RAIN UPDATE (1-003)

We're starting to settle-in with a fantastic group of models for this large photo project. We've also acquired some new music to help the project launch with "Water" related themes.

First up, are the models who have taken a large leap of faith to step into this project. It's no secret that I thought about doing this project almost two years ago when I lived in New England; but I felt [that at the time] that I had not met the right set of actors or models who would approach the photo project with a stern ambition to see it through to the end.

But somehow, something happened when I moved to Houston last Fall & again I started to commence working on my skills as a photographer; I met with some of the best local models who had the highest desire to get the project started on the same level as me. It was then that I knew it was time to take a step on the right path & let the idea launch itself out into history.

So now here we are. On the verge of me working on something totally different I am very excited about seeing a project that I feel is a large part of my imaginative spirit let unfold before the camera. I cannot understate how much so many things in my life has changed since I have arrived to Texas. It seems that so much of my youth was wasted on lost hopes & dreams, that now, it's starting to look like I can produce anything I want to do...& even though are still whispers around me, reminding me of what I can or just can't do. I am doing them anyway...in my own format, on my own time.

Which of course, leads me back to the models of this new project. Jessica Sauer eagerly signed on as the lead for the RAIN Project, taking on the role as "AQUA; the Rain Goddess." Jessica is a tall, soft skinned, vibrant model who is also a part time actress. She's landed a role on Angelika5 & is now taking chunks of open roles within the studios planned sections of short & feature films.

Jessica is very focused about what she wants in life & I get the sense that its more than just wanting to look good in front of the camera. In a short time, she has proven to me that she has a strong passion for acting & getting anyone to believe that she is talented enough to spring out of modeling & putting her acting chops in front of the camera can be no surprise to anyone.

Her confidence is what gives her a strength & she is very smart, very competitive, very elegant, but most importantly for me, she is very real. Bringing her to the project as the lead may come off as a decision made a little to impulsively, but I know that I have made the right decision at the right time. This is about making the Rain Project the perfect tool, building the right foundation for other photo projects that come along; Jessica was in the right place, at the right time.

This past weekend, Jessica partook in Houston's 24 Hour Film Festival where a group of actors, cast members, & a studio had to produce a four-minute film in 24 hours after being given a standard format, a creative idea, & a tool as a required guide to fit into the movie. I was part of her team & she played a victim in the short film, who was also the second lead in the film. The plot to the film had dark humor in it, but Jessica's role & her performance was anything but dark.

She performed brilliantly, but I felt that by even having a large role as second fiddle was still not good enough for her. After we completed work on the film, I spent most of the day with her & she shared with me her one true goal as an actress; to play a lead in a REAL Hollywood type movie. I know that she has every right to set a standard that high, & with a spirit like hers, I know she will get there soon enough.

But, first-steps-first, there is a lot for her to still learn in a short time. In the realm of the Rain Project she has to be both actress & model to perform her duties. I intend on presenting a certain flair in this project that will give not only me a certain respect as a photographer, but a much broader respect for the art of modeling & acting in the local area. Rain is more than just about some models posing in the sun, or on the beach at sunset, Rain is about the power of telling an epic story with a strong story, great looking models & talented actresses, music; all in a cinema-graphic display...& we are bound to prove are worth with it.
The storm has a new name...

Q Storm News

WISHBONES SERIES?

Last February, I posted a detailed blog entry concerning a Paranormal Investigative short film entitled "Wishbones." It may have seemed to you like any more information from me about the short film project just faded away or the idea was canned. I can say this, the idea was put on hold, but now pre-production efforts & casting are bringing the short film project back into the realm of a possible new online series to run along side Angelika5; as a sister series.

You may recall that my original post had one Cynthia Nalin listed as the lead actress to the [then] intended short film. But in hindsight, the short film never launched as originally planned because of the initial power curve of developing Angelika5 into a full-based online series was taking up a lot of my free time. So, in short time, producing 'anything' for the Wishbones project lost ground & Cynthia eventually was forced to step away from the role.

However, recent events in auditioning new actors to the studio have brought in a very talented Megan McGowan to the head lights of pre-production efforts. With little deliberation, she was selected for the starring role of the project which is quickly starting to gain a talented set of actors in its cast. Last month, Megan delivered a heart-punching delivery in a scene for Angelika5's second season [episode 12]; & because of her performance, I found the magic ingredient I needed to bring Wishbones back from the dead. Megan is a talented actress with massive acting talent & production credentials sure to strengthen the planning efforts of a continuing online series.

What I also like most about Megan's addition to the new rebirth of the project, is that [on her own] she has put a great effort in preparing auditions for roles to assist her in launching it. She definitely has an eye for detail & is on the right path for learning the ropes of developing & eventually producing projects on her own someday. But for now, I have a feeling that she knows that she has a lot of work to do as an actress to bring the show & its initial pilot to life.

Wishbones has also acquired Omar Scanu & Jessica Sauer into its growing list of cast-members to help launch the pilot episode. Omar & Jessica are talented actors with plenty of acting [& modeling] experience in short & feature films. Both have good, short careers in acting, but have yet to play large parts in their films. In Wishbones, they will surely play leading characters with sound ambitions of growth, both as a senior Police Detective and as a rookie Police Detective with a grudge against Paranormal Investigations.

I expect to produce the pilot episode sometime in late August with a sense of, not only paranormal horror, but a dark tone of storytelling which is mostly unheard of in today's entertainment world outside of movie productions. I am sure that this type of production will bring a very high PG-13 or higher rating in its release, but I do plan on presenting the presentation in a tasteful way.

I always felt like I had to procure the best actors I could audition to bring this project to life, and I am feeling that with Megan's help, I have surpassed that goal. I hope that you will take the chance & stop by to see the initial pilot & judge for yourself whether the film is worthy of a full series. But in the end, I am sure you will not be disappointed once the pilot is posted on its own website.

Get ready for a nice little horror ride from Texas!

Q Storm News

OPINIONS - SPREADING CONCERN

Film production still trudges on, but finding sponsors for real movie making has been tough as previous film makers & their crude business sense has made finding supportive film producers & sponsors a real crusade to find.

A recent meeting with Houston based directors brought up an interesting question, "with all of the sponsorship money being passed around for short films; first, where are all of the final products? second, why have sponsors never received copies of the movies they sponsored to produce? and third, who is regulating the production of these short films & overseeing guidelines to ensure short films are actually legit & which ones are just turning out to be a total bust?"

Now, I am not not saying that all of the short films based in the Houston area are just "Bust" film project ideas or scams, but hey...I haven't seen any of them either, whether they're posted on the Internet, as DVD rentals, or as a simple movie premier. My opinion is "show me what you got, whether it sucks or not." However, many short film productions do have websites that talk a big game, with [of course] a bleak movie trailer that boasts some genre of action, suspense, drama, but mostly horror; in the form of b-rated zombie films. Now, why anyone would sponsor a low-budget zombie film & expect money back or a rise in patrons in return, is beyond me...then again, that is my opinion.

I'm not sure about you, but doesn't this sound like a real problem which is just now starting to spring up around here? Guess what, it's not. This problem has been a forgoing issue for many, many years. During the initial phases of putting together both an online series & a pending movie project, I felt heavy resistance in finding any support what-so-ever. So, I've refined to either producing projects on my own or working out FREE deals with the targeted sponsor & prove my worth over time. The latter has proven to be the best effective method, as I have now found myself trying to shake off sponsors; especially after the gaining respect for our proven successful online series ANGELIKA5.

Now, I am not sure if I am handling the procurement of sponsors the right way, but our current sponsors have been seeing that our studio has a dramatic self-running product out to the public right away, posted on the Internet in grand style. Seeing that the series has received widespread news coverage with local businesses shown in our films, our sponsors have seen a minor boost in patrons visiting their shops. But that is a movement into real success!

As I've said before many, many times; I am not saying that what we're doing on our productions is the right way, but at least we have a good product being presented in a professional atmosphere with a serious attempt at presenting a sporting production to a growing fan-base, not just locally, but around the world. The number of our fans are rising each passing week as the word about our productions spreads via viral networking; leading me to the conclusion that the numbers won't peak until sometime next year when the series ends with over 53 episodes.

I think that in the end it will all be about the numbers. Once the local producers warrant wanting to see solid numbers with previous successful projects, the problems laid out in the recent directors meetings will simply just fade away. For once, small film productions are going to have to walk-the walk, instead of just talk-the talk.

Nuff said.

GOING WELL

We'll, between new scripts & production on Angelika5, I have split the time between movies & family, & actually got out there to take pictures with decent, local models. Some of the work & lighting methods have been crude, but the end result on each shoot has been completely surprising.
I feel as though I am in a lull right now, it maybe due to the fact that I have yet to put down some real sleep. Not many people out there know that I only get a few hours sleep a day, which qualifies me as a "round-about" insomniac; which might explain why I have so many project ideas running through my brain on a daily basis.

With that, the "RAIN PROJECT" has been hot on my mind lately. I've put in a lot of over time in figuring out new methods of photography to break out of what I call, the "static" motif. Rain is going to have to edgy, filled with a lot of angles & sorrowful colors. Where at one time I thought the project would never get underway, now I am realizing that I have the ability to start on it's production at a moments notice; & it will be an interesting adventure to bring to life.

Just recently, I started working with (3) new female models to bring in fresh talent to Rain, in hopes that their marvelous entry will raise a few eyebrows to the project when it launches this Winter. There are a lot of surprises I plant to present in just the soundtracks alone. I am sure that everyone will get a good feel for the projects presentation once the initial songs being to play; it will then be plainly apparent that the project was worth the wait.
Well, I'm off know to another night shoot. I have been tinkering with water sprinklers, working on the best "rain effect" that will work with my camera. I am sure that tonight's jaunt into the unknown will be more fruitful than the day-rain shoot I had two days ago in the naturally heavy thunderstorm we had here in Houston.

Please wish me luck!

Q Storm News

PHOTOGRAPHY - Update -

There' no doubt that John [St. Germain] & I have found new photo art strength in the beauty of Shauna Palmer. We are working extensively with this super-beauty, honing her modeling techniques for what is sure to be an explosive summer for everyone this year.

Shauna is very blissful & beautiful, with silky-smooth tanned skin, a rare treat for today's photographers that fill their work with Photoshop adjustments. She has a great personality & holds the highest integrity, which makes her a very-rare commodity in this, the modeling business. Her recent works with the studio speak for themselves; she is very attractive, very smart, but also has a very down home attitude on the shoots. Shauna is a well-wrapped up package of excitement when you get to know her, & even recently, John witnessed the magic of her presence both in front & behind the camera.

This past weekend, we discovered a new location to shoot a solid spread. Of course, this location will be used in later sequences for the "Rain Project," but I am sure that once the project gets underway, we will have that "second set" of eyes on every shot to capture the right feeling. Those second set of eyes come from Shauna herself, as she was extensively involved in the shoot, selecting & directing several shots of her own; which were quickly & masterfully thought out.

Shauna is also living a models dream by being the lead model in a future project. She gets to put on the best clothes, makeup, & jewelry that the studio can provide; Chauffeured to each locale; & she is also aware that all of the attention is on her to get the best photos possible.

I talk to her during the shoots, getting to know a little bit more about her each time. This girl has so much Italian/Native American in her, it'll make your head spin. She is now passed the trusting phase with us & feels completely comfortable in all of the shoots she provides to the studio. I think what I like best about her is her chameleon-like ability to fit in every format we put her into. She adjusts well & also seems to change her personal appearance with just the simple arrangement of her hair, makeup, or clothing. Her work in front of the camera can just be breath-taking at times.

Along with her great beauty, Shauna brings no drama to shoots. She is very professional & is always eager to move from one location to the other. Even when the temperatures are something to fight against, she smiles a perfect smile, models the perfect look, & sells the best representation of the studio camera can pick up on.

Our recent shoot in an "Australian-like" location, presented Shauna in three marvelous dresses, which just lights up the captured images from the camera. Each dress was fitted to her body specs, & Shauna's work in front of the camera helped us capture the best looks from her.

With all of our photo-work gaining a large data-base on the Internet, John & I have decided to open another branch of our studios [as a collaboration] in a new studio called Fashion, Figure, Glamor Photography, or FFG Photography. This new studio will take a keen direction in taking some of the best local modeling talent, putting them in front of the camera, & putting them out to post on the Internet.

With so many planned shoots aligned her in the near future, we are hoping to devise a new website giving people a better chance at seeing larger collages of work & photo formats were are toying around with.

You can be rest assured, that a lot of Shauna's work will also be presented on the website in high numbers!

...The storm takes, as well as receives...

David Q.
Q Storm News

LIFELESS EYES

They follow you around the room & they never need to blink. Their glaze-filled eyes forever watching in the brightness of the day, but also within the deepest darkness of the night. Some dolls have out-lived man by almost two generations, but their eyes have lived longer than that.

Which brings up the question, why are generations of people so easily consumed with the need to own a doll?

In my own time & in my own thoughts, I have never really pondered that question; that is, not until we started production on Episode 8. On location at Garrett House Antiques in Montgomery, TX, the cast & crew were introduced to a Doll Hospital where Angie Garrett has spent many a day repairing dolls for collectors both locally & around the country. Her talents are well known & she travels a lot sharing her skills with, who I am sure, are countless of die hard doll collectors needing a little maintenance on their doll collections, keeping them in pristine condition.

Last November, when I set out scouting locations to match script ideas, stopping at the Garrett House must have been a call of destiny. After proposing to it's owner the idea of filming some episodes in the store, Angie seemed quite excited to share the Doll Hospital hidden in a room inside. She told me that when patrons first enter the hospital, most are taken aback by the "eeriness" of the doll parts & supplies spread throughout the room. After only a few moments of spending time, learning about her skills, I began to understand the importance of her trade amongst her clientele.

Episode 8 features the Doll Hospital with [Doll Doctor Stephanie "Steph" Dugan [Sharon Goodlett] who takes on the task of repairing Holly's twin red-headed dolls which were damaged prior to the move from Colorado. Sharon is an actual employee of the antique store, who was asked to play the role of "Steph" - and did so brilliantly in the episode. There was so much promise in her performance as Steph that I have asked her to return later in the series; with hopes that Angie will also eventually come to the show & play herself in a future episode.

The shows presentation is starting to sharpen, & better yet, the supporting roles & performances are giving each new episode a brilliant luster to admire over. We're on the right road folks & with strong supporting sponsors like Garrett House Antiques, the show can only get better!

...This storm will bring new breath of life to dry fields!

Q Storm News

TONES

After a long afternoon's work on the next episode of Angelika5 (A5), I came to a startling realization of sorts...either the series is getting too easy to produce, or the series is just too easy.

I am sure that the latter is completely wrong. I am feeling like the series is just a great avenue to bring in new talent & the series has this "open-arms" feel to welcome those new talents to help blossom the show to an entirely new level. By the meaning of being "easy to produce," the sole reason that the main cast is now comfortable in knowing their characters & are now able to deliver their performances with authority really expedites the processing of the production.

During the filming of episode 8, Maque [Garcia] & Brittany [Clark] were in a scene where their two characters share a little more information about their recent past. I remember when I was writing the scripts [back in November] & seeing the delivery in my mind; knowing that there is another small "clue" in the scene for later, I needed the actresses to pass that "clue" onto the camera in a very subtle way. The two actresses did the job perfectly & each time I watch the two in action during post-editing, being exposed to the magic really hits the mark with me.

I hope that the series is starting to show a balance between the characters. Where at one point the series may have looked like just another teen show, but with constant reminders of having only fifteen minutes to develop characters in each episode might have given strength to older viewers that better things were on the way. Of course, this is a Sci-Fi series so many of you might start seeing "that shift" that will bring the whole thing down together nicely in episode 8.

Older fans of the series really liked episode 7. Perhaps the focus on the parents was a strong need to have a better feel of the relationship between Art & Holly. Understand that the entire basis of the show is about "family" & the strength needed to get them through any adversity. Just about everyone knows that Angelika is no ordinary teen, there's something missing in her daily jaunts in life...or is there really anything missing at all? I guess that the more the series lives, the more you will learn about it.

One thing the cast & crew learned this weekend, it's darn HOT in Montgomery this Summer. Bringing in the supporting cast & some new talent for a difficult shoot near a concrete damn was nothing to brag about. The performances were crisp, the delivery done nicely, but we all were glad to wrap for the day at the peak of noon. The A/C in the Caravan was set on high as we hit the road back to the studio. We were so exhausted, that a planned photo shoot was cancelled until next weekend. Definitely not an easy part of the production!

On a final note, some of you may have noted a shift in the "Behind The Scenes" (BTS) Blog. After recent insight by some concerned family & friends, all of the Q Storm studio projects outside of the A5 series were moved to a separate blog on the home page, so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings about the production efforts on the series. Even though the studio is working on many projects outside of A5, we thought it best to keep things separated to prevent any confusion to the longevity of the series.

For reassurance to our fans, A5 has a long way to go & we are now just hitting mid-stream. With some of the summer vacations already taken, we should be back on a good schedule throughout summer in posting episodes every two weeks. The series is now going to get into some fantastic stories & a lot more secrets to the show are going to be revealed in just a few more episodes. So sit back & get ready for a roller coaster ride!

...The storm is on the edge now...

Q Storm News