Wednesday, July 28, 2010

MINIATURES AND DIGITAL FUN!




It looks like we are delaying the release of The Last Eagle Scout, but not for too long. Things have been crazy and with a few recent showings of the film to closed groups, we have found some changes we would like to make.

With that in mind, we have to opportunity to make the film better and close any gaps we have seen. We also got into finishing some special effects that were not done yet. Clark Schaffer has been patient enough with us in his busy schedule to come finish this scale model of the Knight Building that sits in the city center of Downtown Provo.

We filmed all around the building a chase scene between Cliff and Zeke. It was pretty fun. When I see Clark work, I get a sense of all kinds of things I would want to do with effects and miniatures. I can see a "high" coming from making effect films.

The Knight building has a little significance in my life. It's where I had my office while making Handcart 8 years ago. It is where the first of my favorite sub franchise began, Gandolfos. It is also the building named after the father of my dad's old business partner, Glade Knight, who founded Southern Virginia University (ironically, the mascot of SVU is "The Knights").

It is also the home of the oldest elevator in Utah (as seen in the film). Excited to finish this film.

Kels

Saturday, May 8, 2010

"THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT" AD


Around June 1, Utah County begins the Freedom Festival, which is one of the most patriotic events you will ever see in the US. It is a series of events that happen that lead up to the 4th of July.

They have a beautiful magazine that comes out around the same time with all the events listed. I bought a full page ad to advertise The Last Eagle Scout film. I might get crap for it, don't know. I tested the ad on Facebook and besides some technical things, people overall liked it.

Getting close to done. Just finished a scene with Richard Hatch from Battlestar Galactica, which was awesome. He played a role I was saving for someone important, the scout leader during Cliff's Board of Review. Otherwise, pretty much most everything is in the can.

Friday, March 12, 2010

BODILY MANAGEMENT




Here is a new sneak peek scene from THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. I figured, since Health Care is such a debate right now, why not upload a scene from the film.

More comin'....

Monday, February 8, 2010

DIRECTOR OF TLES SURVIVES KLONDIKE!





Ok, that's not such big news, but it is for me. These are photos of actually two Klondikes we did, one a few months ago and the other just this past weekend. My troop is not very big, about 7 kids total, but their energy is enormous. (The photos in the middle are my son, Parke. Then me coming back from the Klondike, I'd had enough).

My assistant Scoutmaster, Jed, also has a great love for the scouts. He makes me look good by helping them with knots and camping, things I haven't mastered. I think much of scouting is for the adults as well.

I have done about 2 other Klondikes before this year as a leader and was a wimp. I ended up sleeping in my car both times. But I was only assistant Scoutmaster at the time. Now I felt obligated to live up to what the boys themselves go through. So on these recent Klondikes, I slept in the tent and it snowed both times in the middle of the night.

We actually camped at Camp Maple Dell, which is where we filmed all camping scenes for THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. It was weird going back to the same place but now having to lug everything around in a sled.

At this past Klondike, the boys had competitions where they did speed knot tying, guessed first aid needs, measured their scout spirit, built fires, raced snow sleds and mapped out compass courses. The council that put this on was awesome and you can tell the great spirit of scouting was alive and well.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

WHERE DOES "THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT" STAND.


I have been getting many inquiries as to where we stand in the making of this film, when it comes to the Boy Scouts and Politics. Some of it has become hate mail, which comes with the territory of making a controversial film. (Some of it is kind of fun to read). Since this is a satire film, it can be fairly blurry what statement is trying to be conveyed, especially in only watching a trailer.

But my objective in making "The Last Eagle Scout" was not to spark controversy, but maybe to start a debate, a discussion. The focus on the film is on political correctness, not the Boy Scouts. I personally love the Boy Scouts. I was never one, mostly because where I lived the leadership wasn't there. But I am a scout master now and have served on many levels in scouting for the past 12 years. Both my sons have been or are now in scouting. I believe in the scout law, motto, oath and so forth. With that in mind, I believe the scouts to be one of the last great institutions for young men.

In the film, the lead scout is pressed to his limits in a "what if" situation to see if he can handle things that go to the extreme. If anything, this film is very pro scouting and pro America. The objective is to show how we, as a country are losing the history, freedom and patriotism that has made this country great in the name of political correctness.

What I am not doing is picking on any one person, party, organization or administration. If a viewer reads into that as satirizing anyone in particular, then so be it. Political Correctness is the antagonist in this film, in the form of some shady characters. And to do that and still carry a story to make it interesting and fun is not easy. But we feel we have done our best.

I hope to have put a few things to rest on the topic. Enjoy the film when it is released.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

CLOSE TO 1000 FACEBOOK FANS -NEW VIDEO CLIP

I look forward to the day when we have 100,000 fans on Facebook and 1 million demands on Eventful.com, but until then we can at least celebrate having almost 1000 fans on Facebook, which is pretty good for not doing anything yet (gotta love viral marketing).

So just as an update, we will be posting a scene of The Last Eagle Scout on YouTube in a day or so, after we reach 1000 fans. Many other things are in the works, we are very excited. More clips are ready to be posted.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

SPEAKING AT THE LDS FILM FESTIVAL


Just a quick update, I will be speaking at the LDS Film Festival at the Scera Theater in Orem. We will be showing the trailer and possibly a clip from the film (if I feel like it). I will be talking about marketing (Will it Blend) and my current project (The Last Eagle Scout). This Friday at Noon.

Friday, January 15, 2010

WEB SITE UP!!!

The Last Eagle Scout now has an official website with more photos and videos available. Ray, my man, made this for me and it is the beginning of more things that will be added to it through time. We are now focusing on finishing the film and hoping to make the best product possible. Pass it around.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

EXPLOSIONS... FUN!



Here is some fun video of us blowing MORE things up for the film. Enjoy!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Welcome to "The Last Eagle Scout" Blog!


This is the beginning of this fine blog read by millions of readers all across the world. Ok, ok... a few of ya. Anyway, we have the new website coming up for the film "The Last Eagle Scout" which is due out in September, so we are using this blog as a means for fans to keep up to date.