RavensFilm Productions

31/07/2024

The Terminator 2 home video history redux project has taken a setback. Simply put, the new hardware I'm using to capture the Laserdisc footage isn't giving me great results. Bad and sometimes sloppy deinterlacing as well as ghosting issues are cropping up. I should've done more thorough tests before capturing everything on Sunday. My old macOS Mojave setup did a far more true-to-the-source 480i capture process, but with macOS Ventura, it all has to be HDMI capture cards and upscaling. Taking a 480i analog signal and processing it up to 720p or 1080p HDMI signal isn't coming along well with the low cost AV to HDMI converters I have. If it at least converted it into a 1080i signal, I could let Final Cut Pro do all the deinterlacing. I'll have to step back and find some new hardware. So, the video is paused for a bit until I get this sorted out.

28/07/2024

The darkest side of the night celebrates 35 years! Join & I for our hilarious and ridiculous archival commentary track for Friday The 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan on YouTube! It’s seriously one of our most entertaining commentaries ever! Channel link in bio/stories.

28/07/2024

RavensFilm Update: RISKY BUSINESS Criterion 4K, TERMINATOR 2 Redux Video, & NEW LASERDISCS!
https://youtu.be/wfDivZK70n4

RavensFilm Video Update for July 27th, 2024!0:00 Intro & Channel Recap4:16 Media Pick Ups: 4K Criterion & Blu-Ray13:15 New Laserdiscs & T2 Redux Video30:23 F...

24/07/2024

If you haven’t seen it yet, my latest video taking a very thorough look at Michael Mann’s 1999 captivating drama The Insider, nominated for seven Academy Awards, is now on YouTube. Mann worked to bring to cinema screens the riveting real life story of a Big To***co whistleblower, the 60 Minutes producer that tried to bring his story to light, and the heart wrenching drama that befell him. Hot off the success of Heat, Mann delved deeply into the real life accounts and delivered one of the best films he’s ever made, but went home empty handed at the Oscars. Based on the Vanity Fair article, “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” this year marks the 25th anniversary of The Insider’s theatrical release! Channel link in bio.

22/07/2024

My latest video is NOW on YouTube! I take an in-depth look at Michael Mann’s 1999 Oscar-nominated captivating drama depicting the real life controversy of Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, Big To***co, & 60 Minutes in THE INSIDER!

Link in comments.

22/07/2024

Today, I found the Aliens THX Widescreen AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 release on Laserdisc! About four years ago I found the THX edition of Alien, but my buddy turned me onto this release of the James Cameron sequel when he produced his review of the recent 4K release. The color timing is likely very close to its original theatrical presentation, and this is the theatrical cut only. I actually prefer the pacing on that version, despite missing some pertinent character scenes for Ripley. Regardless, I snagged this for $14.99, which was $10 LESS than I found it for yesterday, and only a few dollars more than the THX LD of Alien! Very nice find! And that is a very subtle image of the Alien Queen on the cover surrounded in smoke. Fox & Cameron really knew how to put together some nice releases back then!

18/07/2024

Supremely happy birthday wishes to the amazing Heather Langenkamp from myself and ! We have both sung her praises for many long years over on our audio commentary tracks on YouTube!

16/07/2024

Today marks the 58th birthday of filmmaker Scott Derrickson! Hit up the first half of this month’s Derrickson double feature with & I discussing SINISTER in our latest commentary track over on YouTube! Our commentary on The Black Phone is available now on Patreon! Links in bio.

12/07/2024

Happy birthday month to director Scott Derrickson! Join Steve & I on YouTube for our latest commentary track for his 2012 horror hit SINISTER, starring Ethan Hawke!

Link in comments.

03/07/2024

RavensFilm Update: Michael Mann Talk, HULU & NETFLIX Shows, THE WARNING New Album, & PURPLE RAIN 4K!

RavensFilm Video Update for July 3rd, 2024!0:00 Intro & Channel Recap1:09 Comments Section Encounters / Krysten Ritter Fandom7:57 New Short Film Project12:44...

02/07/2024

I’m SO HAPPY to see my two favorite modern rock bands, The Warning & PLUSH, putting out KILLER albums this year that clearly show them both upping their games! They’re both blazing an incredible and passionate trail that I’m so happy to be here to witness! I’m seeing Plush again this August (3rd time since last July), and I’m just waiting for The Warning to make a headline tour stop near me, supporting Keep Me Fed! These are also the first physical copies of their albums that I’ve purchased, which means I REALLY love their work! Keep rocking, ladies!

29/06/2024

My next video will be on Michael Mann's Oscar-nominated film The Insider. I've run through a good heft of research today. I'll probably shoot the video tomorrow after gathering my notes during my re-watch of the film. I've never actually watched it on Blu-Ray before. I also acquired the CD soundtrack recently. Sometime next week, whether I'm done editing this or not, I will be producing a new channel update. I'm just waiting for something to arrive in the mail which I had hoped to have by now, but won't arrive until Monday. (I'm going to start ordering new CDs direct from the artists going forward because retailers get and ship them too damn late.)

Next Thursday, which is the Independence Day holiday in the US, I will be taking the day off to both watch the entire new season of Star Trek: Prodigy along with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, both premiering on Netflix this next week! If you haven't heard Lorne Balfe's new track from the movie, IT'S SIZZLING with snyth and saxophone! So, this will be a full day off. Then, next Sunday, Steve & I record commentaries for our Scott Derrickson double feature! So, I'm pacing myself on The Insider video a bit. I know it will be LONG and involved, so, I'm not rushing anything.

Until then, enjoy the new commentary on The Conjuring 2 and my review video for 1998's Denzel Washington supernatural thriller Fallen here on the channel.

28/06/2024

New Forever Cinematic video up on YouTube that I worked very hard on!

NOW ON YOUTUBE, my latest video revisits 1998’s Denzel Washington supernatural thriller FALLEN to find out if time really is on its side!

Link in comments.

24/06/2024

Happy 40th anniversary to Purple Rain! I just got my new 4K UHD Blu-ray of one of my favorite films (reportedly restored from an 8K scan with a brand new 5.1 remix)! Since not all the bonus materials were ported over to this new edition I will hold onto my previous Blu-ray with the purple case! And yes, I have a poster for the movie and the Expanded Remastered Edition of the album! I also have songs from The Time & Dez Dickerson featured in to film! I’ve loved this movie for 20 years.

💜

19/06/2024

On certain projects, I’ve proceeded as my own cinematographer. Sometimes out of necessity when personnel or schedules became problematic on The Fixer, but on Dead of Night & Kill Shot, I took up the task willingly. So, I figured I’d share a couple of shots I photographed myself.

17/06/2024

NOW ON YOUTUBE, Steve and I have a THRILLING time discussing 1986's NIGHT OF THE CREEPS (starring the fabulous Tom Atkins) in our latest commentary track! We hope you will join us!

Link in comments.

13/06/2024

This video is now a FREE public post on Patreon. I’d appreciate any feedback on this new type of indie filmmaker-centric video for the channel. YouTube link in comments.

Currently EXCLUSIVE to Patreon, I've posted a video that I conceived of and shot back in February. I thought about starting a semi-regular series of topical videos with me imparting my knowledge as an independent filmmaker. This one discusses a shoot we did on my 2007 production of The Fixer, and how prepping with my Cinematographer helped to create excellent results for us in one of our finest shoots!



https://www.patreon.com/posts/filmmaker-tips-105977926

11/06/2024

Dead of Night was my second full film project to reach the end of production. It was aided by a fresh group of talents that elevated my material and helped bring further experience and knowledge to the table. Having an Assistant Director with his own camera and audio gear was invaluable to the constant night shoots that typically ran late. We never would’ve achieved what we did without all the sharp minds and wonderful talents that made this somewhat abstract film noir thriller reach my vision. Heaps of thanks to them all! Quick note is that our climax was shot down an alleyway that was used in the car chase sequence in Risky Business 15 years earlier!

11/06/2024

Currently EXCLUSIVE to Patreon, I've posted a video that I conceived of and shot back in February. I thought about starting a semi-regular series of topical videos with me imparting my knowledge as an independent filmmaker. This one discusses a shoot we did on my 2007 production of The Fixer, and how prepping with my Cinematographer helped to create excellent results for us in one of our finest shoots!



https://www.patreon.com/posts/filmmaker-tips-105977926

10/06/2024

The Fixer was my first feature film production, and it was a rigorous experience filled with some terrible hurdles but a really great string of memories with a fantastic cast and crew that helped usher it along. My eternal thanks to everyone that aided in this monumental feat that, on some days, I thought just would never reach release. It might be the one filmmaking experience that I hold o to the most because through endless perseverance and piecing things together as we learned how to do it all, we made it work. Could we do a lot of it better now? Hell yes, but that’s what new projects are for. Here’s to hoping that new projects come together soon!

08/06/2024

Another Michael Mann soundtrack added to my collection! This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Insider, which was nominated for a slew of Academy Awards, and ultimately won none of them. Yet, it’s still the best film released that according to me. I plan to finally cover the film in the near future.

08/06/2024

RavensFilm Update: NEW HORROR Videos, Short Film Project, SMALLVILLE Re-Watch, & PLUSH Concert!
https://youtu.be/KwzTpr5TGW0

RavensFilm Video Update for June 10th, 2024!0:00 Intro & Latest Videos3:55 Upcoming Commentaries & Videos10:06 Short Film Project & Michael Mann-A-Thon17:53 ...

03/06/2024

NEW VIDEO! The Retro Video Series delves into the IMAX Version of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, way back before this became a standard for blockbuster movies, and before IMAX was built to handle anything longer than a 2hr runtime!

Link in comments.

03/06/2024

I’ve been delving into my playlist of Michael Mann soundtracks to try finding my desire to be a filmmaker again. I have stories I want to tell, but since the last time I put my own screenplay into production, I’ve changed a good deal in that I’m not the brazen, risk everything for a project type of person. So, I have to find that core feeling inside that lit up in me when I saw Collateral nearly 20 years ago, and made Mann my favorite filmmaker. The music is a good first step. I think I need a Mann marathon. Only wish I thought that when I had a week off from work last week. I already have Manhunter off of iTunes. Anyway, I also just ordered The Insider soundtrack on eBay for a great bargain! Maybe I should finally make time to produce a video on the best film of 1999, in light of this? We’ll see, but this short film project of mine needs some priority.

01/06/2024

NOW ON PATREON, I delve into the peculiarities of the IMAX Cut of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones in the latest from the Retro Video Series! All $3+ backers get 2-Day early access. I hope you'll enjoy it! https://www.patreon.com/posts/105344563

01/06/2024

I've had such problems with the original ULTRA WIDE logo for the Retro Video Series in applying it to the title screen in the videos and on thumbnail graphics. So, I workshopped an updated logo that's more horizontally compact without losing any of that retro flavor. It debuts with the new episode that should be up on Patreon tomorrow, YouTube on Monday.

29/05/2024

New video shot. I hope it shakes out well in editing. It’s been a few weeks since I shot any videos at all. Had to push myself into it again. It’s a Retro Video Series episode on the IMAX Cut of Attack of the Clones!

26/05/2024

A few photos from the VIP experience tonight at ! The ladies did a special pre-show performance of “Man in the Box” from Alice In Chains, and then, I got my picture taken with them. I reminded Bella how I waited out back at the last show there for them to sign the setlist. It was a damp, slightly rainy night. This was much nicer! I also wore my Moriah Formica enamel pin from her old merch store! This was a wonderful experience! These girls are the BEST!

26/05/2024

Tonight, I attended my second ever concert! Same venue as last year, , and it was even better this time out! I got the VIP package where I got the ladies to sign my photo collage I made from the last show, which goes right back in my frame tonight! The band played INSANELY well tonight, and I just kept singing along all night! They’re incredible live! Also, Moriah handed me a setlist after the encore, which makes me 2 for 2 on lists from them now! They’re coming back around to Aurora in August. We might see each other again then!

I didn’t get to say it in person, but their music has helped me through some tough times. They’ve really given me something to hold onto when things have felt bleak or severely stressed out. They’re supremely talented and have nothing but bright futures ahead!

17/05/2024

Now on YouTube, Steve & I present PART 1 of our Forever Cinematic Commentary discussion on Stephen King's IT 1990 mini-series! Part 2 is already available on Patreon if you don't want to wait for the conclusion. We hope you'll join this and enjoy!

Link in comments.