What Happens Now

I was sitting at my day job thinking today that it feels like ages since we screened the movie for the cast & crew, then I realized it was only a little over two weeks ago. That pretty much blew my mind.

I have been really impatient lately to get END seen, to hear back from festivals and to continue moving forward. It feels like I’ve stalled, but this morning made me realize we haven’t. It may feel like END has been done forever for me, but in reality it’s been less than two months since Bill, Telly & I finished post-production together.

I think more than anything what I am feeling right now is what any independent filmmaker feels when they get their movie done – a strange mix of satisfaction, pride and frustration. I’m so glad that I finished the film, but want others to see it so badly, and yet want to move on to another project but know I can’t as I still have to push everything I have into getting the film out there. There is a reason that you always read the interviews and hear the speeches by independent directors and producers who talk about spending two or three years on one movie. Even though they finish it relatively quickly there is a huge and overwhelming process you have to go through after the final celebration because you and not a studio marketing or exhibition branch are the only force pushing the film onto the public. It’s like trying to roll a boulder uphill on your own.

I have no doubt that this will be a rewarding process, and one that will help us all a great deal in our dreams, ambitions and careers, but that still means that there are miles to go before I sleep.

WE SCREENED IT!!!

Last night was one of the most nerve wracking, yet exhilarating experiences of my life. For those of you that aren’t aware last night Megan and I held the first ever, world premiere screening of END for cast and crew, family and friends. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck throughout the whole movie, so much so that I couldn’t sit down in a chair. I had to stand at the back of the theatre and pace back and forth so I didn’t lose my mind. I’m very happy to report that I apparently had nothing to fear.

This was easily the biggest audience that has ever seen anything we’ve done. Several years ago Megan and I made a trio of short films and when we screened those we did it in someone’s living room (Funny enough the same living room where we shot END, now that I think about it, how surreal is that?). This time around we did it in a theatre at Cal State Fullerton with an audience of close to 100. Obviously this made the situation even more stressful because if people didn’t like it there would be a whole bunch of them shifting uncomfortably in their seats and checking their watches.

I’m more than happy to report that people really seemed to like the movie. Now I know what you’re thinking, they’re your friends and family of course they said they like it. That’s what I would have thought too if I hadn’t been there. People gasped and laughed when they were supposed to and they had the EXACT reaction to the end of the movie that we had hoped for. Plus afterwards people kept coming up to me and telling me how this thing affected them or how they understood what it was really all about once it was all over. People’s reactions to things can’t be made up, at least not the kind that were given to us. People were mentioning things that Megan and I have been praying people would understand when they watched the movie and it looks like at least this group of people did. I’d really like to think that people left the theatre thinking last night and that’s the exact point of the movie.

Simply put last night was one of the single greatest nights of my life. After all these years of talking the talk people were able to see that Megan and I can walk the walk. Even 24 hours later I’m still beaming with pride that people not only got to see our little “zombie movie with no zombies” but that they also seemed to like it. It is a memory that I will never forget one that I will cherish forever. I can only hope Megan and I get to relive it in the months ahead as we start getting accepted into film festivals.

Prep for Tomorrow

My sketches always look like cartoons. This is for a donation box for the cast/crew/friends screening tomorrow. We're poor and are hoping people might want to help us get submitted to festivals...

Fast Fact

Originally uploaded by Sameli

"It is worth pointing out that zombies produced through magical or simple chemical means are slow moving, and often smell from decay. Although it should be noted that the apparent slow movement is sufficient speed to keep the zombie no more than a few yards away from even a running Olympic caliber athlete."

Pop Culture Maddness

MC

The cast & crew screening of the film is rapidly approaching and thankfully my younger brother Jonathon has agreed to MC the night. It's also thanks to him that we have such a cool little space. While I have the typical nervous fluster about everyone seeing the movie I am also really excited to have everyone (or at least a lot of us) together again. It's been nearly a year since I've seen some of the cast & crew and I am sure it will be a good time!