eleventhhourfilms

Bad Sound

I just sent out a link to everyone for one of my how-to videos on filmmaking. This one highlights the importance of good sound.

Dana

Come January I'm going to send out an inquiry to this actress to see if she'd like to return for a film. As with the rest of the world, Covid worries are up in Chicago. I had the one actress this month who had to bow out of a shoot because she contracted the virus. And I had one person express fear of working in close quarters with multiple actors. So it'll be a wait and see game come January.

But I'd really like to work with Dana again. We were friends before we worked together, and I'...

Holiday

If it's your holiday, have a good Christmas. If not, enjoy the day nonetheless.

Year End

I spent the morning shooting some more "How to" filmmaking videos. These are short ones that focus on: costuming, set dec, lighting, casting. I'll air at least one more before years end.

I'll also probably look back on some of the actors I worked with, and look ahead at what's coming. In January when everyone's back from their Christmas breaks - and assuming Covid isn't a bigger problem - I'll resume shooting my shorts.

Covid is a definite fear. I was going to shoot one more film ...

Nightmares

A missing file is when Final Cut simply loses the image integrity and you no longer can see the image. You an relink it if you have the original footage. Every filmmaker's nightmare. Well, this just happened to about 100 of my files!

They were exterior shots, including some real cool fall shots and a bizarre weather formation that I was lucky enough to shoot. But you won't be seeing it.

It can be fun being an indie filmmaker. It also has its nightmares. I guess I'm lucky there wer...

Fandom

Looking ahead I'm thinking of casting this actress in another of my shorts. Amongst my supporters I have a couple of people who are huge fans of hers. Can't say I blame them.

By the way, this is another reason why BTS is something you need to always get.

New Light

A late night Amazon delivery gave me a new LED bi-color light I ordered! You'll see it in use in my upcoming projects.

Happy Thanksgiving!

If it's your holiday, please enjoy the day. If not, enjoy it anyway.

Movie-of-the-Month!

The movie of the month for December will be "Self Tape". I'll take a pause for January, and resume movies of the month in February.

"Self Tape" tells the story of an actress who, after recording a self tape for an audition accidentally leaves the camera on all night. The next morning she discovers on the tape the image of a woman sneaking into her home, giving her a warning about her boyfriend.

You can see "Self Tape" at the $10 level. $25 for BTS and above.

Problem Solved!

And just like that, my Vimeo problem is solved. Videos are being posted again!

Postings

I'm having a little vimeo problems, which is preventing me for the time being from posting new videos. They are looking into it.

More Props

I've got even more boxes of props, including this fish-mash which includes props from "Next Time You'll Know Me", "The Breach" and "The Other Side Of The Window" to name a few.

Memories

Anyone remember what film this was from?

I was cleaning up some props, and apparently I never throw anything away.

Reviews

The actors have been shown "Self Tape" and so far they all seem to love it.

So now I'm organizing in preparation to move on to another film. More on this later (a fancy way of saying I'm struggling between two films!)

Final Edit

Just did the final edit on "Self Tape" and I'm sending it off for the actors to view.

Screener

Normally I let the actors see the completed film before anyone else. However this time around I was racing to upload the film for November 1st and didn't put a screener up for the actors! So they finally got to see it, and they all loved it. Jordyn, my lead, absolutely was knocked out by it.

Always nice when the actors enjoy their work.

Happy Halloween - And This is Your Last Day...

This is your last day to make changes to your level of support. I don't have movies-of-the-month every month (seems like I do) but there will be one for November, "American Martyr". The film comes in at the $10 level (BTS at $25).

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the day, watching some of my favorite horror films - "Halloween", "The Night Stalker", "Frailty", "Alien", and maybe a couple of others. Oh, and of course, some of my films!

Self Tape

"Self Tape" is chugging along across my editing screen. I sent out the teaser for the actor's approval yesterday and they all seem to love it (though I misspelled an actor's name). You should see the trailer for this film early in November. Roughly around the time I'll be shooting another short - but more on that in November...

November Movie of the Month!

Well, I've finally decided on a film for November. And it will be my latest film, "American Martyr".  Why I picked it has more to do with the fact that I tend to fall in love most with whatever I'm working on at the moment. This was my most recent film, so it's the first of the new batch that you'll see.

So enjoy. This film comes in at the $10 level (BTS at the $25 and up level). And maybe early November I'll have a trailer for another new project. And I promise I'll make up my min...

Clarity

I should have some idea on what film will be the new movie of the week either tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. Ironically I'm working on so many films at the moment I don't have time to really give it some thought!

(Working Title)

On Sunday I shot with this Korean-born actress for the first time - and she was terrific. The film still doesn't have a title, or more accurately has about 3 titles which I need to choose between. It was the final day of shooting on that film.

The film also stars a man who's becoming a regular in my films, Cooper, whom you can see in ASMR, Z.313 and at least one other film.

Release date on this...unknown.

Yesterday

This happened yesterday. The shoot for "Self Tape" concluded, and Greta, the new actress, was terrific.

You'll see it somewhere down the line...

NEXT MONTH

You might have noticed I haven't definitively stated what film will be next month's movie of the month. There WILL be a movie of the month, I just haven't decided which one it will be. As you can see, I've got several finished and in production movies to choose from. It'll be a tough decision, but I'll let you know as soon as I know.

(There may not be a new movie of the month in January as I prepare for season 12 which should premiere in February. I think...)

What Is This?

In addition to my films and some occasional theatre work, I do audio description for the visually impaired. Audio description is exactly as it sounds - I'm hired to go to events, and just like a sign language specialist works for the deaf, I work with the visually impaired by describing the events happening beyond just an orator's speech.

Each person who needs it gets a receiver from me, and I'll stand off to the side at an event and describe presentations. It's good work, pays nicely.<...

Correspondence

I'm working on a new script which, like "The Darkest Part of the City" has as its primary focus, a viaduct. Chicago is rife with them, a holdover from when we were "hog butcher to the world". This new one has an entirely different plot than "The Darkest Part of the City", but should be just as creepy with its environ.

And I even think I have an actress perfect for the lead. Someone new.

Self Tape

Roberto will be returning (making this his third film with me) for the upcoming "Self Tape" film. He's a fun guy, really nice and easy going. One of my favorite new actors to work with. So "Self Tape" should really be a terrific project.

Autumn

A little early morning shooting today with Autumn, possibly one of the loveliest women I've ever worked with. She's in a supporting role on "Self Tape" which is still under construction.

Shooting

A good early morning shoot. I'll see if I can post a photo later.

Greta

So this young lady, Greta, has accepted the lead as Juliette in my upcoming film "Self Tape". She'll be costarring with an alum of my films, Roberto Francesco.

Interesting little film. As shooting continues, I'll let you know more.

More to think about

And another consideration...this actress is auditioning for a supporting role in this film I've been casting for, "Self Tape". I'm pretty sure I'll offer it to her.

I've made an offer to one of the 3 women I profiled before for the lead part. I'll let you know who, if she accepts.