#phil rice

[larryland]

Comedy “Lucky Me” opens at Theater Barn

Comedy “Lucky Me” opens at Theater Barn

Lucky Me, a comedy by Robert Caisley, opens at The Theater Barn, 654 Route 20, New Lebanon, NY on Friday, September 8th for a three week run through September 24th.  It has been hailed as a smart, funny, entertaining evening that will be enjoyed by all audiences. Sara Fine (Colleen Lovett) is having a bad week. Really bad! The light bulbs in her apartment keep burning out; there’s a leak in the…

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[rickygrove]

Overcast #36 Audio Portrait of Siggraph 2008

Screen Cap of Overcast Front Page (click the image to go there)

I've been working with Phil Rice, a superb composer and filmmaker, for several years not. Recently, he asked me to co-host  his bi-weekly podcasts on Machinima. We've done about half a dozen so far and today he released a truly unique version of the podcast: my audio recordings at the recent Siggraph 2008 computer graphics festival. Every day for the five days I attended the festival, I recorded something specifically for the podcast (we call it the Overcast) and after it was over, I just sent a mass of recordings to Phil to edit since I wanted to have someone with an objective viewpoint edit the sound files.  Give a listen and see what you think: http://theovercast.com/ Well, Phil has done a wonderful job of editing these sound files. One great touch is music he played live to help bridge soundscapes. Phil is a very talented composer as you will hear in this podcast. The style of the music fits beautifully with the scant narration and deep sound samples.  It's long, but I think well worth your time if you are patient. The variety and subtlety of the various sound beds are quite something. All of the recordings were done using the M-Audio Microtrack II portable recorder and their t-stereo mic. I higly recommend this unit for foley work or for interviews. I can also record using my condensor mics as it has built in phantom power. One of the best investments I've ever made as it's paid for itself three or four times over.

M-Audio Microtrack II

  And if you'd like to check out my Picasa photo album of the Siggraph experience follow this link: Ricky's Siggraph Picasa Album And my Renderosity.com Siggraph wrap-up is here: Ricky's Siggraph Wrap-Up

[rickygrove]

Your Personal Moviestorm Tutor: Mr. Phil Rice

Phil Rice, one of machinima's best filmmakers and promoter, is offering a free introductory course in using Moviestorm, Note: Phil's got a bad cold this weekend so the Free course is post-poned to a new date: SATURDAY, JUNE 12th from 9:00AM to 10:30AM PST. If you haven't signed up for the free intro head over to his website and follow the links as I think Phil is a terrific teacher. This course called "A Movie in an Hour" will be 90 minutes long and will feature about 60 minutes of Phil taking your through Moviestorm step by step on his desktop. They'll be a 30 minute Q&A at the end of the session. Phil is also offering a second more focused course called "Camera Mastery" which will take place on  June 26th (Saturday) at 9:00 AM Pacific/5:00 GMT and will cover how to use the Moviestorm camera in depth.  Again, he'll be screen casting from his desktop and will conduct a Q&A at the end of the session. There are also giveaways and extras for those who sign up. The price of the course is $25. I signed up last week and the process of paying via Paypal is easy and simple. Looking forward to learning Moviestorm from Phil. He's created some excellent films in Moviestorm and was part of the original group to adopt Moviestorm as a machinima tool. If you want to learn Moviestorm (and machinima production in general) you should check Mr. Rice's guided lessons.

[rickygrove]

Phil Rice's New Film, "FIRST", a Superb Satire

  First from Phil Rice on Vimeo. Note: this commentary contains a spoiler or two for the film. Please watch the film before you read any further. Some years ago, I wrote a profile of machinima filmmaker, Phil Rice. I watched all of his films and spoke at length with Phil about his life and ideas. I'm hoping to update that profile to include all of his work since that time. He works so hard and enjoys creating films so much that I'm afraid the profile will most likely double in size. I know one film I'll be talking to him a lot is his most recent release, "FIRST", which premiered at TMUTheater today. "FIRST" is a social satire (a rarity in machinima) which attempts to portray a prominently male culture of narcissism. The "me first" approach to life which has been fanned by the internet to some extent, has shaped a type of man who only goal is to be "first" in everything. Lacking empathy or common sense, this kind of person bullies through life to such an extent that they make other peoples lives miserable. Fueled by inadequacy and a very low sense of self-esteem, these people are walking disasters who turn every event or relationship into being about them exclusively. Their future is grim as drug-addiction, bankruptcy, failed relationships and perhaps crime are all foretold. And don't think I'm being too hard on the MeFirsts. Christopher Lasch wrote about them years ago in his great cultural history, The Culture of Narcissim and he predicted the same kind of thing. Even worse, his book came before the internet where the MeFirsts thrive in a free-for-all culture of forums, social networks and comments sections. Recognize any of these characters in any of your online interactions? I sure do. All of this is by way of saying how fucking smart Phil Rice is as a filmmaker. Not only does he pick up on this element of the current zeitgeist, but he presents his ideas in the form of an animated comedy where most of the characters appear to be empathetic at the beginning, but become so manic and desperate in their desire for esteem they end up being shot in the end. In fact, the last MeFirster standing is clearly mad. Another way Phil is smart is in his crafting of the film. Built like a stylized sitcom, he constantly places people who aren't self-obsessed in conflict with the ones who are which produces comic results while at the same time giving the viewer a perspective on the growing madness and anarchism of these self-obsessed characters. While starting out realistically in a great opening sequence (including titles), the film becomes progressively stranger until it finally runs off the rails with the MeFirsters appearing like comic apparitions in the most inappropriate situations. It's almost as if Phil is trying to test the limits of this behavior, this mind-set. And, of course, the tone gets blacker and blacker even though the music is still chipper and the comic style hasn't changed. The contrast between the content at the end and the more intense comic style produces a very, very black comedy that can either stop the laughter (as it did with me) or throw you on the floor with a laughter heart-attack. The acting goes a long way towards supporting this semi-hysterical style. Obviously a lot of improv went into creating the performances. The out-takes at the end are almost as funny as the actual scenes. And believe you me, it is not easy to record so many performers and make them all sound like they are coming from the same place, let alone in the same acting style. His work with the actors is masterful as this kind of comedy can get out of hand even with actors who are rehearsing together live. And I can't say enough about Phil's music composing talents. I mean do-wop? Bad indie rock parody? All sung by Phil who sounds like Phil Collins on speed. His musical skills (and sensibilities) are simply incredible.  We hav some talented composers in the machinima community, but no one is doing the kind of work that Phil Rice is. While still in the same mold, we are a long way from "Male Restroom Etiquette" and it's funny/smart exaggerations. FIRST is darker satire: comedy written with a bloody smile and hysteria lurking just beneath the surface. I don't think Phil has made a better film than this one. I can't wait to start on his new, updated profile.

[rickygrove]

Overcast #36 Audio Portrait of Siggraph 2008

Screen Cap of Overcast Front Page (click the image to go there)

I've been working with Phil Rice, a superb composer and filmmaker, for several years not. Recently, he asked me to co-host  his bi-weekly podcasts on Machinima. We've done about half a dozen so far and today he released a truly unique version of the podcast: my audio recordings at the recent Siggraph 2008 computer graphics festival. Every day for the five days I attended the festival, I recorded something specifically for the podcast (we call it the Overcast) and after it was over, I just sent a mass of recordings to Phil to edit since I wanted to have someone with an objective viewpoint edit the sound files.  Give a listen and see what you think: http://theovercast.com/ Well, Phil has done a wonderful job of editing these sound files. One great touch is music he played live to help bridge soundscapes. Phil is a very talented composer as you will hear in this podcast. The style of the music fits beautifully with the scant narration and deep sound samples.  It's long, but I think well worth your time if you are patient. The variety and subtlety of the various sound beds are quite something. All of the recordings were done using the M-Audio Microtrack II portable recorder and their t-stereo mic. I higly recommend this unit for foley work or for interviews. I can also record using my condensor mics as it has built in phantom power. One of the best investments I've ever made as it's paid for itself three or four times over.

M-Audio Microtrack II

  And if you'd like to check out my Picasa photo album of the Siggraph experience follow this link: Ricky's Siggraph Picasa Album And my Renderosity.com Siggraph wrap-up is here: Ricky's Siggraph Wrap-Up

[larryland]

Kyle McIlhone and Fleece.

Andrew Pace, Phil Rice and Matthew McFadden

Toby Wherry and Katrina Klein

Morgan Troia and Andrew Colford

Phil Rice, Morgan Troia and John Trainor

Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero opens at The Theater Barn, 654 Route 20, New Lebanon, NY on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 8pm for a three week run through Sunday, July 24th. The Christie murder mystery has become an annual tradition at The Theater Barn so this year Samuel French, Inc. was able to obtain permission from the Christie Estate to bring Towards Zero exclusively to their audience. Written in 1944, this is often thought to be one of Agatha Christie’s finest works and it is sure to please her most ardent fans.

What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing, but when a house party gathers at Gull’s Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. It’s all part of a carefully paid plan – for murder.

Director Chris Briante returning to the Barn after a critically acclaimed production of The Fantasticks last season has assembled a cast of talented Theater Barn veterans and newcomers for this popular Christie. Returning Barn veteran John Trainor will of course be on the stage with Barn favorites Joan Coombs, Phil Rice and Toby Wherry. Joining them are Morgan Troia, Kyle McIhone, Andrew Colford, Fleece, Matthew McFadden, Andrew Pace, and Katrina Klein.

Performances at the air-conditioned Theater Barn are Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $27.00 for the evening performances and $25.oo for the Sunday matinee. For information and reservations, please call [phone]. www.thetheaterbarn.org

Agatha Christie mystery, “Towards Zero” at Theater Barn Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero opens at The Theater Barn, 654 Route 20, New Lebanon, NY on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 8pm for a three week run through Sunday, July 24th.