Calling all actors!

I am still looking for two actors for the film. One of the two will play the role of Jennifer's biological mother. The other will play the role of a journalist. Neither role is that big of a role, but they both play a role in the film.

We have had to back of the plans to shoot the film until the spring of 2013. But we are still going ahead with the project. I have been posting semi-regular updates at http://igg.me/p/26786?a=135344 about the film. I should be getting back into regular updates there very soon.

The journalist only shows up in one scene. But that one scene is a scene that the main character, whom the journalist is interviewing, opens up and shows herself.

Jennifer's biological mother doesn't appear very much. But she is in several scenes. I really don't know how to describe Jennifer's biological mother. She is an RN. She has two other daughters.

As for the two roles that I am still looking to fill, if you are interusted in eaither one, e-mail me your resume and headshot at homethemove@ymail.com and I will get back with you about setting up an audition.

Thank you Katherine Brooks

Thank you Katherine Brooks.

Hold up. Lets back up a bit. That first sentence probobly didn't make much sense to too many people. My first exposure to Katherine Brooks was exactly a year ago. Exactly one year ago, I saw a film titled "Loving Annabelle" for the first time. I can still clearly remember watching "Loving Annabelle" for the first time. After that I had to play catch up with all of the things that Katherine Brooks had done. But once I got myself caught up, I had seen enough to know that what Katherine Brooks has done with the films and TV shows she has worked on has been amazing.

For a long time now, I have wanted to make a film of my own. But I never thought that it was possible or that anbody would want to support me in this dream. The idea that I wouldn't get any support for this dream was something that I realized was untrue when I came out to my family and friends. Coming out was one of those experiences that proved to me that no matter what happened, my friends and family wanted me to do what I love doing and wanted me to be comfortable being me.

As "Loving Annabelle" finished playing the very first time I watched it, I realized that the ending was one of those endings that makes you wonder what happens next. Despite how hard the ending was for me to watch, it got me thinking, and the ending made me realize something. It made me realize that for too long I have been hiding and haven't been following the dream I have had of making a film of my own.

And then I found out that Katherine Brooks was making a new film, this time a documentary titled Face2Face. As I learned more about this new film she was in the midst of filming, I couldn't help but smile.

As time has passed I have learned more and more about Katherine Brooks, and become more and more fasinated by her. I also came to realize that I am not alone. I had never seen anyone in the film industry with anxiety similar to mine, and who has gone through depression like my Dad and I have. And so I finally felt like I could make a film if I wanted to.

Thank you Katherine Brooks.

I will not stop

Just like the child that is kicking and screaming just down the hall from me, I will not let this project out of my grips until it is COMPLETE! That being said, I have a bunch of stuff I want to say in this update.

I have been working on this since project since April 2011. It was during April and May of 2011 that I wrote the script. During May I began thinking about the casting process. Since then I have finished the script, although there are a couple of extra scenes that have been written and might/might not be included in the film, continued working on casting, and have done some preliminary filming without any actors.

The idea behind the script was simple. I wanted to write a script about a young woman who is very involved in music, who wants to become a concert pianist, who is gay, and who was adopted at birth. At times when I think about the original concept, I think that it seems so simple. And at other times the concept seems so complex. But when I think about it, I always think about myself and how a film like this could have changed my life if I had seen a film like it as a child. After all, when I grew up I didn’t know any gays/lesbians, and so I had no role models during my earliest years. I also had nob ody to be a role model that was working in the music industry. I may not be adopted, or have ever had a child I gave up fo adoption. But I do know someone who was adopted. And through that friendship, I realized that not eveyone who is adopted always wants to know their biological parents. I also realized that sometimes parents keep things from their children in an effort to protect their child from bullying and the pain that goes with bullying.

I wanted to portray a gay/lesbian young woman who is accepting of her sexuality and whose family is accepting of her sexuality. I wanted to portray a gay/lesbian couple as a couple just like any other couple. I wanted to show the world that being a musician isn’t a way of life that should be discouraged, but something that should be encouraged if it is something that a person wants. I wanted to portray being adopted as something that is completley normal and something that should not cause bullying.

I want this film to be about things that occur in every day life. I want people to see this film and see themselves in the characters.

Keep your eyes on http://www.indiegogo.com/Homethemove for more updates. That same site is where I would like to ask you to go to help fund the film. And if you have questions that you want answered about the film, you can also go to http://formspring.me/erindalke

Late Nights, Long Days

Late last night (about midnight here in Michigan), I was still awake, and working on some stuff for this film. The rest of my family was fast asleep, and yet I was awake staring at my computer as I attempted to write an e-mail to another Michigan composer. As I wrote the e-mail I thought about the film, and realized something that I hadn't thought about once since I began working on putting this film together. I realized that even when things weren't going well in my personal life, and even when I wasn't sure if this film was going to happen, I didn't give up on the film.

When I woke up this morning, I was amazed. I was the first one out of bed and fully ready for the day. The rest of my family took much longer to get ready for the day. My parents both were moving rather slowly, and my brother slept in. Somehow I had managed to sleep enough that when I woke up I was ready to go and get back to work on this film.

The hardest part for me so far when it comes to putting this film together is finding the funding (aka fundraising). I have never been very outgoing, so fundraising has never been easy for me. But I have found that it has gotten easier over the years as I have had more practice being an outgoing person.

Several people have read the script (besides myself). One person who read it, told me that it is written beautifully. When the friend that told me that told me what she thought about the script, I couldn't help but smile. The way she talked about the script, I knew that I had found something that would touch people personally when they read the script. I also knew in that moment that if I kept working at it, made the film, and got the film out there, it could touch even more people. That is the main reason I want to make this film happen. Another person who read the script told me that the issue of being gay/lesbian in the script made the story/script hard to read at times because of the emotions it provoked for her. That comment made me smile, after all the subject of being gay/lesbian isn't always easy to deal with and has a lot of emotions involved for many people for many different reasons.

When I began writing the script, I had no idea just how many different subjects that I would cover in the script. I just knew that I had a story to tell about a young woman who wants to become a concert pianist, who was adopted, who goes in search of her biological family, and who is a lesbian. Throughout the film gay marriage, straight marriage, music, adoption, and family are all topics addressed.

There are a lot of things I know about. And there are a lot of things I don't know about. I do know that I still need funding for this film. I would ask you to go to the following link and put some of your money (that I am sure you have worked hard for) into this film so that it is made. No amount put into this project is too small. No amount is too large. Whatever you can put into this film WILL be greatly appretiated!

http://www.indiegogo.com/Homethemovie

Film Update

Time for an update on the film.

• I am still looking for a couple of actors. I am specifically looking for two women to play the roles of Jennifer's adoptive mother and Jennifer's biological mother. I will be holding open auditions on September 19 in Midland, MI. More information to come in a later blog.

• Still need funding to make the filming possible. Go to: http://www.indiegogo.com/Homethemovie?a=135344&i=addr to help fund the film

• Costume design is finished. Once I have the funds in hand, I will be able to put everything together when it comes to the costumes.

• As for funding, I have a bit of an added plus that you won't see on the indiegogo page ready to go. If at least 50 people help to fund the film, I WILL put everyone's name into a hat, mix the names up, and pick five names. Those five people will get to visit the set during filming. One of the five will get to participate as an extra. A second will get a backpack used as a prop in the film. A third will get the hat I wear whenever I am working on anything related to the film, and it will be autographed. A fourth will get a sharpe marker, and a baseball signed by Loons players (www.loons.com) during a scene during the film. And the fifth will get a journal that I will be keeping throughout the filming.

• If AT LEAST 100 people help to fund the film, I will put everyone's name into a hat, and draw ten names. Five of those people will get the backpack, being an extra in the film, autographed baseball, journal, and the hat. The other five will get a phone call from me to talk about whatever you want.

So stay tuned for more information as it is posted here, and for more information on open auditions in Midland, MI on September 19.

The joys of fundraising

I knew from the start of this project that there were going to be aspects of it that weren't going to be easy. From the getgo I knew that the fundraising would be the part that would be the hardest for me to do. This was because I am naturally outgoing. And so the fundraising for this film is difficult for me to do because I'm not very outgoing making it hard for me to just approach people about funding the film.

I still need the funds to actually buy the costumes, pay for transportation from location to location, pay for hotel rooms for the actors and crew during the filming, and to feed the cast and crew during filming. Doesn't sound cheap does it? Exactly why I have to fund raise.

Here is the link to the site that you can donate to at:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Homethemovie?a=135344&i=addr

Any and all donations will be greatley appreciated.

Open Casting

I have several new dates for open casting calls in Midland. The information is as follows:

On August 15 2011:

Noon to 3pm at Coffee Chaos in Midland MI

Bring a dramatic monolouge

I will be sitting at a table between the two TVs with a laptop.

On August 17 2011:

1pm to 2pm in Kaufman Park by the swingset (entrance at the corner of Foxcroft and Cranbrook Dr. Midland, MI 48642)

Bring a dramtic monolouge

On August 19 2011:

10am to 11am in Kaufman Park by the swingset

Bring a dramatic monolouge

Putting together a crew, and a project in progress

I haven't posted anything about the film for quite some time. I've been so busy putting together a crew for the film, and with anouther project that I am in the middle of right now.

For about a month I have been working on planning for a short that I am now in the middle of filming. On Monday I began filming, and even edited part of it together. You can see the peices that I have edited together at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R7w8hTwhcE

Putting a crew together for "Home" has been an adventure. There are so many people interusted in being a part of the crew that I am having to make some tough decisions.

I also have started working on costumes for "Home". It has been interusting to go into various stores in the Midland, MI area to begin making my costuming decisions, and see the looks that people give me when they find out I am working on making costuming decision for a film I will be filming in the area. A lot of these people know me, and knew about my creative streak. But they didn't think I would be taking on such a big project so soon.

Back to thinking about costuming for "Home", and working on my short film.

Location, location, location!

As previously mentioned, I have made some decisions as to where we will be filming! Below is a film of some of the locations.

There is a section of video looking at a swingset. That was taken in Kaufman park in Midland MI. The entrance to the park can be found at the corner of Foxcroft and Cranbrook.

Anouther section of the video is also taken in Kaufman park looking from the park towards a wooded area with a pathway, and the street. That is looking from Kaufman park out towards the main entrance to the park.

Finally there is a small section looking down a stree with a branch blowing in the wind. That was taken at the entrance to Kaufman park at the corneer of Cranbrook and Foxcroft looking down Cranbrook.

There are at least two scenes in the film that will be filmed in Kaufman park. And we will be filming a couple of scenes on Cranbrook Dr.

I took the video on my tiny Nikon L18, which will be used as a prop and a part a small part of the filming (as a camera that one of the characters uses to make a youtube video).

I am enjoying looking forward to filming, and all the prep I am doing at the moment.

The role of Jennifer

After having been through some ups and downs with trying to cast the role of Jennifer, I had decided on casting one person for the role. In the end I was a little to late to cast my original choice for the role of Jennifer. It was sad that I couldn't get the person I originally chose. But there were so many talented women that auditioned for the role of Jennifer, so I knew that I was likley to choose somebody else that would do a good job in the role.

And so I am sorry to say that Sarah Nicklin will not be playing the role of Jennifer. But I can say that I have casted someone sucessfully who is available for the spring of 2012 to film! Jennifer will be played by Temi Hason! Below is a picture of Temi.





It is the fourth of July weekend. So I am taking a weekend off from dealing with preproduction. I am looking forward fireworks, barbeque, and lots of fun!

But I am also looking forward to the tasks that I have to do this upcoming week after the weekend is over to take this film one step closer to filming.

I have anouther blog post ready to happen at 5:15 est about anouther aspect of the film that some people might be interusted in--where the film will be shot! So go on a check that post out at 5:15

Back to the real world *sigh*

It's time to come back to the real world Erin.

A week ago my Mom, brother, and I left Midland, MI for a trip to Wisconsin to visit my Mom and Dad's parents. Yesterday we made the LONG nine hour drive back to Midland. The whole time that we were in Wisconsin, I checked my e-mail twice, and barley thought about the film.

During the drive home yesterday, I started a list of all the stuff that I have to get done before we begin filming in late March 2012. It seemed like a long list at the time. But now that I'm looking at it, it isn't actually that long. It is actually quite a small list of things to do. Here's part of that list:

• Do the final audition
• Check the script to make sure it really is finished
• Decide on locations for filming
• Decide who to cast for one final role
• Get the last of the funding secured

Being an introvert has made the process of putting myself out there, and trying to get various people and companies to help fund the film hasn't been the eaisiest thing for me. But I have managed to learn how to do it.

It was nice to get out of Midland for about a week. Now I can jump back into things, and with a bunch of energy!

The role of Jodi

Hello again!

After having had some time away from blogging about the film, I'm back! This past week was a crazy one. I spend the whole week dealing with kids during vacation bible school and music exploration at my church. And so I didn't spend much time working on casting, music for the film, or on anything related to the film.

I finally got back into working on the film last night. And now I can proudly announce that I have casted anouther role in this film!

The role of Jodi will be played by Angela Gulner. If you want to know anything about her check out the following link:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3689403/

It was quite hard to make a decision about who should play Jodi. I had five different women that I could have casted in the role of Jodi. And it wasn't an easy decision. Of those five women, there was so much talent. Each of them brought something unique to the role. And so I really struggled to make a decision for quite some time. Finally I was get the list shortened to three women that could choose from, and ended up deciding on Anglea for several reasons that I won't go into now. But I will say that those three women I was considering for the role of Jodi were amazing actors.

I honestly never thought that I would meet someone with a MFA from Harvard. But now I have thanks to Angela. I am looking forward to working with Angela on this film because of the talent she brings to the film.

I can tell you that one of the remaining two woment that were not cast as Jodi has been casted as jennifer. But that's a completley different blog for anouther time.

Announcment: the roles of Jennifer's biological father, Rachel, and Meg!!!

Tonight I would love to announce three of the actors that will be playing the roles of Jennifer's adoptive father, Rachel (Jennifer's step sister), and Meg (Jennifer's step sister).

David Waldman will be playing the role of Jennifer's adoptive father.

Mandlyn Carlson will be playing the role of Rachel.

Annabelle will be playing the role of Meg.

I do have a few more auditions this week for the rest of the roles that I still have not cast anybody in. But I am sure that I will post anouther announcment of who will be cast in what role when I make those decisions.

Struggles

Nobody ever said that making their first full length feature would be easy. But nobody told me just how much talent there is that wants to be a part of this film. Casting the film is going to be one of those things that is going to take a lot of thought on my part. I don't want to just get the casting right. I also want to cast people that will make the actuall filming something that none of us will ever forget.

Early today I opened my exel document that has all of the casting information that I need on it, and began making a chart of the different options of who I could cast in certain parts. In the end I had a table of different combinations of actors playing different roles to choose from. I then went through and color coded each option with a different color so that I could tell which options I liked the best and least. I still have not made any definate decisions as to who I am going to cast in each role. But I am a small step closer. It doesn't help that I still have three more auditions coming up in the next week and a half that will help me determine who I am going to cast in what role.

YIKES!!!!

It has been a few days since I posted here. But that's okay. Not posting here the past couple of days has allowed for some meaningfull editing to get done, three great in-person auditions held, contact with a couple of camera people and their references, contacting several local buisness' about using their premises for a couple of scenes that I would rather not delete if possible, and reviewing several video submissions for various roles. The hardest part of making this film is yet to come. And yet the hardest part is the part that I am looking forward to the most!

I already know that the process of deciding who to cast and who not to cast will be hard. After all I have seen so much talent since I made the decision to make this film. I keep wondering if I am going to make the right choices on who to cast. I'm sure that I will make good choices on who to cast, but it is a daunting process.

I have already had contact with Dow Gardens (in Midland). I am glad to say that I will be shooting part of the film in Dow Gardens. I am definatly looking forward to filming that section of the film simply because of the natural beauty that will help make the outdoor scenes so beautiful.

Back to the editing and contemplating who to cast. Hopefully everyone has (or has had) a good day (depending on where you are in the world).

"Unlimited, together we're unlimited, together we'll be the greatest team theres ever been..." "Defying Gravity" from the hit musical "Wicked"

Editing a Script

4:20PM

Editing a script can be a bear. Do you remember all those hours spent editing and revising papers for school? Well editing this script reminds me of those hours spent editing papers for school, but much more enjoyable. Before I could even get started with editing, I had to wipe down my desk, which was a mess after having spent a month writing the first draft of the script in April, another month of setting up auditions, and quite a bit of time composing the music for this film. Did I mention that I've spent just about every day since the beginning of April sitting at this desk writing the script, working on composing the music for the film, eating meals, meditating, e-mailing various people helping with the production of this film, contacting various actors, and reading a couple of other peoples scripts that recently finished writing? And of course, e-mails about the production distracted me before I could begin editing.

4:23PM
I just heard some thunder, and thought that it was a perfect moment for there to be thunder simply because of the fact the section I am currently editing has some big bangs in it.

4:30

More thunder has distracted me from editing, and so has e-mail. I have managed to edit the scene that I started editing several minutes ago. On to the next scene.

4:47PM

Another scene down! The scene that I just finished editing was a scene that when I originally wrote it, none of it made any sense. All of the directions as to where the characters were standing and where they walked to made no sense when compared to the sketch of the house that I made when I was writing the first draft of the screenplay. Thankfully I was able to fix the problems, and make the scene work.

5:12PM

I finally got my music playing. I have a specific playlist of music saved for when I am writing or editing something that I have written, so I should be on a role of editing now instead of checking e-mail and Facebook.

5:36

How perfect!!! "For Good" from the musical "Wicked" came on just as I began editing a rather emotional scene!

Scheduling

Scheduling can be the darnedest thing. Minus the hour I was gone playing the piano at a local senior home, I have been attempting to schedule auditions with various actors that have shown interest in this film. It isn't that easy to schedule auditions with all the meetings I have with costuming, the time I am spending scouting out the last few locations, and the meetings I have with a couple of places about catering.

Casting and raising funds

Oh the joys of casting and coming up with funding for a film at the same time!

This week I auditioned three people in person, and got video auditions from another three people who couldn't make it into Midland for auditions. It was an adventure auditioning people on Wednesday. I had originally planned on holding the auditions at Dow Gardens, and early in the day I was actually able to do that. But by mid-day I was contacting people letting them know that because of bad weather, we would be doing auditions in the Cup and Chaucer in the Grace A Dow Memorial Library (Midland, MI). I must say that there is some great talent out there that I have connected with, and I am sure that there is some great talent that is out there that I haven't had contact with and need to find.

Meanwhile I have been in contact with several companies/business' to get funding for this film so that it will be possible to house actors and crew from outside of the Midland/Bay City/Saginaw area, feed the cast and crew, and pay for the transportation of cast and crew to and from the set. If anyone would like to help out in any way with this film feel free to contact me at any time at homethemove@ymail.com.

Let the chaos begin!

I've been thinking about various ways to keep people updated on what is going on with an independent film that I am in pre-production for. And a blog seemed like the perfect place to begin. Hopefully I'll be good about regularly posting updates on what is going on with pre-production, production, post production, and film festivals we go to.

As you can probobly tell, I have a page with basic information on the characters in this film, and anouther page with basic information about the film.