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Write up in “The Wasatch Journal”

Little Hollywood Rides Again by Christy Karras in The Wasatch Journal - Summer 2008
We were fortunate enough to be interviewed by The Wasatch Journal after our panel at Sundance 2008. A quarterly publication, our article has appeared in the Summer 2008 issue and can be viewed via an online interactive flash link by clicking “Go” in the “Read our current Issue” box. The article is titled “Little Hollywood Rides Again” and is written by Chrisy Karras. It is found on page 63. You can also view the .pdf of the article by clicking here (large file and load time).

Note: Film is reference by working title A Monster in the Attic.
Second Page of Article by Christy Karras in The Wasatch Journal - Summer 2008
More about The Wasatch Journal:

In every issue, the Wasatch Journal delivers the stories and images that bring our distinctive passions into sharp focus. Marshaling a team of talented writers and photographers, we cover Utah’s magnificent abundance. Whether it’s fine art, architecture, or fine dining; skiing, snowshoeing, or snowboarding; golfing or horseback riding; local literature or independent film, the Wasatch Journal will remind us all why we return to Utah, again and again.

Danny Daneau on 13 Aug 2008 | 01. Danny Daneau - Director & 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 10. Kanab, Utah & 11. Press & 05. Madison Davenport-Actor & 06. Jake Johnson - Actor | POST COMMENTS

Self Distribution- The Ups and Downs

Erica Harrell
Producer

Within the past 6 months many of the major studio’s independent film branches have closed up shop due to financial cutbacks. These include Picturehouse, Warner Independent, Paramount Vantage, and Red Envelope. These closures have lead to fewer distribution deals, most that are not beneficial to the independent filmmaker.

Now several filmmakers whose work played at Sundance this year are opting for the self-distribution route. DIY Distribution means taking their films and trying to get them played in traditional venues (theaters) but also being creative with where they can play their films. For instance, the Sundance winner, “Ballast” is going to explore new frontiers and demographics by showing the film to Southern audiences via churches, town halls and museums to reach people who may have never had the opportunity to see the film as it stars African American non actors and is hard to market. The advantages of self distribution are that the filmmakers retain more control and can see more profits due to sales of DVDs and merchandise. However, the process to self distribute is long, difficult, and can be expensive. Some self distributors have been able to raise millions of dollars for their campaigns, like director Randall Miller did for his film Bottle Shock.

The New York Times has a really interesting article about the Do It Yourself distribution route. You can read the article here then find out about two impressive films Ballast and Bottle Shock. Hopefully these filmmakers will be successful in their huge endeavors and the market will soon turnaround for all other filmmakers who may not have the ability to self distribute.

Erica Harrell on 31 Jul 2008 | 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 12. Indie Market | POST COMMENTS

Filmmaker Magazine Interview with Patricia Rozema

Erica Harrell
Producer

I found this interview in Filmmaker magazine with the director of Kit Kittredge- An American Girl Mystery, Patricia Rozeman. Patricia is a Canadian indie short and feature filmmaker. Kit Kittrege was her first jaunt into a mainstream type film and she seemed to have a great time.

Patricia worked in the 1980s as an assistant director with David Cronenberg on The Fly and has since directed television like HBO’s Tell Me You Love Me. HBO then contacted her again to helm the film starring Abigail Breslin and of course Madison Davenport. I think she is such a great example of a working independent director with a mainstream movie in the theaters and a short film called Suspect in the festival circuit.

Read the entire article here.

Erica Harrell on 27 Jul 2008 | 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 05. Madison Davenport-Actor & 12. Indie Market | POST COMMENTS

The Last Day

Erica Harrell
Producer

Today is the last day of post-production on A Monster in the Attic! This news is very bittersweet for me, as Danny is currently at Local Hero doing the final layback while I am at work on Entourage. It feels weird to not be with Danny and the movie on its last day, but I am really excited about the film’s next step - a film festival run and distribution.

Last week we had the opportunity to screen the film with a full 5.1 mix in the screening facility at Would Work Sound with our engineer Evan Frankfort. It was awesome seeing and hearing the film for the first time on a big screen. While watching, I was also reflecting on how much we accomplished with this little film. Traveling with our cast and crew to a small town in Utah that is hours from an airport, we built an amazing structure, faced flooding and unbearable heat and shot a period film with only two child actors. Then the film returned to both Los Angeles and Florida and went through a nearly year-long editing and special effects period.

While watching a finished film, it is easy to forget all of the hard work that goes into making it. So again, I thank everyone who helped make this movie possible; I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished and I can’t wait to share it with you with full sound and surprising color correction.

Another thing I realized while watching the film at Would Work is that I am ready to begin this process all over again. Apparently doing two features back to back didn’t teach me a lesson ;). I hope to work with many people from the Monster Crew again soon.

Tomorrow, Danny heads back to Orlando and I am truly going to miss him. Hopefully we will begin development on a new film very soon and I’m sure we will blog about that too! I can’t wait for the long iChat sessions and revision after revision because if there’s one thing I have learned from this film is that I love this process.

These are not easy times for Independent film or Independent filmmakers, but I am optimistic for our futures.

Erica Harrell on 07 Jul 2008 | 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 09. Post Production & 12. Indie Market | POST COMMENTS

Long Time No Blog

Erica Harrell
Producer

Hey… Soooo.. This is awkward…Its nice seeing you again blog. I’m sorry I haven’t written or visited you lately. Its been a tough/crazy/rewarding couple of months for us. Danny made a trip to LA and met up with our composer Kristin Dyrud and our Sound Mixer Erik Schuiten. I have been working at a breakneck pace on Entourage which also is why I haven’t been able to blog. But enough excuses…..

On Saturday April 19th, we had a wonderful day of ADR with our cast and Erik in his studio at Endless Noise. After the session we went up to the Johnsons’ house in Valencia California. The Johnsons and Davenports had a wonderful BBQ prepared for us!
Our little reunion included Cory Johnson, Carmen Tabanyi, Natalie Sakai, Kristin Dyrud, Bryce Hudson, Eric Ernst, Danny, and of course Madison, Jake, Caryn, Gage, and Zach!!!!!

It was really wonderful seeing everyone again and being able to relax and have a great time after all of the hard work that has gone into post production. Kristin and Natalie had a chance to meet some of the wonderful people that worked with us during production which is rare for a post producer and a composer.Thank you so much to The Johnsons and The Davenports!!! Check out all of the fun pics!

Our Hosts, Les and Teri Johnson - Picture Lock Party Our Hosts, Jennifer and Brandon Davenport - Picture Lock Party The Usual Suspects - Picture Lock Party Cheers - Picture Lock Party Danny Daneau and Carmen Tabanyi - Picture Lock Party The Moms - Jennifer Davenport and Teri Johnson - Picture Lock Party Natalie Sakai and Erica Harrell - Picture Lock Party How did Caryn Johnson get that..oh..it's Root Beer - Picture Lock Party Bryce Hudson, Natalie Sakai, Kristin Dyrud, and Scott Uhlfelder - Picture Lock PartyScott Uhlfelder and Bryce Hudson - Picture Lock Party Danny Daneau and Eric Ersnt Caught with Cake - Picture Lock Party Scott Uhlfelder - Picture Lock Party Erica Harrell and Eric Ersnt - Picture Lock Party Madison Davenport and Danny Daneau - Picture Lock Party Really Good Party - Picture Lock Party

Danny Daneau on 04 Jun 2008 | 01. Danny Daneau - Director & 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 03. Eric Ernst - Writer & 05. Madison Davenport-Actor & 09. Post Production | POST COMMENTS

Looking Back: Tech Scout

The following post was written May 28th, 2008 and chronicles our our pre production scouting of Kane County, Utah. Read the original with comments here.

Erica Harrell
Producer

Last weekend Danny, myself, Eric Ernst, and our Director of Photography, Scott Uhlfelder did a preliminary technical scout of all our interior and exterior locations. A Technical Scout or “Tech Scout” is when the director and usually several of his department heads go through the locations and note with great detail how each scene will be accomplished. Almost always the DP talks about what special equipment is needed on which days or how to light a particular scene given the location. For instance, the hallways and doorways in the Heritage House are almost too small for a classic dolly to fit in, but Scott was able to creatively suggest alternates ways of achieving the shots Danny desires.

Flexibility is key when shooting in a historical home like the Heritage House. When Danny and Eric scientifically measured each door, window, room and hallway they discovered none of the measurements were the same. The information they gathered in the home will then be handed over to our production designer Alex Eastwood so his team can construct flats and other materials we will need for the interiors of the Heritage House.

Our scout of Paria determined exactly where we will be constructing our exteriors. Danny and I alternated taking measurements of the distance from where we will build to determine what the camera will see from certain distances. We did not want to jeopardize our shoot by placing the structure in an inappropriate place. We also wanted to make sure we were maximizing every possible angel of the beautiful scenery.

Overall the Tech Scout was a huge success and now we know what we have to accomplish shooting our interiors as well as our exteriors.

Director of Photography Scott Uhlfelder

Scott Uhlfelder, Director of Photography

Danny Daneau on 29 Mar 2008 | 02. Erica Harrell - Producer & 14. Best of Blog | POST COMMENTS

Looking Back: The iChat

The following entry, published on May 1st, 2007, describes the challenges of working long distance and the blessing of video conference technology. Read the orginial post here.

Erica Harrell
Producer

One of the most challenging, yet intriguing aspects of producing A Monster in the Attic is communicating with crew despite their physical distance. Though the film will be shot in Utah, our crew is spread out across the country.

Since Danny Daneau, Alex Eastwood (production designer) and Bryce Hudson (unit production manager) all live in Central Florida and I live in Los Angeles with Eric Ernst (writer) and Scott Uhlfelder (director of photography), we take full advantage of communication technology in this digital age. As dedicated Mac users, Danny and I often use the video conferencing feature found on Apple’s iChat program, that allows us to communicate face to face in real time. Since there is a 3 hour time difference, we’re often communication either really early on the West coast, or really late on the East.

This challenge will only increase once we move to Utah for production, as we will then be spread across three different time zones. Though Kanab is a seven-hour drive from Los Angeles and two days from Florida, communication is made easy through advancements in technology.

Eric Ernst (writer) Danny Daneau (director) Erica Harrell (producer)

Danny Daneau on 28 Mar 2008 | 01. Danny Daneau - Director & 07. Preproduction & 02. Erica Harrell - Producer | POST COMMENTS

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