Weekly Update (April 18-24)

Weekly Update:
-Began copying an archival copy of each movie we’ve done to an “archive drive”. This will be used to edit some materials for the 15th anniversary event and for backup purposes.
-Wrapped shooting on Seidule Films’ COVER ME (including a scene that features a Hedges Pictures cameo).
-Met with the graphic designer doing the 15th anniversary logo and commemorative poster to discuss designs.
-Met with the costumer for the NICHOLAS trailer.
-Began booking actors and locations for the NICHOLAS trailer.

On the Agenda for Next Week:
-Writing scripts for some of the 15th anniversary videos that will play at the gala in addition to the NICHOLAS trailer and DAY OF THE HEDGES.
-Continuing to book actors and locations for the NICHOLAS trailer.
-Preparing schedules for the various shooting days for the NICHOLAS trailer.
-Preparing for the NICHOLAS trailer shooting day on the beach in Florida.

Question from a Fan:
“Can you explain the ending of BFCU3?”
In BFCU2 Travis frames Elliot Westphal for the murders of their fellow cast members. Somewhere between BFCU2 and BFCU3 Eliot, while in prison, contacts Sarah Boies and convinces her to take up the mask of The Killer and start dispatching people in Travis’s life. In BFCU3 she does so until Travis ultimately unmasks her. Unfortunately for Travis, Eliot is out of prison and finishes the job Sarah started, killing Travis (whose last words are “Death is only the beginning”).

In the Dance World Expanded Universe we learn that in that moment Travis made a deal with the dark fairy Carabosse, who cursed him with an unnaturally long life and certain magical powers. Travis used these abilities in the Dance World to attempt to gain the Shoe of Power for Carabosse. These efforts  ultimately failed and Travis was exiled from that dimension.

Which is where Dance World Revelations picks up the story. The Expanded Universe story is referenced several times in DWR - most notably by The Fall Fairy in the kitchen of Summer’s Summer House.

Travis and Elliot prepare to shoot the final scene of BFCU3 (2001).

Weekly Update (April 11-17)

WEEKLY UPDATE:
-Helped out on set for Seidule Films’ COVER ME production days 9-11.
-Cast two of the leads for DAY OF THE HEDGES (announcement coming soon).
-Worked on casting for the NICHOLAS ACT I Trailer.
-Efforts this week were largely focussed on logistical aspects of the NICHOLAS ACT I Trailer, such as figuring out what to shoot when, what locations/props/costumes are needed, and casting.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK:
-Saturday is the final day of principal photograph for Seidule Films’ COVER ME.
-Continued tests of Final Cut Pro X.
-Meeting with graphic designer to discuss the 15th Anniversary poster.
-Efforts are likely to remain focussed on getting the NICHOLAS ACT I Trailer ready for production in May.

QUESTION FROM A FAN:
“What is DAY OF THE HEDGES?”
DOTH will be to the Hedges Pictures universe what THE AVENGERS is to the Marvel Universe. We are taking characters from many of our past films and teaming them up to take down one super villain. It will be a little “wacky” in the same way that BFCU3 or DANCE WORLD REVELATIONS (and other pieces of our early work) are.

Watch the teaser-trailer here:

Weekly Update (April 4-10)

WEEKLY UPDATE:
-Seidule Films COVER ME had production days 6-8, bringing them to the “2/3 Completed” mark.
-Reconfigured the wiring for the 7 external hard drives HP uses in the editing suite.
-Did the first official tests of our new editing software, Final Cut Pro X.
-Research for the 2016 project.
-Major work on setting dates for the NICHOLAS ACT I trailer shoots and DAY OF THE HEDGES shoots (and other early logistical work on both).
-Finalized the “script” for the NICHOLAS ACT I trailer.
-Finished the first proofread/revisions of the NICHOLAS ACT I screenplay for publishing later this year.

Look for this HP cameo in COVER ME from Seidule Films this fall.

ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK:
-The final production days for Seidule Films’ COVER ME.
-The NICHOLAS ACT I trailer takes priority - with major issues like booking locations, actors, costumes and props being addressed.
-Continued tests of Final Cut Pro X.

QUESTION FROM A FAN:
“Can I have your autograph?”
It depends.

Weekly Update (March 29-April 3)

WEEKLY UPDATE:

-Created/revised call sheets for all the remaining production days of Seidule Films’ COVER ME.

-Booked a date for the HP 15th Anniversary Gala: October 16 at Theatre Baton Rouge.

-Revised 10 more pages of the NICHOLAS: ACT I screenplay.

-Made a first pass at figuring out how many shooting days it will take to film a book trailer for NICHOLAS: ACT I.

-Purchased an external hard drive for archival purposes (back up your digital content, folks!).

-Purchased a USB hub that will work with all the external drives that hold the HP movies.

-COVER ME had production days 4-5, bringing them to the “1/3 Completed” mark.

-Watched a few tutorials on how to use our new editing program, Final Cut Pro X.

ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK:

-Production days 6-8 for Seidule Films’ COVER ME.

-First experiments in editing with FCPX.

-More NICHOLAS ACT I revisions and book trailer planning.

-First attempts at locking a cast and schedule for DAY OF THE HEDGES.

QUESTION FROM A FAN:

“Is LOST ISLAND OF LAVEAU an episode of REQUIEMS?”

Well, technically, “no” - but they are related. The REQUIEMS screenplays had a first draft written in 2004, though the series wasn’t shot until 2014. In 2007 we took one of the episodes as they were at the time and expanded it to be a stand alone short film - that became LOST ISLAND OF LAVEAU. When we began a new set of drafts in 2013, I liked the idea of doing a follow up vooderre story, so Ep 2 of REQUIEMS is a direct sequel to LOST ISLAND. Therefore, LIOL is a stand alone movie, and a prequel to REQUIEMS Ep 2. The various episodes of REQUIEMS changed many times throughout the decade-long revision process, though Dani’s plotline remained largely the same.

The discovery of the vooderres on THE LOST ISLAND OF LAVEAU (2007).