From One Fat Writer to Another

Indie Film Take Back the Night!

2011-01-25T11:55:00.002-07:00

Great announcement this weekend at Sundance. Although I think you'll find you'll spend a dime or two on marketing.. time is money (not to mention phone calls, gasoline, hotel rooms, and booking fees).

Frankly, its a great concept. I thought so back in May 2009 when I said it the first time and still thought so when I brought it back up six months later. Heck, its why I'm taking control of my own destiny with my own projects: selling foreign, domestic, DVD, VOD, TV, et al. But I've been on both sides of the fence (day job with a sales agent, yes I work for the evil empire) and have seen what needs to be done, what can be negotiated, what is just a cost of doing business, etc.

Most indie film makers can't afford to schlepp their movie around the country or they want to move on to the next thing or they just don't have the money to keep themselves afloat. Remember, it takes money to book a theater. The number of indie film makers I've run into that don't even have the money to finish their film let alone four-wall it, is astounding. And that's why distributors end up holding the purse-strings... because Indie Filmmakers are uninformed and walk in with a completed picture and get all excited about their first deal and sign away their rights, responsibilities, and their [interchangeable: right arm, first born, soul].

Add something to your screenings. Add a day of education. Real education (not pipe dream stuff) about the business of film making. DIY classes touch on it, but they don't really talk about playing with the big boys. Yes, sir, add education to your new distribution arm.

2010 Edublog Awards

2010-11-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Edublog Awards are open and its time to nominate:

Best New Blog - Pop Goes the Classroom
http://www.popgoestheclassroom.com/

Pop Goes the Classroom is an innovative professional development opportunity that introduces educators to pop culture as a tool to engage students. They attempt to identify pop culture trends that can be used to make learning relevant for today's youth. They evaluate existing artifacts related to these tends and develop tools that support their meet learning goals and academic standards across a variety of academic areas.

Its your job to believe in your dopey vision!

2010-01-08T12:12:00.003-07:00

Amen, sir! I just saw this, rather lengthy, tweat come through. A shining piece of wisdom that everyone should read and take to heart. Not just for us fat writer/directors, but every one who is in charge of any endevor; be it creative or just business:

@Henrikse "Dont you always think the next film's gonna be the big one?" That's the director's job: to believe in their dopey vision- quest so much that it fuels not just him/her, but the entire cast & crew as well. For months. As the person everyone's looking to for answers, you've GOTTA believe. Anyone can be negative, because bitching takes no discernible talent and costs nothing. And sure: every once in awhile, you die in despair a bit, brokenhearted that your ideas didn't reach more people. But until then? You have hope that the next flick WILL reach a larger audience. You're living in hope. Living ON hope. And hope is life's sweet elixir, touching not just human beings, but every thinking organism on the planet. Living in a constant state/haze of hope = smoking God's own strain of Kush.

Kudos sir.

Hello Red Bank!

2009-11-23T20:29:00.003-07:00

It looks like I have a fan in Red Bank, NJ. I won't assume its you, Mr. Smith, but someone from your home town is poking in taking a look-see. So, shout-out to Red Bank! HELLO NEW JERSEY!

Sir, I'll be in L.A. again in two weeks. Would love for a quick sit down with you, Mr. Kevin Smith. Will totally understand if you aren't available.

Speaking of events (ok, so that was a VERY sloppy transition). This coming Friday we're hosting a family and friends picnic for the entire film industry in good old Phoenix, Arizona. Looks to be more than 100 people in attendence. That is if everyone that RSVP'd actually makes it. If they don't show... well, we know where you are people. Besides, what else are you doing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We all know the shopping is on Friday. Football isn't until Sunday. And you can watch Ninja Assassin after lunch, so come on out to Encanto Park, 11 to 3pm. Its a pot luck, so bring something to share!

Hello sir!

2009-11-22T08:26:00.005-07:00

Yes, its been too fuckin' long since I last dropped you a note again. Been busy, but wanted to update you.

My last film, Star Quest, released across the U.S. earlier this November. It's a campy little homage to Star Trek. Nothing special, but it did hit U.S. shelves just six months after we finished the sound design. Quick and dirty and successful. Screw the haters out there. Like your films its already been profitable.

I still feel you should look at creating a View-Askew distribution company (see previous posting). It was in answer to your "What Makes you a film maker" interview back in May.

And I'm still waiting to hear from your lusty bride about that film she always wanted to see (click here and here).

Well, good day to you, sir. Can't wait to hear from you.

There goes the summer...

2009-09-07T13:01:00.002-07:00

Well, there went the summer, sir. Spent the whole time, it seems going back and forth to LA and the most work completed ended up happening here in freakin Phoenix, AZ. Yeah hot as hell and more work done here than in the movie capital... Or is that Iowa?

Anyway, watchin the tweetfest today and realized I haven't dropped you a line in a while. As I said, business is picking up. Presold a slate of films to Asia and working on closing that deal along with a possible TV show that would be simply fucking amazing if you'd do a little cameo on. Consider it, sir.

Kevin Smith - Distributors?

2009-05-11T11:21:00.003-07:00

Mr. Smith, sir, just saw your interview with Gavin Michael Booth and his "How Many Days" project (see below).

You ask a very important question in your interview "In this economy, who's going to start up a distribution company?" The answer seems obvious, "You." A boutique distribution company with your name on it would move many an independent film. Your name would open doors, even if you had nothing to do with the day to day operations.

Heck, my day job these days (besides setting up The Evil Dead Breakfast Club [see Trailer here]) is in distribution. I could definately give you a hand (drop me a line at info [at] infspec [dot] com). Heck, I'll even be in LA all this week, but you're probably in Cannes with the rest of my company.

There are many, many, distributors out there, though. The problem with a lot of independent film is either:

1) Not quality
2) Not marketable in a foreign market.

Quality is partially relative, but you still need good sound, in focus visual, and a good SOLID story. In this day where everyone can pick up a digital camera and make a movie, you need to get your ducks in a row. You are competing against MILLIONS of film makers worldwide. Do your homework. Develop your project. Put together a great, top notch team, make something everyone will want to see and be proud of.

As to marketability, this doesn't have to mean selling out or not working on your art, but a talking head drama will not do well in foreign markets because they will have to read a lot or listen to a bad voice over. Middle America doesn't love reading a movie, what makes you think Germany, France, or Thailand does? By incorporating good story, visual, action, and FX you give them something to enjoy and they won't mind the occasional subtitle or bad sync'd dialog. And comedy? Just remember, not everyone in the world has your sense of humor. In fact somethings funny here aren't in other cultures.

Keep it all in mind. Talk to distributors before you even start making your film. Put some business in the art and see what happens.

Happy Holidays to Kevin Smith

2008-12-24T09:01:00.002-07:00

To Kevin Smith at Viewaskew:

Happy Holidays, sir. Here's to hoping you have some wonderful family time with the wife and rugrat.

It's been quite the year, eh? You had a feature come out. I had a feature come out. You had a birthday. I had a birthday. So many parallels.

I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, sir. Not sure if its a train barreling in my direction, but I don't hear a whistle yet.

I was just approached yesterday to direct a little direct to video project. I'll add that to the stack of stuff on my plate and I might have a good year:

1) Evil Dead Breakfast Club the movie. Yes, the movie. Our little web series has garnered some attention as is the hilarious script. It's definitely an R-rated comedy. Here's the trailer for the webseries.

2) The Cleaning Crew. This is the script I offered you last year. More precisely offered your bride, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith:

Jennifer, your lovely bride, takes a crack at producing a movie she said she always wants to see and never finds. One that reminds her of Alias and the reason she fell in love with that series.
A strong, take no prisoners, female action movie with humor and heart. A story about a widowed soccer mom who, struggling to make ends meet, turns to the only line of work she has ever been any good at: contract killer. And then top it all off with the fact that her deceased ex-husband turns out to be not-quite-so, kidnaps their daughter, and forces mom to fight for the daughter's life.

Throw into the mix lots of hilarity, some keystone criminals, and kick ass action... what more could you want?

Well, it has gotten some traction this week as well. Had potential investors talk to me at a networking event. Sending a top sheet their way, but there's still time for you to invest some Zack and Miri dollars in it.

Oh, and I heard you finally contacted Gavin Michael Booth! So I do know you really exist and are not just some actor hired by Hollywood to promote movies.

Happy Holidays!
Jon Bonnell

2008-12-05T21:08:00.002-07:00

Dear Kevin Smith,

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We did, but had an even better time since.

First, MATCH.DEAD has been sold. Seven months from production to sale... and we kept to the budget the whole way. Now it's sold and I can almost walk away from it and just collect the checks. Yeah, right.

Second, we shot a web series back in October. You might have read about it: The Evil Dead Breakfast Club. Well, the trailer is out now. Check it out. We hope you like it:

Let me know, one way or the other, sir.

How can you stand LA?

2008-11-22T10:00:00.003-07:00

Kevin,

Wow, after just two days in town I don't know how you can stand it. Where you're from in Jersey just can't be replicated in LA.

And the traffic and conjestion and...

That said, its where business gets done. Two days in LA and I walk away with a green light, so it's not all bad.

Great place to visit, but I couldn't live there without some major incentive... ;)

MATCH.DEAD first written review is in...

2008-10-28T08:26:00.002-07:00

The first written review is in. It’s full of great sound bites, but this sums it all up:

"And when it comes out, in however limited or wide a release, I want to watch again."

Check out the review. If you didn’t see the last screening, don’t worry, you still have a chance. The friends and family screening is still coming and we’ll have another online screening coming soon. To get in on that you need to join our facebook group at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10767740772

Here’s the review:

http://templestark.com/tas/2008/10/movie-r...nline-screener/

Cynical Film Making

2008-09-16T08:17:00.003-07:00

Kevin Smith, sir, I can imaging you must see stuff like below every day. I'm starting to get cynical and I can't imagine how you keep from getting there.

WRITER/DIRECTOR with great properties and first class actors seeks, professional, experienced producer. As most creatives, I would much rather focus on the content rather than the commerce of filmmaking.

So without flowery words, and a remarkably well written sales pitch, let me get to the point...

I need a producer, with experience in raising capital, contacts within the industry, and the right amount of vision and madness, to allow me to create the type of movies that will be both entertaining and profitable. I am going to do great things in film, be with me at the beginning.

Fair compensation is negotiable, you get me the money, I'll create the product, and we'll make history.

What makes this guy think he's anymore great than the other dozen people that sent me the same thing today? If you want to work in the movie business then LEARN the movie business. Go out and raise money for your film. If you can't raise enough money for your buget, adjust the movie and make one for the amount of money you can raise. Baby steps. Do one, sell it, now make a bigger one, etc.

Sure, if you can convince someone to do all the work for ya, that's great. But you should also be aware that you won't own anything when its done. Its the producer that makes money AFTER the fact on the film. The director gets his paycheck during the film making process.

MATCH.DEAD to Kevin Smith

2008-06-28T21:38:00.003-07:00

Kevin, sir, I know you, or at least your people, read this blog. Must be nice to have people.

I'd like to invite you to take a look at a rough cut of my feature, MATCH.DEAD. I know you hang out with your lovely wife, Mrs. Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, and just go through DVD's. What's one more to the mix, eh? I'd love a little feedback.

Drop me a line (or one of your people so you can remain anonymous) at jbonnell (at) infspec.com.

I'm shopping some other scripts around and starting to pursue investors for my next project. I figure I need to do two a year to keep afloat. Of course when I start getting budgets like yours are these days, that won't necessarily be the case.

Until then I still think I have a project that the love of your life (not Harley, the other one... no not Jason Mewes either) would love to produce. Strong female lead kicking butt and saving her daughter... just think of it as Le Femme Nikita the Soccer Mom...

INTERVEW: from ScriptforSale.com

2008-05-08T11:38:00.002-07:00

Kevin, Mr. Smith, sir, this interview recently ran on ScriptforSale.com both online and in their newsletter. Thought you might find it interesting.

http://www.scriptforsale.com/amember/forums/index.php?showtopic=5441

----
Working Successfully in Collaborations

You always hear that the movie world is a collaborative business, but most writers don't know that a lot of the writing that goes on here is also collaborative.

Here are just a few examples:

- You've been hired to write a script by a Studio or Producer.

- You team up with a Director on a script that is their idea.

- You are hired to do a rewrite of another writer's work.

- You work with an A-list actor to rewrite ONLY their part.

Once you make it in the Biz, chances are you'll do at least one, if not all of those. And many of you will make "Assignment writing" your primary source of income.

So I'm presenting an interview today that came from such a collaboration. This is from an Independent film, but these same points hold true for paid assignments with Studios. The sooner you learn these key points, the easier it will be for you to become a writer that Industry players pursue.

The film is MATCH.DEAD (Match dot Dead). Jon Bonnell is the director and Alyssa Alexandria is the writer. As you read this interview, I'll put in notes to add information or expand upon what is being said.

Please play careful attention to the notes.

HAL: Jon, Aly, can you give us some background on each of you?

JON: I've had three screenplays produced, and filmed five different films this year in some capacity, three of which I directed. Now I'm doing MATCH.DEAD as director/producer, which Aly wrote.

ALY: I started screenwriting five years ago and my first class with you, Hal. My biggest project right now is with NEHST Studios and Larry Meistrich in New York. It's a feature that I wrote in ProSeries 7 and I took it through the rewrite class as well, which was probably one of the reasons it did as well as it did. It's in production. I'm not supposed to mention the budget but it's a very large budget. I'm very proud of NEHST Studios and how they've handled everything. They have been amazing with me.

HAL: Where did you two meet?

ALY: Jon put out a request for a script for a low budget horror film and I responded. However, I didn't respond with a script. I responded with a pitch and said I could write a rough draft in a week. He responded back and we started writing.

HAL: So, Jon, behind the scenes what was your experience?

JON: I put out a call to quite a few different places as well as the ProSeries Alumni that we were specifically looking for a low budget genre feature to go direct to DVD release. It had to be able to
be done on a small budget, which we outlined. I needed limited cast, limited locations, everything about that to keep this as tight as we possibly could. I had funds already established going into this, so I knew what the budget was that we were trying to hit. So, I put out that call. I had probably received three dozen scripts. Aly's was most appealing because she came back and said, look, I want to work with you to get exactly the story that you want with all the constraints that you have, and here's my idea for a story.

NOTE: So this collaboration began with Aly pitching a High Concept and making a promise. Notice that the promise is to be completely collaborative. She said she would work with Jon to get EXACTLY the story that Jon wanted.

If you're wondering why a writer would do something like that, there are many reasons. First, Aly recognizes that the director is going to spend a lot of time and money making this movie. Second, she gets an amazing benefit -- a movie that is ready to go into production
the moment the script is done. That means an instant IMDB credit and the chance to see her writing on the screen within a few months.

Third, she gets the experience of doing another movie. And finally, she creates a very strong relationship with a director who is moving up in this industry.

BTW, Jon is also a very collaborative director who loves to work with people to make films. So it is natural for him to be more interested in someone else with the same values.

JON: Of the 30 submissions, Aly was the most appealing because she said, I want to work with you and work in your constraints to get something that we're both proud of. At that point, it was a pretty much a done deal. It helped that she was less than an hour's drive away. So we were able to actually meet face to face. She took a crack at it before we met, so I got an idea of her writing and I got an idea of the story that she wanted.

ALY: It was definitely a collaborative effort. I sent him the first draft in three days and he came back with some amazing the feedback and some amazing twists and turns and different takes on it which I incorporated immediately, and he just loved it. Jon pushes you when you write and because he's a director and an actor and he's a screenwriter, his feedback is a tick up from what you normally get.

He has a really well rounded vision of the film, and it's all about the film. Not so much about me writing it or him directing it. It's the whole package. It's about the end result of the film. That's always what's most important for all of us. So, together I think that it only took us about two weeks after the feedback and it was done, and it was amazing.

JON: I think it was 10 days to the day from start. We literally spent a day, probably 6 to 8 hours going through outlining this story beat for beat, not worrying about the dialogue but working out to the characters and plot points and everything else. And like she said, three of four days later, boom, I had the rough. It was back and forth a few days with notes, the story itself was intact and we were ready to go.

I like working in a give and take environment. Everyone throwing in ideas and actively listening and building off the conversation. Alyssa was great in this respect. If I felt we were off track and reigned in the scope or, the reverse, felt we needed to go over the top, she kept step with me.

NOTE: Notice the collaboration. She's writing. He's giving feedback. They're both working together with the same vision and throwing ideas back and forth. Notice that their focus is on the completed film -- not on arguing over minor details. Also, notice the speed at which the
script was completed. That really is possible when the vision is shared and both are intensely focused on the same destination.

Later, you'll hear how this process changed Jon's view of screenwriting.

JON: My vision from the beginning was that story is the key. It isn't about the all the other aspects of a typical direct-to-DVD genre-type piece. It's not about blood, or body parts, or swearing, or whatever. All it is about is story. Everything else will come. But if the story is not there, we didn't have it. Everyone that has read the script before we even started production was immediately sucked in because the story was so good. That's really helped us.

HAL: Sounds like it worked out for both of you.

ALY: It was great. Jon is such a professional.

JON: Working with Aly was just amazing. It truly was what a collaboration or writing partner is supposed to be like. I don't think I'll ever look at working on a screenplay the same way ever again.

NOTE: As a screenwriter, that is what you want directors saying about you. It creates the kind of reputation that builds careers and long term working relationships.

HAL: Both of you took the ProSeries. Any comments on it?

ALY: Yes. That's how I started. I believe that's what took me the farthest in my career. Everything that I've learned in the ProSeries I've kept with me, it has staying power. I still use it today. I have it on my bulletin boards. The rewrite process is looking at me as we
speak.

JON: Yeah, I would say the same thing about the ProSeries. I've kept all my notes and everything from it, and all the emails and the lessons. I constantly go back and review them. And on top of that, the ProSeries Alumni community has just been great. I've made all kinds of contacts and friends through that group as well.

ALY: The ProSeries taught me how to deal with professionals in this business. There are no excuses. Learning to write a screenplay is only half the battle. The other half is about being in
a meeting -- focused, streamlined, and thinking in High Concept. I learned that from you.

TWO RECOMMENDATIONS: First, if you haven't already experienced a collaboration like this, start thinking and planning to have one in the future. Start imagining yourself in a supportive
collaboration and setting the mental processes into motion.

Second, please be as supportive as you can of this movie. Every time one person from this group succeeds, it opens up possibilities for others to succeed. And if you can help spread the word in
some way, please feel free to do so.

MATCH.DEAD is just finishing up production. You can keep up with it at these pages:

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1218507/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/matchdotdead
Twitter: http://twitter.com/match_dot_dead

Match.Dead is wrapped.

2008-05-02T18:54:00.006-07:00

OK, so this is premature by about 24 hours, but by the time you read this, sir, we'll be wrapped.

Yes, after three weeks we've wrapped on match.dead. Now starts the long post process. But the nice thing is, we're already getting calls from acquisition execs.

Who knows, maybe we'll be coming to a screen near you later this year.

Big Feet Nominated for five awards!

2008-03-19T14:54:00.003-07:00

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Passing of a Legend

2008-03-05T07:22:00.002-07:00

You know you are getting old when your heroes and legends are passing. Gary Gygax was one of those people.

I know, that sounds a little geeky, eh? But it was he that told me if was ok to dream. When an 11 year old kid discovered Dungeons and Dragons, and entire world of possibilities was opened up to him. There were others out there that read fantasy, dreamed of slaying a dragon, and that still strived to play make believe -- some were even adults!

I moved on from Dungeons and Dragons, but it never left me. The creativity it spawned, wonderful, not to mention that it taught a teenager how to socialize and write. Many a night was spent crafting stories with plots and subplots. Second guessing my players, who were my characters.

Dungeons and Dragons taught me to be a writer.

I owe my career to Gary Gygax.

match.dead Casting

2008-03-03T10:55:00.005-07:00

I'm already hearing stories about Zach and Miri Make a Porno especially like this video (I can't believe she'd do that to Seth Rogan). We've put together an awesome cast as well.

James Ray leads the pack as Ridley, the Southern American Psycho who falls in love with Valora, played by Kathleen Benner. One look and you can understand why he does.

Michael Harrelson plays Valora's grandfather and surogate parent. Along with his best friend Guy, played by Greg Joseph, they try to watch out for her. I stress try, because there wouldn't be much of a story if they were successful.

Round it all off with Ashley Francis as Valora's younger self. Ashley is a champ and a star in the making.

We're well into pre-production on this one now. Always looking for someone to die on camera. Kev, you wouldn't happen to be coming through Phoenix, Arizona in late April would ya? Just a day part.

match.dead

2008-02-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Kevin, sir, I mentioned the web series last month, Lutz and Balls. It's a great project, but it's a big one. In the meantime we've hooked up with a great writer, Alyssa Alexandria. We're putting together a thriller: match.dead. I can't wait to see your new film, Red State, but I also can't wait to finish this film.

Valora was just your average, all American girl; looking for love in an online world. Then she met Ridley. He was strong, good looking, and best of all, he listened. So she agreed to meet him. It was a public place after all. What could happen?

Ridley was just your average, all American psychopath; looking for love in an online world. Then he met Valora. She was strong, good looking, and best of all, she listened. So he arranged to meet her. It would be a public place; after all, he was careful.

Shortly after their meeting, Ridley kidnaps Valora and takes her on the date of a lifetime. She can stay and talk or she can run; her choice. He likes when they run. It becomes sport. Valora chooses not to run and the courtship begins.

So there you have it. Its a great thriller: Misery with a serial killer. Stay tuned for more as we go. Did I mention we're still looking for investors? Drop us a line for a complete investors packet.

Lutz and Balls: Paranormal Investigators

2007-12-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

I have a new web series starting in early 2008. Check it out at http://www.lutzandballs.com/

About the Series.

Perpetual salesmen and slackers, Craig and Bill lose their corporate sales jobs and set off to get rich quick. In the first episode they seek out a photo-op with Big Foot, his bride, and aliens. From there it only gets more whacky as upcoming episodes include creature removal, one-eyed pirate-gypsies, doppelgangers, and mysterious government agents.

If you liked X-Files and Bill and Ted, you’ll love Lutz and Balls, Paranormal Investigators.

Room 602 on its way to View Askew

2007-10-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Kevin, sir, I'm sending you a copy of Room 602. You can watch it or you can trash it, but its just 11 minutes out of your life and I promise you'll laugh.

We opened this weekend and have gotten great feedback and support. Remember, that feature I said I had waiting to go that was something right up Schwalbach's alley: the type of movie, she said (on a Smodcast with you) she'd love to see? Well, this short is based on the same characters.

Coming your way, sir.

Room 602 screened!

2007-10-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Room 602 debuted last night and we had great response from the audience during and after the screening. Thanks to everyone that was a part of it! It all paid off.

If you haven't had a chance to see it, there's two more local screenings scheduled:

Oct 26th come to the Deadly Event at Alice Cooperstown. $20 gets you dinner and seven movies. Come laugh along with Room 602. Go to http://www.deadlyevent.com for tickets and details.

Can't make this Friday? Come to the San Tan Short Film Festival, November 16-18 (Room 602 will screen on the 18th). Go to http://www.santanfilmfest.com for details!

...and then that's it in Phoenix for this year, folks. Don't miss out!

Why Kevin Smith and Room 602 News

2007-10-09T13:01:00.001-07:00

It's been asked why am I writing to Kevin Smith? Well, I answered this in my first blog entry two months ago and right there in the left margin. Has it paid off?

Well, I can honestly say that some of Kevin's people have browsed through here. I don't think any of them reported back their findings to the man himself. I would like to think that he would respond. After all, we're two peas in... OK, that just sounds silly.

On to other things.

Room 602, the film that I started this blog about, has three screenings coming up. October 20th, 8 PM (Theater 4) at the International Horror Sci Fi Film Festival. I will also be hosting a panel at 1PM on Sunday the 21st (same festival) on fast tracking -- "How to quickly advance in the movie biz from amateur shorts to semi-pro features" and then participating in a panel at 2:30 the same day on creativity -- "How to create super visuals on small budgets." If not for me, come to see Linda Blair as she screens the Exorcist and Claudia Christian as she screens "The Hidden."

After that, Room 602 will screen at Alice Cooperstown and the Seven Deadly Films Event (October 27th).

Finally, on November 18th, we'll screen one last time this year at the San Tan Short Film Festival.

Then its Happy Holidays time while we start looking for other festivals.

PS. Stay tuned for news on "Big Feet, Little Shoes," another short I produced and directed that starts its festival run later this month.

Stardust, pleasant dreams

2007-09-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, I just saw a great film that just wasn't pushed by its studio. Granted, Paramount had a ton of marketing push behind Transformers all summer, but they could have, and should have, put some real marketing dollars behind Stardust. A little research shows this was the little fantasy movie that could. Its been out since August 10 and been in the top 10 each week since release (numbers aren't in this week yet).

It's a fairy tale, pure and simple, but a wonderful one that entranced me, my wife, and my children. If you are a fan of The Princess Bride, you'll love this film. It has the same irreverence while still being true to everything that makes people smile at the thought of their favorite fairy tale.

Where do I start? This movie had production value out the wazoo. I mean, the costumes alone were not only unique for each character, but the fabrics were custom made for at least seven of them. Elaborate sets, visual effects, costumes...

...And the cast! Ian McKellen, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Ricky Gervis...

Dare I mention the story was originally written by Neil Gaiman? How about this, the first line from the book: "There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire." or this, the first line from the movie: "A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless, really...”Do the stars gaze back?" Now *that's* a question."

Both really summarize the movie.

See this movie on the big screen, while you still have a chance... and then buy the DVD.

Wow, I just pimped someone else's movie. I don't do that often and, frankly, its the only film from this summer of block busters that I've done this for. Even Transformers...

Who wants to act when you can direct?

2007-09-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

Kevin, sir, looks like your boy, Ben Affleck is jumping into the directing arena with both feet. In fact in the August 24th issue of Entertainment Weekly he gave a brief interview (OK, not so recent, I'm behind in my reading) saying that if his current movie is accepted well he'll stick with Directing and just be in the kinds of movies he wants to do which mostly aren't "giant studio movies".

Sounds like a man right after your own heart, Mr. Smith.

So, here's the deal. Remember when I said I had a screenplay your wife, Jennifer Schwalbach, not only could produce but is the type of movie that she said, in one of your recent Smodcasts, she always wanted to see and would remind her of Alias and the reason she fell in love with that series. You know, the one with this synopsis:

A strong, take no prisoners, female action movie with humor and heart. A story about a widowed soccer mom who, struggling to make ends meet, turns to the only line of work she has ever been any good at: contract killing. Then top it all off with the fact that her deceased ex-husband turns out to be not-quite-so, kidnaps their daughter, and forces mom to fight for the daughter's life.

Well, you can have the man you said you'd always work with, Ben, direct. And then the Bob or Harvey Weinstein can back the film. And all this can be done while you're working on Red State or Zack and Miri (whichever ends up first).

Come on Ben, Kevin, Jen, give a poor fat writer a break and drop him a line.