eleventhhourfilms

DROPOUT

I was supposed to have a shoot today, but one of the actors emailed this morning to say he was dropping out of the shoot for personal reasons.

This has happened maybe half a dozen times in the 100 or so films I've made, but it's always troubling for a shoot. There were two other actors I had to call early to tell them to stay home. One was on her way (she'll be compensated).

This is just a normal part of shooting. Low budget, big budget, doesn't matter. It happens. So, you take a ...

The Keek

One of the actors description of 'The Keek' when he auditioned for the film.

Yeah, ok, I can see what he means.

The Keek

This will be a good old fashioned horror movie in the classic style, kinda like 'The Dark Coat', for those of you who saw that. I'll see if I can get a trailer out next week.

This Week

Earlier this week I spent a day shooting with this bad ass! In case you wonder how actresses get to my set...

Proof of Concept

In film, that's where a director shoots a portion of a proposed movie to demonstrate their ability and style in shooting a film.

Well, on my films I'm always guaranteed the role of director! However, those who've been long time supporters know I always shoot my films entirely, days before the actors arrive, to make sure everything will work out.

I don't have long shooting schedules, almost never do reshoots, and so I have one opportunity to get it right. I make sure I know how the...

Coming Up...

Here are the next projects I'll be working on.

Casting is something I do pretty much every week of the year. I tend to always have at least one or two casting notices out on up to 3 different sites. Sometimes, day one of posting a notice I get the right actor - as with 'POV', 'Above', and most recently, 'The Driver'.  Sometimes it takes weeks - the longest I can remember was the recent film 'Cassandra' which took 3 months to cast, and had 2 false starts.

So we'll see how thes...

Pronouns

This is something I'm working on - an end-of-the-world horror film that's going to be a little novel in the way I'm filming it.

I'm not going to say anything more for now. Just that it's an experiment, and experiments can go either way.

Hopefully this experiment proves to be interesting. I'm always trying to keep it fresh by pushing myself!

Return?

Though you haven't seen June's movie-of-the-month lead yet, I'm already impressed enough with her to want to work with her again. I'm trying to see if I can get her as the lead in an upcoming film tentatively titled "No One Lives There".

Unfortunately her June seems booked. So we're seeing if we can set a date some time down the line. I'll let you know how negotiations resolve.

Editing

I spent Friday through Sunday editing and I'm about 2/3rds the way through with 'The Sight'. I know I say this with each film, but I really think this film is good. Good story, perfect casting with Erica, and a haunting feel - what you want from a horror short film.

When you do a short film your priorities have to be different. You have to quickly set, and then maintain a feel throughout. Tonal changes are for longer pieces, generally speaking. It's how well a short flows, and how you b...

First Look!

Here's a still from 'The Sight' which shot this week past. A nice bit of work from Erica. She plays 'Grace', a woman who lives alone, prays fervently every night, and waits for her calling. And one day, she finds it...

This will be a July or August movie-of-the-month.

Innocent

She looks so innocent, you may not notice the knife in her hand. What she's up to in this film is far from nice.

This Week

So, this is what I've been doing this week. This film should have a July release. I'll release a few 'first look' photos in the next day or so.

In the meanwhile, I'm going to go have a drink!

Self Tape Entries

I'm getting self tapes in for an upcoming shoot, 'The Sight'. This is a crucial part of pre-production - seeing how well an actor understands a character.

This has been a rather slow time in casting for me - sometimes I'm inundated with actors and other times, like now, it's a bit of a desert. Partially the rather crummy weather we've had in the city has been a factor. Also growing Covid numbers have led to actors insuring that the shoot will be a safe one (I always let actors know I'll...

Prop

A new prop just arrived for an upcoming shoot..

More on this...later.

Hmmmmm...

I'm casting a new short (aren't I always), and I received a submission from this actress, whom I worked with before.

So again, hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

'The Driver'

June's movie of the month. Too soon?

As is typical in filmmaking, movies are shot out of order. This is based on issues of convenience - stories dependent on time of day, hair/makeup changes for an actor, or actor availability. With 'The Driver', the shooting schedule was set up last scene first, backwards to the first scene. A natural progression of emotions is easier to work through for an actor.

Elizabeth did an excellent job handling things. I think you'll really like this fil...

Rewards!

Rewards have gone out! If there's a password that doesn't work, just message me and take a peek. I think everyone received rewards, but if I missed someone, or Patreon makes a late charge, then get back to me and I'll take a look.

Enjoy, and the still above is from the upcoming 'The Wrong Man'. More on that...later. For now, enjoy the films!

Again

Reaching out to this actress again, for an upcoming work. She's always wonderful to work with.

(By the way, one of my favorite nude shots, and one of the best natural posers I've worked with.)

'The Whipping Boy'

The weather's been pretty crappy lately in the city, but it's perfect for the mood of 'The Whipping Boy', another film I'm working on. This is in the vein of movies like 'Run' and 'Among Strangers' where it's a quick set-up and a good twist at the end.

The Upstairs

I just finished writing 'The Upstairs', and...boy, I like this one! You won't see it for months - hell, I haven't even started casting. But this is a simple, quick film that has me smiling.

Sexy

Some people just know how to be sexy - how to move sexy, how to set a sexy tone. Cassandra's one of those people. I gave her direction for this scene in the upcoming May movie-of-the-month 'Solomon's Knot', and she made what is ultimately a simple movement into a sexy gesture.

I'm already thinking down the line if there's another project I can put her in.

The Wrong Man

More on this fun shoot coming up.

Prop

Sometimes props are commonplace things, but they're useful to set a certain reality for a character. Even if it only plays a small part in a scene, it grounds the character to that scene, and gives the actor something to hold, touch, relax into a scene.

I always compose a props list before I shoot, and the day before I go through it, making sure I've added everything to the set.

It's the little things that make a character seem perfectly at home, and tethered to the events occurri...

Together Again

The ever-lovely Alex and I are discussing uniting for another short film. I always like working with her. It's always a fun shoot, and we seem to bring the best out in one another.

Testimony

Whenever I finish a film I always let the actors see it. And my lead to 'The Driver' finally watched the finished film today, and you can read what her testimony was.

Always gratifying when the actors like the film. I don't think I've ever had an actor say they were disappointed. And yes, I'd love to work with this actress again. And again. She was terrific.

You'll see her in June!

Exteriors

It was a cold day this week past when myself and this lovely actress shot outside. We were racing her scenes because the weather prediction was for rain and snow. We won.

CHARGES!

Alllllright, Patreon is doing its thing and putting through charges. For those of you new, because I have patrons from all over the globe it will take until this evening at the earliest, and tomorrow at the latest. I get positive proof of charges going through once they've put all the charges through, and at that point I'll send out rewards via your email.

So, lay back and relax. Everybody gets a new season this month!

(By the way, the shot is from an upcoming film. More on that, ...

Thriller

One more day of shooting on my political thriller, 'Solomon's Knot'.

That's coming the month after the release of season 12, which premieres this weekend! (Make sure you're at the support level to enjoy this new season fully!)

Signed!

So this young lady has agreed to play the lead in 'The Driver'. Now all that's left is for us to set a shoot date.

'The Driver' is a tight little film about revenge and justice. This will probably be a June or July release.

Editing

It was a very fruitful weekend of editing. I'm almost finished with this film, which will be out...soon. After the release of season 12.

Currently it's my new favorite film. But that's what I think of all my works as they progress.