1 hour and 11 mins...I think it's gonna be done :)

Mood: Tired Optimization

So, on April 30th, I made what seemed like a rash decision to people around me and started another feature film. The year before I had written a screenplay for the sole purpose of being cost effective and create something between major budgets. Somehow after the first rehearsal for that screenplay an agent/manager found me and decided that they could could get budgets for not only that screenplay but multiple screenplays. I gave them a year.

Back to April 30th. I went ahead and cast the film. Started securing locations and on April 30th started shooting the 90 minute Horror feature,

"Ghost Hunted".

In a basement in Brooklyn, the cast of the hit show "Urban Ghost Hunters" are investigating reports of violent possessions and ghostly sightings. Barely settled in they quickly realize they are in trouble when their own personal demons start to show up. Will this team make it out of this lock up?

The shoot has been wild because I'm the only crew member who is on every shoot lol. That means they're days where I set up lights, do make up, set the cameras and check the sound. All before I have rehearsed the actors. It's been a trip. Also as I think I wrote before this cast would NEVER natural cross paths lol. Their schedules are amazingly opposite.

Some how though...we are almost done. 1 hour and 11 minutes out of 90 ain't to shabby. I'll take that for less than two months of shooting this. Let's see how long the last 19 mins will take lol.

1/3 ain't too shaby...still have an hour left though lol

So my new film has passed the 30 min mark or usable final footage. Not bad for about a month of shooting. Granted, shot in tiny, sparse moments. In two weeks there is a huge chunk about to be shot and that may bring us very close to the hour mark. At that point I will feel like their is no way we won't finish. That would be a great moment. I have never wanted to finish shooting so quickly. Not because I don't enjoy it and love this cast. But because with no budget there is a HUGE chance of not finishing this thing in a reasonable time.

Luckily we seem to be on pace and the footage looks great. I'll let out a small clue...it's a horror movie :)

1 year, 6 assistants and we've come full circle.

In the last 15 years, Cypher Productions and I have partnered with over 50 artists to create 4 feature films. Each project has a different life and is created by a different family. New issues and surprises. More years to draw from. Somehow though, if I'm lucky...there's a familiar part that shows up. I'm there again. If anyone reads this blog I apologize for my spotty posts but preproduction and early production is tasking.

This film (which I won't release the name of yet) has reached it's stride. It's an odd gate with a slight limp but it's moving and becoming it's own. As we get further into the process I will release more information. Look forward to another production soon.

Notes from a Filmmaker: Sun, May 23rd, 2010

We have...Distribution :)
Current mood: Hyped

Watch movies online! You can watch three of our features films right on your computer! Try it today!

Notes from a Filmmaker: Thurs, Feb 25th, 2010

Getting soft...but I lost all this weight?
Current mood: pumped but scared.

Happy New Year!!!

So since October things have been so odd. We had a great time with the Obama video and actually won the Huffington Post Poll for best video. Unfortunately the judges thought kids were too cute to lose. I kinda thought so too.

Jina has started grad school (so time is scarce) and I have had countless bookings! Followed by an equal number of cancellations. I would say 09 went out like a nap.

Among those bookings were many music videos that suffered from my clients economic recession. The film is still selling but it definitely slowed after the Presidential bail out speeches. We have been approached by an online distributor for the films and that is very exciting. We have had a lot of over seas requests and now we can fill them. Another client (sort of) was a Producer I know who approached me to write a new screenplay around a warehouse that people are trapped in. He believed he had the budget and the actors and I went to town. Four days later I pretty much had a screenplay called "freight".

Like anything you make for people it's great but need a little here and there. Now it's a screenplay called "cargo". Same idea different name...same cancellation lol. This time I got a spark though. I can write a silly ass script in no time for any location. Why not do one for myself and make it under $500. So that's going on now. It should be done in a week. I am planning on shooting the whole thing in my building and using old tapes and old friends. More on that one after copyright and storyboards.

Another fun occurrence has been the return of the "KID FLICKS" program. I have entered it into Pepsi's refresh everything contest and expect to win $50,000 to make movies with inner city kids again. That will be a blast.

So now that it seems 2010 is getting booked up...Lilly has come up with a great idea we will be filming this year. More on that after copyright, lol. We're also planning to kick off screenings again of "Last Night in Brooklyn" in Rochester. Stay tunned for that one.

Notes from a Filmmaker: Wed, Oct 28th, 2009

President's a calling.

Current mood: kinda shocked

So, on Friday my phone rings and it's a D.C. number. I joke to my girl that Obama's calling but low and behold...it was his staff! I had produced a video for the Democratic National Committee's Health Care Video Challenge with my friend Angela. We are finalists!!!!

Here is the video and the link where to vote. Please do and please call your local reps to have them pass the public option. We need to take care of each other.

You must rate all 20 videos. Our video is called "Angela's Story". Five stars please :)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hrvcratings?v=tWKici6hOhw

Notes from a Filmmaker: Monday, August 31st, 2009

4 years walking...found a flower to stop and smell.

Current mood: greatful and relaxed

Yup, I've been greatful before in this blog but relaxed comes far and few between. After four years fighting, fussing, crying, laughing, and begging people to know about this film, last night in New York City...

WE SOLD OUT!

I was going write about the night but I think the pictures speak for themselves. Can't wait to do it again :)