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Friday, March 6th, 2009
A very interesting day today. We were shooting in the back parking lot area on the sidewalk outside Glen Cove City Hall and we're doing some test audio for the film, "Mr. Mullen" where Kelly's character is preaching about corrupt government and corporate media - freedom of speech since we live in such a "free society", right? At the time, we didn't know, but this dialogue caught the attention of an elderly women who had told someone inside that we were making noise, and someone had come out, obviously security and said, "You know you need a permit to film here right?" and so in order to get more media for the film (still photographs) I told Jennifer (still photographer) to go inside and get the permits. While they proceeded inside, I took more pictures of Kelly preaching as he did it silently rather than out loud. We finish out set of photographs and Jen comes out this woman and Jen had seemed shaken up. The man inside who was nice to us had berated her and yelled at her as he questioned her, which was uncalled for. I went into City Hall to the 3rd floor to obtain permits shortly thereafter as I followed the women inside (whom was a very nice woman and respectful to us) and had found out when going back to Jen and Kelly that in order for a permit, you need $1 million of liability insurance (which costs a few hundred) as well as $200 to take still photographs for the day and $1,000 to shoot motion pictures. Yet, there were five kids skateboarding in right in front of City Hall who could have broken their ankles and gotten injured more so than we could have since we had set up a tripod and microphone. The most ridiculous thing was that a no budget filmmaker with no money or no budget has to pay over a $1,000 a day to shoot in the City of Glen Cove. This baffles me. This needs to change, especially when you have a an actor, still photographer and film shoot pick up that will not take longer than five minutes to shoot. Ridiculous.


Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Yesterday we shot some scenes with Robert Youngren and Liz Sales. We shot a sequence with Robert Youngren in front of City Hall in Glen Cove, did some audio with both Liz and Robert and am looking forward to Tuesday to get more audio with Chris Margaritis. I'm focusing on the character of Mr. Mullen now that we are done with Chris' visual scenes, although there are some pick up shots we may get within the next week. I'm usually in the shower or driving and then an idea pops into my head or a sequence, and it hasn't happened a lot up until Mr. Mullen started production. There were many times when I just wanted to get the film out there because I didn't like the feeling of unfinished work. For weeks the footage and edits would sit on my computer and very slowly the story would evolve. We had started the film from a scene that was a pretty big deal at the time, but was cut down to no more than 5 shots for that scene due to SAG / Union complications with the actress involved. So the whole story was intact but the role of the actress was cut down and the process of the film was not something that was usually done
Things have been going well. The story is rounding out and is nearing completion and hopefully will have a final edit soon. Mark has composed some music for the beginning and I'm excited to be working a film that touches on the economic situation as well as the human emotion. I'm hoping to get it out and online by early May. I was hoping April but there is really no rush since I think art shouldn't be rushed (unless you're experimenting and want to rush something to do it on purpose, which is not the case here).

And a very important note. If you're making films, that's it. You're living the dream. You're living the dream, but you'd just not getting paid or funded. The issue here with what we do is that I make the money from working on video gigs, and then I put it towards a film and films that I want to make that I feel can educate, entertain and move people. Funding would be nice, but I'm not expecting anyone to come knocking on my door wanting to hire me. I'm just going to continue to make the art and make films and subjects that are true and close to my heart. If you're a filmmaker and you're sick of these badly produced horror remakes that are being pumped out by studios, then YOU must be the change. We can boycott all we want with these films but they're going to be made and there's nothing we can do about it other than counteract it with out own art and lead by example. There is no other way.


Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
We will be posting brand new content in the next week or so that includes some sample footage (interview with Paul Kratka, The Forest Hills scene, The Day They Came Back scene) from the feature length documentary, "In Production" which is currently shooting, as well as some commentary tracks to "Loss of Hope", teaser trailer for "Mr. Mullen" and more to come within the upcoming weeks. It will also be on the DVD we will be selling both online and at Fangoria Weekend of Horror's Convention in June 2009 in New York City.

Edited some new scenes into "Mr. Mullen" yesterday and will be doing some more edits soon. I've been looking at basically the same edits or similar edits to what was started in November and I'm trying to "spice it up" meaning I've seen the clips so many times that when I see it, I've lost knowing what it's like for someone who has not seen it yet. But I think that's pretty much a natural process, especially when you're editing the film yourself. I'm hoping to have the final cut for Mark Nadolski within the next two weeks.


Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
First time working with Kelly Karavites, an awesome talented actor/artist from the New York City area. Picked him up from the Locust Valley Train Station a little after Noon and about an hour of audio for the "Radio Caller" and "Megaphone" segments in "Mr. Mullen". Chris arrived at 3:25 and after he got ready we drove over to the Locust Valley Train Station to shoot the scene that Chris and Kelly were in. We were scheduled to shoot it earlier and shoot Chris only in the sequence by the train, but due to heavy winds we decided to hold off until Chris came to Glen Cove from his job so that we can get it all during the same time. After Kelly hopped onto the 4:30 train, we shot for another 15 to 20 minutes on the train platform as big flakes of snow came down. Might do a split screen sequence during one of the shots. Few more days of shooting "Mr. Mullen" and then we will be moving on heavily into "The Project".


Friday, February 13th, 2009

Might shoot a scene today with Chris if the weather permits. I'm project at the most, three more days of shooting with Chris and then he's wrapped for "Mr. Mullen". Still have to get some audio with Robert Youngren and Liz Sales that would help some of the edits. Been starting work on some cool little segments for the site. Some of them are scenes from upcoming films while other segments are interviews.

Had to purchase a used camera with less hours than my camera had, which was over 800 hours. The new one has 62 hours and I find that every camera is different and have a different feel and soul to it. The one I bought off Craigslist was rarely ever used and I can tell a huge difference between my 800 hour camera and the newer one. The sharpess of the LCD Screen, the image quality, so I feel that sine the plans to shoot on digital for the next two years until we have a budget to shoot on the RED is a good choice and was a good buy since the 800 hour camera was on it's way out. Another reason was an issue that couldn't be fixed with the camera. Audio drop outs and glitches in it so I feel it was a good investment to get a new camera and to continue making some important art that has a message.


Sunday, February 8th, 2009
Posted the "Mr. Mullen" trailer online on BetterStream.com, VeOh.com and OpenFilm.com. Good to have them up and into the public eye. The only issue I am having with it are some problems with the video in the file and how some of it "jitters". Trying to find a setting or way to get it to look the same as it does when it's not exported or at the very least, near to that quality. The trailer is up in the Media / Video section of the site. Looking to finish up the Principal Photography for the film with Chris by the end of the month and while Mark scores the film, will be rounding up and finishing up the script for "The Project" which I want to jump right into.


Saturday, February 7th, 2009
Finished up the "Mr. Mullen" teaser trailer. I'm pretty much happy about it and excited to put it online and let it run it's course. There was also a decision tonight while going over some topics to record for Mr. Mullen (Martial Law, FEMA Concentration Camps, RFID Chips) to start "The Project" up again. We shot the film back in October 2008 and it was never finished because of an issue with the DVX100B camera we were shooting on. We took a break from shooting for the late month of December. Then in the second week of November we started "Mr. Mullen".
I feel right now is the right time to make "The Project" after being able to research more on the topics that interest me. I had written a shorter version of "The Project" back in the first week of November but got frustrated. Chris kept on hinting that he wanted to do the film and he kept on dropping hints. One day he came to the shoot and started busting my chops by reading from the script and showing me his "movie book" binder and it was a shame that the film never got finished because it was a nice little story that made a statement about certain facts that many people feel are conspiracies.

Was going to shoot 'The Forest Hills" but will hold that til the summer time and get "The Project" done by late Spring hopefully - atleast the outside scenes with Chris at the abandoned complex we'll be shooting at. Might also do some night-shooting with a general and lights. All of this is in the pre-production stages but I have a pretty simple understanding of where I want the film to go since we made the film months ago, but a lot of it has changed so we'll see.


Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Yesterday took a trip into the city to shoot some Wall Street sequences with Chris. It was really thrilling as an artist to be able to use such a big space and to be able to shoot hand-held footage in the city. I do need to make another trip either with Chris or without him (with would be better) to get some tripod shots of people walking. Would be using a tripod so would need to more than likely get a permit as I would need to take the train into the city and wouldn't want to waste the trip by asking to pack up since I do not have a permit.

The shoot went well. We started shooting around noon and got finished by 1 PM. You never know what's going to happen on these guerilla shoots. We had this man come up to us and ask if Chris would be interested in acting in a scene that they were doing for YouTube and we figured since we're both independent filmmakers, why not help each other out. So I filmed them taping the scene with him and Chris and Chris did the scene for them. We also ran into Marcia Kramer, a Political Reporter for Channel 2 News. She asked Chris if he'd like to be interviewed and Chris said, "I'm an actor" and that ruined his chances, ha! But I think it would have been cool as I would have taped them interviewing him. He felt that they wouldn't even air his beliefs, which are similiar to mine with the feeling that he's controlled and doesn't make any decisions for himself - much like the many former Presidents of the United States of America. Surprisingly no Police harrasing or asking us what we were doing. We were pretty much free to shoot around the Federal Reserve bank on Wall Street. In the Summer however there are officers with M-16's there to "protect you". More like to intimidate. I have nothing but respect for officers who want to protect the liberties of the Amiercan people, but when certain officers of the law go over the line, that is when I lose respect for them. The law inforcement today were nothing but calm and cool - and they basically stayed in their cars since it was about 20 degrees outside. The 35mm adapter stopped working at certain points because of the cold weather but we got the shots we needed.


Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Things have been going well. Shot some pick up shots for "Mr. Mullen" yesterday in the snow around noon and then shot some scenes with Dennis Naughton, for a gun exchange scene. Ashley Kagan, long-time friend of mine came out Tuesday to play the role of a teen smoker. We shot some footage in the garage with a 650 watt light on a stand shining down on her with the background dark.

Right now I am planning the next two mid-week full day shoots where Chris has off from work so we may shoot some footage in New York City (all hand-held) and the following week in Westchester. I wanted to wrap up the film by the end of this month, but whenever I go for a drive or have some down time, I get all of these different idea's that I want to put into the film. What was once a 3 to 4 minute short film a month ago, might be a little under 10 minutes in length and that's fine since the film started out as a scene that was built into a short film. There are some interesting idea's I've come up with, especially since the film has a few blackout cut's, I wanted to maybe spice it up with some TV Static Fuzz weirdness mixed in with some
motivational dialogue. Some other idea's as well.


Sunday, January 25th, 2009
Editing has been going well today and I have been adding some sound clips to the timeline that add to the film such as voice-recorder rewinding sounds and some other interesting things. I never usually express my personal beliefs or opinions on such a scale as I am about to because I like to keep a lot of my personal feelings and beliefs out of the view of the public, but I felt this had to be said because it's the truth...atleast to me.

Due to the message being something I believe so strongly in as both an American and filmmaker in general, there are certain parts where I ask myself, "Did we really just say that?" in the sense of feeling really good about the messages in the film and being happy to push that message out into the world.

There is one part in Mr. Mullen where we push the message of how the Federal Reserve prints up money and that causes devaluation of the dollar, and within the film, the scene, the placement of it all, it just feels right as a filmmaker to have that dialogue in the film. I only want to add things that excite me as a filmmaker and to not add any fluff and dialogue or messages that are not important.

I feel this way about a lot of music about today. A lot of bands are making good music, but a lot of the music has no substance of message lyrically. A lot of these bands on the radio and making music today that we hear about and that are put into the spotlight of the public are usually whining about girls, relationships, etc. This is why I really like bands like Rise Against and Anti-Flag.

These subjects about humanity, government, politics, society, love, peace, etc, are something I feel strongly about and it's a relief that before I die, whenever I do, that I got it off my chest by putting it into a film and I feel it actually heals the soul. Now I still need to remember to not get carried away here - a short film that in the reality of the world means nothing to anyone else because one, no one has seen it yet, and two, it's a short film and isn't widely released. And who the fuck am I in this world? A little blip, not even. But my hopes are that people will watch these films, be entertained and that it will inspire other people to make art and for them to push other people to their artistic limits and beyond.
Let's keep moving forward, shall we?


Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Things have been going well with the past few shoots. Been focusing on some of the audio with Mark Nadolski and I feel it's really added some new dimensions to the film. We've been focusing on a few dialogue pieces in the film where he talks about the Federal Reserve, which to my knowledge, is one of the biggest issues as to why the economy is crashing - which is talked about and the reality in the film. Mark states in his recorded audio the effects of the Federal Reserve by printing money out of thin air which creates the devaluation of the dollar. My sincere hope with this film is put information into it that people do not usually hear, to get a different and factual perspective on society, the economy and humanity. I also try to stress that no matter who is elected as President is having their strings pulled since they are puppets and in my opinion great actors and manipulators, especially Barack Hussein Obama. I would support a President who actually cares for the people and not for Big Business and corruption. Ron Paul, who probably a lot of you have not heard of, had some great ideas but the media would have rather focused on Obama and that crook Hillary Clinton since the big media machine would rather think for you. That to me is not true news media. My hope is to try to change the world through films, art and music and to create an entertaining film that has a very strong message, whether it be politically and socially orientated. The only change that will happen that we can control is within us.


Saturday, January 17th, 2o09
Had to cancel flight plans to California and am working on shooting a sequence for "Mr. Mullen" on Sunday as well as a mid-week shoot. We have been working on adding some new sequences and the process of this has been both stressful and interesting as a filmmaker. Shooting things to surround a scene that was shot a month and a half ago has it's ups and downs. A lot of the most recent stuff has been more static as far as tripod shots, where as a lot of the shooting in the first month were mostly hand-helds and very little tripod shots. I guess it's safe to say we are shooting the final pickups of the film. Sent some sound files to Mark Nadolski. He has been awesome in helping with the sound design and putting some of the voices through radio filters and sending them back. Still have to put together the dialouge for the dream sequence that we recorded a few days ago. Letting the dream sequence sitting for a couple of more days til I get back into it. Looking forward to shooting Sunday if everything pans out for then.


Tuesday, January 13th 2009
Shot a sequence with Chris and Cynthia Luk. She is an actress from Long Island and was a pleasure to work with. Took direction very well and we had actually been conversing back and forth since mid-late 2008 so it was good to finally work on a film with her. The sequence today was of her character drunk early in the morning sitting near a bridge calling her friend as Chris, sitting down the hill, listens in on the discussion. This was originally a scene to be put into "The Project" which due to camera issues, we had to scrap, so it was nice to add it into this film and it will fit nicely in the storyline since the message in the scene is that of the youth of today and the society we live in. Also had always envisioned it in a park area but decided to shoot it on Dana's Island which is a section of the town of Glen Cove. The thing about making art is that you have ideas and you envision something in your mind for such a long time and then when it gets down to shooting it, you have to put everything into consideration such as blocking, lighting, noise, sound to whatever may best fit the production and make it the best it can be.


Sunday, January 11th, 2009
Got an e-mail last night with very nice compliments on Loss of Hope by Lori Cardille, who played Sarah in Day of the Dead, my favorite Romero film aside from Dawn of the Dead so that was nice to hear someone who you admire and look up to give positive feedback on the film. Would be nice to work with her on a film soon. The important thing lately has been connecting with people to work with who have similiar ideas and beliefs in what we're trying to achieve with these films. A good friend of mine who I've become close with recently, Dennis, is a really cool and quirky guy. Very knowledgeable of the bailout and government corruption, so it's always good to have someone like that working on the films especially since the films we are working on right now are about that. The most important thing I feel is when people all feel passionate about certain issues that are damaging our country and that are good to expose and get out there while other mainstream films are focusing on romantic comedies and "soft films" is that you have a little community of people who believe strongly about putting a strong message out to the general public to not only teach people about the truths of the world but to also entertain. I feel it's so important now since we have the ability to use digital technology, to use it to our advantage and to not be like the big studios who are looking to just people people in their seats because of remakes. It's a business and unfortunately the business wants to push non artistic ideas and films such as remakes of nearly all the horror films that have been made that people can recognize the names to (ie: Friday the 13th, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre). But as I've said it's a business and that's the business end. With that said, we as filmmakers funding out of own pockets DO NOT have to abide by that rule. It's important to find like minded people who care about one another and want to form a family that is comfortable and fun to work with and whom also gets things done.


Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
Shot scenes yesterday with Chris Margaritis and Jennifer Baltusis of Kimberly Mullen walking home from school as Chris watches her. Earlier this afternoon we shot a dream sequence with Jen and Chris. The idea of the dream sequence is to showcase many different shots of both fear, love, anger and tradgedy, through the eyes of Chris' character who had a conversation prior to his dream with one of Kimberly's friend, thus he dreams about her. So we shot that and below are two pictures thanks to photographer Jennifer Baltusis:



Sunday, January 4th, 2009
On Friday we filmed another sequence for Mr. Mullen with Chris alone and then Chris with other talent (Danielle Anzelone and Jennifer Baltusis). Weather said snow storm at 9 AM and that snow storm didn't come until 12:30 PM when we were wrapping up some final shots of the scenes of Chris in seclusion. It was 30 degrees and having to carry and put together a jib and other various "toys" that are metal and become very cold in the cold weather nearly caused frostbite of the hands. We then got lunch at the local pizzeria, and then went over to Glen Cove High School Tennis Courts on Old Tappan Road to shoot the final sequence for the day where Chris' character finds out who the Mayor's daughter is. This gave me an idea for a scene we're going to rehearse today in where the same girl who yells out Danielle's is walking home from the courts and Chris starts a conversation with her. The purpose of this scene, if it works out (remember, we're adding these scenes on the fly and letting them come as we edit the film - not usually how I like to make a film, but interesting process) will hopefully be something creepy and it would be nice to have a scene with dialogue that can be creepy and directed well. So rehearsal today and more than likely shooting on Monday. Thursday, January 1st, 2009 Earlier today we shot interview footage with Michael Rubinstein of RubyFilmz.com. Talked mostly about the 35mm Adapter systems and got some behind the scenes footage of his last film, The Black Forest. Might be adding it into "In Production" to show the process of the films he does.

Last night did an interview with Jennifer Baltusis and then was interviewed for the documentary. I can't wait to start production on The Forest Hills. That will be a fun project to work on since it's got some cool horror elements in it. We are shooting tomorrow in Glen Cove and will more than likely be shooting in a snow storm, so trying to wrap my head around that and visualize it...I do have a basic idea of what will be shot and it's prior to all the scenes we have shot. In the scene, Chris Margaritis' character will be walking back home after he ventured into the woods to try to live there, and I feel that snow will add to the effect we are trying to go for which is lonely and sad. I have some ideas as far as where to set up the shots, especially since most of them will be crane shots, but just not sure how much snow will be coming down, so it really depends on that and how cold it will be. Would be great to also get some hand-held footage from behind him as he walks out of the greenhouse and up the trail to leave the woods as the snow is falling down. We've shot a lot at Welwyn, especially scenes around the area that we are shooting but never in the snow, so we'll see how the scenes come to be. Then we're shooting guerilla style once again for a scene in the mid-afternoon where Chris is on his way back home and the daughter of the Mayor is revealed to him from being in the "right place at the right time" or for the Mayor's daughter, "wrong place at the wrong time".


Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
10:21 PM: Booking flights to California by the end of the week for a weekend of shooting with Paul Kratka. Have to get some updated interviews for "In Production" as well as maybe some "Day in the Life" footage of Paul for the film. Tomorrow Liz Walsh (who plays Mrs. Mullen) is coming back for her second round of shooting. We shot her death scene back in the beginning of December and since the film has been an artistic endevour and made up as we are going along, it's starting to unfold and become solid with the scenes connecting to the scenes we already shot. For a few weeks I had a fear that all of what we shot wouldn't come along, but I'm now seeing it more as a full story rather than bits and pieces. It's weird to look at footage and be happy with it and think to yourself, "Wow, we actually achieved something here and made a film" and as the editor you can't help but notice that as a filmmaker who is editing your own piece of art, it feels "right". Watched "Into the Wild" earlier today with Chris Margaritis. It was probably my fifth time seeing the film. I think it's great to watch a film and see something different every single time. If you have not seen that film, check that film out! It's a great piece of artwork and that is one of the films and one of the things that has made me want to shoot more raw and hand-held. That, and the 35mm adapter and lenses that we've been using for the last few projects. We did an interview in the 40 degree weather with Chris down at Welwyn and got some pretty good footage. There is a big difference with color (much warmer) when seen through the 35mm adapter. I shot some interview footage of Chris with the adapter and then took it off and the color's were much "cooler" and less warm. Probably because of the mirrors and lenses of the adapter that light has to go through, and the possible coating of the lens. These are the continous things you learn as a filmmaker and in my honest opinion, you never stop learning.


Sunday, December 28th, 2008 Been feeling a little under the weather so haven't been able to shoot anything, but we are shooting some shots today for Mr. Mullen around the neighborhood of Chris driving. Wed we shot Chris driving in the car and those were hand-held shots. Today are mostly tripod shots of him entering the neighborhood on his way his final victim of the film.


Wed, December 24th, 2008
2:10 PM: Well, a little more than an hour to go til shooting some pickup shots for Mr. Mullen with Chris and not too much of the now was washed out. So we're going to work around it. The scenes prior and after this sequence didn't have snow on the ground so we'll have to work around the snow which is fine. It's mostly on the ground and we'll be shooting mainly houses which was the plan to begin with. Got an e-mail from Paul Kratka. He is buying my backup DVX100B camera which I bought back in October but have never used. I'm glad because I need the money to fund my next project, The Forest Hills and to maybe buy a new Tripod. My current one has seen better days. Maybe I can get a strong Miller Tripod. Those are always great. Paul has also invited me to California to get away from the cold New York weather which was a very nice gesture on his part. If I decide to go, which it seems that way, we'll be getting some documentary and interview footage for "In Production" as well as showing him how to use the camera. He is purchasing it for his newest endevour which is Well-People-Program which is an organization and business made to teach people about ultimate health.


Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
Today we shot some footage for "In Production" as Jen and I went to the hardware store to buy supplies/wire for the "reaper" puppet we are building for "The Forest Hills". We went over the plans for it last night. I drew an image of how I envision the "reaper" and the idea for it is to have a 10-12 foot "reaper" with a hood and skull face and we're going to try to make it work where a person who is 6 feet tall would wear a 4 foot "puppet" type bust or wire-framing bust and ascend from the ground up. I have never done this effect before and it could fail miserably but it's going to be a blast making it and learning something new and my hope is that people will see the process of this and try to learn how to use artistic and interesting ways to create these things that can be effective. There is some doubt in my mind, but I feel it can work if done right. One of the stores in Glen Cove called Canner's is going out of business so we got a good deal on cloth (50 percent off) for the "reaper" cloth. Chris Margaritis will be coming by tomorrow around 3:15 PM for some "Mr. Mullen" filming. We have to get some pickup shots of him driving through the neighborhood. The weather calls for 90 percent rain which is good since the sequence we are shooting will be placed before the sequence that we shot previously which takes place during a rainy sequence in the film. Friday we were hit with a snow storm so there is still snow on the ground, but I'm sure the rain will dissipate most of it.


Sunday, December 21st, 2008
Mr. Mullen is nearing completion. Just a few more days of shooting. What started at a scene for a possible Rape PSA, it evolved to being something more than that... It's been an stressful process making this film. Many different days of shooting, trying to match clouds/rain since the film takes place within an hour and connects each scene. Had to do some reorganizing with certain scenes and dialogue and some parts have holes in them as far as now. It's weird because the film started as a scene and it evolved from that scene so it's been a pain trying to piece it together but I feel in the end it will come together pretty well. We have some strong parts in the film as far as dialogue and scenes but now we just need the minor sequences to connect the bigger sequences.

This has added some unwanted stress since I usually work with scripts and set storyline but I sort of like it because this type of process makes a filmmaker think and use their brain, which is a positive thing. The Forest Hills is in the process of being planned out right now. We are looking for a Special Fx Makeup Artist and working on some of the storyline for the film. I do know that I want to reflect on racism and the slavery aspect in the 1950's and work that into the story along with government experiments.


Friday, December 12th, 2008
Been working on various projects in the past year and appreciate the continued support from everyone. Some updates on what we've been up to: In January 2008 we started production on the short film, Loss of Hope, which is now available online. The Final Cut of the film will be online to view Jan. 1st, 2009. In November we started production on the short film, Mr. Mullen and it is scheduled to be finished and online in March 2009. We are also in production on The Forest Hills.