5/29/10 All right, Memorial Day weekend. I turned in my latest video project to a client yesterday, and now have some time to work on Man Of War. Plus, I started writing the Diary Of A Jerk screenplay this afternoon. Corey and I are sitting down Monday to write music cues for MOW. Staying very busy!
5/24/10 Delivered the final cut of that corporate video to the CEO...it turned out great! My brother hit a home run with the score. They like the film, so it looks like we'll do another one.
5/6/10 Finished a five day corporate shoot...it went well. Now onto editing. Also, picked up another corporate gig next week.
2/1/10 Happy New Year everybody! Boy, have I been busy!...Filmed a couple more corporate gigs and was commissioned to write a script. It's due by the end of this week, so I gotta get crack-a-lackin'. Progress on MAN OF WAR is slow right now because of all the commercial work. Plus my G5 blew up right in front of me, had to buy a new editing system. What's new on the feature front?...I'll be writing the final draft of DIARY OF A JERK shortly and plan to film it summer of '11. I have in mind a couple stars you'll recognize, so stay tuned.
12/6/09 Wow! I haven't been updating this very often...been busy working on the tedium of sound FX for MAN OF WAR. And I do mean tedium! It's about 17 degrees outside and I spent an hour collecting sound bits of a truck rolling across gravel, and footsteps, and clothes rustling, and swish sounds, ect. It's boring but necessary...In other news, I have deep lung burn from chasing a Russian out in this weather. He Supermaned-it at a full sprint into a ten foot ditch full of brier bushes. It was brilliant. He went to jail.
11/22/09 Finished the corporate video edit and plan to hand it in tomorrow morning, then back to editing sound effects for MAN OF WAR.
11/17/09 Shot a corporate video for a large grocery chain. Paid well and will be doing more for them. Rented some cameras from Marty Oppenheimer and hired my crew from MALL ROBBERS...turned out well.
9/28/09 Okay, the rough cut is finished...will be outputting a copy for Corbin so he can begin scoring the mo-fo. What a fun little flick this will be.
9/25/09 Am neck-deep in editing MAN OF WAR. The first cut of a film is always a train-wreck, and this one is no exception. I am looking forward to fine tuning the edit and adding the soundtrack so I can feel better about the flick...always takes a ton of time.
9/15/09 Spent all day at Modern Digital in Seattle color correcting the telecine transfere. Pretty excited about how the footage turned out...long day though--took 8 hours.
8/21/09 Okay, I'm fixing to send the footage to Fotokem in LA to get processed. It'll be a couple months before I transfere the footage at Victory Studios in Seattle.
8/11/09 Returned the lens package to Oppenheimer camera rentals in Seattle...what a great lens (Cannon 8x64mm). Went to the The Hurt Locker on the way home. Terrific film, and they shot it with the same camera/ lens combo I used on MAN OF WAR.
8/10/09 Wow! finished the shoot! What a long, hard road...I am exhausted. We finished the 'crack whore' scene at Sakura Sushi bar.
8/3/09 Had some drama on the set today--maybe I'll explain someday. The cabin shoot has been a great experience. Looking forward to showing you all the flick.
7/31/09 Had to re-stage the first big comedy gag--basically rewriting a major stunt on the fly. Turned out much better than what I originally planned. The lead was suppose to trip off of a porch, decided to have him fall off the roof.
7/30/09 Started shooting on Lopez Island this morning at the cabin. Shooting a movie is non-stop hard work! Constantly moving equipment--setting up lights, cameras, ect. for 10 hours a day. But we're getting some funny stuff on film.
7/28/09 We began shooting MAN OF WAR today...it was crazy hot! Broke a record, something like 103 degrees. Filming is always a lot harder than I remember, but add the heat and it's just lame!
7/16/09 Wow! It's been awhile since I've posted...been stupid busy. We are ready to shoot MAN OF WAR. Less than two weeks, my living room is full of equipment. I decided to go ahead and shoot this on Super 16mm instead of High Def...it will be a good looking picture. Have all the location locked down ans all the characters filled. You'll recognize a few actors from MALL ROBBERS. Also, been outlining DEATH SIGNAL--listening to a lot of Mono, Basshunter, Blur, Kasabian, Oasis, Moby, Muse, ect.--the script should have a good vibe.
5/22/09 Had a successful costume fit and rehearsal today. Getting pumped about filming MAN OF WAR!!
5/17/09 Making progress on MAN OF WAR. All of the costumes and props came in...two assault riffles, three hand grenades, Colt .45, tactical vest, ect. Having our first rehearsal on Thursday. I have to build the stunt double this week and nail down a few more locations. Also, I haven't decided what format to shoot on yet--Super 16mm unless I can talk myself into shooting hi-def.
4/22/09 Working like a mofo on MAN OF WAR preproduction. Also, had my high school reunion a couple days ago...what a blast! Really had a good time talking to folks I haven't seen since graduation...I think I'm the prettiest one from my class.
4/9/09 Been a busy week! Met with our lead actor for MAN OF WAR a couple days ago, we read through the script and made plans to start rehearsals. Spoke with Bob Heath from COUNSELING DAY, he is going to do voice-over work for MOW. He's living in Pennsylvania and will read the lines over the phone. Today my brother and I shot a test on scene #9...a major prat-fall, just finished editing it and it turned out great. Can't wait to get on set and put this story on film!
4/1/09 April Fool's everybody! Okay, check this out...I'll be filming three commercials this summer. Plan to shoot them just after we film MAN OF WAR in July. I'll use the same camera equipment and crew, then develop and transfer all the footage at the same time--it'll save on costs. Anyway, the commercials will be slapstick in the same style as MALL ROBBERS and they'll play local cable. I'll post them on the site when available.
3/19/09 Thad Byrd transfered all the Super 16mm footage we shot for THE HAUNTED...said it turned out awesome. That's a relief.
3/18/09 We scouted locations on Lopes Island last week for MAN OF WAR. The cabin is awesome! It's the same cabin I story boarded MALL ROBBERS at (you can see it in the MALL ROBBERS documentary). I have the lead narrowed down to two actors--will be announcing the cast soon. Also, am building a 12' crane specifically for MOW...if it turns out like I think, I'll be selling copies much like my dollies. Also, prayers out to Liam Neeson.
3/02/09 Been busy the last couple of weeks...working on props for MAN OF WAR, finished the boards, and should be firming up the shooting dates soon. Looks like I'll have to replace the lead actor, I'll explain more about it later. Also, I've filmed several more Emails For Tony and I'll post them soon. Peace out, Yo-
2/18/09 I got a call from Thad Byrd today, he watched the transfer of the footage we shot in September out at Northern State...said it turned out great. What a relief! I'm looking forward to seeing it. Also, we sold 8 copies of MR this week through the website, so sales are starting to pick up again...cool.
2/13/09 I've just started writing two big-budget spec scripts. Up until now, I've written with a very low budget level in mind knowing that I would be producing (and paying) for them. But these two screenplays will be for sale or studio pitching. It'll be nice to write without any constraints...I can blow up my entire home town if I want!
2/9/09 This last week was fairly uneventful...posted several new videos on the website, sold a handful of DVDs, beat down a speed freak at work, tried to pop a wheelie in my Charger, and made plans to help Thad Byrd film the last few days of his THE HAUNTED in Seattle.
2/2/09 We have several pending invitations to screen MALL ROBBERS...headed to the east coast, then Seattle, and then north of the border. Could be fun, though I don't really like to travel. Also, finished storyboarding MAN OF WAR, and am suppose to start rehearsals this week.
1/27/09 Okay, what's new? I interviewed with the paper today for an hour about the state of low-budget film making these days...actor Chad Lindberg from Triple X and November Sky fame is part of the article. Also, the exciting top secret developments I've been working on is a kids movie...as yet untitled, but we might film it just after MAN OF WAR, but before DIARY OF A JERK. I'm rather excited about about the story--a G rated slapstick comedy for kids 5-10 years old (my core demographic!).
1/20/09 The city paper called and asked to meet next week. They are doing an update article on local film makers. Also wanted to talk about how we are distributing our films these days. Should be a good article.
1/14/09 Am pretty excited about some top secret developments...More info to come as events unfold! Also, everybody knows that we are shooting MAN OF WAR in June, and then we plan to shoot DIARY OF A JERK summer of 2010, but next after DOJ, and you heard it here first, is DEATH SIGNAL! A departure from comedy, to a hard hitting thriller.
1/12/09 Okay, I'm working with several Video On Demand sites and will have our movies available for download soon. Also, I'm working on editing our first couple of "emails for Tony on video"...they should be posted soon (WARNING: I look like a douche answering questions on video).
1/5/09 I began posting new video clips. Found a site to host video uncompressed for cheap. The plan is to offer downloads of the entire movie and documentary...more to come.
12/28/08 Made it through Christmas in one piece. Fixing to meet with the lead actor on MAN OF WAR to start the rehearsal process. Also, am working on posting my films on this website for immediate download.
12/12/08 Finished the fifth rewrite of MAN OF WAR. The script is done and I'm breaking it down now. Will be shot listing, collecting props/ costumes, scheduling, ect.
11/15/08 Have refined my marketing approach for the foreseeable future. Expect four major projects from Dominion Pictures over the next four years. Also, I'm starting a video diary to be posted soon. More to come.
11/10/08 Well, started several intensive ad campaigns the last few weeks. Shipped a couple hundred Mall Robbers units so far... Though I've shipped 1000 Counseling Day units, so sales are a bit slow. Am refining some of the ads.
10/19/08 Didn't get to interview Cusack, but am scheduled to shoot a corporate video...should be interesting.
10/4/08 Am scheduled to interview John Cusack in Vancouver Tuesday...though I'm under the weather this week, so I'm not sure I'll be going.
9/14/08 Filmed Thad Byrd's THE HAUNTED all day yesterday and today out at Northern State. Super long day, though we did get some good footage. Must say, the special effects turned out great...will use the effects guy on DOJ.
9/8/08 We've added several helicopter shots to MAN OF WAR for the opening and ending credits. Will cost $4000...not bad for the production value it will add.
9/4/08 Going to be helping Thad Byrd film several scenes of THE HAUNTED in Sedro Wooley next week. We have been filming on the peninsula and Seattle over the last few months.
9/3/08 Finally finished the press kits and plan to start shipping tomorrow, though I missed the Slamdance early registration by a week--means I have to pay more to enter.
9/2/08 A friend of the family shot up the town today. Killed six including a Deputy Sheriff...such a tragedy.
8/15/08 Wrote several more pages of MAN OF WAR 4 this morning...must finish this script and move on to DIARY OF A JERK pronto!
8/10/08, and shipped out over 100 copies to waiting customers. Now I need to finish production of our press kits and start applying to film festivals.
