Thursday, July 28, 2011

Publication News: American Messiah screenplay

Big news: Bad Lit Press has published the screenplay from my first film, The Proper Care & Feeding of an American Messiah, for Kindle. Now you can read the script from the hilarious film! Read the announcement here: http://www.badlit.com/?p=18158

And then go buy the script for your Kindle (or your Kindle app on your smartphone or computer!): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EM2Q1U

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Editing Where We Started: The Official Start of Post

As you all know, we finished the production phase of the movie in late June. And with this photo, the post-production phase begins:



That's the hard drive containing all the synced footage of the film as it arrived on the doorstep of editor Simon Tondeur, in Los Angeles (thanks to Simon for taking the photo for me before grabbing the package and taking it inside).

For me, as a writer-director, postproduction is both a blessing and a curse. Part of me really enjoys the chance to let the film go for a bit and let someone else begin the process of putting it together. They say that a film is written three times: first, when the script is penned. Second, when that script is interpreted by the actors and director in the production process; and third, when the editor edits the film. And since the postproduction phase is the last phase, the editor in some ways has the final word. So while I am glad to have a break from the story and let someone else interpret it, I'm also hesitant and anxious about someone else taking charge of my story.

Fortunately, I have worked with Simon before. He edited my last film, Endings, and he brought a sharp eye for storytelling to the project. He corrected some narrative 'errors' I made that were not caught by any of the people who read the script, and he helped make it work in a way that it wouldn't have otherwise worked.

So I have great confidence in his ability, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with!