Almost around the corner!

Hello to anyone and everyone who has been following my crazy journey from the beginning and thank you for giving a crap! I must admit I am a lot more happier these days and filled with a lot more positivity then negativity. I think Ive finally figured out the true meaning of life, love and success. Take it one day at a time! I know that Ive been on an ongoing roller coaster ride ever since the first thought of making my own film popped into my head. I also know that the road has been rough at times and that perhaps quitting would’ve been the easier way out. The problem is I cant just give up my dreams in order to live a normal life. I know that some are happy and contempt in their existence and I applaud them, however I am not one to settle for less than a dream. Being a 24/7 dreamer is a hard job and one which comes with many disappointments and sometimes harsh criticism from others! Living the normal go to work, pay your bills and don’t get into trouble type of life is simply too mundane for me and I cant be happy living that life. Despite all the crap I’ve had to endure I must admit I have become a much stronger and better person because of it. Ive finally learned how to let go of things that are anchors in my success and grasp those things that help me inch closer to my dreams. Life is all about choices which can shape your path to success positively or negatively so chose wisely!

I’m now at the stage of the game where my film is picking up some serious momentum as it makes its way from region to region and more distribution offers come down the pipe as it finds its audience all over the world. I cant express how happy I am to finally show my movie to the world and feel accepted by fans and critics abroad! I admit I almost had a few heart attacks prior to releasing the movie because I was afraid of rejection or harsh criticism from peers, fans and critics. I happy to say that I have yet to find a bad review on Bong Of The dead ever since its premiere in May. As a matter of fact the film is picking up even more buzz as more and more people are beginning to hear about it through the social mediums and word of mouth. A huge sincere thank you to anyone who has ever uttered the words Bong Of The dead to a friend or family. I am so pleased that people genuinely love the film and have nothing but positive feed back after viewing it.

It seems Im getting more and more emails each day from complete strangers who have some how stumbled across my blogs, tweets or Bong Of the dead website and love what they have seen. I have people from all over the world writing me emails thanking me for taking the steps Ive take in completing my movie and thanking me for inspiring them to do the same! That is a great feeling of accomplishment not only making a movie and going through the madness but to be recognized for it then thanked for inspiring others to follow the same path. A huge “You are welcome” to all of you who have felt inspired by my journey and I wish you all the best in your endeavors as well. Remember the simplest rule of all….NEVER GIVE UP!

My film is now working its way through more festival circuits as I am receiving invites from reputable festivals from all over the world who want to show my film at their venues. The film will be getting a wide European release come October which means I can finally buy one of those shirts that say “I’m famous In Europe!” LOL The next few months will be even more exciting as I hopefully will get to travel and promote the film at those festivals.

Another bit of cool news is the fact that I have just had a face lift done to the Bong Of The Dead web site! You can now request the film to be shown at a theater in your region by simply visiting the website ( http://www.bongofthedead.com ) and clicking on the banner. You can then send me an email request telling me where you would like to have BOTD shown. Once I collect the data of the number of requests for the film I will be able to book dates for the film to be shown at a theater near you in those regions. Please visit the website and tell me where you would like to see BOTD. Also dont forget to share that information with others whom you know would also be interested in seeing BOTD so that they too can send in their requests. If you happen to live in Vancouver British Columbia then you are in luck because the film will be doing a second showing on August 19th at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver. For more details on ticket sales please visit the website!

THANK YOU!

It feels great to make it out of the darkness finally!

From Famine to Feast!

I’m sure every filmmaker out there knows what its like when you struggle and try so hard for so long just to get your work noticed. Its not easy getting peoples attention these days unless you do something completely crazy that most people would say is not worth the effort for the slight possibility that it may still not get noticed. I say to hell with that “Its easier to not try the try at all” mentality! If you are as serious about your dreams as I am then there are no limits and there are no boundaries unless of course you harm another human or animal or do something so sick in the process that its simply morally wrong. I guess common sense which isn’t so common would come to play there. I know that I have sacrificed my home, wife and my health on many occasions just to get my movie done and in the process Ive been documenting it all on video accumulating footage for a documentary which I plan on releasing tilted “Dare To Dream”. Its about my struggles right from day one, actualy 5 years of footage of trying to make it even before I started Bong.

I really don’t know why I’m so obsessive with making movies or why watching them and collecting them makes me feel the way it does. Its almost like oxygen to me as in I need them to breathe and to live. Its also a great means of escape which we all need now and then in today’s fast paced world of credit debt, global tension and economical hardships. Im sure some of you know exactly what I mean when I say movies are like my life line.

Now that Bong is officially finished and I actually am in the marketing phase of things it seems that important people around the world are finally beginning to take notice. By important people I mean dream makers who have the authority and the connections to put my film in the light where others can finally see what I’ve accomplished for the past 2.5 years all alone in my dark basement studio. All the thousands of hours of neck cramps, leg cramps and carpel tunnel is finally becoming worth it!

Dealing with distribution offers is a whole other ball park when you’re used to trying to get a hold of them and instead ending up with the same generic answer of “Just send us a screener copy and we’ll let you know”. It seems that distribution companies are a tight nit circle of friends who pass information to one another and somehow they are all interconnected from all corners of the world. Of course most are in competition with one another but others have partners in corners of the world which help extend their reach. I am now getting emails, and phone calls from them instead of the other way around and its a great feeling that someone is noticing my hard work! However not all distribution companies are interested in the struggling filmmaker trying to make it scenario which is a major back story to my movie. Some simply want to buy the product, ie The movie and turn around and sell it for a profit and dont care whether or not Ive almost died several times trying to make the film. Others on the other hand love the idea that there is more to the film and that there is passion sweat blood and tears which have made the final product and they want to explore that aspect as well. I’m leaning more towards the companies that care about my story as a filmmaker and my movie at the same time. At this stage most filmmakers get taken for everything because they are so excited that someone is finally paying attention to them so they sign without knowing what they are actually giving away! I’m lucky enough to have been researching distribution offers and the dos and donts for the past 2 years way before I even shot my first scene. Best thing I ever did was invest in Stacey Parks Book “The Insiders Guide to Independent Film Distribution”. This book is the bible for indie filmmakers and if you don’t own it then you are already on the wrong path! Do whatever it takes to get a copy and read it then once you’re done reading it, read it again then repeat! I always had distribution in mind which is why I did a lot of the things I did during production and post such as creating various posters for the different corners of the world and translating my press kit to 4 different languages and so on.

Filmmakers need to realize that the days of having no options but to go with a distributor are over! Finally the little guy has a voice and has a very big friend in his court and that friends name is “THE INTERNET!” In today’s world we have so many online options for self distribution which makes it a whole lot easier to get found! We have Netflix,Amazon,Createspace,IMDB,Youtube,Without a box etc. the list goes on and on. All these companies are now a huge part of self distribution which is a common root for people like me and you. We no longer have to jump to the first offer that comes down the pipe because we can do it ourselves and its been proven. Look at “Paranormal Activity” which got rejected from every major festival and distribution was not knocking. A film which cost peanuts to make grossed 240 Million! Of course using a reputable distribution company will give you a more wider reach right from the start but heck if you self distribute and it blows up then distributors come knocking anyways.

I’m of the opinion that if you want to get your film noticed then do whatever you can to make sure its done rationally be it self distribution or taking the first offer on the table. If the deal is good and its what you want then go for it! That said if you are not in any hurry to recoup your expenses which is my scenario then take your time and do the festival circle and build clout, do the platform theatrical release in your hometown and generate press etc. Remember I only spent 5 grand on my movie so im not in a desperate position to make that money back. I plan on making sure that Bong not only becomes a success but that it also launches my name and allows me to be able to do more films. I am not a one hit wonder and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I simply want whats best for the film and myself which is why I’m actually turning down some offers and asking others to hold off until I look at all the offers carefully. You should never jump into a decision that could affect the rest of your life without scrutinizing it to bits! Having a lawyer helps a great deal especially one who specializes in entertainment law. Now being a brokeass filmmaker means you probably cant afford one and neither can I quite honestly but Im lucky to have one through a family member so it helps a great deal. I have no advice on how to get one without going further into debt. I’m pretty sure you can get a one hour free consultation perhaps with a lawyer who actually cares. Pick their brains and see if its worth retaining one.

All in all I’m happy to be where I am right now where I can say yes or no or maybe to the offers coming forward. It lets me know that I’m on the right path and that there is great potential in my film. Remember though don’t be cocky just be realistic and honest. When I say be honest I mean be honest with the distribution comapnies you are dealing with and with yourself. Does your film have the potential to become the next “Blaire Witch Project” or “Open Water” or “Paranormal Activity” ? If you think it does and others who have seen it say it does then in the famous words from Fubar….”Giver!”

New trailer and website coming up soon so please check it out!

Thomas

Its nice to get a boost during post

Well I have been working crazy hours on the movie as promised and the results are showing. Im incredibly happy with the sequences which I have created so far and am now beginning to see the impact its starting to have for BOTD fans all over the world. It seems every day a few more web sites are catching wind of this film and are promoting it on their web sites. Its a good feeling when people like your stuff! I’m going to be releasing another short video movie which will show the process as its being made. I hope it will shed some light as to why post is taking over one year and how its being done by just me and my MAC and a lot of time! Here are a few new links to Bong from all over the world as more people are beginning to hear about it.

http://www.almasoscuras.com/bong-of-the-dead
http://bestzombie.info/best-zombie-movies-bong-of-the-dead-2009/ Continue reading ‘Its nice to get a boost during post’

Still trying to deliver!

Well its January 2nd and I had promised to have my first Blog done before today with a cool behind the scenes video look! Continue reading ‘Still trying to deliver!’