I didn't want to be presumptuous that people actually read these things- So I paced myself.  Once every Year or so- but maybe I'll pick it up now. Anyways.  A Few of thie things that got me into filmmaking. In High School I studied Tae Kwon Do and watched a lot of martial Arts flicks. I found a compilation video of some of the Greatest Martial Arts Choreography and the "Best" was listed as a fight involvign Jackie Chan in the movie "Meals on Wheels". I found a VHS copy at a local blockbuster and it was one of my first Jackie Chan Experiences. I haven't found a DVD copy of it, but Youtube has it in their selection. The fight Scene I am referring to starts about here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgOtOHUcjAM#t=90m30s

Watching it this week reminded me of some of my original ambition. I've shelved Road to Rising MOon in an attempt to make a less volatile production. I'd like to shoot this fall.

TIME to go...

We went Garage Saling this morning. My kid found a little clock for a Quarter. We opted not to get it because the numbers are wrong. Instead of a Roman Numeral 4 as IV, the clock had it as IIII. It was a nice reminder that things don't have to be huge and elaborate (or even accurate) to be successful, such as the Eneman: http://www.snagabag.com/blog/images/eneman2.jpg

I'll let you figure that one out, but right now, I am looking to create something simple, thought out and well made. Just one step further to my future.

Catchy title, no?

This blog has been a little bare for too long, and this is something that I think can lend some needed perspective.

When I attempted to make my first feature length production, I learned a lot of lessons. I learned about casting calls, locations, production schedules, cast, crew and more. My project was ambitious, to say the least, but achievable. It required the assistance and dedication of a large group of people, and enough of those people flaked out. During this time an interesting situation played out. I needed actors and extras. I wasn't paying anyone and everyone knew this. I put ads in papers, online and on fliers. A young woman, associated with one of my actresses, had submitted her name for consideration in the project. She was a veteran actress of numerous pornographic films. There was some apprehension from those I was working with as to whether or not to consider her due to her "experience". I didn't feel a need to review her past work; the opening page of her website clearly stated you had to be 18 to enter and she had performed in many hundreds of productions- I took her word for it. Apparently with all her work, she must be comfortable in front of the camera. I needed some actresses for some one line scenes and she wanted to help and she accepted the small role. But I still needed plenty of extras for crowd scenes.

I was able to get an audience with the local pastors of several churches in the area. All I wanted to do was get permission to announce the project and that we were looking for volunteers to help with crowd scenes. I was overwhelmed with their heartfelt response, "$HOW ME THE MONEY$!" They refused to help unless everyone, including the churches, gets a piece of whatever is made from the movie. I explained to them that this is a very low budget film and that everyone else has agreed to participate for free. They brought up how much films like Facing the Giants made, and I tried to briefly explain about how much money putting films in theatres actually costs and how little of box office revenues actually go to the independent filmmaker. I told them outright that I didn't have the money to get contracts drawn up for this situation and they came back with, "It wouldn't cost that much." I stated that I chose to go the volunteer route because I couldn't afford to do the movie otherwise. I thanked them for their time, realizing they wouldn't budge.

I felt dirty walking out of that building.

This situation came back to my mind as I heard about kickstarter.com- a place where you can raise money for your dream, but for now you have to be invited to put your project on it. Apparently people are supporting the dreams of perfect strangers to help them take trips, make music, make movies, etc. In return for contributing part of the funds, contributors get "rewards".

I have had the opportunity to have 501(c) 3 covering for my work before, and I may still have it- so anyone who makes a donation can get a tax write off for helping me. At one point, over a couple of days I had raised a couple hundred dollars for a short film.

My heart has been breaking a little lately- not being able to pursue my dream. I think about what I can do and wonder if I sent out an email asking for 12 bucks- a quarter a week- and/or forwarding the email- if it would do any good.

If I could get 2,000 people to donate $12- I could spend a year making movies. Where would I get the 2,000 people? I send out 10 emails, who send out 10 emails, who send out 10 emails, who send out 10 emails, and 20% of all those people,1 in 5, join in- that's enough. But then I think of- who would help? And then I remember walking out of that building.