When the blessings rain, they pour. In the last 24 hours, not only has my script and trailer been sent to the largest talent agency in the world (William Morris Endeavor), but I just received word that a lawyer in St. Louis (who heard about the project) has offered to represent me legally, and help with contracts, and legal readings for FREE.
Wow, this is a huge blessing and potential money saver. Networks, studios, and agencies are quick to protect their own interests, and if possible, squeeze every dollar out of you that they can. You really need a lawyer to help negotiate and/or read contracts and help with legal verbiage.
I am very thankful and grateful for the huge outpouring of support I am getting in this project.
Perhaps one day, I can repay the favors by helping the next generation of media hopefuls.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
FINGERS CROSSED (my first Hollywood contact)
It is Tuesday, January 28th. My good friend and well-known television producer, Buck McNeely (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2162234/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) sent an email to a contact he has in Hollywood at the William Morris Endeavor Agency. His contact (unnamed purposely) is very high level, and has a lot of "pull".
William Morris Endeavor (WMA) is the largest talent agency in the world, and his contact, is way up there in the overall structure. They always say "It's who you know" and that could not be more true in Hollywood. Networking is the glue that holds all things together. Everyone knows someone who knows somebody who can get this thing to this one guy. Well, you get the picture.
I don't expect to hear anything for at least three or four weeks. The books say to give agencies at least 30 days before you contact them to check on the status of your submission.
--------------------------------
UPDATE:
Wow. We "heard back" from the agency in a matter of minutes after Buck's initial email. They have sent some legal forms to sign (standard practice in the biz). These are known as releases, and they protect the agency from being sued over the possibility that they are involved (in the future) with a script or idea that may be similar or even the same as mine.
It's a catch-22, if you don't sign it, then they won't read your script(s), and if you do sign it, they could steal your ideas. But, it is standard operating procedure of Hollywood, I'm not in a position to fight it, nor should I.
Here is an image of part of the release:
William Morris Endeavor (WMA) is the largest talent agency in the world, and his contact, is way up there in the overall structure. They always say "It's who you know" and that could not be more true in Hollywood. Networking is the glue that holds all things together. Everyone knows someone who knows somebody who can get this thing to this one guy. Well, you get the picture.
I don't expect to hear anything for at least three or four weeks. The books say to give agencies at least 30 days before you contact them to check on the status of your submission.
--------------------------------
UPDATE:
Wow. We "heard back" from the agency in a matter of minutes after Buck's initial email. They have sent some legal forms to sign (standard practice in the biz). These are known as releases, and they protect the agency from being sued over the possibility that they are involved (in the future) with a script or idea that may be similar or even the same as mine.
It's a catch-22, if you don't sign it, then they won't read your script(s), and if you do sign it, they could steal your ideas. But, it is standard operating procedure of Hollywood, I'm not in a position to fight it, nor should I.
Here is an image of part of the release:
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Online Promotion: Leveraging the WWW for $$$
After consulting with friend and filmmaker Jeremy J. Ford, I developed and launched a small website to help promote the "Back to Normal" TV show concept. It is a simple web presence with 3 purposes:
(1) Show the 2 minute Trailer/Teaser
(2) Link to a One-Sheet Show Synopsis
(3) Provide my contact info for interested parties
I developed it with Adobe Muse and hosted it with Adobe Business Catalyst. This is a fantastic and free platform with great website analytics to help track who is visiting the site when and from where. I am not publishing the page "publicly" so to speak, i.e. it is invisible to Google and other search engines.
Only those that I send the exact web address will have access. This accomplishes 2 things, first, it helps to protect my intellectual property rights by restricting access to important show info, and secondly, it allows me the ability to better track who/when/where the visits are related to.
Here is a screenshot of the main page:
(1) Show the 2 minute Trailer/Teaser
(2) Link to a One-Sheet Show Synopsis
(3) Provide my contact info for interested parties
I developed it with Adobe Muse and hosted it with Adobe Business Catalyst. This is a fantastic and free platform with great website analytics to help track who is visiting the site when and from where. I am not publishing the page "publicly" so to speak, i.e. it is invisible to Google and other search engines.
Only those that I send the exact web address will have access. This accomplishes 2 things, first, it helps to protect my intellectual property rights by restricting access to important show info, and secondly, it allows me the ability to better track who/when/where the visits are related to.
Here is a screenshot of the main page:
Sunday, January 19, 2014
TRAILER Production: Final Day of Shooting
There is an odd mix of sadness and relief that descends upon one at the conclusion of principal photography (i.e. you are done with shooting). Yesterday, Saturday January 18th, we finished our shots for the "Back to Normal" trailer. Feelings of "Oh, no!" meet "Oh, YES!"
Our day started fairly early the Career & Technology Center, around 7:30am. We had several major setups, including an underground, smokey conference room, a movie theater parking lot (chromakey), and a high-level KGB office in the former Soviet Union.
Once again the incredible lighting magic of gaffer Tim Hawn came to the forefront. It is so liberating to work with a professional with his level of experience. I can just share my vision, and, before you know it, he has the look, the mood, the feel. Of course, it was a little more than frustrating on his part---we did not hire a grip truck (a vehicle loaded down with high-end lighting gear), we just used the limited gear we had, and he had to improvise and cut corners, but you would never know it on screen. The footage looks fantastic.
Our first shot was all greenscreen (chromakey). We had to make it look like Denver Collins (played by Marc Harris) and his girlfriend Katie Long (Jennifer Harris) were standing in the parking lot of a 50s-era movie theater. I had the happy couple do several steamy kisses and embraces. The last take was...well...unforgettable, almost rated PG-13.
For our second setup, a mock underground, smokey conference room, we had about a dozen actors and actresses, all in period-clothing and period-makeup. It is amazing how the addition of a 50s-style pair of glasses can change the entire look of a person (heck---glasses are enough to hide the identity of Superman, so, why not?) Add a little fog, swinging overhead incandescent bulb, vintage telephone, and a bow tie on Doc Stonecroft (Richard Kent Withers) and the scene was perfect.
We needed a quick shot of Chief James McCloud (David Hammon) and Terrance Gaines (Bruce Boulden) in a screaming match, barrel-chest to barrel-chest. I really wanted the intensity of the shot to be amped up, so we gave each one of the them a little Sprite to hold in their mouth, and then swallow at the last second. Once they started yelling, the saliva salvos were firing back and forth like a bottle rocket war. I think it was Matt McFerron who had that right-Sprite-idea. I guess one could say that his technique was spit on, I mean, spot on.
Once the arguing was over (one take) we started to long process of converting a very modern administration office into the lair of a high-level Soviet KGB officer. The ambiance was perfected with a Soviet flagpole, framed photos of Lenin and Stalin, a couple of vintage radios, telephone, and authentic-looking military attire, hats, badges, and ribbons. Once we added some haze, and about 4000 watts of amber light through a window with venetian blinds--you were transported, not only back in time 60 years, but relocated behind the iron curtain itself.
We finished our day around 3:30pm, not nearly as exhausted as the Saturday before, with only one more shot to go (a quick clip of a CIA officer, gun drawn, working his way along a brick wall).
But, I hear the incessant cry of my trailer footage: "Edit me, edit me!" I must obey my master. Until next time.
Our day started fairly early the Career & Technology Center, around 7:30am. We had several major setups, including an underground, smokey conference room, a movie theater parking lot (chromakey), and a high-level KGB office in the former Soviet Union.Once again the incredible lighting magic of gaffer Tim Hawn came to the forefront. It is so liberating to work with a professional with his level of experience. I can just share my vision, and, before you know it, he has the look, the mood, the feel. Of course, it was a little more than frustrating on his part---we did not hire a grip truck (a vehicle loaded down with high-end lighting gear), we just used the limited gear we had, and he had to improvise and cut corners, but you would never know it on screen. The footage looks fantastic.
Our first shot was all greenscreen (chromakey). We had to make it look like Denver Collins (played by Marc Harris) and his girlfriend Katie Long (Jennifer Harris) were standing in the parking lot of a 50s-era movie theater. I had the happy couple do several steamy kisses and embraces. The last take was...well...unforgettable, almost rated PG-13.For our second setup, a mock underground, smokey conference room, we had about a dozen actors and actresses, all in period-clothing and period-makeup. It is amazing how the addition of a 50s-style pair of glasses can change the entire look of a person (heck---glasses are enough to hide the identity of Superman, so, why not?) Add a little fog, swinging overhead incandescent bulb, vintage telephone, and a bow tie on Doc Stonecroft (Richard Kent Withers) and the scene was perfect.We needed a quick shot of Chief James McCloud (David Hammon) and Terrance Gaines (Bruce Boulden) in a screaming match, barrel-chest to barrel-chest. I really wanted the intensity of the shot to be amped up, so we gave each one of the them a little Sprite to hold in their mouth, and then swallow at the last second. Once they started yelling, the saliva salvos were firing back and forth like a bottle rocket war. I think it was Matt McFerron who had that right-Sprite-idea. I guess one could say that his technique was spit on, I mean, spot on.Once the arguing was over (one take) we started to long process of converting a very modern administration office into the lair of a high-level Soviet KGB officer. The ambiance was perfected with a Soviet flagpole, framed photos of Lenin and Stalin, a couple of vintage radios, telephone, and authentic-looking military attire, hats, badges, and ribbons. Once we added some haze, and about 4000 watts of amber light through a window with venetian blinds--you were transported, not only back in time 60 years, but relocated behind the iron curtain itself.We finished our day around 3:30pm, not nearly as exhausted as the Saturday before, with only one more shot to go (a quick clip of a CIA officer, gun drawn, working his way along a brick wall).But, I hear the incessant cry of my trailer footage: "Edit me, edit me!" I must obey my master. Until next time.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
TRAILER: Sneak Peek at Early Samples
Stayed up way too late tonight to do some quick editing with the amazing footage that we acquired for the trailer last night.
Editing and color correcting trailer footage is like eating potato chips---you can't eat/do just one, you get engrossed in an endless loop of editing, color grading, rinse, repeat.
I am very happy with the technical quality and the feel of the graded shots. Here are some sample stills from the trailer (thus far): (click on an image to enlarge)
Editing and color correcting trailer footage is like eating potato chips---you can't eat/do just one, you get engrossed in an endless loop of editing, color grading, rinse, repeat.
I am very happy with the technical quality and the feel of the graded shots. Here are some sample stills from the trailer (thus far): (click on an image to enlarge)
TRAILER PRODUCTION: Day One-January 11, 2014
Today feels very much like the day after.
The day after hours of work with little sleep, the day after making thousands of decisions with little time to contemplate, the day after organizing dozens of people and hundreds of pieces of equipment big and small, the day after the first major production day for the "Back to Normal" Trailer.
What a marathon yesterday was! I started my Saturday at about 8am with last minute equipment and prop packing, last minute contacts with key players...thank the Lord for Ron Pokracki. This day would not have gone smoothly without his help, attitude, and know how. The day ended around 1:00am Sunday morning (totalling about 14 hours of production time...with a small break for Pizza around 5:00pm).
The first location was in the charming atmosphere of downtown old Cape, specifically in a fantastic loft apartment owned by Dennis and Summer Riney. This served as the backdrop of lead-character Denver Collins' New York apartment. The sizable crew then relocated to the backwoods of the outskirts of Dutchtown, Missouri for a long and cold night of shooting along a lonely stretch of county road, approximately 16 miles from anywhere in any direction.
It's funny how cold air changes your senses--the 29 degrees allowed you to SEE your breath, and yet not FEEL your hands. It was pure enthusiasm for the project which kept us moving and in good spirits as the temps plummeted low enough to turn the moist farmland into the consistency of a poorly paved, concrete driveway.
I want to extend a great big thank you to all who helped make yesterday's first day of shooting a huge success. So many of you donated/loaned items, volunteered time, offered encouragement, and have believed in this project. If I start naming names, at my vulnerable mental age, I will, invariably, leave someone out. You know who you are--but here goes anyhow:
SPECIAL thanks to those who really went above and beyond, like Tim Hawn, Danny Janisse, Matt McFerron, Marc Harris, David Hammon, Kyle Fields, Abdul Al-Katanani, Dennis Riney, Andrew Kenner, Laurie Davis, Matt Fluegge, and Officer Sean Adams. There are others (thank you Debbie Franklin for the makeup).
This trailer is now about 70% complete (footage-wise), and we have one more full day of shooting, Saturday January 18th at the CTC from 8am to 3pm. We will have scientists, KGB commanders, assassins, convicts, cops, stock brokers, mechanics, and a host of other characters to film.
Here are some "behind the scenes" photos from yesterday's production:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
TRAILER: Friday Shoot Bumped Due to Weather
Trailer Production Update:
Due to a rainy forecast for Friday January 10th, we have officially moved the shoot time to Saturday January 11th. We have also revised the shoot time from 4:30pm to 1:00pm. Everyone who is helping with the shoot is to be at 116 N. Main Street in Cape (two doors down from Broussards). We will be at the loft apartment from 1:00pm to 4:30pm, then dinner break, then on location on County Rd. 237 near Dutchtown, Missouri from 6:00pm - ? (hoping to finish before midnight).
It is supposed to be COLD Saturday night (upper 20s). Please dress appropriately for that time slot. Bring coats, gloves, hats, and a change of clothes---we are probably going to get dirty as we will be shooting out in a field.
I have rented a portable "jet" heater to help keep everyone warm on location, and Tim Hawn will be bringing a several-thousand watt generator as well. Sheriff John Jordan (Cape Girardeau County) has been contacted, and he said he will have a county Deputy with us to handle traffic issues (we will block part of County Rd. 237) and we will have real weapons for the production.
I have received a signed permit from the property owner, and we contacted those living along the road earlier, notifying them of our intentions.
Hopes are high, see you there.
Due to a rainy forecast for Friday January 10th, we have officially moved the shoot time to Saturday January 11th. We have also revised the shoot time from 4:30pm to 1:00pm. Everyone who is helping with the shoot is to be at 116 N. Main Street in Cape (two doors down from Broussards). We will be at the loft apartment from 1:00pm to 4:30pm, then dinner break, then on location on County Rd. 237 near Dutchtown, Missouri from 6:00pm - ? (hoping to finish before midnight).
It is supposed to be COLD Saturday night (upper 20s). Please dress appropriately for that time slot. Bring coats, gloves, hats, and a change of clothes---we are probably going to get dirty as we will be shooting out in a field.
I have rented a portable "jet" heater to help keep everyone warm on location, and Tim Hawn will be bringing a several-thousand watt generator as well. Sheriff John Jordan (Cape Girardeau County) has been contacted, and he said he will have a county Deputy with us to handle traffic issues (we will block part of County Rd. 237) and we will have real weapons for the production.
I have received a signed permit from the property owner, and we contacted those living along the road earlier, notifying them of our intentions.
Hopes are high, see you there.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
TRAILER-Oh When the Props, Come Rolling In
The problem with doing a trailer for a period piece (mid 1950s) becomes immediately clear once you really start planning---PROPS.
You need items that are time-period-specific. Even though they will only be on-screen for fractions of a second, to may be a few seconds, they must (at the very least) look authentic. Thank the Lord for ebay and amazon.com. I have spent the last week scouring these sites, and others like www.goantiques.com, as well as talking to local antique vendors (such as Shelly Penny) to acquire items within the timeframe, and more importantly, within my budget.
The first prop to come in was a door sign for Police Chief James McCloud's squadcar. I designed the door plate in Photoshop and then had an online magnetic door sign printer produce it and ship. It arrived December 27th, 2013. The other items began arriving at irregular intervals, or were picked up locally.
From vintage eye-glasses to a KGB officer's coat, from police badges to a tranquilizer dart (thanks Sam Penny) everything needs to be in place for the two days of production for the trailer (currently set for Friday January 10, 2014 and Saturday January 18th, 2014).
A quick trip to Goodwill in Cape Girardeau yielded the long, Soviet officer's coat, and the Teen Challenge Thrift Store provided the police coat and pants. Total for these purchases locally: $15! I don't think the long, overcoat had ever been worn, probably a $200 coat or more new.
Here are some of the items/props:
You need items that are time-period-specific. Even though they will only be on-screen for fractions of a second, to may be a few seconds, they must (at the very least) look authentic. Thank the Lord for ebay and amazon.com. I have spent the last week scouring these sites, and others like www.goantiques.com, as well as talking to local antique vendors (such as Shelly Penny) to acquire items within the timeframe, and more importantly, within my budget.
The first prop to come in was a door sign for Police Chief James McCloud's squadcar. I designed the door plate in Photoshop and then had an online magnetic door sign printer produce it and ship. It arrived December 27th, 2013. The other items began arriving at irregular intervals, or were picked up locally.
From vintage eye-glasses to a KGB officer's coat, from police badges to a tranquilizer dart (thanks Sam Penny) everything needs to be in place for the two days of production for the trailer (currently set for Friday January 10, 2014 and Saturday January 18th, 2014).
A quick trip to Goodwill in Cape Girardeau yielded the long, Soviet officer's coat, and the Teen Challenge Thrift Store provided the police coat and pants. Total for these purchases locally: $15! I don't think the long, overcoat had ever been worn, probably a $200 coat or more new.
Here are some of the items/props:
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