A diary of my
arduous process to develop, finance,
produce and distribute a totally independent, digital, feature film (DREAMS
AWAKE). Come along for the
ride, comment if you like, and maybe we’ll learn something, and of course have a little fun.
Originally I gave myself from March 15, 2005 to September 15, 2006 to turn
my dream and vision into reality, with only my imagination to
guide me. Since we all know film development can be
unpredictable and full of unanticipated obstacles, a self-imposed
deadline should not jeopardize the project's quality. My new
timeline was more flexible and production finally commenced
in July, 2007 when the script was where it needed to be in order to tell an
engaging and original story. Check in
regularly for the ongoing progress. We wrapped in September, 2007, and are currently in
a prolonged post-production mode, with some type of release expected in
late 2009 or early 2010 ... Jerry Alden Deal
Well hey, guess
what, our little blog made the list, "The
100 Best Movie Blogs." They have several different
categories catalogued, and ours is listed under 'Filmmaker Blogs'
at #81. Now sure, this certainly is no official list of any
kind. In fact, who knows, there may dozens, hundreds, or
even thousands of these lists floating all around the Internet.
But hey, it is kinda cool. Getting listed along with Roger
Ebert, Filmmaker Magazine, Indiewire and all those biggies.
And then, on the other hand, I know it doesn't really mean squat,
but I'll take whatever I can. But this is what I like about
our listing, quoting them, "This one is different from the other
blogs on this list, because he’s chronicling his attempt to make
an indie film of his own." Yeah, I'll take that any day ...
On another
front, IMDB has finally put up several screen shots from the film.
I know they've been up on this blog already, but they look great
on IMDB. So sure, you gotta go check them out --
"Dreams Awake"
...
Been working
this past week trying to put together a trailer. Damn, it's
hard work, trying to encapsulate this involved film into two
minutes of screen time. I've put aside about twenty minutes
of the best footage and am now sifting it down to 10% of that.
It's starting to finally take shape, after trying several
different directions that just didn't work. There are so
many trailers that I just haven't liked, that I wanted to avoid
the trap of telling the whole story. It's one of my pet
peeves about trailers. When I know all I need to about a
film from its trailer I ever rarely want to go to that film,
because I just saw it. Know what I mean?. Anyway, once
I get this thing totally I ironed out, I figured I'd paste the web
with it. Tsk tsk, but in a nice, well-directed way. I
don't want to create more net trash ;-) ...
A couple
seminars coming up that you should be aware of:
Film
Specific's Going Global Bootcamp on April 25 & 25 -- About the
complex world of global film distribution. Stacy Parks
really knows her stuff. Should be exciting, and we'll be
there ...
&
The No
Budget Film School on May 30 & 31 -- About the nuts and bolts
of the very low to no budget world of film production. Mark
Stolaroff doesn't just teach this stuff, but puts it work on his
own films. We've taken a couple of classes, but not sure yet
if we'll make this one, yet we highly recommended it ...
Jerry
get a
scene 'up on its feet.' The scene takes place very early in
the film, as we're trying to establish the characters. And
of course, the second is the scene itself, taking place in
the kitchen of their home. Enjoy ...
Jerry
April 15, 2009
- "Music of the Spheres"
A summary sheet on a background theme ...
Following
is a piece I wrote originally just for myself as background material
for the story of our film, which was the result of a fair amount
of research I did before I actually wrote the screenplay for
"Dreams Awake". It essentially lays out a simplification for
a very complex, very ancient set of metaphysical theories that
supposedly have been floating around different cultures for, well,
who knows how long. It lays the foundation for a major
underlying theme of our film. Enjoy ...
The Sound of Silence
“The
sound is the source of all manifestation ... The knower of the
mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe.”
“For in the beginning of the times so did we all share in the
Holy Stream of Sound that gave birth to all creation.”
“In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.”
“The Tao is
the source of all things ... existed before heaven and earth ...
eternal ... pervades everywhere.”
“In the
beginning was OM ...”
Virtually every
civilization in the world has had some type of creation myth that
involved sound, usually sound that was equated with consciousness
and that this celestial sound was the first creation, so that
everything else created came from such ‘otherworldly’ sound in the
ether. A number of spiritual, mystical and religious texts have
spoken of this metaphysical equation of sound as an element of
their most honored traditions.
Plato wrote that
the cosmos was constructed according to musical intervals and
proportions. Pythagoras called it ‘Music of the Spheres’ and
believed that it fills our inner ears and we are constantly in
contact with it from the moment of our birth. Another Greek
philosopher, Heraclitus, called it ‘Logos’ (divine word or
sound). Some Native American traditions call it ‘Song of the
Creator,’ while the Bible calls it ‘The Word’ and ‘Voice of Many
Waters’. Hindus refer to it as ‘Anahad Shabd’ (unlimited tone or
unstruck melody) and ‘Akash Bani’ (voice from the heavens), while
the Sufis say it is ‘Saute Surmad’ (tone that fills the cosmos).
Lao Tzu described the Tao as ‘unimpeded harmony’ and referred to
the ‘Great Tone’ as the source of all things. Guru Nanak
built Sikhism on the foundations of this 'cosmic tone'. Some
believe the knowledge of this 'mystery tone' goes back even
farther, beyond the origins of Hinduism, and to the ancient
Egyptians of several thousand B.C. Others believe that Jesus
taught it to his inner circle, his disciples, and also that
Mohammed was aware of it when he was enlightened in the cave at
Gare-Hira. Several spiritual Masters
teach that this sound of God is in everyone and that we explore
this inner space through meditation. A number of ancient
Gnostics mystical texts refer to hearing the sound of God while in
deep meditation states. Today, these traditions are a part
of the Radhasoami movement, as well as several others around the
world. In addition, a number of other cultures, such as the
Aborigines, Aztecs, Eskimos, Malayans and Persians all believed
that the universe originated in sound. In fact, the very word
universe actually means ‘one song or sound’, uni meaning one and
verse meaning song.
The details of
these esoteric theories are as follows. This one sound is divided
into unlimited frequencies or tones that generate a geometric wave
pattern containing the information of its order and structure in
nature. Sound is in this way a storage and transfer system for
information or the intelligence of the universe bio-system. Much
of our life is spent under the influence of disorganized, chaotic,
frantic sound. However, the more time one spends within the
influence of highly organized and repeating fractal tone patterns,
the more solution orientated is the information attracted and
maintained in one’s energy field. This can help allow stress to
be replaced with ease by relaxation, which is why the sacred
geometry of sound is a foundation for sound healing. In addition,
symbols are the language of the unconscious and higher conscious
mental bodies, and they provide the keys to one’s journey into the
sensations of tone. The physical body, the subtle bodies and
their points of confluence, vibrate at different frequencies.
These are modified or literally attuned by the resonation of the
inner sound current, sacred algorithms or mantras, which can then
harmonize and realign the dense and subtle components of the
energetic body.
It has also been
said that the vibrations of this sound are too fine to be audible,
making it difficult to be aware of these very fine, ethereal
vibrations. However, as this sound is supposedly always
resounding in the soul and when one attains a certain level of
stillness and concentration, the sound can become audible. It is
supposedly the ringing tone one can hear when all other sounds are
silent. Depending upon the person, a variety of sounds may be
heard, similar to the following physical representations; rushing
waters, thunder, ringing bells, conch sounds, gong echoes, steam
engine, crickets chirping, bees or hummingbirds flying, or even
instruments like harps, horns, flutes or lutes being played.
Ascetics blow a horn, a shell or a flute to awaken this inner tone
in them. The bells and gongs in churches and temples are meant to
suggest this same inner sound and thus lead one to take up the
clarion call towards the inner life.
In the even deeper
esoteric world of mystics, there is a spiritual
practice (meditation) called Surat Shabd(a) Yoga, (yoga of
the celestial sound current), which is followed by
a number of ancient spiritual traditions. Surat means “soul,”
shabd means “word” and yoga means “union.” Word means the “Sound
Current,” the “Audible Life Stream” or the “Essence of the
Absolute Supreme Being.” That is, the dynamic force of creative
energy that was sent out, as sound vibration, from the Supreme
Being/Force into the abyss of space at the dawn of the universe's
manifestation, and that is being sent forth, through the ages,
framing all things that constitute and inhabit the universe. It
is also implied that through this practice of meditation, one can
learn to access the workings of this inner sound and actually
travel spiritually into other levels or dimensions within the
inner cosmos. If one follows the theory on down to biological
human beings, it says this inner sound is the spiritual
energy that actually drives your consciousness and provides the
energy to hold your genetic structure in balance. And that this
energy is supplied through an umbilical cord arrangement, and this
ringing or buzzing sound we all can actually hear is the current
flow in that power line. And thus, that one’s hair swirl is
physical evidence of its path, as it enters at that point in a
vortex pattern.
In addition to
these mystical theories and practices, today there is a popular,
still developing theory among physicists called String Theory,
which attempts to provide a complete, unified and consistent
description of the fundamental structure of our universe. Very
basically, it explains the smallest possible component of reality
as a vibrating string, or a bundle of them intertwined, and that
how matter is created depends on the way these strings vibrate.
And of course when something vibrates, it creates a tone or
harmonic of tones. String theory tries to bridge and tie together
the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics into the
currently accepted “Big Bang” theory of the universe’s creation.
And as previously mentioned, universe meaning one song, is
creation then merely a song being sung or played? A cosmic
symphony of sorts? And each one of us exists as a unique harmonic
signature within this overall celestial symphony?
And finally, we must certainly mention the medical condition of
tinnitus, which may or may not relate to these theories.
Webster’s dictionary defines tinnitus as, “any ringing or buzzing
in the ear not resulting from an external stimulus.” The medical
community reports that at least 20%, if not more, of the people in
the U.S. suffer from it on a regular basis. Things mentioned that
bring it on are allergies, head injuries, loud noises,
medications, infections, tumors and diseases. Several treatments
are offered to treat symptoms, but they truly do not even know
what causes it. And even though it is recognized as a medical
condition, it is one that doesn’t seem to do much harm, other than
being a nuisance for those affected. In fact, most patients
report that their doctors usually tell them to just learn to deal
with it, since there is no long-lasting cure except ways to
temporarily relieve the annoyance. And polls reveal that 60-90%
of the time these treatments don’t work. So learning to live with
it is basically the solution most people accept, because it’s also
noted that at one time or another almost everyone gets it to some
degree. Does this possibly give any more credence to these
metaphysical theories of this mystery tone? Can we ever
really know? Will we? Should we? And if we do,
does that really mean anything anyway? So many questions, so
few answers. Yet, is that really so? ...
Yes, I
know, a lot to take in. In the next post we will delve into
some of the nagging issues that are brought up by the film.
And then we plan to begin a discussion about them here, and on our
Facebook Page, and as much as possible, on our
Twitter Page, and
maybe even on other venues. I realize it may be difficult to
get very far into all this without first seeing the film.
However, I thought we could go ahead and create a starting point
before the film actually comes out. We'll just see how far
we can go with it. And then we can progress it even farther
once the film is finally out there ...
Jerry
April 26, 2009
- Taking Care of Business
A new series of checks and balances ...
Several
things going on now. Finalizing the last three VFX clips.
About finished tweaking the lyrics for the song that is sung at
the end of the film. Yes, we still need to record that in a
studio, hopefully this week. We also finished a first
attempt at a trailer. Of course, it's not an official
trailer, just an exercise at this point. But of course you
already know all this because you have been following us on
Twitter. Right? I know its a bit frivolous, but I'm
trying to have a little fun with it, so follow along and have a
little fun with me ...
I did have
a great weekend at the Going Global 2-day Boot Camp I mentioned a
couple weeks ago. Met some amazing filmmakers, who along
with myself are searching for some answers in the shifting sands
of the distribution world these days. The presenters had
some very sobering info, but also offered some realistic light at
the end of the tunnel. As long as we filmmakers are in it
for the long haul and are willing to work hard, very hard, to
become filmmaker-entrepreneurs. Funny, I always felt it
would come down to that. Taking hold of the business of
filmmaking and making it work creatively within a whole new world
view and paradigm. Filmmakers of today are going to need the
attitude and toughness of the pioneers of the old west.
Whether we go off together in a wagon train or traverse into that
abyss solo, there's a great wilderness out there, and a chance to
build a different kind for community out on that there frontier.
There will be numerous hardships, mistakes and casualties, but
also loads of opportunities. So, guess it's once again about
time to put buckle up those bootstraps and reload that ammo,
'cause a brave new world is a coming around the bend. I
can't wait, my blood's a flowing ...
Jerry
May 7, 2009 -
Escaping My Way
Music
to my ears ...
Went to
the composers recording studio yesterday to watch over the
recording of the song that is sung at the end of the film.
Most of the performance occurs off camera, as the visuals spin and
zoom all over the place (sorry can't be a spoiler here so won't
tell you any more details about that) before the film ends.
But you ever feel like the fifth wheel? I have to admit that
I did a bit. The composers, Geoff and Bruce, went to work
with the actress/singer Najarra, and for the most part I just
watched. They worked amazing magic as they went through the
lyrics beat by beat, verse by verse, and into the chorus, putting
it all together before they actually recorded ...
Once they
started recording, everything happened very quickly, as they
breezed right through it, barely needing me. Sure at first,
we all discussed the song which we'd all done previously several
times. But once they got into their creative groove, I just
had to get out of their way. Did I feel unneeded? To tell
you the truth I really didn't. It was kind of nice, just
watching the process develop and eventually come to fruition.
My wife accompanied me, as she surely has a much more musical ear
than I do. She did offer some good a direction a few times,
so that was refreshing. I liked hanging back a bit, just
nodding and smiling here and there as it all came together ...
And boy,
did it come together. By the end of the session, Najarra was
belting it out, and the song really sounds amazing. Kudos to
all three of them for a job well done. And hey, I should
hang back a little more. I could get used to that ...
Jerry
May 18, 2009 -
Finding My (Our) DIY Way
The
sweet smell of self-imposed exile ...
Seems I
have been putting it off, but I finally decided to get myself
together and come up with a marketing and distribution plan for
the film. Just in case some big-time distributor doesn't
decide to lay a huge wad of cash at my doorsteps for going through
all the trials and tribs of delivering a finished film onto their
doorsteps. Imagine that, doing them a favor like that.
Hell, why should they want to pay us for that? Anyway, with
the state of film distribution these days, any meaningful
distribution looks very iffy. So, that means it's back on
the filmmaker's shoulders to follow through and become an
artist/filmmaker/entrepreneur. Wow, we're back into the
triple hat territory. Didn't I already do that? ...
Just a
note before we get into all this. Late last year, when the
editor and I were heavy into the edit, I was beginning to get
antsy with the process. And since the film deals with some
serious issues, I felt the need to lighten things up a bit.
So one day I suggested to Bob (editor) that we recut the footage
for another film and actually do a spoof of our own film. We
could call it "Dreams Whacked", making fun of all things
metaphysical/mystical/spiritual, and without holding back at all.
Needless to say, he gave me one of those 'wtf are you talking
about' glares. I still say it's doable and would be fun.
In fact, I mention it because maybe as part of our online viral
marketing plan we'll make some footage available for mashups and I
could work with other cutters to do exactly that. Hhhmm,
moving on ...
Anyway,
I've spent several days sequestered away in an undisclosed
location trying to figure out all the immense complexities of film
marketing and distribution. And once attempting that, trying
to find a viable (and successful) pathway for us. Wow, this
has been truly harder than imagined. So please, where is the
simplistic beauty of it all? Didn't someone once say that
the solution to any problem is either awfully simple or simply
awful? Uh, oh ...
So, I'm
going to go over it all, in a general way, because if we get too
specific I'll be writing this all week. Plus, the specifics
will be laid out neatly in our own written marketing business
plan. I went through four main steps to get what I wanted;
a) I had to identify all the general pieces of the plan (the what
to do), b) Next I had to specify each item of each piece (a list
of the who), c) Then I had to strategize the how and when (most
difficult), and finally d) I had to lay it all out three
dimensionally to see how it all looked put together, more like a
circular flow chart instead in a linear timeline. Mainly
because we need to be flexible in accordance with how that world
is operating at any given time. And there seems to be no
real 'window' or 'medium' or 'access point' in the overall
formula. In essence, we have to build an equation in which
several of the variables may have to be unknown and then plugged
in as required to keep us moving into a shifting world where the
film can generate its own traction. In essence, grow from
hobbling babyhood to confident adult ...
Identified
these 9 modules of operation in the flow, in no particular order:
1. Reach out to our core/niche/targeted audiences in a
number of ways, and develop; affiliate, partners, email lists,
etc. for targeted (non-spam) online campaigns.
2. Target specific film festivals as a theatrical
springboard, and utilize accordingly.
3. Utilize social media platforms to help build awareness,
and connect to, cultivate and grow an interested, engaged audience
and fan base.
4. Create a series of clips & trailers to spread virally to
identified sites, venues, etc.
5. Target and partner with alternative and appropriate
community venues for public viewing.
6. Work with online distributors, either as downloads,
streams or DVD's.
7. A fluid, changing main website for blog, clips, forums,
EPK, etc., to keep dialogue going about the issues raised in film.
8. Identify and work with targeted bloggers and online
reviewers to help spread online word-of-mouth to predisposed
audience for film.
9. Create a landing page for DVD sales off our own website.
Each one
of these points is obviously very general and seems a bit
simplistic, but in most cases the details have been identified and
described in several pages of text. In addition, none of
these will work in a vacuum by itself, but in a managed unified
process. And constant change will be the main constant.
We will try to keep you updated as we track forward. And
finally, these 9 parts could easily become 10 or 11. Oh boy.
Anyone know any college students who might want to intern over the
summer, and who will learn a lot in the process? ...
Next time
I'll throw out some great self-distribution resources ...
Jerry
May 29, 2009 -
A Few Handy Resources
Opportunities awaiting to be discovered and utilized ...
'Do-It-Yourself' (DIY) and 'Self-Distribution' have become quite
the buzzwords in the indie film world these days. So, thought
I'd share some DIY distribution info, articles and resources for
you fellow filmmakers (and anyone else who might be interested):
Truly Free Film
http://trulyfreefilm.blogspot.com "We are on the
verge of a new film culture and infrastructure, driven by both the
creators and the audiences. We must accept that being a filmmaker
means taking responsibility for our films all the way through the
process. Building the new infrastructure is the first step towards
real media independence."
Film Specific
http://www.filmspecific.com
"The premier online resource for independent filmmakers serious
about getting their projects made, seen and distributed
worldwide."
Jon
Reiss News
http://jonreiss.com/blog
"What Now? A
Practical Guide to DIY, WEB and Hybrid Distribution for
Independent Filmmakers"
I know
there are lots of other resources out there, but these will
certainly give you quite a bit to get going, as well as link you
to a whole lot more. Have fun!
Jerry
June 8, 2009 -
A Time for Everything
Living life and passing it on ...
I spent
this past week in Chicago, where my wife's mother passed away.
It's one those tough times in life that all of us has to deal
with, and as you get older it seems more of those days creep up at
a continuingly faster rate. Karla was her name and by all
accounts she was quite a fantastic person. I say it that way
because I am sorry to say I did not know the woman the way I
wished I had. By the time Berry (my wife) and I were married
Karla's poor health had already progressed to the point that she
was not quite the vibrant woman she had always been. She had
lived a very full and rich life, and carried with her an amazing
history. She was one of the lucky ones in her family who had
gotten out of Germany during the craziness of Nazi Germany in the
late 1930's. In fact, she had been arrested by the Gestapo
at the age of 15 and was accused of being a spy. They then
deported her, separating her from her family, some of whom she was
later reunited with, and some of whom were never heard from again.
The stories go on and on about this woman, as many were told about
her this week and me just sitting in awe as her family spilled
them out before me. I could only think, wow ...
But this
is only half the story, as there are two bookends to my posting
today. In early July of 2007 when we going into
pre-production, we got the word that Berry's father, Walter, had
been taken to the hospital suddenly, and probably only had a short
time on this earth. So she flew back to Chicago, while I
stayed on course with the film. When I got word from my wife
of his passing, I realized there was no way I could just stop the
film and go to the funeral. I felt bad about the situation,
but everyone in her family assured me that they completely
understood. Yet, it was not an easy decision, and I still
wonder if I did the right thing. Looking back though, and
knowing her father, I think he would have been all right with it.
He was that way ...
An odd bit
synchronicity? The universe playing its game? Berry
lost her father just as we were beginning this film, and she loses
her mother just as we are finishing it. The final chapters
of these two people's lives form the bookends on the creation of
this film. This film, with an underlying theme about the
possibilities of spiritual immortality. How fitting that it
all worked out this way. And how fitting that this second
time, with another chance, that I could go and pay my respects to
a woman I wish I had known. Maybe in another life, in
another time and place ...
Jerry
June 18, 2009 -
Fun Clips
A few Youtube videos of our primary cast ...
Thought I'd have a little fun and toss these out for ya'.
Enjoy!
ERIN
GRAY
GARY GRAHAM
TIM O'CONNOR & ERIN GRAY
NAJARRA TOWNSEND
MITCHELL PRESAS
Jerry
June 28, 2009 -
Interview Clips
More goodies for your eyes ...
Posted a
couple more videos on YouTube. Both of them are interviews
with principal cast; one is with
Erin Gray, the
main lead, and the other is with
Gary Graham, the
male lead. I will also have some interviews from the other
cast members posted up soon ...
Also, I
just got back from an all-day social media workshop in Burbank --
Social
Networking For Filmmakers: A Bootcamp - very well done and
some really great and amazing information. Will post some
video clips of that soon. I got one of these new
Flip cameras, an HD one,
which is very simple to use, cheap and easy to import into your
laptop. And the footage is pretty high quality ...
