P.R. O'Leary's Blog: PROLeary.com, page 2

How To Make a Short Film

If you spent any time perusing the films on my YouTube Channel, you will see that, well, the quality varies wildly. That’s not to say I don’t love them all, because I do.

There is something really fun about coming up with an idea, filming it, and putting it out into the world. If no one watches, who cares? In my mind, it’s about finishing something. Now you have a thing that didn’t exist, and it exists because of you and (most likely) your friends.

Which brings me to Pickled. Recently, I dug out my old camera and installed some free editing software on the PC. I had made one film in the past few weeks, Liminal Mario, but that did not require me to actually film anything.

I wanted to get the camera working and do some real filming, so I layed on the couch until I thought of a movie idea that would be fun, and practical, to make. That’s where I came up with Pickled. It took me 15 minutes to write the script, 2 hours of running around the house to film it, and maybe another 3 hours to edit it together.

5-6 hours of work, and it’s done! Worth the time? A viewer would probably say No, but for me, it is an absolute Yes.

Why? Because I learned a lot. Mostly technical stuff. A few structural things as to how to film/edit scenes more clearly. What to pay more attention to next time.

Also, I made a thing! It exists! You can actually watch it below.

So, to answer the title of this post, just go make one! You probably have a camera. Or at least a cell-phone. You probably have a laptop/pc where you can install DaVinci Resolve or something similar. And I know you have an imagination.

Think of a potential film project as exercise for your creative brain. Just make anything and you’ll learn a lot. So when the time comes to start a big project, you will be ready.

Before you start though, watch Pickled.

Liminal Mario – Most Original Concept?

Liminal Mario now has a poster!

It has also been selected as a finalist for the Most Original Concept Award at the Austin Micro Film Festival!

Is it original? I think so. Is it the most original concept of all time? Probably. Will it win? Definitely.

Liminal Mario – Austin Micro Film Festival

I have a new short film premiering at the Spring 2023 Austin Micro Film Festival on Saturday March 11th, 2023 @ 3pm.

Liminal Mario is a comedy/drama/experiment relating real-life philosophy to the world of the original Super Mario Bros. Or… it’s a goofy video montage of video game footage.

Either way you look at it, I think it’s quite fun.

It’s narrated by the great Seth Hunter Perkins, who nailed it. He’s easily the best part of the short.

See it in Austin! And more locations to come! In the meantime, check out the trailer:

A Creepy Story on a Creepy Podcast

Some time ago, my good friend, Such Sights to See co-host Erik, altered some classic horror paperback covers for an RPG we were playing.

As usual, his creativity inspired my creativity and I wrote a story based on his made-up title.

Cut to a few months later, and Skulldaddy is featured on the Creepy podcast. You’ll have to be a member of their Patreon to listen, but I encourage you to join and check out my story and the other creepy horror fiction.

Skulldaddy is narrated by Michelle Kane, and was featured as their 12/7/2022 selection.

The Podcast Returns!

I’m excited to announce that Such Sights To See has returned. My podcast where I talk about movies is back, this time with a co-host. My good friend/enemy Erik will be talking movies with me.

We have a new format that gives both of us a new way to explore the weird world of film. Lots of discoveries will be made and I’m happy to share them with everyone.

Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

Uncanny Valley: A Science Fiction Anthology

Check out the new anthology by Distant Shore Publishing. It contains a story of mine, Traditional Human Gifts, about a world held hostage by a super-computers. It’s a fun twist on that tired idea. Pick up the anthology from Amazon! It has been described as a literary version of a season of The Twilight Zone.

New fiction! Traditional Human Gifts at Distant Shore Publishing

Check out my new short story, Traditional Human Gifts published over at Distant Shore Publishing.

This is a fun little sci-fi story about digital love. I’m glad it found a cool spot to be, and I’m glad it has some great art by Katie Barrett!

New Translation in Nightland Quarterly

This is a fun post for me, but probably not that useful for most of my readers.

My 2016 story The Howard Family Tradition has been translated in Japanese! You can find it in Night Land Quarterly vol. 23 (Kwaidan: Visions of the supernatural), just published in Japan by Atelier Third.

The Howard Family Tradition first appeared in Weirdbook #32 and was chosen as an honorable mention for Best Horror of the Year by Ellen Datlow.

This new edition was translated by Yasuko Kaji. So now you have two languages to choose from if you haven’t read it already!

New Podcast! Such Sights to See

Such Sights to See is a podcast about my journey through film. Follow along with me and some special guests as I explore the the peaks, valleys, and dark corners of this incredible world!

Jonah and Ben play board games with friends

It’s a true statement but it’s also the name of a new podcast about board games.

I am honored to be one of their friends and to be have appeared as a guest on episode 2.

Jonah and Ben are fun to listen to and know a lot about board games, including how to lose to me in nearly one-third of our plays.

Check it out and let them know what you think!