cannonball online

Today is the day. Starting now, you can watch Cannonball online!

Now, here is how this works... you follow the link and you push play. End of story. No fees, no passwords, just 90 minutes of ha-ha's instantly with a click. Think of it as a rental. Except in this case, you only leave us a tip or donation if the movie was worth your time. A buck, five bucks, zero... it's your call. In any case, every dime we receive goes directly to making more short films, Space Cops episodes, and/or even another feature someday.

On the Vimeo page where you watched the movie, you'll see a Tip Jar button. Or you can come back here and use the big orange DONATE button on the right side of the page. That button will take you to our Paypal. Either method works for us. If you really, really like it... by all means stop by our store page to order a Cannonball DVD. If you don't have any bucks to spare, we still want you to watch. You can do us a favor by sharing the link with everyone you know.

Cannonball took us roughly 10 years to produce, kids love it as much as adults, and I've never heard anyone say it was a waste of their time. Due to its age, it wasn't shot in glorious HD, but the jokes still work. So, kick back and enjoy 90 minutes with Tony, Lou, and the Bandit.

news and notes 9.24.12

News and Notes may not not be groundbreaking every week, but today's news is huge for us and it's been at least a year in the making.  So, I'll get right to it and make it brief:

Beginning tomorrow, September 25th, you'll be able to watch our feature film Cannonball online in its entirety. And it gets better. You can watch it absolutely free if you want. We'll be accepting tips/donations only and we're keeping our fingers crossed that anyone who likes it will want to slide us a few bucks to fund more productions. We wanted to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see it while opening up a new funding window at the same time and I'm excited about both. You can come right back here tomorrow for the link and official release.

Funding is especially important because...
The new WSF editing computer is here! And it's fully operational. I spent the weekend getting her all set up and the Space Cops 4 edit begins tomorrow. Get excited. You'll have new/old retro-futuristic police exploits to watch...and soon!

Cannonball on Tuesday. Indie Wednesday. And who knows what else the week will bring.

indie wednesday: JD Ryznar

I don't know what it is about West Coast slackers that resonates with me, but I'd love to hang out with JD Ryznar. Today, we salute JD with a little video that gives you a taste of his personality. His humor is laid back and offbeat and I'm thoroughly entertained by just about anything he does. This is actually one of his lesser known videos. Ryznar has actually carved out some significant internet fame.

I first found JD when I stumbled on to his Channel 101 show, Yacht Rock. Yacht Rock is probably my favorite web series, but be warned, the language can get a little salty (as you would expect when examining the history of smooth rock n' roll).  Episodes 4, 5, 10, and 11 are some of my favorites but I recommend them all. It's a genius concept and I was hooked the first time I saw it. Plus, Michael McDonald got several iTunes downloads out of me as a result. So, everybody's a winner.

Oh, and I once played Draw Something with the guy and he drew an obscene depiction of Abe Lincoln for "penny". Therefore, JD Ryznar will always be okay in my book.

news and notes 9.17.12

Let's get it out of the way. I ordered a computer. It's a laptop and I'm hoping it will do everything I need it to do. Like a lot of editors, I put my computer through its paces.

In any case, this means Walk Softly needs greenbacks. Badly. So, over the next few days, I'll be introducing a couple initiatives to generate that moolah. One idea involves on-line rental for our feature film Cannonball.  If you've never seen it, this might be the perfect opportunity for you. It will give you the ha-ha's.

Also, if you want to take a business or product to the next level... if award-winning creative and video production services are something that might help you do that... you need to keep an eye out because that is exactly what we'll be offering up to the first taker. Notice, I said the first taker. More on that later.

What else is happening?  Todd Sheene is currently working on the Space Cops Episode 5 script. You heard me. I know, you haven't even seen Episode 4 yet, but that's a good thing. We're working hard over here. Allen and I are anxious to get our hands on the new script and we're going to make every attempt to shoot it this Fall, but it won't be easy. Schedules are tight, especially with a trip to Paducah and the Rivers Edge International Film Fest looming.

Another reason shooting days are at a premium: Allen's play, Jerry Peavler and the Great Debate begins this weekend! Do you have tickets yet? Do not dilly-dally. I told everybody you don't dilly-dally. Don't make me look like an idiot.

A VHessay? Yes, it's coming. Keep your shorts on.

Indie Wednesday: Live Prude Girls

I don't want to make Indie Wednesday a boys' club, so this is a perfect time to introduce the Live Prude Girls, Milana Vayntrub and Stevie Nelson. Plus, Flula makes a guest appearance in this particular video, so it's also a fine follow up to last week. Stevie and Milana have a unique sense of humor that I dig and they don't try too hard. Stevie is actually the daughter of Stevie Nicks and Willie Nelson and if she asks you who told you that, keep your mouth shut. Fair warning: don't develop a crush on them. Don't do it. They have lots of videos and if you like dry wit and awkward humor, you need to check out their Let's Talk About Something More Interesting web series, because they are masters of it.

If you're here for the first time, check out some of our videos. Space Cops is the greatest 80's sci-fi show you never saw and our shorts won trophies and stuff.

Not Dead Morgan Freeman's News and Notes 9.10.12

This installment of News and Notes is dedicated to Undead Morgan Freeman. Saturday morning I was shocked when I woke to find Morgan Freeman had died (again) according to my phone.  However, by Sunday afternoon, I was certain that the immortal narrator had once again evaded Death's cold embrace. Seriously though, why do the internet hoaxsters keep trying to kill this man off?  Is this the second or third time that Mr. Freeman's demise has been greatly exaggerated?  In any case, we can determine one of two things from this latest experience.  1)  Either Morgan Freeman is an undying being of vampiric or zombie origin or  2)  some internet troll has it out bad for Andy Dufresne's best friend.

We're already a third of the way in to September.  That can't be right.  Regardless, it's time to take a look at what's happening this week in WSF Land.  Computer decision agony continues.  If you know me, you'll know that I can stew over which burger to order for fifteen minutes, so when it comes to buying a computer, you can be assured that I'm going to weigh every shred of information and change my mind on the matter no less than thirty times.  New desktop? New laptop?  Used Desktop?  Or some combination of both?  The good news is, I did advance in my process and a purchase will be made early this week.  And that means...

The Space Cops Ep. 4 edit begins no later than next week!

Allen is in full Community Theater mode right now as rehearsals have begun for Jerry Peavler and the Great Debate.  If you've never caught one of the Hollerwood series of plays written by Liz Orndorff, I highly suggest you familiarize yourself this time around.  Funny stuff and incredible actors, one of whom is my best friend and a Walk Softly founding member.  Wait 'til you see Allen and Karen Logue working off each other.  They amaze me.  You can find what you need at tickets.westthill.com.

Creativity has been flying around the WSF compound since I had a chance to talk to Allen and Todd over Labor Day weekend.  I've been jotting down all kinds of notes that resulted from those conversations and I am itching to make them happen in front of a camera.  Several are Space Cops related, more involve a new web series, short film ideas...  One idea Todd had is simple, genius and such a no brainer it just has to happen.  So much we want to do, so little time.

Will we have the new VHessay done this week?  ...Maybe.  I'm sure most of you won't complain if I'm making the Space Cops edit a priority right now.  However, you can at least bank on another indie filmmaker salute on Indie Wednesday.  Anybody come up with a better name?  And with each passing day, my impulse to redesign the blog/website intensifies.

Are you following the Walk Softly Films Twitter account yet?  The 500th follow gets a Cannonball DVD and pages from the actual shooting script.  I might change that to every hundredth follower. Thoughts? And remember, we want your thoughts and questions on any topic.  Feel free to say hello in the comments section of any post or send us a message.

indie wednesday

Okay, technically I missed Wednesday by a few minutes.  But let's all pretend I didn't, because Indie Wednesday must go on.  Today I bring you, Flula.  I'm a longtime fan of this German DJ and this is the video that introduced me to him.  I think it borders on genius.  What can I say?  The guy makes me laugh.  He literally has hundreds of videos so, if you want to see more, I'm sure you'll be able to find them.

3 Ladies went to Paducah...

Fire up the Sandwich-O-Meter, Walk Softly Films is headed back to Paducah!  3 Ladies is an official selection of the Rivers Edge International Film Festival.  (We were going to go with or without the selection, but don't tell them that.)  Honestly, we couldn't be more excited.  I know I've said it before, but this our favorite festival and we love the people down there as much as the food and hot chocolate and Autumn festival atmosphere.  I encourage anyone who hasn't been to come down one year.  It's worth the drive and the Rivers Edge folk put on a first-class festival.  They take care of their filmmakers and attendees as well as I've ever experienced.

You can expect a weekend of updates just like last year (just scroll down through the November posts) and we'll even try to step it up another notch or two.  If you have any ideas you want us to write about or even video while we're in the Western part of the state, leave a comment here or send a tweet.  We'll try to do it.  I already have a couple ideas myself.  One of which involves crossing state lines and visiting the home of a certain alien superhero.

news and notes 9.4.12

Maybe we need a steam-powered workstation

News and Notes are a day behind due to the Labor Day festivities.  Forgive me?  Yes?  Are we friends again?  Good.  Things are in a bit of flux at Walk Softly Films, so I'll do my best to give updates.

The most pressing issue right now is the purchase of a new computer to edit on.  It has to be done, so now the questions are 1) exactly which computer should we buy (laptop or desktop) and 2) how do we pay for it?  Space Cops 4 is begging to be released to the masses, so we'll likely have to make a purchase without funds on hand (thank goodness for no-interest deals at Best Buy). I had a chance to discuss this briefly with Todd and Allen separately over the weekend and there are a number of fundraising options on the table.  Unfortunately we don't have the viewership it would take to crowdfund at this point and times are tough for donations.  A Scott, Allen, Todd bikini carwash is not out of the question at this point.  I am also considering offering our award-winning services to produce a blow-the-doors-off crazy commercial for someone in exchange for a premium donation (this one isn't a joke).  More on that later.

I want to take a moment to send prayers out for Michael Clarke Duncan's loved ones.  America's favorite giant passed away yesterday.  The official statement said he suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered.  The guy worked his way up from the South Side of Chicago. Before becoming an actor in his 30's, he held jobs as a body guard and even digging ditches.  His success is something to be admired, but his reputation and the respect he built in an often jaded Hollywood with his sweet spirit is even more impressive.  By all accounts, "Big Mike" was a Christian and there could be no better way to share his faith than the way he loved and served the people around him.  Enjoy the rewards, MCD.

The next VHessay is still on the way so keep an eye out for it this week and tomorrow is Indie Wednesday where we salute our favorite fellow indie filmmakers. Oh, and I'm starting to feel like a website/blog redesign is in order (when I can find the time to do it).

Questions or comments?  Just leave it in the comments.  We'd be happy to have feedback at any time.  And be sure to follow the new Walk Softly Films Twitter account if you aren't already.

indie wednesday

Welcome to the first Indie Wednesday (which may need to be moved to Friday to facilitate a better moniker).  Either way, we gather here to celebrate fellow indie filmmakers who are doing it on their own and doing it well.  Today we take a look at the work of Seth Worley.  Seth is a close friend of the incredibly talented Cinema Cycle (whose music we often beg to use in our own productions).

I believe that is the connection that originally led me to the video above.  This particular video is the original The Time Closet short film that spurred a popular 16 part web series by the same title, which then spurred a career-turn headed straight up for Mr. Worley.  Walk Softly Films salutes you, Seth Worley and hopes to someday join you on that ladder to bigger and better things.