There were lots of people working on Project 340 at Islands of Adventure today. The weather was actually mild, for once, with a nice cool breeze. There were a couple surveying teams out and many folks working in large trenches dug out near the back of the lot. It was the most people I've seen on site at once so far. Below are some photos from today's visit. ...continue reading
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Movie Review: What If
This was a really cute film. Finally a believable romantic comedy filled with things that could actually happen in the real world. The chemistry between the two leads feels genuine and the romance happens subtly, which is a switch from the usual by the numbers rom-com. The film even throws in a couple twists to keep you on your toes. Most of comedy comes from quirky banter between the main characters and their best friends, but the film also has a few laugh out loud moments. And they don't even need to resort to gross-out potty humor to be hilarious. I rather enjoyed this mostly down-to-earth movie, and now I want to try a fool's gold sandwich.
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
King Kong Construction Update – Porta Potties and Overnight Lights
Work on Project 340, which may or may not be Skull Island, over at Islands of Adventure is in full swing. New porta-potties have arrived, construction teams are congregating, and the area is bustling with activity. There's a lot going on and fast, especially for an unannounced expansion! Here are some photos from my most recent visit. ...continue reading
Movie Review: Into the Storm
If only the characters and plot were as well constructed as the special effects surrounding them. Computer generated tornadoes have come a long way since 1996's Twister, but other than the found-footage angle, this film doesn't offer us anything the 90's version didn't. Watching this film, I couldn't help but think of similarities between it and Jan de Bont's Twister. Sure, a film about storm chasers is going to easily be compared to its predecessor, but it specifically features new technology one of the main characters has waited his whole life to try out: for Twister it was the Dorothy II, designed to study the center of a tornado, and for this one there was the Titus, a heavily armed vehicle designed to study the center of a tornado. There were countless action-sequence setups that were similar throughout, and unsurprisingly the film's climax is about a gigantic F5 tornado, bigger than any seen before. Once the main characters are securely anchored to the ground they get to witness something miraculous, the center of the storm. We've seen this film before, only the previous incarnation had more heart, story, better acting, and a great score. Into the Storm is held back by its quasi-found footage style and its lack of moral footing. It sometimes comes off as a high-budget Sharknado, but that doesn't mean it isn't some fun disaster porn.
2.5 Stars (out of 5)
Please Vote for The Battery Filmmakers to do a Panel at SXSW
South By Southwest is looking for speakers for their 2015 film festival in Austin, Texas and we have a shot to be a part of it! Please go to this link and Vote for our panel to be featured. The director and co-star, producers, and cinematographer will talk about how the film was made on a shoe-string budget yet still made the festival rounds and was ultimately picked up for distribution around the world. It might help to also leave a comment on the page about what you like about the film and why it would make for a good panel. Thanks!
The Battery, with a budget of only $6,000, is a US indie genre film directed by Jeremy Gardner that became a wide success after having been picked up by an international sales agent after a screening at a small festival in France. The film has since been sold to all the major territories. The film makers will discuss their production process, from financing to sales, the problems they encountered during filming and postproduction, the do's and dont's in distribution and how the festivals helped their film to get established.
Vote Here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/42597
Voting ends September 5th. Thanks to everyone that helps us out with a vote!
Universal Orlando Teases Something on Twitter – Could it be Kong? UPDATED
Who says lightning doesn't strike twice? This was the tagline for the reveal of Diagon Alley, but then why is the Universal Orlando Twitter feed using it again, just last night, a month after Diagon Alley has opened? The lightning bolt doesn't look much like the Harry Potter bolt to me. So then what is this for? ...continue reading
Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy
I had a good time watching this movie. It's nice to see a movie not afraid to be fun. The opening sequence felt like a space version of Raiders of the Lost Ark and really hooked me out of the gate. The prison break scene was clever and extremely compelling. After that the film's action scenes got more and more droning and I found myself bored now and again, that is until the next joke or Groot did something funny or cute. It's a fun superhero movie with some funny moments and a great soundtrack, but it's no masterpiece. It is an origin story and they did a great job of explaining everyone's motivation and back-story, so hopefully next time we can just jump in guns blazing.
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
King Kong Construction Update – Bamboo Walls and Blueprints
Progress is moving right along at Islands of Adventure between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park as the lot continues to grow and they prepare to lay down foundation. Today they were expanding the footprint all the way to the border of Toon Lagoon. Bamboo has been added along the construction walls to help keep the big hole in the ground from being too easily visible to guests. The pathway doesn't look so bad anymore as concrete where the Jurassic Park arch has been filled in as well.
The intrepid folks over at Parkscope uncovered official plans for drainage and construction permits for the area. Dubbed 'Project 340', the area is going to cover about 4.5 acres. There has not been an official announcement yet, but word on the street is that it's definitely going to be Skull Island. Only time will tell. Click on an image below to see a larger version. ...continue reading
Official Trailer Released for ‘Tools of Ignorance: The Making of The Battery’, a 90-minute Documentary
Our zombie film The Battery is being released on Blu-ray and DVD by Scream Factory September 16th in the US. The special features on the disc will include a feature commentary track, outtakes reel, music featurette, and a full-length documentary about the making of the film.
We spent over six months editing the documentary, entitled Tools of Ignorance: The Making of The Battery. It was a labor of love and we didn't really know if it was going to make it onto the disc or if it would ever be seen while we were making it. The doc utilizes behind-the-scenes footage that was shot every day on the set during shooting plus interviews with all of the filmmakers shot over a year later for perspective. It tells the whole story starting with how we got started making amateur movies back in high school to how Jeremy Gardner got the gang back together to make another movie almost twelve years later.
Watch as we struggle through all the stages of making an independent film: through writing, casting, production, post-production, and release. "It's been a total fucking dream."
Pre-Order the Disc:
In addition to the Blu-ray and DVD release in the United States on September 16th we're hoping to release the documentary as an online download for our international friends that cannot get it on a disc. Check out http://thebatterymovie.com in September for more details.