Hold. The. Phone.

Whoa, it's been a while since I even considered posting on this thing.

I've moved through(with?) a series of events recently. I was forcibly removed, along with my whole home community, from the large warehouse where I was living. There was no real notice(3 days, I think?), before the FDNY locked the doors to where we were living because the conditions we were under were supposedly "imminently perilous conditions". It's a fairly long story, one that has been well (mis)documented by various blogs, newspapers and magazines and it's gotten exhausting to talk about.

But, most recently, I've moved into a pretty awesome space with a full view of the river front. The rent is low, the company is awesome, and I'm hoping to settle in and re-dedicate my time to personal creative projects.

Helen is still moving along, so is Alchemist, and I have a few other projects in the works.

IFP and the steps to move along

Alright, so I've been preparing for IFP Independent Film Week. I created my business card and ordered 250 of those and I've been looking into how to market scripts and junk, so that I'll be better prepared when pitching to all the folks I meet there. I feel a little nervous about it, mostly I guess because it feels like there's this system in place and I'm navigating through it as an outsider. I like talking to people, but it feels uncomfortable when there's the sense of a bunch of unspoken rules that I don't really know much about. Or something like that.

I'm not a person who feels negatively towards the concept of 'pitching', or not anymore anyway. I understand why there is such a thing as pitching, it makes a lot of sense that with the number of projects consistently conceived of, a producer might want a direct and straight forward delivery of what they're dealing with. If they aren't interested, then they don't really have the time. However, understanding all of this doesn't mean that it's a comfortable idea. When I'm relaxed, I tend to talk a lot more, being relaxed also means things come more freely. I don't know how to both be relaxed and concise, and not being relaxed means an insecure pitch.

Anyway, in the end I'll figure something out, this is just where my head is now.

And then this happened...

Went to my parents house this weekend. My dad and I didn't talk much about the Helen script, mostly I just relaxed. I read a book, watched movies, took a bath, hung out with my dog and went out in the woods. I had an all around relaxing time.

In my last post, I mentioned that I would relay something further about IFP. IFP is Independent Feature Project and they host Independent Film Week. It's a week long event where filmmakers are introduced to agents, managers, distributors, producers, etc. to talk about a current project(for which the filmmaker submitted at an earlier date). My dad and I submitted to IFP film week back in...April, I think it was. They accepted 25 scripts in development for the Emerging Narrative section of the film week, and the script my dad and I have been working on was accepted! I submitted as writer/director, my dad as co-writer--though he wont be attending the film week. We are listed on indie wire here: http://www.indiewire.com/article/150_New_Films_IFP_Project_Forum/P0/

We're on the 2nd page, 8th project down.

I've been handling a few deadlines and prepping for the week event. I had my script consultation and I'm going to update the script soon. Most recently, I've been preparing "The Alchemist Makes Gold" and "The Astral Woman" to be burned to DVD so that I can share some 'past work' with any reps that might be interested in the projects I'm working on or have been working on.

The Alchemist isn't very far along. Well, I mean, it's edited--has been stitched together, but it doesn't have any sound design done and none of the graphics work or color correction. The DVD media is due by August 31! I've been doing some basic stuff and I gave all the sound over to some folks who said they'd be willing to help out, but as of yet we haven't been able to touch base about everything. It's a little nerve wracking to have all of this stuff going on and to be working a full time job, but I really feel like things are going well--or at least sometimes I feel that way. Today I feel that way.

Tonight I'm going to a meeting for an art project called "INTERSECTION" (project website: http://projectintersection.org/ ). I only joined forces recently and haven't really done a whole lot with them, but they seem like a neat group of people and the project is interesting. It's good to have some project distractions that aren't your personal burden. Plus, it's fun to spend some time with interesting folks.

Anyway...yep.

Submitted Helen

Last week I submitted the script my dad and I have been writing to the IFP Independent Film Week competition. Interested to see where that is going.

I passed my Motorcycle Safety Course and got my Motorcycle License on Friday. My moto is in the shop, getting new cables and what not and should be good to ride sometime next week. Pretty excited about that. It's beautiful outside.

I spent a good portion of the day cleaning and rearranging the apartment while listening to Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I'm supposed to have a meeting this evening to talk about the projects I'm working on and discuss steps towards creation. Alchemist sound design is moving at a slow and steady pace and I bought a whole bunch of candles today.

Good things.

Major headway in the Helen script, feeling pretty good.

Project Updates

This weekend I'm working with my dad to get together a rough draft of our feature script that I feel is strong enough to share with my friend over at Cooper's Town Productions.

Also, I got a pretty good tax return and once that is deposited in my bank account I'm going to have my Alchemist film transferred to HD and FINALLY get that finished and festival ready.

My Astral Woman short should be shooting sometime around the first of May, that's pretty exciting.

I realized I hadn't updated in a while, so this is my quick update.

More soon.

Untitled 'Helen' Script

My father and I just finished our first Official Draft of the script we've been working on. This is a big deal for me, I think it might be the best script I've had a hand in writing. Now it's time to share it with people that have an interest in helping us get it made. I'll be directing it and that's the extent of the definite crew at this point. I was looking at my dream cinematographers on IMDB.com. Sigh. That'd be great. I want this movie to be beautiful.