Multimedia Installation (Series)
My Big Bad Wolf
This 36-minute, 16mm film and HDV psychodrama features original script and score. Produced with a successful crowdfunding campaign, additional marketing led to press, a premiere event, and distribution.
Project
Overview
Owner
The Girl Mirage
A Geena Media brand, The Girl Mirage is Geena Matuson's pseudonym as multimedia artist using surreal to explore the ephemeral and shine a light on societal perceptions. An avid experimental filmmaker, her work uses a variety of visual and aural components to engage the viewer while subliminally communicating an underlying message. Filmmaking techniques include multi-channel and looping video installations, Kuleshov Effect, and one-shot filmmaking, with mixed media including 16mm film, video, traditional and digital painting, photography, audio and sound design.
Challenge
Produce Film on Limited Budget
My Big Bad Wolf was designed to be an experimental 16mm and HDV film employing a range of media and techniques while utilizing numerous props, special effects, cast and crew—and shot on location. Additionally, the script was written over the course of a year with a projected 36-minute runtime, the film would require funding, time and support to move this story from script to screen.
Solution
Fund, Produce and Distribute Film
In addition to funding this film, the overall project included the production with many practical and special effects, its post-production and distribution, and its premiere event. To bring this film to life, a crowdfunding campaign was designed as both a marketing initiative, and as a means to finance the film.
Results
Successful Funding Campaign and International Reach
The project reached and exceeded its $5,000 crowdfunding campaign goal in 1 month, also landing 7 press listings and features across print and digital including an international feature with FilmFreeway, the film festival marketplace. The final film was shot in 8 days spread over 2 weeks, and immediately entered several months of post-production. The final 36-minute film My Big Bad Wolf was screened at 5 festivals and, after its premiere event, was distributed online with streaming platform IndieFlix.
My Big Bad Wolf
Specifications
Film Funding, Production & Distribution
Scriptwriting & Pre-Production
Wrote original script; created all shot lists for both shooting and editing; created full-length animatic timed per shot; scheduled cast and crew; created call sheets; coordinated location use with property managers, equipment needs, and production team; worked with props team to develop custom devices for filming and on-screen effects.
Producing & Funding
Research, strategy, development and management for film product, marketing, distribution and premiere; successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign exceeded $5,000 goal in 1 month; funding allocation.
Cast talent and crew including fire spinner and musicians; location scouting, rentals and partnerships; permissions and contracts; sourcing equipment, and product vendors.
Branding & Marketing
Created all content, designs and materials for marketing across print, web and social media: fundraising campaign, film premiere, website.
Managed correspondence with crowdfund supporters, press and PR, leading to 7 press features across print and digital.
Directing & Cinematography
Directed cast and crew on set and on location within schedule and on-budget.
Cinematography using Bolex 16mm film camera with custom lens, and HD video camera.
Created practical effects for water locations; worked with professional fire spinner to create fire content for specific scenes.
Post-Production & Sound Design
16mm film development and transfers to digital video; file management; video editing in Adobe Premiere; color grading; creation of additional behind the scenes video content.
Sound design and mixing included original foley audio and sound effects; worked with musicians for original film score.
Premiere & Distribution
Designed all film branding and marketing collateral, DVDs, giclée art prints; worked with vendors to author DVDs; managed and distributed backer rewards.
Premiere event marketing, production, management of physical venue.
Film screened at 5 festivals, generating IMDb film page. Distribution with online screening platform IndieFlix.
Film
Synopsis
My Big Bad Wolf
My Big Bad Wolf is a 36-minute, 16mm film and HDV psychodrama based on some familiar fairytales. A couple is living in the woods, a nondescript place out of time. The couple’s relationship is deteriorating, as they have confused love with possession. The two bate each other, constantly playing mind games. But are these mind tricks really… games? The girl starts seeing herself—a “double” of herself—and wonders if it’s just a dream, or if her reflection has escaped into reality. Her own mind deteriorates and she is finally confronted—with herself.
Production
Credits
Cast
Chelsea Ross Miller
Vasilios Asimakos
Crew
Producer, Writer & Director: Geena Matuson
Cinematographer: Geena Matuson
Production Assistance: Keith Zorn, Tara Neves
Book & Sound Recordist: Rick Desilets, Geena Matuson
Grip, Electric & Props: Seth Wereska
Fire Spinner: Jeremy Day
Post-Production & Sound Design: Geena Matuson
Soundtrack: Moth Vegas
Film
Accolades
Select Features
Finow Int’l Film & Script Festival, Studentenclub Eberswalde e.V., Germany
Promotional Feature, FilmFreeway.com
Red Wasp Film Festival, One To Watch Award, StageCenter Theatre, Bryan TX, US
Germany After Dark Horror Festival, Germany
My Big Bad Wolf Film Premiere, prod. Geena Matuson, Pozen Center, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston MA, US
Funding for student’s ‘Big Bad Wolf’ film is down to a thriller countdown, Article Feature, Cambridge Day, cambridgeday.com
Better Photography Magazine, Cover, Photo of the Year, Bronze Medal
Portfolio
Visual Samples
Producing & Pre-Production
Original script with animatic and shot lists were created prior to scheduling. Casting was held, locations scouted, equipment secured, and call sheets were completed for filming.
Props & Effects
Worked with team to develop custom devices for filming practical effects outdoors and with no electricity for entirety of shoot.
Water Effects
Captured and created practical effects for filming in water, such as visible water reflections.
Details
Props & Rigs
The film was entirely shot outdoors in nature at AMC Ponkapoag Camp, a Blue Hills Reservation site with cabin, woods, and a lake. With no electricity, all light sources were either natural light, or battery-operated lights used exclusively after sunset. The crew were able to “rig” nature to work for the film; a lighting rig, along with numerous camera dolly rigs, were constructed between trees and on dirt paths to enable filming in the woods. (This did not include the professional fire spinner hired to create controlled fire shots for a specific scene, which was filmed in a sand pit in another location.)
In addition to lighting and camera rigs at the campsite, rigged props (or “practical effects”) were used on the set. One such prop was a knife that needed to appear as though it had been plunged into the actor’s abdomen…
Crowdfunding & Marketing
A successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign reached and exceeded its $5,000 goal in 1 month, and funding allocation followed. Marketing and PR for campaign led to 7 press listings and features.
Branding & Products
Designed all film branding, giclée art print products and DVDs.
16mm Film
Film footage was shot both in HDV and on 16mm film using a Bolex film camera. A custom kaleidoscope lens was used to create a sense of haunting and psychosis. These film frames, plus still photography from the shoot, were printed as archival giclée art prints.
Details
Cameras & Lenses
Both an HD video camera and Bolex film camera were used to capture footage. The 16mm film footage is used primarily as a means to convey moments of psychosis where the main character—and likely the audience—question what is “real.” Additionally, a custom kaleidoscope lens was mounted to the Bolex, adding to the “psychological unrest” and simultaneously creating a haunting visual aesthetic.
Pro-Mist filters were used on the video camera to create a balance with its filmic counterpart, giving the footage a “dreamy” glow. This “glow” also aided in nighttime filming, as it diffused light from the few battery-operated light sources rigged on tracks throughout the dark woods.
Events & Distribution
Managed premiere production and marketing, plus hired staff and performers. Post-premiere, film was screened at 5 festivals, provided an IMDb page, and made available to stream on IndieFlix.
Event
Film Premiere
The film premiere for My Big Bad Wolf was held in Pozen Center at Massachusetts College of Art & Design in Boston. On display in the space were art prints from the film, plus various photography by Matuson. A merchandise table held DVDs, art prints, soundtrack CDs and crowdfund rewards.
The event featured an introduction by Matuson, with a spoken word performance by Lewis Morris. This was followed by a musical performance by band Moth Vegas, the duo that created the original score for the film; the band performed with visuals from Matuson’s “Liar Liar” series.
The final film screened, culminating in a successful event.
Behind The Scenes
Interview with Lead Actress Chelsea Ross Miller
Overview: An interview with Chelsea Ross Miller, lead actress in My Big Bad Wolf, also starring Vasilios Asimakos. The interview features Miller’s point of view along with various production clips.
Featuring: Chelsea Ross Miller
Post-Production: Geena Matuson
Off-Shoot Video
Color Grading Demo Reel
Overview: A look at post-production work from the film My Big Bad Wolf, this color grading demonstration shows select, ungraded and graded clips side-by-side. See how simple changes in color can influence the mood of a film.
Post-Production: Geena Matuson
Music: Moth Vegas
My Big Bad Wolf
Project
Brands
The Girl Mirage
A Geena Media brand, The Girl Mirage is Geena Matuson as multidisciplinary artist using the surreal to explore the ephemeral and shine a light on societal perceptions.
Geena Media Studios
A Geena Media division, Geena Media Studios produces and manages all film, video and audio productions including scripting, pre-production through to post-production, publishing and distribution.
The Content Consultant
A Geena Media brand, The Content Consultant is Geena Matuson as strategic management, marketing and creative consultant for your content, your brand—you.
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