Lovers in a Dangerous Time - The Movie Journey

Lovers in a Dangerous Time to conquer Justin Bieber

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Lovers in a Dangerous Time from May Charters on Vimeo.

Watch this and embed it and spread it to friends. Start a revolution of spreading cool indie trailers around the web. Let's see if we can beat our fellow Canadian Justin Bieber, haha. Just use the trusty buttons that pop up on the video when you hover over the top right of screen. Click to share and send the video to friends and tell them to send it to their friends and so on. Let's see if we can become the next Bieber fever trend. Let's call it the "Lovers" Fever. OK, it doesn't rhyme but someone come up with something brilliant and write to us about it. Seriously indie films can use all the power from their genius friends they can get. Love to you all, xo.

Swag

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:13:00 +0000

These last few days have been pretty freakin' busy, what with all the planning, getting in touch with people/media and organizing needed to get the Kootenay tour off without a hitch. Things are looking good after a few days of uncertain DOOM. I promise it was an interesting couple of afternoons.

In the meantime, I've managed to change the look of the blog itself, improve it, make it look slightly if not more official, if that's the word. Though, there may be a few more changes needed before it's perfect. Any suggestions? I even learned some HTML! I admire anyone who designs websites and speaks it fluently. Geniuses.

Anyway, May and Mark are designing the t-shirts that will be for sale on the tour, and of course, beyond (on the website, etc.). I won't say anything about what they look like, except that they're awesome and I want one. Or two.

That said, none of it matters if you can't relax a little afterward. Lost is always a welcome break. Then again, trying to comprehend what's going on in that show is definitely a form of work too. So maybe it's not such a good idea? Perhaps something a little less thought-provoking is better, like Castle. Ah yes, Castle.

Make sure to check back soon as I'll be posting some videos from the various festivals that Lovers premiered at in the next day to two.

Until then, take care!

New Dates!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:49:00 +0000

Creston, B.C. : Monday, May 24th, 2010 at the Tivoli. 7.30pm. FREE!

Rossland, B.C. : Sunday, May 30th, 2010 at the Miner's Hall. 7.30pm. $TBD.

Mark those calendar's!!

Moviemakers on the Move

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:51:00 +0000

"Lovers in a Dangerous Time" was included in the Winter 2010 issue of Moviemaker Magazine. Check it out!

The Deets

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:15:00 +0000

Here are the details of our upcoming Kootenay tour:

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 @ 7.30pm, Nelson B.C. (The Capitol)

Thursday, May 27th, 2010 @ 7pm, Fernie, B.C. (The Vogue)

Friday, May 28th, 2010 @ 9pm, Castlegar, B.C. (The Castle)

Rossland, B.C. (Miner's Hall) dates are to be determined.

Creston, B.C. (The Tivoli) dates are to be determined.

We (May and Mark) will be in attendance at all our screenings!

Stay tuned!

Check out any additional information at:

Eventful
Twitter
Facebook

"Lovers" comes home...

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:23:00 +0000

There will be a theatrical tour of the film through the Kootenay's next month! Dates, locations and venues will be posted soon, so keep your calendar's cleared.

Updates, updates, updates!

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Hullo all. This is Jasmin, May's sister. I'm the bearer of new and exciting news! Don't worry, May and Mark will return. I'm just here to keep them sane and organized. I'll be writing every once in a while.

So many awesome things have been happening for them as of late, lots of "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" related things. First off, LDT won Best Feature Film at the Lakedance Film Festival in the lovely town of Sandpoint, Idaho. I'm very excited by all the praise the film has received. Years and years ago in Toronto, May and I had lunch just off Bloor St at some nondescript restaurant. It was at this lunch that she told me about a film she and her new friend Mark were going to shoot, but everything was still in its early not-quite-sure-how -we're-going-to-do-this stage. Indeed, they didn't even have a script, just lots and lots of ideas, most of which can be seen in the film. I remember thinking how excited I was, how admired I was of May (and Mark, but then I barely knew him) for just going for it, regardless of how long, or how much money it would take. So a lot has happened since that lunch. LDT has gone through maybe one hundred billion different name changes, and loads of different edits. For a majority of the filming, I was in school. But I'd get fantastic calls about this shot, or this music cue. I wanted to remain as non-partisan as possible so that when I saw the film on the big screen (as I did in Calgary in September), it was like seeing it for the first time. But I'm pretty sure LDT is one of those films. There's always something new to see, some little nuance you missed before, a line that never quite meant exactly what it means now. Since that lunch, I have been to Creston a few times, and spent much of it on Kootenay Lake where some of the film was shot. The film acts as a kind of photo album for me in a strange but amazing way. I often wonder if it would have that same feeling, that feeling of familiarity and good times, if I had no idea where or what Creston even was. Does anyone care to share?

Anyway, May and Mark attended a distribution and marketing seminar/weekend crash course in Los Angeles over the weekend and met some interesting people, made some good connections. Because in the end, isn't that what it's all about? Their off to Luton, England for Filmstock11 where LDT is making it's European debut on Saturday, November 14th, 2009. So right now, packing is in order for our dynamic duo. Me? I'll be cheering from back home, shopping for Christmas presents and waiting to hear news on the phone. Until then, cheers and check back.

Port Townsend Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Port Townsend was awesome. We could only be there for one day but man was it a fun one. They were brilliant to give us an award for BEST FEATURE. So cool.

Yay PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL 2009!!!

Tallgrass, Wichita Kansas and LOVERS

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:09:00 +0000

It has been awhile yet again. I have had an accident with loosing part of a tooth. Something I thought I would never experience. All thanks to a dentist who botched up a replacement of a mercury filling. Then I had to have a root canal. Absolutely horrible. Needless to say this has kept me away from the computer. We have our Tallgrass Film Festival screening coming up and I am very excited about it. Unfortunately we are now not able to go. We haven't had work in several months besides working hard on the film and low and behold we got a casting job for Abercrombie coming up but it coincides with Tallgrass. I was looking forward to getting to Kansas again. We were there two years ago for a couple of weeks. We even went to the Barbecue festival they have in Kansas City. Gosh the barbecue is delish. We tried a hundred different barbecue sauces. So we are sad we won't be able to meet all the fabulous people who are running the festival nor the people who will be going to our screening. I hope they enjoy the film. Check this out.

http://tallgrass.bside.com/2009/

More Fesival news is coming...

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Yes, I haven't written in awhile. Being on the road makes it hard. Even when we have a moment to relax, resting would take over as the best option :) We are now in Tacoma. A cool mix of industrial ships and grand old brick buildings that are unfortunately empty. The old town is where the Grand Theatre is housed in a row of brick buildings. I love them. Wharehouse style with great wrought iron windows. Anyhow. We had our Gala screening on Thursday. A packed house. Very cool. The festival people are wonderful. Of course the filmmaker gene kicked into gear when the sound levels were WAY too low. Made it a hard screening to watch hoping that everyone could hear it. We weren't able to do a sound check this time as they were very busy preparing for the lovely party they had before the film.

BUT after feeling strange all day yesterday we have let it go. We know people enjoyed it as they stayed to tell us so but.....man it would be nice to be a musician. It's live. You can create it as you go and have the immediate response from the audience. Once a film is viewed that's it. There's no one buying it and watching it over and over like you do with a soundtrack. Perhaps we are in the wrong business?? Haha. Or..no, letting it go. We can make it easy for ourselves. Think positively and move ahead. Going on a tour would be grand. On that note I will bid adieu and say I WILL BE BACK with more to say on our fantastic time at the Port Townsend Film Festival and the Calgary Festival. And the many delish espresso's we've had in Seattle and Vancouver. More festival news is coming......

Port Townsend, Clagary,Tacoma and JBM with Sondre Lerche

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Been much too busy to write. Terrible of me I know. But really this is just to say hi and then bye. Terrible again. Busy drawing t-shirt. Getting the CD and DVD art ready. Really looking forward to Port Townsend, Clagary and Tacoma. And especially JBM's tour with Sondre Lerche that is going very well. Will be going to teh Toronto show. The Vancouver show and the Seattle show. Where they will be coming to the Tacoma screening. If all works out. Write soon. :)

Toronto International Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Going into T.O. to pick up an industry pass for the big and scary TIFF. Hope to meet some good producers and money people. Especially an agent. Just putting that out there, haha. Celebrities...don't really care. Too much of a gong show hoopla, although I suppose it depends on who it is. Mark is in LA getting the conform and transfer done for the latest version where we cut out ten minutes. Seems to be going well. A lot of work though. And I will be braving the celebs:) No pics today sorry.

Opening Night Selection for the Tacoma Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:48:00 +0000

Super exciting!!

Opening Night Selection!

getting ready for calgary

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Getting ready for Calgary. Check it out.

Yay we finished

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Been away visiting JBM our fabulously talented musician/composer for the film. We were having way too much fun out on the lake that I haven't had the chance to write. We are talking of doing a tour with Jesse and the film. We hope it works out for next year and that our combined schedules will be open. Although it is just in the talking stage which is very exciting. I, being very inspired have already been busy designing the t-shirt. Haha. Jesse goes on tour this September opening for Sondre Lerche. Check it out on his tour page http://www.jbm-music.com

On another subject. We officially finished the edit of cutting ten minutes from the film. We had to sit with it a bit and of course more changes were made but we are now fully satisfied. Will be watching the whole film this weekend though to make sure it hasn't ruined the film. Now that it is a bit different I am very nervous again for the next screening we have at the Port Townsend Film Festival on September 25th. I will definitely be standing in the back of the theatre biting my nails hoping the audience enjoys it. Till later x.

filming, filming, filming

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:21:00 +0000

So we filmed me painting for a day. Brought everything in and weren't entirely happy with it. Or at least we are fiddling and re-working etc. But how much of it will get used? Not sure as yet. The clouds are brewing for another storm. Exciting. Well I really must get back to editing so I can enjoy the day outside at some point and not be an gnome in an editing suite all day and night. Later.

Dreaming of a good cappuccino while filming

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Hello. A new day. Still groggy. Haven't had an amazing espresso in ages. Yes I am addicted. I'll admit it again. So, I'm slumming it with a french press. I like french press but it's just not the same. I really miss the crema that forms so lovingly on the top. I'm torturing myself with the last cap I made myself a couple months ago. Yes you can smile at my need to make it into a still life with one of my fav flowers anemone's. Anyhow I digress.

So we were advised to put more drawing into our film. More than we have already. So today Mark will be filming me paint a new drawing. It's exciting. And I hope I don't make a mistake. Thank god for editing. :)

We got an e-mail from the Van Film Fest saying they are passing on our film to other programmers to see if they might think they could squeeze us in. Exciting. That is all I'll say. I'm crossing my fingers. Cheerio.....

Puppetry and Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Hi Ho folks

Been an extremely long time. Mark and I have been very busy. Not being completely computer literate we have been hard at work trying to understand the inner workings of blogging and the seemingly complicated world of the internet. It feels as though everyone else gets it and we, don't. Well YET anyway. I hope. News to give. We were recently accepted to the Calgary International Film Festival, the Tacoma Film Festival and the Port Townsend Film Fest. We just had successful screenings in Tipton, Iowa at, the Hardacre Film Fest and the Washougal Film Fest. All of that is fantastic and we are happy. But then comes the rejection. This is hard of course and takes it toll. We didn't get into the Vancouver Film Fest. Being a BC film this would have been grand. But it is essential we let these things slide off of us and keep on creating.

So we turned to the wonderful world of puppets and our perhaps absurd but really just playful idea of shooting our production story Mark wrote which can be read on our website http://inadangeroustime.com

That is Marks head behind the camera. And in the next is May moving the puppet strings.

We are busy editing this. Neither of us are puppeteers but we have the love of the muppets and felt why not. The video will be coming soon.

We recently had a meeting with the wonderful Peter Broderick http://peterbroderick.com about our film and how to navigate the tricky world of distribution etc. From that meeting we went back to the editing suite to cut ten minutes off of the film. After a week of pulling our own hair out and then each others we reached a cut that we are proud of. Why we couldn't reach this the first time around of editing I don't know. Films do take on a life of their own and we have learned to go with the flow of this.

Next we will be working on transferring it from dv to HD and will hopefully have it done for the upcoming screenings.

Later xo

Dancing the festival sword dance after being in the midnight sun

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Land of the midnight sun. Truly amazing to be in a city where the sun barely sets. I'd like to go back to Sweden when it is almost 90% dark. Not sure if I could handle it but it would be cool to experience it. The Swedes have candles burning everywhere even in the summer and I imagine that this helps to create a warm cozy feeling in the winter simulating that everything glows.......These two photos are two hours apart and it's midnight in the bottom one....mmmmmmm

So Casting for Abercrombie&Fitch.

Scouting the streets in Stockhom in the pouring rain wasn't fun. It made us very stressed out. It's bad enough that finding exactly what is desired by the powers that be at Abercombie is like finding a needle in the haystack. Adding rain was hard. Especially in a city where the weather affects the people in the extremes. We arrived to Stockholm to truly an amazing sunny day. I haven't seen so many people outside frolicking with genuine JOY. When the rain came you could barely see faces everyone was tragically slumping down to the ground. Except me. The LA girl who was extactic that she was actually experiencing a SEASON other than continual manufactured sun. She was wishing she had her wellies to splash in the puddles. But no we had to get working. Pounding the streets. Going to crew championships to find Rowers. Well I won't get into all the gory details. In the end we found some beautiful specimens that I hope shall please so we can at least still have a job. We need it with all the money we are spending submitting to fillm festivals that don't always accept our film. We are prepping for an upcoming festival. I have mixed feelings towards it that are hard to explain without coming across as weary with the whole process. We feel we may end it soon so we can get on with our next project and get the DVD out there that so many are asking for. Soon I will find the time to write here every day. But I'm not sure I can commit to such a level in my relationship with the computer...........TTFN

UP Up and away

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:27:00 +0000

UP . Fantastic simple storytelling. So good. Fun to be in a theatre when you know the audience went for the ride completely. Cheers and clapping in the end. So prepping for Sweden. Never been. Definitely excited. Will be searching the streets to find the perfect kid for A&F. Hopefully he/she are out there. I'm sure they are. Scouting is interesting. A strange balance of not feeling like a stalker because it is your job to find the right face for a fashion campaign. Very odd. Will be filming while I am on the road. TTFN.

PRESS PRESS how to get PRESS??

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:02:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARD WINNING CANADIAN MUMBLECORE FILM
“LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME”

Toronto, CAN – May 28/09

LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME is an award winning Canadian Feature Film from the writing, directing, actor team of May Charters and Mark Hug.

The film makes its Toronto premiere as
part of the 5th Annual ReelHeART
International Film Festival (RHIFF),
June 22-27, 2009.

This romantic „Canadiana‟ tale centersaround two former childhood friends;Todd, a small town could-have-been,and Allison, an overly nostalgicchildren‟s book illustrator, who are
reunited at their ten year high schoolreunion and embark on a childish yetromantic adventure recapturing the lifethey use to live. The result has them spiraling into delinquent behavior in this story about those that are unwilling to let go of their youth and the means they will take to hold on to it.

A dangerous film in more ways than one; the filmmakers embraced their own nostalgia by
returning to co-director Mark Hug‟s home town (Creston, BC). They used mainly non-actors and several scenes were shot with live background events. For example, they shot during an actual ten year high school reunion by placing 8 actors on radio mics into the live event and filming with four cameras and no second takes.

The film features a lush and nostalgic soundtrack including a new version of Bruce Cockburn‟s
classic “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” that is covered by Montreal based JBM (who also scored
8 new tracks specifically for the film).

The film is considered part of the Canadian Mumblecore movement. “We wanted to make a film
about childhood love but rather than base it in childhood, we based it in the awkward stage of
twenty-something adulthood,” says Toronto born co-director May Charters. The touching and
humorous result has earned the film some early festival accolades, including “Best Canadian
Feature Film” at the Okanagan International Film Festival and “The Maverick Award” for best
low budget feature film at The Method Film Festival in Los Angeles.

LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME premieres 7:00PM, Friday June 26th, Theater 222, Innis
College, 2 Sussex Street, U of T Campus, Toronto. (1 Block South of St. George Subway)

Tickets are $10. Advance Tickets are on sale now, at www.reelheart.com

For More Information and Trailer visit http://www.inadangeroustime.com
Press Contact Mark Hug mjhug@mindspring.com 323-363-6916

TORONTO

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Prepping for Toronto. Excited to drink latte's at Mercury and fish n' chips at ol' Reliable. And many Flamenco, Tango and Salsa nights...........of course the screening too.

Lovers at the "ReelhART International Film Festival"

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Hello everyone. We have another screening of our award winning Canadian Feature film. This time in my hometown of Toronto, Ontario. So exciting. We really want to see as many people as can fit in the theatre on Friday June 26th. Come join us and support a Canadian "indie" film that was made entirely by the filmmakers themselves. No government funding. TELL all your friends to spread the "LOVE"

Way too long....

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:55:00 +0000

So sorry folks. Terrible that I haven't been writing. Travelling, being sick and trying to get a film out there is hard consistent work. Once I have the time all I want to do is walk away from the computer and rest. Somehow though writing should be more of a routine. It allows me to vent. However I want to talk more of the positive things so....Since the last time I wrote we had our screening at the Method Fest. It was nerve racking and joyous. We fared well concering the main party was scheduled at the same time as our film. And in the end we won and award. YAY. the Maverick award for best feature under One million dollars. Very cool concidering we made our film under 50,000. We were also nominated for Best Directors and myself for Best Actress. Such a wonderful turn of events for me personally as I had lost my bloody agent over this film. Sweet justice in the end for sure. And a very good experience from the Method Fest. We will always be grateful to them for being the first and only American Festival so far to pick and support of film.

Then to The Okanagan International Film Festival. Fabulous folks one and all working so hard to get the fest going well. And it did. It was very hard to get people interested in coming to see an unknown film. We walked the streets and approached people by handing out postcards and convincing them it was a good thing to see a film on a Saturday. I enjoy meeting new people and feeling their excitement over an independent film. Luckily we got an audience. We were the only film to get as many people as we did in the theatre we were in. More people went to a documentary another night at another theater. But we were competing with the BIG films. The ones picked by the BIG Toronto International Film Fest. An we brilliantly beat them all in numbers and with the best thing yet, an award for "BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM" So cool.....I'll leave you with that for now as I'm off to dance Flamenco.

MUMBLECORE films

noreply@blogger.com (Lovers in a Dangerous Time) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! and Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannach..........everyone:)

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/03/16/090316crci_cinema_denby?currentPage=all

MUMBLECORE. Has anyone heard this term of filmmaking? Ahhh we are the generation caught in a GAP. A gap of indecision perhaps. A generation that is afraid to "talk" Well I feel in my day to day thoughts of living my life and trying to survive as an artist I am of the anti "mumblecore" generation of filmmakers. But that maybe when it comes to making ones first film creating a world that is "familiar" becomes a story where characters are struggling with communication and knowing who they are. And are scared to make the leap. Or even express it in words. We are of the generation where I hear that so many friends parents are discovering that they didn't maybe "do" what they really wanted to do with their lives. And they are angry and upset. This is a scary feeling that we wrote about in our film. The fear of not having done"it" and what that does to a person who is stuck. But the mumblecore generation strives to accomplish their dreams no matter the cost. Not letting budget restrictions of what a film normally costs stop them. They are doing it anyway. Finding any way. Non actors. No payment. All for the single purpose of feeling like they are doing "it" with whatever that path is and bringing a few kindred spirits along for the ride. But I get what this article is talking about. The generation of people that is hesitant to commit to what they feel. We definitely have made a film where the two characters are struggling with the WOLF at the door, Adulthood and what it means to them. Thank god we didn't have them MUMBLE. But definitely hesitate. This article is interesting. Not entirely upsetting. But interesting as long as we don't get "labeled"
or as the economy dwindles that the ability to get stories out there on film will rise and NOT disappear. That the mumbling may become a roar.............