Tag Archives: black lotus
The Apocalypse, a Script and Beer Pong
Very busy week last week!
I’ve been working on a script with my friend Jim Rhodimer on Apocalyptic Playground, a steampunk sci-fi project, which we’re crowdfunding on Indiegogo here: http://www.indiegogo.com/apocalyptic-playground. to make it easier to collaborate since Jim has already written two-thirds of the script, I’ve taken the lead on two of the subplots. One plot has religious implications the other has military implications — both are right up my alley.
Saturday we shot several promos for the Indiegogo campaign. They turned out to be super good! Here are the links on Youtube. Feel free to pass them along:
Here’s a picture from the shoot:
Earlier in the week I attended a fundraiser for the film project, House of Color, which also has an Indiegogo campaign. You can find it here:
http://www.indiegogo.com/House-of-Color
The fundraiser was held at a bar called South in Santa Monica and they sponsored a beer pong tournament. Beer pong is a drinking game in which players throw a ping pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer on the other end.
Earlier in the week I started red pen proofing of my script, Legend of Black Lotus after I finished onscreen edits and printed a hardcopy. I’m halfway through. Here’s the pic:
Next week I sit down with NBC, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, Mun2, USA, SyFy, G4, and more
I was corresponding with an old filmmaker friend I met back in 2006. He’s been working diligently to get some names attached to his project, one in particular. During a recent exchange when we discussed some small successes he said something like, “You and I know that we cannot get too excited about everything.” His words stuck with me for days after. Finally it hit me. I don’t agree with what he said. In the independent filmmaking world that we have chosen to live in it’s important to be pragmatic and practical. Nothing is ever done until it’s…well, done. We must keep this in mind to maintain our sanity. However, I think it’s important to celebrate the small victories as well as the big ones. The momentum of small success is also important to our sanity. It feeds our dedication, our commitment and perseverance.
There’s still a lot happening in Bellsville. There’s still a bunch of pieces to the puzzles that require assembly. For those who actually give a darn, the paragraphs below outline what’s still happening. Remember that news release I mentioned last week? Well, as it turns out I cannot submit it yet. Actually, let me rephrase that. I won’t submit it yet because previously I was going to make a big announcement. However, now I have TWO big announcements to make. Thus Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are going to have to wait.
Todd, a friend of mine, suggested that I reword my queries to screenwriting agents and include the most recent accomplishment (or lack thereof depending on how you view it). My script, “Legend of Black Lotus” made the top 15% of 6700 screenplays submitted to the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship. That basically means the script came in somewhere around #1010. I included this little boilerplate message in a recent query and got a manager nibble. While the script wasn’t what the gent was looking for, he did ask a me to submit my current loglines. I did. He nibbled again and asked for “Deterrence Theory” my erotic psychological thriller.
Next week is potentially a big week. Thanks to an exclusive invitation through the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), I will be attending the NBC/Universal Development Needs Meeting. In a nutshell, I’ll get a chance to network with and hear the exact television programming needs of the suits from the following networks: NBC, Bravo, Oxygen, Sprout, Style, Mun2,USA, SyFy, G4, E!, Chiller, and Sleuth/Cloo. There’ll be no guesswork involved. Moving forward I’ll know what direction to take with my projects in development. Moreover, in the months following the meeting NBC Universal executives will schedule pitch meetings with qualified producers.
I plan to be busy as hell in these upcoming months. Count on it.
Crowdfunding for “Legend of Black Lotus” Requires Epic Support
Welcome!
If you’ve reached this page it’s because of one or two reasons: you come here often, or, you received an email from me asking for your donation of $5 to help me reach my film funding goal of $9500 to make the independent epic fantasy, Legend of Black Lotus.
Legend of Black Lotus is the short film version of a feature film I hope to make next year. In its simplest form, the project is a revisionist telling of the legend of Mulan, the Chinese girl who dressed as a man and took her father’s place in the army.
In Black Lotus, an African American child is born to Chinese parents in Ancient China. It is believed that she will reunite a divided kingdom and free the people from the tyrannical Emperor, who happens to be her father. Despite obvious implications of the prophecy, the girl is demonized because of her dark skin and must overcome the bonds of slavery to fulfill her destiny.
Here are some informative videos to acquaint you with Legend of Black Lotus:
HOW DOES $5 FIGURE INTO ALL THIS?
It’s simple math! I have 661 friends on Facebook, over 1400 friends on combined Myspace accounts, and 2300 friends on Twitter. If everyone donated only $5 I would have more than enough money to make my film.
Simply put, if you skipped your usual Double Grande Mocha from Starbucks you’d be helping me make my film! But you aren’t merely giving away your hard-earned dollars. You’re getting something of value in return. If you donate $5 you’ll automatically be upgraded to the $10 perk. This means you’ll get a free High Definition digital download of the completed Legend of Black Lotus film, a film credit, a digital download of the short script, a copy of the TREATMENT used for the feature film and free digital downloads of my ultra-micro-budget feature films Sex, Shoes & Unicorns and Nanny and the Professional.
Look at the countdown clock on the upper right-hand side. It shows the amount of time I have left to raise funds for my film. If you’re ready to donate NOW please visit my site at www.indiegogo.com/blacklotus to process your $5 donation in a secure transaction.
If you’re not ready to donate yet, please read on.
WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY?
That’s an easy question to answer. You should only donate if you believe you’ll get some value out of: 1) being a part of a film with an inspiring message, 2) getting a film credit on IMDB, 3) getting some cool film freebies and/or swag, and 4) you want to brag to your friends how you helped make a film!
Okay, I admit it, the paragraph above appeals to your vanity. But let me also appeal to your faith…in me.
Chances are, my request isn’t the only request you’ll get from an independent filmmaker asking you to open your wallets and purses to help make art. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Why him?” And your second question is probably, “How do I know you’re even going to make the film after you get my money?” The fact is, it is a miracle that any film gets made, low-budget or otherwise. There are so many factors to consider and so many variables that become fertile breeding grounds for Murphy’s Law.
The thing that makes me different is that I’ve navigated this labyrinthine indie film conundrum many times… 14 times to be exact. I’ve written, directed or produced 14 films. I’ve won awards for my films. My films have aired on the IFC channel, on television and toured the world in film festivals. My recent film, Broken Hearts Club was recently greenlit by NBC Universal to air in one of their top ten markets, New York City for a test run. In fact, you can watch six of my short films in their entirety, for free, on the YouTube playlist below:
So, at the risk of patting myself on the back, I have to admit: I am the real deal. My films get made and get seen.
The countdown clock on the upper right-hand side is still moving. If you’re ready to donate NOW please visit my site at www.indiegogo.com/blacklotus to process your $5 donation in a secure transaction and get all the perks of a $10 donation.
THE RIGHT TIME, THE RIGHT PLACE
If you’re like me, you’ve looked back in time and wished you would have taken advantage of past opportunities. Perhaps you wish you invested in Google or Apple stock. Maybe you’re life would have been different if you started your blog sooner rather than later. Or maybe you’re a big fan of web video and wish you were around to help the folks at The Guild launch their incredibly successful web series.
A couple of things have happened recently that tell me that now is the right time and right place for Legend of Black Lotus. Earlier this year YouTuber‘s tuned in to The Raven, a sci-fi short film which has garnered national attention for the filmmaker Ricardo de Montreuil. And almost everyone recognizes the film title, District 9 which spawned from the YouTube short film, Alive in Joburg. Most recently there’s been talk of a $30 million production deal for Fede Alvarex who made the exciting YouTube short film, Ataque de Panico (Panic Attack!).
Two years from now when Legend of Black Lotus (the feature film version) is in theaters, wouldn’t you like to say to your friends, I was in the right place at the right time and I helped make that film?
AIN’T IT COOL!
Let’s face it, it’s just damn cool to be a patron of the arts and support the efforts of independent filmmakers! When you support an indie filmmaker like myself you also support our dreams. You tell us that it is okay to go after our dreams, and that you wish us success.
Most importantly, when you support me, you have a friend for life. You’ll have friend-access to many of the insane ideas and plans I have to: make sequels to my films, become the next J.J. Abrams, win an Oscar, make a blockbuster film, work with Jerry Bruckheimer, break records and basically take over the film world.
Please join me in this epic journey to make and epic film. Your donations are greatly appreciated, admired and adored. Thank you for your consideration. I’ll see you at the movies.
If you’re ready to donate NOW please visit my site at www.indiegogo.com/blacklotus to process your $5 donation in a secure transaction and get all the perks of a $10 donation.
