The Ghost is a Lie

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This idea has been awhile in the making. Been hashing out the story & plans with Jason (@SkinlessJsn and @ChrisCarnel) since last year. Finally announcing it to the world!

We have launched the fan page and fundraising site just a few days ago.

Let me just say that, I will never again take the actual act of a getting a movie rolling for granted. There is a tremendous amount of works that goes into it before day 1 of shooting. In many ways principal photography is the “easy part”. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears but so worth the effort.  I also now understand why it take years to make things happen.

I hope you check it out and spread the word about our fantastic little horror movie!

Keep checking back in.  I’ll be updating on progress.

 

Update.

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Heading up to Santa Fe tomorrow to start work on a pilot, “Untitled Ralph Lamb Project“. Very much looking forward to it. Here is a synopsis of the show:

“The story of this series tells of a former rodeo cowboy and later Sheriff of Las Vegas by the name of, ‘Ralph Lamb’ (Quaid), who is constantly butting heads with Chicago Mobster/Entrepreneur, Johnny Sorvino (Chiklis),  who is trying to mold Vegas, based on his interests.”

Set in the 60′s, this should be a super groovy show to work on!

 

 

On The Road Trailer

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This is a movie I worked on in the fall of ’10. It shot all over the place: New Orleans, Argentina, Mexico, and various cities in Canada. My piece was a week in AZ, cotton fields & scenics. It was a blast. I couldn’t have had more fun dressing extras for the 40s and assisting Sophie (head costumer).

Here is the trailer:

Shark Night 3D

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Starring: Sara Paxton, Alyssa Diaz, Dustin Milligan, Katharine McPhee, Joel David Moore, and Chris Carmack (basically a CW love fest!)
Genre: Horror
Discovery: Redbox find (2D version)
Summary: Young college kids take off to an island for sun and fun only to be met by killer sharks. That immediately puts a damper on things when they have to find a way to get one of the injured for medical help. Dilemmas abound.
First Glance: This movie held a great component to a solid horror, pretty people caught in a major predicament facing more than just the killer shark element. I can’t say enough about the stunts. One of the parts I liked the most.
Deeper Look: Sometimes what you see is what you get. This type of horror is exactly that. No deep pontificating about pressures on post modern pre-adults or how the killer represents the repressed fears of a socio-economic collapse. It is attractive peeps getting eating by sharks (with a twist). Behind the scenes girl says: I liked how glossy it was. Seemed to be shot like a hallmark greeting card. Everything picture perfect except the fact peeps where dropping like flies. My gripe was with the CGI, which might have been improved if I saw it in the 3D format. Could you please make the sharks at least look real and like they exist on the same plane as the characters? Wholly unbelievable.
What I Took Away from this Movie: Have fun and it is ok if not every horror is the next Nightmare on Elm Street.
Final Glimpse: The scene on the jet ski made me giggle with delight.

Trucker.

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Starring: Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt, Jimmy Bennett
Genre: Drama
Discovery: Recommendation.
Summary: Diane (Michelle Monaghan), a mom who abandoned Peter 10 years earlier, is forced to take care of him when his father (Benjamin Bratt) gets cancer. Her married friend, Runner (Nathan Fillion), opens up her heart a bit when he declares his love for her. At first, there is little love lost between the Diane and Peter. She has no idea just what it takes to be a loving parent after living with her guard up for so many years. Ultimately, their bond is restored as they learn the meaning of love and family.
First Glance: Great cinematography in this movie. It takes place on the road a big part of the film. I really felt the expansive nature of the life of a truck driver. Michelle Monaghan played a perfect blend of embittered, fiercely independent woman while exposing a vulnerable woman under her crusty exterior. She & Nathan had an easy chemistry which was filled with longing looks & unsaid dedication to each other.
Deeper Look: You never know what you are going to get when you get an indie movie about an absentee parent. It could come of terrifically false if you move too fast or make it play out in an unnatural way. Neither of those things happen. The director took the time to show us two very uncomfortable characters getting to know each other all over again. That paid off. I was sold on the story of this woman who didn’t understand what it was to be a mom; yet, by the end of the story opened herself to learning. Diane grows up so much through the film. The boy (Jimmy Bennett) had the best chip on his shoulder only overshadowed by his desire to know if his mom really wanted & loved him. Beautiful moment at the end between the two.
What I Took Away from this Movie: It is never to late to step up to the plate and let your heart love.
Final Glimpse: Slow, meandering movie about a mother/son relationship.

My top 5 best “costumed” TV shows.

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The area of costumes in TV is such a subjective one. One persons love is someone else’s “what the?”.  Another thing, if done right, you will seldom notice how nuanced the wardrobe is. You will be on the ride and enjoying the arcs without really understanding what it took to get there. That is the “magic” of what costume designers do. They bring you into the land of each person through clothing. How kick ass is that?

On to what I consider to be the 5 best costumed TV shows currently.

1) Mad Men What can I say? Janie Bryant is a living legend in my eyes. She so clearly created a world that completely comes alive through her choices. One thing that very much impresses me about her is the authenticity of each characters personality. She commits 100%. Recycling is also very key because it is more realistic to how people really dress. My favorite character being Joan Holloway played by the lovely Christina Hendricks.

Mad Men

2) Boardwalk Empire  Period dramas always get the most attention in the costume world. This show shows us exactly why. It transports you back to the prohibition days. One test for me is do I believe the world that is being created, does it feel real? Could these be peeps I would see if I lived back in the 20s? My answer is yes. Absolutely no doubt. I wish I could personally thank John Dunn and his team for creating a cool world and bringing it to life on the small screen.  I go completely crazy looking at all the silhouettes and fabrics they use in each piece of wardrobe. This period is one of my favorites (second only to the 40s) so I am hugely biased.

Boardwalk Empire

3) Spartacus This show was a recommendation from a friend, Bryant. I don’t usually go gaga for ancient history shows but after one episode it roped me in. Costume-wise it doesn’t get more elaborate and beautiful than this show. Every design is something special.  Spartacus has had two designers. Barbara Darragh started the vision and Leslie Burkes-Harding has been entrusted to carry it on. Not an easy task to switch the flow like that but it happens a lot. When I get caught up I will let you know if there was a huge shift.  My gut feeling says there won’t be.

Spartacus

4) Shameless After I heard this show was being remade, I wasn’t all that stoke. As a huge fan of the original (with James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff) it gave the US version some big shoes to fill. I couldn’t have been more wrong. To call this show one of my latest TV obsessions would be an understatement. It is perfect, or nearly. OK, enough gushing let me get to one of the most understated parts of the show, the costumes. Lyn Paolo has managed to “keep it real”. Nothing bugs me more than when a character that is poor or has a few jobs is wearing prada jackets or jimmy choo shoes. For the most part this show balances the fine line between cliche and total realism very well. You don’t notice how subtly she shifts from one character to another. No one looks dressed above their means except the one character to have money, Steve. Even he is a toned down version. I think it is high time a contemporary show got some nods from the costume design community.(Not Glee) *The sleeping mask that fiona wears in season 2 is one of my favorite costume pieces!

5) Justified  I like police dramas. Not easy to make them interesting in a costuming sense. Ane Crabtree brought me the most awesome character wardrobe pieces ever. Raylan’s hat.

 

 

 

 

 

The second I saw Timmy wearing it, she hooked me. Of course, that isn’t the only thing I love about the costumes in this show. There are a whole range of characters that would be really easy to dip into small-town cornyville. None of that happens. More than once I have noticed the evolution too. Check out Boyd for the best example of this.

Justified

 What is your favorite costumed show?