June 22nd 2007
Finally
it is DONE!!
Yeah that's right, "Breaking All
Records" is finally complete. We have our first
private screening for the team and the Harbors at
Haverstraw residents on July 1st 2007 in the Harbors
theater. More screenings are to come, I'll let you
know when and where.
Two members of the team (Ralph Bergamo & Drew Serrano)
were invited to go on Jay Leno TONIGHT 6/22/07, so tune
into NBC. We have no idea what they want them to
do, but I think it involves some breaking. HA! :o)
What else right??
We also have new clips of
the film up on the site. Head over to the
films section to view.
NEW FILM!
Coming in July, I was asked
to Direct another Documentary. This film details
the exploits of PFC Dale Timmerman (Ret.), who served
with the Iowa National Guard and then the United States
Army during the years 1941 – 1945. Dale was a member of
the Guard's 133rd Anti-Tank Company, and later, the
Army's 34th Infantry Division, and one of many who was
captured by the Germans at Fiad Pass during the North
Africa Campaign. He subsequently spent the remainder of
the war in a variety of German POW camps, including the
notorious Stalag II-B.
During those years, he met several famous (and infamous)
figures, including Feldmarschall Rommel and General
Eisenhower; and participated in some of the more
noteworthy events in the North African and European
campaigns, including Operation Torch and the notorious
prisoners' march across northern Germany in the weeks
before the Russians entered the country.
Dale was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service,
which included saving the lives of two fellow soldiers
just prior to his capture.
We are fortunate enough to have Dale's writings, which
he successfully concealed from his captors for the
duration of his imprisonment, and which detail his daily
life from his arrival in North Africa all through the
war to his return to the United States.
I will be meeting Dale first hand in July when I fly out
to Iowa to do an interview on him. I am honored to
be a part of this upcoming film and I am looking forward
to every minute of it.
Until next time! cya
MAY 19th 2007
Chi
screened last weekend at the New Haven Underground film
Festival with a good response. Not a bad time, but
not great. I have done plenty of routes in these
smaller festivals and yeah it is fun to meet other
filmmakers, but that's really it. As I say in my
"Film School in a Box" learning program, unless you get
into the top 20 fests around the world, your chances of
a major break looks bleak.
Even getting
into a major fest does not guarantee anything. I
think I am in a point in my life where I am going to
concentrate more on features than shorts. I feel
like I am going backwards with shorts. I go to
fest after fest and nothing with only a sub par
experience when there.
I did one
feature film, didn't go to one fest with it, and it was
distributed internationally. So what does that
say?? The marketability is so much higher with a
feature. And I feel some of my shorts are way
better than that feature I did. But yet they still
sit.
I hate to say
it, most of these smaller fests just BLOW. They
set up a pull down screen and a projector on a cart in a
room that looks no better than my garage or basement.
OOoo it's underground!! Oooo It's
artsy! You tell me, what acquisition exec is going
to go to one of these fests when your film is playing in
a closet?
THEY'RE NOT.
Long story short, I've had it with fests. The
amount of money that I have poured into fests is
enormous, I could have bought three new cars by now.
Ok had to vent
on that. Onto the latest...
The documentary "Breaking all Records", YES I KNOW, it
is taking a while.
The film is edited and all we really have to do now is
finalize the music and credits.
I am hoping for a premiere very soon for this film. I
am looking to do it
at Loews again (now AMC theaters) in my town along with
a few showings in
Conn. and where I live in Haverstraw. I will keep you
all up to date so
hang in there.
Narrative film "working title" that I have just written
and early draft of
is going to be a film experience I have never attempted
before. It is a
drama, but I am looking to shoot this film in one day
and in real time. Yes
that is right, a feature film shot in one day. Possibly
this summer. Stay
tuned for the casting calls.
Ok, back to work! :o)
The
MachoGlide!
Yes that's right, one year and a Whole New Look!
Can you believe it? It has been
one year since I introduced this handmade steadycam to
the eBay market. He has become a very popular niche item
on eBay, so popular that I have become a powerseller
because of it and have made a consistent living.
Now after a year, he has a new logo look. I think
it represents him very well. Give me your
thoughts, I would like to hear what you think of him.
The MachoGlide was intended for
Indie Filmmakers on a budget. For a fraction of the
price you can achieve Hollywood results with your camera
using this steadycam. You can purchase the
MachoGlide on this website, just head
here.
I also have new products
that are beneficial to the Indie Filmmaker.
From shooting your 1st short film, working with actors,
finding distribution, screenwriting, etc. check the
products page and see what I offer.
I will be having more products for sale very soon such as books and DVD
film school guides. Always looking out for the indie.
:o)
Sign up for my newsletter at
the bottom of this page to keep up to date on the latest
products, casting calls, tips, festival screenings, etc.
Finally, My latest Horror
script "Seven to Hell" has gone through a major rewrite.
I plan to get my LLC and Biz license for this film. Once
we are set in stone for that, I will be seeking
financing for this HiDef feature. Then we get a
crew, cast, and shoot this sucker! Ha! Stay on the
newsletter for the updates on this film.
Five convicts are
sentenced to their ultimate demise, Seven Levels of
Hell.
