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Author Archives: Hendrikus De Vaan
How I Make Ciabatta Bread
Click here for printable recipe PDF It seems that the global pandemic has just about everyone baking bread. Some out of boredom, some out of necessity. I started out by baking some Ciabatta. Our local Countdown supermarket has a pretty dismal bakery section, and we’re currently in a nation wide lockdown, so I figured IContinue reading “How I Make Ciabatta Bread”
Panic Attack
This is probably my most personal video to date. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share this publicly, but I decided that it’s an important topic we all need to talk more about. If you’re struggling with your mental health, know that you’re not alone. It’s important you find someone to talkContinue reading “Panic Attack”
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Legolution” – short film 2010
My younger siblings were entering a filmmaking competition at a predominantly Christian homeschooling camp. Being the dickhead I am, I offered to help so long as the film was about evolution. We had a lot of fun on this one, made over about 3 days. Oh, and they won.
Making bold music choices for videos (Bull Sale 2019)
Context: I’ve always found this such a quintessential staple of rural life growing up in Ratapiko. The Blackwell family always put on a great day, with great hospitality. I had badly put my back out the day before, and could barely drive my car to the event, but I wanted to film it, so IContinue reading “Making bold music choices for videos (Bull Sale 2019)”
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “BlinkLink” – Commercial 2015
This week’s TT is a cautionary tale of overreaching. I had been offered to do a commercial on a budget under $500 usd while living in Budapest. Hungry for work I accepted, and subsequently spent a month shooting and post producing a commercial I never had the budget to pull off. It fell well shortContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: “BlinkLink” – Commercial 2015″
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “DISAPPEAR” – short film
Released on my 25th birthday, this was my biggest project I’d ever tackled. I’d done very little animation before I started on this, and spent the subsequent two and a half years putting together this four minute stop motion animated film. Although I’d never do it again, this film holds a strong place in myContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: “DISAPPEAR” – short film”
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Bad Coffee” – short scene
We used to shoot some short scenes with friends. This one was one of my favorites. The soundtrack especially, which is actually the sound of the coffee machine slowed down into an ambient soundscape. Shot on a 550d / t2i with nikon lenses.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Explainer Video for “WhoAPI” (plus a bonus video)
I’ve done a lot explainer videos over the years, although I stopped doing them after the margins got impossibly tight. It was no longer profitable to make them from scratch, and I didn’t want to spend my weeks kit-bashing asset packs and presets. The WhoAPI video was one of the last ones I did. IContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: Explainer Video for “WhoAPI” (plus a bonus video)”
MUSIC VIDEO “Fin Rah Zel”: how to light on no budget, and my thoughts on the a6400.
Having been out of the industry for some time, I needed a small project to re-calibrate myself, and get a better connection with my new camera. This video was done on essentially zero budget. Shot completely handheld, and lit with some basic household tungsten bulbs. In terms of light modifiers, I had a $2 chinaContinue reading “MUSIC VIDEO “Fin Rah Zel”: how to light on no budget, and my thoughts on the a6400.”
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Budapest Pride Parade” – 2015
I remember the first year I lived in Budapest I woke up one morning and looked out my window. I lived on the busiest intersection in the city, but on this particular morning the streets were deserted. Thirty minutes later police turned up by the dozen wearing full riot gear. I had no idea whatContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Budapest Pride Parade” – 2015″
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Rainbow” short film 2011
This was short film I made together with my family members as a means to introduce them to the process of film making. It was brainstormed, shot and edited in 24 hours. I think doing 24 hour short films is an excellent exercise. It’s like a scripted equivalent of vlogging almost. Very liberating. Shot onContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: “Rainbow” short film 2011″
THROWBACK THURSDAY: My first introductions to Stop Motion Animation
Back in 2009 I worked on a music video project “Turtle Pizza Cadillacs” by my friend Aleks Sakowski. After that I was really itching to do some stopmo of my own. It started with these little tests that I shot on a bookshelf in my 4 square meter room I was renting while I was studyingContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: My first introductions to Stop Motion Animation”
THROWBACK THURSDAY: “V1Z1” Teaser Trailer (2010)
Going back 9 years to when I got my first video DSLR. I shot this silly fake trailer with a bunch of friends. Lots of After Effects, and lots of fun! Shot on the Canon 550D / t2i, which in my opinion is the camera that democratized filmmaking. It was the first camera that anyoneContinue reading “THROWBACK THURSDAY: “V1Z1” Teaser Trailer (2010)”
Progress. More than one minute into the film.
It has been a while since I have last posted. Lots has been done since then. Late 2012 the newspaper for my region came out and did a story on the film, which was an interesting experience. Still, if there is one thing I have learnt from it, it’s: never trust the media. I hadContinue reading “Progress. More than one minute into the film.”
First shot is in the can! (and a sneak peak)
I finished my first shot for “Disappear” on Thursday night at around 11pm. After being in pre-production on and off for around 12 months, this is a major milestone. I can finally start to see my vision take on a life of its own. ——————————————————————————————————- Stay tuned for some frames pulled right out of theContinue reading “First shot is in the can! (and a sneak peak)”
The apartment set is close to finished!
So I have finally finished up on “The Great Gatsby” and have been back in the studio for a few weeks now. The set is nearing completion and I should think it is not unrealistic to start shooting in June as scheduled, unless the feature film I am booked on decides they want me forContinue reading “The apartment set is close to finished!”
My Theatre Debut!
So I had temporarily fallen of the face of the earth and lost contact with the world, so I will explain where I have been; As some of you already know, I have been in a theatre production of “The Great Gatsby”, in one of the leading roles, Nick Carraway. The show went incredibly wellContinue reading “My Theatre Debut!”
1000 1:6 scale bricks and a wardrobe
Another month has flown by. I’ve been really busy with my theater role in the production of “The Great Gatsby”. The show starts in just over two weeks, so will only be getting busier from here on in. In the studio; I’ve finished the neighboring brick wall. I did a base coat of ceiling paint and then blackContinue reading “1000 1:6 scale bricks and a wardrobe”
Furniture, hands and a tiny key.
Wow how time flies huh? Another month already. With this in mind I’ll quote Bruce Lee; “If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” Been a good month, lots of progress. I have all of the furniture finished apart from the wardrobe, which is a hero prop (I’m starting on thatContinue reading “Furniture, hands and a tiny key.”