"Unforgotten" read through coming up

A Read through of a script is very important in pre-production. They help the actors and the director get a real feel for who the characters are and what they should be portrayed as. It helps everyone know what direction the story's going in so that there are no questions on shoot day.

For "Unforgotten" we will be going over all 18 episodes on January 4th. We will really be ironing out the characters and getting to know who these people are in the series. We will figure out how the characters progress through the series and how they change.

With all the rehearsals and the pre-production work, "Unforgotten" will be a web series that everyone will be talking about!

Writing for a budget part 2

A great writer is not judged by the story as much as whether they can write a great story in any situation. If a writer can come up with stories that work in all sorts of situations they will get their scripts sold.

One of the greatest things a writer can be able to do is write with a particular budget in mind. If the writer knows there will be a minimal budget then they can keep the locations to one place, characters to a minimum, and props to as little as possible. They can also keep in mind where they know things will be shot, who is available to do acting. They can also keep the shots simple, no crane shots or dolly shots.

A writer is the beginning of any film, they are the ones that create the story and essentially dictate what the production will cost and entail. So starting with the writer is a great way to make sure the film will be made and done the best way it can.

Behind The Entertainment

Today we had the great honor of being interviewed by "Behind The Entertainment." BTE, as their also called, is a show were new creators can showcase what they can do. It is an opportunity for them to get their name out in a world were everyone is trying to do the same. They help the new artists tell the world what they can do.

In todays world social networking is king. You have to be able to share your work on twitter and Facebook and tumblr and four billon sites all at once. Its hard to be able to keep up with all that, let alone get something you want people to see. Thats where BTE comes in. They interview these artists so they have something to show people and say this is who I am. BTE's interviews are all about getting you to know the artist on a deep personal level. The interviews are very personal, you feel like you having a conversation with the artist yourself. They help you really fall in love with who the artist is and what they do.

When they asked to interview us about our web series "Unforgotten" it was a great opportunity. We have been trying to push the series as much as possible and this was a fantastic chance. We want to create as much hype as we can for the series before we release it. Everyone on the crew was there; William Lees Jr the Writer/Director, Stefany Mayz the Soundtrack Artist/Art Director and JD Rodriguez the DP. Everyone got to say a little piece about the series. It was a great time for all of us because we really got to lay out what the series is about and what direction it is going in.

BTE is a great show for the independent world. Its great for letting the world know about the little artists that are out there and that they have something great to offer.  Check out Behind The Entertainment, we guarantee you wont be disappointed!

"Behind The Entertainment"

Blocking out the first two episodes of "Unforgotten"

Walking into the set was a great feeling. We were moving forward with the Web Series we started so long ago. With two weeks till we start shooting it was a critical part that had to be done.

We started going over shots and immediately fell in love with the surrounding area. Our DP JD came up with some great shots and told us how we should move to make the series seem real. We went over the beginning scenes and moved on.

At the next location we practiced bounding and figured out the shots. This scene will have to be precisely done to make it look real. When we figured out this scene we moved on to the last location.

This location was were the characters would be doing some of there best stunt work. The training had to be right so everything can move smoothly and no one gets hurt.

With the day ending we stopped at a Taco Bell and had lunch and ironed out the rest of our schedule. More to come on "Unforgotten" in the near future so stay tuned.

Scheduling without a budget

One of the hardest things for an independent film company to do is scheduling, especially with no budget. When everyone is working for free you have to work around everyone's schedule. You have to try and match 7 to 10 people's schedules, almost impossible. You have to be able to flow with the hassles of jobs and trips that crew or actors have taken. It can be very complicating, but there are ways to lower the possibility of conflicts in scheduling.

First, try to know before you write your script whether you will have a budget or not. This will help you write to fit your budget and help you be realistic about finishing your film. If you have a limited budget you can write the story to have minimal characters and also try to use the crew members as actors too. By doing this you can limit your crew and cast to 3 to 4 people. Easing scheduling problems.

Another way to eliminate problems with scheduling is to make the scenes in the script have minimal characters in the same scene and make sure your shots are simple, no elaborate set ups. Instead concentrate on the angles and motion of the camera. Concentrate on the acting and getting great sound. So many film makers concentrate to much on special affects and forget about the core of a film; acting, lighting, and sound!

A great story is founded on concentrating on the interaction between characters, the way they evolve as they go through the film. When you make a script more simple and concentrate on theses elements not only do you help with future problems with scheduling but also create a story people will want to watch for years to come.

The Title of our New Web Series!

Coming up with a title for anything is very hard. If you get it wrong It ruins how people will perceive the whole series. You have to make sure that the title reflects what happens in the series. You have to capture the true essence of the story and relay it all in one to three words. It has to be something memorable and catchy so people feel the need to tell others about it.

So it is with great pride that we announce the official title of our new Web Series; "Unforgotten".

The Agents meet! "Redemption"

We started to set up for the scene today and fast realized that getting it dark enough for the scene was going to be hard. We started by just closing the blinds but that wasn't enough, we had light leaking in everywhere! We blocked the light from the blinds with a flex fill and then the door windows with towels, taped up with electrical tape. A lot of electrical tape!

The next challenge was creating a harsh enough light so that the actors were only lit from one side. We didn't have much to work with but we ended up just using a desk lamp. It worked nicely and the shots came out very dramatic. We had the ISO and F stop way down on the camera.

When JD Rodriguez showed up we started blocking through his scenes. He did amazing. Then Ian Askew showed up and we officially started blocking both characters. We went through the lines multiple times and ironed out all the character's mannerisms. When we started the shooting both actors were very comfortable with their parts.

The shots came out great and the acting was amazing. We can't wait to see all this footage in post production edit! We have one scene left to shoot and then it's a wrap for the films shooting!

Shooting "Redemption" with NO Budget

When we started the pre-production for "Redemption" we knew we would have no budget. This obviously caused quite a few hurdles for us. We had to find people that would be willing to work for nothing but the joy of film making. The main concern was going to be finding people who knew what they were doing who would want to dedicate their time for free. This was the first task in front of us to even get this film off the ground.

We started by putting out adds on craigslist and at the local College for crew and cast. We got lucky because one of the first people to show up was Ian Askew. He is a brilliant actor who played agent 2 in the film. He had a great audition creating the character that you will see in the film. He nailed it right away. The next man to audition was JD Rodriguez. He had just come from Puerto Rico and was trying to make a name for himself in America. He auditioned for Agent 1 and was perfect for the part. As he went through the audition though we found out more about him and found out he did camera as well. He fast became the DP for the movie as well.

The last person who became a key part of the film was the leading lady, but we found her the opposite way. Stefany Mayz is a very talented singer/song writer and when we approached her about writing the soundtrack for "Redemption" she was very excited. We met up with her and went over the script with her and told her were we wanted the background music. As she read over the script we realized she was an amazing actress, we asked Stefany her background in acting and it came as no surprise when she told us she had been acting since she was young. With a rich background in acting and a great ability to write music she was on the crew quick.

Shooting "Redemption" With no budget has been fun as well as challenging. We have had great help from very talented people and have been lucky enough to see the film all the way through without sacrificing anything in the process. We truly believe that when "Redemption" premieres you will be truly amazed.
  

Redemption shoot 12/15/12

When we arrived on set it was raining, always a good sign. But by the time we were done setting up it stopped. We were supposed to be shooting one of the final scenes of the movie, but the cage in which the lead actress was supposed to be was gone. So we had to move on to the one other scene of the day, the grave scene!

The grave scene Had to be re-written so it was all a surprise for the actors. They did well though falling into character again as if they never had a year and a half between shoots. The shots turned out great.

Tuesday we will be shooting the next part of the final scenes. It will be one of the key scenes of the film so make sure you tune In for live updates!

The DP of our new Web Series

When it came to looking for someone to create the overall look of the Web Series we wanted to make sure they had years of experience. Enter JD Rodriguez. He first helped us out on our feature film "Redemption". He was the DP and made the film look great. We're sure he will carry that same quality into the Web Series.

JD has had at least 15 years experience in his field. Back in Puerto Rico he had his own production company. They worked on such films as "The Losers". He has worked with many cameras including the Red and the Sony FS 100. He is a DP that is always trying new things and breaking the normal barrier of what we perceive film to be.

With JD as our DP you can be sure the Series will be something new and exciting you've never seen before.

The Soundtrack Artist/Art Director of the Web Series

Stefany Mayz has been writing music since she was in fifth grade. She has created two EPs and has written many songs. She has been writing the soundtrack for our film "Redemption" and has been doing a fantastic job. She has been able to create the mood of the film seamlessly. She has continued to astound us at every turn with her musical ability and were positive she will keep it up with the web series.

As an art director she has worked on "Redemption" and the three music videos we made for her; "Fall With Me" "I Won't Be Lonely" "Guilty By Association". She has done graphic art work on three major films due to come out in 2013; "Kill Your Darlings" with Daniel Radcliffe "1982" with Hill Harper and Wayne Brady "Afluenza"

With her extensive knowledge in the art of music and art department, you can be assured she is the best person for this web series!

The Writer/Director of the new Web Series

The writer and director of our web series is William Lees Jr. He has been writing for the last five years. He was also the writer of our independent feature "Redemption". He has a short film entitled "Take Down" that has made it into the first round of finals in the 9th American Gem Short Script Contest. He shows his skill at writing in this web series.

When William came to us with the idea for this web series we were very interested right of the bat. He pitched it to us, and the way he described it just moved us. We are very excited to have William on board. He has a lot of experience in bringing characters to life with just words. He has grown as a writer, in his ability to develop characters and to create plot points that move the story along, but eliminate fluff. He has a knack for making characters very real and relatable.

With William on board you can bet this will be a series to remember. You can bet it will have drama, action, romace, and comedy. You can bet that it will be a web series talked about for years to come.

Blocking out the Web Series

Today we did our first round of blocking and "boot camp" for our new web series. The actors were all there and we brought in our weapon specialist Jose Domenguiz. He was in the military as a ranger.

The first thing the actors learned was the proper way to hold a gun. Silly to think but this one part can make or break a film. They learned how to hold all sorts of guns from rifles to hand guns.

Next they moved onto moving in formation and how to walk with a gun and still concentrate on the lines. This will be instrumental in the series. They learned the wedge formation and how to do bounding.

After a lot of rehearsing and moving around in what seemed like silly ways, the actors finally had it roughly down. Next week we will be doing further blocking on location and really start planning out the rest of the series.

Writing a Web Series

When I started to write this web series were doing, the path looked very daunting. I had to come up with 22 episodes that would follow each other in logical order, not as easy as it sounds. I had been playing around with the idea of a web series about two brothers in the army stuck behind enemy lines for a while but I just didn't know where to go with it.

When my fiancé told me it was time to bring this story to life I finally had the inspiration I needed. I started simple by creating the overlying problem, they get stuck behind enemy lines. But then came the hard part, I had to make a story out of it.

I started by developing the characters and what their relationships with each other would be. Then I started building from there. As I progressed further and further through the episodes I started to see a distinct story line come about without even trying.

This series will prove to be full of struggle, heartache, love, compassion, and action. It will be one nonstop heart wrenching roller coaster ride from beginning to end. It will bring to life for you the reality so many soldiers and family's deal with.

12 episodes done, 10 to go!

New Year New Web Series

With the coming new year we wanted to make sure we had something new and fresh to show for ourselves. We had our writer come up with a web series for us to shoot. We wanted to do something we hadn't done yet and to show our variety in ability. This 22 episode mini web series was the perfect fit.

The web series is going to be a mini series. The story follows two soldiers stuck behind enemy lines and how it affects more than just the soldiers. The series is poised to be a great journey we will all go on. To suffer and discover the hardships that can come from simply volunteering for the armed forces. It will bring to life the very real struggle that so many family's go through everyday.

You will fall in love with these characters over the 22 episodes and want to see them episode after episode. The characters will win your hearts and make you want to watch from beginning to end.

The season is due to debut in the spring, stay tuned to hear more about the shoot!

Finishing Redemption

With the end of the year coming to a close we are finally getting the last of the shots together on our first feature film. It has been a long and arduous process, having no budget and all. But like everyone knows the final product always makes everything worth it. We are very excited to be closing in on the final days of the project.

The story has been through several rewrites through the year and we are positive that the final product will be the best it can be. The new year should bring around a lot of new work for Lees Productions. With the close of the first film in sight we have started preproduction on our next big under taking. We would like to officially announce the coming of a new web series to start airing in the spring!

Stay tuned for more about the web series and much more including a new Stefany Mayz music video!

Looking forward to the 2012 National Film Challenge

With the next National Film Challenge fast apporaching we are getting ourselves ready. We are assembling our team and making it better than last year with the addition of a brilliant editor and better equipment.

With our resources expanding we are becoming more confidant. Knowing what the challenge involves now will also help us be able to move faster and more efficently. Both key when in the heat of a 48hr film challenge.

For the last challenge we had to make a suspense thriller with the prop of a light bulb and the line of "It's probably poisones." We came up with our short "Duel", the story of a soldier going through post tramadic stress. The soldier struggles with a mutiple personality disorder that ends up killing him, literally! The film was a great success. Editing was our one low part last year, so with our new editor on the team that will be a thing of the past.

As the time gets closer the exciment grows and the anticipation of how we will be challenged builds. What will the challenge throw at us this time.

Planning "Redemption"

 When we began shooting our first feature film "Redemption" we knew we would run into many problems not shooting without a budget but the list went longer than we imagined it would. With location problems and casting problems to start, it just seemed to be a pipe dream but then things got better. We found a great Song Writer. Stefany Mayz, to compose the soundtrack and a brilliant choregrapher to help with the fight sequences. Things were looking up.

We started shooting and finished most of the movie in one weekend. But then peopls got busy and the fall and winter crepy up on us and we had to wait for summer of the next year. After a long wait we are now shooting again. August 4th marks our first day shooting again. We will be shooting on the beach in Avalon. The editing process has begun and we are very satisfied with the footage.

With the film going into pre-production we are looking to the future of Lees Productions. We are going to launch a campaign on kickstater to get funding to start a short comedy that we will turn into festivals around the world. So stay tuned, there is more to come from this great company!

"Redemption" Continues

"Redemption" is an Action/Romance feature film. We started production August of 2011. The film is about an assassin that wants to get out of the buisness. He fails a hit and as a result he ends up on an island. He sees this as a good thing because he has time to think of his next move away from the peolpe he works for. However just when things are looking up a girl crashes on the island as well, and whats more he knows her. With the arrival of the girl the assassin has to rethink his whole strategy. He falls in love with this girl and as their relationship grows so does the danger as the people the assassin works for come after him.

The people the assassin works for use the girl against him to lure him to fight on thier terms. The films ends in a climatic fight where the assassin tries to get back his new love. Who will win... What will happen... we'll you'll just have to get the movie to find out.

The film is set to be released in 2013. With the shooting still in full swing, follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/leesproductions to see images and updates from set. We next shoot august 4th! See you there!