OTHER: Drawing With Chalk Feature Film Trailer

For the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival we are screening on Friday July 23rd at 7 pm at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in Palatine, IL (suburb of Chicago). I'll be going to this one so if anyone is in the area, check it out.

Currently have several songs being professionally mixed with more on the way. We will be starting a pledge drive and will announce here shortly (if permitted by the administrators). This is only to help raise the remaining amount to have the rest of the songs mixed/mastered. We will be offering many items depending on the pledge amount (including special DVD's of the film, music, t-shirts, etc.). Hopefully some of you will take a look and see if anything interests you and you're willing to help out.

Todd
 
We won Best First Feature award at the Long Island International Film Expo last night. Met some great celebrities there too.
 
We won Best First Feature award at the Long Island International Film Expo last night. Met some great celebrities there too.

Awesome! Congratulations but you gotta be more specific about the Celebrities!

Nice work, again!

-Martin
 
Awesome! Congratulations but you gotta be more specific about the Celebrities!

Nice work, again!

-Martin

The celebrities: Cathy Moriarty, Peter Greene, Brian O'Halloran, Armand Asante (he accepted an award via broadcast so I didn't actually meet him), and about half the cast from The Sopranos. I believe these were all of the Jurors for the festival too. It was nice meeting all of them and the festival was well run.
 
Thanks ChipG ;)

Just a reminder to anyone in the Chicago area that DWC is playing tomorrow night at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival at 7pm (Palatine, IL) www.bwiff.com

Todd
 
Just came back from the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival and DWC picked up the honors for Best Original Music! (just in time for our pledge drive) :)
 
Thanks Martin! Yes, we have our theatrical opening and it's been quite a journey...

I've learned very much getting here and I definitely have advice for those following the self distribution route. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE! Here in NYC we've been met with excellent reviews and we've been beat down by the major media (to the point of even being called 'offensive'). There is a reason someone like Tyler Perry opens in Altanta). NYC wasn't the place for us. Reviewers such as the NY Times do not understand where the film is coming from and seemed to make it a point to personally attack the filmmaker (me) and the people the film is about. Do I care? Yes, and no. Of course you want good reviews but not everyone can see your side (or even care about it). Do they have their points? Sure, but at the same time the audience I'm trying to get this film out to could care less about the NY Times (and to be honest, probably hasn't read one in years). This isn't a knock to the Times our to my viewers (it's just that the audience this film speaks to and has spoken to are the ones who are worried if they can pay their mortgage next month). Hell, I've gotten emails from those who've been offended by some of the comments against the film and I reply that "it is what it is". You learn and you move on.

So, KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. I do plan on trying to get the film out to art house theaters in smaller cities doing more of a grass roots campaign.

Anyway, to those in the NYC area, please come down to the QUAD CINEMA (13th st. between 6th and 7th Ave). The film plays 5 times daily until March 31st.

Keep shooting and NEVER let anyone try to take away what you love doing.

Todd
 
Todd,

I went through a similar thing with the critics back in February. It was with a film I wrote that went to theaters Immigration Tango (see trailer in my sig). Major media critics seem to take a small movie opening theatrically as an insult and they kinda sharpen the knives and go overboard. Not saying critique isn't due the movie...but some of it was just really clumsily overdone. I always hoped to get reviews in the majors (NY Times, LA Times, Variety <actually not bad>, Hollywood reporter and the like) but with no major stars the movie took a beating.

So, don't let it get you down. Congratulations again and come back when you can.

I can't even get any reviews on Step Off which came out March 15th on DVD and On Demand so what's the better scenario? :)

Take it easy,

Martin
 
That's great news Todd! Also cool to see all the festival wins you've accumulated on the linked site. Coongratulations!

Do you know if it will be available on Netflix or Blockbuster?
 
It'll be fun getting the film out there. The DVD contains commentary tracks, deleted scenes (with and without commentary tracks), Trailer, Teaser, 2 Music Videos and eventually a special edition with a short documentary. Please let me know what you think once you've seen it (I'm good with criticism) :)
 
Just saw the trailer for Adam Goldberg's No Way Jose and thought of this film. Whatever happened to the director? I see he hasn't posted on here since 2012, and I don't see any activity on his imdb.
 
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