Hey everybody, It has been a month since my last post. To be honest not a whole lot has happened. It is video game primetime and I have been spending my time playing lots of new games. I haven't gotten a lot of work done in the last two months. I have been consumed by my passion for video games. In the last few months I have played:
RAGE(XB360)
Deus Ex: Human Revolution(XB360)
Gears of War 3(XB360)
Dungeon Defenders(XBLA)
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception(PS3)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim(XB360)
Those are just the ones that I have played. There are still about 5 more games that I want to play, that come out either today or have recently come out. It is a good time to be a gamer, it is a terrible time to be my bank account.
As far as work goes, I plan on starting the animation process for Intergalactic Garbage very soon. I have been waiting on Cj's approval but I need to get going on the actual assets to start the animation. I am still really excited about it, I have just been procrastinating because there is such a huge amount of work to be done.
Current Video Game(s): The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (XB360) Current Music: Owen - Ghost Town
10/6/11
Hey everybody, It has been about a month again(again) since my last post. There is lots of stuff I have to show you all! The first and foremost is right in front of you! I have been hard at work on a the new layout you see before you! It is a single page design. I worked pretty hard on it and I hope you all like it!
I did the poster for the film (seen below). Comment on my Deviant art if you like it! Prints available soon!
I also helped out with the music for the film, which can be downloaded in full at Personal Soda's bandcamp!
And lastly, I helped out with the filming. I didn't have quite as much presence in the film as the last one, more behind the scenes. I did some post production effects, was a part time boom mic operator, and had a small part as an extra. Overall I am very happy with the results! Check it out!
Current Video Game(s): Gears of War 3 / RAGE (XB360) Current Music: Into It. Over It. - Proper / Pretend - Bones in the Soil, Rust in the Oil
09/6/11
Hey everybody, It has been about a month again since my last post. This past weekend I helped out with CJ Molina's new film, "Brass Knuckle Broads." It was a good time, helped with the sound, and played a very small role. I am going to be doing all the post production effects, helping with the typography, and writing music with the guys over at Personal Soda. These kids are young and super talented, keep an eye on them, and download there stuff at the link. I may also do a promotional poster if time permits.
With the prime video game season upon us, my wallet and free time are probably going to be dedicated to the game console of my choice for most of the next few months. With the exception of course, being "Brass Knuckle Broads." The animated shorts may see some more attention soon too, but it all depends on how much free time I can scrounge. Be sure to check back soon!
Current Video Game(s): Deus Ex: Human Revolution (XB360) Current Music: Into It. Over It. - Twelve Towns
08/11/11
Hello everyone! It has been over a month since I posted to my site, and to be honest, not a whole lot has happened. I have been really busy at my job doing various things, including learning Android Application development, which I am excited about. I have not had a whole lot of time to devote to my animations and thus they are sort of in limbo at the moment. I will hopefully be getting to them very soon. In other news, I will be contributing to a new short film by Cj Molina thats starts shooting in the first week of September. I will be doing various post productions effects, helping out with filming, writing some music, and any number of other things. Of course I will update with more details as they come.
Current Video Game(s): Outland (XBLA) Current Music: Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies
07/4/11
Happy fourth of July everyone! Celebrate by watching this short entitled "Kill The Beast!" by my friend Cj Molina starring yours truly as the Beast! Lots of work went into this ( including a very dehydrated puking episode from myself ). I did the soñador animation in the intro, the typography of the credits, and the title. Hope you all like it! If you do, don't forget to share! Thanks and Happy Fourth!
06/25/11
Hello everyone, filming has begun this weekend on the Cj's short entitled, "Kill the beast!" I have done some digital artwork for the short in the form of a poster. I used photoshop and a photo of the main character, Kaylin. It can be seen below! I hope you all like it! The short will be released on youtube and the like as soon as we have finished.
06/23/11
Hello! Just a quick update letting everyone know that there is now a mobile version of this site! Previously the scrolling section of this site did not work on mobile phones browsers. It has been coded so that it should work now! It has been optimized for Android and iPhones. No new url address is needed, it should identify your browser and display the correct version!
Current Video Game(s): inFAMOUS 2 (PS3) Current Music: Craig D'Andrea - ...And the B.L.T's
06/15/11
Hello everyone! It's been a couple weeks since I have made an update here, so I figured I would update you all with what is going on. Still working hard on "Intergalactic Garbage." I am almost into the animation stage now, just finalizing the look of the storyboards before I take it all into flash and get animating! I have been doing some artwork for an upcoming live action short to be written, directed, shot and edited by CJ Molina. I am pleased to announce I will be acting in it! And also helping with the music, and title for it as well. I will post more information and reveal the art I have been working on once we have started filming and are comfortable.
In my spare time I have beaten L.A. Noire, and recently just started playing inFAMOUS 2. L.A. Noire was a good game, Though I will admit by the end of it I was getting kind of bored. I also got kind of annoyed with how the characters will look around the room and give you glaring looks when you ask a question. It was kind of off putting and took from the realism of the game. Infamous 2 is phenomenal so far, though I will admit I have played only a measly few hours, it is one hell of a fun sandbox game! Anyways, thats all for now, I won't bore you with more video game talk. I will update soon with news!
Current Video Game(s): inFAMOUS 2 (PS3) Current Music: Craig D'Andrea - ...And the B.L.T's
05/31/11
Hello everyone! I am happy to finally reveal the new animation project that CJ and I have been working on: "Intergalactic Garbage". It is still in the very early stages, but we have a script, characters designed, and I am working on storyboards as we speak. Hopefully you will all like it! It is a long way off until it is done, but we hope you all stick around, and remain interested. Thanks!
05/20/11
Hello yet again! I just added a new illustration to my Deviant Art. A self quick portrait done in photoshop. Please Comment!
05/18/11
Hello yet again! The last couple weeks have been pretty uneventful as far as work goes. I have stopped temporarily working on "Knock, Knock" and focused mainly on my other animation with Cj. More info on that soon, but I am hoping that everyone will like it. I am currently mapping out environments and working hard on storyboards.
A few notes about what I have been doing lately. I am currently addicted to the television show Fringe. It is on Fox and is incredibly well written science fiction. I am almost finished with the current season and I recommend it to anyone who has an open mind and believes science can explain everything. I am also still deeply enveloped in the current season of Doctor Who. The latest episode (written by my favorite author Mr. Neil Gaiman) was absolutely fantastic and now ranks as one of my favorite episodes of Doctor Who. I also took my cousin Nick to go see the punk band Strung Out this weekend and it was a fantastic show. Met the bassist after and he is a really cool guy. If you are a fan of punk rock, I would really suggest checking out their music. Really good, talented musicians.
The video game world has dropped two new games on me that I am very interested in playing. The first is L.A. Noire, it is a game based on 1940's L.A. and as you guessed it, is film noire inspired. If you know me, then you know that is probably my favorite genre of film. It also using a facial mapping system that lets you actual read peoples faces, so I am looking forward to this brand new style of video game. The second is The Witcher 2, this game is an RPG for the PC that just looks impeccably done. I love a good action RPG, and this one looks amazing. Good graphics with an adult storyline and a huge world to explore. Color me excited. Well thats all for now, I will post a screenshot of the upcoming animation with Cj and the official unveiling of the name in the coming weeks. Stay Tuned!
Current Video Game(s): Batman: Arkham Asylum (XB360) Current Music: El Ten Eleven - It's Still Like a Secret / Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine
05/02/11
Hello again, Not all that much has been going on in the last week or so. I am still hard at work on my new animated shorts. "Knock, Knock" is underway and coming along slowly but surely, and my other animated short with CJ is in the storyboard / character design phase. I went to see Appleseed Cast at the Middle East in boston last week, and it was a fantastic show with a great opening band called A Great big Pile of Leaves you can download their music for free on their website. Other than that I have just been relaxing, and hanging out. Pretty uneventful.
Current Video Game(s): Batman: Arkham Asylum (XB360) Current Music: Enemies - Coco et Moi EP / Miaou - All Around Us
04/22/11
Hey everyone, just a quick update because I haven't done one in like 10 days or so. I am currently working on 2 new animation projects. One that I am doing everything on myself entitled "Knock, Knock" and another short that I am co-producing with CJ Molina. Check out his stuff on Youtube and follow him on Twitter!
Other than working on animations, and storyboards for said animations, I have been playing lots of new video games that I recommend picking up or at least trying out. The first one is Dishwasher:Vampire Smile. This is a 2d sidescrolling hack and slash game with a very bloody and cool looking art style. It is not for the faint of heart, it is incredibly difficult and challenging. It is available on Xbox Live Arcade. I am also playing Portal 2. The first Portal was one of my favorite puzzle games ever, and the second one seems to be a worthy successor, adding new gameplay mechanics, an envigorating story, and amazing voice work. Highly recommended.
below is a quick character sketch of the main character from my short entitled "Knock, Knock." Enjoy!
04/11/11
So I have begun work on my animated short. When it will be done is a total craphshoot, I have so little free time between work, hobbies, and my girlfriend, that it is hard to delegate some free time to this project. I am excited about it tho, and really excited to be animating again. In the next week or so I will show some preliminary sketches of the main character I am working on, so keep your eyes open! CJ is working on a script for another animated short, so new work will be flowing in again soon!
On a side note, I picked up the game DJ Hero 2 this weekend, and I must say that I had a whole lot of fun playing it. I had always been interested in the game but It was always so expensive. I found it this weekend for only $30 dollars and couldn't pass it up. Very fun game with some decent music (among some really horrible music) that is just a blast to play along with. So if you have an extra $30 bucks, an Xbox 360/PS3, and you like rhythym games, go to your local gamestop and pick it up cheap. Totally worth it!
04/06/11
Hey everybody... A quick update on whats new. I have recently been playing with the idea of a new animated short. Probably something that I will write, direct, design, animate, and edit myself. It has been a long time since I have animated anything other than stuff for Davis, and helping CJ with his short "Thy Nutcracker" really made me miss the editing process. CJ has also mentioned possibly doing an animated short together. So hopefully there will be some new work coming your way soon.
I have also recently been toying with the idea of doing reviews and editorial pieces on youtube. Not sure exactly how I want to approach this, but it is something I am thinking about. I may skip the idea of Youtube, and start up a podcast instead. It seems that it would be easier than editing video, while still letting me express my views and opinions. So we shall see what happens! Check back soon!
04/04/11 - Check out "Thy Nutcracker" on YouTube!
Hey everybody, check out this short film written, shot, edited and directed by my good friend CJ.
CJ and I have been writing music together for almost 10 years, so when He asked me to help with the music for this I jumped at the chance! I also did the animation for the title as well. Check it out I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
04/04/11 - New Site!
This is the new version of my website. I had not updated it for almost a two full years, so an update was very much needed. There will be lots of new work to be added
in the portfolio section in the coming days / weeks / months. I added a music section as well, so keep it posted here for some new tunes from my various projects and musical endeavors. I intend on using this site as a blog from now
on about all my exploits, hobbies, and everything that is Mike Kilmer. Hope to see you again soon here at michaelkilmer.com.
ABOUT
MIKE KILMER
My name is Michael Christopher Kilmer. I was born and raised in Worcester Massachusetts, and still currently reside there. I graduated from the Visual Design program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media. I am currently employed as a Web Developer at Davis Advertising in Worcester, Massachusetts.
My main strengths in developement are: HTML, CSS, Flash, and PHP. I also have experience working with video editing, motion graphics, storyboarding, 3D Modeling, 3D Rigging, and both 3D and 2D animation.
In my spare time I play guitar, video games, skateboard, snowboard, watch films, listen to all different kinds of music, read, attend live shows, draw, animate, record, and hang out with friends. I have a passion for music and the joy of creating something out of nothing and I always try to keep current with the latest software, gadgets, and gizmos.
Ever since I picked up a guitar I have been trying to create music. I have had multiple bands with multiple different styles and sounds. I have learned a lot and am still developing my techniques. The following is a list of the music that I currently record under.
KILMER
Kilmer is a solo acoustic project that I started recording under in between bands. My very first songs were recorded this way, and some of my very first songs are actually still up for your listening pleasure. Kilmer on Myspace
TOYS IN A SNOWSTORM
Toys in a Snowstorm is another of my solo projects, this time the style is Post Rock. The songs were created using a music composing program and recording my own live guitars. This is heavily inspired by bands like The Appleseed Cast, Mogwai, Tunturia, and Explosions in the Sky( to name a few ). Toys in a Snowstorm on Myspace
LAWN GNOMES
Lawn Gnomes is my most recent acoustic project that I started with my friend CJ Molina. We have collaborated on many albums in the past. This is the first time we split the singing duties, which let me focus more on the music. Lawn Gnomes on Myspace Lawn Gnomes on LastFM
