23. April 2009 by admin.

I was offered to do Messiah after Bob Sandoval (writer of Such As It Ends) and Billy Bitterman (writer of Messiah) watched one of the last cuts for Such As It Ends.  As we headed outside for Bob to smoke in the zero degree weather, Billy approached me to ask if I wanted to direct Messiah.  Being that we tried to shoot it twice previously in which both productions failed (once under Billy’s direction and once under mine) I jumped at the chance to do it.  That night around 2AM Billy sent me the draft of Messiah that hadn’t been touched for roughly a year and a half.

The first weekend in Janruary we had our auditions and had a cast by the end of that weekend.  Then, we moved forward with pre produciton as I started my storyboarding among securing shooting locations, creating production schedules, securing rehearsals, obtaining catering, and reserving equipment.  Director of photography David Wagenaar and I then discussed shooting HD.  After agreeing to shoot our first HD project,  I contacted friend of mine Jeremy Truelove so we can shoot how we envisioned it.  After working on pre-production throughout the month of January we started shooting the first weekend of February with Tommy Culhane.  Things went great as we were all pumped to be shooting a script waiting to be shot for so long and also because we were shooting HD.  Suddenly, we were shooting what felt like a feature film as we shot for three weeks straight with some smooth points and some rough points.  Regardless, after the last weekend in February, we were basically done with principal photography of Messiah.

Then, because of awful scheduling conflicts, we shot pick ups and missed shots for two months that were roughly 3 days of reshoots.  And Sunday will be the last day of prinicipal photography for the most ambitious project Water Cooler Productions have ever produced. 

I am happy the movie is getting done because of how slow pick ups went on for but I am upset it is ending because I love working with my crew and (most) of the actors I work with.  Maybe that is why I am always getting projects produced and shot; not because I am a workaholic, but maybe because I love working with my friends and working with (most) of the actors.  I am leaving this production with a lot more knowledge and experience under my belt and I can only hope my next two projects get better and better because of this (long) short film that turned into a web series.  I hope it gets Water Cooler Productions a bit more recongiton along with the crew members and I hope it gets us more people and businesses who want to work with us.  Most importantly, I hope people enjoy it just as much (and even more) than I do.  We had great people work on the project and I want people to know how good they are at that job and I sincerly mean that about both the crew and the actors.  We did a production that was daunting and we came out on top.  I hope we can get better from here on out and produce even higher quality shit. 

As we wrap this Sunday, the crew will clap for Tommy Culhane as he finishes the final bit of acting for the movie, but I can only hope they clap for themselves just as loudly and feel just as accomplished.  

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21. April 2009 by admin.

I’m not really sure what to do when I have nothing to really update on.  I enjoy blogging so I make myself write regardless of what is going on at Water Cooler Productions.  So, as when I come into some means of desperation for entertainment, I resort to my OCD: making lists.

 Top 5 Horror Films of All Time:

 Alien

Halloween

Night of the Living Dead

The Thing

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

As of right now, I have a feeling that it will change soon due to the fact that this is a rough list.  I gotta think more about it when I get time to sit down and think (like in class).  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is an excellent film it is just I feel like there is something else that I have seen that effected the way I want to make movies more than that.  I’ll get back with this list eventually.  And I know everyone is going to ask me “Why did you put Night of the Living Dead above Dawn of the Dead? Dawn is so much better!” To put it quite simply, Dawn of the Dead is far less of a horror movie than it is an action movie.  Night of the Living Dead is more of a horror film and Romero effected not only the indepdent film genre with Night, but he also changed the landscape of cinema with that movie.  I can only imagine within the next few days I will come with a movie that is a bit more influential to me to fit that number 5 spot.  I was possibly thinking The Shining or even a brand new one, Funny Games.  Those are two films that really impacted me as well.  It is just hard for me to put Funny Games up on the top 5 because its not a movie I really want to pick up and watch again and again.

If I have no news to report tomorrow, then expect another list.  How about top 5 Bond movies of all time?

-Mac Eldridge

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19. April 2009 by admin.

Hey all,

I am not sure if any of you track the box office numbers or at least checks up on them like myself.  Personally, I feel like it is my job to see how the industry is doing being this is a business I am hoping to be a pivotal part of.  Also, I am a somewhat business orientated man and  believe the box office is just as important as any other aspect in cinema.  I fully believe the medium of film is an art and it should be seen as that however I am very aware that film is also a business am if I don’t understand that then I am only setting myself up for failure.  Sorry, I am starting to distant myself from what I was going to say.  Last week (Sunday or Monday I believe) I put down a little factoid at the the end of my blog that went a little something like this;

#1 at the box office last week: Fast and Furious

#1 at the box office this week: Hannah Montana: The Movie (brilliant title right?)

I said that to scare all of you and show you how fucking terrible the movies that are coming out right now are.  Well, all I can say this week is fuck because of what is projected (I am only saying projected politically because the box office numbers aren’t finalized) to come in at #1 at the box office.  The film 17 Again will be #1 at the box office for this week making it three weeks in a row a shit film has taken number one at the box office.  As humorous as this is to me, it is just as disgusting at the same time.  One can make the argument that this is the 4th shit movie in a row to be #1 at the box office (I am now talking about Monsters Vs. Aliens) but I would have to disagree.  Sure, some of the jokes sucked in the film but its not Fast and Furious or 17 Again bad.  I mean, those are fucking terrible films and  Monsters Vs. Aliens isn’t that bad.

We’re in another week of trouble next Friday.  We have two awful films coming out next week by the name of Obsessed and Fighting (perhaps studio execs decided to release two films with the most blunt and obnoxiously boring titles to battle it out one weekend) that will most likely be battling it out for first place.  The Soloist (another pretty fucking boring title) will be released next Friday as well but due to less advertisement and the typical ‘rags to riches’ drama, I cannot see it doing better than coming in at 4th or even 5th.  What could be a surprise next week is the release of Disney’s documentary Earth (dear fuck!  Another dry and boring title!  That is four in one week!).  I say it could be a surprise because I don’t see it coming in at #1 or #2 but, it is Disney, and they can make it happen.

Sorry I don’t have any updates on any projects.  We’re going through the boring meetings of pre production but soon enough I’ll be able to blog about whatever project we are doing fist (which actually, looks like it will be the zombie short Chemical 12-D).  Take care guys.

-Mac Eldridge

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17. April 2009 by admin.

Tomorrow is a big day for the upcoming web series Messiah.  Sound designer Rob Davis and I will be recording the voice over and post-sound work for the first webisode that stars Jake Perry and co-stars Nathan Polzin.  After the studio session is over tomorrow, the webisode gets a final trimming and then it is off to Rob Davis for post-sound mixing and scoring.  This is an exciting time and if all goes accordingly, the first webisode of Messiah will be coming online May 10th with the other 2 episodes following every Sunday.  We are planning on releasing the webisodes each Sunday at 6:30 and hoping to garner roughly around 1,000 views for each episode.  I am asking all of you to help us out by spreading the webisode around to your friends via facebook, myspace, or any other form of communication.

As for an update on future projects, it seems Water Cooler Productions may have an extremly busy May-June as we will be trying to produce two new 5 minute shorts.  The first that will be shot (most likely) is a short zombie script I wrote called Chemical 12-D.  Its a short 5-minute zombie flick that could be a lot of fun to shoot and could be a calling card for future horror film projects not funded by myself.  Also, the other one that I have been talking about (the 16MM/HD project) seems like it will be shot the last weekend of May to early June.  We are going through a casting session tomorrow so pre-production has officially started. 

I can’t wait to tell you guys about the updates.  Take it easy.

-Mac Eldridge

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15. April 2009 by admin.

I found out I wanted to be a director because I enjoyed working on the visual aspects of a project as well as crafting a performance and building a relationship with my actors.  I love the process still and I am finding out more and more tricks to becoming the best director I can possibly be.  And, as many indepdent film makers can attest to, I have worn many other hats to make sure a movie gets made.  I have been a screenwriter, an editor, a boom operator, a camera operator, a set designer, I did special effects before, and I’ve location scouted before among some other things my migraine currently won’t allow me to think of.  But the biggest job I have done next to directing is producing my own movies, and oh my God do I hate it.  No, fuck that, I loathe producing and directing at the same time.

I don’t have an issue with producers or what they do.  God, for having to do it myself I have nothing but respect for them.  But I can’t do it, or I at least feel like I can’t do it.  So far every production that I have directed I have had to assemble a crew, get a budget set, raise a budget, create a production schedule, and the list goes on.  Well, for this 16MM/HD project I am trying to get done, I feel like I can’t do it anymore.  This project will be our biggest project (although it runs only 5 pages) because we will be having a film crew and a digital crew.  On top of that, casting is getting bigger because of the amount of characters we need.  With all of this, I feel like I can’t fully engage in directing when I have a hundred things to take care of on set.

So, I think my biggest key additions to this film is getting a producer (can’t release the name QUITE yet), a casting director (Allison Nosek), a set designer (two people are fighting it out for this), a location manager (Quinn Wilson), and an AD (two canidates up for that position as well).  With all of these people helping out my work load, I feel like I can concentrate on directing and make this as strong of a movie as my directing abilities allow me to.  I think by about Saturday I will have everything solid and figured out.  I will make sure to keep you all updated

- Mac Eldridge

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13. April 2009 by admin.

If people couldn’t tell, I was pretty upset when I wrote the last blog.

There was this terrible thing going on where nothing was going the way I had hoped.  Well, thankfully since then, I have recieved phone calls, emails, and also am on track on getting a producer.  It would seem as if things might get good now and things might end up working out for a few projects.  However, I do think I want to start running ‘quiet sets’ so things could go a bit smoother.  We’ll see what happens.

Other than that, I don’t have too much to update on.  I will leave you all with some depressing stats about the last two weeks:

#1 at the box office last weekend: Fast and Furious

#1 at the box office this weekend: Hannah Montana: The Movie

Best of luck sleeping tonight.

- Mac Eldridge

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11. April 2009 by admin.

I got one week to get this 16MM/HD project a budget.

Fuck my life.

Chances of that happening are slim to none it seems like.  I’m trying to get a producer but nothing is shaking out right.  I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought to myself that I could raise a budget to shoot something that could actually be worth a damn and could get played at places.  Budget is still really small (under 1,000) but trying to design a bedroom/ family room that look like they were in the 70s is costly and most importantly, using film is too expensive temporarily.  I’ve considered getting a credit card to pay for these things now and then pay it off later but my elders advise me to not do something that stupid.

I think I am really upset because it is a project that is completely managable but no one seems to give a damn.  I have tapped myself out and it seems no one has a business mind state to get things accomplish.  You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to get a phone call or email returned by someone who isn’t profesional.  Maybe I am being old school in my way of thought… Maybe I am too mature for my age when it comes to trying to accomplish goals but when I get a phone call proposing something… I return the mother fuckin phone call or email.

When I go out of my way to make things happen for other people and when I make sure Water Cooler Productions is as business orientated as possible, I get nothing in return.  Not one thing.  I got a web series that I think should show people I am actually worth a damn (and thats something new for me, I can’t tell you how many people I pissed off with KY) and it will do nothing for me.  I tried my hardest to get it advertisement to raise money for the next film.  Nothing.  Not one business is interested in getting a commercial made.  I tried my hardest when assembling a budget and writing a script for the upcoming zombie movie that really isn’t my film.  I get nothing out of it.  I have no desire to make a zombie movie but I do it for David Wagenaar (my DP) because he wants to make one.  I say fine.  Nothing will bloom out of that.  And, the project that is the best written with the most potential (I’m talking about this 16MM/HD project) is going to collect dust because no one can return one fucking phone call or email.  I tell people to help me raise a budget if I can’t find a producer and all I get is one week to figure it out or else the movie isn’t getting made.

For now, fuck it.  I can’t tell you how upset and frustrated I am when I think about this writer putting in her time and dedication to writing something intended for me and me only to shoot it.  She took the time out of her day to meet with me and figure out what I want and she wrote something for me and it won’t even get shot.  It looks completely idiotic on my part because I tell her to write something because I want to make something new and I now look like a fucking clown because I can’t get anyone to help me pull some strings to get shit made.

For whoever is reading this, if you are interested in making a film or starting your own production team, I have one word of advice: Don’t feel the need to be nice.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to be nice so when issues like I am facing arise, I have people to go to so they can help me out for what I have done for them.  You get nothing if you worry about others, make the movies you want to make and find people who are as business orientated as you are.  Find people who will return a phone call or email and find people who will work for you, not be your friend.  I have heard so many times that making a movie is all about collaboration and I am coming to the realization that it is not exactly true.  Of course it takes more than one person to make a movie, I get that.  And I have tried to run my sets giving people certain things.  I’ve let all of my writers be on set and talk to the actors (which is something most directors discourage).  And what do I get?  I get writers who talk shit behind my back and say I don’t know how to run a set.  Well, do you know what?  They are right.  They are absolutely correct, I do not know how to run a set because I let them on set and let them talk to the actors which proves I don’t know how to run a set because I shouldn’t have let them on the set in the first place.  I let everyone behind the camera get a say when it comes to making choices and I let them talk to me about ideas they have, I actually listen.  And I get nothing from that either except for people who feel like I am not “collaborative enough.”  I have worn many hats on set and I am not going to do it anymore.  From now on, I will combine all hats and just run sets in a dictator manor.  I have never had issues with people talking and socializing a bit on set but not anymore.  Hitchcock was well known for running a silent set and although I am far from being the next Hitchcock, I will start implementing his beliefs on sets of my own.  I can’t be nice anymore because it seems like no one knows how to return the favor.

I just checked my email and phone again, and guess what?  No phone calls or emails returned yet.   What a surprise.

-Mac Eldridge

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9. April 2009 by admin.

So right now is a busy time for Water Cooler Productions.

We are wrapping Messiah.

I am busting my ass to begin pre production for the 16MM/HD Project (more info to come)

And I am writing the second draft to a short zombie script I wrote Chemical 12-D (working title).
It is very busy right now.  I didn’t think this 16MM/HD project would pan out as quickly as it has been so it has been go time since last night.  I have already gotten a casting director, a DP, and a script supervisor on board and I am now currently trying to find an art department to make a time period that I need.  Most importantly, I need to find a producer quickly so we can start assembling a budget and preparing everything.  This is a 6 page script I am trying to do but it is a lot to try to get done.  I believe in the project though so I am trying my best to make it all happen as smoothly as possible.

The zombie thing is something very interesting as well.  Robert Sandoval is writing a script as well and we are going to use either his or my script and shoot it around May/June time as well.  For once I am handling two projects at the same time.  Because of this, I may only produce the zombie short and let David Wagenaar make his directoral debut. I gotta see but there is no way I am producing/directing/editing both projects at the same time.  My plate has finally gotten too full and I need help.

Sorry I didn’t blog yesterday, too.  This whole 16MM/HD project started happening yesterday and I got caught up.  I’ll try my hardest to update everyday, but I can’t commit to doing so.

-Mac Eldridge

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7. April 2009 by admin.

There are a lot of directors out there that like to write their own shit.  For whatever reason, they enjoy the process of cranking out a script and seeing it the whole way through the film making process.  I mostly notice how they call themselves “fortunate” enough to do that, which I can see why they see that.  They get to wear more than one hat when making the film and they have complete control over what happens.

Well, for me, I think I am fortunate enough not to write my own shit.

Up until about a year ago I wrote my own short films for a few reasons.  For one, I use to enjoy the writing process to extent.  Maybe it was because I use to write music but I enjoyed the idea of transferring actions from my mind onto paper.  The other reason why I wrote my own shit is because I generally knew what I wanted to make next as a director.  So, as to satisfy my appetite, I wrote a script that I wanted to shoot visually.  If I were in the mood for a film noir, I could write one and not worry about a writer screwing up what I wanted to make.  However, my last four productions have all been from people besides myself.

I first remember watching a special feature either on the Psycho or North by Northwest DVD about Hitchcock and his writing process.  For those who don’t know, Hitchcock didn’t write.  He simply went to his writer(s) and said that he wanted to make a certain film next and then they would write it for him.  I fell in love with that idea and I knew that I had to try it in order to expand my horizons for interpreting a script as a director.  I then asked my now most produced writer Billy Bitterman to write me something for the sake of me directing it.  He was just as new to the process as I was and gave me a somewhat surprised yet “yes I’ll totally do that” type of look.  From that collaboration we made Outside.  It was from that point onward that I decided I much rather just direct than write.

Since directing Outside I have directed 2 Billy Bitterman shorts (KY, Messiah) and 1 Robert Sandoval short (Such As It Ends) and I am in love with the process of taking someone’s artwork and transforming it from the page onto the screen.  I enjoy the process of film making much more than I did than when I once wrote as well.  Now, in the last stages of Messiah I believe that I have taken another step to further expand my comfort zone.  I went to a writer I have never talked to before and asked her to write me something.  And today, around 3 PM, I got that script I requested.

See, both Robert Sandoval and Billy Bitterman got me to where I am.  Not just because they gave me a script to direct for the past 4 shoots, but because they were the ones who had me pursue film.  I can safely say they are the biggest inspirations when it comes to me making films and they are my best friends.  So, I wanted to see what it was like to work with a writer who is not under that “best friends, biggest inspirations” category and see how I thrive in that world.  I think I somewhat lucked out a bit when I found out that my new writer enjoyed  KY and I say that because I am not working with someone who isn’t like me or my friends.

So, I am pumped to work with this writer because I really dig the script and it will be interesting to see how the writer-director relationship works out when the writer and director aren’t best friends.  I had my girl friend read the script tonight and she seemed to dig it as much as I did and thinks it’ll be a new style for me to tackle.  I’ll keep you guys up to date because I have to make sure this production gets off of the ground in the first place.

-Mac Eldridge

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6. April 2009 by admin.

What a weekend means to Water Cooler Productions when there is no filming going on means one thing and one thing only: a slow time for news.  Businesses don’t do much on the weekends and neither does Water Cooler Productions.  Currently, we are waiting on a few businesses to see if we can film a commercial for them in order to get the webisodes out there to the public.  It is an exciting time indeed for Water Cooler Productions, just not on the weekends.  So, to keep myself and readers entertained, I will give out a few ideas for the next few shorts we will be producing.

To start things off, we will not be doing any shorts for a while that exceed 7 minutes.  There are a few reasons for that.  The biggest reason is because we do not have the time to invest into that right now.  Currently, we are writing a feature and we are trying to save a budget to get it done so we do not want to max ourselves out like we did on Messiah.  I am not trashing the project or anything, it just takes a lot to make that big of a movie.  Secondly, we want to make something short enough where we can do a fest run with the piece.  For all of you film makers out there, keep in mind that a fest doesn’t want to accept shorts that are over 10 minutes.  Believe me, I work on a programming board for a film fest and we are told to keep away from shorts over 10 minutes.  The shorter the better.  Think about it, everyone has 5 minutes to watch something, but does everyone have a half hour to waste?  No, no they do not.

So, we are doing two shorts hopefully within the next couple of months.  One is in the horror genre so it is right up our alley.  The other, well, it is something new that could be a waste of time or a complete success.  I’ll keep you guys up to date on what is going on and what is not.

Sorry I do not have much to update on, tomorrow we will probably be getting the word on what commercials are a go and what ones will not work out.  Stay tuned…

-Mac Eldridge

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