Monochromacy & The State of the Union
Wow. I haven’t updated this thing since November 26th, 2010. I suppose I’ll quickly recap before I get on with the current state of the union.
On May 2nd of 2010 I began production on a short film called Scratcher, starring St. Louis icon, Bob Reuter. Despite a superb performance from Bob, and admirable work from everyone else involved, especially my producer Jon Feraro, the film just didn’t come together the way we had hoped. I take full responsibility for the film’s failure. Hopefully in the future something can be made of the footage shot.
On July 13th of 2010 I shot the silent horror short Strumpet in the Lemp Mansion for 17 consecutive hours, working with the finest crew I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. Post-production ended in August of 2011 and screened August 17th at the Tivoli Theater for the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase, and was awarded Best Use of Black and White. It screened again at the Flyway Film Festival in Lake Pepin, Wisconsin on October 20th and at the St. Louis International Film Festival in November.
A handful of short film ideas were on the table, but I feel like it’s time to move on from short films. They’ve honed my craft, forced me to evolve as an artist, and were much fun. In the end they leave me wanting, and with little to show. A few months ago I agreed to produce a short film for a close friend. The combination of the personalities involved bred such hostility, it left me in a state of depression so unbearable, I came close to throwing in the towel completely and never making another film. The moment I knew that I was going to leave the project, a fog lifted and everything became clear. I haven’t made a feature film since Surviving Dirk in 2003. Granted, that wasn’t my finest moment, but it was an ambitious concept and project; a noble failure, to be sure. I feel it’s time to take the combined lessons and experience taken from all of my work and channel them into a 3rd feature film. Dan Probst and I are currently working on the screenplay, with tentative plans for shooting in 2013. I won’t say much about it, only that it plays within the horror genre, and we’re almost certain it hasn’t been done before.
Okay, now that we’re all current, here’s the real reason I’m posting this:
It’s been three years since my first novella, Alchemy Rum was released. Well, a second one is on its way, to be released late 2012. The reason it took so long to churn out another book is, well…releasing just another paperback book sounded boring to me. Writing it was a bore too. That’s why I shelved it until recently. If I was going to write and release a follow-up, it had to be something bizarre and innovative; a culmination of everything that I am and that I do. So I teamed up with mixed media artist and musician Max Iver to do just that. Read the official press release HERE and keep your eyes peeled. Much news and updates coming!
Over and out!
