What Difference Does A Trailer Make?

A week ago I had anticipated some public response when the preview for "Your Cinema Needs You" finally dropped. What followed ... thousands of fresh eyes on what I'd been up to this year, renewed public interest, HUNDREDS of messages, media coverage, a rally of support to see the film premiere in the Monarch, and so so so many questions. 

All amazing - but also, exactly what you'd hope a solid trailer would do.

What I wasn't prepared for was the trailer for "Your Cinema Needs You" inspiring a few tip-offs about the potential future of the Monarch Theatre, and the preview convincing the only hold out interview of the entire documentary to finally request a sit down.

Earlier this week production resumed for a single day inside the Monarch, and as a result of this final interviewee's involvement even more unreleased archival material has been secured for the documentary. On what in any other year would be the sleepy haze between Christmas and New Years, I feel like I've been racing. I've just created more work for myself, but I suppose this is the hectic reality of capturing a story that's still being written. 

This new year should be very interesting.

Monarch Documentary Trailer on Chat News

My thanks to Chat News for featuring the trailer for my new documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" on their broadcast today. See the trailer featuring the Monarch Theatre below.

Monarch Documentary: Teaser Trailer

Let's go to the movies!

Opened 111 years ago today on December 21, 1911, the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta is a cinema that's been hiding an incredible story. Here's your first look at the new documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" directed by Luke Fandrich. Coming 2023.

For more updates on the release of this documentary follow @editingluke

2022 Instagram Travel Features @editingluke

As we roll into the yearly recaps for 2022, I was feeling like I hadn't done that much outside of work on a documentary all year - which granted, has been a lot. But when I dug up all of the "official reshares" on my travel content this year it was ... well, awesome lol ... New York, Berlin, Miami, Brussels, Dallas, Winnipeg, Seattle, Calgary, Paris, Los Angeles, Montreal, Victoria, Honolulu, Osaka, Edinburgh, Ottawa, and on and on.

I did a lot of experimenting in 2022 to get my work seen by travel partners while being very strategic about not just building a profile to be mined for content. It's a complicated trade-off, but it seems to be working. The variety of locations in these features is a solid achievement given how competitive this is - and for that, let me say thank you and express how grateful I am to have found eyes for what I share here and on the Editing Luke site. 

Now the real question - where to next? 

Experimenting With A.I. Generated Images on Lensa

Have you seen these A.I. generated images popping up on your feed this week too?

I took the bait and played around on Lensa A.I. this week. For those unfamiliar, it's a paid app where you upload 10-20 selfies and then its A.I. generates a series of images using your likeness. These aren't filters on existing images, they are all part of a batch that is generated randomly with A.I. based only on images of your face.

It's not without glitches and errors, but the technology is pretty incredible - not least of which, because sometimes it turned me into an action-hero Ken doll. While the topic of A.I. imagery and artwork hits close to home in terms of content creation, I can't help but feel this is transformative tech we're going to have to learn about and monitor.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried it? Here are some of my results.

Documentary Sneak Peek, Trailer Release Date

Thank you to the Medicine Hat News and Kendall King for this feature on my latest documentary "Your Cinema Needs You" in today's newspaper. 

Following the incredible response online last week I can finally share that a trailer for the film will be released on December 21 - marking the 111th anniversary of when the Monarch Theatre first opened her doors to the public back in 1911. More updates to come soon.

Exploring An Empty Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

It's always a thrill to capture really distinct locations on travel shoots, but there's really no beating those few rare experiences when you end up with an otherwise incredibly busy location almost entirely to yourself. Here's a look at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World in Florida during an after hours shoot with absolutely no crowds in the park. 

One Year Into Production on the Documentary

One year ago I announced that my new documentary about the Monarch Theatre had been greenlit - a largely unknown (outside of my hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta) historic cinema with a really unique backstory.

No surprises, it's come to define a lot of my 2022.

Production updates, exploration, title reveals, behind the scenes, media releases, etc. It's been fun to share parts of this process (if for no other reason) because uncovering the history of a century old cinema, its origins and evolution, etc. lead me down a few rabbit holes that I needed help climbing out of (so to speak).

Through months of research, interviews, filming, more research, delays, and seemingly endless editing I'm able to finally share that the project is ... still not done. But, we're close-ish ... at least closer. All the puzzle pieces are built and the outside edges are done.

So while a 2023 release is imminent, I'm feeling more and more excited about what's coming up in these final months.

Which begs the question, would anyone like to see an actual sneak peek of the documentary if I decided to release a preview early? Because the trailer is ready and I'm hyped lol.

*REPOSTED: From the Editing Luke facebook page.

Oga's Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Oga's Cantina within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is perhaps one of the most competitive dining reservations in all of Walt Disney World in Florida. This is simply because the space is small, well-themed, and offers unique drinks available only at this one location. 

During our visit we enjoyed the Jedi Mind Trick (a blue vodka cocktail), the Fuzzy Tauntaun (noted for its lip numbing foam), and the Cliff Dweller (a non-alcoholic drink in a collectable Porg mug). We also had the Happabore Sampler (essentially a charcuterie board) to balance out the flavours. Overall, we thought everything was tasty and well prepared, but especially pricey at just over $100 for these 4 selections.

This is one of those Walt Disney World experiences that I'd probably only recommend for the more dedicated Star Wars fan, mostly because it is difficult to justify the expense otherwise. The theming and atmosphere is lively and fun, but the space can be cramped, getting a reservation can be especially time consuming, and after all of that, once you're inside your visit is maxed out at just 45 minutes and a two drink maximum.

Still, it's difficult to deny the appeal of these exclusive experiences - much like the lightsaber building - drinks at Oga's Cantina is a memorable activity within Galaxy's Edge. Whether or not it's more than a one-time activity, however, is something I'm still questioning.

 

8mm Bell & Howell Model 256 Film Projector

The latest film projector to find its way into my collection is this vintage 8mm Bell & Howell Model 256 movie projector. Made in the 1950s, this projector was made for screening home movies filmed on cameras like this other Bell & Howell I picked up earlier this year. I've yet to screen anything with this 8mm projector yet, but after a thorough clean she looks as good as new.

 

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers at the Academy Museum

Within the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, California you'll find Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. These are the screen-used, close-up ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland and are the centerpiece of a collection featuring several other props from the iconic film.