What a weekend!! We had over 400 hardcore horror fans fill the theater and hoot, holler, heckle and applaud at DISMAL. It was a great screening overall and we received some very positive feedback as well as good, constructive criticism on what we can do to make it better. I truly believe we now have a very promising film on our hands.
The best part is the overall word at the convention is that the crowd already wanted a sequel!! The first one’s not even done yet and the fans are demanding to see more of the characters in another film — how cool is that?
What makes me most proud is that the actors received some great praise. It makes me know that all the hard work we put into it paid off. The performers rose to the occasion and I believe they all have some really great moments in the film.
I do have to say it was so cool to hear the crowd roar and clap when the first few deaths happened — and when the film got more serious and intense in particular spots, they got real quiet.
After the screening, the DISMAL booth got mobbed for over 90 minutes!!! The people wanted autographs from the actors (and even me!!) — and they had some great feedback to give. We signed posters, shirts, bodies….man was it fun. I was so proud to see the actors get the recognition they deserved. They were all in heaven.
All in all — a great weekend. And the overall consensus is everyone already wants DISMAL 2. You couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
Here are some picture highlights: (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Over the past weekend I had a little time to get away from it all before the madness of the Horrorfind Weekend begins — I’ll write later this week with more details should you be able to stop by and see DISMAL’s sneak preview this Saturday.
This past Saturday, I managed to put down 16 pages for my gangster feature film in about 5 hours…not bad for me. Who knows if it’s good though since it’s the first draft — it starts off pretty quick and doesn’t let up, so we’ll see if I have to go back to put a little more character development in the beginning, or let it happen as the story progresses.
I’m also working on a comedy centered in the South — it’s 50 pages so far and calling for me to finish it as well.
If I could find a little more time, I’d have these 2 ready for 2009 to shoot. I’m also scheming on a urban suspense/thriller and on a new ensemble drama centered around a competition…………maybe I just need a few more weekend “getaways”.
So today (8/08/08) is supposed to be one of the luckiest days of the century, bringing you good fortune and prosperity. So here’s to you and me — and our dreams — may they come true for us!!
Just don’t say what you wish for out loud — I’m not superstitious at all huh?
Just laying low — keeping extremely busy with some really cool news updates for NEW YORK LATELY and KITCHEN TABLE FILMS that I think everyone will dig. I hope to share the exciting news later this month.
Until then, I’m prepping to head out to Maryland in another few weeks to test screen DISMAL in front of a huge horror fan crowd — it should be very interesting to say the least. Most important to me is reuniting with a lot of the cast/crew and watching the film together for the first time….even I haven’t seen it completed yet.
So it’s a fact that in all film productions, no matter the size, something will go wrong. You can’t fight it….or avoid it. Something wrong will happen. It’s just how you deal with it that makes all the difference between a ship that makes it to port, or sinks in the middle of the ocean.
For DISMAL, my DP (Shawn Lewallen) and myself had about a week to prep for the shoot….with only 3 days at the actual locations to tech scout and finalize the shot list. The major roadblock during the 3 days in Blakely, GA was that the only cell phone carrier on that area was VERIZON — which both Shawn and I…and 80% if the crew for that matter didn’t have. That was a BIG PROBLEM. No one could get a hold of anyone — and when you need things done…..that’s bad. Really bad.
We somehow managed to make it through, but here’s a picture of Shawn and I during a location scout wondering what was going on….
It was an adventure that only got better once the cameras started rolling…..
I have the great pleasure to announce that DISMAL will have its first preview screening at the HORRORFIND WEEKEND CONVENTION which is held during the weekend of August 15-17 in Maryland. The convention has a slew of diehard horror fans who will get their first glimpse of the film in a 700 seat room — we hope to pack the house with fellow gore enthusiasts!!
During the convention weekend, the producers (Bo Buckley, Christopher Cook, Justin Soponis), the hot CAST and myself will be available doing some PR which will include panel discussions and meet & greets at our very own DISMAL booth — it should be a blast.
We’ll also have a 30min Q&A session after the screening of the film which should be very interesting.
If you can — please stop by, come see a scary movie and say hello!!
David Winning was not the original age I had in mind when I wrote the screenplay for NEW YORK LATELY. In fact David was probably about 20 years younger than what I had pictured….but this is one of those cases when you can’t really go into the casting process with a tightly sealed preconceived notion of who the characters should look like — at least at this low-budget indie level.
David has a great, leading man look — and that’s why I thought he’d be perfect to cast in the role of a cheating husband with no real “Winning” qualities (notice the pun?). Anyway, David came in like a professional and nailed the role. The most fun I had with him was once he was cast, we developed an additional scene to add to his character development — the scene was created through some improv rehearsals with Ashley Moss (Becky Bultmann). I think this was one of the most enjoyable experiences during the whole casting/rehearsal process. To me, I love working with actors who are not afraid to bring their own ideas and interpretations to the characters.
David is getting a lot more commercial and filmwork as I write this — so I’ve no doubt that he’s got a nice career ahead of him.
DISMAL is starting to get some pre-buzz before its actual sneak preview screening in August and eventual release later this year.
Here are just some of the horror fan sites that are talking about us!!
Some particular quotes I enjoy from the entries are:
“And from the look of DISMAL’s trailer, I’ve gotta say that this one seems to be serving up an ideal horror platter from hot chicks to hellish carnage. Good stuff!” –JoBlo.com
