Getting ready for the film fests

Truly Free Film has a great To Do list for filmmakers getting ready to enter into film fests. Note that Number 3 is to have a blog.

Yeah, we're pretty ahead of the curve.

Generally though, Bernardo and I have done some of these things others are in some stage of development, and some we need to get on quick. It's a good list.

Most importantly: the film itself; yes, ladies and gentlemen, Flunky is even closer now to being ready to be shown publicly. That's because Bernardo has been locked into an editing suiteshaping the final product.

He has been doing a killer job editing everything together. His creative touch has added layers, depth, and overall sexiness to a short film that was already stacked with sexiness and pitchblack humour.

Is it ready yet? No, it is not.

But we are starting to be able to make out that light at the end of the tunnel. That light is of course, coming from a projector booth, and when we get to that light Flunky will be projected onto screens, walls, hearts, minds and ..uh, whatever else is around.

Bernardo and Ryan

Do we look brilliant? Maybe not. But we do look good.

Speaking of looking good and being brilliant: Flunky should be both of those things. And soon.

Bernardo and I had a meeting last night, and hung out. And it was good. And fun. And productive. We're right on schedule for a late-June avant-premiere. Anyone who knows an excellent place for this event should contact me by leaving a comment.

Also more exciting news: our website (a real website!! For the film!!) is in production and should be coming up soon.

It'll be awesome!!

Antwerp Diamond Heist: the movie

Flunky is still in editing phase, who knows when that will draw to a close, but we can all hope that it will be soon.

In the meantime, if you're wondering what is not the next project, but is an incredible story nonetheless, may I drect you to this post on the brilliant idea to write a film based on the Antwerp Diamond Heist perpetraed by Leonardo Notarbartolo and his gang.

Lean in, to seem keen - photo

(Photo by France Dubois)

Flunky has been shot!

The movie has been wrapped, with all principal shooting finished. I hear it looks good. These photos sure do. I will post more soon...

(All photos were taken by France Dubois)

Actor profile - Ryan Millar

Ryan Millar – Marco Duran

Ryan Millar is an actor-slash-writer and an expatriated Canadian. Among other things. He has participated in numerous plays, short films, sketch comedy videos, and Education Ministry-sponsored educational videos for high-school students. Often as an actor and more frequently, lately, as a writer. His stage credits include extensive improvisation performance and training, notably working with !nstant Theatre Company in Vancouver, and Boom! Chicago in Amsterdam. Since moving to Brussels he got to play 'The Maniac' in the American Theatre Company's production of 'Accidental Death of an Anarachist', which was alot of fun.

‘Flunky’ follows the success of his first one-act play - ‘The Power Force’, which won the American Theatre Company’s One Act Play Competition in 2007. He now refers to himself as "Award Winning Playwright Ryan Millar," which is pretty annoying.

Ryan is pretty excited to play Marco, the innocent applicant.

Writer’s Note – Ryan Millar

flun•ky also flun•key (fl ng k )
n. pl. flun•kies also flun•keys
1. A person of slavish or unquestioning obedience; a lackey.
2. One who does menial or trivial work; a drudge.

The idea for this script began as an offhand joke with a friend. I think I was complaining about the downsides of my (then-current) short-term contract. At least, I said, with slavery there are assurances of long-term employment. We laughed at the absurdity of security trumping freedom of choice and income. He challenged me to go further with the idea, saying, “There’s a script in that.” Never one to turn down a challenge, I wrote a first draft not long after.

As I was setting up the story, I was struck by how easy it was to conceive of this world. Each character acts in a perfectly rational, self-interested, and recognizable way, in other words – everything is normal. Except that, this world is a horrifying dystopia. As least, I hope it is. Because if it’s not, we’re way worse off than I though.

Developing this script from joke, to rough story, to polished draft, and finally into actual short film is a difficult and rewarding experience. Even more difficult (and possibly rewarding) than finding long-term employment. The dedication, encouragement, and belief in this project from everyone involved is truly heartening. Without the support of the other actors, the director and everyone else, this script may well have just remained a joke shared between friends. Instead, it has grown into a project that is both an end in itself, and a beginning.