CALVERTFILM Diary Page

Other Calvert Web Sites: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/calvertfilm/

22nd November 2009 - We picked up a Shield Trophy 1st place one-minute film award for 'I am Lightning' at the North Thames Regional competition at Pinner. The kids were really pleased, and so was I.

14th November 2009 - We now have 170 films on YouTube. Also we have just received a wonderful crystal award from the CIAFF for 'Attack of the Vortagons' our animation of Trolls fighting a Dragon (see Sept 23rd entry). It was for first place in the animation section. This is one of the nicest awards we have ever got because it just has our names on it (me, Laurie & Jon, not anyone else's), so we do not have to give it back, and it just looks so nice. It reminds me of the stars that Lucasfilm gave out to crew that worked on their Star Wars films. Very special.

11th November 2009 - My and my kids have made a Robot Mini Wars series of fights and posted these on YouTube. These are 1/10th scale radio control ramming paper robots. Great fun.

25th October 2009 - YouTube hits now up to 3/4million, which is great. I have 146 films uploaded. I have added a link on the Robot page to more paper robot downloads. Also I have re-vamped the NTLWorld Calvertfilm home page. Hit my 80Mg limit too. Nearly at my 15Mg limit here. I have also been updating my Monsters web site behind the scenes too although it will not look much different.

23rd September 2009 - 'Attack of the Vortagons' has got First Place Animation in the CIAFF, a Canadian festival. Great news! I also entered another four films and they all picked something up. Three Stars went to 'I am Lightning', 'Rap Raptor', and 'Thunderkids', whilst 'Celeste' picked up 2 stars as well. 51 awards for Calvertfilm now, and 4 outright wins.

I have also made a couple more movies about cars. One on my Escort Mk5, and the other on the Santa Pod European Finals on 12th Sept 2009. These two movies are on YouTube.

29th August 2009 - Finished my movie 'XR3 Ford Escort' faster than I was expecting. It has turned out five minutes long. It is made up from old and new footage from my two XR3 cars. I am quite proud of this one. My 223rd movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZQp-fUqENc

28th August 2009 - I am working on a new film about my XR3. Using new and old footage. Should be nice and lively. I have also shot a few car shows recently too and put them on YouTube. Over 140 films now uploaded.

20th July 2009 - 'Celeste won a Highly Commended, and 'I am Lightning a Commended, at the Guernsey Lily Film Festival 2009. 46 awards for Calvertfilm.

10th July 2009 - Got my 100th subscriber on YouTube.

3rd July 2009 - 'I am Lightning' the Calvertfilm starring Scoot the Tortoise dreaming of speed, has won the IAC NTR one minute film competition. Hurrah! CFL's 44th film award.

26th June 2009 - I've entered seven of my films into competitions. If they all happen to win an award, that would take my total up to 50 awards. YouTube hits currently 636,000 for 134 films uploaded. Most watched is 'Five Stage Model Rocket' now with 73,000 hits. 99 subscribers.

3rd May 2009 - Took YNO (my second XR) to Duxford Car Show. Second show with this car.

27th Apr 2009 - Took my (second) XR3 YNO to Manningtree Car Show yesterday, and had a wonderful day. Lots to do, and about 400 cars to see of all types. Search 'Calvertfilm Manningtree' on YouTube. Planning to take it to Duxford Aerodrome Car Show May 3rd.

25th Mar 2009 (updated 9th Apr) - Got my Corgi Vanguard XR3, limited to 1,500 models. Each car comes with a collectors card that is numbered. Fantastic detail, more accurate than the Sunstar one, although it has no engine detail. Got my number plate on. Just wonderful. They also set me a PP model too. Thanks Corgi Vanguards.  Wow! http://homepage.ntlworld.com/calvertfilm/XR3.htm

also got a 3D full-size static R2-D2 model. Wow! http://homepage.ntlworld.com/calvertfilm/Astromech.htm

25th Mar 2009 - 'Celeste' has won a 3 Star award in the BIAF competition 2009. Funny thing was one of the comments about my computer generated zombies - it read    '....the characterisation was good even if the 'warriors' were without genitalia'. Well I know what to make next time ;-)

18th Mar 2009 - Release date for the Corgi model of my XR3. Should arrive in shops shortly.

9th Mar 2009 - You can pre-order the 1/43rd Corgi Model of my XR3 'LYP' in the UK on 023 8024 8844 and ask for code number VA11001. Due for release 24th March. Should also end up in collectors toy shops at the end of March. YouTube is well over 1/2million hits for 120 movies.

9th Feb 2009 - Ever since I first got LYP 205X, I wanted to paint an X-Wing on the bonnet, like a Firdbird on a Pontiac. I'm getting a vinyl made up for it but don't worry, I won't actually put it on. It could look like this though:

2nd Jan 2009 - YouTube is now on 441,858 hits for 120 videos. 66 subscribers. Going well. Also, XR3 LYP has run up and is now in long term storage. Corgi toy out March approx.

8th Dec 2008 - Uploading over ten more rocket videos to YouTube made around ten years ago. Now got around 120 vids on there. Over 411,000 hits in total with 'Going to Extremes' leading the way on nearly 50,000. 'Five-Stage Model Rocket' has 46,000 and 'Rap Raptor' has 43,000.

1st Dec 2008 - 'Rap Raptor' won 2nd prize (one-min film) in the IAC North Thames Regional movie competition, and 'Celeste' got a highly commended award, making these my 41st and 42nd awards.

25th Nov 2008 - My XR3 LYP 205X is on the front cover of Diecast Collector, and inside too, as the new Corgi model coming out soon.

23rd Nov 2008 - 'Celeste' won a Highly Commended award at the North Thames Regional IAC competition and was shown. I didn't make the showing.

9th Nov 2008 - Wore my Granddad's medals during the Remembrance Sunday parade in Whitehall. He won the VC and MM. His name was Laurence Calvert. Short video uploaded to YouTube.

5th Nov 2008 - 'Celeste' has won an award at the North Thames Regional competition. I find out what one at the end of the month.

26th Oct 2008 - Got a copy of Model Collector Magazine Dec 2008 issue, and on p46 is a picture of the Corgi toy of my particular XR3.

22nd Oct 2008 - Finally got hold of August 1996 issue of Performance Car magazine. My XR3 is on the front cover (tiny) but has a half page picture of it being driven at speed inside on pg 65. There were doing an article on the Ford Heritage Centre Ford cars. My car had been in there a year. The Centre is now closed down which is a big shame although Ford still own some cars on site. I didn't even know about this article until a few days ago thanks to eBay.

14th Oct 2008 - Corgi model of my XR3 is due out March 2009. Part of the famous 1/43rd Vanguard series. It will come in a variety of colours and variations I understand. They promise me the black one will contain my number plate. Another picture of the model car is also on view in Modelzone shops in their forthcoming products catalogue. 

10th Oct 2008 - Saw in Modelzone a Corgi Toys preview magazine with a picture of the 1/43rd scale black XR3 model of my car with my cars number plate on it - yippee! Due out Nov 08 - Mar 09 now.

1st Oct 2008 - Surround sound version of 'Attack of the Vortagons' completed. I have also made some extras for the DVDs including a gallery, cast list, stars, and a comparison of my film with the films that the music comes from. Also LYP is complete and fully functional.

20th Sept 2008 - 'Attack of the Vortagons' is having 4 shots replaced after a preview showing with Laurie, Jon and Pauline. Will get finished today.

18th Sept 2009 - 'Attack of the Vortagons' is finished and 4 minutes long. MOTI is no longer on the shelves in Southend :-(

17th Sept 2008 - My XR3 'LYP' is in the garage having a fluid service. His brake cylinders also need replacing and he is in overnight waiting for the correct components. After this LYP should be in lovely condition ready for some filming.

16th Sept 2008 - 'Attack of the Vortagons' is nearing the end. I have about 20 seconds remaining. It contains tricky shots to pull off though with lots of elements.

25th Aug 2008 - 'Attack of the Vortagons' is coming along again. I am deep into a fight sequence involving six creatures, so the complicated nature of the shots means they can take a while to make.

12th Aug 2008 - The holiday period with my kids has distracted me slightly from making 'Attack of the Vortagons'. On top of that I am gearing up to enjoy 'The Clone Wars' animation feature film out on the 15th Aug, new from Lucasfilm. My mind is pleasantly distracted with that too. Plus I am thinking of getting a second (donor) XR3. So the 'Vortagons' movie has not had anything done to it for a while. Having said that it is about 2/3rds complete. The Big Gig festival of the 18-19th (see 29th April entry) apparently went well. I couldn't afford to go, which was a shame.

23rd July 2008 - YouTube hits for my 103 movies reaches over 1/4 million.

12th July 2008 - I have a 3 page article published in Model Collector magazine, Sept 2008 issue. The 2,000 words are about my Ford Escort XR3's history. Starts page 28. Cool.

9th July 2008 - Last Saturday (5th) I started working on my next CG short movie, 'Attack of the Vortagons'. It is about several troll-like creatures (I call Vortagons) attacking a Dragon over a lava-field landscape. The Vortagon is the same model I used in 'Celeste' and is a model from Daz3D.com. No dialogue (except lots of roaring). Should be fun.

4th July 2008 - MOTI is still available on the shelve in a HMV shop in Southend. Still available online. Coming up for a first year anniversary of release in 3 days time.

2nd July 2008 - I have an article on Pg 6 of Film & Video Maker magazine about the (over) 100 Calvertfilm movies I have on YouTube.

30th June 2008 - Calvertfilm makes its first Surround sound film. This is a version of 'Celeste'.

25th June 2008 - 'Celeste' is finished. It is on YouTube - search 'Calvertfilm' and 'Celeste'. I am really happy with it. This is my 200th movie.

9th June 2008 - I have made a slightly gory version of the film. This features very quick frames of blood and guts as zombies get shot but this version will not be readily available, as it will be an extra on the DVD. I have made a trailer which is on YouTube. I have rendered the monochrome version with scratches and flicker to make it look like an old film. I am also making an 'ambient' version which may be surround sound but will definitely have an unusual look to it as I will pass a silk & fog effect over it plus alter a couple of other parameters. There will be 4:3 and 16:9 ratio versions (normal and widescreen). There will also be a subtitled version for this 5 minute movie. YouTube reached 200,000 hits.

4th June 2008 - 'Celeste' is nearing completion. I just need the female voice over now from Marsha Crenshaw who has kindly agreed to add her talents to this production. She'll sound great! The movie is complete in all other regards. A subtitled version already exists. I plan to make a black and white version, a stereo version, and another sound version. Should be on YouTube soon.

17th May 2008 - 'Film & Video Maker' magazine asked if I had anything to write about, so I've submitted another article, this time about YouTube. Also I was invited to write an article for 'Model Collector' magazine. I have written a 2,000 word piece on my XR3 and the times Corgi and Sunstar came to measure it up for models. The Corgi one comes out Oct 2008 at 1/43rd scale. I have written it with some humour. Lots of pictures. Check out the Sept 2008 issue, probably out in Aug. Meanwhile 'Celeste' is coming on great.

12th May 2008 - Some more shots from 'Celeste'. The story is about a girl who is hunting zombies to avenge the death of her family. She has been especially trained by local Mystic Wizards and therefore she now has a secret weapon to use against the zombies - a huge creature locked away in a secret building. Celeste leads them into her trap!

8th May 2008 - 'Celeste' is over 2 minutes long. I have made the first scary shot and it made one of my kids visibly jump out of his skin - sorry Jon. Also my wife Pauline said it made her jump even though she knew something was coming. So I'm pleased it is working to plan. Progress is slow now due to the fast cutting shots. Still, I am just enjoying making this one. No pressures to get it done. 102 vids on YouTube now.

2nd May 2008 - 'Celeste' is coming along now. The Daz3D models arrived, one of which is called Celeste and is where this movie title comes from. I also bought the Troll figure. I am using the Urban City and Zombie models that I used for 'Monsters of the Id' as well. On another note, I have made two 'making of' shorts from Monster Vamp, and they are on going on YouTube very soon. Calvertfilm YouTube hits over 150,000. 92 vids and more uploading to get to around 100.

29th April 2008 - The Big Gig festival this year is on 18th and 19th July 2008 in Thurso, and 27th July in Wick. 12 of the 15 films are from Calvertfilm (numbers 2,4 and 11 are not), plus 'Monsters of the Id' will be shown. Yippee! Click on the link below in the note from the organiser for more cool info.

Hello,
Here's how your short films will be presented in Programme A of this years' festival.

Here's the complete content of programme A for this years' "Big Gig". Note there are SEVEN feature length programmes this year.
Prog A: Short Films Programme

1) War Of The Starfighters (trailer)
2) "The Big Gig" 2009 (teaser trailer)
3) My Mate Rex
4) Most Haunted
5) The Intrepid Finale
6) Starfighters Attack
7) The Force Of The Starfighters
8) Johnny Lightspeed
9) The Lone Starfighter
10) X-Wing
11) The Assasination
12) Going To Extremes
13) Duke Starkiller
14) The Brave And The Valiant

15) Creatures of Hate

This programme is sci-fi based content including CGI animation and special effects with live-action as well.
"Monsters Of The Id" will be in Programme B and F as it will be shown in Thurso and Wick. If you have any more films you'ld like to have included in our 2009 event, we are now accepting entries. You can also join our group at www.bebo.com/THEBIGGIG where regular updates are posted.
kindest regards
Darren

20th April 2008 - Calvertfilm web site reaches 100,000th hit since set up March 2000.

Took a little longer than YouTube which took just 8 months. In fact YouTube has gone up to 142,000 hits today, 42,000 in 40 days. Had an idea for a horror CGI movie called 'Celeste'. This five minute film is about a girl seeking revenge against Zombies for the death of her family. She has a surprise up her sleeve as she searches for them within a ruined city. I've already pieced together the music from 'Walking with Beasts' and 'The Mummy'.

12th April 2008 - Uploading lots of rocketry videos to YouTube.

10th April 2008 - 'Monsters of the Id' is still on an HMV shop shelve, which is nice to see in such a competitive market. It came out 7.7.07. It is still available online of course is just about all the online stores. It came down in price on the Amazon.co.uk one.

8th April 2008 - Final nights shooting on Monster Vamp in a village hall. It went very well. I didn't get to bed until 2am the next day though. Lots of fun.

6th April 2008 - 'Acting' in a film called Monster Vamp. I am also taking stills, filming the making of, and producing a few special effects. My main role is to film it being made. More at www.monstervamp.com

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