1001 Positively True Stories of An Indie Filmmaker

Angelo Bell's Painfully Exhilarating Adventures in Independent Filmmaking

Today Was A Good Day

March 12th, 2010 by Angelo

Despite being stood up by my doctor this morning I had a great day. I had an awesome conference call with Linzie McG who will be launching her web series Global Operation (http://www.globaloperationtv.us) very soon. GO is about human trafficking and promises to be an exciting cop show.

Prior to the conf call I had a a run in with a flirty teenage girl at the drive-thru. I guess I shouldn’t have been wearing my Old Spice scented body wash.

Then I had a long lunch with my dearest friend, Mary C. She was down from the Bay Area with her charming daughter Samantha who was preparing for an audition at a performing arts school.

There’s Something About Mary. There’s something about Mary that makes me feel ten times better after we speak. Perhaps it’s the fact that she’s one of the few people who actually lets me vent and rant about things that are going on professional and personally. Tend to keep things bottled up. But  Mary will see it and ask a particular question and it call comes gushing out like an out-of-control waterfall, lol.

We chatted about Resurrection of Serious Rogers, Broken Hearts Club, and what my plans are for these films. Then I got a chance to read some of Samantha’s writing and see her photography.

Writing BHC and RSR wasn’t my first rodeos (to quote George W. Bush). I’ve been writing for more than two decades. Writing is my first love. Thus, when I see someone with a natural gift for writing I am full of awe. Samantha has a gift.

Later, I found out that a friend of mine wants to make a short film. I’m all in.

For Your Consideration…

March 12th, 2010 by Angelo

here’s a taste of the sales reps who’ve contacted me

To whom in may concern;

The reason for my inquiry is that we would like to view your production of ” The Broken hearts Club ” for possible possible DVD distribution in North America Our company, (www.iconmusic.ca) which to date has been a record company, also distributes DVD’s and sells broadcast rights to films and TV Series and Documentary’s in Canada, and has signed an exclusive North American distribution deal with Koch Entertainment for DVD films (DVD retail market). We have currently released 10 films in North America since this past December.

In case you are not familiar with Koch Entertainment (Koch Vision) they are part of the Entertainment One group of companies, which own RCV Entertainment, an independent European film distributor and owner of 1,900 movie titles. RCV released 37 new theatrical features in 2007, including “Premonition,” “Miss Potter,” “Resident Evil: Extinction,” “Run Fat Boy Run,” “Hairspray” and “The Golden Compass.” RCV’s all-rights library of more than 1,900 independent features, include “What Women Want,” “Sin City,” “Perfume,” “La Vie en Rose,” “The Notebook” and “Blade.”

Its films for 2008 included “Bangkok Dangerous” with Nicolas Cage; “The Eye,” starring Jessica Alba; “Sleuth,” starring Michael Caine and Jude Law; and director Paul Haggis’s “In the Valley of Elah,” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron

Other Companies in the Koch family include; Contender in the U.K. and Seville in Canada, and it has a multi-territory distribution agreement with Summit Entertainment.

I also own Canada’s largest independent Radio Syndication Network (www.dasilvagroup.com) which allows us substantial radio advertising opportunities in Canada.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Rui Da Silva
President, Da Silva Group of Companies/Icon Music Group

2nd Floor
10510 – 107 Ave.N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5H 0W2

Direct Line (780) 702-0614
Fax (780) 665-8116

Excited About My New Film Project

March 11th, 2010 by Angelo

Legend of Black Lotus is my new small-scale project. It’s small because it’s only a trailer. But it’s HUGE because making the trailer is the first step of the biggest endeavor I’ve ever attempted. The  trailer will be used as part of an investment package for potential investors. The amount of money I need to raise is 10x more than the combined total of all the films I’ve ever made or worked on. Then again, this script is the biggest and best script I’ve ever written. Even better than Broken Hearts Club, which received a glowing review for the screenplay.

Actors have begun submitting to my call for submissions on NowCasting. More details on that here. I’ve contacted a production designer, art director and costumer to see if they’re interested in collaborating. I haven’t chosen a DP yet because I’m not sure what the final visual style will be for the trailer.

The LEGEND OF BLACK LOTUS trailer needs to depict one very important aspect of the film: there will be NO computer graphics. All effects will be handled with practicals.

The first sixty seconds of the first “Avatar: The Last Airbender” trailer gives you a hint of what I’m going for visually, though I will have more dialog and less narration.

That’s pretty much all I can give away now about LEGEND OB BLACK LOTUS. If I said any more I’d have to kill you, and I don’t want to do that :)

Resurrection of Serious Rogers, my new neo noir action thriller web series is still in post. My editor, Jim Rhodimer (also the DP) is working hard on it. Having an editor has freed me to pursue other endeavors, so I’m very thankful for Jim’s hard work. Check out a sneak peek of RSR below…

SNEAK PEEK – Resurrection of Serious Rogers from Angelo Bell on Vimeo.

http://SeriousRogers.blogspot.com — this is a 15-minute behind-the-scenes video offering a sneak peek of the upcoming neo-noir action thriller web series , “Resurrection of Serious Rogers” created by Angelo Bell. If you like what you see, go to http://www.indiegogo.com/woman-on-fire and donate towards the production’s marketing and promotion cost.

Barry Jenkins Interview on NoFilmSchool

March 11th, 2010 by Angelo

A Barry Jenkins Film

A truly informative interview with Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy) on NoFilmSchool.com.

http://nofilmschool.com/2010/03/questions-with-barry-jenkins/

Screenjabber Review of “Broken Hearts Club”

March 10th, 2010 by Angelo

Made independently on a shoestring budget and adapted from the writer-director’s own short film from 2006, Broken Hearts Club is Angelo Bell’s indie masterpiece.

A heart-warming drama with splashes of comedy, Broken Hearts Club is an absolute triumph in independent film-making.

It is one of the best independent films I have ever seen.

Read more…


Staying Busy

March 7th, 2010 by Angelo

I’m staying busy. Very busy. There’s a lot going on in my personal life and professional life, and staying even more busy is the way I focus. I know…it sounds  weird.

First up: I’m looking for two African American actresses to help me shoot a spec trailer for a project  called, “Legend of Black Lotus.” It’s a BIG project: and epic martial arts fantasy. The biggest I’ve ever attempted. See the details here: http://www.AngeloBell.com/black-lotus/

I’ve decided to diversity and delegate. I’m now looking for guest directors for my upcoming web series, “Broken Hearts Club: On the Couch.” Interested parties in the LA area should hit me up. Since I’m doing On the Couch I’ve decided to push back Shadowkeeper for a while.

Speaking of “Broken Hearts Club” — I’m streaming the first episode of the series on the official website. Watch the 22-minute episode here: http://www.brokenheartsclubfilm.com/watch-first-episode/

Resurrection of Serious Rogers” is going strong in post. Watch a 15-minute sneak peek here. Leave a comment and you might get an even bigger sneak peak… Watch the sneak peek here: http://www.angelobell.com/sneak-peek/

So subscribe to my blog if you haven’t already. I’ll keep you up to date with all the glorious madness ;-)

Back to the Big Apple (NYC), Sorta

March 6th, 2010 by Angelo

I’m very excited to be working with Mr. Miles Maker and the Directing Actor’s Gym in New York City at the National Comedy Theater in midtown Manhattan on March 21st.  New York is my hometown, but I’ve never shot a film there nor worked with NY actors. Hopefully someday soon.

The workshop is broadcast live, so at least I can see my work performed by the talented folks in NYC.  In fact, if you tune in to DirectingActors.tv you might hear me call in live from LA. The scene, “Verbal Tea” is a scene from my sci-fi script, Renascence Odyssey.

If you’re in NYC , register, attend and watch.

Directing Actors TV

Featuring New York’s talented and emerging Actors and Writers for stage and screen, Directing Actors TV is an episodic scene series at the National Comedy Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. Each event is videotaped in front of a live audience of casting Agents, Producers, Directors, Writers and Actors–then broadcast on Directing Actors TV (http://www.directingactors.tv), Directing Act…

Directing Actors Gym — Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 2:00PM

The Directing Actors Gym features New York’s talented and emerging Actors and Writers for stage and screen in a scene performance workshop every third week at the National Comedy Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. Each event is broadcast LIVE on the Internet and to mobile devices at http://www.livestream.com/directingactors

Performing Actors select a role of from one of three scripts–then perform with random scene partners for a live audience of industry peers. Audience members are welcome to attend this event to support local talent, network with like-minds and join the burgeoning independent community of Artists in New York City.

$10.00 for ALL!

*** PERFORMING ACTOR SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL MONDAY, MARCH 8th, 2010 ***
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES (MUST follow!):

1) Choose your SCRIPT:

MARCH 21st SCENES:

“Verbal Tea” Written by Angelo Bell
Available on Meetup Files

“Character Driven” Written by Seth Ruffer (revised by Miles Maker)
Available on Meetup Files

“War Games” Written by DL Sams
Available on Meetup Files

2) Attach your best headshot to your e-mail and indicate the sce…

Price: $10.00

See the full event details, including location, at http://www.meetup.com/DirectingActors/calendar/12797063/.

Check out what members are saying about Directing Actors TV:

“wonderful learning experience.” – shaun

“A great place to perform the craft they love and get great feedback!” – Keesha Nieda Ford

“It’s a chance to interact with People of all different levels of experience in every part of the industry, including casting, writers, actors, & more.” – MarcosLuis

“Great networking, feedback and direction” – Tiffany C. Williams

“So many reasons…you get to improve in your craft, you get to meet and work with other actors, and some of the industry exposure.” – Nancy Vazquez

Back To Business: Social “Marketing”

March 4th, 2010 by Angelo

Time to get back to business. No more talk about stalkers and such. My Twitter friend Sheri Candler posted this link to BizNik about the challenges of Social Networking for business. I found it quite informative.

Why No Business Should Be Involved With Social Networking

Take a look at these four scenarios.

  1. A teenaged boy is sharing strategy secrets on a Playstation 3 Facebook group.
  2. A father is posting photos of his family’s day at the beach to Flickr.
  3. A mother is uploading a video of her daughter’s  recital to You Tube.
  4. An HR consultant is twittering about recent changes in employment law.

Which one of these people stands out as being unique from the others in the way they are using social networking?

[Read more...]

Found My Stalker

March 3rd, 2010 by Angelo

With some insightful help from some very good friends who’ve got my back I found out who my stalker was. In almost exactly 24 hours since this person first attempted to post some nasty vitriol on my blog, I now know who he is and why he did it.

It’s not a woman. Not an African American. Not someone who has the ability to buy ads in Ebony or Essence magazine.

It’s an actor, someone I once wanted to work with, but whose professionalism worried me. Then he exhibited behavior that forced me to no longer consider him. I moved on. I guess he never got over it even though this was over 2 1/2 years ago.

Even if I don’t consider the fact that I took this guy to lunch (and paid) and loaned him money, the deed is dastardly. Let’s call it what it is: it’s fucked up.

But now that I know who and what I’m looking for, there’s peace in the Bell spirit once again.

A Good Day In Hollywood And Beyond

March 3rd, 2010 by Angelo

Two good things happened today on the heels of a stupid occurrence of someone trying to stalk me and besmirch my good name ;-)

I was asked by a friend to submit a scene to a Directing Actors group. In the processof trying to decide what script to make I became reacquainted with my sci-fi script, Renascence Odyssey. I’d completely forgotten about the script –stoopid me! I grabbed a scene, the first time the main characters meet  — did a quick edit because the performing actors in the workshop wouldn’t be privy to the back story, and emailed it. I was concerned because it’s sci-fi and I wasn’t sure if the scene was what he needed. And as a writer, I’m never 100% satisfied with my work.

Thirty minutes later my friend called me. My heart raced. Shit, he hated it, I thought. To the contrary, he thought it was perfect. Most of the actors in the group are African American and don’t often get to practice/perform sci-fi scenes. There’s a surrealism in sci-fi that is similar to and different from contemporary drama.

Whew. I was happy. Even better: I’ll get to see the actors perform my scene during a live UStream. Nice.

Checked my email again and one of the performers from Resurrection of Serious Rogers sent me a note. She was excited about the sneak peek of this web series and had mentioned it to her acting class. The instructor then asked her to invite me in to discuss my casting methods, what I look for, and how I work and network with people in the industry. Nice.

Last time I spoke in front of a group it was the Long Beach College’s newly formed film society. The attendees were all folks who wanted to make a film, but hadn’t yet. The film class will be a group of working actors. Should be fun

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