Choose year: 2005 |2004 | 2003
2006
7.24.06 Flatland: The Movie launches its new website.
7.16.06 I directed the music video for the wonderful band Hundred Year Storm , for their song "Yesterday". Although the budget was practically nil, we managed to produce a very nice video. I'll be posting as soon as editing is done.
5.30.06 Great news on Flatland: The Movie! We were fortunate to land Martin Sheen to play the lead role and Kristen Bell (from the show Versonica Mars) co-starring as his granddaughter. The were both my first choice for the roles, so it was a real dream to be working with and directing both of them in the studio in L.A. We also cast Tony Hale (Arrested Development) and Joe Estevez (Martin Sheen's real-life brother who will portray his brother in the film).
1.20.06 We've begun production on Flatland: The Movie, an animated film based on Edwin A. Abbott's classic novel from 1882. I co-wrote the script with Seth Caplan (producer) and Dano Johnson (director of animation), and am directing. The book is a unique cult classic-- a blend of science fiction, geometry, philososphy and political commentary. In essence , it's about a world of only 2 dimensions, where two Flatlanders one day get a peek at the third dimension-- a notion previously inconceivable to them-- and struggle to explain what they've seen. The official film site is here.
2005
10.1.05 I've been hired to produce and direct a reality-TV pilot entitled Another Chance. The brainchild of executive producers Travis Knapp and Jake Childers, the show focuses on communities helping homeless individuals and families get back on their feet. It's truly a positive feel-good show in the midst of all this reality crap. We shot for one week and had the support of the local Salvation Army.
8.12.05 I was hired to direct a series of three commercials for software-enterprise company IknowWare. The three commercials are humorous vignettes intended to illustrate the internal communication problems many companies face.
6.30.05 Shooting on CAKE in Los Angeles (which by the way was shot on Super-16) has about wrapped. It was exhausting but the film looks good and we stayed under budget. I expect it to be released some time next year. The score is being composed by Geno Leonardo of the platinum-selling band FILTER.
3.10.05 I am producing the feature film CAKE, a wacky wedding comedy starring an ensemble cast including GW Bailey (POLICE ACADEMY, MASH), Thomas Calabro (MELROSE PLACE), Billy Zapka (KARATE KID), Ann Cusack (THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW, GROSS POINTE BLANK), Burton Gilliam (PAPER MOON, BLAZING SADDLES), Dominic Scott Kay (MINORITY REPORT, CHARLOTTE'S WEB), newcomers Adam Green and Catherine Martin, and a whole lot more. The film is being directed by my friend Will Wallace. It's my first feature film to produce.
2.5.05 Evil Twinkie premiere party! If you're in Austin, join the Sinus Show for the live premiere of Evil Twinkie between 11 pm and midnight, at Mother Egan's. There will be a big projection TV screen to watch Saturday Night Live and our short film.
2.2.05 Evil Twinkie is picked up to be aired during Saturday Night Live! This 2-minute comedic piece, starring the Sinus Show, is a pilot for a regular Saturday-night comedy sketch that will air on regional NBC affiliates (KXAN) during the month of February.
2004
11.19.04 I just finished a short film for the WB television called EVIL TWINKIE. Three guys are sitting in a hot tub relaxing when a twinkie falls out of the sky. I was invited by the Austin comedy group Mr. Sinus Theater to produce and direct this promo TV spot for them. We shot it on 35mm film; it looks beautiful.
8.20.04 My first draft of the feature-length screenplay MARSHALL HOLLENZER IS DRIVING is complete. On to re-writes...
7.25.04 Just completed a trailer for the Ragamuffin Film Festival. Special thanks to Jessica Tong and Jorge Paredes. Watch the trailer [60 sec, Quicktime].
6.21.04 ELEGY and VISIONS are accepted into the Ragamuffin Film Festival. Also the festival will host a special screening of EXCEPT FOR DANNY at the Alamo Drafthouse.
6.11.04 FOX executives screen EXCEPT FOR DANNY. The screening is well received, but the show ultimately wasn't picked up. The good news is they will allow me to pitch this to other networks. It's been a good experience and I'm now listed on FOX's website as one of the first graduates of the Creative Writer Development program.
5.13.2004 "What's Wrong with This Picture?" will be featured as a bonus short to promote this cool new gadget called the ZVUE (sort of like an iPod for video).
5.11.2004 "What's Wrong with This Picture?" is invited into the Dallas Video Festival
5.6.2004 FOX tells me they're screening EXCEPT FOR DANNY this week for the executives. I'm told there will be some sort of decision by May 17.
4.6.2004 The pilot scenes of EXCEPT FOR DANNY finish the harried post-production schedule. It's turned into FOX.
3.30.2004 Rough cut of EXCEPT FOR DANNY is shown to FOX. Good feedback -- the executive says it's "terrific" and an "extraordinary short piece". I'm asked to trim down some scenes to tighten this up for their presentation
3.16.2004 My short film ELEGY screens at the SXSW 2004 screening, sponsored by DFRG.
3.14.2004 Production on EXCEPT FOR DANNY wrapped. It was a very long last day, but it came together very well. The cast is really superb.
3.12.2004 Production commences on EXCEPT FOR DANNY. I'm lucky to have a mostly-experienced, enthusiastic crew for our HD-shoot. Seth Caplan is producing and Damon Chang is the line producer, and we've together navigated what can only be described as an "adventure" to pull this production off. Kirk Douglas is our DP.
1.16.2004 Met with FOX in L. A. I love that huge Simpsons mural on one of their studio buildings. The final shooting script for the pilot scenes of EXCEPT FOR DANNY are green-lit. Production commences in 5 weeks!
2003
12.1.03 "What's Wrong with This Picture?" plays on PBS' The Territory.
11.15.03 The TV series concept I've been writing is turned in to FOX. The title is changing to "EXCEPT FOR DANNY".
10.25.03 "What's Wrong with This Picture?" wins the Damah Audience Favorite Award! The film will also be featured on their DVD compilation
10.22.03 I have four films screening at the Damah Film Festival in Seattle this week: WWWTP, Memories of Máte, Hurry Ronnie, But When Perfection Comes.
10.19.03 Our 24-hour film VISIONS is the 1st Runner-Up film in the New York Midnight Madness Contest ! So close. Still, the contest started with about 280 teams and to come in second isn't so bad.
10.17.03 We shoot our final round film in 24 hours as part of the New York Midnight Madness Contest. Damon Chang, the producer calls in at midnight with the assignment: a mystery about an "unwanted gift". Before 8 pm the next day, we'll have written a script (Philip Powell is the writer), shot the film, edited it, and uploaded by satellite to New York. I go 41 hours straight without sleep, a new record for me. The film is calledVISIONS.
10.12.03 As part of the 2003 Texas Filmmaker's Showcase, WWWTP screens at the Austin Film Festival. I also get invited to a reception at the governor's mansion. Cool pad.
10.1.03 I begin writing rough drafts of a TV show for FOX. It's called THE BIG PICTURE. The father in the show is an international super-model, but FOX execs canned that on my last set of notes.
9.19.03 We find out our film ELEGY won the first round of the NYC contest in its heat. That means we're in for the final round to make a movie in 24 hours.
9.5.03 Begin production on our short film ELEGY, for the NYC contest. We wrote a horror script (David Taylor and Philip Powell co-writing) about an avenging clown who shows up at a funeral. We're shooting in a real funeral home late at night, which is kind of creepy and exactly what works for this production.
9.1.03 We participate in the first round of the New York Midnight Madness Contest. We get a bizarre assignment: make a short film about a "strange clown" and the whole movie must be in rhyme. We have two weeks to write, shoot, edit and turn in the film.
8.15.03 I get a most interesting email today from an executive at FOX. One that could just be that lucky break. Or maybe it's a prank. But then 20th Century FOX calls to follow up and it's not a prank. They saw my short. They want me to write and produce a scene to present a TV Series to them based on my short film. I've never written or directed for TV before.
7.19.03 The Ragamuffin Film Festival screens my film THE TIGGERSHEET DIARIES, a parody of TriggerStreet.com about a group of desperate filmmakers sentenced to group therapy. It also features Kevin Spacey and yours truly.
6.22.03 The Houston Film Commission flies me out to L. A. and puts me up in a hotel in Beverly Hills for the screening of my short "What's Wrong with This Picture?" at the DGA Theater, part of the Texas Filmmaker's Showcase. These guys are great.
5.15.03 I learn that I've been invited to be one of the seven filmmakers for the 2003 Texas Filmmaker's Showcase (sponsored by the Houston Film Commission).
4.1.03 Woo-hoo, got my first distribution deal. Atomfilms has acquired non-exclusive license to my short film "What's Wrong with This Picture?" after seeing it at SXSW.
3.7.03 My short film "What's Wrong with This Picture?" screens at SXSW 2003. I've attended the festival for a couple of years before I began making films; it's great to attend it as a filmmaker now.
3.3.03 "What's Wrong with This Picture?" screens at the Cinequest Film Festival.
2.7.03 I begin production on THE TIGGERSHEET DIARIES, a parody of my experiences and observations of Kevin Spacey's TriggerStreet.com online film festival. It's about a group of desperate filmmakers sentenced to group therapy.