Marty Thornley » Film

Images from the 'Straight Talk' set

marty — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:31:54 +0000

I recently worked with Horizon Intertainment as 1st AD (First Assistant Director) on the another installment in the ‘Straight Talk’ series of educational videos. The first episode was shot last August and covered the topic of STD education and prevention. The latest one is about Teen Pregnancy. These are difficult subjects to cover, requiring that a great deal of factual information comes across without being seen as a joke by a teenage audience and without losing their interest by being too dry.

Director Jared Bentley and the producers at Horizon Intertainment, JC Pohl and Erahm Christopher, have developed a take on the traditional educational video that worked really well the first time around and going by what I saw on the set, I expect the second to be even better. They have a knack for finding and casting talented young actors and combine that with an experienced crew that has worked together for years. Using a mix of reality and documentary styles the result is an engaging and dramatic take on the educational video.

Working a 1st AD on a film set can be one of the most grueling and demanding jobs in the film industry. Responsible for every logistical aspect of the shoot, the 1st AD is the one running the set and keeping the entire crew (even the director) on schedule. The 1st AD is the first to arrive and the last to leave every day, makes sure everyone knows where they need to be the following day and is the one person who keeps track of every minute of the shooting day. It sounds rough, right? And it can with an inexperienced crew. But this crew has been working together for years and the second shoot was even smoother than the first.

Here are some images from the set:

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Post tags: 1st ad, production, straight talk

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HRM Shoot – Pics from The Set

marty — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:17:00 +0000

Here are some pics from behind the scenes at PSSI Studios, where we had the final day of shooting for the HRM shoot that I worked on as Assistant Director.

The set before any lights. I’m the one hidden behind a light. The other guy was our sound guy, Eric Storlie.

Here is Director Jared Bentley behind the camera. He shot the project as well. That’s me in the background.

Actor Mckinley Beltcher is getting a final touch-up from Helen Kalognomous.

Jared Bentley and Camera Op Scott Cronan. Eric Storlie is adjusting the mic on Actor Mckinley Beltcher.

Down time. Here I am again, taking a minute for coffee. Seated is Script Supervisor Rebecca Eguia, in the background is Camera Operator Scott Cronan, and all the way back is Actor Ben Jones.

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Post tags: 1st ad, clients, production, straight talk

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HRM Shoot is Wrapped

marty — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:58:00 +0000

The HRM shoot is done. The three days went off without a hitch. Working as a 1st AD can be an extremely taxing job with long hours and a lot of work just keeping everything in place and on time. But it is easy when you get to work with a talented and experienced crew that has worked together for years. Every day was ahead of schedule and we even found time to shoot a couple additional exteriors to help expand the look and feel of the project.

Horizon Intertainment is producing the project with director Jared Bentley for HRM , a distributor of educational videos.

I’ll add some pictures from the set when I can.

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Post tags: 1st ad, clients, production, straight talk

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1st Day of HRM Shoot

marty — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:46:00 +0000

Today was the first day as Assistant Director for Horizon Intertainment who is producing a project for HRM , a distributor of educational videos.

The day went great, finishing ahead of schedule with what looked like some great footage and performances from a talented young cast, lead by director Jared Bentley.

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Post tags: 1st ad, clients, production, straight talk

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Screenplays

marty — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Until I get some posts up for each of my film projects, here is a quick list of loglines for my screenplays:

Teeth (Horror): A young woman moves to Los Angeles only to discover her new aparment building is inhabited by a cult that worships and releases a creature from deep beneath the Earth.

Painless (Horror): A group of patients are lured to a remote medical facility with a promise to end their chronic pain but the doctor’s experimental surgery has unforeseen side effects that lead to a violent confrontation.

Out of the Woods (Serial Killer/ Thriller): A Police Chief faces a serial killer in a small New England town.

Blue & Orange (Dark Comedy / Plot-twister): The founders an internet company just might get rich if they can stop lying, cheating and killing each other over the venture money.

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Painless

marty — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:46:00 +0000

My feature screenplay ‘Painless’ has been optioned and is in development as we speak. It’s not worth saying much more until we get the green light, but it is looking good.

More to come soon…

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The Getaway – Episode 4

marty — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:04:00 +0000

Episode 4 of The Getaway, brings an uneasy conclusion to The Getaway. Many questions are answered but there is still more to be told… Some day.

The goal of The Getaway was to create short-form serial suspense, a throwback to the 30′s and 40′s when serials ran in front of movies in the theaters.

Cast: Michael J. Silver, Derek Craigie, Aimee Burnett.

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Post tags: director, Short Films, the getaway, videographer, webisodics, Writer

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The Getaway – Episode 3

marty — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:52:00 +0000

Episode 3 of The Getaway, starts a few moments after Episode 2 ended, with some questions that need answering and some new mysteries that unfold. But the ending of this one will change everything we thought we knew.

The goal ofThe Getaway was to create short-form serial suspense, a throwback to the 30′s and 40′s when serials ran in front of movies in the theaters.

Cast: Michael J. Silver, Derek Craigie, Aimee Burnett.

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Post tags: director, Short Films, the getaway, videographer, webisodics, Writer

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The Getaway – Episode 2

marty — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:47:00 +0000

Here is Episode 2 of The Getaway, introducing some new characters, bringing back some old characters, and ending with some new twists and turns.

The goal ofThe Getaway was to create short-form serial suspense, a throwback to the 30′s and 40′s when serials ran in front of movies in the theaters.

Cast: Michael J. Silver, Derek Craigie , Bru.

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Post tags: director, Short Films, the getaway, videographer, webisodics, Writer

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The Getaway – Episode 1

marty — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:39:00 +0000

Some time passed after shooting a short called ‘The Getaway’. I had always liked the energy behind the improvised, on-the-fly shoot and wanted to continue the story with a series of cliffhangers.

Here is Episode 1 of The Getaway, which re-started the story as a webisodic. The goal ofThe Getaway was to create short-form serial suspense, a throwback to the 30′s and 40′s when serials ran in front of movies in the theaters.

Cast: Michael J. Silver, Aimee Burnett.

© marty for Marty Thornley, 2007. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: director, Short Films, the getaway, videographer, webisodics, Writer

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