Looking to the future

I'm very excited for the new year that is ahead of us. 2009 has been all about business and getting everything lined up for when that wonderful thing call money drops. We've perfected our business plan, our stradegy, and definitely our budget, we revised, then revised again, then once again revised. We're as ready as we can be, at least until we get feedback, then the changes will begin again.

With all this time spent on the business side the creative side has been waiting quietly. So, every chance I get I like to sit down and read through the script. It's a way to remind myself what all this effort is for, this new education in business. I can see how people can get lost in the details and numbers of it all, looking forward to the future, asking all these question that really has nothing to do with the creative storytelling of filmmaking, like what kind of return can this film have? Which revenue stream is it best suited for? Who is our audience and how do we find them? And suddenly they find themselves overwhelmed and ready to chuck it all. I haven't gotten that far down the rabbit hole, but I can see how easy it could happen...at least to a writer / producer or writer / director / producer. Having to split your time between writing, visulizing the story and stradegizing how to make money back, that definitely makes a girl's head spin. I know it's helped me to take these little excursions back into the world that I love, to spend time with those characters that I know so well, those wonderful characters that I can't wait to introduce to you all, it's kept me focused, and reminds me why I'm so passionate about this project. And so I move forward, keep learning, keep searching and keep pushing.

So 2009 was the year of learning and 2010, what will come is unknown, it could be...the year the money drops, the year of standing on set, the year of dark editting suites... or and this is the way I like to think it'll be the year of one step at a time.

I'll keep you post.

When you need help ask for it...

...but don't just blindly hand things over, you have to take the time and learn as much as you can. Finding people who can help you along the way is very important. We've been working the last several monthes on our budget with the help of this great lady, Megan. She's awesome and she's taught me alot about budgetting and thinking in budgetting terms.
But the process has been long and arduous, we started out doing a budget with all the bells and wistles - well maybe not all of the bells but in the low budget world we definitely had alot. It was great...but as time has moved forward and I really put myself to task on our distribution strategy, it came to lite what's going on in the marketplace now. For Indie's it's pretty tough. The budget we had was wonderful but the harsh reality was recoupment was very unlikely at that level. We had to cut it down.
So, Megan did it, came back with a much lower budget and now I've sat with it many a night working, rearranging, rethinking and I believe we are there. Of course, I've probably missed something, but I can dream it's all good, right? Now, it's time for me to hand it back to Megan and the other producers and see what they think of my handy work. I'll let you know how I did...but just for luck, could you cross your fingers for me.

So, what I'm trying to say is if you are desparate to make your film but you don't know anything about producing or business, I highly recommend before raising any money, go get yourself educated, find people who have done it before, ask questions, ask for help, learn about what's happening in the world of independent film and where your film can find a home. Because this isn't about making just one movie, I hope. I hope that like me, you're just getting started and with that you've got many many more movies in you...if that's the case make this one count. Don't you think?

Research, not really my cup of tea

Have you guys heard about social media marketing? I don't think I was really aware it until a few monthes ago. When it happened to me, well I sure it has happened to me many more times before but I just wasn't aware, and it's probably happened to you many times as well. So, it goes like this, you're online, messing around facebook and you see a friend of your's has shared an article or a trailer to a new movie and you click on it to check it out. You like it or not, you've just experienced social media marketing. I find it very fascanating...and a great way to get the word out about your product, your blog, or like us our movie, Clombies.

It seems simple enough, you post up interesting things and someone likes what they see and thinks "hey I think my friend Bill would really like this" or they just think "everyone I know should hear about this." And away it goes, right? Well, for those that use the web for more then just email and Facebook, they probably would have a pretty easy time getting their message out there...for me, not so much. I love the web, but I really don't spend that much time on it. At least not much surfing.

So, when we started working on our distribution plan we went to an expert in the field. She's great, if you need any enlightment on distribution you should pick up her book "Guide to Independent film distribution" by Stacey Parks, it's a very honest and straight forward look at film distribution for Indie filmmakers. Anyway, after she looked over our film and our plan, she told us that traditional distribution would work but that we should really consider the new hydrid distribution strategy. We didn't really know what she was talking about. So, she explained that we should still plan for a traditional distribution plan, do the film circuit and try to find a distributor that way, but also we could do our own distiribution along the way online. But we didn't need to wait for the film to be finished, actually that could slow things down if we waited until the film was finished. The thing is we want to find our audience now and hopefully they will be excited to go on this journey with us.

Well, it sounded awesome to me...I don't think I thought it was going to be easy, by any stretch of the imagination but I don't think I realized that in reality the web is a very big place.

So, I've signed us up for a few sites that can help drive traffic back to our website, blog, and in the future our Fan page on Facebook for Clombies. But just like with any marketing stragegy, you have to have a plan. And when it comes to a plan you have to do research - so research as I said before really isn't my cup of tea, but because this whole idea of actually reaching beyond Austin, Texas...reaching beyond the US, to be able to reach people in Australia for example is just amazing to me. So, research will be done and I will make it through. Because how much fun will it be see someone clear on the otherside of this planet asking to see our film, and if we're lucky and do a great job at this social media marketing, they may be demanding it at their local theaters. Now what could any Indie filmmaker want more then to have an audience demanding to see their film.

MY Productions New Project

Hey All,

Sorry it's been so long since I've been over here, but we've been busy working on our newest project, Clombies. It's our first feature film. We're finally stepping out of the shorts world, thanks to BSW, and heading into the wonderful world of longer shooting schedules and larger cast and crew. Let's see, the film is a comedy/horror, more comedy then horror, but don't get me wrong there is horror to be had and good fun gore. Later down the line we'll reveal more of the story. Actually, a synopsis will be found in a repost of a blog from our website, so just check out the blogs for 2009.

So, why do I say repost, well we have a blog attached to our new website, but it's very different from blogger, which has been hard to get use to. I love using blogger. So, while we work out which blog to use I'll be double posting on the website and here. This way you won't miss out on any exciting news about us and the new project. Also, it means that I'll be reposting several blogs that were written earlier this year. So, please take a look at them all - luckily they were all written in this year so it isn't years and years ago. Thanks for checking in on us every once in a while and just so you know, keep coming back. I am back and I will be posting. Please also go check out our new re-designed website. It's pretty cool.

See you soon.

Long time, how about an update?

It's been a long time, right? I know it's been a while but I'm happy to say that what's been keeping me away is our fund raising efforts on our new feature Clombies. If you don't know about Clombies, it's a comedy horror that I wrote about two year ago and have been rewriting up until this summer. Though it's a comedy horror and very commerial it holds on tightly to the indie spirit which makes it different from the traditional Hollywood films. And I just have to put it out there that I just love the lead character in this film.

Anyway, as I stated before we're currently raising funds for this film.

Please excuse this very quick plead for help and cash:
If you know anyone who is looking for a unique and fun investment opportunity send them our way, donations are greatly appreciated and if you really want to get involved contact me and we'll let you know what you can do...okay, here ends the sells pitch.

How about a quick synopsis?

Clombies is the story of an average guy who returns to his hometown to profuse his undying love for his high school crush. But he quickly gets derailed when he discovers an unexplained and unusual epidemic happening in town, it leads him to team up with a rag-tag band of offbeat characters to save the town before the chaos spreads and in the end helps him discover who he truly is.

The film is more of a comedy than a straight horror but there will be lots of tense moment, good scares, truly bloody moments and some funny gore. I'm very excited to get this on film but even more so to start finding our audience. So, keep you're eyes peeled for our fan pages on myspace and facebook, they should be up by December. And if anyone has suggestions of other places on the web to draw attention to our film, please tell me or even better yet go ahead and do it yourself and start talking up the film, direct people to our fan pages and to MY Productions website and/or to our blog, which I promise is going to be much more active.

On that note, I will take my leave and promise to speak with you all very soon.

First Location Scout trip

The setting of Clombies is in a small West Texas town. Initially, before the script was even written we were thinking of using Kermit, Texas. But as the script was developing I found myself picturing places in my hometown of Midland. When it was all said and done it was obvious that the Midland / Odessa area would be our first scouting location.

The first week in July Elizabeth and I went out to Midland / Odessa. The Texas Film Commission was so kind to help us out by sending one of their scouts, Lindsey. She was a great asset to have, not only did she get us into places but she also has 4 years of experience, a great eye, and good suggestions. Which are invaluable when looking at potential locations.

We spent two full days scouting with Lindsey then had two and a half days on our own. We saw a lot of Midland and Odessa. They both have tons to offer with many possibilities. Which is great, because if one location doesn't work out there are alteratives. We look follow to our next visit and the process of locking down specifc locations.

As I start to process everything we saw and the people we met. It is obvious to me that not only is this area perfect for the look of Clombies, but that the people here are right for Clombies. This was quite a successful first visit.

Great script read through

A few weeks ago Elizabeth and I drove up to Dallas for our first script read through for Clombies. Our friend and business associate Zach Hopkins put it together for us. He found all very professional actors and a great location to hold it. I don't know if I have said it enough, but thank you Zach. You did a great job and the casting was spot on.
Of course, with any kind of read through, I'm always a little nervous because it's a true test of the script and the characters, was it all on the page or not. I am very proud to say, the script was solid. There were a few places that needed adjustments and maybe a line of dialogue didn't play or just needed to be tweeked. But these were all minor things. Overall, the script played, the characters came off like I intended and the laughs were there. It was tons of fun listening to everyone read. The actors really got into it and brought it alive. It's what a good read through should be.
I am so impressed with the talent that was in the room that day. Thank you all for giving up your Saturday, we truly appreicate it.

Camera Test for Clombies

We've been working with Hawgfly (Meredith and Carolyn) a special effects and regular make-up company, on designing our special effects make-up for The Clombies. Meredith, Carolyn and I have been meeting pretty regularly in the last two months to discuss and formulate a look for the film. Through Febuary I organized the actual shoot, gathering crew, getting a little wardrobe, figuring out how it all will come down. At times it got pretty overwhelming and crazy but luckily we've done this enough times, so we got through it.
Now, the reason for the test was to get a look at the special effects make-up and see how it will play on HD. We have two different creatures to deal with. They are similar but definitely different. The fx team did a great job. The make-up looked great and from the test we could see what was working and what wasn't. Meredith, Carolyn, and I will meet and discuss what fixes are needed and what stays. The fx team worked super fast and I really am impressed with how the fx make-up turned out. Thanks, Meredith, Carolyn, Lindsey, Lacy and Mikela. You all did an awesome job.
When we started this test we were going to test with just the Sony F900 but the DP really was impressed with the Red One camera. So, we decided to shoot with both cameras. Standing there on set I could see why people are impressed by the Red. But I was impressed with the Sony's look as well. They actually aren't very different in look. I think time and a few more tests will only tell which camera we end up using. Before I wrap up, I'd also like to say, I was very impressed with all of actors. They all showed up, put on the make-up, sat around a long while and never complained. When it was time for them to get up and get in front of the camera, they brought it. All of them. They made the shoot fun for me. I love directing actors, even if it's just a little direction here and there. With their performances, the make-up actually came alive. So, I'd like to thank, Karen, Rosie, Michael, Derek, and Matthew for their patiences, their time, their energy, and their performances. You guys were great.
So, to wrap up, it was a good shoot overall, worked with fun and professional people and most importantly we're one more step closer to being prepared for the big show.