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Syncopes Production Report
Howdy folks, John here. Our faithful DVD editor Drew 'Dr. Strangelove' Morton has been a bit distracted from his duties here because he's busily preparing his first film. Now don't go crazy here. We're not about to give you the inside scoop on some big Hollywood production. No, Drew is working on a project for a film class. We thought it might be interesting for the readers to have a close look at someone attempting to make a first movie. So in addition to his normal writing for the site, Drew will be dropping us the occasional update on the project. Feel free to send him your feedback on the process. I'm sure he'll enjoy it.
If you want to check out the trailer for Drew's film you can download it here: 7.6MB MOV (240x160)
Syncopes Journal
January 20, 2002
Hey Guys!
Day two just wrapped, it was a light day, tomorrow will be the big one. So far, we've shot about 30 scenes and have about 28 to do tomorrow. They are pretty easy, we shot the hard scenes today (gunplay and makeup and all). The bad news is that my lead was dropped on the first day of production and I had to step in and take the lead, leaving me with less artistic control behind the camera (but a better actor in the lead, not to sound arrogant). We start day three tomorrow, dailies look great. More news to come!
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
January 3rd, 2002
Bad news today. One of my actresses had to pull out due to work obligations. It was stressful but I found someone within the hour she dropped, at least it wasn't the drug dealing prostitute. That took me too long to fill. :) It's a small, but pivital part, and it wouldn't be real if someone didn't drop. It just makes it the biz. Short trailer pieced together, hopefully John will get it up soon. My apologies if I'm a little short on DVD reviews soon, it's the film sucking at my time. More updates soon!
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
December 12th, 2001
There is no better Christmas/Birthday present like that of finally starting production on your own film. Shooting began December 10th in downtown Milwaukee on what will be called "The Phone Booth Scene" in which our hero looks up the address of the man he is supposed to murder. Shooting went on for about forty five minutes on the Milwaukee riverwalk, John Hawk's Pub, and a little stint in a Christmas themed city park. The abundance of Christmas lights made the atmosphere very surreal and appropriate and it has been such a blessing to work with such wonderful cast and crew. (My lead has finally got his head in the game.) I can't wait to add a menacing version of "Carol of the Bells" to the footage. It's going to be fucking great. I'm also working on a trailer, so stay tuned. The bulk of the footage will be that from the phone booth and the nice Christmas atmosphere. Stay tuned for more updates.
Hope you all ahve a happy holidays and a great New Year! Thanks for reading and you guys will be the first to know about new news. :)
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
November 8th, 2001
Working hard on the film. Read throughs every other day and some final polishing. The bulk of work has been on raising money, scouting locations, and figuring a budget (which is going to run me about three to four hundred). I finished a teaser trailer (without footage, just a little blip of things) that John should be getting with the director's cut of my student film later next week. (Still editing it for the festival next Wednesday). Wish me luck!
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
October 9, 2001
Dear Readers,
I held tryouts today for my short film today, it was a disappointing turnout, however it did give me a chance to watch some real talent in the making. It was worth just doing the screen tests to see people act out scenes you've written (and to hear "fuck buddy" put in a sentence). Don't know much else to say. The film has been cast completely now and I should have a complete cast list on the IMDB soon (the movie listing is also pending). You will get the first cast list also, if they want their names disclosed that is.
As for the trailer, it's being worked on as we speak. Final Cut Pro is my weapon of choice so it all should go well. The stuff is a little touchy and hard to use though. I know I don't have any footage, but I'm working with the tutoral. (ICK!) Anyways, pre-production is still going: storyboards, casting, scouting, etc. It's really enjoyable! I should get going, I got some work to do! More news soon!
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
October 2nd, 2001
Dear Readers,
The good Dr. Strangelove here. Not many of you know that I have begun work on an hour long short film for my film portfolio going into film school. (I'm a Senior in high school.) The class I am currently attending is one of my own design called "Independent Film Production". The class uses the first semester to script, storyboard, scout locations, and rehearse the screenplay. The second semester deals with shooting the film and editing it down to size. This is an drill for all those involved to teach us somewhat what working in Hollywood entails. Finding producers, working with a budget, and doing a film within reason.
The screenplay was completed by yours truly about three weeks ago. It is a film-noir about a jazz musician/drug dealer who is hypnotized to kill a lawyer. The two men team up to find who has been messing with them, but they encounter some seedy characters and question their surroundings. This tale does not go without it's major share of twists.
With the script stage complete, we are currently on the casting and storyboarding stage. Storyboarding is absolutely needed when making a film. It is tedious and some of my drawings look like stick figures, but hell, I'm not an artist, I'm a struggling filmmaker. YOU NEED TO STORYBOARD A FILM! Casting is not going as well as I had hoped, I had wanted to play the lead, but that leaves no one to shoot the film... SHIT! Locations are going well, I don't have many more to scout. I found a perfect location in Milwaukee I would like to write in some how, it's a great locale. I do need a bit of help with the police interrogation room, however. As for money, I'm working on getting us some grants by entering some previous works and this screenplay in contests. I'm strongly considering bringing a back up camera and filming a documentary of this.
This is where we stand right about now. Casting and storyboarding, getting money too. I hope to start shooting sometime in December or January and be completed by the end of February. Editing will then take me until the end of the school year and TNMC will be the first site which has the "Syncopes" trailer, homemade of course. Anyway, if anyone has any questions about these experiences, please ask. Not to seem conceited, but this is really exciting and a big learning experience. I figured this site could serve as an information center as well as a site for shameless self promotion. More updates to come soon! Maybe even one of the staff members can give me a script review....
Dr. Strangelove
AKA Drew Morton
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