Well, it's actually an old project but after long discussions and debates we have decided to go for a new feature length film. We've bounced around several ideas the past year or so and all of them we like and aren't dead just put in the bin for a revisit at a later time. The reason was that we have long debated whether or not to try some shorts or webisodes and finally settled on just plowing ahead and shooting a feature. BONE CHINA is back. The script written several years ago and had already been in the early stages of pre-production is the script we plan on tackling. The story is very near and dear to my heart as it was a script Mat Raney wrote from a short film script I had written way back right after "12 Steps Nowhere" was in pre-production. The film will be a dark and gritty thriller with some great characters and story. I don't want to give out to many details but we are hard at work on the script and scheduling. A new website will be going up soon as well. We plan on using it in the early stages as a production journal site to keep up with productions, video journals, blogs, podcasts, early stills and much more! We are all very excited about the film and look forward to bringing everyone one along for the full production ride!
First shoot back after a long delay and it was AWESOME! We all worked very hard and long for a 3 minute scene and I probably over shot but we got some great footage! Graeme and Mat did a spectacular job acting this scene, Chad, great ideas and kept my overall vision for it on course, Cory always there when needed and happy to be there and Dave, as always, on top of his game!
This is the scene we are trying to develop into a feature length movie. The script is written but this scene is our investor piece. This scene stands alone and it isn't part of the feature but it was a great way to start shaping the look and feel of the movie. Too bad we had to kill Graeme off as "Anderson" because he was so good but Mat's "Vitali" could reappear in BONE CHINA.
All in all, this shoot got us back on track. We've been working all along, especially on, THIS MODERN LOVE. But we were more partners on that picture but this is all Twenty One. When we all get to work together it's always good, but when it's on our own project it's GREAT!
We've debated, talked, planned for months now. But the time is finally here! Saturday night we are doing a test shoot for a possible upcoming feature. I'm working on the storyboards right after I finish this post. Lately I have been doing a lot of shooting, directing and editing for news. That gets old REAL quick. It's steady work, but you can burn out fast. That's why this test shoot is like a Red Bull to my brain! Planning shots, breaking down the script, storyboards, it's like my creative director light has been turned on with a 5K bulb! I'll continue to post on the progress of this shoot and ultimately the progress of the movie it's preludes.
Creativity. That is my life. Always has been. Art, music, film and everything in between. I pour my heart and soul into all these endeavors and inevitably that also draws critics and it's something I expect and deal with. Great critiques make you feel worthy and anything remotely negative can crush my spirit. I know I need thicker skin and most people are just trying to help and you can only get better because of it right? All true. It all comes with the creative realm. So why complain? I'm not, but I want to express, not excuse, my defensiveness in times of harsh critiques.
I am the king, the man, pound for pound the best, among men, as the "the jack of all trades and the master of none." I am not a particularly good singer or even a decent guitar player, my writing (all of it) is sloppy and grammatically incorrect on all levels. As an artist I have natural ability but very little schooling or training. So I am mediocre at best. As a matter of fact I have no college education. I took classes in college but never completed a degree. That's hard. That's one of the few regrets in my life. That's why I get touchy and sensitive when people correct me. Which, more often than not, is more than justified.
It happens all the time. Who doesn't have some sort of college degree today? I was in the infield at the Preakness last Saturday and I stopped to change a battery in my video camera. A concessions guy asked me about my camera and what I did. This guy was probably making barely minimum wage. And he asks me,"Did you go to school for this (video)?" I told him no. I never lie. I've never said I had a degree to anyone, ever. But it's not information I give up freely, until now. I digress. But at that very moment I felt ashamed I make the type of money I do when I felt this infield concession worker deserved much more than I have. I am fortunate, blessed and very, very lucky, but I always feel like at some point I am going to be exposed as a fraud. An uneducated hack. I'm not saying I havn't worked hard to get where I am but the fear of losing it all in a heartbeat is a very real for me. Simply because I feel as though everyone is smarter and more gifted than I could ever hope to be.
I've played music with some incredible musicians, made T.V. and film work with real pros, had my words read by real novelists and an Emmy award winner writer. So who the F*** could I possibly think I am? I'm a man in a mask, some (many) people know it others don't. I survive on those who actually think I know what I'm doing, when really I am just staying afloat waiting for someone to finally push me under the water.
Time is no longer on my side. Life is hard. It's hard for everyone, not just me. We all have our cross to bear. But the fear that lives within my soul should scare even the toughest S.O.B. Fraud, idiot, or just the luckiest truly unskilled person alive? Who knows? But as I do in all my creative endeavors I bare my soul and wear my heart on my sleeve and I am sure someone is gong to criticize me for it.
Now I'm not sure I should be writing this right now seeing as though I'm heavily sedated but here goes. Friday night 11:45 p.m. we lost another member of our family to cancer. This was the aunt of my first wife who died of the same type of cancer. She lived close, stayed close but struggled in the end, and I'm certain she was ready to go. I've seen it before. She wasn't quitting she was ready. She was peaceful and was surrounded by family and friends. Myself not included since I did not think I had the fortitude to handle it. I've been by the bed side when someone takes their last breath and that shit is burned in your memory 4 life!. Believe me. I'm sad, contemplative and melancholy. Or maybe I'm just a big pussy that has let a lot of feelings die inside at an early age. I hope not. I'm sensitive and there is a whole life out there to be lived. Does anyone read this crap I write anyway? I hope mother's day went well for many. But all in all today sucked for many close to me. Stay driven, stay alive, feel alive, do something you never thought you had the guts to do! Life ain't waiting on you!
A buddy of mine commented on my last post referring to song titles from the Foo Fighters. Very appropriate indeed. So I use an album title for this post although I think I should revise it a bit. It should be called Scars are Souvenirs. It's been a while since I brought this up and I missed my annual post, February 21, this year due to my surgery recovery. But February 21 provided me with my 2nd big scar, emotionally. I didn't get my physical ones until years later. But with a beautiful spring day looming and me with nothing to do but enjoy it, I need to spend a moment reflecting. Spring is renewal and in my case in 1993 and 1996 never was the word "renewal" so severely redefined in my life. At the ripe old age of 25 my first wife Jill gave birth prematurely to our son, Aaron. He was born on Good Friday and he passed away on Easter Sunday, April 9. He was 3 months early and despite doctor's best efforts to fragile to survive. Scar 1. Then, February 21, 1993. Jill passed away from cancer only 6 months after being diagnosed, I had just turned 28, she had just turned 30. Scar 2. But on that fatefully day when I was there when Jill took her final breath "renewal" had begun. I can say that now since so much time has passed. I don't bring this up for sympathy but as a simple reminder. Now that I sit here nearly 12 years later my, life is renewed each day and it went it a direction I never could have imagined. A gorgeous spring day helps bring that to light many times. So my scars are my souvenirs. I don't wear them as crosses either. They are what they are. At a very early age in my life my scars were internal, hell at times I thought they would killed me. In the last 5 years my scars have been external from surgery and some I even did on purpose, such as my tattoo that grows larger and more colorful each time I go for new ink. Still a scar in my book. But if you let those scars heal and let them be a reminder of times in your life in which the pain would never seem to go away...know that it will. It'll just leave a souvenir. A reminder, not a reason to stop renewing and enjoying all the glory of a warm spring day!
Due to my most recent and painful bout of medical issues it seems as though my life has taken a major detour. Now 2 months post-op I am feeling better and I believe that life is slowly but surely getting back on course. I still haven't had a mortality crisis but I do realize that everyday without pain, heartache, misery and loneliness is a good one.
Lots of projects to get back to and living life the best I can. Thanks to everyone who stuck by me, supported me and cared enough about my personal well being. Life is good and it can always get better! I look forward to the possibilities, I hope you do too!
Here is the second pitch in the contest we enter called "The Perfect Pitch." Both our pitches made it into the top 20! Watch and then visit the site and make it a favorite!
Our boys Mat Raney and Chad Perkins have entered the AVID Perfect Pitch contest. We are in the top 40 but we need your help to get us into the top 20! VOTE NOW! VOTE OFTEN!
I don't know how many times I can apologize for my blog not being updated on a regular basis. This is another attempt at redemption. Since the beginning of February I have had another bout with a health problem. I was hospitalized for more than a week, had surgery and am now just getting back on my feet. Hopefully within a week I will be back at my day job and Twenty One has a brand new project that should be getting underway very soon.
In a world where 24 hour news serves to saturate the public at large with bad news it's time for some good. Among the stories of Iraq, Michael Vick, NBA ref, Tim Donaghy, the trapped Utah miners and rescuers, toys with lead paint, heat waves, hurricanes, and the scariest of all...political debates, it's time for some happiness.
Not mine specifically. Tonight Fox airs the final episode of ON THE LOT. As I've blogged before, our friend and fellow filmmaker, Jason Epperson, is in the finals. I have no knowledge of the outcome but I have a hunch Jason will win it all and I hope that he does. At the absolute worst he comes in third and gets to be a working director. I'd take that...yesterday. Winning would be icing. He already has the cake. And good for him. Better to have known someone that becomes successful than not. Especially in a field I hope to make a living in. Not just work. I can and still do make movies. But I can't feed my family on them...yet.
For those of you out there who I haven't told yet, and that would be very few, I went to high school with Dave Grohl. Yes, THAT, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame. I have the high school yearbooks to prove it. Now Dave and I weren't close but I knew him and I know several people who will claim they were Dave's best friend...now. I watched him and a few neighborhood guys practice with their band in the drummer's basement. He was a year behind me in school, he was freshman class president, and his mom taught English in our school. I remember Dave playing guitar and the band practicing, Ozzy Osbourne's, Crazy Train. He went on to play drums in a D.C. punk band called, Scream and next thing I knew he was on MTV with Nirvana.
I don't think much about it now but when I do it is strange to be able to say I went to school with a guy who became famous. Dare I say a rock icon in a world full of disposable stars. When I see him on T.V. or on the cover of magazines all I can think of is the guy that got dragged, kicking, into my sister's bathroom by 3 dudes where they proceeded to butcher his hair, during a party at my house the summer before my junior year!
In a time where we are all hoping for some good news, even if it doesn't directly effect you, this is mine and more than likely many others too. Jason is on the verge of Hollywood success and who knows he could be the next Spielberg. You could have never convinced me when I was in high school that Dave Grohl would grow up to be..."Dave Grohl." So I know, first hand (really second hand), that it's possible. What I'll remember most about Jason is when he came up and congratulated me at the screening of my first feature movie, The Midnight. I hope that I get the chance to hang out with Jason again if the opportunity ever presents itself. But if not, I can honestly say, "I knew him when."
Life can be tough sometimes. It seems like my year, outside of the release of R.O.T.T., has been a very difficult one. News hit late last night that 3 rescue workers died and 6 more were hurt doing their job trying to save 6 miners who have been trapped for 2 weeks in the mine in Utah. I can't even image the horror of that situation even though it's shown minute by minute on cable news. Yeah I've had a fairly sucky year but my complaints pale in comparison to the pain and fear that all these people and their families are having to endure.
From all of us at Twenty One our thoughts and prayers are with the trapped miners, rescue workers, their families and all the people of Utah.
I have had a few previous posts about the show ON THE LOT. Our friend and fellow filmmaker Jason Epperson did not only make it on to the show but is now in the FINALS of the competition! Everyone has been so supportive and now all of us who know Jason are trying to help make the final push for Jason to WIN! Nate Brown sent me some great info on Jason and a how-to to make sure he can get all the support we can give him. Read all the info below and please help! Vote! GOOD LUCK JASON!
(From Nate:) Winchester resident Jason Epperson is in the final 3 contestants of FOX's ON THE LOT. Tonight is the last night to vote and choose the winner of the $1 million Dreamworks contract. Over the past 3 months, he has been narrowed down from 20,000 submissions to the final 3 for this reality show competition for Directors (much like American Idol or The Next Top Whatever).
I'm sending this to those of you who have showed interest in helping with Jason's success.
Great news! Because of the dedicated weekly voting of friends and fans like us, my pal Jason has gone from 1 of 20,000 video submissions down to only 3 directors left in this reality show competition,ON THE LOT Tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8/14), at 8:00 EST, on FOX, we'll see a different format for the show, but still be given 1 more chance to vote him through to victory!
As you can tell, I'm pretty excited. But, for him to win this thing (a $1 million job with Dreamworks pictures), he's gonna need a lot of voting support from 9:00-11PM Tuesday night. This week is our last opportunity.
For those of you who don't plan to be near a TV Tuesday night, and who prefer to watch the show later on-line, I'm going to make is easy for you to help:
1. E-MAIL ME back now with just your home phone number.
2. I will watch the show tomorrow night, and I WILL CALL YOU between 8-9PM to tell you the toll-free number to call to vote for Jason.
3. When I call you, you WRITE DOWN THE NUMBER, and go ahead and dial it into your phone.
4. Starting at 9:00, start hitting the REDIAL.
5. REPEAT step 4 for at least 15 minutes (please), up to 2 hours.
It takes approximately 10-seconds per call (land-lines seem to pick up faster that cell phones). As soon as the call picks up and the recorded voice says "Thank You," you can hang up and redial. After a while, you'll figure out that you can multitask (do sit-ups, tell kids a good-night story, brush teeth, etc.) If your fingers need a break, trade off with your roommate or spouse.
If you want to go ahead before the show and see some of the best of Jason's films from this competition, CLICK HERE.
Scroll down on this page and watch one of these: Sweet, Eternal Waters, or Old Home Boyz.
Thank you for reading this, and to those who can commit to some repetitive phone dialing, May God bless you, Jason, his wife Cindi, and their 2-year old, Isaiah, through your efforts.
A heat wave is hanging over most of the country and I think it's finally fried my brain. Nothing was on the hundreds of channels on my cable box so for the very first time I watched the T.V. show, Without a Trace. The show has been on the air since 2002 and was created by Jerry Bruckheimer. It won an Emmy in 2003, won a Golden Globe in 2004 and it was nominated for Emmy's in 04 and 05. Now to be fair those wins and nominations were for acting and specific actors (2 for "guest starring" actors) and for art direction. So, I figured I give it a look.
My review: This show stinks! End of review.
I wasn't expecting it to blow me away but when the show first came out I never watched it simply because I had a hunch it would be a show I would not like. I've always been a big believer in don't criticize something you know nothing about. That's why I usually don't comment on shows or movies I've never seen. Like previously stated, I have my hunches about shows, and in this case I was right.
Now I know this is only one show and it may have been incredible during previous seasons, but based on what I saw I will never watch that show again for any reason. The characters were unsympathetic, uninteresting, the acting was flat and forced and the story was dull and formula laden. If I rolled my eyes one more time, during a scene, I was sure I was going to pass out! It looked good and shot well. But even that was pretty standard. But probably the best quality the show processes. I will give the show props for one thing. About halfway through they did an actual missing persons segment where they showed a real life missing little girl with a number to call if you have seen her. That was cool I thought and a great thing to do. Other than that. UGH!
The heat is stifling and unforgiving, but the T.V. shows even more oppressive. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. The first of 2 preseason football games were on.
With summer here and T.V. sucking beyond belief I have been doing a lot of catching up on my Netflix. Just recently I watched CASINO ROYALE. Now it's no secret that my favorite films tend to be small indie films. Lots of talking heads. I have never been a big James Bond fan and I think the last bond movie I remember watching was the one with "Jaws" in it, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. I was 9.
I had heard good things about the latest Bond movie after much debate and rage by 007 fans after Daniel Craig was announced as the new Bond. That alone made me want to see the movie. I thought the anger of fans about Craig playing the role was beyond stupid. It was out right lunacy. It's just a movie character for God's sake.
Reviews were solid and those same angry fans seem to take to Craig after the movie release so I added it to my Netflix queue. I was hoping the movie was good, yet I held out any true optimism for the simple fact 90% of the time with action movies and blockbusters I am ultimately disappointed.
Well I am happy to report I really enjoyed the movie. (I know you must be so happy for me right now.) It had it's "Bond" moments but, it had a lot of untraditional elements for a 007 movie too, and those I really liked! He finally gets in his Bond-mobile and destroys it 1 minute into the car chase! (I had to watch the crash twice it was so cool.) And the opening chase on foot was amazing and I am not over stating that either. Unbelievable! It's no surprise and the fact isn't lost on me that this just so happens to be the 21st Bond movie.
Dave and I have told story after story about the number 21 and how it filters through so much, literally everything, that we do. Superstitious? Coincidence? Luck? Maybe some but Dave and I strongly believe in the number 21. Calls us crazy but it has served us well. Just as the latest installment of Bond did. It restored my faith that big budget, formula-driven, over-the-top action movies can still be good in the eyes of this cynical and sometimes overly critical movie fan...sometimes.
In a year where I have actually gone to the theaters to watch summer tentpole movies and as previously stated, disappointed 9 times out of 10, the latest installment of James Bond made me wish I had see it in a theater and left, SPIDER-MAN 3 and TRANSFORMERS for my Netflix queue instead.
We have a lot of "new" things going on here at Twenty One. One of the major new projects is a complete face lift redesign of our website. We are working on the next feature film. All kinds of "new."
However, last night I was perusing my DVD collection and I cam e across THE MIDNIGHT our first (well technically due to length) our second feature film. This was my and Twenty One's attempt at a comedy with heart. My Kevin Smith film. So I popped it in my computer and started watching a few scenes. It brought back so many memories that I finally took it to my room, threw it in the DVD player and watched the movie from the beginning. Now, I am not going to sit here and criticize or analyze the movie. All I want to say is how much fun I had watching it. It brought back such good memories. DeAnna Friend, who was a starring lead in the movie, is no longer with us, one guy who plays a stoner burn-out in the film just recently announced that he was going into the priesthood, another actor was on the reality show GREASE: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT and made it into the top 3 finalists, and there are so many other stories just like those. Everything was immortalized in this movie. A snapshot friends, family and great times!
Even though the story is marginal at best and some of the acting could barely be considered as such, it had it's strong moments as well. I was really happy with the writing and much of the acting in many of the dramatic scenes, David Cottingham had some terrific acting moments in those. Steve Tressler had a great knack for comedy and his improv stuff really makes you laugh out loud.
This is something we have talked about in the past and that was to do some re-writes and actually re-make a "new" THE MIDNIGHT. After last nights viewing it would be something I would love to tackle because there was much that I loved about that film. It's good to go back from time to time and see where we have come from and where it looks like we are going.
Hopefully someplace "new" although many of the faces may still be the same!
After my last post I was feeling pretty down considering how much T.V. sucks. However, last night my joy was restored. Not in the strength of T.V. but that it is possible that good things are still being made.
So in the spirit of a Friday. Here's some recommendations for the weekend.
Season 2 of EXTRAS the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant show on HBO. To steal a term from the show "brilliant!" Show #1 with Orlando Bloom so full of himself and with so much hatred of Johnny Depp. Show #2 where David Bowie improvises a song dedicated to the "little fat man. Pug, pug, pug pug." The final episode on dic #1 with Daniel Radcliffe hitting on every woman on the set of his boy scout movie. Hilarious!
So after watch those 3 episodes it reminded me to show my wife the clip on YouTube of Ricky Gervais and a spot he did for Comic Relief 2007 with Stephen Merchant, Jamie Oliver, Sir Bob Geldof and Bono. It'll bring you to tears.
Finally my confession. I think Justin Timberlake is just the best! I know that you could throw right in front of that, "Do you know how I know you're gay?" the famous slamfest from THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, but you know what? Don't care.
Seriously I am not a big fan of Timberlake's music but the guy is great at comedy and acting. Much like I think of Ludicris being as fantastic as he is, I feel the same about Justin Timberlake. The "Dick in a Box" skit from SNL (I know old news) but still one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Plus the 2 times he has hosted SNL have been some of the best shows since Alec Baldwin hosted.
I just finished watching BLACK SNAKE MOAN, which I highly recommend, with JT in it and he was great. Timberlake's part was very small but he did a great job with it. The guy can be so self effacing that you can't help but like him and I defy anyone to prove me wrong!
So last night was a laugh fest! I seriously had to wind down before even thinking about going to bed my stomach hurt so bad. One more quick video tip (again probably old news) but watch the Natalie Portman SNL short. You quite possibly might s*** yourself! You can check out all these videos over on my favorites on my YouTube page HERE.
Final note. As much as I'm gushing over Ricky Gervais and Justin Timerlake...Christina Ricci in panties and a half tee for most of a movie. Priceless.
I don't usually catch much T.V. in the summer but, now thanks to DVR and an 11-year-old in the house, I have captured much of what the networks are trying to pass off as entertainment. Thanks to DVR I am able to watch these mindless pieces of crap at lightning speed and efficiency.
I have never been a fan of "reality" shows and after the summer fare that's on the airwaves my opinion has only gotten stronger. THE NEXT BEST THING, are you kidding me with this? A show to see who is the best celebrity impersonator...WHY? What are they going to do with such a useless talent if they do win? And Jeffery Ross...what up? You are the roast master and I see why they want you on...to slaughter idiots, but now you just look like one hosting such a crappy, irrelevant waste of airtime. Or DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS, not only do we have to listen to people sing poorly to bad songs but then put up with the standard "stall for time" dramatic moments and in multiple formats as well. NBC puts the exact same song on a day later. Come on isn't anyone laughing with me? They could do 5 to 6 reality contests in 30 minutes and be done with it. 6 weeks, 13 weeks? I can literally feel my brain cells jumping to their death in my skull.
Now on to my WORST offender.GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. Now I would hope it is understood by now that reality shows that show celebrities and their family's in day to day situation is fixed to one degree or another. Much like the WWE. But Gene Simmons takes the cake. This is just a bad sitcom, poorly written "situations" and the greatest crime of all...bad acting. I haven't seen such bad direction and acting since 1978's, KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM of the PARK. I know that Simmons is a control freak to the nth degree in all matters involving him but this is a train wreck wrapped in a nightmare. It is so pathetic. But the worst part is that this is the future of reality T.V. Stars "acting" in "real and wacky" situations done in more than a few takes! Gene loves to say there's no bullshit about him and that he is an open book that's why tabloids leave him alone. I would venture to guess that his show stinks and that he is now an irrelevant "star" may be the real reason. There isn't one aspect of his life that's authentic or at least one that a camera would be allowed to record.
500 channels with nothing on, gets closer day by day. And now it's all displayed gorgeously in High-Def!
Over the same weekend that I went to the theater to watch TRANSFORMERS I also spend some time catching up on some of Netflix rentals. I had rented quite the array of films as of late and was very surprised by one particular selection. After getting through season 3 of ENTOURAGE, PAN'S LABYRINTH, THE FOUNTAIN and CHILDREN OF MEN, I watched a movie from 1916 called INTOLERANCE from director D.W. Griffith.
I have to give proper thanks to the guys over at the Hollywood Saloon podcast for pointing me in that direction. John and Andy have quite to hold on movie knowledge and history and have opened my eyes to some films that I have heard of but never watched and analyzed. INTOLERANCE was one of those movies. The longer I make movies the more I feel like I can't make history until I have witnessed it and understand what's come before me.
Now for those of you who grew up on STAR WARS, summer blockbusters and the magic that is green screen, I'll let you know upfront that watching a silent movie like INTOLERANCE is not an easy thing to do and I watched the shortest of 3 different versions out there in the public domain clocking in at 178 minutes. After finally finishing it I wasn't sure I understood it all either, but this is why I watch these types of movies to begin with, this is my film school.
One particular moment in the film made me sit up and take notice immediately. During the "Babylonian" scenes I recognized the massive set they used in the movie. The set piece, one of the largest set pieces created up to that time in history, has been recreated in Los Angeles in the open area shopping center next to the Kodak Theater. Designed by the architect as a tribute to INTOLERANCE and designed to scale so you could get a sense of the size of the original used in the movie.
To gain more clarity I went to the trusty internet and started my research. The movie cost 2 million dollars to make, the most expensive of the time, and used elaborate set pieces such as the Babylonian scenes and had a cast of over 6,000 extras. INTOLERANCE was also said to be a film that was a response to D.W. Griffith's previous film and one of the most controversial in history, A BIRTH OF A NATION.
D.W. Griffith has been credited with creating the language of film and many have said he gets too much credit. Either way, INTOLERANCE was quite the eye opening experience. Some of the shots in the film actually shocked me considering it was made in 1916 and gave me a new appreciation of the art of filmmaking. If you are interested in the history of film I suggest renting movies like this and then do some research about them. You'll gain some fascinating insights, like when Griffith screened the movie there were certain parts of film reels that needed to be played are varying speeds for dramatic effect and that and entire orchestra was needed to accompany each viewing which was a contributing factor to the movie ending up a box office flop.
There's a lot to be learned from a movie like INTOLERANCE especially the fact that even in the early 1900's that box office was as important then as it was to TRANSFORMERS last weekend.
I made a post, prior to its release, defending TRANSFORMERS and Michael Bay, however, I may have been off base in my defense. I went and saw TRANSFORMERS this weekend and my hopes were high. Again, not because I expected a highly dramatic and engaging story, but just giant robots fighting. I was excited and I was optmistic. I ended up excited but still a more than a little disappointed.
My review in a nutshell: Robots fighting and special effects...COOL! 5 stars! The rest of the story is equal to a two hour Disney channel sitcom with a $150 mil. budget. EVEN STEVENS, starring Shia LaBeouf, with robots.
I defended Bay as the guy who would be great at the action aspects of such a movie and as a storyteller he is not Spielberg but he wasn't a Uwe Boll either. Well in TRANSFORMERS he's not even trying. I expected plot holes but some of them were so big that Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots could have driven through them with room to spare. I can overlook A LOT of stuff in summer blockbusters, I know what I'm getting into when the lights go down, but this movie make me burst out loud with laughter at the absurdity of most of the scenes and I was prepared to suspend disbelief at an almost inhuman level before the movie even started.
On a purely story level I enjoyed ARMAGEDDON more and I hated ARMAGEDDON as a movie. Again much laughter at the absurdity of it. I would have been much happier with the film if it was just 2 hours of robots fighting because that's the only part of the movie I thought was actually very good and honestly the only part worth plunking your money down to see. As my buddy David pointed out if it were just robots fighting then there is no story. Might have made it better in my opinion. Because the attempt to create one had to have been developed by the Hasbro "suits," and not actual screenwriters. Seriously, if you had taken out the Autobots, this movie would have fit nicely between HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and a marathon of THAT'S SO RAVEN on "Disney!"
Now all that said, I give the movie a thumbs up for the robots and CGI alone. My only criticism of that is bring the Decepticons in earlier and get the robot fighting on. Not only do you have to suspend disbelief just throw it out the window before you go in the theater. You'll have more fun.
All kidding aside. The CGI in this movie was SO good, TRANSFORMERS, will most likely make it in to my DVD collection. I still have a copy of ROAD HOUSE. Just proves I can be as shallow as the next!
OK so my daily blog has been suffering from neglect the past few weeks or so. That's not to say there's not much going just that I am not the most consistent writer out there, and I am using the word writer very loosely. I am feeling the laziness of summer starting to take me over although that's not to say I haven't been busy.
Twenty One is just about to finish helping writer/director Jared Smith of Moon Tower Films complete principle photography on his latest movie tentatively titled THIS MODERN LOVE. I was out on several shoots and things were looking very good. I got to step in as an actor this time round and I had a lot of fun doing it, although I am fairly certain all my scenes will only be available on the deleted scenes section of the DVD. Check out Moon Tower Films HERE.
Twenty One is also in the early stages of trying to secure financing for our newest full length feature movie. No details on what the film will be since several proposals are on the table. I'm fairly certain the film will be of the suspense/thriller genre. Details will be made available as soon as we can release them.
Finally, RISE OF THE TROOPERS, has been doing GREAT! Thanks to everyone out there who's been watching and spreading the word. We are consistently on the top 5 of iFilm's "Most Popular" Star Wars fan film list and the views just keep growing. Again, thanks to everyone for their support!
