My First Film Challenge of 2010

Another film challenge has begun. The theme for this one is “A day in the life.”

The biggest trouble I have with these challenges is once an idea pops into my head it’s pretty much impossible for my brain to think of any other ideas.
That’s great if the initial idea is an awesome one. But if it’s something that’s complex or that I’m not going to be able to pull off for whatever reason then it really stifles my creativity.

So the idea I have for this challenge may be a little tough. I explained it to my wife and she sat there with this expression which I know means she’s not getting it. She understood the idea but she can’t see in her mind how all of that is going to come together into something that flows smoothly. So then of course I begin to wonder if there’s any way that I CAN get it all together and flow smoothly.

I’m going to try to get out in the morning and see if I can get some footage and figure out how this is all going to come together in just a few short weeks.

Keep an eye on this blog for updates.

Silent Kingdom

Another film for the Underwater Over Land Film Challenge.

The theme for this challenge was “Animal Kingdom.”
Unfortunately this film had to be put together in just a few hours.
Family matters kept me home for most of the time period we had to complete the film. So, on the last day I headed out and spent most of the day driving around trying to find anything to film.
I knew I didn’t have enough wildlife footage to even come close to doing a film that really addressed the theme. So, I came up with the idea of doing a film about there not being any wildlife in the “Animal Kingdom in the tenth hour.

With the film due that night, I sat down about 9:00PM and started trying to put something together. My plan was to do a voice over but as the night wore on, that grew to be less likely.

The clock struck 2AM and I was still trying to put something together to beat the deadline.

Finally I just started laying down track, hoping that it would all make some kind of sense.

Although not the film I was hoping to do, I made the deadline and hopefully it has a bit of a message.

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“The Prairie” First Runner-Up UWOL Challenge

The results are in and my film for the international Underwater Over Land film festival took home 1st runner up.

Although the judge thought that the story line could have been improved upon, he had nothing but kind words to say about the imagery:
Kevin Railsback – The Prairie – 1st Runner Up!
The photography was impeccable – great “magic hour” light; the amazing color saturation reminded me of my days 20 years ago when I was working for renowned outdoor photographer Galen Rowell, when I’d shoot stills with Fuji Velvia slide film – gorgeous.

Having my work compared to the work of world renowned still photographer Galen Rowell is certainly an honor. Many years ago when I was shooting stills myself. Galen was an inspiration of mine and probably did help develop my signature style of deeply saturated colors that want to pop off the screen.

Tragically Galen and his wife died in a plane crash on August 11,2002. The above comments by judge Bruce Borowsky were on August 11th, the 7th anniversary of Galen’s death.

As I’ve said many times before, winning is always a great thing, but judging is subjective. Another judge may have not even considered my film for consideration while another may have thought it best of entry.

I think the important thing is to be true to yourself and always strive to do the best that YOU can do. Filmmaking is my passion. For me finishing a film puts me in the winners circle every time.

Check out my entry in the film challenge and let me know what you think.

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New Film Challenge Begins

This morning the theme for the Underwater Over Land Film challenge #14 was released.

The theme this round is RHYTHMS AND CYCLES

There certainly are a lot of possibilities with this one. While still not having a concrete idea for me film, I went out filming just to get an idea of how things are looking in some of my favorite haunts. I certainly didn’t come home empty handed. Shot some great footage that will most certainly end up in the final film.

Stay tuned and follow along as I put together the film for UWOL challenge #14.

More information can be found on the UWOL Challenge by going to http://www.uwolchallenge.com

Seeing the Possibilities

One of the questions I’m often asked is how do I capture such beautiful imagery.
It’s a hard question for me to answer. It’s not that I’m reluctant to share some secret technique ( there really isn’t one ), it’s that I really don’t know the answer.

While composition and exposure can be taught, seeing the possibilities in a scene where there may appear to be none is much harder to explain. I think a lot of it is something you’re just born with.

I’ve been a dreamer my entire life. In my world of daydreams, there are never any limitations. I can be anyone, do anything, go anywhere. I think that allows me to look at the real world in different ways than just the current reality that’s in front of me.

I my latest film, “The River”, I scouted locations for the opening sequence. I was looking for something that would have a big impact and set the tone for the rest of the film.

This was the first place I scouted, a local state park which had great access to the Cedar River.

Really not much to look at. Certainly wouldn’t put it in the film as is. But, I saw the potential.

So I began checking sunrise times and position. I also checked the weather reports every night to make sure the morning sky would be clear. Nothing worse than traveling to a location to capture the sunrise only to find clouds blocking the sun.

By seeing the possibility in the location and a little planning I wound up with this.

Certainly much more impact as an opening shot than what I had seen when scouting this location.

What People are saying about “The River”

Fantastic cinematography

You are a master at the “big cinema” feel to your films, your artistry with your camera work… you are an inspiration.

Wow! This was amazingly shot.

From beginning the end, your Film was just magic.

Quite stirring.

This film moved me!

This was a true piece of art.

In simple words, a masterpiece of work.

“The River”, my latest film, is now available for viewing here.
I’d appreciate if you have the time to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the film.
I hope you enjoy it.

“The River” Rolling Along

It’s been a lot of hard work but “The River” is done! It’s even finished a couple days before the deadline.

I had originally planned on documenting the entire process here. But, once it things started to go together, I didn’t want to spoil the impact of seeing it by giving you a lot of behind the scenes info.

So, once the film is up for viewing, I’ll post a link and then I can go into some of the details on how this film came together.

I think it’s one of the best films I’ve entered in the challenge to date.

Once you have an opportunity to see it, please post a comment and let me know what you think.

The River

A strange thing happened to me this round of the UWOL challenge, I actually was able to change my mind about the subject of my film.

Normally whenever the theme is announced for a new challenge, an initial thought will pop into my head and no matter how hard I try to think of something else, my brain locks onto that first idea I had and that’s all she wrote.

Maybe at first, the idea sounded really good but upon further reflection, I realized it might be more difficult to pull off in the three week time frame that I had originally thought.

When I first heard the theme was “Habitat” for UWOL #11, my first thought was a film on vanishing forests here in Iowa.

Every year in the Cedar Rapids area, they have what the call Parade of Homes. The public is given an opportunity to tour homes built by local contractors. Homes range in price from $150k to over a million dollars.

One of the million dollar plus homes was in the middle of a great forested area. As my wife and I were being driven up the lane in a golf cart because it was tucked back so far off the road, I was saddened by the fact that such a beautiful area was being bulldozed to make way for more million dollar homes.

Oh, there were still plenty of trees and a great pond, but the natural beauty and wildness had forever vanished with the building of this development.

So, that was what my film was going to be about.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was part of a bigger story. Something that couldn’t be told in the normal span of time we have for the challenge.

Normally my brain would be so focused on this story that I wouldn’t be able to shift gears and find another story that needed to be told.

But this time was different. This time for whatever reason, a new idea popped into my head. That idea has become the focus of my UWOL #11 film, “The River.”

Stay tuned as “The River” starts to take shape.

The UWOL Film Challenge

October 1st marked the start of the eleventh UWOL Film Challenge. The Underwater, Over Land Film Challenge or UWOL as it’s most commonly known, is and international film challenge catering to ouotdoor, nature and wildlife filmmakers.

Six times a year, filmmakers who sign up to accept the challenge are given a theme the day the challenge begins. Once the theme has been announced, filmmakers have three weeks to complete a three minute film based on that particular theme.

Past themes have included The Living Skies, Water, The Wild, Wildlife, Recreation and Adventure.

The hallmark of UWOL is the constructive critisism filmmakers get from their peers through feedback threads hosted on DVi. Even though it is a competition, entrants and non-entrants alike give positive and constructive feedback on what worked, what didn’t and why. As a result, the filmmakers expand and improve their abilities and the whole challenge improves as a result.

The theme for UWOL 11 is “Habitat ”

Follow along as I develop the idea, shoot and edit my film.