FEATURE: "HEART OF NOW" – a film by SABI

right on. and don't worry, i don't get bent out of shape unless someone is blatantly on the attack. :) I know the missteps I've taken and I've learned the hard way what an uphill battle a drama can be. it has had its rewards and definitely connects with its niche audience on a profound level, while others are completely indifferent to it. but you know, i've also learned quite a bit about the business side in the last three years and have fully embraced the idea of moving forward as not just an artist, but an artist-entrepreneur. and i move into the next one much more ammunition and know-how. i think i was pretty naive back in January of 2007 when i started this thread.
 
Zak Forsman said:
my next approach is to do strictly genre work. to take the authenticity we've become known for with Heart of Now and marry that to action movies and thrillers. maybe even a horror movie (have one in mind). I have stories at varying budget levels and we're prepping them all simultaneously. one is a crime thriller that I'll shoot this year for next to nothing. the purpose being to take what I've learned in the last three years and see if i can't make something that sells while expanding my creative education in making motion pictures. and we are casting great unknown actors and possibly surrounding them with name actors with large social media followings. the rest of the slate is of the scope that we'd be attaching bankable name actors, then seeking presales on the strength of the package, then leveraging that to finance the picture(s) in a $1 to $3 million range.
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Looking forward to this from you.
 
getting all deliverables together for the distributor we signed with for us/canada. the editor has recorded and is cutting an awesome commentary track. she, being the one who lived and breathed it longer than anyone (even me), is the perfect filter to have the entire experience distilled through. admittedly, i had forgotten half of what she talks about. the dvd should begin appearing at e-tailers and retailers in about six months, digital platforms after that.

some might be wondering why we chose to pursue a more traditional distribution angle, rather than the DIY approach. for us, and we're no experts, but we are making moves toward a more traditional model of making motion pictures and did not want this movie looking like a liability because we couldn't get anyone to pick it up. we teamed up with stacey parks at film specific and found a good home for the movie at vanguard cinema. and frankly, while I know the marketing of this release still falls on us, i'm happy to know I won't be losing time to running order fulfillment. i've "declared victory" and am now moving on. well, almost. still negotiating terms with several int'l sales reps.... :)
 
Zak Forsman said:
getting all deliverables together for the distributor we signed with for us/canada. the editor has recorded and is cutting an awesome commentary track. she, being the one who lived and breathed it longer than anyone (even me), is the perfect filter to have the entire experience distilled through. admittedly, i had forgotten half of what she talks about. the dvd should begin appearing at e-tailers and retailers in about six months, digital platforms after that.

some might be wondering why we chose to pursue a more traditional distribution angle, rather than the DIY approach. for us, and we're no experts, but we are making moves toward a more traditional model of making motion pictures and did not want this movie looking like a liability because we couldn't get anyone to pick it up. we teamed up with stacey parks at film specific and found a good home for the movie at vanguard cinema. and frankly, while I know the marketing of this release still falls on us, i'm happy to know I won't be losing time to running order fulfillment. i've "declared victory" and am now moving on. well, almost. still negotiating terms with several int'l sales reps.... :)
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Excellent points. Definitely a victory. We're about to declare another one for Step Off with Foreign now and keep it all moving with a new feature starting late OCT.

Still looking forward to seeing this.

Martin
 
Looks like late October is feature hour. Trying to hit that goal, as well.

EEEK... so tough.
 
Our distributor has released Heart of Now on the PreScreen video on demand platform and is blowing up on the front page today. For a limited time it is only $2, but will go up over the course of the next two months. Also a reminder that the DVD's street date is February 21st where it will be available through a variety of retailers and e-tailers.

https://prescreen.com/movie/Heart-of-Now
 
Zak Forsman said:
Our distributor has released Heart of Now on the PreScreen video on demand platform and is blowing up on the front page today. For a limited time it is only $2, but will go up over the course of the next two months. Also a reminder that the DVD's street date is February 21st where it will be available through a variety of retailers and e-tailers.

https://prescreen.com/movie/Heart-of-Now
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After reading this thread on and off for the last three years I finally saw Heart of Now via PreScreen today! Great to see the film available and out there ahead of the DVD release.

Quick review:

The good things -Marion Kerr did a good job and has a natural screen presence. The reveal in the third act is a solid piece of writing. The biggest praise goes to the editor Jamie Cobb who spent two years editing the film and did a great job.

The bad things - I had a lot of confusion as to what was going on in the film, for the first hour there was not a lot of structure until the third act. Most of the supporting characters were under developed and as a result did not ring true. I found some of the camera work distracting as a few times it took me out of really getting into the film.

I'm looking forward to Down and Dangerous which will give Zak so much more to sink his teeth into story wise.
 
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Hi James, making Heart of Now was a tremendous education. It was the first thing I'd ever written and the first thing I'd ever directed, and to be perfectly honest (and selfish I guess), I would very much like to bury it away. This movie was written and shot in 2007 (can't believe nearly five years has gone by) under the misguided notion that I could structure a movie along an emotional trajectory. If such a thing were possible, I was too green to attempt it. I struggle with the notion of this not representing the filmmaker I am today, versus, wanting to show people what good work there is to be seen by Marion, and Jamie who cut it.

Keep in mind, I say this as guy who is never satisfied with anything I do. Even on set, I'm often close to pulling my hair out thinking "This can be better". So despite all the good things that Heart of Now has done for my career (I'm sure I mentioned them in this thread) I moved on from it at least a year ago. And only secured a domestic distribution deal for it because i didn't want it to look like a liability to financiers, int'l sales people, etc.

Thanks for reaching out to Jamie on twitter too. Editors rarely hear direct praise for their contributions, and she really did mine the best possible movie out of what I gave her. I'm very lucky to have her. She's currently cutting away on Down and Dangerous and it is a very different movie.
 
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