One big problem Undercover has presented that I haven’t had to deal with before is finding a crew. Normally set is considered a class, so having people to show up and work isn’t a concern.
However, since this is an extra film not part of the curriculum, we’ve had to scrape together a crew. It’ll come [...]

The days of Farmer Arable and Wilbur are long gone.
One of the main locations in Undercover is a pig farm, where a Muslim cop goes undercover to find a missing pig.
So, as Producer, I need to find this pig farm. In the process of this hunt I learned about the state of the farming industry [...]

If you survived the 2 years in Film School, you’ll do fine in Hollywood.
Said by Ali Bell, visiting alumni.
Sorry I can’t write more, I’m in the midst of a perfect storm and potential breakdown (Update: storm has passed).
But on another note, I should probably remain behind the camera:
“I’m here with my mom actually who’s up [...]

It’s funny how much I take film slang for granted.
So to start from the beginning, there are six stages in making and releasing a movie: Development, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, Distribution, Exhibition.
Usually Development can take the longest - that’s when you’re writing the script, trying to get funding, trying to get Greenlit. When you hear it [...]

Ali Bell, 30
vp production and development
Montecito Picture Co.
Not everybody can trace their film career to their mother’s love of John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood.” “It was a combination of the acting, the cinematography and the way my mom was so rocked by the experience,” Bell says. After film school in Florida, she set her [...]

This is the craziest film set I’ve seen on the soundstage.
After emerging from a dark editing room around midnight, I was told to check out the trench. I had heard someone was making a WWI trench movie. I didn’t know it was a trench epic.
I can’t believe how detailed and real it looks. I’m definitely [...]

This is a little montage of the video clips I shot while at TIFF.
The people we’re having dinner with at the end (divided by the drinking straw) are Cherie Saulter and Justin Barber, both Film School alumni who produced “Medicine for Melancholy,” directed by another Film School alum, Barry Jenkins, and nominated for a Gotham [...]

Just when I thought there would be a dry period of stories after I graduate1, Thoth gives me a goldmine. I’ve been asked by a recent graduate to co-produce a short film she just received funding for.
This film (tentatively title Undercover) will be the largest production I’ve ever worked on. 26 page script, 8 days of [...]

So a while back I used to post cool links each Wednesday for a Coffee Break series. For many reasons (mainly time and laziness), I haven’t posted cool links in a while. But I still have a bunch saved up.
So in the spirit of new beginnings, I’m just going to offload everything I’ve had stored [...]

I’m not going to tell you to vote - you already know to do that.
But here are some added benefits for bubbling or touching the ballot.

Bring your “I Voted” sticker into Krispy Kreme and get a free star-shaped doughnut with patriotic colored sprinkles (Freedom Doughnut?)
Keep that sticker on and go to Starbucks for a free [...]