Hi all,
My first feature film - BLOOD TIES - has just locked distribution with Afterlight Pictures...
Why 'ultra indie'? Well, shot with a crew of 2 in Thailand, Cambodia, and then in the U.S. in Miami, DC, Roanoke, and Atlanta... on a DVX 100... all post including music by 1... our movie BLOOD TIES was shot for 20K...
That includes the cameras (2 DVx 100's - though we never had anyone to use the other one as we filmed) and the editing system we built, and of course all travel.
BLOOD TIES won some nice awards on the fest circuit - "Action Film of the Year" at AOF, "Best of Festival," "Best Director," "Best Special FX," and "Best International Film" in Puerto Rico, and at End Of The Pier in UK - but of course we always hoped for distribution.
BLOOD TIES received quite a few offers, but none really seemed like a great deal... and the first thing that all those companies (about 20 I guess) wanted us to do is to NEVER say we filmed for less than a million...
Going to the American Film Market every year and talking to dozens of companies - I get it - but it always irks me and rubs me raw...
We signed with upstart Afterlight Pictures... their pres/CEO Zeke Flatten seems to really have done his homework and study for the past several years, has been involved on this side of production a long time, and is genuinely working with us to find the best routes to get this out there. And of course I like the fact that Afterlight is embracing the movie that we made, not one they wish I made...
We start with Amazon on Feb 15th and though I don't know all the ins and outs and plans, I can tell you that is just the beginning.
Afterlight Pictures also helped me remix and remaster our sound (oh yeah - it needed it!) and we're working together on final artwork - DVD cover, one sheets, posters, disc face, and website... they cut and put up a new trailer which I've copied to my site...
The BLOOD TIES trailer
And they created a BLOOD TIES FACEBOOK page - they'll be announcing contests, give aways, and maybe even some limited theater screenings, and we're looking for the perfect place and opportunity for an official World Premiere... some pretty cool possibilities in the works..
BLOOD TIES has already been a success in that it brought investors to bigger a project on which I have posted - KERBEROS - already winning awards and fielding offers now. And that, in turn has brought even more as I move into my 3rd feature film ALTERED this spring. Also getting to star in a couple of other films, and coming in as the cinematographer on another.
I'm excited to share this first effort with you, will try to keep you up on any news - good or bad - as BLOOD TIES starts the next part of its journey.
I wish everyone who is out there making it happen both luck and success on all your projects... If I can do it... anyone can!
Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year of filmmaking to all!
kely mcclung
My first feature film - BLOOD TIES - has just locked distribution with Afterlight Pictures...
Why 'ultra indie'? Well, shot with a crew of 2 in Thailand, Cambodia, and then in the U.S. in Miami, DC, Roanoke, and Atlanta... on a DVX 100... all post including music by 1... our movie BLOOD TIES was shot for 20K...
That includes the cameras (2 DVx 100's - though we never had anyone to use the other one as we filmed) and the editing system we built, and of course all travel.
BLOOD TIES won some nice awards on the fest circuit - "Action Film of the Year" at AOF, "Best of Festival," "Best Director," "Best Special FX," and "Best International Film" in Puerto Rico, and at End Of The Pier in UK - but of course we always hoped for distribution.
BLOOD TIES received quite a few offers, but none really seemed like a great deal... and the first thing that all those companies (about 20 I guess) wanted us to do is to NEVER say we filmed for less than a million...
Going to the American Film Market every year and talking to dozens of companies - I get it - but it always irks me and rubs me raw...
We signed with upstart Afterlight Pictures... their pres/CEO Zeke Flatten seems to really have done his homework and study for the past several years, has been involved on this side of production a long time, and is genuinely working with us to find the best routes to get this out there. And of course I like the fact that Afterlight is embracing the movie that we made, not one they wish I made...
We start with Amazon on Feb 15th and though I don't know all the ins and outs and plans, I can tell you that is just the beginning.
Afterlight Pictures also helped me remix and remaster our sound (oh yeah - it needed it!) and we're working together on final artwork - DVD cover, one sheets, posters, disc face, and website... they cut and put up a new trailer which I've copied to my site...
The BLOOD TIES trailer
And they created a BLOOD TIES FACEBOOK page - they'll be announcing contests, give aways, and maybe even some limited theater screenings, and we're looking for the perfect place and opportunity for an official World Premiere... some pretty cool possibilities in the works..
BLOOD TIES has already been a success in that it brought investors to bigger a project on which I have posted - KERBEROS - already winning awards and fielding offers now. And that, in turn has brought even more as I move into my 3rd feature film ALTERED this spring. Also getting to star in a couple of other films, and coming in as the cinematographer on another.
I'm excited to share this first effort with you, will try to keep you up on any news - good or bad - as BLOOD TIES starts the next part of its journey.
I wish everyone who is out there making it happen both luck and success on all your projects... If I can do it... anyone can!
Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year of filmmaking to all!
kely mcclung
