"i thought i saw pete at the gas station"

Last night Aaron and I had our first post semester meeting about "Big Hands" and where we wanted to take the film now that it is in our hands, no pun intended. And for some reason I got the idea stuck in my head that I should start retracing my steps. I began with my most recent film prior to 24hr, which was "sleet/snow," on top of that Frank asked for some footage for his reel, and even though there is only one shot of his face in the film, I dug up the project file and began to watch the different cuts. s/s was the first film I had edited closely with someone else, er... Adrian, where we saved every cut we finished. In final cut it is never a good thing to rely on the auto-save to catch all of the little moments that changed everything. But since we were on such an expedited timeline for finishing the film, we had the aforethought to keep a record of every major step. That is something Adrian is at full credit for doing, was so exhausted when the shoot was over, I didn't have the endurance to marathon edit and to honest I don't think Adrian did either.

This 5 minute clip from "sleet/snow" was one of the first sequences to be cut from the final film. Mainly because it disrupts Robert's character arc. It isn't even the whole sequence, but I thought this worked really well when I watched it. I put some shots at the beginning to kind of add some scope and pace to the sequence. This clip also catalogues my frustration with Marian's character, and the situation I put her in. In the film who she is is very ambiguous, she is both the object of affection for Robert, but at the same time a human being that isn't in the same head space her. The clip is called "i thought i saw pete at the gas station because" that is the conversation had over sandwiches in the following scene (not included here). But that was the idea I had to reference her husband, and that her being there was an act of independence from her daily life. The trip is that for both of them, but ultimately I felt her character's arc distracted us from Robert's. I think cutting Marian arc, was and is still the choice that distances me from the final cut. That was more my failure then the anyone else's, but as shown here, in its roughest state, I can't entirely feel I let myself down. Indeed this is part of the original cut assembled while we were shooting, with just a hint of finessing. Collectively, these are some of my favorite/prettiest shots we got, and then were left on the "cutting room floor." I hope you enjoy.

"i thought i saw pete at the gas station" from Daniel Laabs on Vimeo.

Adrian Make Movie Trailers

Well you've seen the reels here's some completely awesome trailers and more for some of the films we've produced. I hope you enjoy and if you are interested in getting a screener of any of these films please feel free to contact us at adrianmakemovie@gmail.com.

Hürtgenwald Trailer from Noe Medrano Jr. on Vimeo.

Please checkout the rest of Noe's videos on Vimeo, if there is such a thing as a man behind the curtain, well that's Noe, Hurtgenwald was his narrative debut short. If ever get a chance to see it on the big screen it is a truly awesome experience. One of the most cinematically meditative films I seen from a friend and collaborator. I think Noe has shot or lit everyone of my narratives. Become a fan on facebook to find out about upcoming screenings and support this incredible film.

Sleet/Snow Trailer from Daniel Laabs on Vimeo.

What can I say I think this is the third trailer we've posted, more good news will be announced as soon as I can on this project.

Big Hands teaser from aaron holloway on Vimeo.

Aaron Holloway's latest short film was produced in association with Adrian Make Movie, but technically is a Manamal Production, and it won Audience Choice and Best Narrative at the UnderExposed 7 Film Festival. We are still in post on this one, but hopefully we'll be in a place where can start submitting to festivals very soon! Become a fan and find out news about upcoming screenings at the good ol' facebook!

Gillface from David McGinnis on Vimeo.

I guess this is the creme de la creme of embeds, this is the full version of David McGinnis' Award Winning Musical Short Gillface. Join the good fight and become a fan for Aquatic Americans young and old on... facebook.




Indeed this very first short produced by Adrian Make Movie, originally intended to be straight forward narrative short, but ended up becoming a test shoot for the film that ultimately became "sleet/snow." As rare as the screenings are comparatively to films like Gillface and sleet/snow, become a fan and get updated with news, although subscribing to this blog's RSS might be the easiest thing now that I think it, but support it anyways. North Street will be online in full by the end of the month.

Anselm from aaron holloway on Vimeo.

One of the first films I produced, this is another in association with Manamal Productions sort of deals, but I helped write and I produced it, so by my count it is Adrian Make Movie as well. This is also presented in full



Other Great Adrian Make Movie Films
The Runner (in association with INRI Films) - Facebook
The Moving Rows - Facebook
Hot/Cold (in association with Revision Films) - www.myspace.com/hotcoldfilm
That Makes Five (which will be posted online soon)
Catchers (which will be posted online soon)


Lastly I am doing this in part because June is our one year anniversary for Adrian Make Movie and it has been both an exciting and pretty successful first year, with films playing at SXSW, AFI Dallas, Fearless Film Festival, Reality Bites, Texas Black Film Festival, and UnderExposed 7. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can celebrate?

H/C Update

Reel

Daniel here...

This is somewhat inaccurate because all of these films were made before 2009, but two of them were finished this year.

2009 Director Reel from Daniel Laabs on Vimeo.

The song is from "la chinoise" by claude channes.

"HOT/COLD more like HOT DAMN!"

or at least that is a paraphrased quote from director/writer Frank Mosley. I can't say enough nice things about our crew and our Director of Photography Ron Gonzalez. It has been a nice blend of UTA folks and new people for me. Marc Howell won an excellent game of scrabble (with a little help from me), Corrie saved us from near disaster with her boom stick, Jenny our Art Director masterfully designed a beautiful bed room, Nathan took pictures of everything (well not everything) that I look forward to seeing with great anticipation and I hope to be able to speak more about everyone and their amazing deeds after next weekend as well post some stills for everyone see some of the awesome work being done. Crystal and John are two of best actors I've ever gotten to work with, and all in all it has been one of the most comfortable sets I've ever been on. Great work everyone can't wait for next weekend. I don't think I have ever been this happy with a movie I been a Producer for. Thanks and I'll be sure to mention everyone's heroic acts next week. Just thanks to everyone who has been a part of this film from the beginning.

And speaking of Boom sticks... Adrian and I went to see Drag Me To Hell last week before he left for Taos and all of its glory. And I have to say it was one of the most perfect cinematic experiences I've had since Bones with Snoop Dogg. And people were talking and talking, and for once I didn't care. As a known cinematic elitist, I find myself backing away from this more and more with every day that goes by. I'm still picky but damn it, I want to nothing more then to see Drag Me To Hell for a second time. It reminded me of my top films of 2001, Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, and Bones. (I think they were the only films I saw in the theater that year.)

thanks for reading, Daniel

Hot/Cold... is "warming" up...

Daniel is posting...

As per usual, a day working with Frank and Robby was very insightful. We were doing some last minute location scouting, which is always frightening, because things have to go well. But I think things went better than I had expected. We are almost ready to make a movie. As much as I like to just Produce, I am switching into AD mode for the shoot and this week is well the week before the shoot. So my mind is going everywhere trying to make sure I am confident about ever aspect of our two shooting days this weekend. I am very proud of this project and am lucky I get to be such a big part of it.

It is pretty crazy to jump in to straight between two shoots, knowing that swimming through only leads to a larger ocean of work and production. I drove past Caves on the way to one of the locations we were looking at today and I was remembering back when I would've gone for a beer on Memorial Day a few years ago. I would've sat at the bar during happy hour and talked about how I wanted to make movies. I'd talk about crazy ideas involving Werewolves or Aliens, but instead of making that happen I sat there on the barstool enjoying what I thought at the time was a deserved rest. Now I spend almost everyday working toward production or on a production of a friends. It has been a nonstop ride since AFI ended and I think I starting to get back into it. After Post Production on Sleet/Snow I was completely drained, I had directed and finished 8 films in 2008 (Sleet/Snow was the last), and that feeling I can now say is over.

That said there are also a ton of films I want to see this Summer and I have picked up at least one job to fund my getting to see them all so I can report about them here. In no particular order they are; Summer Hours, Lorna's Silence, World's Greatest Dad, Revenche, UP (which will be the first PIXAR film I will have ever seen in a theater), Paper Heart, and all the big uns (which I won't write about instead I will probably talk obsessively about to anyone in my close proximity... sorry in advance).

Also Lemon is moving towards a big step, will update soon. Also Coming soon is an Adrian Make Movie DVD, hopefully featuring all of the shorts made with Adrian Make Movie Productions... more on that soon as well, don't forget to come out and support our sister company Manamal Productions' 24hr Video Race film, which I co-wrote/directed, "Sweet Potatoes" this Tuesday 7pm at the Angelika Dallas.

24hr (continued...)

See "Sweet Potatoes" on the big Screen at the Angelika in Dallas on Tuesday at 7pm! ($5 for non racers)

or

You can watch it here


or


here.

24hr Video Race Done

Daniel here...

If you didn't follow manamal on the tweet hot line, we finished our movie at 10pm. Managed to make a new cut by 11pm and turned in a really nice film. It is called Sweet Potatoes, which was the joke title for a script I was working on last month, and it is about two sisters who are left with their Uncle Steve by their father for the afternoon and he takes them out for some mischief. The film is about responsibility, growing up, etc. I am very happy with the film overall. We technically had an unprecedented 6 writers. (!!!) It was the first film for Adrian and I to work on together creatively since Sleet/Snow, and post our mini-festival run for said film. I don't think it is much fun a Schadenfreude, but we didn't focus on last year. We just focused on making this film. It was very liberating to think of it that way.

I will be posting our final film by tonight for all your viewing pleasure, but even still it is always best to see any film on a big screen so we will be updating here on the Manamal Twit for all screening times. Our first and potentially last will be later this week. Congratulations to everyone who participated, especially to those who finished. I was happy to see so many of friends going through this bull shit on their own terms. 24hr is a fun shitty ride, and I'm glad it is over.

the Reel

ENJOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwpSzYLm6ic

UnderExposed 7 Wrap Up Blog!

Daniel here,

Adrian Make Movie Productions and their filmmakers sweep UnderExposed Awards. The awards were selected by a jury of three, Chris Simpson, Keith Alcorn, and Melissa Kirkendall, and so here's the results. UnderExposed is a film festival made by students to showcase the work made by students, all the films are selected by the same jury, and Adrian and I were on the committee to put on the show. I had nothing to do with the awards, but it sure was neat to get one. So here's the wins.

Best Cinematography (tie)
Noe Medrano Jr. for Gillface
Bret Curry for Sleet/Snow

Best Writing
Nathan James for Gillface

Best Narrative and Audience Favorite
Aaron Holloway for Big Hands

Best Directing
Daniel Laabs (ME!) for Sleet/Snow

and

Best in Show
David McGinnis for Gillface

Other films that screened at UnderExposed 7 from Adrian Make Movie were Noe Medrano Jr.'s Hurtgenwald and Jayson Mekala's The Moving Rows. Thanks to everyone who came out.

In other news, The Adrian Make Movie team er Myself and Adrian will be joining forces with our Big Handed friend, Aaron Holloway and Manamal Productions (which I proudly have been involved with for a year now) to enter the 24hr Video Race under the Futurevision Catagory. This is our second year doing the race our first year we took home first place for our film "Schadenfreude."



We will post live updates during the 24hr Race, via the manamal twitter.

Alright well that's it for news, more festival updates for "Sleet/Snow" coming soon!

TEAM HURRICANE LOVES YOU

Adrian (the guy who wrote this) and Daniel were recently invited to the greatest podcast ever on Earth, "Team Hurricane Loves You". Our good friends, Shaun and Darrel host an incredible podcast where they talk about important current trendy topics like puppies, laserdiscs, cheese enchiladas, and electric bongos. They have been pugging our film, "sleet/snow" since their first podcast and have been fans of us since the beginning of time, so we thought we would grace them with our robot clones.
I have to say those clones were an amazing investment. We pre-program them to be smart and witty and it takes about 15 minutes for them to warm up, but once they do, they're awesome. So, if the podcast has a slow, rocky start... just stay tuned and it will pick up and by the end, you will love The Darrel and The Shoo-awn Hawm-eel, as well as rekindle your eternal love for The Daniel Rock Laabster and Amazing Adrian Test-o-Leone.
We talked about LOTR, Star Trek, Wolverine, sleet/snow, Gillface, Elvis Saves Christmas, Lou Diamond Phillips, Adrien Brody, Jeffery Tambour, Charelton the Elvis Impersonator, and Evan's Vacuum Cleaner Store and Hulu.
If you are fans of any of these things then you will thoroughly enjoy the "Cowabunga Adrien!", Team Hurricane Loves You podcast.
Other than that being the most awesome thing that has happened to us in the past who knows how long, we ate McDonalds, wrote emails to Bart about what we're going to do with our lives, ate McDonalds again, laughed at our own voices, then ended the night with a high five and said, "Adrian Make Movie's gotta stay high!"

We also plugged the UTA/SFVO Student Short Film Festival that will be on May 12th and 13th, from 7pm to 10pm
It will be at the Studio Movie Grill in Arlington Highlands, 225 Merchants Row, Arlington, TX, on I-20 and Matlock.

The festival is going to be awesome. It's a lot of shorts from a lot of our friends as well as some "Adrian Make Movie" Productions.

Sarah Harris, the senior shorts programmer at AFI Dallas International Film Festival, Melissa Kirkendall, the producer/director of the Fearless Film Festival in Fort Worth, Chris Simpson, local producer and industry professional and former SFVO President, and Keith Alcorn, creator of Jimmy Neutron, local animator, and UTA Alumni will be judging the festival.

It will be great movies, good food, and great fun, so come on out to the UNDEREXPOSED 7 Film Festival!

and don't forget to tip your filmmakers...

ha!


Adrian

The Mopper

Adrian and I acted in a film last year for a friend.

We were great.

Its called The Mopper.

Logline...
A mopey Janitor has a run in with a Co-Worker that lingers... in the mind... and the heart... and the soul... of a man... who is probably going through something pretty significant.

David is great.

So here is the deal, in a couple weeks the Senior Exhibition is coming up at the UTA Gallery. This is a pretty cool deal. You should all go, I am screening a new cut of North Street Bummer, it will be different, if you have seen it before it will be different. I just said that twice. Indeed I am confirming the allegations, Big Hands is moving into post, I am very proud of Aaron and this little film, it really showed up at a good time and I am looking forward to seeing it with audiences. Then I am also doing a bunch of work and other people's stuff just like Adrian always is. I will be Color Correcting Josh Palmer's new stop motion film, I will be playing the toy store owner in Jayson Mekala's film, The Moving Rows, and mostly I'll be ADing on Frank Mosley's new film Hot/Cold. I am also working with Chris this afternoon on his new film. I think I said film 9+ times in this blog. So I will also be flipping burgers this summer to stay a float.
d

OMG... it's started! by Adrian

So the LEMON is rolling! I sent out an official casting notice and so far have received at least 10 responses in the first day for all the positions EXCLUDING Leeroy the Clown. What's wrong with playing a clown?! I would do it! Hmm.... Maybe I WILL do it! Yay for clowns!
"Gillface", another short film I (Adrian) produced just won BEST STUDENT SHORT at the Fearless Film Festival in Ft Worth, which is part of the Main Street Arts Festival. The director, David McGinnis is very happy that festivals have started to recognize it's AWESOMENESS... and so am I! It also won Best Short Film up in Illinois in the Reality Bites Festival, so HOORAY for Gillface! If you wanna check out how awesome Gillface is, and show your friends, just comment on this blog and say, "I WANNA SEE IT!"
Actually... if you want to see anything that I've produced, let me know and I'll send you a copy or I'll upload the film and put a private password on it just for you and you can watch and enjoy anything that has the ADRIAN MAKE MOVIE name on it!
Daniel just wrapped a film he produced called "Big Hands", by Aaron Holloway. It's supposed to be incredible and I have no doubt that it will be. I'll be producing "The Moving Rows", by Jayson Mekala, two weekends from now and I expect big things.
Everyone around these parts know what "Produced by Adrian Testolin" means.... It means it's gonna be GOLD! Hooray for Gold! Yay for movies!
If you want to be a part of an Adrian Make Movie production, comment on our blogs and we'll get in contact with you!! We are ALWAYS looking for crew and cast and love working with new people!
We produce many shorts and soon we will be producing features!
AND while you're at it, buy some of my old DVDs!... and this old tire I found on the side of the road last week!

Sorry... I was re-reading what I wrote and it sounded like I was trying to sell you all something...

"You all"... I'm seriously starting to think that Daniel and I are still the only ones reading these blogs... oh, and Alfred.

Thanks for tuning in Alfred. We'll get you an "Adrian Make Movie's #1 Fan" T-shirt soon.


Keeping my head above water...
Adrian

Adrian's back from the dead...

HEY! Where have I been?
Well... SXSW is way over... it was a great festival and I wish it was more often than once a year because I loved it.
AFI, however, was a different kind of great. It was a film festival as well but held a different caliber of cool and had a more commercial program.
I met Adrien Brody, we high-fived, I meant to say, "Adrian's rule the Earth!", but instead I said, "Adrian's gotta stay high!", and held my hand in up the air for way too long. He looked at me, then up at my hand, then bak at me and said, "Yeah."
I also met Guillermo Arriaga, the writer of "Amores Perros", "21 Grams", "Babel", and writer director "The Burning Plain". I told him I watched his movie twice and I enjoyed it both times and he said, "Really?". I guess he didn't believe me.
I also met other really cool and very interesting people from all over the country. They were all very nice.
So since AFI, I have been job hunting because I realized that this is my last semester and I have no money saved and I have financial aid that I have to start paying back, and I don't want to be that 30yr old guy who still lives with his mom and plays video games everyday... which is what will happen if I DON'T start making some money. I've been working with this photographer to try to set up a wedding video/photo team to make some quick cash on the weekends. I've been slowly talking with some friends to start up a freelance commercial team. I applied at AT&T as a "Cell-Phone Seller", but haven't heard anything back from them yet.
Besides that, I've been helping multiple students try to put together their short shoots and I've been looking for locations for everybody, (including me).
My friend Jayson's car broke down one day on the way to AFI, so I've been picking him up and taking him to school and taking him to car dealerships and taking him home, so that takes up some time, but I don't mind, he's my friend and he often gives me good advice that I choose not to follow.
I've been missing deadlines with my ONE class and I had a deadline 2 weeks ago (during AFI) with the company I'm interning for that I missed, and I actually still work on in my very limited free time, but I'm not sure I still even have a "job" with them, because I haven't called to try to explain why I didn't make my deadline for the task they gave me... I guess I just didn't want to do something "half-assed", so I didn't show anything at all.
RIGHT NOW, I'm acting in Raziq Brown's "Psychopomp". For some crazy reason Raziq thought I would be able to act in a lead roll with emotional scenes and I honestly didn't believe I would be able to pull it off, but I DID! The big scenes were yesterday (Saturday) and I think I did pretty well! I can't wait to see the footage so I can say, "Oh yeah, I was right, I can't act.", but until then, I'm gonna go around and tell everyone that I'm awesome and I'm an actor!

Today is the last day of principal for "Psychopomp", it's Easter, and I slept in until 1pm. I have a headache, but other than that, I feel great! Acting is fun! It's weird to be on the opposite side of the camera. I notice all kinds of mistakes being made with the production and I get to witness how they correct those mistakes, it's fun, and very educating. It is difficult for me NOT to say something when I see something wrong that no one is attending to. I need to work on that. I'm awesome and I'm an actor.
I'm working mostly opposite Nicholas Cormier III, star and director of the "The Runner", we have a good working relationship, and he's helped me out a lot with performance with his professionalism as an actor. I also worked with Krishna Smitha, who is beautiful and has these enormous, gorgeous eyes. She is so sweet and kind and amazing on screen. She's much much better than me and it just comes naturally to her. Raziq is the other character and he's doing just fine because in a lot of ways this script is very personal to him and he can just act out his real life... or something like that.
I'm worried about Lemon.
I haven't had a lot of time to concentrate on it. I need to find more actors, I'm still searching for locations (Pediatrician doctor's office, a big backyard that is just grass and flat, a purple bedroom), and I'm dreading shooting the second weekend of May because I don't feel that I have enough time to get everything together by then.
I'll figure something out, I always do, but until then, I'm leaving the futon, and going back to BUSY.
I've missed you blog... and I hope we see each other again soon.

On a side note: Birra Porettis in Arlington, by I30 has half priced pizza every Tuesday night, and it tastes great. Order a medium, eat half of it Tuesday night, then eat the other half later the next day for lunch... or if you're like me... eat the other half the next Tuesday morning (yes, 7 days later), then go back to Birra Porettis for a refill. Here it is.

Still Truckin'

Adrian

i just can't help it

I have been thinking about this and many, many other people have.
Since most of our readers don't follow the same blogs I do, I will share this with you.





and yes it is the same footage recut in a different order, but it also brings new meaning to the footage.

AFI is almost over...

It has been a pretty crazy week, I've spilt beer in front really cool people. Tripped over a curb, walked out of movies, went to hooters, bombed interviews and Q & As, and hoped and prayed that my film spoke for itself. I forget that only a month ago this person that has been going to these festivals and talking to people who are much cooler than I, didn't really exist. I have never done or experienced these things, not even close. I've done lots of dumb and embarrassing things in my life, lots more like tons, but I think collectively my behavior at these festivals has been something of a mystery to me. I don't get it. I'm just a kid from Mansfield, TX. Prior to two weeks ago I hadn't been to more then 10 bars in my life, for the sole purpose of drinking and talking to people (I am excluding the tours with PFA, because I think I only talked with the people in our crew). I guess what I'm saying is I have never put myself out there like this. I have gotten to meet filmmakers from all over the world who think and take the same risks as me. Some more social then others & some more drunk than myself.

AFI Dallas, was pretty good to my film, the festival staff treated us well, and people enjoyed our film. I will be posting a "new" cut of North Street Bummer sometime next week, with one extended scene and no opening titles. I am doing this to get some feedback from you people as to what you think. I will post it on my website, and there will be a questionnaire below it and I'd like to hear what people think.

d

STAGED READING of "HOT/COLD"

Oh, I'm involved in this, me Daniel, if you are a reader of this blog you are invited to come and check this out. It is going to be very cool. Here's the nitty-gritty or more-so the press release for the event.



HOT/COLD is a short film in development from award-winning filmmaker Frank Mosley, an Arlington, Texas resident whose love for film and theater has collided for this one-night only event. Fresh off his first feature film, HOLD, due out this summer, Mosley has returned to the passion project that has long eluded him. To help jumpstart this production, he hopes this live performance might ignite public interest and provide a whole new perspective into the evolution of a single project.

Four Day Weekend Theater of Fort Worth, located in the heart of Sundance Square, is hosting a staged reading of Mosley’s latest script about disillusionment, loneliness, choice, and responsibility. It will be an entertaining and unique kind of fundraiser that hopes to secure some money for producing the film this summer. Although there is no admission fee, Mosley hopes that even the smallest donation will help produce the vision that this minimalist theater production alludes to.

The reading, narrated by drama instructor Jennifer Mazza-Nguyen, will be acted by cast members Danielle Pickard, Crystal Pate, Morgana Shaw, and John Elliott. The film’s composer, Fort Worth musician Clint Niosi, fresh off his hit album, “The Sound of Dead Horses Beaten Against Cold Shoulders”, will be performing a live “first draft” of the film’s score to accompany the actors. Fort Worth photographer Paul Leicht has also taken a series of portraits and abstracts that will be projected on three background screens as a commanding triptych to round out this aural experience.

Mosley will speak on behalf of himself and his producers Robby Storey and Daniel Laabs to illustrate the potential pinnacle this film will take on once funding is successfully raised. He hopes to submit the finished film to both national and international festivals, and also present an alternate, “one-long-take only” installation version of the tale to galleries and museums across Texas.

Any further inquiries will be contacted with an online, full-color press packet for circulation and interest.
This night will also be taped by filmmaker and writer Shaun Hamill for his latest documentary, both a chronicle on the making of HOT/COLD, as well as a meditative investigation into the creative and collaborative process.

So, join us for a fun night of theater and cinema, of sight and sound, where you, as an audience, can help put the finishing brushstrokes on this canvas, filling in the gaps as both spectator and curator. We hope you enjoy it.

There will be two performances, one at 7:30 pm and the other at 9 pm, on the evening of Tuesday, April 14th. Please join us in the lobby afterwards for drinks and discussion.

the sky looked crazy today before it rained

:)