Pick-ups, 1 re-shoot and interviews. Comedian/Social Critic Paul Mooney in the works!

This piece of news was so exciting, I almost sent it out last night-

Paul Mooney will be sitting down with us for a brief interview mid-September for DMW.

Comedian Paul Mooney

I don't need to give this man an introduction...but let's just say he wrote for Richard Pryor, and gave a lot of new comedians at the time a shot, like oh, I don't know, Robin Williams, John Witherspoon and Sandra Bernhard to name a few.

He wrote for "In Living Color." He more recently wrote and guest starred on the Chapelle Show, you know, Dave Chapelle...

I  had my people (me...) contact his people and was happy to hear he enjoyed the idea.  I've been a fan of Mooney's comedy and writing, before I even knew he wrote it; my father was a huge fan of Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor and he introduced me to Paul Mooney's name after I had seen the work.


What do I like about his work, well I like that it doesn't even seem like he's tries to write, it just flows out of his mouth, his critique is more observational and right on the nose at times, it's scary and altogether funny.

I'm very much looking forward to hearing his commentary.  Stay tuned for more news!

www.deadmanworkingmovie.com

Bruce LaBruce Interview will appear in DMW.

Dir. Bruce LaBruce

Not that I had a doubt, as I did help on the production of L.A. Zombie, but I went ahead and got the blessings from one of the producers of the film to utilize interview footage of Bruce LaBruce on location while filming in Los Angeles.

This is a big deal for me.  This is what initially sparked my interest in making Dead Man Working, so I can attribute and happily say Bruce LaBruce played a huge role in my creating this concept. 

His first zombie film Otto; Or Up with Dead People is a 2008 Canadian/German queer cinema horror film; As far as I am concerned the first of its kind.  

In my research for this project I have yet to come across anything that stepped into this realm.



 He followed this project with L.A. Zombie, about an alien zombie sent to earth in who f*cks the dead back to life....crazy sh*t right?  You can only imagine my mind being blown away, thinking, "um, I'm afraid of zombies, why do people want to shag them?"

Anyhow as I am now into the mid-stages of postproduction I felt it was time to take the interview out and put it to use.  I also share this footage with french filmmaker Angelique Bosio, who was filming a documentary on LaBruce while we were on production.  The documentary is called, "The Advocate of Fagdom."

Dir. Bruce La Bruce for Dead Man Working

Principle Photography done, now what?

So there have been an insane amount of setbacks on set due to weather, locations, etc... but We were able to finish the core of the project this past sunday June 26th at a lovely little diner in West Orange, New Jersey.

On set in West Orange, New Jersey's Gamburger's Diner.
Photo by Carol Molina

So what's next?

A LOT, lol.  I have been making a list of things that need to happen to get this project good and done by a deadline I have set.

First though, you will see a lot of changes on the blogs, the facebook page, the website, some designs, pictures, video teasers, etc...


Most importantly is giving credit where credit is due.  A lot of people killed themselves (not literally)  on set to help make this a great production.  Some got paid, some haven't gotten paid, many donated their time to which I am grateful for and promise a gift in return!

While looking at the footage that I have at the moment I have noticed some things I love and reflect on how some things could have been done differently, but this will all come to light over the next few months.

This was a big production for my second directorial project, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.  So much has changed in 5 years, personally, emotionally, environmentally, physically....that if I do not show growth in artistic endeavors, then what the fuck have I been doing.

I apologize for those on set that may have seen a side I generally do not show, but work is work and production work is production work.  Nothing should be personal on set.

Cheers,
L.E.

www.deadmanworkingmovie.com

Moving Into Final Stages of Principle Photography/Some Changes/Great Additions!

So After a good five days of shooting, we took a two week break to regroup after a couple of incidents.

The first and biggest changes is Actor Matthew Lavin will no longer be playing the role of Adam.
Due to scheduling and location conflicts and just time,  it was becoming impossible to get this accomplished as much I wanted to.  I really wanted to work with Matthew on this project so it was a bit disappointing but we met up to discuss and there are always going to be other projects.  Cheers to that.

Moving Forward, I had the task of casting the role of Adam again; it's a very particular part with a particular look, and was happy to learn that one of my favorite actors was available.

Actor Erik Wolfe is our new "Adam"
in Dead Man Working.

I first saw Erik Wolfe in a short, One in a Series, Ryan (our DP) shot and I edited.  I think it stuck to the script a lot but it was a good performance.











Wolfe then worked with Ryan on A New and Accurate Map of the World, by far one of my favorite projects to work on.



After editing this project I wanted to work with Erik on one of my own projects.  I'm not sure what happened exactly when Dead Man Working came around but everything happens for a reason.  So I want to take this time to welome Erik Wolfe on the project!

Other than some location shifts due to waiting to long for anything to get done and running into some technical issues we are back in action.  All in good timing too, I'm getting antsy and I'm incredibly anxious in seeing this film in it's final cut.

I've shown a majority of what's been shot to our producers and have gotten great feedback.  The feedback in general over the film has been great so I'm meeting with our graphic designer to get the post production stages off the ground and going as well as talking to a composer for scoring.

There are many more updates but I will contain myself and share them at the appropriate time, till then check back for more updates!

My "Dead Man Working" birthday cake
by Tony Tone-Tone Albanese

p.s. my birthday was this past weekend and my good friend Tony Albanese whom you may remember as "Tone Tone"  from Season 1 of TLC's Cake Boss made me a surprise birthday cake.   It was so cool! and tasted great!  I'm sure he'll be making our cake for the wrap party.

Cheers, 

L

www.deadmanworkingmovie.com

If you'd like to be a part of this great project please visit our fundraising page on Indie Go-Go and help us reach our goal by donating to the film. Check out the perks for contributions!

Fundraiser for finishing funds

Hello Everyone,

     I've been absent from blogging due to the heavy amount of final preproduction that had to go into getting the film portion of the project up and going.   I'm happy to say that Dead Man Working began principle photography on May 14th 2011.

L.E. Salas directing a mocumentary-style interview.

We have shot a about half of the movie at this point and the footage looks amazing!  I'm not just saying that cause I have to.

We had a slight hiccup on the first day of production but it was expected.  I haven't been on a production set for one of my own projects in a long time so it took a little getting used to again.

Also this is the first time that I would be collaborating with so many other members on a film crew.

Deirdre Brennan

Dierdre Brennan, who plays Cait, one of the lead roles in the film.   Cait is a wealthy funeral home owner whose business is in danger when the dead are not staying dead long enough to have funeral services.  Cait hires a documentary filmmaker to investigate this recent wave of the living dead.

Evangelline Reilly, Christian Nowicki, Julie Ufema

Actress Evengelline Reilly plays the role of Kelly, a well-to-do mother who rehires her irreplaceable nanny when she reanimates.

Cristian Temi plays a neurotic fashion designer.

Fashion Stylist Cristian Temi who is the wardrobe department on the set Dead Man Working makes his acting debut playing....a fashion designer whose new line is inspired by the living dead.

Fashion Zombies prepped to walk the fashion runway.

Jon Kutlu playing Cristian's right hand man...and our set make-up artist Jade Elhaddad making a cameo.

Lauren Lozano

Model turned actress Lauren Lozano plays news reporter Kitty St. Claire.










                                                                                                   

Robert Rivera

Robert Rivera plays himself auditioning for the lead role in a new hit film by an acclaimed director.

We have an incredible cast, great locations all over New Jersey and I could not have done any of it without my talented crew.

Amber Crawford, Ryan Alexander
and Peter Parkerian

From left to right, Actress Amber Crawford, playing a casting director, our Director of Photography, Ryan Alexander, setting up the next shot and Peter Parkerian plays a self-absorbed hit film director.

FX Make-up Artist Jillian Hansen prepping the next zombie.










Everyone has been working hard to make sure the film is well-done and most importantly, entertaining!


I would like to now invite friends, family, zombie fans, strangers anyone and everyone who would like to be a part of the movie by helping us out during this time of fundraising.  I have started a page on Indie Go Go, a site for raising money for independent projects.

Through out the course of preproduction and raising the project, I have remained pretty silent about the details of the project.  When you visit our fund-raising page on Indie Go Go, you will get a full proposal for Dead Man Working that, for the first time reveals the concept of Dead Man Working.  This is NOT just another zombie film.

Our goal is to raise $4500.00 to complete the film.  When donating to the completion of the film, you have the option of donating $20.00, $100.00 and $1000.00, or you can click on "other amount."  All of the donations come with certain perks so check it out.

For those of you high rollers who donate $1000.00 (I'd love for there to be one!)  I will through in a free lap dance, what the hell...

Thanks much for any and all support you have shown this project and my crew and me.  I am grateful for the opportunity to be making another film.   Please check back for more updates as the project is in its final days!


To donate visit the site below:

http://www.indiegogo.com/Dead-Man-Working


For info on Dead Man Working please visit:

www.deadmanworkingmovie.com


Cheers,
L

Deirdre Brennan, One of the Leads in Dead Man Working

Actress Deirdre Brennan

Meet Deirdre.

Before I met Deirdre, I thought I had the part of Cait cast.  I had two people read for the role and I like what they brought.

Deirdre came in and engulfed the room with her charm.  I immediately felt drawn to her before she read.  I had seen her pictures and thought she has the look for the part.

Then she read two scenes...and now she's my Cait.  

The role of Cait, is molded around a real person and friend of mine who used to work in the record industry (she's made it abundantly clear to me how much she is not a fan of Madonna's circa 1984 to now).    Cait always has this sass and know it all attitude but you can't help but love someone like that; tough and upfront but still easy to talk to and comforting.

Once real-life Cait became my muse for the of Cait in Dead Man Working, it was merely a matter of taking the character  to an exaggerated level while throwing in some ugly that I think we can all show at any given moment.  What was born was a cut-throat, in it to win it in any way destructive character.

Now, I am saying Deirdre is this Cait, but she's an actress and I believe the actress that can certainly bring her to life.

Deirdre has the screen legend look of historic Hollywood  and while she does, she's not the victim "damsel in distress" that needs to be rescued...she could be but I could see her being the hero instead.

Find out more about her:
www.deirdrebrennan.net



www.deadmanworkingmovie.com

Julie Ufema, One of the Leads in Dead Man Working

Still from "I Clean Up Your Grave."

This is Julie Ufema.  She sent in her headshot, resume and clip from a movie she was recently in where she's tied up and tortured...can it get better?  Yes.  She said it was a goal of hers to play a zombie in a movie.

So after I  looked through her images trying to think of what zombie she could play I found one role that seemed the perfect fit.  She may not have any lines but it's a memorable character.

It get's even better.  After contacting her recently I found out she is currently producing and directing her own movie, Caveat, a psychological thriller.   The movie also features one of the main actors from the original Dawn of the Dead! How cool is that?!?

We're glad Julie's on board, helping us make this project a reality.



Find about more about her and her film on her personal website!
http://www.julieufema.com/

Julie Ufema

Caveat, A psychological thriller by Julie Ufema

www.deadmanworkingmovie.com