We continue our reflection upon 2004.
JULY: Fits and starts are made upon the musical score by composers (and cousins) Brian Dean and Michael Rich. While they juggle with instrumentation, their day jobs, and the stretch of I94 that separates Milwaukee and Chicago, Mario begins work on the Table Two Anthology, a DVD collection of short films that includes the fan-favorite Communist Trilogy.
AUGUST: The first drafts of the score are recorded and mailed to Mario. Already feeling cantankerous from coaching the high school XC team , Mario vents an exhaustive critique to Brian and Mike, who are tempted to dismiss him as a cinematic oddity. Fortunately, Brian's experience and words of wisdom as a former runner salves Mario's emotional wounds, and work continues.
SEPTEMBER: Work on the score, and on Foley, ambient, and other sound effects, is completed. Mario begins work with graphic designer Chris Jenness on the DVD jacket and cover, and the beta version of Echo Lake is submitted to the Anchorage International Film Festival one day before the September 30th deadline.
OCTOBER: A screening, dessert party (and after-party) for the cast and crew is held at Nikiski High School (and an undisclosed location). Despite swirling rumors, egregiously untoward conduct is neither planned nor executed. The teaser poster, featuring a placid Echo Lake under a white sky with the tagline "See terror within", is completed, as well as a final, remastered cut of the film.
NOVEMBER: The Anchorage International Film Festival officially extends an invitation to Echo Lake, necessitating the production of press kits, posters, flyers, et al. Mario also sends the final cut of Echo Lake to the Register of Copyrights, contacts Les Nelson and Further Studios about an Echo Lake website, and enrolls Table Two Productions as a licensed business in the State of Alaska. The theatrical poster, featuring an added graphic of Alden Ford and a darker ambience, is released.
DECEMBER: Echo Lake premieres December 12th at the Alaska Experience Theatre in downtown Anchorage, 3 days before its sneak preview at the Orca Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska. The Echo Lake website, designed by Further Studios, launches onto the world wide web on December 14th. On December 17th, Echo Lake begins a two-week run at Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska, consistently outdrawing films at local commercial theatres.
Make sure to check the page frequently to find out news about festivals, DVDs, and local screenings! And for more information send us an email! Huzzah!
mbird@echolakemovie.com
Thanks for stopping by, and may God bless you in this New Year.
posted by Mario Bird at 1:09 AM
A LOOK BACK: January 2004 - June 2004
As the Year of our Lord 2004 graciously expires and the New Year nervously waits in the wings, we here at the Echo Lake website stop to reflect upon the past 366 days in hopes that our victories, losses, and bitter stalemates will be a foundation to build upon in 2005.
JANUARY: Enrolled for 13 credits, including Jill Godmilow's Advanced Film Production (JGAFP), Mario anticipates that his final semester at Notre Dame will give him an opportunity to finally finish editing Echo Lake.
FEBRUARY: After confronting the grueling reality that is JGAFP, Mario drops the course along with editor Ben Slease to pursue other interests (re: Echo Lake). Embracing his role as pariah, Mario performs as Richard III in NSR's Scene Festival.
MARCH: With the April deadline fast approaching, Mario doubles his late night editing efforts, including a Greyhound trip to Whitman College to conduct ADR with Alden and Emily. In related news, Starbucks publishes its highest quarterly revenues ever.
APRIL: Finishing the rough cut of the film, Mario submits Echo Lake as his Honors Program Thesis. Mario also makes the mistake of showing it to laymen, who dismiss both him and Echo Lake as cinematic oddities. In related news, depression strikes the heart of the Echo Lake production team.
MAY: Graduating with a wildly sought-after Bachelor's degree in Film, Mario returns to Alaska with an NDTV editing suite in tow. Also noteworthy is the meeting between Mario and the score composers, Brian Dean and Mike Rich, where ill-fated plans are made to turn out the final cut of Echo Lake by the end of August.
JUNE: One year after Echo Lake commenced shooting finds the cast and crew in various and sundry places. Some highlights:
ALDEN FORD: Teaching at a summer theatre camp in Kenai, AK, Alden moonlights as "Scoop", the genetically ambiguous mascot for the Peninsula Oilers baseball team.
CORY M. CARROLL: Guiding tourists on scuba and B.O.B. excursions on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Cory makes more money in one day than he made the entire previous summer.
ELI EAGLE: Eli works as a stage and film actor in NYC.
GARY HONDEL: Packed and moved to Plant City, FL, Gary searches for hurricanes, independent film companies, and the elusive whistlepig.
CLYDE FOLLEY: Engaged in a film summer camp at Vassar, Clyde finds his taste for fine art renewed after watching a show directed by Bill Pullman.
MARIO BIRD: Diploma in hand, Bird begins work as a maintenance man for the local pool, promising himself and others that being a janitor allows time to churn out the final cut of Echo Lake.
MORE TO COME
posted by Mario Bird at 11:05 AM
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
As the Year of our Lord 2004 graciously expires and the New Year nervously waits in the wings, we here at the Echo Lake website stop to reflect upon the past 366 days in hopes that our victories, losses, and bitter stalemates will be a foundation to build upon in 2005.
JANUARY: Enrolled for 13 credits, including Jill Godmilow's Advanced Film Production (JGAFP), Mario anticipates that his final semester at Notre Dame will give him an opportunity to finally finish editing Echo Lake.
FEBRUARY: After confronting the grueling reality that is JGAFP, Mario drops the course along with editor Ben Slease to pursue other interests (re: Echo Lake). Embracing his role as pariah, Mario performs as Richard III in NSR's Scene Festival.
MARCH: With the April deadline fast approaching, Mario doubles his late night editing efforts, including a Greyhound trip to Whitman College to conduct ADR with Alden and Emily. In related news, Starbucks publishes its highest quarterly revenues ever.
APRIL: Finishing the rough cut of the film, Mario submits Echo Lake as his Honors Program Thesis. Mario also makes the mistake of showing it to laymen, who dismiss both him and Echo Lake as cinematic oddities. In related news, depression strikes the heart of the Echo Lake production team.
MAY: Graduating with a wildly sought-after Bachelor's degree in Film, Mario returns to Alaska with an NDTV editing suite in tow. Also noteworthy is the meeting between Mario and the score composers, Brian Dean and Mike Rich, where ill-fated plans are made to turn out the final cut of Echo Lake by the end of August.
JUNE: One year after Echo Lake commenced shooting finds the cast and crew in various and sundry places. Some highlights:
ALDEN FORD: Teaching at a summer theatre camp in Kenai, AK, Alden moonlights as "Scoop", the genetically ambiguous mascot for the Peninsula Oilers baseball team.
CORY M. CARROLL: Guiding tourists on scuba and B.O.B. excursions on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Cory makes more money in one day than he made the entire previous summer.
ELI EAGLE: Eli works as a stage and film actor in NYC.
GARY HONDEL: Packed and moved to Plant City, FL, Gary searches for hurricanes, independent film companies, and the elusive whistlepig.
CLYDE FOLLEY: Engaged in a film summer camp at Vassar, Clyde finds his taste for fine art renewed after watching a show directed by Bill Pullman.
MARIO BIRD: Diploma in hand, Bird begins work as a maintenance man for the local pool, promising himself and others that being a janitor allows time to churn out the final cut of Echo Lake.
MORE TO COME
posted by Mario Bird at 11:05 AM
THE WEBSITE IS UP!
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Echo Lake website is up. Make sure to check out cast bios, production notes, photo gallery, and the theatrical trailer as you feel your way around. If you have comments, questions, or nasty things to say, hit the "contact" button on the bar. Welcome!
Echo Lake has been named an official selection of the 2004 Anchorage International Film Festival and premiered December 12, 2004 at 12:30 PM in the Alaska Experience Theatre on 6th Avenue. Tickets are $5.
Be sure to check here often to find out where and when Echo Lake is screening. Better yet, register on our "contact" page to receive free and regular updates. There's nothing quite like being free and regular.
posted by Mario Bird at 12:57 AM
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Echo Lake website is up. Make sure to check out cast bios, production notes, photo gallery, and the theatrical trailer as you feel your way around. If you have comments, questions, or nasty things to say, hit the "contact" button on the bar. Welcome!
Echo Lake has been named an official selection of the 2004 Anchorage International Film Festival and premiered December 12, 2004 at 12:30 PM in the Alaska Experience Theatre on 6th Avenue. Tickets are $5.
Be sure to check here often to find out where and when Echo Lake is screening. Better yet, register on our "contact" page to receive free and regular updates. There's nothing quite like being free and regular.
posted by Mario Bird at 12:57 AM