Something is brewing...

Can't say much, but something is brewing...

Very excited to back in the saddle.

More to come.

Anchor Eddy's...open for business

We're two weeks away. Can you believe how long it's been to get to this point? (And I'm not even counting all the time this stories been brewing - that goes back way before Goodbye To You, way before anything, actually)...i'm just talking about the sheer fact that we were working on the script in the fall of 2004, right around the time the grant from the CNY Community Arts Council came through. At that point, we knew we had to get rolling. So, months of revisions, a month of auditions, months and months of filming, and almost a year of editing and re-editing, and here we are.

It's weird. Eddy's has been floating around in my head for so long, it almost feels like it's just existed for all this time even before we made the film. But it hasn't...it's been in my mind...but it didn't exist...it didn't take on life...until filming. The people you see before you...these talnted, dedicated, wonderful people are the ones who brought these characters to life. Without them, it's just my thoughts on a page - and let's be honest, my ramblings aren't that interesting. :)

This is the culmination of a tiny little dream of mine for several years. Heck, though it was different roads that led me here, Eddy's was the map I wanted to be following before I even knew I wanted to make movies - and that's a long time ago.

In fact, i have a very vivid memory of sitting in an Uno Pizzeria in Holyoke, MA some five or six years ago. I was with the always lovely Clare Fitzgerald, who godbless her, has stuck through four films with me to this point, and we were talking about me making a film...finally making a film, not just talking about it - because remember, at the time, the digital revolution was just starting to truly take hold...so for many there was a lot of talk, but not as much do as we all would have liked. But this time it was different. I was going to make a movie. I was going to do it cheap, with what i could afford, but i was gonna make it good, and i was gonna make it from the heart. I'm sure Clare thought I was crazy - hell, who doesn't still think that the minute I open my mouth with some weird new idea - but we got into talking about the different stories I had wanted to do.

For Clare there was no question. "You need to make Eddy's," she told me. And...

I didn't.

(Fooled ya, didn't I?)

No, at the time, I remember telling Clare "it just wasn't the right time...not for a first film." I had neither the experience, the people, or the funding or equipment to pull it off. And if we were going to do my baby...Eddy's...I needed a little more under my belt than I had as a 20 or 21 year old college student with a Sony Digital 8 Handycam.

Nope, I went with Goodbye To You. Which, I think if you look retrospectively at my films, was the best way to go. It got the feet wet, and it got me bitten by the bug. There was no way I was going to let this feeling go. Seeing these characters, these worlds, brought to life before my very eyes, living out their lives for not only me to see, but for others, and for all to think about even after the credits closed. And when you wonder that...when you wonder what happened to those characters after they're no longer on screen...then the filmmaker's done a halfway decent job.

Now, it's 2006...almost 2007 if you can believe it. The time was right. We had the equipment...we had the most talented - and loyal - bunch of folks in the world...and we had the full support of the arts council, the city government, the department of education that knew students would learn more working on a film than they ever would readnig about it, and a slew of businesses that were more than willing to lend a hand. It was time.

It is time.

Anchor Eddy's is opening for business on Oct. 7.

It's been a long time coming.

First peek...

First look at our protagonist (Tom Karpe as Eddy Anchor) and antagonists (Jon Saulmon as Chester Greenfield III and Melissa Sacco as Ginger McNamara):

Almost a wrap

We've probably hit around the 90-95% mark at this point in terms of filming. Considering Whately took about a year and a half to do, I honestly can't figure out how we've been able to make it this far in only a few months time. I'm sure the EXTREMELY long hours we've all pulled, as well as all the talented and helpful people involved in crew and cast this time around has been a tremendous help.

Alex has moved to Chicago, so the remainder of filming has been handled primarily by me and Demian. Luckily the most complicated of things were done with Alex when he was around, and now we're just tying up some loose ends here and there.

Though, we're definitely nearing the finish line in terms of production, because so many people are wrapped or near-wrapped. Jon Saulmon and Melissa Sacco wrapped their performances as some of my favorite villains to date a few weeks back. Sean Mulkerne and Daniel Rossi as the romantic lead and his hippy sidekick wrapped this past weekend after some final beach filming and some ADR looping. I honestly don't think anyone who's seen Whately and doesn't know Dan on a personal level will recognize him at first in this film. The man is without a doubt a chameleon.

Tom Karpe is nearly wrapped, which is a huge thing, considering he IS the title character, after all. Tom really has come a long way for someone who didn't start out as an actor, and I certianly hope he's proud of his work, because i am. David Plescia, as well, who has been utterly hilarious this entire production as Deputy Barney. With every word that comes out of that characters mouth, it's a hundred times funnier when it's Dave saying it.

This weekend we wrap up Jen and Joe, leaving very few people and scenes remaining. Then, after a brief detour (promised Mike over a year ago i'd edit footage form his wedding together for him, so being that late with it, gonna make sure that gets done in the next few weeks), it'll be back on to post-production.

The set was torn down about a week or two ago, and, while it was wonderful to be working on an actual set this time around, and be able to just come in and get to work, after that breakdown session (hey, we're indies, we can't afford a breakdown crew...we ARE the breakdown crew!), I will be so glad to never see that building/set again. But, definitely a fun time while we were there. Anchor Eddy's came to life exactly as it had been in my mind for these past few years, and it was an amazing feeling to see something from your imagination built from scratch like that.

I really can't wait to get to editing this puppy. I know a lot of people have some reservations about doing a light comedy after something so dark and great as "Whately", but this is gonna be a really great film..without a doubt a vast difference from Whately, but just a fun story, with lovable characters, played to the hilt by a teriffic cast, and with a moral center and heart that makes me very happy and proud to have done this film.

Wow, that certianly is a mouthful, isn't it? Well, that's about it for now. Hopefully as soon as filming official wraps andwe start moving into post, the site'll get updated with some new pics, new bio pages, new faces, and behind the scenes and stills form the film!

Halfway point...

We have reached the halfway point on production for "Anchor Eddy's". A few more weeks and that wraps up principal photography on the entire project.

To be honest, i realize know that i slept walk through almost the whole first half of production, only to finally WAKE UP last week, finding that spark that i was missing for a while. That spark that, that passion, that confidence and control, that made me start all of this to begin with! I don't know what caused it, but i'm glad its back. And so am i. Back in the driver's seat, and driving this thing all the way home.

This is a damn funny film, and a story with a lot of heart. (And for the first time ever from us, a film that could fall into the PG-13 category, which, as i'm getting a little older, and very happy about). I'm really proud of this one.

Have to run. Have to get ready a crucial scene of the flick tonight over on the set. If it comes out even close to how i've storyboarded it, it's gonna be a great night....and a terriffic scene.

Here we are....

Wow. Been a long time since last post. The gist of things: Arlene Grocery screening - barely anyone showed. Whately DVD - Out, and kicking ass.

Now, the new stuff.

We've completed a week of filming on "Anchor Eddy's", and I'm extremely proud. It's a comedy, but a comedy like no one has seen from us before. We're paying homage to a lot of favorites of our youth, but also playing the funny card a bit smarter and wittier than we have in the past (i.e. not hitting them over the head with the joke).

Everyone has been putting in their best performances to date with CYB.

It's gonna be the last one for a while, folks. (Things aren't ending, but I, as well as everyone else, i'm sure, would like a nice long rest) , and I think we'll be going out with a nice, colorful bang.

I'm very proud, and everyone involved should be too. They're tremendous.

Field Trip

It's currently Friday the 6th. Tomorrow morning I'll be getting my dreary eyed self up at 4am, picking up Melissa, Tom, and Dave P, and hitting the road to New York City. We hsould be there by mid-late morning and then make our way to Earth Matters on Ludlow Street for the screening of The Death of Daniel Whately as part of the Arlene Grocery Film Festival. Are we ready to see this with a festival audience? "Here's Hoping..."