Timothy's Blog

So The Super Rocket is a film I made with the Blanchet boys and is my first foray into short-film-making. Overall it turned out pretty well but has a lot of technical errors that my inexperienced filmmaker brain did not catch (One example is the lighting in one scene does not look natural). But it’s the best I can expect for a first film and overall I’m pretty happy with it.

For those of you who don’t know, The Super Rocket is about two boys who set out to build a “super” rocket which means they are building a high-power model rocket (watch the movie to find out what that means). But when one brother forgets about the other trouble ensues.

The script took me ages to write mostly because I was so inexperienced but that’s part of the learning process. The Super Rocket was not actually the first script I ever wrote. The first script I ever wrote was called “Panspermia On The Starways” and was about a scientist who was investigating a bogus story of life that was found on another planet. That script was a disaster but taught me a lot about screenwriting. Namely, that you really have to have a good idea to get started.

This film was shot on the original Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera which is probably the camera I will shoot my next film on (Though I would like to rent a better camera such as the BMPCC6K). The reason I chose the BMPCC is it’s superior “dynamic range” and “RAW” capabilities. The music was composed by me and I edited the film myself including the not-so-great sound. If you’re interested in watching the film you can see it below (don’t forget to leave a comment)!

So I recently became disenchanted with web development (serious web development) and wanted to find something more visual/creative to do. Not that web development doesn’t take creativity. I had tried to get accepted as a stock photographer to istockphoto.com years ago, in which you have to submit a few images so they can evaluate if you’re good enough and if your’re images are the type they want. So I decided to apply again because I thought my photography had probably improved and lo and behold, I was accepted!

So this is a new way to make money for me; I’m simply adding it to the other ways I make money (which currently consist of web design and doing yard work for neighbors). I’m hoping to pursue a career in photography so I’m not just interested in stock photography, but it’s a great way to make money sometimes (if you have a really good image that stands above the rest you take).

I decided I needed a website for my pursuit of this career so I created one yesterday and today that you can see at photography.timothygrindall.com (notice this blog is at wordpress.timothygrindall.com). It’s not a perfect or necessarily complete design but I can always change it. If you’re interested in seeing some of my best photography, check out the site!

I’d also love to get into portrait photography but I have plenty to keep me busy (though not to fill my days necessarily). I love taking pictures of people but I don’t get to do it so often because people are so camera shy (and so am I)!

I’m also hoping to get into filmmaking as part of my career. I own my own businesses so there’s no reason not to do more than one of them. I’m currently looking for clients who would like me to make advertising films/videos for free (just for the experience). So I have some ideas of what I want but other than that, I’m leaving it up to God. Worry about one’s future does no good.

I think getting a driver’s license will be a top priority so I can drive around Washington/Oregon/California to different places where I can take pictures. Also that will allow me to visit clients for webdesign and filmmaking jobs (and would really open things up for me).

So I was trying to come up with a piece for my recent film, The Super Rocket and was inspired by Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and wrote this song:

I’m pretty sure this song uses only my own material in the first part and something note for note what Vivaldi wrote as the second part (8 + 8 measures). I listened to all of “Four Seasons” to see if I could spot what had inspired me so I don’t think the first half is copied subconsciously (which is something that happens). Tell me if you think you can spot it.

Also, I’ve categorized this piece as “Neo Classical” but that’s just a word of my own making and may not be the best descriptor.

By the way, if you haven’t seen The Super Rocket (produced by my Family, some friends, and I) you can watch it below. And feel free to share with as many people as possible! Also, you can leave a comment on YouTube to tell me what you think!

I’m currently working on a new project which is a about a programmer who wants to become a computer hacker. Hopefully this one turns out. You can pray that God would give me wisdom in writing this screenplay and that it would turn into something that would please Him.