It amazes me...

...when people actually buy "The Bet" on DVD. Why? Shouldn't I just cash the checks and smile? No. I wanna know WHY they bought it. I wanna know WHERE they heard about it. I wanna know WHAT they thought of it. And I have no clue most of the time. Of all the DVDs that have sold (as opposed to the ones that were given away as a "thank you" for working on the film) I probably only know ONE of those people, and even there it's not really on a personal "I know you, we've met, had lunch" sort of "know" that person (Vixx, you know it's you). So it drives me crazy with all the mixed reviews from CineVegas (where I was told I should be making porn) to the online reviews (where people are practically gushing) to know what people, the real people who are spending their $12.99 plus shipping to see the film without even really knowing what it is, what they think.

And when I check the IMDb page and there's another rating, but there's no comments. It bugs the hell outta me. Who took the time to vote (which it seems it was a high score) and not take the time to comment? I don't wanna comment myself either on IMDb nor Amazon since I think it tends to be a bit goofy for the filmmaker to comment. But it really, well, irks me when people don't say what they think about it.

Why does it bug me? Cos I wanna know what people think. Will the bad comments hurt my feelings? Yes and no. I got a very valid response from a festival which I took to heart. They said a point in the film they thought it became cheesy, but thought the ending was "awesome." Why would I pay attention to a comment that said it was cheesy? Because I knew what they meant and thought it myself during filming, but time and budget forced us to push forward. Constructive criticism is always appreciated and taken into consideration.

And beyond that I am a total film geek. When I read a review that says the film is good, I get giddy. When I get a message on MySpace asking who did the transfer or why was there a red square at the end of the hallway, I fully geek out. I'll gush for hours (and I have) about the most seemingly minute aspect of making "The Bet." I love explaining how we built the set and learning a better way of doing it. I live for hearing how other filmmakers ran into the same problems we did and finding a solution to make the next time (and other filmmakers' next time) much smoother. I. Am. A. Film. Geek. Full stop.

I won't buy a DVD that doesn't at the very least have a director's commentary. I gotta get the widescreen version. I can tell you, in-depth, what Academy, Cinemascope, soft and hard matting mean and the films that use them and which are most effective in their decisions. I'll spend hours debating the uses of said formats. I'll tell you why I love film and vinyl, but use HD and mp3's. I'll tell you why the tennis shoe in Return of the Jedi made me know my wife was the one to marry.

So, if you've seen the film, talk about it, because if there's one thing I like more than talking, it's listening. Either at the film's IMDb page or Amazon or on the official forum. I wanna know what the audience is thinking.

My ghey is showing.

Around 1987, with the release of Boy George's first solo album Sold, there was a 12" single (yes, I still love vinyl and still have a ton of 12" mixes) for the title track which featured Mr O'Dowd in a rather provocative shirt. I (at the tender age of 16) would have killed for that shirt then, but would never have worn it. I, though, have a new hero in Will Forte (of SNL fame) who wore what looks like the same exact shirt for a recent Entertainment Weekly cover story on SNL. I would DIE now to own said shirt. There's gotta be some crazy public something-or-other I can wear this to that will make the people scream.

Will Forte:
If anyone knows where I can find a shirt like this, please please please let me know and I'll be forever indebted and will mention you in the awards speech where I wear it proudly (and hopefully get on some worst dressed list).

I am a procrastinator

Because I hit a temporary block on the script for the punishment cabinet I decided to let it go for a bit and made a new teaser poster for it. I also did some theoretical casting (which helps me visualise the characters) and found someone that totally fits the main character. With him in mind and the new poster done, I feel ready to dive back in.

I'm not sure where the characters are gonna go. I can already feel the main character pushing into a far darker place than I had planned. I'm not as worried about plot on this one; it's very much about how the characters deal with the horrific siutation I put them in. I like it when they take on a life of their own and hate reeling them back to serve the plot. This script allows me not to have to do much controlling. It's a bit of a relief, actually. But, we'll see how out of hand they get.

Missing a friend

This is my second favorite photo Scott took, simply because instead of seeing him, we see him the way others saw him when they were being seen by him through a camera - which was a true honor. My first favorite is featured in "The Bet" and to see it and to know why, buy the damn DVD.

Today Scott Wizell would have been celebrating his 40th birthday. But he's not celebrating it. Because he's dead. He died in 2002 from a heart attack. Scott was one of those people. One who made a difference. I'm not sure how to explain this, but I'll try. Scott was someone who reflected what I believed in and made it real. He was the one who recognized my interest in Joel-Peter Witkin's photography and made it his passion, taking up photography as a hobby, then a career. Scott was someone who for a moment made me feel superior, then made me feel special. Scott was someone who, when he died, I felt it in my heart, hundreds of miles away, and knew someone special had been lost.

Scott was and still is someone whom I cry over not being able to call up and just shoot the shit.

And Scott is the reason I'm crying as I type this.

I miss you, man.

I hope you know how important you were in so many people's lives.

I'm not crying because he died too young. I'm not crying because he could have done so much with his life. I'm not crying because his daughter misses him.

I'm crying because I need his unselfish smile and pat on the back and to pick on him for turning 40 before me and I miss him because I loved him.

And I'm crying because he, like Bobbi Cartwright, were taken to soon from a world where I needed them to much.



Scott, Heather and Sachi. The, I continue to believe regardless if I'm wrong, the perfect family.

the punishment cabinet

Well, apparently I can't write traditional horror. What started as an idea for a ball-out, rockin' horror gorefest has become a deeply disturbing human drama. I've got the groundwork laid out for a new feature-length script called the punishment cabinet: After an attack resurrects a man's past and leaves his wife in a coma, he must overcome his guilt to start a new relationship. Loglines are kinda dull and vague by nature, but that's all you're getting right now. HA!

I'll be writing this while Chris Smith does his magic on Detox. Hopefully I can get through the first draft before he sends Detox back my way. There's also a MySpace page set up for the script (yeah, I'm weird like that).

Interview with the cast & creators of "The Bet"

2.0 Television interviewed us after one of the screenings of "The Bet" at CineVegas last year and have finally posted the segment in two parts. Check it (and don't laugh).

Part 1
Part 2