Evolution of a Movie Poster

I think most people don’t really get to see the process and changes that go into the design and implementation of promoting an indie film.  I think that anyone who’s interested in design, promotion, and branding needs to see how different elements in the design of a poster can be effective or ineffective in the film’s image and success.

Though I’m not officially a designer, I’d like to think that I have some pretty good visual ideas, and a DIY drive that is essentially  having to  learn enough about something to get away with – what I’ve always needed to do at the time.

Believe it or not, there were five different Poster designs for PRAXIS.  So, I thought it would be interesting to show the evolution of the different posters for PRAXIS that were designed at various stages in the film’s life.

Initial film title logo:

This was one of the first things I came up with.  I think that having a strong title is the first and most important thing to think about when coming up with a concept, and since one of the themes of the film is prescription drug addiction, using a font that is similar to this was the way to go.  Having a strong title and logo can also define a specific direction for the themes represented in the film.  So, I do feel that coming up with a strong title and logo is something that filmmakers should pay really close attention to.

The first poster:

This was the first poster used to promote the film.  Initially, it was hard to tell what direction the marketing for the film was going to go.  So, my initial thoughts was to keep the design of the poster simple, and I also liked the way that Joe was directly behind Brian, foreshadowing who/what his character was in the film.  After a few months and some honest feedback, it turned out that this poster wasn’t as effective, since the blurring lines behind them made PRAXIS look like an action film.

The Second Poster:

After the first initial festival screenings and audience reactions, I decide to market the film in two different directions: one that would appeal to a gay crowd, and one that would appeal to an art-house crowd.  This poster was much more thoughtful, symbolic, and dreamlike, and was based on a painting by Rene Magritte.  By having Brian sleeping at the bottom of the poster, it implies that whatever is above him is what he’s dreaming about.  A really good visual design concept is: the juxtaposition of two very different images creates a specific correlation of those images and their meanings.   This poster also incorporates the sci-fi elements that are another theme in the film, but is designed to appeal directly to a Gay audience.

The Third Poster:

After a wonderful film festival run, this poster was designed mainly to appeal to an Art-House crowd.  It also implies the dueling personalities of the main two characters in the film, but has a cleaner and more polished look  than the previous poster design.  It was also meant to highlight the many accolades that the film achieved through it’s festival run.

The Fourth Poster:

This poster was designed as a different DVD cover design for the film, mostly to showcase the fantastic and magical realism element.  Despite the many themes represented in the film, the film is mainly about Brian’s journey to finding himself, unifying his identity, and discovering his place in the universe.  So this design implies a sort of skygazer existentialism, with a not so subtle implication that Brian could be ‘spiritual’ or ‘angelic’.

The Final Poster Design:

This was the final poster / DVD design for the release of the film that Ariztical Entertainment came up with.  They actually sent me five different versions, before eventually deciding to go with this design.  During the distribution process, I sent them as much art work with the film that I had, but was entirely open to any ideas that they had that would best market the film in the best way.  I do like that they incorporated the strongest images and elements of the film in this design, but I also think that this is the best and strongest design of all the poster ideas for PRAXIS.

It’s interesting to look at all the different poster/image design ideas that evolved during the process of making and promoting the film.  I hope that looking at this progression will help other filmmakers out there give more thought into the marketing, design, and promotion of their own films.

xo,

-al

Anything Is Possible

Okay, here it is.  Finally.  After a very  long and dirty road:  The Official DVD Image of PRAXIS for the US DVD release in January 2010 from Ariztical Entertainment.  Pretty cool, eh?

What’s really cool is that the image was created by the Publicity and Advertising department of the distributor, and not by myself.  So, it’s incredibly validating to have people working for the film to help promote it and get it out there.  I also think that they did a fantastic job.  so kudos to Ariztical.

Over the past few months, I’ve been reminded about some little tid-bits of interesting and/or funny film related stories that have happened along the way.  I figured I’d try to mention a couple of them over the next few posts:

- People only want something, if someone else picks it up first.  I was forewarned that the contract negotiations would take about four months, and they, in fact, did.  but the end result was that we came to an agreement that both sides were cool with, and the film is moving forward in the process of distribution.  after the contracts were all set, an international sales agent recently inquired about the foreign sales rights, and if they were available.  Our current distributor already has established relations with certain foreign sales companies, and that was included in the contract, simply because a few months ago, they were the only ones interested.  Only after the distro company was all set were other companies coming forward to show interest in the film (having heard that the original distributor was releasing it).  funny how that works…

- anything is possible.  this has become my new mantra.  years ago, when i first set out to make my first feature, i had no idea what a rollercoaster ride it would be.  but the end result, having gone through the entire process, anything is possible, as long as you stick to your guns and are willing to stay with your project to the bitter end.  success comes to those who are willing to work their ass off for it.

So, yeah, the film is finally getting distribution.  who knew? 

Encounters at the End of the World

Encounters at the End of the World

So the other day, I got a chance to check out the new Werner Herzog documentary, ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, about his trip to Antarctica, and his incredible underwater footage and all.  Though the documentary involves alot of different things, there was one side story that really intrigued me: it was about a strange behavior amoung adele penguins where occasionally, an individual penguin would run away from the rest of the pack, completely on its own, and run for the mountains and hills far beyond the safety of the pack,  and ultimately to its own solitary doom.  The scientists who observed this strange behavior have no idea why certain penguins do this, and they can offer no explaination.  As Werner was shooting this documentary, they also ended up filming a single solitary penguin doing just this – suddenly running away from the community, separating itself from the only world that it knew, and it made a b-line straight for the mountains way off in the distance, never to return.

I find this behavior beautiful, facinating, and really intriguing.  If we could only hear and understand what this individual penguin might be thinking or feeling.  It probably knows that it’s going to die out there on it’s own.  But for that brief moment, it’s running to pursue it’s dream, a far off place, away from everyone, somewhere its never ever been before.   For that brief moment, the penguin is truly living its life for itself, and its truly an individual, only a short time before its inevitable frozen death, on the coldest place on the planet.

I find myself sometimes feeling somewhat the same way, growing tired and bored of the mundane everyday life and an urge to do ‘something crazy’  like run away to some endless point, to experience a little bit of excitment of life, even for a brief moment in time.

Some people might say that this penguin is crazy.  I’d say that the penguin is pursuing its dream.  Some people say filmmaking is crazy.  Some might say its crazy to equate your life to a penguin.  I say it’s okay to act like a penguin that is living its life on its own, and pursuing its dreams.

PRAXIS:the state of indie film to come

On The Set of PRAXIS.

So it’s the first week of february of 2009, and for the past couple of months, PRAXIS has been in the ‘hurry up and wait’ mode, also known as the purgatory of distribution.  we are still currently waiting to hear back from a pretty major distributor about US broadcast rights, which is an awesome place to be.  but at the same time, not hearing or knowing is kind of a pain in the ass.  it’s sort of like the same state that PRAXIS was in for the six months after it was completed before it got into it’s first film festival.  not knowing can be a real drag, and it’s tough to wait and see when you want to do something proactive.  tho, fortunately, we’ve gone ahead and worked on the DVD distribution end of things, and set those wheels in motion.

i’ve finally submitted the film and all the appropriate materials to make the film available on amazon and netflix.  now it’s just going to take them some time on their end to process and post the film.  of course, there is a possibility that the film could get rejected because of some of the content of the film.  yes, censorship still exists even in this day and age.  if this happens, the film will not be available on amazon, tho their distro deal is the least benificial to indies, as in, they take the biggest cut.  anyhoo, the process has been set in motion, so the film will soon be available on DVD for sale, rent, and Direct Download.  One more thing that i’d like to get going is to make the soundtrack available for sale, and also on itunes.  I’ll prolly get that stuff going in the next week or so.  once everything is up and running, i’ll have one more plug to let know everyone that it’s up and running.  i’ll also have to re-vamp the website to reflect this too.  in a way, it’s the last really push for the film.

fortunately, i’ve recently picked up more independent and commercial work, which is great because it’s challenging me creatively, and also it the kind of work i really enjoy doing.  i hope that a portion of this work will help fund the next project.  speaking of which, it seems like the ‘next’ project is two completely different things in two completely different directions.  one is a branching out into developing a pilot for series, which is something that i’ve always wanted to do, and is a huge difference than producing feature films.  series depend more on character development, and things have to be completely open ended, while movies basically have to wrap things up by the end of it.  other than developing the series, there’s still a part of me that wants to do another feature:  the difference this time is to try to something that is even more independent than PRAXIS, and i hope to try to complete the majority of principle photography by the end of the year.  as ‘conventional’ as the series is supposed to be, this new film is supposed to fill my need to be more experimental – to take some of the elements of PRAXIS that worked, and develop them even further.  either way, i’d like to find a way to be able to produce more films and speed up the process a little bit.

so, there’s a fair bit of stuff going on, but it’s all good, and i’m looking forward to seeing how all of these new projects develop and grow.

PRAXIS @ The Outer Film Festival Re-Cap

Me and Timothy Caswell, Festival Director, Outer Film Festival Austin TX

Me and Jody Wheeler of doorQ.com at the Outer Film Festival Austin TX

PRAXIS at the Outer Film Festival Re-Cap

This past weekend, myself and producer Paul travelled from DC to Austin Texas to attend the screening of PRAXIS at the Outer Film Festival, the Gay Sci-Fi, Fatasy, Horror Film Festival.  The fest was held at the Austin Film Studios, and the clear wide open blue skies of texas seemed to invoke a sense that a UFO siting was about to happen (that, and also we were also in the flight path of the Austin/Bergstrom Airport.)

Having never been to Austin before, the town definitely had an alternative/hipster feel with the majority of the venues in downtown catering to music.  Ironically, a Gay Sci-Fi Film Festival didn’t seem so out of place here.  It definitely was a fun place to hang out, and me and paul drank too much on friday night, cause the beer was so cheap compared to DC.

Saturday was the screening of the film and it was really cool to meet up with Timothy Caswell, the festival director, as well with finally meeting Jody Wheeler of doorQ.com, along with his assistant ‘Son of Lars’.  both Timothy and Jody have been incredibly supportive of the film over the past few months, and it was really cool to finally meet them in person.  Me and Jody definitely talked for quite a while about a lot of things, and it seems like some sort of film collaboration definitely seems like it’s in the works.  We talked about DC, ’cause Jody was from there before moving to LA, and he also told me a surreal story about finding an entire jet engine lying on the beach near LAX.

The trip and overall fest was very cool.  During the Q n A i think i definitely got the most questions about the Astronomy in the film moreso than any other Q n A session so far.  Jody and Son of Lars interviewed me for the the doorQ.com vlog, which was very cool (tho, i have to say, we had to do several takes of the ‘you’re watching doorQ.com’ plug, since my tongue seemed to get very twisted saying that line for some reason.)

All and all, it was a really fun trip and fest, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s a head: to boldly go where no other gay sci-fi art experimental film has gone before.

-xoxo,

alex

xoxo,

Helpless

The lyrics to one of my most favorite songs:

Another time, time after time
You make me feel so helpless I
Never tried to change your mind
I keep it to myself it’s

Sometimes I’ve got to tell you
Is it this time I’ll tell you?
We’ve got to go to places
Somewhere I don’t mind it’s special

And now you find as time goes by
You’re left with nothing meaning much
The meaning I will have to try
To take your mind to places

I wish that I could help you
But you seem less than helpless
I always tried to tell you
Someday that it’d seem so special

Time after time what’s on your mind
You make me feel so helpless I
You never tried what’s on your mind
You make me feel so helpless I
I feel so helpless I

You’re left alone with something
And I hope for you it’s one thing
That something you and yours can
hold and hold as something special

And now you find as time goes by
You’re left with nothing meaning much
The meaning I will have to try
What’s on your mind so helpless I
I feel so helpless I

Feel so helpless I, feel so helpless I
Feel so helpless

My dinner with Matt Riddlehoover

my dinner with Matt Riddlehoover

So, the accomplished actor and filmmaker Matt Riddlehoover was recently in town to attend the screening of my good friend Steve Balderson’s feature WATCH OUT at Reel Affirmations, the Washington DC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.  Matt is the lead actor of the film, director of the feature TO A TEE,  and we were fortunate enough to have time to grab a bite to eat at the infamous Mr. Henry’s of Cap Hill.   my partner and producer Paul was able to join us, along with our other really good friend Paul, who we also call ‘shakespeare’.   needless to say, it was quite a lovely evening of good conversation, and good times.  Matt is a genuine good guy, and we talked a lot about indie film and indie gay film and what not.  we also commented about a lot of what we were seeing out there, and what was the current state of the so-called indie-gay cinema, if such a thing exists.

I’m pleased to say that both me and matt agree on one thing: Beer.  we shared a pitcher of sam adams, which is like heaven to me after a long day.  paul and shakespeare had their usual ‘Big Girl’ G and T’s.  Matt ordered the ‘shroom’ burger – not the veggie type, but a real burger with ‘shrooms’ on it, i had henry’s wings with ranch dressing (until they open a gay version of hooters, i guess henry’s will have to do), shakespeare had the chicken nachos, and paul had a club sandwich with onion rings.  what i really enjoy about henry’s is more of the ‘gay cheers’ atmosphere, and how the staff sometimes even treats you better than ‘family’.  anyhoo, beer and comfort food is always a receipe for a good times.

i think both me and matt agree that the whole state of indie film is one that has to be DIY, and steve’s docs about indie film (WAMEGO strikes back) are really great ‘text books’ for the current state of indie film.  i really think that there are a lot of things that people can learn from this doc, and also from the experiences of other filmmakers out there.  and the other really important component is having other filmmakers to sympathize and support each other, similar to the whole indie music scene.  i think for indie film to survive, you have to build your network of like minded filmmakers that are genuine and sincere, and the ones that really do mean what they say when they want to ‘help’ out.  ones that are happy to share their experiences and knowledge, and not those that treat this as ‘priviledge’ information.

fortunately, me and paul and ‘shakespeare’ are really happy that matt had a really great time while he was here in DC, and i’m really glad to hear that WATCH OUT is doing so well.  i’m really glad that we were able to meet up and i’m also glad that we were able to take matt to our local hang out.

hopefully we’ll run into each other soon.  in the meantime, we’ll stay connected on the ‘my-face-space-book-cyber-web-internetessess…’

xoxo,

-al

Gaylaxicon 2008 Re-Cap

Last night was the screening of PRAXIS at this year’s Gaylaxicon 2008 convention held here in DC, and i have to say that i had no idea what to expect.  Fortunately, i was pleasantly surprised: the film was well received for the audience that attended, and the organizers of the convention were all really cool and receptive and all and all, a very fun crowd to be around.  The Q n A session was pretty interesting, and i have to say that for the most part, i definitely got the most insightful questions about the film, more than any other screening the film has had thus far.

I think that any time you’re given the opportunity to talk about your work in front of an audience, it’s definitely really cool to be able to connect with people that you’ve never met before, and it always surprises me of what aspects from the film people either do or don’t get.  i think that’s always facinating, and i find these things a great resource for future projects and what have you.

years ago, i used to play guitar in a bunch of bands here in DC, and i think one of the things that i missed most about playing live is the immediate connection that happens between you and the audience.  the Q n A session from Gaylaxicon definitely reminded me of what this was like, and how cool that can really be.  i’m hoping to take advantage of all this positive energy, and utilize this towards all of my current projects and endeavors, and my general outlook.

So, now it’s time to get ready for the PRAXIS screening at the Outer Film Festival in Austin, TX in november, which i think will be a really fun weekend.

Thanks to all at Gaylaxicon.  We’re incredibly happy that PRAXIS was a part of this year’s convention, and we had a really wonderful and incredible time.

xoxo,

- a

PRAXIS @ GAYLAXICON 2008

Dear Friends of PRAXIS!

This Sunday, October 12th at 11:00pm, PRAXIS will have a special event screening at GAYLAXICON 2008, the annual international Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror convention for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people and their friends.  The convention last from friday October 10th thru Monday October 13th, and will be held at:

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda
7400 Wisconsin Avenue (Just above the Bethesda Metro, Red Line)
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Director Alex Pacheco and Producer Paul Yackinous will both be there to present the film at this awesome screening.

For those not in the know, PRAXIS is the award winning debut feature about life, love, and the evidence of past life on mars.   PRAXIS has been featured on NPR and made the front cover of the Washington Blade.  PRAXIS also won the DC Filmmaker Award at this year’s DC Independent Film Festival, and was a festival fave at numerous festivals across the country.

PRAXIS is also featured on the awesome site,  www.doorq.com  and will also be screened at this year’s Outer Film Festival in Austin TX on November 8th.  (http://www.outerfilmfest.com/)

for info on attending the PRAXIS @ GAYLAXICON screening and/or convention, please visit:

http://www.gaylaxicon2008.org

for info about PRAXIS, trailers and what not:
www.damagedfilms.com/praxis
www.myspace.com/praxis2007

Thanks so much for all the support for the film, and we hope to see you on sunday!

xoxo,
-alex
damaged films llc
DICHROIC [MPR]

Dogtown and Z-Boyz Quote

Loneliness, insecurity, and constant self-doubt are always in play, banging  on the inside of my head.  I’ve learned they are just part of the process, very similar to sneezing.

Listen more than you talk.  Read many books.  Stay in touch with nature by doing something active with nature.

Years ago I realized I would never be allowed in the front door.  So my philosophy became: I will make my dream happen knowing
I have to gain entry some other way – usually the back way, through the alley, the basement, over the fence – all the places no one is looking.

When I started Powell-Peralta, That was the first time I was able to do things the way that I wanted.  Since then, I have always made my living doing what I want to do.

- Stacy Peralta, Director of Dogtown and Z-boys