February 2012
1 post
DISTRIBUTION... more
There is a lot about the movie business that we are learning as we go through this process. We signed with an international sales agent and watching them sell the movie to overseas markets is eye opening.
They use different titles to attract different buyers from various territories… THE MISADVENTURES OF BEN BANKS and BEAUTY AND THE LEAST - it’s weird to watch. I mean I’m...
October 2011
1 post
BEN BANKS DISTRIBUTION
We have learned a lot about distribution and the Independent film business. With many changes in how movies are being distributed, we’ve had to play catch up after finishing the movie at the end of July.
Even from the time we finished the shoot, the independent film industry has changed - in some way quite dramatically. Whereas there used to be a model of finishing the movie, getting into a...
May 2011
1 post
BEN BANKS... THE END IS NEAR
We are officially in the home stretch - reaching out to distributors, sales reps, etc. We hope to have a big announcement in the coming weeks!
-Bryce
March 2011
9 posts
WatchWe heart Pearl Jam
Ben Banks Sound
On the way to AZ with Justin and Jake to check out the sound design work on the movie. We are very close to finishing the movie!
December 2010
1 post
CAST
Sal Masekela (Hank Ashby) - I first met Sal at Sundance in 2010 with Justin. I was struck by how he treated people who came up to him for pictures or autographs or just to talk. We were with him for a few hours and many, many times he was stopped, once by a pretty big group, and he was so gracious and kind it made me immediately like him. I knew he would be great as Hank.
So we asked him if he...
November 2010
8 posts
CAST
Alex Beh (Gunner Smith) - I met Alex months before we began to cast Ben Banks. I liked his energy and ‘look’ but I didn’t think about him for Gunner until a bunch of us went back to his place. For some reason it started to crystalize in my mind that he would be good in that role and so I just watched him. There is something about him that’s interesting,...
CAST
Michael Hobert (Greg Timmons) - We had basically decided who was going to play Timmons in the movie when Michael walked into our audition and made us question that choice and eventually change our minds…
And we had no idea what was about to unfold: namely the biggest stroke of luck in the history of our collective creative lives! Let me say this: the idea that Hobert isn’t out there...
Justin and Jory - other adventures
Check out this cool piece Justin and Jory did for Leisure Society with assists from Lan Bui and Jake!
http://leisure-society.com/ - just play the video!
-Bryce
CAST
Kim Huffman (Fran Banks) - Kim actually auditioned for another role but she was so great we had to have her play Ben’s mom. I was really looking forward to working with her because of her personalty. She’s one of the most genuine people you’ll meet. I ended up talking with her on the phone about the movie and it got me excited about the process!
In fact, I was sad that we only...
CAST
Kate Towne (Erin Parker) - When Kate Towne came in to audition it was surreal. She had us so disarmed it wasn’t funny - actually, it was pretty funny. First of all, she was great, it was obvious she’s a very talented actor. But then she would say these things that sounded like they might be sarcastic, but she would never even hint at smiling, she simply would not break and so we were...
Junior's other adventures
These are some new ads that will be airing online, in stores, and TV. They were produced, shot and edited by Jason deVilliers (aka Junior), who is our editor on Ben Banks! Muno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88oZeYlz_6A Foofa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pvg2_45h6U Toodee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbZpnWC7jh8 Brobee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8opyfdTeq8 Plex:...
CAST
David Sullivan (Glenn Ambers) - OK, so we’re out on LA doing auditions and David comes in to read for the part of Ambers, our mobile home mogul in the movie… David starred in the movie ‘Primer’ which was a big hit at Sundance a few years back.
I’d written the scene as kind of quirky but man, David came in a was so funny it was kind of amazing… I may or may not...
CAST
Brad Thomas (Cam Bunker) - Brad plays Ben’s best friend and roommate, Cam Bunker. But Brad’s contribution was much larger than that. It was through Brad that I got to know Ben and Brad’s stories and recollections had a huge influence on the movie. In fact, there is a key moment in the movie when the guys find a dead body while on shrooms. This, in fact, actually happened to...
October 2010
5 posts
CAST
OK - now that the movie has been submitted to Sundance and we’ve had the chance to shape their performances, I wanted to weigh in on our cast… this will be in no particular order!
MELORA HARDIN (Mary Andrews) - OK, we had Melora for the 1st day of shooting. Keep in mind this is my first feature and Ben Banks is not an actor. The scenes we shot had Ben and Brad Thomas (Cam Bunker) who...
Sundance
We submitted Ben Banks to the Sundance Film Festival today! Now we wait. Thank you to our post production team: Jason, Craig, Jake, Nolan, Rajiv, David, Braten, Jory, Nate, and … a man. named Hud.
SCREENING
Had the first audience screening of the movie tonight. We just finished editing at 8AM this morning so it was the first time Junior and I actually watched it all the way through. It’s amazing how much you learn watching the movie with others… got some amazing feedback. Overall positive, people enthusiastic, some good critiques. Got some work to do before we submit to Sundance Friday...
September 2010
13 posts
My final say...
OK - so I’ve tried to capture what I feel for all of those who have worked on our crew and have been a huge part of my life.
Thank you all so much. If there is anyone who I have failed to mention, I am so sorry. This has been a crazy time and if I did forget it was not intentional. I hope I’ve gotten you all! But just know that I have appreciated everyone who worked on this movie.
...
My family
Stephanie Clark - There is no way I could have made this movie without Steph. Beyond that, none of it would be meaningful without her. She’s been so supportive for many years. She believed in me and what I was trying to do. She allowed me to dream and stood by me when a lot of people thought it was time to give it up. I am a very, very lucky man.
I love her and this movie is for her…
...
Production Assistants
MARK DAY, Key Production Assistant - Mark was a great asset to the movie. Here’s all you need to know: Mark was the first to arrive and the last to leave. He gripped, PAed, Slated etc… I consider him a good friend now. Would work with him again in a second!
JON ANDREW, Production Assistant - We at Signal Films have decided that Jon needs to work with us on every movie we make! I feel...
Locations and Local Casting
LOCATIONS - OK, a brief note here on our locations situation: We had over 30 locations on this movie! Justin took my wish list and went nuts (with help from Jake and his beard) locking down some great places. But as we shot we needed to have these locations set up before we showed up and Justin can’t be multiple places at once, though he does make you wonder sometimes but I can verify: He is...
Casting
AMY SOBO & JANE SOBO, Casting Directors - OK, so because of Justin and the relationships he’s established in the industry, we were able to have the AMAZING Jane and Amy Sobo of Sobo Casting cast the main roles in our movie out of LA. I can’t tell you how important this was. As a first time director, I was very nervous about a lot of the filmmaking process, and when we first met...
Hair and Makeup
ANGEL PRADO, Hair and Makeup Supervisor - I met Angel on this shoot and am so thankful that he agreed to work on our movie! He’s another who is wise beyond his years. He is such a pro that he instills a great sense of confidence and when I’d see him working on someone, or coming on to set, I wouldn’t think twice about it because I knew he’d get it right. He also has a...
Post
CRAIG WINDES, Post Production Supervisor - Like a brother…
Yeah, I’ll write some more!
Craig is the man behind the curtain! He is the protector of the movie! He makes it all flow after we shoot what we shoot - from processing and backing up footage to setting up our editing rig and overseeing all things computer realted…
So, OK, he’s a tech ninja and a master of Macs...
Craft (the Moffats)
PEGGY MOFFAT, Craft Service - OK, here’s what you need to know: Peggy is AMAZING! On our opening BBQ she made these insane Coconut cookies and I knew the biggest challenge for me over the course of the movie would be not to gain 50 lbs!!! On top of that, Peggy jumped in and took on managing all of our food and beverage needs on the shoot. Having never done it before, she learned on the go...
Grip & Electric
ANDREW BRINKHAUS, Gaffer - Andrew was great to have on set. I loved setting up shots with Chris and Andrew, deciding if we had the time for my initial shots, and then working to make our limited time and resources work. Andrew always lit our sets beautifully. The footage is great. It’s such a huge difference maker having a gaffer who knows what he’s doing. Beyond that Andrew was...
Script
CRISTINA ACOCELLA, Script Supervisor - What does a Script Supervisor do? It’s a great question and one I only partially knew the answer to before this movie. Their primary job is continuity, making sure that wardrobe and movements match scene to scene and day to day. Cristina did that, as much as I tried to ‘Ed Wood’ the movie, she kept me in check and on top of those details...
Costumes
NATALIE TOREN, Costume Designer - If I could pick one person I’d want telling people about our movie, Natalie would fit the bill. Her passion is contagious, genuine, and inspiring. When Justin, Jason and I set out to make movies, we hoped we could start building a movie family, people we’d want to work with again and again. Natalie is the epitome of that idea, yes, because of her...
ADs
JAKE MOFFAT, 1st AD - I’ve already written about Jake, but what you don’t know is that Jake just wrapped (Wednesday, September 1st)! He was the last man standing on production and made sure we got out without major problems or issues. Needless to say he was/is invaluable…
JULIE McCOY, 2nd AD - Julie is amazing. Her professionalism and dedication to our project kept us in line...
Camera
CHRIS SAUL, Cinematographer - This is the area, lenses, depth of field, composition where I really needed to rely on someone who could understand what I wanted and use their talent to make it something special. Chris did that. He has a gift for how to line up shots and is never victim to something “cool” or awesome like a whip pan or something. We had a limited camera package with a...
Sound
DAVID ADAMIC, Sound Mixer - Sound is a key area where independent films can either succeed or fail. David gets that and let it be known if we needed to get another line or if what we got wasn’t usable. He just gets it done. He was like an anchor with his setup and professionalism. We owe David a lot and the importance of what he (and Noel) have done for us isn’t lost on me.
NOEL...
August 2010
95 posts
The Art Department
BRYAN ANDERTON, Production Designer - Bryan is tireless in his work. I’ve been blown away by his ability to take my ideas and notes and bring our locations to life. It felt like we were in synch the whole time. His daily calls, texts, and emails kept me on my game. He is a true pro and I’d work with him again in a second. Great designer. Great guy.
SEAN FALKNER, Art Director - Sean...
THE PRODUCERS
We wrapped Ben Banks last night and I got pretty emotional about it. It wasn’t just that over the last three weeks I’ve been able to watch as the words I wrote were acted out and that I got to fulfill a personal dream, it was that I knew that many of the people I’ve been working with were heading back to their lives. Most of the people who worked on this movie I met within the...
