Season Deux

So my original actor disappeared. I mean literally ghosted me. Not that there was any structure to this. BUT, if you think this is beneath you...we can move on. I have no problems re-writing the story. And neither does anyone else. I understand sometimes actors have a habit of thinking they are infallible. On the level we make these things, we could probably replace you with a potato and no one would care. Actors are fragile folk. With good reason...no one wants to be made the fool, publicly. I try my best to make it really cool and that everyone would be proud to be involved. The last actor was a bit stiff and lacked some awareness that saying less dialogue means you are a stronger character. As with most actors, they want to speak more. Except legends like Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood. They knew that giving their co-stars lines meant they could be the strong silent type. Pretty simple stuff.

Poster Art And Promotion

The director of "Binary Devils" put me in touch with a poster artist who has really tapped into a Drew Struzan type art work. Beautiful. And will work perfectly with the short film he just made.

I don't think about marketing all that much. I love the thought of it, but I don't necessarily promote like I should. But somehow promoting for other people's projects sits easier with me. In a way I think promotion feels like bragging. Which I can get behind bragging about others over my own projects. I think that's why people need representation. Other people need to vouch for you.

This industry is strange.

Producing "Binary Devils

I don't often get a chance to producer a short film. Typically I don't, but I met a very ambitious young man with a sensibility I saw in myself that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to invest.
I love that young people have vision that doesn't have anger or pain attached to it. They only want to make simple entertainment. And I dig that. Because so much today is about agenda.
This young filmmaker is a throwback to a time when movies didn't have to have a social message (though it has a very small one about PTSD, of sorts). The rest is "making cool things."

Not that I am anywhere near their caliber, but both J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg knew the next generation HAS to be supported if they share this sensibility. And what is that?

To be creative.

When I was in film school people made some really dark movies. It was all about how religion failed them, or parents suck or whatever. No one really was trying to tap into the market that sells. Now, it's not to say they have to. In fact, most young film students are idealist. Sometimes annoyingly so. But the innocence of just a simple story has its merits, and something we sorely lack now.

Even in my own projects where things have to be SO important. It's not.
So "Binary Devils" came across to me as a fun project that is just...fun.
Why not?!
There is no agenda, and it may be that we don't need more "messages." in our visual stories.

Day Of Shooting

I get nervous on any day of shooting. Things happen. Plus, I'm anticipating everything I have to do. Which is a lot.
Most people won't see what needs to be done. Nor should they care. They show up and just...do it. My anxiety climbs. And it's not abnormal. It's exciting, but also very very scary. A lot of factors go into shooting this project. For one, I don't want anyone hurt. The second thing, I don't want to piss anyone off.

The vision of this project has been for a while now. And it's not just this one. It goes on for two more. But it means I can't fuck this one up.

I recently listened to Gore Verbinski talk about his deal with "The Pirates Of The Caribbean" movies. All the producers were nervous. Even with Johnny Depp. They rode him hard about Depp's performance. But when that movie made a gazillion dollars, all questions were answered. That was Verbinski doing something different. Allowing the audience to find the oddity of the movie and embracing it. He states that we all need, deep down inside, to appreciate seeing something different. Maybe I can find that different.

Moving forward. Always.

The Ballad Of CoCo

Coco sounds like a high brow name, until you realize she came from a bad place. A 1950's minded housewife who married into a guy who took advantage of it. She takes initiative to free herself of the shackles of marriage. And thus is now a fighter. Or rather...a tougher person.