Welcome to my newest 'Followers'

To Ambrebalte, HollyShorts, and Susan Boughton, I welcome you to my Film Courage Blog! Thank you for your interest and support. May our lives be enriched in this process. I always welcome your commentary and/or feedback.

If you are not yet a 'Follower' and would like to be one, you can find the sign in area by scrolling down just a bit. You will see the space in the right hand column.

Jamin Winans INK set to Open in Denver 3/13/09

For those of you who 'Follow' this blog, you are aware of Jamin Winans INK. If you are new allow me to recap by saying that INK is a must see film. Here is the full review I wrote not too long ago, http://filmcourage.blogspot.com/2009/02/jamin-winans-ink-is-one-of-most.html

This magnificent film is now poised to open in two days in Denver, CO. My encouragement to anyone reading this who is going to be anywhere near Denver from 3/13/09 to 3/27/09 is you have to get out and see this film in the theater. It will be well worth your time. This film is building positive reviews across the board and is destined to gather a huge cult following.

INK premieres in Denver, CO this Friday, March 13th at the Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli and will play through March 27th.

For further ticket info, please visit http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=22444

For more on INK you can visit the official site, http://www.doubleedgefilms.com/

If for various reasons you cannot see this film during it's premiere run, yet are still interested in seeing this film, you can join the mailing list from the Official Site above and/or sign up as a Fan on INK's brand new Facebook Fan Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ink/55404284537 That way you can stay up to date on when it becomes available in your area.

And just for good measure, here is the latest trailer if you have not seen it.

My short film "Shoot-Out" now available in it's entirety

At the persuasion of close friend Brian Erzen, I have decided to release the full version of my short film Shoot-Out online.

This film represents a lot to me. It is my first scripted effort. Every film I did before Shoot-Out didn't have an exact script. They were outlined improv pieces. And other than Night Before the Wedding, this is the only other film that we had a production budget for. It's also my first film to be accepted into a Film Festival and win an award. All told it was accepted into over 20 International Film Festivals.

The film stars Tyshawn Bryant and Daniel Sol. These guys put a lot of work in with me making this film. I don't know how many days it was, but there was quite a bit of rehearsal for this little short film. Including at least two days of choreographing parts of the basketball action. Not to mention that the filming of this short took place during extremely hot days in July and August in Porter Ranch, CA which has it's share of brush fires.

Allow me once again to thank my extraordinary crew on this one, Ivan Vatez Rodriguez the Cinematographer. Andy Brennan the 1st AD for holding things together. Jesse Pinder for Production Sound Mixer and Boom Mic Operator. Key Make-Up Artist, Keith Beck. Editor and Sound Designer Damon Stout. Kevin Deen for doing everything from Stand-In, to Second Boom to Key Production Assistant. Mike Gin, Production Assistant. Karen Worden our Still Photographer and Script Supervisor. To Michael Shaun Sandy my Creative Basketball Consultant. And additionally behind the scenes to Janna Magnusson our Graphic Designer, Alex Schwartz our Foley Recording Artist, Jean-Pierre LeFlore After Effects Artist and Andy Ta our DVD Author.

With that, here it is for your viewing pleasure. I am not sure how much promotion I will do. Hoping this can find an audience with it's own legs, but just in case, would be great to have you pass it on to anyone you would like.

Challenging Times

Though things seem to be reaching a pinnacle with me finally completing my film (it's 99% done), under the surface that is certainly not the case.

Simply said, life has not been kind. It has been unrelenting. Days like these make it hard to dig down deep and find the courage to stay on the golden path. I know I am not the only one suffering right now, so I am doing my best to keep my chin up high. I am am turning to my inner resolve to keep putting one foot in front of me.

Truth be told, I have been in a rut. I have that awareness. I am working hard to change it, and it doesn't change. Life can be stubborn. Of course I can be quite stubborn myself. My aim is to break through this plateau I find myself in. Ideally to one that improves my life.

A source of strength to me as I write this blog is a passage that a close friend shared with me not too long ago. I am unaware of who the author is, yet I want to pass it on to you. May it be a source of strength for you.

FILMMAKERS

Filmmakers are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth.
They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime.
Every day, filmmakers face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get "real" jobs, and their own fear that they'll never work again.
Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream.
With every film, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment.
With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg.

But they stay true to their dream, in spite of the sacrifices. Why?

Because Filmmakers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul.
Filmmakers are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart.
In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be.
And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.

CineCore, A Pitch Worth Supporting

This came my way via an email from an industry contact. Josh Ritcher has spent the past 5 years pushing CineCore into reality. Rather than me explaining it, I encourage you to click on this link and support the project yourself.

http://www.startupnation.com/elevator-pitch-2009/contestant/5063/index.php

My Twitter Life...

My life on Twitter has now begun.


For those of you who prefer bite-size headlines to digest rather than entire blogs, you can now follow me at http://twitter.com/davidbranin

Going to experiment with it for a little while before I get used to it. Will figure out ways to share useful and pertinent information with you.

My First Feature Film Completed!

I've reached the turning point in my film career. When I began this blog back in December I was at the crossroads. Now with mainly polish left on my first feature, Night Before the Wedding, I have reached a new turning point in my life. My ultimate aim is to reach a 'Tipping Point' but to better understand that you would have to read the phenomenal book by Malcolm Gladwell.

For the moment I am going to celebrate this special achievement in my life. This has been the most consuming endeavor I have ever taken on. It blows my mind to think about all the work that has already been put in and even more so how much work is to come.

See what I mean, it is hard for me to take a breath and celebrate this moment. My mind is already drifting ahead. There are several blogs I haven't even typed up yet.

Well, maybe you can help me? If you are reading this blog and you want to help me enjoy this moment, please take a few seconds and offer your words of encouragement and celebration. As part of my celebration I offer up this unreleased photo from the set of Night Before the Wedding.