FEATURE: "DOWN AND DANGEROUS" - new update, one year later.

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[TD="class: yiv11738442content"][h=2]Project Update #43: Down and Dangerous is EVERYWHERE!!! [/h]Posted by Zak Forsman ♥ Like [/TD]
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This is a day you can be proud of. The movie you made possible is now available On Demand to over 100 million cable and satellite subscribers, as well as making a big splash on iTunes. We are currently ranked at #25 on the iTunes Movies Chart for Thrillers and #30 for Independents.
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Our distributor tells us this is a very good debut and that continued sales over the weekend could send us skyrocketing up the charts. But that is heavily dependent on convincing people to buy or rent the movie. So please share the iTunes link below with friends on Facebook and Twitter. Let them know of your personal connection to the movie and how you helped get it made. If you do that, this movie -- our movie -- will have a fighting chance and claw its way out of obscurity.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/down-and-dangerous/id791920040
Thank you… for everything,
Zak
PS - you can also use the following image for your Facebook Cover Photo and include this message in the description:

I backed this movie and helped get it made. You can download it now on iTunes or watch it On Demand with your cable or satellite provider.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/down-and-dangerous/id791920040

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If I can offer a more detailed review...here it goes:

I saw it yesterday and it was far better then I thought, and far better then the trailer suggested. The thing that stuck out to me most was the structure and construction of the film itself and the acting which was solid. It carried a flow and structure very well known to films in this genre which was great to see in a film at this budget. That's a testament to Zak as a writer and director. Well done buddy! I also did enjoy how the film was shot. There were plenty of wide shots not normal for a film of this budget either. Zak and his DP weren't afraid to show some of the scope and the locations. The editing was solid, no quibbles there. A tight fast paced movie with enough story to fill the runtime. Maybe that doesn't sound like a compliment, just the movie crossing the T's and dotting the I's...but I see a lot of indie movies and I make them myself so I know how hard it is just to get those things right!

John T. Woods was very good, I was impressed. Paulie Rojas was adequate, but for some reason the accent she had threw me off. It felt slightly fake, but sometimes it worked. Her screen test posted online with her speaking with her real voice was much better. She was fantastic in that screen test, but in the film itself she wasn't working as well for me. I might be alone there though! Judd Nelson, awesome...nuff said. Some of the fighting was good, some of it not so much. The action being well shot helped a ton...something missing from most movies of this sort/budget.

They made good use of the AF100. The fairly heavy grain was a good call. I had zero problem with the dramatic mix of color in the film (lighting wise), looked great! For what it is, it's budget, how fast it was shot, etc. I think it's impressive and inspiring! :)

I don't get to call many indies "good movies" but I think I can count D&D on that list. As I said on FB/TW yesterday, if you're out there making excuses instead of your movies, get off your butt...Zak Forsman's showing you up! Well done!
 
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KyleProhaska said:
If I can offer a more detailed review...here it goes:

I saw it yesterday and it was far better then I thought, and far better then the trailer suggested. The thing that stuck out to me most was the structure and construction of the film itself and the acting which was solid. It carried a flow and structure very well known to films in this genre which was great to see in a film at this budget. That's a testament to Zak as a writer and director. Well done buddy! I also did enjoy how the film was shot. There were plenty of wide shots not normal for a film of this budget either. Zak and his DP weren't afraid to show some of the scope and the locations. The editing was solid, no quibbles there. A tight fast paced movie with enough story to fill the runtime. Maybe that doesn't sound like a compliment, just the movie crossing the T's and dotting the I's...but I see a lot of indie movies and I make them myself so I know how hard it is just to get those things right!

John T. Woods was very good, I was impressed. Paulie Rojas was adequate, but for some reason the accent she had threw me off. It felt slightly fake, but sometimes it worked. Her screen test posted online with her speaking with her real voice was much better. She was fantastic in that screen test, but in the film itself she wasn't working as well for me. I might be alone there though! Judd Nelson, awesome...nuff said. Some of the fighting was good, some of it not so much. The action being well shot helped a ton...something missing from most movies of this sort/budget.

They made good use of the AF100. The fairly heavy grain was a good call. I had zero problem with the dramatic mix of color in the film (lighting wise), looked great! For what it is, it's budget, how fast it was shot, etc. I think it's impressive and inspiring! :)

I don't get to call many indies "good movies" but I think I can count D&D on that list. As I said on FB/TW yesterday, if you're out there making excuses instead of your movies, get off your butt...Zak Forsman's showing you up! Well done!
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Cool.

I hope to see it soon.

-M
 
Hey thanks Kyle. I appreciate all the kind words. Paulie's accent has come up elsewhere and i think I can explain why. She grew up in Mexico City until she was about 13, then moved to Los Angeles. For the character she wanted to employ an accent attributed to the more affluent class where she grew up. It's not as commonly heard so even a lot of spanish speakers here in the states have questioned it. So there you go, a little back story on it.
 
Not just iTunes. Our VOD distributor really surprised us by getting it picked up by some of the largest and most selective cable operators in the US. For the next two months we're available to over 100 million cable/satellite subscribers. Which blows my mind. I can't believe how fortunate we've been with a movie we got in the can for $35,000.

Blu-rays will be available this summer. Our home entertainment distributor already sold 30,000 units to walmart and is negotiating with Red Box next.

Right now it's on iTunes, Amazon, XBOX, Playstation, Vudu, Google Play. Then, you can also find it through your cable or satellite provide as we're available On Demand through DirecTV, Dish, Cox, Comcast, TIme-Warner, Charter, ATT, Verizon and a bunch more throughout the US and Canada.
 
Zak Forsman said:
Hey thanks Kyle. I appreciate all the kind words. Paulie's accent has come up elsewhere and i think I can explain why. She grew up in Mexico City until she was about 13, then moved to Los Angeles. For the character she wanted to employ an accent attributed to the more affluent class where she grew up. It's not as commonly heard so even a lot of spanish speakers here in the states have questioned it. So there you go, a little back story on it.
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I actually really dug the accent.
 
Want to thank everyone who backed and supported us over the years. Today's big news is that Paramount Pictures is distributing the movie internationally and the release dates begin this week.

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Have to admit this feels very much like winning the lottery. Never in a million years did we anticipate a major studio would take on such a huge portion of our distribution effort. For the most part, they are in charge of releasing it everywhere except the US and Canada. Instantly, my thoughts go to everyone who I credit with making this project possible. Nearly four years after this campaign concluded, myself and the rest of The Sabi Company remain very, very grateful.

If you have any friends overseas, tell them to keep an eye out for the movie that many of you helped make possible. Thanks again!
 
Zak Forsman said:
Want to thank everyone who backed and supported us over the years. Today's big news is that Paramount Pictures is distributing the movie internationally and the release dates begin this week.

CXffUAH.jpg


Have to admit this feels very much like winning the lottery. Never in a million years did we anticipate a major studio would take on such a huge portion of our distribution effort. For the most part, they are in charge of releasing it everywhere except the US and Canada. Instantly, my thoughts go to everyone who I credit with making this project possible. Nearly four years after this campaign concluded, myself and the rest of The Sabi Company remain very, very grateful.

If you have any friends overseas, tell them to keep an eye out for the movie that many of you helped make possible. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Nice! Saw this on Twitter. Congratulations!

Very cool.

-M
 
To start off congratulations on getting foreign distribution! That seems to be the holy grail for indie films under $250k, more so than VOD in my opinion. Did you get a minimum guarantee or an advance? Besides having an excellent film what do you think helped with getting foreign distribution? There were no notable actors so I assuming it was based on a solid genre film. Did you think your strong presence in the film festival circuit helped? I also notice you have a theatrical run. At it's peak how many screens did you have? Or was it the demand you had in getting North American rights?

I bought a copy of Heart of Now a few years ago and I will surely buy Down and Dangerous! Awesome Zak!

Zak Forsman said:
Hey thanks Kyle. I appreciate all the kind words. Paulie's accent has come up elsewhere and i think I can explain why. She grew up in Mexico City until she was about 13, then moved to Los Angeles. For the character she wanted to employ an accent attributed to the more affluent class where she grew up. It's not as commonly heard so even a lot of spanish speakers here in the states have questioned it. So there you go, a little back story on it.
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Cryogenic Filmworks said:
So is there a DVD/Blu Ray release for this or just itunes?
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There is by now (2-14-2016). I got my Blu Ray copy from Amazon couple weeks ago and just finished watching it for the second time. In addition to all the other compliments I read here, I have to say the pacing of the edit is just right. Nothing about this film drags in any way, and the acting is especially excellent.

I'm an action film fan and I think I enjoyed this one quite a bit more than a lot of what is coming out of Hollywood these days. Great job Zak and all the supporters!
 
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