CURRENT NEWS

12.07.05
Happy Holidays!

It has been months since my last update. I was in Long Beach, Mississippi working in one of the areas devastated by hurricane Katrina. It was an amazing and terrifying experience that I will have to tell you about over a beer some day. Needless to say I am extremely happy to be back home.

I have finished cutting Quarter To Life -- Jonathan Case will begin scoring the film in the next couple days. While he completes the score I will be editing the sound. Once Jonathan and I have wrapped up our duties I will hand the film over to Chris Smith for a final sound mix. I am hoping to have a screening of the film in late December at a Texas Filmmaker Happy Hour.

Hope you have a safe and happy holidays.

Will

8.31.05
Wesley Cash has been picked up by a company called Van Guard Entertainment for distribution in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Jeffery Cooper of Cut Entertainment acted as sales agent on the deal. Great job Jeff!

Principle photography for the short film, Quarter To Life, wrapped this Sunday. It was an aggressive three-day shoot - twenty pages and twelve locations - but we got everything we needed and I had a blast in the process. The shoot was definitely the most fun I have had in recent time. Quarter To Life is a comedy about four reckless friends who take a road trip to Mexico after it is revealed that one of the group is moving away. Our highly talented cast that included Mike Lutz, Chad Mathews, James Paul, and Matt Johnston surpassed my expectations - I can honestly say that I have never laughed more in my life. I will begin editing this weekend and hope to have a rough cut done by mid September. Keep an eye out for my production notes from the shoot, which should be posted on the site soon.

06.29.05
It’s been a while since my last update. For the past month and a half I’ve been working as an assistant editor on the feature documentary, Slam Planet, and this has taken up most of my time. I finished working this doc last week and things are now somewhat back to normal.

Chad and I are working on a short script to the feature we wrote last year, Quarter To Life. We’re hoping to shoot the short film in August and once we‘ve completed post production we’re going use the short as a tool to raise the budget for the feature.

The deal with Echelon Entertainment is still moving forward and it should be finalized sometime in late July, early August if I had to guess. The reason for the delay is because we’ll be holding a fundraiser for Cowboy Smoke at the end of July and will be using the Wesley Cash DVD to aid in the fund raising. Once we’ve signed the rights to Wesley Cash over to Echelon then we will no longer be able to do this. Echelon has also provided us with a letter of intent to distribute Cowboy Smoke. What this means is that once we have finished Cowboy Smoke, Echelon Entertainment would like to distribute the film. What this doesn’t mean is that Bandwagon Films is in any way obligated to sell Cowboy Smoke to Echelon Entertainment one it’s completed. Bandwagon Films will have the opportunity to sell Cowboy Smoke to the highest bidder.

05.18.05
I had a meeting this past Thursday while I was in Los Angeles with Amanda Filla. She works in acquisitions for a distribution company called Echelon Entertainment. They made an offer to distribute Wesley Cash last week and it is the first offer that we’ve felt good about. I wanted to meet, more or less, so that I could get feel for the company rather than to discuss the terms of the offer. I left the meeting with a sense that Echelon Entertainment could and would get Wesley Cash out there - in front of an audience, if given the chance. They have contacts in all 147 distribution markets and visit fifteen film markets a year. They also have a proven track record when it comes to distributing ultra low-budget films like Wesley Cash. Now it is a matter of negotiating the terms of the contract.

The Texas Filmmaker Happy Hour will take place this Friday at Fire House Lounge and we are excited about the short films that will be screened. They are as follows:

**** TANK 47 ****
Written and directed by Steve Mims
TANK 47 had its premier at the LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL in September of 2004. Steve Mims is the man behind the popular Austin Film Works workshops and founder of The Nudge Film Festival. Mims' class is top-flight and has been the breeding ground for a host of local filmmakers and productions,from Robert Rodriguez to Richard Linklater and beyond. A film lecturer for six years in academia, (four at the University of Texas at Austin) Steve writes and directs his own films and works commercially as a writer, director and producer. His first feature film, THE PERFECT SPECIMEN, premiered in March 1999 at the SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FILM FESTIVAL and made its national television debut in 2001 on SHOWTIME. He’s produced and directed music videos for artists including Stephen Bruton, Billy Joe Shaver, Webb Wilder, The Naughty Ones, Los Straitjackets, and Pat McLaughlin. His videos have aired on MTV, CMT, TNN, M2, MORE MUSIC, and CMT EUROPE.

**** PATRICK MALLARD ****
Written and directed by Benjamin Hayes
13-year old Patrick Mallard meets and falls in love for the first time--with an older girl. Despite physical injury, conflicting advice from the adults in his life, Patrick decides to win her over with a sonnet. Easier said than done, Patrick discovers love is never simple--especially in junior high, when anything can happen. Benjamin Hayes is a native Texan and adopted Austinite. He began making short films under the tutelage of Steve Mims at Austin Filmworks in 2001. Thanks to his excellent education, he now spends most of him time and money working on projects. Although he will be leaving Austin to attend Florida State's graduate film program, he plans to come return to Austin. "Patrick Mallard" is his second directorial project.

**** SUPER FAN ****
Written and directed by Will Moore
Two grown men argue over whose alma mater is better at girls volleyball while on a road trip to this years big match. Will Moore is the founder of Bandwagon Films and a former student of Steve Mims. Super Fan is a short that was written in six hours, shot in six hours - with no equipment other than a miniDV camera, and edited over three days. It was an exercise in filmmaking and proof to Mims claim that, “One need only information, advice and experience to take advantage of the film and video possibilities.”

I hope to see you on Friday!

5.03.05
For the Texas Filmmaker Happy Hour we will be screening: PATRICK MALLARD directed by Benjamin Hayes, TANK 47 directed by Steve Mims, and SUPER FAN directed by yours truly. The party will be held at the Fire House Lounge on May 20th from 5:30 til whenever. I am going to be sending out invites, more or less as reminders, so if you don’t receive one and would like to come, don’t panic. The party is open to anyone and everyone.

On another note, I have been talking with Echelon Entertainment in regards to a distribution deal for Wesley Cash. They are supposed to be emailing me a contract to look over in the next couple days. More to come.

4.26.05
I’ve been working on putting the party together and researching for The Cowboy mostly. I spoke with Mont last night and got Rod’s phone number,email, and address. Rod is the president of FTSN and I’ll be emailing him today to find out what the deal is with the money we invested in them. They have not performed and we would like to work on moving away from our partnership with them. I sent off three more copies of Wesley Cash. I need to increase my efforts as far as researching distribution companies. There are going to be changes made on the website in the upcoming days so keep an eye out.

4.18.05
Dropped off WC and BB at the Austin Film Festival office. Researched for The Cowboy by watching Unforgiven. Did research online. Maybe I’ll watch The Outlaw Josey Wales tonight… never seen it. The Cowboy, as you can tell, is a western. It’s about a young man who wants more than anything to be a cowboy. He’s seen every Western ever made and can quote every line but he‘s never riden a horse... That type of thing. Should be interesting.

4.14.05
I’ve been working on The Cowboy in my free time. I’ve been sending out submission for Wesley Cash as a result of me posting notices on various websites. I need to increase my efforts with that. Tomorrow I send out The Bail Bondsman and Wesley Cash to the Austin Film Festival.

4.7.05
I spent most of the day posting investor information on Craigs list only to have them email me to tell me that they couldn’t put it up because it “does not qualify”. That sucks. I signed up for IMDBPro and found the following info: My name is Michelle Freeman and I work at JEM Pictures. We finance quality independent films and would be interested in setting up a call to learn more about your productions.
Michelle Freeman
JEM Pictures
604-948-8680
michelle@jempictures.com
www.jempictures.com

I’m also working on a DVD release strategy for Wesley Cash. Tonight I’ll put a good two hours in THE COWBOY then I need to work on editing Super Fan. Super Fan is about two guys who are from rival schools and the trip they take to get to this years big high school volleyball match.

4.6.05
I’ve compiled a film festival roster that I will be sending Wesley Cash off to. Some of the festivals include: Austin, Telluride, Hollywood, and AFI Fest. I’ve also started working on a new script called The Cowboy. No word from Mont on the collateral. Last week I shot a short film… all on the fly, called Super Fan. It should be hilarious.

3.23.05
SXSW is over and I had a blast. Last Tuesday I checked out Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle. Set in Canton, China in the 1940s, the story revolves around a hapless wannabe gangster who aspires to become a member of the notorious "Axe Gang." Other characters include an obnoxious landlady and her apparently frail husband who exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf. The movie is hilarious and I recommend checking it out if you have a chance. I believe you can rent it at Pedazo Chunk. Thursday night Bandwagon Films threw a party at The Firehouse Lounge where we screened Wesley Cash. We had a great turn out, Elijah even showed up. We partied for about an hour and then showed the film. Afterwards Elijah came up to me and said he could not believe how accomplished the editing was and that he was amazed at what we had done with such a low budget. This Sunday I will be traveling to Los Angeles to meet with two investors. We are supposed to discuss how we will be receiving the money for The Bail Bondsman. Most likely we will receive half up front for pre-production and production and then the rest later on for post production. I will also be meeting with a distributor who would like to take Wesley Cash to the Cannes Market during the Cannes film festival.

3.13.05
Yesterday afternoon I drove down to Austin and bought a SXSW film pass. Around six I met up with Chris Viteychuk, Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam,and Claire Forlani. Chris and I worked with Elijah on The Faculty and we have all been friends since. This was the first time for me to hang out with Charlie and Claire, both were extremely nice. We sat in the Stephen F. Austin bar for about an hour then headed over to The Alamo Draft House where Elijah’s new movie premiered. It’s a film titled Hooligans that I knew almost nothing about before we got there.

The movie is a window into a culture that exists in Europe where young men belong to firms that represent football teams (soccer to me and you). The firms are nothing more than organized gangs and the individual gangs themselves are as violent as any gang you might find in New Orleans or Detroit but the oddity here is that they do it all in the name of their favorite football team. These young men don’t join their respective gangs for protection or respect. They join because they LOVE soccer, sorry I mean football.

I was pleasantly surprised and I think one of the reasons was the violence. I like violence in a film, when it’s done well. Violence is huge part of our society and most people, including myself at times, like to ignore this fact. This is a film that not only drives my violent world point home but does so with a sledge hammer.

The acting was another high note. Elijah is wonderful as the American who gets sucked into this subculture of crazed football fans. The audience is learning about this world of football firms for the first time just as Elijah’s character Matt is and I can think of no better working actor to play this role. Elijah’s boy-next-door charm and innocence allows the audience to believe Matt would really join up with this gang, and then even cheer for him when he throws his first solid punch. Watching Charlie Hunnam as the firms ring leader was also pretty amazing. There’s a inoffensive cockiness to Charlie, on and off screen, that just makes you like him. If you can remember Charlie in Cold Mountain as the crazy albino kid that kills Jude Law you‘ll know what I‘m talking about.

After the screening we headed over to the wrap party at Maggie Mae’s and drank the place dry. Around 2:15, when all the bars were closing I helped Chris herd our group to a bar that was going to stay open an extra hour for us. Once I had gotten everyone there I called it a night and head home to see my beautiful wife. Good times, good night.

3.12.05
I’m back from my honeymoon and It’s time to get back to work on the Bail Bondsman. Before I left David Roma told me to call him when I returned in order to schedule a conference call with him and Drena. I’m also supposed to give Mont a call in regards to setting up a sit down meeting with two potential investors. I need to call Ernie and give him an update and I believe SXSW is this week. I spoke with Elijah (Wood) during my wedding and he wants to hook up while he’s in town for the festival. More to come.

2.28.05
I realized earlier this afternoon that it was two years ago this month that I decided I would sell my car to make Wesley Cash. It was late 2002 when I set out on making a feature film during the summer of 2003 come hell or high water. Nothing was going to stop me. I worked two jobs for the latter part of 2002 but by January I still did not have near enough money. In January 2003 I made my last payment on my 2000 Ford Explorer. I remember how proud I felt, that had bought and paid off a new car. A few days later, while I was brainstorming on HOW I was going to pay for Wesley Cash, it hit me… I could sell my Explorer. I slept on the idea for about a month and always came to the same conclusion, I could not sell my car to make a movie. Then one day I was talking with my beautiful fiancé (we get married this Saturday) and she told me that I should do it. She said that making Wesley Cash, and taking that next step, was much more important than owning a car. Thank you Alyssa. She made me believe and a week later, to my parents dismay, I had sold my shiny black SUV. After selling my car I still did not have ALL of the needed funds to make Wesley Cash but I had definitely crossed the point of no return. I thought of that story this afternoon and I was inspired.
I will get The Bail Bondsman made THIS YEAR come hell or high water.
Nothing is going to stop me.
I will use every resource I have and that includes FTSN.
My dad always told me that the film industry is no place for people
without patience. Well, I’m trying dad.

2.25.02
Fagan and I have a conference call with David Roma and Drena De Niro next week and our hope is that they will want to increase their level of involvement in The Bail Bondsman. They have a New York based production company and are well connected within the industry. With that said, it looks like production on The Bail Bondsman has been stalled. Our investor has dropped out and the only explanation our partners at FTSN can give us is that the investor had “personal issues”. This was upsetting to us, however, indicative of our relationship with FTSN. They have promised time and time again but never delivered. So, we have actively begun seeking other investment/funding opportunities, without the help of FTSN. Now that
the project has name actors committed to it and everything is in place with the exception of the funding, we feel at this stage that an astute investor can analyze and see the potential of the total package. This will no doubt stall our start date but we feel at this point to move forward with FTSN will just be a further waste of time and resources. For investment opportunities please contact will at will@bandwagonfilms.com.

2.4.05
The trip to Los Angeles was a success. While there we meet with Ernie, the investors, the product placement people, David Roma (Drena De Niro’s partner), Ernie again and Corin Nemec. You might remember Corin from Parker Lewis Can’t Loose, a Ferris Buelleresque TV show that was on FOX in the early 90s. Corin played Parker Lewis. A television veteran, Corin’s also starred in Stephen King's The Stand and Webster as well as the Emmy award winning I Know My First Name Is Steven. David Roma works with Drena on a producing level and has produced a number of reality TV shows including Monster Garage. When we met with David we told him about the Wesley Cash screening that was going to be held the following night, not really thinking he would show up. That next evening, about twenty minutes before the screening was to start, I was outside eating a plate of chicken when up walks David. After the screening he was genuinely impressed and told me that he was on board and would help in any way he could to make the Bail Bondsman a success. Yesterday I spoke with Drena for the first time and after we talked for twenty minutes I ran down to the post office and mailed her a script. She seemed very excited about the project and said that David had nothing but good things to say about me. On Saturday we are supposed to find out how soon we will be getting our money. I hope soon because I’d like to start shooting on March 28th. That’s just the date I set for myself. More to come.

1.14.05
There will be a distributors screening of Wesley Cash at Culver Studios in Los Angeles on Wednesday January 26 at 7pm. For those interested in attending please email me for more information. 2005 has started off good. I talked with Ernie yesterday for the first time and he seems to be extremely excited about the script as well as the character we wrote for him. Ernie will be playing the lead role as the Bail Bondsman. Mont at FTSN suggested that we try and sign Drena De Niro to play the lead female role. Drena is currently partnered with Mont on a TV show that the two are producing together. She has been in a number of films, including several with her father, Robert De Niro. Word.

1.10.05
I’m back in Texas. I had to go to New York to pick up a vehicle. If we’re ever having drinks ask me about the story if you want a good laugh.

I’m very excited about the upcoming months. We are moving into full swing pre-production this month and the Bail Bondsman has been posted on the Texas Film Commission website. If you have not noticed we’ve got a new website, great job Chris. Over the next week Scott, Fagan and I will be working on tightening the budget, locking down the shooting dates, sending the script out to actors, and location scouting. More to come!

1.3.05
Another year gone, let’s take a look at what was accomplished. In January I moved to Los Angeles with plans of staying there for only six months. This would be long enough for me to finish editing Wesley Cash as well as for me to raise the budget for The Bail Bondsman. During the months of January and February Chad Mathews and I wrote a script called Quarter to Life. In May two things happened; first I took on a partner, Fagan Patterson, who would put money behind the company. Secondly I signed a contract with the Film Trade Show Network to raise the money for The Bail Bondsman and to sell Wesley Cash once it was completed. In late May I traveled back to Texas and assembled our cast and crew for three days of re-shoots. In July the first cut of the film was finished and we held a screening at the American Film Institute. Immediately after the screening we received three offers for distribution and we quickly narrowed the field down to one, a company called Power Point Films. In July, after seven months, I moved back to Texas and begin re-writing The Bail Bondsman with Jonathan Case. By September we had a solid draft, which was sent off to Ernie Reyes Jr. who starred in the Rundown. Ernie liked the script and I was faxed a letter of intent for him to act in the lead role as The Bail Bondsman. In late September, at Power Point Films request, I began re-editing Wesley Cash. In December Wesley Cash was screened 19 times in Austin and Victoria, TX. Next month there will be one last distributors screening in Los Angeles for Wesley Cash. Hopefully by the first week of February we will have half if not all of our money for The Bail Bondsman. At that point we will begin Pre-production, which will last 6-8 weeks. This will be followed by 5 weeks of filming and then 16 weeks of post-production.

The following are eight goals for 2005.
1) Finalize the distribution deal for Wesley Cash.
2) Finish production on The Bail Bondsman.
3) Find a distributor for The Bail Bondsman.
4) Open an office in Austin.
5) Begin Fundraising for the next project.
6) Finish writing The Greatest.
7) Re-write Quarter to Life.
8) Write Wesley Cash II.

Newest Members of the Bandwagon Films Team for 2004 include:
Fagan Patterson – Executive Producer
Scott Peace – Line Producer
Chris Lambright – Advertising and Marketing

Here’s to 2005!
Will Moore