The Short-a-Week Project

The Short-a-Week Project is on Hiatus!

2009-07-14T21:28:00.001-07:00

As if you couldn't tell...

Still writing that feature film...

And doing other things...like:

:)

-Eric

Howard pitches a short about Coffee Bean

2008-12-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Howard: I thought of a great short while I was in the bathroom at Coffee Bean.
Eric: What it's about?
Howard: It's about going to the bathroom at Coffee Bean.
Eric: Sounds...great?
Howard: The guy would really have to go to the bathroom, but then he goes in and finds out it's for customer's only.
Eric: Go on.
Howard: But there's a line, and he has to wait as two people in front of him order the most complicated coffee drinks ever. And then the girl in front of him orders a tea, but then that becomes complicated too.
Eric: And then you get up there and order a water. And the bathroom key.
Howard: I don't buy water.
Eric: Never?
Howard: Never. But if you wanted to do it for dramatic purposes, that's fine.
Eric: Thanks.
Howard: So, you like it?
Eric: Yeah, let me just call up a Coffee Bean and get the filming rights.
Howard: Cool.
Eric: I was joking.
Howard: Oh.
Eric: It's still a good idea, though.
Howard: Thanks.
Eric: It might be a while before we do it.
Howard: That's okay.
Eric: Meanwhile, I'm going to post about it on the website.
Howard: Are you recording this?
Eric: No. I'm going to have to wing it from memory.
Howard: Yeah, like I can't imagine you saying this about winging it from memory.
Eric: Yeah, that part will have to be made up.
Howard: Cool.

---
Coming Soon: Jack and The Coffee Bean Bathroom

The Handicapped Bathroom Stall - A Short Film About a Guy Who is Harassed by a Paraplegic for Taking a Handicapped Stall - Man, Titiles Can be Long..

2008-11-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Subject of the next short: Handicapped paraplegic fumes when the only stall taken is the handicapped stall - taken by a guy who is not handicapped.

Needs:
Script
Actors
Camera
DP
Sound Equipment
Location

We'll be checking these things off as we go along...

I hope.

The Short-a-Week Project will return

2008-11-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, the plan is to make some DVDs of our "best" shorts so far.

Don't you want to watch them on your big-ol TV? So do we.

Look for a Comedy DVD and a non-Comedy DVD in time to stuff the stockings.

And look for new shorts in Feb. 2009, when we start up again.

Speaking of which, do you act? Have you written a short? Let us know. Send headshots and scripts to shortaweek@gmail.com

Don't have a headshot or script? Take / write one! Both are easy!

The Short-a-Week Project is on Hiatus

2008-10-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

After 27 weeks, 26 shorts + a promotional video and interview, the Short-a-Week Project is officially on break.

But never fear.

We're returning in 2009 with brand new short films!

If you haven't seen all of the films, scroll down and check them out on the right side of the page...

See ya next year!

(Got an idea/script for a short? Want to be in one / help out in any way? Let us know! Email - shortaweek@gmail.com)

:)

Lessons learned in this first half of the project

2008-10-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Below are some lessons learned, which also may provide good justification for why we must go on hiatus right now (but to return in 2009!)

Lessons Learned from doing 26+ shorts for The Short-a-Week Project:

-I'm pretty good at writing, editing, and soundtrack supervising

-I'm OK at directing

-I'm BAD at producing, lighting, sound, kraft servicing

Other lessons:

-If you do a short film every week, your real work may pass you by in this race called "life," and you'll have to start catching up in October.

-Cameras cost a lot of money and should not be purchased used on Ebay

-Producing is hard. Did I mention that? It's surprisingly difficult to arrange times when actors are available.

-Sound recorders and mics are necessary, and worth saving for. So start saving.

Things that will happen in 2009:

-New camera. The shorts will look good.

-New microphone. The shorts will sound good.

-Planned shoots - The shorts will have a scheduled day and time to shoot.

-Start looking for actors early. Like, two weeks before the planned day and time.

-Be at least three shorts ahead of schedule.

Possible things that will happen in 2009:

-Auditions
-Recruit a Director of Photography...or two.
-Group writing sessions
-More craigslist ads for short scripts and actors
-More fun?
-More fun!

etc.
etc.

see ya in 2009!

Week 27 - Mutant - A Short Film

2008-10-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

This week The Short-a-Week Project brings you "Mutant."

Mutant - A short film about a guy who believes he is indestructible.

Starring Lawrence Long

Written and Directed by Lawrence Long and Eric Myers

Based on a concept by Lawrence Long

In other words, Lawrence gets all the credit / blame for this one.

Enjoy!

"Mutant"

One reason for the slowing enthusiam...

2008-10-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

We used to have a Canon GL1

But it didn't work that well.

So it was returned.

But the owner did not yet return the money.

The battle with Ebay and Paypal and the seller continues.

It has been over two months.

Frustration ensues.

Producing and Editing are the Biggest Headaches in the world, like bigger than the worst hangover.. man, i didn't know titles could be this long?!?

2008-10-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

Not sure if pawning of some producer duties to Lawrence is going to work. Didn't work last week, haven't heard from Lawrence today - guessing there is no shoot this evening. Don't blame him - it's surprisingly hard to get actors together in such short notice...for a short.

Which leaves us with one short in the can, three written and waiting to be shot, and a bunch of ideas for shorts.

Also:

Apologies for the delay in posting "Three Fries." Final Cut Express ain't to be trifled with.

Ahhhhh, and now I have to do "real" work.

Can you feel the tension? How many more weeks will the Short-a-Week Project last?

Stay tuned.

Week 27 - Three Fries

2008-10-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

If you've been waiting for the new short instead of reading how Sarah Palin was found guilty abusing her powers, my apologies.

Okay, so without further ado, we bring you "Three Fries," a short about a stranger who just wants a couple fries.

Starring Lawrence Long, written and directed by Eric based on an idea by Kim Hsu (and you'll see there ain't much to the writing, so perhaps we can just say co-written by Kim Hsu...)

Now, really, without further ado (seriously)

"Three Fries"

new short! Coming...in like, a few hours

2008-10-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, the new short should be up.

And it would be up.

If I hadn't fallen asleep last night.

Instead of editing it.

Darn sleep.

Darn circadian rhythms.

Whatever those are.

Short coming soon!

nudity sex girls naked adult content in our short films

2008-10-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

While the title is an obvious attempt to drive more visitors to the site, there is still a point to this post.

That is, some of our shorts are for "mature audiences" only. Below is a list of those shorts, and the reason why you should really be at least 13 years of age to watch them.

Okay, 12.

Don't Follow Me - Brief violence and scariness.

Up the Creak - Sexual innuendo and partial nudity.

Flip a Towel - Partial nudity and dirty clothes.

Now you know which shorts to avoid / watch.

Speaking of shorts, Lawrence and I are off to film one today.

On a Wednesday?

Indeed.

One Star Videos, Rejections, and Writing

2008-10-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

It appears someone went through and gave our last few videos one star each on YouTube, which makes little sense, since each of those videos is totally different, and many people (ie: our relatives) have said they're some of our best vids yet.

The fact is, I don't care if you give our videos one star, but with such a polarizing vote, please, please leave a comment so we know what sucked so bad about it. Was it the abysmal lighting done by yours truly? The shaky sound by yours truly? The acting by yours truly?

Come to think of it, a one-star rating with no follow up is probably personal... hmm, who would have something against The Short-a-Week Project?

Two words: rejected writers.

Well, if I'm right, I'll just say hey, I'm sorry your script was rejected...but keep writing. The fact that I even replied to you means you're on the right track and are welcome to send your next one. (shortaweek@gmail.com)

Or...

Start your own short film project! Seriously, it's one of the reasons I started The Short-a-Week Project: was tired of writing sketches for a friend's comedy group and then having them rejected or not performed.

And so...

I feel your pa(l)in. But please, don't give us one star without a reason.

Google Page Rank: 3

2008-10-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

We have a Google PageRank of three.

Out of nowhere.

Well, not nowhere.

Out of Google.

Thanks Google!

Week 26 - Your Questions

2008-10-03T18:31:00.001-07:00

Ah, here it is!

The Short-a-Week Project celebrates the half-way mark by answering some of your questions!

Thanks for sending them in, and thanks to all those who have supported us so far.

Your Questions

A short is coming...

2008-10-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Some issues with Final Cut Express...

Uploading not working...

Will try later...

dot dot dot

Question the Short-a-Week Project

2008-09-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Have you been DYING to ask us a question or two about our shorts? Or, can you make up a question and pretend as if you've been dying to ask it? Well, now is your chance!

To celebrate our 26th short (half-way to 52...a year of short films) we're answering questions in front of the camera. I know, exciting stuff!

Just leave a comment with a question about one of our shorts or the project as a whole: there's a good chance we'll read it, answer it in front of the camera, use your name, and make you famous. Like, better than 50/50.

We need all questions by Wednesday (tomorrow) at 10:59 PM. Random time? No! We're filming at 11!

Think think think.

Week 25 - Leave the Bathroom Door Open Day

2008-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

This week's short "Leave the Bathroom Door Open Day" is - you guessed it - a follow-up to Dirty Day.

Which is part of a new series called Holiday Guy

To see them both, go to our YouTube site!

http://www.youtube.com/shortaweekproject

(I'll also post Leave the Bathroom Door Open Day here on the site...as soon as it loads up on YouTube. C'mon Internet, you can go faster than that!)

ed. note... here it is!

New Short - Coming, but tied up in Final Cut Express HD

2008-09-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

This week's short should be up within the next few hours. Please have patience as I learn this new editing program.

Ah, the possibilities of Final Cut Express...

Ah, the frustrations of Final Cut Express...

Sit on this toilet for an hour while I play with the camera

2008-09-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

That's pretty much how it went on Sunday when we filmed the next installment of Holiday Guy.

The first installment was Dirty Day. Yes, it will get better, but hey, I liked Dirty Day. Don't hate!

We also filmed a short that may not see the light of day, but is tentatively titled "Mutant." Ask Lawrence; he wrote it.

Week 24 - SILENCE: A Quiet Little Short

2008-09-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Short-a-Week Project Presents: SILENCE

"A quiet little short about a guy who can't sleep peacefully."

Because the faucet keeps dripping.

And the blinds keep flapping.

And the fridge makes strange sounds.

Eh, just watch.

SILENCE

Starring Lawrence Long

Song "Mega-Bite" by My Transformer
http://www.myspace.com/mytransformer

Running time: 2 minutes and 30 seconds

Enjoy!

YouTube Quality

2008-09-18T13:55:00.001-07:00

In case ya didn't know, uploading a video to YouTube dramatically reduces the quality of the sound and video of a short film.

So please, use a little imagination when you watch our shorts.

And start saving your moneys for the first "Short-a-Week" DVD - coming in October!

Almost Half-Way There

2008-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago it dawned on me that the Short-a-Week Project is approaching the half-way mark of the "let's do one short a week for an entire year" goal.

And we're going to celebrate.

Oh, but how to celebrate? Below are some options:

1. A party
2. A screening of some of the best shorts
3. A DVD of some of the best shorts, with outtakes and commentary
4. Your suggestions?
5. All of the above

Oooh, what will happen? How will the celebrations take place?

Stay tuned for the answer.

Week 23 - Dirty Day

2008-09-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

In this week's short - Dirty Day - Lance invents a holiday so he doesn't have to clean up around the apartment.

Starring Lawrence Long and Mauricio Peña

Written and Directed by Eric Myers

Song "I Feel Fantastic" by Jonathan Coulton

Enjoy!

Comments are optional, but always welcome. Yes, even anonymous ones.

Alternate Names for the Short-a-Week Project

2008-09-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Proposed alternate names to the "Short-a-Week Project" (as proposed in conversation with Lawrence during filming, Sept. 10th, 2008)

"Get Lawrence to Roll Around in the Dirt Project" (Just wait until tomorrow's short)

"Bang your head against that refrigerator Project"

"Project: There's a big pile of laundry; I'm going to throw it on top of you and we'll make a short."

Or "Project: Are you really worried about how clean my car is? / Project: Do you mean you can't put your bare ass on a dirty car?"

I think the "Short-a-Week Project" might still be the best one.

-E