Wednesday, November 27, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Wraps!

We have finished principal photography on the film!

The wrap came a couple weeks later than intended because of a cast member's schedule being unpredictable, but we finally got it all in and now 'Sloppy Dead Seconds' is in post. Three quarters of the rough cut is done. I'll plug in the remainder of the rough then do another pass with editorial consultant Scott Eilers, which should refine it greatly. Once I'm happy with the cut, we'll do the voice tracks required in a couple of scenes and lay those in, followed by laying in the music tracks. Finally, I'll polish here and there a tiny bit to make it just right. I'm shooting for December 14th if not sooner as the date SDS will be what it's going to be.

But it doesn't end there. SDS is only an hour long. It will actually be part of a 'double feature' program. On premier night, it will be presented with several trailers and perhaps a short by another filmmaker. In subsequent special screenings, it will be presented with "Hell's Bells" as the first feature (along with trailers and other goodies). Ultimately, it will be screened with another 'exploitation' style film I plan to knock out in the coming year.

Anyway, it is quite exciting to have another film finally completed after a couple of frustrating false starts.

I'll be on here more often as post production progresses and screenings are scheduled...

Monday, November 18, 2013

New Poster For New Film!

Here is the latest one-sheet for 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'...




Thursday, November 14, 2013

Update

95% finished shooting 'Sloppy Dead Seconds', have a rough cut on what is shot, now doing some other post enhancements. Should have the film done and ready for exhibition by the first week of December.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Production Update

Hey kids!

Well, all but two scenes and some filler bits are shot and chopped on 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'.

The actor for one of the scenes will be coming in from Las Vegas next week. Casting for the other scene continues to be difficult. Model Mayhem has become virtually useless and full of delusional princesses who do not understand professionalism. It's frustrating because all but one of the ladies in my film were found at MM, but since them it has been one hellacious experience. I thought it was just me and my film but conversations with other photographers and filmmakers, plus the site's own forum, confirm that MM has become overrun with those unique creatures in our world: American bro-chicks and Daddy's Princesses playing 'model' and 'actress'. Perhaps I'll write a post on this topic after production. Suffice it to say that I can only tell a girl that it's a disturbing horror movie so many ways before it must be determined that she is an idiot. However, I have four amazing ladies, two trannies, and a female producer on this movie who get what I'm doing and are wonderful to work with.

It looks like I'll be having my screening party for cast and crew and friends and family on the 22nd or 23rd of November. This is usually when I show the first cut to an audience for the first time. Last year, the group saw a 75 minute version of Hell's Bells accompanied by music used just for that screening. It was quite a different experience than the 46-minute final cut featuring authentic classical compositions. However, SDS will not change very much -- if at all -- between the cast/crew screening and its final release cut. I'm always anxious to show my films to the folks who worked on it and paid or it. After that, I'm anxious to show it to an audience of strangers, of course.

In the meantime, I gotta get back and get this picture finished!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Re-Cut on Trailers!

Here are the re-released trailers cut from the first one...

Sloppy Dead Seconds Trailer A

Sloppy Dead Seconds Trailer B


Saturday, October 12, 2013

New Stills From 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'

From tonight's shoot...


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Production Update

Today we shot in the grove in the rainy weather. Perfect for a horror film. I'm very pleased with how things went. We may do a little tomorrow, weather permitting, and a big scene is scheduled for Friday night. By Saturday, we should have about 90% of principal completed.

More to follow...

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Back to Business

Future No Budget stars...?
I was away for a few days, celebrating my 50th birthday. Now back to work...

My friend Jennifer, soon to be a Univision reality TV star, me and friends


Monday, September 30, 2013

Return of 'Kukulcana'

As some of you know, I intend to make a feature length film that will incorporate "Hell's Bells". I came up with the basic idea last year. With a firm grasp on the current film, and the next film cruising at good development pace, I can think about the screenplay for the Kukulcana feature. This weekend, I found what I think will be the framework for the new material that will make "Hell's Bells" a feature film...and, no, it ain't Lovecraft. The working title is "The Treasure of Kukulcana" but that might not be the final title. As with my fiction, I tend to let titles emerge from the material, so as it's being written I'm sure that will happen to my satisfaction.

My objective is a 90 minute feature film that will be the definitive version of this story I first attempted to bring to the screen in 2010 and then did in silent 'Vintage Vision' two years later. The new film will feature new characters and a few of those seen in "Hell's Bells". However, the story will be contemporary as will the style, to keep things simple. The beauty of the project is that it's actually half shot. I only need to produce a 45 minute movie to marry up with what I plan to do with "Hell's Bells". So I am energized by this script's development especially since I found the story inspiring the new frame. Not to be misleading, the source material for the new framework of the action isn't a Lovecraft story, but it doesn't mean there won't be a Lovecraft influence. I already suspect there will, but 'Treasure of Kukulcana' is my original story so the influences will be there to serve that. I'll likely have the new material started tonight and take my time with it, as I have a film to finish and another one to write and direct for another producer in the meantime.

The feature will involve a lead character enlisted/hired (haven't decided) to find out what happened to Josef at the end of "Hell's Bells". We will see more glimpses of some of the characters from that film but, for the most part, the cast of the feature will be rounded out with entirely new characters. You will see Ray Howard and Eloisa Alaniz for certain, and likely Michele McClelland and hopefully Suzi Shields, too. We will also revisit some of the same locations, obviously, but there will be new ones, as well. This new half of the film will reflect my taste for adventure mystery, Hammer horror, film noir, and maybe a touch of Harryhausen (maybe). It will be in color and sound, of course.


Because I want this to be right, I'm not going to rush into it, but I do want to shoot it next year. If there are any process shots, they will be done last, after the live action principal is completed. So don't look for the release before Christmas 2014 and even then I will want to make theatrical/festival screening rounds (if I can achieve that) before any streaming or home video availability. Look for a title as soon as I've completed the script for the feature story, hopefully by the holidays.

In the meantime, you'll have 'Sloppy Dead Seconds' and the monster movie I'm making with the new producer in Arizona this December.

More to follow...

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Development of Next Film for New Producer

The date for the development trip has been set!

I'll be heading over to Arizona on Oct 21st for a couple of days to discuss the upcoming horror/sci-fi project with the producer. Writing and directing for hire on this one and I'm excited about this project. I discovered that I like being given the basic concept a producer wants and working with him to develop a story, script and production. As soon as the producer is ready to announce this, I'll start reporting more details. For now, I will say that the production will be using talent from the Phoenix-Sedona-Flagstaff areas and will be filmed in the wilderness of the northern part of that state. It is a monster movie and will be a lot of fun and on the sexy side of PG13. This film will be made under the producer's label and my No Budget Cinema, and released through his company.

Depending upon how this first film goes, we envision a series of films in the same genre of crypto creatures, ancient mysteries and strange phenomena.

More to follow...

Friday, September 27, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Production Update

OK, here's the latest!

Because I want one particular scene to be exactly what I want and need it to be, money will be required. I'll be getting more of that some time in October, so I've altered the production schedule:

Next week, we are shooting with Liliana Bouttavong on Monday and Tuesday in the orange groves; and hopefully on Friday night with Satira. Because Wednesday is my birthday, I'll be out of pocket for a couple days. That should bring us up to about 90% of what's written.

Once I get the next batch of money, then I'll schedule that last important bit. I have to go to Arizona for a couple of days to meet with the producer of the December project so that last bit of principal will likely get done after that, which means I'm looking at mid-late October before the film is done and a first cut is ready. But this is okay because I want to shoot the scene as envisioned and it looks like I'll have to pay someone after the flakiness of one 'actress' and the non response of others. No biggie. This is just the way it is in the microbudget indie world.

I finished the sequence with Eloisa Alaniz today and the footage looks good.

We're doing good, because it will still only have taken us about ten shooting days over a month and a half to shoot a feature. I am pleased.

More to follow...

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

New SDS Production Stills

Lilianna Bouttavong and Belva Saulsberry

Production Slate 2014

I've given it a lot of thought and have come to a conclusion that I definitely want to get more film work done next year. This year was intensely frustrating as we started shooting one film, stopped and started developing the next and finally ended up doing a completely different one. Because I and my associates are very good at working on the fly, we are on the road to having a really cool movie halfway finished. However, I do not intend to let next year get away from me where getting a film started is concerned.

Being a writer of books, as well as a filmmaker, I am productive even when the movie schedule is dragging. As a matter of fact, I have to write a book starting in October and through November for a December release, hopefully. I'll be developing a film with my new producer at the same time, which we'll be shooting in December, as you already know. Therefore, I must think now what 2014 will be like for me where films are concerned.

Here are the projects I would like to produce in the coming year:

Untitled Project -- A second quickie feature with my Arizona producer. This will be something involving paranormal cryptozoologically ancient weirdness, hot chicks and some laughs mixed in with the terror and chills. A two-week quickie.

The Treasure of Kukulcana (working title) -- The feature length version of my film story started in 2010 and revamped in 2012. In this feature, my silent reboot would be a factor. The story is a contemporary detective tale that would feature new characters plus a few familiar faces from the silent version. This is a bigger project than others so I would take my time with it, though it would be for late 2014 release.

Sloppy Dead Seconds 2 (working title) -- This is actually the original storyline we intended to shoot this year, with criminal psychopaths Herbert and Rusty Kinkler on the loose. This would be a two-week quickie.

Anything can change but rest assured at least one of the above and something else will be produced in the coming year. By January/February, Sloppy Dead Seconds should be available in online streaming and may be making indie theater rounds.

More to follow...

Monday, September 23, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Motel Shoot, Etc

Tonight we'll be shooting the scenes in the motel room with Liliana Bouttavong and Belva Marie playing buddies on a road trip. I'm going through today's pages and whipping up the shot list before securing the room.

Tomorrow I plan to shoot some scenes featuring my character. Some time this week I hope to catch up on Friday's cancelled shoot, but I'm supposed to talk to the replacement actress. We'll see how that turns out. I'm also supposed to finish the sequence with Eloisa Alaniz this week, and also do some POV inserts on scenes already shot.

Not exactly at the point I wanted to be on this date BUT I am very pleased that we are this far and continue to get it done. This is no budget filmmaking, after all. The flakes are gonna wish they hadn't when they find out how cool this movie is!

More to follow...


Saturday, September 21, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Cheapo Web-Style Production Update!



It's cheap! It's lurid! It's my new movie in production!




We will be resuming production Monday night when we shoot two motel interiors with Liliana and Belva. Unfortunately, one of our actresses had to be replaced so we're recasting her and the other actress in the scene was requested for gigs during Fashion Week in LA -- which is an awesome thing! -- so better that we just reschedule and do it all on another day.


The film is actually moving along pretty well, when you consider that we're producing a 75 min feature and we're able to work three or more days a week, as opposed to the one day a week schedule we had for the 46 min short we did last year (which ended up taking 5 months). Even with the few delays due to unexpected stuff, we should be able to finish this film around the end of this month or the first week of October. I'm confident that I'll be finishing the final cut long before Halloween.


More to follow...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Stills From Today's Shoot

Check out today's images...


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

A Few Stills From SDS Shoot in Big Bear

On Thursday, we shoot the hooker scene. Today, I took my star and a PA up the mountain today to get some shots that will appear early in the film.

Amanda "Squatch" Francis and Liliana Bouttavong













Me and Squatch prepare to shoot in town
Liliana enjoys the lake



Squatch prepares for her cameo

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

This Week's Slate, Etc


Hey kids!

Production resumes on 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'

Wed:  We drive up to Big Bear Lake to get some shots. Also, I'll be prepping props and set for the big scene of the week.
Thurs: Shooting with Eloisa in the grove. Finish set construction and take test shots for angles, lighting, etc for big scene.
Fri:  Final prep during the day, shooting scene at night.
Sat or Sun:  Shooting inserts
Next Monday:  Motel interiors with Liliana and Belva
Next Tuesday:  Final sequence with Liliana in the grove

After principal is done, I'll take a few days off to catch my breath and attend the Lovecraft Film Festival in San Pedro. This will be our third year at the fest but we're only attending Saturday (the bigger day) this year. Our entourage has expanded: Myself, my son director Austin Bosley, writer-filmmaker Shawn Kelley, wannabe actor and group fool Bobby Harkins Jr, his dad Big Bob Sr. Festival Newbies: actress Liliana Bouttavong, Star Wars idiot Amanda 'Sasquatch' Francis. We'll be seeing other friends there including our spider handler from Hell's Bells Deb Reilman and her gang. I'll be talking more about this fest right before and after, so enough of that for now. After the festival weekend, I'll do a rough cut of the film and identify anything I may have missed or learn that I need. Once all the elements are together, I'll do another cut and show it to a limited audience. From that response, I'll do a final cut. Then I'll add the music and final touches on effects and transitions. At that point, the film should be done.

I'm hoping I'll have Sloppy Dead Seconds finished and audience-ready in early October. That'll be about the time I will need to go to Arizona and meet with the new producer, per his request, to discuss the next project, to be shot in December.

More to follow...

Thursday, September 12, 2013

New 'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Production Stills!

Here are the latest from yesterday...














Freida and Sasha get a ride
What will happen next...?

"SDS" Production Update

Tuesday was not a good day for "Sloppy Dead Seconds".

The "actress" took off with her costume and gas money -- BEFORE we shot the scene! This petty theft aside (We're only talking $50 total, costume included), I quickly cast a replacement and we'll shoot the sequence next week. One thing for sure, I'll have a good story to tell!

Wednesday was MUCH better. We shot some integral scenes with Belva and Liliana and myself. The movie is almost half shot now. All that remains is catching up on the hooker scene with Eloisa Alaniz-Gomez, a sequence in which Liliana is terrorized, an all-important backstory scene, and the inserts and atmospherics.

This one is a quickie!

I'll be posting some images from yesterday in a little while...

Monday, September 9, 2013

New Production Week On 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'

OK,

This week, we have three shooting days scheduled. Tomorrow we will do a 58-shot sequence of the film, so it'll be our longest shooting day yet (probably about three hours). Wednesday will be as long with Belva as we'll be shooting four and a half scenes, plus some transition stuff, an integral chunk of the film. Thursday will be some insert shots and maybe a couple of motel room scenes. By Friday, we'll damned near have the entire movie shot and that gives me a week to prep for the one set-piece we have to create.

Look for postings of more stills!

Here we go...

Friday, September 6, 2013

New Images From Day Two of Film Production!

Here are a few of today's stills from the shoot this afternoon...


Images From First Day!

Here is a collection of stills of Dixie from Thursday's shoot on 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'...




Tuesday, September 3, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Update

OK,

The new script was developed and is written. A significant change in story. It's essentially a new movie, much easier to make, I think. We have four actresses, a tranny and some new guy. One more girl being cast and the tableau is complete.

The cast features Liliana Bouttavong...




Belva...



















Me...


And also Satira, whom you may recall from Greenspot Road...

  
 
And Dixie...



I'll be posting stills from the set fairly regularly, so stay tuned!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

New One-Sheet For 'Sloppy Dead Seconds'

The last 24 hours had their aggravations -- but also a breakthrough. We shot some today. Here's the new one-sheet I worked up...




Sunday, August 25, 2013

SDS Production Update & Misc Developments

Well, you can tell we're making a microbudget movie because it has been aggravating. Just as I get the actors I was waiting for ready to go, another one throws a glitch into the mix. That means I'll be shooting establishing and atmospheric shots this coming week and principal will commence when Maleina Malinskii arrives from Vegas next weekend. At least we're getting started again.

Meanwhile, I started developing a film for a possible series of films being discussed with a new producer. These will be horror pictures produced micro, of course. The first one we're talking about shooting outside of California, tentatively in December. These films would be produced by a party other than No Budget Cinema and released under his banner, not Lost Amazon. I'll be writing and directing ideas from the producer who owns an extensive library of material to draw from. I'll reveal more when it looks like more of a sure thing, but I will say that doing the series was a pitch I made to him just yesterday and I am quite enthused about the prospect. Let's hope it works out!


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Paul Discusses 'Damnation'

Adapted from my script, Damnation is due for release in October...

Paul Kimball Discusses 'Damnation'

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Microbudget Blues

Shooting delayed again.

The car brings us to a screeching halt this time. Engine block is cracked. Mechanic woes, found a good (and honest) one and now a solution. However, I can't start shooting again until that's fixed. Also, I must recast two roles. Methinks the material makes one actress uncomfortable, heh heh heh. The other has some scheduling issues, which is a bummer because she's awesome and I like her in all my films. She'll be back, though. Then there is my friend and music director for the film passing away a few days ago. I'll be discussing what remains with his band partner and hopefully we'll get the terrific song Kevin composed into the film. Ultimately, we'll get through this and simply shoot in late August and on Sep weekends.

One good thing about delays is that they allow me to give that much more thought to creative touches and just this very morning I came up with one that will be incorporated into the film. More importantly, I think I have my next film idea, too. But before that, we gotta get 'Sloppy Dead Seconds' rolling and shot.

More to follow...

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Music Director for 'Sloppy Dead Seconds' Passes Away

Kevin W Smith, who composed and was producing the music for my new film, died a couple of hours ago of a post-heart attack blood clot.

Kevin was a good friend and comrade in my investigations into the weird. I will have more to say later.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

'Sloppy Dead Seconds' In Pre-Production

I am making the shooting schedule for next week!

Last night I bought the costume for Eloisa Alaniz' character and will be putting together two other costumes this weekend. I hope to start shooting at least by Wednesday, maybe sooner. The first scenes we'll knock out  this month will be with the characters who are in only one sequence each. That will leave the remaining principal with characters who have more screen time, and the leads are in all of it, of course. I'm saving the final sequence for last. Two scenes are shot already, since our star Maleina Malinskii was in town a couple of weeks ago. She'll be returning from Vegas for a couple of weeks, which might move shooting the final sequence up sooner into the mix because I've got to shoot it while I have her here.

Anyway, it's exciting to finally be approaching production on this film. It may be the most fun shoot yet for us, certainly the most fun movie we'll present thus far.

More to follow...

Saturday, July 27, 2013

"Sloppy Dead Seconds" Stunt Actress Is Cast!

Meet Belva!

(Photo by Dakota Hunter)

Thursday, July 11, 2013

The New One-Sheet!

Only twelve days remain on the campaign to raise the cash to pay our stunt actress! Even $5 will help!

Sloppy Dead Seconds stunt actress fund


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

"Sloppy Dead Seconds" Shooting Thursday!

We begin this week!

I'll be shooting two scenes featuring the lead, Maleina Malinskii and supporting actress Ry Bouttavong.

Maleina and Ry

 Maleina has come in from Vegas for some time and will return in August to shoot the remainder of her scenes.








The rest of the cast includes familiar faces from Hell's Bells:

Eloisa Alaniz-Gomez

Ray Howard

Michele McClelland





Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

New Film Teaser

Check out the teaser for Sloppy Dead Seconds


New Film Update

Hey kids,

OK here's where we're at. The campaign to raise the fee for the stunt actress got a big boost from anonymous donation, but we're still not there. Not even halfway. And there are less then 30 days to go. I gotta start pushing more because I know I can raise more.

There is still the issue of the remainder of the budget. For that, I've been working opportunities with investors, but it's thin out there. Ideally, I'd like a minimum of $3k (beyond the $500 from the indiegogo campaign), but I may not get it. Might have to shoot this one on contingency again and almost everyone in the cast has agreed to do it, God bless 'em. Looks like I have only two roles to recast: one actor moved away and might not be available to return, the other won't do it unless we got the money. No problems though because I already have alternatives! I have replacements for both roles, so we're good to go on that.

I have really lucked out in the music department. My last picture, Hell's Bells, had original scores composed and conducted by a friend. Lo and behold, so will this film. Another friend has two bands and writes his own songs and he's composed a song for the picture. It's very cool to me for my films to have music not heard anywhere before and especially when it's written for the movie. The scores used in HB will, in my mind, always be linked to my film. The song, and incidental music from it, written for Sloppy Dead Seconds will be posted soon in a short little teaser.

We had to take so long to make Hell's Bells because of the nature of the production and the actors' schedules limited us to usually only one shooting day per week. It's going to feel strange to be shooting this new picture in a period of just a few weeks. What's better about this film, production-wise, is that I wrote a story in which most of the cast can shoot their stuff in a day. There are only a few characters who will have multiple shooting days. That makes contingency shooting more palatable. Few people mind giving a day or even two working on a project without pay. They get to be in a movie, you know.

I'm planning to start shooting around Aug 1st and finish by the end of the month. I have to be, ideally.

Let's see how this one happens...

Donate

Friday, June 14, 2013

Title of New Film Announced!

I'm back from Montana and ready to get my new film rolling toward production--But we need your help!

The new film is titled "Sloppy Dead Seconds" and we want to start shooting in August.

Spread the link! Donate! Help us make this happen!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Heading To Montana For TV Series!

I'll be on an adventure to Glacier Nat'l Park for the next week, to be interviewed for a Travel Channel series. I'm taking my camera and will have a video log to share after I return. In the meantime, don't forget to donate to the new film:

Sloppy Dead Seconds

Saturday, June 1, 2013

New Film Launched!

OK,

I am working with my money guys on raising the funds for the new movie -- the grindhouse terror film I'm planning to shoot in August. I have posted an indiegogo to raise the funds I need to pay the nudie actress so please check out the link and the perks and try to help us out, if you can. This one is a color/sound movie...

Grindhouse Terror Film Actress


Friday, May 24, 2013

Pitch Meetings & Travel Channel

Well,

I didn't get back here as much as I thought I would this month. That's because I got caught up in preparing my pitch and I've been asked to appear on a cable TV show.

Either before or after I am in Montana for the TV show, I'll be heading to San Diego to pitch the new investor on micro film projects. I'm hoping to shoot a grindhouse style terror film this August that will feature actors who appeared in Hell's Bells and were working on Chthonic before that got shelved. I've been prepping the pitch doc which will now include some ideas from Austin at Bury Shelly Films. I'll be pitching a total of ten film ideas, the main pitch focus on my script that will feature Ray Howard and Bobby Harkins Jr in the lead roles. I'll announce the remainder of the cast if we get funding. I can shoot this film for $5K. More to follow...

Now, regarding the TV show. I've been asked by a Canadian production company to appear on a new Travel Channel series about strange phenomena and mysteries associated with national parks. This is because my Empire of the Wheel books contain material associating world grid phenomena with Glacier National Park. I'll be appearing with my co-host of the first book. They're bringing us to Montana, along with my associate Joseph Farrell, for shooting in early June. I don't know when it will air, but I should have some idea when I return. Naturally, I'll report it here.

Back to movies:

I have completed some promo graphics for the new film project, but I prefer not to post it until I have funding. Should this film get the backing, you'll learn a lot more about it. As I said, it features Ray Howard, Bobby Harkins Jr with Maleina Malinskii in the lead roles and Jesse Cowser, Eloisa Alaniz-Gomez and Michele McClelland all from Hell's Bells (Maleina was on the makeup and hair crew).

Stay tuned!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Developing Projects Update

Hey all,

I have been very busy finishing a book this past several weeks. That's why there's been no posts here in almost a month. But now that the book is finished, I am back on the film festival and developing film projects.

As you recall, CHTHONIC was shelved for a while. With the festival and the book keeping me busy, I've had time to consider which film would replace CHTHONIC. The best part about the time away is that I've also been working the funding issue and I ended up with a new source! I have already prepared a pitch document and have been conferring with my access guy, a professional marketing consultant with money contacts. I should be pitching the new investor within a couple of weeks or so.

I have ten ideas organized into three categories of budget level with one being the prime pitch for hopeful immediate greenlight. It's a terror film for which I just figured out the final title tonight. It will be an R rated film to be sure, featuring Ray Howard, Bobby Harkins Jr, and Maleina Malinskii, among others. I'll announce the title if it gets the nod because I'll be going into production in August so I'll want to start promoting the film.

Anyway, I'm back on film stuff now, so more frequent postings will follow...

Monday, April 8, 2013

At Last..."Hell's Bells"

Here you go, the movie I produced last year, as blogged here throughout 2012.

Hell's Bells is the backstory of a 90-minute feature film among a few being considered by Barron Entertainment, producers of the developing Secret of the Amazon Queen. What you see here will be embedded in the adventure feature as segments of the backstory, presented when the main character reads the journal of a man he is hired to find. This feature will be a color and sound feature titled 'The Treasure of Kukulcana' and will have a contemporary setting.

I will be posting special features of Hell's Bells soon... Watch HERE




Saturday, March 23, 2013

Decisions, Decisions

So I put CHTHONIC on hold because a recent Hollywood release was simply too close to my concept and execution. It wasn't exact, but certain major elements were clearly there. Some suggested I just ignore the film and press on with mine. Just let the Hollywood film do its run and it'll be forgotten, most likely, by the time mine is done. Under the old world circumstances I would have done that, but this is the age of films having a life beyond theaters. The Hollywood film in question will likely be out on DVD/BluRay within a few months, and be on cable and streaming, so it won't really go away. And even though I conceived, wrote and started shooting CHTHONIC before I knew this other film had been made and was being released, I'll be accused of copy-catting. As a director -- no, as a producer also -- I know it would drive me nuts and work a number on my enthusiasm to go through all the effort and angst it takes to get a feature film completed knowing that The Industry already beat me to my basic concept. CHTHONIC has a very big difference from the Hollywood film in question, and the script is good, so it will get made. For now, I just can't do it under the circumstances.

So, what to do?

As you know by now, I'm putting together a film festival for one Saturday in November. I'm very excited about this for a variety of reasons. First, it's my type of event. My favorite genres and styles of films, the sort of things I'd like to see in a vendors room, a celebration of nerdy love for classic pulp era style adventure, fantasy and classic horror of the type that doesn't require air sickness bags on hand. I don't know personally of any other film festivals doing what we're doing. Adventure is usually misinterpreted to mean super-ridiculous action thrills, fantasy ends up being an overdone display of production art and CGI ( I long for the days when visual effects are used to enhance the story and action, not bombard them or even be the reason people go see a movie. CGI nuts could take a lesson from the old school use of matte paintings...) and horror has become something so literal I almost advocate a new genre designator for the more gothic and supernatural-themed classic stuff which I prefer. All that is why I'm doing the festival I'm doing. It's coming together and I know will be a lot of work between now and showtime, but it'll be worth it. The question is: Should I do another contemporary supernatural horror film or should I go balls to the wall and just do an adventure movie, something I can put together a trailer for and preview at the festival?

It's tempting because that's the sort of film I want to make. But there all the considerations. Do I make the contemporary thriller/horror film because that would be easier to make "look like a so-called real movie"? The argument for that is that when I distribute it, it'll be taken more 'seriously'. But I don't necessarily make my films for the people who take them 'seriously'. Those people, frankly, can be snarky assholes. The idea is that a 'real' film might get picked up for distribution and then I'm "in". That's simply bullshit. Besides, I'm already "in" as a Canadian company has recently finished an adaptation of a screen story I wrote with my buddy Mike Williamson. My other option is to make the sort of film that festival audiences -- specifically the sort of audience I would be sitting in -- love and talk about. There are so many distribution choices now, too, but the problem of piracy remains and I'm not keen on doing all the work to create something only to have some jack-off with fucked up political perspective on the world think it's OK to spread my movie all over the internet for idiots like him or herself to have for free -- especially when most of these petulant little assholes will likely just trash it with their snarky commentary. Another consideration is where I'm at in life: I've had another career already and am turning 50 this year. While, in spite of what you under 40 rubes think, that is not old, it is out of the range of having time to waste. I would argue my current position along life's journey dictates I should do the film I want to do.

And that's about the time my mind says, "Yes, but you could do two quick horror features in the time it will take you to finish the adventure you want to do" to which my other personality says, "Oh, but one well done adventure movie will represent better than two quickie 'crappy' horror films" and the debate goes on.

The argument for going ahead and doing my own films is clear: a friend recently shared an article that discussed the hard facts about getting an indie film produced right now. Investors/producers are backing away from films primarily because of the piracy issue. Too much money is being lost. Naturally, it's the small indie filmmaker that's taking the hit because producers would rather gamble on the big stuff with a take so potentially large as to offset the loss from the inevitable piracy (I can't tell you how much I hate the people who think intellectual property belongs to the world). Indie filmmakers take creative chances that Hollywood will not. Producers, however, can't be that courageous with their money. The solution is to change the distribution model and I'm resigned to that. I've tried my method and it works. The beauty of it is that the audiences I get are the most likely to appreciate the films I really want to do.

Problem solved, right?

Sort of. I still must decide: low budget creepy atmosphere horror film? Or dynamic adventure film?

The answer may be in the fact that there are SO MANY indie filmmakers doing low budget creepy atmosphere horror films. But there are not many, if any, doing dynamic adventure films. Movies on the indie level are a lot of work. I'd rather know that I'm doing something not every indie filmmaker is doing. That means, old fashioned pulp era adventure.

Well, it looks like I've identified my genre. Now to write a story...

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Film Festival!

Check out the festival I am hosting this November!

Pulp Adventure & Fantasy Indie Film Expo


Monday, March 11, 2013

Announcement!


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Big Announcement Coming Soon!

I will have an event announcement to make very soon!

Some business just happened in the past two days that you're gonna find interesting.

More to follow...

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Production Report

Well, damn it,  I'm putting CHTHONIC on the shelf for a while. Thanks to a Hollywood movie recently released which contains key elements way too close to my film, I simply can't justify all the work on something that -- regardless what reasonable and understanding people say -- will be considered a copycat by the snarky jerks in society. Honestly, as a director, I like to think I'm doing something that fifteen other guys are not doing at the same time. Another director I know, plus one of my actors, said to do it anyway, and I understand where they're coming from, but once my directorial mind is made up, I pretty much know what I'm going to do. So CHTHONIC gets shelved, for now. It's a really cool script and idea and I want to return to it later, but now is not the time.

So, that's why we always have multiple projects in various stages of development! With CHTHONIC put on the back burner, I simply slide another project forward. A few months ago, I got an idea for a feature and started making notes. With this recent development, I've considered the various ideas I have on file. For the longest time, I've wanted to do a horror film. Usually the best thing a microbudget indie filmmaker can do is a horror film. That's why a lot of microbudget indie horror films are made. That's why I started CHTHONIC. I've come to a new conclusion in the last few weeks that a LOT of microbudget indie horror films are made so it's increasingly difficult to be "original". Don't get me wrong, not much is truly original. Perhaps the better word is 'fresh', as in not like a hundred other projects being made or not done recently. And once Hollywood comes out with the specific type of horror film you're working on, forget it. Doesn't matter that you had no idea or even started yours first (which you didn't, most likely, because their stuff starts way before it's released. You just didn't know about it.), you're gonna be called a copycat by the internet trolls and down your sales potential goes. So what to do?

Not a horror film, I decided.

Originally, I saw CHTHONIC as a film I could enter in Lovecraft festivals, as something that would appeal to HPL fans. In fact, Hell's Bells has been submitted to a Lovecraft festival (keep your fingers crossed). However, I realize that things Lovecraftian are becoming the hip darling of the indie horror world even more lately. Now, as an HPL fan, I'm digging that! I can't wait to see what shows up on screen in San Pedro this year (maybe Hell's Bells among them...?). But as a film producer/director, I realize that things Lovecraftian are becoming the hip darling of the indie horror world even more lately. Upside, downside. Maybe I'm tilting windmills, but I have to at least reasonably think I'm doing something not everyone else is doing. Therefore, I pulled myself away from the Lovecraft draw and have decided to go a different direction. There will be horror elements, naturally, because they fit. But I won't be doing Lovecraft. (I'll be happily attending Lovecraft events as a fan -- and hopefully seeing Hell's Bells on one of their screens!)

So, keep an eye out for an announcement here regarding the new project. I am developing the project further. Finishing the script, bringing the team together, putting the financing in place. Once I have things where they need to be, and a graphic to go with it, I'll announce the title and the basics. I can tell you that it is inspired by a different author and it's more ambitious in certain aspects than what you've seen me do so far.

More to follow...

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Update on "Hell's Bells" DVD

I am finishing a master DVD for shipment to David Hatcher Childress who has requested to sell Hell's Bells through his Adventures Unlimited Press catalogue. I'll send it tomorrow and he'll let me know when it will actually be available. He sells via a printed catalogue but also online, so it could be fairly soon.

The DVD includes the film itself, a 'Making of Hell's Bells' featurette, and a photo gallery of production stills accompanied by the music from the film -- original compositions performed by Joseph P Farrell who is well known to those who buy from the AUP catalogue. The 'making of the movie' feature is essentially interviews of the cast and myself, along with outtakes and stills. The whole thing is over 90 minutes worth of entertainment. The film I would rate PG, the 'making of' feature has some colorful language here and there (actors, you know).

I'm also waiting to hear from Amazon regarding what date I can expect Hell's Bells to be available for online streaming.

More to follow...

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Ooops! Wrong Link!

Sorry about that! I pasted the wrong link before. Corrected now!

So I decided to post this scene because, well, I simply want to display the progress on the new film. Some will hate it. These are the people who are ADD in their film viewing. If you're expecting snappy dialogue and rapid-fire repartee, don't bother with this. My current influences include a big primary dose of Lynch and a bit of Kubrick. I like using slower paced interactions because, for me, it builds tension. Even the dumber people who are addicted to the teat of constant stimulation are actually experiencing this in spite of themselves. That nagging sense of wanting something to happen is, in itself, the building of tension. That's why I shoot my scenes the way I do.


This is the longest 'non action' scene of the film and what you see here is only half of it. These are rough shots -- meaning they have merely been cut out of the roll and not given their final trim -- in a rough pasting of the scene. There will be fine tuning but the pacing will essentially not change very much. Also, the sound here is the raw sound, captured in camera, so if you're one of those prissy types who can't drive five miles in a car without constantly noticing every murmur and hiccup of the engine, I can't help you.

CHTHONIC Scene 30 Rough Cut

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hell's Bells DVD Update

I've been busy working on the 'Making of' featurette for the DVD. I had two BIG files of just my commentary to wade through and cut selections from. Of course, rendering for hi-def viewing (because a lot of people have big screen TVs and most have at least hi-def TVs) takes a while, making this all a tedious process. Anyway, I finally have everything ready except one final short actor interview. I simply plug in my comments and theirs, and all the elements for the Hell's Bells DVD are complete. I would like the film to be available on Amazon streaming before I release the DVD, but that's taking forever and I may not be able to wait, so look for an announcement here regarding when it will be linked here for sale via PayPal.

More to follow...

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Making of "Hell's Bells"

Take a brief look at the featurette that will be included on the DVD of my silent film HERE


Friday, January 18, 2013

Updates and Thoughts

Maleina Malinskii, star of CHTHONIC
Now that we're three weeks into the New Year and the Hell's Bells premier has come and gone, I find myself in a down week on production of CHTHONIC due to this flu epidemic. I gave everyone the week off, actually about ten days, to reduce bugs flying around. I did manage to shoot a bit of a scene last night, essentially my shots and lines of that scene. What the hell, I may as well, I had little else satisfying to do.

Presently, I'm waiting to hear word from the first festival to which I've submitted HB. I don't want to say which one in the event we get rejected. I'm not expecting to compete, I just want a screening slot. It'll be quite a boost should the film get a nod there. Of course, I'll be submitting to other festivals and scheduling other screenings. Also, HB is being processed for download rental viewing at Amazon and should be available within a couple of weeks or so. Hopefully they won't over-price it. A buck would suit me just fine. I need to get the film screened more. I have been slowly getting the actor interviews shot for the DVD. It's the final element of the DVD so, as soon as it's done, I can start marketing that. Naturally I'll announce that here, as well as any screenings at festivals and such.

Shawny Kenney just cast in CHTHONIC
CHTHONIC is started. The holidays slowed us down, then this flu season thing. That has given me time to flesh out more details and really decide exactly what sort of film it is. I've been pushing it as a horror film, but I question that now. Don't get me wrong, it's certainly a horror film in that it has something otherworldly doing scary and deadly things. However, the story has subtext and I think I should be pushing the theme of that as much as the horror angle. I don't want audiences to think they're in for the usual torture porn or latest 'found footage' offering. CHTHONIC is heavily influenced by Hammer and David Lynch. And the transgender alchemy aspect is as important as the genre stuff. It's not a multiplex movie, that's for certain. Anyway, we got off to a slow start so I'm sure once we're rolling again, I'll be energized by what's developing as we go. But I am going to start marketing the film as something other than merely a horror movie because the LGBT audience will find something of interest here, too.

Redstar Films is in post-production on a film which I share a story credit with my old friend and sometime writing partner Mike Williamson. The title of the film is Damnation and it was adapted by director Paul Kimball. I'm very anxious to see it. Damnation was shot on Nova Scotia. It's a thriller with supernatural flavor. I'll do a post on that as soon as it's released.

Well, that's all for now...

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Walter Bosley Interview Tonight!

I'll be the guest on The Kevin Smith Show tonight, 7-9PM PST

We'll be discussing my movies and other strange things...

 

Thursday, January 10, 2013