Donnybrook Production Services

A recent move has landed me in-house for a stint with the politico-powerhouse Jamestown Associates, a consulting firm based in Princeton. And while I usually benefit from a bit of a ramp up, there’s also something to be said for the time honored tradition of trial by fire.  The embers are still glowing bright red, but I’m starting to settle in to a bit more of a groove since hitting the ground running last month.

Already in the still-early days of this run, I’ve assembled shoots in South Carolina, New York, Philly, and Hawaii.  The later would appear to be the first in what is likely to become a bi-monthly production routine in the Aloha State over the next two quarters or so…& I’m loving a few local island vendors already.  Sight and Sound Studios has been fantastic in a pinch, which is where I’ve been finding myself on most of these shoots, and seems to find just about every piece of gear I’ve needed to pull together.  And Terry over @ Pacific Prompters seems to be running a pretty healthy monopoly on teleprompters on the islands…good for you Terry (& thanks for the assist).

All in all, once you get past the inevitable rub of island hopping logistics, Hawaii ends up being a pretty nice place to film.  And as it turns out, it’s rather picturesque there as well…who knew!  Mahalo.

OK, so granted I’m a bit of a newbie to the tumultuous terrain of the world’s freelance workforce, but (and, fingers crossed/knock on wood/insert cliche of choice here) thus far I’ve avoided the apparently all-too-common malady of being stiffed on an invoice.  And while I’m certain that my name does not exist in isolation on this more favorable of registers, another list is being generated this month to provide a collective voice for those that have indeed had a run-in or two with deadbeat clients.

On Thursday, the Freelancers Union (a self-professed ‘federation of the unaffiliated’) launched its “World’s Longest Invoice” campaign, in an effort to provide a platform for reform when it comes to the ability of freelance professionals to seek remedy if they get stiffed.  Now, mind you, this isn’t like skipping out on a bar tab, since at last tally this ‘tab’ had quickly accumulated to well over $8-Million.  That’s a lotta deadbeats!

This undertaking is a first in steps to propose new legislation next month, when the Freelancers Union will look to pitch lawmakers the Payment Protection Act. This bill would allow self-employed individuals to appeal to the Department of Labor for assistance in tracking down clients guilty of non-payment. The hope is to shed light on an epidemic that plagues many freelancers, and address the fact that more often than not the costs associated with legal support are too high, thus allowing clients (of the deadbeat variety) to simply refuse payment of open invoices.

In honor of Irish-induced celebratory efforts this month, here’s a short list of witticisms courtesy of the Coen Brother’s penned  “Miller Crossing” protagonist Tom Reagan…played by the Irish Isle’s very own Gabriel Byrne in one of my favorite roles of his:

“Tell Leo he’s not God on the throne, he’s just a cheap political boss with more hair tonic than brains.”

“All in all not a bad guy – if looks, brains, and personality don’t count.”

“If I’d known we were gonna cast our feelings into words, Id’ve memorized the Song of Solomon.”

“Sister, when I’ve raised hell, you’ll know it!”

“Is there a point…or are you just brushin’ up on your small talk?”

“You don’t hold elected office in this town. You run it because people think you do. They stop thinking it you stop running it.”

“My chin’s hanging out right next to yours. I’d worry a lot less if I thought you were worrying enough.”

“You can’t hijack me, Tic-tac, we’re on the same side now. Or didn’t you get that far in school?”

“Nobody knows anybody, not that well…”

– Tom Reagan, “Millers Crossing”; 1990

Already this year, I’m sensing that my blog-centric commitment for 2012 may be waning from the diligence witnessed in 2011…as it stands, I’m finding pockets of allowable down time fewer and further between this year already. I figured I’d take a second to offer myself a quick get out of jail free card, so that when I don’t update this site again all year I can say I saw it coming.  But alas, I digress…

I wanted to jump on to give a quick shout out to a very blog-worthy new vendor friend of mine.  Since coming on board last month, to take the active reins of production management for the Cartoon Network slotted kid’s show “Team Toon” (a joint effort between Larry Schwarz & His Band and Crook Brothers Productions), I’ve been lending a bit of my own particular style here and there.  Case in point, the K-Cup coffee maker was a big hit all around! And one new vendor in particular has been great, in every sense of the word.  The Brooklyn-based sustyparty.com is quite the enviable little do-gooder, and I’m proud to add them to the show’s growing vendor list.  Jessica and Emily both offer top notch customer service, and I’d be a fool not to take advantage of the geographical convenience of having their shipping center located right in the outer boroughs.  Especially since they ship their wholly sustainable products all over the world.

Keep up the great work ladies, and thanks for all of the help thus far…I can already see that carbon footprint beginning to diminish!

As of 2012, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office will be undergoing a pretty extensive overhaul, not only to it’s staple film.org website, but also to its professional listing service.  The GPFO will discontinue publishing their film guide, and will instead be transferring over all listings to a digital service.

The film office’s website has always added the amenity of a digital listing to anyone filing for a space/ad/listing in their annually published film guide.  But as of this year, the office will do away completely with the hard copy version of their guide, and instead rely solely on the website & digital listing.  Primary markets the likes of New York & L.A. have been moving in this direction as well, and secondary arenas such as Chicago, DC, Dallas, and North Carolina have adopted similar mindsets.

It will be interesting to see how smoothly the transition goes, and whether local crew, vendors, and production facilities offer push back or embrace the tech advances with open arms.  Regardless of the reaction, it’s my hope that the Philly Philm Market witnesses a surge in production activity this coming year, after sub par offerings over the past two years.  After all, someone needs to steal some of that tax incentive money back from neighboring Pittsburgh.  Here’s hoping that the production activity warms this coming spring in tandem with the weather.

So it’s looking like I’ll be traversing to the north end of the NJ Turnpike once again.  As of next week, I’ll be coming on board in a more official and full-time capacity as the UPM for the NYC-based Crook Brothers Productions.  I’ve been involved with the sibling duo behind CBP since wrapping the indie feature “Backwards” in October, when Line Producer Brian David Cange introduced me to Jeff & Josh Crook.  The Crook Bro’s, in tandem with Animation Collective, have been gearing up to get two shows into principal production since late summer, when a sizzler for their kid’s TV concept “Black Dawn” was picked up by FremantleMedia.  As it stands, I’ll be grabbing the production reins of their second kid’s concept, “Team Toon”.

The Cartoon Network bound ‘Toon’ is an amalgamated live action/animation concept that follows the scholastic-set adventures of a foursome of middle-schoolers, as they engage in daily adventures.  The show will pepper in contemporary, tech-infused components for a demographic of kids that are all too well versed in the digital arena.

The show’s principal filming location, and main production headquarters, will be in the small shore town of Lindenhurst, NY…just 30 or so minutes south of the Hamptons.  We’ll be bouncing back and forth between Long Island and the outer boroughs of NYC, as key supplemental locations have also been secured in the Brooklyn-based hoods of Greenpoint, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope.  So it looks like the chilly winter months will find me at the North end of the Turnpike…i’ll have to learn to circumnavigate those pesky Met’s fans!

It’s not every day that I stumble upon something useful while enduring the tortures of the MTA subway system, but apparently it’s not impossible.  The current print campaign for freelancersunion.org caught my attention recently, while standing elbow to elbow with some of the world’s most unwelcome travel partners.  Pasted squarely in a subway car corner, the ad seemed to beckon that I journey to the organization’s website.  Luckily, given the wonders of modern technology, I was able to do so right then and there from the ever-accessible controls of my trusty iPhone…a far more welcomed travel partner, even if it is the ‘Siri-less’ variety!

Providing a ‘platform for an independent workforce’, the Freelancers Union’s website offers access to information regarding health & medical benefits, investment planning for retirement, and local calls to action events.  Providing a unified voice for the likes of the self-employed, the organization provides solace to those that question whether or not they do indeed have a ‘real job’.

Lobbying efforts have been formed for far less worthwhile causes, so this seemed like one worth latching on to.  I joined later that night, since it was free (and as such rather risk free), so I’ll be exploring the benefits over the next couple of weeks/months.  Naturally, they welcome donations, so if you’re at a loss regarding what to do with that disposable income that’s burning a hole in your jeans, I can think of far worse ways to spend it!

‘Let me have your attention for a moment! So you’re talking about what? You’re talking about… bitching about that sale you shot, some son of a bitch that doesn’t want to buy, somebody that doesn’t want what you’re selling, some broad you’re trying to screw and so forth. Let’s talk about something important. I’m here from downtown. I’m here from Mitch and Murray. And I’m here on a mission of mercy.

The good news is — you’re fired. The bad news is you’ve got, all you got, just one week to regain your jobs, starting tonight. Starting with tonights sit. Oh, have I got your attention now? Good. ‘Cause we’re adding a little something to this months sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anyone want to see second prize? Second prize’s a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired. You get the picture? You’re laughing now? You got leads. Mitch and Murray paid good money. Get their names to sell them! You can’t close the leads you’re given, you can’t close s#@!, you ARE s#@!, hit the bricks pal and beat it ’cause you are going out! Only one thing counts in this life! Get them to sign on the line which is dotted!

A-B-C. A-always, B-be, C-closing. Always be closing! Always…be closing!! A-I-D-A. Attention, interest, decision, action. Attention — do I have your attention? Interest — are you interested? I know you are because it’s f#!@ or walk. You close or you hit the bricks! Decision — have you made your decision for Christ?!! And action. A-I-D-A; get out there!! You got the prospects comin’ in; you think they came in to get out of the rain? Guy doesn’t walk on the lot unless he wants to buy. Sitting out there waiting to give you their money! Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it?

You don’t like it — leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you got, make myself fifteen thousand dollars! Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can you? Go and do likewise! A-I-D-A!! Get mad! You sons of bitches! Get mad!! You know what it takes to sell real estate? It takes brass balls to sell real estate. Go and do likewise, gents. The money’s out there, you pick it up, it’s yours. You don’t–I have no sympathy for you. You wanna go out on those sits tonight and close, close, it’s yours. If not you’re going to be shining my shoes.’ – Blake, “Glengarry Glen Ross”; 1992

It seems like each and every year we’re inundated with holiday centric films for a plethora of seasons.  Halloween and Christmas are two of the most notable by far, but for some reason there’s typically little by way of cinematic celebrations in honor of Thanksgiving!  While we’ve got a pigskin classic or two, and the fanfare that goes along with the Macy’s T-Day Parade extravaganza, there are seldom films released that set the specific likes of ‘Turkey Day’ in their crosshairs.  With that in mind, it’s worth celebrating two classics that have stood the test of time.

“Home For The Holidays”; (1995) – With fun performances from Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr, this comedic examination of family hits ‘home’ on a variety of cords.  Relatable to anyone who’s ever dreaded a visit with relatives, this film is worthy of an annual review in honor of an under-rated holiday.  Notable support from the likes of Dylan McDermott & Claire Danes help round out the effort.

“Pieces of April”; (2003) – On the opposite end of the budgetary spectrum (from the studio-driven ‘Holidays’), this indie darling stars Katie Holmes in one of her best roles.  In a pre-Mrs. Tom Cruise effort, Holmes delivers a cutting performance as a 20-something New Yorker hell bent on hosting a self-sustained Thanksgiving for her dysfunctional family.  A tad darker than the aforementioned “Home for the Holidays”, ‘Pieces’ still delivers a brutally honest homage to this under-appreciated holiday.

Every once and a great while, the Philly Film Office ‘Hotline’ offers up some legitimate virtual body dragging.  In my case, it happened when a listing posted by Producer/Director Bernard Gray of Diamond Entertainment Productions caught my attention.  The post led me to reach out to Bernard directly, and it didn’t take me long to realize he was a sharp fella.

Bernard, along with his Diamond Entertainment producing partner Richard Harris, are currently developing a feature film script penned by local Philly Screenwriter David J. Greenberg.  “Angus” tells the story of Brian Brooks, a successful model who has grown tired of being treated like a piece of meat, and decides to make a go at a possible acting career…awkward & laughable/relatable moments ensue.

This actually marks my second go-round with Writer David Greenberg, as we optioned a script of his while I was staff producing at GK…& as for Bernard and Richard, I’m intrigued, and eager to see where the collaborative possibilities might lead.