Click here to view the embedded video.

Official Site: http://projectarbiter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Arbiter/333416092266

Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectarbiter

Details:
20 minute concept short film
shot on RED One camera system

Synopsis:
Set in 1943, the height of WWII, this is a story about an experimental O.S.S. unit code named PROJECT ARBITER. Thousands of feet above Northern Europe a small plane carries a skeleton crew of the Allies best, including Special Fields Op. Captain Joseph Colburn. His handler, Major Thomas Hardy does a final review of the missions grim intel: infiltrate a mysterious villa on the Polish border and uncover its secrets. Colburn emerges donning a prototype suit, which can temporarily render its occupant invisible. As the planes bay doors howl open Colburn begins to put on the skull-faced helmet when the plane is rocked by an anti-aircraft shell. Rapidly losing air pressure and altitude, now there’s no question… this is a one-way mission.

Project Arbiter has been blessed with the talents of many skilled crew members and today we are happy to bring you a Q&A with Devin White, one of the founders of Blue Realm Studios which is responsible for the fabrication of the XO-7 Arbiter invisibility suit, his “Inferno” knife, and the skull-faced Arbiter “Reaper” helmet. Here is what Devin had to say…

Q: How did Blue Realm Studios come about?

A: Blue Realm Studios was founded in 2007 one year after I met my partner in crime, Adam Grumbo. At that time I was working on a hand sculpted Master Chief costume replica based on the popular video game Halo and had posted some pictures on the web. Adam had just created the 405^th.com and invited me to join and show off my progress. Through email and inviting him to my wedding, Adam and I became great friends. Together with our talents we created Blue Realm Studios. I’ve always wanted to create movie props and costumes ever since I was a child and Blue Realm is that outlet for me. I’ve grown from making cardboard and duct tape costumes to utilizing the same methods that the big time studios use these days.

Humble Beginnings – Blue Realm begins Fabrication of the Arbiter "Reaper" Helmet

Q: When Mike Chance first approached your team with the concept of Project Arbiter, what were your thoughts and what made you join the production?

A: Mike Chance is a great guy and has a lot of enthusiasm for his new project. We were honored that he approached us and decided to hire us for such a cool short film. After a few conversations and seeing Robert Simons’ renderings of the Arbiter, I knew I had to be a part of this project.

Q: What were the development stages of fabricating the suit?

A: The first stages of fabrication come from the concept artist, in this case Robert Simons. After reviewing the drawings, we planned our method of attack and came up with solutions to obstacles that might not be ideal when worn by an actor. Once we picked our game plan, the work was divided up among artists and the fabrication began. Once the separate pieces came back to the studio we did some rough fittings utilizing the soft parts we ordered off a WWII clothing website. After scale was approved, we moved on to strapping and creating harnesses that would hold the armor in place for the actor. Once we had a working costume we then sent the parts into the paint booth for some nice battle ready paint and finishes. After the paint was dry and final approval was submitted, we had the final props delivered to the filming location for their on screen debut.

Making of the Arbiter Armor

Q: Creating such an intricate suit required a lot of time, talent, and attention to detail. What were some of the challenges you faced when working towards the final product?

A: One of the major challenges we faced was the backpack that allows the Arbiter to become invisible to his opponents. Robert did an awesome job creating a complex design that in the end was a hard nut to crack. The original design took inspiration from the V-Twin of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and was rendered with chrome pieces straight out of the future. With time and budget constraints we decided to take the overall concept of the backpack and came up with a smaller more grungy style pack that would allow the actor to move a little more freely. After talking to Mike, we decided that chromed parts and the sheer size of the prop would be too much of an undertaking in such a short amount of time. We were happy to hear that Mike embraced the new design and was happy with the finished product.

XO-7 Arbiter Suit Back Piece

Q: What sort of “tools of the trade” does your team use? What equipment is needed to transpose an image to a life-size prop?

A: One of the techniques we utilized was the vacuum form machine. Much like the Stormtroopers from Star Wars, the armor was created by heating up sheets of ABS plastic, forming them over positive forms and then sucking out all the air to pick up the detail. We also utilized an old school artisan method of sculpting to create the “Reaper” helmet. It was hand sculpted over a few weeks and then was molded and cast in Polyurethane plastic. We had our team of painters come in and give the props a really nice grungy battle damaged look. For some secondary props such as the resperator pack that the Arbiter wears, located underneath the large invisibility pack, we took the high tech approach and CNC milled a positive from a pre-rendered 3D model. We were able to utilize a lot of different methods with this project and learned a few new ones as well.

time to walk around town as a metalic soldier from WWII – SWEET!

Q: In addition to Project Arbiter, what other exciting projects is Blue Realm Studios involved in?

A: Blue Realm Studios is busy working on a lot of fun new projects some of which we aren’t allowed to talk about. Let’s just say we are working on some really cool costumes and weaponry. We also have some practical props we are working on for the game industry to show case at trade shows and other gaming events.

Q: You’ve done a lot of work with the Halo franchise. What is the most challenging part of working with a story that millions of fans love?

A: In a sense Blue Realm got its start making Halo props. Because we’re fans of the game, we like to make things from the Halo world to show off our capabilities. The unique sci-fi genre of Halo really hits home with what we like to produce as well as offers challenges we like to face. Currently we’re working on some cool helmets and weapons for some Bungie employees.

Master Chief suit created by Blue Realm Studios

Q: What was the working relationship like with Mike Chance? What made it successful?

A: Mike Chance is an inspiring director and it was a joy to work with him and his team. We look forward to working with him in the future and any new projects he dreams up. I’d like to say I can now call him a friend as well as a creative genius that took a chance on a small studio.

Q: If there was one thing that you wanted to share about the artistry of prop fabrication to those who are unfamiliar with your industry, what would it be?

A: The prop industry is a very competitive market and it takes a lot to gain recognition and master your craft. My advice to anyone out there that is interested in this type of work is to pick a project and start building. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t be scared to try new things. Sculptors aren’t born sculptors. They become that after they sculpt for hours and hours to determine methods that work best for them. Keep an eye on the industry and read lots of books about the craft. I can’t tell you how much reading and doing research has helped me in my prop making journey.

We encourage you to check out the orginal post at http://www.projectarbiter.com/blog/blue-realm-studios-briefing-on-prop-fabrication/

We sat down with Michael Chance, the writer/director of ‘Project Arbiter’ to discuss the movie and its potentially expansive future as a feature-length trilogy.

In late March of 2010, we were introduced to a teaser trailer for a short concept film entitled Project Arbiter. The teaser got us excited to learn more, so we spoke with writer/director Michael Chance about the project.

The 20-minute concept film is designed to pique interest in a proposed feature trilogy that includes trans-media integration — meaning video games, toys and novels. As the director of a number of short films and commercial projects, Chance is ready for the next level, talking on a potentially career-defining franchise. If a studio is as impressed as we are by the work he has done on Project Arbiter so far, expect big things in the future.

The short film is still a mystery to many, so we discussed it with Chance in detail over an hour-long phone call. All we really knew back in March was that the story twists the reality of World War II into a genre-bending action sci-fi movie. But Chance doesn’t want audiences to see this as an alternate reality like Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds — it falls closer to an untold story based firmly in reality, according to the director:

“It is NOT an alternative reality or new history. This IS very much rooted in historical events. I would consider it more like a Saving Private Ryan or a Band of Brothers in that we are following a group of people encountering key battles and individuals within the history of World War II.  I think what [Quentin] Tarantino did with Inglourious Basterds was awesome in that you just didn’t see that twist coming at the end. But at the same time I think our film strays away from that type of fantasy in that ours is very much rooted in reality. More so we’ve gone very deep into what is technologically possible and the amount of electrical hertz that can go through a body for example. Jesse Boots and our visual effects team are working hard with me to create a cloaking technology that is visually different from anything you’ve seen — this is just one way we are taking the WWII experience in a completely new and virtually unexplored territory on film. That type of open collaboration within our team is what has allowed us to continually expand the story and its presence.”

The cloaking technology he refers to is a major aspect of Project Arbiter. While it may look like a run-and-gun action movie, it actually focuses more on the stealthiness of a soldier who finds temporary invisibility with an unprecedented chemical and the situations that ability gets him into.

“In science fiction, there has been much emphasis on weaponry as in explosives, guns, and different kinds of battle armor. I thought what would be more interesting is if a soldier has the ability to go invisible and moreover put the emphasis on the difficulties that come with that responsibility. There are personal moral decisions with such a power and there are severe consequences when using raw chemical materials that have the capability to change you forever. You are basically an invisible person that could go into virtually any room undetected and do whatever you want. The possibilities are limitless and when put in the hands of a trained soldier, it’s a lethal combination.”

Project Arbiter is as much a character study as it is an action film, if not more. Chance is proud of the emphasis on character, stating that the main character of Joseph Colburn has a “darker turmoil inside that is personified by the way the suit looks.”  The engaging short film should have no problem finding a core audience, but the story always takes precedent to cool weaponry.

“The story follows Joseph Colburn [played by Lex Cassar] who is part of the O.S.S. and he is paired with his S.O.E. handler Tom Hardy [played by Jake Lyall]. At the beginning of the film they are on a mission to secure more information on a specific individual who created the German version of the suit. On this journey, they switch up the plan to potentially capture this target, which increases the risks and rewards. The Arbiter parachutes out of a prototype aircraft while they are hit by anti-aircraft flak fire from the location they are trying to infiltrate. Along the way, there is a series of battles and confrontations that the Arbiter encounters with specific individuals on the Nazi side of the story. We focused on creating a conflict that unfolds Joe through action, mystery, and personal growth.”

The future of Project Arbiter relies heavily on the reactions to the 20-minute concept short. While it has been designed as its own short film, it exists for the greater purpose of jump-starting a franchise. But as any independent filmmaker will tell you, getting the right attention is the hard part. Chance has made the rounds by attending 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, speaking with the press and simply getting the word out through social media. We noticed the work before filming even finished, so he must be doing something right.

But the big question is how Chance, producer Vicki de Mey, and the rest of the Project Arbiter team will push the film to the next level. Independent filmmaking is a tough market, but short films have been picked up in greater numbers lately and Chance sees his opportunity to pounce.

“What’s been interesting is having the comparison to District 9 or The Raven, which was recently picked up by Mark Wahlberg. It is a really exciting time for independent filmmakers to get their films seen. The biggest thing that Hollywood and the industry looks for is an immediate reaction to a concept. If you can solidify your concept within two minutes, and then gather enough steam to create a concept short that’s 20-minutes, you can show beyond the concept that the group of filmmakers that created it have the ability to follow through on a feature film.”

TRON: Legacy was pitched to Disney with a concept short in the same vein as Project Arbiter and that resulted in a mega-million investment. While Project Arbiter may not have a predetermined fan base like TRON, there is enough to get excited about in just the teaser trailer from last year.

Chance says they are at the halfway point in post-production, with nearly 50% of the 220 visual effects shots finished and an original score in the works by composer Ryan Leach. If you have any doubts about the visuals in the original teaser, rest assured only a half-year has passed since production wrapped and they are already enhancing it further. Below are the first stills to be released. Chance expressed how thrilled he is with the imagery and detail that cinematographer Jason Beckwith and colorist Tashi Trieu have created.

It will be interesting to see the finished product and follow the attempt to turn this into a bankable franchise.

Original concepts are difficult to come across these days in the movie business. While it is an appealing aspect of Project Arbiter, it will also be its biggest enemy. With a few strokes of genius marketing, like the unexpected Arbiter custom LEGO mini-figure created by Amazing Armory in Hong Kong, Arbiter has a chance to mimic Neill Blomkamp’s journey from Alive in Joburg to District 9. But Michael Chance will be the first to urge you to stray away from comparison and experience Project Arbiter as its own entity.

If you haven’t seen the teaser from last year, watch it one more time and share your thoughts with us on the short film.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Finally, check out the exclusive new Project Arbiter “CODE: Red” poster below, by concept artist Robert Simons (Click for a larger version):

You can visit the Project Arbiter website for more details and follow production updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Be sure to check out the official website at http://www.projectarbiter.com/

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Set in 1943, the height of WWII, this is a story about an experimental O.S.S. unit code named PROJECT ARBITER. Thousands of feet above Northern Europe a small plane carries a skeleton crew of the Allies’ best, including Special Fields Op. Captain Joseph Colburn. His handler, Major Thomas Hardy does a final review of the mission’s grim intel: infiltrate a mysterious villa on the Polish border and uncover it’s secrets. Colburn emerges, donning a prototype suit, which can temporarily render it’s occupant invisible. As the plane’s bay doors howl open Colburn begins to put on the skull-faced helmet when the plane is rocked by an anti-aircraft shell. Rapidly losing air pressure and altitude, now there’s no question… this is a one-way mission.

Be sure to check out the official website at http://www.projectarbiter.com/