A New Year

Well, it's been some time since my last post, so I guess I better get on with it.

ALMOST GOT IT
The Bar Trilogy, that ever present script in the back of my head, is still far from my grasp.

I don't know what it is about that storyline that just evades capture. I started casting and before I knew it, I turned to find the movies had escaped. Its a hard bunch of movies to cast, not just in terms of volume, but of the types of characters I want. I have to find very specific personalities. The format for each film has also been troubling. My 30 minute films turned into 45 and then into 90 before the first script had even reached 20 pages. Now I'm dabbling with the idea of making them all 25 minutes a piece and piecing together some segue to make them all one, feature length movie.

Either way, I don't think we'll see these fully realized for some time. It makes me sad, but I'm also happy I didn't compromise myself just to get them out.

ROLLING THUNDER
The film I started in December is still in production. I just edited the first four minutes and it shows a lot of promise. I think when we finally finish it, it's going to be very good. I've got two great actors who are doing such a good job that it can't go wrong.

We put the breaks on production for the holidays and after that, the weather decided to have some fun with us. I think we'll end up finishing it late in February. Fortunately, it won't be too late for some local film festivals. And it will definitely be ready for some later festivals this year.

SWEET SIXTEEN
I've registered with The Lot and hope to put up a good couple of projects. You can click on the link to see more, but in case you just want the lowdown. Fox is putting together a reality-type show where 16 underdog filmmakers compete for a million dollar development deal with Dreamworks. Steven Spielberg is involved and its very exciting.

I've spun two new projects special for the contest. Two five minute shorts that will hopefully showcase a little of what I've learned. One is kind of a dark love story and the other is a big ensemble piece featuring a nasty habit. What am I talking about? You'll see.

I've been watching some offerings on the site and am a little nervous. Some of these people have gigantic crews and all kinds of expensive props and equipment. Not to mention special effects and all sorts of eye candy. What I have noticed is that some of these directors aren't really playing with their real talents. I mean, there's some great stuff out there, really original stuff. But some of these guys are just regurgitating what so many others have spit up before them. I know some of my ideas aren't 100% original, but I think that I've got something real to offer. Something that was born of a love that has never been compromised and has never faltered. I love movies. And all I want is to make one kid, just one kid, feel the same way I did when I was a youngster, digging myself into a movie seat hoping to get lost for a couple of hours. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they all feel the same way. Maybe I'm not the only one. But sometimes you can tell from what you're watching that there's skill, lots of talent, but lack of love.

I'll be shooting this weekend and next weekend and editing and scoring in between. Here goes nothing.

PARTNERS IN CRIME
I've recently started another collaboration. I had started writing a script with a fellow director, Eric, whom I haven't really spoken to in a while. I've still got the script in working condition, but I've been so busy with other stuff that I haven't gotten back at it.

When I decided to throw my hat in the ring for The Lot, I called on a fellow writer, Greg, to help me with an idea I had planned to shoot for The Lot. It was a short about a kid going to Iraq. I thought it would be timely and powerful, but feared I was biting off more than I could chew by writing four shorts. So I handed it off to Greg and he ran with it. What resulted was better than I could have imagined. He wrote a story with great characters, detailed scenes and real feeling. I told him to keep writing, even if it went past five pages. I feel like it's gonna be something good. Something that will not just showcase his writing ability, but that I can sink my teeth into as a director. We're gonna sit down again when he's gotten more writing in, but what he's got right now is gold. I hope we can get it done in April, it won't take us long. One set and a handful of actors. I think he's definitely got talent. He let me read a few of his other works and they're just as good. I don't think he sees it, though. But I hope I can help him in any way I can.

I'd been reticent about getting into collaborations, but I feel like the people I've gotten to work with are genuine and more importantly, friends. I hope I don't get proven wrong. I'm just trying to be a realist about it all.

GUTS
I've got a lot of scripts planned for this year. I made it my New Years resolution to sell one. Just one. I figure that if I write my ass off this year, I can sell just one. I'm not going to quit my job and start planning my Oscar speech if I do, but I'll certainly write more.

I'm at a point in my life, with this, that I want more than anything to finally do all those things I swore I would do when I was 20. I want to write movies. I want to direct them. I think I've started to succeed already. I can call myself a director. I can call myself a writer. I've got one project out there with my name plastered on it that proves I've got the mettle. Now I just have to finish what I started. I'll be honest. I'm scared. But I've been told I've got talent and I know I have heart.

This is my year. Hope you come along for the ride.

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