Friday, December 16, 2016

To Kill a Man (2014) - Foreign Film Friday



Number Rolled: 42
Movie Name/Year: To Kill a Man (2014)
Tagline: Revenge is sour.
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Length: 82 minutes
Rating: NR
Production Companies: Arizona Films, El Remanso
Producer: Eduardo Villalobos, Guillaume de Seille
Director: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Writer: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Actors: Daniel Candia, Alejandra Yañez, Daniel Antivilo, Ariel Mateluna, Jennifer Salas, Don Willie, Paula Leoncini, Daniel Urrutia, Eduardo Villalobos, Sol Banoviez
Stunt Doubles: N/A

Languages
Speech Available: Spanish
Subtitles Available: English, Spanish

Blurb from Netflix: The thugs that have taken over Jorge’s middle-class neighborhood push the mild-mannered family man to the brink when they mug him and shoot his son.

Selina’s Point of View:
This movie was a very poor start to our new Foreign Film Fridays. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure whatever the festivals saw in this movie was very educational and technically sound but that doesn’t mean a damn thing for entertainment value.

Where entertainment value is concerned, there was none.

I was literally bored to tears. You know when you have those yawning attacks that start to make your eyes watery? Yeah.


I get what the creators were trying to do with the lack of sound during certain scenes, but it didn’t succeed. Instead of forcing a feeling of suspense, it just made me lose focus and become less interested in what was going on.

There’s are plenty of true stories out there that make phenomenal movies, but this isn’t one of them. Just because something really happened, doesn’t mean there’s enough interest there to keep people watching.

This is a film that could have benefited from being a short instead of a feature. I definitely wouldn’t watch it again.

Cat’s Point of View:
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this movie.

I think the very beginning of the film prior to the title is a good indicator for the rest of the film – slow and drawn out with dramatic music.

I ended up feeling really squirmy and antsy during this movie because I was bored out of my mind; but I couldn’t look away to fidget or I’d miss what was going on.


I’m not sure that this really falls into the ‘thriller’ genre. It does fall squarely into the crime drama zone. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the sort of drama that I enjoy.

The movie claims to be based on a true story. While I can respect that, and conditions in the depicted area of the world aren’t as fortunate as where I call home; I don’t generally choose to watch movies that leave such a bleak feeling in their wake.

Not only was I not entertained, I failed to feel a profound impact from the story that would make the time spent with this drama more worthwhile.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 53%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 2/5
Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score1/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 1.5/5
Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score1/5

The Random Rating: PG-13

P.S. Based on a true story.

Movie Trailer:

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Late Phases (2014)



Number Rolled: 17
Movie Name/Year: Late Phases (2014)
Tagline: The hunt is on.
Genre: Horror
Length: 96 minutes
Rating: NR
Production Companies: Dark Sky Films, Glass Eye Pix, Site B
Producer: Hamza Ali, Joel Alonso, Larry Fessenden, Luis Flores, Brent Kunkle, Greg Newman, Lex Ortega, Andrea Quiroz, Zak Zeman
Director: Adrián García Bogliano
Writer: Eric Stolze
Actors: Nick Damici, Ethan Embry, Lance Guest, Erin Commings, Rutanya Alda, Tom Noonan, Tina Louise, Caitlin O’Heaney, Karen Lynn Gorney, Al Spienza, Bernardo Cubria, Dana Ashbrook, Charles Techman, Hythem Noor, Larry Fessenden, Frances Sherman, Karron Graves, Kareem Savinon, Pun Bandhu, Ralph Cashen, Raina
Stunts: Bryce Burke, Pete Klein, Mariusz Kubicki, Anthony Vincent

Blurb from Netflix: After several of his neighbors are killed by savage dog attacks, a blind Vietnam vet starts to believe that a vicious supernatural force is at work.

Selina’s Point of View:
I enjoy B-movies and I love werewolf mythology. Needless to say, I was super interested in seeing this film when it came up.

I figured Late Phases would be typical and trope-y with a werewolf costume so bad you could see the zipper in it. But I also thought it might fall into the realm of that ‘so bad it’s good’ category. I don’t mind those films. I don’t watch movies to judge techniques. I watch them to be entertained.

However, Late Phases was NOTHING like I thought it would be. Sure, the werewolf costume wasn’t the greatest I’ve ever seen, but they did a hell of a lot with the transformation.

The acting for this film was pretty good. I grew attached to the main character, despite the fact that he was not a likable man. And, can we just talk about the setting and focus characters?

When I read the Netflix blurb I thought the film would be set at an earlier time, right after the Vietnam War. I had NO idea the main characters would be elderly. You don’t see that done often. The last horror film Trust the Dice reviewed that had several elderly actors playing main characters was in Cockneys vs. Zombies (2012). Even then, there were plenty of younger adults to accompany them.


A nearly all elderly cast is pretty much unheard of for this kind of storyline.

I was impressed. There were a few plot holes, and someone trained in gun use held his weapon like a gangster teen that learned to shoot from rap videos once – that bugged me, but I still enjoyed the movie.

To be honest, this may have been the most unique film that I’ve seen in a very long time. The creators took only the tropes that generally ‘have to’ come with a werewolf (transformation, silver bullets, full moon, bites, etc.), and absolutely spit on the rest of them.

I would recommend this film to anyone that’s a fan of werewolf stories. Just, keep in mind, the story is a slow burn.

Cat’s Point of View:
After a really long day, I was looking forward to watching this movie. I was pretty sure that the B-creature feature would let my brain disconnect from the last few days. I have to say, I got more than I expected.

This film elicited a strange dichotomy of response from me. On one hand, I loved it – on the other, there were parts that I didn’t enjoy. I’ll start with the negative so we can leave off on the good note!

Sometimes it just felt like the movie was meandering aimlessly – the blind main character seemed to move with more purpose at points. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the creature aesthetic. However, it wasn’t too horrible.

If the production team here was going for a throwback feel to movies like The Howling (1981) then they nailed it. For a movie released in 2014; somehow I was expecting more.  Then again, the wolves in the Underworld (2003) look a little funny to me, too. Maybe I’m just picky.


On to the good!

This movie was surprisingly engrossing for me. I wasn’t even tempted to fiddle with my phone so much because I didn’t want to look away. I loved the main character, Ambrose. Nick Damici (Never Down, Stake Land, Premium Rush) knocked that out of the park. There was something about him that was just compelling beyond the fact that his character was blind. I bought what he was selling, though he struck me more as the ‘get off my lawn’ type.

I also loved the complicated relationship between Ambrose and his son, Will, played by Ethan Embry (Armed Response, The Guest, Convergence). I felt like I wanted more screen time for Embry but he did make the most of the moments he had.

Lance Guest (Jericho, The Least of These, 21 and a Wake-Up) was an interesting addition to the cast. He’s come a long way from his role as Alex in The Last Starfighter (1984) or one of the Brody boys in Jaws: The Revenge (1987). Obviously that’s quite a gap of time between then and now but I almost didn’t recognize him at all. I don’t suppose that’s a bad thing, all things considered.

I think this movie has more to offer than nostalgia factor and I would feel reasonably comfortable in giving this movie a recommendation to fans of the genre.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 43%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 4/5
Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score4/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 3.5/5
Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score3.5/5

Random Rating - PG-13 

Movie Trailer:

Monday, December 12, 2016

Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015)



Number Rolled: 59
Movie Name/Year: Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015)
Tagline: The giant, man-eating graboids are back and even deadlier.
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Length: 98 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production Companies: Capacity Relations, Universal 1440 Entertainment
Producer: Ogden Gavanski, Lisa Gooding, Alan Shearer
Director: Don Michael Paul
Writer: William Truesmith, M.A. Deuce, John Whelpley, C.J. Strebor
Actors: Brandon Auret, Natalie Becker, Emmanuel Castis, Michael Gross, Daniel Janks, Jamie Kennedy, Ernest Ndlovu, Rea Rangaka, Zak Hendrikz, Lawrence Joffe, Ian Roberts, Sello Sebotsane, Wayne Smith, Matthys Kuhn, Pearl Thusi, Nolitha Zulu,
Stunt Doubles: Dylan Davidson (Jamie Kennedy), Janine Terblanche (Jamie Kennedy), Owen Macrae (Michael Gross)

Blurb from Netflix: When he is hired to capture a deadly creature terrorizing South Africa, survivalist Burt Gummer brings along a new tech-savvy partner.

Selina’s Point of View:
I have to say something super weird right now.

That was like… a real movie.

I mean, all creature features are technically real movies. Actors, directors, writers, etc. When something like this comes up, however, I expect to sit down to a basic-shot, badly acted, campy piece of entertainment. Not really something I would ever have tried to see in theaters, but amusing enough to either be background noise or hold my attention for at least certain parts.

What I just saw was the kind of movie that I may have wanted to see in theaters (if it hadn’t been a straight to DVD thing).

The Tremors (1990-2015) series is a guilty pleasure of mine. I’ve seen the first four, and they’re kind of basic for B-movie creature features. They’re good for people like me who enjoy that kind of stuff. Tremors 5: Bloodlines really kicked things up a notch or two.

From the upgraded monster visuals to the much different cinematography, everything was better in this film. I love the series in general, but after seeing Tremors 5: Bloodlines, I can’t help but wonder if the franchise would have had Jurassic Park levels of popularity if the rest of the films had been handled the same way.


Roughly five minutes into the film I absolutely knew that the people who were once in charge, were not in charge of this one. I wasn’t surprised at all when I turned to IMDb after the movie and found that it was the product of a new director to the series. I’m not familiar with Don Michael Paul’s (Dead Above Ground, The Island, You) body of work, but I’d like to be.

The script was classic Tremors, though. With everything that changed, I’m glad the crew managed to keep the feel of the series alive.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s riddled with tropes and corny jokes, and roughly 98% of the storyline is completely predictable; but you don’t watch a movie like this because you think it’s going to be groundbreaking. You watch this kind of film because it campy, familiar, and entertaining. Also, after spending all day at work, or with your kids, or otherwise trying to pretend to be an adult, maybe you just want to turn off the logic center of your brain for a while.

That’s what movies like Tremors 5: Bloodlines is for, and this film succeeds tremendously at its job.

This film was my favorite of the Tremors series. I’m actually excited for the next one.

Cat’s Point of View:
The Tremors series is really a batch of B-movie creature features that you pretty much have to take with a grain of salt. The original was one of the first horror movies I was allowed to watch when I was younger, so it tends to have a special place in my heart.

I’ve always cringed a little at the name for the killer worms – graboids. I had a toy, when I was little, called popoids. That association could be part of my disconnection. It could also be that the phrase ‘you’ve got graboids’ sounds like the diagnosis of some horrible condition; something a step up from hemorrhoids.

The good news is that, generally, watching these movies doesn’t leave you feeling like you have that affliction. They’re decidedly not Oscar material – but we all know that going in, right?

I have to hand it to the creative team behind these movies. They have certainly tried to keep the story fresh with evolving their big bad critter through the course of the sequels. They’re all still a little bit of a rinse and repeat of the original formula – this movie was no different in that regard.

There has been a long stretch between this new seismic-sensing terror flick and the last offering in this series (which was actually a prequel). Fret not! There’s a framework that sets up a review for you so that you’ll feel like you haven’t missed a thing in spite of this being movie #5.


I remember my reaction the first time I saw Michael Gross (Rosemont, Becoming Santa, Holidays) playing survivalist Burt Gummer. It was a bit trippy to see the dad from Family Ties (1982-1989) as this big hunter ‘gun-nut’ type. Funny enough, he’s the only member of the original cast to have been in all five movies as well as the TV series.

There were some new cast members that brought something interesting to this movie. First, Jamie Kennedy (Ghost Whisperer, Good Deeds, The Sand) was a bit of a surprise here. His dynamic with Gross was enjoyable. 

Out of the rest of the supporting cast, two people stood out to me.  Pearl Thusi (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, Quantico), who played Nandi; and Brandon Auret (Elysium, Alien Outpost, Chappie), who played Johan Dreyer. (I affectionately refer to him as ‘steampunk goggle guy.’)

I love that Thusi’s character seemed to be a community leader, as well as being smart and badass. As for ‘goggle-guy,’ I’m not sure how much of his role was supposed to be comedic – but I was giggling at the levity he brought to some of the scenes all the same.

This new installment was set and filmed in South Africa. It was a refreshing change from Perfection, it still felt a lot like the same old scenery – just this time with lions and elephants.

I’m fairly on the fence with this movie. I didn’t hate it, and it was pretty good in the context of this series. I don’t think I’d recommend it to anyone that wasn’t already a big Tremors fan, however. For those that are giddy for graboids, I do have some good news. In late September of this year, Michael Gross announced on his Facebook page that the studio had green-lit production on a Tremors 6 and he’s already growing his Gummer mustache. Kennedy is said to reprise his role in the next movie, as well.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 37%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 4/5
Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score5/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 3.5/5
Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score3/5

P.S. There’s an extra scene just after the beginning of the credits.

Movie Trailer:

Sunday, December 11, 2016

This Week in Crowdfunding (12/11)

By: Selina


Through “This Week in Crowdfunding,” you’ll find five of the best projects Trust the Dice found hosted on crowdfunding sights this week. These are Films/Web Series’/Shows of varying lengths and genres that we believe in. If you like any of the projects you see here, donate to them, tell your friends, and/or post it on social media.

These projects don’t just need money, they need people to care and spread the word that they exist.

Support creativity. Support indie artists.

Remember that every actor, director, writer, and movie you have ever fallen in love with had to start somewhere.

Trust the Dice does not, and will not, accept payment from project creators for
appearance on this list. Projects are chosen solely on the merit of the idea,
proposal, and people involved.



5 – On the Nose

  
Crowdsource Platform: KICKSTARTER
Director: Gilbert Bannerman
Writer: Gilbert Bannerman, Theo Boswell, and Fergus Burnand
Other Staff: Nicholas Ferguson-Lee (Producer/Sound), Rory Mclean (Cinematography/Editor), Frank Lebon (Cinematography), Eliis Kuusk (Associate Producer/Assistant Director), Izabela Swiderska (Costume Design), Tjasha Stroud (Costume Design), Samuel Jones (Second Assistant Director), Lynda Boudjeltia (Art Director), Sabina Claici (Assistant Camera), Julia Hardecks (Sound), Grace Campbell (Script Supervisor)
Amount Requested: $3,143
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $658 raised by 27 backers.
Type of Goal: All or Nothing – This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by the deadline.

On the Nose is described on Kickstarter as “a twist on a cold war spy thriller” and the artwork accompanying the description of the story is very ‘film noir.’ From what I can see in the descriptions and the introduction video, this film will be a throwback to some of the greats from that general genre.

Not exactly a bad thing, if you ask me.

One of the most interesting things I noted about this film was the perspective the script was written from.

On the Nose is about a man trying to figure out why his wife left him. When he finds out she’s joined up with a theater group that performs on a train, he decides to go see what she’s been working on. When he gets there, he finds that the audience are also given costumes. The costume he’s given is just enough to make it impossible for his ex-wife to recognize him. That gives him the chance to find out what she’s been up to and maybe even why she left.

Seeing this story through the man’s eyes would be interesting. The amount of drama and mystery that could accompany his perspective is limitless. If this film is done right, it could do incredibly well at festivals.

There’s the rub with crowdfunding. You can’t really guarantee the success of a film you back… but there are some very important aspects of a campaign that could indicate a greater possibility that things will work out.

One of the most important things a campaign needs to succeed, is to understand exactly just how much Murphy’s Law can fuck with their production. The team working on this film understands that. This is not their first time working together and, from what they posted on their Kickstarter page, they’ve had to deal with a huge amount of Murphy’s Law in the past.

That’s a really good thing. It means that whatever is thrown at them that might cause failure, they’ll be able to meet head on.

Even if you’re not interested in the story or you don’t see the aspects of this campaign that could make it successful, you might want to look at the rewards. If you pledge enough money to the cause, Nicholas Ferguson-Lee, the producer, has promised to tattoo your name on his butt cheek.

So, at the very least, you can say you own someone’s ass.

If I had a reward of the week segment that would definitely be the winner.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1.27 – Huge Thank You – Warm our hearts over the Christmas season with a quid.
Highest Fund Reward: $2,538 – Tattoo On The Producer’s Bottom – Your name permanently tattooed on Nicholas Ferguson-Lee’s left cheek of his bottom.

4 – Drinking Games


Crowdsource Platform: INDIEGOGO
Director: Bradley Neale
Writer: Unknown
Other Staff: Becky Fumagall (Producer), Hannah Smith (Producer), Jack Jeffery (Director of Photography)
Amount Requested: $3,144
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $1,088 raised by 20 backers.
Type of Goal: Flexible (This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal)

Although no writer is listed on the Indiegogo site, I’d wager a guess that Bradley Neale was responsible for the script. During a portion of the film’s page, there’s a list of cast along with something they’ve said about the film, and you can definitely see the passion behind Neale’s words.

I guess it’s helpful that he actually starts his paragraph off with “I had the idea for Drinking Games…”

Moving on, the story that goes along with Drinking Games is something new that I’ve only started seeing happen in films in the past couple of years. It seems to be along the same lines as something like Nerve (2016). There are just enough differences in the description, however, to make Drinking Games stand on its own.

In many of these films, the victims don’t come face to face with their tormentor until the very end of the story. Such as in the original Saw (2004). In Drinking Games, the antagonist is already mentioned in the description. There’s no “who dun-it” involved.

What I truly love about the way the creators refer to the antagonist, is that they depict him as a psychopath with “a movie star smirk.” I’m a sucker for that evil-behind-beauty thing.

Movies that flip what you expect of the characters just tend to hit a mark that trope-y films don’t. Take, for instance, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010). The entire film was completely based around that tendency people have to judge people by what they look like, or by their caste. That film was awesome because it stuck so true to that.

I believe that Drinking Games has the potential to take their plot and turn it into something significantly worth watching.

For England locals, the Drinking Games team intends to hold some fundraising activities in person. There is no information for that just yet, but donating to the campaign would make it very easy to follow along with updates like that.

Also, I spoke with the director and he wanted to relay the message to everyone that they will begin shooting this thriller in February and that contributors will be invited to their exclusive premiere when the film is complete. Currently, Neale foresees that date as falling somewhere in May 2017.

Lowest Fund Reward: $12.57 – Virtual High-five! – Thanks! Any kind of donation we really appreciate it so have a high five from us! And a digital wrap photo of the cast and crew on set.
Highest Fund Reward: $314.36 – Part of the crew – Be a part of the crew! Have you ever fancied taking part in the film world? Here’s your chance to get that Associate Producer Credit you never knew you wanted. Alongside all the previous perks.

3 – Morning Glory



Crowdsource Platform: KICKSTARTER
Director: Robert Bertrand
Writer: Robert Bertrand
Other Staff: Tim Jolly (Cinematographer), Emmy Anshaw (Assistant Director), John Ryder (Sound Recordist), Jade-Marie Joseph (Cast), Bianca Beckles-Rose (Cast)
Amount Requested: $3,772
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $590 raised by 20 backers.
Type of Goal: All or Nothing (This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by the deadline)

Morning Glory is a film about two best friends that are heading down roads that will undoubtedly separate them.

By this point in my life, I’ve had many different best friends that I have parted ways with. Some of them I miss, others I regret missing with my car. I think by my age, everyone feels the same way. That makes the story of this film incredibly relatable.

Most of the time, in films, when two friends are shown parting ways it’s because of some great betrayal. Sure, sometimes that happens in real life. In fact, it happens much more than it should. However, that’s not what happens the majority of the time. Usually, when two best friends part ways, it’s simply because their lives pull them apart. For most people it’s because they went to different schools, moved out of state, got vastly different jobs with vastly different schedules, or had to dedicate their time to building new families.

In Morning Glory the reason the friends are separating is because their careers are taking them on two separate paths. It seems like a realistic, down-to-earth drama.

A lot of dramas take their plot to the extreme because people believe drama can only come from extremes. That’s not true. When you know something bad is going to happen, or you’re going to lose someone on a specific date, a kind of dread collects in your core and bubbles hotter and hotter until that moment comes.

In films, like the kind Morning Glory seems to be, the burn is slow but effective. When you combine that kind of tried and true set up with an experienced cast and crew, you can wind up with something magnificent.

As good as all that is, there’s another piece of the film’s Kickstarter page that’s understated, but stands out as a beacon of possible success.

The introduction video for Morning Glory starts off very typical. Robert Bertrand, writer/director, is seen in the video simply explaining things. He mentions that they’ve finished casting and started rehearsals. He also introduced the crew in general. Basic stuff, until you get to the middle.

According to the video, they ran out of funding and had to improvise.

The fact that the team ran out of money and still managed to finish the video in an engaging and humorous way is a, very subtle, big deal. It means they likely have plans for when things go wrong. That adds a certain layer of risk protection to investors. In the crowdfunding world, it’s important to not ignore things like that.

Lowest Fund Reward: $12.57 – HIGH FIVE – A ‘thank you’ credit at the end of the film.
Highest Fund Reward: $1,257.45 – A ‘thank you’ credit at the end of the film. One hour skype call with the director and Casper the Cat. Two tickets to the private screening of the film. Original film poster signed by the cast, crew, and Casper the Cat. Original film stills.  Digital Download of the film once the film festival run has finished.

2 – Killing Clarence


Crowdsource Platform: INDIEGOGO
Director: Nicholas Wyatt and Ameen Haddad
Writer: Nicholas Wyatt and Ameen Haddad
Other Staff: Teddy White (Producer/Hype Man)
Amount Requested: $5,000
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $485 raised by 9 backers.
Type of Goal: Flexible (This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal)

I’ll be honest, I really wanted to make this movie number one on my list. The ONLY reason it’s not, is because the film in the number one spot is socially important. However, I want to sincerely express that in all other ways, Killing Clarence is the best crowdfunded film I found this week.

I have to ignore the fact that they chose an absolutely remarkable hype man. Teddy White is probably the most likable person I’ve seen in any of the introduction videos I’ve ever seen on a crowdfunding site. He’s just adorable.

Oh, don’t think I didn’t catch that short reference to Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), I can quote Cary Elwes’ speech too!

Killing Clarence is a film about one hitman and one somewhat-hitman that arrive at a location to kill a man named Clarence, only to find there’s a party being held for the guy.

I’ve seen a lot of movies. This is the first time I’ve heard that particular plot. Of course, there are a ton of movies I haven’t seen, so I might just not know any other films that have that base storyline… but either way, the idea seems really interesting.

There’s the potential in that plot for action, humor, violence, redemption… and so much more.

According to the Indiegogo site, the two directors, Nicholas Wyatt and Ameen Haddad, met in film school. That’s relatively typical, what I find much more interesting is what Wyatt explained to me when I contacted him.

There’s a certain beauty in the fact that Wyatt is a combat Marine veteran and Haddad fled from the civil war in Syria.

Aside from the poetry involved in that connection, I love the idea that a Marine has had a hand in writing something like this. I have a high respect for anyone in any branch of the armed forces. Out of curiosity, I’ve done a lot of questioning about the training that Marines go through. I’ve always felt knowing the reality of that level of violence would make me a better writer. Wyatt has a much better understanding of that subject than I ever could. On the same subject, Haddad has experienced a civil war. Which means the realism level of any fighting or violence in the film will likely be through the roof.

When you take the script facts and mix it in with the level of passion the crew of this film exhibits, then add a sprinkle of the influences of Quentin Tarantino (which you see a lot of in the introduction video), you have a recipe for something that could truly explode.

For now, Killing Clarence will a short film. Of course, if it does well, it could become much more.

Lowest Fund Reward: $1 – Why not? – This is cool. I’m officially one of the funders of a movie!
Highest Fund Reward: $5,000 – The Godfather – Enough with the games. It’s time to make you an offer you can’t refuse. You’re the type that’s got the cash, got the prestige, and all the power. Welcome to “The Godfather” Package. You will earn the highly coveted Executive Producer Credit, which will be shown on all posters and movie artwork. You will also be invited to every event at each festival we attend with the film as a part of the Killing Clarence team. Plus a trip on set and all the cool perks that other packages offer.

1 – In Praise of Action


Crowdsource Platform: INDIEGOGO
Director: Aistė Jauraitė
Writer: N/A
Other Staff: David Grant (Stunt-man), Olivia Jackson (Stunt-woman), Jim Dowdall (Stunt-man)
Amount Requested: $1,000
Current Standing (as of Saturday night): $40 raised by 3 backers.
Type of Goal: Flexible (This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal)

This film is extraordinarily important to the entertainment world.

As fans of films, we only get to see the finished product. We stare, transfixed, as burning cars flip over gaps or people. We gasp when our favorite character falls off a cliff. All the while, we commend the actors for their amazing performances… performances that might have been absolutely nothing without the physical aspect.

A lot of the time, the actor’s we’re congratulating weren’t part of that aspect at all.

In Praise of Action is a documentary that calls attention to the unsung heroes of entertainment: stunt-people.

Sure, there have been (very few) other documentaries, in the past, that have shined a light on people in the stunt-performing profession. I reviewed one of those documentaries, Double Dare (2005), VERY early on in my blogging career. My opinion of it would likely be much different now.

At this point, I’ve seen so many movies that I have started seeing ‘behind the veil’, so to speak. I see the effort put in by the people working behind the scenes, and it kills me that most of them will never get recognition.

When it comes to stunt-people, though, things are different. It may be a shame that some makeup, or costume, designers won’t be acknowledged… but it is a crime to not acknowledge stunt-people.

The men and women who work in the stunt profession literally put their lives on the line.

Of course there are safety measures in place, but accidents happen and stunt-people do die on set. On the set of The Expendables 2 (2012) a rogue explosion seriously injured one stunt-person and killed another, Kun Liu. If that had been a cast member, the media would have exploded… but it was a stunt-person.

Stunt-people NEED to be recognized. In Praise of Action is a film that is being used to try to and give people in the stunt profession the recognition they deserve, perhaps even their own award category at the Academy Awards.

When it comes down to it, without stunt-people the films we all know and love would be vastly different, if they existed at all.

In fact, I mentioned Marvel films to my husband earlier in order to make a point on this subject. His response was that it was a bad example because of the CGI used. Well, I’d like to point out that there are just over 700 people listed under “stunts” in the credits for Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

That’s not a typo, there are three digits in that number. Most people couldn’t name a single one of them.

It’s that mindset that makes this movie necessary. 700 people worked on a film seen by millions, and no one will ever know their names because “there weren’t stunt-people, it was CGI.”

Put that into perspective. How many stunt-people must there be if that many of them worked on a single film? How many names have we, as fans, overlooked?

Think about it.

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