Truly Dreadful Tales now at Salvage Video

I just found out yesterday that a mom and pop video rental store in Livingston, Texas called Salvage Video is renting out a few of Joe Sherlock's movies which he donated.  The cool thing is that one of the DVDs being rented out is Truly Dreadful Tales which features Crazed; the short film that I directed.

So, if you are in the area be sure to stop by Salvage Video and rent Truly Dreadful Tales or buy the movie and many more great schlocky flicks from F&C Productions.  We have to keep supporting indie horror movies and mom and pop video stores who help get indie films in front of pairs of eyes.

Also check out this review that I found today of Truly Dreadful Tales.

Heavy Metal Dungeon

I recently shot this scene of a fake public access MTV-esque show called Heavy Metal Dungeon which is being edited by Joe Sherlock that will go into a movie for Warlock Video.  The background was just dumpster rescued bits of cardboard duct taped together and then painted with a fake brick wall pattern using a sponge.  Then I added all of the graffiti using spray paint and paint markers.  Bits of the show's hostess' costume, Heavy Metal Kitty, was made at the last second using Velcro tape and hot-glue.   All in all, I think it came out pretty damn good.

Here is a sneak peek:

TRULY DREADFUL TALES NOW AVAILABLE AT W.A.V.E.'S WEBSITE

I just got word that for anyone wanting to but TRULY DREADFUL TALES with a credit card can now do so through W.A.V.E.'s website. (link NSFW)

Also available on the website is UNDERBELLY and DEADLY PREMONITIONS both films from the producer and writer of TRULY DREADFUL TALES.

So check out the website and support indie films by grabbing a copy today!

TRULY DREADFUL TALES NOW AVAILABLE

Hey boils and ghouls, the horror film anthology TRULY DREADFUL TALES is now available to buy from Joe Sherlock's website!  It features a segment that I directed called CRAZED.  It features hot gals rasstlin', blood, and violence!  What more do you want!?

Support indie filmmaking by going here and grabbing a copy today!

TRULY DREADFUL TALES TRAILER!!!

I wrapped the short film CRAZED back in December and hopefully one day I will write a post about that.  In the meantime here is the trailer to TRULY DREADFUL TALES which CRAZED is a part of.  For more details head over to my buddy Joe Sherlock's website and stay tuned for details on how you can order a DVD copy of it.

Underbelly Trailer and Oregon Screening

Here is a cool screening coming up tomorrow via a good friend of mine, Joe Sherlock:



DVD Release Premiere Screening of the sexy thriller UNDERBELLY, Friday, December 9 at 9 p.m. at the Northern Lights Theater Pub, 3893 Commercial Street Southeast, Salem, OR 97302. 

Just $3 and they serve beer, wine and food! I'll have Underbelly DVDs for sale as well as Deadly Premonitions, Inbred Redneck Vampires and others and even some old VHS stuff! 

Can't make it? Pick up a copy at the ol' Dr. Squid store!

See ya there!

Help Support CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW

CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW is a nifty film project which is a throwback homage to the serials and pulps of the 1940's. The film is over 75% completed but is need of completion funds and you can help out by donating a few bucks through the film's Kickstarter page and getting some cool rewards back in return.
By donating you help keep the pulp and serial genre alive and get some cool swag. It's win-win!

Synopsis snipped from the Kickstarter page:

There is only one man to call, Agent 236, an elite government agent. Agent 236 has been dispatched to launch a rescue.

Along the way, Agent 236 is befriended by a spunky, sarcastic, gas station attendant who just happens to have pinup girl good looks. She also just happens to be looking for a little action,and excitement. Luckily, Agent 236 is the man of her dreams. Agent 236 puts the station attendant and her tow truck into service in pursuit of the Phantom Shadow.

Pics and more details here.

Summer Slaycation #11: Women Rastlin' and Lots of Blood

Last Sunday knocked out tons of scenes involving my wife and our friend Jennifer.  There was lots of Karo fake blood involved, a bit of rastlin' in the kitchen between the two gals, and poor Jennifer had to scream at the camera over seven times.  I even got a chance to field test my peel-and-stick blood, which turned decent enough for what it was.  It was a cool way to spend a Sunday.

Here are some pics from the movie that I am dying to share:

Becca, the nosey neighbor, is not so sure of Judy.

Jennifer is not too happy about having to do another take.

Let the rastlin' begin!

Becca soon discovers what happens to curious cats

 No filmming this weekend is planned because of the Labor Day.  But things should get back on track the following weekend.  I am a little over the half-way mark.  It is a bit depressing since I am having so much fun, I don't want it to end.  But that is part of the nature of making movies.  I got some personal scripts cooking up so I might jump back on the saddle sooner than expected.

Gonna have to think of a new title for these blog posts since Fall is creeping in.

More about CRAZED and the anthology TRULY DEADLY TALES can be found at Joe Sherlock's blog.

Learn how to make peel-and-stick blood on a dollar store budget here.

Summer Slaycation Update #10: Another Look at Stage Two

After a bit of discussion with my pal Joe Sherlock we have decided to go ahead and reveal a bit more of the stage two make-up for the film CRAZED.  In fact you can see one pic over at his blog which includes a cool title design.

The short film is for Sherlock's TRULY DEADLY TALES and is starring Jennifer who is a friend of my wife.  Speaking of the wife, it was her who did the make-up based on some concept pics I did using Photoshop.  She did a amazing job considering the meager resources that we have:

Here is a early concept photo of Stage Two.

Here is a hickey that my wife gave to the film's lead actress

Here is the film's lead actress Jennifer showing off her Blue Steel look

Summer Slaycation #9: Stage Two

Got back from today's shoot from a few hours ago.  We had a friend of my wife's and her friend who wanted to be in the film but dropped out at the last second which was kinda disappointing.  But that is the life of a no budget filmmaker.

So today we just shot mostly minor scenes that needed to be knocked out of the script.  Also reshot a scene to bridge the puke scene.  Sadly never got to break out the violence or gore yet.  Yet there is always another day and another film shoot.

My wife did a great job at applying what we are calling the stage two make-up to my wife's friend Jennifer who is the lead in the film.  The final effect looks damn cool on camera.  I plan on watching the dailies tomorrow or the next day to see how it all turned out.

I am very thankful that everyone involved in the film has stuck with it despite the many setbacks and challenges.  I have a super cool wife who has not only done a great job in the make-up fx department, but has also helped with the lighting, sound, and script supervision.  Not to mention rounding up the actors for the film.

My wife's friend Jennifer has also done a fantastic job as the film's lead, and has been so gracious with her time and for putting up with the reshoots, multiple takes and coverage shots, and the weirdness.  Not to mention the fact that her and her hubby allow us to shoot in her house with film equipment everywhere.

Okay here are some pics to make the post a bit exciting:

Here is sneak peek at Jennifer in her what we are calling her stage two make-up.  It will make sense in the final film.

Here is the camera stabilizer that I am using.  I made it from scrap PVC parts and from a cool tutorial found here.

Here is the second phase of a gas mask being made for the film.  I can't say more about when or why you will see it.  But it will be damn cool!

Summer Slaycation #8: Sunday Afternoon Puke

The script.  No Peeking!

So last Sunday I finally got shoot some of the CRAZED short for Joe Sherlock's upcoming TRULY DEADLY TALES and managed to knock out a few pages of the script.  Spent nearly five hours straight just shooting and multiple takes and coverage shots.  Even got a good puke scene in there.   By the end of the day I was exhausted but in a good way.

The wife and her friend, Jen, who plays the lead in CRAZED

I did take a look at the dailies today and my wife's friend is in the film as the lead and even though she has zero acting experience she was freakin' AMAZING!  I have seen my fair share of indie underground film actresses and this gal can act circles around them.  Not just that, but she is willing to do take after take and get the shot done no matter how long it takes.  A real trooper!

So far it seems like all is back on track.  Hopefully we will resume shooting this weekend including some more scenes involving the wife.  Still need a actress to film in one role and may have found someone to do a small newscaster role,  So, for the time being, everything is coming up Millhouse,

Oh, you can now see one of the segments to the TRULY DEADLY TALES anthology over at Joe Sherlock's blog which is what CRAZED will become a part of.

Also here is a newer version of the gas mask that I an building.  The milk jug ones had fair results but did not cover the face like it should.  So I am modifying a craft mask into a gas mask.  I'll have more deets later.

Until next time kids, stay weird!

Summer Slaycation Update #7: A Double Case of Owies

So this weekend was another bust, shooting-wise.  My wife had to go to the ER the night before a planned shoot and which ended with the discovery that she had several kidney stones.  We didn't go to bed till around five in the morning.

The next day she made a good attempt at going out for the shoot but in the end she had to lay in bed while crossing her fingers that the Flomax and Lortabs would soon do their job.

Oh, and our air conditioning unit died on us.  The wife and I had to pay through the nose to get it repaired and the money we spent was to be used on other bills, including a car and tag that we badly need.

Today she felt better and we celebrated a bit at IHOP and were on our way afterwards to grab the equipment when the lead actress sliced her finger on a can of cashews.  Unfortunately, it was a bad cut and any filmming was to be canceled today.

Sigh.  So the whole weekend was a suck-fest of suck.  It's so damn frustrating.  It almost feels like I am cursed. Everywhere I turn there is another sucker punch waiting.   I am so sick of this happening because I feel like I am making up excuses.  Yet I have zero control of what is happening. That is the real piss in the eye.  I also feel like I'm letting down my pal Joe Sherlock too.  He gave me this great opportunity and I am screwing it up for him.  I know what it's like for me to flake out and I don't want him to think I am doing that.

We might try to shoot some this week.  If not we're gonna try again next weekend.  I am truly living the life of a zero budget filmmaker.

Summer Slaycation: Update #666

Yesterday I had to improvise since a actress of mine called in sick.  She was the main character and not much could be done there.  But the wife and I did not want to let another weekend go to waste.

Luckily my wife helped out by calling a friend of hers who did us a huge favor by driving a few towns over to shoot inside a sweltering hot non-air conditioned used bookstore for what will be less than a minute of on-screen time.  But she was awesome and saved my day.

Shooting resumes sometime in the middle of the week and again this weekend.  I'm doing my best to lockdown a bar for a interior scene and hopefully maybe some exterior stuff too.  I have two leads to follow up with so fingers crossed there.

A great surprise after returning home was the discovery that my latest batch of peel-and-stick blood splatter props actually worked!  Go here for the full details.

More to come.  To be continued...

In the Kitchen Brewing Up a Batch of Blood

Spent most of the morning working on different mixtures of fake blood for a cheap peel-and-stick static splatter prop.  Here are some pics of what I have come up with so far.

Please feel free to comment below to let me know what you think.  Thanks!

Summer Slaycation: Update #5

So for those that don't know, last Friday I lost both of my front teeth.  It's a bit of a crushing blow to one's ego when you are thirty five and find yourself in the market for partials.  It is all the more embarrassing when one of your teeth is flung like a rocket and hits a dental tech in the eye.  On the upside my new dentist's last name is Fleming.  No relation to Ian Fleming, I asked.  However, he is a huge Harry Potter nerd.  I'm not, but I dig his nerdiness for something.  I can understand that fully.

I am rambling a bit now, but the gist is that I went home with a bleeding maw and a bottle of pills.  I had scheduled shooting the film for Sunday.  On Saturday my jaw started to ache and I wanted to eat things that were not in soup form which were challenging, to say the least.

 Despite the pain I was confident, or I should say damn cocky enough to think that I could tough out the pain for the film shoot.  Part of the problem was I was not following the after-care instructions like I should have and I have never been much for pills because even while in pain I tend to forget to take them.  On Sunday morning I awoke to a hellacious pain in my jaw.  However, more was to come.

The pain in my jaw was increasing and my daughter became sick with a stomach virus which I have seemed to have caught as well.  So filmming was canceled for today as I laid in bed for most of the day to ease the pain.  Depressed and a bit self-defeated.  In my twenties, the old me would have gone out there and shot the film.  Pain or no pain.  The present me just wants to lay in bed and pray for the pain to go away.

In the end, filmming got rescheduled for hopefully next weekend.  In the meantime, if anyone is in need of a hillbilly or mountain mutant man for their next flick, I'm your guy.

Summer Slaycation: Update #4

The wife doing her best Velma impersonation

I actually got back in the saddle yesterday and shot some footage for Joe Sherlock's film anthology TRULY DREADFUL TALES.

The wife wore her best sexy Velma costume to portray a character named Becca who I see more as a nosey neighbor.  It's my own homage of sorts to BEWITCHED in which, the neighbor across the street, Gladys Kravitz was always wondering what was going on across the street with the Stephens family.

I watched the dailies last night and thet look solid enough.  I would've taken some screen caps but discovered far too late last night that my firewire cable is no longer compatiable with my newer PC and laptop which themselves are not exactly what I would call new.

This weekend I have more shooting planned including a puke scene!

To be continued...

Summer Slaycation 2011: Update #3

I am still searching for a actress to replace the one I lost but I am fairly confident that I will be able to with too much effort.  If all else fails I will just hit the usual local moviemaking boards and see if I can find someone.

Spent most of the day working on the mache assault rifles.  They are shaping up very nicely as you can see:

At the moment trying to line up a day or two this weekend to shoot some scenes and knock out some pages while I find another actress and finish the props.

To be continued....

Update on my Summer Slaycation

Because of a few setback it looks like I will start filmming this weekend a bit and into next month.  Just learned a few hours ago that a actress and her husband dropped out of the shoot for some real flaky reasons.  So now I am scrambling around to replace a female role.  The male parts are all filled so no worries there.

For the past few days I have been cutting cardboard to make several papercraft-esque machine guns.  Why?  Because the toy guns that they sell these days at stores all look too sci-fi and the ones that are semi-realistic are outrageously priced on the internet.  Don't even get me started on Airsoft and their prices or even their rental fees. 

So what do I do?  I make fake paper guns to scale thanks to a pic of a AK-47 and Rasterbator which I used to print out a template.  The way I see it, if I keep the shots that require gunplay wide enough and the action errartic and abstain from any close-ups then I am gold.

So that is where I am at for now.

Learning How to Make Lemonade When Your Work is Pirated

Most people that are interested in making movies or writing books will more than likely find their works pirated all over the internet.  Despite all the DRM or related countermeasures one can place on their media products its all gonna end up pirated someway and somewhere.

One can sue the pirates and try to shut down their sites; the downside is it involves money and time.  Those are two resources that most indie folks cannot afford to loose.  There is also the risk of loosing an audience who could feel alienated, and they don't exactly like it when someone they like comes around and slaps a lawsuit against them.  That is a sure way of loosing a fan or two. 

So the question is, what should you do when pirated?  Well, pulp guru, Bill Cunningham, has the answers about how to take a lemon and make lemonade out of it.  Go here to learn how to fight piracy by offering a little extra to your audience.

How to Create Trans Media for Your Own Project

Been a bit busy lately but I wanted to drop by and share this neat video on Trans Media.  For those wondering what Trans Media is, it's a great way of sharing your project in various formats across the net. 

For example creating a movie that spawns a video game and online comic book alongside a web serial spin-off.  The sky is the limit.  Check out the vid below for a better explanation and how you can make it happen.  (h/t to The Frugal Filmmaker)


Anita Ondine & David Beard - DIYDays from ZAFFI Pictures on Vimeo.