Even before I had finished the script, the lead was cast... but as the script evolved and the character changed, I began to feel that the actor was no longer really suited for the role. For one, the character went from straight to gay.
But this left me with a predicament. Who was going to play the lead role of Chuck?
Well, while perusing some theatre pics of another actor friend, I discovered a young man who seems absolutely perfect. I mean, the moment I pulled up his first pic, I said to myself, "THAT'S CHUCK!"
Of course, we haven't heard him read yet. He's coming over Saturday evening to read from the script. Exciting! I really hope he works out.
As for the other actor, he will still be seen in the movie. I think I've found a role that he'll have fun with.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Laura Campbell
As I was expanding the screenplay from short to feature length, several characters got more development and focus. One in particular forced her way to the forefront. Her name was merely mentioned in the original script, but in the revised script, she became a very important supporting character. Honestly, she's only a back story away from being a main character. Her name is Laura Campbell.
I don't want to say a lot about the character, because I don't want to spoil anything, but suffice it to say, she's going to be a break-out character. She's going to be the character that everyone gets a kick out of. She has so many qualities and quirks that she practically begs for a terrible spin-off... not that I would ever let a Flo, Jacke', or Joanie Loves Chachi situation happen to one of my characers (unless gobs of money were offered).
Anyway, I was really worried about casting the role. It's not going to be an easy acting job. She has to be sexy. She has to be sassy. She has to be intelligent. She has to be sarcastic - without being that high-school play-style sarcastic.
I was beginning to think we'd never cast the role... And then, I was suddenly struck with the idea. I have an old friend - from way back in the day. We acted together in several theatre productions. She is incredibly attractive, a good actress, and incredibly charismatic. She's also made for film with distinctive features like big Disney eyes - just because someone is pretty (or even hot) doesn't mean they work on film. Generally, Hollywood types have large heads, skinny bodies, and very distinctive features that sorta' pop. That's why regular people - not matter how hot they are - don't really work on film (for one thing, their little normal heads are just so un-eye-catching)... but I digress...
The point is - the old friend would be perfect. The only problem is - I can't find her. She hasn't been on MySpace since April. Her phone number didn't work anymore. So... Tomorrow, I am going looking for her. I know what town she lives and works in... And I think I know what business it is... I guess I shall see. If not, I'll hire a private detective to track her down. We have to have her in this movie. It's literally a make or break thing.
Cross your fingers.
I don't want to say a lot about the character, because I don't want to spoil anything, but suffice it to say, she's going to be a break-out character. She's going to be the character that everyone gets a kick out of. She has so many qualities and quirks that she practically begs for a terrible spin-off... not that I would ever let a Flo, Jacke', or Joanie Loves Chachi situation happen to one of my characers (unless gobs of money were offered).
Anyway, I was really worried about casting the role. It's not going to be an easy acting job. She has to be sexy. She has to be sassy. She has to be intelligent. She has to be sarcastic - without being that high-school play-style sarcastic.
I was beginning to think we'd never cast the role... And then, I was suddenly struck with the idea. I have an old friend - from way back in the day. We acted together in several theatre productions. She is incredibly attractive, a good actress, and incredibly charismatic. She's also made for film with distinctive features like big Disney eyes - just because someone is pretty (or even hot) doesn't mean they work on film. Generally, Hollywood types have large heads, skinny bodies, and very distinctive features that sorta' pop. That's why regular people - not matter how hot they are - don't really work on film (for one thing, their little normal heads are just so un-eye-catching)... but I digress...
The point is - the old friend would be perfect. The only problem is - I can't find her. She hasn't been on MySpace since April. Her phone number didn't work anymore. So... Tomorrow, I am going looking for her. I know what town she lives and works in... And I think I know what business it is... I guess I shall see. If not, I'll hire a private detective to track her down. We have to have her in this movie. It's literally a make or break thing.
Cross your fingers.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Script Read-Thru
We had a little impromptu script read-thru tonight. It was short notice, so only two of the actors could show up, but hearing the words spoken out loud really brought the story to life. This is really going to be a good movie... and I think I've made the right decision as far as the actors go.
I can't wait to see how the rest of the cast does.
I can't wait to see how the rest of the cast does.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Lonely Work of Pre-Production
For the last few days, I've been working on some pre-production stuff... mostly sorting out the scenes, characters in those scenes, and costumes. To do that, I also went through the script and marked each page to show what day (in the movie) it is. For example, day 1 pages are marked with a circle at the top of the page, day 2 pages are marked with a triangle - and so on...
Breaking down the scenes in this manner will make the shooting process much more efficient. If we have multiple scenes in one location - even if they take place on different movie days - we should shoot them all in one big block. We shoot one scene, then the actors change costumes, and we shoot another scene. With my Scene Breakdown, we can easily see what actors need to be there, what costumes they need to be in, and what time of day it is.
Now, I need to further break-down the scenes by writing in which direction I need the actors (or action) to movie. In the story, character go to and from various locations. To help orient the audience, they always need to be going in one direction (say, right to left) when going TO the location, and in another direction (say, left to right) when coming FROM the location. Make sense?
This isn't the "fun" part of movie-making, but I enjoy it. It allows me to think logically - something I don't do very often. Unfortunately, it's a lonely job. No one really wants to help with this part. :(
Breaking down the scenes in this manner will make the shooting process much more efficient. If we have multiple scenes in one location - even if they take place on different movie days - we should shoot them all in one big block. We shoot one scene, then the actors change costumes, and we shoot another scene. With my Scene Breakdown, we can easily see what actors need to be there, what costumes they need to be in, and what time of day it is.
Now, I need to further break-down the scenes by writing in which direction I need the actors (or action) to movie. In the story, character go to and from various locations. To help orient the audience, they always need to be going in one direction (say, right to left) when going TO the location, and in another direction (say, left to right) when coming FROM the location. Make sense?
This isn't the "fun" part of movie-making, but I enjoy it. It allows me to think logically - something I don't do very often. Unfortunately, it's a lonely job. No one really wants to help with this part. :(
Thursday, June 11, 2009
ACTORS NEEDED!!!
We are still trying to gather a cast together for our little cinematic opus...
Some of the roles will be filled closer to the actual shooting date, but the larger ones, we need to get cast as soon as possible, so we can have read-throughs.
If you think you could pull of one of these characters - or if you know someone who would be perfect, let me know!
Benjamin Van Driesen - Tall, Beautiful, and blond. He's a gay man's dream guy. The actor would have to be able to play catty and slightly effeminate, without being a caricature or stereotype.
Laura Campbell - Smokin' hot and Sassy. This character spouts a lot of sarcasm, and the actor needs to be good at subtlety and reserve, so the character doesn't come off as sit-comish. The character is also very promiscuous, so a lot of making out will be involved. I would also hope that the actor has no problem showing a little skin.
Christopher - Unassuming but cute. This character doesn't say a lot, but he needs to be able to pull off that adorable nervousness that someone with a crush exhibits. He also needs to be cute.
So...
Those are the larger roles. Other roles include waiters, party goers, hipsters, and stoners.
Don't be shy! Get in touch and audition. Remember, there is no pay, but the reward will be so much greater than a paycheck!
Some of the roles will be filled closer to the actual shooting date, but the larger ones, we need to get cast as soon as possible, so we can have read-throughs.
If you think you could pull of one of these characters - or if you know someone who would be perfect, let me know!
Benjamin Van Driesen - Tall, Beautiful, and blond. He's a gay man's dream guy. The actor would have to be able to play catty and slightly effeminate, without being a caricature or stereotype.
Laura Campbell - Smokin' hot and Sassy. This character spouts a lot of sarcasm, and the actor needs to be good at subtlety and reserve, so the character doesn't come off as sit-comish. The character is also very promiscuous, so a lot of making out will be involved. I would also hope that the actor has no problem showing a little skin.
Christopher - Unassuming but cute. This character doesn't say a lot, but he needs to be able to pull off that adorable nervousness that someone with a crush exhibits. He also needs to be cute.
So...
Those are the larger roles. Other roles include waiters, party goers, hipsters, and stoners.
Don't be shy! Get in touch and audition. Remember, there is no pay, but the reward will be so much greater than a paycheck!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
DONE... and now the real work begins...
The screenplay for Welcome to My World is now complete.
Pre-production will begin very soon.
I still have lots of roles that have not been cast - including a few large roles.
It's over a month until we beging shooting, and I'm so nervous I could throw-up. I'm worried about actually getting actors to participate and dedicate their time to the production. I'm worried about feeding everyone. I'm worried about my abilities - especially in front of more experienced actors. I'm worried about how to shoot the driving scenes without the proper car rigging. Honestly, I'm worried about everything. This is the most ambitious movie I've made yet - and a lot is riding on it. This will be my last film for a long long time if it doesn't turn out well.
I guess we'll just see...
Pre-production will begin very soon.
I still have lots of roles that have not been cast - including a few large roles.
It's over a month until we beging shooting, and I'm so nervous I could throw-up. I'm worried about actually getting actors to participate and dedicate their time to the production. I'm worried about feeding everyone. I'm worried about my abilities - especially in front of more experienced actors. I'm worried about how to shoot the driving scenes without the proper car rigging. Honestly, I'm worried about everything. This is the most ambitious movie I've made yet - and a lot is riding on it. This will be my last film for a long long time if it doesn't turn out well.
I guess we'll just see...
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Story
When we were doing press for the last film, the most difficult thing was to tell people what it was about. It's not that I couldn't throw out a quick little phrase that superficially summed up the movie. It's just that I didn't think something like that did the movie any justice. I guess I could have said it was "like an after-school special with aliens and sarcasm." To me, there was so much more to it... and what if someone doesn't like after-school specials or aliens? Well, then I've lost a potential audience member.
Of course, it's not like what I usually said was any better. I would say, "it's about change, and people's ability or inability to cope." That's terribly vague, but I tend to deal in emotions, moods, themes, and intangible ideas... but I know that the general audience needs more than emotions and themes. They want plots. To be truthful, they want explosions and T&A. Perhaps I can make good on that with the new movie, while still holding true to my desires to create something out of mood and emotion. Hmm...
This new movie started out similar to the first. There was an inspiration source - "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" - and as that was fleshed out, a theme came to the surface - "accepting that what you want isn't always what you need." Of course, it no longer resembles that first little short script and is nothing like that great Charlie Brown holiday cartoon. That was just a starting point.
Here we go folks... this is what the NEW movie is all about. Here is your plot...
The story revolves around a group of friends and acquaintances in a small college town dealing with growing up, taking responsibility, and making the best of the ridiculous situations of life and love. And if that sounds a bit generic, it's about gay love, an emotionally crippled mute 11-year-old, a bag of stolen psychotropic mushrooms, and a big Halloween party. There's sex, drugs, cosplay, water pistols, textbooks, health food, nerds, sluts, jerks, and enough magic mushrooms to make the entire audience think this is a good concept.
The protagonist, Chuck, is a bit lost in life. Only recently out of the closet, he longs for a relationship - unlike his best friend, Dylan, who has the reputation of sharing his bed with a new woman each night.
Chuck, however, has bigger problems. His mom is raising him and his little brother, Noodle, on her own - and Chuck gets most of the actual home duties. Noodle, emotionally crippled and mute, is more like Chuck's child than little brother.
Rounding out Chuck's cast of misfit friends is Chatty Cathy, butch and brassy, she's Chuck's rock and someone he can always count on. Chatty Cathy dates Casey, a sweet little granola who the Lothario Dylan still secretly pines for.
Is this starting to sound like a soap opera? Well, it's not.
Enter the big Halloween party, a stolen bag of psychotropic mushrooms, and a promiscuous one-time Dylan fling, Laura Campbell. That's when the sparks begin to fly... and the audience will get all the plot (and T&A) they so desperately need.
I could probably say more, but I'm not going to do what the big trailers do now - tell you the whole story in 5 minutes. You'll have to actually come see the movie to figure out how all this really fits together and resolves.
It's going to be fun, touching, and maybe just a little arty. You might leave the theatre a little more enlightened than when you left - but you'll definitely leave entertained.
CIAO!
JB Jones
Of course, it's not like what I usually said was any better. I would say, "it's about change, and people's ability or inability to cope." That's terribly vague, but I tend to deal in emotions, moods, themes, and intangible ideas... but I know that the general audience needs more than emotions and themes. They want plots. To be truthful, they want explosions and T&A. Perhaps I can make good on that with the new movie, while still holding true to my desires to create something out of mood and emotion. Hmm...
This new movie started out similar to the first. There was an inspiration source - "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" - and as that was fleshed out, a theme came to the surface - "accepting that what you want isn't always what you need." Of course, it no longer resembles that first little short script and is nothing like that great Charlie Brown holiday cartoon. That was just a starting point.
Here we go folks... this is what the NEW movie is all about. Here is your plot...
The story revolves around a group of friends and acquaintances in a small college town dealing with growing up, taking responsibility, and making the best of the ridiculous situations of life and love. And if that sounds a bit generic, it's about gay love, an emotionally crippled mute 11-year-old, a bag of stolen psychotropic mushrooms, and a big Halloween party. There's sex, drugs, cosplay, water pistols, textbooks, health food, nerds, sluts, jerks, and enough magic mushrooms to make the entire audience think this is a good concept.
The protagonist, Chuck, is a bit lost in life. Only recently out of the closet, he longs for a relationship - unlike his best friend, Dylan, who has the reputation of sharing his bed with a new woman each night.
Chuck, however, has bigger problems. His mom is raising him and his little brother, Noodle, on her own - and Chuck gets most of the actual home duties. Noodle, emotionally crippled and mute, is more like Chuck's child than little brother.
Rounding out Chuck's cast of misfit friends is Chatty Cathy, butch and brassy, she's Chuck's rock and someone he can always count on. Chatty Cathy dates Casey, a sweet little granola who the Lothario Dylan still secretly pines for.
Is this starting to sound like a soap opera? Well, it's not.
Enter the big Halloween party, a stolen bag of psychotropic mushrooms, and a promiscuous one-time Dylan fling, Laura Campbell. That's when the sparks begin to fly... and the audience will get all the plot (and T&A) they so desperately need.
I could probably say more, but I'm not going to do what the big trailers do now - tell you the whole story in 5 minutes. You'll have to actually come see the movie to figure out how all this really fits together and resolves.
It's going to be fun, touching, and maybe just a little arty. You might leave the theatre a little more enlightened than when you left - but you'll definitely leave entertained.
CIAO!
JB Jones
Saturday, June 6, 2009
And It Begins
The first draft of the screenplay is finished. I was beginning to wonder if this movie was going to start off like Gone With The Wind. They had no real script when shooting began back in 1939. That's sounds crazy, but it's totally showbiz - and I love it!
This particular story was originally conceived as an homage to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but it quickly developed into an entity all its own. I first worked it up into a short film script, but certain situations and characters just begged for more screen time, so I had to expand certain ideas. Once I did that, I had to expand on other situations to help explain the first situations I had expanded.
Eventually, I realized this was going to be a feature-length movie. The daunting task of shooting a coherent and visually interesting feature-length movie frightens me a bit - especially with my lack of funds and limited cast and crew. For one, I have to shoot around every one's schedules. All of them have to continue working and living their lives. It's not like I can pay them thousands of dollars to just drop everything. Honestly, I'm going to be breaking the bank just to feed everyone. Also, I know I'll have to do a great deal of the work myself - catering, lighting, location scouting, casting, getting everyone to the set, and keeping everyone happy!
The whole process makes my head spin, but I can't help but look forward to it. It's what I live for! Literally from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I think about film making - and this current film in particular. It's not a matter of can I do this - I must do this.
So... The first step has been taken. I have finished the first draft of the expanded screenplay. I've gone through the script and made corrections and highlighted some issues. Now, I need to go through and fix it and finish it. Production begins the second week of August, so I don't have much time.
See you on set!
This particular story was originally conceived as an homage to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but it quickly developed into an entity all its own. I first worked it up into a short film script, but certain situations and characters just begged for more screen time, so I had to expand certain ideas. Once I did that, I had to expand on other situations to help explain the first situations I had expanded.
Eventually, I realized this was going to be a feature-length movie. The daunting task of shooting a coherent and visually interesting feature-length movie frightens me a bit - especially with my lack of funds and limited cast and crew. For one, I have to shoot around every one's schedules. All of them have to continue working and living their lives. It's not like I can pay them thousands of dollars to just drop everything. Honestly, I'm going to be breaking the bank just to feed everyone. Also, I know I'll have to do a great deal of the work myself - catering, lighting, location scouting, casting, getting everyone to the set, and keeping everyone happy!
The whole process makes my head spin, but I can't help but look forward to it. It's what I live for! Literally from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I think about film making - and this current film in particular. It's not a matter of can I do this - I must do this.
So... The first step has been taken. I have finished the first draft of the expanded screenplay. I've gone through the script and made corrections and highlighted some issues. Now, I need to go through and fix it and finish it. Production begins the second week of August, so I don't have much time.
See you on set!
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