Review:

Always interesting to note who is taking a look at One Came Home. Here's a nice review from Dominican Life. Yep, Dominican Life. They've been reviewing films for quite some time. Anyway, here ya go: www.domlife.org/moviereviews/2010/one_came_home.htm

Mississippi and More

It's been awhile since we last spoke, eh? Things have been moving quickly. Obviously, the Malco Studio on the Square showing was a success, with One Came Home being held over two additional weeks. From what we have been told by folks at Malco, One Came Home actually beat Iron Man II in ticket sales for several showings. Malco Theaters has approached us about taking the film into five Mississippi cities in the upcoming months: Tupelo; Corinth; Jackson; Oxford, and Southaven. If you have friends in those cities, let them know to be on the lookout. When we have more information (we hope to know more specifics in the next two weeks) we will post it everywhere. We're also confident that we will be able to extend showings into a wider range throughout the South after our Mississippi run. Rest assured that we continue to pursue national and international distribution, as well as TV rights. These things operate on their own schedules.

Two final notes:

We are trying to push additional DVD sales, of course, so keep the address handy - www.onecamehome.com. Pretty simple process to order the DVD. For Memphis folks, the DVD is still available at Burke's Book Store on Cooper.

The Bearden/Tankersley team is well into their next production script. It's a contemporary comedy and we know it's going to be a blast to produce.

On Location Festival

It's an honor to have One Came Home chosen as the closing film for the On Location Festival in Memphis, formerly known as Memphis International Film Festival. Our film will be shown Sunday, April 25th at Malco Ridgeway. We will try to keep you posted as to the specifics of tickets for both the festival and other public premieres and showings.

We hope to announce additional public premieres within the next week, and we encourage you to let EVERYONE know about the showings as you hear about them. We want and need as large an audience as possible for these showings. First: Our talented cast and crew did outstanding work, from incredible acting performances to flawless technical expertise, and they deserve to be recognized by as many people as possible. Second: We need as large a following as possible to prove that locally written and produced movies can compete with other cities when it comes to quality stories and productions. Third: We need revenue so our "team" can continue to produce quality films with Memphis writers, Memphis crew, Memphis cast, and Memphis support.

End of the tunnel and all that

Over the past couple of weeks One Came Home has been edited into a version which can be viewed by distribution company representatives and others who will assist us as we take the movie to market. The comments have been extremely encouraging, to say the very least, and we have only a few minor tweaks to take care of at this point. The final color correction has to be done, the audio mix has be completed, the full orchestral score has to be melded into the film and a few other minor points have to be accomplished for the "finished" version - the version that can be presented to the public - to be fully realized. It has been a long race, and we are very close to the finish line.

As we begin these final processes, we also begin to look forward to our next project. At the outset of One Came Home, we tried to make it clear that this film would be the first of many projects for Bearden/Tankersley and our Memphis group of talented crew and cast. Our confidence has not waned. We are determined to produce films that have strong stories, real characters and production quality that ranks with any city, anywhere. But, One Came Home has to be shown. And we have to prove that our business model is indeed a business model that has a solid foundation. We hope and trust that over the next few months, cast and crew, friends and family will be there for us to help promote the film, to view the film in theaters, to purchase the DVD when it becomes available and to share in our celebration.

Now, we move forward

The film will be completely edited as of this Friday. It currently stands just a tad under 2 hours, so it will have to be cut only slightly to about 1:55 or so. And, we are happy to report that no one has "ended up on the cutting room floor". Some scenes may be a bit shorter than the original footage, but that's the business, isn't it? I can promise you that none of the scenes have been neutered. Their power remains. Once the final editing is done, we will begin to place the edited "screener" version in the hands of those who can help us get the movie onto the screens, if they like what they see. We are confident that they will. And then we begin the finishing touches on score, color correction and the other finer points. As we move into this marketing stage, we have our work cut out for us. As soon as plans begin to solidify we will let you know what's going on. If you haven't seen the trailer, we encourage you to do so, and we encourage you to send it to your friends. The more buzz we have, the more friends we gain, the greater the likelihood that the film will gain important momentum into the marketing phase. Please keep your friends informed about the movie. Encourage them to become Facebook fans.

The trailer and portions of the film have been shown to a host of folks, from writers to film commissioners to other filmmakers. The feedback has been outstanding. Again, thanks for everything you have done and are doing to help make this film a success.

Back On-Line

It's been awhile since we last posted, and for that we apologize. Have been busy building the trailer and beginning marketing plans for the film.

To keep you posted: As most of you know the trailer is now available both on our Facebook site and on youtube. If, for some weird reason, you haven't watched it, please do so. We have gotten nice reviews from our friends and families (which, we expected, thank you very much) and from more neutral and objective sources. In short, people have been pretty amazed at it. Of course, credit goes to the stellar acting, the incredible behind-the-scenes talent of crew, and the editing done by Willy and his daughter Savannah. The trailer has been sent to some national distribution folks and will continue to be promoted. We are within about one week of having the real edited version of the film - a screener version for us and for other interested parties. There are still finishing touches that have to be completed before the film is ready for theatrical release. We hope that within the next several weeks, interested cast and crew will have an opportunity to look at the complete film, and we plan to show it twice so everyone has a chance to see it. We will keep you posted as to the times and dates.

Now that we have overcome writer's block, expect to see more postings as we move closer and closer to premiere.

Young Friends/Bookends

From day one, the One Came Home set was filled with young people. While I like to think that Willy and I have our own youthful approaches to our art, I am very attentive to my Social Security earnings. It was heartening to see so many young folks there, throwing themselves into the fray of filmmaking, many with limited experience but a sincere desire to help in any way they could. All with a desire to learn. Some were college students, some had just graduated, some had an interest in all-things creative, and others were there just wanting to help.

While One Came Home was never conceived as a non-profit endeavor, we knew that we were going to have to count on some unpaid, and even more underpaid, people to help us out if we were going to get One Came Home completed within our limited budget and pay back investors and make money enough money to send us into another film project. Not counting those who lent cars, provided locations, and offered us props and more, there was a slew of young people who served as volunteers or very close to it. They were valuable additions. Let me mention a few here:

Mallory McGhee: From the first day on the set, at the very first scene, Mallory stepped up and took on a very important role - script supervisor. We had overlooked this crucial role in our planning, and in so many ways I am glad we did make this mistake. Had we "hired" someone, we would never have had the chance to meet this young U of M student. Mallory was rarely absent from the set, and when she was, she was missed. And, from her comments, she missed the set. "Oh, I have to work. I would so much rather be here." But those days were rare, thank goodness. Mallory was focused and she was thorough. After the final day, Mallory provided Willy a complete breakdown of the scenes and the shooting sequences, complete with notes and comments. They would be extremely valuable as he began to edit. What a treasure we had in Mallory.

Matt Bearden: The first day on the set offered me my first real introduction to Matt. I had only met him once to take a picture of him and Willy for a publication I worked with several years ago. But, through his occasional visits to his dad's studio and the days on the set, I came to discover that Matt was another one of those quiet, multi-talented folks in the world who simply make their own paths. Already a fine songwriter with a unique voice, Matt impressed me with his down to earth kindness, quiet, and dry wit. Seems like there's something in the gene pool there.

Ryan Howell: I have known Ryan's dad for over thirty years, and I had only met Ryan once some fifteen or so years ago. He was just a kid. He's grown up now, and came to OCH with a college degree and limited experience, but with a desire to learn and with all the intelligence and wry outlook that I know from his father. I watched Ryan as he was punished on the first day by the heat. Even Ryan admitted to me that after that first day, he had no idea that filmmaking was such a physical job. I knew what he was talking about; I'd had such jobs in my younger days. But, he stuck with it. I'm not sure I would have done the same. And he watched. And he learned. His confidence grew daily.

Alex Smythe: I didn't have the chance to get to know Alex as well as some of the other young folks on the set, but what I did see of him impressed me. What a hard worker! The most vivid memory I have of Alex is of his crawling all over that 1935 Ford pickup truck used by Harley the Postman, making sure we got the shot and that everyone and everything was secure as we moved down that little Mississippi back road. His dedication was written all over him in sweat. Those details are never forgotten, Alex.

Joe Fragale: Where would we have been without the ever-present Joe? Maybe Rachel would have found someone to assist her. Maybe we would have found someone else to keep us smiling. Maybe we would have found someone else to be the recipient of a birthday whipping (one that I suspect he will never forget), and maybe we would have found someone else to make our final group shot on the cabin porch so memorable under moonlight on that bright sunny day. (You'll have to ask Joe about that one.) Like Mallory, like Matt, like Ryan, like Alex, Joe is destined to make a name for himself wherever he chooses to go, be it the world of film or some other path.

Incidentally: Matt, Ryan, and Joe teamed up with Alex Smythe to complete an entry film into the Lil Film Fest a week or so after we wrapped One Came Home. From what I hear, the film was an amazing little piece of work for three guys who just happened to really get to know each other about one month prior.

Bonds are developed on film sets, aren't they. And, whether they knew it then, these folks made a lasting impression on one old man who watched and witnessed their work, wit, and willingness day in and day out.

By the way, I'm saving a future blog for two of my favorite ladies of the set, Maggie Bearden and Anna Bearman, our makeup ladies.