Pewter Productions

2011-09-01T11:58:00.002-04:00

For my students at Lander University, here are the books and items for class:

The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide by Anthony Q. Artis
Required for Media 301
Recommended for Media 290 & 490

Final Cut Express 4: Visual QuickStart Guide by Lisa Brenneis
Required for Media 301
Recommended for Media 290 & 490

All Media students doing any editing in the Mac Lab need access to their own portable hard drive. Here are a few recommendations, but please use whatever resources you have to accomplish this including checking with the bookstore:

Iomega eGo Mac Edition 500 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/800 Portable External Hard Drive

Seagate FreeAgent Go 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Toshiba Basics Portable Hard Drive 320 GB USB 2.0

2011-08-03T21:18:00.004-04:00

INTEREST MEETING SUCCESS!!!

The Greenbrier Valley Theater hosted the Miracle Boy Interest Meeting tonight at 6 pm. We had a great turnout from people interested in being in the film, providing props and those just wanting to support us. Thank you so much.

We plan to start shooting Friday night in Williamsburg, WV -- and there are still things we could use and would appreciate your help in finding. Below is a list in no particular order their need, starting with:

- Woodworking tools
- Jacobs Ladder
- Lumberjack wood toy
- Football helmet w/ removable facemask
- Plain white sheets and pillow cases
- water cigarettes
- Telephone pole light

We could also use some food to feed our cast and crew the next week.

And if you still haven't found a way to show your support, just remember that you can go to the website and make a tax-deductible donation where you can nab everything from a shout-out, to a DVD, to an autographed script, to tickets to screenings with the filmmakers.

We appreciate whatever help you can bring.

jbrown

2011-06-30T16:01:00.002-04:00

MIRACLE BOY - Props & other help

As we're moving toward production on MIRACLE BOY, we have a plethora of items we need to bring this movie to life. I may be calling you in hope of finding some of these things, but in the mean time - here's the list of what we're looking for in case you know where we might find them:

Walking stick
Woodworking shed (w/ tools)
Agri-King tractor
Landline phone
Bull-roarer
Jaccob's Ladder toy
Variety of shoes
Poles and wires to duplicate
Car engine to "work" on

After the Fourth of July, we'll be contacting people regarding cast and crew. Please let us know if you're interested before then.

Please support this project in whatever way you can. Thanks.

jason

2011-06-28T12:49:00.003-04:00

Donation Perks

We're about a month away from production on MIRACLE BOY and can really use your help to make this special little story become a reality for the world to see. Please LIKE our Facebook page and share it with your friends. As more and more news comes about, we want to share it with you.

As I've mentioned, the WV FILMMAKERS GUILD has been kind enough to be our fiscal sponsor - meaning any financial donation can be tax deductible (check with your tax professional). Those donations can go directly through our website or now through INDIEGOGO.

IndieGoGo has become known for how their encourage filmmakers to thank their supporters with perks, prizes and gifts. We want everyone to be able to participate in this generosity; so, whether you give directly through the website or through IndieGoGo, you will receive the same perks. We hope you like what we have to offer.

If you've read the story MIRACLE BOY, you understand the importance of a pair of shoes. We've set up our small thank you's in order of shoes with that in mind. Whatever level you find yourself, take that previous gifts along with you.

BAREFOOTED - $10
All donations will receive a quick shout out through our Facebook page, our website and my Twitter account. Nothing fancy here, everyone deserves some appreciation.
FLIP-FLOPS - #25
Along with that bit of recognition, we'll also be sending these folks a copy of the DVD after the film has been screened on the festival circuit. We don't know where that might be yet, but while Pinckney and Jake both have experience taking their films to some pretty big festivals I am excited to also bring MIRACLE BOY to the great events in WV - from Huntington to Sutton to Charleston to Charlestown.
SANDALS - $50
With a little more support, we'll also include your name in the credits of the film. That recognition will go along on websites and any other listings we have of the film. Your support will continue to show with the film.
CANVAS SHOES - $125
Along with continued recognition of your support, these contributions will include an invitation and ticket to a screening in West Virginia (travel and accommodations not included). We don't know yet where we'll be screening the film, but the least we can do is invite you and get you in. We hope to have several West Virginia screenings; so, this will be for just one and we'll work out the details as those screenings arise. However, during production, each contributor at this level will also receive a personalized thank you from a member of the cast or crew.
SNEAKERS - $250
Like the shoes Lizard goes to retrieve, contributions at this level hold a special meaning to us. Along with all the other gifts so far, a special holiday DVD from the cast and crew will be going out to you in appreciation for your support along with an autographed copy of the script.
WORK BOOTS - $500
At this level, we feel like you are so much a part of the production - you will receive a thank you phone call and an invitation to a small party during production with cast and crew in Greenbrier County, WV (travel and accommodations not included).
YOUR SUNDAY BEST - $2000
Thank you for your contribution at this level. Thank you so much, we'll put your name down as one of the movie's Executive Producers and invite you to attend along with the filmmakers a festival screening.

We hope these items show you a bit of the appreciation we feel for your support of the film. As I mentioned, please LIKE us on Facebook.

Thank you so much,

Jason Brown

2011-06-14T01:42:00.004-04:00

Please support the MIRACLE BOY Movie

As I've begun to mention, I am working with West Virginia author PICKNEY BENEDICT and filmmaker JAKE MAHAFFY to produce a short film about Pickney's short story MIRACLE BOY. While this is a labor of love for all of us, there are quite a few things that are going to cost money.

Any help you can give us to make this film come true is appreciated. In fact, thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of the WV FILMMAKERS GUILD, all of your donations can be tax-deductible (confer with your tax professional).

Please click the donate button below and make a contribution.

2011-06-05T14:48:00.004-04:00

Notes from the WVFG Film Finance Panel

Once again the WV Filmmakers Guild held an informative and inspiring weekend in Sutton. It was great to meet Brad Kalinoski, along with so many other state filmmakers. After being on the film finance panel with Steve Gilliland, Joe Majestic, Jeff Tinnell and JT Arbogast, I wanted to follow-up with a few points and links mentioned:

- Know your audience/expectations at the beginning
In the words of Debbie Zimmerman of Women Make Movies, you make movies for one of three reasons - to get rich, get famous, or save the world. Don't make a horror comedy and think you're going to save the world, and don't make an expose of lesbian subculture in holocaust camps and think you're going to get rich. Know you what you're trying to accomplish and who would want to see it. From there...

- Find other people to validate what you're doing and then help bring it to fruition
Before you start, there are likely hundreds of people who will support what you're doing. Reach out to them right away. The people who agree with your goal will be the best people to help you find OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL!! Let them help you. And you'll be surprised to find diverse groups without similar interests other than your project. Don't turn away supporters. They'll be the ones to guide you away from having telling Jean Paule Sartre jokes in your Horror Comedy or having a a walking, talking fish character in your follow-up to the greatest trilogy of all-time (I'm just saying, George. You should have talked to someone. No one thought Jar-Jar was a good idea).
Now that you know who want you want to do and who wants to see it...

- Create a plan for your project
If you're a filmmaker, you understand that you need to plan for certain lighting, gather certain shots for editing, and record the proper sound for mixing. Great - then you have to skills to plan your entire film. You can do your homework and find out about how much money can be made from a film like yours (a documentary on planets has a different box office outlook than a screwball comedy with Adam Sandler). If you can only make $XX then don't plan on spending more or even half that, but if the type of movie you want to make will require a big star, lots of special effects and collector cups from 7/11 - then you have to realize you need more than your cellphone and friends from your pick-up basketball league.
Don't stop there. Plan to get your movie seen AND get your money back. Work through the steps, just like you would shooting on location. You build your plan through information that you get from...

- Use websites like IMDBPro, Kickstarter and IndieGoGo to test the waters of interest and raise money for your project
The Internet has so much more than gossip and porn. Okay, maybe not as much as it should, but...
There are tools available to you - use them. If you want to be like Woody Allen, great - go to IMDBPro and find out how much his last film cost, how much did it make, who distributed it, etc. Get your information.
There are hundreds of people who have walked this line before, track their progress through the Internet - twitter, IndieWire, etc. No matter what you think of their films - Kevin Smith and Ed Burns are great examples of what can be done. Just make your film the kind of funny you like instead of dick jokes or neurotic New York cynicism. (BTW big fan of both of these guys - love me some dick jokes and neurotic New York cynicism)
Work your plan and see if there are enough other people to support your project. Set-up on Kickstarter for pre-production funds - and offer rewards to your supporters. Need to reach a more film centered crowd - set-up on IndieGoGo for finishing funds. Then spread the word. Link your projects through Facebook, run some Facebook ads.
So many filmmakers are becoming successful using this formula. Search it out and see how it can be adjusted for your specific project. Keep your initial expenses low until you see there is support and validation for your project. Then follow your plan.

- Have a clear end-game - what's success for your project?
If you know at the beginning what you're trying to do - get rich, get famous, save the world - then you should know what success looks like before you get there. Just in case the brass ring isn't there, make plans for alternative avenues to success.
The traditional pathway for a film tends to follow: make a movie, take it a film market/festival, sell it to a distributor, show up for press events, go make next movie.
That is becoming less and less viable. Now you need to do more of the work. So it looks more like: decide to make a movie, nurture an audience, make a movie, guide audience in ways to support movie, organize press coverage/stunts, find best way to get movie to audience, guide audience to share movie with bigger audience, ask audience to support you in making another movie.
If Paramount won't buy your movie, and Anchor Bay won't buy your DVD, and Brain Damage won't pay you for your movie, sell it yourself. You have now built an audience who knows you, use the tools to just get them the film. Go to DiscMakers and print up a bunch of DVDs, use Distribber and get on a Pay-Per-View TV channel or an online streaming site. Use Constant Contact to get your audience to rally over your issue at a local screening.

Success is only defined by you. The first trick is -- what are you doing and who are you doing it for? If this is just for you, stop. No one needs to help you and no one should. However, if you are doing this for a larger audience of any kind, there are plenty of ways you can benefit by benefiting your audience from the very first step.

Good luck. Be well.

JB

2011-05-31T19:28:00.009-04:00

Casting for the short film, MIRACLE BOY

Pewter Productions is helping produce a short film with award-winning filmmaker Jake Mahaffy based on the short story MIRACLE BOY from noted West Virgina writer, Pinckney Benedict. Tentatively, the shoot will be in Greenbrier County July 31 through August 14.

We are looking to cast the following:

- Four boys between 10 and 12 years-old, caucasian (one more heavy set)
- Two five-year-old caucasian boys, one heavy set
- One caucasian woman - mid thirties, motherly
- One caucasian man - mid-to-late thirties / early forties, fatherly

At this time, there is no pay for these roles and preference is given to non-professionals and those local to Greenbrier County, WV. We ask the actors be able to provide their own costumes as well. Please send a head shot and a way to be contacted to - miracleboy@themthatwork.com

We are also looking for crew to volunteer on the shoot. While consideration and compensation may change as the shoot approaches, there are no guarantees.

Jake Mahaffy - is a successful filmmaker and professor at Wheaton College in Massachussets. His work has shown around the globe and garnered awards at both the Sundance and South by Southwest film festivals.

Pinckney Benedict - grew up on his family's dairy farm among the mountains of Southern West Virginia. He has published two collections of stories and one novel, along with writings which have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. He currently is a professor in the English Department at Southern Illinois University.

Jason Brown - is a West Virginian, teacher and filmmaker who will be teaching Video Production at Lander University in South Carolina beginning this fall. His film THEM THAT WORK, about the impact of John Sayles' film MATEWAN garnered several grants and will be completed....

2010-07-18T13:21:00.002-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

MOVING ON....

After two interesting years in Southwest Louisiana at McNeese State University, I have officially accepted a position at Bowling Green State University. Along with teaching film instead of production, I will be working in a vibrant service learning community.

The opportunity to teach and learn in Northwest Ohio is exciting. I anticipate a lot happening this year - if only because I have a better appreciation now of what this whole university teaching career is suppose to be.

I continue to be very proud of the students who I have helped along the way. They are one of the big reasons I wanted to teach. While I will find myself in front of students in greater numbers at BGSU, I also am finding more and more resources to strengthen some of production and research goals. I look forward to seeing anyone that would like to come visit.

2010-06-05T11:50:00.005-04:00

New Teaser Trailer for AMIGO

Hello everybody,

If you haven't heard yet, John Sayles' new film is nearly finished. The European distributor, Rezo, has posted a teaser trailer for the film which I've re-linked here originated on his blog.

http://johnsaylesbaryo.blogspot.com/2010/06/amigo-teaser-trailer.html

For those keeping score at home, Sayles has finished two films while I have worked on this one. Thankfully though, it is almost finished as well. Thank you for signing up for this page. As the film gets out, please help spread the word.

jason

2010-06-04T09:49:00.000-04:00

Broken Bells' video

Not the biggest fan of Broken Bells, but I've been waiting for this since I heard they were getting Christina Hendricks to be in it. Well, it's here and it's more FIREFLY than MAD MEN. Some interesting stuff happening, not sure how I feel about the continuing sci fi trope of trading limbs and organs for currency.

2010-06-01T20:07:00.000-04:00

Hope points filmmakers to Web/Social Media

Ted Hope seems to have his hands on some great pictures. I guess he's within six degrees because he and Peggy Rajski, who sat do for THEM THAT WORK, produced TOWELHEAD together.

He posts on his website and his occasional videos. I wanted to share this because I thought they were hopeful and maybe a little helpful. I was talking with my good friend J Scott last night about attending Silver Docs this year. The pre-festival agenda includes some necessary web improvements which reminded me of Ted Hope's videos.

2010-05-18T21:00:00.006-04:00

2010-04-15T20:07:00.001-04:00

McSweeney's Makes It Happen for BARYO

If you haven't heard the good work, McSweeney's has picked up John Sayles' novel which he is currently shooting the film version in the Phillipines. In hindsight, how could anybody other than McSweeney's be the publisher for this book?

2010-04-15T18:17:00.000-04:00

Image by Kevin H. via Flickr

AFI's Top 10 Westerns

For all of you tired of the on-the-mark/off-the-mark lists that the American Film Institute puts out, maybe the brevity of this one will catch your attention: AFI's Top 10 Westerns.

In a list of such a clearly defined genre, it's interesting that AFI chooses to praise films that are emblematic of the genre (#9 Stagecoach) and those that beg to ruffle its feathers (#6 The Wild Bunch). The Top 4 seem pretty obvious with their order saying more about the person making the list.

Very interesting. I probably would have went with HIGH NOON, but that's just me.

2010-04-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

Re Blogged: iO9's MAKING A SCI-FI MOVIE ON A SHOESTRING: WHERE YOU CAN CUT CORNERS

If you haven't thought about this for a while, this nice little article from io9 is a great reminder of what to spend your money on to get your idea on screen.

2010-04-11T16:27:00.006-04:00

Helping a student with her reel

I spent the weekend helping a student of mine at McNeese State work on her reel. Here is the big package we put together, while we gathered her stand-ups and other packages from her time on INSIDE MCNEESE.

2010-01-01T20:26:00.003-05:00

I did not know that (Baryo) ....

In case you didn't know (because I just found out over the holidays) .... John Sayles is starting production on BARYO in the Phillipines as we speak. The story of this novel and now this film are fascinating. With the help of some incredibly generous folk, John and Maggie are keeping a production journal for the film. Please check it out and support one of the true iconoclasts of independent filmmaking.

http://johnsaylesbaryo.blogspot.com/

jason brown

2010-01-01T12:38:00.001-05:00

New Year / Old Business

About two years ago, I took a teaching position at a school in Louisiana. It's been a great experience, but the time commitment has far surpassed my expectations. While I was almost done with THEM THAT WORK when I started, this one step forward was followed by five steps back.

I've screened it to a few people who have made great comments which brought up some structural issues. I've continued to meet new people who have been incredibly valuable to include in the film.

I sat down with a good friend over the holidays to discuss future projects. Should we develop this film, how's so-and-so on that film, there's a chance this other film will come to town. He looked at me and said the obvious - Just finish your film.

So, not that I post here a lot, but you probably won't see or hear from me for a while. A lot of things are about to happen. As they do, you won't be able to shut me up. Until then, have a great a year and look for more to come.

jason

2009-09-23T13:19:00.002-04:00

Werner Herzog's Rogue Film School

In Werner Herzog's Rogue Film School, you will learn "...the art of lockpicking. Traveling on foot. The exhilaration of being shot at unsuccessfully. The athletic side of filmmaking. The creation of your own shooting permits. The neutralization of bureaucracy. Guerrilla tactics. Self reliance."

God love Werner Herzog.

2009-09-21T02:13:00.005-04:00

Help some WV filmmakers....

Help the guys at Razor Sharp Productions finish their latest flick.

Send them $10 and get a nice t-shirt and a copy of the DVD when it's finished.

2009-09-14T04:08:00.005-04:00

Facebook -- new kind of singularity

As I was trying to work today - editing/grant writing/lesson plan writing - I realized I need to take a more active role in my websites again. Which also made me realize that I have been posting things on Facebook that should have been posted here.

I'm going to try to do better (in a lot of ways). I promise none of that will include Mafia Wars or bragging about Bejeweled. That's about all I can promise though.

I did however set up a Facebook group for THEM THAT WORK in case anyone is interested. Surprisingly, it has grown little by little without any real prodding on my part.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2204904383&ref=ts
Feel free to join and tell your friends.

jbrown

2009-08-27T04:00:00.002-04:00

Chance of a Lifetime

If you haven't seen this, I wanted to share.

http://www.mandy.com/1/jobs3.cfm?v=34627181

Administrative intern needed in the office of Academy Award nominee Writer/Director John Sayles and Producer Maggie Renzi:

• Writer/Director/Producer of HONEYDRIPPER, SILVER CITY, SUNSHINE STATE, LONE STAR, PASSION FISH, THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH and EIGHT MEN OUT.

• Producers of GIRLFIGHT, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

We are looking for part-time Administrative Interns who are dependable and have previous office experience.

Positions are unpaid, but transportation will be reimbursed. Credit is available where applicable. Applicants must be willing to commit a 1-2 afternoons a week beginning asap, for 3-4 months. If you are not able to commit, please do not apply.

Along with you resume, please send a cover letter that mentions your office experience and days available (NO PHONE CALLS) to Attn. INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR via this form.

Note: This is NOT an on-set position; this is an administrative office support position. Please read internship description. Serious applicants only.

No paid positions available at this time. No other solicitations will be accepted at this time. Screenplays and pitches will be deleted.

2009-08-24T04:03:00.003-04:00

Other dreams, Others' opportunities

In case you didn't know, Carolina Film & Video Festvial filmmaker Chris Perkel, "The Town That Was" - CFVF 2006, edited the new Pearl Jam video "The Fixer" - which you will be seeing everwhere shortly in ads for Target. Chris gets no blame for the Target ads.

In the world of Kevin Bacon, tha...t makes the me 2 degrees closer to Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe who directed the video. Because, of course, I don't count that restraining order.

Chris is also editing a documentary on the band with Crowe.

Who knew the eventual benefits of driving this guy around to show his movie and party with college kids? Congrats, Chris.

2008-07-19T17:41:00.005-04:00

Going to UFVA

I wanted to take a minute to update people on what's going on, and where I am. I recently accepted a teaching position at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The week before classes begin I'll be traveling to Colorado for the University Film & Video Association annual conference. I am lucky enough to be screening my work-in-progress cut of THEM THAT WORK.

I am excited to get some feedback on the project as we come toward its end.

Couple other quick notes:
- Editor Max Negin will spending August in China to cover the Olympics. Wish him the best, please.
- Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, who provided one of the songs for the trailer, have a great new album out called Appalachian Trail. You can check them out on MySpace.

Thank you to everyone who has shown their support. I will be reaching out to many of you in the coming months to help raise the final funds needed to finish the film.

j.brown

2008-05-15T23:53:00.004-04:00

End of the beginning....

Last week I was able to screen a portion of THEM THAT WORK. It was a great response which is very encouraging.

I've been talking with a couple great musicians about laying down a great roots score.

After all the work that has been done, it feels like the beginning is finally over, the rest is yet to come.

Thanks for the support.

jb