Transmissions & Confessions from a Mad World

Shot of The Day 12.34: Self Portrait

2012-02-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone by a Predator. Click to enlarge.

"Ah gonna have me sum fun...AH gonna HAVE me sum FUN!"

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.33: Sun through the trees

2012-02-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

...Just a moment that felt so right, right now.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.32: Its ON.

2012-02-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Shot with Luke Rivett's iPhone & CameraBag. Click to enlarge.

I didn't take the shot, but my best mate/producer Luke (who was integral in EVERLY's birth and development) sent it over. Can't believe I didn't go out and buy 10 of these, DAMMIT. But at least I have this picture. Wow.

Here's the article from VARIETY that snowballed...BIG thanks to everyone for the well wishes!

Let's do this. No More Games.

Joe

PS: ...and yes, those were Kate's slippers in 12.24. Surprise! Anone going to the Berlin Film Festival/Market is gonna get a nice litle treat...;)

Shot of The Day 12.31: Dead Body Everywhere

2012-01-31T14:14:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

On my newly-reinstated morning walk (which will hopefully evolve into a morning "Jog") but stepped on this and thought..."who's back did I just break?"

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.30: The stuff of nightmares

2012-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Saw this at Amoeba, brought back many memories of fear when this creep showed up at my school one day.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.29: "...and they're only gettin' better"

2012-01-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

"Future's so bright, I gotta wear shadesss..."

Happy Birthday Rem, the future is yours.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.28: Harmony in the Alley

2012-01-28T23:56:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

Driving down he alley connected to our complex, a long shopping cart in my way. Something eerie about it, like Im going to be attacked by a bunch of KIDS named GUMMO or some TRASH THUMPERS. Feeling kinda Korine-y.

Time to go!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.27: Nakatomi Dreaming

2012-01-27T22:49:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Stopped at a light as I'm driving to a midnight show of THE GREY (which is already my favorite movie of 2012, wolf-punching hands down) and found myself staring at this building on Olympic. This very familiar structure.

This building keeps me going. Not practically or financially (well, not since 2007 when FT2 was released), just the symbol of it, what it stands for in my geeky brain...what it's inspiration has led to, even in just the past few days. Mind-blowing.

Yippie Kai Yay,

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.26: Dog-Eared Memories

2012-01-26T23:51:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Accompanied Mom & Remy to the Santa Monica library. Passing this "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" book, one of my childhood favorites, a swell of memories flooded my brain. All these stories, all those pictures, characters, memories.

I miss the library. Now, if you'll excuse me while I get back to my iBook.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.25: DogHole Peeker

2012-01-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Saw this little guy in our back alley, furiously barking at Banzai. Settle down, Pal!

Baroof!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.24:A kinda QT Day...

2012-01-24T23:17:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

WOW.

From the looks of this pic, you'd think this was just a mild QT reference, right? He does love his feet....but no. Of the MANY shots I took this day, THIS is the only one I can post. Good problem to have, no?

Wish I could say more, but I can't. Why spoil the surprise?

All will be revealed soon...wink wink.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.23: Rats w/ Wings

2012-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Being from New Yawk, all I can see when a pigeon (seen here on the outskirts of Macarthur Park) crosses my path is "10,000 diseases".

Big shoot day tomorrow. Do pigeons have panic attacks?

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.22: INXSelcior!!

2012-01-22T20:03:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

For some reason Remy (in a Party City party planning for his soiree next week) remined me of an old INXS video while twirling this light around. Born showman.

Man, those guys had some killer videos...

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.21: Dew or Dew Not...

2012-01-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

Shoot got moved, so up early and caught on a walk...before the dog sprinkled it with her own "moisture". Thanks Banz, gotta piss all over everything, huh? Why am I talking to a dog, on a blog?

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.20: Blood & Satin

2012-01-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

...Art dept prep for "Operation: E-PRO". I'd say its going well, don't you?

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.19: Bug From Hell

2012-01-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

My current POV for the last 12 hours. The whole family's infected, guess we're not watching CONTAGION tonight.

Don't ask for details...or look too close.

I do not need this right no-RETCHHHHH!!!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.18: The 7th Floor

2012-01-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

Tech scout for "Operation: E-Pro". The floor is ours....

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.17: ShadowShooting

2012-01-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Infinicam, click to enlarge.

Gun+Shadows+Muted Colors=InstaNoir.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.16: Chillin with Artemis

2012-01-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Artemis Viewfinder App, click to enlarge.

Haven't used the Artemis Viewfinder app in a year but dusted it off and reloaded it into my iPhone and been reminding myself how essential this app was on-set; Banzai became my 2:25:1 model for a moment. The app is killer; just set up the camera and lens package you have and voila, you have a digital viewfinder that even takes shots in matted form to show your cast & crew. God bless the iPhone, again!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.15: The Sock

2012-01-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Sunday Photo Shoot was closed set (thank GOD). Just...don't ask where this sock has been. Is that enough info for you to get the hint? A very uh..."revealing" day, but a blast with the Holliston Gang. Great times! Now, GOLDEN GLOBE time!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.14: Scouting Skylines

2012-01-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

On an early morning location scout for a top secret shoot next weekend. Checking out a loft downtown, feels like one of those cool L.A.-Noir thrillers like THIEF or TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (or hell, DRIVE). All we need now is cool pink neon cursive text and a little Wang Chung and we're in bid'ness.

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.13: Analog Times, They Are a Dyin'...

2012-01-13T23:41:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Walking to a midnight show of Gens' THE DIVIDE (Cool, brutal Post-Apocalyptic thriller), I passed a video store around the corner from the NuArt and saw this slightly proud sign hanging in the window. Made me a little sad to think this format, one I watched MANY a Friday The 13th film (on this day/night in fact) on, is going the way of 8-track and there is a unique charm to the lo-fi feel. Then I walked around the block and watched a midnight movie...on a Blu Ray. Go figure.

Check out this cool trailer about the VHS generation, looks really cool:

Happy Friday The 13th!

Joe

Shot of The Day 12.12: Well-dressed History

2012-01-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Camera +, click to enlarge.

Was invited to another fun Master's dinner last night at one of the remaining Hamburger Hamets in town. Great night, great people, amazing stories... bolstered by a cameo by one of the icons of Old Hollywood, AC Lyles, who Landis told me produced 280 Westerns in his time at Paramount and who STILL has an office there. The stories he told were as thrilling as any blockbuster, with directors (some seen above) I've admired for years sitting there, completely entranced as any 10 year old kid was with their movies listening to him, and after the day I've had, his presence made me even more excited to make a little movie history myself.

Let's do this!
Joe

Shot Of The Day 12.11: Helmet Trauma

2012-01-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Camerabag, click to enlarge.

Nothing like stepping on Red-5's helmet to wake you up at Sunrise.

Joe

Shot of the Day 12.10: Stupi- Keyboar-!!

2012-01-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Been working on a broken laptop for a week with the "D" button broken; either it doesnt work OR it becomes a Phantom D and just begins to incessantly retype D wherever the window is open. Resorting to using an external keyboard but it's still annoying as hell. I wont even begin on the grotesque sight I found under the pulled out keys, like the bugs scurrying in the opening of BLUE VELVET. TRUE horror is from within!

Time for a new laptop....somedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddMAKEITSTOP!!!!

Joe

shot of the Day 12.9: Twilight Splicing

2012-01-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Camera +, click to enlarge.

Yup, its 4am. Editing in the valley. Typical Monday.

Joe

Shot of the Day 12.8: "Who dat lady?"

2012-01-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Shot with Bri's iPhone, click to enlarge.

A little unorthodox but Bri got the better shot of Remy checking out his old man in Entertainment Weekly. He pointed to ME (not Mr. Snider) and asked "Who DAT lady?" Thanks kid.

Joe

PS: Thanks Bri for the shot!

PPS:Here is a higher res of the EW thing, so cool!

Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.

Shot of the Day 12.7: Joey The Poet

2012-01-07T23:32:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Camera+, click to enlarge.

We had an early morning yard sale yesterday, which was somewhat successful in purging our old material possessions. I was just glad we got some crap out of our hair. As we were packing up an odd gent by the name of Joey stopped by and asked about that mobile tea table, which we gave to him for free. He paid us in the form of a poem (yes, a poem...can't remember a word of it) and then handed Bri a crystal he said was for soulmates (see pic below). Fair trade, I'd say.

Joe

PS: Crystal Currency.

Shot with iPhone & Camera+, click to enlarge.

Shot of the Day 12.6: Attack The Stack

2012-01-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & Camera+, click to enlarge.

Ever since Dec 26th, I've been importing EVERY CD we own, which has been sitting in boxes for years. Been days of Ituning our collection, stacks and stacks of jewelboxes and those flying discs from I COME IN PEACE, years of personal music history flashing before my eyes and ears. Nowhere near done. I will conquer this collection!!

Joe

PS: "Lynch...by Lynch" (my POV at the WILD AT HEART midnight screening-X-Rated cut!)

Shot with iPhone & Camera+, click to enlarge.

Shot of the Day 12.5: What a Day/Night

2012-01-05T23:42:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Wine definitely helped the moment.

This was not my wine.

....If you only knew....one for the books.
Joe

Shot Of The Day 12.4: Street Strapped

2012-01-04T22:42:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

...sad face.

Joe

Shot of the Day #12.3-Reflections of Reproductions

2012-01-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Joe

Shot of the Day #12.2-The Tao of Dishes

2012-01-02T16:51:00.001-08:00

Shot with iphone & CameraBag, click to enlarge.

Nothing like relieving the kitchen sink of its dirty wares to start the day and clear the mind. It's quite zen, you should try it.

Visually, this moment feels like an outtake from TREE OF LIFE, one Im glad Malick cut out. More time for ethereal screensavers.

Joe

Shot of the Day #12.1- Tauntaunting my nostalgia

2012-01-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone & CameraBag app. Click to enlarge.

Why does my kid have "my toys" now? And why are they better made and designed? Why do I want to play with them? Lucas, I shake my fist at you.

Joe

PS: ...at least with the Tauntaun we had you could shove a Luke figure into its belly. Take THAT, kid!

2011-A Dickens of a Year

2012-01-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Self-Portrait.

"It was the Best of times, it was the Worst of times"
-Charles Dickens

…and on that note, Happy New Year!

Looking back, it's been a strange & conflicting year, one with major highs…and some significant lows as well. No real need to focus on the negative (I dwelled on it plenty over the last 12 months if you were anywhere in my near vicinity) as we forge into a new year and add a "T" to forgeT the misgivings, stumbles & regrets of the last. Ooh, I like that. If anything, I gots a career in greeting cards.

One of my biggest regrets of the past year dropping the ball on the website and blog; truth be told, I've had little time to sit down and be as detailed as I usually prefer, and since a major part of doing "Le Blog" is to be able to look back fondly (or frankly) on memories from my perpetually crazed life, and now I have major holes in the plot that need more recollecting to reminisce on. Sorry to both of you who read it and I'll try to do better, even just for myself when I gotta start writing PATRICK DUFFY STOLE MY BURRITO & OTHER SORDID TALES (my memoirs).

That's probably a reason I've decided to bring back the 'Shot of the Day', a little project I did back in 2009 (and did for the shooting of KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM) that was simply a slice of my life, captured by whatever photo device I have on-hand. They can be professional or personal, you never know till the shot is taken & the moment captured. I can assure that there will likely be a lot of pictures of my family, the dog, various foodies, some strange shots of foliage, maybe a bowel movement or two, you never know. You've been warned. But, with 2012 looking even busier than '11 (if that's even possible), this might be a good way to keep up as we near the apocalypse. At least I know we're going out with a bang!

Its has been an eventful year to say the least, so I thought we'd just peek back at a few notables as we put this year to beddy bye and look forward to '12. This could get ugly. Or boring. If you're still with me at this point, at least I can offer more pictures.

(Off-Screen: Frozen testicles.)

Sundance:

Back in January I got to go with the KNIGHTS producers and company (IndieVest) to Utah for Sundance, which I haven't been to in 10 years. I had a silent vow back in 2000 that I wouldn't come back to Park City until I had a film to screen, so that the party IndieVest was throwing was on behalf of KoB (which was and is still being worked on), I thought "why not, that kinda counts" and to meet many of the investors and supporters for the film was a lot of fun. Not only were the two parties a real blast (Hey, Dinklage and Brett "Gunther" Gipson from KoB showed up! Hey, is that Tommy Lee spinning?!) but I got to "enjoy" the crisp Park City air and see a few movies too, including one of my top films in a year (but we'll get to that). All in all, Sundance seemed to be a success and I'm glad I got the chance to go amidst the hustle and bustle of the new year.

The Duran Duran album cover from Hell. Mock-up poster design for ZOM-B-MOVIE by Phil Roberts.

CHILLERAMA:

Yup, we unleashed the beast. What started out as a goofy side project between horror collegues turned into both a dream come true (Plan: Make the most outrageous, disgusting, insane joke-movie we could and get away with. "Mission Accomplished" as Ethan Hunt says…) and a nightmare as well (Im not gonna hurt anyone's feelings here, sorry).

What we gained in creative freedom and fun amongst friends turned into a lot more drama, stress and struggle than anyone ever anticipated, but that most of us walked away better friends for it was probably worth the battles and lost sleep. I'm really proud of what we accomplished with no money, time and with only family and friends to help, and I know the other guys are too. Im extremely proud of my contribution to CHILLERAMA, both ZOM-B-MOVIE (I got to shoot in a drive in! With Sex Zombies!! Dante, Jackson and Romero, eat your dicks off!!) and DEATHICATION (I got to swim in the ultimate movie taboo! And introduce Fernando Phagabeefy!! Your welcome). Going guerella style on this was not only a necessity but also a nice change of pace between bigger films and creatively reinvigorating too. And yes, my Mom loved it. It was so satisfying being able to "purge this urge" with CHILLERAMA, to be set free to shock and pillage people's senses and sense of taboo in this fun-spirited way, and now I feel like I can at least move into (slightly) more mature fare. Opportunities like this come rarely, and again, despite the speed bumps, I'm so SO glad we did it.

The manic anthology also allowed us to travel quite a bit with the film upon its completion in August; I never thought I'd be going to Berlin, Hamburg and then the UK in the span of 8 days in one trip. Never in a MILLION years thought we'd be premiering this putrid little flick in the Hollywood Cemetery! Really!?! Or show it to film students at USC? WHUT?? That the film hit as many film festivals and theaters across the nation and world as part of our "roadshow" plan was staggering, it was truly like touring with a punk band.

We knew from the start that this pastiche of perversity wasn't for everyone, but that it was both loved and hated so vigorously to me is a win win. People saw it, that's what mattered and that to me is art…or, "fart", pending your opinion. That it was under as many christmas trees this season from what I heard scares me a little….

Many thanks to everyone at ArieScope, Image Entertainment (Mark Ward, you are the man), Sue Procko PR and Click Media for all their help getting the word out, big hugs to the fellow directors, the producers, cast and crew for sticking with us through thick and thin…and to all of you sick, twisted fucks who bought/rented the film and especially came out to the screenings, then told the world online? Uncle Cecil thanks you with a big sloppy Demon Semen kiss.

Viva Chillerama! Buy the film HERE!

311 & Beastie Boys mashups:

As a kid, I would always find strange pleasure in hooking up two VCR's and my stereo together and create visual "remixes" (the kids today call them mashups) using favorite movie scenes set to different music and cut to the beat and the tone of the scene. I've always enjoyed that process (Which is probably why I love editing) and in the spring I found myself up at 2am cutting and recutting footage at home whenever inspirado would strike. Next thing I know Im furiously recutting scenes from some childhood favorites (in this case Joe Dante's INNERSPACE & the Dabney Coleman cult classic SHORT TIME) with music that's been rolling in my head the last few weeks…and voila, we have these odd little pop-art pieces that feel like a sample of the inside of my brain. What's truly gratifying is the surprising response; for the Beastie Boys video I got the thumbs up not only from MCA from the Beasties to post it (which they reposted!) but also from Joe Dante who insisted the video be put on the next version of INNERSPACE that gets released. For 311, it was a response to the frustration of coming up with a compelling idea for a video to promote their new album with limited funds (welcome to the new way, according to the record industry) so after submitting about 4 different treatments, I just took the song I was writing on and the idea for using one of my favorite childhood action films, SHORT TIME, digitized the movie and the next thing I know its 3am and I'm cutting Dabney Coleman's manic driving to the band's frenetic beats. To me it was like making a music video for Metallica's "One" with an obscure 70's Jason Robards flick….see what I mean? It was a match made in heaven to me and the band fully embraced it as well, actually promoting it as their first video on the website.

Check out both videos below! Hopefully more to come...

Beastie Boys vs. Joe Lynch: "Pop Your Innerspace"

311 vs. Joe Lynch: "Short Time Bomb"

The view from Hall H. Photo courtesy of Shannon Robles.

Comic-Con:

What more can I say about Comic-Con that I haven't expressed ad nauseum in the previous blogs (when I actually wrote more than 140 characters)?
If you want the long story, check out a few HERE & HERE but in a nutshell, I was there in San Diego three-fold:

One, KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM (which was and is still being worked on…deja vu!) was accepted to be part of the big panel series in Comic-Con's Hall H, which is pretty much Geek Ground Zero…and we chewed bubblegum for sure. Arguably one of the best moments in my life, on that stage with my KoB cohorts, chanting "Huzzah" with my foam sword Edith. That whole Saturday was a glorious blur but one I'll never soon forget….so it was more like a well-executed whip pan in a PT Anderson film.

Two, CHILLERAMA had it's first screening there (which you can also read HERE) which, despite some massive tension just to get the movie there, was an eye and ear opening experience, one Im glad we had since the film dramatically changed after that preview thanks to the audience response. It was our first taste of "Wow it works!" and also "Oh shit, what have we done!?". But the crowd was great and the buzz was positive so it was well worth the hassle and anxiety. Plus I got to meet Roddy Piper that night, which felt serendipitous.

Three, due to the fact that both films were low budget without major studio backing to support the PR blitz, I had to pay my own way to Comic-Con (…or sleep on Larry Zerner's floor. Hmmm). Ah, independent cinema, huh? So I hooked up with my old pals at G4 and I since I had supervised Comic-Con for the website in the past, they hired me on to help them out for a few days, which basically paid for my room and board over the course of the weekend and allowed my family to come out and support. Don't think Larry would have appreciated Remy's diaper changes on his hotel bed. So sure, it was a more than a little strange/annoying to be on one side of the camera working as media one day, then hand the camera over and be on the other side of the lens the next, but hey…don't anyone ever tell you humble pie will get you nowhere. It got me to Comic-Con, and one of the most memorable times ever. Suck it up, take a bite, move forward. Im so glad I did it. Did I mention I slept for a week after? Damn you nerd Flu!

Thank you so much to everyone who made Comic-Con special: Mark, Matt, Kevin & everyone at IndieVest, the cast and LARP family from KOB who came out on their own accord to support the flick, everyone at Team Chillerama (Image, ArieScope, etc), both ID PR & Procko PR for their amazing work on the films, the coordinators at Comic-Con for taking a chance on us, the ever-cool peeps at G4 for helping the cause, my very patient family for putting up with my mad schedule and Luke for being my wingman throughout the weekend. Of course…all the new friends I made there over the course of the weekend and I dunno if I'll ever get the same chance like I did that weekend, and Im glad I cherished it for a change.

Um, what?

Entertainment Weekly:

Not for nothing, and say what you will about the magazine itself, but I've been subscribing to EW for 20 years and to have an image from my film displayed in it as an exclusive (with a sound bite from me!) was unbelievable. Plus, my Dad's old business, Automotive Trik, had it's logo in full display emblazoned on Kwanten's T shirt, so it was a nice tip of the hat to my dad, someone who never gave up on me and even said "Someday, you'll be in that magazine. Now quit daydreaming and go pull those tires!" so that my film with HIS logo was in full display in a national entertainment magazine was a major highlight for sure. Hope it's not the last! (hint hint)

Where the hell are we NOW?

FrightFest/Fantasy Fest:

As I mentioned in our CHILLERAMA section above, that film provided some Indian Summertime travel to promote the project pre-release. Each of the directors, pending their schedule, got to travel with the film to hype its November 29th street date (and the soft VOD opening before it). Thankfully, Image and their PR team were into letting us screen the film the world over, from Germany to Hawaii to Chicago and beyond, which I think really helped get the good (or bad) word out on the flick.

One of the highlights for me was the last week in August when Green and I, in the middle of prepping HOLLISTON (we were 10 days from filming the first episode!) we dropped everything and travelled to Hamburg & Berlin, Germany for the Fantasy FilmFest (where shockingly, CHILLERAMA was well received…Green made it out of Germany alive!) and our old stomping ground of London for FrightFest, where we got to see our UK family again and screen CHILLER that Saturday at Midnight, as well as show a clip and the trailer from KOB (which went over gangbusters). Truth be told, the reaction in the UK was mixed, and not to make excuses but of all the times we've screened the film…midnight on a Saturday night with a crowd who has been bombarded with the latest horror for the past 12 hours might have had their fill by the time they got to our screening (and going after Lucky Mckee's stupendous THE WOMAN likely didn't help! Fist Shake to you Lucky!!) but again…CHILLERAMA isn't for everyone, but those who dug it loved it and those who didn't HATED it, and didn't have a problem telling us. That's what I love about FrightFest and the family we've acquired there; they make no bones about being honest, and I love them for that.

Best review from all of this? A large German fellow (no offense but I actually think his name was Thor or Gunter or something cliche-like, my bad buddy) came up to me after the Midnight UK screening and seemed any to discuss his thoughts. I asked him "So, Dieter (or something like that), what did you think?" and he simply replied: "Yes. Fiiilm" and just walked away. I wish we could have put that on the poster.

We did a ton of press while abroad but here was one of the highlights, a mock interview with Green and I playfully ripping on one another; it was a little taste of what's to come...

A God's eye view of some of the Holliston Gang, Wrap Night 2011

HOLLISTON:

Wow.

I really don't know where to begin, especially since we're still in the thick of finishing the show as I type for our April launch on FEARnet. This is something we've been working on for a few years now, ever since Green asked me to be part of this 13 year long endeavor to get his first film COFFEE & DONUTS transformed into a TV sitcom. There were quite a few stops and starts even before I happily came onto the project, where I would be co-starring with Green as two roommates who aspire to be horror directors (and the situational comedy that ensues) as well as executive producing and be part of the writing process. But this year, the show we pitched to Peter Block at FEARnet went from "Hey, this MIGHT actually happen!" to "Holy schnikies, this IS HAPPENING! I got lines to memorize, crap!" in the span of 3 months.

In that time, the four main cast members-Adam, Corri, Laura and myself-hunkered down and rehearsed our asses off in the sweltering valley heat and in the middle of our already busy lives, and from that time we truly became a family, a band of brothers and sisters, and when we were on-set months later…that passion, dedication and hard work paid off in spades. Having Dee Snider and Oderus Urungus in the mix was equally exciting and surreal, and in the short time they were with us, like the day we were all together for a photo shoot, to soak it all in was like a sensory overload…I might have OD'd on awesomesauce. Between the close-knit cast who supported each other through thick and thin to the dedicated crew to everyone at FEARnet who also supported our whacked out vision and gung-ho work ethic, the 6 weeks we shot were some of the most fun and gratifying times I've ever had on set. Now, that's not to say any of us worked less on our other endeavors-we worked our asses off every day and night with nary a day off-but to be with such a wonderful group of misfits and madmen(and women), every day was a blast and we all said we never wanted it to end. Who knows…let's just say part of that is in YOUR hands. We fought hard to make a TV sitcom for "you", cause having seen everything semi-finished thus far, I know we damn sure made a show for "us". Hope you enjoy it as much as we loved making it.

Post Script in this section: Probably one of the most significant moments of the whole HOLLISTON experience was one that happened a few weeks AFTER we shot our last take on Stage 6. It was 7am and I get a a message from Dee, who left the most heartfelt message about how if my Dad (who Dee was good friends with and who died in 09 from cancer) could see us now…how happy and proud he'd be at this most unlikely convergence of worlds in the strangest of ways. It was the best wrap gift I could have received. Thank you Dee…and thank you Adam, Corri, Laura, Dave, Becker, Will, Wilcox, Cory, Jason, Sarah, Peter and EVERYONE who spent time with us in our little neck of the woods.

So…yes, I'm on a sitcom. Let that sink in for a moment. Crazy, huh? See kids, anything CAN happen out in showbid'ness. Stranger things have, huh?

See you in April on FEARnet! (I hope!)

Drew Daywalt beating "Final Cut" out of me.

G4 FILMS EPICTOBER FILM FESTIVAL:

Continuing a long-standing relationship with my friends at G4, I was approached by Rob Juster (the G4tv.com overlord and dear friend) to produce a series of short films for their "Epictober" Halloween campaign & was happy to help. I wanted to get back into doing more short film stuff but, this coming along at the same time as finishing CHILLERAMA, prepping HOLLISTON, continuing on KNIGHTS & developing EVERLY to shoot in '12…I was a little short on time and resources. But the idea of working with 3 directors I admired and pay it forward a little was the hook for me, to see 3 different visions for the idea we were playing with as our thesis for the series; the fusing of horror movies and video games. Seems trite and predictable, right? I keep thinking of BRAINSCAN or that Emilio Estevez segment in NIGHTMARES, but it was a fun challenge to find and foster 3 new and classic games and blend them with the tropes and techniques of the horror/thriller genre.

Each of the directors I had known from their previous work and had loved; Sam (THE HUNT) Balcomb and his FX team at Rainfall FIlms directed the spectacular ZELDA parody trailer for IGN, Gregg (BIRDS OF ANGER) Bishop blew me away with his low-budget/high-concept zombie comedy DANCE OF THE DEAD & Drew (KART DRIVER) Daywalt's work on short viral horror is already the thing of cult legend. I had a great time working with each and all of these guys and frankly, they defied the odds and expectations with each of their finished mini-films. I even got to squeeze in a little time to do the opening (look for "Breakdancing Joe" as an easter egg there) with Bear providing the 8-big homage theme song. The shorts did very well too and got some considerable notice in the media, so here's hoping we get to do it again next year with 3 new visual voices! See you next Halloween! Bleep bloop.

Thanks to G4 (Rob, Paul, Eric, Derek, Ernie, etc), Bear for the theme song & of course Sam, Gregg and Drew for their considerable talents under pressure and under budget along with their respective cast and crews…it was great working with you guys!

If you haven't seen them yet, well...here you go!

THE HUNT by Sam Balcomb

Game Reviews - E3 2012

KART DRIVER by Drew Daywalt

Video Games - E3 2012

THE BIRDS OF ANGER by Gregg Bishop

Game Reviews - E3 2012 - Angry Birds

What the hell are we doing? ...in Austin?

A VERY GREEN & LYNCH CHRiSTMAS:

While I was bummed we couldn't make it for the Alamo Drafthouse's FantasticFest this year with CHILLERAMA or KNIGHTS, Green and I were blessed with the chance to kill two birds with one screen; Conduct an "Evening with" to help benefit a good cause (namely, The American Legion Hall, which needed an elevator) and also promote our forthcoming projects to a crowd we knew who would appreciate it. So Green and I concocted "A Very Green and Lynch Christmas" where we'd festively show clips from our wares (in this case, our contributions to CHILLERAMA, a preview of HOLLISTON, 2 clips from KNIGHTS and other shorts we've done together), give some presents out, tell some stories and a few bad jokes and basically ring in the holiday season with the best movie crowd around. It was a quick turnaround thanks to everyone at the Alamo pitching in (including Tim, Chase & old pal Scott Weinberg who came up with the idea) and the event went great, the near capacity crowd (for a Monday night with little promotion is impressive) seemed to dig our stuff and even got the "grand finale" where we showed the "exciting" climax of JACK-O with the commentary, which you just have to experience for yourself. A strange, sublime evening for sure and a highlight of the year too.

Cryptic much? Jeez.

EVERLY:

Not sure how much I can say right now, other than how utterly excited I am to introduce you to my dear friend, Everly, very soon.

We've been working hard on this story-HER story-for close to 5 years now, between Luke and I coming up with the story and the strategy, to bringing in Yale to help deliver a solid, intense script, then having the script go out, raise a few eyebrows and land on the famed "Black List" at the end of last year…till now, with our Everly this close to being cast and on the cusp of filming this spring with a great producing combo of Crime Scene Pictures (who just finished the Coen Bros' GAMBIT scripted remake) and Anonymous Content backing my ideas. There should be news about the cast (or some of it) VERY soon as we head into 2012 full tilt boogie on bringing this hardcore flick to life and to say this will be a challenge is the understatement of the year thus far. But Im ready. Ready for action.

The Three Amigos.

What Im proudest of, all in all, is my family is (as of this writing) safe, sound and happy to jump into a new year together. If I learned anything this year, its that family is the way…and so worth fighting for. This is a theme Im sure Ill be delving into a LOT with the next adventure, so I could technically write it off as a work expense, no? Kidding! But without them I'd be just the latter part of that Dickens line, for they are my rock. Thank you Bri, Remy, Banzai and the whole gang, I love you so much and promise good things (and better moods) this year. Swearzies.

Wicked Mint Poster. Totally.

I usually end these (or compose separate posts) with my top 10 movies of the year but to be honest, I've missed so many that Im currently playing catchup so I might post that later this week. It was easy to pick a #1 (Nicholas Windig Refn's electric DRIVE) but the rest? Tough calls…you know its a good year when too many films made an impact enough to hit the list! But thanks to screenings and screeners Ill be sure to revise the list by end of the week so check back...

I don't have much by way of "Best in Music" other than one album that I listened to incessantly for almost 12 months, and that's Middle Class Rut's intense, immensely hooky self-titled album. If you haven't heard the first single "New Low" or the whole album, you'll be doing yourself a favor. Amazing, potent aural pleasure...and I love this video too:

…actually, that's not a fair assessment; Foo Fighter's WASTED LIGHT was also a revelation. Having been a fan since the demos, it was a great return to form. The documentary that came out around the release, BACK AND FORTH, is a must see for any fan. I dare anyone to claim its not a masterful rock album we'll be catching our kids listening to.

Best Book? This time last year I was finishing Stephen King's overlong but engrossing UNDER THE DOME and deja vu time, here it is I'm finishing his NEW overlong but even better 11/22/63, which follows an ordinary schmoe as he travels back in time to save Kennedy from being assassinated. Addictive as always, King gets away with a book so massive in scope and page-count, and while Im not finished yet…its been a hum dinger of a ride. Would make an amazing mini-series for sure. You've done it again Uncle Stevie!

So, to anyone and everyone I might have crossed paths with this year, be it business or personal...thanks for being part of the grand production, come back for the next scene and hope you signed a release form! To those I might have hurt, insulted, offended or just plain pissed off...My bad. Honestly, it wasn't malicious. Well, maybe that ONE time, but you were being a dick. Anyway, my apologies and hope I can make it up to you in the new year, or we can just agree to disagree. Either or.

I truly feel 2012 is gonna be one for the books, and not the Mayan kind. dI got my Blogger app, my 8.0 megapixel iPhone (and a few, more powerful backups) to "get the shot" as Mr. Vega once said, and Im all outta bubblegum.

Are you ready? Let's do this, 2012.

2011. Hasta Lasagne.

My alter ego. Pray he doesn't resurface.

Joe

SHOT OF THE DAY-The New Year #12.0: Out with the Old...

2011-12-31T22:07:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...this moment just felt right.

Hello 2012!!! Let's doo this.

Staying Scary,
Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #7-The Battle of Hall H

2011-08-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Gregory

Hey All,

To document one of the most memorable days of my life thus far, it's probably better to chronicle it in a timeline.

Here goes nuttin'...

SATURDAY, JULY 23RD 2011

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

8:45am-...little sleep, but pumped and ready for battle. Yesterday Rick and Adrianne from LARPAlliance fashioned me with my Sword holster (or whatever it's called) and it was time to suit up. Got my best shirt from Jinx (who also donated wardrobe to the movie and I love their stuff), my Badassdom Chucks and we were ready to go.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

11:45am- After meeting up with Luke (the family, who came yesterday for CHILLERAMA's preview, were going to meet us at the convention center later before the panel), we headed over, but not before running into a few familiar friends....all 6 fingers!

12:00pm- Stop off at G4 to say hi & hydrate, then meet Team IndieVest to grab credentials. Already the line for Hall H is massive. Not really sure it's for us, but exciting nonetheless. Mark and Matt regale the previous evening's highlight: sound testing the trailer in Hall H in front of Francis Ford Coppola (who was there also doing a tech rehearsal for TWIXT, which was having it's panel 3 hours before us). That I'm going to be on the same stage as Coppola is one thing...that he was there to see our trailer was another. This shit was getting real.

12:15pm- as we walk back to the hall, we literally run into many of our LARP friends who were in KoB who had donated their time to open the panel by announcing us. Masterstroke me thinks, just the right thing to set the stage (no pun intended). Everyone was in full regalia and rearing to rock. Just so good to see so many familiar faces again, like a family reunion.

12:30pm- Interview on SiriusXM's movie show, which was great because It was more of a free form geek out than it was the usual dog and dragon show. Great time reminiscing about my Troma days and talking Spielberg.

1:00pm-Luke and I walk the halls of SDCC, so many memories of years past. Never thought I'd be here with a movie, let alone one with a panel. Let alone one with a panel in Hall H. I'd been so busy from the moment I arrived in San Diego with my other projects I didn't really have a moment to let it sink in. It's starting to. Holy Frak.

1:15pm-Meet the family backstage in the Green Room. The Immortals panel is going on in Tv screens in the room and a tinge of nervousness begins to burrow. Thankfully, most of the cast had assembled backstage too so it was great to just catch up for a few with Ryan, Summer, Peter, Gladis, Jimmi & Mel, Marg and the gang. Gillian & Kim from ID PR were floating about, keeping everyone at bay and happy. Everyone seemed excited but kept their cool. My insides started doing backflips.

1:45-Gillian & Kim round up the Knights. I tighten Edith to my back, my "lucky charm" from the shoot and now my rock for today. I keep pinching myself but realize it's just the shoulder strap's too tight.I kiss Bri & Remy and we're off into the catacombs of the convention center to get to the back of Hall H. Excitement in the air. My butterflies are gone.

1:55pm-Backstage in Hall H, we take a peek at the crowd awaiting the panel. HOLY SHIT. I've been in the hall before, both in the front and WAAAAY in the back, and from this vantage it looks like a full house and people are still filling in. Anthony from EW (our esteemed moderator) is backstage and we compare hairstyles for a moment to abate any nervousness. I was ready.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

2:00: The Panel Begins. First we have the LARPers from the film fill the stage and BearMan screams our arrival. SWEET. The crowd eats it up. Then we show the trailer, and once the music (that we've only heard on laptop speakers till today) BOOMS into the hallway, and from the first "In A World..."...we were off to the races. Once it was over, a thunderous applause followed, Anthony introduced us, and I cannot tell you the feeling of walking out to 6500 fellow Comic-Conians felt like. It felt like a win for US, the dreamers, the lovers of other worlds and creating them, and one of the most exciting 20 steps I've taken next to my wedding day. Instinctually, I unsheathed Edith, screamed "Holy Schnikies" (big ups to Chris Farley) and away we went. But here, I'll let the video tell the rest....

3:00pm-As you can see above, the Panel ends with me, out of the blue and like a man possessed, grabbing Edith and commanding the entirety of Hall H to shout "Huzzah!" (thankfully people did) which was the perfect capper to the panel. I dont know where it came from, but it just felt right. We're then ushered off stage to take group pictures and it all felt like a glorious blur. Backstage, Jeff, the head programmer of the Con hugged me and said it was an amazing panel, one of the best, and I was instantly humbled by the gesture....um, the con isn't over yet!

3:10pm-While the others are sent back to the green room, Summer and I are whisked back to the outskirts of the hall to do a live interview with G4. This was another surreal, almost storybook moment in my life; not 2 years ago I was on this stage working and now, I'm on the stage in FRONT of the camera talking about a movie I directed. See kids? Dreams DO come true! My good friend and former co-worker Kevin Pereira interviewed us and it was a great time, even if I could BARELY hear a word. Also, walking in the wake of The Glau at Comic-con, I must have come off like her cheap body guard than her director, but hell, it's good company to be in right? No sooner than we got there, we were done and whooshed offstage and back to the green-room. All my friends and G4 family were genuinely proud and again, it was a win for the team. Here's the video:

Game Reviews - E3 2012

3:45pm-We meet the rest of the Fellowship in the back where vans take us to the Entertainment Weekly photo session. We get there and one of my favorite photographers for the mag, Michael Mulller, was the shooter and I was thrilled. They even threw me into a few and took a few of me with Edith (even if they didn't use them) which was a thrill. Everyone was having a great time, still not really giving the moment we all experienced a chance to sink in. Thankfully we were all friends and were just having a great time, like a victory run of sorts. Plus, in what must be the coolest swag I've ever seen, each of us were given a personalized card from AMC for a year of free movies. SWEET!!! I'm gonna use the shit out of that, thanks AMC!

4:00pm-Then we all sat down for a very funny, off the cuff interview with EW.com, which turned into a funny, Apatow-esque free-for-all. Check out the video:

5:00pm-We are thrown back into the vans and driven to the Hilton behind the Convention center for a press conference. This is more of a Q&A for media (whereas the Hall H panel was moderated and was more for fan questions). There we met many of the investors for the movie who came to the con dressed in Cosplay, including Amanda & her mom who came to the set, so it was a great reunion! My kind of peeps to be sure. After some pics, we sat down and another hilarious dialogue between us all sprang forth. I wish we got to record this one, because everyone was on FIRE. At one point, someone placed an OLD SCHOOL cassette player on the table amongst the digital recorders and that's all Pudi, Dinklage and I needed to go off. I think we need to do some nights at the Catskills, it was pretty funny. We also met up with some of the other cast, like Brett (Gunther), Kim (Ira) & Sean (Winston) who were so happy the film was there and was leaving a trail of Badassdom in our wake. Luke and the family were there as well and Remy was even dressed as a wood sprite (in true Cosplay form) and it was great to see them since in Hall H, I couldn't see past the first 10 rows.

Shot with iphone, click to enlarge.

6:00pm-Wrapping up the panel, We said goodbye to everyone from the cast and Team IndieVest and leisurely strolled along the back of the con, enjoying the waterfront and a moment of relative quiet. It was the perfect way to just settle down a bit from the minute by minute madness of the last 9 hours. At the time, I wasn't sure, but I THOUGHT we did good, didn't feel like I put my foot in my mouth TOO many times and Bri, Luke & my mother-in-law Jan all said how proud they were of me, which is all that counted. Remy gave me a big hug, which was the best validation I could get.

8:00pm-meet up with some of the cast and IndieVest guys at a nice Italian restaurant where wine flowed, pasta was served and smiles abound. Everyone was in high spirits and the constant twitter/Facebook searches on "Knights Of Badassdom" started giving us the impression we made a dent in the day, which for Comic-Con is no small feat. But with bedtime for Plissken looming, we opted out of the EW party that night to take him back to the hotel to crash after a long day. A hell of a day for all of us, indeed.

10:30pm-Remy asleep, I meet up with Green, who just finished the Troma panel. We finally got to debrief about the CHILLERAMA preview (both planning our edits the next week to tighten things up) and just lament on the memorable weekend. Very rare one would have a movie, let alone TWO movies, and both of us were both excited and spent.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

1:15am-Can't sleep, sitting outside the hotel and finding myself talking to my Dad, who would have truly been proud of all the hard work I've endured over the past year. We had a good talk, again just chewing the fat about the last few days, weeks, months & year of blood, sweat of tears spilled...and it all been worth it thus far. This is only the beginning, this I know, but it's an awesome way to start. Thanks for believing in me Dad.

2:00am-Finally....sleep. Not much as the entire day felt like a waking dream, but my body is shutting down an I'm gladly following it's lead.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 2011

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

The next day we trolled the halls of Comic-Con for an hour or two just so Remy can soak it in a bit before he high-tailed it out of there after 5 days of hard work. I was so drained but couldn't stop smiling. Even strange walking past people and hearing "Dude, Badassdom rocks!" and with the trailer hitting the interwebs n Saturday, word was quickly spreading that our little film might be worth a watch or two and in the hours and days that followed, many online blogs and other media wrap-ups about the convention noted KoB as being a highlight, which was such an honor...Again, a little indie genre film like KNIGHTS usually never gets this kind of exposure and we're all so excited to finish the film and make good on the good will we garnered from Comic-Con. Here's a few nice words written about the film from some media post-panel:

Indiewire.com

New York Magazine Online

Hitfix.com

i09.com

GeeksOfDoom.com

BloodyDisgusting.com

Badassdigest.com

...and while it wasn't necessarily Comic-Con, Jay & Silent Bob even weighed in on the trailer! Boo ya!
Cinema Enema on G4

Here's the cast photo from the EW session:

Image courtesy of EW.com

...and, here comes the mushy part: I cant thank everyone enough...from the cast who came near and far to join us onstage and in the media blitz that followed, to all the.SDCC organizers who took a HUGE chance on us by programming the film in such a coveted spot, to everyone in IndieVest who came out to support and set up the event, to the investors who showed up to enjoy the day with us (and to those w believed in the film from the beginning), to the LARPers who rallied by our side on and off-stage, to everyone at ID PR who ran an amazingly tight ship while smiling the whole way, to my family (Bri, Jan & Remy) and friends (especially Luke & Green) who were there through thick and thin....and most importantly, to everyone in Hall H who embraced our crazy little flick, even what little we showed, and has been spreading the good word of KoB ever since. I know the term "A film for the fans made by fans" is cliche by now, but I really feel like we made an impact San Diego the old fashioned way...by being genuinely excited to entertain you with KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM because we are all in this together. This isn't just product, it IS a labor of love for all the things we adore about escaping through movies, just like the characters escape their real world for a weekend, and I think the cast and crew down there couldn't hide the excitement we all felt on set. So this one's for you Comic-Con..., thanks for being a great host to our hilarity in Hall H. Thank you ALL for making this Comic-Con one for the books.

On behalf of the Knights...I bow in your honor. Now....ONWARD TO EVERMORE!!!

Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #6-ComicConaRama

2011-08-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

I have to admit, this is tough.

The past few weeks have been nothing short of pure insanity. I'm not complaining in the least, but since the last posting I did on the eve of the CHILLERAMA premiere on Friday the 24th & the KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM panel at Comic-Con on Saturday the 25th, I literally haven't had any time to sit down and write more than short bursts (usually 140 characters, thanks Twitter!).

Plus…its been hard to really take in all that's transpired since then and write them down. Every day on my To Do list I have "WRITE BLOG", which i sadly cut and paste to the next day…then the next…then the next. It took a flight to Germany on the first stop of our "Chillerama European Tour" with Green to finally settle in and catch up.

So my apologies for being a little late (NOTE: ALMOST 4 WEEKS, LYNCH. JEEZ) but with it still somewhat fresh in my mind, I wanted to finally flip on the Flux Capacitor and take us back, starting with Friday as Im racing to the Gaslamp Theater to meet the CHILLERAMA guys for our first big preview screening of our Anthology…let's go back, shall we? Great! Let's go! 88 Miles Per Hour, Doc!

FRIDAY:

After braving traffic to move 6 blocks through the barrage of cosplayers and gift-bag toting comic-con fans, I finally make it to the Gaslamp, a movie theater a few blocks away from the Con. Tonight was poised to be our first public screening of our little passion project that we bled, sweat and tore our way to completion-all this while I'm still working on 3 other things AND attempt to be a good Husband and Dad, mind you-and we were all very excited and more than a little nervous. CHILLERAMA was made with a lot of love and quite a few favors, and Image Entertainment (the fantastic distribution company that believed in the project from the start) was looking at the Comic-Con crowd as the perfect place to test the film, so they set up this free screening for people who would likely appreciate it. Good strategy, right?

When I get there, the other directors (Adam, Adam & Tim) had already arrived and doing press so I jumped right in and we were off to the media races, doing 5 interviews in 20 minutes, trying to all get a word in edgewise. Bunch 'a chatterboxes, the lot of us. Then it was a marathon signing of our John Hancocks on the VERY cool Limited edition posters that the great Phil Roberts-who did Rifkin's killer DETROIT ROCK CITY poster which I was a huge fan of-had lovingly illustrated, using the 4 of us representing each of our shorts. All of us were blown away with the design, and to make things uber-cooler, the MPAA rejected the design…due to MY image; seems like you can get away with severed fingers and Phallic chainsaws on posters but a cartoon featuring me with my eyeball hanging out of my skull, a ripped cheek and blue spooge (i.e. Demon Sement) emanating from my crotch is not safe for public consumption. All fine, since this was just a limited edition poster and the official poster is on a much grander scale (also done by Phil, bringing back the good ole days of illustrated posters like ANIMAL HOUSE & AMERICAN GRAFITTI).

So, with an hour and a half before we start and fans lining up outside, we were anxiously excited to unveil this sick little beast on unassuming eyes. Yet…WHERE WAS THE MOVIE?? Cory the producer, phone firmly affixed to his ear, was informing us that the Blu Ray screener of the latest cut was stuck in traffic.

MINT.

But, thankfully we had a backup, but it was an even rougher cut, and after playing it in the theater, we were all dismayed to see most of the FX and sound were VERY rough (even more incomplete than what we were expecting) so our high hopes were lowering by the minute. In a scenario ripped from say BROADCAST NEWS, all 4 of us are coming up with Plan B's, Plan C's and D's and F's and T's as the clock was ticking and our other Producer/FX guru Jason Miller was furiously weaving and sliding through massive gridlock on the 5, desperately struggling to get to the theater in time. The Image folks and the PR peeps, keeping a cool, collective position as we all tear what little hair we have left out, suggested that we do our Q&A BEFORE the screening since they already had a "hard out" with CHILLERAMA since they were also premiering Rob Hall's Splatacular LAID TO REST 2, and we couldn't push his spot out. And hey, at least we had the rough cut right? We would just have to be explicit and say HOW rough it was. Very….VERY rough.

So, 7:30 arrived and the doors opened, a good crowd of horror fans started filling seats and sweat couldn't come out of enough pores as Cory & Mark Ward from Image kept getting up-to-the-minute updates from Jason…"He's 20 away….No he's 35….wait…He's 5. Shit! We lost him!" Nothing like a little extra stress to fill your big night huh? But the show MUST go on.

Photo courtesy of Arrow In The Head

Finally, it's 7:45 and we HAD to start. Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton from DreadCentral.com was our moderator and introduced us and you couldn't get a more nerve-racked, disparaged quartet shuffle out with the best smiles we could muster and sit in on a very strange Q&A where Steve threw out questions on the genesis of the project, influences, what have you. Thankfully, Steve is a great personality and knows how to keep a crowd enthused, since each of us would be looking off to the sidelines, begging for an update. At one point, a good 10 minutes into the Q&A, we hear from the right side of the theater in a hardly hushed tone: "It's here!" and then immediacy followed by "NO…ITS NOT!". If you watch closely in any pics or video, you can see each of us SQUIRMING in our seats, praying it would arrive.

…and thankfully it did. WHEW! Jason had shoved his way through the Gaslamp District somehow and raced up to the Projection booth, and with that, away we went with CHILLERAMA's first public screening.

Now, truth be told, it was a hard screening for me. This was the first time I was seeing it with many of the visual FX that producer Jason Miller and his Skull Tree VFX (alongside some favors from Stacy Davidson who directed SWEATSHOP) had implemented and honestly, they looked GREAT. I knew they were partially finished, but just the opening scene in the graveyard (Spoiler!) had a completely new look to it since we shot it all on green screen, so it was a nice surprise to see it work with the crowd. So far so good….

All three of the other shorts; WADZILLA, WEREBEARS & ANNE FRANK, played really well to the crowd, despite the unfinished elements (score, mix, VFX, coloring, etc). It just showed how strong the film is and everyone was sucked into the world of the Kaufman Drive In.

But then, slowly, disaster struck (at least to me). The other shorts didn't have as many of these, but technical flubs began to sprinkle in, each making me go "Oooh!" "Arrgh" from the sidelines. Shots were missing or in the wrong spot; title cards were not in their right place, shots that were freeze frames were now the beginning of shots when the DP is zooming into the shot for focus, etc. This wasn't intentional of course; someone who was conforming the film at the breakneck pace we had been going to make this insane deadline might have slipped a bit, but I can't say it was easy to watch. But it wasn't all doom and gloom: There was even a moment where he film goes out of sync….and the audience LOVED it. Happy Accidents, huh?

Since we designed this "Preview" to be able to truly test it with a crowd, one that would at least appreciate the fun vibe we were going for, it while the response was worlds better than we expected for a rough cut, all four of the filmmakers agreed to go back into the edit for one last pass to real tighten up the moments we all felt weren't hitting and of course clean up any mistakes or unfinished business. Oh, and I kept in the out of sync shot; it KILLS now! Gotta love that.

Outside the crowd was buzzing and we were very thankful for the positive responses, but also relieved it was over. To me for this weekend, it was "One down, one to go". But KoB felt so far away, even if it was only 12 hours till Hall H. No matter, I was gonna try to blow off some steam and enjoy the rest of the night, which included going to a few parties which were way too hip and douchey for my taste; seriously, none of the people here at these swanky soirees would be caught DEAD in Comic-Con…where did they come from? But I did get to meet Roddy Piper, shake his hand while he crushed my fingers momentarily, which did bring a smile to my face. Then it was back to the hotel for SOME sleep before the big day...

Thanks to everyone who came out on their busy Comic-Con schedules and join in a little movie magic with us! It was such a helpful screening and the film is better now for it! Watch for more details on when CHILLERAMA will invade your home...or even home town!

Here's some of the reactions to CHILLERAMA from the preview screening. Hopefully some more warm, squishy regards to come (pun intended).

Killer Film Review

Shock Till You Drop Review

Fangoria Review

Arrow In The Head coverage

Interview with the 4 directors HERE.

Tomorrow: THE KNIGHTS INVADE HALL H!

Staying Scary,
Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #5-Late Night Nerdings

2011-07-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Instead of post the usual shots of crowds, cosplay and the expected craziness of Comic-Con, I thought this image of my hallway in the hotel was a little more apt. For the past 2 days Ive been holed up in the room working and FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION, a collection of LOST fans have essentially taken the wing over as their personal Dharma Initiative party place...and all I keep hearing is the numbers "4 8 15 16 23 42" chanted over and over...and was that a smoke monster down the hall? It's getting kinda Abrams around here...

...but that's Comic-Con, for many, an annual getaway from the ordinary to step into the Extra-ordinary, to be amongst friends and family in all things geek and to be able to express themselves as "one of us" with no judgement....to be free. Hmmm...reminds me of the plot of a movie.

So this is just the kind of shot you DONT see for Comic-Con...the smaller details that go into the experience for fans that should only be embraced and loved. Gotta respect that!

But then again...SHUT UP I NEED TO SLEEP!!!

Hurley Forever,

Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #4 - San Diegomore!

2011-07-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

Shot with iphone, click to enlarge.

Finally made it to the hotel, and immediately its "Duty calls". But damn if this aint a view huh? Worth all the blood, sweat and tears over the next 2 days and will make the whole experience a LOT more fun. Top O the world, Ma.

More soon...but I think Spirits are in order for sure and then some long-earned slumber. It's gonna be a long weekend, but one we wont soon forget. I think its time to don some of my new armor...

Shot with iphone, click to enlarge.

Onward!
Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #3 - 41 Hours of Battle

2011-07-20T00:04:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

The shells of ammo left behind on the battleground.

Tonight finally comes rest. For tomorrow....we storm San Diegomore.

Onwarzzzzzzzzzz

Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #2 - The Mixing Hour

2011-07-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Another day another all-nighter. But, must battle on…

After Matt and I finished our sound design for CHILLERAMA last night (or was it this morning? Days are beginning to blend, folks) I went home and got about 3 hours of non-sleep and then rose from the dead to race over to the PR firm handling KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM for two pretty damn important interviews about the flick, which was just the jolt I needed to wake the F up. First up was the L.A. Times' Hero Complex, which is one of the biggest genre blogs in the land and then the famed WIRED magazine, which was a phoner, but so cool nonetheless. It was another great primer for the barrage of questions upon questions that will be flying fast in the days to come, but with Edith at my side (which I brought with me to the office), I'm ready!

Then after a post-interviews pow-wow with the IndieVest guys about our Panel plans in Hall H (Wait, it's still happening? It wasn't a dream!?!?),Matt & I bolted straight to the CHILLERAMA sound mix in the Valley, meeting up with ArieScope's trusted sound guru, Andy Garfield (who composed the fantastic score for FROZEN & the HATCHET films, seen above). Since then we've been cranking away at the sound mix for ZOM-B-MOVIE for the past 8 hours with plenty more to go. The Power of 5 Hour Power compels me.

Sleep is not an option.

Completion is our climax.

I don't even know what Im writing anymore. Starting to sound like a Stone Temple Pilots song.

Exhaustion is setting in…and its only Monday? Crap.

Wish us luck! WAIT....WHO TOUCHED MY 5 HOUR POWER!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Onwarzzzzzz

Joe

Comic-Con Week: Day #1- Moans & Groans...(So it begins)

2011-07-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

"..We need another effect for Fat Fart-Woman"

So I'm back in the edit, its 6pm and we're mouth-farting and Xombie-moaning into a digital recorder. Typical Sunday evening, right?

Matt the editor and I are racing to finish up the sound design for my sections of CHILLERAMA, and we're on the last night before we're dashing into the mix with Andy Garfield for a quick stereo mix, then check FX shots at LIT Post AND fit in 2 big interviews for KNIGHTS in the am..and thats just in the next 24 hours. The madness of the Comic-Con marathon has just begun!

The past week since we last spoke has itself been a blur of sorts; so much has happened in such little time. From doing a coloring pass of CHILLERAMA at LIT Post (AMAZING digital intermediate artistes!) to putting the finishing touches on the KoB teaser with AV SQUAD (whose work Im a BIG fan of...click their site to see ad agree!!) to sound spotting with CHILLER editor Matt (whose tireless dedication to this project is a sight to behold) to meetings with fellow directors on a secret project I'm working on right now (stay tuned for that one)...and this is all before Wednesday! I think I also ate a little and slept less.

Photo by Ryan Rotten

Wednesday was also a gas; IndieVest and the wonderful folks at ID PR set up a "Pre Comic-Con" interview day for myself, Mark & Matt where we got to show some media a select number of media some goodies from KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM, including some of the props from the film (which was a stroke of genius, see above...funny how the ladies gravitated towards Kwanten's armor!). But it was really the first time anyone outside our "circle of trust" got to see some footage and from what I gathered from the feeling in the room...people were really digging it. We did two roundtables and it was a great primer for the week ahead being able to talk about the movie, even in repetition. Just strange how the last time I was in a "roundtable" was 11 years ago when I was part of a roundtable interviewing Vin Diesel for PITCH BLACK (where I was the only nerd who name-checked IRON GIANT, to which he was impressed. Thanks Brad Bird!) and I can see how these things can be a little strange, but everyone in both sessions seemed genuinely jazzed at what they saw, which was even more encouraging for the days ahead as we travel to the Hallowed Hall H. For more info (and even more pics) from the EW "First Look" check it out HERE!

BUT...we're not done yet!!! Right after I got home from the Roundtable sessions, the exclusive Comic-Con ONLY teaser poster for CHILLERAMA was unleashed onto the Internets courtesy of Image Entertainment, our fearless distributors, has sent it out along with info on the Comic-Con screening. Feast your eyes on this sexy sucker:

Poster art by Phil Roberts

The old-school concept (no photoshop baby!) was done by famed artist Phil Roberts, who I was a big fan of since his work on DETROIT ROCK CITY's poster. Now again, this is only for the con since the real poster will be even more epic, but since we needed something for the preview, Phil whipped this sucker up and damn if it aint a hoot. But get them quick, cause the MPAA supposedly was NOT pleased with it so it will likely become a collector's item (..or something you use for a dog paper when you get home from the con; at least use the white side!).
Great work Phil, thanks!!! For more info on the screening, click the link HERE!

So yeah...Wednesday...whew!

Thursday was equally interesting as the Entertainment Weekly article on KNIGHTS went online a day before press. Now, I had no clue what was going to come about from this; last week I got an email saying "We need you to talk to EW about the movie asap". Um, what!? OUR movie? Full disclosure: I like EW. I enjoy it and have for years. I've had a subscription since '91 and the fact that anything I say, let alone an image of a movie I directed?!?! Holy Schnikies! The interview was really cool; what was 15 minutes turned into 30, time flew by and the writer Anthony seemed happy with the results. CUT TO: The EW article comes out....

HOLY CRAP! This is the first time 3 of our heroes are shown "In game". Pretty killer huh?!?! Plus my dad's TRIK logo is on proud display, which is such a wonderfully bittersweet moment for me and the family (long story, check out my SHOT OF THE DAY #65 for a little more insight).

Now, I dunno if you read EW or not but a placement in "FIRST LOOK" is no small potatoes here folks. For an indie film? Its frikkin' RARE. But luckily enough we have some amazing actors who have been on the public consciousness as of late (especially with TRUE BLOOD starting again and The Dinklage getting an Emmy nom) so the pic landing in this spot in the mag for their annual Comic-Con Preview issue was just another moment of serendipity for this crazy flick. The image spread online like a zombie virus and suddenly, the awareness for KOB was hitting it's stride and only fueled everyone's excitement for the week(s) to come.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

But that wasn't all...I also spent Thursday doing ADR for the CHILLERAMA "Comic-Con Mix" so we had all the loose ends tied up before screening. It was a blast seeing many of the actors again, even recording Bri and Remy for a few moments, and I relished in directing each actor to "give me a take of Zombie Humping" for our splatteriffic soundscape. It was so much fun, just so strange to have to shift from one project to the next in the span of a car ride. Then it was off to Pasadena to meet for said "Secret" project and then finally make it home by Midnight, which has been my usual "cut off" point. 18 hour day? Pffft. That's bankers hours, baby. But its all worth it.

On Friday, Matt and I began the laborious but exciting task of doing all the sound design for my segments of CHILLERAMA, which was again, a lot of squishing, screaming, moaning, defecating...clearly this is a family film! But its truly stunning what a great sound effect can do for a moment (and how the wrong one can take you out of the movie). Its been an all weekend process but its been a hootenanny for sure, coming up with unique ways to get sound effects. I learned that Macaroni Salad is a WONDERFUL tool for many of these SFX needs...who knew?

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...and now here we are, on Sunday night before the mix, recording moans, groans and various other squishing SFX that would make DEAD ALIVE Peter Jackson proud. Nothing like the 11th hour, huh? Again, the version people are going to see on Friday is NOT going to be the completed cut. Image wanted to take advantage of the convention to get the good word out about the movie (which we're delivering right after the con is over) by showing a cut to the right fans...REAL fans! And while it wont be 100%, this seems to be the best crowd to get a hell of a first response, so we don't want to miss an opportunity like Comic-Con, right? Should be a lot of fun!

So....By this time next week, after the Marathon slows down and many a hangover is nursed, we'll be driving back from San Diego...and I have NO clue how its all gonna go. But I DO know we'll have given it our all, put our best sword forward and it will be an honor and thrill to have had the opportunity to go to Comic-Con with TWO movies, making this a dream within a dream come true. Hope to see you guys out there, please say hi and wish us luck!

Onward!!

Joe

Back for Battle!!

2011-07-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Hey all,

Holy crap its been a while, how is everyone? Good? FanTAStic as Adam Rifkin would say.

Its been a pretty insane few days, let alone few MONTHS, and while I did tease out the "Uncle Cecil" pic for CHILLERAMA and hinted at things to come with my girl EVERLY, its been one hell of a ride thus far since we last spoke and we're ONLY getting started. The next few weeks are going to be bat-shit INSANE and I want to, even for my of edification, document it as much as possible before they whoosh by like a blur. So expect a LOT more pictures, hell maybe even a video or two, in the days, weeks and months ahead. Im still in shock over whats been going on, and it would be unfair for me NOT to share some of the adventure with you! Or just sound like a pompous douche...you make the call.

First, let me get you up to speed since last time we talked...where to begin!!!

Photo By Pete Moroz

-KOB AT COMIC-CON!: I'd say the biggest news is an absolute dream come true for a nerd like myself...our scrappy Indie Adventure film, KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM (which is you haven't been following, I did a "Shot of the Day" during pre-production and all through the process thus far) is coming to Comic-Con and in HIGH style!! For the uninitiated...Comic-Con is Nerdvana, the most amazing collection of geekdom in the land; one week where we can celebrate our passions and obsessions in the realms of genre film, TV, games, books and of course...comics! I've been going since 2004, either as a fan or media (with G4) and a few years back with WRONG TURN 2...but this year is different. This year...our new movie is going to have its true unveiling to the masses we made the movie for WITH the cast as well as show some exclusive footage for the very first time to the public. In HALL H, which is basically like arriving in the Wizard's Chambers in Oz. THIS is where all the big studios and huge blockbusters show off their wares and getting into the coveted Hall H to see some anything big is harder than a blood diamond, so when I heard it was even a slight possibility that our indie film would have an actual panel there, I was like Wayne Campbell: "Sheaah...RIIIGHT!" but lo and behold....The Knights are coming to Hall H muthafuckas!!!! Ill be on-stage with much of the amazing and dedicated ensemble, including Ryan Kwanten, Summer Glau, Danny Pudi, Margarita Levieva, Michael Gladis and of course, Peter Dinklage (and possibly a few more...wink wink)! Can you fucking believe it?!? Me neither. Everyone's been so accommodating with their busy schedules to help us with this and I couldn't be more excited and honored to share the stage with these fine folks as we premiere the first official trailer (and maybe a few more surprises too). I hope to see you guys there...I promise you wont be dissapointed. And if you are...there's the door! I'll be documenting this amazing journey for sure so stay tuned on that one.

If you haven't already, follow the TWITTER feed, like the FACEBOOK page and check out the OFFICIAL WEBSITE for more!

Check out some good will we've gotten HERE, HERE & hell, even HERE!

Photo by Andrew Craig

-CHILLERAMA IS COMING!!!: It was announced a few weeks back but now its OFFICIAL. Image Entertainment is distributing our insane anthology CHILLERAMA this year! We're working round the clock to have it ready for a very special event happening VERY soon to keep your eyes peeled (ew!) but the other awesome news is...we were accepted into UK's FRIGHTFEST! That's right London...Green and I are baaaaack! Lock up your daughters, put away the sharp silverware and bring a plastic tarp to cover yourself with...cause CHILLERAMA is going to bring "Th Ultimate Midnight Movie" BACK to Leicester Square! We're playing the Midnight show on Saturday night and truth be told, the last few midnight shows in that slot have been a liiiiitle lacking, so the wonderful chaps at FF (Alan, Paul, Ian & Greg) decided its time to put the balls back into the Witching Hour. I CHALLENGE all the FrightFesters to stick around at 11:35...it's gonna be a HELL of a night for sure!!!

Rifkin, Sullivan, Green, myself, The ArieScope crew & Image are extremely proud of this homage to B-Horror history and there is sure to be something for every (Bad) taste! We're bringing the feeling of being at a New Beverly Midnight show to the masses...and its gonna get messy ;)

Read more about the FrightFest event HERE! And check out more details on the distribution of CHILLERAMA HERE! Screw SUCKER PUNCH...you will DEFINETELY NOT BE PREPARED for this one folks!!! ....and get ready for more surprises announced in the next few days!!

-MY VIDEO REMIXES GONE WILD!: Man, it's been a busy week already, huh? Well, in between the KOB Comic-Con announcement and CHILLERAMA finding a happy home, I also unleashed my latest video remix, "Short Time Bomb", which could actually be my favorite one yet.

If you dont know already; since I was old enough to hook up 2 VCR's (i.e. age 10), I've been "remixing" my favorite movie scenes with music I love. This is probably why directing music videos has always been a passion of mine, not merely a stepping stone like other directors. I LOVE taking visuals and music and fashioning them together, and many times I watch a movie and say "Man, this scene needs some Pantera" or "Could you imagine that scene with some Tribe Called Quest?" So i used to make these little "remixes" just to show my family and friends, most of whom would go "Um...cool?" and go back to their business, but I never stopped doing them and with the advent of digital editing and the wonderful world of viral video sharing, I began just doing them, almost as a stress reliever from a hard day or work or in the middle of an edit late at night when something is taking 4 hours to render. I've put a few up in the past (check out my remix of OLDBOY HERE or a fun faux PSA for DIE HARD HERE, amongst others) but 2 months back I had some inspirado while driving home listening to the AMAZING new Beastie Boys album and a few hours later..."POP YOUR INNERSPACE" was born! Now, this is nothing official, just me having some fun, but after it put it online, INNERSPACE director Joe Dante actually checked it out and sent me the NICEST email, and MCA from the Beasties gave it a thumbs up as well! Again, to take two things I love and smush them together?! Well, that's what art kinda is right? At least Andy Warhol would approve...

Which leads me to my latest Remix, which was again made one very late night after hearing one of 311's new songs (they asked me to come up with some ideas for a video, sadly a video didn't work out) but since I couldn't get the song out of my head, and because the song made me think back to this one kinda obscure action comedy I always remembered loving that played on HBO 4 times a week...well again...the Inspirado hit me like a speeding Plymouth and next thing I know Im taking Dabney Coleman and setting this absolutely gonzo car chase to the strains of one of 311's newest songs, "Time Bomb" off of their new album UNIVERSAL PULSE (out July 19th!). Now, this was really just an late night hobby, purging this need to make something creative while slogging away at a mundane edit I got sucked into, but immediately...I just...couldn't stop....and from that, we have this mini-Epic, "Short Time Bomb".

NOTE: Why the long intro? Well, without it, since the plot is integral to the main character's drive to be killed in the line of duty, The Dabney would just come off as a reckless asshead. But if you give an abridged set-up (disguised as a TV show prologue to catch the viewer up to previous plot points similar in fashion to most of HBO's series) then you know his intentions are crazy, but good-natured. Knowing the band and being such a fan, I didn't want a negative message to go along with this extreme, almost comic violence. So when it was suggested that I cut the prologue out, I posed the question: "Would you sacrifice your own life for your family's well being?" and the message struck, especially to some of the guys who just became fathers (like myself!) So thankfully, they completely embraced the video idea even if its not an official clip and gave me permission to put it out there as a "fan film" and Im honored to have their blessing. Sadly, SHORT TIME is not available anywhere, which is a shame because its a pretty great film (with a fantastic concept...I smell remake!!) and one of Coleman's best performances but to pay homage to both a band I love and a film I truly admire (with a car chase that rivals most of the FAST/FURIOUS movies easily and even stands up to classics like FRENCH CONNECTION & BULLITT) was absolutely worth one sleepless night. Enjoy!

Well...I think that's enough typing for the moment and plenty of catch-up for the three or so of you out there who read this thing (Hi Mom! Yes I got the card, thanks!) but keep checking back....I promise Ill be posting more very soon...swearzies!

Photo By Pete Moroz

Staying Awake,
Joe

CHILLERAMA! First "ZOM-B-MOVIE" still released!!

2011-06-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

"Shots up!" Meet Cecil Kaufman (Richard Riehle)

Hey all,

Sorry I've been a little distant...funny how the more busy I am with cool shit to talk about the less time I have to talk about it....or can't (yet).

But here's a little tidbit of goodness for now, the first still from my contribution to CHILLERAMA! This was an absolute labor of love to do and hope you guys dig it!

Here is the official press release from ArieScope.com's NEWS site:

NEW STILL FROM CHILLERAMA: Joe Lynch's "Zom-B-Movie"

6.6.2011 Today, Joe Lynch (KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM, WRONG TURN 2) released the first official still from "Zom-B-Movie", his segment of ArieScope's upcoming CHILLERMA anthology film via Twitter. In "Zom-B-Movie" a final night of nostalgia unfolds at the Kaufman Drive-In before its torn down, where owner Cecil Kaufman (BRIDESMAIDS, OFFICE SPACE's Richard Riehle, pictured here) is screening obscure B-Movies from his private collection to an audience of local geeks and line-quoting movie lovers. Little do the unsuspecting cinema-loving patrons know, but tonight, something is horrifically amiss at the Last Drive-In....

CHILLERAMA will be released this Fall, so stay tuned for more information on where you can catch the full experience which includes outrageous installments from directors Adam Rifkin (Detroit Rock City), Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs) and Adam Green (Hatchet 1 & 2). Follow the directors on Twitter to get up to the minute information and news blasts.

@KaufmanDriveIn
@TheJoeLynch
@Adam_Fn_Green
@AdamRifkin
@TimSullivan22

More news about CHILLERAMA, KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM and other shenanigans soon!

Joe

Meet EVERLY...

2011-06-05T17:27:00.001-07:00

Hey all,

Sorry its been a while, been caught up in a lot of stuff, my bad. But one cool thing that popped up a few weeks back that I Twittered but forgot to put on the blog...seems my new film EVERLY had been "announced" to Variety during Cannes and the word spread. Check it out HERE or read below:

CRIME SCENE STARTS THRILLER "EVERLY"

EXCLUSIVE: Crime Scene Pictures partners Adam Ripp and Rob Paris are set to produce helmer Joe Lynch's action thriller, "Everly."
It's the year-old shingle's second project after Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz starrer "Gambit," which is lensing in London.
"Everly" centers on a down-on-her-luck woman, stuck in her apartment, who must fend off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss.
Pic is set entirely in one room and based on a concept created by Lynch. Crime Scene is talking to female leads and expects to begin lensing in New Orleans in winter. Yale Hannon pens the script, which was on the Hollywood Black List.
Anonymous Content's Luke Rivett is producing alongside Ripp and Paris, who are also financing the pic. Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway exec produce.
It's been a successful year for Crime Scene Pictures so far. Helmer Michael Hoffman's "Gambit" sold like hotcakes in Berlin earlier this year, where it was snapped up by Alliance Films for Canada, Blighty and Spain.
Joel and Ethan Coen penned the script for the comedy, which struggled to get into production for more than a decade before Crime Scene stepped in.
The shingle is backed by private equity, and aims to finance and produce two to three films per year with budgets ranging from $2 million to $25 million.
Crime Scene also has a television arm focused on reality programming.

We're so proud of this little movie already; the script's been a labor of love and that the producers have faith in us is so exciting and creatively inspiring. Might be the most challenging thing I've done yet (or might ever do!) but that's part of the fun, right? If we have our way...EVERLY is gonna knock your socks off...and if your socks wore socks...then consider them blown off too.

We're still a WAYS off from any new info other than what's out there, but if you want some more details and less from the Horse's mouth, HERE is an article by Bleeding Cool on the script.

Actually, stay tuned, another posting might come sooner than you think!!!

Staying Scary,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #95: We Hath Mov-ed!

2011-03-22T10:16:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Greetings Knights…and adieu (more on that in a sec).

Sorry we've been a little quiet as of late. To be honest, to quoteth a popular cop adage (usually while standing over a dead body) "Sorry folks, nothing to see here". We've been fine-tuning the current cut of KOB and THIS close to a "Picture lock", which is VERY exciting for everyone. With that in mind, we took our wares and moved back to Henson Studios (Home to IndieVest and those puppets) where we'll be working on the remainder of the film till we've completed the project. It'll be sad to see the EditCave go (our second spot to slash the celluloid) since we had so many good times in those two rooms; running back and forth to see Alex or Bill rock an effect, or our SUNNY IN PHILLY PRIDAYS, or fighting for the bathroom with nervous actors before their audition and eating the same (albeit very GOOD) Chinese chicken salad from the cafe across the street, but nice to get a new view too. But it's time to move on, as we push forward to our destiny as we near the completion of our quest. Feels fresh…a new dawn coming. Knights to the ready!

So, to the Edit Cave in the back of Nancy Nayor's casting office, our daily friends we saw every day, the screaming kids outside our window at the school next door (where producer Mark Burton once attended! Trivia alert!!) and to that awesome Chicken Quesadilla at Carthay's Cafe (another awesome choice)…we bid you good tidings all!

By the way….Lots of KNIGHTS alumni are busy in the coming days, months and weeks! We have the lovely Margarita Levieva who is burning up the screen in THE LINCOLN LAWYER, the estimable Jimmi Simpson is stealing the show on BREAKOUT KINGS (AND just cast in the huge ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER!) Sir Zahn is whooping it up with that WIMPY KID (2) and currently rocking his KoB wardrobe at Marti Gras for TREME, The dastardly Danny Pudi is still kicking COMMUNITY's ass (Down with Pierce!), the endless Summer is wrapping up THE CAPE (with Big Bear scoring her every kick and punch….again!), King Gladis' EAGLEHEART is a weekly highlight on Adult Swim and in a few weeks….The Dinklage will destroy all in HBO'S GAME OF THRONES! Of course, Kwanten is still rocking on TRUE BLOOD which is coming back this summer and if you haven't already seen it, check out his amazing Aussie western RED HILL. Our cast RULES!

Lots of exciting developments coming soon! Stay tuned for more…

Huzzah!
Joe

PS: I can't leave you totally hanging with NOTHING fun to watch, so here is a blooper reel fellow Knight Adam (FROZEN, HATCHET) Green and I were part of when we hosted two horror films-Friedkin's BUG and the 80's cult classic THE GATE-for our friends at FEARnet. Enjoy! (Look for the DOOMSTALKER cameo!)

KOB Shot of the Day #94: Summon The BILLzebub!

2011-02-13T16:38:00.001-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge

Fellowships, Clans and Guilds,

Welcome our newest member of the Knights! Bill Young is our new Assistant Editor who started last week and hit the battleground sprinting.

But what of the valiant Alex, you ask? Well, lets just say he…."didn't work out", so his bones float in our moat out back.

I kid!! Actually, we're proud to say the mighty Alex Luna went onto greener (and likely bloodier) pastures accepting a position to be the lead editor on Marcus Dunstan's THE COLLECTION, which is a more massive sequel to his sleeper hit THE COLLECTOR*, a flick I REALLY dug. Alex and Howard worked with Marcus on that film so for the sequel (which sounds killer, no pun), Marcus invited Alex to step up to the bat, his first feature! Congrats Alex, you will be missed! (…jerk.;) ) Also for the triviahounds, another former KoBer is fighting alongside Marcus; DP Blacksmith Sam McCurdy is the cinematographer for THE COLLECTION, which means it's gonna look Fan-Frakkin-Tastic. Kick ass boys! Do this one…for Hung!**

So with a position to fill, Howard interviewed some highly qualified souls but Bill's extensive experience in both editing and visual FX, as well as his sunny disposition, proved to us he could kick some (bad)ass(dom). With our visual cut close to locking, its now time where the assistant editor's job really kicks in, supplying various outsourced vendors and collaborators (like VFX, sound and score) with the proper information needed, helping Howard with the cut and also assisting on the creative end as well, and his work on some of our VFX shots have been fantastic. It's hard showing anyone the film with the visible seams (unfinished FX, temp score, ADR sound needed, etc) but Bill's been a prince in helping us put our best boot forward and minding the shop as well.

Welcome, Sir Bill, to the Knights….
Now if we only had a round table…or maybe one shaped like an ass?

To steal from a real King: "Long Days & Pleasant Knights!"

Joe

PS:Stay tuned, we're about to unleash some stills from the movie! The first will be released on Monday since our Facebook and Twitter followers hit our goal, Huzzah! Those two accounts will be the direct source for all the KoB news, including stories on many of our cast and crew, and of course when the trailer and release info drops. Please follow both of these and get ready for more Badassdom in 2011 and beyond!

Follow The Fellowship HERE!
Liketh The Knights HERE!

*Get it?
**You'll get it soon enough....

KOB Shot of the Day #92: Sundance Part(ay) #1

2011-01-28T09:22:00.001-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Hey all,

Saturday. Exhausted. Totally fine with that.

Friday night the first IndieVest/Knights of Badassdom party was in full swing. When we walked in they already had a mini-red carpet, complete with a "Step and Repeat" backdrop…with a KoB logo! Was NOT expecting that, nor was I anticipating the many signs wagon-wheeling around the room. Having not even finished the film yet-even though we're on schedule-it was a little unreal that people would already be here, discussing it, psyched for it. Met so many of our supporters and investors as well, who are also here enjoying the many movies programmed at Sundance and just talking movies all night. Needless to say, my kinda soiree; when a 45 minute discussion on the filmography of John Carpenter is the table topic over dinner, it's good times. It's a shame we couldn't show anything form the movie while here but everyone seems extremely excited about the film which was a great charge. Met SO many great people that my head was spinning, which is a nice segue to mention Tommy Lee was scheduled to spin at the party immediately after. Um, what? That Tommy Lee? OK, this could be interesting.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

…and boy can the guy spin. Everyone was impressed, and while there was a slight tinge of disappointment over the false rumor he'd use his dong on the 1's and 2's, it was a fantastic mix of deep house, hip-hop, pop and even some metal (the remix of Rage's "Killing In The Name" was an awesome capper. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and even though Im not a really a partier (to me, a jumpin' Friday night is being home with 3 Giallo flicks) I had a great time with everyone. But I also had to call it a night sooner than later as I scored a ticket to Paddy Considine's (the fantastic actor from DEAD MAN'S SHOES, BOURNE ULTIMATUM & HOT FUZZ) feature directing debut, TYRANNOSAUR. At 9am?! Oof. Better get to bed. Of course i stayed up and watched Louis CK's HILARIOUS again till 4:30am.

Thankfully, the screening was in the hotel we were at, the Yarrow. Actually, it was literally 100 feet away from my room. As bad as I wanted to walk in in my Hotel robe and slippers, I ended up dragging ass and plopping it front row center just as it began, barely able to keep the eyes open. But within 3 minutes of the movie's open, I was kicked squarely in the chest and from there I was wide awake. TYRANNOSAUR is a sad, sobering and pretty spectacular film, but as grim and often-times brutal as a Brit drama can get. Peter Mulan as the angry old man who befriends an abused wife is fantastic, and the movie reminded me of old-school Mike Leigh. It also reminded me of Gaspar Noe's I STAND ALONE, which is also intense but a little more cinematically assaultive. I knew nothing of the movie before it started other than the talent involved, but by the end I knew this movie would stay with me for a long time after. Knowing I had ANOTHER screening directly after I bolted before the Q&A but when I left, outside was Paddy and Peter and knot knowing what compelled me, with hands still kinda shaking from the film and a little teary, I just shook both their hands and said "Thank you, that was amazing" before walking off. Paddy called back "Mate! Thank you that's so great of ya". I've been in that position before, where you don't really know if your ideas and on-screen storytelling works with an audience or not, but its such a strange, unique feeling when an anonymous person comes up to you and compliments what they saw. I hope KNIGHTS does that to a few people too, something we'll know soon enough. But there was genuine graciousness when I I went up to him and he deserves it for sure. The film is not for the faint of heart, but its scarred heart is beating strong and Paddy is a hell of a director himself. Very glad I work up for it.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Trying to shake off the intensity from TYRANNOSAUR (wait till you hear how the title came about, film nerds) I met with a few friends (some old some new) who were going to see the CORMAN documentary. Roger Corman is 80-something and still gore-ing strong (Zing!) and this doc reveals his career spanning almost 60 years in and out of the Hollywood grind. How they got so many huge names to do it is a testament to Corman's legacy, so when you see Jack Nicholson, Joe Dante, Peter Fonda, Dick Miller, John Sayles, Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme & Martin Scorsese (all graduates from the "Corman School" of filmmaking) lamenting about the man who taught them the ropes, it adds such a legitimacy to a man who is usually the butt of B-movie jokes. It was such a great palate cleanser from TYRANNOSAUR and one hell of an entertaining time. MUST see.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

When we walked out, we discovered the sky was dumping snow. I was thrilled to see it because it was like a little slice of home, especially since we didn't have any snowfall when we went back east to NY for Christmas. It was chilly but worth the wintery mise en scene.

…and now Im back at the hotel, promising myself I'd give myself a break and rest before the 2nd IndieVest party tonight, but nope; Have MIDNIGHT RUN playing on Netflix Instant in the BG while I sit here and write this. Miss my family so badly right now but duty calls. I hear some of the KNIGHTS are actually showing up tonight too...one more night!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #93: Sundance Part(ay) #2

2011-01-23T23:26:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, not yours.

Hey all,

Sitting in the Salt Lake airport about to leave Park City after one hell of a whirlwind tour. My head is spinning (and SLIGHTLY throbbing) from last night's 2nd IndieVest party and where I didn't think it could get any bigger…it did!

Shot with iPhone, not yours.

Whereas Friday night had the rocket sauce of Tommy Lee behind the wheels, tonight touted Jermaine Dupri, someone I haven't said out loud since 2002 (when I shot an artist of his and stepped on his toe by accident, mah bad), as the house DJ. But what I didn't expect was I will now refer to as The Lure of the Dupri; as dinner ended and the party began, a cavalcade of scantily clad women began showing up from all corners of the room. The silicone levels in the room went up considerably from the previous night, but the dance floor filled up immediately. Our first DJ, Clinton Sparks, did a fantastic set to kick things off with a great house mix, and once Sir Dupri hit the vinyl, the place was (as they say) SLAMMIN'. Seriously, there was a crazy electricity in the room as he spun 80's to now tracks and there was more grindage than a screening of LAMBADA: THE FORBIDDEN DANCE at the New Beverly. It was a sight to behold. Hell, we even had a fight on the dance floor, which usually means…."GOOD PARTY". So great to see so many of our friends and IV family gettin' fah-reaky, and rightly so! It was a fantastic set by Jermaine, who won me over for sure.

Shot with iPhone, not yours.

An extra thrill was that two of our Knights, Brett Gipson (Gunther) and Peter Dinklage (Hung) got to stop by since both of them had films showing. So great to have them out and catch up; Peter's hair is practically shoulder-length and Canary colored from his work on GAME OF THRONES, so he hid it under a long snowcap, which added to the cool factor I must say. Brett, who had transformed from his Thor-like visage in KoB, was handsomely dressed and visibly excited about the movie. Both were even more jazzed when they got a little taste of the film that I had with me; Seeing their faces brighten and wide-eyed was the best swag I could have gotten up here, gave me hope and a charge.

The beat's didn't stop till 1:30 or so and I quickly split back to the hotel to TRY to get some sleep before the next day's flight….and then my time was consumed by web-surfing and GEORGE CARLIN: YOU ARE ALL DISEASED (hilarious), still reflecting on the movies I saw today and the night we had, still not believing I was at Sundance for the first time in 10 years...and that as soon as Im finally settling into the snow, we're out!

…and here we are. Even with 3 hours of sleep (again) I got up charged since I was going home and seeing my family again. I even joked with Bri, I wish I had a Flux Capacitor app on my ipod to go into the future and get home sooner, but I guess Im a slave to Father Time. Someone please get on that app, stat.

So, that's Sundance 2011. We didn't show anything, but we definitely made our presence known and it only got everyone more excited to experience this kick-ass ride we're crafting. It certainly got me jazzed to jump back into the edit again! See you Monday, Howard!

Shot with iPhone, not yours.

Park City, Peace out!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #91: Sundance Squinting

2011-01-21T16:21:00.001-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Hey all,

Hello from breezy, sunny, snowy Park City, UT! The IndieVest Knights (sounds like a bowling team) are invading Sundance again this year and they invited me along, which is very cool (thanks guys). We've been hunkered down in the EditCave since the new year, hacking and slashing away, so its a nice diversion from the darkened room for a weekend. I haven't been here since Sundance '00 and just having been here half a day, tons of memories are flooding back…like the time I was dressed as Toxic Avenger and threw up on James Woods' shoes in '99 or when I got to see Trey & Matt's band DVDA play live (where I made my first music video out of it as per their request for "What Would Brian Boitano Do?") or seeing Robert Altman slip on the ice (poor guy) or even the last movie i saw here 10 years back…a Japanese Sci-Fi porno Sequel to BLADE RUNNER. (Yup). Its all sensory overload in the thin, crisp air filled with insiders, media, filmmakers and lovers of the medium all shoved into one place relying on warm hats and over-crowded busses. But its always good to be anywhere where people are celebrating film, and there's a real sense of excitement here. Maybe its the air or the swag people are getting…or could it-gasp!-actually be the movies playing? We'll see…

Today I was lucky enough to catch an actual screening too! Didn't think I was gonna be able to see any movies here since most are snatched up weeks ago but thanks to Akua, she gave me a pass to UNCLE KENT, a "mumble-core"esque flick that was….quite revealing (in many ways). After the film I got to meet up with some friends also in town for the FESTivities, and now Im back at the Yarrow hotel dropping off some essentials (water, toothpaste, etc) before the IndieVest soiree tonight where Tommy lee is DJ'ing (!!!) and a slew of our IV fellowship will be there to whoop it up and maybe talk about the movie a bit. Sadly we're not showing anything yet, but Gonna be a great time for all from what I hear.

Hopefully I can check in over the weekend more and maybe the other guys will too. If I have any interesting pictures other than icicles and snow, Ill be sure to post it.

For now, I think I need some new sunglasses.

Huzzah,
Joe

Joe's Top 13 Movies of 2010 List (and 18 flicks I also dug...and one I didn't)

2010-12-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I'm sitting in a Starbucks in Santa Cruz (say that 6 times fast), sucking off of free wi-fi….how "modern" of me. I'm currently in this NorCal coffeery, killing time while the rest of the clan arrives into town and I thought, "What better time to at least start on the Best of 2010 list?" I've been perusing through other's picks as their favortite films of the year and you will (or wont) be shocked to see many of the films I picked are on many other lists. Serendipity? Lack of originality? Or...were there just so few notable films we're all circling the few that were good? Who knows, but aide from one or two left-fielders, nothing here should be that polarizing to anyone, other than I have strange taste or maybe a film would to some be considered "SO last year". But my list's qualifications have always been…what did I see and love THIS YEAR, release date usually be damned. That isn't to say Im gonna be like "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the best film of the 2010!" or any shenanigans like that, but in some cases, some films were unavailable to my senses till this year or they were films that many might have been lucky to see in a festival but I had to see as a lowly layman thanks to art-houses like the Nuart or New Beverly or on video/on demand.

So, as my latte turns cold and some old dudes keep giving me stinkeye for taking up a seat, here is the list of the films that reminded me why I love movies, both viewing them and making them. PLEASE NOTE: I'm no journalist or critic of any form, just a guy who loves movies and likes to make lists. Please take this all with a grain of salt because, well...I like all forms of movies and the list below are the films that just stuck out to me, enough to jot it down on my list I keep on my iPhone as the year presses on. Plus, this is in no way a definitive list as I've yet to see a bunch of films that I have a feeling would make this list if I did see them before the year is up, so this is just a collection of what I DID find time to see. It was hard this year especially since I was in the thick of making a movie or two myself, where you are EXTRA critical on the filmmakers, the process and the end result ("oh, I wonder how many set ups THEY got!" or "Must be nice doing 1 page a day, what a jerk!", etc, etc) but these films actually/mostly made me forget about these hangups and gripes and again, reinforced the reason I always wanted to make movies and make people react to said media; light, dark, good, bad or ugly (or even WEIRD)…there was actual magic on-screen.

THE TOP 13 (why 13? Why the F not?):

1. TOY STORY 3
I knew this was gonna be my Number 1 film of the year the moment the lights went up back in June. Over the past 2 minus years, I've watched both TOY STORY 1 & 2 an estimated 346 times, thanks to our son Remy's obsession with "Tttthhhhh" (which means "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR" in Remese) which was totally fine by me since I've been a fan of the series (and everything Pixar's done, sans CARS-yuck) since I saw the first one in 95 and couldn't wait to see what Woody, Buzz and the gang were up to next. What I didn't expect is to see one of the darkest animated films since THE SECRET OF NIHM and one of the most profound pieces of digital art in ages. The 3-D was striking, and that was the least salient point of interest. The writing, the acting, the style….i mean, God Damnit, this was potent, heavy stuff here. I watched the finale with tears in my eyes, dread (and cathartic relief) in my heart and thought "Remy is gonna love this " the way I did when I saw WALL-E (which, side note, is now his favorite of the PIXAR movies on Blu next to this title). Even with such a bleak, dark 3rd act, TS3 reminded me of just sitting back and allowing the filmmakers to sweep me away into this familiar world that still had one more poignant story to tell, watching how effortlessly it unfolded where I wasn't picking apart the process. When it was over, I quietly said my goodbyes to the gang but knew I'd be seeing them soon-and often-at home. I couldn't wait to watch it again and again. As of now since it's blu-ray release, I think we're up to 83 times, and I couldn't be happier that I can enjoy it with my son for years to come.

2. BLACK SWAN
Woah. NOT what I was expecting at all. Sure, I'm a fan of Aronofsky already, practically an apologist for loving REQUIEM sometimes it seems, and midway through the film I thought "Holy shit, this is a straight up Horror flick! It's REPULSION meets SUSPIRIA! it's THE RED SHOES by way of Cronenberg! It's….holy shit hot Portman-On-Kunis action!" Sorry, had to get that out of the way. Even without that erotic tete-a-tete, BLACK SWAN was such a visceral experience that no backlash (which is coming, don't worry) will taint all the emotions that came with seeing it on the big screen, with Bri's fingers digging into my arm at every "sketchy bug-out" (as our friend Dan Merril would say). A brilliant, surreal cinematic experience that is just begging for discussion over every frame and sound effect. Bring on the dance.

3. ENTER THE VOID
Hi, my name is Joe and I'm a HUGE Gaspar Noe fan. ("Hi Joe")
When I started to hear the bad buzz for Noe's tone poem on death, life and everything in between, it actually got me more excited. Even a spectacular failure from this electric film provocateur would be worth seeing, even once. When ENTER THE VOID ended, I swear I could have stayed again. Too bad it was the midnight show. When people say "Cinematic Experience", this is the film they could use as a prime example. I've now seen all of Noe's films in a theater and each time there is usually walkouts, or gasps, some form of visceral and vocal reaction. With its swirling camera, nearly invisible yet incredible CG effects (not including the hypnotic hallucinations, which were a trip unto themselves) and not so subtle subtext of the afterlife, ENTER is a film that will envelop you completely….if you let it. Otherwise, its just strobes and noise, and Noe knows it. Oh, and a big CG penis. Got your attention now? It's not for everyone, but for me its practically everything I love in this filmmaker and in film, a gift of assault on my senses. Noe, you are naughty AND nice.

4. INCEPTION
I've only seen it once, when I took my cast from KoB to see it one off-night (Thanks, Per Diem!) and it was worth every penny for the after-film discussion at the pub. I wish so badly I could have taped/recorded these conversations across this long table of people I admire just tearing into the film (not in a bad way, mind you) and discussing why films like these need to be made more. To just complacently sit in an air-conditioned seat and give into a story is one thing, but to be challenged, to be "worked" by a movie like this, was so much fun, like a cranial roller-coaster ride. I know Ill be watching this over and over for tips on structure, scope and how Nolan plays this and the audience like a puppet-master, but just the thought of that spinning top or the van falling for 45 minutes off that bridge, gives me a case of the smiles. We all talked into the night, barely stopping to sip our beers, and much of that discussion continued into the following Monday. I miss movies that feel so special its as if there are NO other releases out that week, month or even year, and INCEPTION seemed to bring everyone together, one big audience of awed moviegoers enjoying the ride and puzzle. Shockingly, we got the most setups on-set that night, so um….thanks Chris!

5. SCOTT PILGRIM
Both Bri and I were hotly anticipating this film even before Remy popped out and changed our lives. Read the books, followed the video blogs, fed into the 2 year hype. I wish I wasn't in such a funk when we finally saw it;I was in the middle of production and the last thing I honestly wanted to see was a movie that spent months on fight training alone and supposedly had even longer to shoot, so that's not fair to compare. But still, Edgar stepped up and made one of the most deliriously delightful movie experiences I had this summer that was littered with disappointment. Even with my sky-high expectations, we were not disappointed, even if the ending was divergent from the graphic novel (but totally suited for film). Again, for nearly 2 hours, my "harumph" quickly turned into a "Huzzah!" and I let go of my own gripes, pouring over every comic punch, every heartfelt performance and clever transition. This will be the John Carpenter's THE THING of this generation, a film that might have gotten lost upon first release but will be seen in retrospect at a monumental moment in cinema for years to come. In 30 years, Im sure a SCOTT PILGRIM: LEGACY will be in order…just make sure Edgar is involved, OK?

6. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
This one's been tough to gauge where it goes on the list, and it almost prompted me to not put this list in numerical order out of frustration of where SOCIAL should go. Mainly because it seems EVERYONE and their aunts are proclaiming this "The movie of the Year" "This Generations's CITIZEN KANE!" "The most important film of the CENTURY!" OK maybe the last one is a little much, but damn….critics love this movie. Well, I did too. The first time I was just caught up in the storytelling more than the story. However, I need to see it again (which I will) since I feel like I was watching the shots more than fall into the movie's whip crack storytelling (I mean come on, it's Fincher…every shot IS worth obsessing over since he seems to as well for 99 takes or so), but to have a film entertain & engage while provoke us to hold up a mirror to how our very world is changing with a keystroke or trackpad click. That's powerful stuff there and both Fincher, Sorkin and their friends list of dedicated cast and crew work movie magic on what could have been a mushy, Nora Ephron mess (which is what I was expecting, no offense..YOU GOT MAIL still stings I guess)…now if only we could get Noe and Mamet to do a Twitter movie….

7. TRUE GRIT
I haven't enjoyed a Coen Bros movie like this since i saw my "favorite" film of theirs, MILLERS CROSSING. Both CROSSING and now GRIT had that serious smirk that reminded me of when the RAISING ARIZONA/BLOOD SIMPLE/Raimi co-conspiritors were getting all serious on us, but couldn't help but have a few wry, odd chuckles along the way (The kid and the wig, the screaming oaf, Tommy Boy & Tommy Guns, the fat italian son getting schmacked, Buscemi, etc.). After that it was all "Barton Fink Feeling" and while I don't fault them and have been along the ride (for the most part....Exhibit A: INTOLLERABLE CRUELTY. Exhubit B: LADYKILLERS) TRUE GRIT felt like a return to form. In many ways not just for the Brothers C, who always seemed to make watching a movie fun and challenging and never boring, but for Westerns in general. You dont need post-modern sensibilities or a hot young cast to make Westerns cool or even just relevant enough to lasso some moneybags....you just need a great story, good actors, grand style and a hearty laugh along the way.
"You are not LaBoeuf."
I will be revisiting this many times to come.

8. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
For some reason I was on a total Documentary kick this year, more than usual. I think it was because I was so immersed in "fantasy" storytelling, I needed some form of "reality" and being Im not a fan of reality TV (anymore…now that PARADISE HOTEL is dead and buried), I would devour as many docs as I could get my hands on. Even behind the scenes materials on DVD's or Blu…anything that took captured footage and assembled it into a cognitive story of cause and effect, I was in. This year it seemed the trend was the "Faux doc", or at least the claim of the subject and execution being more fabricated than usual; films like CATFISH which claimed to be real but was just more staged than most docs are. Face it people, most docs are done this way, however the more compelling the subject, the more people think its storytelling than "being in the moment". Yet, if the storytelling is just as if not MORE compelling than your usual studio fare, than who fucking cares if its a "hoax" or not? Look at PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2, LAST EXORCISM, REC 2 or one of my other picks, S&Man…even conventional storytelling is using the tropes of a documentary to suck in the viewers. Ok, ok, what's the point here Lynch? Well first, that I'd been hearing about EXIT since Sundance and was psyched to see it for nearly a year, so my expectations were high, yet couldn't see it because just as it was released I was on a plane for Spokane, WA. to prepare for war. When I finally saw it a few weeks ago, I was completely absorbed by the story of the Street Art scene and by the ever evolving storyline, with the Dark Lord Banksy as both the narrator of sorts, the protagonist AND the antagonist, along with the REAL subject of the film, gonzo doc maker/pop "artiste" Thierry Guetta. Having lived in Los Angeles while this crazed "Undie" movement was sprayed all over town, I always wondered who was putting up Warhol-esque shots of Alfred Hitchcock in shades…and now I know, as well as the insanity behind the silkscreen. One of the strangest and most satisfying stories this year, real or fictional.

9. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD
Another movie Im sure someone will point their finger and push up their glasses exclaiming in Nerdspeak "Um, exxxxcuse me Siiiir but that was released in 2009. Worst. List. Ever!" but it was released in theaters in 2010, so suck it. I wouldn't mention it if I didn't think it was one of the best times at the movies I had this year, a TRUE adventure film in every sense; Vast, explosive, fun, funky, a little fucked-up and filled with humor, heart and heroics. Ji-Woon Kim, who directed the subtle and creepy TALE OF TWO SISTERS, unleashes his inner Leone & Spielberg with this tale of a hidden treasure map and the 3 odd outlaws out for it. The cinematography in both the train sequence that kick-starts the film in high gear and the rollicking chase scene that rocks the 3rd act is amazing. Seriously, this is some of the cleanest and most excitingly staged action I've seen in a film in years, and deserves to be seen on the big screen (mark your New Beverly calendars). Plus, Ill watch anything Kang-ho Song (from THIRST & THE HOST) is in, he's magnetic in every moment, especially here at the "Weird" one.
If TRUE GRIT didn't knock me in the chops this year, I'd say this film revived my hope that the Western isn't dead yet.

10. KICK-ASS
I've kinda given up on Superhero movies for a spell, or so I thought. Vaughn's KICK ASS is a colorful kick in the narcs and just the kind of hyper-violent, vulgar and somewhat sexy story I usually bothered Blair Butler for when I would stop by her desk during my G4 days. Well shot, well acted and wild as hell. A movie we'll all profess to have seen in the theaters when our kids ask about it when only a few actually did (I have my stub to prove it, suckas!) and one we'll reference when we look back at the good ole days when Super Hero movies were in vogue…till they weren't (that time is neigh). PS: Goodbye Matilda….you've been replaced by Hit-Girl as the new Geek Chic jailbait.

11. RARE EXPORTS-A CHRISTMAS TALE
OK, lets see the ingredients, shall we? A Christmas movie….that's a horror movie….with an "Evil" Santa (not just a BAD one)…and feels like a lost Amblin film, one that Joe Dante would have made before GREMLINS 2 possibly if he wanted to make his own reboot of THE THING (if that was a hit). It will take a few years, but I have a feeling this will be playing for 24 hours in a loop at the Lynch household in a few years. Amazing production design, carefully selected visuals and a great performance by Onni Tommila as "the kid", this is a holiday film you shouldn't miss next year, or hell, watch it in April, you'll thank me. Oscilloscope Laboratories (who also put out EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP) strikes again! Watch out Harvey….

12. S&Man
've been clamoring to see this for years having been a JT Petty fan (see MIMIC 3, SOFT FOR DIGGING and some of THE BURROWER) and this sounded so intriguing…a documentary exposing the obsession of the horror genre, the festivals and conventions that champion and exploit it and the fascinating (and sometimes deeply disturbing) people who both flock to these festivals and create such horrors, including the fascination with "Snuff films". Like EXIT, the line between reality and fiction blur as JT injects himself into the narrative as he and a mysterious "filmmaker" cross paths at a Chiller convention, only to be embroiled in both a meditation of what makes us wince using horror films…and what happens when things go too far. NOT for the faint of heart, this was one of the more powerful and stirring films I saw, release date be damned.

13. KIDNAPPED
I couldn't take my eyes off this film from the bone-chilling first moment to the boot-stomp of a climax. It's a "love or hate" type flick, a home-invasion film (now becoming a tired genre all it's own) but done in such a meditated way-the film consists of 12 long shots total, no small feat there-that it's hard not to be completely engrossed both in the process and the people stuck in the story. Gripe all you want about the victims likability…Im sure if a bunch of cameras were trained on YOU as you were being terrorized by some (somewhat) faceless antagonists, the audience would likely cry "douchebags". It was the almost banality of the set up which made KIDNAPPED such a compelling film for me, especially now that I have the emotional baggage of a family where every decision could cost lives. Director Miguel Angel Vivas does a nimble job of letting you revel in the process of the long takes (which, as a director, I love…but for almost selfish reasons) but also allowing you to fall into the drama enough to forget about the technique as the unlucky family is tormented into survival, with an ending that evoked the same HOLY FUCK response I haven't uttered since Mr. White got blown out of frame at the end of RESERVOIR DOGS. I might be in the minority here, but KIDNAPPED was grim and engrossing.

OTHER MOVIES WORTH MENTIONING (in no particular order):

THE BOOK OF ELI: I had NO expectations for this movie (hell, it came out in January….JANUARY!!!) , but boy did I admire the hell out of it. The first film shot on RED that I actually loved, the fight scenes were fantastic in their long-take simplicity and Atticus Ross' score was downloaded 20 minutes after I got home from the movies. Not so sure if the twist holds up, but the ride was worth it.

A SERBIAN FILM: I cannot actually recommend this movie, unless you wanted to know which film this year simultaneously disgusted, enraged & fascinated me, but I can't deny that its a superior film in it's technical craft, the acting is intense (especially Srdjan Todorrvic as the aging porn star forced into the most awful of situations by an insane director to put food on the table) and any movie that can make me go "No way, they're going there…OH SHIT THEY WENT THERE!" gets the Balls Award in my book. I'd say it's this year's HUMAN CENTIPEDE but where Tom Six's gonzo experiment had a playful dread to it (and looked like it was shot on an iPhone), this film is all rage, anger and pent-up pain rolled into a shocksploitation classic to be. I do wish it played at FrightFest this year before it got caught up in controversy and was banned from playing, because man, it would have resulted in a riot me thinks….and I wanted to be there. Good luck with this one, kids.

FROZEN: Fuck off Im bias; I told you not to take this list seriously, but Im callin' em like I saw them, and FROZEN was kinda fantastic. I kinda wish I wasn't close with Adam (or in the film as a cameo, or the name-only inspiration for one of the leads…) so I could applaud this film more for being so damn effective. One of the most intense times I've been in the movies this year…and I saw it twice before at home AND read the script before! Love it or not, you can't deny it's power to make you ask yourself "what would YOU do?" Kudos, GreenPeace, you knocked it out of the park. Also, you're an asshole for leaving me up there for an hour, dick.

MONSTERS: I gotta see this one again since the first time was at FrightFest, Green and I were on edge due to the tech issues with this year's Road To FrightFest shorts and I was deliberately watching more to see "How did he do that?" than actually get swept into the film. I was still slack-jawed by the visuals and the subtle tone of the film and loved the "twist" at the end, but I don't think I gave it it's proper due the first time around. Gareth Edwards and his laptop are ones to watch for sure.

TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL: SORELY buried and not given a proper release (yet), this horror comedy was so refreshing in it's satirical take of backwoods horror movies (which, ahem, I have played a part in) but also in how lovable and charming it's leads are. As a fan of both Alan (Tucker) and Tyler (Dale) from their TV work, I was already primed to like it, however I wasn't prepared for the well-staged set-pieces that sated both horror fans yearning for the networks AND those tired by the usual splatter by showing it from the perspective of the hillbillies, not the inane college kids usually painted as the victims. SOMEONE RELEASE THIS MOVIE, NOW!!!

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2: Who would have thought? Not me, but this movie still spooked me out good. Having made a sequel to a somewhat known property myself, its hard to please fans of the original and also stamp the film as it's own beast, but Tod Williams crafted a great film that does what every sequel should; make you rethink the original film or at the very least, go back and see how things connect. Damn you Oren, you did it again! That kitchen scare was AWESOME.

NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: After enduring the dreadful "reboot" this past year, I was sorely in need of some good ole' fashioned Freddy Krueger action, and this 4 HOUR documentary that spans the genesis of the Dream Killer and his legacy in the world of horror is a must own for any fan of 80's movies or even the genre in general. With insightful interviews from the cast and crew (no fanboy rantings like MY NAME IS JASON, for which im guilty of being part of myself) and a well-crafted (but never boring) structure, NEVER SLEEP AGAIN was the rare behind-the-screams documentary that I actually watched twice, not only because I'm a big NIGHTMARE series fan, but its a compelling story of the rise of New Line (i.e. "The House That Freddy Built") and how the series affected the genre in both positive and negative ways. You MUST see this.

CYRUS: Just watched this on a flight home from New York and actually watched it twice. I'd heard of the "mumblecore" genre and the devious Duplass Bros. but never saw their previous films, THE PUFFY CHAIR & BAGHEAD. They are now on my "must see" list, if CYRUS is any indication of their talent for uncomfortable comedy and mining truth and heart in the mundane. John C Reilly and Jonah Hill are great opponents, both pining for the love and attention of the forever gorgeous Marisa Tomei (who is defining the "Distinguished Female" trend by just getting better-and hotter-the older she gets). In a year with many comedies that made me smirk more than smile, let alone laugh (GET HIM TO THE GREEK, DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS, GROWN UPS, THE OTHER GUYS, etc), CYRUS was subtle, understated and many times hilarious in all the wrong moments. Consider me a Mumblecore convert.

TANGLED: Haven't had this much fun at a Disney movie since ALADDIN. Such a great time at the movies (and Remy approved as well!) and for a non-Pixar flick, a MAJOR achievement for Disney in both the look and the storytelling. Oh, the Horse steals the movie.

WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY: Speaking of Disney, this eye-opening doc on the "second coming" of Disney in the 90's was shockingly honest and completely compelling. The times they were a changing' at the Mouse House, and seeing it all unfold here made for a fantastic film.

SHUTTER ISLAND: Scorsese doing a horror movie=Me happy. Not perfect, but finally a movie of Marty's that seemed to finally utilize Robert Richardson's overhead, overexposed lighting perfectly to fit the tone of the story. As always, Thelma Schoonmaker's jumpy fingerprints are all over this sometimes brilliant psychological head-trip, which adds to the tension, and I really like Ruffalo in it too. Need to see again and I'll bet the funny farm I like it more.

PIRANHA 3-D: Two words….COCK VOMIT. Saw this literally 3 hours after we wrapped on KNIGHTS (and 4 hours before I had to catch a flight home) and in my exhausted, punchy and slightly drunk state, was the perfect way to celebrate a job well done. I like Aja (his best film is still HILLS HAVE EYES redux to me) and here he looked like he was having a bloody blast. I can't wait to see what Gulager and the FEAST boys cook up for the sequel.

REC 2 - ALIENS if we only watched from Lt. Gorman's perspective on the video monitors….and the Xenomorphs were Zombies-er, "Infected". Quick, gripping stuff and I loved how it continued seconds after QUARANT-er, REC ended. Can't wait for the third and fourth installment.

JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK- Can we talk? Yes, I'm admitting to enjoying this funny, sad, somewhat desperate doc about everyone's favorite comedy whipping woman. Again, on my documentary kick, it was the perfect fix of dishy pathos and hilarious heartbreak. The bitch still has it.

VALHALLA RISING: God I love how this film looked (another film shot on the RED, and man those wide lens vistas!). Not really sure what the hell was going on, but In Refn We Trust, right? I appreciate any film that can tell a story so fractured and almost poetically (for better or worse) that I was absorbed by the tale of One Eye (which was like a mix of Von Trier, Herzog and ROAD WARRIOR) even if I couldn't decipher the point of the film. Maybe that WAS the point. Sure looked purdy, and that's why it's here.

BEST WORST MOVIE: Another great doc, this one a little closer to home since it deals with B-Z-movies, a somewhat specialty of mine. So much love for a film so many people love to hate (or hate to love), its one example of how movies love to tell stories, even bad ones, but the tales told ABOUT making the movie are sometimes better than the film itself, clearly evident here. I've seen TROLL 2 once, in Junior High, and while this movie does me no favors in wanting to endure it again (sorry George), it did remind me of the bad movies we can admit to loving (PULSE & MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, Im staring at YOU) and why we do. Another gift in my obsession for docs this year.

TRON:LEGACY (Before it's release): The prospects (and early footage) for the sequel TRON made me remember so many great memories of loving film at such a young age, and the wonder they instilled in me to investigate further on the process of making that on-screen magic. I believed, and I loved movies for allowing me that gift. It was movies like TRON, and RAIDERS and STAR WARS (No, not "A New Hope", sorry) and THE EXORCIST (hey I was sick early on) that made me wonder, and that I can say 27, 28 years later that I'm at least trying to harness that same kind of visual mojo is, like Flynn says in LEGACY "Far out man!".
That a piece of childhood nostalgia was coming back and the possibilities kept me going every day of this crazy, creatively challenging year. God, how cool would it be if this movie was cocks-out GREAT, and another movie I'm gonna be proud to show my kid someday. The movie I constructed in my head? Fucking AWE-SOMMMMM! So for the past year I was constant reminded; every sign, billboard, banner ad, trailer, teaser, tie-in toy, movie poster, blog posting, leaked track, video game and otherwise….the chance that this product of a major corporation will remind me again the child-like joy an actual MOVIE brings out in most people; check my career goals & technical/production sensibilities at the door & enjoy it as just a fun ride,maybe see some old friends in the process. This prospect was hopeful and invigorating. Even when bad buzz struck (Reshoots! Bad acting! Script? What script?!), I turned my cheek…hey, AVATAR had bad buzz too. When negative reviews began planting themselves in the cyberspace soil, I ignored them….haters gotta hate, right? I didn't want that hope (and the finished movie in MY head) taken away from me. So maybe I'm giving semi-formal props to Disney's marketing dept, which dolled out the intel and advance look like Dole-Whip at Adventureland; You got me all twisted and creamy for this new movie and what it had to offer. (God, that was bad. My apologies, Walt).

The result I will admit to being middle of the road on; while it made good on some pretty beautiful images in a landscape that felt it was only breezed over (guess I gotta get the games and the comic books huh? You guys are GOOD), the story was so lax and the notion of our current society being so present online, how our "digital selves" weren't even touched upon in the story was VERY disappointing. I mean, guys….they did it in the first one, when noone was "on the grid" or even knew what a firkin' grid was! EVERYONE is online, so why wasn't that in the metadata within the script? Even one moment that made me feel that beyond the broadband there WAS this digital world, another actual dimension that we're unwittingly part of and exploit, I would have been happy. No, we got a hammy, tired "Quest" plot between Fathers, sons and "Holy Ghosts* (in the machine)" with a sprinkling of visual awesomeness, especially in 3-D IMAX. I've seen it twice now and with my expectations more in check the second time,so I enjoyed it the same way I enjoyed the first film; with condolences to the script, I was along for the ride. But for the past few years, with the introduction of the first digital billboard this past January to as far back as the Comic-Con teaser video 3 summers back, the thrill of what TRON could have been and how it could have affected me as a lover of movies and being zapped into another world for 2 or so hours was utterly exciting.

Wow, that was a rant. I think I wrote more about what this movie COULD have been than any of the other films above. I better stop.
END OF LINE.

THE "FUCK YOU" AWARD OF 2010:

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET ('10): No other movie made me dig my fingernails into my palms till blood was drawn as much as this awful cash-in remake. I wont lie: I like producer Brad Fuller, nice guy (and Im not saying that because I'm directing their remake of PHANTASM*) but how this film, which was touting a fantastic actor (Jackie Earl Haley) as Freddy and boasted one of my favorite music video directors (Sam Bayer) in the driver's seat, fucked up SO badly, is anyone's guess. How much did I loathe this movie? Let me count the ways:
-No story. Just welded-together scenes between bad um…"set-pieces"
-No real rules to keep the audience going. Naps? We're trying to make "Naps" scary? Wow.
-No characters for ANYONE to cheer for or even against. Just body bags.
-Nothing iconic in the visuals, not even a cool transition from real to dream. Hell, doesn't anyone remember LONE STAR??
-No original kills at ALL. Some scenes and even shots were lifted right out of the original, and not in an "homage" sorta way. It was verging on Van Sant's PSYCHO (and not even in a "so bad it's good" way I think he intended).
-No tongue phone. Fuck guys, you lovingly recreated other scenes and shots from the original, but no Freddy Tongue? As they say….a-FAIL.
Nope, Just some nice colors, some sparks and a TERRIBLE rendition of a burn victim that made me want to give him a blanket to curl up with, some salve for his burns, a vicodin for the pain and a turkey sandwich, not fear him. I was supposed to be afraid of this ugly little troll? Even in the original film Krueger at times seemed smallish, but what he lacked in physical presence he made up for in creepiness. This guy was just the same molester from LITTLE CHILDREN if he was burned instead of dick-capitated. Threat-less, which is not Freddy (or at least in the first one) and if they were gonna go with the "Was he wrongfully accused?" then fine, but follow through with it!! What pisses me off more? How some people LIKED this shit-stain of a film over the original and actually defended it. I guess Im just OLD and shaking my cane here, but if THIS was the original version of Freddy Krueger's saga that came out in the 80's, we wouldn't have made it past the first film, and thus, wouldn't have relished in the awesome homoerotica of Part 2, the killer Darabont/Russell infused Part 3, the Cannon Films version with Renny Harlin's 4th installment and so on….the series would have died right there. Here's hoping this one stops any chance of a Part 2 redux, unless its a shot for shot remake of FREDDY'S REVENGE, not-so-subtle subtext,Clu Gulager and all. Ok, I've already spent WAY too much time on this.
FUCK THIS MOVIE.

SO, that's it, thanks for stopping by and getting to this point. I can't say "It was a great year for movies!" like some nor can I scream "Fuck this year!" like others, mainly because I haven't seen all the films out there. But there was a lot to like, inspire, provoke and enjoy this year and here's to 2011…may it be both another year that pushes the medium forward by the many artists we admire (and a few new ones) and may I be a small part of it with a project or two myself.

Onward with Cinema!
Joe

*Psyche.
**HOT Ghosts.

KOB Shot of the Day #89: Stick a Sword in 'er, Santa...

2010-12-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...we're closing up shop for the Holidays! The EditCave is taking a much needed break while Santa does his thang and everyone's leaving very positive and excited for the new year and the promise it holds. A very satisfied feeling walking away from the current the current cut, especially with the changes and tweaks we've made over the past two days alone. One thing I haven't yet said, either aloud or in my ever-editing head is..."Wow, its really coming together". Sound, music, that cut that's just right, a few frames here and there, even a temp effect laid in...the smallest choice can leave you either dismayed or satisfied, and Im totally in the latter category. Looking forward to the break, going home to NY to see our East Coast family, eat some good food, conjure up my inner Santa (I do a MEAN Claus) and holy shitdaggers...I might actually relax for a day or two. Perish the thought! My head's been so wired into KoB's circuit board that to actually take a mental sabbatical will do us all some good, especially to get some perspective again. Sometimes you get too close to material and certain choices, even if they aren't the most beneficial; you just see it enough times and it becomes comfortable, even acceptable. Bad position to be in, creatively, to settle, so distancing ourselves, even just a little, will be so welcome for a fresh perspective.

...so when the Fellowship gathers again in the new year, it's time to command and conquer! You've been warned.

Be it Quanza, Hanukkah or Jesus' Birthday, hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good KNIGHT! (Oh come on, you saw that coming! It's only gonna get worse in '11!)

Holiday Huzzah!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #88: Polishing our Steel (er, foam)

2010-12-03T14:26:00.001-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Greetings all,

Im writing this just as Howard, The producers and I are putting the finishing touches on the next cut of KoB and everyone is grinning. It's a gratifying feeling, especially for a Friday so we go into the weekend happy and hopeful, ready for the next steps...and no blood was spilled! (at least not in the edit) ...ALWAYS a good thing.

We JUST inserted a temp "power ballad" into a moment early in the film and we couldn't stop laughing! So funny how some things just "fit", be it a music cue, a sound effect, an FX shot or even just taking out/adding a few frames to a shot...and this was a great finishing edit to go out with so everyone is jazzed. Great to see the film's finer points getting smoothed out and tweaked with the help of producers Mark & Matt (pictured here, weighing in on an edit with their usual grace) who have been in the EditCave for the last few days to get it ready for the next little screening. These intimate viewings are so essential, even if its amongst friends and family, just to continue getting objective opinions on what's working and what's not, so wish us luck in the next few weeks as we slowly test the KoB waters!

Also, our Twitter followers for Kob (@Badassdom_movie) have reached 1,500 strong and as promised, we're giving away a limited edition crew shirt randomly, good luck! We were thinking the next mini-contest would be when we reach another number (2,000? 2500?) we'd release a cool still from the film (which would be the first!)…any interest in that? Might be a fun way to get the word out…and believe me, we got some images that are just burning up the AVID that we want to show! Regardless, Thanks for the support and keep checking in here and on the Twitter feed for more!

Hope you all have a good weekend, Knights!

Onward,
Joe

PS: Thanks to everyone who sent their condolences on KoB not making Sundance….but not to worry, we never submitted it because ITS NOT DONE! There's plenty of other festivals we'll attack when the time is right and the film is ready to show in that capacity, so stay tuned…in the meantime, if you haven't already, follow @Badassdom_Movie for news, updates, contests and more surprises! Huzzah!

KOB Shot of the Day #87: ...It Time To Dim The Lights...

2010-11-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

It's Friday on the Henson lot (home of IndieVest), which is teeming with crew running about preparing for a weekend shoot on THE MUPPETS (which I didn't feel right about shooting some of the spoilery things I saw, but it was pretty exciting to see the "Band back together", wocka wocka! But here are some from /Film) and we're about to watch the current cut of KNIGHTS (the same one from last week) on "the big screen" for the first time in the Henson screening room. This to me is insanely exciting, thinking about all the films that have played in here in the past and now our crazy flick is gracing it's silver screen. Posters from the films of MUPPETS past hang on the wall, the smell of history (and moldering felt) hang in the air. Very exciting. After Howard and Alex worked on the calibration of the digital projector and the sound system, they pressed play...

One word: WOW.

Having been a 2:35:1 convert since my Criterion laserdisc of HALLOWEEN, I've always seen the world in "scope" and while I lost the battle to shoot WRONG TURN 2 in that aspect ratio (the thought was "noone who buys DTV movies wants to see them shot like this" even though it automatically makes your film look "bigger" when you use this look, oh well...pick your battles) I've used it before in my music videos and commercials and just love that look (even if its faked by just putting a "matte" over the image. Try it sometime, it works!). So when we did KNIGHTS, from Day 1 I said 'We gotta shoot 2:35" and the producers were completely in agreement, which was nice. But editing it on a plasma monitor for months, or even looking back at when we shot, seeing the images on a smaller screen while we rolled, you never truly get a sense of how wide the mise en scene is till its actually on a big screen, unfolding before your eyes. So this screening was even more important to me since it was both a good way to watch the film the whole way through after getting the producer's very thoughtful notes earlier this week to see it from their perspective (which were not NEARLY as long as I thought; you always expect the worst when you submit for notes and I think we got lucky!) but also....watch it like an audience member, not someone extremely close to the film without an objective opinion. You notice things on the big screen too that you dont at home too, little nuances and pacing. What a difference a larger view makes! It was so killer to see it like this, even in an unfinished form, and I think only got everyone involved MORE excited to whip this beast into shape and get it out to the masses. We then reconvened to the IndieVest office, went through the notes and here we are now, a few days later, fine-tuning and preparing another screening for before the holiday weekend to keep the momentum going and then continue forth.

But it's all going well, thanks for all the well wishes online inquiring about the progress and there's more coming soon enough....stay tuned!

Onward!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #86: The Screening Brews

2010-11-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, Click to enlarge.

Greetings Knights!

Hell of a day. Hell of a day, indeed.

So since we last spoke, the edit team's been putting the final touches on the first official pass (a.k.a. "The DGA cut") that I submit to the folks at IndieVest for their viewing pleasure and of course, their objective thoughts. We'd be presenting it in the edit room, not the most ideal place to watch film of this proposed "scope" but it would do (the blu-ray copies they got to take home would be nice "Departing Gifts" like they were contestants on a game show). Even better, Kevin (the co-writer and producer) surprised us by coming in from New York to watch! It was a joyous occasion to say the least, everyone excited to see the film for the first time...even though I was nervous as hell. Then Howard pressed the space bar...

...and lo & behold, the screening went AWESOME. The film was still in rough form, and I knew full well the problems that still needed to be solved (not bad problem, more like math problems) but these guys were seasoned enough to look past that and watching the smiles on their faces was both exciting and a relief. I was onto something. Now, either they got poker faces like Gaga or they were just genuinely thrilled about what they saw, even though we all knew it needs a lot of love still (especially in the sound & FX dept). Plus, for Howard, Alex and I, it was a nice way to see the film objectively through someone else's eyes as well. Ever do that? Watch one of your favorite films with someone who is uninitiated and you almost get a fresh, new perspective? Or, see how maybe your love for INVASION U.S.A. or HOWARD THE DUCK is a little skewed by kid-like nostalgia? That's what it was like watching KOB's cut with the guys here, but on the positive side. Stuff we thought might or might not work got confirmed with their viewing, and after the screening we all shared some beer and talked through some initial thoughts, all around great observations. I don't know of ANY filmmmaker who has had a perfect 1st cut, and I really enjoy getting notes so we can see what's been working and what needs more work. Overall, ale was consumed (Bohemia, a brand I was unfamiliar with as it was Howard's choice but at that moment was perfection) and everyone seemed very happy. GREAT way to start a weekend no? But the night wasn't over yet...

I finished off the night first with 127 HOURS with Bri (fantastic filmmaking on display & that rock gives a COMMANDING performance) and then right after a Midnight screening of one of my favorite slashers as a kid, Lustig's MANIAC, at the Nuart. I was so drunk on Cinema and couldn't stop I guess, but watching this movie reminded me, even in a sick little way, of how you can leave a legacy with every edit. Choices Lustig made back in 79-80 in New York when editing this film still resonated tonight in this theater in Los Angeles, so it was a palpable reminder that hard work not only pays off, it kinda makes history (even in a small way). Someday, if the world isn't destroyed by either a virus or Cthulhu or by our own devices, KNIGHTS might play in an old theater too, just like MANIAC and the choices we make now will travel through time and hopefully get a smile, a wince, a chuckle...any kind of reaction. Powerful stuff, that.

Onward we march, polishing our swords to sharpness! Huzzah!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #85: The Line of Time

2010-10-22T13:24:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Hey all,

Sorry for the lack of SOTD/W(eek) lately...we've just been in the trenches as we refine and revise the cut of KOB and its going really well, despite a lack of a compelling visual.

Again, every day the film feels more and more like a real movie, not a bunch of scenes and shots and moments scattered across a bunch of hard drives. It's constantly evolving and will keep transforming till picture-lock. What you see above is The Knights Of Badassdom, The Timeline! MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT!!!
There it is folks, the whole kit and cabootle (as of now) Exciting huh??
How kick ass is this flick, right? Um...right? Can't you see it?! What? No? Well, screw YOU! No, I keed.

It's amazing how all the hard work put into a project culminates in this complex series of lines, shapes and markers on a computer screen. This process is a LONG way from the "good ole days" with a bin hanging strips of celluloid, ready to be spliced to shit on a Movieola and mucked up with gooey tape...yet, a great discipline to cut like that where every splice degraded your workprint; kids these days its all CUT CUT CUT! (shakes fist). I do love how easy it is to cut on Avid or Final Cut (even on one's laptop) but cutting on a Steenbeck table gave you more of a discipline to the cut, as if....every cut counted. But those days are gone (except for Michael Kahn, Spielberg's longtime editor who still cuts the old-fashioned way). Long Live The Newly Edited Flesh.

Looking at this, It would actually be awesome if someone started an art gallery of timelines of films cut digitally to expose the odd beauty to these constructions of clips in digital form, fused together with 0's & 1's. What would PULP FICTION look like on a timeline, or THE DARK KNIGHT or CASINO (which I heard was Thelma Schoonmaker's first foray into Avid cutting)? This needs to happen!!!

Back to the edit before In N Out arrives, excuse me...

Onward!
Joe

PS: Don't forget to check out the new short from Adam Green & myself called JUST TAKE ONE! Adam and his team at ArieScope do a Halloween short annually and this year is no different. I had a blast acting in one a few years back (The Tiffany Problem) and this year Green and I take center stage to warn you on the dangers of hoarding sweets during Halloween. Look out for the funny cameo at the end too!

KOB Shot of the Day #84: Our Friday Tradition...of Murder!

2010-10-08T17:47:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Ah, Friday. After a long week of rockin', we've established a tradition here in the Edit Of Badassdom (since its been officially a month in post as of this week) of "In'nOut Fridays" where Howard, Alex and I indulge in some tasty murder with a side of fries, seen here in their "Animal Style"* container (and if you look closely, a little bit of KOB in the BG!). My usual order? 2 Cheesburgers Animal Style (no Lettuce, Tomato or pickles) and fries Animal Style as well. Hey, it's Friday, don't judge me!!

This week Howard splurged (Thanks Mr. Smith!) and we scarfed the burgers down on the break while watching another F'd up ep of IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILLY (We're on "Hundred Dollar Baby", hilarious and SO wrong!) and after that 20 minute breather, back into the madness we dive.

We're currently on one of the most complex scenes we shot for the film, and while its hard to really visualize the end result since it's one of the few moments we have to rely on VFX to really create the magic (hint hint), it's exciting to see it all come together, even in such a rough stage. I keep thinking "How the hell did we do this!?!" and then I remind myself what an amazing & dedicated cast and crew we had, and that's my answer.

Getting closer to our goal, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Have a good weekend...onward through Evermore!

Joe

*Animal Style: Part of In'NOut's not-so-"Secret" menu where they will put extra 1000 Island dressing & grilled onions on your burger or even Fries. Verily, it's delicious!

KOB Shot of the Day #83: Nothing (much) to see here...

2010-10-01T16:53:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Very productive week, not much to report other than we're cranking away at the cut. Due to Howard having to go away for two days, Alex (seen here from my usual vantage point every day, looking at the back of an editor's neck. Exciting, right??) and I actually got to work on a promo of the film for the producers, and seeing the film in "teaser" form got everyone VERY excited. Cineboners abound!!! The movie, even in bite-sized form, looks HUGE (and the music we cut it to is, ahem, "THUNDERous") and was a big smile-inducer when we showed it. I keep watching the teaser going, "We made this?" and then start jumping around like the waitress in MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, screaming to the screen like its the Green Goblin truck saying "WE...MADE...YOUUUU!". Exciting times, my friends.

It's also Friday, which usually means it's In N Out Day in The Fellowship Suites but we settled for Chipotle this time in honor of Howard's absence. However, that didn't stop us from our usual lunchtime break; another episode of IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, the greatest show on TV right now. Both Howard and Alex were not exposed to the evil genius of the show yet so revisting these for a 20 minute lunch break is always a nice "palette cleanser". God Bless Green Man!

Well, the Weekend Approaches, Huzzah! Go out and support Independent Unrated Horror by seeing HATCHET 2!!!
(or at least buying a ticket for it and sneak into SOCIAL NETWORK). Prove to the System that you want your freedom in your film viewing...the other movies can wait, this CAN'T. (Plus, 2 shiny pennies for anyone who can point out my small but integral part in the movie). F censorship! Ok Ill get off my soapbox.

Onward! Back to Evermore on Monday!!!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #82: Testing our Age 0-2 Demographic...

2010-09-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Our first week in the new edit location, which coincidentally was where we cast the movie...small world in the Kingdom of Eliphaz! Our transition was pretty smooth as we inhabited two rooms in the back of Nancy Nayor's casting office (and within 2 days we've already had cameo visits from two of our Fellowship! But are you surprised...I mean, look at that cast!) and within hours on Monday we were up and running at full speed. Thanks to Ian, Nancy, Greg the landlord, Mark, Matt and everyone who made the transition a smooth one.

Nothing exciting to report as again, we hack and slash away. Howard and I are working on the main timeline, Alex is working on select moments, effects and a special transition that I've always wanted to achieve in a film (and haven't seen employed in almost 15 years) Had a very productive FX meeting with Josh & Tim from Comen and everyone seemed jazzed over the stuff we showed as we went over plates, elements and other FX-based shots. While we always said we wanted this to have an "old fashioned" feel (especially with the gore and creature FX) there's still a good amount of VFX that will allow us to create the world and tell this story effectively, and its been a great collaboration between depts to create these moments effectively.

Here is a shot of my son Remy, who visited the edit room while Mommy had to make an appointment and dropped him ouff for a bit, checking out one of the few scenes he could actually watch, totally captivated. Hey, we're trying to hit all Four Quadrants here in our demo, folks! Listen, not much can tear him away from THE SQUEAKQUEL (currently playing on my laptop to distract him) but Remy-seen here sporting a Doomstalker T shirt from the film-was very impressed, explaiming "Ha, DADADADADA*" when we finished. Glowing praise, I'd say! Glad to see our film is hitting the "infant" demographic already.

Still a ways to go but it's going well, to say the least. Seeing the film fuse together is nothing short of amazing and exciting. So interesting how the tone can change even over the smallest tweak in a scene and is proof positive how delicate this part of the process it, the edit. Right now, the closest thing I can call KNIGHTS in it's current state is "THE GOONIES for Adults". Don't quote me on that, but since I know that seminal 80's movie like the back of my hand, and how it blends Adventure, Comedy, Drama, even horror and Thriller elements together with a big ensemble of personalities into one big chunk of Entertainment, its the closest comparison I can make...and that makes me giddy with excitement to finally see it on a big screen as it backlights a big bunch of heads in a darkened theater. Can't wait!

Onward,
Joe

*Translation: "A Tour De Force of awesomeness! I laughed, I cried, I pooped!"

KOB Shot of the Day #81: Alex's covering our cuts...

2010-09-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Happy Friday!

I woke up this morning shocked to realize it's already the end of the work week, where does the time go? Being holed up in an edit suite (one we're moving out of this weekend for more palatial plains) with no real communication to the outside world can really soak up the time, especially when you're in The Edit Zone. What is that you may ask? That's when you are so ensconced in the process that you actually edit...in YOUR SLEEP. Literally, lately I've been sitting in front of an AVID/FCP rig in my dreams. Funny or sad? I dunno but it's been productive; I wake up, remembering shots to use, time-codes, acting beats in takes I remember liking or recalling stuff that did or didn't work, then come in in the morning and we actually try them...and sometimes, they actually work! Guess my brain is just in full on Post Mode.

But regardless of the question "where did the week go?", looking back it was a very productive week in KOB EditsVille; we plowed through a gamut of different scenes, seeing how the tone of the film is such a delicate thing to balance. Funny how scenes on their own can be very funny or scary or thrilling or dramatic OR not seem to work at first, but bridge them up against other scenes in the sequence and they take on a different life, building off of residual effects from a previous scene or how they will impact a scene later on; amazing to see it all come together. So we're chugging along and it's been a blast putting the pieces together.

So one of the key elements to any good post-production is your Editor's assistant, and we've been blessed to be working with Alex Luna (seen above with a spoiler-heavy image in the BG*) who has literally "gotten our back" in the cut, even before I walked in the room the first day. Howard's worked with Alex on THE COLLECTOR and now this mighty beast and watching them work back and forth, its comforting to see such a seamless workflow between the two editors and rigs working at the same time on the film. A good assistant in the edit room is essential for many reasons....one is having someone who can work on the more menial, tech-heavy aspects of the production (like data management, finding shots, crash maintenance, grabbing lunch, etc) so Howard the main editor and I can focus on the creative side, but also help with elements like implementing sound & temp visual FX, add temp score beats and even tackle parts of the picture cut himself for a fresh perspective on certain moments. Alex is always both a few steps ahead and a few steps behind our picture cut (in a good way); getting things ready for us to tackle next, but also clean up moments and scenes we've torn through already so we are all up to date with the cut. A great guy to have around, always smiling and filled with geeky movie knowledge and another important member of the Fellowship. Say hi everyone!

Have a good weekend....Evermore awaits!!!

Onward,

Joe

PS: I'd like to finally address some salacious rumors spread on this very blog. First off, Sir Dreyfuss' claims of my "furriness" is greatly exaggerated...I'm actually a completely hairless albino who has to bear the burden of glueing imported yak hair daily to feel normal. Also, my gas problem? Another fallacy; Gassy? What!??! I haven't expelled any methane since a Slipknot show in '99 when a dude stepped on my stomach in the pit. Lies I say, lies!
Also, the quote of me referring to myself as Leni Riefenstahl is incorrect; I actually referred to myself as "The Dr. Uwe Boll of LARPing". Just to clarify, thanks.

*I'm kidding. It's just me spiking the frame with a flipped bird. Hi ho!

KOB Shot of the Day #80: Greetings from Suite E (for now)!

2010-09-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Hey all,

(ed. Note: This is actually posted over at the KOB blog-site, so Im basically double dipping here.)

So here is the official first post not from my personal blog but from The Official KOB site, where not only myself but other key Knights from the other depts from here on out (The producers, writers, the FX guys, our composer, etc) will hopefully chime in as we work on the post-production process of the movie now. We're currently in a space in West Hollywood but might be moving due to tech issues, but for a first official week of the cut, its a trip to see stuff coming together. Im still jetlagged like a mofo from the whirlwind tour of wrapping the film and then 2 days later off to the UK for FrightFest where Adam Green and I premiered some new "Road To FrightFest" shorts and other goodies (and thank you to all the KOB fans already out there across the pond!), but then it was right back to work...but I wouldnt have it any other way.

Now, as much as I loved being out in "the shit" with the actors and crew during the shoot, it's here in the edit where you can REALLY play and have fun without the bugs or weather; now that we can see what we have to work with in terms of footage, working with our expert editor Howard Smith (just look up his credits and gawk) and his ever-jovial assistant Alex as we hack away on the cut rounds of cuts has been great. Nothing terribly exciting visually at this stage, folks; no severed heads strewn across the floor or celeb cameos other than what's on our monitors (which would just give too much away) so don't expect a lot here for now, but we did want to chime in and say hi to The Fellowship and let you know we're pouring over the footage and things are going great. There's a LOT to do still, between the actual picture cut of the film, the FX shots, the sound design, the Digital Intermediate, Bear's score, etc, but its a good start to the Fall after One Crazy Summer.

If anything more exciting happens we'll be sure to check in and take a shot but enjoy this moment above to see our usual editing work methods. I think it's very effective! Now, back to work, Smith!!

Onward we Slash!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #79: Pile of Paper Progreess

2010-08-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

So that's that.

This is a view of my piled collection of call sheets, sides, shot lists and any other printed document I've folded and shoved into my pocket on-set over the past 30 days of shooting KOB, usually discarded each morning after we wrap to gauge the progress of the production by how high the pile gets, a strange habit I've had. 30 days of papers, a strange way to gauge the progress of a project, no? But it felt good to throw "Day 30" on top this morning (yup still up), digging up Day 1 at the bottom to remember first shot up...and the promptly shove them in the trash as I finished packing up and leaving Spokane, which will to me always be Eliphaz.

So glad to be home now with the family as I write this, but my body and head are still in "Mole People" mode as Borden called it, where usually at this time for the past 6 weeks, we would be when we're rolling cameras, and I can already tell acclimating back to the "real world" won't be so easy. What dId they always call it in the Vietnam movies? "Rotating back to the world" from "Being in 'The Shit'"? Right now tt all feels like a glorious blur, simultaneously seeming like its been a year since Day 1 of prep at the NXNW offices and just yesterday, gone by in a flash of smoke (a lot of it!). Still a LOT of work to do, but the puzzle pieces have been created and now it's time to make it all fit. Exciting times.

Onward,

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #78: That's a WRAP (and a Toast!)!)

2010-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

There's just too much to say, and yet I don't have the words. Does that make sense?

One of the most productive and fun shoot days ever. Was it because the end was neigh? Or was it that, being on a controlled soundstage (as opposed to being a slave to the weather or the Lunar cycle or those insects) by "Brooming up" the film, we got to revisit some memorable moments from days & weeks ago?

There was a general sense of fun in the air as we shot final pieces of 0's & 1's as a family, together enjoying the little slices of madness we conjured up in the last 30 days with a hell of a great cast and crew. Two crews/units running at Full Tilt Boogie; we spilled a LOT of blood, broke a few hearts, splashed in the water, soared in the air like kids, exploded shit, tipped the hat to SLING BLADE, cavorted in tents....and other seemingly random moments that to anyone stepping onto set today for the first time without an idea of the movie would ask 'What the hell is going on here?!?!"

That made me remember why we do this crazy shit; to elicit a reaction, and because we love movies for that. The smiles everyone wore today proved that theory. It was a great day to be on a movie set.

Sadly, there was not a whole crew photo to be had, and too many moments to give away from the snaps today, but this one could work...

...Suddenly, and without notice, a table of "spirits" appeared in the corner of the Wherhouse we rented out to shoot the final day of shots and scenes. At 6:23 am, KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM wrapped Principal Photography and many a toast was had amongst the remaining, some of whom actually stayed or came back to hang out with the gang. Or to drink the booze, whatevs.

...and what am I doing now? Yep, I'm writing this while furiously packing,listening to the KOB Metal Mixtape (Now playing: "Whiplash" from Metallica on "Action #2") then going to see PIRHANA 3-D before leaving Spokane (or sleeping).
By midnight, I will be back in Los Angeles with my family. Surreal.

Onward, we toast!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #77: Poseur for Posehn

2010-08-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sent from iPhone, click to enlarge.

First night shooting out of the woods (or any greenery for that matter, it was Cement Central).

For once, it was nice to not be swarmed with thousands of insects once the lights went up after lunch and pissing outdoors while Crafty peeks (sorry girls, I caught you that one night). Don't miss it a bit. Being in a garage is like home. We had one practical location, an auto garage (which in comparison to the open air, felt like home), and 3 major scenes occur here, including a...well, there I go into Spoiler territory.

But speaking of which, we had 4 (count 'em) FOUR cameos in one night. Usually it's deaths, this time it's subtle casting nods to the fans (or haters cracking their knuckles for this flick already) and I couldnt believe I was on the same set at everyone. Here my good friend Brian was gracious enough to come up for a night and spend some time with us, luckily he came when there weren't pissy bushes, and fit in with the Fellowship like a glove.We also had the equally lovable Larry Zerner (and slightly less tall) in but I honestly forgot to get a snap with him (Sorry dude!) Just funny that Jessie, one of our "Second Team" needed an Full Apple to even approach the height Brian rocks, which promptly got a dismissive "Pfftt" from him here (and he's so right).

So glad he and the rest were part of tonight. It was another mad dash to the finish, but as the sun burnt us by 6:30 (being cinema vampires does that to you), we walked away happy, satisfied, exhausted and ready to kick this final day's ass.

Wrapped two more actors tonight...as we approach Wrap Day, soon The Knights depart.

Onward!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #76: Thanks Gore The Memories, Riverside Park

2010-08-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Our final day/night in Riverside State Park, onto a new location with a lot less grue and a lot more gears, so I thought while the on-set Spectral Motion guys (Sean & Bernie) were um..."cleaning shop" in their area, I'd snap a shot of some of the fond little "dressing" that was on display throughout the woods while we were here the last 5 weeks. Would be hilarious if we just left those entrails in the park for normal folk to enjoy on their hikes.

Don't worry, plenty more where these parts came from (this was just a bit), but it was funny to see how causal cast & crew were as they passed such an atrocious sight without batting an eyelash, chowing on breakfast burritos for the 28th consecutive day. I think our crew is officially jaded....of both gore and B'fast burritos.

Onward to parts of a different sort!

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #75: Monday is for Murder (and Malina!)

2010-08-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

The final Monday and we had to bid farewell to FOUR cast members, very insane yet also cathartic...means we're getting closer to the end of the road together. But for a Monday we kicked ass, spilled blood, made Kurosawa proud (!?) and even got in a little neo-slapstick (no, not SPLATstick, sorry Sullivan). One more night in the woods, and boy is it a doozy...might be too hot for the SOTD, that's all I'll say...

Speaking of "Hot", it was 90 out and sweltering on a rare day part of the shoot, and our dear friend Josh (seen above) had to endure one hell of an encounter against this tree here. I will reveal no more, other than it will make you cringe if we did our job right. Great to work with such fantastic talent, albeit for a short time.

Onward,
Joe

PS: Happy Birthday Pete Green and Congrats on Victoria as well!!

KOB Shot of the Day #74: Hazy Sunday

2010-08-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Nothing much to report here folks, just my current view on the coffee table as the family went out to dinner so I could have some alone time with my shot-list to prep for the next 4 final days of KOB madness. It was great to have them here, but also a little sad that I'm so "in the zone" that I can't really focus on much else or spend much time together without my head in Eliphaz or try to catch up on sleep. Guess I got used to having my Filming Blinders on, but still glad they got to come up and see some of the shoot & meet the cast/crew, who were SO nice and accommodating.

After trying to sleep (with little success, as per usual), Bri and I caught a matinee of SCOTT PILGRIM, arguably my most anticipated film of the summer next to INCEPTION (due to being a big fan of the comic from my FRESH INK days and an even bigger fan of Edgar's since SPACED & SHAUN), and while we both enjoyed it, I think being tired and in such a "production" mode, I couldn't fully appreciate it's awesomeness. Again, being so deep in the process at the moment, I was watching scenes & shots and analyzing "Hmmm...how long did it take to set THAT shot up?" or "Wonder how much that cost?" or "How many pages a day did they shoot??"...not being swept away by the film like I usually can, especially one I genuinely was into. Guess it happens to all filmmakers when they're in production, and Ill need to see it again immediately after I get back, but glad we got out for a bit to see it together before I had to jump back into my usual Sunday prep mode.

Again...strange that this time next week, Ill be back on my old couch, probably editing the footage I know we got in my head 6 ways to...well, Sunday. But It will be a GREAT feeling to move onto the next phase and start slashing this Beast into shape.

Prepping now, gotta go. We're not out of the woods yet...and there's still a LOT of blood to spill.

Onward to The Final Week!!!

Joe

PS: There's a new KOB site up! Check it out HERE, stay tuned to the KOB Twitter feed (@badassdom_movie) for more as well.

KOB Shot of the Day #73: "Wrapish"

2010-08-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Since this is essentially our final week of shooting and most of the out-of-towners will be booted out of Spokane back to our original beds by Friday, Production felt it was a good idea, with most of us still here, to have our Wrap Party tonight. While I was dead tired from the night before, Bri and I first met up with the producers & cast for dinner at the place I had dinner the night I arrived in Spokane (Moxie...again, GREAT Asparagus) and then hit our usual Saturday night joint, O'Doherty's Pub for a KOB gathering of epic proportions. Practically everyone was there, spirits were high and flowing, some of the cast premiered a music video they made with Summer's BF Cooper (a hell of a great guy and a fantastic photographer to boot) & our EPK Mike (see you on the Special Features, guys!) and then we ripped into Karaoke (I blasted out a "Knights of Badassdom Remix" of Tenacious D's "Wonderboy") before I had to head home a bit early to help Remy hit the hay. Im sure many will be "feeling it" Sunday, but Im glad everyone was having a good time and hope they partied well into the early hours of Sunday.

It was such a great feeling to see everyone having fun, comiserating on the insanity we rolled on and unwinding from one hell of a shoot...even if it's technically not finished! 4 more crazy days to go. Also crazy: a week from now Ill be back in Los Angeles (at a dear friend's nuptuials, natch) and can't believe I wont see many of these bright faces again. They've been so good to us here and I cherished the love in the room tonight.

Onward to bed (if I can),
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #72: Plate Spinning...

2010-08-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...in the middle of a complicated series of "Plate shots" for a visual gag that, if we played our cards right, will be a real gut-puncher. This part is just one of 4 separate practical pieces that, with the help of our Visual FX team at Comen FX (who've been great to have on-set to assist us in getting what we need for post) will in the end look like one seamless moment when blended in. Stuff like this can REALLY scramble your brain, especially when we're minutes from daylight and racing to the finish line, but I think we nailed the moment and ended Week 5 on a pretty bloody note, which is always nice to do. Thanks all for another week of hard work everyone! Time for a drink or 10.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #71: Came-oh!

2010-08-13T05:12:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

One of the things I love, even just for our own gratification, is throwing in our loving crew in front of the camera, either by choice or even by necessity (last week one of our hard-working P.A.'s, Clancy, had to stand in for a big FX shot at the last minute dressed as a principal and he KILLED it, literally!). Here our Co-Writer/Producer/Knight Kevin Dreyfuss is getting measured for a "big" scene tomorrow while Rebecca, another smiling face on-set has an um...opinion. Gotta keep away from crafty, Sir Kev....

Just makes everyone feel more involved, part of the process...and who doesn't want to be on the big-screen!? Dreyfuss is gonna rock.

We picture wrapped another major player tonight, sad to see him/her go (no spoilers!)...like Sir Borden said, "They're dropping like flies!"

Onward,
Joe

PS: SCOTT PILGRIM THIS WEEKEND....FINALLY!!! A great reward to look forward to...and the family is in town, so it's especially great to work hard towards this week's wrap.

KOB Shot of the Day #70: VukasVision

2010-08-12T04:31:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Another night of hard work paying off from all sides of production. Can't believe we only have 5 days left but seeing and knowing the puzzle pieces we got only makes me more excited. Lots to go still but again, a rewarding night...except those trains & planes F'ing up our takes. Loudest. Forest. EVER.

CUT TO: Close up-Mike Vukas, Chief Lighting Tech and one of the many smiling faces on the set, seen here using his trusty pen-laser to shine on something (probably) important....or just look cool...who knows, but with all the smoke on-set it's like a SWAT ambush when he shoots it off into the distance.

During lunch, I usually stay on-set while the rest go off to base camp; some might think Im being douchie & anti-social but with the constant busywork & hustle and flow on a movie set, you savor your silence, especially when you're mind is racing. Mike is one who also enjoys the "calm moments before the storm" (to quote Sir Oldman) and each night we usually sit on each "hot" set at hand, sometimes chewing the fat but mostly just taking in the scene at hand quietly, working out our strategy each night in our heads as we shovel our chow down. Another vital member of our Fellowship and a pleasure to be around.

Onward!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #69: To the bloody hilt...

2010-08-11T05:40:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Killer day, literally.

Again, you never know what lies ahead each shoot da-er, night, you just forge on regardless to the light a the end. Tonight, the light was bright, the smoke was thick, the work was fast & furious and the blood was flowing...but when on this film has it not? Day....1? That's about it so far I guess. Great work all!

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #68: In the thick of it...

2010-08-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Not much to say....pretty hard and distressing day to say the least. Sorry, not every shoot day is gonna be peaches and cream...but must press on, right? Big budget or small, that's just the way it goes I guess, but that doesn't mean it's not a bummer.

In the thick of the woods now, guess we got spoiled by a huge overhead softbox guiding us to the light. Hopefully it was just a case of the Mondays, but we gotta start kicking some ass, and QUICK. 8 more days to go, BIG scenes....lets go Knights...to the READY!!!

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #67:KOB FlashMob!!!

2010-08-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

After sleep laughing in my face yet another day, I ended up in the Spokane Park for a KOB Covert Op: Since we're losing many of our friends soon, we decided to put on a "Flash Mob" in a few locations downtown both as prosperity for the dedication these brave souls brought to the movie but also to celebrate the culture later when we end up promoting the film. Moments like these here in the middle of the mall main floor (while stunned onlookers stood back, mouths agape), were captured on everything from an HD HVX to some FLIPcams & iPhone videos (which is all I could extract some stills from here), hell, even a camera strapped to the LARPers and then yours truly (called "LynchCam", that's me-the hooded dude-seen below being attacked...I think they really enjoyed it).

It was a great time had by all and a nice way to say farewell to many of our KOB family....with Mall War!

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...and tis only the beginning, my friends...

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #66: Open Late; Cleaned plate.

2010-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

At the Satellite DIner at 3am after a KOB pub/post-wedding/party crawl....this WAS the "Satellite Scramble" which is, technically, either a late lunch or an early dinner for me/us.

Exciting, I know. Like the Primus album..."They All Can't Be Zingers". But hell, it must have been good enough to take a snap, right?

It was a good night seeing everyone out together, from all sides of the production spectrum, just hanging out and having a good time. We gots a great group goin' and it was worth running on fumes to be out with the gang.

Sleep awaits...I hope.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #65: What keeps me goin'....

2010-08-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Another week finished, so glad the cast and crew haven't called Mutiny and revolted yet....YET. Seriously, they are a brave, burly bunch and Im so lucky to have them on our side and seeing them hustle like they did tonight was an inspiration. But it's also an image* like this, for reasons I'm not ready/willing to quite divulge yet (unless you know me well enough) that pushes me to keep going even in the par-for-course rough patches. Whether its resonant for one person, 10 or many, it's one of the the coals stoking my fire.

For a hard week's work I had my crack assistant "Ace" go out and get two kegs of beer for the crew for a celebratory pint on yours truly....I thought lapdances and crank would have been nice but might have been over my per diem, so hope enjoying a frosty post-shoot beverage as the sun rose over the trees was a good way to close out one hell of a hard week with some great KOB family. Hope everyone got home safe and get some rest...more blood shall be spilt in week 5!!

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Onward,

Joe

PS: New favorite on-set shot, courtesy of Co-writer/Producer/Knight Matt Wall. I swear I wasn't posing, that's how I normally stand around set...with swords:

KOB Shot of the Day #64: F.W. Murnau would be proud...

2010-08-06T05:32:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Saw this and reminded me of Nosferatu.

Total chaos today. More tomorrow. Must fight on.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #63: Midnight's Summer Dream

2010-08-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Started with the smallest moments tonight & ended with one of the biggest. Still odd to me that our midday is around midnight.

Between shots, I caught one of our Knights in a casual moment....a casual moment with a Sword that is. By now, Medieval weaponry, armor & entrails is just another day at the office to us, but still feels like a waking dream to be walking amongst it all in the midnight air.

Funny, this shot reminds me of something Argento-esque, a SUSPIRIA moment even, which let to me rambling on about Dario's filmography with Summer till "Picture's Up" was yelled. Could have been 10 minutes straight of Giallo gibber-jabber. Sorry, Summer!

I'm gonna go put on Goblin and pass out. Another Big battle on both sides of the camera, gotta keep fighting for some sleep.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #62: Looking down the barrel...

2010-08-04T05:53:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...son of gun Son of a bitch.

Another tough but rewarding day today/tonight. It's minutes from wrap & we're we are at the "Abby*", setting up an FX shot aimed as something Spectral and in Motion. Gonna be a frikkin' big moment, so glad we're getting this. But looking down this particular barrel, as the night bleeds slowly into day in the distance, it reminded me of the one aimed at The Fellowship as we fight on in getting all we want and need to tell the story.

3 wise men once said:

Ultra violence be running through my head
Cold medina y'all, making me see red
Rapid fire Louie like Rambo got bullets
I'm a die harder like my kid Bruce Willis

Onward,
Joe

*Abbie: 2nd to last shot called over crew communication, named after Abby Singer; The final shot is the more familiar term, "The Martini". If there is a shot popped in after...it's "The Lynch".

KOB Shot of the Day #61: Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

2010-08-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Another intense night of lighting actors on fire, stunts with vehicles and creatures, dead bodies, intense acting beats, buckets of blood...you know, "Monday".

Here is a moment with one of the Special Effects guys, Connor, as he works some movie magic to make it look like a truck is kicking up dirt 'n dust while backing up into...."something" (wink)...while in the foreground, a pivotal piece of the story has it's curtain call courtesy of props.

All in a night's work.

Onward,
Joe

PS: Doug, you called it!

KOB Shot of the Day #60: Slices of "Home"

2010-08-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

At The Avenue, one of my favorite places in Spokane (the Geekiest Pizza pub you'll ever encounter) getting some dinner to take out and I look up to see G4 on TV (actually, they are "4G" this week as a promo stunt) playing PREDATOR. With the nerd-tastic wall of "Heroes" (Tony Montana, Charlies Angels, Mr. T, Farigno Hulk, et al) on the wall, the comics lining the perimeter of the joint and a TV network so close to me playing an Ah-nuld classic made me miss home like a sonofabitch for some odd reason.

Start of a new week, gonna try to rest up for battle...got some Evil to thwart.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #59: Killer Commode & The Fellowship Feast!

2010-08-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

First off, this is SOTD because, while at our usual Saturday Fish 'n Chips dinner at O'Dohertys tradition, I had to hit the "John Smith" and was so thrilled at this sight, clearly enough to take a shot. Any joint that has a commode rocking a Ken Loach movie poster (one of my favorite of his too) is MINT in my book*. What a strange sight to see in a local bathroom, but one that made me giggle with nerdy delight while evacuating.

...Coming back from a rare night out was a real treat after finally getting more than 3 hours of sleep over the past few weeks. So refreshing!

After feeling like what Jack Horner calls "Doggie Doo Doo" the past few days, decided to get out out for a bit and so glad I did. What I thought was an invite to a subtle birthday gathering for one of our biggest supporters, J.P. Pettanato (who has helped produce the Frak out of this thing) turned out to be a HUGE KOB family celebration, with cast, crew and many of the brave, stalwart LARPers who have been part of the whole production as featured "warriors" were all out in full force. To feel all the love & support in the many rooms we took over throughout the night, it just made me even more proud of the work we're pulling off against the odds and even more ready for many battles ahead. That there is, even just halfway through the shooting adventure, such a "family" spirit amongst us all is so invigorating...like, no matter what, we HAVE to try our best to make this something special. If you like it or not, fuck it....we all put our all into it, and everyone who came out tonight was representative of the dedication involved. I dunno if this is the same on every set, but I have never felt a similar sense of kindrid spirit, passion and heart into a collective work in my entire life. Here's a terrible glimpse of the Karaoke madness taking place amongst the Fellowship while taking over Monteray Cafe during a Rapturous Queen number:

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

We ended up in 3 bars over the night (which to many of us is mid-afternoon in my/our "Nightcrawler" schedule) and in every joint there was a familiar and friendly face; so either that's a testament to how small Spokane is, or we just have one hell of a KNIGHTS family amongst us.

Onward,
Joe

*Still entitled PATRICK DUFFY STOLE MY BURRITO.

PS: This was taken 2 days ago by my old college buddy/killer Script Supervisor Robb "Ivory Shabazz" Foglia while we were shooting under raindrops, me checking a rehearsal moment behind the "Video Village". Contender for new profile pic.

Shot by Ivory Shabazz.

KOB Shot of the Day #58: Friday Night Lights

2010-07-31T07:23:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Walking back from the 3rd "10-1" of the night (the wetworks did NOT agree with 2nd meal last night and I was paying the price...what, TMI?) I was rushing back to set and just had to stop for a moment and gaze on this monsterous, glowing sight in the distance; what we've all constructed out here w/ ideas & elbow grease. For the past week, flashes of the climax from CLOSE ENCOUNTERS kept creeping back into my head, reminding me to smile through the sometimes tough times, forging ahead. Even at the end of a hell of a week, it was an sight like this, one removed from the fictional story we're telling visually and more about the process & the tale of this beast being birthed, that will make it all worth it in the end. I gotta admit, I found myself in awe, even after days working within it. Pretty F'n cool....

...and then the lightning came, just to close out the Martini with one hell of a light show. Felt like the right capper to the night and week.

Thanks to everyone for another week! We've officially crossed the halfway point in the shoot...Onward through Evermore!

Night night,

Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #57: How 'bout some head?

2010-07-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

A mere taste (a smidge if you will) of some of the evening's set-dressing...and this was just at the "head" of the night (ZING).

Very surreal evening. Fighting loss of appetite (which is competing with lack of sleep for the gold medal right now) I found myself hastily shoveling down a 2nd meal half-sandwich at 3am, standing alone for a moment, surrounded by bodies, body parts and pools of blood...a gallon of which I enjoyed dispersing around the area myself to um, fill the frame.

Best part? I couldn't stop smiling.

...and its only gonna get stranger. Fight on.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #56: Mag rims 'n Raindrops

2010-07-29T05:36:00.001-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

See those wheels? Mint.

See those looming clouds? Totally Lame.

Knocking on the nearest wood as I write this (dont be cheeky now...) but the weather for our mostly outdoor shoot has been, sucky short nights aside, pretty wonderful...especially considering my last show was 23 days of rain that was supposed to be set in one day of sunshine. But today's gusty wind and sporatic, unruly bouts of rain actually forced us to go to a "cover" set, one that didn't require the massive floating light rig over Evermore, which always make me feel like I'm on the set of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS or COCOON, due to its massively glowing (and floating presence). However, there wasn't much cover here either by our Trik'd out Van in the parking lot set (our only alternate scene we could shoot to make a day) and we were constantly fighting the weather and barely made said day, the "martini" rolling right down to the last drop of time.

Despite the snafus, got some really GREAT performances and visuals. The steadfast cast/crew, despite the last minute change of plans, really rolled with the punches, and I think we all walked away happy with the scene. Just so hard when the clock is ticking, the sun is your hard out & there are natural forces working against your doings putting a damper* on things, just glad to have a Fellowship who know how to hustle and help us make it happen.

Onward!

Joe

*Pun intended.

KOB Shot of the Day #55: Zahn's Poppin' Cherries...

2010-07-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

HUGE effects day; lots of stunts, gore, monsters, warring extras, severed limbs...you name it, we probably had it in shot. One friendly face amongst the stress and strife was Sir Steve, who came in on a day off just to hang out and pass out a batch of freshly picked cherries he got today, which he happily distributed amongst the crew and huge cast of LARPers with a big grin on his face (when he wasn't taking pictures of things we dare not show off now, tee hee). Not only were the cherries delicious (and Im NOT a fan) but it was such a nice gesture, even on an off day, to see Steve out there with us, supporting us all the way. The whole team has been behind us, even in our darkest moments, always being encouraging, serving up some great ideasand rolling with the punches. This was, pardon the pun, just a cherry on the top of the night. Sorry, I had to.

A classy fella, to the end. I bow in your honor, Sir.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #54: The Battle on "A" & "B" (and sometimes "C")

2010-07-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

It can be both fun and frustrating to shoot on multiple cameras; Great because you double your shots, can ramp different speeds without having to mimic the action over and over as much and just get more dynamic coverage in less time, but you also have to practically cross your eyes to catch EVERYTHING, and having 2 or even like tonight THREE cameras on what is the beginning of our "War" scene can sometimes make things even more confusing and constricting as to where you can place said cams.

But damn if it aint a blast playing Battle with friends,both new and old. Challenging but fruitful night.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #53: The Simple things

2010-07-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Nope, nothing special, just like today. Tried to sleep, failed. Tried to check out a movie, which was just one big FAIL. So, walked around the park and found myself entranced by this water fountain configuration for more than 10 minutes. Funny how simple things like water pouring out of a cement circle can be the more interesting thing your eyes fall upon on a particular day.

Tomorrow....we fight!

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #52: Boo Radleys Rulz.

2010-07-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Any store I walk into and THIS view is the first thing I see is a sight for sore eyes. Enter Boo Radley's a novelty shop I've been hearing about since I got here but only today forced myself to walk around and wandered in. The place literally sells "bric-a-brac"; funky, geek-chic STUFF but with a slightly cooler edge (i.e. Retro lunch boxes, outdated toys, hipster coffee table books, etc) but it felt so good to just wander around the store for a moment...and how can you not love the name? Made me smile thinking about Boo Radley & reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in the 5th grade, one of the few books from school I actually have had repeat readings with (come on, would you EVER re-read THE YEARLING or THE ODDYSEY? Exactly). The movie is also pretty fantastic, but the book is just sublime. So is this geektastic store, another wonderful little find while on our Quest....and come on, THE HERO AND THE TERROR poster!?! Win in my book.

Keeping up with the MOCKINGBIRD theme, the (very good) coffee house next door was called Atticus.
Harper Lee, Respekt.

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Onward,

Joe

PS: Finally met someone very special today. I can't wait for you to as well ;)

KOB Shot of the Day #51: There WIll Be Blood...Lots.

2010-07-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...Courtesy of Casey's Guacamole Gun. Ever since I saw Friedkin use it in the opening of FRENCH CONNECTION, I've always loved the effect and boy did we put the bitch to work. Here's a 10th of the "art" on display.

A furious, fantastic day-er, Night. We hustled like heroes and this one juicy moment is just the gory cherry on top. Moments of Epic Fantasy, 70's Suspense Thriller & the Splatterpunk genres all honored this eve, with a lot of hard work from an amazing cast and crew. I already miss some of them...

Again, so strange not to be at Comic-Con after going 5 straight years (almost all for different reasons) but feel like we're at the very least doing the Geek community proud with our efforts here. Hope to see you guys there next year!

It wasn't an easy week*...but a well-earned final night to close the week out. Sleep now, night night.

Onward,
Joe

*Understatement.

KOB Shot of the Day #50: Art with Oliver.

2010-07-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sent from my iPhone, click to enlarge.

Introducing Oliver, one of the set-dressers for KOB that Im always passing quickly between shots and who is one of the many doing a hell of a job. Always on standby with a piece of green, a styro with blood and make things appear/dissapear from the frame. We had a fake bathroom made and here he gave the walls an um...."authentic" look? Great guy to have on-set, that's for sho'. Hard day. Good stuff. Can never anticipate ANYTHING on a film set.

Onward,

Joe

PS: Ooh I love being so J.J. Abrams right now....hate Im not at Comic-con, but the madness is worth it.

KOB Shot of the Day #49: Standing by...

2010-07-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Sent to iPhone, click to enlarge.

Between take props chillin' out, taking a 5'er been a heated, dramatic scene we're setting up now....looks like a real doozy of a scuffle huh? Just wait.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #48: Hammering coverage.

2010-07-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

The "brought in" atmosphere hovering just above our heads and twisting through the grass was purely Hammer Films. We all reminisced on our favorite from the famed genre studio (Mine would be WTHE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN) and then shot more 0's & 1's in the Mist. Darabont and Peter Cushing would be proud.

KOB Shot of the Day #47: Short 'Knights'

2010-07-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

SHot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Tonight commences 4 long weeks of short nights, gonna be a rough one. The sleep schedule officially sucks.

Tonight we're gettin in it heavy...

KOB Shot of the Day #46: Movie Night #1 - "Two Old Friends"

2010-07-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Invited a bunch of the cast over for a little "Movie Night" to watch AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON before we delve into week 2 of shooting. Some had never seen it before or in a while, so it was a blast to watch it with new friends & some alcohol. Even seeing it for the 204th time, it's still inspiring and got me psyched up for this week. Might have to make this Movie Night thing a Sunday night tradition....

Now I'm trying to stay up as late as possible tonight since we go to night hours starting tomorrow, dreading turning into a Vampire for 3 weeks. But the shoot must go on...into the darkness...

Onward to another week!!!
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #45: Perfect Saturday Situation.

2010-07-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

SHot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...Pot of coffee, new book to read and a bunch of tickets to INCEPTION tonight...

Just the right kind of brain candy I need right this moment.

Onward,
Joe

*which felt like Michael Mann and Kubrick remade eXisTenZ, and I think I loved it; need to see again asap, as per usual with Nolan.

KOB Shot of the Day #44: The Eye of SaurJuan...

2010-07-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

...always watching. Watching...smiling...thinking about the Yankees...

...Just one of the Fellowship keping our shit together & the ship sailing. God bless him...and that's not just "waxing his car" (Sorry for the steal PTA...that's a Y.P, not an M.P-DAMMIT, I did it again!).

Made it through our first big week of shooting KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM. Holy.Shit. 'Tis was a battle but we fought with courage, strength & burned some major 0's & 1's. Thanks so much to everyone in The Fellowship up here, we live to fight another day/Night....whatever...what day is it??

Onward!

Joe

PS: My Script Supervisor (and college buddy, now fully solidifying that the world is so small it's practically Nano) Robb Foglia took this of me while on one of our "hot sets" and strangely, the picture came out a little odd. I wonder why...
Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

KOB Shot of the Day #43: Big "P.M.P."-in (a van)

2010-07-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

\Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Monitoring video in the back of a hot, tented van during a little "Poor Man's Process", which is sometimes essential to control the lighting...and of course not get into an accident during a moving shot. Not ideal but when time and money is a factor, its a day-saver.

Onward,
Joe

KOB Shot of the Day #42: Choices, Choices...('10 reprise)

2010-07-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Shot with iPhone, click to enlarge.

Tough picking the right hue for Supernatural body fluids...

Onward,

Joe

PS: Our love goes out to a fallen one who left us too early. We will fight on in your honor, Brave Warrior.