A Time Long Ago

One of the things many people don't realize, that even on big budget films, press interviews take place long after the completion of production. Actors and directors are often asked to comment on projects that they haven't thought about in a year or more. They are already working on their next movie. This was kind of the case with our recent interviews. Although Rich and I have been active in the entire post production process - a process that still continues - there are aspects of story and theme that we haven't thought about in a long time. Rich has completed another film and I've written two screenplays since wrapping production on "Ranchero." And speaking only for myself, I had to review some of the ideas and concepts that were in my head during the conception of the piece. This was both exciting and nerve racking. Am I still talking about the same movie? How has time altered what we set out to achieve and what we did achieve? Has the feedback of viewers and critics affected our perception? It can get kind of heady. I'm anxious to watch the completed interview segment to see if I made any sense at all.

Brian

Some Extras

As we prepare for a DVD release, one of the things requested from the distributor is "extras." Extras can be commentary, interviews, deleted scenes, just about anything. Having the ability to speak about your movie, add clarity to issues you think may be missed, is something I believe most filmmakers find appealing. Audiences definitely enjoy the insider's view into the filmmaking process. Like the budget of a film, the extras section can vary greatly in regard to cost, size, and complexity. I think we've put together materials that fit the size of our film.

Rich has compared the interview section to creating a short film; there has to be a flow, a continuity of thought, a progression of ideas. Using behind the scenes video footage shot by Daniel Weisman, and interview sequences photographed by Dave and Dan Hefner, Rich is shaping a twenty minute look inside the making of "Ranchero." That, and an excellent deleted scene with Roger and Baldwin Sykes, will be the main ingredients of our extras section.

Back with you soon.

Brian

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Sorry, but it's been a minute since my last post. The joy of our festival trip to Providence now over, we've settled back in to the business at hand... finishing up the film. That is, getting deliverables ready for distribution. For those of you that don't know the term, deliverables are the required elements set forth by a distributor to get your film ready for market. They include master copies of the movie in different formats (high-definition and standard definition); still photos of the director and the cast; various contracts; copies of the script; etc. etc. The list can be quite long and intimidating. It can also be quite expensive. Spending 50k for deliverables, even on a lower budget film, is not out of the question.
Fortunately, like the rest of the production, we have the support of a village. Many people at Technicolor Hollywood have aided in the cause. Director Rich and Supervising Sound Editor Brandon Griffith have been working tirelessly to prepare the masters. Even lead actor Roger Gutierrez has assisted with acquiring music. It's indie filmmaking at it's finest.
Each day we grow ever closer to our goal: the opportunity for our baby to walk in the public limelight. You know I'll keep you posted.

Brian

Conquering Provience

Well, maybe conquering is a little dramatic, but I'm extremely pleased with the film's performance at the SENE Film, Music and Arts Festival. The "Ranchero" team returned home with the Best Screenplay Award, Best Lead Actor Award, and the Audience Award for Best Feature. That's not too shabby.

I have nothing but positive things to say about the festival. From the moment we arrived at the reception at the Marriot Courtyard, until we left the closing night party at The Spot, we were treated warmly and respecfully. Unfortunately, we had to bail early on the reception in order to make our screening.

It went great. The recently renovated Cable Car Cinema is an excellent venue for indie film. Us living in Los Angeles are a little spoiled when it comes to indie theaters. We have many "state-of-the-art" facilities. Not the case in most other cities. Considering this, the Cable Car was warm and intimate. Audio quality was fine and the screen size was appropriate for the space. I had no complaints. The fifteen minute Q&A following the screening was the best to date. People watched the movie carefully and had interesting questions and inciteful comments. Roger and I had a blast.

In conclusion, I want to thank Phil Capobres, Don Farias, and Linda Dwyer for putting on a well-run and friendly festival. Best of luck to them with SENE 2010! I definitely look forward to future "Ranchero" screenings on the East Coast.

Brian

East Coast Premier

Well, we're on our way to Providence, Rhode Island! "Ranchero" will be screening Friday, April 3rd at the Cable Car Cinema as part of the SENE Film, Arts, & Music Festival. Roger and I will be flying into New York on Tuesday, March 31st and then heading into Providence on the 3rd. Dave Silva is actually flying out to join us for the screening. I love the support. My biggest concern is finding a coat that can handle the East Coast in April. Us wimpy Calfornians like to stay warm.

Unfortunately, we will be screening again on standard definition DVD. I've let this bother me a lot in the past, but have come to realize... people don't really care. The reality is, once the film is distributed, most people will view it in standard def anyway. So I'm going to stop whining and just enjoy the fact that more people are getting an opportunity to see the film. The organizers of the festival seem to be very friendly and responsive. I'm looking forward to a fun, stress free trip.

Speaking of distribution, there have been some very exciting things taking place recently. I'm unable to give details at this point, but will definitely do so in future blogs. In a nutshell, I anticipate a distribution deal being signed in the next couple weeks and "Ranchero" finally entering the commercial world. Needlees to say, this is awesome!

I apologize for being so inconsistent with my postings. Between the regular j-o-b and juggling three film projects, time has been scarce. Rich and I do have some traction with our horror/thriller "Pursued." Keep up with that project at pursuedmovie.com. I'll discuss the other projects at brianericjohnson.com.

That's all I've got for now. Wish us luck in Providence.

Brian

Conquering McAllen

Well, maybe "conquering" is a little dramatic, but the screening went very well. 95% of those in attendance rated the film "great" or "good." The other 5% called it "average." Now I wish I could say we had an audience of 500, but unfortunately we only had 60. I guess it's better than 20.

I think a lot was learned by our trip to McAllen. Most importantly is my increased faith in how well the film plays. Rich and I have always felt that "Ranchero" would be an audience favorite. As more people view the movie, that opinion is validated. The positive feedback has inspired me to create more opportunities for people to see the film.

It's always difficult to attract an audience for independent film. This is especially true in South Texas. Dave Silva did a tremendous job arranging the theater and bringing in the people we had. For future screenings I'll want to hit the ground earlier. Dave, Roger (lead actor Roger Gutierrez) and I got to town the day before. Next time I'd like at least three days to pass out fliers, do interviews, etc. We received excellent coverage by NBC affiliate KVEO out of Brownsville. Unfortunately, the story didn't air until 5:00pm the night of the screening; hardly enough time to put butts in the seats.

In addition to attendance, screening format was a challenge. In my limited research of screening venues, I've found it difficult to find locations that are HD compatible. For those who are non-technical (like myself) it's hard to find places that have professional broadcast equipment capable of showing high-definition video. We were relegated to showing a standard DVD of the movie. Does this effect the viewers enjoyment of the film? Who knows. However, it does lower the perceived "production value" and takes away from the vision the director Rich and cinematographer Mike Bratowski had intended. For me, a lot of work and cost was put in to attaining the high visual elements the film has. We shot on 35mm film and had state-of-the-art color correction. It's disappointing to see the image degraded because of techinical limitations. Our choice is to either rent high-end equipment, or just live with it.

After returning from the trip and getting past the stress of the screening, I realized how enjoyable it was to be out on the road with the movie. Sharing your work with an audience is what it is truly all about. To impact people mentally and emotionally is why filmmakers do what they do. I wish Rich had been there to hear the comments, see the smiles, and experienc the full result of his work. I can't wait to do it again.

More soon,

Brian

Texas here we come!

     Well, we didn't make the Gotham festival in New York, but we're on our way to McAllen, Texas. On Thursday, November 20th, "Ranchero" will be screening at the historic Cine El Rey. Put together by my good friend and talented actor Dave Silva, this type of screening will be a first for the film. What I mean is, this will be the first time the movie will play for a general, non festival audience. And believe me, it's scary. Not that I don't have complete faith in the film, but this is really the first time that the baby walks on it's own. In festival, I'd like to believe there is a sense of comradarie amongst the filmmakers and an atmosphere of encourgement from the attendees. This will be, more or less, a regular group of filmgoers who are plunking down their ten bucks to see a movie. They're not rooting for their friends or supporting up and coming filmmakers. They are there to be entertained, bottomline. 

     In the interest of full disclosure, let me be completely forthcoming about the make up of our expected audience. It will be predominantly hispanic. When I wrote "Ranchero" and director Rich and I sat down to discuss it, we never felt we were making a hispanic film. Though the lead is Mexican-American and his journey is definitely colored by his heritage, we always felt that the purely human aspect of his struggle trumped anything having to do with race. To me the film is about finding self-worth and that's a battle fought by people of all ethnicities. It will be interesting to see if the audience responds to the universal themes or simply identifies with the characters that they view as similar to themselves. Or perhaps we've missed the mark entirely and will be chased from the theater by an angry mob. I can't wait for the 20th.

     Needless to say, I'll let you know how it goes. The trip will be a nice break from staring at the phone as I await feedback from two distribution companies. I know there is an audience for "Ranchero." I'm just having to work to find it.

     Until next time.

     Brian