THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT Premiere

In Orem, Utah, where we filmed the movie The Last Eagle Scout, we held an official premiere at the Scera Theater with cast and crew, friends and neighbors. It was a crowded house with about 400 in attendance.

I was very nervous because we had been through several different cuts of the film and mixed reviews from the previous showings we did last year. But after the final cut of the film, our audience tonight was overwhelmingly pleased at what they saw.

It was also great to see the actors and crew come after almost 4 years to the day we went into production. I could start naming names, but it wouldn't be fair to those I missed.

We started at 5:00 with a reception for cast and crew, where we had food. My awesome assistant, Dennissa, spend hours preparing sandwiches and fruit. My lovely wife, Stephanie, helped decorate the room we were in. Brian Kelly, of Shop J and L is handling our merchandising, and he was there with a table where he sold the DVD at a reduced rate as well as the shirts, hats, backpacks and the comic book. I also sell t-shirts with a logo of the previous project I produced for six years, Will It Blend.

Then, we started the film at 6:30. I introduced it and also announced a Kickstarter program I am starting to help raise money for the Scera Theater to purchase a digital projector. They are still using 35mm reels, and the big studios are basically going 100 percent digital on new releases by the end of the year.

As the film played, I paced the halls (I never sit in a showing of mine, I know I should). I talked to others who were outside. Then, I went in at the last 10 minutes so I could just jump to the microphone and take questions. Gladly, the end brought about an applause I haven't had in a while. I stood up and brought everyone to the front who worked on the film. (Or I jokingly said "anyone who would still be seen with me"). It was a large crowd of cast and crew and I was proud to have them up. Because time was short (we were being kicked out for the next showing of another film) I couldn't introduce them all. So we just opened for Q and A. People loved the half comedy/half drama feel of the film, as well as the message it presents. We worked hard to not make it a right/left argument, but just a message of political correctness craziness and a media that is out of control.

Wonderful event!

It ended, after cleanup, with Steph and I doing our traditional visit to IHOP (didn't have dinner yet).

The only thing missing were my parents. It would have been great to have them there, but I am sure they were there in spirit.

- POSTED BY KELS GOODMAN

THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT on DVD August 6.

It has been almost 4 years to the day that we started production on this film, and finally The Last Eagle Scout is now on DVD. Through the thrills (and ills) of independent cinema we finally closed the doors of this film, after having a full time job, family matters and just paying the bills can attribute to the delay.

We had a full cut done by January 2012, and then held about 3 showings. After those showings, we took advise from those who have seen the film and did a major reedit. We cut out about 10 minutes, added narration and tightened it up a bit.

Included on the DVD is the film with a directors commentary, as well as the preview and a music video from Jeremy Hoop for the song "Never Alone", which is one of three songs he provided for the film.

As far as distribution, we are just going solo. I have a website set up and a store to sell the DVDs as well as t-shirts, hats, posters, backpacks and a comic book version of the first third of the film.

There will be times throughout the year that I will do some showings and we might do a Bluray version of the film with a ton more extras. But for now... On to another film!

- POSTED BY KELS GOODMAN

It has been a long time coming (that's independent filmmaking for ya), but we are starting to have some showings for THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. As we are putting the final touches on the film, we are safe to say we are having out first screening at the LDS Film Festival this Friday at 7:00 and then a second on Saturday at noon.

These are not the official premieres, but there will probably be many of the actors there. We will also be doing some poster autographing as well selling some TLES swag. We have hats, shirts, backpacks and my favorite.... a comic book version of the film.

The website will be updated with more information as well as a place to buy these items if you can't make it to the showing. Our second showing will be at a theater at CPAC in Washington DC on Feb 10. As far as a regular theater run, hope to do that immediately after.

Will report as we know more.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Finally!

RELEASE DATE COMING SOON

FINALLY, after much post work, THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT will be released soon.  Possibly the end of January.  Will know in a week or so.  Thanks for your patience.

NEW ARTICLE ON TLES

As we get closer to release time (aiming for September 9th), we are starting to get some press and advertising will be the name of the game.

Here is an article I wrote for the Big Hollywood blog site.

The latest with THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT

Ahhh the joys of independent filmmaking...

Happy new year! I figured it is a good time to talk about where we are with THE LAST EAGLE SCOUT. Things had been moving along nicely. We made some changes and that delayed us a little bit. And I was about to do what we call in the industry as "lock picture". This means the edit looked as good as it was going to be, and I can pass the movie over to the music, audio and color masters to make the film look and sound even better.

Then, the inevitable happened... the editing hard drive crashed. Luckily we retrieved about 95 percent of the film, but lost about 5 percent of important footage. We are currently picking up the pieces, but it is getting done. The motto of "be prepared" was not being used here.

I am always a believer of things happening for a reason. This event will pass and we will have the film in theaters before you know it. It has been a long journey, 6 years in writing and 2 years in the producing. As most of you know, I also have a day job, blending crazy things with the company Blendtec producing the Internet series known as WILL IT BLEND. This has a tendency to take a lot of my time.

But with the new year, we have renewed energy to get this film out as soon as possible. I am excited to see the fans from across the seas, especially in places like Makati, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. That is amazing to me. We will play the film in as many theaters as possible and inform you when we know where and when.

We are also planning on being a little more "social media" active as we will have more to show as we get closer to the release of the film with updates and information. Soon we will have a new preview and reports on things related to the topic of the film.

Thank you all for your patience and remember... be prepared.

Kels Goodman

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

"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.

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'....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

EXPLOSIONS... FUN!

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

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.