I have just come back from directing the other Gamers film, which had funding but hadn't been filmed (but now is), and I am now here to finish this one, which has been filmed but doesn't have funding (but soon will). The movie industry is weird.
So, as you've heard, the movie is in the can. Well, mostly. So what's left?
Still To Do:
Pickup shots
Picture Lock
VFX
Color
Music
Sound Design
I'll explain each of these individually
Pickup Shots
In addition to getting the usual insert shots of minis moving around the game mat, and dice rolls. I need a few montage shots with Nimble. These are easy (and free) for me to shoot by myself, so we skipped them while were doing photography that required the whole crew.
Tax deductible business purchases
I also need to 3D-print some things for the game table. One of the ways we saved money on production is shifting some things from live action to gameplay. Again, this is something I can do on my own, but it means setting up the printer that I haven't used in a while.
Awaken, beast!
Picture Lock
This means finishing the edit so that it can no longer be touched, so it can move on to next steps, and we are almost there!
VFX
All the CGI, compositing, and other digital trickery that makes the movie look good. We had planned some practical effects that had to be shifted to VFX, and thus still need to be done after we lock.
Color
Color grading all of the above to make it look pretty. Typically I like to have one color look for the game table scenes, and a distinctly different one for the "in-game" scenes.
Sound
There are a few different components to post-production sound:
Dialogue editing balances all the spoken lines and makes them sound correct for the space. Indoors sounds different from outdoors. Shouted lines should sound loud without blowing out your eardrums.
Foley: replicating all the little incidental everyday sounds. A person shifting in a chair. The rustle of clothing. The creak of a door closing and the click of the latch. Footsteps. This is often overlooked, but it's what makes movies sound like movies.
Sound design: Unlike foley, sound design is creative and artificial choices that enhance the mood or vibe of a scene.
Mixing: blending and balancing all of the above, along with music. Speaking of which:
Music
Ever noticed how movies have music? This one will too.
If you have any questions about any of this, please ask in the comments, and I promise to answer if I can or say something silly if I can't.
As always, the key to a successful crowdfunding campaign is sharing it with friends and strangers. Inevitably, after the campaign is over, we hear the dreaded phrase "I had no idea this was happening! I wish I'd known!" It's a bad feeling for everyone, so let's prevent that by spreading the word!
