Sneak Peak on the new independent noir thriller I am producing right now! With Bill Oberst Jr. and Sarah Nicklin.
2013 Slate
2013 is being setup to be an amazing year. Producing a Noir Thriller feature film in March 2013 with some amazing talent and crew. Lining up a slate of indie films to produce for the rest of the year. We have the RED Camera, 3 ton grip & lighting package and 10 yrs plus key crew. Let’s make your indie films happen!
Anatomy of a Breakdown
A few months ago I had the opportunity to be the 1st AD on an awesome spot for FootJoy. Not only where we shooting on the RED but also the Big Freeze Camera System (same system they used on The Matrix).
So I had to coordinate two camera systems, full crew and talent. It’s all about prepping and communicating with your key crew.
The director had previously taken photos for each setup. I then took the photos and imported them on Movie Magic Scheduling 5. MMS gives you the option to add either storyboards or stills with descriptions, shot list, etc.
Printed a few copies for our DP, Director, Producer, Gaffer, Key Grip and client. There was no room for mistakes, considering we had a lot of set ups to accomplish. When you have a detailed breakdown and solid game plan from your director and DP you can make it happen every single time! Here is the final commercial.
World Premiere – Dani The Ranch Hand
So here we are at our world premiere for our indie film Dani The Ranch Hand. What an amazing experience. Had a full house at The Josephine Theatre, last night. You work so hard to finally get to a place were you are content with showing your work to an audience. The director, sound mixer and our executive producer were at it for months, to finally make a film we are all proud of.
Weeks prior to the event I was sending out our press kit to various news outlets. I reached out to local and national press to get coverage on our indie film. Based on the strength of the trailer, LA independent film, radio and web based company Film Courage encourage our director Brian Douglas to submit a director statement. Immediately we started getting support and interaction with other independent filmmakers and producers.
Next up, is to start getting ready for the film festival circuit. We are submitting the film to some prestigious festivals and can’t wait to continue the journey with our amazing production team.
Dani – The Ranch Hand
What an amazing year it has been for me. Had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects in the last 12 months and it is only looking better.
Last August/September I was one of the Producer’s and Line-Producer for an intense emotionally relentless film entitled “Dani” The Ranch Hand.
Synopsis
An aged exotic dancer who survived the Branch Davidian cult life and addictions spiral out of control.
We had an amazing cast and our crew went the extra mile every single day!
Directed by Brian Douglas. Executive Producer Mario Sanchez and Aaron Lee Lopez. Producers Brandon Olmos and Mr. Sifuentes.
Even had a chance to be an extra.
You know in my talks with Director/Writer Brian Douglas for indie film The Ranch Hand I had to take a few steps back and take a moment. Haven’t seen characters (and actors) tested emotionally at this level in a while! One for the books. Keep an eye out as we start submitting his compelling tale to the film festival circuit! In the mean time take a voyeuristic look at this impactful trailer!
Add us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheRanchHandMovie
Art of Dreaming – Audience
It’s 1 AM and working on building an audience for Art of Dreaming. Still trying to find the right non-profit to partner with and get some momentum going. Built a nice website for the short film and spreading the news via twitter and Facebook.
The concept of dreaming and specifically lucid dreams have always fascinated me. It’s a realm our mind creates, so to explore it on film is a subtle task. The options are endless.
A few days ago I got another compelling painting from my art director. Every week this “dream” is turning into a reality. An intense illustration!
Raising money for any film is a tremendous task. It consumes so much time and you have no idea what angle you should focus on. It’s a crucial part of any independent film. For the time being I have add a PayPal button for anybody to contribute. Got some great perks to go with the contributions. Check the official website for more details! Stay tuned.
Art of Dreaming – The Meeting
I haven’t explored a short film I wrote years ago, until recently entitled Art of Dreaming. A surreal tale about an artist trapped between his dreams and painting as while mourns the death of his muse.
Out of the blue I touch based with an old Art Director/Painter friend of mine Gordon Delgado. So we started hanging out again and getting into our deep metaphysical conversations. Which last hours. Not only is Gordon a brilliant painter but a brutal and ingenious writer as well. He gave me some serious feedback on the 1st draft of the screenplay. Out of our meetings we decide to barter some services. He would do the illustrations for me and I would help him edit a promo trailer for one of his features. So far it has been a profound journey.
In less than two week he had the first two colored illustrations that he made with watercolor. It blew my mind.
All of my film career I wanted to direct and only shoot on 35mm. I respect digital and was impressed with the RED Epic after producing – The Journalist. A DP colleague of mine once told me that the difference between 35mm and Digital was the equivalent of acrylic and oil painting. You can create art with both but its a different discipline. But for me its always been 35mm!
The strategy is to produce Art of Dreaming via a fiscal sponsorship from a non-profit organization. Another element is to create one of the best behind the scenes / filmmaking training videos ever.
Here we go. Add on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-of-Dreaming/277514175654284
The Journalist
After an intense 4 day post production deadline we are proud to announce that we made our submission entry to Ridley Scott‘s Your Film Festival contest.
The short film is now live on YouTube with now over 1,000 views and positive reviews!
Here are more behind the scenes stills.
The Journalist – Short Film
We just wrapped on our short film The Journalist. It’s directed by my friend Daniel Maldonado and Produced by me Jesus Sifuentes and Veronica Hernandez of NALIP.
It’s an amazing and compelling story about a retiring journalist who recalls a childhood incident that led him to cross paths with a wounded photographer. A man who would inspire him to seek truth or die trying.
We had an amazing cast and crew! The film stars Roland Uribe from No Country for Old Men, Nina Leon of Magic City and James Gonzaba of The Walking Dead!
The short was shot on the RED Epic.
We made this short film for the Your Film Festival sponsored by YouTube and being judged by Ridley Scott. Top ten films get to go to the Venice Film Festival and 1st prize gets a $500,000.00 budget to shot their feature!
Voting beings June 1st, 2012.
Join our facebook fanpage! The Journalist.
FADE IN: Violent Hues
Violent Hues is my first feature film which was originally entitled “Driving Without Brakes”. It’s currently in the development stage and going on it’s 3rd draft.
Synopsis
Bonded by a traumatic event 3 young women with beautiful violent hues struggle to get back into the flow of life.
The essence of the concept is a metaphor for a person’s perspective. Shades of their personality, spirit, convictions and that unique energy that belongs to every individual. There is an indigenous belief that when a traumatic event happens to a person, their “essence” that unique hue get thrown out of life’s orbit. That joyful flow of life is out of balance. This is a story of them fighting tooth and nail to get back into the rhythm of life. A spiritually brutal journey to finally be in sync.
So who are these beautiful violent hues?
- MONICA GUERRA: Mexican/Latina Female 21. Raw & Sensual with a stunning urban prowess. Monica does classic street racing illegally to pay for college. Monica is extremely intelligent but has a violent temper. Her father has been in prison every since she was a little girl and she grew up with her uncle and cousin Luisa. Monica owns a ruby 64 Ford Galaxie 500. Violent Hue: RED
- COURTNEY GALLAGHER: White Female 21. Sexy, Impulsive & Wild. Dirty blonde hair. One of the few white girls in all Mexican South Side neighborhood. Her parents own a hole in the wall music venue on the St. Mary strip where shes a bartender. Photography student at the local community college. Owns a charming beat up 66 Dodge Dart convertible Violent Hue: PURPLE.
- DEBBIE ORTEGA: Mexican/Latina Female 20. Rugged and Beautiful. Morena. Short butch hair style. A cross between chola/rockabilly lesbian. She is randomly homeless because of the domestic violence at home with her alcoholic mother. Violent Hue: TEAL
A few months ago I had a failed crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo to help raise money for the film. Nobody likes to fail but regardless I am still grateful for those who contributed but it fucking stings. A real painful lesson, when ideology and reality clash.
The film wasn’t ready. To many loose ends. Learned a lot. Maybe I’ll make a final attempt at crowdfunding with Kickstarter.
Another important element I am dealing with is to seek traditional distribution or self distribution. Sooner or later I have to be realistic and start seeking investors.
1/2 of my time is planning a funding and distribution strategy and the other 1/2 writing. It consumes my every waking hour but hey that’s the price I’m willing to pay.
But before my first feature film, I have to produce and direct my first short film, The Art of Dreaming and shot it on 35mm film.
I don’t make things easy for myself do I?
