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Sunday, December 31
The Day Before The New Year
by
Christopher Folino
on Sun 31 Dec 2006 11:18 AM PST
That was a great piece on KABC about the movie, George is awesome. That man has won 3 Emmys! And I think, he's going to have to make some more room at home after with that amazing piece about Gamers The Movie! Did you see the shot of my twin boys? They're both so going to get a lot of chicks when they get older! And best of all, They're doing just "Super". God, the wife loved that part, who knows maybe we'll have another set of twins in 2007...God, no please.
I was really worried they would preempt the interview with the hanging of Saddam! Serious, I think it happened about an hour after the interview.
So, thank you Saddam for staling your own execution just a bit, before they hung you. Who says you were a total bastard? Not me!
The new year is here...wow. Gamers is now been done and on sale since July 6th, 2006 That's five months, and in that time we have entertained millions, wait, we have entertained Thousands...wait, hundreds maybe? Wait...we have entertained at least a group of over ten people!
I love history, so I thought I'd share the blog from 1-1-2006! I promise tomorrow, I'll write a whole new Happy New Year blog!
01/01/2006: "Happy New Year by Christopher Folino"
On behalf of the entire team from "Gamers" we wish you all a "Happy New Year." And that even includes you Mr. Gary Coleman! Because, you never know when you or your fellow executive producers may need to call "Cash Direct" for a loan to help keep you a float until you sell your movie.
Gary, did I ever mention, that I thought you got robbed for an Emmy when you appeared on "Drake and Josh" in the episode titled "The Gary Grill!"
I was going to do a list of "Things I believe the cast should "wish" for in 2006." However, I'm not as clever as I hoped; it all came across as really lame and before I knew it I missed yesterday's blog.
Here's what I came up with and then I just had to stop. Otherwise, I'd have to kick myself in the nuts again and that's no way to start off the New Year! I'm hoping to make it rich this year and hire a person "full time" to just kick me in the nuts when I come up with a lame idea.
Here was my lame list for "Things I believe the cast should wish for in 2006" Even the name is long and lame.
Dave Hanson -Lead actor who plays "Reese"
A gold watch that can stop time! However, Dave could move freely while everyone else is frozen in time! Then Dave could go around to help influence "Film Festivals" by placing "Gamers" on the desks on every programmer and with a snappy note on why our movie should be accepted!
I think that would be the lamest use of a “magical watch” However, other than using it to sleep for like an extra 15 hours a day, or walking into banks and stealing large sums of money, and seeing famous people naked and changing the outcome of major sporting events, I don't see much other use for it.
So I stopped there, and considered writing about the "best of 2005."
Okay, so here it is real quick!
"Twin Boys", "The wife and family" "Working with my friends at the THQ video department and having the best crew and best creative year ever"
"Full support of my friends, co-workers, and especially my family to "go for it", "Meeting and working with every actor and crew member on "Gamers" and "Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers", "co-workers and friends like Gordon Madison, Paul Reese, and Paul Rivas for the countless hours doing script readings and making suggestions that improved "Gamers".
"Making Gamers", "Making Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers”,” Meeting Tito and getting hooked on Starbucks", "Meeting and working on a great film with the entire cast of Gamers", "Fernando for creating the web site and everyone who has contributed to it!" "E3 Barnyard trailer", "E3 SpongeBob Trailer", "Working with Mario Vanillo and the team of Jarheads", "Working with Michael Folino", "Tom and Frank" and for doing amazing audio"
"Meeting Breanna and the Pflaumer family," "Having Merritt Hemenway appear in the movie," "Having great neighbors that let us film a guy in a white robe and a hood in Newbury Park without asking a single question," "Making new friends with the film and web site, like Shannon in North Carolina, and Chuck in Austin", "The Cast and Crew premiere", "The first and greatest review of the film by www.warycry.com"
"My first power meeting with Kelly LeBrock", "Advice from Beverly, Michael, William, Kelly, Merritt, Ben, Rob in San Fran, Steven Folino, Bob Folino, Kathy Vanillo, and the four horsemen, plus one", "a boss and a company that allowed me to do this project on the side," "Gen Con with William Katt, Michael Bell, Dave Hanson, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Scott Allen Rinker, Meredith Zealy, Fernando Velloso, Dave Colacioppo, Manuel Silva, Jennifer Stechman, Melissa Rivas, and Tom Hemenway.
"Gambling on Football to pay for "Festival Fees!" "The Cohen Family”,” The NICU unit at Los Robles Hospital", "All the Guillen's and Suttons in No Cal", "The New England Patriots", and "Manuel Silva's improved health."
The list goes on and on. There so many wonderful moments and people that made 2005 a historic year!
I'm going to stop now; I want my readers to know me more for being a bitter-sarcastic man who will someday snap with another rejection from a film festival than a kind loving human that relates to "Oprah!"
So the New Year for "Gamers" started off with a bang!
IMDB MOVIEmeter now ranks "Gamers" at 6,134, down from December 25th when the ranking was 7,711.
Pretty damn cool! That means we are kicking the crap out of "Weekend at Bernie’s 2" which is ranked 9,747 and you know that gives me frickin hope!
However, I do want to mention the following films that are ranked way too high on the IMDB MOVIEmeter and I hope "the movie angels" will punish those that have ranked them so "high"!
"Richie Rich" ranked at 1450 -(It's ranked one higher than "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind")
"Dream a little Dream" with both Corey's -ranked 5,760
"Bio-Dome" with Pauly Shore -ranked 3,380
"Boxing Helena with Julian Sands" -3,865
And I do protest all my might
Meatballs 4 with Corey Feldman -7,806
That's it for me, I have to go celebrate our new ranking for "Gamers 2006" at 6134!
Do you know how cool this is? Here's a list of what is ranked near us!
"Brian's Song" is ranked 6132 and The "Goodbye Girl" is ranked lower than us at 6136
And believe it or not, this won't last be are ranked higher than "Jackass: the Movie 2" (2006) ranked at 6159! and for all you Star Trek fans! "New Voyages" made in 2004 is ranked 6180!
Oh, the magic has started! The power of the twenty sided is happening!
Remember to go onto IMDB and keep clicking on "Gamers 2006" I'm going to start posting "Stuff" on the "Gamers 2006" message board!
Friday, December 29
KABC Channel 7 Interview is now online at KABC! Click on the link here to watch!
by
Christopher Folino
on Fri 29 Dec 2006 07:46 PM PST
The interview aired today during the 4PM Broadcast on Channel 7 KABC and was just posted the the KABC website.
It's right after the Julia Roberts and Chicago Awards report.
God, that is a horrible freeze frame shot.
However, how cool is this!
ABC SEGMENT ON TODAY AT 4PM -CHANNEL 7 NEWS!
by
Christopher Folino
on Fri 29 Dec 2006 12:09 PM PST
Just say a teaser for the segment, it's going to air today at 4PM on KABC, CHANNEL 7! Wow! This is pretty damn cool!
George Pennachio is the man!
Wednesday, December 27
THE ABC INTERVIEW
by
Christopher Folino
on Wed 27 Dec 2006 08:38 PM PST
Last Friday around 10:40AM, I left Agoura Hills with executive producer Roberto Blasini and we headed off to go to ABC in Glendale to meet entertainment reporter, George Pennachio, to tape an interview for a segment about the movie.
We got lost, pretty bad in fact, to the point we had to call the god of editing, Paul Pieper to Mapquest us in.
Now Tito hates to be in front of the camera and to be honest, I'm not a big fan either. Mostly because I'm a bit of a porker, now thhere was a time when I was thin. I think, it was for about four months and only then did I love being on camera. I made over 712 Midget porn movies during those four months.
But I digress, Tito is a calming force, I've found this out while shooting Full Spectrum Warrior Ten Hammers trailer, while explosives and a cast and crew of over 100 people were helping us to shoot the entire piece in one single day.
Also, when we did the CNN Pipeline interview, I was pretty damn nervous about it and Tito calmed me down and injected a good amount of fun while we waited in the make-up room. So, it was a no-brainier to our pretty much always the same when we get together, filled with pure unfiltered optimism with phrases like "It's going to be so cool, maybe we can finally pay off the bank and our credit card bills!" or "maybe we can get to make another movie!"
All I know is that Tito is the guy I'm having around when I get cancer!
William Katt was running late, I had called him earlier in the day to confirm and it was a good thing, he still thought the interview was going to be at 2PM, not 12PM and he had to cancel a doctor's appointment.
So it was all working out, the Greatest American Hero was driving himself and to be honest I wasn't as nervous for this interview. Mainly, because, it wasn't live and I got to interact with George, he was physically in the same room, unlike the CNN interview where a guy asked me questions live from satellite and I had no idea what the questions were.
ABC Channel 7 is an impressive building, it was so much cooler looking than CNN in Los Angeles. I rank it in the top ten work places I've ever seen. Now, the most awesome place I've ever been to visit, while shooting a documentary, was hands down Pixar Animation Studio. I swear, that is the greatest working environment in the free world, they have a movie studio, an Olympic sized pool, a cafe where food is super cheap and the company pays to decorate their department however they want. And best of all the place is so massive, employees ride around in electric scooters to get to one end to another.
Now, the ABC Channel 7 building is super clean and while we waited in the lobby, George Pennachio was on live talking about all the new holiday movies. After his segment aired, he came and he met us. George is a super cool guy whose also very funny, you feel relaxed right away.
We were in a bit of a time crunch with everyone taking time off for the holiday and being sick, so he had the camera operator for only 20 to 30 minutes.
We passed the work stations where all the on-air-reporters, writers, interns, work in an open cube environment, and they all have the exact same sized cubes. I saw a number of on-air-reporters and they all kind of poped their heads-up to check us out, to see if we were somebody famous. "Hey that's not Kevin Smith!" Made them look...suckers!
George took us inside this huge sound stage that's completely empty, except for a camera man and some lights and some old chairs and a table. This is where we conducted the interviews, he chooses Tito to go first.
There's nothing more enjoyable than watching Tito get asked "Why would you put money into this project?" Tito of course gave the best response of all time. "Please don't bring that up, all it's going to do is remind our wives that we're all in huge debt."
My interview was next and George was kind, he didn't ask me anything too tough, and it was a cool moment to be at the very place you grew up watching your whole life talking about a movie you did just for the hell of it.
Once my interview was over, we called Bill and he was about ten minutes away and a conflict with another interview came up. The next guest for another segment walks in with his assistant and it's Mark Harmon.
Nicest guy in the world, he was there to do something for ESPN for UCLA, we got to talk with him for a bit and when Mark learned why were there, he told us"Good for you, for making you're own movie."
I told him how much I liked him on Moonlighting, it was perhaps my favorite episode when Bruce went to go tell Cybil Shepard that he loved her and Mark answers the door. Man, that scene and moment is right up with there with the ultimate "fuck you moments" in cinema history, second to Casablanca!
So, Mark is old friends with Bill Katt and he joked "Bill late?, now, there's a surprise."
Bill walks in about ten minutes later and he's got on those croc shoes, those horrible looking, but comfortable shoes. Everybody notices and he states "I love them, there so comfortable, I've been giving them out to all my friends for Christmas" I pipe up, "I didn't get a pair?" And Bill shoots back "Well, that's because, you're not my friend."
So, the Greatest American Hero bitch slapped me in front of Mark Harmon, Tito and George Pennachio, it was cool.
So William Katt does his interview and he's all charming and funny and George is cracking up, I'm like "What the hell? Look at Bill Katt being funny!" I've had coffee now with the man for over a year at least twice a month and that's the funniest I've ever seen him, since doing our movie!
It was a great time and an amazing opportunity, I have no expectations, I view the interview as the last great piece of press the movie will ever get.
I remain dedicated to the project and pray for it to get some legs and take off, however, at the same time, we got to focus now in the new year on how we are going to pay the bank off, just in case.
That's the price you pay for following your dreams, however, I'd rather pay the price than to live my life wondering what if?
It's a horrible way to live life.
Again, once we find out the time and date, we will pass it on.
Tuesday, December 26
Superman 2 The Richard Donner Cut!
by
Christopher Folino
on Tue 26 Dec 2006 12:26 PM PST
Happy Holidays to each and every one of you, except to the following people in North Idaho.
Tom Jacobs, you son-of-a-bitch non-potato eating bastard..how can you not like French Fries?
Roxie Davies, who the hoe living in Idaho?...not you, you slut.
and
Donald McNaughters, you non-celebrating holiday prick. Not even Festivus? You anti-American.
There, those 3 people just needed to be called out.
Well, first off, ABC interview is going to air this week!
This is huge, it's huger than huge, it's perhaps really huge! I call it Huge-o!
The story of how the interviews went is even a fantastic one, so fantatic, that my entire next blog will be dedicated too it!
It includes how we even got to meet Mark Harmon at ABC and how much George Pennachio likes the movie.
And of course what kind of God awful shoes William Katt wore and how executive producer and director of the photography to the Gods Roberto "Tito" Blasini got a suprise interview spot. The man hates to be interviewed, it was awesome to watch him be so uncofortable!
Oh, it's huge baby! You'll just have to wait until tomorrow!
Because, right now, it's all about Superman 2 the Richard Donner Cut.
You can take all the Batman movies, including the new one and all the Spiderman movies and you can throw in that crap film called Superman Returns, just don't fuck with Christopher Reeve in Superman 1 and Superman 2, The Richard Donner Cut.
Oh man, what a great film. So much better than the Superman 2 film, it was a joy and a thrill to watch and I'm not a person who likes joy. I do enjoy myself a good thrill now and again! However, it was awesome to see Marlon Brando in Superman 2, not Superman's weak ass mom acting!
And Lois Lane rocked, she wasn't an idiot! And there is only one man who will and can ever be Superman and it's Christopher Reeve.
Thanks God for Richard Donner and thank God the greed of the studio allowed them to make this cut. And more thanks to everyone on the internet who made it happen!
I can't think of a cooler movie to watch than Superman II The Richard Donner Cut during this holiday season.
And I even forced myself to watch Ben Hur the other day, thank God for Tivo, that's a long ass movie and apparently, it had a lot of religious overtones.
Wasn't such a fan of the Ben Hur film.
However, Superman II The Richard Donner Cut, now that's a damn movie!
Rush, go buy it! Don't Netflix it, Netflix doesn't pay crap to the people who made this movie.
And don't burn a copy or download it illegally, serious, you're helping to kill all indie films that way and you're going to force studios to only make crap movies for the mass public. Don't do it. Do you really want another Superman Returns?
Thursday, December 21
ABC Interview is a go for Friday
by
Christopher Folino
on Thu 21 Dec 2006 10:53 PM PST
ABC interview is a go for Friday at 12PM with the segment to air at a later date.
That is unless some celebrity whore gets busted for under aged drinking, a DUI or is deemed the worst pet owner ever.
We have become so numb that it's now acceptable to have Miss USA and Miss Teen USA making out while participating in under aged drinking and the only repercussion is that one of them is slapped with little rehab. Do you blame MADD for not wanting to team up with the Miss USA because they don't want the underage kid to use her crown as a beer mug?
Give them a year, they'll do either Playboy or a FHM photo shoot or better a porn video and then bam, these girls are right up there with Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears for the honor of "Whores with no talent."
I'm really excited about the ABC interview, William Katt will be there and George Pennacchio has been "beyond cool" with us for giving us this opportunity. We've been really blessed (notice how I get all religious when I'm sucking up) with all the folks who have reviewed our film and have given us a shot. From the first review from Shannon Drake at warcry.com, to the amazing coverage given to us down under by Michael Smith from Indie Film Nation, to the man behind the amazing Tony Loco, and the killer review from Mr. Ian Bonds, it's keep you going, because, it's a bit of a crazy road. For example, I talked to our film rep today and it was a pretty fucked up conversation about distribution for the movie.
More than ever, the fate of this movie is in our hands, there is not much hope in his eyes that we will get distribution. I just laugh now, what indie film gets on ABC and still has no hope in the eyes of your film rep of getting distribution? Ours? Really? Do I look like fucking Charlie Brown to you mother fucker? Nobody is holding the football for us to kick it and then take it away.
My wife reminded me, that's it's just one person's opinion and all it takes is for another person to give you a shot. And we got a great movie, we have a tremendous cast and crew and in time the movie will get the recognition and respect.
I've been listening to Peter Gabriels US albumn in my car for this past week, just one song really, it happened after the Starz piece fell through and the ABC segment looked hopeless and I couldn't get our film rep on the phone for anything.
However, the Starz segment will air in January, ABC is recording the interview tomorrow and distribution...well, we won't and we don't give up.
Can you guess what track it is? Track number 3.
"In this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
no fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose
don't give up
'cos you have friends
don't give up
you're not beaten yet
don't give up
I know you can make it good
though I saw it all around
never thought I could be affected
thought that we'd be the last to go
it is so strange the way things turn
drove the night toward my home
the place that I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up
we don't need much of anything
don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
where we belong
rest your head
you worry too much
it's going to be alright
when times get rough
you can fall back on us
don't give up
please don't give up
'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing
that river's flowing
moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs
don't give up
'cause you have friends
don't give up
you're not the only one
don't give up
no reason to be ashamed
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up now
we're proud of who you are
don't give up
you know it's never been easy
don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
where we belong"
-Peter Gabriel, lyrics to "Don't Give Up"
Wednesday, December 20
I hate my Adult " Paper Boy"
by
Christopher Folino
on Wed 20 Dec 2006 06:26 AM PST
I miss the "Paper Boy", I really do. At least in the seventies and early eighties the little bastard tried to hit your door step with the paper while riding a bike! It was a skill, it was an art, it was explotation of children at it's finest! When those little bastards had to work in the pouring rain...they sucked it up!
Today, I got some fuck nut adult as my "Paper Boy" and he uses a car. You think he'd have some good aim, since he's in a car and the fact that he's an adult. No such fucking luck my friend, this "Paper Man" is horrible, each and every day he rolls his window down and simply drops my paper in the street, right in the pathway of the gutter where water just flows over courtesy of my neighbor who waters his lawn every morning.
Now, I've never met my "Paper Man", however, I now know where he lives and it's so on.
Mr. "Paper Fucknuts" as I like to call him around the children, had the balls to send me his address, so I can send him a little Christmas bonus. Oh I will, tonight I'm going to find everyone on his route and have them each donate a single penny, that's it.
Then I will drive to where he "Paper Fuck-Face" lives and honk the horn and drop the pennies infront of his house right in the path of the gutter. And dressed as Santa with no pants (Just because) I'll shout "Merry Fucking Christmas! Mr. lazy ass "Paper Boy!" And then I'll burn down his house (Just because)
Serious, I'd be thrilled if he could throw the paper an extra three inches so he could hit my lawn, I swear to God, it's always about wanting those extra three inches in life isn't it? I'm talking about for the paper man you sicko!
I know he's not an amputee "Paper Man"
By the way, what do you call a Paper Boy with no arms? Unemployed. What? You thought I was going to make a joke about an amputee whose a paper boy? What kind of sick bastard do you think I am?
However, for the sake of this blog, if he the guy had infact no hands, I'd shout at him "Take some pride Mr. "No Hands Paper Boy" in your work and toss it with your mouth, put a little effort into it.( Just because)
Tuesday, December 19
Coolest Review and Kevin Sherwood is on Myspace!
by
Christopher Folino
on Tue 19 Dec 2006 03:02 AM PST
COOLEST REVIEW EVER
David A.K.A. The Dork Dungeon is an expert at all things gaming, well, he reviewed our movie after he bought it and the t-shirt. (Do you know how rare it is for someone to review our movie who actually purchased a copy?)
This is one of the things that keep you going, serious, you think after your read it, that maybe in this world there are more people like David. as we struggle to find a distribution deal and stay afloat before the bank kicks our asses, It really comes down to word of mouth and getting reviews from real people.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29589227&blogID=175931275&Mytoken=BF446077-E9B8-4ABA-8E543DF0FD7B89391853815
And how cool is he for creating a link for a banner code he created from scratch as well
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=29589227&blogID=195699949&Mytoken=C5615FD8-89A2-447C-A350D5A99E0A50731400705
I owe this man a kidney and my endless thanks.
KEVIN SHERWOOD IS ON MYSPACE
Do you want to hear more music and songs from Gamers The Movie? Do you want to see one of the most talented people in the whole God Damn Universe?
Before you say yes! Did I mention this man can act, he can write, he can produce, he can sing, and best of all ladies and gentlemen! He's very easy on the eyes! He's my main lead actor for all my past and future films!
My brother from another mother....the man with the plan, the boss with the hot sauce, the man so bad he makes medicine sick!
Give it up for "The mother fucking Multi-talented" Kevin Sherwood!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=139409512
Hell has frozen over! Kevin is on MySpace!
STARZ
Did you watch the segment about Gamers the Movie on Starz this past Saturday? Really? No you say, you don't have Starz. You bastard...respectfully. Well, it didn't air anyways, it was cut out due to time schedule. They will attempt to air the segment in January. Here was the official explanation.
"we had to lose the piece from that particular episode due to overrunning.
It will still go out as it was a nice piece (and a v.funny film) probably
sometimes in January. Apologies to Mr Folino. I'll let you know when we
reschedule."
I hope when they say funny, we get at least a 4 out of a 5 on that show, those dudes are brutal. I swear to God they slammed the Playstation 3 and it was funny. Then again, there is a lot to slam about the Playstation 3. I think the saddest part of the launch was lack of original titles and ported games that look no better than the XBOX 360. The Nintendo Wii baby! That's where it's at and XBOX Live.
GARY OLDMAN STORY
I spoke with Chris Borders,the finest audio director in video games alive. Serious, he just directed Gears of War and he's an amazing talent with no ego. We use to work together at a video game company called Interplay before the French bought it and sucked and stole the life away from it.
Well, Chris has always been really supportive of Gamers and he told me that he showed the "Wake Up Dick" clip to Gary Oldman and that Gary said it was "fucking brilliant."
That was pretty God damn cool to hear that, fucking Gary Oldman liked the clip...now, if Gary actually bought a DVD from us then I'd fucking piss in my pants declare him the greatest dramatic actor, sixth only to only Scott Allen Rinker, Kevin Sherwood, Joe Nieves, Dave Hanson, and Kevin "I suck as a brother" Kirkpatrick.
ABC INTERVIEW
ABC interview is happening on the 21st of December. We are attempting to get Kelly LeBrock and William Katt there for the piece. My attempt to lose 100 pounds in three days is not going so well. Yes, the whole Taco E. coli Bell thing helped shed a few pounds, but for some reason meth and Slim Fast...not really that tasty when combined.
IN CLOSING
Again, our endless thanks to all the folks like David, Michael Smith, Nikki, Jason Driver, Chuck, Derek from Indiana and Derek "A.K.A. Tony Loco Boy and all the great friends we've met along the way at conventions, online and on Myspace who have helped us to network the movie and reach places we would never have been able to reach.
For some reason, I'm not sure Gamers will ever get mass distributions, perhaps it was the excessive cursing and the total disregard to please anybody other than ourselves and our friends. This is not a movie for the masses and I'm proud of that fact. It was a God Damn miracle to get the thing made. $120K might as well be a million dollars, because, anything over 1K is whole hell of a lot of money to me.
If I got to get spend the rest of my life paying the bank back to do the movie then fine, because, it was worth it. It changed my life in the best way possible and I'd rather do something I'm proud of, then to sell out and make a lot of money for a product that sucks. We grew up in El Monte, California, lower middle class, and we got to make a real movie. Those are odds you're just not suppose to beat and that was due to an amazing cast and crew. Nobody can take that away from us.
Now, I'd break into a Whitney Houston song, but, my puddle of tears have ruined my keyboard...I'm so ga...
Friday, December 15
MicroFilmmaker Magazine gives Gamers a 9 Out of a 10
by
Christopher Folino
on Fri 15 Dec 2006 05:28 AM PST
MicroFilmmaker Magazine did a special film critique of Gamers and gave it a 9 out of a 10.
Here's the full article, it's very detailed. He calls me Mr. Folino, I love it, I thought only my children called me that!
Here are some highlights
The content throughout the film is well-thought out, well-written, and well-acted. They used all SAG actors in this film (more on that in the Use of Budget section), and they really did a great job of portraying the quirky characters in the film.
Lasting Appeal
I’ve watched this film now four or five times, and each time I watch it I find something new to enjoy. I’ve shown this to folks who are familiar with paper RPGs and I’ve shown it to folks who have no familiarity with them, and both have found the films fun and enjoyable. Some distributors may think that this film reaches too niche an audience, whereas, in reality it’s audience is about as diverse as if you combined the audiences for both Napoleon Dynamite and Office Space into a single viewing public.
Overall CommentIf you’re interested in seeing a very enjoyable comedy or if you just would like to see how good the lowest cost 35mm film can be, then you should definitely check out Gamers. It easily holds its own with some of the best comedies Hollywood’s been able to produce as far as both content and production quality. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Folino will do in his next film, especially if his next film is a sequel which looks at those addicted to Massive Multi-Player Online RPGs!
Wednesday, December 13
Movie News & Cruel things to do to your family for Christmas
by
Christopher Folino
on Wed 13 Dec 2006 06:31 AM PST
I spoke with the Channel 7 Entertainment reporter, George Pennachio and December 19th or 20th, we are tentatively scheduled for the ABC interview. If it's the 20th we can get Kelly LeBrock to also join.
Kelly was in Ireland visiting her Aunt who retired as a nun after 50 years. Kelly LeBrock having an Aunt who is a nun. So there you got a new sitcom, hot supermodel who has to go live with a nun, that's got to make at least be better than anything National Lampoon is doing.
I got to speak with Kelly and she was pretty funny, she was like "Gamers? That was centuries ago, you'll have to remind me again when we do the interview how I got involved."
How she got involved with Gamers is a great story, and I'll save it for the interview.
I got a Nintendo Wii and played it last night. It's a lot of fun, it really is. My daughter got hooked watching me bowl an amazing score of 156 (That's right, I am a bowling Goddess) and that was sober and then I had to share playing time with her, which was total bullshit!
She's almost six, why would she be interested in a Wii? It's made for 38 year old males. Whatever, I had to pretend to be a nice parent, she ended up throwing a pretty good fastball in the Wii Baseball game. I take credit for that, it's all those years I've made her made her prepare my vodka and yagermister shots, it's really made her arms limber.
The Wii is great for fat people, serious, it will force your fat ass to move and shake off that McASS! You can't get KFC and still play, you can get away with that crap playing an XBOX 360, but, not a Wii.
CRUEL THINGS TO DO TO YOUR FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS
Every year, I am so tempted to pay $19.95 for Richard Hatch to call my brothers Michael and Steven and leave this personalized message.
"Hi Michael, it Richard Hatch, Apollo from Battle Star Galactica., listen your mother whose been dead since 1997, God rest her soul left her in her will, some messages she wanted to get you both after you've grown up a bit. So for the next 10 years, on Christmas day, I Apollo, will be calling you with your mom's special message. So here we go, Mike, I never loved you as much as Christopher, I worry your children will grow up to be full time criminals, just like the path you were going to take, until I sent you at an early age for shock therapy. Try it on your kid's it should work. Also, your real father is Charles Manson who I visited in prison. Go see him, he's really a nice fellow once you get past all the hate and the fact that he's a crazed murderer. Also, Michael, I wanted to let you know that I slept with your wife. Well, I think that's enough sharing this Christmas! I'll speak beyond the grave to you next year! Love Mom voiced by Richard Hatch, Apollo from Battle Star Galactica."
My other brother Steven, I'd screw with more, since he's the middle child, I'd only have my mom pay for Ron Palillo, who played Arnold Horshack in Welcome Back Kotter.
So, that's my blog, I got to go make a call to hollywoodiscalling, this is going to be the best Christmas ever!
Tuesday, December 12
Logan's Run...not such a bad idea
by
Christopher Folino
on Tue 12 Dec 2006 04:19 AM PST
ABC interview is still on, just not today.
Once we figure out the details, I promise I will "Whore it out"
See, Ari Gold can have the phrase "Hug it out", I'll coin the phrase "Whore it out!"
That's right back-to-back blogs!
Christ! It's my early Christmas gift to all two of you who read this blog! Dad, Mom...oh wait, mom is dead.
Okay, then one.
Dave Hanson who plays Reese in Gamers, turned 29 yesterday...that's right folks, according to the movie "Logan's Run", the only thing you can't have in Logan's world is your 30th birthday. Unless you run away.
When I watched Logan's Run as a kid, I was like, right now, fucking old people should die, that is an awesome world!
It was traumatic as a kid, whenever you had to kiss old relatives...they always went for the lips...pure torture.
And then to make matters worse, I was an Altar Boy and do you know how many old people's tongues you'd see when they were dishing out the holy communion. Your whole fucking job is to hold that silver plate with a handle to catch crumbs and drool.
Oh, so Logan's Run made perfect sense and you know what? If we applied that law in the United States, it would light a fire under the asses of every single American.
Christ, Bruce Springsteen created the entire "Born to Run" album at the age of 23 or 24, he must of read the book.
Now, if I was to have been terminated by the age of 30, my greatest accomplishment in life would of been, Intellivsion Baseball. I would of been the God Damn King of the game. And I would have been known for being able to light, shoot and edit "wood" with a flare and style that Francis Ford Coppola only wished he could have done. That was my job, I worked at the Home Depot doing corporate videos about wood.
I like the concept of Logan's Run and I think we should tweak it a bit, to cover all the late bloomers like myself.
Now, not much has changed even with an extra eight years. I still am a God at Intellivision Baseball, however, I have this blog and the movie. I think I've brought a little joy to at least 45 people with the movie.
Now, I don't count the kids or the wife, this blog is all about personal achievement.
So what we should do then in today's society is have a hearing at the age of thirty, if it looks like your slacking and all you do is go on XBOX live at the age of thirty or older and rack up "Achievement Points" then fuck yeah, it's an early termination for your ass.
However, if you show promise, you get a two year extension on your life and as long as your contributing to the arts, science, or the better well being of the world, well, then you continue to get life extensions.
So, there you have it, the most thought out blog at 4:07 in the morning.
Now, I need to go and start figuring out how I can get that two year extension again.
Monday, December 11
Headline News & Gamers The Movie Update
by
Christopher Folino
on Mon 11 Dec 2006 04:54 AM PST
HEADLINE NEWS
Nicolas Cage Plans to Cut Back on ActingToo bad he didn't make this decision before shooting Ghost Rider or the last 20 movies or so he's appeared in.
DEAR WESLEY SNIPES "ALWAYS BET ON THE IRS"
Snipes pleaded not guilty to charges he fraudulently claimed refunds totalling nearly $12 million from taxes he paid in 1996 and 1997. The federal indictment accuses Snipes of using an accounting firm known for filing false returns in exchange for 20 percent of all the money refunded and he is also charged with failing to file any tax returns from 1999 to 2004. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the charges.
Wow! I see a Blade 4,5,6,7,8, and even "A White Man or Wesley Snipes Can't Out Jump the IRS" movie comng out real soon to pay off the government.
Knowles Treats Jay-Z to $3 Million Birthday Bash -What the fuck?
This makes me ill. Serious, the guy is 37 years old. Buy him a Playstation 3 and a Nintendo Wii and give him so oral...okay!
And hell even score him some real beer, since he's the official "Return of the Budweiser King" guy.
By the way, your a pussy JAY-Z, when did it become cool in a commerical to have another dude drive you around in an expensive sports car while trying to flirt with a hot chick. That is so gay. You can't sing, drive, and flirt at the same time? You pussy! You call yourself a rapper?
Back to the fucking expensive birthday party! 3 Million dollars for a three-day birthday party in the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean what the fuck? Did you get to eat some islanders or perhaps hunt a whale?
Christ! I cringe when my wife wants to spend over 100 dollars on our kid's birthday party.
Serious, 3 million dollars? How fucking rich do you have to be to have 3 million dollars to piss away like that? Wesley Snipe rich?
God, this pisses me off, as we try to get back at least the 120K we spent on our movie. If I ever move out of lower middle class status, the most I'll spend on anybody's party who is over the age of thirty is exaclty $42.87.
That's a nice gift and a twinkie with a candle....you're golden! (That is such a Scott Allen Rinker line, I miss that Snapple boy!)
GAMERS THE MOVIE NEWS
December is turning out to be an amazing month for Gamers The Movie.
ABC, CHANNEL 7 INTERVIEW
On Tuesday, December 12th William Katt and I, our tentatively scheduled to go to ABC, Los Angeles to be interviewed by
George Pennacchio about the movie and how the cast was gathered for the indie film.
Again, I wish we could take the whole cast. This is perhaps the biggest opportunity to date we would have to get the word out that this movie exists!
MICROFILMMAKER GIVES GAMERS THE MOVIE A 9 OUT OF 10 -FULL REVIEW COMING DECEMBER 15TH
A new review of the film that covers in detail acting, audio, camera work, lighting, budget...etc..
The review comes out December 15th and it's awesome. I'm really proud of the review and the entire cast and crew get their dues!
STARZ EDGE TO PROFILE GAMERS THE MOVIE ON DECEMBER 16th
I have Direct TV and on the west coast it appears to be on at 8AM, the show is called Starz Gamer.TV.
We have no idea what angle the story is taking, we didn't do any interviews, we gave them our blessing to use whatever they want from the DVD! Should be cool though!
CNN PIPELINE STORY
And if you missed it, here is the link for the CNN Pipeline story about the movie that was recently done. The camera really does put on 130 pounds.
And lastly, all the thanks and admiration in the world goes to Alison Bradley from www.wackypuppy.com for making our web site look so damn cool!
And don't forget the DVD makes a hell of a christmas present, that's all my children are getting for Christmas. My Daughter wants a Bratz doll! Fuck that noise! Baby gets a copy of Gamers!
And if any family member is reading this blog, Dad, guess what you're getting? A copy of the movie! And you want to get me a gift this year? How about a copy of Gamers the movie or a nice Gamers the Movie T-Shirt!
Thursday, December 7
New Review of Gamers -B+
by
Christopher Folino
on Thu 07 Dec 2006 07:40 AM PST
http://www.flaglive.com/flagstafflive_story.cfm?storyID=142254
Reviewed by Sam Mossman
Highlight from article
"I really enjoyed this movie. I laughed. I wept. I learned a lot about myself. Actually, I just laughed, heartily and often, but then again I’m a gamer. I got all the inside jokes and I have met people just like these guys many times over the years. Despite the seemingly narrow target audience of “Gamers” the film definitely has something to offer everyone, its irreverent humor is a perfect mix of wit and obscenity that plays well off the subject matter. Additionally, the documentary style eases the audience into the world of “Gamers” slowly enough that people not familiar with the hobby can pick up enough to follow along without trouble."
Been slacking on the blog and a great Michael Bell Story
by
Christopher Folino
on Thu 07 Dec 2006 12:24 AM PST
I've been slacking on the blog.
Been spending time with the family, where the hell are my priorities?
I was on IMDB and looked up Abe Vigoda, they have a direct contact phone number for him
(323) 937-1313
They list his age as 85. What do you say to Abe? Serious?
"I really, really, really, though you were dead like 10 years ago!"
So, how is your health? Really? Again, I just to go back to my early comment, I really, really, really, thought you bit the dust!
My God, are you sure you're healthy? Did you somehow make a deal with the devil?"
I got to have lunch with the greatest voice actor and perhaps one of the funniest people in the world today,Michael Bell.
I love this guys stories! They're so fucked up, it's awesome!
He told this one story, I won't even do it justice about the time he was at Bob Newhart's party and Don Rickles shows up and Don is just bagging on everybody, and at the time, Michael was just breaking in to Hollywood, he was young and Don was at his prime.
So Don was making fun of all the guest, and he comes over to Michael Bell, who is the only guest sitting down, everybody else got up to greet Don.
So Don, lays into Michael about what a worthless piece of shit and how he's he's not standing-up and what a no-talent pretty boy he is.
And Michael Bell just laughs and says "It's honor to meet you sir, I'm sorry Mr. Rickles, I wish I could stand."
Michael then taps on both of his legs and with a straight face says "But, you know... nam."Don Rickles turns white, and starts to apologize and he's kissing Michael's ass for a few minutes and offers to get him a drink.
Michael Bell stands up and says "I'll get it myself"
He got Don so good, and Don loved him from that moment on.
I didn't do it justice, however, it's a funny ass story. And when asses became funny instead of hot...I don't know.
Michael Bell voice is everywhere, serious, turn on the TV.
It was funny, this past week somebody sent me this link to a video done in 1982 by the marketing team at Activision which is hysterical.
And I swear to God, I listened to the Kaboom TV commercial and I said "That's Michael Bells voice!"
And today, I got to play the clip for him and sure enough, it was his voice.
And then I asked him, if he did a voice for the cartoon show on Disney called "Handy Mandy" that I was watching with the twins, the part Michael played was of a salesmen trying to win a toaster for his wife.
And sure enough, it was him also.
I now can add onto my resume -Ability to identify Michael Bell's voice.
That could the special skill that lands me that new awesome job, directing the Hobbit!
Keeping things in the cartoon world, here now are the two most horrific things ever done to fuck up a cartoon show
1. Tom and Jerry
Perhaps one of the greatest cartoons ever, it had violence, mortal enemies, and it was funny. And did I mention my love for the violence?
And what did some studio fuck nut do? They made Tom and Jerry friends! What the fuck? This Mouse and Cat would never be friends! You'd have peace in the middle east long before Jerry trusted Tom.
They made Tom and Jerry total pussies. Serious, it was all down hill for my childhood after that, I got into drinking and dealing "white lines" to the garbage pale kids.
2. Pink Panther talks
Good lord, this was a crime against humanity! After such a classic cartoon, another studio fuck head hired the voice of Max Headroom and got him to be the voice of the Pink Panther. It was pure, unfiltered, 100 percent grade A shit!
I could talk about Scooby Doo's retarded fucked up nephew, however, it was no way near the level of crap as Tom and Jerry and The Pink Panther.
Monday, December 4
Monday Night Blog
by
Christopher Folino
on Mon 04 Dec 2006 10:06 PM PST
I spent a great deal of my weekend playing Bratz Forever Diamonds the video game. My daughter was in tears wanting to get the Ice Skating level. So, after five cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon, and beating my head with a baseball bat, I got in touch with my inner Bratz. Hell, I gave up gambling on football to complete the game, if I don't get father of the year, then it's all just a bullshit award then!
I had the eye of the fashion tiger! I am perhaps the greatest 38 year old male to ever play the game...well, at least among the straight guys.
I don't even think a straight guy is allowed to finish this game.
I'm not going to brag, but, I even found a bug in the game and called the guy in PD who manages the game and had to get him to give me his saved game, so, I could complete the story for my five year old daughter.
I have secured my future, for this kind act, my daughter will now place me in a retirement home full of elderly strippers when I reach my golden years.
I am so going to get laid, when I'm older! That's of course, if my wife dies before me and I lose my mental facilities.
Yes, that's what fuels me to get through life every day!
GAMERS UPDATE
A lot of great stuff, I'm thrilled to report.
ABC Channel 7 Los Angeles, interview update.
We are just waiting to hear back if it's still a go for this week. We may be able to get Beverly D'Angelo to talk about why she appeared in the movie if we can schedule it for Thursday.
This would be an amazing opportunity and God knows it would be our biggest exposure to date for TV.
New Review of the movie coming out Thursday
I got a surprising call today from
on Thursday they'll be posting a review of the film.
I always love reviews of the film, it keeps me motivated to keep things going.
Email to Kevin Smith
Today, for the hell of it, I wrote Kevin Smith an email on his MySpace and asked if I could send him the movie and if he likes it, if we can use a quote on our web site.
Hell, I'm not even sure he reads those emails, I figured what the hell? I got nothing to lose.
We never heard back from one single staff member from Aint it Cool News, and we even had Kelly LeBrock call Harry Knowles.
DVD gets ready to ship to Diamond Comic Books this week
Diamond Comics! Finally, we believe on Wednesday we will get the order and all the details to ship the movie out.
I'll post the final DVD orders once we get them.
Special Critique of Gamers by Microfilmmaker coming soon
And coming soon thanks to Nikki, MicroFilmmaker Magazine will be doing a special Critique of Gamers,
Jeremy Hanke the editor of the magazine, that boy puts your movie through the grinder, so I'm excited as hell to see what he's got to say.
Sunday, December 3
I'm a racist at restaurants when it comes to who the cook is
by
Christopher Folino
on Sun 03 Dec 2006 07:18 AM PST
When I’m out at a restaurant, I’m a total racist when it comes to whose cooking my food.
Serious, I live in Newbury Park, CA it’s 40 miles away from Los Angeles, it might as well me 40,000 because, in this part of town, if you want Italian food, the owner and head cook is Chinese. Yep, it’s not Franco or Mario serving you pasta, it’s Mr. Chow.
And what’s bizarre is if you drive three miles down to the Chinese restaurant, it has a white head cook named Stew.
And wait, there’s more, if you’re craving sushi, there’s a restaurant that has an all Mexican sushi chef.
What the hell is wrong in the restaurant world here?
Serious, can’t they at least get some out of work actors who are the correct ethnic race to pretend to be the head cooks?
How hard is it to find a fat drunk Italian guy who’s an actor to come in on the weekends to kiss babies and pinch old ladies?
Hell Steve Segal doesn’t appear to be too busy and he’s played a cook twice.
And how cool would be to hire Jackie Chan as the Chinese cook, get a little show and miso soup at the same time? Me would likie that long time!
Okay, that’s my main Sunday rant.
Now, I just got XBOX LIVE, for the 360 if you want to play Texas Holdem or watch me die in five seconds on Gears of WAR my gamerstag is very original.
It’s Gamers TheMovie. Yes, my shame has no boundaries.
What I’ve discovered about XBOX LIVE using those jacked-up head sets, everybody sounds stoned and my first conversation I got to hear were a group of gamers talking about how they pirate movies and asked if Gamers The Movie was worth pirating.
Fucking bastards! I may have to get a Nintendo Wii and not subject myself to this kind of pain!
I’m waiting for Monday to show off something cool, our MySpace friend Dave, the Dork Dungeon did.
Friday, December 1
GOODBYE YELLOW WIGGLE DUDE
by
Christopher Folino
on Fri 01 Dec 2006 05:25 AM PST
So sorry, I've been too distraught to blog since finding out that Greg Page, the yellow Wiggle is calling it quits due to a chronic condition that causes dizziness, fatigue and nausea. I suffer from this also, it's called alcohol poisoning.
However, Page has been battling health troubles since undergoing a double hernia operation last December.
You don't understand, I currently watch at least two Wiggles DVDs twice a day with the twin boys.
It's the only weapon I have to keep them still for ten minutes without attempting to couch dive or to destroy what is left of our home.
Nothing else works, Cinemax at night?..nope. Oprah?..they actually urinate on the TV screen when she comes on.
Good lord, does that make them racists? Do I have racists 16 month old twins?
Can I get them on TV wearing Gamers the Movie "Jerky Bitch" T-Shirts?
And for some reason the DVD of Faces of Death volume 3-12, makes them more hyper.
So, it's the Wiggles that calm them down and work like six shots of jagermeister!
Hell, with my daughter and since I'm a horrible father, it was more like six times a day for two years straight.
Every time she was awake and I was hung over, pop goes the Wiggles tape!
I have seen the Wiggles in concert twice! Once with Greg as the lead singer and once with his new replacement, Sam Wiggle.
I have to admit, I will miss the calm soothing voice of Greg Page. And for all the shit I write about the Wiggles, I've never noticed them look like they didn't enjoy what they were doing. Sometimes, you can tell that the puppet masters on Sesame Street, just wants to smack the living shit out of some of the children for not paying attention. It's very disturbing.
It may be an Australian thing, to be able to disguise how much you hate your job. I will have to ask the great Mike Smith from Indie Film Nation about that one.
However, I truly believe that the Wiggles love to sing "Toot, Toot, Chuga, Chuga, in the big red car." every time.
I really do.
So, Greg Page, good luck, and here at the Folino house the Yellow Wiggle Jersey will be retired. Right, next to my Kermit the Frog puppet to remember the great late Jim Henson for and to the left of my original Speed Racer cast member posters that represent years of awesome cartoon violence.
GAMERS THE MOVIE UPDATE
CNN Pipeline interview was cool. I went down to the Los Angeles headquarters with the great director of photography Roberto Blasini who is not only the greatest D.P. in the free world, he's also a hell of guy who is a calming force. He's like the Wiggles and a bottle of expensive jagermeister all wrapped into one!
We sat in the green room, which had horrible reception of the CNN channel. You would figure the opposite? And hanging on the wall, is a huge canvas of this fucked up stick figure drawing of a boat with two stick figures on it. The drawing was done in 2004 by Larry King's children. Aren't his kid's like 62 years old? Fucking bullshit that the old man didn't spend some money on teaching them how to draw noses. I'm joking, I think the man at the age of 120 is still spawning children.
So, the interview was live, I had no idea what questions they would be asking or how long the interview was going to be. It was a great experience and I'm happy to say that it may lead to another new segment about the movie on ABC, Los Angeles news.
We are trying to work out all the details, it will be a segment on entertainment. I'll write more the second it's either a go or not.
Also, a segment about Gamers will be on STARZ EDGE, the movie channel on December 16th.
And for all the folks at home who care, I withdrew all the money from the gambling site so we could pay off the music bill.
I am now gambling on what my children will grow to be? If you want in, it's fifty dollars and a case of jagermeister to help me influence them to become contributing healthy members of society. Hell, the boys could grow up to something greater than President, maybe a blue and yellow Wiggle.
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