Eventide Productions is thrilled to announce the addition of producer Jason Contino to the Sufferance team.  Jason just wrapped up producing Ben Hickernell’s Lebanon, Pa.  which just had it’s world premiere @ SXSW 2010.  Before Lebanon, Pa. Jason had a string of successful low-budget horror movies, including the  2007 scare-flick The Murder Game about a group of teenagers who invent a game in which one of them is secretly chosen to be a “killer,” while the others remain innocent victims.  I’ve had a chance to get to know Jason over the last couple of years, not only as a producer but as a colleague and friend and he really is a joy to be around and work with.  He’s a smart, insightful and very sharp individual who has an amazing amount of knowledge and love for cinema.  The fact that he’s hilarious and handsome?  Well, that’s just gravy.

After the few chances that we’ve had to sit down and discuss the project, we are confident that he will make an excellent addition to the crew and we’re truly excited to have him on board.

On January 24th, 2010  I recieved the following email from SUFFERANCE screenwriter Matt Casale:

“At long last – it’s about time – and all that other fun stuff. The draft is finally done.
Of course there will always be corrections and tweaks and more re-writes, etc, etc, you stole fizzy lifting drinks…But you know what I say – don’t get it right, get it written.

So without further adu – I bring you Version 4.”

“A plague on both your houses!” ~ Mercutio: SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO AND JULIET.”

The script is by far the most important part of the movie-making process – It lays the foundation on which all other parts are built.  Shaky foundation, equals an unstable product.

After reading and re-reading the latest draft of SUFFERANCE, I find myself becoming more excited about the potential of the project.  There is still quite a bit of work ahead of us, but before we dive back in to re-writes, picking apart dialogue, character motivations, scene re-ordering, etc.  I want to appreciate this moment.  The moment where Matt reshaped a story that he’s had in his head for years and years and did an amazing job of blending his original vision with the current direction of the film.  The results are a truly rich and immersive world that is not only stocked with well-researched information, but also vibrant, colorful characters full of backstory.   I know it wasn’t an easy process for him, and I am truly thankful to have such a talented and passionate screenwriter on board.  This is my first (Of hopefully many) public thanks to someone I am proud to call my screenwriter, collaborator and most importantly.. a great friend.

Having a completed draft of the screenplay is not only exciting, it also means the beginning of the next step in the filmmaking journey. We can all start think about making this project happen!  We have a tactile product, so I can start thinking about actors and potential collaborators, camera work, storyboards, locations and special effects, music, costumes, production design; all the fun and exciting parts of the process that begin to create the film and help give it a unique identity.  Of course, one of the most important parts of the independent filmmaking process is fundraising, so with a draft of the script, we can put a rough budget together and begin the ambitious process of raising cash.  Geez! As I am writing this out, I’m realizing how much there is to do.  Better wrap up this entry and get to work!

Amazon.com announced today that Gary E. Irwin’s commercial is one of five finalists of the Your Amazon Ad Contest, Amazon’s first national competition in search of a television commercial idea from its customers. The submission, “WISH LIST,” along with all five finalists’ videos are available for customers to view and rate until September 6 at www.amazon.com/yaac.

“We were absolutely delighted with the level of creativity our customers demonstrated in their submissions,” said Steve Shure, vice president of global marketing at Amazon.com. “It was not an easy feat choosing only five finalists, and we’re very excited to see what our customers think about the videos.”

Props go out to all the cast and crew that volunteered their time and efforts to help pull this off. Special recognition must be given to producer Paul Irwin for his mad producing skills, Casting director Ann Gillette for pulling together a solid core of actors in just a few days, Get-Kinetic for the donations, D.P. Kevin Hackenberg for his slick eye, Gato, Inc. & Abad Rosa for the insane moco move, and GK’s editor/Visual FX guru, Dan Gauthier who made the project sing!

OK, so now onto the really important part. I have two big favors to ask of you:

1. Please head over to Amazon and please vote 5 stars for “Wish List” .

2. I would love some help spreading the word via email, facebook, twitter, LinkedIN, etc.

Here is the direct link to my submission.

In an effort to make this as easy and painless as possible (Because I know you’re all busy folks) please feel free to copy and paste the post into an email/blog/etc. Also, below is a quick headline that you can use in the social site(s) of you desire….

“Gary Irwin’s submission for the Amazon Ad Contest has been named as a finalist! Please do me a huge favor and Vote 5 stars for “Wish List.” http://tinyurl.com/ldg5za and please post this as your status and get all of your friends to vote too! Thanks everyone!”

Originally developed by OF DARKNESS screenwriter Matt Casale along with his cousin William Bedner, the script is currently in re-writes and will hopefully begin fundraising in Spring 2010.  SUFFERANCE has been pushed ahead of the companies other project INDIGO FALLS and will now be the teams first foray into Feature film territory.

Greater Philadelphia Filmmakers, established in 2001, is a natural extension of work that the Film Office has fostered for years. In addition to attracting production to the region for the purpose of economic development, the Film Office is committed to nurturing the local industry in every way possible.

If a body count doth make a horror movie, then let us review the wake we have left:

Since 2006 “Of Darkness” has been taking the horror film festival circuit by storm. Having been accepted as an ‘Official Selection’ by twenty one festivals, “Of Darkness” was nominated ten times for Best Short Film and won more than half of those nods, bringing home SIX BEST SHORT FILM awards. The little film with the heart of a feature didn’t stop there – it also took home awards for most “Most Promising Filmmaker”, “Best Cinematography”, and “Audience Award for Best Short Film”!

After 2 years of tearing up the festival circuit, this multi-award winning, critically-acclaimed horror short film is available on DVD.  

This stand alone DVD (priced at $9.99) includes special features such as:

• “The Other Side of Darkness” Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

• Storyboard Comparisons

• Filmmaker’s Commentary

• Trailers

• Photo Gallery

There are also some value packs including the DVD, Official poster of the film, as well as a new “Of Darkness” tee-shirt which includes an original Steve Cleff  illustration straight out of the ‘Book of Darkness’ itself.

All proceeds are to help to offset the cost of Eventide’s upcoming feature film known only as the Indigo Falls Project. Please help support independent filmmakers.