Keep Moving Forward

You have to be able to take yourself to that other place.

I'm working on a screenplay, my next movie. And I don't really like talking about writing other than posting in blogs and such. Of the random people at work who somehow pass by me and ask me what I'm working on, I just switch the screen to a free cell game and say "nothing." Many of them assume I'm still in school and I'm working on a paper. The others that know me as a filmmaker know not to bother me, but just can't help coming up behind me and staring at the screen, which I hate. I switch back to that free cell game and wait for them to leave, they apologize and then leave me alone.

It's a very basic pharse, "I'm writing a screenplay." It's akin to those other phrases that get tossed around alot everywhere especially in close company and in blogs. "I'm working on that novel" "I'm writing a song" "I'm writing a screenplay" The fact is I am working on a screenplay, but so much more than that. I'm making another movie.

And I haven't talked much about it to anyone. That's because I'm a believer in the birthday wish syndrome. Like a birthday wish made when the candles are blown out, if you tell someone about it, it will not come true. So although I will, coming soon, communicate more thoroughly about this current project to garner more support from the general public, I will not reveal exactly what the plot is until everything is in it's place. Some of the things that I am working towards in this preproduction phase is location scouting, pre-vis storyboarding, conceptual artwork, the score, casting, marketing and distribution agenda, and of course the screenplay.

So bare with me as I type this out, this mainly for my own edification and to better help me sort it all out, not that I don't already have all this written down in a billion other applications. As with most blogs o' mine, this is me talking to me.

LOCATION SCOUTING
Shooting will be here in North Carolina, because that's where I'm at right now. I have still yet to find out the specific filming laws here but I don't forsee what I want to do a problem since more and more indie films are being shot here. Also if permits are required I've already budgeted that in. Most permits and paper work usually max out around 2 to 3 grand and such, so not a problem if I'm ready for it. I am looking for warehouse space for base of operations, and something I can turn into a studio so I can anticipate having to build sets. I'd really like to avoid using the School Of The Arts backlot here for reasons passing understanding. I anticipate weird weather, and it will be handy to have a studio to fall back on if I need to, plus I'm already planning for alot of indoor shooting and prebuilt exteriors. Already been taking many many photos for the sotryboarding process as well as locations I would like to use.

PRE-VIS STORYBOARDS
Like regular storyboards but somewhat animated on video with added soundeffects, utilizing digital photos and drawings. Something to really bring to life those shots I want. The key here is to show the movie before it's actually made to get everyone on the same page.

CONCEPTUAL ART WORK
Again necessary for the Pre-Vis, but also important for to describe in detail the particualr type of technology being used in the storyline. Already looking at using KRE8 Effects (http://www.kre8-fx.com/) they've been doing work on the upcoming TRENCHES. They're work looks akin to what I'm trying to accomplish, some really great work.

THE SCORE
As always I'm doing the score. Already got some key elements of the score produced, but the rest will have to be done with an orchestra, or at least with a very good set of keyboards with orcehstrated sampling, preferably a yamaha psr-3000. The music software I use right now is Fruity Loops and it does a tremendous job, especially with everything I've been learning over the past year, it does sooooo much, but it's still a pain for me to compose using a point and click mouse, I need keys.

CASTING
It's always good to have your cast in mind, even if you can't afford Tom Hanks, if it helps you finish the script then go on and imagine Tom Hanks in the role. But thankfully the kind of celebs I have in mind are more than in my price range and are only popular among those familiar with the sci-fi/horror genre. Already got my list going, got some very familiar faces on it, and I have everyone's contact info and agent info. Only need 4 key roles to fill.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION AGENDA
This is just the basic rundown of how the entire production will go down, and what happens after the final cut. How it will be seen, where it will be seen, how the theatrical release may go and how the DVD release will go. Spells everything out to a T and explains how money will be made back and how much of it will go to charity.

And now we are back on to the ...

SCREENPLAY
The great thing about writing a screenplay you're going to shoot is that you don't have to adhere so closely to the the screenplay format. Although in honesty, I've forgone most of those rules a long time ago, due to the fact that most of those format rules are hardly obeyed by anyone anymore, just the basics. Scene Headings left, Action left to right, Character and dialogue center, put page numbers top right of page. Other than that I'm just trying to be clear and concise without being too uptight, I mean come on, as long as you and your crew understand what's going on, no need to put CUT TO before every scene heading.

But as far as the plot and the creative aspects are concerned, in making this movie, or any movie for that matter, you've really got to take yourself to that other place. That place where noone exists but you and the story. If you don't feel it then you're audience will not feel it. You have to engulf yourself in the very essence of what it is you're trying to achieve and then write from that place. These are the rules for how I write and may not necessarily be good for everyone else.

1. Get comfortable. Change your shoes, your shirt, get a comfortable chair, whatever it takes. I can't write in the heat. Gotta be a comfortable temprature for me to concentrate. I need the right music, or at the very least the right SILENCE. And there has to be pleasant scents in the room or no scent at all. There's this guy at work who likes to smoke clove cigarettes by the exit door nearest me. It seeps in and kills my senses. I told him to stop. He thinks I'm an asshole now, I don't care, because if he doesn't stop then the script stops and my movie stops. UNACCEPTABLE. If people have to think your an asshole for you to finish your work, then let them think your an asshole. Plus, who the hell smokes cloves anyways.

2. If you get blocked don't fight it. IF YOU GET BLOCKED DON'T FIGHT IT. If for some reason you can't get your self to write anything down and you just go blank, let it happen, go do something else, go for a jog, eat some fruit, get into a fist fight. Get oxygen (not the network), get the adrenaline flowing a little, eat something smell something hear something you're not familiar with. Do something else other than sit there and get frustrated and angry over how you can't write anything. If you fight it you will lose and then you'll end up feeling like shit and then you'll just give up and never finish.

3. If you're writing crap, just keep writing. The best advice I ever got was from William Froug from my favortie book on screenwriting ever. If you have a problem with what you're writing then write it out. If you think you're headed in the wrong direction or if you think you're writing utter shite, just keep writing. Nine times outta ten you're very being knows what you want more than you do, so just keep writing and you may find that it's leading you to where you didn't realize where you wanted to be. And even if you don't like where it ends up at least you got the crap out of the way and can now start fresh. Just get it all out on the page. This is part of the reason I have to handwrite my treatment first before I even touch the keys.

I'll talk more about this project later, but right now I've got 40 more pages of rewrites before I start putting together the rest of the package.

An interview with ... well ... me

Here's a small excerpt from my interview. Click the link below to read it in it's entirety.

"The Office" Meets Zombies, Werewolves and Vampires
An Interview with Patrick Prejusa, Director of "The Midnight Special"
By Kelly Keltner

"Hollywood is crap. I could make a better film than they could."
A lot of people are guilty of saying this exact line, but just how many people actually attempt it?

Not many. It's usually those that have a love of film and respect the medium that go on to make successful films. The ones who grow up loving both the good films and the "bad." A guy like Patrick Prejusa.

When I first "met" Patrick online a few years back, he was still working on his film, "The Midnight Special." Day after day he juggled filming his masterpiece with a real life job, his marriage and life's own nasty setbacks. Today, however, he finally has something to show for it all: a finished film.


Read the whole interview here.

When did noah build the ark ...

BEFORE the flood.

I've heard everyone say it. People I've worked with, people I've worked for, everyone has said in one way or another, "I'm tired of working for other people."

I think the main goal with most people I've heard say that, and definitely the main goal for me is to be in charge of yourself. To live your own life. Or as I've just read in this blog post by Tina Parcell I’m getting tired of placing my welfare in the hands of others.

I've felt that statement from a number of people for a very long time, especially from myself. I'm glad to post that I am (and have been) taking the steps towards not only making my dreams come true, and reaching my goals, but also putting my own welfare in my own hands. I'm excited to do so, and am confident that I'll be getting there very soon.

But like everything it all starts with change.

Quo Vadimas

Well first off, special thanks to Dametria who was nice enough to nominate our movie on THE MOVIES MADE ME DO IT. Go HERE, register, sign in, and vote us UP!

We've also got a screening coming up in Charlottesville, VA, at The Gravity Lounge. CLICK HERE for more info.

I'm having problems updating monstercops.com, so I'm unable to update the screening page. Still says we've got that screening up at Balticon in May. Would've loved to have been there. Actually I'd love to have been at any of the screenings, but it's the penalty you pay for being a broke ass, no-budget moviemaker. It kills me, because in my opinion that's the best part, really getting to see that live audience react to your movie. See them laugh at the right parts, or even at the wrong parts. Get the real feeling of what you've laid out for the audience. One of these days. Heck I may catch the Dallas screening in September, that's looking like more of a possibility. Would be nice to see home for a bit as well.

I'm just glad the movie has been able to be on the big screen in different cities thanks to cooperative scifi conventions, indie screening events like The Lone Star Film Society in Fort Worth, Texas. Thanks to fests that love our movie like The Spooky Movie Film Fest in Virginia who has been able to give us exposure at other screenings as well, and thanks also to Brave New Theatres helping revolutionize how movies are distributed to the audience.

The movie is on DVD thanks to the wonderful service provided by CUSTOMFLIX. They have been an indies dream come true helping us sell the DVD through our own shop as well as on AMAZON.COM. They helped get us into the IMDB.COM. We've sold quite a few copies already and I have yet to REALLY market the movie.

Juli's doing so well. It's been close to 8 months since Brenda died and I'm happy to say the sadness has lessened. It hasn't gone away, don't think it ever will, but I'm getting passed it and Juli is coming to terms with it, which is my main concern. I'm so proud of her. Not just because she's shown great strength in dealing with her mom dying, but for other achievements like, her knitting has improved. Don't know if I've posted about it before but she knits, she loves knitting, and I recall a time when she didn't have a clue about knitting. Now she actually has a job where she teaches people how to knit. Very advanced stuff too. Stuff I didn't even know you could knit. I'm just amazed at what you can create with just two sticks and some yarn, not unlike no-budget moviemaking. She's also stepped back into painting as well, although the knitting has been distracting here. I'm just so amazed at how far she's gotten. Her mother would be proud, is proud.

So, all seems to be fine. So, what now? Where are we going?

Well, continue the marketing build up for the movie, meaning, get more screenings, post more bulletins, get as many people to know about the movie as possible. All of this building towards my little marketing ploy coming up closer to October and the Halloween season. I've got press releases to put out over the next few moths, getting in contact with the different media outlets related to the different genres having to do with the movie, asian american press, indie film press, horror, scifi, etc. We've gotta get the word out about raising money for Cancer Charities. So much contained in this little horror comedy or rather comedy horror. I've also got Video Blogs coming up that will fill the very empty Video Blog Section on monstercops.com.

But aside from the continued marketing of the movie, where exactly will I be headed next. I'm very much not done with Monster Cops, as I've said before I very much see it as a series, and a much improved version over The Midnight Special, meaning I'd need the money to really do what I wanted to with the franchise, like really show you some monsters and scares amidst the comedy and action. But my specific plan for what I have in mind on distributing this series is a little unorthodox, and there's no way I can do it without funding. And raising funds is much easier to do with a movie rather than an unorthodox series.

So I've dug back into the past and brought forth a storyline that I will turn into a feature. It's what I've been busting my ass on for two weeks now. Working on the script, trying to get together the conceptual drawings, and all the other necessary hubbubsp?) that go with pitching a movie. Hopefully before mid July I'll have the full pitch and package put together and online.

But as far as where I'm headed. Right back into production. Doing another feature and as planned The Midnight Special was my no-budget feature, so this will be my low-budget feature. I can't go back to no-budget again. Because The Midnight Special was no-budget the structure, the plot, the overall idea suffered. I didn't get to do what I really wanted and I had to settle for just trying to capture the essence of it. Don't get me wrong, I love my movie, I love The Midnight Special, but in my opinion it lacked a certain amount of horror and suspense. And I've been aching to really show what I can do so much so that I actually tried to put something together here last month and it just didn't work. When it's not a paying show people don't show up, locations disappear, and all the normal hassles of movie making are quadrupled. This one's gotta be a paying show, so a fundraising we will go.

That's where I'm at and that's where I'm headed. The process starts over again. Screenwriting, storyboards, and fundraising. The movie is everything I love in a movie, comedy, horror, action, thriller, drama. I won't discuss my timetable cuz I don't want to jinx it, but hopefully with past experience I can avoid most of the moviemaking trappings and pittfalls and make room for new ones. It's going to be interesting.

In other news, PIXAR does not disappoint. Brad Bird, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft, Pete Docter and everyone at Pixar, I owe much to you guys keeping my spirits up. And in helping me remember to Keep Moving Forward.

'Just keep swimming'


The Stranger: Do you feel responsible for the show failing?

Dana Whitaker: The show didn't fail. The man I work for, a guy named Isaac Jaffee... he took a chance on me, and I didn't rise to meet his... expectations. And there are people who work for me who needed me to be a better field captain. The *show* didn't fail. But I do feel responsible, and that's gonna have to be all right with you.

The Stranger: You know what would make you feel better right now?

Dana Whitaker: Really, nothing.

The Stranger: You don't want to hear what I think would make you feel better?

Dana Whitaker: I really don't.

The Stranger: In the three day history of our relationship, have I been wrong about anything?

Dana Whitaker: Look...

The Stranger: Dana, I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally succesful man, and I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better.

Sports Night Episode 22 "Quo Vadimas"
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Directed by Thomas Schlamme

No doubt the precogs have already seen this

I remember when motion sensors were built in to specific games soon after Game Works was introduced at the Grapevine Mills mall. You could move around and control the dinos in that game where dinos fight other dinos. I remember getting a little excited about that, but then losing interest when I realized that you didn't actually have to move your body, you could just wiggle your finger and control the game. And even that wasn't even any form of precise control. Still a fascinating idea.

I like the idea of physical interactivity with technology (that sounds bad). I like Dance Dance Revolution (Although I suck at it). I like that you're doing more than just sitting on your ass and hitting buttons. I like the concept of Nintendo's Wii. Something I have yet to try, but am anxious to give a shot. But beyond gaming my obsessions lie closer to the realm of moviemaking (duh). So as far as physically interacting with technology (I need to quit saying that), you bet your ass I found the technology in MINORITY REPORT mind blowing.

Not only did I love the plot, the direction, the music, the movie itself, but seeing Tom Cruise's character manipulate those images in that fashion was a HUGE bonus. I thought, "That's exactly how I want to edit a movie." I mean I tend to get very physical when I'm creatively passionate (or is that passionately creative?), I'm in the middle of writing or editing and I have to get up and move around. I get excited about an idea and I have to pace or dance or wave my arms around. And how cool would it be to express myself physically while editing a movie. To be able to physically grab an image with my hand and place it right where I want it.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you haven't already heard, that technology is coming. Check out what Microsoft has unveiled last month in this video from popular mechanics.

popularmechanics


Pretty cool huh?

I now know what the walls of my dream house will look like. All we have to do now is wait for the comercial availability of something more than just a coffee table, give us gloves to put on that allow us to manipulate images and video from a distance, and I'll be all set. I would be able to edit where ever I wanted in my house and my wife would constantly be changing the wall paper.

Bruce Campbell's Tips on Directing

In 2005 shortly after I had wrapped shooting on Monster Cops: The Midnight Special, Bruce Campbell came to Dallas as he was on his Man With The Screaming Brain tour. You bet your ass me and my wife went. We got his autograph at Barnes and Noble (he was promoting Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way) and then saw him present his movie at the Magnolia in Dallas. It was a blast. The featured pic is of my wife as we had just caught Bruce after the screening.

Earlier in the day, at his book signing at Barnes and Noble, as he was signing my Boomstick Edition of Army of Darkness, Bruce asked me what I did. Like the silly little fanboy I am I geekily said "I'm an independent filmmaker." He replied, "Well Patrick, get to work." And then he smiled as he handed me back my freshly autographed DVD. This would've been less comical if he hadn't immediately followed that up with "And don't touch the ink, cuz it doesn't dry very fast."

I've met Dennis Hopper, got autographs from all of The Kids In The Hall, except for Bruce McCulloch he wasn't there for some unknown reason, Bruce Campbell was the first one to make me feel a little star struck. The Evil Dead movies were a huge influence on me because it was the kind of movie I wanted to try to make and also because understanding how Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Robert Tapert started out, made me really relate to them as filmmakers. Bruce always felt like one of the guys that made it big and made it the way the rest of us could make it. And here I got to meet him.

I find myself perusing Bruce's Official Site and I find one of his blog posts interesting and quite useful for all us indies. I repost it for you here. It's entitled:

JOIN THE CLUB, BE A DIRECTOR

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Actors must be aware of your intentions - even how you are photographing them (to some extent) so that they can serve you and the film better. The same goes with all of the department heads - they must know what you want, or else they cannot give it to you.

2. Don't get all wrapped up in Storyboards, cool shots, lenses, etc. any more than your story demands.

Don't forget things like blocking, characters, and MOST IMPORTANTLY - a working script that doesn't suck!

3. Getting 40 set-ups in a day isn't always the goal. It isn't a contest - 40 shots of what? And how rushed do you have to be to get that? How about 20, really good, planned out shots? making the film shouldn't be a zoo, unless your producers are idiots.

4. Don't neglect the proper shooting process. First thing in the morning (and at the beginning of each new scene to be shot), clear the set, work with the actors to establish/sign off on blocking, then show the scene to all concerned departments, then get the actors out of there and line up with stand-ins and light - then bring the actors back in and shoot. It sounds horribly basic, but so many people forget/never know the correct procedure.

5. Work your little, doughy ass off!

See the original blog post HERE

See his official site HERE

I eagerly await his current movie MY NAME IS BRUCE

DIY Movie Fund Raising: The Internet

Edit 6/10/07

The internet has brought upon the DIY Indie Movie Maker much opportunity. Opportunity to market, distribute, and here lately, opportunities to raise funds. I now share with you some of my research in ways to fund your indie movie. Fair warning, you gotta be prepared. You've gotta have that finished script, you've gotta have a prepared cast and crew list, you've gotta know your budget, how, when, and where you are making this movie, and how you plan on getting it seen and make your money back.

note: I haven't tried any of these sites yet, so proceed with caution. If anyone has tried any of the below listed or have any further info feel free to comment and let me know. Always good to avoid scams. As the great Peter Vincent said on more than one occasion, "Forewarned is forearmed."


FilmTies
http://www.filmties.com
Social networking combined with indie funding. They raise money through advertising revenue for indie filmmakers.

Fundable Films
http://fundablefilms.com/
A place where filmmakers can gain monetary support and valuable feedback.

Indie Fliks
http://www.indiefliks.com
Offers accredited investors movie investing opportunities, and the connections that count in the rapidly growing independent movie market.

Movie Money
http://www.movie-money.us/
Bringing filmmakers and investors together. Especially with this one, you're eventually going to be dealing directly with investors, so you better be ready and you better know your shit.

IndieGoGo
http://www.indiegogo.com/
Where people don't just choose the movies to watch, they choose the movies to make.


Examples of movies trying to fund their movies online.

A Million Dollars and a Movie
http://www.amilliondollarsandamovie.com/
Buy a square or click on ads and help this guy raise money to make his movie.

The Indywood Project
http://www.indywoodproject.com/index.php
Another site selling off squares. Llyod Kaufman, Ken Russel, and JR Bookwalter are apparently already attached to the project and looks like they've already sold quite a few squares.

A Swarm Of Angels
http://aswarmofangels.com/
A groundbreaking project to create a movie for 1 million and give it away to over 1 million people using the internet and a global community of members.

Fund My Movie
http://www.workprint.com/fundmymovie/
Hey, ya never know.

Please Fund My Film
http://www.pleasefundmyfilm.com/
You know the drill.

Drink Me Pictures
http://www.drinkmepictures.com/
A great way to spend 10 bucks.

Cinema Shares
http://www.cinemashares.com/index_fullscreen.html
Buy stock in the movie FUNGI.

Make A Movie Happen
http://www.makeamoviehappen.com/
They've raised over $300,000.00

The 1 Second Film
http://www.the1secondfilm.com/
A film anyone can produce for $1.00


I'm posting this as well as the previous post about advertisers funding indies, for my fellow indies but also as a note to myself, because I am about to embark on my own fundraising efforts for a production I am currently finishing up the script for. More details to come.

Ad Cash For Indies

Recent article from the L.A. TIMES.

Advertiser cash flows to indie film projects
Companies seek a bond with audiences beyond product placement.
By Lorenza Muñoz, Times Staff Writer
June 1, 2007


Advertisers have long linked up with Hollywood by placing their products within films or trotting out stars as their official sponsors. But some companies are now going a step further, investing directly in movie productions in the hopes of striking even deeper connections with film audiences.

In what could be the latest trend in the financing of independent films, Unilever brand Dove has agreed to invest $3 million — about one-fifth of the budget — into "The Women," the first theatrical movie by Diane English, the creative force behind the hit television series "Murphy Brown." Gatorade, the sports drink maker, quietly put up $3 million for the production of "Gracie," a story about a girls soccer team that is coming out this weekend.

"With low-budget movies you have to have different ways to create marketing efficiencies and leverage your ability to fund them," said Andrew Shue, producer of "Gracie." He said the seed money from Gatorade enabled him to raise an additional $7 million from a hedge fund. "This is absolutely something in the future for these kinds of movies that are smaller budget and under the studio threshold."

Independent studio Lions Gate has been discussing potential producing partnerships with several corporations.

The investments are crucial for independent producers struggling to cobble together funding for their movies. National brands can give smaller movies a broader marketing appeal and can often give them the aura of a bigger studio movie.

Some Hollywood executives, however, are skeptical that corporate financing will grow into a broader movement. They point to the experience of PepsiCo Inc.'s Mountain Dew, which invested nearly $4 million in the snowboarding documentary "First Descent." The film grossed only $988,368 in worldwide ticket sales, although Mountain Dew was less interested in making a box-office profit than reaching a specific demographic: snowboarders.

"I don't see any signs that it's a significant trend," said Steve Gilula, chief operating officer of Fox Searchlight. "But it is interesting to see another source of funds flowing into filmmaking."

Some talent agencies, however, see an opportunity. ICM has hired a former marketing executive to look for potential deals to marry brands with the agency's clients.

"When it's a perfect fit, it isn't a stretch, it is organic," said Lori Sale, head of global branded entertainment for ICM, who put Dove and English together for "The Women." "It's very much matchmaking: What does the brand do for the movie? What does the movie do for the brand?"

Typically, the major studios partner with corporations to market big-budget movies, as DreamWorks Animation did with McDonald's for "Shrek" and as Sony Pictures did with NASCAR for "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

But in today's increasingly fragmented market, with digital video recorders enabling viewers to skip TV commercials, advertisers are desperate to find new ways to reach people.

"Three million dollars is not a big deal for these people," said Claudia Caplan, chief marketing officer of Mendelsohn Zien Advertising in Los Angeles. "Everybody is trying to find new ways to reach consumers."

The companies view investment in niche movies as a way to promote a lifestyle, rather than a brand. Dove, for instance, plans to launch a marketing campaign for "The Women" that plays off of its "Campaign for Real Beauty," which garnered attention in 2004 with innovative ads featuring real women of all shapes and sizes in their underwear.

"The movie will give us an opportunity to reach women in a real way," said Kathrine O'Brien, Dove's marketing director. "It addresses the challenges that women face in society today."

English plans to create a director's blog for the Dove website, http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com . In addition, she will make a short film for the site that will chronicle the making of "The Women" featuring the movie's stars and crew.

With "Gracie," Gatorade saw a way to increase its reach with young girls, the target audience. "Consumers get turned off when film or TV shows become too commercial," said Dustin Cohn, director of strategic innovations for Gatorade and Propel, a fitness water. "We didn't want to say 'put X amount of drink shots or X amount of branding in the movie….' We did not get involved in the film to make a film. It is about leveraging an asset to help communicate our support for women in sports."

The sports drink manufacturer has produced 9 million 15-packs with a picture of the movie's lead, Carly Schroeder. The packs also have information to receive an instructional soccer video featuring soccer stars Mia Hamm and Landon Donovan.

Neither Dove nor Gatorade demanded product placement in the films in return for their investments. However, the soccer players in the movie will be drinking Gatorade, Shue said. "She wasn't going to be slugging down milk," he said. And three Gatorade executives will receive a producing credit.

English has not ruled out the possibility of inserting a Dove product into the film if it fits seamlessly into a scene. A remake of the 1939 classic comedy, "The Women" is set in contemporary New York and stars Annette Bening, Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith and Candice Bergen.

"I was being very, very careful about this," said English, who also wrote the screenplay. "I didn't want to be put in a position where the product was running the show. Their campaign is about reaching out globally to women and girls about self esteem and empowerment and that is what we are saying in our movie."

Although the company will not get a producing credit, Dove is entitled to a certain percentage of the profit once the $15-million investment in the movie is recovered.

Horror Junk!

I've never had so much fun getting a bad review. These guys crack me up!



I absolutely agree with much of what they're saying about the non-existant horror element. Not to worry guys, I'm working on it. Check these guys out at horrorjunk.net

You bet your ass!

Coming July 24th, 2007



It's about damn time!



PRE-ORDER IT HERE!

My mood has improved drastically.

I won't lie

it's a struggle. It's a struggle to be truely independent. To be truely DIY. When it comes to marketing the movie (Monster Cops: The Midnight Special) I assume full responsibility of EVERYTHING. I have to do all of the marketing. The emails, the press releases, the individual press releases tailor made for specific genres, crowds, and publications. Getting the word out about the different screenings, communicating with all the fests, cons, and venues about each screening. Keeping the website updated. And Myspace is a whole other thing by itself. Communicating with people through Myspace, keeping up with bulletins, and advertising on Myspace. I create the fliers, the posters. I mail them out, along with all the Press Kits, and DVD Screener Copies. And all this in between working that day job. I'm trying to do the job of an entire marketing department.

At the same time I'm planning out the next production. What am I doing next? What do I need to do to help supplement the advertising and marketing? Will I be working on a Monster Cops Webisode next or am I going straight into planning on raising funds for the next Monster Cops movie. Part of the marketing agenda is to create video blogs to help let people know just what all this Monster Cops business is about. And here I am scrounging for time to work on that.

There are times I find myself stretched thin. Honestly in these past few weeks especially I'm tearing my hair out. It does get to me. I do look forward to having a budget and being able to pay people to actually show up and do a job. I'm tired of relying on other people and being let down. All of us indies go through it. But I'm starting to feel like I've been through it more times then necessary. I'm ready for professionals. Or at least people that want to be there. People who are as enthused about doing this as I am. And the thing is the people you work with sometimes are enthusiastic, they want it like you do. But when you aren't paying, the bills, the jobs, school, and everything else you aren't providing take precedents. And you can't be mad at them for it, it's just how it is. I should know, I have a day job.

But I'm willing to bust my ass for my vision. And I can't expect other people to bust their ass for my vision. At least not without a paycheck.

Until I can get to that money and that crew, I have to do things on other people's time, and do as much of this MYSELF as possible. Honestly I'm getting cranky not having produced anything in a while, and trailers and origami tutorials don't count. Gotta work on stuff to practice, to hone my chosen craft, and to help with the marketing. So right now in this very post, I promise, by hook or by crook, I will have produced something worth while before this month is over.

But hey, I can't be too down. The movie is available on AMAZON.COM and we are officially listed on IMDB.com.

Memorial Day

To the men and women serving all over the world. I thank you so very much for the job you do and the sacrifices you have made for my freedom. Thank you on this memorial day.

Contest Roundup 23

Updated May 31st, 2007

Ok so it's not actually the 23rd time I've posted a Contest Roundup, but it sure feels like it. As usual these are posted by order of dealine. Deadlines are in ( ).
If I hear of more contests within the next few weeks, I will update this post, otherwise I'll just post Contest Roundup 32.


Acceptable TV
(Rolling Deadlines)
http://acceptable.tv/

Briobox $50,000 Contest
(Rolling Deadlines)
http://www.briobox.com/index.php

OurStage Video Contest
(Monthly Deadlines)
http://www.ourstage.com/go/vidopp

IGFDN Vegas DVD COntest
(Soon)
http://www.igfdb.com/news.php

Nintendo Short Cuts
(June 6th, 2007)
Create a three-to-five minute film incorporating Nintendo
http://www.nintendoshortcuts.com/

John Woo's Stranglehold
(June 25th, 2007)
Write, produce, and direct your own short film tribute to John Woo of no more than 2-1/2 minutes.
http://www.myspace.com/strangleholdgame

Bytecaster Video Presentation Contest
(June 29th, 2007)
http://www.bytecaster.com/contests/presentation/index.aspx

Mr Clean Scenes
(June 30th, 2007)
http://www.mrcleanscenes.com/mrclean/en_US/mclanding.do

XLNTads Contest
(June 30th, 2007)
http://www.xlntads.com/contest/

Comedy Central/Atom Films Test Pilots
(July)
Your TV pilot can download you five grand and maybe even your own development deal. Your pilot must be between one and five minutes in length and be a maximum file size of 100 MB.
http://www.comedycentral.com/events/test_pilots/index.jhtml

Heinz Top This TV Challenge
(August 6th)
http://www.topthistv.com/

One Minute Film Festival
(September 1st, 2007)
http://www.minutefilmfest.com/2007/home.htm

Call For Entries

Washington, D.C.'s Horror Film Festival ~ YEAR LONG EXPOSURE!

Friends of “The Spooky Movie” on MySpace can pay the following discounted fees for their shorts or features:

$15.00 – First Look (June 8)
$20.00 - Early (July 6)
$25.00 – Deadline (August 3)
$30.00 – Extended (August 24)

The 2007 Spooky Movie Film Festival is looking for horror, sci-fi, fantasy, fan films, thrillers, slashers, monsters, chillers, comedies with a morbid or odd bent, grindhouse, and even documentaries and animated work. Shorts and feature length - indie, underground and experiments! Send them on in!


THE 2007 SPOOKY MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL

Special Screening in Baltimore!

Catch the special midnight screening of Monster Cops: The Midnight Special at Balticon 41. Baltimore's Science Fiction Convention.

The convention is at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD. and will take place May 25 - 28, 2007 Memorial Day Weekend.

The Midnight Special will be screening Sunday Night at Midnight at the convention.

For more info and directions to the Con, see their site at:
BALTICON.org

WE KILLED!

Thanks to Curtis over at the SPOOKY MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL. He's done a tremendous job of helping me out in spreading the word about Monster Cops: The Midnight Special. The Spooky Movie Film Fest in Fairfax, Virginia was one of our first Official Selections for last year. This past Saturday March 12th, Curtis screened MC:TMS again this time at ARTOMATIC Art/Media Convention in Arlington, Virginia.

He just messaged me to tell me that the movie "KILLED". Which made me feel good. YAY! Also he says he's got the movie scheduled for another screening for the final Saturday in June in Hagerstown, Maryland. Glad we're getting screened a plenty in the DC area. Thanks a bunch Curtis. I'm glad you and the Spooky Movie Film Fest enjoy the movie so much.

The Fright Channel

So let's get this straight. A few years back The Horror Channel announced it's launch. After delay after delay, set back after set back, they kinda sorta seemed like they were headed somewhere. Then eventually we ALL realized that it was really going nowhere. Then came Fangoria.TV, which is great, but is mainly confined to broadband braodcasting, which is fine, and they've got some great stuff, but still not a linear cable channel with normal programming. So FEARnet was created, which actually turned out to be a Video on Demand Channel only available on Comcast. Monsters HD has always been around and I always heard good things about, but alas, it's an HD only channel. Months back NBC Universal made the announcement they were forming their own horror channel called CHILLER. The closest thing to a 24 hour cable channel like Monsters HD, but of course, only available to Direct TV customers. What sucks is I had Direct TV back in Texas, dammit. Here, we can't get it.

Now it is important to me to have a horror channel for two main reasons. One, as a horror fan I've been dying to see programing to satisfy my horror fix. Two, as a Indie Horror Moviemaker, it's one more possible outlet to show my work. Now I'm hesitant to spread the word or even talk about a NEW horror network because I've already had my heart broken several times when it came to this subject. As a fan I've just been handed disappointment after diappointment, and not to mention I've had past dealings with one or more of the above networks about Monster Cops being developed into a show and then just subsequently dicked around. So there is reason for my hesitation in posting about the following.

There is a new venture into the world of horror networks, this one entitled THE FRIGHT CHANNEL. Great name, really, great ideas they are putting forth, but honestly, I've heard it all before. But I have to admit their approach is unique and quite intruiging. This is direct from their website:

The Fright Channel™ aims to be the nation’s premiere television network of choice for the horror fan inside us all. Programming will consist of classic monster movies, original documentary and narrative series, classic horror TV shows, and world premiere events of brand new works from today’s burgeoning horror masters. What sets The Fright Channel apart from the countless other attempts at the same goal is that we will bring together the many different local programming entities (currently serving isolated communities) under a united banner. Starting with part-time broadcasts with ever-increasing frequency on a continuingly growing number of stations, The Fright Channel will benefit from the “snowball effect,” eventually reaching every area of the country. This loose cooperative of “affiliates,” self-governed and autonomous, will, by its very existence, gain collective bargaining power in the television industry and allow its leap to major cable provider distribution. As a united group, The Fright Channel will be able to take content directly to the fan on local channels and will share programming content, allowing once-isolated talents to reach a national audience. With its totally unique platform and original approach, The Fright Channel is already “the world’s greatest all-horror network” created by the horror fan for the horror fan.

In other words they are going to start off buying air time in select cities, showing the same programming (Bi-weekly I've heard) and hopefully gain steam from there, eventually covering the entire country and expanding their air time, eventually getting popular enough to be able to become it's own network on it's own channel. Honestly I think it's a great idea and not too dissimilar to what I had in mind for Monster Cops The Series. But we shall see. I have to give the guys kudos for the second paragraph I read in their "about" section.

The Fright Channel began life as The Horror Channel in 1999 and is the abnormal brainchild of TV veteran Rob Claridge. Sadly, though we were first out of the gate, lack of initial funding and the ascension of a similarly-named online entity (good luck and keep going, guys!) sidelined the project for many years. New developments in the cable industry and a resurgence in the genre afforded a new opportunity for life and the project was fortified and re-imagined as The Fright Channel.

I laughed out loud at "good luck and keep going, guys!" An obvious jab at The Horror Channel.

It's kind of a guerrilla approach Mr. Claridge is taking. Which appeals to me. But I'll be keeping my armor on while carrying all this with a grain of salt. I hope this one works out. I think I speak for most of the die hard horror fans as well as the indie horror makers out there when I say, we are sick of being dicked around, we are sick of empty promises, and we are ready for a real horror channel that everyone can have access to. We'll see how it goes.

They launch in July on Friday The 13th in New York and L.A. and possibly other areas. If you want to help them out, the best way is to go to THEFRIGHTCHANNEL.TV and take the survey. Also email them directly and let them know you want the channel in your area. Email them your cable providers name and address at IWantTFC@thefrightchannel.tv

Funny Or Die

I'm loving these new rash of sites that are forcing you to choose between the good videos and the crap. I love Youtube and all, but since they accept everything submitted you have to dig through alot of crap to find what you're looking for, or to even find something decent.

Especially when digging for comedy, you have to put up with someone doing a horrible stand up comedy routine with bad sound in the attic of their parents house, and you happen to stumble across it because they had the nerve to tag their video as comedy, funny, or humorous.

Well, enter Funny Or Die. Which some of you may already know about. Will Ferrell's and Adam McKay's FUNNYORDIE.COM. A site in which you watch a video and you must rate it at the end, is it FUNNY? Or should it DIE? Why do I bring this up? Because I have posted our beloved Dinosaur Killers 3000: Music Mountain, on the website. I submit it to you here for your consideration. Is it funny? Or should it die? I'm proud to say that since submitting the video last night we've gotten fairly high ratings. Yay!




Another site that is currently running something similar, but not really, is OURSTAGE.COM. Here you can choose a category where you can watch music videos or comedy videos or other videos for you to vote on. Choose to "JUDGE", pick a category to judge, and then they will give you two videos to watch. Once you've watched at least 30 seconds of each video you have to choose which one is better, and by how much, as explained above the two videos. They give you 30 seconds for each video, because alot of the videos submitted you'll only be able to stand for that long.

I have submitted THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL Trailer under the COMEDY Category, and out of 139 or so vids in that category, I am proud to say that we are 3rd for this months contest. Every month winners receive a cash prize, so help us out if you can. Lord knows I'd be putting that money right back into advertising for The Midnight Special. Click this link:
ourstage.com/judge

Make sure you've selected COMEDY as the "channel" and start watching videos. What sucks is you can't just go directly to the video and rate it, you have to go through the videos they send you and choose the best, so if you decide to watch for our video, you'll have to judge two videos at a time until you get to ours. At the same time it's a great way for each video to get seen and judged.

When you do come to The Midnight Special Trailer, if the video opposite us happens to be, in your opinion, better then our trailer, then by all means, please vote their video as the best. Other indie moviemakers are out there busting their asses getting these videos out and they deserve due credit for that. The spirit of ourstage.com is to bring the best videos to the winners circle. If it's us, then great. If it's someone else, great as well, just as long as it's someone who worked hard and really did have a great video.

Holy Crap!

It's been alot of hurry up and wait trying to get through the details of putting this little indie film on DVD. And after trying to get the DVD cover design just right, deciding on the disc graphic, proof reading the hell out of everything, double and triple checking the disc, sending off to CUSTOMFLIX, and then awaiting the proof copy for my approval, FINALLY, we are on DVD.

Got the proof copy yesterday, a week late, but I'm not complaining, I'm just so excited to have my work more widely available to the public. Woke up just in time to see the FedEx truck guy pull up. Met him outside where he gleefully handed me the package. The sun was shining, rainbows formed over head, and a blue bird sat on my shoulder as I accepted the package. It felt good, that package. Nice and firm. A real feeling of excitement and satisfaction holding that package. This is sounding bad isn't it? Mr. Blue Bird flew away as I headed inside. Lemme tell ya, was I excited. I almost didn't want to open it just to prolong the excitement. I love getting mail anyhow, and this was just quintuple all that. Tore into it to find what I've been dying to see.

Understand I designed the cover and the disc design, the menu, the disc layout, etc. I give them the files and master disc, they make the entire packaging happen. Once they make it happen they send me the proof, which is exactly what the customer will recieve when they order it. So not only do I get to finally see the movie I've been busting my ass on for years now reach the next level, but I also get to see what was once just files on my computer, turned into a full professional package, as well as experience what the customer will experience, though I doubt any of you who may purchase my movie will be jumping up and down in your kitchen doing old school Arsenio Hall dog barking noises and gestures, as I was doing yesterday.

I'M A DORK!!!!


Lemme tell ya, Customflix is a dream come true for us DIY, Indie Moviemakers. Through them our movie will be listed on IMDB, it's going to available through Amazon.com in a few weeks, it'll be available for download to your home computer, through your XBOX, or if you have a TIVO. Thanks to Customflix for all that, and also without them the following pics would not be possible.

Ooooh, spine labeling, SEXY!


That's right bitches, a REAL LIFE BARCODE!


No crappy computer printed sticker labels here!


Check out one of the ad banners, which I'm sure you have, if you're on my Myspace. Yes, that's right, a dollar from every DVD sold goes to a Cancer Charity as per our mission to create and heal!


More dorkiness.


And now all we have to do is tell the world about it. So there is much much much much work to be done.

Do me favor, and tell everyone you know about it. Check out our site MONSTERCOPS.COM, to see all the trailers and clips, and decide for yourself if you'd like to get a DVD copy of our little Comedy Horror flick. Fair warning though, it's actually more of a Comedy. But it's funny as hell.

Pardon me, I have to go tell the world about it now.

Ahem.... scuse me, um... world?

Contest Round up AGAIN! Update

Major updates to the last contest round up post. Scroll down to the post or click this link: http://onespartan.blogspot.com/2007/04/contest-round-up-again.html

A Small Delay

Ok so there is a small delay on the DVD release, gotta fix a few glitches, but the good news is that it shouldn't be too long. So hold your horses if you're looking to buy a DVD. We'll be posting it everywhere as soon as it is available.

- P

Batter up

My first inclination is to write the following words to start off this post: "This has been the hardest couple of days."

But that would be incorrect. It has been indeed, but really the collective difficulty is that of more than just a couple of days. I posted once on this roller coaster of emotion and drama. The pain of being a no-budget indie moviemaker combined with the pain that accompanies dealing with death and the responsibility of consoling the ones you love. This is fucking hard.

The ups and downs are in such separation that it fools you into thinking everything is ok. Then the emotions hit you. The memories hit you. You fight to get to a point where you are positive about everything, and as a husband I hope to God that the laughter me and my wife share is an indication that things are better. Then it hits. You go from trying to celebrate a life, to going back to wondering what it is you could have done differently. How could I have saved Brenda? How can I be better suppporting my wife?

And then the movie making pursuit, which is something that was set into motion before all this, hits you with it's realities and responsibilities. The DVD release is supposed to be tomorrow. The marketing must continue. And new pressures have arisen. And once again because of the Birthday Wish Syndrome I will not reveal right away what those pressures are. But it's something that needs to be done. Needs to be tried for.

All this happened yesterday. Yesterday was one of the hardest days in this journey through grieving and trying to be an artist/entrepeneur. My heart breaks in two when Juli gets hit hard with the grief. Yesterday was no exception. It's a horrible thing to hear your wife in pain. It's a horrible feeling not knowing if what you are doing is enough for your wife. I hate hearing her in such pain. But it's only been 6 months since her mother died, and there is no manual on how to grieve. There is no manual on when to expect the grief to hit and leave and hit again. I know there is much strength being gained by both of us. But like a muscle being pushed to it's limits, our resolve is being tested in much the same way. When the relief comes it comes with laughter and positivity because we are at heart people who return to love and positivity. But somedays that's just a set up for the fall.

We hit the ground pretty hard yesterday. But of course we bounce back. We fought our way back to the positive. Much hugging ensued, much leaning on one another, as a couple should and as we so often do. Juli is better for now. But it's left me drained. And as I find myself in the recovery period of this emotional workout, that's when the weight of a new challenge arises. It's something exciting. It's something I feel I need to embark on, but at the same time it puts me right back into the heart of being a no-budget, DIY moviemaker. It may very well be something I need, but right now there is alot to figure out and in a short period of time.

This is a chance for me to really get to say what it is I was trying to say with The Midnight Special. But how do I do that with even less than what I had in Texas?

I need to hit this one out of the park. DIY again. Solo. One guy tryin to play all positions in a ball game. I don't know what made me think before that this was over. Like somehow, the DVD was gong to come out and I would proceed with the business plan and the next project would be with a budget and a professional crew instead of just me running around doing everything.

But it looks like I'm going to have to do this a couple more times. But this time around I have to do it better that I ever had. It's going to take a little money (from lord knows where) but it's mainly going to take a whole lot of creativity and sweat. This is all about pressure and time, and the latter I don't have too much of.

Gotta sell some DVD's. Gotta find out what my assets are here. I need sleep.

Time to find out what exactly one spartan can do.

Holy Shit!

Cloudburst!

All of a sudden I have a TON of work to do!

brb

Monster Research Videos

The idea behind the Monster Cops movies is simple. Take a mockumentary look into the lives of monster killers. So basically Cops vs. Monsters. Of course it would have that comedy twist, so really it's more like Reno 911 vs. Monsters. With THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL I feel we accomplished the mockumentary type comedy. As far as the monster portion, I feel we did ok. We didn't reach the full potential of what I had in mind. This is something I fully plan on remedying for the next feature for sure.

The monsters I have in mind are the usual, Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves. But my stipulation is that they look scary and real. I mean something that would actually scare you or gross you out if you saw it live. A motto I plan on sticking closely too is, if it looks fake live then it'll look fake on camera. Since much of what we are going to shoot is going to stick closely to reality TV/cinema verite, then I want what the camera sees to look as realistic as possible. I don't want you for one second to look at a zombie and think some guy in stage make up. I don't want you for one second to to look at a Vampire and think that the plastic fangs are about to fall out, (unfortunately some of our scenes look that way to me in TMS). And when you see the Werewolf footage, I want you think that we may actually have gotten a large beast like creature of some kind.

Monster Cops is a comedy with realistic scares. At least that's what it should be. The comedy comes from us, the cops. The monsters will remain scary. In other words, you will never see a wise cracking zombie or tap dancing Werewolf. Part of my vision for the franchise is to feature amazing monster footage with decent thrills. Suffice it to say we've got alot of work to do for the next movie, and much money to raise. But I am confident. Until then I'll keep looking for sources of inspiration. Many of these sources come in the form of Online Video.

I am blown away by the videos I've seen of the WALKING WITH DINOSAURS LIVE EXPERIENCE. This is definitely a show I want to see desperately. The following videos give you a glimpse inside this amazing show. My jaw dropped when I saw the brilliant work these people have put into these live action dinosaurs. I'm personally in awe because these are excellent examples of the kind of "monster fx" I'm looking to inspire the next Monster Cops feature. Especially the Velociraptors. The way they move is the way I would love to see a Werewolf or Demon move in the next movie, especially when we shoot it the way we're going to shoot it.

EDIT: What I thought were Velociraptors are actually the Baby T-Rex and the LILIENSTERNUS. Still amazing though.

Walking With Dinosaurs Workshop


Walking with Dinosaurs, The live experience '07 in Brisbane


Walking With Dinosaurs Live Experience. Check out the official site. Lord knows I'll be checking up on those US Tour Dates.


The next video is an example of animatronic dinos sans inside operator. I think.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan



Disney animatronics, as seen on the Travel Channel. I actually have the full program recorded. I watch it often.




And more videos on more Horror/Halloween based fx/animatronics. The Pumpkin and Rock monsters are creatures I'd consider using in Monster Cops plotlines. If we could make it work realistically.

Pumpkin Monster Animatronics at Transworld Halloween Trade Show



Rock Monster Animatronics at Transworld


The following costume by Gore Galore is amazing. I'm definitely considering contacting them to help with costuming.

Freakenstein by Gore Galore



This costume was made for a LARP gig. Amazing work.

Stone Golem

FUCK! I love writing!

Contest Round Up. AGAIN!

EDITED 4/29/07

Bust out that video camera and get crackin!
(Deadlines in parenthesis)

Ratatouille Comedy Contest
http://www.myspace.com/ratatouille

Acceptable TV
(Rolling Deadlines)
http://acceptable.tv/

Filmaka Film Competition
(Rolling Deadlines, Currently "The Secret" April 30th)
http://www.filmaka.com/index.asp

Briobox $50,000 Contest
(Rolling Deadlines)
http://www.briobox.com/index.php

OurStage Video Contest
(April 26th)
http://www.ourstage.com/go/vidopp

Lonely Planet TV's Travel Video Contest
(May 15th 2007)
http://www.lonelyplanet.tv/competition.aspx

MTV Movie Awards Movie Spoof Contest
(May 21st, 2007)
http://mtvmovieawards.yahoo.com/spoofs/

Love My Library Video Contest
(May 25th 2007)
http://www.gale.com/librareo/

Bytecaster Video Presentation Contest
(May 30th, 2007)
http://www.bytecaster.com/contests/presentation/index.aspx

"Chub City® In Action" Film Contest
(May 31st)
http://www.iplayaz.com/

John Woo's Stranglehold
(June 25th, 2007)
http://www.myspace.com/strangleholdgame

Mr Clean Scenes
(June 30th, 2007)
http://www.mrcleanscenes.com/mrclean/en_US/mclanding.do

Heinz Top This TV Challenge
(August 6th)
http://www.topthistv.com/

One Minute Film Festival
(September 1st, 2007)
http://www.minutefilmfest.com/2007/home.htm

My heart is with you

New Review!

Yet another amazing review, this time from Chad Connolly over
at

THE MOVIES MADE ME DO IT.

He gave us a great blurb that I will surely be putting on posters.

"The Midnight Special is truly one of the freshest and most hilarious films to come out of the (horror/comedy) genre."

Wow! Thanks Chad!

CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW

DVD RELEASE APRIL 27th

Monster Cops: The Midnight Special was initially supposed to be on DVD by the end of this week, Friday The 13th (woulda been cool) but due to a few set backs (as always) we'll be pushing back the official release to April 27th.

Basic Paper Engineering

Here we go again. I do play with paper alot. It's what I turn to help me think. it also helps that people like to watch them on Metacafe. This one has inspired a short movie idea. Enjoy.


Pop up Talking Puppet


Pop Up Talking Puppet - Funny bloopers are a click away

Eli Roth's Grindhouse Trailer

Thanksgiving from ELI ROTH

Warning. Explicit content.




He really nailed that late 70's early 80's slasher feel. And they actually used music from Creepshow. LOL.

Bob Clark

He probably won't be remembered as the greatest director ever. And most may not even know who he is. But to me, he was someone that influenced my love for the movies. His movies definitely influenced the way I look at movies. For sure he contributed to most of our enjoyment of Christmas.

Bob Clark, director of such bombs as Rhinestone, such mediocre fare as Baby Geniuses, and such classics (classics to me anyways) as Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, the original Black Christmas, Porky's, Turk 182, and A Christmas Story, He died this past Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Times reports that director Bob Clark and his 22-year-old son Ariel were killed Wednesday in an early morning collision along a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades.

Mr. Clark I'm so sorry for you and your son. I'm sorry for your family. I'm sorry I never got to tell you what an inspiration Turk 182 was to me. Thank you for your work dear sir. I really appreciated it.

DIE HARD 4.0 Live Free Or Die Hard

Trailers below. I'll post later about my obsession with Die Hard. But I will say that even as a die hard DIE HARD fan, I was only merely interested seeing as how it may not be as great as the others minus direction by John McTiernan (or even Renny Harlin) and minus an amazing score from the late great Michael Kamen. Now after watching the trailers (posted below), I'm VERY excited.

The Die Hard movies always had 5 things that I looked forward to. Bruce Willis Wise Cracks, Kamen's Score, Great Action, Smart Action, and that over the top vibe. Hey 4 outta 5 ain't bad.







I'm sorry, but did they just blow up the Capitol building?
Holy crap.



I love that they used Beethoven's 9th in this trailer. Granted it's a rock version, but hey, it sounds cool, and it's always a pleasure to hear Beethoven while watching Bruce shoot stuff.

http://www.diehard4movie.com/

Monster Cops:TMS Denver Screening

MONSTER COPS: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL will be screening in Denver, Colorado on Saturday April 21st, 2007 at 12:30pm. At STARFEST/HORRORFEST.



If you're in the Denver area feel free to swing by the con/fest and checkout all the events including our movie.


Check up on the full schedule here.

April Fools Day

A day I don't like very much. But here's something I do like:



Features Tom F. Wilson and my fav, Debbie Foreman. (sigh)

DC First Look at Grindhouse

I am beyond excited about this movie. Here's a review from those lucky bastards over at Dread Central. Pretty much what I was expecting. So very excited! Mainly because of Planet Terror, but I gotta tell ya, I'm truely excited about the trailers. Click the DC banner for the review.

Still Rollin

I don't like to post negative and I always try to post positive. Sometimes I'll give in to the ways of self empathizing, I mean that is a part of life and what a blog is so often used for. But I hate posting when I'm down. Too many posts like that and I sound like I'm constantly feeling sorry for myself. It just comes off as whiney, which is always a big turn off for me when it comes to blogging or reading other's blogs.

So I'll go a week without posting much of anything. It's still a rough road we're on since Brenda passed away. And I'll say this much, Juli is definitely on the road to healing, and I'm still grappling with much I didn't deal with early on. Issues and feelings that do have to do with Brenda's passing, but also to do with my own family. I'm worried about my father's health, my mother's sanity in dealing with it, as well as my own perspective on the entire matter. She says my father is fine, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to worry. It one big jumble of concern, Mom and Dad, Brenda's passing, Juli and her family, as well as my own day to day stress, and let's not forget this whole indie movie making thing.

But it's all going to be ok. I've got my head up, and it's not like it's something I can't handle. Still rollin.

Thankfully I have great distractions. Juli and I still have a great sense of humor and this whole indie thing, as stressful as it can be, is still very much a great thing.

My movie, Monster Cops: The Midnight Special, will be headed out to DVD soon. Also we've got 3 screenings coming up in 3 different citys. At the end of April in Washington, D.C. as well as at Starfest/Horrorfest convention in Boulder, Colorado. Also a Dallas screening at the scifi con known as FENCON IV, in September. Exact dates and times coming soon. I'm working on more screenings as well as maintaining the course with the marketing agenda. So far so good, we'll see how it all goes.

More to post later.

Get a Spartan Body

The only workout that seems like it would get you into that Spartan Soldier 300 shape.

www.p90x.com

Get ready for some major intensity, actually, you may want to find another workout to get you into decent shape before embarking on p90x.

At World's End

Or Watch It Here

VIDEO ROUND-UP and CONTEST ROUND UP!

Never ever ever underestimate the power of editing. Case in point the creative individual who runs under the name of AMDS Films. Check out all his stuff on Youtube. AMDS FILMS http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=amds

Excellent excellent work. Back in the day I use to do something smiliar with my fav movies, reedit them, combine them, Remix them, or as the kids are calling it nowadays "Mash ups". But what this guy is doing is amazing. Terminator Vs. Robocop Episode 1 is my fav and Neo Vs. Robocop is my second. I gotta say, him inserting himself into Garden State was pretty neat. Great stuff!


TERMINATOR vs ROBOCOP Episode 1
I love not only how well it's edited, but also the mashup with the scores is GREAT!
Great ending too! I haven't been this blown away by a FanFilm/Mashup since BATMAN: DEAD END


TERMINATOR vs ROBOCOP Episode 2


NEO vs ROBOCOP


3 DAYS IN ROMANS



It's that time of year again folks. Time for the STAR WARS FAN FILM CHALLENGE. If you didn't know about it, click on the link, get your creative Star Wars fan film juices goin and send in your submissions. This is one of those I know about every year but never get a chance to do. My fav since 2003 has been the one called "PINK 5" starring my favorite Valley Girl Jedi, Stacy.

AtomFilm's and LucaFilm's STAR WARS FAN FILM CHALLENGE

And while your at it here's some more heads up on other fun little video contests for all my fellow movie makers. Make something and submit, you just might win something.


VMIX has 3 contests for you to enter, if you dare.

- THE DO IT YOURSELF DOC CONTEST

- THE BEST ROOMMATE PRANK CONTEST

- GOLDRUSH MUSIC VIDEO CONTEST

And here is more for ya:

- istockphoto's THE FUTURE IS NOW CONTEST

- GRAB EM BY THE SACK VIDEO CONTEST (I swear that's really the name)

And I can't believe Carson Daily is actually good for something. Check out the following for constant video challenges and chances to create and win.

- CARSON DAILY'S IT'S YOUR SHOW
If most of the challenges are about to be done, just wait and new ones will be posted.

Grindhouse Trailer Contest. WINNERS!!!!

Seriously, you have no excuses. I post about it all the time. I tell moviemakers just starting out the same things over and over. With todays technology you literally have no excuses not to make and distribute your own movie for little to no money. I've done that with The Midnight Special and I'm already on the road to distribution. But this particular theme is reiterated when you look at some of the incredible entrys for the Grindhouse Contest.

In order to promote the movie Grindhouse, they created a contest asking movie makers everywhere to create their own trailers for a fake Grindhouse movie. The 3 finalists have been chosen and one of those is the winner. After watching all three I am simply blown away. Incredible stuff. Keep in mind that these are fake trailers for Grindhouse movies, they are supposed to exhibit the very essence of a Grindhouse flick. Sex, violence, horror, action, and all the cheesiness you could ask for. What follows is some of the best tributes to campy, cult, B-movies and exploitation flicks and all 3 of them excellently put together.

I am very very impressed.

THE DEAD WON'T DIE
Impressive make up fx. And I laughed my ass off at the random naked chick with the gun. This feels like Motel Hell, I Spit On Your Grave, and it feels like a Fulci Film. This is what I want the Monster Cop zombies to look like.


MAIDEN OF DEATH
This one was just well done overall. Feels a bit like The Crow meets I Spit On Your Grave.


And the winner is ...

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
The title alone warrants a win. This one really nailed that Grindhouse feel. Now I feel like watching Death Wish. Is that even on DVD?



Amazing job guys!

Working On It.

Sample of the DVD Front Cover.

Strictly Background

I love this business. This is one of those docs that reminds me of how much fun it all is, and how everyone has a dream. Don't ever take your background for granted.

NIGHT OF THE COMET!!!!!

First off I have to say that I actually really enjoyed Hostel. And although I really don't have much desire to see part 2, I did enjoy what Eli Roth is saying about HOSTEL II.

6 Reasons Why Hostel Part II Will Mess You Up By Eli Roth

1. In the first movie it was the three guys, but in Hostel Part II the violence is harder to watch because it’s all aimed at women. And any violence aimed at women is always gonna have a sexual element...
   
2. Hostel Part II goes much deeper. It shows you who runs the torture chambers – the shadowy figures who are in control. Everything you need to know about the corporation is right here. And it’s fucking terrifying.
   
3. It also looks at it from the other angle: how do people get from seeing this shit advertised on the web to standing in a torture chamber cutting someone up? The people doing it are normal guys, like you and me...
   
4. I don’t hold back on this one. The Unrated DVD of Hostel went to No1 but I only had 30 seconds of extra material to put in. This one, I’m filming it all: the sickest shit you’ll ever see. The censor’s are gonna flip.
   
5. I show you all the blood, because I fucking love that stuff. But with Part II, I want more suspense. I love it in the first movie where the guy is dragged along the corridor: the dread. Here, the whole fucking movie’s like that.
   
6. There’s one scene in this film that’s gonna change horror history. Even the guys from [effects company] KNB looked away as we shot it, and those guys live and breathe that shit. It’s special. I’m really proud!

In my moviemaking opinion THAT's how you market a movie. Kudos to you Mr. Roth. You've actually got my semi interested.

More importantly ....

My world has just gotten a whole lot brighter. And here is why:

New on DVD. NIGHT OF


This movie is on my list of flicks I can watch all day long. Friday August 23rd 1985, Patrick spends entire day watching Night Of The Comet, pausing only once to watch a special episode of Macgyver that night. I love this movie, and it's not just because Kelli Maroney is frickin hot as a cheerleader with a sub machine gun.

And if you hadn't heard the news GUESS what's coming out from Lions Gate Home Video later this year. That's right bitches, It's THE mutherfuckin MONSTER SQUAD!!!!! Don't believe me, read this: http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/news/57/17857.php

WOLF MAN'S GOT NARDS!!!!



Oh what? What's that you say? Patrick's movie MONSTER COPS: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL will be released on DVD on FRIDAY APRIL 13th? HOLY CRAP? REALLY!?

Yes.


I'm working on the special features as we speak. APRIL FRIDAY THE 13th, get your copy at monstercops.com, customflix.com, or amazon.com. It'll be available for digital download through amazon.com in June, and then we'll hit Blockbuster and Netflix before end of Summer. And all this year we'll still be hitting screenings at fests and conventions, including ...

ALL-CON DALLAS Sci-Fi/Fantasy/ Convention
March 17th

STARFEST/HORRORFEST Denver, Colorado
April 20-22 (Date and time pending)

More to come.


Goddamn, I love this movie making shit!

The Goodbye Girl

Sometimes it's good to be reminded of things. I think that's what makes forgetting such a precious necessity. You experience something incredible only to be reminded of it's greatness later in life. Such is the case with Neil Simon.

I mean really how can one forget the incredible work of Neil Simon. But when you go through life's roller coaster and experience more and more, it's easy to forget almost anything that isn't constantly around you. Tonight, my wife watched The Goodbye Girl for the first time. And for me it was like the first time as well. I'd only seen it twice before and it had been a long time. Upon watching the movie, I started to beat myself up for forgetting how good this movie is and how great Neil Simon is. But then I realized just how much fun I was having remembering and reliving all these great things. Great writing by Neil Simon. Great direction by Herbert Ross. Marsha Mason was charming and that little girl was hilarious. It's funny, it's witty, it's charming, it's smart, it's Richard Dreyfuss at his best, and possibly one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.

And I needed it. I needed to be reminded of that spark, that light, that charisma. I needed to be reminded that life isn't just a roller coaster of emotion, ups and downs, but ins and outs, lefts and rights, brilliance and even more brilliance. The power of writing and performance and the power of the movies. I needed to be reminded of that as a writer, and I was. Now I just need to let the rest of me know.

Well it's for sure now that I need to reacquaint myself with the works of Neil Simon. I'll start with more movies. Biloxi Blues and Lost In Yonkers for sure. And I have a need to watch one of my favorite Dreyfuss/Detective movies, The Big Fix.

I now have for you my continuing education in origami, in video form of course.

The paper rose in color.

Paper Rose - The most amazing home videos are here

And the talking sheet of paper. Which isn't being received too well. I think it's because I unleash my craziness a little too much on this one. Go figure.

Make A Talking Sheet Of Paper - The best home videos are here