Want a sneak peek at behind the scenes footage from the neo-noir action thriller, “Resurrection of Serious Rogers?”
Just register for this blog and post a comment below. You’ll receive an email with the location to a password protected URL. Without your correct email address the email won’t reach you.
Check out these YouTube Clips
*note– only valid email addresses will work. You’ll be given access to private footage on YouTube on Monday March 1st. Notification by email and this blog only.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged. I’ve been busy with my neo-noir action thriller series “Resurrection of Serious Rogers,” fighting the telephone company (Verizon Sucks), and working out a funding deal for a potential TV distro opportunity for the series. Oh, and I’ve been nursing a fractured wrist.
I’ve managed to maintain some momentum although lack of Internet access has left me feeling temporarily crippled — moreso than the broken wrist. The free time (limited access to social media) had given me time to think. I realized I’ve missed a few opportunities that I should hasve taken advantage of sooner. But all is not lost.
I’ve switched from Verizon and DirecTV to a bundled trifecta service from Charter: internet, phone and television. It should be installed tomorrow. Once it’s done my film “Broken Hearts Club” will be available as a digital download directly from this website and on the film’s official website, http://www.brokenheartsclubfilm.com
I have a few upcoming blog posts on the emotional roller coaster ride that is filmmaking. In this short time of being back in the game (see Don’t Call It A Comeback) I’ve experienced so much. When all is said and done, people either got your back or they don’t. They either see some value in what you bring to the table, or they don’t. If they don’t, move on. If they do, cherish and respect their support.
Making Resurrection of Serious Rogers has reaffirmed my belief that LA is full of great talent. This town is full of amazing actors, composers and potential crew who are eager to work with you. Similarly the town is full of folks who don’t want to work with you as much as they want to work for you — and get a paycheck. My suggestion is to weed them out, take your time and find an eager team. It’s worth it, even if you must find a team on project-by-project basis.
We are jamming on the set of “Resurrection of Serious Rogers” We shot over 30 pages in 3 days. But what’s important is that the footage looks good and the performances were strong. We didn’t rush. We simply moved hastily
Yesterday we finally had Mercedes and Cooper on set at the same time. The chemistry I saw during the auditions was there. Both actresses posses incredibly natural talent. I think I maybe working with future superstars.
Hump Day: Day Mickey-Frickey 6 – Today we are over the halfway mark in shooting the Resurrection of Serious Rogers. Mercedes and Jamie were on set again today to shoot more of what I call, the interrogation scene. Do you remember Verbal Kent, from The Usual Suspects? ‘Nuff said.
I’m not 100% sure but I think we’ve caught up to the original scheduling plan, even though we had a very short day on Sunday. Jim has been jamming on the lighting setups, Kevin and I lend a hand, and the actors do the damn thing. I try to rehearse the actors before every scene for lighting, blocking (camera movement) and to fine tune reactions and emotions. But it would never work if they weren’t 99% off book. They are. And there’s a tremendous amount of fricking dialog in the script for them. Humongous. Kudos to you guys, Jamie and Mercedes!
I’m still mostly typing one-handed since I fractured my wrist but to quote Ice Cube: today was a good day on the set of Resurrection of Serious Rogers.
On set today was Jamie Fishback, and Mercedes Manning returned to give it another, throat rested and ready to go. Despite the hovering police helicopter noise and some unruly commuters honking horns outside, we were able to shoot 11 pages of the script–in like five hours!
The icing on the cake was that the actors had rehearsed on their own prior to today. It showed. With a few little director tweaks the antagonistic chemisty I was looking for between the characters (Trixie and Agent Martin) was spot-on! Am I happy? Heck yeah.
Oh, and thanks to you, Mercedes’ Mom for loaning us your daughter and her wonderful talent. We promise to return her in good shape and with her voice still intact.
We wrapped Day Two of Resurrection of Serious Rogers today. It was a short day and the rain worked to our favor. It came when we needed it to and cleared away when we no longer desired it.
At the last minute, or rather on my way to the set, I had an idea that would save time and travel to Downtown LA. Most of what we did today was totally guerrilla, so an attempt at guerrilla filmmaking downtown would inherently have more variables. Since we had a woman prancing around with Glock lookalike, it was also dangerous.
We shot three scenes, an emotional breakdown, a kill shot, and an assassination. We used the dolly, handheld shots and this cool contraption that looks like a steering wheel. The camera mounts to the center of the wheel and it’s much better than a DV steadicam unit.
Tomorrow is a bigger day. Two locations. Two kills and we get to meet the Bad Ass Girls.
Yesterday we wrapped “Resurrection of Serious Rogers” at 4:45PM. Not bad.
We shot in my home on the first day. We captured a meaningful emotional scene first thing, then we let Cooper Harris have some fun. She killed me. That is, I had a cameo role in the playing a blinged out bad dood.
It starting pouring rain while we were out at the park doing guerrilla shooting and I spent fifteen minutes lying in the cold wet grass with my face planted in the mud. Nice.
Art Direction: Reed and Claudia
We moved back to my condo where the spectacular art direction team, Reed and Claudia had transformed my quaint little condo into a “heroin addict’s bachelor pad.” I remember looking at all the open cans of food and bottles and thinking, “Oh God, my wife is going to kill me.” Yes… it was that scary.
Philip and Nancy were on set and in character. I’ve used my home eight time for films. Cinematically, it’s never looked this good. Everyone had fun. Jim did an amazingly fast job of setting up lighting and shot selections. We got so much coverage it was ridiculous.
It was a good first day but we’ve got a long way to go.
Today is the night before I begin the film shoot for Resurrection of Serious Rogers and I am more calm than I have ever been before a film shoot. I guess it’s because today I realized (and remembered) that forward motion counts for everything in independent filmmaking.
Two weeks ago I could have went either way: Make the film. Don’t make the film. It was a crap shoot. The luck of the draw. There were a lot of missing pieces to the puzzle. I knew that. I don’t know if anyone else knew that, but I certainly did.
But I forced myself to take action. I set a date and scheduled the table read. Everyone was there. Everyone. It went well and excitement started to grow. The project felt real.
Momentum…
Then Jim, my producing partner for this film who also happens to be the DP and a cameraman and a fine photographer coordinated a photoshoot. It was hot.
Momentum…
Overnight, Jim used the photos from the photoshoot to make some the best key art I’ve ever had for any of my films. It was extraordinary.
Momentum…forward motion…
Kevin, the First AD and Associate Producer drove to my house and basically harangued me until we finished the production schedule and call sheets. I don’t know what I would have done without his initiative and dogged determination to get that damn schedule finished.
Momentum…
Then additional pieces started falling into place. We lost a camera. We got a better camera. Lost a sponsor. We got a better sponsor. Locations. Gear. Excitement. More actors added to the family. Test shots of a day for a night scene we envisioned looked exciting!
Then we lost some money. Twice. But things seemed to work out anyway.
And as I thought about all the momentum I started to get an icky feeling in my gut. What if I had called everything off last week when things weren’t going so well? I would never have seen the miracle of all the pieces of the puzzle neatly falling into place.
And so I’m calm. The torrential rain today did freak me out. However, just as I started to chart out Plan B…it stopped.
Today my DP, James Rhodimer, who’s a skilled photographer took some awesome photos of a few of the cast from the film. It was a long day. Six sessions. But it was worth it. Check out the new artwork for the film after you watch the video!
Had some free time today so I spent a few hours trying to figure out what a poster might look like. Here’s a poster design mockup/test for Resurrection of Serious Rogers –
