Up on the Roof LLC

Never Take Them For Granted

2012-02-04T21:30:00.002-05:00

It's Friday night and we're mildly busy. I say "mildly" because out of 14 screens, people are here to see what's on two of them. Woman in Black and Chronicle. The former is in our big house. #7. 424 seats. It still feels small to me, but of course, I come from working at a theater in the 90s that had 600 seat houses.

I'm in the projection booth at this time and I'm standing at the giant port glass window in #7, able to overlook the entire theater. It's empty, since the ushers have just wrapped up cleaning from the last show. I know there's a line to get into #7 for the 7:45 show, so I wait. The theater is quickly invaded by people eager to get a good seat for their movie. They run up the aisles. They dash into their rows and find that perfect seat.

Look at this audience. So excited for a movie made by people they don't know and starring people they only know through magazine articles and twitter posts. And yet, they're elated. Maybe it's the idea of going to the cinema, which seems lost on many these days. I witness it first hand, the amount of customers we get who simply ask, "What's good?" When I was a civilian and not working for the theater, I always checked the times of the movie and I knew the movie I was going to see. It's wasn't just a thing to do. There was a plan. These days, people take the movie theater for granted. It's more about having something to do on the weekend, rather than seeking out something they want to do.

Back to the excited audience members. This got me thinking. I hope that, God willing, when I have the opportunity to tell a story that will be seen by millions; I never take it for granted. I never want to forget about these people, the public, and their desire or excitement to see something I created. I'm always surprised and amazed when I find out that my work has been seen and commented on by people I don't know. I don't care if this sounds like I'm being "Aw shucks", but maybe a little more of that attitude and a lot less of "I'm a visionary, watch it or die" is what we need right now.

Talent is big. Hard work is huge. Earning your dues in this business is paramount. Never taking your audience for granted is just as important. If you refuse to recognize your audience for their support, money and time, then you negate any effort you put into your project. It's all for naught.

I wrote a blog post in January 2011 called: Who's Your Audience? and in that I write about who our true demographic is - the people around us. We thank them immensely (At least, I do.) for watching our content and taking the time to discuss it with us. In that blog post and this one right here, I hope it can serve as a reminder that there are countless others, with no connection to any of us, who also take the time time to watch our content.

Never forget the audience. Never.

Found Footage Is Not For Me

2012-02-03T14:40:00.002-05:00

I’m not a fan of found footage film making. For those whodon’t know, the recent surge of the found footage phenomenon, started with TheBlair Witch Project. It involves a storytelling technique of having a characterlens the action in the movie from his/her own personal video camera. Theybecome one with the audience as they, too, are the audience.

Editor’s Note: Yes, there are other found footage stylemovies dating back to the early 50s, but we’re not concerning ourselves withthose movies since they never really started a revolution of found footagemovies as we seem to be right now, thanks to the accessibility of HD cameras,editing software and this great DIY culture of filmmaking. (Which I love)

To list a few of these types of movies: Paranormal ActivitySeries, Monster, Quarantine, The Last Exorcism, Apollo 18, [REC], and morerecently, The Devil Inside and Chronicle. The last movie is my reason for thepost.

I’m not saying these movies are bad. Far from it. I justdon’t prefer that style of storytelling. I know it’s cheaper to produce and thefilmmakers involved are extremely creative in how they use the storytellingtechnique to tell their story. Some might call it “lazy” filmmaking and I wouldsay to them, “Go on and make one yourself, then tell me it’s lazy.” It’s just atechnique, not a slap shod way of making a movie.

I’m a classical style filmmaker. I enjoy classicaltechniques. I respond to those style films and when I watch a movie shot in thefound footage style, I’m looking for elements of the classical style. It’s myown issue, I know.

The found footage movies of today play off the fact that theevents you are witnessing truly happened. (Hence the homemade look) All thesemovies are based on the premise that the people involved never meant to showthis to the world. One of the greatest things about the Blair Witch Marketingcampaign was the fact that people thought it was real. The studio and producerskept this illusion alive on-line and in traditional marketing campaigns of themovie to the point when the opening weekend audience entered those theaters,there was a seed of realism in what they were about to witness.

Paranormal Activity did this as well, but by then, theaudience was already aware of the ruse and, while it may have frightenedmillions, it was still not real.

The storytelling technique has evolved to include othercameras within the world you are experiencing, whether it be a security or anATM camera. All these random cameras and angles are meshed together to tell thestory. The style has also progressed to a point where an explanation of why thecamera is present or how it’s present has become secondary to the fact thatwe’re watching something not meant for our eyes.

For those who have yet to see Chronicle, you might want tostop reading. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I am going to talk about amoment in the movie and if you’re good at deciphering what I’m talking about,then it might be best for you to walk away. Thanks for reading. Share with yourfriends.

There is a moment in Chronicle where one of the character’sstory arc shifts during the third act of the movie. It’s a shift that needs tohappen and is expected when you watch the movie. The problem with this ignitingmoment is that we don’t see it. We see the aftermath of the event. We see hisemotional transformation and he talks us through his psychologicalmetamorphosis. We understand why the arc shift is happening, but we neverwitness it for ourselves.

That’s my main issue. I want to see those moments. Much likein a play, when characters talk about conversations and plot points thatoccurred prior to the play’s timeline, I yearn to see those moments. To relivethem. I’m currently writing an adaptation of the play, A Doll’s House, and inthe play two characters are revealed to have a past, but we never see it onstage. The adaptation is for the screen and I wanted to at least see some formof it, so I wrote it.

In most found footage movies, it seems that I miss thosemoments, whether it be simple character development or plot points that areglossed over in favor of the technique. Sometimes the movies strap themselvesto the world they’ve created by only showing what would possibly be on thevideo camera and other times, for no reason, we get spliced footage of anothercamera. This happens in Chronicle. We get treated to several different sourcesof footage and while effective, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is foundfootage, then who’s editing this movie together…this chronicle of events. How’dthey get all the footage?

See what I mean about it being my issue? The rules werecreated, unofficially, in the beginning and it seems like it’s now taken forgranted. Like in the American version of The Office, aren’t they supposed to beon a reality show? It’s been 8 years. No one, in that time, has ever walkedinto Dunder Mifflin looking for autographs. Wouldn’t these people bepseudo-celebrities by now? Shouldn’t Creed be on Survivor or Meredith inCelebrity Rehab? Why are we accepting the fact that the explanation of areality show is no longer a part of the series? In the original version, DavidBrent (played by Ricky Gervais) does celebrity appearances during the ChristmasEpisode. The reality series aspect of the show remained true.

The fount footage technique started as a reality basedentity and has since exploded to a style of filmmaking that no longer asks theaudience to hold them accountable for the world they’ve created. I’d probablyhave more respect for a movie if the director popped on screen in the beginningof the movie and said, “Hey. This is a true story and we got all this camerafootage through various ways. Don’t think about it too hard. Just watch andshut-up.”

Maybe that’s what I should repeat to myself every time Iwatch one of these movies and stop being the tool who's expecting certain facets of storytelling that are not part of the found footage style.

Also, go watch Chronicle. It’s pretty good.

Rejected Before Submitting

2012-01-26T23:37:00.001-05:00

Recently, I received an email from a film festival pitching the usual spiel of "Entries now open! Early Bird Special for those who enter before (insert date here)." It went on to explain how they're accepting features, shorts, experimental, avant-garde, photo books where if you flip the pages really fast that the image comes to life.

That last one is a joke, but now that I think about it, that would be a festival I'd like to see! Back to the email, where one of the last few sentences made the comment, "...all genres and styles are welcome."

I stared at the email for a few seconds. All styles? Hmmm...

I decided to send out an email asking about the possibility of submitting a web series. I could package is at as a short, but then it might not be as cohesive a storytelling vehicle like the episodic nature of a web series. I was testing the waters.

The response was quick and to the point, in a very nice way. They didn't really see a web series fitting with a the film festival motif. I'm paraphrasing, but you get the idea. Then another fateful last sentence:

"...quite honestly it's never a great idea to have something you would want to submit to festivals online already..."

I'm sorry? Seriously? I don't really know how to take this. A feature, I get. I wouldn't release a feature on-line and then start shopping it around to festivals...although if I made a kick-ass feature (I can!) and put it on-line, why would I need film festivals to promote my product? I have the biggest audience in the world. EVERYONE! Not just "Podunkville Film Festival attendees"

I thought festivals were created to bring stories, you might never see, to audiences who love stories. People who were passionate about the craft just as much as the writers and directors. Okay, I'm arguing a idealistic point of view here, but that doesn't mean it's entirely wrong. Who cares if my short or web series was on-line? If it's high quality, why shouldn't a film festival want it to be part of their line-up? It would attract people, which attracts money, which makes festival owners happy.

I love the environment of a film festival. Well, I love watching a ton of movies with people who like watching a ton of movies. It's exciting and exhilarating to bounce from cinema to cinema trying to cram in as many movies as possible in one festival day. My record is five at Tribeca Film Festival back in the day. I remember the midnight movie being the foreign film, Antibodies which was really good. Go watch it. I can beat my personal record of five flicks in one day. I will.

First, can we even call film festivals..."Film" Festivals anymore? I'm sure 80% (percentage not checked) of the entries are shot on some form of video and even those that are shot on film are usually screened on a video format. No matter how many film prints are stored in hermetically sealed vaults, film is dead. I've got 14 film projectors crammed in various corners of a projection booth; collecting dust that I can show you to prove it.

The comment still baffles me. I'm, by no means, angry and ticked off about it. Maybe the email was meant to save me the trouble of even submitting a web series shoved together into a short format. But that last sentence, to me, feels like they're out of touch with the digital content revolution.

I don't know. At least I saved the $50 submission fee.

I Miss Video Stores

2012-01-24T23:43:00.000-05:00

I miss video stores. I miss the Friday nights when myself and whomever would accompany me (friends, girlfriend, family) to the local video store to peruse the countless, metal racks of movies. When I was younger, I didn't catch on to the fact that the later I hit the store, the less newer movies there would be available, which wasn't exactly that bad of a thing to happen. (More on that later) Typically, it was enter through the front door and...scatter. Meet up in five minutes with selections. Usually, one of my friends slid through the saloon style doors that led to back room section filled with those naughty movies. (Not me!)

I was lucky enough to experience the paradigm shift from VHS to DVD. Remember the small rack of the DVD copies of a movie that nestled in the corner of the store, hidden from view like the ugly cousin of the home entertainment world, while it's "perceived" hotter relation, the VHS tape, controlled the attention of every movie aficionado who walked through those front doors that were covered in posters and flyers for local bands playing in the area.

With every month, the DVDs grew larger in number. More racks. More DVDs. VHS stock dwindling and dwindling, until the VHS tapes were regulated to that same small rack nestled in the corner. But these VHS tapes were not for rent. They were for sale. Like the good looking, but mean girl, in a romantic comedy, they'd fallen out of favor from the leading man, only to be replaced by DVD, which once was thought ugly, but we discovered had true beauty after all.

Side Note: I know we went from VHS to Laser-disc to DVD, but nobody rented Laser-discs. Nobody. Curse those rot lines!

Back to the video store and the search for the perfect movie to accompany movie night. Remember it wasn't just a trip to the video store we were making, there was a food run attached to this adventure. Whether it was the snacks at the front counter, hitting the convenience store on the way back home or even ordering a pizza to the house, the counterpart to any great move night adventure to the video store was the food run. This wasn't just about watching a movie. It was an event. A shared event that required action on our parts.

So, you hit the video store to grab a copy of the newest release of Cobra, but the video store only ordered 10 copies and they're all gone. (No doubt several are home with employees) Now what? You hit the other racks. The genre sections. The employee picks. Movies you would never even consider. Remember the Full Moon Productions end caps? (I know one person who does. Keith!) I would've never watched movies like The Stuff if not for video stores. Yes, it's truly awful, but it's sugar eating people! How can you not watch?!

I like Netflix and I use it quite often, but how many times do you rush home from work on a Friday night and go: "Hey. Let's see what's new on streaming tonight?" If anything, technology, while glorious and awesome in its assistance of providing the abundance and ease of options to the home, it has seriously damaged a key factor of Movie Night: The sociological bonding action of renting the movie from your local video store. It's no longer that shared event, as stated earlier.

Maybe I'm being nostalgic for a time when I had more movie nights. Maybe I'm forgetting the nights standing in the middle of the comedy aisle arguing over whether we should rent Throw Momma From the Train or Bachelor Party. Maybe I'm acting more like a cranky old man who doesn't see the reason why I need a cell phone, when there's a perfectly good rotary dial phone attached to my wall at home. I just miss walking the racks. Going out and scanning the local video store. Grabbing some Reeses Pieces on the way out. Calling a few friends to come join us.

Now I feel old, but maybe there's hope. Maybe I'm not using Netflix to its full capability. Perhaps movie night isn't lost, but rather in dire need of an upgrade.

Movie Night 2.0. Invite friends over. Order a Pizza. Open up the Streaming Netflix through the PS3 and find us a really, awful movie to make fun of.

Any takers?

I Choose Writing

2012-01-24T01:43:00.001-05:00

Epiphany. I'm a film guy. I'm a cinema guy. I'm not a web guy. I wish it wasn't true, but I cannot fool myself anymore. The Puzzle Maker's Son is essentially a short film disguised as a web series. Scenes from the Movies is just an abbreviated television show. Really abbreviated.

Hey, I love writing. I love writing, no matter what the venue and I will continue to write for others and help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be. But at the end of the day, I'm a writer who desires to create cinematic stories. I know this. I'm glad I know this. That doesn't mean it's going to work out for me. The deck is stacked against me, but I'm comfortable knowing that I'm no longer chasing down the next big arena to showcase my abilities. I'm choosing the one I'm most suitable for and win or lose, it's on my own terms.

If anyone is interested in reading what exactly Up on the Roof's next project is going to be about, feel free to email me and I'll send you a copy of the 23 page script to 'Kiddo'. Feedback never hurts, unless one doesn't know how to learn from it. I want to read Kiddo!

Dear Movie Geek...

2012-01-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Movie Geek,

I say 'movie geek' with love. I, too, love movies. I love story. The fact that you would drive four hours to a movie theater, just to catch the extra 4 minutes of footage attached to the front of The Shining is admirable. One of my favorite cinema moments is heading to the Tribeca Film Festival and spending the day watching movies back to back to back and so on. Yes, movie geek, I know your passion because it burns within myself.

But, I fear I must divulge something to you. You may not be aware of this, but I hope in time, you will learn to understand and thus grow from it.

You're not always right.

Your opinion is just that. Your opinion. Stop being stubborn. Even now, as you read this, you're saying to yourself. "I'm not like this. I know it's my opinion." But see, where you stop that last sentence at opinion, there's really more to it, isn't there? Aren't you really thinking this: "I know it's my opinion, but I'm right." Admit it.

I want you to know that I'm trying to be honest with you. Truly honest. You're a pompous ass. You can't tell people they're wrong for not liking movies. You can't blindly fall in love with a movie and not consider a dissenting opinion. This is what's know as a discussion. People dialogue about thoughts and ideas and, in this case, movies and they hear both sides of the argument and perhaps, learn something about cinema. But you, movie geek, learn nothing. You just talk and talk until everyone relents because they're tired of having a conversation with you.

Pretty cool bumper sticker, right? Buy it at Zazzle.com

Here are some other thoughts:

Best of the Year lists: Seriously? Best? Says you? Are you Roger Ebert? Are you A.O. Scott? You're not a critic and even if you were paid to critique movies, any kind of list you tabulate isn't 'The Best'. They're your favorites. These are the movies you liked for that given year. The 'term' best implies that every facet of production was flawless. That the movie cannot be debated on its merit because you've deemed it the best of the year. Even when the members of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences nominate films for the Best Movie of the Year, these are still just they're opinions.

Understand your point in life: Movie Geek, if you're 24 years old, no children and enjoy reading comic books than you will, no doubt, favor comic book movies. You will enjoy them immensely and that's great. Bully for you. But that doesn't mean a movie about an elderly couple struggling with love at such an advanced age is a terrible film. It doesn't speak to you, is all. Now, yes, terrible films occur, but those are the ones where people are half-assing their jobs on set and producing crap. No one starts a major Hollywood film with their eyes set on making a crappy movie. So when you flippantly tell me that there's nothing redeeming in The Terminal, for example, you're doing a disservice to everyone who worked on that film because clearly it takes enormous amounts of energy, fortitude and hard work to get a major studio film on screen and shame on you for so callously not understanding that.

I say all of this with love: Please do not take this as me telling you that your opinion doesn't matter because it absolutely does matter. You love movies. I love movies. That should be enough for us to have a decent conversation about cinema. I freely admit that I don't care too much for most horror films because I react more strongly to story and I find a large majority of horror films rely on the scare, the blood effects or just a good killing and that's completely fine with me. Sometimes I love hearing about horror movies from fans because they're insight is far greater than mine. They love the genre and I learn from those conversations something I would never learn from an average watcher of movies.

Movie Geek, you matter to the world of cinema. Your fervent desire to watch every single frame of every single movie is what makes the movie business thrive. You shape the way movies are viewed and presented and even made. Just open up your mind and heart a bit to allow for the occasional chance that you're opinion is not the only one in town.

Or simply stop talking to me...

Facebook is a Chore and My Dream

2012-01-17T01:43:00.003-05:00

Am I alone in thinking that Facebook has changed into something far less personal than it used to be? Yes, I've met people for the first time and I've returned home to find a friend request atop my home page. In the beginning, I thought it was pretty cool. Wow. I made an impression enough to gain friend access, but now it seems like that's the default.

"Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing."
"Want to be Facebook friends?"
"Cool."
"I'll probably block you when I get tired of your posts."
"Same here."
"Meh."

I'm kind of bummed out. It's a chore now to go on there. This is from the guy who is constantly in every one's face to watch his stuff and read his blog. (I'm aware of the irony that will take place once this blog is written and shared) Hey, I hate it, too. It's a necessary evil, but I think where I was once putting the emphasis on necessary, I really should be more focused on the evil part, because that's how it's shaping up to be these days.

There's a lot of things that have been bothering me for a few days ever since the dream. I was going to post this yesterday, but I thought if I started a paragraph the way I'm going to start the next paragraph on yesterday's date, it might be a tad inconsiderate.

I had a dream. I was driving a bus. A regular, ole public transportation bus. No one was on board. I was in this cavern-like environment, almost like a giant tunnel except it was a toll booth. I was driving this bus, weaving in and out of cars and other buses to find a lane to go through the toll. There were a lot of lanes and no matter which lane I chose, it was the wrong one. I couldn't drive my bus through the toll to continue along the road. I even pulled over to some kind of rest stop/toll booth headquarters and they told me something about a lane a ways down. I still couldn't find it. I was extremely frustrated until finally, I stopped the bus and got out. I started walking...and then I woke up.

I know, right?! What the hell! For two days I've been talking to myself about this dream. You know what? Getting it out on this blog didn't help either. Dammit subconscious, how about some more answers and less questions for a change?

The Organizational Directive

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

As the end of the year approaches, the need for the countless masses to reassess their lives and come up with a determinant number of goals that they'd like to meet in the coming year seems to increase. I, for one, have done this in the past and I found myself inching towards another long-winded blog post about what I wanted to achieve this coming year for myself professionally. For example, I want to quit my day job. Not like, I'm so outta there kind of way, but I want to leave because I have better options. It's simple and to the point. So you know that about me. I'm looking for a better opportunity. Tell everyone you know that some schmuck on-line is complaining about his job and I'm sure the response will be, "Be more specific."

There is a secondary need as well. To look back. To assess this past year and what one has accomplished within the realm of one's existence. For example, I helped create a new life this past year. A son. My third child in five years. Yes, I know what you're thinking and you're right, I am nuts. I also premiered a new show for the web which I'm sure you've heard about and I'm not really feeling promotional right now, so I won't bore you with the links and pleads to watch. Check out the page on this site titled Scenes from the Movies and enjoy. Shit, I did it again. But I didn't embed the link. So there's that.

In all honesty, who the hell knows what's going to happen in 2012. Well, I do know the world isn't going to end, but if you insist on believing in a culture's prediction about the end of the world, yet they couldn't predict the end of their own existence, please sign over your property to me. You're not going to need it, so I'll take it off your hands. In fact, I will be celebrating on that day, 12/21/2012, not because the end of the world is near (which it isn't), but because my son's birthday is that day and he'll be turning one.

The one thing I do know is that I no longer have the luxury of time. Some would think that's a detriment to one's career, but it's merely a challenge that forces me to become more organizational and more direct. So if anything in the form of a prediction for the coming year is going to hold true, it's going to be this...

I will no longer waste my time or your time.

If you're reading this and nodding your head, then you and me are simpatico and we will do some pretty exciting things together. If you read that and cock your head to the side and wonder if I'm referring to anything to do with you, then the answer is "yes". I'm talking about you.

Happy New Year everyone! If you've been meaning to get together with me and connect over anything...family, writing, films, movies, work, the Jets (they suck) or the Mets (they suck, too), then let's do it. No more empty gestures. Let's make it happen.

Christmas Rap - SFTM Holiday Episode

2011-12-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from myself and everyone working here at Up on the Roof. (someday) Before we began shooting Season 2 of Scenes from the Movies in October, I was approached by one of our leads, David Ian Lee, about the possibility of him writing an episode. I was thrilled! I envision a future of series on-line having multiple writers and directors akin to any show on a network or cable station. I'm not foolish enough to think I could write every single word of every single season. I'd go nuts!

So we bashed around some ideas and David came up with this gem. The episode is titled: Christmas Rap and you'll see why.

Warning: If you DON'T like foul language, then this episode is not for you. I wouldn't want to surprise offend anyone. I'd rather you know going in that there's a chance you could be upset. But you should also know that this episode is a good starting point for Season 2, since the whole season is controversial and edgy compared to Season 1 and, hopefully, funnier as well.

So Happy Holidays! Gather the family around the computer and enjoy the holiday episode of Scenes from the Movies.

If this is your first experience with Scenes from the Movies, then please visit Season One's Playlist and enjoy what you've been missing.

Thanks for watching!

Milford Patch Article

2011-11-25T15:07:00.001-05:00

I'm in the news! Again! Check out the article writte by Ryan Sartor for the local...rag, I mean...blog. The way of the future, baby! For some bonus points, can you tell me which shoot this picture was taken from? And who's hiding behind that camera?

Enjoy! Milford Patch Article

Damn You, Mamet

2011-11-21T08:26:00.001-05:00

"Those with something to fall back on invariably fall back on it. They intended to all along. That is why they provided themselves with it. But those with no alternative see the world differently." - David Mamet

I read this quote on my twitter feed and I still can't get it out of my head. It's locked in there, bouncing around, tormenting me. For the last three months, I've been going back and forth on the idea of returning to school to help seek out employment that reflects a more career-based track rather than the stop-gap that is my job right now. My job is just a job. I have no aspirations for furthering my place in my current company for a variety of reasons. So then what?

The plan was to re-focus my career and seek out a job where I can use my creative drive within a workplace environment, corporate or other, and therefore keep pushing out my projects while staying creatively inspired on a daily basis. But that quote. That quote now makes me think I'm fooling myself. Am I just creating a bigger, more tempting excuse to quit? I wonder if Mamet had children when he said this. I do. Two and in a month, it'll be three. So, while I would love to blossom this burgeoning, sometimes sputtering, career choice of becoming a full-time storyteller into a reality; I do have others to think about. But then again, am I betraying the dream? It's been almost 15 years down this path and to "quit" now seems like a waste of my 20s and 30s.

Damn you, Mamet.

Interview - Shaun Mitchell - Scenes from the Movies

2011-11-17T08:21:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure when I met Shaun exactly. I want to say it was the short we did called Maybe Molly, where Shaun played a snarky barrista and quite honestly made a nice little character out of a small part. But, for some reason, I think we met earlier than that. (Shaun! When did we meet?!) When casting for Scenes from the Movies, my casting director, David Savo suggested Shaun for the role of Garrett and there was no hesitation. I knew instantly he was the right one for the part. More Garrett for season 2! Get to know Shaun and when you're done, follow him on Twitter at @_mitchellaneous

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a third year teacher currently at Central Magnet in Bridgeport, CT. I teach all upperclassmen with a specialty in African American Literature. I've been acting since I was eight years old. I have recently started an acting group in Central called "The Central Players" for any students interested in acting and performing as a career.

How'd you come to discover your desire for acting?
I discovered my desire for acting pretty early in my life. In the 6th grade, my class had to do a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and I was cast as Nick Bottom, a main source of the play's comic relief. I remember making my classmates laugh, the audience laugh, and I got to say "ass" in front of my teachers and principal without getting in trouble. I really enjoyed the positive attention I received and like every self respecting actor, that's what got me hooked!

Has social media been a key part in your career?
Surprisingly enough, yes it has. Social media, as a teacher and actor has played a huge role in my career. Tweeting is the new concise writing and Facebook is an excellent way to market yourself for free. From an actor's perspective, seeing celebrities like Justin Bieber go on the Internet and become famous in a matter of months, social media actually raises the stakes of talent. Everyone has a computer and a webcam these days. It's a matter of how you display your talent now.

What has your experience been with on-line content before Scenes from the Movies?
Before working on Scenes from the Movies, I was just an average YoutTuber. I didn't venture to see what else was on the Internet in terms of entertainment specifically molded for the digital age. To be honest, I didn't know that entertainment was out there. I thought YouTube was the sole provider of independent web videos. After discovering people like Daniel Tosh and his show Tosh.0, I realized there is a whole lot more content on the Internet than what I originally believed. I still can't pinpoint if that's because I'm living under a rock or because there is simply not an abundance of advertising like other forms of media get.

Tell us about your character in the series.
My character is Garrett and I really enjoy playing him. He is that super-nerdy guy who can quote movie after movie and thinks his critical eye on film is far superlative to his peers. He has zero social skills and he's always following the rules, which can make him seem cocky and/or disrespectful to his coworkers. Therefore, he's the guy that everyone targets for jokes. Kind of like me in real life! Secretly, Garrett and myself have a lot in common. I just like to think I'm more social than he is!

What do you imagine your character's life is like outside the theater?
I have a hard time picturing Garrett outside of the theater, mainly because I think he secretly lives inside the movie theater. But he definitely wears super hero t-shirts, eats lots of nachos preferably from 7-11, and writes uber-convoluted screenplays at his local Starbucks. Hes room has tons of movie memorabilia, most likely stolen from the movie theater, and action figures adorn his furniture. I would hazard a guess that his room is in his parent's basement and will remain there until his mid-forties when he has a mental breakdown. But at the end of the day, he's the guy with headphones in his ear with no idea of social cues and the person people just stare at and ask themselves, "What is wrong with that man?"

Anything different between Seasons 1 and 2?
As far as Garrett is concerned, season 2 offers more insight to his quirkiness. He actually tries to date, although I question how committed he is to any relationship other than the movie projector. And we get to see more interaction with his coworkers. I really enjoy the John/Garrett scenes because they make such great foils to each other. There are more of those scenes in season 2, which really help develop the inherent characteristics between them.

As far as shooting is concerned, season 2 obviously had a larger, more comfortable set and some new faces to share the screen with. I loved working with the crew and actors. They make the set such a comfortable place to be and it's easy to have fun while working. But I think that is ultimately seen in the final product. When you have fun and enjoy what you do, the result is all the more satisfying. Season 2 continued that enjoyment and I really look forward to third season and another opportunity to work with this talented group of people once more.

Looking forward, any future projects that you'd like to share?
I just finished directing Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap with "The Central Players", which has been our highest grossing show to date and our best reviewed. I'll be directing a musical this Spring with "The Central Players", although I haven't figured out which one yet. Chicago and Anything Goes are at the top of my list, though. Other than that, I look forward to more work with Scenes from the Movies and whatever else presents itself to me! I am always looking for the next exciting adventure to occupy my time and talent!

Interview - Natalie Allen - Scenes from the Movies

2011-11-09T19:04:00.001-05:00

Season 2 for Scenes from the Movies not only brings us 13 new episodes, but also new cast members. Take a moment to meet Natalie Allen, who plays Cheryl in this upcoming season.

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a native New Yorker, born and raised in the city. I have a wanderlust like a kid craves candy. I love to travel and meet new people. After getting my B.A. in Theatre and South Asian Studies from Stony Brook University, I spent nine months in the Actors Theatre of Louisville apprenticeship program. I've been back in NYC for the past 18 months and I'm currently pursuing a career in films and comedy.

How'd you come to discover your desire for acting?
When I stalked on stage, for the first time in front of an audience, carrying an arm-load of fake kindling in the 3rd grade production of Cinderella that I was playing the lead, I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do.

Has social media been a key part in your career?
Facebook has certainly made showing off easier. I'm thrilled that all I have to do is send a YouTube link to someone and with just a click of the mouse I can have people watch me work. It's fantastic.

What has your experience been with on-line content before "Scenes from the Movies"?
I've never worked on a web series before, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on Scenes from the Movies because of how short, sweet and funny the work was. I love that a whole world can be built with about a dozen short episodes. Brilliant. Plus, the whole thing is so accessible! I want to do more online work because it's also so new, and therefore ready to be experimented and creative with!

Tell us about your character in the series.
Cheryl was defined as "very, very attractive" when I for the character breakdown. I find that attractive people can live in a world in which everything can be taken for granted and life's chores can be done by other people because it's so important to look good all the time. I didn't want Cheryl to be a bad guy though. I think she's lazy, but not self aware enough to know it. She also loves attention.

What do you imagine your character's life is like outside the theater?
Probably the lead in all the community theatre plays she participates in. She works at a movie theater to eventually get "discovered." But when she's not there I imagine her writing bad poetry and hanging out with a very close group of highly selective friends.

Anything different between Seasons 1 and 2?
Cheryl mixing things up in the staff dynamic at the movie house.

Looking forward, any future projects that you'd like to share?
The independent feature film I am in, Brutal, will be playing at a screening on Wednesday, November 23rd at 6pm at the Quad Theatre in Manhattan. If you would like to see a trailer for the movie (Ah! Here is an example of technology at its best!) Watch it here: Brutal trailer.You can also follow what I'm doing on my blog: Daily Romps Through Life

Happy Election Day!

2011-11-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

In honor of Election Day, I thought it might be nice to revisit some parody campaign ads I put together way back during the 2008 Presidential Election. With much help from my cinematographer best friend, Adrian Correia, these were part of "Kinko for President" campaign which is a character created for The Bindlestiffs circus.

All right. Enjoy! Go vote!

Interview - Alicia Dupuis - Scenes from the Movies

2011-11-04T08:39:00.001-04:00

While you catch up on Season One episodes of Scenes from the Movies and anxiously await the upcoming slate of 13 episodes from Season Two, enjoy a quick interview with one of the stars of the series, Alicia Dupuis, who plays Jill in the show.

Tell us about yourself.
I'm Alicia! I'm currently pursuing a full-time acting career in NYC with plans to spend some time in LA in 2012! Besides acting, I love music (love singing!), sports, making funny YouTube videos and laughing so hard I can't breathe. :)

How'd you come to discovering your desire for acting?
I've always been a very creative person with a huge imagination. I honestly can't remember a time before I discovered my love for acting! I have videos of myself at 3 years old putting on shows around the house. Acting has been a part of who I am since I learned to walk and talk!

Has social media been a key part in your career?
Absolutely! There is nothing like being able to communicate instantly with all types of people! Between Facebook and Twitter, it is so much easier to get your name out there than it was even five years ago!

What has your experience been with on-line content before SCENES FROM THE MOVIES?
Scenes from the Movies is my first web series! I have had my reel on YouTube for years though and I also make my own YouTube skits from time to time!

Tell us about your character in the series.
I play Jill! Jill is someone who wants a job, but doesn't really want to work. She would much rather spend her time testing so she doesn't miss out on the latest gossip! She can be a bit spacey at times, but when it comes down to it, she is a good person who just wants to be wanted and accepted by her peers.

What do you imagine your character's life is like outside the theater?
I imagine she spends a lot of time at the mall with her friends and reading the latest fashion magazines! She definitely sets aside some time every day for tweeting Justin Bieber in hopes that he will see it and retweet her.

Anything different between Seasons One and Two?
I think in Season Two, everyone has a better feel for who their characters are. Season Two dives a little deeper into who Jill is and what she's feeling.

Looking forward, any future projects that you'd like to share?
I don't have anything officially on the plate as of right now, but I've been auditioning for everything I possibly can so hopefully there will be some exciting news soon! Check out my website: aliciadupuis.com or follow me on twitter @aliciadupuis and "like" my Facebook page and find out all my latest updates!

Interview with John Deptulski - The Barn

2011-10-30T14:29:00.000-04:00

You've met co-director, Keith Lynn, right before principle photography begand on the new horror web series, The Barn, brought to you by Up on the Roof and Hello Me Films. Well, production wrapped last weekend and now meet co-director, John Deptulski.

Give us a little background about John Deptulski.

Someome is getting offed here - "The Barn"

I'm 22 years old and a student at Southern Connecticut State University as a Video Production major. I work for Apple when I'm not doing production work. I got into video at a young age, around 13, when I would film my friends skateboarding and edit it on the family computer. At that point I knew that's what I loved to do and wanted to be behind the camera. JJ Durand, Keith Lynn and myself started Hello Me Films last year.

What were your expectations at the start of production?
I had high expectations going in. I wanted it to look as amazing as possible. I knew it was going to be challenging, but I knew I had a great team helping me. As soon as I met Joanna, who plays Bonnie, I felt we had something not many low budget productions have. She was amazing and helped out our first time actors immensely. Also, her beautiful barn was a perfect location for a horror film.

Any obstacles pop up while shooting? How did you solve them?
Haha. Yea, we had a bunch of obstacles. Time being one of them. Hours seemed like minutes. It would have been nice to have a couple PAs helping out with moving things. Getting all our actors to come together was sometimes difficult as well, but I can't blame them. It was some of their first times on camera.

What was the toughest part of production for you?
I'd say moving everything around to get the shot just right. It was worth it in the end when we watched all the footage. Lighting seemed to be an issue also and making sure there weren't many shadows. The other thing was the weather. It was really windy one night and the next day it was raining, so the outside shots were impossible.

How is it co-directing with Keith Lynn? Describe the director relationship on set.
Keith and I have been friends for about 6 years now and we know how each other thinks. We get into arguments at times, but we still respect each other and the end result is incredible. I think it's sometimes hard because we both have different styles of seeing things, so we end up shooting it both ways or a hybrid of the two.

Lynn and Deptulski setting up a shot for "The Barn"

How has the post-production process been so far?
All I can say right now is: JJ Durand. He had sat down for days and labeled all the takes and organized them. He also synced all the audio from the Zoom recorder. He's put a lot of work into it already so it will be painless when we piece it together.

Who are some of your influences in cinema?
John Carpenter for Halloween and Scorsese for Goodfellas. We used a lot of the same style of Halloween for The Barn, because it has the same feel. I also look to other student/independent films just to see what everyone else is up to.

Why create a horror web series? Why tell this story?
I think horror is the perfect genre for a web series. We are able to end episodes at suspenseful points in the story that will make the viewer beg for more. This story was written based off characters and personalities we really know. That's why it's so much fun for me because I can see The Barn happening in real life.

What do you think of web series and the recent surge of on-line content?
I think it's awesome. I know from my personal experience that people love to watch short, solid content. When someone clicks on a 20 minute short film, they may get discouraged. With 3-4 minutes, people will take the time to watch the first episode and hopefully, they get hooked.

Once "The Barn" is completed, what's next for you and Hello Me Films?
I personally would love to do another web series. Maybe with less special effects. JJ and I have started doing "cinema" style weddings on the side, too. I also would like to venture out of horror and comedy and try action.

Follow John on Twitter at @johndeptulski as well as Keith Lynn at @_keithlynn.

Thank You Cast and Crew

2011-10-21T11:20:00.001-04:00

I'm about to shoot a second season of my web show, Scenes from the Movies, and I'm excited to work with everyone again, to create another round of episodes that chronicle my day job and the inanity of it and to be able to work and create. I'm very lucky to have people around me who support my dream. I'm very grateful for the cast and crew who make time for me and the show to produce something worthy of putting on the air.

We work in an industry where more often than not, people are used and taken advantage of as if it's expected and part of the process. I try very hard to include people in the creation of a series so it's not just my project, it's ours. I always understand when people can only give certain amount of time and effort and I never expect total dedication to a project. If it's given, fantastic! If it's attempted, fantastic! If someone can give me one hour, one day to help with one episode, guess what? Fantastic!

That's how I approach these projects. That's how everyone should approach their own projects. We are not Spielberg. We are not Scorsese. We don't have assistants to our assistants. We are everyday people who are trying to tell stories with the help of others. Call it art. Call it a craft. Call it a hobby. Regardless of what you refer to it when you tell people you write, direct, act, produce, crew or whatever, remember you are working with other people who don't need to be there. They can leave anytime they'd like. Respect them and they will make your project better because of it.

Thank you cast and crew of Scenes from the Movies! Let's have some fun this weekend!

Timeline of a Green Screen Painting

2011-10-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

Pre-production is rolling along for Season Two of Scenes from the Movies. Props are being located and obtained. The cast and crew are falling into place. I have a new location for the shoot, but it's not a studio. I have to build it out. Which means I need to create the green screen. Lucky for me, I have a giant wall to work with. So I decide to go the paper green screen route and so, last Saturday morning myself and my AD, Patrick Whalen, did this...

Our plan was to tape over the duct tape with Chroma Key tape, but we had not yet purchased it. The problem was the upper right corner peeled off and everything came down. Granted, it wasn't exactly the flattest surface, so it probably was already a failed option.

What to do. Time to paint the wall. I hop onto Amazon.com and find some Chroma Key Paint. $50 a can?! After cursing to myself, I click "purchase". Then I realize I need to get this paint to me ASAP. Overnight, please. (I cursed aloud when I saw the shipping fee) Nothing I could do about. Purchase!

Wednesday comes around. 12pm. I begin.

Notice the bordered paint tape. The first thing I did was spackle a ton of holes in the wall and then sandpaper those bad boys flat. Then came the primer. After 15-20 minutes waiting for the primer to dry, because I'm impatient, I taped the box on the wall. I wasn't real confident about painting the entire wall, so I created a giant box. And I didn't want to mess with painting to the floor, so there will be some space on that bottom. Honestly, it won't be a big deal come shoot time.

Look at those rolling strokes. It's a work of art. This location is actually a space used by a local theater group (Slant of Light Theater Company), but before that it was used by an artist in the area. While working on this, someone asked me if I was creating a canvas. In way, I guess I was.

First coat. Look at those wet blotches! Awesome. I wasn't freaking out, but I did want it to dry fast because I needed to see a closer to a finished product.

Second coat. I sent this pic to a few people, to which I received one response of "It needs another coat." This, of course, I figured but I was hesitant to tap into the second can of Chroma Key Paint. So far, we've been on one can. But I knew that second can was calling my name. At this point, I talked fantasy football with a friend of mine on the phone and then I grabbed a late, late lunch.

Done! Look at that neat green screen box! So pretty. I didn't have much faith in my painting abilities and as my wife can attest to, I was a bit frantic in making sure I was able to get this done correctly. But I'm proud of it. We have our location. We have our cast. We have our crew. We have our equipment. We're ready to rock and roll on Season Two.

We still have some other things that need to get done. Notably those windows on the right will be blocked out and those lights won't be on. We'll have our own, of course. But we're good to go otherwise.

I was told I might have to paint this back over white, but let's hope I don't. I was thinking I'd drop a black circle in the lower left corner and a white circle in the upper right corner. Attach a golf club to the wall and call the whole thing an installation. A work of art that will never be removed!

Behind the "Scenes": Paint Job

2011-10-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

There's always a solution. That's what I'm saying to myself over and over again as Season 2's shoot of Scenes from the Movies approaches. This upcoming weekend will be smooth sailing compared to the jammed packed week of preparation that seems to keep piling up.

A friend of mine is right: I do need interns.

For the sake of full disclosure in how small independent productions get done - Myself and my AD, Patrick, attempted to build out our green screen this past weekend. I bought Chroma Key Green Paper rolls and everything would've worked until an hour after we left the location, the paper tore and peeled from the wall. Then I noticed it wasn't exactly smooth against the wall.

Time to paint. And painting is not my strong suit. So this Wednesday night, I'll be donning the figurative painting overalls and painting my green screen. Patrick will be there to help and we will not fail. We simply cannot fail. And if you're curious what kind of paint you need to use to paint green screen, it's not just any old can of green paint. It's a special Chroma Key Paint and it's really expensive. Even worse when you have to order it online and overnight it out. (Yeah, indie productions!)

I'm hoping that one day, while standing in the middle of a state-of-the-art sound stage, I'll look back and remember fondly the time I DIYed my green screen and probably say, "Those were the days."

Don't fear friends, fans and fellow Scenes from the Movies's collaborators. We will be ready for the weekend! This is just par for the course.

- Your creator (and master painter) Michael

Angel Investor Article

2011-10-13T20:07:00.000-04:00

You may read this article as depressing, but I wouldn't be so quick to jump to that conclusion. Yeah, it certainly doesn't feel good when someone is telling you the money will dry up. But think of it this way, if your start-up is something you believe in, then work your tail off to make it happen and the money will come. Oh yes, Ray. The money will come. (I can never resist a movie paraphrased quote)

Angel Investors in for Rude Awakening

Tell the Stories You Love

2011-10-12T20:16:00.002-04:00

There wasn't one moment in cinema when it clicked in my brain that what I wanted to do...what I needed to do...what I desired more than anything was to tell stories. For some people, they can always point to an "a-ha" moment. I don't have one. I have countless moments.

In L.A. Confidential, when Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is asked by Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) why he became a cop, there's a five second pause of nothing. Just Vincennes reliving his entire life changing decision to become a cop and the audience knowing exactly what he was feeling. That's one moment.

I can say the line: "Smile, you son of a bitch" and you know exactly what moment in cinema I'm referring to and if you don't...stop reading this blog. (Kidding. Seek out the movie now! And no, I will not give you a hint)

Adrianne telling Rocky to win in Rocky II.
McClane telling Hans to "Take this under advisement, jerkweed."
Dr. Jones dispatching a sword wielding foe with one pull of the trigger.
The moment when we find out about Luke's father (as recently witnessed here by a new fan)
"I know Kung Fu."
"Everybody runs."
"It hurts when I smile." - "I can fix that for you." (Please, for the love of God, watch Ghost Town)

All of these moments and more are why I became a storyteller. These moments are why we all became storytellers, writers, directors, editors and producers. It's why we can spend three hours after watching a great movie and dissect it with great ease and joy. We love it. We're hooked. We're inspired to create that same feeling and emotion for others through story.

So why wasn't I trying to tell those types of stories?Even with those moments inspiring me, I never was trying to tell those types of stories. I wouldn't seek out to create something I, myself, would plop down $15 to watch on a Friday night.

Why not? Why aren't we telling stories that we want to see? Why aren't we creating movies, TV, web shows that we would love to see be made? Everyone knows the old adage: Write what you know. And of course, the other argument is to: Write what you don't know. But I say: Write what you love. Create what you love. Tell the stories that you grew up loving. Tell the stories that inspired you to enter this industry.

This is what I'm attempting to do with some friends of mine. Two projects. Raise your glass and say a prayer because we're going for it.

Puzzle Maker's Son News!

2011-09-19T19:52:00.000-04:00

A month or so ago, I received some pretty cool news in regards to The Puzzle Maker's Son and I was sworn to secrecy...until now! Well, kind of...I'm only allowed to post the message below, tailored a bit, but nonetheless exciting news for the show!

I'll keep you posted.

I got the green light from KoldCast TV today to share some big news with you. A new cable television network, Youtoo TV, is launching tomorrow. My distribution partner, KoldCast TV, is producing a 26-episode, 30-minute television show for Youtoo TV called KoldCast Presents, and The Puzzle Maker's Son, will be prominently featured in KoldCast Presents, which premieres this coming Friday. The Call Sign is YOUTV, and the Show will air on Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox, and Brighthouse at the start. In the event that some local markets do not air the Show, KoldCast will be airing it online. You can look forward to more details in the coming days.

Keith Lynn: Interview

2011-09-17T09:56:00.002-04:00

The first time I met Keith, I insulted his sister. (Not on purpose, of course.) We've been friends ever since. Our mutual love of all things cinema led us down the road of making movies. You might've seen the '00s classic (That's what I'm calling it), Save the Forest, which Keith helped produce and if you haven't seen it. This is Netflix. Go "Watch it Now" please. What you may have not seen is the Keith Lynn directed classic, Kissery, which features certain someones name Michael Field and Adrian Correia, but since then he's been idle...until now.

Keith returns with the new Up on the Roof web series, The Barn, a story about a homicidal mother who runs rampant on a group of unsuspecting teenagers. (Are they ever suspecting?)

Keith was gracious enough to sit down for an interview so please take the time to get to know a new creator to the web series world - Keith Lynn.

Who is Keith Lynn? Introduce yourself to everyone.

I love movies, all kinds of movies, but horror is where my heart calls home. It’s been a love affair that stems from Jaws, having seen it as a kid with my father at the theater. As a kid, I always wanted to be a director. Then I realized I could direct characters in stories and decided to be a writer. I’ve been writing ever since. Now, my interest in directing has returned from the grave. The Barn will mark my return from a twenty-year hiatus.

Where did the inspiration for "The Barn" come from?

It was at Joanna Keylock’s party. She has a beautiful house with a barn off to the side. That night, she held the party in her barn. After a little drunken karaoke, I asked her to take me on a tour of the barn, because I felt it would be the perfect setting for a horror movie. Halfway through the tour, I knew I had a story. By the end of the tour, I knew Joanna would be the killer.

Keith Lynn on the set of "Save the Forest"

Why did you decide on making it into a web series?

I felt with all the competition out there to get a short movie shown at a festival, why not take advantage of the new media right at my fingertips and for a fraction of the cost. Plus, the web series format offers me an opportunity to tell a story in installments, something I’ve never done before.

You're in pre-production right now, what are you anticipating to be your toughest challenge when production starts this October?

I’ve been filming rehearsals in the barn, trying to iron out what works and what doesn’t work so when it comes to production days we’ll be as ready as ever. I think the biggest challenge for the three-day shoot will be sticking to the schedule. I’m sure gremlins will invade some aspect of production.

Does the story of "The Barn" end with this series of episodes or is there more?

There’s definitely more to The Barn after season one. Season two will be a prequel and season three will take place right where season one leaves off. I think the shift in time will give the audience a better understanding of the characters without having to wade though a ton of backstory or annoying flashbacks.

Fast forward to three or four months from now. What's your plan of action with the series?
By that time, I hope the project has found a home on a channel dedicated to showing web series. And I hope I’m in production on season two.

Who are your writing influences? Horror influences?

My writing influences for stories are Stephen King, Clive Barker, and John Irving. My writing influences for screenplays are Kevin Williamson, Andrew Kevin Walker, John Carpenter, and Colin Higgins. My horror influences are John Carpenter for Halloween, George Romero for Dawn of the Dead, Tobe Hooper for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Rob Zombie for The Devil’s Rejects.

How do you feel about the state of the horror genre in today's world?

Horror needs to get off the speed kick and slow the hell down. I think a slow burn of dread is a lot scarier than barrages of gore. And for god sake, aim for an R rating. I’m tired of the studios gearing everything for the kiddie consumption.

What would be your dream project?

To work with John Carpenter and George Romero on a movie that creates a new kind of monster.

Follow Keith on Twitter.

Updated UOTR info

2011-09-16T08:29:00.000-04:00

Hey there. Happy Friday! Some changes to the blog I wanted to make everyone aware of. If you're looking to watch season one of Scenes from the Movies (and I hope you are), check out the Scenes from the Movies tab on this blog. All the episodes are ready for your approval.

I've also updated the About the Company page with some new items and future projects in the works, which I'm really excited about.

Thanks for checking out the blog!

- Michael Field

Tips for Crowdfunding

2011-09-14T08:17:00.002-04:00

I've never been comfortable with crowd funding. The idea of pitching and promoting a project for people to give money makes me feel uneasy. Of course, I don't like asking for money for most things so this trepidation on my part is probably a more personal issue than it is a film financing issue.

Regardless, it may need to happen for season two of The Puzzle Maker's Son and if you're thinking about crowd funding and don't know where to start then maybe you should check this blog article about crowd funding.

11 Tips for Crowdfunding

The Power of Cinema

2011-09-10T00:23:00.001-04:00

I realized a few things tonight:

- Everything comes second to my children's happiness
- I'm not doing enough to further my storytelling career
- I truly love movies
- I'm my own worst enemy and obstacle

All this from re-watching A.I. on the big screen. Cinema is a powerful thing when in the hands of truly masterful craftsmen and I need to do more in order to learn how to harness that power. Perhaps that's another realization...

A Model for Proficient Web Series Productions?

2011-09-07T10:34:00.000-04:00

When I see old movies, mostly shot on sets, I can't help but feel a sort of kinship with those productions in relation to my web series productions. Everyone knows about the classics that have stood the test of time. I'm referring to the dozens of movies shot in the span of a week. The fast paced production environment is something I think web series production houses can benefit from following.

I'd like to see and be part of a web series studio that puts writers, directors, actors, editors, set designers, etc on the payroll and just cranks out web series after web series. Much like classic Hollywood first started doing and more recently Disney and Nickelodeon practice to this day as they roll out TV series after TV series with their cavalcade of young stars.

Am I being too idealistic or could this be a real possibility?

MGM Studio Lot back in the day. A beautiful thing

Networking Tips

2011-09-06T08:10:00.004-04:00

No, no. I'm not handing out tips. Rather this article I found on-line is providing the information. It's brief, but very helpful. My main issue with networking is trying not to come off insincere. Conversely, I can't stand talking to someone who is phony to the core. Very tough nut to crack, this networking thing.

How to Work the Room

Marketing Help

2011-08-31T16:27:00.007-04:00

So you've made a web series. Now what? This was the question I asked myself after wrapping The Puzzle Maker's Son. And the answer was one I had to figure out through a long trial and error basis with me taking some good steps and some bad steps. Wish I had this article around to guide my way. Take a read.

How To Market a Web Series To Generate Interest & Gain Viewers

Interesting Blog Article on Social Media

2011-08-30T11:53:00.003-04:00

I caught this article from Twitter from a friend I follow and it made me think. Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? I'm not too sure. But, at least I'm thinking about it. Check it out, if you're interested in using social media to increase your exposure and connect with others.

9 Reasons Why Your Content Is Not Shared on Social Networks: New Research

IMDB page

2011-08-23T09:06:00.002-04:00

Scenes from the Movies has got its IMDB page. We're legitimate now! Yeah! (I'm being facetious)

It's still pretty cool. Check it out.

Scenes from the Movies - IMDB page

New pic!

2011-08-06T11:04:00.003-04:00

I decided on an image we shot for the Scenes from the Movies web series. A hallway at my day job. Perhaps, one day, it'll be a reminder of what my life used to be about, but for now, it'll be motivation to move forward and grow as a person or something like that.

We Are Who You Say We Are

2011-08-04T13:51:00.004-04:00

I'm currently writing a short story for a contest. This is part of my ongoing fight to keep writing and never stop. The basis of the story deals with the question "Who are we?", but it's more of a "What will we be like in the future?" type of story, so it's a look forward and pontificate on how we will be and how we will interact with others. I actually misread the rules and guidelines, which caused me to go down a different thought process. Once I realized my mistake, I quickly turned it around and now it's kind of becoming a struggle. A good struggle, but a struggle nonetheless.

Which is why I'm detouring to this blog to answer the question - "Who are we?" Honestly, the answers are endless. Father. Husband. Brother. Colleague. Friend. Nice Guy. Asshole. Wait, asshole? How can I be nice guy and an asshole? Simple. Who I am is related to the perception others have of me?

Let me explain. If you talk to two different people I've worked with and ask them about my skills as a father you would get two different answers. "Michael is a great father." or "Michael probably does nothing at home and makes his wife take care of his children." (Yes, these sentences were actually uttered by two different people.) Am I great a father? Am I jerk-off dad? I tend to think the latter is incorrect, partly because the person who stated that is going off of their relationship with me and not any knowledge of how I am with my children. (The other reason is because I love my kids more than anything)

It's not fair that my place in life is boiled down to what other people think of me, but that's the facts. Who I am is how I'm viewed by others. Bad worker. Good worker. Good Guy. Bad Guy. Someone could be bad mouthing me or misrepresenting me in some way that could cause another to hold an ill-informed opinion about me and you know what? There's nothing I can do about it. People will hate on you for their on reasons or people will laud you for actions you would consider to be nothing in the grand scheme of your life.

It's all about who you talk to. My last blog post was about belief in yourself and that holds itself true in this case. Your own personal worth should be taken into account how others perceive you, but you need to have faith in your own abilities as a person to make a true judgement on the question: "Who are we?"

So the question of who we are is a loaded one. You may be able to answer it, but it's not the full answer. You would need to interview every single person who knew you or knew of you to get a truly accurate account of your life and even then, it's not complete because it would also be what you thought of yourself. If someone tells you that you're lazy and do nothing enough times, you start to believe it to be true and guess what? You become lazy and do nothing.

Even to this day, while I post this and rail against the negativity in the world, I fall victim to it on a daily basis. My wife told me I have low self-esteem and while that does seem true at times, I think I'm more attuned to the feeling of others. I want to please. I want to be perceived as a decent guy and it's hard for me to understand that some people can't be pleased. They want to hate you. They want to dislike you for their own reasons.

We represent different things to different people, but when you sit at home and look into the mirror, try to answer the question yourself. Honestly. Who are you? When you think you have an answer, then tell me the secret to how you came to it, because I'm still trying to figure it out.

I Believe

2011-07-07T23:07:00.007-04:00

I wanted to write about belief. But first, let me explain how I came to this discussion.

Everyone has heard the words of conversational warning. Never talk about religion or politics in mixed company. We've heard it, but we ignore it. Almost always. So while at work, a discussion springs up about a variety of religious and political issues and the question of whether one of my friends has any true beliefs. Something to believe in. Something that defines him.

That got me thinking. What do I believe in? Do I believe in God? Do I believe in right and wrong? Is stealing okay even if it's for a good cause? Etc, etc...All of the answers to those questions are irrelevant except one - What do I believe in? And the thing I believe in is...

Me. I believe in me. Sounds simple enough. Any regular person reading this blog nods their head and thinks to themselves, "So do I. I believe in myself, as well" But do you? Really?

Here's another truth. I didn't start believing in myself until very recently. Believing in yourself is not something you are born with. In the beginning, when we're children and we play. We have fun. We experience life and what it has to offer. We develop through those interactions. And then the inevitable happens, we, like Skynet, become aware. We sense shame. We feel embarrassment. We grow concern over our own perception amongst our peers and without knowing it, we become slaves to those around us. We begin to crave acceptance and appreciation. We no longer find joy in the things that once made us so happy because if our friend thinks it's stupid than it must be. We seek to please and in return, we are greeted with passing looks, harsh words and behind-the-back gossip.

It's all to break us down. It's all to make us feel like crap so that someone with less self-esteem than they'd care to admit wants to feel good about spending their time in the muck that is their life.

And you know what? That sucks. How dare we allow others to control our happiness. How dare we lose faith and belief in something so simple and pure that is our own abilities to achieve great things in this short life. How could we do that?! Why?! Why wasn't anyone there to tell us, "Hey. Ignore these assholes. Believe in yourself. Know that you are the most powerful person in your life and you can achieve great things!"

And now I do. And to answer that question again with more breadth and meaning...

I believe in the love I have for my wife, my children, my family and friends. I believe in the ideal of honesty and truthfulness I try to live my life by. And I believe in me and the power I have to achieve the goals I set forth.

Yes, I know this sounds corny and a little bit like a self-help book, but hey...I don't care because I have belief....yeah, okay...I'll stop now.

Persistence, Meet Decisiveness

2011-07-04T10:05:00.005-04:00

Persistence. I'd like to think I utilize this ideal. The parent term of "persistent" is defined as - lasting or enduring tenaciously - and I'd like to think I've endured several obstacles and will need to endure some more. Very much like a "struggling" actor must go through their struggles and overcome obstacles - to earn their dues before getting their chance to shine. All of us creatives need to wade through the murky waters of failed promises and scrupulous people. Persistence is our tool to survive.

But as much as being persistent is valuable, I also believe that being decisive in decision making is just as important. Back to the dictionary! Decisive is defined as - characterized by or displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined.

No hesitation. Resolute. Determined.

Are you decisive in your decision-making? You start a project, but are you determined enough in your decision to know it to be the correct decision? Anyone can make a choice. You need to have the strength in your belief of that choice in order to see it through. Being decisive may come from self-confidence in your own abilities, but it's a trait that those who succeed in life have over those who find fault in their failures, confidence or not. Remember. Everyone fails. It's what happens after that separates us.

Yes. Persistence is key. Seeing your choices through and sticking with your decision is important. But being confident in your decision to start a project or decisive in your career path choice and following through is just as important.

Which begs the question. Am I decisive enough? I'm stubborn enough to be persistent, but am I confident enough to be decisive?

Are you?

New Design...Kind of

2011-06-30T20:14:00.003-04:00

Just trying something new. I'll probably change the background image to something more Up on the Roof like, so bear with me. But I thought the black background and general dark design of the site felt a bit 1996 and geek-boyish.

Enjoy line-ruled paper!

Story > Flashy

2011-06-22T08:02:00.003-04:00

I'm confused.

It seems to me that lost in the shuffle for a lot of online content is the importance of good content. I get told quite often through conversations, blogs, status updates and tweets that success lies in being able to be flashy. I should look to take chances and be bold. Shock and awe. Controversial. Be not afraid to go over the top because that's going to attract people and views and money and fame.

(I speak of original material. I'm not including talks shows, reality shows or any other facsimile)

While I agree with that sentiment in part, I don't agree that it's the most important part. Content. Stories. Those are the building blocks of any great movie, TV show and now, web series. Sure a flashy episode will get people to the show, but what makes them stay is story.

Most of us started down this path because we fell in love with movies and TV. Did you watch Star Wars over and over because Luke was controversial? Did you fight to keep Firefly on the air because Mal was over the top and in your face? No. You love those stories and a host others because they were great storytelling.

Shouldn't that clue us in to what's important when we create these web series? Yes, getting views is the name of the game. But as more and more people flock to the Internet for original content, the storytelling will be expected to improve. No more handheld retelling of some dude's exploits will suffice. People will want story. They'll want well-produced content.

Maybe this is too idealistic. But I don't believe it's wrong to want to achieve a higher ideal.

Digital Ain't All Bad

2011-06-20T07:41:00.004-04:00

First off go read this article from The New Yorker by David Denby.

Anything Goes

Now, let's read my thoughts.

First, I don't understand why this article takes a shot at kids making a zombie movie instead of a drama about their decaying town. Is their town in despair? Was that ever brought up? And since when do kids want to make a serious drama about their town? Kids are kids. They want to tell stories that they would want to see. Action. Adventure. Horror. They see the world differently than adults. They wouldn't understand if their town was in some kind of financial trouble. They just know what they're going to do when school lets out. That's it.

Here's the other thing. This whole article could be summed up with a simple phrase. "It all comes down to the script." Yes, technology has allowed for filmmakers to be weak in their storytelling. It permits filmmakers and executives be lazy in their execution. But it also allows those who aren't in the "club", like myself, to have a chance to tell stories and let the world see. You can't blame the digital revolution for crappy storytelling. If The Green Lantern is a piece of crap, blame the script or whomever messed with the script after the screenwriter handed it in.

If filmmakers know how to tell stories, they use the digital aspects of film making to enhance their story, not supplement it.

Consider this my two cents, I suppose.

Honestly...be honest.

2011-06-19T22:53:00.002-04:00

"Honesty is the best policy" and if I might add, the best currency. I do have the reputation of being kind of, sort of a smart-ass. Not as much these days then when I was in high school, through college and then some of...okay, most of my twenties. Through those times and right up to now, I've realized that being honest and truthful is the easiest way to get through life.

I don't like mind games. I don't like insincerity. I don't like phoniness.

And neither should you.

I Write (Not Enough)

2011-06-16T23:26:00.003-04:00

I was talking with a friend of mine and he talked about not knowing what he wanted to do with his life. Nothing drastic. Nothing life altering. He simply had made a choice to travel down a path in his career and he was currently at a crossroads of which way to turn. We all have these moments. Some longer than others and I was reminded of my own indecisive ways a few years back.

This entry is not about that decision. By now, we all know I made a choice way back when to travel down the path of web series and social media self-promoter. It was also a decision on my part to do something I had a passion for. To tell stories. There's a reason my love of cinema funneled itself towards screenwriting. The backbone, the foundation of any great movie is the script. The written word is a powerful thing. If done poorly, it can ruin a career of any actor or director, but if done right....then you've created some cinema magic.

Back to my conversation. I'm driving home and replaying in my mind what I would tell my friend about passion and how you should find something you truly love and it dawned on me. My decision from two years ago. My love of story. It's the reason I kept going. It's the reason I do what I'm doing now. Writing. Creating. All of it. And while I know updating my Facebook status and Twitter feed is important and needed to increase my fan base and spread the word, it's also taking me away from the whole reason I got into this racket.

I need to write more. I need to create more. I need to stop opening up my computer and checking Twitter and Facebook and start opening up Final Draft and Word. I strive to be a doer in a talker world.

I just hope I remember to post this to my feeds.

Scenes from the Movies Premieres!

2011-06-16T10:51:00.003-04:00

Up on the Roof's latest and greatest (?) web series has premiered on TangoDango.com

If this is your first time hearing about Scenes from the Movies then check out the information page on this blog...right...here!

I wanted to write up a creator's statement, but I haven't had time, so I'll make it brief. The series will run 13 episodes and a new episode will premiere every Wednesday from now until September 7th. Hopefully, by then, I'll be editing season two and prepping that for sometime in late 2011. We had fun shooting the series on our small studio set. Season One is all based on true accounts. Actual situations that have occurred at my day job....slightly exaggerated for comedy sake. (That's the good kind of exaggeration) I encourage you to let me know what you think.

And always, thank you for watching.

The Creature of Gilbert Island - First 10 pages

2011-06-12T19:20:00.004-04:00

A month back I went old school and sent out over 150 query letters with a ten page sample of my latest feature script: The Creature of Gilbert Island. Now, I'm proud of this script. Does it need work? All scripts do, but I set out to write a creature feature and that's exactly what I did. Unfortunately, no one else agreed with me. Returns and rejection letters is what I got back. I know, I know..."Mike, no one does mass mailings anymore. You want to get your script read, you need to know someone." Fair enough.

You tell me if its any good. Here are the first ten pages of the script. (Rest assured, it's already registered)

The Creature of Gilbert Island

EXT. GILBERT ISLAND - MAIN STREET - WATER TOWER - SEPTEMBER 20, 1938 - NIGHT
The water tower’s silhouette looms in the night sky. It looks over Main Street of Gilbert Island.

Two pairs of legs dangle from the slim, wooden walkway surrounding the tower. They belong to CARL PHELPS (18) and ELLIE STOKES (18).

ELLIE
Do you ever dream Carl?
CARL
Sure. I think cars are going to fly one day. Maybe even fly right off this planet and into space.
ELLIE
I’m talking about hopes. Desires.
CARL
Well, I hope for those things to happen.
ELLIE
Stop being funny.

Ellie playfully smacks Carl on the arm.

CARL
I already know what your dreams are.
ELLIE
You do not!
CARL
All you talk about is going to Hollywood to be a movie star.
ELLIE
Everyone should want to be a star. Oh Carl, can’t you just picture me out there? Rubbing elbows with Bette Davis. Eating dinner with Jimmy Cagney.
CARL
Why would you be eating dinner with Cagney?
ELLIE
Anything is possible out there. It’s a whole other world. A better one than here.
CARL
What’s wrong with Gilbert Island?

Ellie takes a moment to study the quiet center of town. Nothing but street lamps.

ELLIE
It’s an island, Carl. There’s no escape, not matter how hard you try.
CARL
There’s the ferry to Nantucket.
ELLIE
Another island.
CARL
We have this same conversation every week, Ellie. This is home.
ELLIE
It’s not...me. Not anymore.
CARL
I kind of like it here. Quiet. Everyone’s friendly.
ELLIE
But there’s so much more to this world. I don’t want to waste my life on some remote island, talking to the same people day in and day out. I want life to be an adventure. I want to be whisked from one extreme to the other.
CARL
That sounds scary.
ELLIE
And exhilarating!
CARL
No. Just scary.
(Pauses)
What about McDonald?
ELLIE
What about him?
CARL
Well, he’s got those scholarship offers and everyone in town assumes you two will be getting hitched this summer.

Ellie seems distant. She watches the street below.

ELLIE
When I leave this town Carl, I’m not coming back. Ever.

Wind picks up. Carl looks off in the distance. Towards the shore.

CARL
You know, I heard on the radio that we might be in for some kind of storm. We probably should head home.
ELLIE
Five more minutes. Please.

Carl relents, as always, when it comes to Ellie. She watches the waves. Choppy. Whitecaps. The horizon is covered in darkness. No stars. Cloudy.

CUT TO:

INT. DOC PIERSON’S OFFICE/HOME - STUDY - EVENING
A Zenith floor model radio sits along the wall, adjacent to the built-in bookcase. It’s on. RADIO ANNOUNCER reads his report.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
...officials estimate the storm will hit land sometime early this morning. Nantucket Island and Gilbert Island can expect to feel the effects very shortly...

The desk in the study is vacant, except a few opened books and a steaming cup of tea.

INT. PHELPS GENERAL STORE - EVENING
The store is closed. Shelves of food and supplies sit quietly as wind-aided rain pelts the outer windows which look out on Main Street.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
...gusts of winds expected to reach over 100 miles per hour. Officials say the hurricane could reach category 3 by the morning...

The trash can outside the store tips over.

INT. DRESS SHOP - EVENING
Dress form mannequins are cast in shadow as the storm rages outside. The HOWL of the wind is present.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
...reports are beginning to surface of ships lost at sea. The “Long Island Express”, as some are calling it, is holding nothing back as it tears up the coast...

The front door BURSTS open. Rain and wind enter the store, knocking over the dress form mannequins.

INT. SHERIFF’S STATION - EVENING
Shotguns sit in their rack. Locked. The desks, one neat and one extremely disorganized, sit comfortably.

RADIO ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
...residents are urged to remain indoors for the entirety of the hurricane. This could be one for the ages, bringing with it, destruction and unknown devastation...

The window for the sheriff's station looks out over the gas station, which almost beckons for attention, as if knowing something that we don’t.

CUT TO:

EXT. GILBERT ISLAND - SOUTH BEACH - DUSK - SEPTEMBER 22, 1938
The beach is full of on-lookers. Islanders surveying the damage of “The Long Island Express”. Debris covers the beach.

A young boy, JIMMY KELLY (10), breaks from his mother’s grasp and finds the top of a small rock poking from the sand. He digs.

In the distance, several teenagers roam the beach trolling for loot. GEORGE WILLIS (17) and EDDIE SHELTON (17) sift through the debris, each showing off buried treasure. They’re followed by their leader, CHRIS PARKER (18), who flicks his lighter open and shut.

GEORGE
This can’t be from the island.
EDDIE
Where else would it come from, moron?
GEORGE
I don’t know. But this...

George holds up a piece of wood, Spanish lettering carved into its face.

GEORGE
This ain’t from the island.
PARKER
Who cares? It’s here now.

Parker stops. Looks off and spies Ellie walking along the shore. She’s followed by her suitor, HARRY MCDONALD (18).

Parker watches. Eddie spies his friend staring. The two exchange glance. Parker delivers a punch, hard, to Eddie’s shoulder. Message received.

Along the shore, Ellie stares out to the sea. McDonald is right behind. He grabs her arm and twists her around to face him.

MCDONALD
I was worried about you all day yesterday.
ELLIE
It was just a storm.
MCDONALD
It was a hurricane.
ELLIE
What do you want Harry?
MCDONALD
Jeez! Sorry to bother you, but I thought you’d like know that my interview got cancelled on account of the entire coast being underwater.
ELLIE
Thanks.

Ellie turns towards the shore again. McDonald stews. He spies Parker glancing his girl’s way. He heads straight for him.

McDonald marches pass the young boy, Jimmy, digging out his rock, which turns into a giant sized oval, rock with barnacles attached.

His mother, BEATRICE KELLY (40s) marches up to the hole her son has created.

BEATRICE
James Kelly. What did I tell you about running off?
JIMMY
Look!
BEATRICE
We’ve got plenty of rocks at home.
JIMMY
Not like this. This one came from the ocean. The storm brought it.
BEATRICE
The only thing the storm brought was a mess.
JIMMY
Can I keep it? Please.

Before Beatrice can put her foot down, she’s greeted with the puppy dog eyes of her son. She smiles and discovers a way to say yes, but mean no.

BEATRICE
If you can carry it.

Along the road that runs parallel to the shore, several more islanders survey the destruction. DEPUTY MONTGOMERY SMITH (30s) watches with the crowd. He spies a kid jumping up and down in front of his mother. He smiles.

MONTY
(To himself)
Jimmy Kelly...

Through the crowd of onlookers, comes a set of shined shoes. SHERIFF GORDON SMITH (60s) pops through the crowd. He sidles up next to his son.

GORDON
You have business at the school.
MONTY
It’s closed today.
GORDON
(Nods to beach)
Did you follow our problem down here?
MONTY
He’s not a problem. You just don’t like him.
GORDON
Well, if he’s not a problem, why’s he about to start a fight?

Gordon points towards McDonald and Parker standing toe to toe in the midst of everyone walking the beach.

Monty curses under his breath as he descends the rock stairs to the beach. Gordon remains atop to watch.

On the beach, McDonald pushes Parker.

MCDONALD
Throw a punch. C’mon!
PARKER
Back off McDonald.
EDDIE
C’mon Chris. We can take him right here.
MCDONALD
Mind your business, Shelton! This is between me and Parker.

McDonald shoves him again. Parker rears back, but he’s stopped by Monty, who holds onto his arm.

MONTY
We’ve got enough problems to deal with today, then me hauling the both of you back to the jail.
MCDONALD
Sorry Deputy Smith. It’s just...he’s eyeballing my lady.
MONTY
Ask her yet?
MCDONALD
No, sir.
MONTY
Then why don’t you rejoin her and see if the moment presents itself?
MCDONALD
Yes, sir.

McDonald smirks. Walks off to rejoin Ellie. Monty pulls Parker away from his pals.

PARKER
I didn’t do nothing wrong, Deputy.
MONTY
No one ever does.
PARKER
He picked the damn fight!
MONTY
I don’t care!
(Takes a breath)
Listen, the Sheriff wants me to run you in and give you a warning about all the nonsense you and your boys have been pulling all over town.
PARKER
You can’t prove it.
MONTY
It’s a small island, Parker. Please.
PARKER
Whatever.
MONTY
Stay out of trouble, will ya? And if you like the Stokes girl, tell her. Works better than ogling her from a distance.

Monty waves the teenager back to his friends. They continue on the beach, away from McDonald and Ellie.

Monty turns to see his father exiting through the crowd, no doubt upset over no arrest.

On the road, Gordon pushes through more islanders making their way to the beach. Behind him passes Jimmy Kelly, all smiles, as he tows a Radio Flyer with the giant barnacled rock on it.
Beatrice follows. Shaking her head.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GILBERT ISLAND - SOUTH BEACH - NIGHT
Same road. No islanders. Two teens, boy and girl, run across the street and down the rock stairs.
Along the beach, sits a bonfire, near shore. Several more teens sit around the fire along pieces of driftwood and debris.

Parker and his gang are a few of those teens. They’re drinking. Heavily.

George cozies up with a young woman.

GEORGE
I wish you had decked McDonald.

Eddie rifles through his junk pile.

PARKER
You really think all of that junk is worth something?
EDDIE
Maybe. You never know.
GEORGE
Is that a rock?

CLICKING. GRUNTING. Something moves along the shoreline. Parker hears it. He looks towards the water, but beyond the fire there’s nothing but darkness.

EDDIE
(takes notice)
What is it?
PARKER
You hear that?
GEORGE
I can’t hear anything from inside here.

George points to the girl’s breasts. She laughs. Slaps him across the chest. They exit the bonfire into the night for some quiet time.

BREATHING. FOOTSTEPS.

Parker perks up again.

EDDIE
Seriously Chris, if you want to hear strange noises, you should come camping with me in the woods at night. Drunk or not, it’s creepy.
PARKER
I ain’t drunk...much.

He smiles, before taking a hard swig off the bottle. Topples over his piece of driftwood. Legs dangle.

He laughs. Looks up, over the driftwood, and sees Eddie laughing. Behind Eddie, from the darkness, a SHADOW appears.

Parker stops laughing. SQUINTS for a better look.

A GIANT HAND appears. SCALY with large TALONS poking from each BONY finger. Skin a DARK GREEN.

The HAND opens. Parker stares. Too frightened, confused, drunk to shout out.

Eddie doesn’t feel the fingers wrap around him until its too late. The hand SQUEEZES. Eddie’s scream is lost in his lungs. He’s jerked back and up.

A muted scream is quickly silenced. CHOMP!

PLOP. Eddie’s body lands where he was originally seated. Headless?

Parker freezes. Stares at the body, which slowly moves. Drags back to the darkness. Lifts into the air, before disappearing. Bloody trail in its wake. CHOMP. CHOMP.

Parker looks up. BREATHING. GROWLING.

A pair of GLOWING, DEEP YELLOW EYES pierce through the darkness.

Parker passes out.

The Writing Fields Blog

2011-06-09T10:01:00.001-04:00

So there's this idiot who started a blog to get more personal and less promotional. Check out his post.

Human Nature Always Wins

Tuesday Night: Pizza Night

2011-06-07T20:10:00.003-04:00

Pizza Party!!

That's right. I'll be joining my fellow Dangos at TangoDango HQ this coming Tuesday night as we bombard the social network with our tweets, status updates and door-to-door pledge drives as we devour pizza after pizza up until the TangoDango website goes live.

And you know what that means? Scenes from the Movies won't be too far behind. So join us...on-line (Seriously, I don't want to share the pizza) and help make TangoDango a name to be reckoned with as we battle against other web channel start-ups. (Jeez, I'm really aggressive today)

That's all I got. See you Tuesday!

Scenes from the Movies Update

2011-06-04T13:08:00.004-04:00

I am bloody awful at updating this blog. Yes, I used the word "bloody". I'm not from England, but I have started watching a BBC television show and by osmosis, I start tossing out the vernacular from across the pond.

Back to the update. Season one of UOTR's new web series, Scenes from the Movies is in the can. Finished. Done. Completed. All background f/x have been nicely handled by Mike Meyerson of Absolute Motion and we made it very hard for him with our reflective surfaces, stray hairs and having green items in frame to mess up the background mattes. Shame on us. Shame on me. But, nonetheless, we are ready to air.

June 15th. TangoDango.com. First Episode: Harry Potter and the Crowded Theater

See you then!

Livin' the Dream

2011-05-26T19:00:00.003-04:00

I was asked today if a 14 year-old hijacked my Twitter account because there were about four or five posts where I was just, straight up living "below the line" (Oz Principle term) and complaining about some recent developments. The usual timeline for events like this are a quick "bitch" session, followed by some mild depression which would lead to an affirmation of my goals and some inspiration to keep going.

I'm going to skip all that and just move on to as one of many bosses always says, "Keep livin' the dream". Hey, shit happens. People lie. People exaggerate. I can't control these things and I shouldn't try. All I can control is what I'm doing and creating.

So, whomever is reading this blog...Thank you...and more importantly, if you're doing everything you can at achieving your goals, passions or maybe just doing your job to the best of your ability, no one can negatively affect your growth except you. Keep your nose down. Be honest and don't give up. Never give up.

Besides it feels kind of weak and lazy to sit mired in a depression funk. I'm better than that and so are you.

Editor's Note: My boy was awesome for calling me out. Thanks!

Goals lead to Success

2011-05-22T20:19:00.006-04:00

"I've got goals! Yes, I do! I've got goals! How 'bout you?!"

Sorry about that. I ducked into a mid-western, Hoosiers type cheer for a bit there. But yes, I have goals. Shouldn't everyone? Dreams are one thing. Many people don't put the work in that's needed to make those dreams a reality and thus they stay that way. Dreams. The wishes that people say at the end of parties when everyone has already left sans a few stragglers. Those sentences usually start off with, "If I had money or time, I'd do..."

Goals are everywhere. They are part of your work, home and play. But for now, I'm talking about my play and work. Up on the Roof.

When I created the web series, The Puzzle Maker's Son, apart from creating a story and making a connection with an audience, my goal was to get the name, Michael Field, out there and beyond the circle of friends and fans I had at the time. Sure, I had other aspirations and desires that I wanted the series to help with, but my main goal...my attainable goal was to get my name out there. Goal achieved.

As I've mentioned quite often, my latest web series, Scenes from the Movies, is making its premiere on June 15th on TangoDango.com and the usual aspirations are attached and I'm quite curious how a series with 60-90 second episodes is going to fair on-line. I've also attached a goal with this project. This time, I'm not looking for my name to break through, but rather my writing. The work is my goal. Paid work. Hired-hand work. This web series is the first comedy I've produced since my very first and only feature, Save the Forest, and I'm hoping for big things. (I'm not counting the commercials for Kinko for President.)

Speaking of Save the Forest, I didn't have any goals with that project. Neither did I create a goal for my shorts - One Up, The Hero or Running in Place. I got the itch to create and I made those shorts and anything that happened after those was gravy. Looking back, that wasn't too smart. Yeah, they we exciting and great to complete, but I never thought how I could use that work to further my career.

This might be why I'm a 36-year-old middle-class filmmaker with 2 kids trying to break into an industry that indicates youth and nepotism as benchmarks for talent. Having attainable goals and going after those goals is how I'm going to become a late-bloomer success and the example on how to get it done.

Was that too cocky? Oh well.

The Self-Imposed Fear of Talking

2011-05-19T09:17:00.003-04:00

This will be the second blog that has started with a thought I had while browsing on Twitter. I even posted the query," Is it a liability or an asset when a content creator (web series) becomes more noticeable than their own content?” I find myself struggling with this question quite often.

On one hand, I want my work to be noticed on the merits. I want people to find it. React to it. Respond emotionally. I’m a storyteller. I believe the story should be front and center. In fact, I’ve had a shift in my outlook on my work over the past year. I’d be completely happy with just being a writer, as long as I was telling a story, then it doesn’t matter to me who helps with that vision.

Take note creators. I will write for you! I love being part of the process and writing is something I can do to help those who either do not have the time nor the inclination to write.

For now, let’s get back to my self-imposed issue. Notoriety. My work vs. My image. I know that my content will not get noticed unless, I’m front and center. I must be out there talking about it. Promoting it. Pitching it. Yes, I have my vanity. Of course, I enjoy having a voice out there. Who doesn’t? The worry comes with that voice being more than the story. I start to think I’m turning into something I despise. I fear I’m morphing into…

The Talkers.

I meet a ton of “talkers”. All they do is talk (surprise!) about their projects. The conversation starts like this:

Me: Hey. How are you? I’m Mike Field.
Them: I’m Joe Creator and I’ve done this and that. I’ve met this celebrity who told me that I’ve got talent. I’m going to be meeting this agent. I’m working with this name drop and that name drop. Blah, blah, blah…

Me: That’s great.
Them: Yeah, and did I mention all these other things about me?

I know. It’s quite the riveting conversation. Part of me understands that mentality. You have to be “on” all the time. You never know who you may meet. Also, if you’re confident in your work, why not talk about it. I get it. I’m not down on those who’re always on like this; I just don’t want to be that type of person. I’ve had the meaningless conversations enough that I seek out the ones with substance. Am I looking for a dissection of modern cinema vs. classic Hollywood? No. (Although, that’d be cool). I’m just looking for a conversation where the other person isn’t waiting for me to stop talking so they can say something.

I fear I’ve gone on a tangent. My initial question is probably more of a reveal on my fear of becoming a creator that doesn’t create. I will not shy away from the promoting and the talking, but if I had my druthers, I’d probably team up with someone that loves to talk and promote and I can just create and sometimes pop by for a visit. Which is probably why I like the idea of being a writer. It’s a solitary lifestyle with the occasional personal contact.

Perhaps my initial query could be answered with a simple: Depends on the person. Like most things in life, it’s about balance. When the work needs to be done, get it done. And when the talking needs to be done, get talking.

I just hate talking about myself. Don’t we all…hate talking about me?

Permission to Celebrate

2011-05-14T11:26:00.005-04:00

This business is quite the test of mettle. Ups and downs is one way of putting it, but it truly feels like "so-so ups and massive downs" I've had so many false starts. So many promises, not really broken, but more like forgotten. It's gotten to the point where I don't excited about anymore. It's more like a measured, tempered excitement of what could happen.

But I keep on truckin' and really, there's no other alternative. It's what I know. It's what I love. A few years back, I made the decision to invest myself fully into this path. If I was going to tell my children that they can do anything they want as long as they work hard for it, then where would I get off at half-assing my way to a goal? Which was what I was exactly doing. Doing only so much to get to the point where when I fail, I could feel sorry for myself, because that's easier to do for so many of us than it is to revel in the success of having more responsibility and more people counting on us.

It's easier to fail than succeed and when 95% of this business is rejection, you get used to it. You feel comfortable in failure. You accept the rejections as part of your life, like a paycheck every payday.

Heat check time: I've got some things cooking. A new web series premiering (Scenes from the Movies) on a new web channel (TangoDango) that I'm working to help get off the ground. I'm developing a new feature script with Adrian Correia and an adaptation of a play with actor/playwright David Ian Lee.

All of these may fail. They may peter out and sit with the piles of other unfinished ideas that reside in the metaphorical PODS container in my mind. But not because I didn't bust my ass to get them to succeed. Just when they do succeed, someone might have to grab me, shake me and tell me it's okay to celebrate.

Adapt or Die or Complain?

2011-04-21T23:26:00.006-04:00

A week or so ago, it was announced at CinemaCon, formerly known as ShoWest, that DirecTV struck a deal with four major studios that would shrink the window from theatrical release to home video release. As it is right now, the window is four months for a movie seen in theaters to be seen on DVD. This new deal could shorten that window in half. The specific deal would make certain movies available through DirectTV for around $30. So you could catch Fast Five next week and then by the end of June, rent it on-demand through DirecTV.

Yes, people don't like this. Movie theaters don't like this. And now James Cameron and friends don't like this. Check the article below.

We hate VOD

So, an open letter to the studios and its signed by so many powerful, rich and famous directors. I find this, kind of insulting. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be in the position like these fine directors and I completely understand their position, but I really think they need to understand the other side of the coin here. (pun intended)

#1 - Movies are expensive. Like the price of gas, admission prices have gone up and up with no signs of turning back. Even Cameron once stated that movies will become akin to taking in a Broadway show and tickets will be priced accordingly. Why shouldn't a family of four stay home two months after the release of a movie and pay $30 instead of the $45 for admission and $30 for concession items?

#2 - The world is changing. The model is changing. This open letter feels a lot like the old school trying to hold onto the way things were. Yeah, it sucks that going to the cinema on the weekend is no longer an event. It used to be one movie a weekend, if that. And now, if one movie opens on a weekend, I'm stunned. People go to the cinema as part of the routine. Something to do and nothing to look forward to. As the tag-line for Hanna goes: Adapt or die.

#3 - How about trying something different? Instead of an open letter, why not make a product straight for DVD? Control that market. Lower your budgets, create great content and promote the DVD release. We're not ill-informed. We can get excited for DVD releases. If studios are trying to control their product from cinema to TV, then deny the cinema. Now...wait a sec. I'm asking an awful lot. Lower budgets?! Less money?! I do come from a part of the business where multiple hats of production is the norm, so maybe I am being naive that some of these directors can turn into straight to DVD moguls. I understand it's a big step.

#4 - It kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I read about rich people fighting with other rich people for the right to get our money. This dispute is not about the audiences, it's about money. And while I really do understand (as I've said) the idea behind the open letter, it still comes off as greedy and awfully similar to the NFL lockout and I've had about enough of that nonsense.

Yeah, I'm a nobody. A struggling writer/director who is trying to get to the point where I can provide for my family while doing something I love and I'm forced to understand that the game has changed. The way to success is different than it was years ago. Every single day, I have to adapt and grow with the ever-changing market and I must do so with no money on the table. There's no money out there in this business. There's no money anywhere. People expect more with less. Is it too much to expect those who have more to understand the plight of those with less? They were there once before, were they not? Why not help rather than complain?

Spending Money to Make Money Leaves Me Broke

2011-04-14T15:19:00.005-04:00

I was social networking about this about five minutes ago and I figured it might be more beneficial to my sanity if I get it out on the blog.

I'm tired of spending money. Festivals, competitions and awards shows need to understand the more they ask for money and the higher they go, the less likely people will shell out the money to submit. Maybe not now or next year or three years from now, but at some point we need to draw the line at the screenplay competition that asks for $75 to submit a script where the top prize is $3000 and the script is read by representatives of major studios. These reps could be the mail sorters, for all we know. It's insulting that we continue to abide by these standards set forth by those you claim to be in power.

"To make money, you need to spend money"

We've all heard this quote before. It's self-explanatory and a philosophy we all follow when we produce our projects. It helps ease the pain of spending money, we sometimes do not have. The quote is always equated to people in business. But do you know who actually coined the phrase?

Not an investor or a CEO of some Fortune 500 company. No hot shot, Don Draper-like ad exec came up with this hip slogan to help whittle away a few more dollars out of a client's pocket.

It was an actor turned Roman soldier turned poet. A playwright who generally wrote satire and comedies that used slapstick and gags to entertain hordes of Romans as they watched chariot races or boxing matches and his name was Titus Maccius Plautus. A man who was penniless at the age of 45 when he found the call of writing.

This guys sounds an awful lot like my kind of guy. A man who struggled to find himself until the later stages of his life and a creative, like many of my fellow brethren. Are we not surprised his quote was taken by those with power and wealth and used against those who have neither? Used to coerce more money for the promise of acceptance. Used as ammo to rationalize the expenditure of more money when loans are required to cover those expenses.

I'm not pronouncing my unwillingness to spend money. On the contrary. I know it's still a necessary part of the business. The truth is, yes, spending money is needed to make money. Computers are not free. Studio space is not free. Equipment, man power, actors, promotional materials, etc are not free. This is where money is needed. I can understand the need to cover mailing expenses and some man-power expense when it comes to submission fees. $100 for a short script because I didn't make to the Early Bird Submission Deadline? No way. I wish all of us would recognize that we are being fleeced at times and simply accepting it as "par for the course" cannot be allowed.

Interesting note: Our friend in creative arms, Titus Maccius Plautus, also said "Your wealth is where your friends are". Interesting. If spending money is needed to make money and our wealth is based on the friends we make, then I guess that money Titus is talking about is about putting the effort into making friends and friends we shall make.

See what I did there?

The Rebirth of Indie Cinema?

2011-04-01T08:35:00.003-04:00

I don't normally post something like this, but I felt compelled to ask a question. Check out the link here: DirecTV Deal

If you didn't, the article is about the recent deal between DirecTV and four major studios where the window between when a movie is released in a theater and when it gets to DVD will shrink. Instead, the movie will now be available for the home much sooner. 60 Days, rather than the 90-120 days. (Kudos for announcing this while the CinemaCon, a convention for theater owners where the studios show how much they love them, was currently underway in Las Vegas) Now, it's only going to be available as Video on Demand for a price around $30, but still it's a pretty big shot across the the bow of theater chain owners. (It is also interesting to note that Paramount declined to be involved with the deal. If you know your corporate history, the studio is owned by Viacom and that's owned by Sumner Redstone and what theater chain does he own? National Amusements. Of course, they balked at the deal...for now.)

I'm not an expert, more like an interested party, but the deal makes me wonder. My main questions is this: What will be the consequence? Perhaps theater owners will delve into the production side of the business and start creating content or, at least, take a more active role in producing features. A very interesting possibility.

Also possible, is theater owners taking a more active role in purchasing content outside of the studio system. Focusing on smaller, independent movies that they can have in their theaters longer. Remember theater owners make more money on ticket sales, the longer a movie remains in the theater. It's how the division of the tickets sales usually shakes out, which is why theater owners love movies that have legs and why you always sees massive campaigns for really, bad movies so that studios can make the bulk of their money on opening weekend and then rip the movie from theaters as soon as they can to get it to DVD, where they rake in the dough. But you already know all this.

Granted, I am asking an awful lot of indie cinema. It needs to be great. It needs to be high concept, while keeping the costs low. It needs to have names and talent behind the production. But indie cinema, as it stands right now, is about the recently popular adage (which I learned from the The Wire) of people expecting "less with more". Nobody wants to pay anyone for their services. People expect to have cast and crew assemble for 2-3 weeks for food, copy and credit and maybe deferred pay (which means no pay)

I'm not saying this is the next immediate step, but this may be the beginning. A year from now, two years from now, we might read about Regal Cinemas purchasing several hundred copies of 3-4 indie films from one small independent distribution house and I'm very interested to see what would happen. I'm hopeful that indie cinema will come back the way it was in the late 80s/early 90s, where you could seek out really great films, except this time, we won't have to go to second-run theaters anymore. They'll be right around the corner.

Sneak Peek: Scenes from the Movies

2011-03-31T08:54:00.003-04:00

Here's a quick behind the scenes video from the set of Scenes from the Movies. Watch myself and Adrian act like filmmakers. Special thanks to Patrick Whalen for using his Flip for this footage.

Up on the Roof: Heat check!

2011-03-29T08:04:00.005-04:00

I've been all over the social media landscape crying out that I've just completed the first season of my new comedic web series Scenes from the Movies and by landscape I mean Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. So, maybe landscape is not the right word. But I've been clamoring. The high has worn off, in a good way, and now it's time to get to work. Thought I'd give a quick update on projects - past, present and future.

The Puzzle Maker's Son
There hasn't been an official announcement, so this might have to do. The first season was accepted into the New Media Film Festival and it will be showcased in Los Angeles on May 20-21. So...yeah! They sent me the heads up and I've been sending information and pics their way while finishing off season one of that other show I keep talking about. I've also been thinking about going out there for the festival, but I'm thinking saving money might be a better idea. Whichever I decide, I'll be talking more and more about it as the date approaches.

For anyone wondering about season two, I'm hoping to shoot a teaser trailer for season two very soon. I have the script written for the teaser and all I need is a location. The teaser would be the start of raising funds, awareness and excitement for season two which is also already written and ready for "Action!"

Scenes from the Movies
Yes. Season One production is wrapped. Post-production is next, followed by promotion, promotion, promotion. Expect the series to premiere on TangoDango.com in June and hopefully a trailer for season one a month before that.

Kiddo
What is this, you ask? Why it's a 13 page short script I'm looking to stretch out into a feature length screenplay and send out to producers. I don't want to reveal too much, not out of being paranoid that someone would steal it, but because all the plot points haven't been fleshed out for the feature as of yet. But...here's a few keywords. 1940s. New York City. Detective. Clairvoyant. Adrian and myself are teaming up on this project in all phases and we are extremely excited about the potential.

Monster Script
I wrote this script before I wrote season one of Scenes from the Movies and it needs a massive rewrite, but I really believe in the script. I think it would fit nicely alongside monster movies of old and new....the good ones and the schlocky ones that are made with reverence for the genre of monster movies. Some of those SyFy movies thumb their noses at monster movies when they don't put the effort into the story. Just my opinion. I still watch them. I just want better. But I digress, who wouldn't love to watch a movie about a monster tearing up an island town off the coast of Massachusetts in the 1930s?

And that's it. Keep in touch. Let me know what you think. Spread the word. I'm hoping to take Up on the Roof , myself and anyone else along for the ride to the next level this year and I can use all the help I can get.

September of 1997

2011-03-22T19:43:00.009-04:00

The other night I'm channel surfing through the HBO section of my cable provider and I stumble upon L.A. Confidential. Of course, I watched a good forty minutes of it. (I was exhausted and needed some sleep. I'm ashamed. I should've stayed with it until the end.). An interesting thought occurred to me though. The movie was released in 1997. I was 22 years of age. (Dear Lord, I feel old) Until that point, my video and film career was small. Infantile. I had shot a few shorts and some skit shows. Really, really awful stuff.

When L.A. Confidential was released, I remember having a conversation with my best friend, then and now, about one moment in that movie that I couldn't shake from my brain. The scene where Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) asks Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) why he became a cop. In that moment, Spacey pauses and delivers the answer "I don't remember". The time between the question and the response is about five seconds of screen time, but the way Spacey plays it, it felt like eight pages of screenplay and twenty years of back story. Whether it was Spacey's acting choices, Curtis Hanson's direction, the great screenplay by Hanson & Brian Helgeland, or a collection of all three. Whichever the reason, it was a great moment in that movie (which is full of great moments)

Seriously, you need to watch this movie again. Brilliant.

This was one of the first conversations I had about a movie which dealt with the machinations of storytelling. Not just a cool shot or an awesome action scene, but a moment in a film where I recognized a point of storytelling and was moved to understand the choices being made. I became enamored and fixated with the thought and creativity that went into a film, a scene, the overall color pallet of the story, a piece of dialogue. Everything to do with a movie, I wanted to know about. From there, I devoured cinema. I know longer followed movies based on which actor was cast, but rather, I sought out writers and directors. Perhaps this was the true beginning of my career or just an a-ha moment several years in the making. Regardless, 1997 was the year where my goal and path was made clear.

I wouldn't call it an "A-ha" moment. To stay with the path analogy, more like someone pushing aside the overgrowth of shrubs and wild grass and showing the road meant for me and when my Exley poses the question of why did I want to be a storyteller, I won't hesitate to say "Rollo Tomasi" and then after laughing at my own private joke, I'll let them know about the 22 year old who watched a movie one day in September of 1997.

A Pickle News!

2011-03-17T20:17:00.004-04:00

Check it out. A short film I wrote was produced a few years ago (by Karen Nielsen) and is now available on IndieFlix.

Watch A Pickle now!

My First Love: Cinema

2011-03-16T22:56:00.005-04:00

I'm flipping around, waiting for these digital plates to download from yousendit.com as my partner in crime has delivered some nice looking background images for my next series, Scenes from the Movies, and I stumble upon Catch Me If You Can. Mind you the movie is about 20 minutes from the end and throughout that 20 minutes, I never took my eyes off the TV.

It's pathetic. Like a first love that I can't let go. I love cinema. I love everything about it. While I make web series and grow as a storyteller in that world, I yearn and desire a shot to do the same in the world of cinema. I'm not talking about Hollywood. I'm not talking about making the next blockbuster. I'm talking about great stories shared with an audience and other cinema lovers. Impacting people and having fun doing it.

Catch Me If You Can is a movie that would have a hard time being made in today's cinema world. Maybe if it had D-List talent and a $500,000 budget, it could happen. And you know what? I'm game.

Don't forget your roots. Remember why you do what it is you do. And if you don't have the answer to that question, you're in the wrong vocation.

The Puzzle Maker's Son - Podcast!

2011-03-12T15:38:00.002-05:00

That's right. The Puzzle Maker's Son has come to iTunes. Yes, some may say that it's about time and others might remark that it took me long enough. And to that I respond with...I'm sorry. Please forgive me and subscribe to...

The Puzzle Maker's Son podcast

Puzzle Maker's Son Hacked!

2011-03-10T08:08:00.003-05:00

This is might the strangest thing and probably just some kid having some fun, but the Puzzle Maker's Son website has been hacked! Who's to blame? If you believe the weird photo, then the Tunisian Cyber Army has taken aim at the small story of a man trying to find out the truth about his family.

It shouldn't make me laugh, but I am. Anyway, I've contacted my web guy and hopefully, they can fix the problem very soon. Stay tuned!

I guess I'll have to cancel my Tunisia festival tour.

UPDATE (3/10/11 - 9:04am) - We're back! All is better now.

Good to Great

2011-03-09T08:30:00.003-05:00

I read this summary the other day. It was handed to me at my day job as a way to motivate the management. Quite frankly, there's nothing to say why this can't work for Up on the Roof or even one's personal health. If you've got the time, I encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the read.

Good to Great

New York City: Circa 1941

2011-03-06T10:58:00.005-05:00

I'm currently in a research mode for a feature length script I'm developing that takes place in New York City around the end of 1941. (I try to keep busy) I stumbled across these photos which are pretty cool. So I wanted to share. Enjoy!

New York City: 1941

Update Time!

2011-03-04T10:15:00.005-05:00

Yes, it's been some time since I posted and that was partly on purpose. I had nothing to really report and I've been trying to keep the "call for donation" post up as long as possible. Once I realized that the goal wasn't going to be met, it was time to move on. Hey, like I've always said, it's very hard for me to ask people to share in my vision financially when there's no return reward. That is probably a big fault to have, especially with me trying to make me way in the arts. (Even though I consider myself more of a craftsman than an artist, but that's semantics I suppose)

It's also the main reason I continue to search for a partner in Up on the Roof. A business partner. Someone who's strict desire is to help the company on the business side only. It doesn't make sense for me to team up with another filmmaker when the weakest part of Up on the Roof LLC lies on the business side. Until that deficiency is addressed, UOTR will never grow barring a lucky break or me bumping into Spielberg, while "accidentally" tossing all of my best work into his satchel. (I only imagine he carries Indiana-Jones-like stuff around with him)

Now. On to the show. As you know from previous blog posts, I'm doing another web series. A comedy. (If you've only known me through my work on The Puzzle Maker's Son, then you will be in for a treat because I actually lean towards comedy more then other genres. Of course, I've just made the intimation that I'm really good at it, so I guess the bar has been raised. Great job, Mike!) Scenes from the Movies, is slated to shoot on March 26th and 27th. We've cast three of the five main roles. (Fear not. I will remain behind the camera) I'll be re-teaming with my good friend, David Ian Lee, who will take on the role of "Greg" and you may remember David from the ever-popular 80s homage movie Save the Forest where he played uber-Corey Feldman fan named Corey. Hopefully, within the coming weeks, once we solidify the rest of the cast, a page will be set up on the blog showcasing all of the actors and their character descriptions.

This series will mark the first time I'll be shooting exclusively on a green screen. Thankfully, I'll be getting some help from some great people and fellow storytellers. The show is in good hands, especially since it's not just my two mitts. With my trusty DP and best bud, Adrian Correia, by my side and few other familiar faces, I anticipate a good first season and hopefully the promise of more to come. (I'm halfway through writing season two) Keep it here for updates and look for the show sometime in May on the new web channel, TangoDango.com.

Now if you'll excuse me, a very smart man suggested I storyboard the entire series and I need to brush up on my stick figure technique.

Help Produce Scenes from the Movies...again

2011-02-20T12:32:00.002-05:00

You learn something new every single day. I created this original post a few weeks ago, but didn't make it active until yesterday. Of course, Blogger posts it by date and it got buried. So, here it is again. Enjoy!

"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" - Blanche DuBois - A Streetcar Named Desire

But you're not strangers! You're friends! Allies! Amigos!

Up on the Roof needs your help...and your money. If you notice, there is PayPal button within this post and on the right hand side of the blog. We are seeking donations for the production of the first season of the web series, Scenes from the Movies.

Your kind donations are solely for the purpose of Season One's expenses which would include food and drink for the cast and crew, props and costumes for the series. That's it. (If you're more interested in giving actual food or drink, then that's pretty awesome as well! Just contact me about it)

The goal is $500. Can we get there? Will we get there? It's up to you, fans and supporters of everything Up on the Roof or Michael Field. If you look below, I've offered some incentives for specific donation amounts. Any donation, big or small, puts you in my cool book. So please...let's make Scenes from the Movies happen.

$25 - A blog entry thanking you
$50 - A blog entry thanking you & Associate Producer Credit
$100 - Blog entry & Producer Credit
$500 - Blog entry, Executive Producer Credit and a movie night with me. (I'll bring the popcorn)

To give you a sneak peek at what you're supporting, here's a piece of dialogue from the script "Best of 2010" which deals with Garrett's top movie list of 2010.

JOHN: Gremlins!? That came out about 25 years ago!
GARRETT: But I watched it for the first time in 2010.
JOHN: That’s not how it works and why’s it ahead of Yogi Bear?
GARRETT: It felt dated.

Ready! Set! Donate!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T19:02:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day from Up on the Roof.

Hey, don't make it a habit to have one day where you tell the one you love how you feel. That's why I watch Raiders of the Lost Ark several times a year to let it know just how I feel.

See what I did there?!

R.I.P. Blog about Puzzlin' Adventures

2011-02-10T13:56:00.001-05:00

R.I.P. The Puzzle Maker's Son blog.

I have shut down operations of the Puzzle Maker's Son blog. But cheer up! It's not bad news. The blog was rarely updated and this blog is used primarily to get the word out about everything Up on the Roof, The Puzzle Maker's Son and soon, Scenes from the Movies.

The Cinema: My Life?

2011-02-08T19:58:00.011-05:00

A few days ago, one of the twitter accounts which I follow offered a the question of: Which movie inspired you and how? I sat there with my blank space ready to fill 140 words about the movie that inspired me and I couldn't think of a darn one. How can that be? I love movies! I quote movies! I offer life lessons from movies! I can't think of one!?

Truth be told, there are hundreds of movies that have influenced me one way or another. The cinema is not only a part of my life in terms of being an aficionado, but a part of my day job, as well. I work with movies every single day. Working at a movie theater, something strange happens to you in terms of your calender. You start remembering important dates by the Friday release dates of movies. "Yeah, I know when we got married. It was the weekend of Transformers."

All of this cinema love began in my later teenage years. During High School I was all about basketball. Yeah, a jock. But a thinking man's jock, perhaps? Maybe? I'd always liked movies and the stories, but not until I started working for a movie theater at 19, did I really get into it. And at that young age, movies became law. They became fact. They became my source of information. It took me a while to realize that not everything in JFK was on the up and up, although it was a fantastically well-made story and has one of the greatest breakings of the fourth wall. (I bet you missed it)

I also came of age during the indie boom. Clerks spoke to me and my pedantic life of dealing with customers. The movie planted the seed in my mind that would later grow into what I'm doing now. (Ahem. Telling stories) It also introduced me to the world of movies that didn't open every Friday at your local Megaplex. I discovered tons of movies from other parts of the country, then the world. Independent cinema opened up its doors to me and I gladly gobbled up everything I could find.

Yes, the point has been made that cinema is a huge part of my life and now, I'm starting to regret that. Stories, while they come from our imagination, also have roots in our real life. Have I lived enough? Have I experienced enough in my 35 years to bring a truly rich story to the screen? How can I write a screenplay that's basis of fact is from another movie I watched when I was a kid? (Perhaps that last question is one a few big time directors need to ask themselves as well)

Cinema will always be in my life, but at some point, I need to find a way where it's only a facet of that life and no longer the basis for it. How? Still figuring that out.

Film Festival Recap

2011-02-06T08:27:00.002-05:00

Crappy weather didn't put a damper on last night's web series events at the CT Film Festival. I was able to meet some fellow web series creators and catch these same shows at a screening. Check the shows below.

50 to Death: Do you like Seinfeld? Curb Your Enthusiasm? Then you like this show. Watch it. I had the chance to meet the creator, Norm Golden, and he's got a great bunch of people helping to create some quality and fun comedy for the web. Why haven't you clicked on the link yet?

Square One: This series is from Bindiya Patel & Adrianna Merlucci and it deals with relationships between people in this digital world we now inhabit. There are very few good dramas out there in the web series world, so take the time to check this one out.

The Oligarch Duplicity: Now, I know Sibley Law personally, so it was a treat to have The Puzzle Maker's Son in the same showing as his recent web series. The story of a reporter who gets caught up in a spy plot while in Rome is full of intrigue and drama.

Now go discover these series and more!

Help Produce Scenes from the Movies

2011-02-04T11:25:00.010-05:00

"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" - Blanche DuBois - A Streetcar Named Desire

CT Film Festival Feb 4th-6th

2011-01-27T09:55:00.002-05:00

Doing anything February 4th to 6th? Well break those plans and buy a one day pass for the February 5th day of the CT Film Festival come watch me squirm!

CT Film Festival

Web Series 101 - Write, Develop and Produce Your Own Web Series
1:30-3:00pm, Sat, Feb 5th
Warner Theater - Classroom #1
Web Series content creators and developers Sibley Law (The Oligarch Duplicity) and Michael Field (The Puzzle Maker's Son) will take you step by step through the process of releasing your creativity on the Internet by writing, developing and producing your own web series.

Web Series Developers Production Panel
3:30-4:45pm, Sat, Feb 5th
Warner Theater - Classroom
Putting a story on the web has its similarities and differences with making movies and television shows. Listen to working web producers to find out what it takes to create a compelling tale online and what lead them to the web series format instead of traditional film and television.
Moderator: Sibley Law - Saxon Mills - The Oligarch Duplicity
Panelist: Bindiya Patel - Limelight19 - Square One
Panelist: Adrianna Merlucci - Limelight19 - Square One
Panelist: Michael Field - Up on the Roof LLC - The Puzzle Maker's Son
Panelist: Norm Golden - 50 to Death
Panelist: Steve Lettieri - Story Forge - Soldier01

Then at 8:30, The Puzzle Maker's Son will be part of a web series showcase where it will be joined by other web series made in CT. So, it'll be an all day thing for me. Love to see some familiar faces and I'll even allow you make fun of me.

Tickets on Sale Here

Control the Distro, Control the World

2011-01-24T08:29:00.004-05:00

Kevin Smith has a new movie coming out and rather than go through the traditional avenues that are left for indie filmmakers these days which would be, in its simplest form, make (self-fund) a movie and hope someone likes it enough to buy the rights to distribute it. In reality, the movie would probably get a moderately promoted release in hopes for a big opening weekend so the studio can make its money back and then quickly get dumped on DVD three months later.

We are at the mercy of those who control the distribution.

Mr. Smith knows this and he's taking over his own distro. Read the article and if you don't think he'll succeed, you don't know his fanbase. He does.

Kevin Smith Buys Own Film

Sitcom, Here I Come

2011-01-20T12:08:00.008-05:00

I have a confession. I was fighting it. I didn't want to admit I was interested in it, but I caved and now I'm hooked. I've become a fan of The Big Bang Theory. In all honesty, I never really hated the show. It was one of those shows that I never picked up on and before long, it was too late. Four seasons in and I had missed the boat, until I realized that I don't have too many other shows I watch. There was a window to start bombarding myself with DVDs of seasons from Netflix and try and catch up. I'm midway through season 2. (Note: My wife has also joined the ride)

The reason why I bring this up is that it started getting me to think about sitcoms. More importantly, the success and failure of sitcoms. I love a good sitcom, but recently, there haven't been many to get behind. The traditional 3-camera sitcom has fallen by the wayside in favor of a one camera approach with no live audience participation. Remember all those episodes of Cheers which started: "Cheers was filmed in front of a live studio audience." Those are gone. Today, shows are performed in front of audiences and then edited down and mixed with other takes, better takes and maybe the usual canned laughter tossed it. It's more of a melting pot with the best material and performance shining through.

While I enjoy many a one-camera sitcom these days, I do miss the traditional 3-camera set-up, which makes my long overdue discovery of The Big Bang Theory all that more interesting. I also watch a few other 3-camera set up sitcoms, but I'll be nice and not mention the problems I'm having with them. Let's just say, they were better earlier in their runs.

Again. Why am I waxing philosophical about sitcoms? Well, I'm trying to make one. A web series, that is. 13 episodes. 1-2 pages. Very short and too the point and it deals with situations that occur at my day job - the movie theater. (Now, anyone who reads this and works for my company, fear not, it's not anti-establishment. Take a deep breath. Names will be changed, so no need to rally the lawyers. I'm no dummy) That being said, I'm hoping to shoot this series either two ways. One: On stage. Limited props. Very simplistic. Actors doing their thing OR Two: Same limited props and simplistic overtones, but in front of a green screen.

I'm leaning towards #1. I'm also floating the idea of actually shooting the series and then bringing in an audience for a live performance and feedback. We shall see. That's a whole endeavor that does make me stop and think. Regardless, I'm trying to bring my take on the sitcom to the web and now that I've discovered it alive and well on TV, I have some hope. (By the way, Chuck Lorre is clearly a God with the sitcom. Great stuff.)

Let's hope it works.

Who's Your Audience?

2011-01-13T00:55:00.005-05:00

Writers, directors, content creators all get this question. "Who's your audience?"

"Well, that's simple. Teens."
"Why it's the baby boomers."
"Well, I think people who love a good mystery or story."

All are valid. Any answer would suffice. But, honestly, I think we're wrong. Those are demographics. Not an audience. Think about it. Who is your audience, really? Who are you telling your story to? Why are you telling it? On stage, people talk about the immediacy of the reaction from the crowd. People they connect with. People they see with their own eyes. When you tell jokes, you're looking to make people around you laugh.

To get a reaction.

When I finish a project and show it to friends and family, I'm seeking their reactions. I'm looking for their approval. I'm gauging their interest in my story because they are my audience! What is the difference between me and storytellers from decades pass whom gathered around a fire and entertained? When I created The Puzzle Maker's Son, I reached out to people I didn't know and told a story. I sought a connection with others across the Internet and once acquaintances were made and pleasantries were exchanged, my audience grew from my blanket demographic.

But initially, my audience consisted of my wife, my friends, my But family, people I work with, people I've met, colleagues, living, breathing people in front of me. These are the people who I tell my story to. Like it or not, you do, too.

Everyone else is a demographic. (until you share a connection with them, then they become part of your audience) Please, don't misunderstand me and think I'm insensitive to those whom I've never met, but appreciate my work. There's no relationship between me and them...yet. When I'm telling a story, I don't wonder about a faceless person across the country. I'm thinking of people I know.

This is why I'm always amazed and pleased to here from people I've never met who took the time to watch my work. It's very humbling to meet people who've seen my work and enjoyed the story. Making a connection with others, where no perceived inclination of approval was present, is awesome.

Winter Storm: 1/10/11 - Winners & Losers

2011-01-12T21:18:00.007-05:00

Oh Winter. I hate you so. Just another storm that brings some insight. Insight I'd like to share.

Winner: My spine - Way to hold up, buddy. Through all the shoveling, you held firm. Maybe I'm jinxing it. There's still the chance I'll wake up tomorrow in utter agony, but for now...way to go.

Loser: My shoulder - You suck. I've been dealing with your weak-ass nonsense for two months. I finally get some physical therapy for you. Lay off the hoop to let you rest and how do you repay me? Falter under the snow shoveling. Pick it up!

Winner: That dude in the plow - He could've plowed the snow from the road into my driveway, but me standing there watching him probably melted that icy heart and he turned his plow and shoved the snow away from the driveway. Sweet.

Loser: Another plow - I walk out of my house and look across the street and wonder - "Something's different." and that was because my mailbox was gone! Thanks a bunch plow for ripping my mailbox from its post. It took me twenty minutes to dig it out from the snow mound.

Winner: Milford Post Office - They were nice to me when I asked what I'm supposed to do about my broken mailbox.

Loser: Orange Post Office - They were mean. They're ALWAYS rude! Apparently I inconvenienced the woman by asking my options. Sorry, but not sorry for that letter I'm sending.

Winner: 4 Wheel Drive - Yeah. I hope they make an electric car with 4 wheel drive. Do they? I should check after this blog post. I want my next car to be electric, for those who don't know or don't care.

Loser: IMAX - At the day job (movie theater) and your projector lamp fails mid-show. I call for support. Talk to an operator. She connects me to a tech and...I get a voice mail message. Thanks for nothing.

Winner: My bulb changing skills - 30 minutes baby! 2 bulbs! No shows dropped! What?! Say something IMAX tech! Oh wait, you still haven't called back.

Loser: That customer on the phone - Why would you be mad at me for not having the theater open at 1pm when it would mean putting my employees in danger of getting into accidents? Just so you can see Yogi Bear 3D. Tsk, tsk.

Winner: You - Thanks for reading. You rock.

Lists, Schmists

2011-01-08T00:04:00.005-05:00

Meanwhile...at my day job. I was handed a list of an employee's Top 25 movies of 2010. I know. 25?! But that's not the reason for the post. I used to do this. I used to make a list of my best movies of the year. I'd compare them with friends of mine and we'd talk about movies.

I never claimed I wasn't a movie geek.

Then, something happened. I hated lists. I detested "Best of.." lists by me or anyone else. It was a while before I figured out why I hated them. It was the absolute nature of calling a list "Best of..." Seriously, what gives me the authority to claim something is the best of anything. What gives any critic the right to claim the best movie of the year was Inception. Yeah, that movie was pretty sweet, but it's still an opinion. It's all opinion!

This whole industry is subjective and everyone is quick to anoint winners and losers. Growing up I would watch the Academy Awards and hear the cliche, "It's just great to be nominated," and I'd roll my eyes. But today, I don't roll my eyes. It is great to be nominated. To be named. To simply get noticed. It may be small, but someone took the time to acknowledge that they enjoyed my work and that's pretty cool.

This rant would probably be null and void if all "Best of..." lists turned into "Favorite" lists, because that's what it is. A movie or book or song made an impression with you for some reason and it's unique to you. It's what makes art great. It's unpredictable on how it will affect you.

It's why I love Wet Hot American Summer and my fellow manger did not. It's why I like Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull and everyone sees fit to trash it. It's why this employee's top 25 list include Hot Tub Time Machine and Iron Man 2. (Even though I still don't get those picks)

Update! (1.8.11) - I've since been informed that my friend didn't not like Wet Hot American Summer. He, in fact, was left disappointed by the hype that was built up beforehand by his friends. I can relate to that.

Past Projects

2011-01-06T09:03:00.004-05:00

I wanted to take this time to direct everyone to the "Past Projects" button atop of this blog. I've posted several videos of stories I've brought to the screen over my sparse career. If you've only seen the web series, The Puzzle Maker's Son, then please take a look at where I was as a filmmaker before I dreamed up this puzzle solving fool.

Enjoy. And feel free to tell me how bad I am. :)

HNY from UOTR

2011-01-01T01:14:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

No inspirational quotes. No pep talks. No resolutions. If you wanted to go for your dreams, then it shouldn't take one day where the year changes to make it happen. Just do it.

As for 2011, I have only one thing to say to you:

"Show me the money!"

Update! Clicker.com Awards

2010-12-29T18:41:00.003-05:00

We're getting smoked! Check out the link.

Clicker Article

Not even listed in contention. And we were noted as being a scrappy underdog. Clearly, we've failed those expectations. I blame God. I don't know why he's not on my side. I went to catholic high school. I've been confirmed. What else does the big man need from me?! C'mon God! Help me out!

I jest, of course. It's just awesome to be on the list.

Fear not! Voting is still open. (Click on the link to the right!) Maybe we can rally, but I think a concession speech is in order.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be visiting the local colleges and their computer rooms to long onto each terminal and vote for Puzzle Maker's Son.

2011! Here I Come!

2010-12-23T11:30:00.004-05:00

I was cycling through some old posts from this time last year, trying to see if I'm running the risk of repeating myself with this year-end look back. I tend to lean towards the inspirational side of things around this time. Not surprisingly, most of my posts were about The Puzzle Maker's Son and the post production process the project was in at that time. Shows you the kind of year I've had.

So...to recap my 2010...professionally.

The Puzzle Maker's Son premieres to a somewhat mild form of success. It's featured on KoldCast.TV and enjoyed a nice run on Blip.TV. I've met a lot of great people, joined the Writer's Guild of America, East (awesome!), been a part of the WGAE Digital Caucus, had some press (both on-line and in print) done about me and the show, joined the IAWTV and much more that I've probably forgotten. Basically, I accomplished a goal I had set out from the beginnning of the year. Get my name out there. That's exactly what I did.

What I didn't do was shoot anything new. I knew that was going to happen. With getting Puzzle Maker done for it's Spring premiere and promoting the series ever since, not to mention the serious lack of funds for several reasons, putting together another project so soon was not in the cards. That doesn't mean I don't like it, but it's the reality of self-financing and DIY filmmaking.

This only leaves what's to come. 2011! I've got a few goals in mind and I'm sure I'll think up some more as January and February freeze me into my home. Here's a brief list (and you can hold me to it next year at this time)

1. Improve my networking skills.
I'm just okay. I really need to break from the writer's shell and engage more because none of the other goals will ever happen unless #1 does.
2. Continue to get my name out there.
Self-explanatory. Just keep on keeping on.
3. Get representation.
I'm in a door, but not the final door I want to walk through. I'm going to need someone who speaks for me and supports me whether it be management, agent or both.
4. Start Puzzle Maker's Son: Season 2
I need money, Plain and simple. So the goal of starting it is much more plausible than getting on-line by the end of 2011
5. Develop and start production on a second web series
I know you're thinking didn't I just write that I need money. I do. But this production would be geared towards a smaller budget and more grass-roots. And of course, I have one in mind which I'm working on writing the first 12 episodes. (I've got eight)
6. Don't give up
Not this year. Maybe 2012. But not in 2011.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Best Web Drama - Clicker.com

2010-12-17T10:01:00.002-05:00

Best Web Drama Clicker Awards: The Best TV Shows, Movies and Music of 2010

The Puzzle Maker's Son has been recognized by the good people at Clicker.com as one of the Best Dramas on the Web of 2010. But nomination isn't enough! We need to vote. Fight! Win! I jest.

Yes, the old cliche is true. Being nominated is truly the prize here. There were thousands of web series that premiered this past year and if you see the company that The Puzzle Maker's Son is among in this category, it's pretty big coup that the series has been recognized.

Series like Anyone but Me, Dexter: Early Cuts, The Bannen Way and Riese: Kingdom Falling are just a few examples of huge shows in this web world. I'm extremely flattered, honored and humble by the nod and the recognition.

Go to the page and vote for The Puzzle Maker's Son. Here's the blog that announces the nominations. If you notice, we're a scrappy underdog to win. Let's show them how scrappy we are.

To Submit or Not To Submit

2010-12-13T00:02:00.004-05:00

Some guidance is needed here. I've been going back and forth for the past month about whether I should submit The Puzzle Maker's Son into the Webby Awards. Check out the link to see what the awards show is about, but the short of it is the awards recognize standouts in the new media industry.

I want to enter. I really, really want to. It's a no-brainer that I should enter my series. It makes sense. It's logical. It's an absolute must. Mind you, there's no reason to think Puzzle Maker Son will be nominated. I'm not assuming that my web series deserves any kind of award, but like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play.

My problem is there's a fee. A hefty fee to enter my series. $250 to submit and if I'd like to submit the series to any category such as writing or directing, it's $250 each category. (I'd like to submit to writing.) Am I right to be wary? I'm not going to get into my financial specifics and I'm by no means in dire straits like many Americans these days, but I don't exactly have much room to move in terms of my finances. It's really hard for me to look past the fee. I think it's too steep, but can I afford to be this cautious? I should be going for it and maybe this is yet another way I'm practicing self-sabotage.

I just don't know.

Understand that I don't have a problem with the Webby Awards charging the fee. It's their policy and I get it. They need to make their money. No qualms with that, but it's still a lot of money and it maybe too much for me to pull the trigger.

Decisions, decisions.

UPDATE! (12-14-10)

I entered the series. And I was wrong about the price. It was higher! Cross those fingers, say a prayer, sacrifice a virgin all in the name of The Puzzle Maker's Son.

Time Limit on Scripts?

2010-12-11T23:29:00.002-05:00

How long is too long when it comes to scripts? I've written about six or seven feature length scripts in my short span as a writer. On my ride home from work this evening a song shuffled its way from my iPhone and reminded me of one of my scripts. Maybe Molly I wrote this script four to five years ago. I even shot a scene from it in an attempt to gain interest in the feature. Let's put it this way. If someone asked me which script I'd want to make first and they had the money. It's this script.

But how long can I wait? Is there a time limit on Molly? Would I be able to make the same movie I envisioned years ago when I wrote it? I have another script which absolutely needs a rewrite because of the time sensitive nature of the material. Plus, if I wanted to keep the bad guys in the movie, I would need to set the movie in the early 90s and who has the money for that?

Molly can be in any time period. I just worry that I'll never be able to tell it.

#5 with a bullet!

2010-12-10T13:46:00.003-05:00

This lovely tweet came my way about five minutes ago:

KoldcastTV - Yesterday's Most Popular: 1) @AssistedLiving1 2) Luck and the Virgin 3) @WatchBlueMovies 4) @SpellFury 5) @PuzzleMakersSon

That's right! The Puzzle Maker's Son was the 5th most popular series yesterday on KoldCast. Go to the site and check it out.

Pretty cool stuff. We're coming for you SpellFury! Haha!!!

Ambitious is Not a Bad Word

2010-12-09T08:49:00.005-05:00

I was once told that I was "too ambitious", and at the time, I took that to heart. Maybe shooting for the stars in my writing and directing wasn't the most healthy thing to do. I didn't have the money, time, people, studio backing, etc. I was setting myself up to fail. I was creating impossible scenes that would inevitably get cut or reworked and look nothing like my original vision.

Now. Thinking back. I wish I was more ambitious! I don't think the failure of some of my earlier work is from me shooting for the stars. I believe it's from me not working hard enough to get as close to those ambitions as possible. Which is why I was very pleased with how Season One of Puzzle Maker Son turned out. I didn't compromise my vision. I went for certain goals and I achieved them despite the degree of difficulty.

This winter, I'm going to be shooting a short film. I haven't the piece yet, but I know what I want to do. I know how I want it to look and feel. I'm aiming for something far greater than anything in Puzzle Maker Son: Season One.

Damn straight, if that's being "too ambitious".

Local Article

2010-12-05T10:46:00.003-05:00

I had the great opportunity to speak with Connecticut Post reporter, Brittany Lyte, about all things new media and what do you know...the article is in the paper this Sunday morning. I'm only a small part of it. My fellow new media filmmakers are featured as well.

Here's a link to it on-line: Filmmakers Create Homemade TV on the Web

Enjoy!

Hibernate to Write

2010-12-03T10:50:00.004-05:00

Ah...winter is fast approaching. My most hated season of the year. It's cold. It's snowy, which I have to shovel! It's dark. Dreary. I can't stand winter. Yes, it starts off nice with the holidays, but by the time March rolls around, I'm aching for some warmth. Those reading this from year-round warmer climates - I hate you and I'm a little jealous.

But winter does force me to write. I find it much easier to shut in for the season and focus on writing. Scripts, short and long, either get started during the winter season or they get rewritten and improved...hopefully.

This winter will be a different in that I'll also be shooting a short film and starting off the fund raising for season of Puzzle Maker's Son, which I seem to keep repeating. My apologies. But I'll also be focusing on one script. A story set in 1938 which tells the fictional tale of a giant monster that terrorizes a small island town off the coast of New England. I have no title for it. I know it needs work and other sets of eyes to catch anything I'm missing. Too close to the material is the point I am at right now. If interested, let me know. I'm happy to share my baby. It needs the work.

Then, of course, I had to go and make a commitment to an older project of mine. Last year or the year before (I'm not sure), I wrote a book based on a screenplay I had written and then turned that into a web series, but ultimately decided a book would be the better format. I'm referring to Adam Parker and the Radioactive Boy Scout. Imagine Encyclopedia Brown all grown up, except he doesn't like being as detective. (I actually wrote a short story called Adam Parker and the Snowy Stakeout which is also available for a quick read. Again, if you're interested) The goal for the book is 60,000 words. I'm around 56K and the third act needs more fleshing out.

So...bring it on winter! I've got a book to finish!

Self-Promoting Phony

2010-11-29T22:53:00.004-05:00

When is promotion too much? I have a very hard time juggling the amount of self-promoting I must do with the web series and my work. I get so tired of talking about myself and my work. It's not because I don't like talking to people, but I just feel phony. I hate it. I don't want to sit around and pontificate about how The Puzzle Maker's Son has been well received this past year. Honestly, I'd rather be working. I'm sure everyone would, but there are those out there that enjoy talking and talking. Those would be producers in the making and I'd love them to produce my work because they would do a far, far better job than I could ever do. Alas, I'm not that type of person.

This has lead me to grow tired of social media. It's all self-promotion. People talking about their own stuff and not really, truly caring about your work. Fact of life. And really, if we were at some kind of holiday party with all of us in the same room, it would be the same damn thing. People talking to talk. Yes, networking is a vital part of the business...of any business. Doesn't mean I can't complain about it.

By the way, check out The Puzzle Maker's Son and vote for it at the Mingle Media New Media Film Festival.

Hypocrite, thy name is Michael.

3 Thumbs Down!

2010-11-28T09:57:00.003-05:00

By now you know The Puzzle Maker's Son has been entered in the Mingle Media New Media Film Festival. I've been groveling for votes for quite some time now and perhaps, I've created some enemies.

3 votes. 3 thumbs down votes for Puzzle Maker's Son. I don't understand. Could it be because because of my previous blog post. Did I ruffle feathers and cause unrest in the world? I'll always defend that post. While it's great that we're all for one and one for all, sometimes a chip on the shoulder is what we need to keep moving forward. Maybe I'll be some one's chip now.

Maybe it's other creators in the film festival just slamming everyone else. Perhaps. I guess I can understand that. It's the same principle with Trigger Street. I would have a few short movies up there and then the occasional crappy review would come along or negative grade. It's a part of dealing with this subjective media and the anonymity of on-line.

I'm just bummed about it, is all. Oh well. Can't make everyone happy. Just keep working hard and good things will come.

An Open Letter to the Haters

2010-11-26T14:06:00.006-05:00

Editor's Note: I debated a full two days whether to write this out. It may or may not cast me in a dim light, but I am a writer and writing is what I do. Besides this is a blog. The whole point is to connect and share with others. Even if it's slightly not as gracious as those who know better. Enjoy!

Listen. Normally, I ignore you. Maybe I'll tuck something you've said away and let it sit with me. Eroding my confidence day by day like running water seems to do on anything.

But today. Right now, I choose to respond. I choose to acknowledge every hate-filled thing you've said about me. Every snide remark made at my expense. All those jokes about my lack of talent. Anything and everything you've ever said against my choice to be a writer/director, I simply say: Thank you.

Your insults are the fuel that keeps this fire inside of me burning bright. I know, I know. You're shaking your head and laughing as you read this, thinking that "You still suck, Field." Maybe. Maybe. But what have you done? When have you ever put your neck on the line for something you love? See it's not that I don't like hearing you slander me, it's that I can't stand the stink of jealously that permeates everything you say about me. You embarrass yourself and inspire me at the same time. I'm supposed to be magnanimous and ignore you, but sometimes I just feel like stooping to your level.

Like my good friend always says, if you want to be a movie critic then try making a movie first. Understand what it takes to do what I do before telling everyone around you that I'm no good. I'm speaking of no one or someone in particular. People I've never met or I've yet to meet or even those I've passed along the way. It doesn't matter.

I'm not as good as other creative types. They keep quiet and go about their business. Logging each negative remark as they move along. Maybe one late night, they'll dip into a small depression cycle and those negatives will pop up, but otherwise ignorance is what's practiced by those who create. It's what I practice...most of the time. But...but...but, sometimes I succumb to the inner, angry man that needs to stoop to the level of the haters. It's petty and not popular. It does nothing but make me feel better about myself. I'm ashamed to unleash my anger, but I still do it. A flawed, proud man am I and if I don't write it out, I may take it out on an unsuspecting cashier from Target, although the workers at my nearby store have been doing their best to provoke a verbal assault from me.

Finally, to the haters out there, keep on telling everyone that I'm no good, not as talented, lucky to be where I am, ungrateful to those who've helped me, going to be turned away by those in power, just going to fail miserably.

Keep doubting me. I can always use the kindling.

Happy Turkey Day!

2010-11-24T08:37:00.005-05:00

Happy Turkey Day!

I'm thankful for many, many things in my life. My beautiful daughters, my super great wife, family and friends (old, new and those to come), opportunities, my health (even though my shoulder is killing me!) and the fact I've managed to outlast this self-loathing, self-pitying depression I lugged around my neck like a medallion for years and used as an excuse to not get off my ass and start working towards my dream and goal. I'm thankful I woke up.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Web Series Ideas: Let's Share

2010-11-23T17:50:00.004-05:00

Is that a bad thing? To have great...seemingly great...well, I think they're great ideas floating around in your head. If anything, it's making me want to purchase a camera an editing computer big time. But, alas, I've no money for that. Which leads me to seeking out items in my house that I do not wish to own anymore. I'm looking at you DVDs and my large amount of poster tubes with posters dating back to the early 90s.

Is there a market for these items? Please, make that so!

Since I've earmarked the beginning of 2011 as my official start point for fund raising for Season Two of The Puzzle Maker's Son, I have the time now to write and shoot these small pieces. In fact, I've already written several scripts. And I'm going to need the previously mentioned camera and editing computer to help with my season two pitch-fest, I might as well go out and buy them!

Brilliant! I've talked myself into buying the equipment before this blog post is even finished.

Back to the idea logjam that currently resides in my noggin. I've been kicking around a small web series about manners and the lack thereof manners throughout the land. Such as:

How many times do I need to have a door close on me by some selfish prick who's in a rush to order a Frontega Chicken from Panera Bread and not say something about it?
Why did we stop standing at a dinner table every time a lady came and went? That's still considered polite, right?
Saying 'You're Welcome" instead of "Uh-Huh"?
Making eye contact?
Shaking hands firmly?

My other idea has more to do with my workplace and my tenuous relationships with customers who deem themselves more important than others and therefore must be made an example of to show that there is humor in mean people.

So those are my two ideas, along with Puzzle Maker's Son Season Two, two web series collaborations and hopefully more to come, I'm setting myself up to be a busy man. Perhaps I risk someone stealing my ideas and honestly, I'm really regretting writing out what I'm thinking, but for the sake of true community in web series world, for the sake of making ourselves better by sharing ideas, for the simple reality that I probably cannot do these all by myself, I choose to share my ideas.

I don't want to go to meet-ups and networking events and talk about my own stuff. I want to talk about projects that everyone is involved with. I want to work on projects where we're all in it together. (I have a vision of Puzzle Maker's Son having multiple directors) Shouldn't we be finding projects to work on together rather than trying to push our own personal agendas? I've done The Puzzle Maker's Son. Consider that my personal project. I'm ready for more. I'm ready to grow.

In a way, sharing my ideas is me putting my neck out there and hoping I don't see one of these pop up 6 months from now on Blip by some dude in Canada.

A Thought from an Agitated Creator

2010-11-18T08:40:00.004-05:00

I am at the point in my project creation phase, for which there are multiple projects, where I become antsy and agitated. I grow tired of writing and talking, tweeting and updating my facebook status, meeting and greeting. I just want to make something. Then I realize the money, the time, the people and everything else is just not there and thus, the agitation grows.

This is probably why networking is my least favorite part of the business. Not the actual meeting and greeting people. I love talking shop with my fellow writers, directors, producers, film buffs, etc, etc. It's invigorating and exciting and it makes me want to make something. And we're back to the agitation. See the cycle I'm currently in right now.

The only real cure for it is focusing on my writing...er, I mean money! Yeah..loads and loads of money.

While that would be lovely, it really is the writing that cures those agitation ails. Rewriting Season Two of Puzzle Maker's Son helps. Outlining two new web series helps. Even revisiting my 75% completed novella helps. (Adam Parker and The Radioactive Boy Scout)

Always Be Writing.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this agitated state of wanting-to-make-something-and-not-talk-about-making-something. Another similarity we can celebrate over coffee. Now you know you have a kindred spirit in your anger.

Welcome...again.

2010-11-07T09:38:00.003-05:00

If this is your first time, then welcome to the Up on the Roof LLC blog and website. You may have gravitated towards the site because of the web series, The Puzzle Maker's Son. But please stay and check out what I had been doing before I ever wrote the first words of the web series. There are some samples on the Past Projects page for your viewing pleasure. The one thing I take from watching my older projects is the growth of the storytelling. (Hopefully?)

If you have been visiting the site when it was my ramblings about anything to do with what I do, well then we've got a new name, a new website (upontheroofllc.com) and the same old ramblings. I'm so happy with myself for finally figuring out how to add pages to the blog. Yeah, it's pretty sad.

Some of you may have visited my personal website (mdfieldonline.com) and I hope you liked it because it will be no more. It was fun, but this blog should suffice for my needs right now.

So welcome again. Enjoy! And I know I've written this before and I'll write it again. I promise to update more frequently.

New Title: Same Stuff

2010-11-04T09:41:00.003-04:00

You might notice, I've changed the title of the blog. Up on the Roof LLC is my company where The Puzzle Maker's Son was produced. I've been trying for weeks to figure out a way to centralize everything and this seems the best and easiest and cheapest way to do it.

You'll notice pages and links appearing at the top of the blog. I'm hoping to get my videos and other samples of my work on the blog so it's one stop shopping, so to speak.

Bear with me. I promise I'll get there.

Filmmaker Thoughts: Executing the Choice

2010-10-08T23:35:00.009-04:00

Writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, production designers, and much more all make choices on how to best tell a story. Unless they make an uninformed, random choice or they commit a crime with their choice, there's really nothing one should say about how terrible that choice becomes.

It's all about the execution of that choice.

In the web series and independent cinema world, the choices should be dictated by the budget. A lot of times, they are not and what you have on screen is not the execution of that choice, but rather the compromised solutions. Yes, it would be cool to have a shoot-out action scene across a bridge with explosions, but you're not shooting on a True Lies budget. Your final product will be dry-ice smoke and sound effects, while your leading man shoots a plastic water gun with the orange stopper on the barrel at off-screen bad guys, because you didn't get enough people to come to your shoot. Oh...and they're wearing polo shirts and dockers, not the Armani suits you envisioned your European thugs would be wearing.

Don't misunderstand me. I've made these compromises. I've sat in front of the editing computer cursing myself because I wanted one thing and settled for another. I've learned from these mistakes. I don't want to make them again. That doesn't mean I write to a budget. I write ambitiously. I aim for the stars. I want those explosions. I want those chase scenes. I want it all! If it happens that our budget is less than expected, I re-write. I don't adjust or compromise. I change it completely, not on set, but in the script.

I've also been on the other side of making a choice and executing it correctly and still, it was no good. When we made Save the Forest, we made the choice to emulate the 80s comedies we grew up loving. We wanted to use the camera techniques and style for that real Meatballs or Porky's feel. Of course, that feel is a lot of standard two-shots and once in the editing room, we realized that our movie was bland. We had very little camera movement and we hated that. But we made that choice. We executed that choice. Unfortunately. it was a choice to copy a camera style that had very little cinematic value. But it was still our choice. I stand by it. I learned by it. It's made everything I've done since then that much better because I know what I want.

Make informed choices. Execute those choices. People may not like you final product, but when they ask you why you chose to have your leading man act like a clown throughout the entire drama about his mother's death, your answer won't be, "Because it's funny."

The Lost Art of Collaboration

2010-10-04T08:55:00.002-04:00

The very first thing I ever wrote was for someone else. My girlfriend, at the time, was in a creative writing class in high school and she needed a story written as an assignment. She didn't want to do it and because I was a teenage boy with a girlfriend, I pretty much did whatever the girlfriend asked of me. What came out of that was a 20-something page short story mystery and the first inkling of what I wanted to do with my life. The second thing I wrote didn't happen until two or three years later and that was the terrible homage screenplay (and later movie) called The Usher, which will never see the light of day, so don't ask.

The short story was my own piece. The Usher was a joint effort with my best friend, Adrian Correia. (Side Note: Adrian directed this movie and I never let him forget it. So the completed work cannot be blamed on me. The terrible acting can absolutely be blamed on me because I am awful.) The difference in bringing both those stories to completion was the enjoyment factor.

I loved writing the short story, but it was just me. Me and the page. (No computer back then. All hand-written) It was lonely. It was solitary confinement of my imagination. I had no one to bounce ideas off. I had no one to talk about the story. At times, it was a struggle to complete the piece of work. The screenplay was different. I had meetings with Adrian. I talked about story and scenes with several friends. We bounced ideas off each other. No doubt, the experience of working on the story with others is probably why I turned to writing screenplays over novels and short stories. (It does help that I love movies)

And there it is. Collaboration. The word that everyone talks about, but very few actually demonstrate. The word that people will use to get you to read their screenplay, but never return the favor. The word that directors and producers will use to get you to work on their movie and suddenly become busy when it's your turn to produce something. I've never collaborated on a screenplay since The Usher until now.

Currently, I'm collaborating on three projects. Two web series and one short film. I missed it. I missed developing the universe of the story. I missed talking about characters and story with someone else who is truly involved in that world. It's one thing to hit the bar and network, trying to explain your story to someone who has no knowledge of the world you created and it's quite another thing to meet up with your collaborator and talk shop. You're in it together. You both have a stake in it and you both are trying to inspire, promote and build up each others work. How can that be a bad thing? (Unless you're doing it wrong)

My Night: To Work or Network

2010-09-24T13:12:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I posted about my upcoming trip to NYC to have a piece of my feature/web series, Maybe Molly, read and critiqued by a writer's group sponsored by The International Academy of Web Television. This was primarily for web writers, by web writers and others from the web industry.

It went well. The script was received well, I thought. A few comments helped me more with how I would shape the script into the web series format. This was a feature I chopped up, but I knew it would need more than just finding beats to make it web ready. So I was happy about the feedback of possible avenues to take to aid in that endeavor.

I was not happy about having to stifle cough after cough throughout the night. Dear Lord. I don't mind colds, but when they start screwing with me I get annoyed. Being sick is a state of mind. It happens. I accept that. The sickness needs to accept that I must continue with life. You got what you wanted cold germs! You've found a host. Take what you need and leave!

Later that night, I was able to rub elbows with fellow web folk and while my voice left me, I enjoyed listening to several conversations about the web. I've said before that I'm a newbie in terms of navigating through the web to promote myself and the show. But honestly it comes down to relationships, as a friend of mine reiterated to me that night. Like anything, no one will help you if they don't know you.

I completely agree and sign up for that, but the creator in me despises sitting around and talking about my show. It just fuels my desire to continue the work. I hate that I'm not writing. I hate that I'm not building my next project. The hunger to do this full time is probably what drives to that feeling. It's a tough balancing act of work and network. One I struggle with at times and I'm sure I'm not alone. I always feel that those you love to network should become full-time producers. That's their calling. Promoting and putting people together. It's what they're born to do and they do it well. The ones who would rather sit around and talk story and writing, like me. Let's just stay creators.

I need to find me a producer.

Writer's Workshop

2010-09-23T08:24:00.005-04:00

Well, hey there!

I will be in NYC this evening for a writer's workshop sponsored by The International Academy of Web Television.

Why, you may ask? Well...several actors, writers and others will gather to read samples and works of web series in various stages of development and I'm one of those writers having their work performed in a cold read.

I was going to bring an episode from The Puzzle Maker's Son: Season 2 (I'm thinking about having a second title for this season. Not sure yet), but the four episodes I've written have little pieces of dialogue strung together. Not really conducive to the night's intent, I think. A byproduct of writing something more action based (in theory), I suppose.

No worries though. As with most of my feature scripts, I break them up into a web series format because you never know! One such script titled Maybe Molly got the web series treatment. Molly tells the story of Molly and Terry, two twenty-somethings who find each other but must first divorce themselves from the roles their respective circles of friends have labeled them with. It's a script with plenty of dialogue and a story I wish I could put onto screen, no matter the format.

Still from the Maybe Molly scene I shot a while back.

For the reading, I'm bringing Episode 10: The Party (Part 2). This is the point in the story where the obstacle of our two main characters becomes to big for them to overcome...for right now. If you go to My Website and view the Maybe Molly scene, I actually shot a scene in the beginning where the two characters meet. So the scene I'm bringing tonight, effectively tears them apart.

Should be fun!

Required Viewing

2010-09-16T14:03:00.002-04:00

I posted a question on my twitter, which then automatically posted to my facebook and the response was phenomenally...bad. So maybe I can get it started here. Here's the long version.

Remember when you would walk into that High School English class (AP for some...ahem!) and the teacher would pass out the syllabus? Usually there would be a list of books that were required reading. Typically, they were classics mixed in with some modern classics (if you allow that term). Now imagine the world of Web Series, webisodes, Internet entertainment, whatever you want to call it is one big English class. You open up your browser and someone has emailed you a syllabus for your web series viewing.

Which series should be considered your required reading, or in this case, viewing?

This comes from me watching the entire series of The Guild over the past five days. I'm not saying that the series is one of those required viewings, but it is one of the few I consistently hear and know about for good reason.

So? Let's hear it.

Clicker.com interview

2010-09-03T00:30:00.004-04:00

Michael Field interview

Please check out my interview with the good guys and gals over at clicker.com. And after you read it, stay to watch a show or two.

If you'd like to to check out Clicker.com. Here you go:

Watch Web Series Online

Summer Camp (Smores included)

2010-08-28T20:24:00.003-04:00

Just got back from the WGAE Web Series Summer Camp that took place at the WGAE new office space in NYC. I. Am. Tired. Going to bed late and getting up early is starting to disagree with this 35 year old body of mine. Damn you Father Time!

It was great. I saw some familiar faces. I met some new people. Passed a few cards out. Yes, I did the networking thing, but that's not really why I enjoyed the event. I'm fairly new to new media and I realized today that I entered into this world backwards. I never thought about what happens after I shoot and edit my series. I just went out and made The Puzzle Maker's Son. I did the promotion. I spread the word and I hoped for the best.

The best already happened as I'm now a member of the WGA and, as I said, I've met some great people. All more well informed than myself in how I can monetize my content. I'm trying desperately to soak it all in and I'm hoping to find either a new project or relaunch The Puzzle Maker's Son to capitalize on this new knowledge. But I'm still some ways of from taking that dip into the monetization (this is not a word, but I don't care) pool.

I also proctored a workshop where we talked about putting together a web series. The nuts and bolts of production. I hoped to share my experiences and maybe alleviate some mysteries about shooting a web series. Besides my extreme sweating, it went well. Mr. Correia helped out with camera questions and his experience as a cinematographer and even I learned a thing or two.

Ultimately, it's going to come down to community when we're talking about new media. Everyone talks about the wild west feeling of the internet and how there's no business model, but that's going to change. When? Who knows? This event, where people are learning and sharing and not just networking and passing out cards, needs to happen more and more. Connections need to be made and kept strong. Once the wild west is tamed and civilized, the new media community will be there stronger, more powerful and ready to pounce.

I'm going to pass out now.