vatche arabian productions

2011 Wrap-Up

Vatche — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:48:46 +0000

So. 2011. How’d it go? I’d say I had a very successful year.

In 2011, I produced quite a bit of new work. Ranging from some shorts (‘I’m Sorry I Killed You,’ and ‘Friends I Haven’t Met‘), fun trailers and web videos (Labor Day 2 and Boy Shooting Nerf Gun), and Lonely Reviewer’s increased coverage of IFFBoston, it was a busy year!

So, what’s on tap for 2012?

I’m always looking to produce new projects, and collaborate with friends/colleagues on theirs. I’ve already got some things coming down the pipeline!

I hope to produce a few more shorts this year, and hopefully some that coincide with the themes I’m exploring in the projects I’ve done this past year. Shooting on DSLR is making these projects so much easier to produce, and increases production value 10 fold. With the addition of my own portable sound recorder to my kit in late 2011, things are only going to get better from here.

I appreciate you guys for checking out my blog, and my site! Happy New Year!

New Short Film: Friends I Haven’t Met

Vatche — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:16:53 +0000

My newest short film stars Andy Kokoszka, Molly Langston, and Fred Grandinetti – it is basically a little idea I had a few years back riding the subway in New York City. As dangerous as it may seem, people running late often apply make-up on a bumpy train. So the moment I came up with, was two very different observers, both watching a girl apply eye liner.

Enjoy (please watch in HD if you can), and let me know what you think!

New Short Film: I’m Sorry I Killed You

Vatche — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:15:32 +0000

I shot this little short with my brother Razmig a few months ago on a weekend vacation with my family in New Hampshire. I’ve been trying to shoot more and more run and gun short films like this one with my DSLR. I love the look the camera captures. This was something we came up with randomly and thought it’d be a fun exercise.

It also stars my good friend Brandin Tumeinski, my favorite shot is the opening shot, I just love the way it enhances the suspenseful feel of the piece.

New Corporate Sizzle Reel

Vatche — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:27:45 +0000

I heard a great piece of music in our sound library, and I though it’d be worthwhile to cut together a fun sizzle reel to include in our tradeshow loops. The video is called the “Best Just Got Better,” and features a lot of clips from work I’ve done here at Extech.

2011 Brattle Trailer Smackdown Finalist: Labor Day 2

Vatche — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:41:42 +0000

Unfortunately, the success of last year didn’t repeat, but I still had a great time making Labor Day 2.

Labor Day 2 was 9 hours of shooting, followed by at least 60 hours of editing, color correction, and compositing – and another 10 hours of sound work by my friend Gregg Swiatlowski. With 31 effects shots, (the missile in the middle took about an hour to create, another 30 minutes to fine tune) we upped the ante from the first. I do feel like Labor Day 2 definitely was an increase in production value and quality.

Here it is, in its Youtube glory, Labor Day 2: Unholy Union. Please enjoy the film in 720p!

Check out the Brattle Theater’s “Trailer Smackdown” Wednesday

Vatche — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:33:28 +0000

Last year I had a great time making a fake trailer for the Brattle Theater’s annual Trailer Smackdown summer event. This year, the theme is sequel’s, and I knew I had to enter it once again! So, obviously, I made the sequel to last years entry, Labor Day 2.

Be sure to come out to the Brattle Theater Wednesday evening for this great event, and see what we’ve all come up with for this years entry. The evening begins at 6:30pm with a BBQ, and doors to the theater will open at 7:30. Besides the contest, the programmers show some of their favorite trailers – ranging from hilariously awful to extremely good (The Shining trailer anyone?). It’s one of my favorite annual Brattle events.

If you haven’t seen my trailer from last year, here it is:

Hope to see you Wednesday night at the Brattle!

A Fun Little Web Video

Vatche — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:23:33 +0000

This weekend was my cousin Aline’s graduation party (congratulations! good luck at school!), while we were there, my younger cousin Alex told me he really wanted to be in a fun video with some special effects, so we came up with something on the spot. The short video also stars my brother Razmig, and my cousin Natalie.

IFFBoston 2011 Coverage

Vatche — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:34:33 +0000

IFFBoston 2011 kicked off last week, and this year I’ve amped up my coverage for Lonelyreviewer.com. We’ve shot this years festival quite extensively, and I’m going to be cutting the Q&As for release online. Here are two videos I cut. The first is the Q&A that followed the screening of BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY. The second, an interview with the filmmakers behind ICE HOCKEY, a short that screened at the festival. IFFBoston is an amazing film festival, and I am honored to have been allowed the opportunity to work with them.

Documentary “A Look Through Our Eyes” Available Online

Vatche — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:21:11 +0000

Back in 2003 I made a documentary interviewing a group of “third-generation” survivors on what the Armenian Genocide means to them. The film gives them the opportunity to speak about who they are, and how the Genocide affects their lives.

The film until this weekend, had not been available online. I decided in recognition of the 96th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, I’d make the film available for viewing online.

It is shocking to me that not much has changed in the time since I made the film. The Genocide, though continuing to gain recognition within many other countries remains unrecognized here in the United States. It is through continued lobbying and education that hopefully the United States Government will join many others in finally recognizing the Genocide as historical fact.

Short #1 Update: Rough Cut With Sound

Vatche — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:42:54 +0000

So I posted last night that I’d completed the rough cut, as soon as I submitted that post I decided I wasn’t satisfied. I went back, using the sound recorded that day, I created a temporary soundtrack that will serve as the foundation that Gregg will build on.

I’d also been toying with the thought of adding music, but watching it with the sounds of the subway, I’ve decided against it.

I’ve got it out to various colleagues to get notes – and I thought, why not open it up to anyone whose reading my blog. If you’re interested in participating in my little focus group, head on over to http://www.vatchearabian.com/contact/ and drop me a line!