The NASA DVD mixup

I just found out last night that some of the DVDs of "The Bet" do not have the correct DVD inside. Instead of "The Bet" it is a NASA film called "Spitzer Space Telescope." Since the cases are shrink-wrapped, there is no way of knowing which DVDs are packaged incorrectly. I have contacted the manufacturer to devise a way of correcting the problem. I've also contacted FilmBaby, who is handling the online sales. If someone happens to get the wrong DVD, you can email rubbersquare@rubbersquare.com, I will be sure to get a replacement to you somehow.

Rubbersquare apologizes for this mixup and appreciates your cooperation in this matter.

Oh, celebrities

It may sound like a joke, maybe a lie, but I swear it's true and all the funnier for it. And please if I ever should do something this retarded, please punch me.

We (and by "we" I mean myself, Francis George, Francis Baytan, the account executives for both the agency and Bellagio) were scouting for a photoshoot at Bellagio's pool. We were done with the scout and heading back to the hotel when I turn around and see Francis G talking to... Mel Gibson. Yes. Really.

My first thought was "Wow, Francis is so cool, he knows Mel Gibson!" I can't hear what they're saying, but Mel (I can call him Mel after this) has his hand on Francis' shoulder. Then suddenly, he storms off past us, and my smile of "WOW" turned to a half-smile of "huh?!"

Okay, so Francis doesn't know Mel, but what happened actually makes him cooler than if he did.

This is what happened. Mel came up to Francis, who'd been scouting the pool area, taking shots for reference to decide where we were going to shoot. Mel asks (and you have to know Francis is French and has a very dry sense of humor, so the whole time he has this sort of bemused smile on his face)... Mel says, "Aren't you going to take my picture?"

Okay, first of all, paparazzi don't usually travel with an entourage (there were about five of us there with Francis). Second of all, don't celebrities want to be left alone? Oh, wait, no, they don't. If they aren't being photographed, then they don't exist. Yes? That's just sad. And there was some schlumpy dude with Mel that looked like he was playing assistant as part of a paroll agreement. Not happy. Now, all that's going through my head is "Wow, he's short. Seriously. Short. And he's got some seriously retarded red trunks that, outside of the '80s are also too short." And the other thought that was thankfully kept in my head, because god knows what would have happened if the filter hadn't been working, was that I wanted to tell him I hated the Jews, too, just to see his reaction.

Okay, so celebrity is all up the supposed paparazzi's Kool-Aid and asks if he's going to take his picture. And Francis - god love him - says, "Do you want me to?" If I didn't already worship Francis, I do now.

Mel gets his little self in a huff and says, "Nevermind! I'm going to my fucking room!" And storms off in his tiny trunks, his suicidal assistant tagging behind. I can't actually say for sure that he said "fucking" room since I was still in the WTF mode, but I think he did, and it would have totally fit.

I've never been one who appreciates the crap celebrities pull, from the non-tipping to the "don't you know who I am?" crap they pull. This was my premiere first-hand experience of just how douchebaggy celebrities can actually be. And let me tell you, I don't give a fuck who you are, if you act like a spoiled brat, you are a spoiled brat. And no amount of "celebrity" is gonna change that. All the more reason I should never become famous and come face-to-face with someone who pulls that shit. Kathy Griffin would have nothing on me.

Another review: "Hauntingly powerful"

Googlebating, I came across another review of "The Bet." I had sent a screener to the critic some time ago and had given up seeing a review, thinking that either the critic didn't like it enough to comment or it simply never made it. Apparently I was wrong on both accounts. I didn't realise when I'd sent the film that the critic is not only a reviewer, but also an activist (not that it has any bearing, really) and that he is part of a The Tenderness Network, "A Community of Activists and Artists for Kids." I probably wouldn't have sent the screener if I'd seen that, thinking it would be entirely inappropriate. As it is, I did. And it wasn't.

One of the creepier and more suspenseful shorts I've had the privilege of viewing, "The Bet" is a starkly lit, quiet little film that enters your mind and refuses to leave largely because of what's NOT said in the film.

It's so nice when the subtlety that we went for is well-received. It's also nice that the subtlety translated into something more intense than if we'd gone over the top with screaming craziness. Again, as in many reviews, the ending made a big impact.

The film's final scene...is one of the most subtle yet hauntingly powerful endings I've witnessed in a short film.

He gave the film an A- and 3.5 stars. Pretty cool.

Read the full review HERE.

Happy Holidays

Yes, a tad late, but wutev. Looking to the new year with some thoughts in mind (both of what happened this year and what's in store for the next).

The Year that was 2007

CineVegas

Easily the biggest event of my year was having "The Bet" premiere at CineVegas. It was one of those moments where I was actually living out a dream that I'd had for so long, and it felt like it. There's really no way to explain the odd mix of excitement and nerves that was pumping through me when I heard the "swing set" sound that starts the film. There, in a theatre of a couple hundred people, my film was playing on a fucking movie screen. Three moments in the film had me near tears (no, not because I was sad, silly, because I was just so overwhelmed with "Wow, this is my fucking movie playing in a real-deal theatre with a real-deal audience"): 1) The reveal of The Guy in the Hallway (which is my favorite part in the film), 2) The closet reveal (because, it's just an amazing climax to the film) and 3) seeing A MICHAEL DUNN FILM up there and thinking, "Wow, that's me!" Having the film play was the highlight of the year, but also one of the biggest highlights of my life. The events surrounding its premiere were less exciting than I imagined they'd be (and at times a bit shitty), but overall... wow.

The Reviews

One of the unexpected bonuses of making the film, was the overwhelmingly positive response it received. The good word was something I fantasized about while making it, but never really thought it would happen. Not only did the reviews give me something to put on the cover of the DVD, it also made me think that maybe I really could make it as a director. Of course, I can't take all the credit; everyone involved had a hand in making it the film it is (and were called out in many of the reviews for their contributions). Probably my favorite review (if only because it was unsolicited) was from City Life. When I read that one (especially since I was still scratching my head over the response at CineVegas) I just flipped.

It's funny that, starting out on the film, we wanted to make it what we wanted, and not worry too much about how it was received. I think we went in not really knowing if it would ever be seen by anyone other than family and friends. It seems that approach actually helped the film since we refused to cater to the masses. This is what caused such a polarized response in viewers, but what made it so much more rewarding when people not only "got it," but also liked it.

"The Bet" on DVD

Following close behind the premiere at CineVegas in terms of 2007's w00t moments was the release of "The Bet" on DVD. Aside from seeing the film in a theatre, actually having a DVD!!! of the film is unbelievably rewarding. The CineVegas premiere was about seeing the film in a theatre with an audience; the joy of the DVD is something different. Partly it was a chance to make a DVD like I'd want to buy, with shitloads of special features and all that. It was also a chance to give the people who helped make it a chance to "publicly" share in the fun with the commentaries and interviews. But, probably, most importantly was the DVD was my way of having closure on the project. Two years had been spent writing, making and promoting the film. Plus, now I have a "product." Plus, now I can get the film (and my future) into the hands of some certain folks who could easily make a huge difference.

"Hallway"

Yes, it's been a very "The Bet"-centric year (or two, actually), and shooting the video for "Hallway" was another facet of that obsession. A big thanks to Francis and Francis and obviously Justine and Rachel (and Walt) for helping to get the video made. It marked my music video directing debut.

Detox

As post-production (at least the first iteration of it) on "The Bet" came to a close, a new script got going, namely Detox. Another collaboration with Chris Smith, the script is currently in its third draft and is being read by a couple of horror buff friends before heading into its fourth. While quite different from "The Bet," it has a few echos of that film, mostly superficial or cosmetic. It does, however, continue to push the idea of what constitutes a horror film. More on this in the coming months.

All the Rest

Honestly, I can't think of much that happened this year that didn't revolve around one the above topics. The inbetween spots were mainly family (which is always an up and down thing, nature of the beast) and friends. But if I wasn't working on the film, or DVD or script, I was thinking about the film, DVD or script. There was a new house, a pool (awesome) school changes for the kids, all that kind of stuff. Christmas saw the introduction of our family to the Wii (and I'm still sore from playing). Maybe 2008 will be the year I lose the beer gut (Wii boxing burns 125 calories in 15 minutes), but probably I'll just lose more hair.

We'll see.

Awesome review of "The Bet"

Short End Magazine has posted an awesome review of "The Bet."

It's rare to see a first time director arrive on scene with all his aesthetic ducks in a row. With The Bet Michael Dunn enters just that way, with a vibrant vision in a carefully crafted and intriguing philosophical horror worth its weight in unspoken themes. Through the prism of social commentary, The Bet distills moral quandary with undercurrents of righteous violence.

Read the full review (and an interview with me).

My son reciting "Night at the Museum"

This is his favorite scene in the film, and he wanted to record it when I told him the laptop recorded video.

Top 10 Horror Deaths

How could this not be the best top ten list ever?
MAXIM has not only created a top ten list of movie deaths, they've got video to back it up. Maybe I don't agree, but having ten awesome MDK's is reason enough to hit the link.

"The Bet" - AVAILABLE NOW!!!!!!!!!

You can now own "The Bet" on DVD! It's being sold online by Film Baby for $12.99 (plus s/h). Click HERE or the above image to go to the site (opens a new window).

"The Bet" DVD features over four hours of bonus material:

• 6 full-length commentaries including:
• director Michael Dunn
• stars Courtney Stavros and Walt Turner
• writers Michael Dunn and Chris Smith
• director of photography Kurt Rauf (My Name Is Bruce)
• producer Matt Wilkinson and Drew Marvick
• sound designer John McClain

• "An Uncommon Wager: The Making of 'The Bet'" - interviews with cast and crew with never-before-seen footage
• Alternate and Extended Endings - presented by the writers with animated storyboards and performances by the actors
• "Midnight Movie" - "The Bet" in simulated black and white 8mm
• "And now, on to our top story" - Uninterrupted Channel 4 Newscasts with optional commentary by Mat Planet and Shannon Sarver
• "Hallway" Music Video - directed by Michael Dunn, featuring Justine Bellinsky and Walt Turner
• "Creating the Look" - In-depth post-production featurette
• "Foreplay" - an introduction to the AIGA Work Show directed by Michael Dunn
• "The Bloody Glitch" - Scenes from a botched film export
• Bloopers, Storyboards, Trivia and Still Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer and Television Spot, plus a teaser for Detox
• Dolby Digital stereo and English subtitles
• 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen presentation enhanced for 16x9 televisions

Own "the Bet" today.

Short End Article

Short End Magazine has published an interview with yours truly to coincide with the DVD release of "The Bet." Go. Read. It's a great site.

That's a... wrap?

Quite the coincidence that one year ago today I said those three words, filled with the same sort of excitement tempered by fear that I have right now. One year ago, we wrapped filming on "The Bet," and I was partially relieved (it was a less than stressless shoot) and partially terrified not knowing exactly how what we had filmed in three days would actually turn out. It, in fact, turned out pretty damn good. The film has gotten some pretty awesome reviews. Perhaps the most awesome was from City Life if only because it was entirely unsolicited (in that I didn't ask for a review) and of the reviews (about 8?) only one was sorta negative.

But anyway, I am now sitting here one year later filled with the same dread because tomorrow (much like the tomorrow of a year ago held the same "here is your footage, now make a film" kind of terror) the DVDs for "The Bet" will be delivered. Why am I scared? I know the film is good. I know the extras are far beyond many Hollywood releases. I know I've packed the fuck out of a dual-layer DVD, especially for a 19-minute film. FOUR HOURS of extras? Yeah, the DVD is solid. So why the fear? Because I had to go about making the master for replication in such a bassackwards way.

From the DiscMakers site:

Q: What is the difference between DVD replication and DVD duplication?
A: Replicated discs such as DVD-5, DVD-9,DVD-10, and DVD-18, which are sometimes called "pressed" discs, begin with a process called glass mastering. During glass mastering, a stamper containing the data is created, which is then used to injection-mold the discs. These “pressed” discs have their data encoded as a series of microscopic indentations molded directly into the disc surface. The resulting disc is only half of a finished DVD and is half as thick as a normal disc. The process is then repeated to make the other half of the disc. The two disc halves are then metallized, usually with aluminum, which gives the discs their silver color. The process is completed when the two halves are bonded together to create one complete DVD. The replication process takes place in a manufacturing facility and is how all retail-ready products are produced. Replicated discs have virtually 100% compatibility with DVD playback devices. Recordable DVDs (DVD-R and DVD+R) differ from replicated DVDs in that their data is not stored as actual indentations, but as laser marks made by burning tiny holes in the dye layer of the DVD-R media. DVDs created this way are called “duplicated” as opposed to “replicated” discs.

If you got this far, I commend you, because going into this, I had no idea about the difference between replication and duplication. All I knew was I made an awesome DVD with DVD Studio Pro and it worked awesome in my DVD player, but for whatever reason (come to find out my DVD recorder on my Mac sucks ass), the dual-layer DVD I created (and played fine on everything) would not replicate properly. So, following the very specific directions from Disc Makers, I found out you could "burn" the disc to the hard drive as a DDP file. So I did that, making a disc with one layer of the DDP file and another for the other. This is what was replicated and what is coming tomorrow on 1000 (that's ONE THOUSAND) DVDs. If I run up to the reception desk, crack open a box and run back to my computer only to find the disc doesn't work the way it should, well, I can't even tell you what will happen. I don't know. Well, I know there will be a lot a swearing, followed by phone calls to Disc Makers with a lot of swearing, followed by phone calls to the credit card company... Let's just hope they work. I was promised they would be fine.

Why am I getting all weird about this? This blog is my way of venting, and this has been such a huge part of my life and major source of stress over the past few weeks, that if I didn't put it down now, I won't ever.

Let's just hope that last year's "That's a wrap" is followed by the same fulfillment as this year's.

Please.

Beard update

In case you care, which you probably don't, but this is about one month since I've decided to shun the shaver and go all mountain man. Still a fairly sad follicular response, but I'm giving it a go still. Besides, despite the horoscope* my wife read from the current issue of InStyle, nothing's really changed. So the beard stays. I may attempt to groom the scraggle, but I'm keeping it. At least a little while longer.

*I don't believe in them nor live my life by them, but there have been a few fairly prophetic and specific horoscopes the past few months. Maybe I'm grasping at any straw, even cosmic ones. Here's the gist of the latest:

It's no secret that you worked hard through much of last year [2007], even when your friends were living it up. That effort and drive will pay off this year [2008] when your ability to make money is stronger than ever.

EDIT: post "groom":

The creative jones

I spent the weekend flowing between a number of projects: wrapping Christmas presents (yes, that's creative), working out a remix of "Hallway" (yes, I am obsessed), deciding that the motel version of the script for Detox isn't gonna work and trying to get back in and adjust the house version to become the "mean" version and trying to figure out what the fuck to do now, then, whatever, whenever I have free time. I think, maybe, I'm trying to divert my attention from the fact that in two days, I'll be accepting a shipment of 12 boxes, probably one of them filled with awesome limited edition t-shirts with Donnie & Maree slik-screened flipping the bird. The rest... hopefully working DVDs of "The Bet." I say "hopefully" because I am TERRIFIED that they won't work. Once that delivery gets to work and I rip it open in wild abandon and grab the first victim, err, DVD and stuff it in the computer there are two options: A) it works, and I do an actual flip and mail them off to be sold online and scream and yell and promote the hell out of it and make a mabillion bucks (okay, the last bit may not happen) or B) it's shit, and I spend the rest of the day trying to make it right. Either way, the adrenaline will be a-pumpin'.

DVDs shipping today

Just got a call that "The Bet" DVDs are shipping out today and should arrive by end of day on Tuesday, the 18th. They WILL be available to order online at Film Baby on the 18th, but will display as "Out of stock" until they receive the actual shipment from me (which should be on the 20th or 21st) but you CAN buy them as soon as the page goes live, which should be on the 18th. Stay tuned for the official announcement (which will have the link to buy).

Detox update: the "mean" version

Mentioned before about taking a slightly new direction on the script, and that is fully underway. I don't know if I explained exactly why I was taking it there. After the mixed reviews of "The Bet" - and believe me, I would never give up the polarized reaction for a middle-of-the-road meh - I wanted to do something a bit more straightforward. Detox is that. But I also wanted to do something that was just downright nasty and mean, not like Hostel cos that sucked, more like Wolf Creek or Audition which truly fucks with your head. Detox, in its current iteration isn't really getting there. It is, right now, an emotional, dramatic character study with some horror and thriller elements thrown in. If I can keep the character study (which really is the heart of the story anyway), but really take it to a place a deeply disturbing and dark and unforgiving as drug addiction, kidnapping and obsession lend themselves, then I think it'll really benefit.

So why do I say the "mean" version. Put it this way, there's a scene in the script where Matt (who has kidnapped Julia to detox her) puts his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming and she bites him. In the third draft I added a little extra something: after the bite, he instinctively slaps her, leaving a smear of blood from the bite on her face. When I added that little bit, I thought "Wow! I can't believe he hit her (characters tend to live in my head, running their lives, over which I have no control) and realised that's what was missing. The detox was too easy. Yes, she was suffering, but it was too nice. Everything was to nice. Too easy. And I wanted these people to really work to get out of the messes they had made for themselves.

I'm going more Less Than Zero and less The Breakfast Club. These folks are gonna have scars both physical and emotional that will last the rest of their lives, if they manage to survive this little ordeal. That's not to say I'll enter torture- or tragedy-porn territory; I'd really rather steer clear of that. I'm not a big fan nor do I think I'd be doing the story justice taking it there. But I'm not gonna play nice, either.

Beard, part 2

So I was reading The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker because it's totally awesome, and then I can segue into Everville, its sequel. Anyway, if you remember my previous post about not shaving unless something awesome happens... well here's a little snippet from the end of the third chapter:

Forty-eight hours later, drunk in an alleyway in Sante Fe, he made two momentous decisions. One, that he'd keep the beard he'd grown in the last few weeks, as a reminder of his search. Two, that every wit he possessed, every hint of knowledge he'd gained about the occult life of America, every iota of power his astral eyes lent him, would go to the possessing of the Art... and that only when he'd got it would he once again show his face unshaven.

Just thought that was awesome timing to come across that again, and what it says about "the Art" which in the books is one thing and for my purposes, another.

Detox update

Just winding down on the third draft of Detox (which is technically the first completed draft) and it kept nagging at me that it needed something. I knew what that something was, namely more commercial horror elements, but wasn't really sure if they'd work in the context of the script. Well, I just went through the whole thing, and, apparently, it may just work.

For every negative there was in changing things, there was a positive. And every single one of the negatives were relatively easily remedied. And there were some really, really awesome things that could be integrated into the new draft. So, I think I may embark on draft 4 ("lucky" number 4) by seeing if I can incorporate the
changes and make it work. If not, I go back to draft 3 and move from there.

Detox - teaser trailer


But the more I think about it, the upped atmosphere of the new direction is well worth the effort. Definitely ramps up the creepy factor on all levels. And really pushes that line between thriller and horror more to the horror side (which is all good by me), while still keeping the integrity of the drama of the relationship (hopefully).

I think draft 4 is gonna be a winner.

To beard or not to beard

I like it. I have eschewed the razor (well, technically I haven't shaved in over a year, favoring instead the beard trimmer to take the sad growth down to a relatively acceptable length) for the past two weeks. I can't say if it looks good. In fact, it probably doesn't, but I pretty much don't care. I can't wear shorts (as much as I want to - and may still just to be obstinate - in this unnecessarily cold weather), so this is my last resort at nonconformism. Sure, I could do the mohawk, but that'd be even sadder than the beard, considering the Rogain-defiant zone known as my head. Tattoos? Got 'em (and god do I jones for more). What's left?

Women have makeup. Men have facial hair. And I'm gonna be goddamn Tammy Faye Baker.

The thing that sucks is that A) i'm blonde, so what i do grow head or face (or, well) is pretty difficult to see anyway and B) it's very thin, so what does grow and can be seen, is doing a sad job of covering real estate and C) it's starting to itch.

I figure until something REALLY awesome comes along, I won't shave (or trim). It's like Travis Barker and his job killer. To a lesser degree.

meh.

Worst case, my wife won't kiss me.

DVD Giveaway contest ends December 8th

It's you LAST CHANCE to win one of five copies of "The Bet" DVD over at Fatally-Yours. Go. ENTER. And good luck.

like this

Mirror mania

I've recently been exploring the surrealistic nature of mirrored images. Nothing new in any form, but the simplicity of seeing it with my laptop made it really easy to play with and really got my imagination going.

And I love the Rorschachian quality of the images. I figure, once manipulated a bit, they could maybe translate into something really awesome.