Do movie studios play fast and loose when they say a movie is "based on a true story" (BOATS)?

Heck yeah!

The cinema has been a source of inspiration for my art.   SciFi and the superhero genres being some of my favorite types of movies. 

However, lately, I find myself watching more "based on a true story" movies.  And I find them more hit than miss as far as entertainment goes.

But, seeing a new movie trailer led me to a conversation recently about what exactly "based on a true story" means when it comes to movies. 

This conversation was started by the trailer for the movie The Strangers, Prey at Night.  I saw the first Strangers movie which was also touted as being BOATS.

When I watch a BOATS movie, good or bad, it inspires me to do a bit of research about the real history.  I'm fascinated by how historically accurate or inaccurate a movie is, and how and why directors or studios stray from real events.

The first Strangers movie was frightening, unsettling and entertaining.  But, was mostly fictional.  

Strangers writer, Bryan Bertino started developing the movie from his childhood memory of a group a strangers going house to house in his neighborhood, knocking on doors.  If someone answered, they asked for some random person and moved on.  If no one answered, they rob the house. That memory and the story of the Manson murders were his inspiration.

So really, beyond strangers knocking on the door and seeing if someone answers, the events and characters of the movie are entirely fictional.  

Now, I realize that all movies take creative license for a number of reasons.  Sometimes BOATS movies, veer off history to condense the story, highlight certain events, tell the story from a different point of view...etc, etc.

Some movies are fairly accurate like the Winston Churchill biopic, Darkest Hour.  And some are notorious for being historically inaccurate like the William Wallace biopic Braveheart.  Both entertaining movies BTW.

...But, my favorite reason movie productions stray from historical events, (said with sarcasm) is just to fill seats.  They advertise a movie with the magic phrase "based on a true story" in hopes that more people will watch it.

If a movie can't stand on its own merits as a well told, cinematic story, then it's gonna suck no matter what you call it.

The director of Strangers, Prey At Night, says the sequel is loosely based on the same true events as the first film and therefore BOATS. 

Well, by that logic the Chucky franchise could be considered based on a true story.  There are a lot of haunted dolls for sale on Ebay.  And Marvel's Punisher could be considered BOATS.  We do have real-life vigilantes.

On the other hand, the movie Tag, a story about a group of friends playing the same game of tag for decades, seems to be more true to life despite the outrageous premise and the crazy things shown in the trailer.

So the next BOATS movie you see, take the events depicted with a grain of salt.

What's your opinion?  Are movie makers trying too hard to make their movies attractive just by advertising it as BOATS?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

I decided to use this as the knot on the shoulders of the model. I managed to find both video and diagram instructions on the creation of the knot online.

The cords provided with the kit were a bit short for an agemaki. Understandable since they weren't intended for that type of knot.

The agemaki usually have, and look better with, longer tails with full tassels at the ends.  Pictured to the left is how my knots ended up.  Perhaps down the road, I'll change the existing cords for longer ones.

The knots are one of the elements of traditional Samurai armor that I probably would never have looked into had I not started this project.  It led me to learn more about knot tying, their variations, and their meanings.

After working with the agemaki on the Masamune armor, I'm interested in including knots on some of my future armor designs to add another level of traditional aesthetic.

Anyone knowledgeable in knots especially as they relate to the Samurai armor please leave a comment below.​

For the purposes of this post, I'm going to refer to the 2017 Surface Pro as the Surface Pro 4.5 or Pro 4.5 or just 4.5.  I get the marketing behind Microsoft not naming their new computer Surface Pro 5 and for the most part, it's not an issue.  However, when talking to people about it, it does get confusing with the original Surface Pro (mine is still running by the way).

I've been using the Surface Pro 3 for about 3 years and it's still a solid machine.  It has served me well and I didn't feel the urgency to upgrade like I did with the original Surface Pro.  This time, I did not pre-order the Surface Pro 4.5.  I waited a couple of months.

I physically went into the store and I'm glad I did, turns out there is a business bundle. 

The business bundle is not available online and is not mentioned anywhere.  If you're planning on a Surface Pro purchase, you should definitely consider one of the bundles.

There are a couple variants of the business bundle.  I opted for the one that included the keyboard and the "Business Complete" support package.  The important part of the bundle is the "Business Complete" component.

Microsoft's "Complete" packages include their replacement programs.  If my Surface is damaged in any way, Microsoft will replace it.  The standard Complete has a $50 deductible, with the business version you don't pay anything for a replacement.  And the business bundle includes 2 replacements in 3 years as opposed to 1 replacement in 2 years.

Is the replacement plan worth it. Yes. 

I consider myself pretty meticulous with the care of any of my belongings.  So with something I rely on as much as the Surface, I'm especially careful.  But accident's happen and it slipped out of my bag one day.

As luck would have it (said with sarcasm), it landed on the corner, cracked the screen and bent the casing.  A quick trip to the Microsoft Store and they replaced it with a refurbished unit for $50.

The packaging looks great.  Very different from the Pro 3.  The Pro 3 was mostly plastic.  Slick looking but with all the plastic, I would imagine not a environmentally friendly.  The new packaging for the 4.5 was pretty standard.  Slide cover box with info and graphics.

The bundle included either the Alcantara signature keyboard or the type cover with fingerprint reader. I opted for the keyboard with fingerprint reader.  The added fingerprint reader was worth more to me than the Alcantrara covering.

I've been using the 4.5 for a month or so now.  I like it.  The upgrades are subtle but appreciated.  So far, I've done a good amount of writing, some video watching and photo editing.

The battery last's much longer.  Very noticeable when doing photo editing and watching videos.  I used to have to charge the battery after 4 hours or so (I usually charge the battery to about 80-90% and don't run it down past 20%).  I've noticed I now get almost 6-7 hours doing similar work.

Another big difference is the heat.  The 4.5 runs much cooler, which is good since it doesn't have a fan.  Even at it's hottest, it still feels cooler than the Pro 3.

The screen and processing power don't seem to be much different.

The keyboard (Pro 4 Type Cover with fingerprint reader) differs from the older Pro 3 Type cover.  The Pro 4 has island style keys.  Meaning it has spaces between the keys.  It took a couple hours typing with it to get use to the spacing of the keys.

The Pro 4 keyboard sounds much more substantial.  It has more of a thud when you hit the keys.  The Pro 3 was more of a click.  I do notice a squeak sometimes with the Pro 4 keyboard.  The back light is better with the Pro 4 type cover.

The fingerprint reader is a great addition.  It was easy to train and makes logging in faster.  It reads quickly and accurately most of the time.  If I've just washed my hands, the fingerprint reader seems to misread.

The track pad has a much smoother feel on the Pro 4 keyboard.

I do seem to lose Bluetooth connectivity to my mouse (an HP x4000b) quite often.  Haven't figured out what's causing that yet.

The capacitative Windows button is no longer on the screen.  That works for me as I would, on occasion, accidentally touch that button while sketching.

The most disorienting change was the relocation of the volume button from the side of the Surface to the top.  It's disorienting because 1) I got use to it being on the side with the Pro 3 and 2) when it was on the side the on screen volume indicator matched the direction of the volume rocker button: louder was up and softer was down.  Now, louder is left and softer is right but the volume indicator still shows louder/softer as up and down.  

Haven't gotten too much time in with the pen yet. 

Please share your experiences, thoughts or questions about the Surface Pro 4.5 in the comments below.

I decided to start construction of the model with the wood stand.  The assembled stand is pictured to the left.

From my understanding, the wood stand that is included with the model is of the more traditional configuration. 

The other version I've commonly seen looks a bit like the Blair Witch stick figure.

I decided not to glue the stand together so the stand could be disassembled when the armor was stored.  This is also a traditional aspect of wood stands.

You can read more about the construction of the stand in my build diary on the  ModelSpace Forum.

The stand provided with the model includes a nice heavy wood base that provides enough weight to counterbalance the armor.

For my own full size armor designs, I originally used a fiberglass mannequin. However, shipping a mannequin, even just a torso was size and budget restrictive. 

When I started to travel and show my armor designs at expos, I had to rethink my stand design.  That became a project of its own.

I ended up custom making stands. I used PVC pipe as it was readily available and easy to work with.  I could also easily make a stand that could be disassembled for shipping or storage.

My travel stand for full body armor was based around an inflatable mannequin torso with the PVC frame.

The inflatable mannequin provided the bulk to fill out the do (torso) armor but was light weight and portable.  The PVC frame would handle the weight of the armor.

Based on my experience with this model, I'm considering a configuration closer to a more traditional stand.

One of the tricks however, would be avoiding a heavy base in favor of one that is lightweight but could still provide stability.

Please share any thoughts or ideas you have about the design of armor stands in the comments below.

My reason for building this model is as a research project for my art work – contemporary Samurai armor. Or maybe “research project” is my justification for taking workday time to build probably the COOLEST scale model I have ever built.

I haven't had the chance to build a scale model kit in years primarily because of work. I've always put off “just for fun” projects. Not to say that some of my work projects haven't been fun to work on. But this one combines the best of both worlds.

My build diary in the ModelSpace Forum will focus on the mechanics of putting the armor together. I'll also have a supplemental posts here, on my blog at russogi.com/blog with insights and other thoughts I have about the armor design and construction and how it has, or will influence my art.

For a more detailed introduction about who I am and my reason for undertaking this project you can go to my introductory post here in the ModelSpace Forum or here on my personal blog.

Now on to the unboxing.

I ordered the entire kit rather than a part-work subscription. So if you're wondering what it looks like when the entire kit arrives in one shot, here it is.

Inside each of the big boxes are smaller packages each containing one pack. 12 packs in all.  Each pack encompasses several steps.  55 steps for the entire project.  Each pack comes with a full color instruction booklet and each of the steps are packaged in their own blister pack sealed with a cardboard backing.

  Here is a detailed look at each of the 12 packs.  For reference, each floor tile is almost 39.5cm or about 15.5" square.

As you can see, Date Masamune used some of the best technology available in the design of his armor.  This includes parts from a McLaren Honda MP4/4!

In case you missed it in the gallery above, one of these things is not like the others.

Kidding aside, somehow this Pack 7 for the MP4/4 was mistakenly included in my kit in place of the Samurai armor Pack 7. 

In addition to the incorrect Pack 7, the Yoroi bitsu (armor storage box) is missing.  The yoroi bitsu serves as both storage container for the armor and as the base for the wooden display stand to sit.

I quickly contacted DeAgostini customer service and informed them of the errors.

The correct Pack 7 was dispatched at no charge to me.  It did take about 2-3 weeks to make it to me but, being in Hawaii, you accept longer shipping times as part of the price of living in paradise.

Trying to get the storage box however is an on going issue.  More on that later.

This is my first model from DeAgostini, and my first impression was set by the packaging.  I was impressed.  Each step comes in a blister pack with a snap-fit backing keeping the parts secure. Both arrive sealed with a cardboard backing. I was surprised at the weight of some of the parts.

The model itself is made of multiple materials including metal, wood, faux leather and multiple types of material.  The kote (armored sleeves) are made of chain-mail.  Half scale chain-mail, how cool is that!

I've been reviewing the instructions online and reading the build diaries of others on the ModelSpace Forum to get an idea of what's ahead.

Since I have the entire kit, I am planning on building the armor in sections rather than following the steps in order. For example, lacing all the kusazuri (tassets) sections at the same time. I find when I work, it's much easier, and more enjoyable, to tackle similar tasks together.

But building out of order presented the problem of keeping parts from getting lost and keeping them organized. There are a lot of parts and many of them are much smaller than they look in the instructions.

Fortunately, I found that the packaging is durable enough to be opened and closed several times. 

Both top and bottom are contoured to keep the parts in place and snapped together at several points keeping top and bottom securely closed.

This allows me to use them as storage containers making the parts accessible while keeping them organized.

I'll be following up shortly with another post as I start the build.  If you have ever worked on a project like this or have any model making tips, please share your thoughts or stories in the comments below.

It's pricey, it's not the fastest, it's not the lightest, it's not the most compact and it doesn't have the best battery life but... looking through all the Surface Pro clones, 2-in-1 computers and tablets on the market today, the 2017 Surface Pro is still the the best full desktop computer system in a tablet form factor.

So who needs the new Surface Pro?  It is ideal for the person who needs it's unique form factor.

By the way, I refer to the 2017 Surface Pro as the Surface Pro 4.5.

Bottom line:  If you're like me, and have mid to high end general processor needs, a need for a good stylus for drawing and value the comfort of working on the same computer wherever you go, then the Surface Pro 4.5 may be the computer for you. 

However, if you have specific, high end needs from your computer, like heavy video editing, gaming or 3D rendering, the Pro 4.5 might be a good choice as a second computer or you might look at a cheaper Pro 4.5 clone.  If your second device is going to be used mostly for media consumption then a tablet may be a good choice.

If you're looking at the 4.5 as a second computer, then purchasing a lower end or older model might be a good way to save some money.  Pro 4 prices have dropped dramatically since the release of the 4.5. 

Microsoft has gotten bashed for not including their keyboard and Surface Pen as part of the 4.5 but this actually allows you to scale your purchase up or down depending on your specific needs. 

For example, if you don't need much from the stylus, you can either not buy a Surface Pen or buy the, less expensive older model.  I believe some 3rd party styluses work with the Surface Pro. 

Same goes with the keyboard.

You also don't even need to buy a new keyboard or pen if your old keyboard and pen are still working properly.

By making their Surface Pro hardware backwards compatible, Microsoft has created a modular system allowing the user to customize their hardware choices to best suit their needs and budget. 

I got the business bundle and opted for the i5 8gb of RAM but I didn't want the premium Alcantara covered keyboard.  Instead, I opted for the older Pro 4 keyboard with fingerprint ID.

I've been using a version of the Surface Pro for the past several years.  What do I use it for?  Everything -  from email and web browsing to sketching to 3D computer modeling.  I use it as my primary computer and it allows me to work on my primary computer wherever I go.  I even use the built in Surface screen almost exclusively.

It may not seem like a big deal, but I found that when I use a computer, for my art especially, the subtle differences between computers can be distracting and I lose my rhythm or focus on my work.  It's the small things like file locations, changes in UI and even the feel of the keyboard or mouse.

Whether it's going from home to an office or traveling to another country, as an artist, I like working on a system that feels the same.  A system that's mine. When I'm on the computer for hours at a time, I know where everything is and it feels natural.  When I jump on another machine, it's like staying in a hotel, it might have everything you need but it's just not home.

If you want to know my history and why I'm so sold on the "tablet PC" format, you can read more in my blog post, "How I Got To The Surface (Pro 3)".

The Surface Pro 3 and 4.5 allow me to have my home with me all the time.  It's compact enough that I can take it with me even if I'm not sure I'll need a computer.  It's powerful enough that I can create my 3D works in Maya.

I don't do a lot of rendering in Maya but I often work with 3D models upwards of 600,000 polygons.  There is sometimes a lag with the Pro 3 and digital drawing if I'm doing fast, heavy crosshatch but I'm not strictly an illustrator so it still works for me.

For 3D digital artists that deal with complex renders or renders with simulations, heavy video processing or artists that rely on illustrating, the 4.5 may not be enough even at the high end i7 version.  If you require specific GPU processing power, like gamers  often do, then the 4.5 would probably not be your primary computer.

My work doesn't seem to push the boundaries too much, or maybe I have low expectations.  Either way, the 4.5 has enough processing power combined with a good stylus in a compact form factor that meets my needs.  If your needs sound like my needs, the Pro 4.5 may be a good fit.

I don't care what the marketing material says, there are always compromises.  Even with the Surface Pro 4.5.  From my research, it is one of the higher priced options but if you can afford it, you make the least amount of compromises for devices with a full OS in a convertible form factor.  What you have is high end power with maximum versatility.

Do you own a Surface Pro 4.5 or are you thinking of buying one?  Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

How times have changed. When I was a kid, I hated eating vegetables and watching anything educational. I also dreaded research projects in school, especially creating bibliographies.

Now, I eat veggies on a regular basis...ok...I don't dread eating vegetables. I often find the shows on the Science, Discovery and Smithsonian Channels the most interesting things on TV. And I find myself researching almost constantly.

What do I research? Everything. Among other things, cars, electronics, and... armor.

With the armor comes a lot of history, culture and philosophy, in addition to the things you would expect to be associated with armor such as metallurgy, weapons and fighting styles. And lacing!

I love European and Asian medieval armor. But the armor of the Samurai really captures my imagination. The way they are traditionally displayed sitting with their anthropomorphized masks, they look like their own being.

Like they could stand up to greet you or to challenge you.

It's what inspires many of my armor designs. You can see some of my works here.

To that end, I'm about to embark on a research project to learn more about historical Samurai armor functionality and construction by building a ½ scale version of Date Masamune's armor from DeAgostini. I'll be posting a build diary to the ModelSpace USA forum.  Link to my build diary soon.

Who was Date Masamune? For those who want to know more about him but don't trust the Wikipedia entries you can visit the Sendai Museum site. If anyone has better information about Date Masamune please share it in the comments below.

In the ModelSpace USA diary, I'll be focusing on the mechanics of the actual build. Pointing out things I did differently or observations about particular assembly steps.

I'll also do supplemental posts here in my blog. My posts here will focus on my thoughts about the traditional Samurai armor design and construction and how, what I've learned from this build, may influence my future armor designs.

Stay tuned.

Please feel free to leave any thoughts you have about my research project or let me know if you've ever done a build like this as a research project in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by.