Three projects,

 Sorry to be behind, I've got three projects running around for two projects, being the French one and my recent screenplay which is likely get into the running. Above is me and lead Riva Spier in 1980. That's real snow and falling snow.

And there's also a shot at Ghostkeeper 2, the second movie from Ghostkeeper. It's quite amazing that there's still a fan group who wants to see the new version. I'd like to see it shooting in winter around the Canadian Rockies like my original version.

Of course there's a few issues in that Georgie Collins, who was the  best part of Ghostkeeper.  Unfortunately she passed away a couple of years ago and I saw her some time before she passed. I told her about Ghostkeeper 2 and asked if she'd be there. She looked at me and then smiled, saying that "I might like to try that old bird again." Meaning her character in the original Ghostkeeper.

 And yes, I gotta show you how I looked in 1980 shooting Ghostkeeper. With still lots of hair.

I think I would direct again as since then I stayed in the writer's room.

So I should be back on track with these three things, keeping me busy on both.  And it includes the Ghostkeeper Blu-ray version as I only know that someone has my Blu-ray version in his or her's hands.

All I know is that it's in a Camarillo mobile Home park.

Honest. 


 

How to Kill a Movie

I'm sorry to be out so long but this week was a real problem and maybe next week also. It's about countries and people who think they're something but aren't. Having said that, what is going on, is small people and ones who are trying.

As you know I am going to sell my screenplay to a small French company in France. The script is about a man who's not all there or at least he thinks he is. I wrote it as this man accidentally sees a young girl being taken by a rough-looking man.

What happens takes our man into the Mojave desert and the story happens in one day.

But one thing happened.

The company had no money.

Until a few months ago.

And it seems like it might go. The company has 4 movies and mine is first. Sounds good?

But it is turning into problems, basically the payments and because I'm in Canada and the movie turns into a French movie, rather than the original one. Well, I really don't care, the script is very much like it was and still holds up.

But, there's a French-Canadian company of sorts who suddenly appears to say that there's lots of things that need occur. I have to pay $75, not bad but they want some other things like a blank check?

Why?

I know that the blank check goes to the Canadian French company, who are truly trying to make this go. But the Canadian company isn't sure. 

It's easy. I don't have to show them a blank check.

So, that's why this is this, as they say. What will happen over the week-end.

Will the movie get made. Do I have to get real mad to get my money? Does everything goes down.

Still here

Sorry to get back, had a bit of several things that I had to deal with. I had some more talk about the French movie. As of now, nothing is there, or at least nothing I know. They wanted to make it a few years ago but couldn't get the "francs" or euros".

I also have some work on my screenplay for someone wants to look at it. 

And I've got to do a couple of days to fix it up as well as dealing with IRS of course, but they're quite helpful.

I was considering talking to my first agent, the one that really didn't get much work and what led to about 7 or so agents until I got a big one, which lasted for a long time until my agent within the agency decided to leave.

And left me dead. Actually he left several writers. He decided to go to the film side where he took cameramen/women, production offices, line producers, production manager, all that stuff.

So that went cold, and it took me some time to have someone again who was/is still in the business I was/is at least I think.

By the way it's also a good way for writers to get these jobs, even smaller ones. One of my jobs after I left the tv producers for small TV companies as assistant on a movie where I carried stuff for the whole show. 

It might not be the best job, but you can learn a hell of a lot. I did a Location Manager once, which is a fun job, looking for locations, you learn a lot from that.

In fact I might do a blog on this.

Anyway I should be up and running before the end of the week.

How about the basketball winners who played in Toronto and, as far as I know, none of the players are Canadian!! It was a huge thing for Canada, Toronto had 1.5 million people flooding downtown.

Far out... Raptors!!

 

 

Producers eh?

Sorry for long time

I'm sorry to be off this week, a lot of things that took too much time.

First off, I went to see my 97-year old aunt Lena and traveled across the great Canada
flatlands and grain, beautiful to me, as I grew up there, in a small town. But this trip was a little problematic and caused some problem regarding that three of the guys who check
the baggage. 

Actually not a big deal but they were trying out something on the
sliding thing and asked me if I mind them trying to see if it works. I said sure, and
they pulled out my laptop but they had problems opening and closing. So they
thanked me and left.

But when I got to my aunt's I realized my laptop broke. So I called to whomever I call and
they said to call. I called but a lady answered and said that the guys didn't do
anything to my laptop.

So this turns into hell. This was a month ago and now they say that they have cameras
that said there were no customs/whatever's guys touched my laptop. She said you were
gone by then.

So, I still have a broken laptop screen. Nice...

And after that I have some other deals, had to do some work for the
French movie and this went on for three days in order for them to
figure out how the bank thing happens. Simply they would send my
money to my bank. Simple.

Well, no. They didn't know how to send money to another country like this;

You send it to USA or Canada. 

Both countries make it simple. But this took 3 days or so.


So I'm beat. Still have to do some more info with the French, but I think it's done.

I have no idea why my words above are in strange sentences.


See you Monday.

So whatya do now?

So my French movie is pushed back. But it's still working towards a potential fall shoot, or just some of the material for ahead. But what else can I do? Well I have a batch of scripts that I keep on deck.

So... have a look; maybe you can get an idea too?

10 - 1                        May 23, 2019

I have 40 scripts but these are the usual ones asked for.

Our 45^th                                                                                                New Screenplay

“It seems so strange to relive the free days of our life, I try to understand what it was like and the different life we lived – WAS a wonderful time. We are fortunate to have lived the life we did in that era.”  It all began when a daughter’s Facebook discovers her mother’s past and faces a whole new life from someone she never expected. It started with “Are you my mom’s ex.” A warm true story for boomers.

Emperor of Mars has had at least 9 options that never found funding and all were American. Nomadic had it for awhile. Biggest offer was for me directing with San Diego company but two arguments blew it..

Chase – Going to film in France in September with me as the only English speaking guy. It’s an action story where a man thinks a girl has been kidnapped. (already optioned)

The President’s Heart  Requires international funding. Woman President in Europe suddenly has a heart problem and an alcoholic doctor is the only one he can do it.

Secrets of the Salmon – A woman returns to her small town on the Pacific where she wants to engage a twenty-year old battle with her father. But her father now has very

little life left. (Currently reading).

Travel Day – A movie truck driver picks up an actor and a failing movie star to a long location and find a teenager escaping home. Idea from Destiny Ridge, a series I worked on.

Side by Side is a really different movie, it’s a combination of mob boss’s hitman who goes to Niagara Falls and finds an unusual love that can only end wrong. Everyone who has read it could hardly believe it. A story you’ll never believe with the people you see.

Goalie is a screenplay based on a true story about a Yukon hockey team that challenges

The Ottawa hockey team in 1910 or 11. I wrote it for my friend Phil Borsos but the financing didn’t happen. However I was paid for the screenplay.

Janet Smith – I wrote this true story which occurred in the 1924 where a young Scottish woman working for a rich family in Vancouver and was murdered. It’s based on the book Who Killed Janet Smith. The author and I are friends, Edward Starkins. It was never made because the producer never made it.

*Producer was Robert Frederick, not a nice guy. Knowing him I walked into his office and handed him the screenplay.  Later he said he didn’t get the screenplay – but all his staff who were on my side including Raymond Massey who was there working for him at that time. WGC fought and won.


So, I guess I have some stories yet. Just sent one out yesterday to a producer. Not sure though.

Tom, a  friend of mine once told me a great story. He was cameraman and director at a film festival when a young  film student approached and asked him how he could be just like Tom. Tom smiled and said it was easy. All the student had to do is to get a any job in TV or film and work thirty-five years.


 See?

And of course all these screenplays are registered with both WGA and WGC,

Off course I trust you..


.

Bon Jour

Sorry to have been away to the blog. I had a screenplay that two French people liked and finally optioned. However that option was a few years back, almost 8 years. So it went nowhere and I forgot about it.

But suddenly, the director and some other people now think they can finance it. So why not?

The film will probably be done early next year so I'm not worried. But getting me to France and to French with contracts are pretty crazy. I actually have to join the French version of WGA. Not a big deal but a lot of misspelling on their part.

So I'm almost finished the contract and almost finally finished.

It's the story is about a man who sees a young man grab a woman and throws her in a  truck. Basically a road story.
 

Will be back Monday.



 

Where's the Ghost

So, where is the damn Ghostkeeper.

It seems that my Ghostkeeper feature film has disappeared from the face of the earth. Well, actually in a Camarillo Mobile Home Park. At least I think is there. It is for sale.

Let's go back. Way back.

In 2016 my distributor gave me $4000 for the money I should get. Probably. You all know how rotten distribs are. They keep what they want. But Bill was always a good guy, always gave me the money I am supposed to have.

But he disappeared from Earth.

And I cannot find him anywhere. His brother needs a replacement part of his stomach and he's not in good shape either.

We go back to when Ghostkeeper was gone from the face of the world. But he found me when my other distributor ran away with money. Bill was always truthful.  Distributors, as I said are crooks. But Bill had disappeared. He

And I have no idea of where he was. I called film companies I knew if they knew but nothing.
I saw the word distributers. His distribution company was called Code Red.

All I know is that someone now lives in Camarillo Mobile Home Park. And he or whomever holds Ghostkeeper and I need to go down there and see who/he/she it is!!

So that's what I got.  Some guy who sells Ghostkeeper and I don't know who he/she/it is.
Yeah, I know, I gotta go back down and find the place just outside the valley, dude.

Anybody wanna try? I'll be happy...