shortly about us

 

History

 

Alaric has Bachelor's of Music from Lawrence University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with his senior project, "Pandora's Box" a 60min film. While at Lawrence Alaric spent a term in London where he took a ten-week crash course in film making at Club Panico, which was run by Bob and Julian Doyle who have worked on many Monty Python and Terry Gilliam projects. After returning to Lawrence Alaric started a movie making club (Impact Films) at Lawrence and produced at least two films a year while beginning his freelance work.

 

 

After graduating he moved to Decatur, IL and worked WAND TV for two years as a videographer, editor and on air movie critic. Then he moved to Champaign, IL and worked for the Prairie Production Group as a videographer and editor for another two years. All the while continuing to produce films, music videos and working on freelance projects. He also began teaching basic movie making at summer camps, private schools and a community college.

 

 

Alaric now lives in Chicago, IL and freelanced full time. He works part time on a regular basis for ABSA Productions in the west loop, creates promotional and educational videos, and works on film sets in many capacities. His influences are Terry Gilliam, Michael Gondry, Orson Welles, Woody Allen and the films, "Casablanca", Cinema Paradiso", "Scent of a Woman", The Third Man" and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen". His other interests include the argentine tango, cooking and he is an Eagle Scout.

 

Artist's Statement

 

As a writer I am interested in the subjects of loneliness, isolation, and separation, themes in all of my work so far whether it be a comedy, horror, drama or music video.   I also apply these ideas in the way I work.   If I'm given a script to direct or shoot, I try to separate myself by coming up with a new perspective on the subject matter.   I am not interested in directing the next Hollywood action blockbuster, but more indie-style films.   I am mainly interested in working with a group of passionate creative filmmakers to create movies that have subject matter that interests me, and a style that fascinates me.

 

My hero filmmaker Terry Gilliam said, "I often think my ideas are mediocre until reality intrudes and improves them." I love this thought and apply to every project I work on.

resume

company profile

Awards:

  • Honorable Mention, Illinois International Film Festival 2007, "Merry Christmas!"
  • Best Dcoumentary, Twin Cities Black Film Festival 2006, "My Joy, My Tears, My Hair"
  • 1st Placed, NEAFCS National Awards 2002, "Early childhood Training Video"
  • Best Special Effects, Ripon College Film Festival 2001, "Hellevator"

    • Festival Showings:

  • Illinois International Film Festival 2008, "Near Miss"
  • WI Wildwood Film Festival 2008, "Near Miss" and "Beautiful"
  • Geneva, lL Film Festival 2007, "Near Miss"
  • Illinois International Film Festival 2007, "Merry Christmas!"
  • Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival 2006, "I Think You're F###ing Stupid!"
  • WI Ripon College Film Festival 2001, "Hellevator"

     

     

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    • testimonials

    “I wasn't sure what I wanted, but when I saw the finished product I knew, 'that's what I wanted!"
       -Skip Houston, Avon Theater Manager, Decatur, IL

    "Alaric was great to work with he was really good at putting stuff together in a film, he had a good bag of tricks!.”
       -Frankie Levangie, Student and nephew of Producer Brian Grazer

    "I have been struck by the specific aesthetic vision Alaric brings to a project, and the incredible work ethic he demonstrates in achieving that vision."
        -Bill Yauch, Lead Editor and Videographer at Prairie Production Group

    "Alaric Rocha has a vision that translates very well into his projects. As an actor in many of his projects...I can attest to his workmanship, and his ability to effectively convey his vision. Alaric breaks things down to me in a way that allows me to understand exactly what he wants, bringing his vision from mind to the screen."
    -Greg Trumbold, Actor and Co-Worker

    references

    Shooting

    Alaric is familiar with many cameras, including the panasonic series DVX and HVX (with red rock mount) the Sony DSR series and HD cameras and personally own the Canon XL2 (with both 3x and 20x lenses). This camera shoots on mini DV tapes and has the ability to shoot anamorphic wide screen and at 24pa (to give the image a more cinematic look)

     

    In addition to owning the camera Alaric also has a Lowell Light kit with miselanous grip equipment. Please contact Alaric for rates and avilibilty.

     

     
    Editing

    Alaric has experience with Avid, and Adobe Premire, but works with Final Cut Pro on a daily basis. He fluent with this program and all it's advanced settings and many third party effects. He is also fluent with DVD Studio Pro and Adobe Photoshop, Frame Forge 3D and Final Draft. Please contact Alaric for rates and availbility.

     

     

     

    Alaric has been teaching movie making since 2002. His course is based on the course he took in London at Club Panico. Although the course may vary based on time and number of students, in most courses students will create two films. After a few introductory lectures on how to work with all the equipment and defining the roles on a film set students will create their first film with very strict requirements so that students may focus on teqnique.

     

    After reviewing the films students will engage in another round of lectures focusing and the art of the film language. Students will learn how to communicate their creative ideas to their audiences using the techniques they learned on the previous project. In this section of the course the "why" not "how" is emphasised.

     

    Following these lectures the students will write a "neutral" script as a group. Each group will then randomlly assigned a genre and be required to plan and make their film based in their assigned genre.

     

    Each student will be able to take home a DVD with all the films. In each group there will be a Director and Director of Photography. Ideally every student will get a chance to fill in the remaining cast and crew positions and get experience in every postion.