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 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

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

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

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

Previously Viewed Rough Cut

Saw the first and very rough cut of "Previously Viewed" last night. First impression... As director, there are a number of things I should have done differently. I mean, overall, it was good. I had so many shots of certain things that were, out of necessity, shot on different nights, that there are some continuity errors and places that are hard to match up. Not a lot, mind you. But if we had been have to have a script supervisor, it would have been much improved.

But as it stands, I think it's good. Once everything is tweaked, audio is fixed and music is added, it will be really good.

B

"Previously Viewed" update

It's been a while and I apologize. The edit on "Previously Viewed" began a lot later than we had hoped do to a number of circumstances. However, I'm pleased to announce that Eric H., writer/producer/actor on the project, has begun the edit and nearly has a completed first cut (without music and audio correction, though). I will be heading down to Versailles Tuesday evening to take a look at what he's done. I'm hoping the notes and story boards that I left with Lori (his wife and the film's assistant director) provided enough information for him to piece together the film I had in mind. But I believe at the most it should only require a view tweaks on my part. I have not seen any of the footage, so I'm really anxious to see the first cut.

Oh, by the way, I'm hoping to have a little "Director's Diary" footage up for you this week. I know, I said that seemingly months ago, but I mean it this time.

- B