"Flower Thieves" was a short film collaboration between Eric Jacobus
and Pete Lee of The Stunt People and Shawn and I from Lazy Brown
Productions back in 2008, when we visited Eric to work on "Those Who
Go To Hell". Now it's making its festival debut during the SHORTS
section of the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival.
The dates are:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH
4:30 PMShorts Program
The location is at the Portage Theater, which is located at: 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60641
You can view all the details of the Festival here: http://cfaff.org/
You can also view LBP's version of the short at the second half of this video:
LBP wants to thank Eric Jacobus for allowing us to post his film online
and for the submission. He's a fantastic individual and a great friend
to boot. Please visit him and The Stunt People at:
Alex Hashioka asked me to help shoot and edit a test fight idea he had with fellow Asylum Stunts members Laurie Mcneilly and Jim Priz, so we shot a 2 on 1 fight yesterday in 2 hours. Alex Hashioka did the fight choreography while Alex and I action directed. Enjoy!
Hey
all, for those living in the states, I'm sure some of you (or maybe
only a few) have started to hear buzz of this new (2007, actually)
indie film called "Paranormal Activity". The synopsis is
below:
A
young couple, Katie and Micah, are haunted by a demonic presence in
their home. Micah buys and sets up an expensive camera to document the
strange apparitions occurring in their home. However, as each night is
documented, the haunting only seems to get worse..
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 indie
film done in the same style as "The Blair Witch Project", in which the
footage is supposedly "found" and is "real" as presented unedited and
preserved, and is through the eyes of whoever is in the video filming.
The film premiered in Slamdance 2007, and since then has been picked up
by Dreamworks to only now, be finally released.
So
why all the hype? Well, supposedly this film is not only the new "big
thing" being that it's garnered consistently good reviews and touted as
"one of the scariest movies of all time" it's also got backing by
Steven Spielberg (who apparently was so scared by his personal
screening that he brought the movie back to his production offices in a
garbage bag, and
never wants to see it again) and by the fact it's another one of those
"little movies that could".
Paranormal Activity was
made for $15,000
and shot in one consecutive week. Obviously if this does well,
Dreamworks could have a Blair Witch style hit on their
hands:
[Blair Witch's original budget was $35,000,
but ended up totaling $248,639,099]
Sowhatdoes that have to do with us?
Well, I actually had the chance to check out Paranormal Activity thanks
to a free online RSVP screening Paramount was holding in various select
cities, on September 24th at Chicago's "The Music
Box".
What did I think? I thought it was
awesome!
I wish I had taken pics of the MASSIVE line
of people (at least 700 showed up) and upon sitting and watching the
movie, I will say it's definitely not super, super, scary (unless your
really freaked out by ghosts and that type of lore) but it is HIGHLY
unsettling. I never jumped, but the movie has a wonderful thing where
it really takes its time, precisely setting up each new night, showing
how Katie and Micah deal with it, and how eventually, just all hell
breaks loose the more and more they piss off the "demon". It's a really
solid execution of a simple and cliched story, and I thoroughly enjoyed
it. Plus it helped seeing it in a packed house with about 450 other
folks that seemed to be thoroughly scared out of their
minds.
In terms of what "happens" it's all really
just mind games. You DO see some creepy shit, but alot of it is shadows
and noise, but it's backed up by some fantastically done sound design,
and though the film IS handheld, luckily all the night scenes of the
hauntings are at a FIXED angle, so you can see everything clearly
(thank God).
Past that, the acting is
definitely believable, and the movie barely comes under an hour and a
half. It's quick ride, but definitely leaves you with some unsettling
imagery, and I won't lie, the movie makes you focus on all little weird
noises in the night.
Now in terms of where it's
playing, here's how it gets interesting:
What the
filmmakers have done is create a word of mouth/grassroots type of viral
marketing in where YOU as the audience member, get to demand if you
want it in your town. Spread the word enough, and boom! Your town is
chosen each subsequent week it's playing. For now, they seem to be
adding 10 cities per week, and the film premiered on September
25th.
The full list of cities currently playing
"Paranormal Activity" are:
ARIZONA
Phoenix *Starting 10/1* Harkins Tempe Marketplace
16 2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy. Tempe, AZ
85281 Tickets & Showtimes
Philadelphia *Starting 10/1* The Bridge: cinema de lux 230
S. 40th Street S 40th Street and Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104 - SOLD OUT -
- New Screens
Added!- Tickets & Showtimes
State College Premiere College 9 3031
Carnegie Drive State College, PA 16803 Tickets & Showtimes
TEXAS
Austin Alamo Draft House Cinema 1120 South Lamar Austin, TX
78704 - SOLD OUT -
- New Screens
Added!- Tickets &
Showtimes
Dallas *Starting 10/1* AMC Northpark 15 8687 N
Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75225 - SOLD OUT -
- New Screens
Added!- Tickets & Showtimes
Houston *Starting 10/1* AMC Studio 30 2949
Dunvale Houston, TX 77063 - SOLD OUT -
- New Screens
Added!- Tickets &
Showtimes
San Antonio *Starting 10/1* AMC Huebner Oaks 11075
Interstate Hwy 10 West San Antonio, TX 78230 - SOLD OUT -
- New Screens
Added!- Tickets &
Showtimes
Madison Marcus Eastgate
16 5202 High
Crossing Blvd. Madison, WI 53704 Tickets &
Showtim
So
if you don't see your city and really want to check out this film, I
say demand it, spread the word every way you can, and have fun! As of
now, the film is ONLY showing at midnight, from Thursday - Saturday (3 days) in each city from
my understanding. Definitely online pre-ordering is a must for
this.
In closing, the movie isn't perfect, and you
really shouldn't go into the movie expecting lots of crazy business.
The movie IS a very clever and effective film, and I feel it does what
it sets out to achieve right, but it's definitely not for everyone.
However, it IS better than lots of the shit that Hollywood has spoon
feeding people with stupid storylines, and even worse acting inflated
by bigger budgets and need for violence.
If it's
playing in your city, I say give it a chance and check it out.
Otherwise, demand it, or you know, just wait for the DVD.
:P
Earlier in the year, myself and LBP Members Alex Hashioka, and Alex Meglei did a
favor for good friend and local rapper, Moses "Kid Static" Harris to appear in a promo
music video for him as well as other local indie Chicago artists. The
video was finally completed and now up for viewing above. Both Alex's and I are the ninjas in the video, fighting the cardboard
robot. Specifically, I'm the one doing the twist fall when the robot shoots his "barrier" out at us.
Enjoy!
Sorry for the delay between posts y'all. I was out all across the east coast for a month and a half for stunt training, networking, and being with my fiance, and now I'm back in Chicago, settling and working/training again. I've tried to post up pics but AnD is uber slow with that stuff, so alot are up, but not all. I took a ton of pics, but if your friends with me on myspace or facebook, you can view them all there. =)
I traveled out to New York City to meet fellow action filmmakers and stunt buddies Jon Truei from The Conquistadors and Shaun Finney from The Stunt People to shoot a small short and fight. In it, Shaun attempts to explain to casual viewers how to spruce up their test fights by shooting in an expensive looking city like San Francisco. However, Jon and I interrupt Shaun during his explanation, and wackiness ensues. Enjoy!
Hey, you're barely here but when you do, you stop by...that's good enough!!! I'm leaving soon for a month so I'm not really here either but no worries, you know I check up on ya schedule when I do have a chance. Take care of yourself and the little missus :)
You're one busy guy :-) You still haven't share the engagement details yet :-( I'm doing ok, just cope with insanely busy schedule...
Hope all is well and take it easy Em!!!
Loved it!! out of 10 people, 9 couldn't sleep well XD
I would have played a bit more with the background environment though..shadows, thinngs changin place, doors being closed or open etc
still, loved it, cant wait for a dvd release to watch it again ^^
erm...not as good as i hope.to be, but i'll live...haha!
been doing this translation job, with another friend...we divided in 2, been a month plus and still doing it, i procrastinate too much...deadline is coming soon, but i'm still taking my sweet time, sometimes i don't even get myself...
wow that's great Emm! So how did the stunt training go? Oh that's cool...save up lot of $ and you will get to go back to see ur fiance again! I wish u all the best dude! Keep up the good work!
I'm doing fine...just busy with college and work these days. I'm going great overall. Thanks for asking!
Have a great weekend Emm! :) xx
An aspiring stuntman who also runs an independent martial arts stunt team in Chicago known as "Lazy Brown Productions". To find out more info about what I do, and LBP, please visit:...
An aspiring stuntman who also runs an independent martial arts stunt team in Chicago known as "Lazy Brown Productions". To find out more info about what I do, and LBP, please visit:
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