2011 was definitely the year of Laying Over. It was last January that Jake and I met for the first time to talk about it. Between raising the money, casting, finding the crew that helped make it happen, and filming, it's been a wild ride. Entering 2012, we will soon start post-production. We want to send out a big Thank You to everyone - the donors, cast, crew, extras, Sips & Bites, Heaven's Gate, Kevin McCarthy (whose work you see above), our parents, our bosses (who let us take off work), our friends (who let us invade their apartments), and who can forget Mohammed the taxi driver?! On behalf of everything and everyone, thank you thank you thank youuuu from the bottom of our silly filmmaker hearts.
As for Rachel, this is what I think she would say: Just as low as the lows were this year, the highs of 2011 were extraordinarily great. I think I'm going to remember 2011 as one of the best, worst, and most important years of my life, all at the same time. I have a good feeling about 2012...but I hope Meredith doesn't make me wear a stupid party hat tonight...
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Not the cult
Heaven's Gate
We rounded up a bunch of friends and shot the band performing at Death by Audio last week for a scene in the movie. Check out their music: http://heavensgate.bandcamp.com/
We rounded up a bunch of friends and shot the band performing at Death by Audio last week for a scene in the movie. Check out their music: http://heavensgate.bandcamp.com/
Thursday, December 1, 2011
"Laying Over" does Florida!
With (almost all) principal photography just a little over a week away, I thought I'd share some production stills from a little scene we shot down south last weekend starring the bold D. Seth Gleeson and beautiful Fort Myers beach...
broom stick for DIY boompole
taping the mic 
the talent resting on his throne w/ nick armas - sound man extraordinaire
level checking
appears to be all good!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Lists, plans, etc.
Laying Over is a film about...
Grayson
Rachel
Grayson and Rachel
Rachel's break up
Grayson's flight
Shitty jobs
twentysomethings
wet suits
cheating hearts
best friends
first loves
bushwick
big cities
old feelings
As for me & the rest of the crew, we're in moviemaking magic mode. Locking locations, putting the final touches on casting, rehearsing, etc. We had a test shoot on Sunday. Here's a screencap from it:
Oooh, aaah...
Grayson
Rachel
Grayson and Rachel
Rachel's break up
Grayson's flight
Shitty jobs
twentysomethings
wet suits
cheating hearts
best friends
first loves
bushwick
big cities
old feelings
As for me & the rest of the crew, we're in moviemaking magic mode. Locking locations, putting the final touches on casting, rehearsing, etc. We had a test shoot on Sunday. Here's a screencap from it:
Oooh, aaah...
Thursday, September 15, 2011
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!
THE CAPS LOCK IS PRESSED AND THE EMOTIONS ARE ELECTRIC BECAUSE WE HAVE FLOWN PAST OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $8,000 WITH 2 DAYS LEFT TO RAISE EVEN MORE!
Okay, that might have been a little intense. But yeah, needless to say we are so happily grateful and gratefully happy because of all you fine people! I even wrote a little post about it pouring my heart out here. But for all you non backers, I just want to extend my extreme gratitude to anyone who took the time out of their day to help spread the word, visit the kickstarter page, or even show interest in our little project. Without every single one of you, this movie would just be some words typed onto a piece of paper. You guys are Dr. Frankenstein and are helping bring it aliiiiiive!
Sooooo this is probably the last time I'll push this link out (okay, let's be real, I'll probably do it once more tomorrow), but please contribute any way you can while there is still time left - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1739440328/laying-over
Thanks so much again. Y'all are the bee's knees.
Love,
Jake
Friday, September 9, 2011
Memory lane
I first read the script for Laying Over in January. Jake and I met to talk about it over Thai food. I think I got the Pad See Ew. Not really sure though. I was like "This script's cool bro, if you want me to be Rachel then goddammit I'll do it."
Nine months later I'm also a co-writer and co-producer, and we've raised over SIX GRAND. But while I signed on in January 2011, this film's been a year and a half in the making. It's a labor of love for every single person involved, including everyone reading this post. We need your help to reach our fundraising goal of $8,000. We're only one week away from the deadline!
Everyone who knows me well knows that behind this hard gangsta exterior, I have a sentimental heart. I'm secretly a big fan of babies, cute puppies, and sappy movies. Hell, I even cried during Big Momma's House (you know the scene where Big Momma comforts Nia Long).
Thinking about how far we've come is a trip down memory lane. But we're not done yet. Oh no.
Click here to donate and help make "Laying Over" happen.
Nine months later I'm also a co-writer and co-producer, and we've raised over SIX GRAND. But while I signed on in January 2011, this film's been a year and a half in the making. It's a labor of love for every single person involved, including everyone reading this post. We need your help to reach our fundraising goal of $8,000. We're only one week away from the deadline!
Everyone who knows me well knows that behind this hard gangsta exterior, I have a sentimental heart. I'm secretly a big fan of babies, cute puppies, and sappy movies. Hell, I even cried during Big Momma's House (you know the scene where Big Momma comforts Nia Long).
Thinking about how far we've come is a trip down memory lane. But we're not done yet. Oh no.
Click here to donate and help make "Laying Over" happen.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Taking off...
We're at about 30 percent with the donations and couldn't be more grateful for all the support!
In other news in the "Laying Over" camp, our Kickstarter campaign just got some great coverage from Stephen Saito (IFC.com, among others) over at his cool new website, The Moveable Fest. Check it out here:
We're beyond ecstatic with how it turned out. Still, there are only 16 short fundraising days left and although we've surpassed $2k, we've got quite a long way to go before we hit that glorious $8k mark.
So why not give a little bit? Help spread the word? Trust me, good things will happen if you do. Want proof? Proof.
can't stop/won't stop,
Jake
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
WWRD
So 5 days in we reach the $1000+ mark on Kickstarter. Pretty fantastic. I've gotta send some thank-you letters out to a couple of special folks in my life who continue to support me. At this rate I have no doubt in my mind we'll surpass our $8,000 goal.
So we got this blog and we thought it was just the thing you do. Making a feature? Gotta have a website, right? But who really wants to read blog posts updating you on how much money we're raising? I probably wouldn't. So, I'd like to propose an entry called WWRD...WHAT WOULD RACHEL DO?? Every single day I go through my own personal routine, and as I've gotten more and more involved in "Laying Over," the more I think about what Rachel would do in my shoes.
The past two weeks since I came back from a shoot in New Mexico I've been apartment hunting. It's been two years since I've had to do that, and good god does it suck. It's really terrible. I mean it, people. Between the large but windowless pest infected closets you find on Craigslist, to the sleazy landlords who somehow think it's ok to sell these spaces as apartments for a grand a month, New York City seems to be transforming into Disneyland for the rich. It seems like in order for one who is less affluent to be able to afford to live here, one must sacrifice either safety, space, live far from hubs of commerce, or all of the above. I am lucky to have so many friends in NYC. I cannot imagine what it would be like for someone like Rachel who barely knew anyone when she arrived here 2 years ago.
Rachel's only been in New York City for 2 years, so she hasn't yet discovered the glorious Valhalla of good food and kind faces that is Queens. So, she'd also probably be looking in Brooklyn too. Here are some real life (and possibly exaggerated) scenarios I've encountered apartment hunting:
$1600 bushwick 2 bedroom railroad - My future potential roommate, let's call him Kevyne Tran (to protect his identity) and I show up 5 minutes early. Kevyne leaves to get a coffee. Sitting alone on the stoop, I successfully attract 4 middle-aged men asking me what my name is.
WWRD? She tells the men her name is Nelly Furtado. They seem impressed. Kevyne returns with coffee. The men disperse. The super shows up an hour late. Rachel and Kevyne kill time by chain smoking and spotting Presidents in the clouds. The super arrives and refuses to shake Rachel's hand. There is no sink in the bathroom. Rachel's already over it.
$2100 greenpoint 3 bedroom - I meet my two potential roommates, Kevyne Tran and Gyna Pollack (name's been changed to protect her identity), at the place which is located right next to NYC's beloved highway, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. We are surprised to be greeted by ten other stupid young twentysomethings desperately seeking a place to live.
WWRD? The apartment is OK inside. Two rooms face the BQE and one doesn't. Gyna wants the one away from the highway. Rachel and Kevyne agree, as long as their rent is lower. Rachel stands for a minute in the bedroom next to the BQE, trying to transform the roar of trucks speeding by into the tranquil sound of crickets that used to chirp outside her window growing up. "Just like crickets," she reasons with herself, "Like huge, metal crickets." She steps outside the room. One of the other stupid young twentysomethings already placed a deposit on the apartment. Shit.
$600 fort greene, 1 bedroom sublet I get a tip from a friend who lives in the building that her cool neighbor is looking to sublet a room. I call the guy that morning and we arrange to meet at 5pm that night. I've been to their building tons of times before to see my friend so I'm pretty excited about this. Good price, good location, friendly neighbors.
WWRD? Rachel shows up 15 minutes early but doesn't want to seem too eager. She texts him at 4:55pm. When he doesn't reply she gets nervous and calls him. On the phone he sounds confused. He forgot about their appointment and reschedules. She walks back to the subway. In the meantime, he calls back and asks if she can wait for him for 30 minutes. She agrees and walks around the neighborhood which is really nice, she's getting excited. The strap on her sandal breaks, so she finds a Payless Shoe Source on Myrtle Avenue. They only have sandals with American flag designs. She decides to just keep on her broken sandals, which fall off if she walks faster than 5 miles per hour. She arrives back at the apartment 15 minutes late and sees the room in question. It's the exact same size as a full size mattress. And no windows. She knew it was too cheap to be good.
I'll end this post with a link to an article The Onion published about a year ago: http://www.theonion.com/articles/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-realize-new-york-c,18003/
So we got this blog and we thought it was just the thing you do. Making a feature? Gotta have a website, right? But who really wants to read blog posts updating you on how much money we're raising? I probably wouldn't. So, I'd like to propose an entry called WWRD...WHAT WOULD RACHEL DO?? Every single day I go through my own personal routine, and as I've gotten more and more involved in "Laying Over," the more I think about what Rachel would do in my shoes.
The past two weeks since I came back from a shoot in New Mexico I've been apartment hunting. It's been two years since I've had to do that, and good god does it suck. It's really terrible. I mean it, people. Between the large but windowless pest infected closets you find on Craigslist, to the sleazy landlords who somehow think it's ok to sell these spaces as apartments for a grand a month, New York City seems to be transforming into Disneyland for the rich. It seems like in order for one who is less affluent to be able to afford to live here, one must sacrifice either safety, space, live far from hubs of commerce, or all of the above. I am lucky to have so many friends in NYC. I cannot imagine what it would be like for someone like Rachel who barely knew anyone when she arrived here 2 years ago.
Rachel's only been in New York City for 2 years, so she hasn't yet discovered the glorious Valhalla of good food and kind faces that is Queens. So, she'd also probably be looking in Brooklyn too. Here are some real life (and possibly exaggerated) scenarios I've encountered apartment hunting:
$1600 bushwick 2 bedroom railroad - My future potential roommate, let's call him Kevyne Tran (to protect his identity) and I show up 5 minutes early. Kevyne leaves to get a coffee. Sitting alone on the stoop, I successfully attract 4 middle-aged men asking me what my name is.
WWRD? She tells the men her name is Nelly Furtado. They seem impressed. Kevyne returns with coffee. The men disperse. The super shows up an hour late. Rachel and Kevyne kill time by chain smoking and spotting Presidents in the clouds. The super arrives and refuses to shake Rachel's hand. There is no sink in the bathroom. Rachel's already over it.
$2100 greenpoint 3 bedroom - I meet my two potential roommates, Kevyne Tran and Gyna Pollack (name's been changed to protect her identity), at the place which is located right next to NYC's beloved highway, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. We are surprised to be greeted by ten other stupid young twentysomethings desperately seeking a place to live.
WWRD? The apartment is OK inside. Two rooms face the BQE and one doesn't. Gyna wants the one away from the highway. Rachel and Kevyne agree, as long as their rent is lower. Rachel stands for a minute in the bedroom next to the BQE, trying to transform the roar of trucks speeding by into the tranquil sound of crickets that used to chirp outside her window growing up. "Just like crickets," she reasons with herself, "Like huge, metal crickets." She steps outside the room. One of the other stupid young twentysomethings already placed a deposit on the apartment. Shit.
$600 fort greene, 1 bedroom sublet I get a tip from a friend who lives in the building that her cool neighbor is looking to sublet a room. I call the guy that morning and we arrange to meet at 5pm that night. I've been to their building tons of times before to see my friend so I'm pretty excited about this. Good price, good location, friendly neighbors.
WWRD? Rachel shows up 15 minutes early but doesn't want to seem too eager. She texts him at 4:55pm. When he doesn't reply she gets nervous and calls him. On the phone he sounds confused. He forgot about their appointment and reschedules. She walks back to the subway. In the meantime, he calls back and asks if she can wait for him for 30 minutes. She agrees and walks around the neighborhood which is really nice, she's getting excited. The strap on her sandal breaks, so she finds a Payless Shoe Source on Myrtle Avenue. They only have sandals with American flag designs. She decides to just keep on her broken sandals, which fall off if she walks faster than 5 miles per hour. She arrives back at the apartment 15 minutes late and sees the room in question. It's the exact same size as a full size mattress. And no windows. She knew it was too cheap to be good.
I'll end this post with a link to an article The Onion published about a year ago: http://www.theonion.com/articles/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-realize-new-york-c,18003/
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Initial Impressions
Aaaahhhh, so much "liking," loving, and donating in the first couple hours. Thanks so much guys! Let's keep this up...
<3,
Jake
Here we go...
Visit our Kickstarter to see how you can become an integral part in helping make this thing.
Love,
Jake
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