No love for the haters

I've been in a lot of discussions recently about the critical consensus on the films i've worked on, which for the most part have been very low budget endeavors.

My budgets

Fearsome: $13,486.00
20 Funerals: $56,434.18
Dead Heist: $100,000.00+

With these meager budgets we've tried to make compelling and interesting films, though we are all well aware of the shortcomings and challenges that present themselves in making independent films. I read almost every review i can get my hands on because i enjoy hearing what people think of my work, even if they don't like it. I still consider myself a student of film. Here's the best review i ever got, courtesy of DVD Verdict's Bill Gibron.

"Unlike many low-budget films, this effort shows promise, not problems, for everyone involved. DJ Naylor and Mark Mench are actors to watch, and if he ever gets his game totally together, Anghus Houvouras could be a genuine journeyman filmmaker. 20 Funerals may merely be a resume builder, but there's more here than future possibilities. It is a thoroughly watchable genre offering." - Bill Gibron

His review got it all right. What worked, what didn't, and the problems and promise of a low budget offering.

Others aren't nearly as kind, with the internet sites jabbing me in the ribs with comments like:

"20 Funerals carries a bold and interesting idea about cops delivering street justice; unfortunately, the entire movie was deteriorated by mediocre acting and directing."

This one isn't even that bad. It showed promise. But everything else was 'mediocre'

and then there are ones like this angry young man:

"I do not know what these people were on, when giving this movie 4 or 5 stars. This movie seems to have been made on a $5 budget and filmed/directed by an 8 year old using a handicam. The "action" scenes if you want to call it that are just lame and no special/effects whatsoever (just blobs of ketchup).
There is not a single minute in this movie that is worth watching........"

Not a single minute? Really? I mean come on. In 80 minutes, there isn't one watchable one? Not 60 seconds of something worth salvaging? Some filmmakers tell me they get desensitized to reviews because the ones online are so full of venom and bile. But, when you're where i'm at, any feedback is helpful I suppose.

I also find it funny that my best reviewed film is the one with the lowest budget. Accroding to IMDB.com, the films i've worked on break down like this:

Fearsome - 7.6
20 Funerals - 2.7
Dead Heist - 4.5

Should be interesting since my next film, In Another Life, will be shot for almost nothing. I wonder how the reviews will be fore that one?

Guess what? I'm Writing

Those of you who know me are probably well aware that i write more than most human beings probably should. Usually i have 2-3 projects going at one time. Right now i'm working on a spec script for my reps, a novel for shits and giggles, and am finishing a draft of a script im directing early next year.

Sadly. my life doesn't change that often, and at any given time i'm writing a variety of different things. Of course, since i love writing this isn't a bad thing, although sometimes all the characters talking in my head drive me to distraction.

Right now the sniper from my novel and the main character from my next movie are debating campaign finance reform and what the next season of Heroes will hold.

I'll try and update this thing more frequently.

Dead Heist in Stores this Tuesday

Dead Heist, the zombie vs. bank robbers flick i wrote awhile back hits DVD this Tuesday (August 7th) from First Look Home Entertainment. Easily the best film i've been a part of, this movie is just a fun, over the top, Evil Dead like flick about a bunch of guys in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It's available at every major media outlet in North America, and for those who prefer to rent, load it up into your Netflix Queue.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.