I’m so psyched about this, since I grew up watching channel 13 as a kid. Come on, “Reading Rainbow,” “Sesame Street” and “3-2-1 Contact” — what?! BEST SHOWS EVER! Now, as an “adult,” I can appreciate the great programming on PBS even more. So it’s a real honor to be able to screen my little film in such wonderful company!

And the fact that REPLAY even got selected as a finalists — never mind winning — comes straight out of left field. Because I haven’t promoted it in over a year! After touring 14 festivals and winning 4 awards, I decided to let REPLAY live out the rest of its days on the web. In fact, Reel 13 was the very last organization that I submitted for, back in May 2009.

Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in!!

REPLAY will have its World Television Premiere on PBS NY (Ch. 13) on Saturday, August 21st a little after 10:30pm EST (directly following Howard Hawks’ classic film, “Bringing Up Baby”).

I got to shoot with Ernesto Lomeli again, the DP I’ve been working with on STRAIN. He’s a lot of fun to film with and his cinematography is amazing. And Chelsea Tillet, the Executive Producer from 24DP, was a dream — she’s very creative and has great energy. Can’t wait for the next spot with them! :-)

Here are some screen grabs from the footage we shot (we’re still editing):

Director Reynier Molenaar is knee-deep in making his most involved film yet. STRAIN follows two survivors of the zombie apocalypse who must travel across ground zero — an abandoned Los Angeles — to deliver important biological samples. According to Molenaar, “it takes an emotionally realistic view of a genre classic. Basically, if you were to breed an action sci-fi with an indie drama, STRAIN would be its spawn.”

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STRAIN Fundraiser Party
Saturday June 12th @ 8pm
FREE Admission / Cash Bar
Featuring DJ SHO

Enter through back alley:
5271 W Jefferson Blvd, 90016

Well, fuck. Here’s the short version:

Around the time I finished my short film, REPLAY, I began writing a feature film that I was really excited about. It was a project that could be made for a tiny amount of money and still be highly commercial. Since my writing was going very smoothly at the time, and I was so excited, I began to hint about it on this blog.

Here’s where things got tricky:

REPLAY started to get a LOT of attention. It played 14 festivals and won 4 awards. I had meetings with development executives and producers. I started directing commercials. I even got a handful of outright offers for investment. So every night, I would rush home and try to pound away at my pending feature screenplay. I kept telling myself: “if I can get this script finished soon, there’s a good chance I can get it made!” And I just started to freak myself out. The pressure was too great.

So not only did I get massive writer’s block — a horrible feeling all by itself — but I also felt really, really depressed about not delivering these goods that I had locked in my brain. Over time, I could feel the heat from REPLAY slowly dissipating and I wasn’t able to capture it. I felt like I had let myself down. And the script was a reminder of that.

And that’s how I saw it — for 3 years.

During that time, I was very busy. I directed dozens of spots (some of which were featured in ‘Boards Magazine)  and a couple of short films; I’ve even written loads of other stuff, from spot creative to short scripts and stories. But every time I would go back to that feature script, I just couldn’t get that monkey off my back.

Until now.

I finally decided to look at the situation differently. I began writing out of pure joy, without the responsibility of what will happen to the script afterwards. And I realized that I should have been writing from this place all along. Once again, the Universe found a way to steer me down the right path.

And now I’m soooooo very excited to announce that I just finished the script for my Secret Film Project!! And I am very, very pleased with it. It’s a personal milestone for me for three reasons: 1) I finally overcame some serious personal demons in order to complete it, 2) This is the first feature that I’ve written as a professional filmmaker (my last was in 2001, when I was still trying to go full-time) and 3) It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever written and I’m soooo psyched to get this thing into prep! I can’t wait to turn it into a movie!!

For more info and behind-the-scenes stuff on STRAIN, be sure to check out http://www.strainmovie.com!

PS: The placeholder video is some stuff I shot of Jen on the beach, about 5 years ago!

It all starts with an iced green tea and a red pen.

Let me explain.

A good script — whether it’s a feature, a long-running series or even a 30-second TV spot — makes me want to know more. It makes me curious. And that’s the feeling I try to pass along to my team of filmmakers — and ultimately the audience. I want them to wonder what happens to the characters when they’re offscreen.

That’s why I start every job by using my trusty red pen to write a million questions into the margins of the script. Is she telling the truth? Is he masking a bruised ego? What’s in that box that nobody ever opens?

Directing is just an extension of writing. My job is to direct the audience’s eye, to focus their attention on enough specific details in the story that they start asking their own questions. They imagine the world of the film beyond the boundaries of the screen.

So my approach to directing always comes back to the script. And since every script is different then my methods are always different. I try not to have a specific style or look to my work. I stay flexible enough to let the material speak to me.

That means the script might suggest a careful rehearsal process so scenes can be shot quickly at sunrise. Or maybe the script calls for a lot of improvisation to capture raw performances. Or maybe it’s all about creating a mood with stylized camera moves.

The script knows the answer. I just have to come up with the right questions.

That’s what I love about filmmaking: it’s a process of discovery. And when I do my job right, the audience wants to discover the film with me.

Now I know what you’re thinking: Sure, he covered the bit about the red pen, but why does he need the iced green tea? Don’t be silly — you don’t need a reason to have green tea. It’s delicious.