Thrift Stores' News and Notes 7.1.13

It's July 1st. That can't be right, can it? We're more than halfway through 2013. When does life start slowing down again? Why do I sound like a character from Thirty-Something? All the News and Notes come from the homefront today, so let's get started.

Space Cops

I spent the weekend sifting through the footage from our last shoot on the farm. All the exteriors from Episode 5 are catalogued and ready to go. It looks like a classic and veritable tour de force from Gene Paul, Jackie, and Reg. And prepare to have your nightmares haunted by the villain in this episode. You'll never look at nice, little one-legged, one-eyed orphans the same way again.

If everything goes according to plan, I'll be shooting the final pieces I need to finish up Episode 4 tonight! Don Geronimo, an alien, and a trippy mind-meld scene could make for some weird times at the WSF compound tonight.

What does all this mean? Well, I'll tell you. Space Cops fans can look forward to a ton of material released in a short window. Todd, Allen, and I will have to discuss it after the edits are complete, but Episodes 4 and 5 might get broken up in to two or three parts each. Shorter episodes are often better received on the internets and allow everyone to space out their enjoyment. Plus, I can promise a separate blooper reel to accompany both episodes. Expect a shameless push of self-promotion the likes of which you've never seen when these things get released. And, if you love us, prepare to join in the sharing and social media blitz.

Thrift Store Mania

This Wednesday, Allen, Todd, and I are planning to hit the mean streets (and thrift stores) of Lexington in search of costumes for our ghost hunting project. It's a ritual we've practiced many times before and usually provides some laughs. Tony Dedman's green windbreaker, the Chief's tie, Sweet Southern Lou's puke-green corduroys; all iconic staples in our productions and they were all discovered on a run just like this one. I can tell you right now, I'm on the hunt for bow ties and a smoking jacket! We're gonna pop some tags. So, if you're around the North side of New Circle on Wednesday night, I have a feeling you might spot us at Parkette... or the old Burgers N' Shakes.

Cannonball



Speaking of Tony Dedman and Lou, our first feature film has been on a bit of an uptick over the past week or so. We've been getting some feedback from lots of DVDs being shared around Frankfort, plus viewership spiked online at Vimeo and we got some nice feedback there as well. Maybe people are just in the mood for a sasquatch hunt this summer. Whatever the case, if you haven't seen our micro-budget movie and want to join in on the fun, you can watch it free online right here. And/or, you can order up a spiffy DVD right here. The online Tip Jar and DVD purchases help us make new stuff (if you dare to encourage us).

Have a great week, people, and we'll see you on Indie Wednesday.

News and Notes / Indie Wednesday 6.26.13

Let's go two-for-one today. Yes, I may have missed News and Notes on Monday and yes, that may have ruined your whole week, but trust me, it's all going to work out for the best. So, let me get you caught up with some updates before we enjoy our Indie Wednesday short.

-  We're busy. That may mean things run behind on the blog now and then, but it also means we have no less than three productions underway that you'll soon be able to enjoy. We get tired of only sharing other filmmakers' fine work with you. We want to make you happy too you know?? We're funny too! Aren't we? ...Guys? (and not at all insecure)

-  You already know several episodes of Space Cops are on the way, but I'm also excited about Todd Sheene's latest brainchild that will take us into the world of "reality" television and also into the world of... the paranormal? We had a great meeting on the subject Friday night, right on Main Street, Danville. It's going to be weird, but what else would you expect?

-  In news that makes me want to shove a screwdriver in my ear, Kanye West is the creative director on a Jetsons movie? Apparently nothing is impossible for Satan Kanye's agent.

Indie Wednesday: Larry Cohen



I like to keep it a little more micro than this, but it does qualify as indie and sometimes you just need to share stuff that's good. Dean Winters (aka Mayhem) of 30 Rock fame is always enjoyable as well. If you need further convincing to click play, how about a short synopsis:

Ryan had a bad night. Her phone is dead. And in a moment of indecision, she just left everything on the F train. Desperate, she turns to Nick, an off-duty MTA worker of suspect morals. The two strangers enter into a contentious deal to chase down the subway, before it vanishes with Ryan’s luggage and any chance of her getting home. What's the worst that can happen?

Indie Wednesday: Sitting In a River and Talking About Failure

You all know I'm a honk for anything JD Ryznar produces, so why change now? When he makes a video called Sitting In a River and Talking About Failure, there is no way I can resist.

One of the things I love most about JD is that, like us, he clearly just makes things he enjoys. He isn't trying to come up with the most marketable concept or what will generate the most hits. A guy like Ryznar says to himself, "Do I like this? Yes." And then he does it.

CKE's News and Notes 6.17.13

Let's open up with some congratulations to one of our own, Mr. Allen Martin who launched his new local entertainment blog, CentralKentuckyEntertainment.com. He's been putting in long hours and hard work and the result is a comprehensive source for anyone in Central Kentucky who'd like to know how they can entertain themselves (away from the boob tube) on any given night. CKE was featured in a great Advocate Messenger article by Bobbie Curd, so be sure to check out both when you get the chance. There are even a few words about Walk Softly in the article.

Terrible Superhero Flicks

Did you catch our post on the Top Ten Worst Superhero Movies? If you missed it, get your click on and let us know if we left any (un)worthy candidates off the list.

Sorry I can't offer any thoughts on Man of Steel, but I didn't get a chance to see it this weekend. The responses I got from peeps I trust was lukewarm at best. How about you guys? Is the franchise back at full steam?

Coming Soon

We're staying busy around here. Between work, Walk Softly, CKE, and regular Dad duties, we've got Allen pulling quadruple time. Space Cops editing is set to resume at my house. And Todd is organizing one more shoot to wrap up Episode 5, plus a shoot for something completely new in July that we've only hinted at in the past.

Stay tuned for more during the week including Indie Wednesday and anything else that might pop up.

Worst Superhero Movies of All Time

No, that isn't terrible cosplay, it's Roger Corman's Fantastic Four.

It's another big summer for superheroes and the O.G. himself, Kal El aka Superman aka Clark Kent. Since the genre has exploded in recent years, this seems like a good opportunity to step back and rank the worst of the worst. Why don't we begin with the handful that are so bad, they're off the charts.

There are a whole set of superhero films so terrible they can't even be included because they would dominate this list.

In the early 90s, Stan Lee was handing out Marvel movie rights for fifteen bucks and a case of Jolt cola.

Has anybody seen Captain America? No, not that one. The 1990 version. How about Dolph Lundgren as the Punisher in '89? Who was the original Nick Fury: Agent of Shield? Uh, David Hasselhoff of course. We were also gifted with Roger Corman's infamous Fantastic Four film; so bad Marvel execs reportedly paid two million dollars just to buy it and have every print destroyed.

Now, let's move on to the Top Ten. The guys with the big budgets and big stars who still managed to muff it up royally.

10)  Spider-Man 3

Venom and Hobgoblin and Sandman and did I miss anyone? Yuck.

9)  The Punisher

I had to choose between The Punisher and Punisher: War Zone for this spot. (By the way, Artisan, just stop. Stop trying to make Punisher movies because you clearly can't be trusted with it.) Even though Allen and I agree that War Zone is definitely worse, I had to give The Punisher the nod. Why? Because with the excellent work of Tom Jane and a decent script, you actually had the chance to make a good film. Instead you ruined it with what should have been the absolute easiest decisions to make. Why would you ever... EVER... set a Punisher movie in Miami? You've automatically ruined the tone and look of the film.

"Hey, we're making a new Batman movie. Yeah, it's set in Fargo, North Dakota."

Extra points deducted for making Travolta the villain. More points deducted for reducing a very cool costume down to a t-shirt with a skull on it.

8)  Ang Lee's Hulk

The Hulk film everyone wanted to love. The first Hulk we'd seen on screen since Ferrigno in green paint. Somehow it turned into a bad acid trip of Nick Nolte clouds and Hulk dogs and Eric Bana and bad CG on a 15 foot tall Hulk.

Hulk is the King of the World!

7)  Fantastic Four

This is the Jessica Alba/Chris Evans version. (Blonde Alba with blue eyes... ugh.) Listen, I'm all about practical effects in place of CG wherever possible but if there is one character in the history of all cinema that was made to be completely CG, it's the Thing. The Thing is a bunch of rocks! He's MADE OUT OF POLYGONS! However, the biggest crime this movie committed was the complete ruin of the greatest (and my favorite) villain in comics. This franchise has Doctor Doom and they turned him into a ridiculous one dimensional cartoon.

6)  Ghost Rider 2

I'll admit, the look was cool; the black smoke and whatnot. But... he peed fire. It's a bad movie.

5)  X-Men: The Last Stand

Brett Ratner completely killed all the momentum Bryan Singer had going on a great franchise and wasted the incredible set-up that was X2. Plus, Kelsey Grammer in a Beast suit.

4)  Daredevil

Fox is the worst. They manage to... uh, mismanage basically every Marvel property they get their hands on. Daredevil and Ghost Rider should be the easiest characters to make cool and fun. Just get the tone right. Dark and gritty. There are plenty of characters that shouldn't be dark and gritty *cough* Superman *cough*. Daredevil was shinier than what I'd imagine a night at the Daft Punk house to look like...  Really shiny. Nevermind. Plus, I'm not an Affleck hater, but he was a terrible choice at that point in his career.

3)  X-Men Origins: Wolverine

I've never seen it and I never will. Allen ensures me that Origins is worse than The Last Stand and if that's true, there is absolutely no doubt it needs to be at least 3 on this list. Again, Kelsey Grammer.

2)  Batman & Robin / Batman Forever

Ahhhh, the Schumacher Batman movies. Joel Schumacher decided to go with a campy-on-crack approach. Ultra stylized, ultra colorful, ultra flashy... the cod pieces and suit nipples and Chris O'Donnell and Alicia Silverstone...  No. Batman Forever is bad, but Batman & Robin is epically awful. No one should ever make the mistake of incorporating seventy-five villains in one film again. But, for some reason they still do. And Arnold as Mr. Freeze? All those one-liners? Good gravy. This movie killed the genre for years.

1)  Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Just the worst decision ever made with good intentions. The movie was spurred by a letter to Christopher Reeve from a kid who wanted Superman to get rid of nuclear weapons. So, he makes the movie (with a message) and Hackman signs on and yeeeeeeesh this thing was indescribably bad. We're talking Nuclear Man and Lenny-Luthor-played-by-Ducky bad.

PS - I didn't forget Green Lantern, but I haven't seen it. And, again, I never will. So... honorable mention?

Indie Wednesday: Post-It Love

Post-It Love should make all the filmmakers out there want to pick up their cameras and start shooting. If I was teaching a class, I would make it a requirement to produce a short with no dialogue. Tell a story without a single spoken word. Film is a visual medium and films are often at their best when the images on the screen do the storytelling. It is an incredibly valuable discipline to learn.

If you aren't familiar with Charlie Chaplin's films, go find City Lights and watch the ingenious methods Chaplin devised to tell his story. Too often, dialogue and exposition are crutches for a filmmaker. If you're a hobbyist like us, pop in a Blu Ray and try to spot moments where dialogue could have been replaced by a visual.

And if you don't like that advice from some blogging chump, then go to a petting zoo and find an ostrich. Steal the ostrich and ride it across the country, only stopping every so often to plant watermelons. Maybe someday everyone will call you Freddy Watermelonseed.

Indie Wednesday: Bless You

Bless You shows us how far a little creativity can go. I love the mix of real elements and simple animation. A perfect use of the tilt-shift effect. A salute to Philip Watts for filling us full of the indie spirit this morning. Start with a good idea or story and forget about the rest, right?

8-Bit Iron Man

I'm guessing every 80s and 90s child can appreciate an 8-bit version of the first Iron Man flick. Bust out the NES, I'm ready to play. Anyone notice a MegaMan resemblance?

News and Notes 6.3.13

Back to the daily grind.

Vacation is over but that's good new for ye olde indie-film/nonsense blog. First of all, I have some nice videos lined up for the next couple of Indie Wednesdays; inspirational stuff that might make you want to pick up the camera.

Have you been keeping up with the Vine Movie project? Vine still isn't cooperating by letting us embed the debut of Tiebeereus. If those pieces ever become available, we'll get caught up to speed here. If you don't want to wait, just hop on over to the Vine app and search for Walk Softly Films.

One small bit of (pre)production news this week. While I was roasting to a beautiful beet red in South Carolina last week, I had a bit of new inspiration on an old project the guys and I kicked around a couple years ago. I'm planning on running the idea past them and either starting on a short or feature script. ...So many ideas, so little time.

See you back here on Wednesday.

Vacation's News and Notes 5.28.13

Hey, I'm on vacation everybody; so don't expect a great Monday update. Oh wait, it isn't even Monday. My bad. 

Hopefully you were spending Memorial Day in a hammock or BBQing an Elk or painting a majestic bald eagle or something, rather than waiting for News and Notes.

In any case, there are lots of Vine Movie installments for you to watch on Vine or Twitter. You know where to find us. I'll post the newest ones here just as soon as the app lets me.