2017-06-07 14:18
We're going to be taking a break with posting here at A Moon Brothers Film Blog.Come to think of it... We've been blogging here for about ten years now.Currently, the plan is not to give up… Read More
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A Moon Brothers Film... Blog
amoonbrothersfilm.blogspot.com
A blog by filmmakers about the ups and downs of creating independent feature films...
2017-05-19 20:59
Mack Sennett was the name behind those famous Keystone Cops. And in the early days of silent film, he was the undisputed king of comedy.And Mack Sennett had one rule for his gag writers: No… Read More
2017-05-04 19:39
Finished filming our final of the three film shorts... It was good to work again with Just Isaac, who did a good job acting the role of "The Fighter". We also enjoyed working with Charlene i… Read More
2017-04-27 13:30
When it came to understanding the camera, Hitchcock was a master. He had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. But sometimes the people working with him didn't understand his "sleight of hand"… Read More
2017-04-04 16:47
So, we've been hired to film three shorts. Last week we posted pics from one of them. Here are some pics from the second short Read More
2017-03-30 22:24
We filmed recently an interview-style short film for a client. We had a blast asking the kids all sorts of questions. They did a great job! Now on to editing all the footage together Read More
2017-03-15 15:53
"Every scene you will ever act begins in the middle, and it is up to you, the actor, to provide what comes before." ~ Michael Shurtleff"I believe in imagination. I did Kramer vs. Kramer befo… Read More
2017-03-01 19:05
We're holding Auditions for 2 Short Film Projects to be filmed in the Niagara Region (Ontario) during the months of March/April 2017. If you are interested in trying out for one of the roles… Read More
2017-02-10 18:57
Charlie Chaplin once said: "All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl." These were the basic elements of the story he wanted to tell. As filmmaking has progressed… Read More
2017-01-27 18:57
One of the most important thing about filmmaking is light. And the absence of light.Light reveals. Shadows conceal.Good filmmaking uses both to aid in the telling of the story. It will use l… Read More
2017-01-06 21:29
Looking back at last year's blogposts... we've compiled a list of seven of our top posts from 2016. And with that, we look forward to a new year. Happy New Year 2017! 1 - The Challenge of Cr… Read More
2016-12-16 14:01
You'll be hard-pressed to find a Christmas Top Ten movie list without It's a Wonderful Life on it.However, when It's a Wonderful Life first came out in the theatres in 1946, it didn't do ver… Read More
2016-11-29 17:45
A short video with some of the highlights from our recent showcase of the musical reboot of Job and the Snake! Performed in Detroit, Michigan in November 2016...The CastTaurean Hogan ... as… Read More
2016-11-23 22:44
Last week-end, on November 18 & 19, 2016, we showcased a reboot of our musical Job and the Snake. We last put up this show over 12 years ago. But this time, about two-thirds of the songs… Read More
2016-11-15 15:26
We're in Production Week for our musical Job and the Snake. If you're in the Detroit area, get your tickets! Showtimes are this week-end: Friday, November 18 & Saturday, November 19. We'… Read More
2016-11-03 20:52
Meet the cast of Job and the Snake! Our musical is getting a reboot... New music mixed in with some of the old, classic songs that performed their way on stage 20 years ago.Come see the show… Read More
2016-10-27 19:03
Just a quick update... We are currently working on a live theatre showcase of a reboot of our musical, Job and the Snake. This show was originally developed in 1994 and over the past year or… Read More
2016-10-14 17:18
Ever heard of the Icebox Syndrome?Alfred Hitchcock talked about it in this way: It has to do when a movie has a plot hole. In other words, something in the plot doesn't really make sense. He… Read More
2016-09-29 20:42
In today's world, a good demo reel is an important (if not essential) addition to an actor's portfolio... probably as important as the actor's head shot. Especially in film.As filmmakers, we… Read More
2016-09-15 17:55
Here is a collection of eight quotes about auditions and acting... "I always tell actors when they go in for an audition: Don't be afraid to do what your instincts tell you. You may not get… Read More
2016-09-08 20:38
"Life is like a B-picture script. It is that corny. If I had my life story offered to me to film, I’d turn it down." - Kirk Douglas, actorThat is the thing with movies. A movie o… Read More
2016-09-01 21:05
Filmmaking is an art. But it's a methodical art. When things go well on a film set, just exactly as planned, then it can seem slow and, well... boring. Yes, a film shoot can be boring. Take… Read More
2016-08-24 17:06
It's been 10 years since we shot our first feature film, Dear J. And looking back, there are quite a few memories that come up...SEND OUT THE BAILIFFOne memory is dealing with a whole bunch… Read More
2016-08-16 15:32
It's Tell a Joke Day! So, here's a filmmaking joke...A Producer, a Director, and a First A.D. are scouting locations for their new movie. As they’re wandering around, one of them spots… Read More
2016-08-04 18:29
Ask any filmmaker... You'll find it's easy to get sidetracked about the gear. About the newest and best camera. About some new amazing slider or dolly system. There's so much gear out there… Read More
2016-07-21 20:16
Here are some photos from a recent filming for the Just Isaac documentary...We asked JI to get into his boxing gear for some shadow boxing. We setting up cameras and lights... Made we captur… Read More
2016-07-15 17:23
Here's another video update on our Just Isaac boxing documentary.Our Indiegogo campaign is nearing its end. During these next few weeks, please consider donating to make this project possib… Read More
2016-07-07 21:42
Yesterday, we spent some time with Super Middleweight Syd Vanderpool at his gym in Kitchener. For those who don't know, he was the #1 Ranked Boxer in 2004 by the International Boxing Federa… Read More
2016-07-01 16:00
We've posted a new update on our Just Isaac boxing documentary. Below is a rough cut that features Isaac Mitchell's recent Golden Gloves boxing match... We are raising money to fund this do… Read More
2016-06-23 19:30
Creating and crafting a movie is always a challenge. When you're a filmmaker, you're always learning. "One of the great things about being a director as a life choice is that it can n… Read More
2016-06-16 19:12
We're raising money through an Indiegogo Campaign for Just Isaac, the documentary. Originally, JI had a fight scheduled for June 17th. However, the organizers are postponing the event. To Ju… Read More
2016-06-09 17:13
When shooting a documentary, you accumulate a lot of footage.It's just all part of the way things work. Interviews and b-roll take up space. You're working with material that is NOT sc… Read More
2016-06-01 18:35
We all have dreams. Some of those dreams bring fear ... the fear of failure, the fear of our weakness. We all have our battles and with each battle we take one step closer to learning what w… Read More
2016-05-20 14:21
Charlie Chaplin became world famous in the era of pantomime, when movies were silent. Even now, most people would probably be able to recognize his "Little Tramp".Once the Jazz Singer (1927)… Read More
2016-05-13 01:26
Here's a short timelapse from the DVD release party. (The actual timelapse covers maybe 15 minutes. So, you're getting to see 15 minutes in 15 seconds!) And a few pics from the night... A BI… Read More
2016-05-12 13:53
2016-05-04 22:44
The DVDs for our feature film, Lost Penny, have arrived... Just in time for Friday for our DVD Release Open House. Pick up a copy of the movie. Mingle with various members of the cast and… Read More
2016-04-28 18:12
Film: Lost PennyActor: Christopher ElliottRole: LucienLucien, played by Christopher ElliottQ: Which role do you play? A: Lucien is a complex character, extremely determined to achieve his go… Read More
2016-04-22 15:36
More from our Q&As with the cast for our feature film, Lost Penny... Q&A with Thomas NelsonThe Barefoot Man gives Penny a warning.Q: What's your role in the film, "Lost Penny"?A: Th… Read More
2016-04-22 15:36
2016-04-20 14:11
As we prepare for the DVD release of our feature film, Lost Penny, we are posting a series of Q&As with the cast... Q&A with Melanie GaydosPenny is welcomed to the club by the Host… Read More
2016-04-20 14:11
2016-04-14 15:28
It's been a week since we asked for feedback on our three possibilities for our Lost Penny DVD cover design.In the meantime, we've been super busy getting the DVD finalized and ready to send… Read More
2016-03-31 17:43
"A film is—or should be—more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meanin… Read More
2016-03-24 17:04
Movies need a ticking bomb.It doesn't have to be a literal bomb. Rather, it's something that propels the plot forward, making the audience want to find out what comes next.Alfred Hitchcock… Read More
2016-03-16 17:03
We're currently working on the English subtitles for our feature film, Lost Penny. To help us with this task, we are using a program called Subtitle Edit. This is a free-ware program that d… Read More
2016-03-04 13:58
What is filmmaking? Filmmaking is passion, patience, and perseverance... Here's a quote from Robert Wise... "My three Ps: passion, patience, perseverance. You have to do this if you've got t… Read More
2016-02-25 20:24
Making a movie... it can't be done by just one person. It takes a whole bunch of people to make it happen. Each person brings their own talent to the project. Sometimes that means thousands… Read More
2016-02-18 22:09
Social media has changed the way filmmakers interact with the world. It's a way of updating fans, friends, and followers through photos, tweets, and status updates.Yes, we've been on Faceboo… Read More
2016-02-11 17:08
Sometimes you just have to film in the rain. Whether you want to or not.Earlier this week, we were doing some filming with Just Isaac for our boxing documentary. We were inside for most of t… Read More
2016-02-04 22:35
One project directly leads to another.We welcomed the chance to work with hip hop artist Just Isaac on our feature film Lost Penny. Following the sold out screening, he was eager for us… Read More
2016-01-27 18:30
What exactly is b-roll?Let's begin with what b-roll is not. In documentary, you usually film interviews with various people. B-roll is not the interview.If a documentary just shows one inter… Read More
2016-01-23 00:56
We're well into a new year. You've probably made all your resolutions... what you're going to do differently or better.If you're an actor, or want to be an actor, it may be time to have anot… Read More
2016-01-05 17:34
“Acting is a question of absorbing other people's personalities and adding some of your own experience.”~ Paul Newman“The most exciting acting tends to happen in roles you… Read More
2015-12-22 18:33
In real life, we like to avoid conflict.But a good movie needs conflict. (Who really wants to see a boring movie? Boring means characters who always get along. Boring is when everything goes… Read More
2015-12-11 17:48
It was 50 years ago that Charlie Brown and gang first made their television debut.And it almost didn't happen.Done on a shoestring budget, the special had some glitches. The animation was al… Read More
2015-12-01 18:44
Take two coconut halves. Clap together. Movie-making requires something called foley."Foley" is basically the technique of adding sound effects to a movie... It's named for a guy call… Read More
2015-11-30 19:05
We've been putting out our Film Updates newsletter since 2009. However, it's not always been quite consistent with the delivery. We want to change this and be more consistent. Our goal right… Read More
2015-11-26 16:46
"Home at Last, Home to Stay" is a short documentary project we filmed for Start Me Up Niagara as part of their Housing First initiative.We showcased the documentary at a packed-out Video Rel… Read More
2015-11-12 19:11
A year ago, our CubeCity website was not mobile-friendly. Then, in early 2015, we designed a mobile version of the website, in time to correspond with the film festival debut of our movie, L… Read More
2015-11-06 20:25
You might think a "hot set" has something to do with the hot lights that make any film set quite toasty. And while that's true (that lights do make the temperature rise), a "hot set" has a d… Read More
2015-10-30 18:41
Being on a movie set is kind of like being at one long Halloween party. You get to walk around in costume, and nobody questions it. In fact, it's a great way to try a different personality.Y… Read More
2015-10-23 21:10
Sometimes, you need just one more shot...So, here we are, filming at the beach. It was pretty cold and windy Read More
2015-10-15 21:43
Shadows make things interesting.Whether filming in bright daylight or at night, the well-placed shadow creates questions. You can hide clues from an audience. Or from a protagonist.Even (or… Read More
2015-10-01 22:35
Filming with JI and Nancy Diaz for the Just Isaac music video "Quiet Tears" this past week at the Holiday Inn in St. Catharines. We began on Saturday, at the Parkway Lanes Bowling Alley at… Read More
2015-09-23 19:23
The Happy Birthday song is one of those songs that everybody knows and probably sings several times a year... right?But have you noticed that when it comes to the movies, you rarely hear the… Read More
2015-09-10 19:05
Never judge a book by its cover. We've heard that a million times.And the same could be said about movies. Sometimes movie posters (and their DVD covers) don't match what's inside. The simpl… Read More
2015-08-27 18:17
So... You've booked that audition. Congrats! Now take in these tips. After doing 20+ years of auditions, these are some of the five things we find that actors tend to do or don't do that can… Read More
2015-08-17 18:00
Did you know that it was Tell a Joke Day yesterday? On August 16th? So, in honor of the day, here's a movie-related joke...A man goes to see a movie. As he sits down to watch the film, his e… Read More
2015-08-12 19:30
We're going to be shooting a music video in September for hiphop artist, Just Isaac, for his new song "Quiet Tears".The music video explores the relationship of a couple going on a series of… Read More
2015-08-06 18:26
When a movie is created, so is a Film World. Sometimes the Film World is very much like the world in which we ourselves live. People live in houses or apartments. People go to work. They sho… Read More
2015-07-23 18:27
Usually, when it comes to book/movie adaptations, it's not a bad idea to live by this advice: "Never judge a book by its movie." (attr to J. W. Eagan)It's not often that you find a classic b… Read More
2015-07-16 14:50
It was a packed house at the Seneca Queen Theatre on Tuesday, July 7th for the Encore Screening of Lost Penny. Since the movie had sold out its Niagara Integrated Film Festival premiere in J… Read More
2015-06-30 23:58
Some pictures from Sunday's SOLD OUT screening of Lost Penny at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival... (And by the way, since we sold out, we're going to be doing a special screenin… Read More
2015-06-16 14:59
Some pictures from Saturday night's screening of Lost Penny at the Manhattan Film Festival...Entering the Theatre... Time for some Q&A with Robert and Miq... Time to po… Read More
2015-06-09 14:53
Film: Lost PennyActor: Rachael McOwenRole: PennyRachael McOwen as PennyQ: What attracted you to working on this film?A: The idea for a modern day adaptation of Alice in Wonderland really exc… Read More
2015-06-04 17:39
Film: Lost PennyActor: Andrew RothRole: TenshiPenny (Rachael McOwen) confronts Tenshi (Andrew Roth)Q: What attracted you to working on this film?A: I've always respected The Moon Brothers &a&hell…Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
We felt that the time has come to invest in a high-quality camera vehicle for our next movie. The salesman gave us the full pitch, assuring us that it comes with the following...-Fully open… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Casting for our next feature film has begun. Pictured here is one of our newest additions to the ranks of crew, Aaron Rintoul, as he and Cinematographer Martin Munoz chat in a quiet mo… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Mel Blanc was one of the great voice actors of his day. They called him the man of a thousand voices. He's famous for being the voice of the likes of Barney Rubble, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Tw… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
We're holding an Open Call Audition in Niagara this Saturday. (If you're interested in more details, go to our website at http://www.cubecity.org/auditions_on.htm )We often get questions fro… Read More
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