I’ll be posting here soon about these opportunities as they develop. Thanks as always for the support.

If you need to see the film or show it to someone in order to setup a screening or distribution, please contact me via the form or at “specimen [at] notafraid [dot] com” for a password.  Thanks.

This 21+ event celebrates Independent Los Angeles film makers in a monthly short film showcase. it’s $8 at the door for admission and begins at 8PM with food, drinks, socializing, and networking. The short film program begins at 9PM in a fun party like atmosphere celebrating the films and filmmakers.

It’s expected it to sell out so please be sure to arrive early. I look forward to seeing you there.

Where & When :

TONIGHT: 4/4/12 @ 8PM

El Cid (Silverlake)
4212 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles 90029

Map

Shortly after debuting The Specimen online El Cid’s event organizer Michael McCarthy approached me to include the Specimen in the April event, and we couldn’t be happier to make this our local debut.  If you’re in the Los Angeles area please come on out and support The Specimen!

The event costs $8 for admission and begins at 8PM with food, drinks, socializing, and networking.  The short film program begins at 9PM in a fun party like atmosphere celebrating the films and filmmakers.  Unfortunately you can’t buy tickets in advance, and they expect it to sell out so please be sure to arrive early.   I look forward to seeing you there.

Where & When :

4/4/12 @ 8PM

El Cid (Silverlake)
4212 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles 90029

Map

Please RSVP on Facebook

I’m very excited to share the film with the world but to successfully launch I’m going to need your help.  To reach a wide audience and earn a featured spot on Vimeo, Short of the Week, and other film-making sites, I’ll need a lot of views very quickly to push through the noise and get noticed. When the film is released please watch it, click on the “like” and “share” buttons to share it with your friends and encourage them to pass it along it as well by posting it to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Then please watch it again.  Everything helps.

You can even get an early start by liking it on Facebook and sharing the Trailer, Teaser, and behind the scenes videos with your friends now.

I appreciate all the help and support.  While this film may sound like just an excuse to make people laugh with bathroom humor, it’s much more personal than that as I wrote about in my last post, ‘Why did I make The Specimen.”

Thanks for following along on my journey.

Yes it did.  My wife and I had struggled to get pregnant trying everything from diets and acupuncture to the absurd and beyond.  My wife, Dara, even drank a disgusting tea for 6 months that looked and smelled like swamp water, affectionately know as “dirt tea” in our household.  During that time we had every test imaginable including the testing of my swimmers.

At the time we searched for testing lab locations in the area that our insurance would cover and found only a few, none of which were nearby our home in the Valley.  So I said, “There’s a place here in Beverly Hills. That should be nice.  I’ll go there.”  I went in the morning by myself, as our schedules were pretty hectic.   I was ready to be pampered in a cozy private room with– lets call them, “visual aids” when I was given a brown paper bag with a sterilized cup and a key.  I stared blankly at the nurse who then gave me the following instructions:

You’re going to go back outside and take a left.  Walk to the second building on the left.  At the back of the lobby is an elevator.  Take it to the second floor.  When you get off the elevator go left again to the end of the hall.  There’s a restroom there you can use with that key.  When you’re finished bring it straight back here.”

It’s moments like these in life where Jimmy Buffett’s lyric “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane,” ring true.  As I went to this restroom and was interrupted for the first time, I knew that this had to be in a movie someday.  Not simply for its inherent comic value, but for the catharsis that can be achieved for those who’ve gone to this bathroom before me (because I can’t have been the first), and all those who have yet to arrive (because I’m sure I’m not the last).

My wife and I were not able to conceive a child, but we’ll be damned if we’ll let these experiences just pass us by with no greater meaning.  This film is our way of turning lemons into lemonade.   I sincerely hope you get a good laugh at our pain.

Sincerely,

Paul Cuoco

One might not think a film that takes place in a Public Men’s Room would take as long as it did.  Peter himself said the session looked “deceivingly simple.”  Between battling the bathroom reverb, laying in the sound effects and finding the right balance with the music it was a challenging, but fun experience.

While musically, this film doesn’t sound anything like his album Embrace The Darkness, Pete’s comic sensibilities (and inner Twelve-year-old boy in some cases) are clearly evident.

With the mix behind us, I’m putting one more finishing touch on color and double checking the film for any visual issues I may have missed.  I’m also working hard on scheduling the cast and crew screening, and prepping for the World Premiere of the film which WILL happen later this month.

For all of you who have followed along on this process, thanks for your patience.  I hope this film lives up to your expectations.

My friend and behind the scenes producer Tony Teofilo breaks it down in this revealing interview with make-up artist Branwyne Smith.

Enjoy, and don’t forget your pineapple juice.

Click here to view the embedded video.