Bong Of The Dead on Video Ezy Australia!

The journey I began almost 4 years ago in pursuit of my dreams has been of the most incredible, insane, exhilarating, exhausting, mind blowing and mind altering experiences I have ever had in my whole life! The day I woke up and decided to make my first feature film is the day I had signed over my life to what would become the most unhealthy task I have ever endured. I say unhealthy because the amount of worrying, nervousness and constant stress that comes with such a venture as making a movie with limited to no resources can be quite taxing on ones body and mind. I have pushed my body without food and water or regular breaks in order to push through technical errors and daily glitches when dealing with so much data in the form of “new media” as its called. I have sacrificed more then i can say and I have learn so much in doing so. My mind has grown with this experience and the new skills I have adopted along the way are going to help catapult me to where I am hoping to go in the next few years. I can only wish the very best to all those who are also taking their first steps towards their dreams as well. If I can give you any words of encouragement I would have to say…listen to no one but your own heart. At the end of the day it is you who will be your own judge and you who will be your own worse enemy. True there are others out there who will want to cut you down because they are envious of what you are about to achieve. However for everyone of them out there who want to see you fail there are hundreds more who want to see you succeed!

As Tommy Chong once told me “The talent lies within and only you have that key. Trust your self. Stay on your own towel (yoga advice) and be patient. Everything takes more time than you feel it should….tc”
to succeed.

When my film first released across Germany it was welcomed with open arms and immediately began to take momentum. Now my film had just been released across Australia and already I’m receiving warm emails from fans who have seen it and have taken the time to email me with their appreciation. I would like to thank my German partners for doing such an awesome job on my films release with the art work to the Blue rays and posters etc! A huge thank you to the German people for accepting my movie and purchasing it in support.I would also like to take a moment and express the same gratitude towards my Australian partners at Video Ezy as well as the people of Australia and all other territories Ive released at. I’m so grateful that Ive found my audience across the globe and they are genuinely enjoying my movie.

I cant wait to make more movies for you!

Bong Of The Dead DVD Rip – Download now

It has been a crazy week of battling piracy issues and poster thieves! Through it all Ive managed to remain focused as I let the proper authorities who are involved in my film and its intellectual property take care of the headaches. Ive moved on to bigger and better things to be quite honest and can’t waste precious time fighting morons. That’s what lawyers are for and that’s why they get paid the big bucks.

Bong Of The Dead is finally available for download via my own secure server! That’s right if you’re going to watch a DVD Rip why not do it legitimately and pay the filmmaker who created that film for you? Besides I’m not charging 9.99 or 14.99 like iTunes or any other film download site! I’m offering Bong Of The dead for only 2.99! I figured keep it cheap and make it affordable for everyone. This way those that are actually supporters of indie film can get what they want and still support the filmmaker.
I guess people don’t really understand what they are actually doing when they download a film without supporting the filmmakers. I’m not talking about those massive studios who have the money and who make millions on franchise rather than the film itself. Even though they make a pretty penny there as well. However that said I just want to point out that filmmakers such as myself who don not have the studio funding get robbed directly when our films become available for download illegally. Sure downloading for free is fun and you get to NOT PAY for that film you ripped but guess what? Eventually the creators who make the films for us are not going to be able to keep up and they may just stop making movies all together! Theaters may shut down and studios will close their doors then we’ll be stuck with old DVDs and reruns of Jersey Shore! That’s a HELL I don’t want to live in!

Don’t be so cheap! I almost killed myself and risked everything to make Bong Of The dead and in return Im asking anyone who is going to watch it online to at least download the DVD Rip from me instead of a pirate site like Pirate Bay, Kick ass Torrents, btJunkie.com , Demanoid.com and on and on and on…

I hope you enjoy your copy of the UNCUT version of Bong Of The dead which by the way is much more bloody then those cheap poorly copied replicas out there. If you want to be guaranteed DVD quality then please don’t waste your time downloading illegal copies of my film. If you don’t like to download at all and would like to own your own copy of the actual 2 Disc DVD collectors edition of my film then please check the website regularly for details. This version of Bong Of The Dead with the 2 discs is UNRATED and different from what my distributors are about to release around the world. If you want something unique with loads of bonus materials then send me an email and let me know. Until the DVD purchase part of my store is up feel free to pre order by emailing me!

Thanks!

Fingers crossed…holding breath!

October has finally arrived and I for one am super happy about it for multiple reasons. First of all fall is my favorite time of the year in Canada because its beautiful and creepy at the same time with the fog and dead leaves everywhere! I love that crisp air and sunshine combo. Also its like a month long celebration of everything horror! This October more than any other I am a bit more excited because my film finally releases all over the world from Germany to Australia and recently USA! I might as well point out at this time that my own country Canada has not yet signed any distribution deals with me. So sad that I cant get the attention of my own country yet I’m sure at the first sign of success Canada will expect to be credited because I shot my movie here.

Anyways enough of the whining bull shit…it’s just annoying is all. I’m happy that the rest of the world has not ignored my efforts. The film is also playing at world famous SITGES film festival from October 6th to 16th. I sure do hope that the rest of the world loves the film like so many critics from all over the world already have. I am still amazed at the amount of kindness Ive received from so many people whom Ive never even met. Thank goodness for the internet and its ability to allow us to reach so many people. Without it I would not exist. Im hoping that after my film makes its impact in October I will get some kind of opportunity to direct another film! One with a budget this time where I dont have to play a hundred roles and almost kill myself just to get it made! Im saying I want a studio deal with a budget and crew! Who doesn’t??

On one hand I’m so excited because the film can finally reach its fans who have been asking me for a copy for 3 years now. On the other hand Im so scared that my film will come and go and no one will give a shit. Although that is a scary negative thought I try not to think of it. The proof so far has been that everyone who has seen it and criticized it has loved it! I wish for that to continue and fall on the ears of some studio exec who has the means to grant budgets. then in a perfect world they pick up the phone or ask their people to call my people except I have no people so Ill answer the phone and they say “Kid we gotta a budget for ya”! Hopefully its that simple.

If that does not happen for me then I guess Ill have to continue doing crappy non creative survival jobs such as sledge hammering cement or hauling expensive furniture for rich people until it does happen. In the mean time I am writing my western horror script titled “DEADSVILLE”. This is the one I want to really bring to life because there are so many great opportunities for film making and visuals that I must make this film before I die! Please keep an eye out for BOTD as it hits the shelves this October!

Thanks!

How high is this mountain??

Hello to everyone and anyone who gives a shit about a struggling filmmaker and his never ending quest for success. I guess I can start by saying THANK YOU! I can’t believe its been almost 4 years now since I have set out on this journey with my film Bong OF The dead. It seems that time has passed me by and I am somehow still stuck in the same place I was almost 4 years ago when I only had 7 pages of a script with no title. Of course that is not entirely true because my film has become a life force of its own and has shown momentum. After all It has become a cult hit and landed 3 magazine issues! Fans and critics from all over the world have seen it either on DVD or at my local theater and they have approved! I guess my fears of being torn apart by film goers and film critics can be laid to rest because that is not the case. In fact the amount of love and support and praise Ive received is quite incredible! My film has been accepted into a couple major festivals from Cannes Independent film festival to SITGES and now I have received word from Toronto After Dark that it is in consideration for their festival as well! I guess I have to keep going and keep doing what Ive been doing in order to keep the flame alive. Promoting a movie by yourself is no easy task let me tell you.

Most people who read all the press that the film is picking up probably think that I’m off to Hollywood already and that Im a millionaire because the film is doing so well etc. Although Ive been on 3 major TV shows from Urban Rush to Reviews on the run and Electric playground with major air time, it has not equated to my phone ringing off the hook. Robert Rodriguez nor Quentin Tarantino have not called as of yet…wait my phone is ringing as I type this…….nope! neither of them again! My film has become a global sensation and has had over 50 reviews all %100 positive but still I find myself working vigorously to get picked up as a director. This film is my resume and being as such you would think I would be getting directing gigs left right and center! Who else can boast about making an entire film by themselves aside from the 15 days on set where I had a cast and crew?? Not to mention for only $5000!! I know if I was a major Hollywood producer and caught wind of this little film by some jo shmo who did it with nothing but passion and pure love for his craft, I would be all over him like a zombie on flesh! Yet with all the great reviews and all the publicity I somehow manage to exist without true recognition. I appreciate all the awesome reviews and all the hype from fans etc. but when will my phone ring with that golden opportunity to direct the next Friday the 13th or the next Saw or the next cool feature film needing a new visionary young director?? At the end of the day that is all I want out of this. I use my talents and my passion to display what I can do in hopes of being picked up and given the opportunity to do more. That has not happened yet.

Im sure no one aside from myself, not even my wife knows what I truly do when I lock myself away in my basement. Ill break it down for you briefly. I have a regular job as a guy who hauls really expensive furniture from a warehouse or delivers it to a show room or to the homes of the more fortunate people in society. I deliver dressers that cost more than my whole film and then some! A couch which could be another budget for me 3 times over! It kills me to drop this stuff to peoples homes who are throwing money away on such items just because they can. All I keep thinking is man I can make 3 movies with the amount of money this person spent on this one coffee table! I dropped off a piece of furniture to the home of a pretty big actor yesterday and the whole time I’m thinking I should be making movies but instead I’m delivering furniture to this cool actors house. The worse part of it was I knew in advance that I would be going to this persons home, who will remain anonymous out of respect, so I decided to pack a Bong shirt and a DVD for him. I felt like a total asshole standing in this guys nice multimillion dollar condo over looking the ocean thinking in my head how am I going to give him the shirt and DVD without looking like a douche bag “Furniture mover guy” with a pipe dream! How is he supposed to take me seriously when im in grubby clothes holding his iron dresses in my hands as he points to where he would like me to put it. Since I have no shame and imn proud of being a dreamer I put his piece of expensive furniture down then opened my nap sack and pulled out the shirt to which he replied “Fucking cool!” I knew he was a cool guy right away and felt more at ease. I then pulled out the Bong OF The Dead DVD an put it in his hand and told him I was a director who had made his own film named Bong Of The dead to which he replied….”Ive totally heard of it!” To be quite honest I kind of expected that reaction because my best friend/Co Producer of Bong of the dead and his girlfriend happen to work on this actors show which is pretty major right now. they’ve been plugging him for days since the film was released. It was still weird to be in his living room having this conversation. However I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. I dont think that I would have ever had the opportunity to approach this actor on set and have this conversation or hand him the items. That would be considered unprofessional and looked down upon by production. Im glad I got the opportunity to introduce myself in person and do what I did. What will it do for me or my career…….absolutely nothing! Unless this young actor sees the film and passes it along to someone he knows who is looking for a director. Maybe it’ll happen, who knows. I guess being a crappy furniture mover guy is not such a bad gig. Still its not nearly as cool as filmmaker guy!

Dont get me wrong I’m not vein at all and a job is a job so I couldn’t give a shit if I had to scrub toilets for a living just as long as it kept me afloat so that I could continue to promote my movie. Wait….I did scrub toilets for a living year 2 of being in post production making my movie just so I could pay bills as I edited my film. To me it means nothing whatever job title i hold just as long as it keeps the greedy fucking government and the credit card companies off my ass while I work on my true job and calling. Trust me I have had a few jobs through out this journey always looking for the perfect job which would allow me maximum time for working on Bong Of The Dead. Ive run junkie infested roach hotels, managed seedy bars like Dalton from Roadhouse, worked in the worlds shittiest electronic retailer rip off store to managing warehouses and scrubbing toilets as a late night janitor at a local martial arts gym. I love the stink of sweat from other peoples workouts at 3 AM, then scrubbing their urine off the toilet seats! Yup….love it…..sigh. Currently Im working 2 jobs back to back in order to keep paying bills which I have to accumulate for life and for Bong. A lot of people have no idea that after you make a movie it costs money to keep the movie alive! I have to pay for DVD.s, screeners, postal fees for each screener, posters and print materials, festivals which cost hundreds of dollars.

I love festivals! This stage of the film game is so fun and uplifting. They take your money first and then tell you DENIED! Nice fucking gig, I should get into that festival thing at some point. They seem to make a lot of money! I mean they must because they attract people like Brad Pitt and other A-listers who show up to promote a film they are in which is supposedly indie which is why the festival chose it. Has nothing to do with the 2-3 million dollar budgets and the fact they are directed by directors like James Cameron…nope NOT AT ALL….its indie all the way! Im sure they lived in cardboard boxes and had to brown bag their lunches each day in order to stay within their tiny 2-3 million dollar budgets just to qualify as an Indie film for some prestigious festival. Here I am a guy who made a film which is actually good for the equivalent of what one of these other “indie” films would spend on coffee alone on their films! Breath……sorry festivals are a touchy subject with me right now. Where were we? Oh yes, Im currently also working 2 jobs which occupy about 14-15 hours of my life!

I come home from job number one being rich peoples furniture bitch, shower then drive off to some far away location being an EPK bitch on some other directors film set. Dont get me wrong I know Im lucky to have not only one job but 2 in an economy that’s ever collapsing. Im grateful for that because it allows me to keep paying for Bongs promotions and keeps the wolves at bay! I just wish I was making movies is all. That is why I do crap jobs in hopes that one day I will be making movies and I can look back to all this shit and say to myself…imagine if I gave up? Anyways after my long days of working, I get home to my 3rd job. The one which does not pay me anything but rather costs me my mind, health, relationships and money and every last second of my life even during my first 2 jobs! I try to answer and send emails when i can while on set or in the warehouse. Bong Of The dead is my life and has been for almost 4 years now since its birth. Its like a child or rather more like a growth which feeds of of you and drains you and breaks you down to your moral fibers with little to no satisfaction as of yet. Making the film is satisfying but keeping it alive is draining.

Trying to keep the film on everyone’s mind and in the spot light is far more draining then when I was editing or creating the music or doing complex composites. Ive contacted every major distribution company from Hong Kong to Germany! Ive contacted every major Podcaster and film reviewer and horror magazine from here to Nantucket! I send an average, no word of a lie, an average of 3-500 emails a week! That is non stop contacting and sending emails to tell anyone I can about the film and ask them for their help in reviewing my film. A small fraction of all the people I contact will get back to me asking for a screener which I then have to ship out at cost to myself.

At the end of the day I have done and am doing everything I can to make this film blow up but it would be nice to see some kind of financial gain and career boost from it. Im not upset about my slow success Im just growing impatient and wish I could just be making movies for a living by now. I know my film will be released all over Europe and Australia come October. Although that is awesome Im just not sure what that would mean really for me. Will I get “The call” from some big Hollywood Producer who begs me to make his next film? Will the movie blow up even further and I end up on some late night talk show talking about how I almost went crazy 100 times and contemplated the question of life another 100 times or wanted to just say fuck it all and quit? Or will I become the worlds most famous broke filmmaker? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I did hear that the world is supposed to end sometime in October of 2012. Maybe Ill just ride it out until the true zombie apocalypse happens then build myself a kick ass truck with lawnmowers welded to the front of it.

For now, thanks for listening to my rants going from positive to negative every other blog. I dont mean to be that way its just the train im on right now. I’m up and I’m down all at the same time. Thank you to all the fans and critics of BOTD and all my friends who send me positive reviews which help me stay on track knowing that Im doing it for a good reason. Until next time…

Dare to Dream!

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!

Time to Flip the Script!

Ok so I know that my last blog was on the negative side so I want to formally apologize for getting negative at a time when I should be positive. I seem to have trouble with not being able to express myself without sometimes coming across as harsh or pessimistic. For the record I want to say that although I don’t approve of “The System” in my industry I realize that I have to follow it in order to succeed…..for now anyways.

I understand that distribution companies and agents all have their purpose in the whole scheme of things. I guess if you were to refer to it as the machine that “It” or “the system” is, then all the parts of the engine have their place in order to move the whole vehicle forward. I just hate starting out as the whole engine and body myself then after its said and done being reduced to a nut;). At the end of the day I’m still in a far better position than most first time filmmakers out there. I have distribution offers coming in! I mean that is a lot more than some others can say about their films. I should be happy and grateful that people are paying attention and that my work is getting noticed. I’m actually getting a lot of emails from random people who want to either congratulate me on my achievements and talk about how they really enjoyed the trailers and posters etc. The film has been featured on over 200 websites to date and climbing. I just landed a large spread in Rue Morgue magazine, Girls and Corpses and Fango is coming around finally after 2 years of me pestering them! All these things are more than any lone filmmaker can wish for. I suppose I should be grateful and jumping up and down with joy and not stuck in this funk!

I am also grateful for my Agents efforts and I actually genuinely like him. He answers my calls and my e-mails even though I’m not the only filmmaker he has on his watch list. Hes a tough old dog with a lot of experience under his belt and hes got a lot of fight left in him still and doesn’t bullshit me which is the most important part of doing business to me. I’m also happy to have friends in the distribution circle who are keeping an eye on me and give me advice when I need it. You space cowboys know who you are. Thank you for your words of encouragement during my darkest hours and thank you for always being there when I need your advice regardless if I ask or not. Especially thank you for catching my bad tweets with missing links and missing pictures now and then;)

I think its time I stop wasting precious time and good blogging space with whining and flip the script! I need to do what every other creative does when they enter the darkness….self destruct with booze and drugs until I’m in a self induced coma! Just kidding…I’m not much of a drinker. Nope, I think I will do what the next best thing is and that is keep going and doing whatever I can to move forward. Ive been working on my new Bong posters and now I’m about to cut a new demo reel for myself since I need to start looking for work while Bong does its thing. Its time I update my old demo reel and include my biggest achievement to date! I know that I will get out of this funk and the positive energy will come pouring back into me before I know it. Its just tough being in my position and trying to remain positive. I think I need to read “The Secret” again starting tomorrow!

In the mean time here is my latest poster!

Another new poster art!

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

Reaching out…

First of all I just want to say that I’m impressed with myself that I’m blogging 2 days in a row since the New Year and I have no reason to stop now! You can rest assured its not because I’m bored or don’t have enough to do as is. I guess I just felt the need to do this particular blog because I’m very excited today.

Last night I had made a small list of people to contact as of Monday and of course first on my list was “Call Robert Rodriguez”! Now its not like I have him on speed dial or anything so I had to find a legitimate phone number for Troublemaker Studio first! Luckily I have a friend who has an IMDB Pro account and he was able to provide me with the number and address within minutes. Anyhow I woke up this morning at 9AM and made the call to Texas which was 11AM their time and to my surprise a lovely secretary on the other end actually answered! I introduced myself and asked her if they had received my letters which I had sent 2 weeks ago and she asked who I had written them to. “Robert of course” I answered then she kindly informed me that he was not in the office at that moment but I was more than welcome to leave a voice message for his assistant then transferred my call. Once the voice mail kicked in and I heard the tone I left a brief message explaining who I was and I why it was important for Robert to check out my film and give me a few minutes of his time by visiting the website for Bong Of The Dead.

I will admit I felt nervous and scared about making such a call because I did not know what to expect. However I also knew that making such a phone call and reaching out to someone who has inspired me in my pursuit as a struggling filmmaker could be the best thing I could do for myself. At the end of the day whats the worse that could happen? In my letter I reached out to Robert Rodriguez and asked him to help me with my career same way someone had helped him way back when he was where I am today. I only wish that he would look inside himself and realize that he too was a struggling filmmaker once upon a time long ago trying to be heard and also had obstacles to overcome during his pursuit.

Ill wait a bit then try to call again and see if I get lucky and maybe I can tell him myself how I’m just trying to be heard and ask from one filmmaker to another if he would be willing to help me get discovered. I know I have what it takes, I just need someone who can make things happen notice!

No time to kick up the heels yet!

Well I thought that finishing my first feature film Bong Of The Dead would finally mean that I would get to take a nice break and breathe for a moment as the reality of being done settled in. It seems now that the movie is done I am onto a whole new adventure as I try and make meetings and phone calls. During the process of promoting the film I am of course in need of more print material for posters as well as other materials which I have to create all the artwork for at the same time. I’m so glad that I have the love,passion and skill set for graphic design and using photoshop! At least creating new posters and artwork to promote the film further is the fun part in all the legal business part of the journey.

I will admit that I wrote a letter to Robert Rodriguez at Troublemaker Studio in Texas with hopes that he gets it and pays attention to me. In order to ensure that he gets the letter I sent it to 3 different addresses which I had just in case any of them were fake. I’m just trying to reach out to someone I admire and want to be like and see if he answers….after all “You never know” and I am a firm believer that neither will you if you never ask! I’m just some guy in his basement trying to make it! I just need a bit of help in getting there. Its not like I cant carry my own.. I strongly know that I do have what it takes and have proved it with my first NO budget feature. Now if someone would please give a shit and allow me the opportunities that would be greatly appreciated. So Robert if you get those letters please give me a jingle and lets talk! Im sure I can find the time to chit chat:)

I will be updating the old web page and placing a whole new splash page and portal to the film. Im in the middle of creating all the art work and pages for the website coming soon! Once I get all that done I will hand it over to my Web PR Guru and he will take care of the rest. Keep an eye out for the new site updates!

Ill write down as soon as I have some new news.

Thomas

New year for new adventures!

Well what can I say, 2010 was by far one of the most difficult years of my entire life as a human being as well as a struggling filmmaker. The amount of horrific ups and downs I had gone through although tough, were not tough enough to stop or kill me! 2011 is a brand new year for success and it is definitely one that I will remember forever as I push forward in bringing Bong Of The Dead to the light.

Now that the film is officially complete I am in the tail end of some final technical stages in which I will be creating DVD menus, art work and more art work for promoting Bong. I have already began my festival submission phase and have been sending Bong off to some of the worlds top notch film festivals in hopes of getting accepted to one. While the festivals look over what I have accomplished in the last 2 years I will take the waiting time and get educated on distribution negotiation tactics.

With the new year it looks like Germany is still interested in Bong of the dead and my potential partners there are willing to work with me to get Bong to their markets. I will also be touching base with a Hong Kong distributor as well as China in hopes of getting Bong to Asia in the new year. The following week after that I will be at a couple local meetings with other production houses who may help with Canadian and US distribution offers. All of this mumbo jumbo about distribution is exciting and scary as hell at the same time! This is the moment where a filmmaker can either be made or be slayed!

For those that dont know, a distributor can be your best friend or your worst nightmare depending on who and which contract you sign. I am trying my best to make all the right choices to ensure a successful end for Bong after the last two years of painstakingly creating it in post. I will be hiring an Entertainment lawyer in the next week as well as shopping around for a foreign sales agent who will help me get the most out of my almost 3 years of hard work. I will also be looking at hiring a publicist who will also help with my PR and campaign for promoting Bong even further. These are very exciting times and I am thrilled to finally be at this moment in time. 2011 will be my year and I will make my mark on this earth and finally achieve the goals I have set forth to achieve. By reaching one goal I will be setting out to achieve a hundred more for that to me is the purpose of life, love and passion for what I do.

All the best to everyone in the New Year and I hope you too achieve all the goals and dreams you have set out top achieve!

Peace out!