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...

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...

'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...

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...

'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...

'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...