Notes By Moonshine

Flocking progress

2011-07-29T00:16:00.002-05:00

Javier, our Production Designer, is hard at work coming up with some amazing ways to bring Emmett's flocked creations to life. He's currently testing a process that will make the trees supper fluffy. Stay tuned for future updates where you'll see the magic he's creating for the film! This is gonna be so cool!

VISIT US ON IndieGoGo!
- Jayson

Flocker's First IndieGoGo Weekend

2011-07-24T19:58:00.001-05:00

We've made it through our first weekend on the IndieGoGo fundraising campaign for my new film Flocker. Big thank you's to our first supporters Ann & Jessica (you guys are going to love your perks)!

This campaign is at once exciting and terrifying, but is a major step toward getting the project off the ground and into production. Proceeds will pay for a great deal of our set construction costs, as well as cast and crew salaries. We have already assembled a very talented team with Director of Photography Iskra Valtcheva, and Production Designer Javier Bonafont onboard.

Here's where we stand right now....
Casting calls are out, looking for the perfect talent to pull off this film. We even have our eyes on some recognizable faces. Javier has already begun tests for the perfect flock mixture to create the elaborate trees called for in the script. Elissa and I are on the hunt for the perfect location for the Thibodeaux Christmas tree lot.

We're on our way...now all we need is your help...

You can also stay up to date on the project by liking our Facebook page Facebook.com/FlockerMovie

-Jayson

Location:Austin,TX

Got Talent?

2011-07-13T01:01:00.001-05:00

Production title: Flocker
Union / Non-Union: SAG
Production Type: Independent
Project length: Short Film (20 minutes)
Project format: 16:9 HD
Expected production dates: Early December 2011 or Early 2012
Production location: Austin, TX
Production Company: Starveling Productions
Company website: https://www.starvelingproductions.com
Director: Jayson Oaks
Producers: Jayson Oaks, Elissa Bouillion
Shooting Location: Austin, TX and surrounding areas
Email: casting at starvelingproductions.com
Compensation: Paid/Deferred/Unpaid

Synopsis:
Down in the bayous of South East Texas it rarely snows, yet the desire for a white Christmas knows no bounds. With a little Christmas magic, and a lot of chemicals, flock can give you a tree covered in a fresh blanket of spray-on snow. Flocker, a narrative short, tells the story of Emmett, a young man who's love of flock changes his life forever.

Emmett is a misfit in his small Texas town. He is the flocker for the Thibodeaux Christmas tree lot, lives in a run-down trailer at the back of the tree lot, and he is in love with his boss’ son. However, his artistic flair for flocking trees has made his work popular far and wide. Emmett doesn't just flock the trees in the usual array of solid colors; from American flags to peppermint stripes, he creates fantastical works of art using the trees as a canvas. Although he finds satisfaction in his art, he can’t escape the knowledge that he will soon be out of a job as the Christmas tree season is about to end. Not only will he loose the one true outlet he has for his amazing talent, he will no longer be near the owner's son, Seth. Seth is completely disdainful of our dirt-poor hero, but delights in toying with Emmett’s affections in private. When an opportunity arises to leave the confines of his small town and make a life that is truly his own, Emmett is forced to confront the harsh realities of his life. Our story is a look into one day of a young man’s life when he must decide whether it's better to stay with the devil he knows, remaining misunderstood and unappreciated, or take a leap of faith and finally believe in himself.

Lead Roles:
Emmett - male (mid-late 20's)
Emmett is a hardworking guy, who looks like a typical blue collar, good ol' boy. However, he is an outsider in his family and in his small town because he is openly gay. He works as the Christmas tree flocker for the Thibodeaux family's Christmas tree lot. At first, he took the job to cover for his Uncle Johnny, who had been injured, but Emmett found his artistic voice and can now create amazing, never-before-seen works of art using flock on the Christmas trees. Emmett is also falling for the owner's son, Seth, who uses Emmett's affection to toy with him. Even though his trees make Mrs. Thibodeaux a lot of money, the closer Emmett gets to Seth, the more his job is in jeopardy.

Seth Thibodeaux - male (early-mid 20's)
Seth is a very good looking frat-guy type, but is lazy and very much a momma's boy. He has never known a hard day's work, and looks down on Emmett as the “help”. Seth is satisfied by the easy life that his good looks and Momma have provided for him. While he calls himself straight, he amuses himself by toying with Emmett's emotions, and stringing him along.

Mrs. Thibodeaux - female (40's-50's)
Mrs. Thibodeaux owns the tree lot, and while she enjoys the extra attention and money that Emmett's work brings, she is not happy with him being near Seth. She has a seemingly sweet exterior, but she has a weak grasp on her lady-like manners when she's angry. Mrs. Thibodeaux clearly considers Emmett to be beneath her and her family, and makes every effort to keep Emmett at arm's length. She considers herself generous because she has provided Emmett a run-down trailer to live in during the Christmas tree season. However, she uses this as an excuse to pay him pennies and keep him “on-call” to flock trees. She has noticed her son, Seth, get closer to Emmett, so when Mr. Johanson offers to take Emmett on the road, she sees her chance to turn up the pressure on Emmett to leave.

Mr. Johanson - male (40's-50's)
Mr. Johanson is a traveling salesman of flock and flocking supplies. He has come to the Thibodeaux Christmas tree lot after hearing about Emmett's flocking style. He has come to offer Emmett a partnership to travel and teach his technique to other flockers. Mr. Johanson is the only person who offers Emmett a choice and respect.

Uncle Johnny - male (40's-60's+)
Johnny, Emmett's uncle, had been the tree flocker for the Thibodeaux's for many seasons, but when he injured his back, he arranged for Emmett to fill in for him until his back healed. He is a scheming, crass, and hard-edged man who struggles to make it in life. Now that his disability is about to run out, he is eager to take his job back. Johnny also thinks that Emmett's clear feelings for Seth could put Johnny's own relationship with Mrs. Thibodeaux in trouble. He is determined to force his nephew out of his job.

Supporting Roles:
Mr. And Mrs. Jones
This couple is looking for the perfect tree. As the couple bickers, Emmett is able to convince the husband to shell out the extra cash for a “designer” tree, and creates the wife's dream tree.

Mrs. Baxter
A meek and mild woman who is wanting a tree to upstage her neighborhood rival Linda Beth.

Linda Beth
A brash woman who refuses to be outdone by Mrs. Baxter

Darlene and Thomas
A young couple that can't be torn away from texting/talking on their phones long enough to be convinced of the benefits of a flocked tree.

48 Hours of Fun

2011-06-27T15:45:00.001-05:00

Write, shoot, and edit a film in just 48 hours? That's what the 48 hour Film Project is all about.

It's been years since I've worked on a 48 hour project, but this year I stumbled onto a great team and had a blast! The group was founded by Korina Delapeña, and included one of my co-workers Rey Barrera as well as John Delapeña, Farhaneh Shirazee, and Asored Villarreal. Roberto Silva and Ernest Gallardo were on set too helping us with this crazy project.

If you don't already know how the whole thing works, here's a rundown. Friday evening each team draws a genre, which can be anything from "Western" to "Mockumentary", then there is a character, a prop, and a line of dialog that has to be included in every film. Our team drew "Romance", the character for this year was a soccer coach named Katie Whithers, and the prop was a purse.

Now I can't give away the story, but I think our team made a really fun film with action, adventure, and of course romance. The film is titled "Run For Me". The lead actors were, Asored Villarreal, Arnulfo Hernandez, and Rupert Reyes. When it gets online, I'll update this post with a link.

Mega props to all the cast and crew who all survived hours in the hot sun shooting all over downtown Austin. Below are some BTS shots courtesy of Farhaneh Shirazee.

Korina and Roberto trying to find some shade.

The cast and crew in between shots.

John boomin'.

The romance between Arnulfo's and Asored's characters.

The first of many running scenes!

Los locos.

New Project Breaking Ground

2010-08-20T18:26:00.004-05:00

Many months later and many dollars spent, Warm Fuzzy is all wrapped up. It was submitted to a ton of festivals, but unfortunately, it hasn't been programed. Also had a small nibble by a Canadian distributor, but they too passed. So it goes. There are a few more windows open, but if those don't pan out, do not fear. I'm planning on self distributing on Amazon so folks can see it streaming. Also I'm selling DVDs of the film for $10, so get your orders in now! They make an excellent holiday or birthday gift (hint hint Mom!)

That shameless plug brings me to my new project, "Flocker", which I'll be using proceeds from Warm Fuzzy to fund. I'm really excited about this film as it is a great little piece about taking the slings and arrows life throws at you and finally making the decision to live your life on your terms. It explores that moment of clarity when the main character Emmett decides to make a major change in his life. The script is based on a brilliant short story by Elissa Bouillion and is set somewhere in the Texas-Louisiana countryside.

Synopsis:
Emmett flocks Christmas trees for the Thibodeaux Tree farm. He got the job filling in for his uncle Johnny who's been out with a back injury. His artistic flair in decorating trees has made his work popular. Although unconventional, Emmett finds satisfaction in his art, and it allows him to be close to Seth, the owner's son. Emmett holds a flame for him although Seth treats him with utter disdain. The story is a day in the life of a man clinging to a world that has little use for him other than his ability to drape trees in a blanket of fake snow. When the opportunity arises to strike out and make a life that is truly his own, Emmett is forced to confront the harsh reality of living on empty hope and the emotional scraps of a one-sided love affair.

So along with me, Christi Mason and Elissa Bouillion will be producing the film. They both worked on Warm Fuzzy as well. We're gearing up for the pre-production phase, so I'll keep you all updated on the project.

AAAFF 2009 Kudos

2009-11-17T00:49:00.002-06:00

Huge kudos to my buddy and Austin Asian American Film Festival Executive Director Masashi Niwano! The festival was a fantastic whirlwind of excellent asian cinema and some great parties. This is my third year to be involved in the festival as a staff member and am proud to have a small part in bringing the Austin film community such a great event. In the past three years I have seen the audiences and profile of this festival grow under the direction of Masashi. If you weren't able to make it this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year.

Some of the highlights were nearly sold out screenings of White on Rice; Fruit Fly with a live performance by director H.P. Mendoza and actress L.A. Renigan; and the outdoor screening of Persepolis.

You can check out the you missed or remember the fun times you had by checking out the gallerys at http://www.aaaff.org And be sure to bookmark the site as the AAAFF has special screenings and events throughout the year. See you then!

2009 AFF Memoirs

2009-10-28T18:35:00.003-05:00

So this year I was lucky enough to have a badge to the 2009 Austin Film Festival. It was my first time to have a badge for the entire event. Between parties and talking to friends old and new I was able to catch a couple of feature flicks and several shorts programs.

The first film that I saw was "Stoner" by Austin writer/director Michael Greene. It was a cool flick about four friends on the cusp of their college graduation, and as the name suggests there is a fair bit of smoking, however the heart of the film lies in the believable and relatable characters. It's a great film with comedic moments and also some more serious self discovery elements, offering a nice balance. If you get a chance you should check it out!

I also barely squeezed into a packed screening at the Alamo Ritz of the comedy "Herpes Boy" written by/staring Byron Lane and drirected by Nathaniel Atcheson. It was a quirky little film that had some charming moments. The thought occurred to me during the screening that it would probably be a great cable television series as there was a lot of material to develop for the characters.

Additionally I got to got to the Texas Filmmakers Showcase. It was a great series of films that really made me proud to be part of the Texas filmmaking community. If you get a chance to see this series you should jump on it.

Truckin' Along

2009-08-26T20:55:00.002-05:00

So Warm Fuzzy is nearing completion. I got the final sound mix this Sunday and have nearly finished the color correction. The pieces are coming together and I'm really excited to get the film out there and start to submit to festivals. Right now we're working on the final animated credit sequences which are being created by the very talented Rey Barrera. They are a great compliment to the film. I'll be back with more as it happens.

Too much?

2009-06-18T21:07:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure why, but I just opened a YouTube account for Starveling. I don't have anything posted on it yet, but I guess I thought it'd be a good idea to get it going. Plus, I can subscribe to some of the people's videos that I really like. Honestly it probably had more to do with the fact that I could now link my iPhone to a YT account =).

New thoughts for a new project

2009-06-10T21:14:00.001-05:00

So as the last few months of work on Warm Fuzzy start to dwindle, I'm begining to tinker with my next project idea. I'm wanting to do another short this coming up year, and I'm thinking of doing something more of the dramatic side. As I roll different ideas in my head the idea of a love story is becoming appealing. However, I'm thinking that I want to do it in the vein of an established relationship where the love must be reestablished and rekindled. Just some loose concepts now, but I'm sure something will come to me soon.

Rough Cuttin' and Budgetin'

2009-05-28T21:11:00.003-05:00

So quick a update for the Warm Fuzzy project. The rough cut is coming along nicely and I've already started talking to people about sound design and color correction. I'm really stoked about the footage as it is beautiful and once all is said and done the film is going to look amazing!

Also I'm laying in some great tracks from White Ghost Shivers and it is working really well with the picture, maybe even better than I had anticipated.

On the budget side we're applying for the TFPF and really hoping that comes through.

Let you know more as it happens.

The Show Went On!

2009-05-08T00:02:00.005-05:00

Whew! Has Time Flown or What!

So when last we spoke I was in the mania of prepping for the Warm Fuzzy shoot. Now it is several weeks later and I'm entering into the post-production jungle! But wait! I'm sure you want to hear all about the shoot...right? Ok, so here it is.

95 percent of Warm Fuzzy took place outdoors, so I was of course watching weather reports like a mad person. The forecast was not looking friendly for friday, but based on the forecast versus reality of the previous weekend, I wasn't too worried. I should have been! It poured and we were forced to move to an interior scene early, but thanks to an amazing crew and cast we were able by the end of the shoot to pickup our lost time.

Thankfully that was the biggest drama on the set. All in all it was an amazing time and I'm looking forward to getting the cut finished...I'll keep in touch!

Fuzzy Fundraiser And A Crazy Week Ahead!

2009-04-13T15:31:00.009-05:00

Well, I have to say that the fundraiser was a great success! Many thanks to everyone that could make it out and especially to Cafe Mundi for their hospitality and White Ghost Shivers for a fantastic performance, and the donors of items for the silent auction. It was an awesome night that exemplifies what a great city Austin is to make films because of the community support!

So now is the push week for the film...we're making all the preparations and last minute decisions. It is scary and exhilarating at the same time. I'm very blessed to have such talented and warm people working with me on this project, and I hope to make it a memorable experience for all involved.

Thanks again to everyone at the fundraiser and I want to take the time to thank the following companies and individuals that contributed sponsorship and silent auction items:

Candyce Rusk Intuitive/Spiritual Healer

Dream Dinners - Sunset Valley

Ernest Gallardo - photographer

Matthew Magruder - photographer

Shelly Baldwin Massage

Uchi

Venus DeMarco

Waterloo Records

Water2Wine - South Austin

Ernest Chapa

Oswaldo Gomez

Anthony Gallardo

We'll be posting auction contributor logos on the website very soon! Thank you so much to everyone!

Casting Day #1 - the day before

2009-03-13T21:14:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is day one of casting for Warm Fuzzy! I'm very excited and at the same time it is a bit overwhelming. Thankfully Masashi has handled the scheduling and contacting which has helped tremendously. I'll post what happens after tomorrow, but I'm expecting a good showing, and am looking forward to it.

Funding Fuzzy

2009-01-27T20:49:00.002-06:00

So the new year is here and the shoot date for Warm Fuzzy is quickly approaching. We've added a new team member Masashi Niwano who will be serving as A.D. He is really excited about the project and his and the other team members enthusiasm is really helping to keep me going. I've been busy tackling as many freelance jobs as I can handle trying to get together the money to make the picture and honestly it may be the death of me. At our last meeting we discussed a grant that we are hoping to get as well as brainstorming another fundraiser, hopefully something fun! I am praying that some sort of funding will come through so that I can shift some more of my time toward the million little things that need to get done before the camera rolls.

I should have some news soon about fundraising events, location scouting, and casting coming soon. =)

Holiday grab bag of bloggings

2008-12-09T20:34:00.001-06:00

I don't have any specific things to talk about in this blog, rather just a mish mash of random thoughts and goings on. That time is here when the year begins to wind down, although it is one of the busier times with all the holiday events and activities to either enjoy or survive depending on your perspective.

I love this time of year personally, and for this one month I actually welcome chilly weather. Of course being from Texas as soon as December 26th rolls around, I'm ready for t-shirt and shorts weather again. I also love this time of year because it is when I get the baking bug. Around the middle of December I try to start making different types of cookies and cakes. It just feels comforting to have a warm house that smells of fresh baked cookies.

Memoirs of a Yard Sale

2008-11-23T13:51:00.005-06:00

This Saturday was the big yard sale fundraiser for "Warm Fuzzy" and we did extremely well. We raised about 25% of the budget to get through production, so I'm really happy about that! Thank you to any and all who contributed time, talent, or items to the sale! I am truly thankful for you and your contribution.

The sale itself was actually alot of fun because so many friends and family showed up to either shop, help, or both. I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and started getting ready. It took about two hours and two pots of coffee to get all the items out and to get the signs put up in the neighborhood. I was really nervous up until around 9:00 because I had expected to see a lot more early birds, but by mid-morning our yard was packed with people.

Thanks again!

Warm Fuzzies

2008-11-11T20:36:00.004-06:00

So, probably everyone who knows me is by now aware that I'm in pre-production for my new short film Warm Fuzzy. We are currently in fundraising mode which is exciting and a little daunting. I have never formally fund raised for any of my own projects, but have done tons of fundraising for others. I've always just scraped together a few dollars and gone out and shot on whatever cheap camera I could get my hands on, and I've come out with some pretty good stuff. However, on this project I wanted to stretch myself and put together a larger and more ambitious project.

Warm Fuzzy is the perfect size project, not too big and not too small. By getting over my fears of a somewhat larger budget, it is allowing me to put together a great creative team. Kristina Mann who I worked with on several TricksterFilms projects, and Christi Mason a longtime friend and colleague from way back in film school are producing the film with me. They are both extremely talented and have a great energy, plus they are the type of people that you can trust. My friend Iskra Valtcheva is a wonderfully talented cinematographer, who I am very please has agreed to work on the project. Se has a keen eye and above that she is such a generous and easy to work with personality. Additionally, my friends Elissa Bouillon, whom I produced an award winning PSA with in the past, and Ann Hooper have been helping tremendously with all the numerous detail involved in doing fundraising events.

This project is shaping up to be what I like most about the filmmaking process a community project where people come together and create something. It is what makes filmmaking so different from other creative endeavors such as painting or drawing where it is you alone with your art.

We're planning on shooting in April of 2009, and as things progress, I'll be updating this blog. Soon we'll be looking for Art Department people and crew, but probably not until after the first of the year.

The play's the thing!

2008-10-31T19:32:00.003-05:00

So here we are...I'm starting the very first blog for my new production company Starveling Productions. I've had the idea and intention of creating Starveling for quite a long time and it is only in the last few months that the stars aligned and I got a sudden burst of inspiration and energy to put all of the pieces together. In fact I created the logo for Starveling nearly two years ago, and had the name in mind since college. All things happen in due time I guess, and so I find myself here writing.

The name Starveling is a reference to the character Robin Starveling in Shakespear's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Starveling is a Tailor and a member of the rude mechanicals who decide to perform the play Pyramus & Thisbe to entertain King Theseus and Hippolyta on their wedding night. He plays the part of moonshine, which is where the moon image in the logo is derived. I developed an affinity for "A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Robin Starveling when I played the role in my University's production of the play. It was a great time for me and left an impression that has carried on to today.

That play is for me magical, comical, and at the same time speaks to universal truths of humanity and love. That is probably why I am so fond of it, and are characteristics that I hope all of the projects of Starveling Productions will contain to some degree or another. The first project of Starveling Productions is "Warm Fuzzy" a short about suburban teen Josh and his best friend Fuzzy, an inanimate novelty toy. I'll blog later about the specifics, or you can check out the synopsis on the projects page of the Starveling website, but the film definitely has a whimsy and fantastical element to it reminiscent of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".