November 2, 2005
IUSB Preface
Dork of the Rings Movie: Polishing it up
By Zorina Exie Jerome, Staff Writer
It was like being a Dweeb. Sitting in the basement and fellowshipping with the “The Dork of the Rings” production team proved that they may be tiny in numbers, but huge in the way of talent. Consider the credits at the end of Lord of the Rings, all three episodes. It can be said the rolling credits is another film in itself. “The Dork of the Rings” production team, being the Alice in Wonderland’s mirror of Lord of the Rings, consists of Bryce Cone, Post-Audio Supervisor, Ian Strandberg, Art Coordinator, James Pickens, Visual Effects Producer, Shirley Natoli, Costume Designer, Tara Eacy, Marketing and Sales, Kevin McInerney, Producer/Actor, Michael Kouroubetes, Writer/Producer/Actor and of course, Tim Richardson, Executive Producer/Director/Actor.
“The Dork of the Rings” team is currently undergoing the post-production process. Post-production defines the last phase of making a movie. It is the process of arranging the footage of the film into a complete motion picture. Post-production is basically the patch-working of scenes shot throughout a movie. Several different procedures define post-production: Editing the picture, adding special effects, arranging soundtrack music, sound effects and color manipulation.
A major part of post-production is editing the picture. This local production was shot in the Michiana region. Therefore, hills and mountains were added to the picture to create a grander journey for the Throbbits. For “The Dork of the Rings,” most of the film was shot in front of a green screen. A green screen is just what it is. A green screen. The purpose of a green screen is to give the visual effects producer, Pickens and art designer, Strandberg, the freedom to create the fantasy world of Lardor around the characters, inserting flying arrows for the Elvises, and fighting sci-fi creatures with the weapon of fire walls.
Adding sound effects is also an important process. Good sound not only invites the viewer into the world of Muddle-Earth, but it also helps create the illusion that the audience is partaking in the adventure with Frudo Buggins. Strandberg spoke highly of the foley process. The foley process is used in every movie production. Post-Audio Supervisor Cone takes the responsibility of re-creating the sounds of footsteps and other sound effects, recording and editing them to match the motion picture, giving the film a quality sound.
In addition to good sound effects, the team is working on the music. As with almost every film, the right kind of music is needed to support the tone of certain scenes. The team was able to get an artist from Denver, CO to write and record music for the movie. According to Richardson, the artist “is a huge fan of Lord of the Rings,” which made the arrangement even better.
Manipulating color in a film, gives the team the authority to make daytime into nighttime or vice-versa.
Richardson and his team are working hard in this huge post-production process. Some of them are working full-time jobs. Some are working for free. Few are earning a salary from this. Yet, this talented group of people invests more than 40 hours a week on this project. According to Richardson and his crew, it is paying off.
“We’re getting more recognition,” he said.
“The Dork of the Rings” is scheduled to release in June of 2006. For updates or contact information, log on to www.dorkoftherings.com.
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