Cinema on the Verge

Chatham is a film currently in production (just a few hours from me) in Cape Cod and based on the novel “Cap’n Eri” by Joseph Lincoln. It’s a period piece that takes place in 1905. The film boasts a solid cast featuring David Carradine, Rip Torn, Bruce Dern, Mariel Hemingway and my good friend Don Foley who is giving a great account of his moments on the set here.

The romantic comedy centers around 3 retired sea captains who draw straws to see which one of them will advertise for a bride. The “loser” must let the other 2 captains live with both he and the new bride. Personally I can’t see how anyone would wind being the “loser” with the bride being played by Mariel Hemingway but the film should be fun. And I’m also looking forward to see how the trio of Carradine, Torn and Dern play off one another. All are great acting veterans.

Here’s a slide show of the production in progress courtesy of Cape Cod online.

The latest screenplay I’ve just completed but I still consider it a work in progress to an extent. I’d like to get it lower than it’s current 120 page mark. I find that too long and like them coming in around 90 pages. But this is the first script I’ve done in awhile and I guess I had a lot to say. I think it’s a very compelling story and will be great once I complete my retooling which at this point isn’t anything that’s too major. For those of you who create, you know your creations are never done.

And now for the log line.

A successful executive witnesses a woman committing suicide and decides to investigate the final months of her life and is forced to confront his own past daemons in the process.

Actually I’m back to updating this blog a bit more often with news on some independent films that strike me or whatever else for that matter. I’ve recently begun the process of enrolling in a few screenwriting competitions and hope to get some feedback on my work and what can be done to make it better. The 2 big ones I’m shooting for now are Sundance and Slamdance. I’m looking into exploring others but these will be my focus for now. I feel my work is good enough to be considered for production and while I’m not expecting to “win” I do hope to get some constructive feedback if I advance far enough.

And that’s what the focus of this blog will be in the coming months. I’ll try and get some reviews up but ultimately I’d like to chronicle my adventure of getting my work out and considered. Let the games begin!