CYB Productions

New horizons

2010-05-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a very, very, very long time.

I can't believe it's been five years since we first rolled on "Anchor Eddy's." Time flies, huh?

Had a great coffee meeting with Demian earlier this week. We had spent a good portion of the last few years developing a new feature-length film that, after all that time, neither of us were too keen on, and it's been shelved indefinitely.

However, the genius that is Demian's mind has something better (and a bit different) film project in store, that both of us are completely on board for.

Should be fun. Will keep you posted...

Something is brewing...

2008-07-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

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

Very excited to back in the saddle.

More to come.

Anchor Eddy's...open for business

2006-09-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

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...

2005-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

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

2005-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

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...

2005-07-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

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....

2005-07-12T01:28:00.000-07:00

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

2005-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

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..."

Gearing Up...

2005-04-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's April already. Insane, isn't it? Goes by wayyyy too fast.

The ball is rolling on the new flick. Casting this month to find some fresh new faces, breakdown sheets are being made, locations confirmed, and scheduling beginning. It's that crazy time again.

Still trying to find a place to house and construct our sets (yeah, baby, that's right...sets)...other than that, things seem to be going okay. Just the usual kinks to work out.

Some familiar faces we're sure are returning...Tom (finally getting top billing, long overdue), Josh, Missy, Melissa, Dave P, Jon, Jen, Rob, Cosmina, Bob, Anthony, Jess...some others that we haven't confirmed just yet or are waiting on word from....and then of course, whichever new faces we find in our casting search.

Been waiting quite a few years to make this one...just knew I wasn't ready...til' now. Needed to get a few years experience under the belt before taking on this one. I think we're ready.

It's getting exciting.

Should be fun.

Back in the Valley..

2005-03-25T17:48:00.000-08:00

In Western Massachusetts as I write this. Catching up wiht some old friends, and very importantly, catching up with cast members from "Whately" to grab interviews for the documentary that's going to be on the Whately DVD.

Been a fun time so far. Caught up with Joe Loftus and Steve Biegner (who i'm trying to coerce into doing some songs for the new flick), had some dinner with Heather who played one of Johnny's adoring fans in Whately. Good times. Ate at a great place i had never been to before called bertucci's in Amherst, MA. Great food. And our waitress, Katie...beautiful.

Tomorrow it's a morning meet with Josh, Missy, and Jon to grab their interviews, then tomorrow night it's back to NY.

Good times. It's been good to be back in the Valley...even for a little while.

Wipeout

2005-02-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

That's the one word description of what happens when you move me from the bunny slope to the mountain too soon.

Went downhill skiing for the first time yesterday. Great time. Got the hang of it pretty quickly, at least on the bunny slope, as they call it. After a while got turning down. Stopping, a little difficult, but down. However, once moved to the bigger mountain...not so good. Made it about halfway down at a top speed before trying to stop. Which led to, not once, but twice, me flying into the air and flip flopping down the mountain in a somersalt fashion...once with skis still attached (creating quite the comical moment as i tried to get my feet and skis untangled, and nearly took Becca down the mountain with me on that one as she tried to help me), and the other where my skis just flew off once i started tumbling, and i had to make my way back up to get my skis and poles, which had been scaterred to various areas along the way.

Still, skiing = AWESOME time. What a rush. Can't wait to do it again. Just gonna have to work on stopping a bit more before tackling that big slope again.

Script for the new film is 3/4 finished. Demian and I had a script meeting on Friday, and things should be rolling in the next month or so in terms of pre-production.

Unfortunately, two rejection notices have come in film festival-wise. We did not get into the Ashland Independent Film Festival in Ashland, Oregon, or the Syracuse International Film Festival here in Syracuse, NY. A bit disappointed by that, actually.

Still, many others left to go. We'll see.

And a Happy upcoming Birthday to our own Michael Duignan, turning the big-2-6 on the 13th. (Though, i'm creeping up behind him with the big 2-5 just a few days later) Yikes!...seems like not too long ago we were all getting excited to be getting out of the teens and hit 20. Definitely goes by fast. Stopped by to see him and his wife Sara for their birthday shindig for him.

Got involved in a game of Trivial Pursuit SNL Edition with them, and friends Scott, Bryan, and Melissa. Whose mind is a useless sponge of meaningless TV information. Yep, you guessed it. I went home the winner, proving once and for all i watch way too much TV and don't have nearly the life I should. ;)

Good times, all around this weekend.

Winter equals sickness

2005-01-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hurrah, this is my first blog...I've finally figured it out.

I am now quite sure that I am sick. Before, it was more of an assumption, but now, I am sure of it. The excessive amount of alcohol I drank on New Year's Eve (I'm sorry, Tom!) did not help at all, rest assured. But this week, I've woken up feeling as crappy as...well...poop. Yes...feces. Well, anyway... I've just finished my scholarship forms and essay, so hopefully I will be getting financial help so I can attend SUNY Oswego as planned in the Fall. It is something I am extremely excited about and are anxiously awaiting the day I leave. Not that I want to leave everyone behind me here, but 21 years in the same place can get quite boring, I'm sure you all can understand.

Hope everyone had a bountiful holiday and New Year.

As the French say...Incredible' !

2004-11-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

A Happy Thanksgiving to any and all reading this. Tonight, long after the feasting was done, my brother Dan, Rob and Cara, and myself, all went to the movies. (After a botched attempt to try and get coffee at Dunkin Donuts...who knew they were closed?)

So, we ended up at the only thing (aside from Walmart) that WAS open, the movies. We saw the Incredibles, and I can't rave about it enough. I LOVED it. So good, so funny, just an all around great flick. Very enjoyable. The voiceover cast was so perfect...the pun, i'm sure is way overused...but it truly was Incredible.

Sleep sounds so good

2004-11-18T02:18:00.000-08:00

2:20am.

Just got back home from the Ithaca screening. So very tired. Heard some good things from a few people after the show. Many didn't stick around to chat or ask questions afterwards, though, so a little hard to gauge.

Very much looking forward to some sleep.

Oh what a night

2004-11-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

It's done. Came and went. I can't believe November 12th snuck up on me so quickly.

The premiere went fine. All my worries of total chaos...out the window. We got started a few minutes late...with only one small snare at the beginning, which was corrected before the actual film started, so the only thing missed was the CYB logo at the beginning. No biggie. Other than a few frames that dropped from the film in one scene, everything ran smoothly. And I was very very pleased.

We had an extrmely large crowd. I think it was roughly around 250 people. It's definitely the biggest audience we've ever had in one room at one time. I think the crowd was split probably 75 / 25 percent in terms of liking /disliking. Most people really seemed to dig it. Others just didn't get it, or understand any of the symbolims, themes, and representations that the story was preseting. I also think it was a little darker of a story than some were looking for. So, not everyone's cup of tea. That, by no means judges it's success rate. I loved it. I'm still so incredibly proud of it. As Steve Perry (of Journey) would say: "If you like it, great. If not, that's ok too."

It was also wonderful to see so many people from the cast in town for that night. Naturally, Tom, Rob, Melissa, Bill, Alex, Bob, my brother, etc, but Rossi made it into town (with a little longer hair no less), as did Jon, Joe, Missi, and Lexie, among many others. It was just so great to have everyone in a room together again...it felt like a class reunion, so to speak.

Festival season doesn't start til' January, but we'll definitely just keep getting submissions out there, and continuing to do college screenings to keep us busy until the festivals start making announcements.

Fun times. A wonderful night.

This week: Acting in a short film Alex is putting together, a screening at Ithaca, a Q & A session, and recording one (of a few) commentary track for the eventual DVD.

Tomorrow's the day...

2004-11-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Everything goes down tomorrow.

Interviews yesterday went very well. The 97.9 one was great. Linda Rae and Kookenbacher (the hosts) made it feel very comfortable...a good repor' (sp?), fun times. After that, did one for another radio station (that i can't think of) with a guy named Greg McShae. That one was a little shorter than the 97.9 one, but still fun (and he brought up Ed Wood! One of my favorites...go figure!) After that I spent three hours doing the interview for the Syracuse magazine/supplement thing for January. Went really really well. Very in depth. Should be pretty great. Hopefully i'll be able to get those radio interviews up on the site soon.

The Utica Observer-Dispatch ran an article this morning. Some nice stills from the movie, and THANK GOD, they used a photo other than the file photo from Detour. God bless that Jessica Ryen! A great article. So very very thankful.

So much to get ready for tomorrow. Then the world sees "...Whately" for the first time.

So hoping it goes well. We shall see...

"Speak"

2004-11-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

I just finished "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson. Absolutely incredible from beginning to end. I definitely need to find out if this woman has written anything else, and get my hands on it. Amazing.

the week ahead and a good book

2004-11-07T14:47:00.000-08:00

Well, now that i've gotten over my days long depression of the election results, it'll hopefully be a pretty productive week ahead. The obvious festivities of Friday evening, of course, with the premiere coming around, but everything leading up to it as well.

An interview sometime this week with the Utica Observer-Dispatch. And, hopefully a new photo! (Cuz I really don't want to have to live down the "wacky" photo from the Detour article in 2002. That damn photo will haunt me til' I die. I can see it now..."Tragedy today as a local filmmaker died in a plane crash..."-insert wacky file photo)

Interview wednesday morning with 97.9 Kiss FM in Utica. The 8am morning show with Linda Rae and Kookenbacher (though i probably spelled that so completely wrong.) Should be a lot of fun. Also that morning an interview for a Syracuse paper for sometime in January (just in time for our Rochester screening on Feburary 15th. Not gonna run til' January, but still, awesome nonetheless. I love this stuff!! (Look at me, i'm a mature 5 years old ;) )

Almost done with an incredible book that Melissa recommended to me. "Speak". It's so good. It should be required reading in high schools, as far as I'm concerned. I haven't read anything in a very very long time that so accurately depicted the voice and real feelings of high school. I can't recommend it enough.

Yeah, so that's all i got.

I'm hammered

2004-11-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

I was just about to go to bed when I decided to check my e-mail one last time for the day. I had aaboout 8 beers (LaBat Blue Light). I'm a little drunk. I got to see the video that was made on Oct. 30. It was a Sat. I had a little Halloween party. Anyway, I got to see the video that was made at the party. The footage wasn't bad. It was some pretty funny stuff.

Rest In Peace, Bill Parker. I didn't know ya but I know of your influence on Dave. Who's to say that without that influence, Dave wouldn't be doing what he's doing and make those films. God bless you wherever you may be.

www.bignaturals.com

tom

Giving it a try

2004-11-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

I never knew what a "blog" was until these past 5 minutes that i set this up. I have not yet decided if it's any different than a message board (which we already have on the site and may prompt people to say "Dellecese, why do you have both?" To Those people i say: "I don't know.")

If this blog-trend continues, I think it will probably lend itself to more personal, inside thoughts, info, etc, on events, projects, and the overall process of things. We'll see how it goes.

We are one week away from the World Premiere of The Death of Daniel Whately. It should be a blast. Very much looking forward to it.

Sadly, there is one person who can not be with us for this celebration. This week we lost someone who not only was a huge supporter of CYB Productions from its very inception, but was a mentor, teacher, and above all else, a friend to me for many years. Bill Parker. Bill was an audio-visual technician who took me under his wing when I was in high school and gave me the foundations of my education in film/tv and editing. He's watched me evolve from some high school kid with a bunch of footage shot on a home video camera to the filmmaker and person I am today. He taught me to never allow myself to be hindered by lack of funding, equipment, technology, or resources, but to use those limitations in a unique and unexpected way...that the only limits were not monetary...but one's imagination. It is a lesson that has and will continue to serve me well over the years. Those of you who did not have the privelage of knowing Bill would recognize him in the few cameos he graciously did as the older man in the bar in Detour, as well as the voice of Kyle's Dad, along with the Strip Club Manager in the upcoming "Whately". He was a wonderful man who had a wicked and sarcastic sense of humor that always made it that much more fun to learn from him or just to chat with him.

Bill was very much looking forward to the premiere, and was so incredibly proud of how far we had come when I showed him a few rough cut scenes from the film. He couldn't wait to see the final product.

He touched many people's lives, and will never be forgotten. He will, however, very much be missed.