We’re currently 92% done shooting the movie. We had a mini-wrap party for some of our actors last night - Frenchy’s moving away and Joe’s heading off to the service very soon and I wish them both the best! Now I just have a handful of very short scenes to finish, and miscellaneous shots from other scenes to pick up. Stuff that would normally be the job of a second unit on a film, but in my case, I am the second unit!
I expected to be done with everything a lot sooner, but it’s been hard to get everyone together after so much time has passed. It’s hard to believe we started way back in March! But considering it’s been less than two months, and only 16 actual shooting days (not even whole days in most cases), it’s pretty impressive!
I’m beginning the editing process now and it’s very daunting. 16 hours of footage… I don’t even know where to begin! It’s gonna be a long summer. And fall. And winter.
I’m still waiting for President Obama to clarify his position on bromances.
I’ve been trying to find someone with serious artistic skills to create a movie poster / DVD cover for the movie. I love 40’s style film noir movie posters and I think it would look so much more distinctive than the photos. I made the mockup above to show exactly what it needs to look like, it just needs to be hand-painted. And it also needs to be drawn at a large enough scale that I can make a one-sheet theater poster out of it (27” x 40”). Anybody out there that can help me out?
So my mom badly needs an upgrade for her old, scratched-up phone, and since she likes my phone, I was trying to find her one just like mine on the Verizon website. I’ve had the LG Env3 for years and I love it. But it turns out they retired that phone, and every other phone like mine with the fold-out keyboard. So being the nice guy I can sometimes be, I offered to transfer my phone to my mom, and I would look for a new phone for myself. But all they have for sale are a couple of phones with the slide-out keyboard (those keyboards are too narrow), Blackberries (which I don’t understand how any human with normal fingers can push those fucking tiny-ass buttons) and a ton of phones with touchscreens.
Here comes the rant.
I need something to actually push. I need buttons.
I hate, repeat, HATE the fancy touchscreens with the sliding and the millions of symbols and the keyboard that isn’t really a keyboard and the smudges and scratches that it will inevitably produce. I would be okay with a touchscreen phone that also had a keyboard like mine does, because the only reason I would like a screen on the front would be to show people pictures people more easily. They did have one like that (the LG Env Touch), but they discontinued it as well. And I should not have to go on eBay or somewhere else and buy a phone and start it up. I’ve already given Verizon enough fucking money, and now I’m forced into the choice of either some fancy new complicated touchscreen crap or searching eBay and spending more money on something old.
So once again, Verizon fucks me over. Yay.
From time to time I get people that make snide comments about how “low-budget” my movie’s going to be, and I instantly get defensive. Just because I’m able to put together a production for $1,000 instead of $25,000 and the result will look the same.
I’m able to get people to volunteer their time and effort just by asking nicely and offering free food. I’ve had people donate money, I’ve borrowed most of our props and costumes, and I watch any expenditures like a hawk because it’s mostly MY money that I’m spending.
And I come from a background where I make web videos for next to nothing. “Stupornatural 3” cost $400, THAT was big-budget for me. So people need to not look down on me just because I’m not spending a lot of money. What matters is what ends up on screen. Rant over. :)
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/badatom/max-anderson-private-eye-independent-feature-film
If we can reach this (fairly reasonable, in my opinion) goal, I’ll be able to pay my actors who are currently working for free food and/or gas money. 16 days and $395 to go!
I took a really long, really cold shower just a few minutes ago to clear my head. And anyone who knows what I’ve been dealing with right now knows there’s a lot of stuff to clear! We’re shooting “Max Anderson” in five days. While I’ve had an incredible amount of help from my family, friends, coworkers, actors I’ve never actually met and anonymous Internet denizens, in the end this all falls on me. This movie is literally the biggest, most important thing I’ve ever done in my life. No pressure!
Anecdote time - my right thumb hurts really bad when I bend it. Back in January, someone busted out my driver’s side window and stole the amp out of my car. While cleaning out the broken glass, I got a piece jammed in my thumb and it bled like crazy. Every time I bend my thumb, I still feel it, and it’s a reminder to me that no matter how perfectly things may be going, some random bit of chaos can threaten to throw your life off-balance.
In the case of the window, I handled it calmly and smoothly, with more than a hint of deranged humor. Now in the case of the movie, I just need to handle the oncoming onslaught of possible problems with appropriate aplomb (and alliteration). You know the picture of Barack Obama with the caption that says “EVERYONE CHILL THE FUCK OUT, I GOT THIS”? That’s me. I am like the 100% white Obama. Calm in the face of insanity.
I have five days left to go and a hell of a lot to prove. Not to the people involved in the film, most of whom have worked with me before and know what I’m capable of. And not to the thousands of people that will watch the movie and reward a year of our hard work with a simple “gaaaaaaaaaaayyyy”. Just to myself. To prove that I’m meant to do this. Game on.
“Max Anderson, Private Eye” on Kickstarter
Since the first fundraiser didn’t go so well, I started a new one with a more reasonable goal. We need to cover the cost of locations, props and costumes, and other various expenses. We’re shooting in two weeks whether we have extra money or not. I’ve already spent over $450 of my own money towards the movie, help me out if you can!
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