"Corrado" - A production blog

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We start filming April 26th - until May 11th. 6 day weeks.

You guys really are the best. I feel so very supported by this board. There have been a few rocky patches along the way, a lot of heartburn and worrying, and I'm sure there's more to come.

It feels good to know you're all there on my side.

Thanks again.
 
That's awesome Adam! Locked down dates and location - doesnt get any better than that. I know it'll be busy but if you have any chance to toss out any updates during shooting you know we'll be eagerly reading. Good luck and have a blast!
 
I have to agree here with Jeff. I know that you will be busy but we are going to want updates.. daily! :) Maybe have to speak your entries into a recorder while you are driving to and from the set and have someone translate them into this thread! (heck, just post them as .wav files!)

Seriously, congrats on the locked dates. Really love following this thread!
 
Oh, I fully plan to do a day by day. It's going to be hard, but not only would I like to share it but I'd like to memorialize it for myself. Probably to a recap every night and then at then end of shooting one big entry for anything I missed.
 
Yeah I hope you can. Whenever I see day by day production journals I always wonder how the hell anyone can do that and make a movie at the same time. I have a feeling you will be up to it though.
 
taormina said:
Oh, I fully plan to do a day by day. It's going to be hard, but not only would I like to share it but I'd like to memorialize it for myself. Probably to a recap every night and then at then end of shooting one big entry for anything I missed.
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I was going to do that, but alas there was no way I could... two weeks in and I haven't had any daily updates.
 
With all this talk of legitimacy lately I thought I'd mention IMDb for a moment. Most everyone in the industry knows about IMDb, and for some reason it has become the be all and end all as far as legitimacy goes.

Now probably every IMDb profile you will see is "missing" data. The thing is, IMDb is really hardcore about only placing credited stuff on your imdb page.

I've got a 35mm short that doesn't show up on imdb because it never got into a film festival and thus does not meet their requirements for "public viewing". My TV pilot never saw the light of day and thus also does not appear. How about the myriad of shorts I've done since I got my HVX? Some were informal, some had actors in them, one of them was an entry into an MTV film contest that was displayed online and generated over 30,000 views.

I suppose by having only exhibited works, it levels the playing field for all of us, which is why credits are so important. I've stated this before - screen credits (and thus IMDb credits) are legal tender in Hollywood. They're worth money because it makes you look good.

Still, it makes so many of look like we did absolutely nothing, and then boom - he directs a feature film. Pretty deceptive.

I have a love hate relationship with IMDb. I only use IMDb Pro, since the public version is so utterly useless; I'm sure most of you use pro as well.

Getting your film listed on IMDb is simple if you know how to do it. It can be difficult and frustrating if you don't.

If you are in pre production or filming a feature, it should be on IMDb. It's like free publicity. The site has over 17,000,000 registered users! What are you waiting for? Here's how it's done:

1. You must first go on the Hollywood Reporter and Variety sites and fill out the necessary form to list your film in the pre-production stage. There is a page of data you must enter; put in the film's name, cast, crew, etc. Once you have done this, submit it and they state that it will be "verified" by someone.

It's not verified. They lie. They just post it in their papers under projects in develpment. Now don't bullshit people; if you have a movie with a script not done, no money or equipment, then you're just wasting everyone's time. But if you will truly enter pre-pro, even though you don't have the cash (but you know it's coming), then by all means put it up.

After a couple days, they will put it up on their site and in the paper. When you see it on the site, save the link to your listing. You'll need it for step two.

2. Go to IMDb and add your new title. Most important box to fill in: Provide External Link. You'll find in their little fine print that the external link must be a third party site that speaks of your movie. Boom! Give 'em your variety link, baby.

Then fill out the rest and wait two weeks and it'll be up.

If you do not have the external link - they'll never put your title up. Trust me. I ****ed around with mailing them letters, budgets, oaths, you name it. They don't care. They don't approve jack squat; they expect someone like Variety or the Reporter to do their work for them and thus...legitimize your production.

After they put the title up, they wouldn't add Sizemore for like two weeks. Finally they sent me an e-mail and said that they wanted to see a copy of his Letter Of Intent or Contract before they would add him to the page. So I sent them the contract, and bang, he was up a couple days later. This keeps the riff raff from attaching A listers to their projects.

I suppose that prevents me from generating a little harmless buzz for myself by putting up that little project I've got going on with Denzel, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, and De Niro in it. ;-)

Anyone can update your IMDb page, and it's already happened to ours. Someone added Edoardo Ballerini to the page. Now it's true that we have a deal with him to play the character of Salvatore, but I haven't yet spoken to him, signed a contract with him, or really finalized the details. We only came to a deal yesterday with his people.

Not sure how the hell he got on there - if he was more famous I'd say he had been leaked out, but there you have it. He's there, larger than life, on Corrado's page and who the hell knows how he got there.

IMDb - making nobodies like me feel like real filmmakers since 1990!
 
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It varies. On some days when there is heavy action, we are at 3 pages per day. Some days are just dialog and we are up to 10 pages per day.

It's the same thing as the TV pilot I shot a year ago. Heavy volleyball playing and action and on the heaviest day we did up to 12 pages per day.

We are going to be running two cams mainly for coverage in dialog scenes which will make it easier.

Besides, at least we have basically pro actors so not too much time wasted there.

Maybe before I shoot I'll post the shoot schedule.
 
Today was kinda fortuitous. Good day.

CASTING - PART 1

I phoned Joe Gannascoli because I owed him a call to discuss his logistics such as flights, hotels, etc.

This is a one man band so I don't have the luxury of having my people call his people. So I just pick up the phone and talk.

He's a very nice guy. It was my first time speaking with him after a bunch of e-mails. Helluva guy.

He asks me if I have all my roles cast. I tell him there are a few that still need to be cast, specifically one role of Tommaso. I had another Sopranos guy in mind for that two day role, but in the end he wanted too much.

So I mentioned this role. He says - how about Vinnie Pastore - I know him and he'll work.

Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the Sopranos for 30 episodes.

I was like - sure man!

So Joe phones him, and phones me back. He says here is Vinnie's number. He wants to do it.

So I phone up Vinnie and within 30 seconds we have a deal.

Vinnie is now Tommaso. Bada Bing (sorry, couldn't resist) bada boom and he's on the cast. For a great rate. Yay!

I really owe Joe a debt for that. No agents, no managers, no BS.


CASTING - PART 2

I can't say the name of the guy I've been after for the lead role. He's moderately big. You don't know his name but have seen him here and there in a bunch of movies. He's kinda an up and comer.

Well last week I called his manager to offer him the role. The dude immediately laughed at the money I was offering. And just to settle that whole "money makes you legit deal" I offered him $1000 per day over my budget for that role, for a total of 3K per day. For 14 days.

Not chump change. And I got laughed at. So what's an indie producer to do?

I told the manager this was a great script and sent him some comments the other agents said about it. I said he should read it and make his mind up about the money then.

So the guy proceeded to ask me about my experience level. Hilarious conversation.

Manager: And who would be producing on this project?

Me: Me.

Manager: Okaaaaaaay, whose the writer?

Me: I am.

Manager: I see. Who's the director going to be?

Me: Well, that would be me.

You know what the guy is thinking at this point. I am on the phone with a loser.

Manager: What else have you directed?

Me: I've directed a TV pilot, some shorts a documentary feature, you know, a few projects.

Manager: Any festival work?

Me: No. The one short I sent to a fest never got in.

Manager: Well do you have a reel you can send?

Me: Yeah, I have something I can....hey....wait a minute. It sounds like I'm being pre-qualified here.

Manager: You are.

Me: Hey, I'm the one trying to hire YOUR guy!

So we go round and round like this. I finally told him that I wasn't going to be sending him anything. Either his client wanted to work or he didn't. I was not about to prove my qualifications to him. He could go pound sand.

So he tells me to write down the offer. I write it down, and e-mail it along with the script. He tells me to call him Monday (today - this dialog happened a week ago)

So I send him an e-mail today. I know that they have both read the script because he said they would read it over the weekend.

Here is Wisdom: When you make a written offer to the actor, you are off the market for that role until he responds.

Unless you WANT to be a total douche bag and deal with two actors saying yes to the same role, then having to shoot one of them down. Not I.

So I was eagerly hoping to get closure on this guy today, and frankly, not feeling too good about the deal.

I wanted him to say no. I made way to high of an offer to get this guy, his manager was hostile - I wanted out. But a deal is a deal and so I waited.

Manager replies back: He wants to meet you.

Hmmm. What to make of that. I said fine, I'll meet him but it has to be tomorrow. And furthermore, I said, I want to make sure that you and he both understand that my offer was my first and final offer. I'm not coming up there to be negotiated with.

Oh no, says he. He understands based on the budget I am offering him a very good percentage of the money.

You know what was unspoken??????

He loved the script. And so did his client. Why the hell would he want to meet with me if he didn't? He already laughed at the money. He talked down to me, cut up my experience level, sneered at my pathetic array of previous work, and insinuated I didn't want to show him my reel because I was ashamed of it.

And now he sets up this meeting with the actor. It makes no sense.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. His guy loved the story and said f&ck the money, I want to be a lead in this film.

I'll tell you guys what he says tomorrow.
 
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Conversations with Distributors

Well, sales agents, actually.

I get this guy who calls me. It's almost a prank call. He keeps telling me I should give Joe a call.

Caller: Joe is buying movies. What is your movie about?

Me: the mob. A crime story

Caller: Oooh. Joe likes crime stories.

And it always goes like this. The guy told me his name once but I forgot it. He wants me to cal Joe at such and such distribution company. Finally I ask him what his angle is. What does he want.

I'm just a friend, says he, and hangs up.

Weird.

So I finally phone the guy today. Turns out it's a legit sales agent / distribution company.

I get on the phone with Joe and introduce myself. I tell him that this guy keeps telling me to call him

He's never heard of the guy. Cue the X - Files theme.

Anyways, I say, hey man, while I got you, let me tell you about my movie.

He asks me who is in it. Long and the short of it, he wants me to send him a script and cast list.

What they do is sometimes buy flicks outright, sometimes sell them to a bigger fish and make a commission. They have a direct deal with Lionsgate and some other big distrib I forgot the name of.

Just in case you guys missed it:

SEND HIM A SCRIPT AND A CAST LIST.

That's it. No finished movie (although he said I could wait to send the finished movie if I wanted)

See how important a good script and a name cast is!!!!!!! THAT'S ALL HE WANTS TO SEE!!!!!

No bullshit did you shoot it on video or 35, and all that other BS you hear about "what distributors really want". They want a story and names. Period.

His exact words were:

"So we then take your script and cast list, and assume that your movie will come out the way these movies often do, and make you an offer. Your goal should be to try and sell the picture for three or four times what it cost to make it."

I told him the flick had a $750K budget. It didn't rattle him. They're pretty big guys over there.

If they feel like they want to go and sell it to someone, they have four salesmen who do nothing but travel the world and sell these movies at all the major fests and film markets.

He says they sell them all the time based on their one sheets, a 1 minute trailer and........THE SCRIPT.

I'll send him the cast list and script by week's end and we'll see where it goes.
 
This is the best filmmaking book I've ever read. I can't wait to see the making of documentary that surely is in the works!!!
 
I especially love those recreated conversation parts, it cracks me up how those agents discuss business. They are like true characters in a skrewball comedy or something. Truly entertaining and educational.
 
Looking forward to read about your meeting for the lead. This story keeps on getting better and better. Good luck with the meeting.
 
I totally agree with this!

davidreimers said:
I especially love those recreated conversation parts, it cracks me up how those agents discuss business. They are like true characters in a skrewball comedy or something. Truly entertaining and educational.
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Great casting stories! Loved them. Not only wonderful writing but great information!

Off to read the next update!

...........

I am just loving getting this "inside look into Hollywood." So funny how things work.

I know that you are no longer making your script available but when you do.... I NEED TO BE ON THAT LIST!

Thanks for the latest updates, Adam! :thumbsup: :beer:
 
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Well I figured right after we are done shooting I could put it up on my site in .pdf form so anyone could download it. I really only want to make it available to DVXusers so maybe I'll put a special link up there or something.
 
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