Hello Interwebs! Time for another monthly update. A little late this time (for reasons explained within) but no less relevant. So enjoy tales of our company’s progress this June.
Pre-Production Projects
I meant to release a longer sketch for you this month called “Toxic Fans Be Like…” But you get another short one instead. Sorry. I got busy and had to cram out something I could finish before the end of June: “The 10 Stages of Waiting on Hold”.
Ryan and I broke ground on a new Star Wars fan film! We’re drafting our story now, which is currently titled: “The Force Shall Remain”
This one is gonna be fun! The whole idea is an elaborate excuse to play with our prop lightsabers. Seriously– that’s how our decision to do this film came about.
Ryan already received some stage combat training in college, but I’m less experienced in those arts. So I’ve got to teach myself the basics for this thing, lest he overtly outclasses me. You may be thinking: “But guys! Why don’t you hire people who specialize in sword combat?” To that I reply (dryly and matter-of-factly): “With what budget?”
SHAMELESS PLUG: Though if you’d be so kind as to bolster TPM’s low budgets, we have a Patreon you can visit!
Production Projects
“The 10 Stages of Waiting on Hold” is loosely inspired by a recent experience of mine with a company (which I shall not name). This was sometime in February. They kept me on the line for so long that I got invested in the “hold music”. I figured that had good sketch potential. And I’d like to think my instincts were good, because this is one of my favourite sketches I’ve put out thus far.
I’ll talk more about this sketch in a future “Analysis” article.
Post-Production Projects
I managed to coble together a blooper reel for “Phil Blye the Education Guy.” It’s actually funnier than the main sketch, in some ways. My next blooper reel, in appropriate order, will be “Poker in the Pandemic.”
I also re-edited and posted “Watch What You Say Around the Winter Soldier” to Tik Tok because I thought it’d outperform its YouTube counterpart. I was wrong. That’s two releases for this thing, and two failures! Maybe I made the premise too niche… Oh well. Calling on all hardcore Marvel fans: please give this video some love!
Podcast
POST ANY WHICH PUBICALLY RELEASED IN JUNE
Ryan and I filmed our Top Gun and Obi-Wan Kenobi Episodes 1-3 installments back to back. It’s rare he and I fully agree on things, so the Top Gun episode was a nice change of pace for us. Less arguing than usual. Though I’m not sure if that’s nicer or more boring for our loyal listeners… Don’t worry if it’s the later. We’re bound to get into countless more arguments in the future, including in our second episode of the day (the Obi-Wan discussion). We disagreed a tonne on that series!
We filmed Stranger Things 4 Vol 1 and our first “Defending movies” episode a week or two later. The Stranger Things episode is where I officially grew bored of looking at a black background. So I designed a new (though basic) one.
It’s just a color with my and Ryan’s social media accounts. But the background is practical in that I serves two purposes: it allows me to synergize and promote TPM’s brand without taking the time to talk about it, and it’s less dull for you and I. The later is especially important, because I as the editor probably look at these episodes more than you the viewer ever will! But you are important too, of course, because where would we be without your support. So thank you!
The “Defending Tron Legacy and Rocky V” episode will release in a few weeks time.
Finally, we shot our Obi-Wan Kenobi episodes 4-6 discussion, and a debate on Franchise Fatigue. The later will release later in July, or maybe early August.
The Obi-Wan episode is a turning point in Close Up history. It’s the episode where, during my editing process, I became infuriated with my audio. Regular readers of these updates will know this is not a new occurrence. But this time I impulse-bought a new microphone! So I hope the general episode quality raises from here on out.
Some of the aforementioned episodes of Close Up will, unfortunately have to release AFTFER the ones with the new mic. Because we release new reviews of things ASAP and some of these other episodes fill up the weeks in between.
We didn’t get that RSS feed up and running in June. But I ought to have a lot more podcast news for the July update in a few weeks!
I also commissioned Justin to design Close Up’s new cover art. I refused to start our expansion with a blank box… That’d be embarrassing and probably prevent potential listeners from tuning in. We’d look like amateurs (which we are, but I don’t want to look like it)
Graphic Novels
I unfortunately did not get around to practicing art, as I suggested last month. Matteo, however, sent a few pieces of GoG concept art my way! (Apologies for their poor quality… You’ll have to use a little imagination)
Other
I finished subtitling TPM’s old X. Files bloopers (exclusively for our Patrons). That means I’m officially done with all our old subtitles now! And my weekly schedule is more free for other endeavors.
BUT I got a new part time job in June. So I apologize if the website output hasn’t been very consistent (or really any of TPM’s output). I’ve had a tough time balancing my TPM work with my other job.
I’ll get the hang of it soon though, for your sake.
This has been TPM’s June news. If you have any questions about what I’ve written today, or have something you’d like to see addressed more in-depth in next month’s update, let me know in the comments. Also, if you have any ideas for future articles, or any general questions, let me know that as well. Be sure to like this article on Facebook and share if you enjoyed!
Till next time
Joe Morin
