KGB Productions

I've been reading some blogs and articles about financing that feature film and/or short film, and so far I haven't heard a really convincing argument who has done well in this arena. People are so secretive on their numbers. While others brag about how really low their film came in on. I mean how does someone get financing for their film? The DIY attitude is very wide spread and its true that many filmmakers are making their films a reality. Much more now then in recent years. Whats changed is the way distribution is handled, and how these films are finally seen. The Internet has a lot to do with this, yet getting a deal for domestic distribution involving cable, DVD, and pay-per view is still tough. I am no expert, but I've worked on a number of films, and have done a number of them to know what seems to work, and what doesn't. Mind you I was only a crew member on some of these films while on my own film I actually had to scrape together enough cash to start & fin...

This weekend I headed to the movies, and saw “Shooter” starring Mark Wahlberg. In it Wahlberg is an ex-sniper who is recruited by the government to stop an assassination attempt, but what happens is he gets framed for the assassination by the very guys he’s working with. Seems like an exciting premise, and who doesn’t love a good conspiracy story? Only thing this isn’t that story. “The Shooter” is a paint by numbers type of movie. Nothing surprising EVER happens. You can see the ending a mile away, and yet I was hoping it would surprise me. It didn’t. All the characters are one dimensional characters that do not ever surprise us. I swear one scene where the girl in the movie is captured just seemed like an excuse to get her semi-naked holding a shotgun. I just felt like this movie was phoned in, which is disappointing. I like Wahlberg, and I thought it might be a good action flick to go see. You know mindless stuff, but something that has its share of action. Even those scenes are pred...

I try to explore the ever evolving shape of cinema these days, yet it seems to change constantly. One of the web sites I've come to is that of alteregocinema . The film that came to my attention was AMATEUR PORN STAR KILLER . I haven't heard of this film, and the title alone makes it seem almost questionable, but after reading an unfavorable review at microcinemascene.com I just had to check it out. Shane Ryan does some interesting editing, and I like the way he makes the footage look degraded, and even a bit inferior. Someone said it probably was to cover up the bad production values in the film in the first place. After all how many of you have heard or said "we'll fix it in post". What attracted me to the guys work is the stark reality of the films. In an era of reality TV, and YouTube I do think the work has some merit, but at what expense. Certainly these films aren't real snuff films. Would some others think that the films can be actually real? In a soc...

So as I try and figure out what to do next I’ve been looking back at some of my old film projects from film school and even beyond. I’ve been digitizing them and taking a bit of the rough elements out of them. I guess I’m archiving for posterity. Maybe my boys will get a kick out of seeing what the old man was doing in his youth. But wait you’re not that old? I’m in my early 40’s and there’s still some fire down below. Isn’t there? I’ll confess age is only a number, but someone who says that is ignoring the cold hard fact that you’re no longer in your youth. You’re idealism is a bit tainted, and you see things in a different light. So it gets a little harder. Not only with you’re time management, but also with your priorities. Someone who says children don’t change things is totally in denial and does not know what he or she is talking about. No I’m not one of those people who talk about children being first, and God bless the children. Heck! God bless everybody is my mant...

Meaning? Isn’t that what we all strive for? After the day is done don’t we try to see the meaning of our actions and why we did what we did? Always questions and sometimes there are no real answers. The gentleman who was my AD on my film once wrote that I reminded him of Sisyphus. You know Sisyphus don’t you? He’s the dude who was cursed to roll the rock up a hill only to have it fall back down the hill when he got to the top. Some describe pointless or interminable activities as Sisyphean. So it’s a good analogy on my relationship with film and my filmmaking endeavors. “Pointless” you say. Then why do I continue to try? If you know that all that you do is irrelevant then why do it? I guess that’s the million-dollar question. Why? I’ve described filmmaking as a drug and me as an addict chasing that initial high, but that’s not entirely true. Then I read a quote that kind of sums it up for me: Leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one's burden ...

I’ve been restless & antsy for some time now. It happens when I don’t get to do what I really enjoy doing, and that’s make films. Between work, family and other things it can be easy to just say “fuck it”. I mean what’s one less filmmaker in the world right? But then the voice sets in and it doesn’t stop until I do something. What draws me to filmmaking? What is it that makes me crave filmmaking like a junkie going after his next fix? Is it to be famous or known? I’ll confess here I’d like to be known as a competent filmmaker. No more and no less. I’m way past the wide eyed innocent I was when I first started making films. I fully know it’s a business and in order to achieve some success you have to sell your story otherwise it’s an expensive hobby, but again I see no one willing to invest large sums of money in a film. My sphere of influence does not include people with money who can piss away their hard earned dollars. I’ve always said that in order to succeed in the business of ...

The one movie that affected me more then any other is Star Wars. Yes I was and remain a child of George Lucas' imagination. It was 1977, and I turned thirteen. I was prime pickings for a tale of epic proportion where good and evil fought for control of the universe. All my movie going experience never prepared me for what I was about to see. Galaxies, star ships, hyperspace, robots, stormtroopers, and the force all had a serious impact on me. Not only was it a great story, but the effects were revolutionary. It was the effects that lead me down the path to filmmaking. I was already interested in movies, and I was experimenting with my Super-8 camera. I'd film epic battles in my backyard with GI-JOE's battling lizard men. But it was Star Wars that set me on the path in exploring the world of special effects and how they did it all. I found out about mattes, split screens, stop-motion, and miniature photography. I remember my frustration in not getting it right, and wanting t...

I did this trailer because I wasn't so happy with the first. I digitized the footage from a VHS tape so the quality is so-so, but I liked the way the trailer does flow. If I wanted better looking footage I should go off the DVD, but I'm not sure how to do that or even if I have the proper programs to do so. For the past few days I've tried encoding a video I worked on, so I can fit it on a DVD, but no luck, so it feels like I'm in digital hell. Maybe I just don't have the proper tools, but I've done some shorter projects with success, so this longer program is giving me a headache. If anyone has any suggestions I'm open to them. On the filmmaking front still writing, and experimenting as you can see with DV, and to think I do this on my free time. I must be a sado-masochist! POST SCRIPT: Got the Video to DVD. Seems Adobe Premiere likes DVD+ Not DVD- Premiere encoded and fit the video at the proper resolution, and frame rate. To say the least I'...

I’m an avid reader when it comes to filmmaking. I love books, articles, and magazines that deal with filmmaking, so it’s no wonder that I ordered " Tales from the Front Line of Indie Filmmaking " by Peter John Ross . Mr. Ross is a filmmaker who hails from Ohio. He’s been noted in such publications as Computer Arts, RES Magazine, Film & Video Magazine, LA Weekly, Film Threat and Internet Video Magazine. The book details Mr. Ross’ experience in filmmaking and he devotes a section of his book to the making of his first feature film " Horrors of War ". In the beginning of the book Ross discusses characters he has met in the DV filmmaking scene, and some tips about writing, editing, directing, and audition tips. Truthfully I could have done without the so-called characters Ross has come in contact with. I’m sure we all know that the world is a strange and peculiar place inhabited by wacko’s, weirdoes, and liars. To his credit Ross doesn’t go about naming these people...

Been listening to a discussion about DIY filmmaking , and I think it's all very inspiring. Check out The Workbook Project . Lance Weiler interviews Paul Harrill of Self Reliant web site, and Mark Stolaroff of No Budget Film School . They have some interesting things to say. Also if you get a chance take a look at crewless .com . Their a bunch of filmmakers in Alabama who made the film Hide and Creep . It was shown on the sci- fi channel, so they had some pretty good success. The film Hide and Creep was shot on Super 16, and the filmmaker really loves film, and he makes a really good argument for using it. I've always thought the DV thing sucks. The compression you get and the tapes themselves are the worst, and I work with them day in and day out. But I'll probably do my next film on DV . Why? Because it's cheap, it's accessible , and I can get fast turnaround. But I'm also doing some stuff with my Eclair NPR, and seeing what I can do. ...

So yeah I've been writing more and more. I'm working on a second draft of a film that I could possible do. As I write more it gets a bit more ambitious then I thought it would, but then again aiming for above what I wanted isn't too bad. If it ever gets into production I'll worry about it then. As for now I have one criteria in getting this script done and that is is it doable. I know it's all in the rewrites. I've read books, and heard commentaries about it all. Now it's time to apply what I've learned. Granted I have no idea if I'll get this script to the screen, but I promised myself that after this one I would write another outline for a film, and then maybe even tackle a long dormant project I had started but never really finished. One is even a short story which I think is more possible, and would satisfy my hunger to get behind a camera again. Yes it's a full addiction, and after the day job it's hard to get motivated or enough energy ...

If you want to hear a really good and inspiring interview with director Guillermo del Toro. He is the director of Pans Labyrinth. Go or better yet run: (it's that good) http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13

I've been debating on how to start this entry, and figured I just wing it and explore some issues I'm mulling about. One of them is to do another film. No matter how much I talk here I really want to get another chance to do another film. Doing a first film is quite eye opening and you learn a lot. I want to apply that knowledge of what I learned and try again, but motivation is a problem. How do I motivate myself to do another film. How do I get myself to jump through all those hoops to do another film? With Sundance happening right now I guess the desire to do another film is high, but as I read about Sundance I am dismayed by how insular that world really is. I mean do I really have a chance to get in such a festival. I've tried to enter several festivals with " Deadly Obsessions " and I've always hit a brick wall. I even questioned the films quality. I mean when so many doors are shut in your face it doesn't take long for self doubt to set in. Then a...

Okay I did it. I finally got to the theater to see Babe l this week-end, and enjoyed the film immensely. I’m a big admirer of the director Alejandro González Iñárritu . I loved “ 21 Grams ”, and thought it was done surprisingly well. Since it’s win of a golden globe the movie is suddenly getting more theater play. According to Box Office report Babel came in 12 th up 505% from the previous week. Guess you can say that the Golden globe award can be translated into box office dollars. The film, which deals with several story lines that sort of inter-connect, is interesting, yet I did hear a few grumblings from the audience as I walked out. Seems as though some had a hard time following the characters, and the director’s use of non-linear storytelling confused the audience a bit. My only complaint was that some scenes played too long, and maybe the filmmaker could have cut it a bit. The film runs 142 minutes and though I don’t find that long I do feel there were some scenes that just ...

Seems like filmmakers Susan Buice & Arin Crumley are headed to Sundance . The Sundance channel is sponsoring them, and they'll provide daily (yes daily) video blogs from the festival. I still have not seen their film as of yet, but hope to someday soon. Whether you love them or hate them you have to give the two their props. They shamelessly promoted their film, and it got noticed. I hear they won some awards including some cash awards, so I'm thinking what next from these two. It seems that they've been pitching their movie "Four Eyed Monsters" for some time now. Hopefully we'll all get a chance to see the film soon on DVD or cable. Maybe then they can start on their second feature. CONGRAT "S guys on the success !

So after seeing some good cinema the past few weeks my mind goes on to wanting to do something myself. I even put on a documentary on the making of " The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ". Not the remake, but the original by Tobe Hooper . While watching the documentary I began to wonder how does a movie like TCM or " Night of the Living Dead " get made. Now these are two American horror movies but one could also look at such films as " 400 Blows ", " Breathless ", " Citizen Kane ", and " Easy Rider " as films that are now classics and will always be classics. It fascinates me on how these films were ever made. A lot of them were made on a low budget, and with a lot of blood sweat and tears from the filmmakers. But the one factor that comes into play about them all is that these films were made by a person with a unique vision who then assembled other like-minded people in order to create the final film. Sometimes it’s just pure luck t...

Del Torro's Pan's Labyrinth is a visually stunning and poetic film that should not be missed. I'm a BIG fan of Del Torro , and he has a unique style. I hear he is planning Hellboy 2, and I'm sure it will be quite good. The story of Pan's Labyrinth is a stunning piece of cinema. I read that he made the film for $5 million dollars, and he was offered twice as much if he would make the film in English. I applaud Del Torro to sticking to his guns. I'm sure the film was a struggle to make. From the cinematography to the set design the film looks fantastic. The story of Pan's Labyrinth is also a great little story for our time. Set during the the Spanish Civil War where Franco crushed a rebellion by the republic. Franco went on to rule Spain with an iron fist for several decades. In a society struggling with freedom and terrorism this movie is about hope and sacrifice. It is also a fairy tale, and a good one at that. The actors all give great performances, ...

What can I say about this film that hasn’t been said before. “ Children of Men ” is one of those films that after seeing it you just can’t get it out of your head. Alfonso Cuarón brings to life a near future that is bleak and dying. A world without children and a world slowly sinking into oblivion. He uses immigration, jihads, rebellion, and apathy to create a world that seems to have no hope. Using today’s headlines Cuaron shows us a glimpse of a world that could be. The film is based on P.D. James novel “Children of Men” and was published back in 1992. The movie provides us with such a unique view of the world that you’ll want to know more on how we got there. My only suggestion is go read the book. “ Children of Men ” is one of those films that takes hold of you and doesn’t let go. It will affect anyone who sees it. I swear that after seeing it I just wanted to rush back home and hug my boys. I wanted to hear them laugh and run amuck as children do. I really can’t attest to Cuaron...

So after seeing the other night the original film " Rocky " on TMC I had to see the last and final one in this franchise known as Rocky. I am a BIG admirer of the first one, and still find it today a very inspiring and tender story both in its story and in how the movie was made. To say that the original film came out of nowhere is an understatement. The film was about an underdog and it championed the underdog to mythic levels. I don't care if you're into boxing or not at the end of the original you'll feel as you went 15 rounds with Rocky, and when you hear Bill Conti's theme blaring there is no way you can not be involved . The movie rocks and the man who made it rock if you'll excuse the pun is the man Sly Stallone. He's a good writer and a good study of the human condition. Sure Stallone may be more known for his Rambo series then his Rocky, but you can't take away what Stallone wrote. He also stuck to his guns and wanted himself to do the ...

I just read an interesting interview by Scott Tobias on the blog avclub . Go check it out. The most interesting tidbit of info that Norton talks about is independent film and the climate of production in today's market: "I think there's more ways to get a movie made today then ever in the history of the entertainment industry. It's a very exciting time to work in movies, if you're a creative person looking to make a very personal, weird vision."