FEATURE: DVx Feature locks Distribution! Official BLOOD TIES movie trailer

K

Kely

Active member
Happy to announce and share that "Blood Ties" - the feature film we shot in Thailand, Cambodia, and 4 cities in the US, has locked distribution with Afterlight Pictures.

BLOOD TIES MOVIE TRAILER

Though we won quite a few awards (AOF's "Action Film of the Year," "Best Director," and "Best Of Festival," and more, here and over seas), wading through distribution offers has been tough.

One of the first and constant disagreements I have had was every company wanting us to lie about the budget - "we shot for a million dollars," when the reality is, even buying two DVx's and the computer I built to edit on, and traveling across the world several times, our entire budget was 20K...

It's nice (and unusual) to be working with a distributor instead of surrendering all decisions... We're working hard on the strategy, artwork, press and everything else we can collectively think of...

Having learned a LOT over the past couple years, one of our first tasks was that we just remixed and remastered the soundtrack and of course the quality jumped up again.

Much of our marketing and distribution will be WAY outside the box... which is perfect because just like a lot of the members here, that's the way we made the movie! Some of that of course is by choice and some is it's just what we have to do to make movies! At least for now...

Our distributor, Zeke Flatten and Afterlight Pictures are embracing what we actually pulled off and we have a lot of exciting news coming soon, and the DVD will be out on Feb 15th through a variety of outlets.


I post a lot on this and other forums on post production and color grading, not only from "Blood Ties" but also my EX1 feature "Kerberos." Lot's of news coming on "Kerberos" as well including screenings, awards - and distribution.

These forums - and especially one like DVxUser where there is such a wealth of talent and technical knowledge, are the film school of the day, and I'll do my best to keep up with what's happening and any lessons to pass on from our experience.

Besides getting "Kerberos" out there (it has also started winning awards and attention), and helping some of my other filmmaking friends on their awesome projects (Like DVxUser Stan Harrington and Akiko Izumitani), I'll be scouring the forum for the latest news on camera's, equipment, and technique, as I move into pre-production on my next feature "Altered."

For day to day announcements - press, theater screenings, giveaways, etc... Blood Ties on Facebook might be the easiest way to follow and share in our progress.

BLOOD TIES MOVIE TRAILER from Afterlight Pictures

Score by DVxuser Daniel James

Happy Holidays and Awesome Filmmaking to all!

Kely McClung
 
Congrats.

The film looks interesting. Obviously, you got a lot of crew bang for your buck. I'd love to hear the story behind its development and production.

How much of the film was shot using the DVX?
 
Thanks... it's been a lot of work from a lot of talented people ... haha The entire movie was shot on a first generation stock DVX 100... Lots of Post!!
 
Congrats man, I absolutly love to see the little guy succeed. The trailer looks fantastic. It goes to show the public have had capable cams for a long time, It's amazing how many people beg, steal, and borrow to buy the newest, latest and greatest just to do cat tests and complain about the cameras faults. (not everybody but many). It's refreshing to see people are out there shooting and selling indie films. Keep up the great work man!!!!! looking to see the film in it's entirity.
 
Looking good! Big congratulations! Getting a "good" distribution deal where they believe in your film is definitely a plus.
 
Thanks guys!!

Of course I see issues and artifacts with the camera - though on the shots where we did our job right - the DVx delivered - some shots are seriously beautiful. Others I can blame on our poor technique... as most of you know - it's got to be about the story and good acting to deliver it... cameras these days can't really be anyone's excuse...

People of course thought I was crazy to grab my crew of 1 and head out across the world to make a movie... I'm the guy beating everybody up... but it has been an amazing adventure and still continues as we more into distribution. We had lots of luck and lots of help from many unexpected corners, and I'm humbled by all of them.

A funny aside... I was showing part of the movie to some potential crew for my next movie, and one young, "just graduated" film student asked me what I shot on... I told her the DVx... and she casually remarked - "before my time, but I've heard of it"... lol she's never shot on less than an HVx and mostly on Red and DSLR's...

Thanks again for all the great support from the forum...

Respects

kely
 
Kely said:
A funny aside... I was showing part of the movie to some potential crew for my next movie, and one young, "just graduated" film student asked me what I shot on... I told her the DVx... and she casually remarked - "before my time, but I've heard of it"... lol she's never shot on less than an HVx and mostly on Red and DSLR's...

Thanks again for all the great support from the forum...

Respects

kely
Click to expand...

And she calls herself a filmmaker?!! HA!!!! Gotta' show respect to the DVX. It's what started this whole thing. LOL!
 
This looks great. I'm curious about how you funded this and what led you to the distributor you went with. Are they able to cover your budget costs, or did you go with them because of their distribution plans, or both? I'm really impressed with this and am trying to raise a similar budget in order to shoot an action film on my Canon 5D.

Also, how did you navigate insurance questions considering the type of action you were shooting here? Which looks quite good and dangerous. Thanks so much, and would love to see the finished product.

Dave
 
I'm learning as we go - but we roll out on Amazon and Netfilx will follow pretty quick. Feb 15th it al begins!

Thanks - was fun! And yep - I had a couple of my Thai friends negotiate and pay for 1 hour of driving for the 3 tuk tuks... (one for camera) so the entire chase was shot in that short time. I think we somehow came up with the only 3 in all of Bangkok who drove conservatively... I spent half time trying to get the to speed up. :) As far as jumping across... even I didn't know I was going to do it until I did... slow enough the jump was easy - but the tuk tuk did tip pretty hard... it's not like I practice these things... lol
 
So you were the actor? Do you consider yourself more of an actor or film maker? And has this oppened up any acting opportunities for you?
 
Kely is a great actor...ironically he hired me for his follow up film but when I saw his movie I then turned around and hired him for mine...so I guess it has opened up opportunities for him. Blood Ties, as mentioned earlier, shows you can make a quality movie for a very small budget if you compile the right elements...great acting, story, and technicians...the tools just make life easier...Ask someone to shoot on a MITCHELL and they'll laugh at you because it is such a dinosaur...Lawrence of Arabia was shot on a mitchell! Kely's films work because he is talented in both areas and if I am right (and you can chime in here if you like Kel) Kely first arrived on the scene as an actor. On these boards many think of him as a filmmaker...hopefully this will dispel the theories that you cannot do both and do them well...Kely will appear in two of my upcoming movies too...Perception (working title) which is in pre production...and PUNISHMENT http://punishment.xristosproductions.com/cast.htm ...due to shoot in Summer...he plays major roles in both.

Sorry that I have been absent from the boards for so long but I wish you all Seasons Greetings and a great 2011!!!

Stan The Man
 
Congrats everybody. Love to hear this news. Just in time for Christmas too. God Bless You All!!!
 
It's aways the tough question... but I am both - an actor and a filmmaker. Hard to say which I am better - or worse at - but I am starting to get recognition for both. At the end of the day, it is almost aways about story, then everyone's acting, and then my skill as a director to push and pull great performances from my cast in the unique context of the scenes I have written for them.

I recently had the chance to help direct other actors in projects and roles that were not of my making... that's an awesome feeling to take the performances, shots, and the myriad elements of composition to a level where you know you are contributing.

I am now getting offered more roles as just the actor - (Stan's right... maybe not on the 'great' part but I did start as an actor), an awesome feeling to contribute that skill or talent to help tell someone else's vision, and to absorb how their direction influences my choices as the talent, and then in turn educates me further as a director.

Knowing how hard Stan pushes to tell great stories with strong writing and the level of performance he demands of his actors, I am really excited to be a part of both his projects - the first of which has no action at all and the second a kick ass action/comedy.

Creating my own work is certainly bringing me more opportunities to show what I want and think I am good at. That others see into my performance and think they can push me even further in all directions makes me feel like I am on the right track.

It's exciting to see people we know like Stan and Martin and his gang on "Step Off," having success making the kind of projects they believe in. Their passion and integrity of the work seem to be the primary factors in success - budgets and resources notwithstanding...

We'll try to keep you updated to pass on any news or lessons from our experience, and continue to search the forums to learn from all those out there 'doing it' like Stan the Man, Magic Man Matt, and Martay... :) Thanks so much Zblock, and for the support from so many DVX'ers!

Make some movies... luck, success, and respects to all. Say hi on our Facebook so I can see what you are all up to!
 
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