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from Nope Bear Nightmare Corner by Jake Fertig

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Reshoots.

Over the past few weeks I made the decision to rewrite and reshoot all of the main character scenes and one of the kill sequences, as well as writing and shooting one additional kill sequence, for Cluk'd. I will be filming these reshoots in May/ Early June and will spend the next couple months rewriting them. In editing the film I realized the way I was trying to shoot it just didn't work out the way I had imagined it. The idea was to do a third person narrative style of shooting, but instead what I ended up with was alot of masters with very little shot diversity. Much of this is because of how overwhelmed and rushed I tend to feel when I am shooting, combined with trying to add additional crew and better equipment. It's all on me for deviating from what I know and am comfortable with, and what I realized was that much of the romance I find in shooting the way I do was lost not just in the process of filming, but in the final product. I need to take my time more and do better with the writing on the film.

This is no big surprise as the entire way I conceived this film was so backwards from the way projects should be done. I started with filming lots of kill sequences, many of which with 2-3 page scripts, and considered the story as secondary. The focus was just on chicken puppet carnage and not on alot of reasoning from the get go. I figured this would make an entertaining enough film, and this unfortunately translated over to the main sequences once I started to write those. I just didn't flesh those out enough, and so they are not substantial enough to stand out in any way, and became the least interesting part of the film. This isn't good because they are the main narrative of the film.

I sat last night and started trying to rewrite what I had but soon discovered it is going to be better to trash most of the existing script and just start over, develop the characters more, and add more substantive dialog. I spoke with Avery and Grayson and both are gracious enough to give me a few additional days to film once that is complete.

In 2025 the focus has to be on creative endeavors again, and I must focus on trying to slow myself down with them and not get too overwhelmed. I have not worked on anything film or art related since about April because I am so overwhelmed and burnt out. I have been burning the candle at all 7 ends between working, family, union work, art, etc. In 2025 I will be cutting back quite a bit on non-creative work, and limiting my work days while still trying to keep a volume of work flowing that makes it worthwhile. As I have stated before the artwork sales fund all of my other projects, including film, publishing, street art, theatrical showings, etc. To be able to move forward I need to remember that the revenue from art sales, even if small, is important to allow me to be a multifaceted creative in a real way.

Writing I do a little at a time, but I am planning on dedicating one full work day each month from December-March to get some pieces built made for sale in the fall. I will do an additional work day in April to get all of these primed and ready to paint. This will open up shooting weekends for May and Early June to finish the reshoots, with the effects/ puppet shots (aside from the animation) being completed during an additional shoot day in June.

Today I am planning for the week of teaching and doing a little writing. My goal is to do one work day over the two week break coming up, but aside from that to give little thought to the projects. I'd like to focus on relaxing.

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A couple frames from my upcoming feature Coal Republic.

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New crown, photographed with a Ducal Star.

by Jacob Fertig

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“Highhouse Diadem”, Aluminum, paper, gold leaf, glass, and moss. 

by Jacob Fertig

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Poster for “Death Train to Christmas Town”

by Jacob Fertig

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from a collage book of matchlock sketches.

by Jacob Fertig

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Promotional for a puppet web series that never got made. Some preproduction work was done, but never got off the ground.

by Jacob Fertig

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Animation test for my upcoming animated film “Coal Republic”

by Jacob Fertig

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Various test shots from the upcoming animated film “Coal Republic”.

by Jacob Fertig

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Still from never completed untitled Easter cartoon.

by Jacob Fertig

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At an art show.

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Weird baby.

by Jacob Fertig

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“Killer”, 8.5x11′‘ ballpoint pen on printer paper.

by Jacob Fertig

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Establishing shot background for never completed untitled Easter cartoon.

by Jacob Fertig

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Still from never completed untitled Easter cartoon.

by Jacob Fertig

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“Lady Primarch of the Annunaki” 24x24′‘ Sharpie and watercolor on paper.

by Jacob Fertig