The Road to Hell (AKA "Summer People" blog)

Festival Update

2008-09-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

It's official, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has decided not to include Summer People in its line-up this year.

Their loss, I says...

Pardon me while I go into this corner and cry now...

No, wait!

There are still a few more to hear back from!

Ha ha! In your face, Chicago!

August

2008-08-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

Howdy listeners,

Official News Bulletin! Summer People has officially been rejected by the Toronto International Film Festival. Not to worry, though. We're still waiting to hear back from 5 more! Some of those will be more genre-based, which gives us a better sporting chance than going up against stuff like the Coens' latest movie.

Also worthy of note is a response that I recieved from the Library of Congress. I sent them a copy of Summer People to make sure that the movie has the protection of a registered copyright. Well... the letter they sent me said that they irradiated (destroyed) the copy while screening for anthrax.

And, if anyone's interested in what I've been up to, other than trolling the festival waters with Summer People and/or getting copies of my work irradiated by our Government, I've completed a new vampire script (which I'd been brainstorming while working on Summer People), and my father and I have written the first draft of a biker movie.

As far as the real world is concerned (until I make the big time), I'd been planning to attend Cal. State Fullerton to earn a masters degree in English, while making ends meet as a tutor. Unfortunately, my application, after having been considered by the English Department for six months, was mysteriously lost during a transition of computers and software at the university. Now I'm on week three of being jerked around by the incompetent boobs who represent the highest levels of learning in our good country.

Such proceedings can seriously make a guy want to fire-bomb said institution, enroll at a city college for $20 a credit hour (vs. $300) and experience the simplicity of an easy enrollment process and a fine education (albeit without a piece of paper to show for it), while awaiting capture and imprisonment and the subsequent years of quiet reflection - during which I would write my memoirs.

Peace be with you (unless you work in a bureaucracy - in which case you have your own private hell, anyway),
Scott

About Time

2008-06-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Whelp, I guess it's about time for another entry...after all, it's been a month, right? All right, so anyway, "Summer People" is currently in the hands of several festivals, including: Toronto International, Chicago Underground, Fantasy Fest, Screamfest, and AFI. Most of these don't make their selections known until around August; so, the waiting game is on.

But in the meantime, gentle reader, I'm working on another script. And, I guess that's all I got to say about that...

Thanks very much for the encouragement and comments that some of you have offered.

Till later, then...

What now?

2008-05-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official: Summer People was rejected from the Cannes Film Festival. I'm not going to bore you all with the details of what other festivals I've entered, but the next significant one is Toronto. In any case, the current haps is that I'm submitting Summer People to various film festivals in an attempt to get it noticed. Then, maybe, an opportunity will present itself for a distribution deal. If not, then it's essentially cold calling distributors whom peddle the type of product that is Summer People.

It's all about art, man...

It's Done

2008-04-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

All right. I guess I can say that now. For the last week I've been saying that, then watching it, going back and fixing more glitches, etc. But it's done...

Cast and crew, I'll be sending out your copies just as soon as I've had a chance to preview the copy that I'm burning now (to make sure there are no more glitches), then you'll be getting your DVDs.

And for everyone else who may or may not be tuning in, stay tuned for future details on how / where you can get a chance to see "Summer People."

Yee haw, eh kiddies?

All Done

2008-03-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

...with the exception of a song that I promised my wife I'd write and use in the movie, everything else is done (final edit, sound, etc.), everything.

I'm holding my breath now...

Averaging a post a month...

2008-03-03T07:02:00.001-08:00

Howdy folks!

Well, thanks for your patience (as usual). I've just watched Summer People in its entirety, with music and everything. And I'm very pleased with it.

I am now going to go through it again to make minor adjustments based on notes that I've created. These include: changing/adding musical cues, tweaking various shots and sequences, and doing a final audio mix.

Estimation / what this means: Well, I only get to work on the project about an hour to two hours a day tops, plus weekends; however, in two weeks Spring break will provide me with an entire week in which to work. Ideally, I will be done before Spring break, and then I will put on my business hat and start looking for buyers / festivals / etc. And, of course, at that time I'll also be sending out copies to the various persons who have been a part of the production and have been so patient in allowing me to see it through properly.

-Scott

To Chicago and Back Again...

2008-02-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

I just got back from another trip to Chicago. Work continues (both on the film and on my day job). Summer People is now essentially finished -- with the exception of the soundtrack. So, my completion date is being pushed back again. Sorry 'bout that...

On the upside, this is pretty much the last thing I have to do. Then negotiations for distribution deals may begin as well as a potential premiere screening in Chicago.

Peace all!

Initial Sound Edit is Complete

2008-01-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

This means that all that remains is the completion of the soundtrack (music) and final adjustments. It's lookin' real good, kiddies!

Vacation: Had to Get Away

2007-12-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks. Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been and shall be in Chicago for a few more days doing a combination of work and relaxation. I haven't had access to a computer with a DSL or cable connection, so I haven't updated the site.

But I have been at work. I finally got one of the two remaining shots that I need to make the opus complete. When I return to California on the 3rd, I'll still have a few days of vacation that I intend on putting to good use. I should be able to finish the sound editing, which will only leave some soundtrack work and a "fine tuning" of all of the components combined.

Until the next report, have a happy new year!

Free Days

2007-12-15T08:04:00.001-08:00

Winter Break has begun, so I now have some genuine quality time to work on Summer People. I'm about halfway done with the sound engineering and editing phase. Next will be music, then the final editing touches and that's it. It all sounds so sweet and simple...

A New Look

2007-12-02T12:22:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the newest renovation for the publicity of the upcoming movie Summer People. For all previous blog postings, please visit: http://www.dervishpictures.com/blog.html

Well, I've been at work on this thing for seven hours straight and I'm not gonna waste any more time writing about it. I'm just gonna get back to working on it. Then I'm going to get back to working on the actual movie.

Such are my free days...