, i’m a bit enthusiastic, lol
Durian is so awesome…i love these videos
(sorry for the number of smilies, it’s just that without them, I feel I’m not conveying the sentences properly, lol)
June 6th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Congratulations on the awards Colin, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are but a few, in a very long list of those to come in the years ahead! Sintel is going to be outstanding, your story telling skills are truly amazing and you are blessed with this amazing team of artists and developers to work with. It would seem that the all powerful Ton has created the dream team for this wonderful project! Well done once again and just keep going!
June 6th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
FINALLY an update!
And a great one too
Really great trailer and nice video
It’s easy to tell who are your relatives – they indeed have very similar faces
exciting stuff!
June 6th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Congrats Colin, looking forward to everything.
June 6th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
added colin to facebook
June 7th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Colin, you´re killing me… i neeeed to see Sintel, AND i NEED to see “En Route”. Urgently. I mean.. really. Soon. Now.
Keep up the good work, Durian crew, finish this epic Monster, and ease our pain by releasing it.
Honestly, with none of the previous Blender Movies i felt this pleasant anticipation… all thats left is this “WHEN?” feeling.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Congrats on the award Colin… It’s a must see!!
June 7th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
So, will it another week before the next “update” on the movie?
June 7th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Wauw, yes.
Sometimes putting your nose through the screen can give you a too closed up view of what your doing. Having some fresh air to breath and realizing there is a world outside that office must be good.
And, its a real directors life I guess, simultaneous juggling multiple productions. Good to see your smile, I hope you’re enjoying it all as much as you can.
June 7th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
># wo262 Says:
>June 5th, 2010 at 18:08
>
>in this photo http://anicator.com/gallery/3.2d.png Colin is trying to speak >dragonian (dragon’s language)
ROFL!!!
June 7th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Colin,is Hollywood! Soon to replace Steven Spielberg and Tim Burton.
I always knew he got talent-hope he stay on track to fulfill his goals.
who know we might cross path some day?
June 7th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Can you give me an mp3 of that song!?!?! the one your brother plays
it was good
June 7th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
@RNS:
Hopefully Sintel and En Route ”open the gate” for him.
He has a lot of talent which should be deployed in a feature with a (more than) decent budget.
But first: Sintel and En Route!
@Colin Levy: Isn’t it an great idea to show En Route at the premiere of Sintel?
The public will be extremely satisfied!
June 7th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
When you’re a big time director, make us the ultimate movie:
No smooching, etc.
No language
As much action and violence as you can fit in
June 8th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Why?
For that just watch Rambo 4!
June 8th, 2010 at 1:14 am
wow…
that looks very professional !
the aircraft are made with blender ?
June 8th, 2010 at 2:42 am
colin says:BTW, can this count as a Directorial Address? I’m a bit behind…
No!
Man that was a great trailer, just the tease with Sintel on your brothers ipod was cruel.
Have fun guys your on your last stretch now, so even though your a bit behind I am sure we don’t mind whatever you can throw our way to just make us go even more crazy
June 8th, 2010 at 4:13 am
It was Colin’s iPod, wasn’t it?
June 8th, 2010 at 5:16 am
I do believe you are correct my dear fellow. I stand corrected.
June 8th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the great comments! Haha, really appreciate your enthusiasm. I came in yesterday, finally over my jetlag, to find that the team had printed out a half-dozen sheets of those photoshops of me and hung them all around the studio. Horrible!
Anyway, you never fail to crack us up. Thanks for the replies… Ton should be posting another update soon!
–Colin
June 8th, 2010 at 10:14 am
seems like the response here is different because we know you do awesome work, so we hope that the movie gets more awesome than it allready is and thats verry hard to get there xD (excited to watch the result!)
June 8th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Will we get to see “En Route”?
Thanks for sharing your time away.
June 12th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I want to see a picture of those Photoshops. That sounds epic.
June 15th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Late contribution:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d136/frostythestick/ColinVsChuck.jpg
June 18th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Hi Guys,
You doing a wonderful and creatively spreading the power in free and open source! its rocooooooooooks…
June 30th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Congratz Colin! Looks like a really fun trip.