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…
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.
The SNEAK PEEK of Resurrection of Serious Rogers is LIVE — BUT, if you didn’t at a comment at http://www.AngeloBell.com/2010/02/sneak-peek/ you’re gonna have to wait longer than anybody else
Internet pundits and information portals like Mashable predict that will be over 10,000 new web series developed, produced and released this year. Like their predecessors, many of these episodic films that are made for the Internet will go unnoticed. Many series will be released under genres so vague it will be difficult to find the series when doing a Google Internet search…
Today I watched 43 minutes of rough cut footage for my neo-noir action thriller web series/film “Resurrection of Serious Rogers.” We aimed to be bad-ass. We achieved maximum badassery. I’m pleased. I’m also tempted to show the very sexy first 3 mins of the film — but I won’t.
Oh, and here’s a news article you can feel free to read and share this PDF.
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.
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 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 –
I’m going to be so freakin busy this coming year it’s going to make other people’s head spin as much as my own.
I just took a closer look at my 2010 to do list and I love it. I haven’t been this busy since 2006. However, one of the things I’ll have to reconsider is editing. I have editors assigned to my next two projects but in order to do everything I want I’ll have to jump in and edit some myself as well. It’s not so bad. I’ll have to make sure they’re smaller projects
There’s of course Resurrection of Serious Rogers and Shadowkeeper, which I’ve already announced. But I also have an idea called Broken Hearts Club – the Patients, which is basically a prelude to Broken Hearts Club – Trouble In Paradise. It will be a series of 3 minute therapy sessions full of rants. I’m still working out the details but I want to capture a diverse cross-section of people and just let it rip. I want to do 24 episodes — it’s a lot of writing but perhaps I’ll get help on it.
Then there is another web series I’d like to do and a short film I want to do called Moonlight Prodigy.
And at some point, I’ll be trying to package my script, Legend of Black Lotus.
Oh and I have to start writing BHC2: Trouble in Paradise at some point as well. Thankfully the treatment is done
