New Website

Hi Everyone, the new Justify Website is up and running. The film is finished and the festival entries have begun. This is also to note that this blog will be moved to the film's website. See you over there!!

I'm Alive!

Yes, it has been awhile since I've updated this blog. Too long actually. It's for good reason. I've been in the editing cave for several months now. Luckily, I do let myself out once in awhile to see the light of day. Actually, I get a lot of light by the window where I edit. So, this is not to be taken literally in case you were concerned.

The good news is that we are near completion in the editing process. We do have one more pickup shot but we'll have to wait 'til all our actors are back in town. In the meantime, we are now starting to set our sights on film festivals. We still have a lot of work to do in post including sound, music, titles, and credits. But the light at the end of the tunnel is the picture lock coming up in the next two weeks or so.

All this work makes me think about how many times a movie "gets made" before and even after the movie gets made:

1. When the writer creates the screenplay, the movie (in his/her mind) is played over and over in various different scenarios before committing to words. 2. During the financing process, the movie is made by funding all the physicalities. 3. When the director, cast, and crew come together, the movie is made by bringing all the physicalities to life. 4. When the editor edits, the movie is made by piecing together the clips of the performances. 5. And finally, the movie gets made again in the minds and hearts of those who watch them.

Rough Cut Completed

Seems like it's been a long haul already, but really, it's just the beginning for post production. The broad strokes have been completed. Now, let's get down to the nitty gritty.

Editing and SAG

It's been awhile since I'd posted. For good reason. The assistant editor has fully logged and captured the footage. That has taken some considerable time due to our high shooting ratio. Justify is fully into story editing mode.

In the meantime, SAG is taking their sweet time in returning our deposit. For those of you who don't know, the Screen Actors Guild takes a deposit before commencing production under certain contracts. This is not an insignificant amount. In fact, we won't be able to finish post production without the deposit. There is good reason for holding a deposit: namely, they want to ensure that their actors are paid on time, and all the paperwork turned in properly. However, I have to wonder about the role the guild plays. After all they are a guild, not a bank or an escrow company. While it is possible to use a third party escrow company, it gets more complicated. And who wants the hassle? However, I will have to warn other filmmakers that it would be best to use a third party escrow company.

To compound the frustrations, the deposit requirement isn't listed in their sales literature. Something THAT glaring and obvious must be put in writing, not as mouse-type in a regulatory book with a thickness of a brick. To cut a long story short, two weeks ago, we were told that the check is in the mail. This is WEEKS after we'd already fulfilled all requirements. Today, I had to send out another email to remind them that the check never arrived. I hope we just have an isolated incompetent SAG rep because I certainly wouldn't want to repeat this process again. So much grief from an organization that is supposed to protect the actors. They should realize that by holding up the deposit none of their actors will see a single frame of themselves on screen until the deposit is returned.

From repeatedly asking for documents that are already in their hands to not returning emails and phone calls, it's been simply a tooth-pulling experience (without Novacaine). I will think very carefully about how to shoot the next movie with this bloated organization.

In Post Production

Assistant Editor Lindsay Lesh is logging and capturing footage at the moment. We have our post crew lined up as well including the Music Composer Jon Taubman and Sound Designer Serge Djang. Again, another great group of people that I'm blessed to work with.

Our website will undergo a facelift as well. Stay tuned.

Production Completed

Production has been completed after 18 days of shooting in Los Angeles. We've been blessed with many talented and hardworking cast and crew. It's been a very good experience. One of our toughest day of shooting was during rain. Interestingly, it's the only part of the story which calls for rain. More interesting than that, it's one of the rare days in LA when in actually does rain. Rather than hide under a rock, we all showed up in rain gear and got some great looking footage.

We now head into post...

Production Begins

A lot of organizing. First day of principle photography begins in 9 hours.