My Heart on My Sleeve -

My words on the page. The following is a poem I penned very early this morning after these thoughts and feelings had been brewing my head for sometime.

Light up the Darkness

Johnny Boy took a gat to his head.
Does anybody care?


The tears run dry but the blood still flows.


From the hearts and wrists of those who are broken.
Does anybody care?

Families ripped apart, lives shattered by deeds done in darkness.


They wander, so lost in their own fear.
Their own worst enemy. Alone.

Does anybody care? Anybody?


Care enough to step out, take a hand, say a prayer, offer comfort? 
Be a friend.


They stand on the edge of that bridge, or that knife, or that gun or those pills.

Really, does anybody care?


I know you do. We have to care. We cannot let this hope of living life simply be our own. Share it. Light up the Darkness.

There is always hope.
There is always a way out.
Everyone needs a hero.


Be one today.

- Mahogany J. Slide  (8/10/10)

S. Mattheus Sessions...WHAT?

Some of you have asked me "What in the world are The S. Mattheus Sessions anyhow?"

All the answers are here in the vlog below including why I decided to let go of my control freakness and allow both my actors to totally improv everything, basically ZERO SCRIPTING.

Look for Session 1's release this Friday at 4 PM EST. :D

Sneak Peek FTW!

Just to whet your guys' appetites a bit, here's a clip from the upcoming weekend ONLY release of the "S. Mattheus Sessions" a series of entirely improved therapy sessions recorded a two months before Production.

Stephanie of course rocks the role of Skye Mattheus incarcerated in Juvenile Detention for drug abuse and  always willing to bail out her Director who can't keep a straight face playing opposite her female lead, the lovely Apryl Mitchell Snyder took on the part of the therapist.

Enjoy!

We Made a Movie Yo! (The Pick Ups Edition)

It was raining cats and dogs and there were old people playing bingo. So went Pick Ups for THE SAVING principle photopgraphy.  The theme of the day could be summed up in three words. Rain. Blood. Wootness.

Myself and a skeleton crew tramped out yesterday afternoon to a secluded park to bang out what Steph dubbed "my death awesomeness." After its all said and done, ya it was pretty awesome and really really really surreal. But I kinda getting used to that.

Lesssons Learned

1. MJ really needs to check the weather forecast more often.

2. Everyone should know someone like the Brennen family. Talented Much? Thanks again Memory!

3. 7 people standing out in the falling rain with fake blood galore and some random girl sprawled out on the sidewalk contorted into a very awkward very dead looking position will most assuredly get some eyebrow raises. Much to the amusement of a certain 17 year old Director.

4. Stephanie is quite the trooper. There are few things she won't and hasn't done for this film. Now she can check lying on the freezing cold cement, drenched in rain in 55 degree weather with nothing but a t-shirt and jeans on, covered in blood off her list. Now we just need to set her on fire. I kid Steph...sorta :D

5. Umbrella Man Number 4 needs to be tagged on Facebook ASAP.

6. Sushi. Need I say more?

Indie Mathematics

Hard work + Awesome Crew/Cast = Uber cool Day 3 Principles Vlog = Even Cooler OFFICIAL TRAILER!


Now this is the type of arithmetic I can get behind :D




 THE SAVING OFFICIAL FILM TRAILER



The Saving, Trailer 2.0 from Rebecca Davis on Vimeo.

We made a a Movie Yo! (Part Three)

THE SAVING 

PRINCIPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

DAY 3

Sunday September 13th, 2010

 OFFICIAL CAST & CREW 

(all those involved in production)

CAST 

Female Lead:  Stephanie Ibboston (Skye Mattheus)
Male Lead: Patrick Hussion (Paul Connel)


CREW

Director/Writer: MJ Slide
Exucutive Producer: Rebecca Davis
Director of Photography: Timi Brennen
Location Manager: Stuart Sabin
Sound Techie: Mike "Beast" Brennen  
Boom Mic Operator: Bridgett "The Maid of Awesome" Brennen 
Costume Designer: Apryl Mitchell-Snyder 
Make Up/Hair: Carice Alexander 
First Production Assistant & Script Supervisor: Katherine Payne 
Production Photographer: Anna Moseley  
Production Assistants: Sarah Belknap & Destry Edwards 

Lessons Learned

1. One can function on only 3 shots of espresso from 6:30 in the morning till 2:45 in the afternoon. Is it advised? Absolutely not.


2. Never, never, never give up.  But if all else fails, bring in a mattress.


3. Indie filmmakers have to be some of the most resourceful people out there. We gotta be, cause heck, we're all broke. :D


4. I really should either get a new pair of shoes I'm totally in love with or get used to going bare foot.  (moment of silence for my deceased Mions)


5. Its not the equipment that makes a film.  Its those "random" moments when the sun breaks out from behind the clouds, flooding a parking garage rooftop with gorgeous amounts of light and your male and female leads knock your directing socks off with how perfectly they capture their characters and all you can do is stand there with your jaw hanging opened until your DP harshly whispers "Call cut!" Ya, thats what its about. (yes i know that was totally a run-on sentence)


6. Making movies is hard work. Now...when to I get to do it again?


INT. PARKING GARAGE - MORNING

Told you.

"Being at work and not getting a single text or call about the set blowing up. Feeling good that the crew had it together."
- Rebecca Davis (Producer & Editor)

People thought we were tailgating in the parking garage.

I'm wearing shoes. Enjoy the sight while you can.

EXT. ALLEY WAY - DAY

This alley is gonna end up in another one of my films.

Stephanie: You brought your sword?

MJ: Of course I brought my sword. I am Film Warrior! *best samurai pose* Now hold this for me, I gotta go make a movie.

She actually didn't really like that sword.

EXT. PARKING GARAGE - ALL FRAKKING DAY

 
"I had a TON of favorite moments.....but I'll go with the entire last day at the parking garage. I can't think of a better way to spend my time than with like-minded, creative friends shooting a movie. THE SAVING became an action film for an afternoon as we were running, jumping and running some more....VERY exciting!! I actually didn't mind that my feet were killing me about half-way through the day in those oxford shoes! It was an all-around GREAT three days and I'll never forget it!" - Patrick Hussion (Paul Connel) 

Crew and Cast...oh ya and that really big building in the BG

"(Being on THE SAVING set was) The best experience I've ever had on a set due to the camaraderie and everyone's willingness to help out!" - Bridgett Brennen (Boom Pole Operator)

I heart Mr. Mike.

Catch Phrase of the Day: 

"One more for safety." *groan*

"I'll go for the sword, you nab the bullhorn."

Timi and Mike Brennen

"I loved getting to know everyone on set and
hanging out with the cast!" - Anna Moseley (Production Photographer)

It was nutty hot outside. "Hydrate Woman!"

 

Leave it to the Costume Designer

 



"The great cooperation of the crew and the awesome visual impact of the parking garage scenes really stand out in my mind." - Apryl Mitchell-Snyder (Costume Designer)

 

Uh hu, you know it.

I love this shot and I don't even like converse.

Timi & I make a GREAT team. I thought you should know.

"My favorite moment was every time the Boss (MJ) lit up like a gasoline soaked tire after seeing the footage bring her story to life" - Timi Brennen (Director of Photography)

WATER BREAK!

Action Sequence FTW

"My favorite moment was when Stephanie popped up behind the wall with a big smile after jumping to her doom" - Mike Brennen (Sound Techie)













EXT. RAILROAD TRACKS - DUSK 
 

MJ: Oh look! Shoes are back on.

MJ:  Wait, I hear a train. Where's the train?

Timi: Its a Ghost train, see, more symbolism.

IN CONCLUSION:  We went Guerilla. We ran around like crazy people. We ate subs. We killed Stephanie 23 times. All and all...WE MADE A MOVIE YO!

Nuff said.

We Made A Movie Yo! (Part Two)

THE SAVING

PRINCIPLE PHOTOGRAPHY 

DAY 2

Saturday September 11th, 2010

Lessons Learned

1. THE SAVING runs on Dunkin...ok more like Krispy Kreme but you get the idea.

2. Always slate every take (shot). Even if you have to dig through the back of a Hummer to find the dang clapperboard, DO SO! Your editor will love you forever. Unlike mine heehee 

3.  Situations are only as awkward as you allow them to be. After that, it just gets funny.

4.  I finally understand what the phrase "punch drunk" means (slaphappy with exhaustion)

5. To me, when it comes to filmmaking its very hard to over-communicate. If it feels like overkill then you're probably doing your job well. 

Cool fruit place...yep yep.

I came, I saw, I jibbed.

Don't ask.

If this isn't DIY I don't know what is.

Catch Phrase of the day: "We went to to the moon. Can't we just CGI a scarf on?" - Stephanie















IN CONCLUSION:  
We ate donuts. We shot Interiors. We learned a lot. We had wacky fun. Again, Mission Accomplished.

Day 3 here we come!