Potential Actors List

Louis - James Frecheville

Trevin - Thomas Mann

Blake - Evan Breen

Al - Affion Crockett

Vic Perillo

There's a disconnect between cast and crew. It's important to work as a team because it is a team telling a story not a hundred separate roles. You can't demand things because people need time to accomplish tasks. There has to be a connectivity between director and actors. The goal is to make it an amazing experience for everybody. When pitching a script if you have a whole team behind that script ready to shoot it the chances of it being accepted is higher. Don't allow "veterans" in the business to tell you about people and how to work with them because you don't want bias. What message do I want the audience to leave with? Stop with the shot by shot bullshit and focus on the full story. Put yourself in the mindset of the audience. We don't want to watch it to think about how technical it is they want to be encaptured by the story. Why make movies if they aren't meaningful to you? The problem with the industry is that it is a power struggle. Take actor input because sometimes they have really good insights. Keep going back to the script. We've ruined the casting system. It's electronic and too technical. We need to go back to having the person in the room with the director. The director has to cast the part because he has to use them to execute his artistic vision. Workshop your script to get more out of filming time. He has a dream to eliminate resumes and photographs because those can't act, people can.

Von Stroheim Treatment

    Open on a vast desert, there is nothing on the horizon but as we scan we see two men fighting but the fight seems very scripted and poorly acted out. Off camera a man begins to yell and as he steps into frame we see a tall and limber man, Von Stroheim. He approaches the actors and pushes one out of the way and puts himself nose-to-nose with the other actor. “Fight dammit! You need to actually fight. Hate one another the way you hate me!”

Both men cower in fear. Stroheim turns around and leans into the other man. “Do you hate me? Of course you hate me, but you are too coward to show it.” He storms back off camera.

“Again from the top!”

The men begin fighting again as the camera’s roll and we see a sly smile rise on Stroheim’s face. You can see the pride in his eyes.

As a younger man we see Erich Von Stroheim arriving on Ellis Island and signing his name for the first time as Von Stroheim. It is interlaced with narration from the interviews conducted with those who knew or adore Von Stroheim.

Erich’s next big step is when he began to work with D.W. Griffith and this is the moment his vision began. We see an image of D.W. Griffith directing his film and it fades into Stroheim directing on the set of Greed again as he repeats the same direction that Griffith was using.

We look into the eyes of the actors on the set of Greed as they attempt to follow his direction and we fade into the image of a younger Stroheim who is struggling through acting out a scene on one of his earlier projects and he is getting mad at himself while the crew attempts to calm him down and explain that they can shoot it again but he continually is telling them that he can’t fail at acting because this is a Stroheim production.

Stroheim continues to act but after Queen Kelly he begins to get blackballed. This time in his life is intercut with the time on the set of Greed when Von Stroheim kills the burro. It is very symbolic of the death of his career.

Erich leaves his wife for his lover and on the set of Greed we see him leave the set for a moment of alone time. While he is there he talks to himself, “You are a Von Stroheim. This production must be perfect and it will be as long as these damn actors follow my perfect instruction.”

As the scene from Greed plays out we cut to Sunset Boulevard as Erich and Gloria Swanson overcome their former problems. The director on Sunset Boulevard calls for a wrap and it transitions into Von Stroheim calling for a wrap on Greed.

Dan Whalen

While I was not in attendance for this guest speaker I have reviewed notes of a couple classmates and here is what I believe I missed:

A location manager is the first on the set and the last to leave both for the purpose of production and location.

The location manager is responsible for not only finding the places to shoot but dressing a scene if needed to fit a description and is responsible for obtaining any permits needed so that the shoot is legal.

Utah is a great state for filmmakers who are new or independent because it is not unionized. However, without the union you can be fired without cause at any time.

Your job as a location manager is ultimately to understand the vision of the producer and director. Without that your locations won't match what they want and they will go another way.

Dan has built a database of photos of locations he has worked so that he can direct potential shoots to his portfolio for easy access to sites that are known to work.

The overall conclusion is that a location manager is responsible for the locations and the permits needed to shoot their. He works closely with producers and directors to create a vision. And without a location manager filming to fit a vision would be nearly impossible.

Scene Sample

This scene is the beginning to plot point two. This leads up to Blake changing his life around, Trevin developing the app, Louis trying to help Blake and Al get their life's in order and ultimately the disappearance of Al.

 INT. LOUIS' HOUSE - NIGHT

          A well developed and raging party is taking place, all ages
          and class of people are in attendance. LOUIS stands in shock
          and looks worried. He grabs a blunt that is passed in front
          of his face and takes a long drag when reality strikes hard.
 
                              LOUIS
                    WHAT THE HELL??!?!?!? This doesn't
                    seem like a solution Al! This is a
                    problem.

                              AL
                    Loosen up, Lou. Gimme two seconds
                    and I'll give you three reasons
                    that this is working.

          AL walks away and comes back fairly quickly while LOUIS
          continues to panic inside and out. AL returns with an
          attractive blonde that can't be any older then 22 and Blake.

                              AL
                    Louis, I present to you reason 1,2
                    and... 3.

          On each number AL points, 1 - to the left breast of the
          blonde, 2 - to the right breast of the blonde, 3 - he points
          to Blake who pulls a large stack of cash out from his hoodie
          pocket.

                              LOUIS
                    But. But. But, how?

                              BLAKE
                    Cover fees, booze money, and drug
                    and paraphernalia pitch ins. Trevin
                    is did the math he estimates we can
                    pay off the next three months of
                    your mortgage by tonight's profits
                    alone.

                              LOUIS
                    Wait really?

                              TREVIN(Walking into the conversation) 

                    Really Uncle Lou. High Schoolers use 

                    their parents money and don't know the

                    value of anything. Al's street friends 

                    provided the drugs and some of the booze.

                    And then we have at least 50 strangers in 

                    here.

 
                              LOUIS
                    Alright then.. Let's fucking
                    party!!!

          The entire CROWD cheers!

                              LOUIS
                    Wait. That dude is shooting heroine
                    on my couch... No!

          BLAKE places his hand on Louis' chest.

                              BLAKE
                    And he paid 300 bucks to be able to
                    do it somewhere that his wife won't
                    see him. So I suggest we leave the
                    nice businessman alone.

          EXT. LOUIS' BACKYARD - MORNING

          LOUIS, AL, BLAKE and TREVIN sit in the back yard passing
          around a joint.

                              LOUIS
                    Look guys, this may be the drugs
                    and alcohol talking but thanks. I
                    dunno how I would have gotten
                    through the next few months without
                    you guys. You're like my real
                    family.

                              TREVIN
                    Don't say that quite yet... I
                    forgot to calculate in clean up
                    cost. This may only get you through
                    the next month. So either you and
                    Al need jobs or we gotta through
                    one of these monthly or better yet
                    weekly.

                              LOUIS
                    Oh no. I'm gonna be sick.
 
          LOUIS turns and pukes onto the grass.

                              LOUIS
                    Did you say monthly? I can't handle
                    this once what makes you think I
                    can handle this monthly?

                              BLAKE
                    Tolerance. That's why I can smoke a
                    lot of weed now.

                              LOUIS
                    This isn't weed you moron! This is
                    my life. I know that you are so
                    delusioned in your forever high
                    school world that you can't see
                    what it's like to get a job or pay
                    a mortgage or get a divorce but I'm
                    going to tell you right now that
                    you wouldn't last a day. Sure you
                    could sell weed and be able to live
                    in a van eating Spaghetti rings out
                    of a can for a few years but the
                    truth is that no one wants a loser
                    like that in their lives. Trevin
                    will grow out of this phase but
                    what are you gonna do?

                              TREVIN
                    Woah asshole. That's uncalled for.
                    Blake is working his way back up in
                    life.

                              LOUIS
                    Sorry. Sorry. Sorry Blake. I'm just
                    kinda on edge. Blake? Where'd he
                    go?

          The guys all look around but can't find BLAKE.
 
                              AL
                    Well shit. We better find him
                    before he goes and does something
                    stupid.

          They all split up looking around the yard and house.

Character Outlines

Because I do not want to post my entire script online, I will layout my characters and their attributes and how they play into the story.

LOUIS aka UNCLE LOU

Louis is the main character and his quest to be accepted drives the story. He is in his mid 30's and is of very average build(Much like a Steve Carrel type). We first meet Louis as he awakes to an empty bed for the first time the morning after his wife left him. He seems hopeless. At work he doesn't perform well and his co-workers don't respect him. After he is fired for being unable to perform at a desired level he begins his journey of acceptance where he meets BLAKE, TREVIN, and AL. With the help of the group he learns to overcome his fears and is faced with adversity like he never expected in his life as he gets involved with the world of drugs, alcohol and partying. When times become desperate he is forced to become responsible again and in the process is able to help Blake and Al like he never thought possible. But the challenges don't stop there, he is faced with overcoming loss one more time and the challenge of his wife trying to re-enter his life but he is now an independent adult who can take care of himself. Louis is never sure if he fully accomplished his goal of acceptance in a group but by the end he finally accepts himself.

ALBERT WASHINGTON aka AL

Al is a homeless man and provides a lot of the comic relief to the film as well as the one who keeps Louis off of his potential ledge. Al is in his late 40's, he's black and he's a tall man with a good build and has been homeless for nearly 20 years. We find out late in the story that he chose the homeless life after leaving behind his old life in which he was successful and happy. Al has 3 sisters who all live in Northern California. He also has a daughter and a son. The daughter also lives in Northern California while his son has moved away to Tennessee for work. Al loves his booze and he loves drugs and money but not nearly as much as he loves sex. Al is a total ladies man and when correctly presented could sweep any woman off her feet. While it looks like Al is always helping Louis in the emotional and mental while Louis helps Al in the physical the truth is that Louis is doing a lot more for Al then we knew in his emotional and mental state.

BLAKE

Blake is a high school stoner who just happens to be dumb enough to be held back as a senior enough times that he is 20 years old. He is exactly what you would expect: long greasy hair, clothe's that are either too baggy or have holes in them, he always has a tired expression on his face, and he just looks like the lovechild of Seth Rogen and James Franco. When Louis calls Blake out for his stupidity he is motivated to change his life around and graduate high school and go to college. He cleans up, he still looks the same except that he now looks awake. His loveable stupidity fades and he becomes almost identical in character traits to Trevin with sprinkles of Louis mixed in.

TREVIN

He may only be 18 and he looks like an undercover stoner because he looks so primp and proper but can smoke more marijuana then anyone he has met in his life. He is against the establishment of school but knows he needs to graduate so he goes just enough to graduate and get his diploma. He takes care of Blake as if he were his older brother and when the guys get themselves in a financial crisis it will be Trevin who has to bail them out with his brain to develop the next big app. His parents are extremely rich but Trevin acts middle-class. He is very Ferris Buehler-ish.

Arthur Lennig Presentation

How did you become interested in Stroheim?

The first acquaintance was in Grand Illusion and then later the film Sunset Blvd and he found him fascinating and when he began teaching films he got interested in Foolish Wives and then he loved Greed at least the part we have available. Most Stroheim films go long.

What was it like for Stroheim being one of the first director/writers?

It was groundbreaking and uncommon and even unheard of. He was able to do what he wanted in films including showing off his foot fetish through his films. Each of his films usually featured some sort of homage to feet.

He created his own past. He had already created the myth that he was a grad of the military school when he first had gotten to America. He was very keen on style and outfits. He said that D.W. Griffith dressed very loudly. He was very meticulous about wardrobes they all had to be real and had a lot of attention to detail. He was very keen on military medals and wanted them to be set correctly.

He did a portrayal of himself in Sunset Blvd because he needed the money and was overall washed up. He never told his wife that he was paid twice for the job because he went back for a few reshoots so she found out about the second filming from the IRS.

Stroheim had a very good sense of humor based a lot in irony.

Lennig took the Universal studios version of "Foolish Wives" and a German or French version and cut them together to get it back to the closest version of the original film.

Everything had to be genuine in his films. He refused to use fake props or lie about locations.

Stroheim wrote a letter to his son during the second World War and it was a full direction on building and loading a cellar in case of an emergency. It was written like how he wrote a film.

Lennig much like Stroheim view Erich Von Stroheim as one of the greatest film makers of all time. Overall the information received today was just more in depth versions of what we have learned so far. Finding that all the stories aline from each source will make it easier to write the script knowing in good faith that the story is accurate and there won't be anybody who knows Stroheim that will get frustrated with the film.

Vicki Von Stroheim

Birthday: 11-22-48
Came back form Europe to film "Sunset Blvd." Father and Grandmother worked with several authors who wrote about Erich. Film Festival in Italy that only showed Stroheim films. Letter's to wife, son and other son. Half brother is Erich Jr. Her father is Joseph Erich Von Stroheim. He was a very funny man but appeared stern around the studio. Joseph was a combat photographer in WWII, he wasn't allowed to wear dogtags out of fear of capture and blackmail. Von Stroheim festival in Brazil and her other grandfather, Taylor Trumbo, got sent down by the LA Times and he was at a table with people from different papers trying to get a story and he shows a picture of Vicki and her sister. Most of the letters got sent to the Academy of Motion Picture arts and Sciences archives. Wants us to pursue and find out who put his Hollywood Star next to a rental car place. He had a foot fetish. There's a picture of him sucking on Vicki's toes. Denise controlled Erich's diet and they would take their own food with them places. Vicki has a helmet and a sword that is from a costume of Erich's. Denise says that Erich's shoes were always polished because of his military background and attention to detail. Joseph was the same way. Erich Von Stroheim was Jewish and on a shoot overseas they had a private audience with the Pope, all the guards thought that Joseph was a prince because he had a sword from military school on his belt. Changed his name on Ellis Island is true. Worked in New York at a haberdashery making hats. Didn't come to America with the intent to make films.

A new scene idea I had is for as an opening scene would be to have a tight shot on his Hollywood star and as it zooms pulls in appearing very victorious and proud to have a car drive over it and the camera can pull out to show the hustle and bustle of current Hollywood.

Four Page Treatment - Untitled Project

Morning. A man wakes up and rolls over in bed only to view an empty space next to him that clearly has been slept in before. He lets out a long sigh followed by a short whimper as he pulls himself together and builds up the strength to get out of bed. He puts on his slippers and robe and shuffles through a large well decorated home until he reaches the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator and grabs the half gallon of milk taking a drink. His face goes sour and he spits the lumpy milk back into the carton and places it back in the refrigerator. He then begins a coffee pot. While it brews we see him shuffle back through the house when his eye catches something on the wall. He grabs a frame off the wall smashing it to the ground and then falls to his knees sobbing and apologizing to the picture which we can now see is his wedding photo. He then finishes getting ready, wearing a brown tweed suit he grabs his coffee mug and gets into his small economy friendly car and begins his commute to work.

Louis is a working class man whose wife just left him for another man. He thought his wife was his best friend and now he is beginning to realize that his friends have always been an illusion. He gets fired from his job because frankly, he isn’t a good worker anymore and he is too old to be in the job he is in. Down on his luck, he meets a couple of high school stoners at a park and is promptly arrested for possession of marijuana. 

Night. Louis gets in his car and drives to a back alley where he parks. As he walks he sees heroin addicts and homeless people having sex in the streets. He presses forward until he finds a little dive bar hidden behind the alley. As he approaches a man speaks up asking for a drink. Louis fearfully ignores the man and runs inside. After explaining to the bartender that he has never drank anything except what his cheating whore wife used to give him. The bartender mixes him a few specialty drinks. On the way out of the bar Louis hears some profound words from the same homeless man who reached out for a drink earlier. Louis begins to talk with the man and as he returns night after night a rapport is built until a week later Louis invites Al, the homeless man, to move in with him.

Louis and Al begin a strange relationship in which Al is coaching Louis on how to stand up for himself and stop being a pushover. As the first few weeks go by and Louis realizes that he needs a job to pay the bills he finds himself at a fast food restaurant where he happens to work with one of the high school stoners. He begins to hang out with him and the other stoner outside of work at his home with Al. One night when getting completely stoned the boys have an idea to turn the home into a party mansion and charge admission to pay the bills. The property damage and degrading of the home his ex-wife decorated breaks Louis down until one day he snaps and cancels the parties in a bit of crying hysteria. Al and the boys help him restore the house to the best of their abilities but Louis is so bi-polar on the topic they aren’t sure if the parties will continue. They discuss dreams and goals and their lives. We find out that Al has a deep background filled with happy memories and when he was laid off he turned to drugs and lost everything. He speaks of a childhood home in a beautiful suburban neighborhood that was later condemned because of drug use. The high schoolers fade in and out of Louis’ life as they go to school, juvenile detention centers, house arrest, and ultimately just fry their brains on drugs and alcohol. Al continues to do hard drugs and Louis really feels love for his friends and wants them to clean up and become better. Help him pay the bills, and make a safe home for all of them. But it fails. They won’t shape up. They won’t listen. And worst of all one night when Louis gets home from a late shift he finds that they home is filled with people and they are all just doing drugs. He is in a panic to clear the house out and is ready to ultimately put Al back on the streets when the doorbell rings. Fearful of cops everyone is hiding. He answers the door only to find his ex-wife standing there with a black eye and swollen face. After an explanation from her they agree to get back together but she kicks out Al. But as time passes Louis misses Al and regrets choosing his ex over Al. He asks around but no one has seen Al for over a week.

Evening. Louis lies to his boss about being sick and leaves work an hour early. He drives into a rough neighborhood and we see a lot of drug use through the windows. He pulls up to a home that his boarded up and he gets out. Using a piece of metal he finds on the porch he breaks off the cross boards and gains entry to the house. Calling out for Al he hears nothing. As he enters an upstairs bedroom doorway he smells something terrible. He looks to his side only to see Al, dead on the floor with needles in his arms. He cries over the passing and calls the coroner’s office to come get the body. He returns home and after being bitched out by his wife he tells her off and stands up for himself. He leaves this time and packs all of his belongings into his car. His wife is angry and then a crying mess, apologizing and begging but it’s too late Louis is gone.

Louis knew that Al wanted to be cremated and returned to his family. So after receiving the ashes he takes the urn on a trip to Northern California. Louis explains his story holding back tears as he does so to Al’s mother and two sisters, nieces and nephews. A year later he has a job he tolerates and buys the home he found his best friend deceased in and moves it to a neighborhood that is nice but similar to the old location. The final image is Louis making eye contact with a cute female neighbor as they stand on their porches. THE END.

"The Elevator" - Short Film

Aside from writing the film, I also worked as assistant director, gaffer, dolly operator, actor stand in, script supervisor and extra.

Erick Von Stroheim Treatment

Open on a black and white silent film style close up shot of Erick Von Stroheim. He looks distraught and scared. As he stares blankly we hear a voiceover of him reading one of the letters he wrote to his wife and kids while he was in France with his mistress. We see his eyes move and his hand reaches for where his eyes point out of frame. His hand returns but this time to his head revealing a German WWII pistol. His hand shakes as he points the barrel at his head. He is sweating and crying. He begins to struggle and then he stops. He lets out a sigh of relief and his hand drops with the gun in it as the letter finishes being read.

Title screen: VON STROHEIM

We cut to him at an older age sitting on a couch next to an older Gloria Swanson. They sit watching "Queen Kelly" and they both look like it is torture. Erick stands up in agony and we hear a director yell cut and the frame opens up to reveal they are filming. Gloria goes on about how he can't possibly be doing this again and they scream at one another about his termination from the set of "Queen Kelly" twenty years earlier. Erick goes on to say that she doesn't realize that she is disrespecting royalty and goes on about his immigration to Ellis Island and his relationship to Austrian nobility. Portrayed by a scene of him on Ellis Island and when asked his name he triumphantly gives his full title and the man taking names is drastically unimpressed.

Next we cover his roots in Hollywood from working with D.W. Griffith to his own rise to fame. We portray his attitude growing as he began to be more famous. Show him getting the job for "Queen Kelly" and then cut to him becoming an actor because he can't be hired as a director anymore.

Show him writing as an older man. He looks off his balcony and can see the Eiffel Tower. He sits with his mistress smiling and happy. But the letter is longing to be with his wife. His mistress asks about his parents and he tells her the story of his birth and upbringing. He explains his name change. But he is not ashamed, he still seems overly proud. But then his face drifts to weakness and he is now laying down on his bed. He tries to smile as he receives a Legion of Honor Pin but he is too weak. 

Throughout our interviews we should get most of these things said by people who know his life. In that case we will show them to move the story along but for anything we must fill in we can do reenactments. I recommend doing reenactments regardless of interviews for the first scene on the set of Sunset Boulevard and for the last scene of him in France.

My Personal Project

I am currently working on a screenplay for an original idea which I would like to produce. It is a full length feature about a man who goes through a divorce and must find his way in a life that he has never fully understood in the first place. I am currently about 45 pages in on the script and plan on it being around 110-120 pages.

Denny Tedesco Presentation

Denny's presentation was very impressive. Hearing his process and determination in going about making his film was inspirational and informative. His business knowledge as well as his knowledge of the film industry was something I hope I can achieve in my life. Hearing him discuss his connections throughout the film and music business put those connections into perspective for me as I wondered how to go about building those connections throughout my life and seeing that it happens from working small jobs here and there and building upon it.

Notes: Grew up in LA wanting to be a screen writer. Set Decorator for Eating Ra'Oul. Learn something from every job. Learn each role so you can fill a role for your own production if needed. Been working since 1996. Produced by 2008. Wasn't picked up until 2015. Had to raise $750,000 for music rights. Crowd-Funding at screenings, from sponsors, song dedications, etc. Learn your craft and go 100% at every role you take in life. Have common sense and don't burn bridges. Constantly market yourself. Distribution gets paid before you do. Build an audience. Keep doing what you do constantly. Do you research. Brand yourself. Gatekeepers always try to keep you out. Websites, social media, etc. Sound is most important. The same people you meet on your way up are the people you run into on your way down. Editor has to be consistent and can't always agree. Hardest part was not giving up.