It's been a really long time, and I apologize for that.
But I have to admit that not much has been going on with BHF.
I've been working on a couple of short scripts, but as far as production on them... well, there hasn't been any. Just been so busy with work and classes, it's been tough finding time for that. Maybe this summer.
Maybe this summer...
B
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A Long Time Coming
I know I've been promising it for some time now, but finally it is here. The Director's Diary for "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental."
This isn't a Broken Heart Films production, but since I did direct the short I feel compelled to post about it here. And I did shoot and edit this diary.
The actual short film this is the behind-the-scenes of will make it's world premiere in December. Location and date have yet to be determined, but I will announce that here when I am aware of the information.
Hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental." (And be warned, it has some adult language.)
"Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental" Director's Diary from Brad Duncan on Vimeo.
This isn't a Broken Heart Films production, but since I did direct the short I feel compelled to post about it here. And I did shoot and edit this diary.
The actual short film this is the behind-the-scenes of will make it's world premiere in December. Location and date have yet to be determined, but I will announce that here when I am aware of the information.
Hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental." (And be warned, it has some adult language.)
"Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental" Director's Diary from Brad Duncan on Vimeo.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sometimes, All You Have to Do is Ask
Last year I had this idea for a short film that was inspired by a song I had heard. I knew that I had to use that song and had this thought that it could make a nice musical number at the end of the short. I wrote the script with this song in mind, but I didn't have the rights to the song.
The artist, who isn't as well known as most of the artists you see on the top-40 lists but who has a strong following and is one of my favorites, has a MySpace page to connect with her fans. I thought this might be a good way to get in touch with her about using her song in my short film. So, I wrote to her, telling her how much I loved her music and how I was an aspiring filmmaker hoping to use one of her songs in my film. I expected a pat response from a legal-type or agent or manager or somebody, but instead, got a very kind note from her telling me how she appreciated my kind words. She closed her message by stating that she was giving me permission to use her song.
After mentioning to a couple of fellow filmmakers and talking to a producer friend mine, I knew that if I wanted to submit the film to festivals I would need proof of permission, more than just a MySpace message. As a result, I wrote her back to request a business address to which I could mail the requisite music release forms. A couple days later, she messages me a PO Box address. I send the forms.
A few weeks go by and I hadn't heard anything, so I contacted her again to verify she received the papers; however, she said she had not. So, she actually gave me another address to attempt to send them. For whatever reasons, I hadn't sent another set of forms before today. And luckily so... for it would have been a waste.
In my mail box this morning was a priority envelope containing a signed release form for the use of her song. For free. It's nice to know there are kind individuals out there looking out for fellow artists.
Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't get quality music for your films. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.
The artist, who isn't as well known as most of the artists you see on the top-40 lists but who has a strong following and is one of my favorites, has a MySpace page to connect with her fans. I thought this might be a good way to get in touch with her about using her song in my short film. So, I wrote to her, telling her how much I loved her music and how I was an aspiring filmmaker hoping to use one of her songs in my film. I expected a pat response from a legal-type or agent or manager or somebody, but instead, got a very kind note from her telling me how she appreciated my kind words. She closed her message by stating that she was giving me permission to use her song.
After mentioning to a couple of fellow filmmakers and talking to a producer friend mine, I knew that if I wanted to submit the film to festivals I would need proof of permission, more than just a MySpace message. As a result, I wrote her back to request a business address to which I could mail the requisite music release forms. A couple days later, she messages me a PO Box address. I send the forms.
A few weeks go by and I hadn't heard anything, so I contacted her again to verify she received the papers; however, she said she had not. So, she actually gave me another address to attempt to send them. For whatever reasons, I hadn't sent another set of forms before today. And luckily so... for it would have been a waste.
In my mail box this morning was a priority envelope containing a signed release form for the use of her song. For free. It's nice to know there are kind individuals out there looking out for fellow artists.
Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't get quality music for your films. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.
Friday, August 15, 2008
"The Ledge" News
Had a good meeting with my producer friends Eric and Lori over at Bald Brother's Studio Productions last night.
Initially, I headed over to see the current cut of "Previously Viewed," which is coming along. Didn't have much more to say about the edits. Looks like now, the biggest task left is going to be adjusting audio.
But the best part of the evening regarded my most recent short script, "The Ledge."
Lori had requested my short scripts to give them a read since she, for some reason, seemed interested in producing something of mine. So, I sent her "The Box Office" and "The Ledge." Lori was not particularly fond of "The Box Office." Of course, I knew it was in need of a major rewrite, which I have not started to work on since I finished it over a month ago. Maybe once the rewrite is done, she will like it better.
Once we finished our discussion of that script, we moved on to one she claimed to really, really like. Instead of just discussing the script and what might make it better (I certainly think it needs some tweaking), we found ourselves fully immersed in a preproduction meeting of "How do we do this?", "When do you want to shoot?", "What about casting?", etc., etc.
Another thing we talked about was the name. I started the process of writing with the title "The Ledge" in my mind, but as I got further along I decided that I wanted to change it. So, now "The Ledge" is called "The End."
It was all so exciting. And I think all three of us were extremely pumped about this project.
It is going to be a challenge, based on the location of the script. I've decided to keep mum on the details so when everyone who reads this finally sees the film, you all will be completely surprised.
With all that said, it looks like in 2009 Broken Heart Films, in association with Bald Brother's Studio Productions, will present "The End."
B
Initially, I headed over to see the current cut of "Previously Viewed," which is coming along. Didn't have much more to say about the edits. Looks like now, the biggest task left is going to be adjusting audio.
But the best part of the evening regarded my most recent short script, "The Ledge."
Lori had requested my short scripts to give them a read since she, for some reason, seemed interested in producing something of mine. So, I sent her "The Box Office" and "The Ledge." Lori was not particularly fond of "The Box Office." Of course, I knew it was in need of a major rewrite, which I have not started to work on since I finished it over a month ago. Maybe once the rewrite is done, she will like it better.
Once we finished our discussion of that script, we moved on to one she claimed to really, really like. Instead of just discussing the script and what might make it better (I certainly think it needs some tweaking), we found ourselves fully immersed in a preproduction meeting of "How do we do this?", "When do you want to shoot?", "What about casting?", etc., etc.
Another thing we talked about was the name. I started the process of writing with the title "The Ledge" in my mind, but as I got further along I decided that I wanted to change it. So, now "The Ledge" is called "The End."
It was all so exciting. And I think all three of us were extremely pumped about this project.
It is going to be a challenge, based on the location of the script. I've decided to keep mum on the details so when everyone who reads this finally sees the film, you all will be completely surprised.
With all that said, it looks like in 2009 Broken Heart Films, in association with Bald Brother's Studio Productions, will present "The End."
B
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Bad News...
Well, it may not be bad, but it's less than good.
The "Director's Diary" I've been promising? Well, it will not be as great as I'd hoped. Turns out the tape from the last night of shooting has video but the audio is messed up and I can't capture the video into Final Cut Pro. I am going to try another camera, but I think I'm out of luck.
There was some very funny, FUNNY, stuff on there with Eric and Zack. Oh well...
I hope to have a version up next week.
But don't hold your breath... :-)
B
The "Director's Diary" I've been promising? Well, it will not be as great as I'd hoped. Turns out the tape from the last night of shooting has video but the audio is messed up and I can't capture the video into Final Cut Pro. I am going to try another camera, but I think I'm out of luck.
There was some very funny, FUNNY, stuff on there with Eric and Zack. Oh well...
I hope to have a version up next week.
But don't hold your breath... :-)
B
Logo has arrived!
Well, folks, here it is. The unveiling of the Broken Heart Films logo. Thanks again to Kim, one of the finest graphic designers in the world, for putting this together for me. It doesn't really touch on my original idea, but it turned out that was kind of a bad idea. This certainly worked out better. The first logo is the primary, and the other is the secondary.
Let me know what you think...
B
Let me know what you think...
B
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
August 5, 2008 Update
Hey everyone. Sorry about being away for so long. No excuse, just haven't been blogging. And I know, I know, you're all wondering where the "Director's Diary" footage is from "Previously Viewed." Well, me, too!
Hopefully soon.
But for now, I have better news. The first draft for "The Ledge" is complete. Handwritten in my composition book it came out to 51 pages, but properly formatted in my fancy computing machine it is a svelte 20.2 pages. However, since it's a short film, some might complain 20 pages is too long. It does have a lot of dialogue, so I feel like it might come in under 20 minutes.
Frankly, I like this piece a bit better than "The Box Office." But I plan to make them both.
I hope to meet with a producer friend of mine next week to discuss these two projects. In the meantime, I plan to work on a rewrite of "The Box Office" and try to secure the sync rights to the song I want to use in it. I got verbal permission to use the song, but in order to protect everybody involved, I am getting them in writing as well. Once I secure that, I'll let everyone in on who the artist is and the name of the song.
But "The Ledge" is kind of crazy. With the exception of the final, very short scene, there are only three characters that play for 19.5 pages. I really want to tell you all what it's about, but I don't want to give anything away, so I'm staying tight-lipped.
Other news, I will be unveiling the official Broken Heart Films logo here soon. My friend Kim, who is an amazing graphic designer, has been working on this for me, and I am very pleased with the results. While it will be great looking at it on the Web, I can't wait to see it on a big screen in front of one of my short films.
Finally, with the logo complete, I am closer to setting up my official Web site. Right now there is just a placement page at www.brokenheartfilms.com. But I should have it up and running by the end of the year.
That's it for now.
Shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. I'd love to hear from everyone.
B
Hopefully soon.
But for now, I have better news. The first draft for "The Ledge" is complete. Handwritten in my composition book it came out to 51 pages, but properly formatted in my fancy computing machine it is a svelte 20.2 pages. However, since it's a short film, some might complain 20 pages is too long. It does have a lot of dialogue, so I feel like it might come in under 20 minutes.
Frankly, I like this piece a bit better than "The Box Office." But I plan to make them both.
I hope to meet with a producer friend of mine next week to discuss these two projects. In the meantime, I plan to work on a rewrite of "The Box Office" and try to secure the sync rights to the song I want to use in it. I got verbal permission to use the song, but in order to protect everybody involved, I am getting them in writing as well. Once I secure that, I'll let everyone in on who the artist is and the name of the song.
But "The Ledge" is kind of crazy. With the exception of the final, very short scene, there are only three characters that play for 19.5 pages. I really want to tell you all what it's about, but I don't want to give anything away, so I'm staying tight-lipped.
Other news, I will be unveiling the official Broken Heart Films logo here soon. My friend Kim, who is an amazing graphic designer, has been working on this for me, and I am very pleased with the results. While it will be great looking at it on the Web, I can't wait to see it on a big screen in front of one of my short films.
Finally, with the logo complete, I am closer to setting up my official Web site. Right now there is just a placement page at www.brokenheartfilms.com. But I should have it up and running by the end of the year.
That's it for now.
Shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. I'd love to hear from everyone.
B
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