#tmk.post

[thememorykeeperfilm]

The Finish Line

As of last night, the final cut of The Memory Keeper has been submitted. The past week was spent polishing the sound design (so much sound design), including the addition of a song, as well as finalizing the color grading. 

Ethan, the primary producer, and I also completed the dialogue and music cue sheets, respectively. These documents are used to ensure we have all the rights for the soundtrack, as well as help with subtitling and any translations. 

Now, we just wait for the premiere!! May 9th, in Portland, our festival will go live. I am so excited, and so so proud of everyone who worked on this film, as well as the other films within the festival/class. Thank you for all the support!

This will be my last blog post now that the film is completed. If you’d like to keep in touch, follow our Instagram @thememorykeeperFILM. 

For the last time, 

Kathryn Morin - Director

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” trailer - https://youtu.be/DJ48CnNBLUs 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Almost There....

The Memory Keeper is now in its “fine cut” phase. One week until the final film is created (or at least, the first published version). I have some minor sound edits, perhaps 1-2 songs to add, and some color correction before the film is ready for audiences!

This is really the final push. I, or the film, wouldn’t be here without a community’s worth of support. Thank you, everyone. 

Tickets are now live for our premiere showing: May 9th at Nickelodeon Cinemas in Portland, ME. Buy tickets here ➣ https://www.patriotcinemas.com/movie/the-maine-mayhem-film-festival

Our trailer is also live, which is linked below!

Kathryn Morin, Director

4/24/24

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” proof of concept - https://youtu.be/p8Nyk3x-oMI?si=YwNvypkpPH9jfMoa 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Editing: Special Bits!

This past week was more editing! AHHH!!! The film is more or less picture-locked now, pending any groundbreaking revelations about how the pacing/flow should go. There also was another pass on the sound design, this time adding all necessary ambiance as well as incorporating 88% of the soundtrack (all original). A basic color correction pass was done, too! More excitingly, the feux-follet animations are done and they look great!

By next week, the film should be in fine cut territory! We’re in the home stretch now :,)

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Almost "Fine"

This was (and will continue to be) a big post production week! 

Yesterday I spent at least six hours with our music composer, Gilon Backlund, writing and recording the soundtrack for the film. Luckily, our two major songs were already complete, so we focused on the meat of the film’s instrumentals. We have all songs done except for two!

On the other side of the post production world, just a few hours ago I received our final draft for our poster. It’s looking absolutely incredible. I’m so so proud of our poster designer, Liliana Andersen, and can’t wait to show it off.

Our VFX artist is still hard at work on the animations. Her contributions to the film are going to be done within the next week. So exciting!

Meanwhile, today I had a long meeting with an editing mentor of mine to go over the rough cut (again lol). With a few minor cutting tweaks and another pass on the sound design, the film will be in “fine cut” territory. I’m dedicating this Friday and Saturday to making the film polished and shiny (this includes color correcting and adding in the music). It’s all finally starting to feel real! After that the only major edits will be to incorporate the animations and drop in a title sequence. 

On the horizon, I’ll soon start cutting a 60 second trailer as well as assemble a press release packet. 

Kathryn Morin, Director 

4/10/24

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” proof of concept - https://youtu.be/p8Nyk3x-oMI?si=YwNvypkpPH9jfMoa 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Still Editing...

This week of production is more of the same. I reached the third draft of the rough cut, and largely completed the sound design minus the inclusion of a score. I’m excited because this means I’m nearly on a picture lock! 

I’m also excited to report I’ll have a solid poster draft ready to show by next week. Our VFX artist is still hard at work animating the feux-follet. Next week, I’ll also be having a long meeting with our composer to hopefully bust out as much of the soundtrack as possible (two songs are already done). I expect serious progress to have been made on these fronts in the next 7-10 days. If you’d like to see more behind-the-scenes, please follow our instagram!

Kathryn Morin, Director 

4/3/24

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” proof of concept - https://youtu.be/p8Nyk3x-oMI?si=YwNvypkpPH9jfMoa 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Post Production Intensive p.2

The 1st draft of the rough cut went out to select viewers and I received some great and super helpful feedback. While that was underway, I earnestly began collaboration on the poster design alongside our lovely poster designer, Liliana Andersen! So far it’s mostly been cycling out what ideas we like and what we don’t like or isn’t plausible. I’m learning a ton from her about posters in the process.

In other exciting news, our SFX artist, Emma Jordan (shoutout to her and her Mayhem film from last year: Go to Hell!), and I have officially settled on a design for the feux-follet (French will-o-the-wisps). This is so exciting, as SFX work usually takes a ton of time and was one of the main selling points of the proof of concept. Her work will really elevate the fantasy elements of the film!

Later this week, I’ll also be meeting with the film’s music composer, Gilon Backlund. Two songs are already functionally done, so we’ll be discussing broader musical themes we want and expectations/desires for “filler” and transitional songs. 

Last week, Ethan (producer + AD) and I handed over deliverables (contracts/legal work, behind-the-scenes content, trailer selects, etc) without any big hiccups. So all of our paperwork is perfectly in a row. Yay!

Lots of balls are in the air at the moment, and it’s a little overwhelming to try juggling them all while staying on top of class deadlines. But stuff is happening!!

Kathryn Morin, Director 

3/27/24

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” proof of concept - https://youtu.be/p8Nyk3x-oMI?si=YwNvypkpPH9jfMoa 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

The Last Stretch of Production

In the last week, no footage was shot, so we all had time to rest and get ready for our last two days of production: March 2nd and 3rd. 

Lots still happened though: we signed on our last two actors, finalized costuming pieces, gathered necessary makeup, chose the dance sequence, finished several original songs, and created a crafties plan. Originally, a dance rehearsal was going to be held Friday morning to prepare, but folks couldn’t make it so it’s been canceled. Luckily it’s an easy dance, called “La Bastringue,” an old yet classic Québébecois folk dance. 

Today, I was also lucky enough to catch our remote producer in person and have a meeting with her; she’ll be with us on our last production day as scripty! Yay!

One concern lately has been weather continuity. Usually, February and March are some of the deep winter months in Maine, but this year, it’s been consistently warm (thanks climate change). Currently, it’s been 40-50 degrees this week and most of the snow has melted, and this weekend it’s set to be in the mid-50s when we shoot. Our already shot footage has plenty of snow, so the director of photography and I are formulating a plan to transition the story into a setting without it. Thank God we’re shooting this film chronologically (initially I planned it like that encase we got too much snow. Opposite result but still a good call from my past self lmao). 

The last piece of the puzzle is a final location scout in the forest for our remaining scenes. We only have 3.5 pages to shoot over the course of two days… knock on wood we have plenty of wiggle room. 

As always, massive thank you to the cast and crew for all the work done so far and for their continued efforts and commitment. Excited for the weekend!

Kathryn Morin, director

2/28/24

If you’d like to learn more about this project:

View “The Memory Keeper” proof of concept - https://youtu.be/p8Nyk3x-oMI?si=YwNvypkpPH9jfMoa 

Instagram - thememorykeeperFILM

[thememorykeeperfilm]

YOACHIM: a character introduction (yo-key-mm)

Introducing our supporting character, Yoachim! He’s a reclusive “lutin,” a humanoid creature of Québécois folklore. He’s a bit sneaky and mischievous, but has a soft spot for kind and gentle humans.

Yoachim is a "lutin," a Québécois folk creature of moral ambiguity. Lutins are house spirits of sorts, that often take animal forms, can shift their size, and enjoy stealing horses in the night.

In the film, Yoachim lives in a remote cabin filled with floral life and magic. Chloe and Viridian are in desperate need of a place to spend the night. In return for a meal, Yoachim offers his hospitality and explains the workings of the magical realm the two find themselves in.

[thememorykeeperfilm]

Continued Funding

I’ve received questions on how to donate since our fundraiser has ended! Please see below for details. Thank you much for your continued interest. Y’all are the best community I could ask for 💙 All further donations will go towards paying non-student cast and crew.

If you or someone you know would like to donate towards the production post-fundraiser, please email kathrynbmorin@smccme.edu on how to send us a check, OR venmo us @ Kathryn-Morin-7

When donating by venmo, please type that it’s for The Memory Keeper to avoid confusion :)

[thememorykeeperfilm]

About the film: Chloe, and her grandmother Viridian, get lost in a forest during a family gathering. Unable to connect with Viridian due to her Alzheimer's, Chloe must get them both out of an increasingly fantastical circumstance as the forest comes alive with Québécois folktales from Viridian's childhood.

About the director: "My name is Kathryn Morin, I'm the writer and director of THE MEMORY KEEPER, and a student at SMCC pursuing a degree in communications & media. Growing up, my meme had Alzheimer's. It was a struggle to connect with her, and I wished to see a family like mine on screen. Fantasy, and story, are a powerful way to gently guide us through difficult realities. I hope to create a film that resonates with people like me, but that also conveys the universal power of connection through culture."

[thememorykeeperfilm]

The Memory Keeper: a fantasy short film; explores connecting with elders with Alzheimer's through cultural heritage.

Chloe, and her grandmother Viridian, get lost in a forest during a family gathering. Unable to connect with Viridian due to her Alzheimer's, Chloe must get them both out of an increasingly fantastical circumstance as the forest comes alive with Québécois folktales from Viridian's childhood.

How to support us!

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