Just for the record

The only other logical conclusion is that you wrote something similar for a ScriptFest before. If that's not it, I have no idea...since nobody that "knows" has come forward yet.

Kegan
 
So, since I quit the film and writing biz, I closed my long-running blog - though maybe a bit too soon. And maybe somewhat regretfully. Lot of information there. But the link to the film 'Of Gods and Kings' is still showing up in google search. For now, anyways.

http://www.google.com.mx/#hl=es&out....,cf.osb&fp=bd80effb76441d16&biw=1166&bih=605

This was a real joy to write, despite the numerous dumpster dives to get it done. Complex historical drama with a ton of reseach, which I love to do. If I had to pick a fave character, it would be King Frederick. So, if you're reading this, Bo, the presure is on. Though it is highly unlikely I will ever see the film for personal reasons, this is the one character I feel defines much of the background to the sotry, as well as brings the comic relief. If I had to pick a second fave, it would be Madame Renard. Love her! Probably spent the most character time fine-tuning her. Kudos to casting for putting Lesley-Anne Down in the role. The chemistry should be quite electric. This isn't to say I don't love all the other charcacters. On the contrary. Admittedly, however, I did cock my head a little to the right, then a little to the left when I saw Kerry Wallum as Mario, then is seemed to make perfect sense. Weird, but perfect sense. You'll see what I mean. Maestro Verdi, of course, is the calm in the storm. Surely Nicholas will do the role justice.

The character of Gertrude (love the name - Leonora's idea) was difficult for me as I didn't want it to come across as stereotyping, which I think in the end it did anyway. I am not familiar with Jennifer Hasty's work, though she seems a solid performer, and looks like she can pull off that grumpy and vengeful persona. There is a spectacular comeuppance scene with her - I won't divulge here - I sure hope makes the final cut.

And Martin Sheen's little brother in the director's chair! What's that he calls himself? Ah yes, 'The hardest-working man in Hollywood.' Judging from his 2012 lineup, it must be true.

I see a few of the characters are missing, though. They added key scenes, I feel, to disrupt the trudgery of the drama. It was here I was hoping Willie could tap into his numerous horse-riding buds. Maybe they're just not listed - those and a few other odd bit roles here and there. Anywho, such is the fate of many a screenplay once it gets into production. Happens. So tempting to put it up so the world can read it in all its original glory, but best not to go there. MAybe in a few years.

Probably just a clerical error in not crediting me as the principle writer. I'm sure it will get cleared up, along with a few other details. Some solid integrity behind this production.

Anyone here know any of the performers or crew? Maybe pass on a sincere break-a-leg wish for me. I lived and breathed these roles and every line of dialogue for 3+years. Still hum a few bars on my daily walks.

Adieu
 
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Tom Shortridge said:
Wait, I think I missed the gist too.

This Eleonora ripped you off? I thought it was like a pen name.
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Surely it was just an oversight. Happens in the all the excitement.


I'm headed for the mountains for a much needed spiritual enema. Taking all of James Herriot's novels with me.
 
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Andrew McCarrick said:
I found these links to via the wayback archive website:

http://web.archive.org/web/20101115101601/http://alexwhitmer.wordpress.com/my-film-credits-2010/

http://web.archive.org/web/20091023112418/http://alexwhitmer.wordpress.com/my-film-credits-2010/
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Wow, I had no idea that existed. Kinda sad seeing the blog again. Oh well. We move on, right?

If you scroll down on the right to My Films, you'll see there was a page for 'Of Gods and Kings'. Terence was slated to direct early on. Not sure why that changed. But he is part of that circle of friends - Joe Estevez, Kerry Wallum, Ed Meyer (who I believe bid on the script, along with Joycelyn Engle of Supernova Media). All really great folks. I had a nice chat with Terence about the script way back in 09 when he signed on, just after we started to shop it. Seems like the script never really left this circle. There was a lot of excitement about it, and no shortage of those who are well aware of the time and effort I put into it.

It's a pretty basic work-for-hire. An idea was presented to me (she called it a treatment, but actually it was a rough concept), then I started the writing process. I would get feedback on a scene, a tweak in dialogue (always needed help with the French), then back to the writing. And so it went full bore for about a year, after which we got some outside feedback, let it gestate a bit, then got into the grueling task of fine tuning - add another year. After that it was changing a word here, pushing a character off the roof there, writing the synopsis and treatment, loglines and trailer script. Original title was 'All The World's A Stage' - yes I kept copies. Funny to go back and read early drafts. A lot can - and did - change.

Wendy was hired to do test stills - you can see one of the photo tags says 'sendtoalex'. I still have all these, by the way. Not showing up in the wayback archive, though. Terence is also a fine photographer, as you can see on his website (I did write a commercial for him as well), and he did some nice test stills for the film. Should I put some up? It was public info. Maybe a later archive will show them. Had it on my front page for some time.
Very proud of the script. It was quite a challenge, pretty much out of my comfort zone at the time - we started in October 08. Since then I discovered how much I love to do the research on historical drama, and have written a few since, some with a healthy dose of licence. The Cellar, with motionart films (with the ever-capable Jens Klein) would be one. A really, really cool historical thriller. I pray daily it makes it to the big screen someday. Check out the website on it.

http://www.motionartfilms.com/news.php?nid=75

As you can see, he is also filming 'Pupae', a short script I wrote for the DVX science fiction script contest way back when. Now, sciFi is waaaay out of my comfort zone, but this one somehow just bubbled out - with the help of my scientist soul mate, of course! The mosquito was her idea. Check out that page as well, and scroll down to see the production stills and concept art. I have made it my promise that if this ever gets a shot at developing further, I will dust of my now-retired screenwriter pen and go for it.

But, back to Of Gods and Kings ...

During the writing process I was told I could slip in an actor friend or two, and actually wrote roles with them in mind. Some of you may remember Phil Donohue, the great biker dude who was in Joe Saba's 'Enchanting Twist' short in the DVX film contests. Really likeable guy, and solid actor. I so wanted him as the king, but which was later saved for Lee Majors (yes, he's still acting. Not sure why he didn't do it). So, I settled for the Duke role for Phil - if you could read the character info, and the behavior, you'd know - yeah, that's Phil. But somehow, once pre-production began, this was all pretty much forgotten. Sorry Phil. You would have been stellar. Wanted Brooklyn Garrison in it as well (she's been in a few of my shorts on DVX). And a few others. Kenny Cook (Bitter Shoes) as the attaché. Rats. This started out as a more 'do-it-on-a-dime' project, so I was involved in casting ideas, and looking for a crew as well. I did send very early drafts to Mike Horrigan and Zak Forsman to read over. Don't quite remember the reasons we didn't collab. But later drafts were shopped around, and voilà!, here we are with the film in production.

The above disappointment aside, I'm pretty dang happy with the casting. I think Helen Mirren and Anjelica Huston were being considered for Madame Renard at one time. Maybe the budget couldn't cover it. But, really happy with the final choice. Anyone know Lesley-Anne Down? I signed her guestbook, but not all that sure she sees it - part of the fan club thing.



But, none of my emails have been answered since October 29th, 2011, so maybe there is cause for concern.


Kinda weird - all the milestones for this project seem to happen in an October. Wonder if that means it will get released in October as well.
 
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It's a weird feeling to have the very thing that got you out of bed everyday - and kept you out of bed every night with those 3 am writing zones - feel like a dead limb. Hopefully it's just a phase. These days, I'm pretty much relegated to selling banana muffins on the street corner. Delicious banana muffins, mind you, and I adore the simplicity of it: I give them a muffin, they give me a coin, and everyone goes home happy. What will probably prove unfortunate, I put all my eggs in this God/King basket.

So, kinda wanna share some thoughts on the writing of this screenplay, as there were some new territories explored. No intention to bore here!

As most more or less agree, the main character or protag is the one we want our audience to experience the film through, following their trials and tribulations, and rooting for their eventual prevail. The film 'The Butterfly Circus' is a solid and highly enjoyable example of that. Didn't really happen in the case of 'Of Gods and Kings'. The main character, Annalise, is, by default, not all that likeable - a point confirmed by a few folks who read the script for me. I can't imagine the audience rooting for her, and likely not even feeling sorry for her despite her victim-of-circumstance status. Aside from a few 'yeah, girl' moments that give the audience some hope of redemption, she pretty much remains an arrogant poo poo. So, where to put this all important rope the audience can cling to?

King Frederick and Madame Renard, who are the two supporting roles. They are interesting in that they really are complete opposite poles in this, and manage to exist in harmony until the apple cart is upset, and we experience their trials and tribulations over a shared interest - I actually see them as one person with that divided personality reacting to this said apple cart: the hapless idiot meets the covetous schemer, with only one apple to divvy up. A bit like watching a tug of war where no winner can ever be declared. I also think these roles are the richest in character development and nuances, and if there are to be any accolades for the film and/or performances, my money is on Madame Renard, with an honorable mention for King Frederick.

Sebastian, who plays opposite Annalise, is a bit of a marshmallow. Likeable if not affable, but still a marshmallow. So, I suppose it is a bit of a risk to put attributes on the supporting roles that ought to be on the leads. Somehow just didn't fit this particular screenplay. On paper anyways. May translate quite differently on film. As I have no intention of ever seeing it, I will rely on the notions of my film-savvy friends.

Not sure why, but as dead to me as this story/screenplay has become, it helps a lot to talk about it. Maybe these ramblings will be considered spoilers, though. Best I find something else to whine about. And on this fricken planet, I will never be in want of that.
 
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Well, thankfully one fellow writer back from my Zoetrope days remembers reading this for me, and giving notes on first impresions.

''Thought this sounded familiar... I gave you some notes on it back in 2009... congrats... hope they get your credit straightened out. ps... I still have the pdf you sent me, as well as the emails we exchanged if you need copies of them.''

And the ever beautiful Mandy Evans-Brown read an early version. She was my absolute first choice to play the lead character (way back when I was chiming in on casting). I highly recommend her to all filmakers great and small. Here's her website.

http://www.mandyevansbrown.com/home/...?location=home

And this fella was my first choice to play the King - later the Duke. I believe he also read an early version. Guys and Gals, this man is a phenomnial actor. You'd be doing yourseves and your projects a big favor tapping his skill and what he brings to the table.

http://phildonahueactor.wordpress.com/

Yes, I'm plugging these two. And while I am at it, I'll plug Ms. Besedes as well. I had hoped to bring her in as Marie. Aside from 'Of Gods and Kings', she was scheduled to play in my short film 'Another Man's Dame', a fun sci-fi noir, hardboiled thing. Lot of fun. Sadly it never made it past those initial first cast meetings. She has dang gorgeous eyes.

http://www.noemibesedes.de/

I wanted her and Mandy because of their ballet backgrounds, and as 'Of Gods and Kings' is ballet heavy, they brought much needed experience, poise, and beauty to the whole. Well, they were supposed to. Didn't happen that way, though.

Another glance at IMDB today. Still no credit. An email to Luck films went unanwsered.
 
So you didn't ever get paid, not credited, and they're not answering your calls?

Sheesh.

Its time to contact your lawyer methinks.
 
I don't get it. Aren't you a Writers Guild member? Do you have an agent? Sh|tty things happen all the time, even being in the union and having an agent, but at least you have recourse and a paper trail. Even if you're doing something on spec, you have the agent draft a basic memo that outlines the 'what ifs' that everybody can initial. Heck, even without representation and not being in a union, you do a quick memorandum before you start working - or, at least sometime during the process, if you're putting a ton of time into it, you take a moment out to write a one-sheet memorandum of understanding with the 'what ifs' and you have everyone involved sign it. So there's no 'he said she said'. Sorry, it doesn't sound romantic, but it's pretty run of the mill, and believe it or not, it makes everyone act more professionally - so far from being a downer, it's a kind of booster so everyone works a bit harder. Anyhow, maybe this qualifies as "notes for the future".
 
simonpwood said:
So you didn't ever get paid, not credited, and they're not answering your calls?
Click to expand...

And I personally know (I guess knew), one of the partners at one of the production companies, and tried to have a conversation with him about this, and have been ignored. Sorry, Alex, tried; got no response.
 
Hi everyone, Alex wrote a couple of scripts for us before he disappeared from the scene to grow tomatoes and sell banana muffins. Since I don't have any other way of contacting him, I have joined this forum to leave him this message. The Western script he wrote and we doctored (and YES he's got a credit) has been turned into an amazing kids film. The kids were offered the Katteminnga film lot in Trentham (Australia) to use and Chris Blackwell, the drummer for Robert Plant (yeah, the Led Zeppelin guy) and he's a Grammy-nominated composer, has donated the most amazing score and mixed it to length. The story (script) was so good, as was the location, as was the audio, as was the stellar acting cast, that we have submitted the film to festivals in the US, London and Tokyo (so far). So Alex, if you're out there tuning in, I really, really want to share the Western with you. I am sure you'll love it as much as we do. Please get in touch. Regards Fiona, Far Out Films.
 
Fiona here again, Alex. I'm really annoyed about your situation so I've done a bit of research. You can go to the film "Of gods and kings" in IMDb and request a writing credit. You should though attach supporting information, such as old pdf copies of the script and emails like your friend says he has kept, and IMDb should correct their listing as a consequence of your supporting information. It's really despicable that you're not credited for work you've done.
 
Okay Alex, I have set up a new registration because I forgot how to login using my old one. So I would love you to see the Western and I would love you to come out of hibernation and help us with kiddie scripts. I cannot post the links to the film(s) publicly on the internet (you should see the sumo too!) so can you send me a message through our website if that suits you regarding how I can private message you with links. The Western has also been submitted to Raindance, the largest independent UK film festival, so that's in addition to CICFF, Tokyo Kinder and London City FF. I also have another parody script I'd love to get written if you're up to it. I'm on Skype if that helps although time difference will make it wobbly. Glad that IMDb has sorted out the credits for you. That was despicable. You'll see you have a credit sitting there for the western as well.
 
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