In Investment news, we have another 10k committed to the film.  As most folks know, financing an independent film with private capital is a very difficult and potentially long process, especially during these shaky economical times.  So the fact that we’ve already raised 20k in angel investments, has us feeling pretty good about the path ahead of us.

We’ve also hired Lisa Callif from the legal team Donaldson & Callif to represent the film. They’ve acted as counsel on a ton of indie stuff, so we’re thrilled to have them in our corner. In the next few weeks, they’ll be creating Sufferance Films, LLC, drafting the script option agreement, as well as getting the investment paperwork together.

Finally, production veteran (& Of Darkness Producer) Paul Irwin has signed on to act as the film’s Line Producer.  So, with the help of producers Jason Contino & Gary E. Irwin,  he’ll be breaking the script down,  putting together an initial schedule and creating a budget.

Making this movie becomes more and more of a reality every day. The Sufferance Machine is up and running. Stay tuned for more.

Speaking of Matt, I’d like to take a quick minute to publicly thank my amazing writer and dear friend, for his continued help in merging our two visions together. His patience and support mean a lot to me. So lucky to have him as a creative collaborator.

This has been such a long journey (Especially for Matt and Bill) but as we inch closer to having a final draft of the script, I’m confident that it was well worth it. So many wonderfully dark, dramatic, horrific and cinematic moments jump off the page. Definitely feel that we’ve created a truly unique narrative that will dazzle audiences. Eager and excited for the the next steps and the road ahead of us. More updates to come!

1. The first step is super easy…if you haven’t become a fan, head over the Eventide Productions’ Facebook page and ‘Like’ us.

2.  Thanks!  Now that you’ve become a fan, (Or if you’re already a fan) The simplest way to share the good news with all your friends and family is by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and clicking the “Like” button.

3. Feeling ambitious? You can go a step further by posting something on your profile.  Off the top of our heads, you can say something like…”I’ve become a part of the Eventide Productions Community and so can you!  Become a fan today @ www.facebook.com/eventideproductions”

3. Are you a Tweeter?  If so, make sure to follow us @eventideprod.  And…Here’s the Twitter-friendly version post – I’ve become a part of the Eventide Productions Community and so can you!  Become a fan today – http://on.fb.me/dO8QAH

4.  Are you a Social butterfly?  We are too!  Make sure to check out all of our social networks including Flickr and Youtube.

From all of us at Eventide Productions, thank you very much for taking the time to read this post and becoming a part of our community.  We’re so excited to have you on board and eager to share more about our upcoming film, SUFFERANCE.  Stay tuned!

Storyboards are an essential part of any Eventide project and we’re very excited to begin this collaboration with our friend and talented illustrator.  In addition to mapping out the visuals of the film, we’ll also be using the boards and concept art to assist in the fundraising process.  We’ll try to post a board every once in a while, just to wet your appetites.

In addition to working with director Gary E. Irwin & writer Matt Casale on boards and concept art for the film, there are also plans to collaborate on a SUFFERANCE comic book.  The three have already begun fleshing out a basic idea for the comic, which would center around the backstory of the pandemic and focus on some of the initial front line encounters with the outbreak.  More on that later!

You can see a ton of Steve’s work (including his paintings) at his website, fluidbeauty.com.  Also, check out the below short director Gary E. Irwin shot for one of Steve’s gallery openings in 2010.

Reminder: Make sure to become a fan of Eventide Productions on Facebook to keep up with all things SUFFERANCE.

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.