Movie Reviews

What my Place is.

I really only write these things for myself so I don’t end up talking to myself all day. That can’t be healthy.

A benefit of living here in Goshen Indiana is the fact that I pretty much spend all of my days alone with my thoughts. And lately my thoughts have been good ones, for the first time in a long time. But of course I can’t help feeling if I’m doing the right thing that filmmakers are supposed to do. I really don’t have anyone rallying around me, most don’t even want to be seen with me.

Does that hurt my feelings? Hells yeah, it used to, a lot. It’s more just annoying now. I’ve really come to terms with some things.

I’m never going to be a popular kid. Never wanted to be. I just want to keep doing my own thing, because people can and will appreciate you for doing so, even if it’s years down the road. Then everyone who didn’t give a single hoot about you is going to decide to give two maybe three hoots about you.

I really don’t like being the center of attention (which is why I don’t like to act). But I do love it when everything comes together.

Just have to keep working at it. Someone will realize all the hard work.

Death, Tea, that’s just how we do things here. What our new series C-Block is about.

Yeah, we still don’t have any artwork for this. Because I’m artistically challenged like that.

But yeah, I was talking about roller derby movies and stuffs not to long ago and went ahead with the production. See, we’re official and shit.

So I’ll give you a really quick breakdown on what exactly we’re doing.

It’s a Web Series.

-I really wrestled with the format. But I found I always worked better with slower, dialogue driven stuff. This will give me a chance to really get down and dirty with all of the characters. Really make them feel like something. Just stuff you can’t do in an hour and a half considering the subject matter.

-A benefit of this is the lack of grind. When you’re making a feature, so much can go wrong, and you have to have everything just right or you’re going to have to rework everything and anything. And that’s a grind I don’t want to go through right now. And since we’re staying in the derby scene as far as actors are concerned.

-6 Episodes I have planned. We’ll film the first episode and we’ll see how we feel about that. I don’t want to throw anyone into a 6 episode grind without being on the same page as everyone else at all times. That, and I can have more time to get more funds. Funds of course are good because no one works for me for free. That’s just my thing.

-I can release them whenever I want, without having to go through a lot of bullshit trying to get it screened somewhere. What’s mine is mine and I can do what I please.

-Where will it film. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I have people from Chicago calling me back there. But we’ll figure it out.

The breakdown and all that is on the IMDB, and I have the script here for anyone what wants to read it. You can find me right here.

Hopefully I can nail down a cast somewhat soon.

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Hey, roller derby! Series and stuff! Yay!

roller-derby

You see, I made a funny.

It’s movie time again. But we’re doing something a little different this time around. Like I said before I’m moving away for those full blown features because they’re a pain in the ass that I really don’t want to deal with right now. As you can see from past events, you can’t really blame me at this moment. We’re moving over towards shorts and web series. And this is what I hope to actually be our first web series.

It still doesn’t have an actual title (I’m hoping someone will help me out with that) but it’s basically about the darker side of the sports we play (I’ll argue all day, derby is a sport.)

But then again, some of you already know my flair. We have these stories about death and inner/other destruction. Insane twists and normally logical situations, and always in the most ridiculous way. But unlike other times, this one has some far more serious undertones and a group of fresh faces (well mostly, I’m picking one of mine for Chicago because the part was written for her, you all know who I’m talking about.) And doing this as a web series will give me the flexibility as a writer to actually improve things as I go along. Features generally don’t have that luxury without things going haywire.

Also, this movie will feature the skaters themselves and I wouldn’t want to slap a 5 month long shoot on them. Those can be draining if you’re not completely used to them. And it’s hard to tell how anyone will do on camera. It might take some people a little time to adjust, and that’s normal. Personally, I’m bad on camera. That’s why I’m behind it.

I really want to keep this movie within derby mostly because there are some physically able human beings, and we need physically able people, that’s for damn sure.

I already have the first episode written and I have an arc for at least 7 more. Running production between Goshen, South Bend and Chicago. Maybe in between. It all depends on what type of support I get for this script and this production. Because the blessing of the skaters is going to be key in making this work. This is unlike anything I’ve seen roll out of sport. It’s a prime opportunity to make something completely original and that’s the stuff that excites me. And of course all the fresh faces and personalities and I’ll get to deal with. And I welcome everybody, the crazier the better.

It’s going to be an interesting time watching this one grow. Any comments or questions can go into the comments section that no one ever uses on WordPress. Or you can hit up the good ol’ facebook page. I’ll be around updating that more often. And last you can hit up Stream Monster Productions and talk to that guy over there. He knows a lot about the production as well. Until then, don’t do drugs and brush your teeth.

Story time: Why in the heck are you making a third movie anyway Joe?

 

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I think everyone has a moment in their life at a (somewhat young age when they have a good talk or something like that which really gets them towards what they want to and really should be doing.

 

Let’s talk about Barrett again. Yes, the one with that hat. Still love that hat. Money well spent. But he’s going to appear in the last of the series of movies we’ve been working on the past three years.

Those of you who have been following me know that I was actually filming some of this a year ago, when Barrett unfortunately passed on. I was left with the hard choice. Do I recast or do I rewrite? After talking to Alex and John about the issue, we decided to go ahead and write the character out. He was originally going to to be the main villain of this final film. But of course that couldn’t happen without him. And we came to the conclusion you just can’t replace a guy a like Barrett. It just wouldn’t have the same feel.

But let me tell you how we got there.

You may know about the problems we had filming Pump it Up: The Warrior’s Path. If you don’t, just read back a few posts and I’m sure I’ve discussed it at length and don’t want to get into that mess again. That’s like 5 pages worth of stuff. Tell em’ Sweet Brown.

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Anyway, after Pump it UP: TWP was all said and done, to say I was a little unhappy was quite an understatement. I actually felt like quitting this business all together, and who could actually blame me for that? I’m not really a guy who projects his problems and begs for sympathy. But Barrett gave me a call, he wanted to hang out. So we did just that. During which we were just shooting the same old shit we always had. But he brought up the movie, and was well aware of the goings on. And he told me something that I’ll never forget.
“You really shouldn’t beat yourself up because other people want to be stupid or assume you are. You’re going to be a pretty big deal those people will wish they never messed with you. Let’s just go out there and do it again. Make it bigger and better than before.”

He ended up writing a great deal of the story we’re filming right now. Lot’s of hilarious twists on his character that I really wish we could film.

We continued to talk and I have to say, I haven’t enjoyed a conversation more. We were both really similar, full of ideas. I guess we were just a couple of eccentrics. They’re always hard to understand but always have the coolest and have the best ideas. But again, eccentricity is another topic I should just cover another day.

This entire moment now is crucial. Why?

He was the only person to actually approach me and tell me he had my back. I can’t begin to tell you how good that made me feel then. Gave me the motivation I have now to not give up. It’s really not in my nature anyway. Barrett would have never wanted me to give up so I’m not going to. That, and people said I couldn’t. Which means I really can’t quit. If there’s anything Barrett taught is me is that people can surprise you. Think the best of them that you can and you’ll see their very best. I really don’t think that’s hard but whatever, I deal with humans.

See you all when  we finally get this released in the summer. It’s going to be great.

The Journey Some Of Us Go On.

It really took me a while to truly understand it. But I’m feeling much better since. It’s about who exactly I am… not just as a filmmaker, but as person as well. And that’s simply the fact that I’m not a popular guy. I may be nice and funny and all that good stuff. But I’ll never be popular. But this really isn’t a bad thing at all. It only leaves you free to be the person you’re meant to be.

I look around at other people in the business. A great number of them are “friends” with one another. I’m really not. But it’s just as well. Even the ones I do know and work with frequently, will never mention my name or admit that they know me. Yeah, that kinda hurts and it’s really not honest. But you can’t let it change who you are and how you treat those people. Sure it would be nice if those people would speak up for you and have your back every now and again. But not everyone does the right thing. Some people would rather see you fail for whatever reason.

I’d rather have two or three friends give me a high five or a hug or something instead of some online cheering section of suck ups who stare down at people they find “unworthy”. I think that’s a good way to view things. I know that’s not how it is, but maybe I can set a good example for those younger than myself starting up in the business. Be there… and be there for people, for real.

 

My parents really didn’t approve of what I wanted to do. Okay, maybe I’m being too nice about it. They said I would fail, and laughed at me. As did most of the people I know (those idiots still do that.) Mostly because there’s not boatloads of guaranteed money in it right away. But with some hard work and a couple of friends… I’m still broke as hell. But I’m happy and I’m doing things no one has ever done. Folks like us have ambition, and for some reason, others tend to hate that for one reason or another. But just remember that you’ve got something that no one else can have.

 

It’s hard, and it hurts, a lot. But you’ll come out of it better and ready to improve. Just stay the course and keep working hard. Someone has to.

Are we Heroes or Villains?

Life is really silly. But of course, life is very real and isn’t always sunshine and butterflies like in the movies. But like movies, you have to have the good guys and the bad guys. Heroes and villains. And in life, we need to decide who we are.

Naturally, we all want to be the hero. Stand up for what’s right and just be liked by everyone. The hero is liked by everybody, so natuarlly that’s what everyone wants to be. I mean, why the fuck would they not? It’s also a much easier route in life when not very many people are against you and you have that cheering section behind you praising the ground you walk on.

Then you have the path of the villain. They really don’t have to be bad people at all. It’s all just a matter of public opinion. But they just tend to be hated for one reason or another and forced to live their lives as that guy.

Either path doesn’t make you a good or bad person. It just determines what you need to do next to make your objectives come true.

Shooting Next Week: Some Thoughts on the Movie.

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Time for thinking once again. I started writing this about 14 months ago. Then a rewrite about 5 months ago when we lost Barrett. But everything has finally come into place. FINALLY… AT FUCKING LAST GODDAMMIT.

Things are going smooth. I’ve been sure to lay out everything I’m going to do for these sons of bitches so there are no surprises and hopefully no bullshit. But we all know there’s going to be bullshit… so I just want less of it. I don’t think it’s so much to ask. But I dig the actors that I got. They’re really something else. I have yet to see what they can do in the heat of battle but I’m getting good vibes at least.

I’m really glad the actor’s search has gone as well as it has. It’s hard to believe it, but I’m at that point where I’m not begging for people to come. People see what you do and they come to you. It’s really a cool feeling and actually validates my hard work more than any amount of money would. I left every meeting smiling, which is a big deal to me. As a lot of you know, I really have problems with just people in general. I trust nobody. Especially after the shit that went down the last time.

By the way if you want to donate to the movie so we can up our production values, then feel free. just saying. We have something super solid in here.

We have new tech, and someone new behind the lens (me)… and much better sound equipment (and better people running sound, how hard is it to read levels people?)

I owe it to these guys to have a spectacular movie. That’s always my goal. Until the last shot nothing means more to me than these guys.

Guess I should share the IMDB with you all. I’ll link you to the twitters and shit so you can send them pictures of your penis.

No, don’t really do that. I’ll get in trouble. Everyone needs to be on the twitters. It’s a way of life like that.

Returning:

Cody Gough

Julie Hurt

Denise Saponara

Joseph William Greene

Barrett Blomberg

Kevin James Parli

Alexander Favors

Lola Lopez

Shane Muir

Newcomers:

Chris Swensen

Marta Sand

Mahogany Milan

Patrick Miller

Adam Kirby

Harvey Pierson

Chris Langer

Willie Huff

Nickolas Jason Mariani

Josephine Saponara

Amberly Stimpson

Tony Mich

Look out for us in the springtime. I’ll be around with periodic updates and whatnot. Have a good day and a good life.

We’re not dead. And we’re on IMDB now.

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Okay guys. It’s been a minute. But we’re back. And we’ve  become bigger and stronger than before (I know this for a damn fact). I get the thrilling job of passing out paperwork. Yeah, it’s just a part of the job and I’m out there to make things as easy as I can for these guys. They’re my number one priority, sad to say #joehasareallysadlife.

But yes, we’re on IMDB because we’re awesome like that. Yeah, it was a surprised to me too actually. Just more pressure for me to get in there and get things fucking done. It’s just my job as the showrunner.

 

I guess during the week I’ll update you all on cast and whatever the hell else is up. It’s gonna be a busy week.

 

Peace out everyone.

 

Pump it Up: The Warrior’s Path. What Almost Was.

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Pump it Up: The Warrior’s Path was quite an ordeal. Eight months of filming… drama… and a lot of other shit.

But I have been able to work with some really special people that just mean the world to me, because that’s just how I roll.

-Missing Story arks.

We have a couple of story arks missing. First of which was going to lead into the third movie.

We never really explained what happened to SupTrashCan in the first movie. We were going to explain it. Here’s the unfinished scene.

[vimeo 69858508]

https://vimeo.com/69858508

We actually lost some of the footage with Josh’s tantrum so that entire story ark was lost along with it. This also lead up to the third movie where he would be the main villain. We may include this footage in the third movie still, but I don’t know yet. I still need to put the last few things in motion before all that happens.

Secondly, I really applaud my cast for compensating for this part… the whole damn movie was supposed to focus around a new character, Cody. We shot quite a few scenes with this character. But again, thanks to Josh… we lost a good 20 minutes of movie and forced me into a storm of rewrites. We had all kinds of gay jokes, black jokes. It was hilarious. But that’s just how it goes. Some folks are just in it for themselves.

Lily’s Death:

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Originally, I wrote it that Lily will would be killed upon exiting from the final battle scene. Again, because of Josh, we just didn’t have time to shoot said scene. And we won’t be having that actress back this time either, so Lily’s death will be handled off screen in the third movie.

-Yvette’s death

ImageEarlier drafts had Yvette being killed after the final battle. This was changed because the day of filming is when I thought a sequel would be fun.

We also have some extra footage too. Maybe I’ll upload some of the raw stuff.