On February 28th and March 1st, a group of filmmakers will be shooting a short script I wrote titled "Nar-co-lep-sy". These filmmakers will also star in the film as well as produce it and edit it and the whole thing will be shot in our neighborhood with borrowed equipment!
Loosing patience with waiting for the next film production to roll into town, or waiting on word back from potential financiers about our own individual projects, we have decided to write and shoot something on a NO-BUDGET deal, shoot it in two days, also star in it and then edit it to a final cut. 6 people. That's it. Simple and fun and maybe it'll be good! Own it!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
'The Light Before We Land' Feature Film
The Light Before We Land is a dark and mysterious story about the personal ways people deal with grief and the release of the love they once held sacred. The film blends reality with magical realism to paint a world where the main characters become ready to examine the darker, more ambiguous elements of personal tragedy.
I am currently working on the outline to begin the process of writing the first draft. I will post a synopsis to go with the above leader line next week.
I am currently working on the outline to begin the process of writing the first draft. I will post a synopsis to go with the above leader line next week.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Projects
It has been far too long since the last update but while I sit here and watch the inauguration of Barack Obama and as it snows for the first time in Wilmington, NC in ten years, I feel a new beginning on the horizon for this country and for this writer.
I have been developing the short script 'The Light Before We Land' into a feature script and recently had the opportunity to pitch it to a studio in Georgia, with the hope that they will be interested in producing it sometime this year. I have also been working on a few new ideas for shorts that I would like to shoot with a small crew, to gain more experience directing behind the camera. Aside from these small projects, I remain involved with friends projects and continue to work with my students creating their projects as part of their video production class.
So onward with 2009.....with a new Director's reel, a new feature script and a smattering of short script ideas...
I have been developing the short script 'The Light Before We Land' into a feature script and recently had the opportunity to pitch it to a studio in Georgia, with the hope that they will be interested in producing it sometime this year. I have also been working on a few new ideas for shorts that I would like to shoot with a small crew, to gain more experience directing behind the camera. Aside from these small projects, I remain involved with friends projects and continue to work with my students creating their projects as part of their video production class.
So onward with 2009.....with a new Director's reel, a new feature script and a smattering of short script ideas...
Monday, July 28, 2008
"The Light Before We Land" script update
My short script, "The Light Before We Land" has progressed into the semi-finals of the 2008 American Gem Screenplay Competition. I am very excited as the script is in the final fifty out of over a thousand entries! Not wanting to jinx anything...I'll wait until August 7th, when the top twenty five is scheduled to be announced.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
A ridiculously belated update
I have vowed to get better about updating. Now that I have finished three months of non-stop work on two big films, I might be able to find a little time to concentrate on what is more important to me. And that is family and writing.
The new short script, 'The Light Before We Land' has been quietly doing well in the 2008 American Gem Screenwriting Competition. It has currently made it into the quarter finals and I shall learn this coming week whether it is to progress into the semi-finals or not. Fingers crossed for subjectivity!
I am close to a finished draft and have been wanting to dive in and put the film into pre-production to shoot in October. But recent developments with my DP and Producer (bigger films with paychecks!) may require that we push until the end of the year to go into production. I am excited at the prospects ahead. This story started out as a one-woman story of tragedy and has morphed into a far more complex story about grief, mysticism and the need to let go of loved ones. The longer we wait to shoot it, the stronger the script has become.
I have had an incredible group of peers read this script and every little suggestion and query from them has produced a solid change within the story for the better. Writing is rewriting. I'm reminded of this every time I talk to someone else who has been kind enough to take the time to read and make notes for me. The list of personal favors owed already has a bigger page count than the script!
The new short script, 'The Light Before We Land' has been quietly doing well in the 2008 American Gem Screenwriting Competition. It has currently made it into the quarter finals and I shall learn this coming week whether it is to progress into the semi-finals or not. Fingers crossed for subjectivity!
I am close to a finished draft and have been wanting to dive in and put the film into pre-production to shoot in October. But recent developments with my DP and Producer (bigger films with paychecks!) may require that we push until the end of the year to go into production. I am excited at the prospects ahead. This story started out as a one-woman story of tragedy and has morphed into a far more complex story about grief, mysticism and the need to let go of loved ones. The longer we wait to shoot it, the stronger the script has become.
I have had an incredible group of peers read this script and every little suggestion and query from them has produced a solid change within the story for the better. Writing is rewriting. I'm reminded of this every time I talk to someone else who has been kind enough to take the time to read and make notes for me. The list of personal favors owed already has a bigger page count than the script!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Crappiest blog in the world!
Wow, if I knew that after a year of blogging, I would be reduced to the 'occasional' entry then I would have truly have given up there and then.
So my apologies to the seven people who read this blog!
Being a new parent, working in the movie industry full-time and not working on my own projects leads me to not feeling motivated to blog about no sleep, 16 hr shooting days and my frustration with not being creative. Who wants to hear about that? Not me.
I am working on a feature film for the next 6 weeks. After that, I will be free to begin familiarizing myself with my writing once again and to start back up again from where I left off.
Until then.
So my apologies to the seven people who read this blog!
Being a new parent, working in the movie industry full-time and not working on my own projects leads me to not feeling motivated to blog about no sleep, 16 hr shooting days and my frustration with not being creative. Who wants to hear about that? Not me.
I am working on a feature film for the next 6 weeks. After that, I will be free to begin familiarizing myself with my writing once again and to start back up again from where I left off.
Until then.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Feature Script Optioned
It is official. My feature script titled 'The San Ysidro Leap' has been optioned to Princess Pictures in Dublin Ireland. This is my first feature script to be optioned to a production company and I am very excited to have such an incredible producer behind the script.
Sasha King is an award winning producer who previously produced my first short film 'The Hotel Trade'. Having worked together on this short film, we have been working on this feature script for the past year for her company Princess Pictures
The project is now 'In-Development'.
Sasha King is an award winning producer who previously produced my first short film 'The Hotel Trade'. Having worked together on this short film, we have been working on this feature script for the past year for her company Princess Pictures
The project is now 'In-Development'.
Monday, March 10, 2008
'The Calming' 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival Schedule
We just received schedule confirmation from the 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival that's due to take place in Charlotte, NC April 17th thru the 20th.
THE CALMING will have TWO SCREENINGS, one on Friday the 18th at 6pm and the second on Sunday the 20th at 1.30pm.
This will be the last festival appearence before I retire it to the vault that is my reel...
We made this film in May of 2006 and I entered it into 20 film festivals across the country.
It was accepted into 6 of those. Not bad for a film that explores the possibilities of pre-meditated marital murder...!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A Short, A Feature and a TV Show walk into a bar...
As we head into March, I've noticed that I am already feeling good about this years prospects. I have completed my first draft of a short script titled "The Light Before We Land" which I would like to shoot this summer. I have received some really positive feedback on the script from peers in the business and I'll be working on finishing a second draft hopefully by the end of this month. Shawn Lewallen has already agreed to return as DP/Producer for this short. I will be posting details on this project as soon as I lock down the script.
The TV show I was set to write and direct another three episodes for has been put on hiatus for the moment so my involvement with that has ceased for the time being.
On other news, I am in negotiations with a production company to help rewrite a feature script to be shot here in Wilmington this summer. There is a name attached to the project which will become public knowledge very shortly. I am meeting with the producers next week to talk about the script and the project in general.
Until then...
The TV show I was set to write and direct another three episodes for has been put on hiatus for the moment so my involvement with that has ceased for the time being.
On other news, I am in negotiations with a production company to help rewrite a feature script to be shot here in Wilmington this summer. There is a name attached to the project which will become public knowledge very shortly. I am meeting with the producers next week to talk about the script and the project in general.
Until then...
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
A breath of fresh air!
It's pointless to rant on about how effortless it seems to be able to write a three line update on a blog every other week but when you become a new parent, (like I did four weeks ago!) even the idea of remembering to brush your teeth in the morning before her third feeding seems like a challenge!
Needless to say, I am here and all is good!
Updates on the writing front all point to greatness...
I am currently embattled in development hell/pre-production with a local television show here in town. I am writing their final three episodes, including their season finale which is scheduled to shoot in March. I will also be returning to the directing chair to finish out their season.
The first draft of my next short is complete. I have sent it out to an exclusive group of friends who I trust will tear it apart appropriately! I will update further on this follow-up to The Calming, which is the film that got me in all this trouble in the first place! :)
And I sit here, waiting on word from a producers lawyer on the next step in the option agreement for my feature 'The San Ysidro Leap', currently in it's second draft.
Ah 2008, you're a month old and you're treating me well....
Now where are those diapers?
Needless to say, I am here and all is good!
Updates on the writing front all point to greatness...
I am currently embattled in development hell/pre-production with a local television show here in town. I am writing their final three episodes, including their season finale which is scheduled to shoot in March. I will also be returning to the directing chair to finish out their season.
The first draft of my next short is complete. I have sent it out to an exclusive group of friends who I trust will tear it apart appropriately! I will update further on this follow-up to The Calming, which is the film that got me in all this trouble in the first place! :)
And I sit here, waiting on word from a producers lawyer on the next step in the option agreement for my feature 'The San Ysidro Leap', currently in it's second draft.
Ah 2008, you're a month old and you're treating me well....
Now where are those diapers?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
2008 - the year IT happens...
Wow, this truly is a boring blog! :) This has to get better...
And now to the 2008 list of what I hope to accomplish without losing my mind, my sense of self-worth and my house!
1. The final draft of my optioned feature script.
2. Add television writing credits to my resume.
3. Write and Shoot my follow-up to the 2006 'The Calming'.
4. Complete a new feature script to use to secure representation.
and finally...
5. Learn to not make too many mistakes as a soon-to-be new parent!
A good set of goals career-wise....except number 5, which will be the trickiest of them all!
And now to the 2008 list of what I hope to accomplish without losing my mind, my sense of self-worth and my house!
1. The final draft of my optioned feature script.
2. Add television writing credits to my resume.
3. Write and Shoot my follow-up to the 2006 'The Calming'.
4. Complete a new feature script to use to secure representation.
and finally...
5. Learn to not make too many mistakes as a soon-to-be new parent!
A good set of goals career-wise....except number 5, which will be the trickiest of them all!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
A new script - work-in-progress
As 2007 draws to a conclusion, I have started working on a new project for 2008. Another short film, it's working title "The Light Before We Land". I am writing this for an actress who I worked with on Whittaker Bay this year and I am excited about the possibilities of this script. I would like to shoot in june/july of next year, depending on funds et al. It's another dark thriller, along the same tone as 'The Calming' but with a lot more character development and a bigger story. Trying to keep it under 14 pages.
I continue to work on 'The San Yisdro Leap'. We are close to having a finished draft. Some revising is needed on the ending which I am excited about. I think this script is gearing up to be a pretty tight feature. Am now working on final touches and additional plot twists with the producer.
All is well with "The Calming". The film went through a slight re-edit last month to tighten some scenes up. Mainly from feedback that I had received while the film has been on the festival circuit. I think that it only makes the film stronger. I am looking forward to screening this new version at the 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival in Charlotee, NC in April.
I continue to work on 'The San Yisdro Leap'. We are close to having a finished draft. Some revising is needed on the ending which I am excited about. I think this script is gearing up to be a pretty tight feature. Am now working on final touches and additional plot twists with the producer.
All is well with "The Calming". The film went through a slight re-edit last month to tighten some scenes up. Mainly from feedback that I had received while the film has been on the festival circuit. I think that it only makes the film stronger. I am looking forward to screening this new version at the 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival in Charlotee, NC in April.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Calming to screen in CHARLOTTE in 2008!
'The Calming' has been selected to screen at the 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival in Charlotte, NC in April 17 thru the 20th 2008.
Their website can be found here 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival
Details will be published soon.
I am considering a small re-edit for this film festival. Over the past year I have received a lot of constructive criticism in regards to the film and I'd like to put some of that to good use. This would be a great opportunity to improve upon what we already have and would give the film a new lease of life going into 2008!
Their website can be found here 2008 Cackalacky Film Festival
Details will be published soon.
I am considering a small re-edit for this film festival. Over the past year I have received a lot of constructive criticism in regards to the film and I'd like to put some of that to good use. This would be a great opportunity to improve upon what we already have and would give the film a new lease of life going into 2008!
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