Major Location Locked Down

One of the more important locations, a location that I had always thought about using as I was writing the script, is officially locked in.

My old work place, Rumbo, agreed to let me come in on July 8th and knock out the scenes for my film.

I have to admit that I'm a bit surprised that they said yes. I think they still feel sorry for having let me go. Regardless, I plan to shoot quick and get out. Especially since you can really see the progression of the day from the 8th floor view. If it's suppose to be noon and the sun is starting to set behind the actors, it's gonna look like I didn't do my homework.

I've got two other major locations that I still have to approach: the parking lot across the street from the Milam building and the convenience store where Rick and Samantha, the lead characters, will meet.

I'll drop off the release next week for them to sign. I'm not taking any chances on that. They're asking for a list of people who will be at the shoot. It's gonna be a big group. I'll probably get that to them at the same time.

Preproduction hasn't gotten too hectic yet, but I imagine that once we start to shoot, there will be lots to post. I'll try to keep the blog a little more up to date. I'll even post pictures of the cast. I like this place I'm at.

"Other writers, producers, and directors of low-budget films would often put down the film they were making, saying it was just something to make money with. I never felt that. If I took the assignment, I'd give it my best shot."
-- Roger Corman

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Charging Ahead

In the last couple of weeks, I've made great progress on my film. I'll start shooting July 7th. Really. There's nothing "Al Gore is President" about this.

The original cinematographer got replaced. Sadly, he's not aware yet. With my camera broken, I had to make a concession to find a guy who could not only shoot the film, but who also had a camera. I've seen a film he shot for a friend of mine and it wasn't bad. I liked it. He's got a Canon XL1 and from the sounds of it, he knows his stuff. I spoke with him today. He's locked in.

I'm also going to meet with a makeup artist that one of actors in the film suggested. Turns out she got some info on the film and it really interested her.

Did I mention that I'm nervous?

For all my starts and stops, I can't stop this now. I'm very glad about that.

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The Actress

After a long and fruitless search, I finally found some candidates for the lead female role in my short film. You'd think I was casting "Cleopatra" or something.

I thin all three women are sufficiently different...yes, I said three...that they will bring something different to the audition. I'll be having them read with Luis, the lead actor.

I'm anxious to see who will come across better. I stripped the character of ethnicity having originally created her as Anglo. Of the three that are reading for her, one is Hispanic and one is African-American.

This has been a hard part to cast. I hope other female parts won't be this difficult.

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When it rains...

As if by some crazy spark of inspiration that struck my like a Louisville Slugger to the cranium, I'm suddenly on fire with ideas for work.

Well, first on my most current project. "Time", as we'll call it, has been re-green-lit again. The indie film leader, Mary, is going to let me use her Cannon DV to shoot my film. With my mic and mixer that's gonna rock. Secondly, she lined up a great casting call and she said we're gonna have a ton of people. Some are coming in from as far as Dallas. One might even come from Florida.

What does that mean? That means I gotta get off my duff and get my film shot.

I had submitted two ideas to the group for our showcase in August at our last meeting. My son watches a lot of wrestling, which incidentally I've started to do too. So I wrote a story sort of about that. The second submission was a comedic take on the spy film, but in short form. Mary said that the people coming to the casting call have expressed a lot of interest in that one.

The wrestling thing was snatched up by a kid in the group who loves wrestling and really wants to direct something. The treatment I wrote for it was kinda vague, so during this moment of inspiration, I gave the whole thing a different twist and opened up the possibilities.

It felt really good for the words to explode like that. Felt like I had cork in my brain and it was just pulled.

The creative batteries just needed a recharge maybe or more fuel.

Snakes on a plane, man. Its all just snakes on a plane.

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If at first you don't succeed, quit fucking around.

I've been writing again. For a project that a producer from the indie film group is trying to sell. For myself.

I've been on these screenwriters' blogs recently and have found some great ones. I'll be posting them on my links. With all my false starts, this is the closest I feel I've come to making something happen with my "work".

Despite what I've said to friends and family, I've always feared not being good enough. I shrug it off and tell people, "I'm afraid of succeeding." Bullshit.

There's a lot to be hopeful for these days. My involvement with this indie film group has given me a place to find additional support. Not that my wife's wasn't enough. Her kicks in the ass have served me well. But now it's time for me to do what people have been expecting of me for 20 years. Enough talk.

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Loss of Cabin Pressure

Well, it's been a while since my last post. A long while.

My camera is still broken, but I have a job now. One up one down. The casting never really went like I wanted. The guy I had lined up to do the film just moved to California to star in a Disney stage show. I've got the script finalized though.

There are a lot of upsides however.

I joined a local film group here in San Antonio.
Indie Filmmakers Association of San Antonio

It's group of local screenwriters, directors, producers and actors who join together and produce work that is later showcased by the group at a local venue.

The group's leader and founder has a love for the craft and wants everyone to succeed. I think this is something that's beneficial for all. Especially me. She's plugged into the scene and has all sorts of resources to tap from. We're gonna set up a casting call to fill spots for another project she's involved in. Afterwards, once I get the project set up and shot, we'll be able to showcase my film and many others.

The group has also allowed me to link up with people I can collaborate with. Currently, there's a guy who I'm linking up with to write a sci-fi spec script. He wants to sell it, but he'd love to shoot it. I'd just love to have my first project sold and grab my first writing credit.

I feel good about this all. But I have to get my camera fixed soon. I have that mic and the mixer and no camera. Grr.

Things are looking up again.

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