1st Day of Auditions

After a full day of watching everyone audition, I don't know if I have a tough enough hide to be a casting director.The talent worked hard and tried their best, but whether they did well or not isn't really the point. Being an actress myself, I know how badly they want to get cast and how crushed they'll be if they don't get the part. Hey, I've been there before - many many times.
I wish I had a part for everyone one of them.
I don't think I'm ready for this part of the job!

Presto Chango

This weekend we're holding auditions for our film. I'm excited and nervous and I can't wait to see the talent. I've totally got my head in Producer mode. But wait - my agent calls me up today and asks me to audition for something later today. Wow! Insto-Presto-Change. Change gears from Producer to Actress.

Locations

It looks like locations are locked and I couldn’t be happier. It’s amazing how the story in my head is taking shape into something that everybody will soon be able to see. Pretty darn cool this moving making stuff!

THEY ROCK!

Working on Ninja James and the Beast Boy, shows me again and again, how important everyone is when making a film. With that in mind, I just gotta say - I HAVE THE MOST AWESOME ASSISTANT PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD!!! ALICIA and SCOTT ROCK!!

AUSTIN HAS TALENT!!

These last few days have been all about Talent. Or I should say, all about scheduling talent for our auditions. I have poured over headshots and resumes, agonized over who should come in and who shouldn't, shuffled times and dates.
So far I have the casting dates almost booked up solid with amazing actors. I can't wait to see them all!!

My Life

For this picture to be more accurate, put two kid in picture, make them 8 and 13 years older, put an empty fridge in the background and move it into the minivan.

AWESOME

Zoticus Design guys are really the best!! LOOOVE IT!!

PRODUCER FOR THE DAY LIST

SO HERE'S WHAT I'M DOING AS A PRODUCER:

Working like mad to secure locations.
~~This includes figuring out which insurance works best for this project.
~~Getting the proper paper work to the City to hold the locations.
~~Finding out the property we wanted to shoot on really belongs to the State. Need to put together info packet, and submit it to the State for consideration.
~~ Driving around scouting for just the right place to film (not as easy as you would think. Takes up scads of time!!)

LOGO for Ninja James and the Beast Boy
Need to stop by and check out the logo that the Zoticus guys are doing for us. Already it looks fantastic. They are tweeking it a little here and there and all it needs is the O.K. and we'll start plastering it all over the place. I can't wait to see it! (Zoticus Design guys are awesome!!)

Working like made to secure the Talent,
~~ This includes combing through emails, sorting emails, setting up audition times, Shuffling audition times to help the talent get in.

Securing Audition Location,
~~Mr. Spouse is helping us greatly here by letting us use his office space - THANKS HONEY!

WORKSHOP
Going to hold a special workshop in October. Should be really fun!

FUNDING
~~ This is never far from my thoughts. we are half way to our goal of 5k. Thanks to everyone who has helped get to the half way mark! Being supported really makes me feel invincible!

GO WOMEN FILM MAKERS!!

(Of course there is a lot more, but I need to stop gabbing about it and get a-going!)

FUNdraising

NOTE FROM KAT:
We're getting there with our fundraising efforts for Ninja James and the Beast Boy. We're a little over the half way mark. Unfortunately we missed all of the grant opportunities and now we're scrambling to make up the difference through friends and family donations and other creative ways of putting together funds. We're hoping to do a kid's workshop in October. We did this with jumping off bridges and raised a few thousand. We're also working on sponsorships through local businesses. We've assembled an amazing team from Key Crew down to Production Assistants and they're been super smart and resourceful so far. We're barely into major pre-production and already I'm super proud.

Ninja James and the Beast Boy

A note from Kat:

Ninja James and the Beast Boy tells a simple story about the length a dad would go through for his little boy. Car chases, fights, harsh words and little old ladies on Vespas.So we're in the midst of our fund drive to raise the budget to get this film off the ground. If you want to help donate some cash, you can click on the button below. Or if you're interested in making or buying a meal for the film that would be incredible. Just send me a note at katcandler@gmail.com . We have 6 days of shooting and a cast/crew of about 50 who are going to be working their little butts off to make a cool, fun film that we all can be proud of.

CEO, That's me!

I didn’t realize producing would be so very hard. It’s not like acting or directing hard, it stands on it’s own two feet kind of hard. Stacy told me that it’s like being the CEO of a business, and I think that sums it up completely. As a producer you have to know about everything, coming and going. There is just so much stuff to keep connected. But it’s also very fun. I’m meeting really crazy sweet people, doing things I’ve never thought to do before and it’s exciting getting this production off the ground. I absolutely can’t wait until we start shooting. Being on set is truly the icing on the cake. The very bestest part.

Today was location scouting. Hours of slowly driving, driving, driving. Stop. Walk around. Drive some more. Drive, drive, drive.

IT’s funny to drive very slowly. People get very suspicious. J

I’m thrilled to say thank you to everyone that is pitching in to make this film a reality.

That little orange “DONATE” button loves you and so do I!

Auditions rescheduled

Right now, I should be sitting through auditions for “Ninja James and the Beast Boy” but unfortunately Hurricane Ike will be causing 30 mph winds this afternoon, with possible wind gusts to 50mph. Throw in a little rain and it’s not a scenario I want to put our auditioners through. So, I’ve rescheduled the auditions for two weeks. Why two weeks and not next weekend you ask? Well, because Mr. Spouse and I will have been married 21 years next Saturday and we are going to celebrate our anniversary. (yea! Go Love!)

As for the film, we are getting excellent talent submissions for the cast and I really can’t wait to see everyone. I mean, hey, actors are my thing you now?

To make the best use of our now, very open, weekend schedule, I’m going to take the kids to a shelter, where they can give some of their toys to the children there, and then tomorrow, Kat and I are going to do location scouting.

Of course, in between all of that, I will be working hard to figure out how to get some funding to make this awesome film.

BTW: I’m looking for a restaurant or business that would be cool with donating money or supplies/food to support women film makers and a family friendly action film. Anyone??

There's a new button in the neighborhood. You might have seen it to the left of this blog entry. It's ovalish, and orangish and is says DONATE in enticing black letters. I know I don't usually put these kind of buttons or even advertisements on this blog, but I've come to the stark realization that it's going to take a village to help fund our film Ninja James and the Beast Boy. Just so you know, everyone associated with making this film is donating their time and equipment. I'm not making any money and although I wish it was otherwise, no one else is making money off of it either. It's a creative effort to show that women filmmakers can make a kick ass action film with heart. It's about how a parent will go to the ends of the earth for for his kid. It's about seeing the humor in everyday craziness.

So if you believe in the village approach to support filmmakers, please throw a few quid towards the paypal account and know that I love ya for it.
Thank you.

Women FIlm Makers Making Action Film!!

Recently, Kat Candler (Writer/Director of Jumping off Bridges) and I were talking about the scarcity of women film directors, when we came to the realization that of that small group, even fewer were directors of action films. Kat and I sensed a challenge and decided to write, direct and produce “Ninja James and the Beast Boy,” a funny, gritty, action packed short film (think Crank and Kung Fu Hustle) that centers around one man’s attempt to make it across town in 15 minutes, or else! Along the way he must negotiate with teen drivers, gang guys, a granny that that won’t be pushed around and the ominous Ms. Burchette. Whoever says action films can only made by men will have to reconsider after they see our film!

the money search

Lessons in making a film.
Lesson one: FIND MONEY!!!
It doesn't matter that everyone is donating their time, and that most of the equipment is donated. To do anything creative costs a bunch of money!!
(Oh man, what have I gotten myself into!)

film

o.K., forget the beach, back to working on the film!!!