Shooting our movie and recording the Soundtrack right here in Sarasota was an important part of the Mission when I set out on the "Beautiful Noise" journey. The creation of a thriving indie film production environment in this region relies on local filmmakers staying home and finding innovative ways to bring their artistic vision to life. Against the advice of many, I was determined to film everything entirely on location here on the Suncoast and to use local cast & crew wherever possible...and with the exception of three actors, I accomplished that goal. Now I'm happy to report that most of the all-important post production activities on the movie is going to happen right here in Sarasota as well! Our indie film company - Midnight Pass Productions - is teaming up with a highly experienced group of filmmakers and technicians to create a full service film production complex in town that focuses exclusively on local screenwriters, authors, directors, producers, songwriters, musicians and the like to help fill a huge void that exists in Southwest Florida. Kinda like what The Beatles created when they first put together Apple Corps back in the 60's...we're forming a company and creative environment whose sole purpose is to embrace, consult, produce and promote indie filmmakers & singer/songwriters who don't have major studio or record label connections established and also handle all the post production and marketing activities required to showcase their work. Look for a big press announcement and more details soon on this exciting new organization.
Meanwhile - I'm really glad that the new strategic alliance allows me to work on all the "Beautiful Noise" film scoring, color correction, ADR looping and Foley sound effects right here in Florida. Hey - I enjoy the L.A./Santa Monica scene and know that I'll be spending a lot of time on the west coast over the course of my film career, but there's nothing like making movies & soundtracks and being able to sleep in your own bed every night! Sarasota already has an incredible local music scene going full throttle that rivals any town in the USA, but mark my words - this market will also be a hotbed for indie filmmakers from all across America within the next few years. It's great to know that the "Beautiful Noise" Trilogy, Midnight Pass Productions and our new strategic partnership is poised to form the critically important vanguard of this exciting movement.
Steve
Beautiful Noise Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Beautiful Noise Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Strike Up The Band!
Sending the rough cut of the movie off to a few spring film festival programmers for their review was a much more surreal experience than I thought it would be...and personally hand-carrying the DVD copy of the film to the Sarasota Film Festival folks was an especially anxious moment. It was like dropping off my only son to his first day of school hoping he'd be accepted as a good kid by everyone and that he'd do OK. I know that competition is fierce on the film festival circuit but I'm hopeful that Beautiful Noise will be embraced and be able to compete in a lot of great fests...starting with a hopeful world premiere right here on the Suncoast come April...
My co-producers Ralph Barnette & Marc Alcorn and a small group of insiders now dive into the final weeks of postproduction with me to shape the final product. We've decided to shoot three new short scenes that will enhance the Storytelling...so Jay, Danielle and Kimber will be back in town soon for a couple of days of filming. Meanwhile, I'll be working closely with my Soundtrack co-producers to wrap up the loose ends on the Music side of things, including the incidental music that sometimes makes all the difference in the overall tone of a film. It's those little guitar or piano or string pieces that often consist of just a few short notes that I pay close attention to when I watch a movie these days. Oftentimes they're a variation on the melody of the primary song in a film, heard ever so lightly in the background...other times they're orchestral stingers that bring attention to a dramatic moment. I really love this part of the process. It's this kind of attention to detail that can make or break a film...and it's an area I'm very focused on. To assist the effort to complete the Soundtrack I've brought in two terrific Sarasota-based musicians: Dean Johanesen & Abe Feder. Dean is a dynamic singer/songwriter I found late in the BN production process who has proven to be an invaluable musical resource. Dean has 2 songs in the current film and will be working with me, in addition to other noteworthy songwriters, to develop the Soundtracks for the prequel and sequel I'm filming later this year. Abe is a heralded member of the Sarasota Orchestra and is featured on 2 of the most important songs in the movie. His understated cello performance on "Lonely Hearts" lifts that duet to new heights - and when you hear his beautiful, haunting instrument come into play at a strikingly emotional point later in the film it will send chills down your spine and a tear to your eye. Abe is creating parts for a string quartet and brass section to perform under his direction on several key songs. His addition to the BN Soundtrack Team is a watershed moment for us.
Hey! We may be a low budget indie Musical...but we're gonna deliver a high quality Film & Soundtrack thanks to great artists like Dean & Abe and all the other talented local musicians who've joined together to help us deliver Beautiful Noise.
Steve
My co-producers Ralph Barnette & Marc Alcorn and a small group of insiders now dive into the final weeks of postproduction with me to shape the final product. We've decided to shoot three new short scenes that will enhance the Storytelling...so Jay, Danielle and Kimber will be back in town soon for a couple of days of filming. Meanwhile, I'll be working closely with my Soundtrack co-producers to wrap up the loose ends on the Music side of things, including the incidental music that sometimes makes all the difference in the overall tone of a film. It's those little guitar or piano or string pieces that often consist of just a few short notes that I pay close attention to when I watch a movie these days. Oftentimes they're a variation on the melody of the primary song in a film, heard ever so lightly in the background...other times they're orchestral stingers that bring attention to a dramatic moment. I really love this part of the process. It's this kind of attention to detail that can make or break a film...and it's an area I'm very focused on. To assist the effort to complete the Soundtrack I've brought in two terrific Sarasota-based musicians: Dean Johanesen & Abe Feder. Dean is a dynamic singer/songwriter I found late in the BN production process who has proven to be an invaluable musical resource. Dean has 2 songs in the current film and will be working with me, in addition to other noteworthy songwriters, to develop the Soundtracks for the prequel and sequel I'm filming later this year. Abe is a heralded member of the Sarasota Orchestra and is featured on 2 of the most important songs in the movie. His understated cello performance on "Lonely Hearts" lifts that duet to new heights - and when you hear his beautiful, haunting instrument come into play at a strikingly emotional point later in the film it will send chills down your spine and a tear to your eye. Abe is creating parts for a string quartet and brass section to perform under his direction on several key songs. His addition to the BN Soundtrack Team is a watershed moment for us.
Hey! We may be a low budget indie Musical...but we're gonna deliver a high quality Film & Soundtrack thanks to great artists like Dean & Abe and all the other talented local musicians who've joined together to help us deliver Beautiful Noise.
Steve
Monday, January 3, 2011
From Rough Cut to Final Cut
After all is said and done...after the focus groups, family and friends weigh in with their opinions on the rough cut...after the co-producers, editor and select cast members share their no-holds-barred takes about what the Beautiful Noise Team has created...it all boils done to one voice, one vote, one decision. Mine. That's the beauty of creating something from nothing - and it's also the burden. If the movie works, I - as the writer/producer/director - will receive far more credit than I deserve, given the tremendous contributions of cast and crew. If it fails to live up to expectations and all the positive buzz building up to the premiere, than I get all the blame. But you know what? Bring it on! That's the nature of the beast and I'm charging ahead with eyes wide open. In the final analysis, it's the only thing I can do.
The rough cut showed me and everyone who has seen it one critically important thing - that we have a truly great little movie on our hands...if we can just keep tweaking the film in ways that propels the Story without desaturating the emotional pull. I can clearly see that the movie I wrote and the themes I want to explore are right there in front of me and my editor...but to get to the point where we lock the script there are still subtle but critical decisions to make. It's a bit daunting to know that if I make just one bad decision the entire pacing and thrust of the film could be irreparably harmed. On the other hand, if I make the right calls the movie will play out strong and serve its purpose - to entertain and stir emotions.
There's two and a half more months of post-production ahead of us before the final product plays on the big screen. Once Marc & I finish tweaking the film and I lock the picture, we'll ship it off to have the color correction process completed. Meanwhile, my co-producers on the Soundtrack and I will put the finishing touches on all the songs and send them off to be mastered. I plan to release the Soundtrack album ahead of the films' premiere in the spring, so Mo & Roger and I are going to be busy this month recording and mixing final versions of the songs as they'll be heard in the movie and on the album. Then I'll be working with our Sound Design wizard to mix in the Foley sound effects, ADR dialogue looping and the incidental music that will enhance and/or bridge certain sequences.
The writing process continues on the prequel and sequel and the development of three other films I've scripted and outlined shifts into high gear this month. 2011 is the year I've been waiting on all my life. I just didn't realize that fact until I took time off for the holiday break, reflected on everything that's happened, personally and professionally, and gazed into the future to ponder the potential impact of the opportunities I've created for my entire Team.
Either way it goes, it's gonna be fun...and life-changing.
And it all depends on how well I traverse the terrain between the rough cut and the Final Cut.
Steve
The rough cut showed me and everyone who has seen it one critically important thing - that we have a truly great little movie on our hands...if we can just keep tweaking the film in ways that propels the Story without desaturating the emotional pull. I can clearly see that the movie I wrote and the themes I want to explore are right there in front of me and my editor...but to get to the point where we lock the script there are still subtle but critical decisions to make. It's a bit daunting to know that if I make just one bad decision the entire pacing and thrust of the film could be irreparably harmed. On the other hand, if I make the right calls the movie will play out strong and serve its purpose - to entertain and stir emotions.
There's two and a half more months of post-production ahead of us before the final product plays on the big screen. Once Marc & I finish tweaking the film and I lock the picture, we'll ship it off to have the color correction process completed. Meanwhile, my co-producers on the Soundtrack and I will put the finishing touches on all the songs and send them off to be mastered. I plan to release the Soundtrack album ahead of the films' premiere in the spring, so Mo & Roger and I are going to be busy this month recording and mixing final versions of the songs as they'll be heard in the movie and on the album. Then I'll be working with our Sound Design wizard to mix in the Foley sound effects, ADR dialogue looping and the incidental music that will enhance and/or bridge certain sequences.
The writing process continues on the prequel and sequel and the development of three other films I've scripted and outlined shifts into high gear this month. 2011 is the year I've been waiting on all my life. I just didn't realize that fact until I took time off for the holiday break, reflected on everything that's happened, personally and professionally, and gazed into the future to ponder the potential impact of the opportunities I've created for my entire Team.
Either way it goes, it's gonna be fun...and life-changing.
And it all depends on how well I traverse the terrain between the rough cut and the Final Cut.
Steve
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