Hello everyone! I have been out of the picture for a little bit, so here is an update. First up, I have a brand new movie review up for an indie horror film called GHOSTS DON’T EXIST. This was a pretty decent ghost story (shot in the DC area) and I think you will enjoy it; I’d urge you to at least give it a rental. Also our new resident reviewer – Judy Furlow – has received her screener copies and will be getting us new reviews soon. The first one will be Lee Doll’s THE FIXER. Check back for that.

Smash or Trash correspondent Leanna Chamish clued me in on a really cool podcast called NINJAS VS YOU. This podcast is hosted by director Justin Timpane. On the premiere show he has actor Daniel Ross on and they talk about their beginnings on the set of CRAWLER, and the debt that they owe to both partners of Timewarp Films; Joe Ripple and Don Dohler. This is a very sincere discussion about how these two men inspired Timpane and Ross to make their own movies. Also, they have a very fun and intelligent discussion about why they have NOT moved to Hollywood, but have instead pursued their passion for making films in Virginia – and have found success doing so. I strongly urge everyone to give this a listen.

And what about CRAWLER? It is moving forward! Visual effects artists Mitch Klein and Brian Anderson are meeting to start outlining the final post-production effects of this much anticipated indie film from Timewarp Films. More information as it becomes available.

SMASH OR TRASH TV: I got some good news from my friend and co-producer Frank Lama. He is getting the footage of the first episode digitized next week so we can turn over to editor Les Bradley. Two words – freakin’ fantastic! We shot it in February and here it is April, and it gets frustrating that it isn’t moving forward faster. What are you going to do? Real life comes first and both Frank and I have day jobs – you have to do what you have to do to keep the roof over your head, and the entertainment arts have to come 2nd. However this is good news, we have momentum and I am thrilled that this is all coming together! Stay tuned…

Wow. Just wow. I was having dinner with some incredible friends last Sunday – Les Bradley being one of them. He asked how the 1st episode of Smash or Trash TV was coming along. I was honest with him – both Frank Lama and I have been too busy to cut the show we shot a month ago.  Then he dropped a bomb on me; he would be willing to help us edit it!

I had to lift my jaw up off the floor. What you need to know is that Les is a real pro in this business; for him to offer that kind of help for us is just – words fail me.  I talked to Frank and we are both enthusiastic about getting together and talking with Les about the 1st episode! We hope to do that soon, and Smash or Trash TV can get started on the premiere show, as Frank and I work on the script and schedule for the 2nd show.

So we send out a heartfelt thank you to Les for his offer, and will let you know the progress on the show in the near future. As I stated, Les is a pro in the field. He taught audio/video at the College of Notre Dame for years, and he edits a lot of the Baltimore area commercials. To learn more about him and his services, click on the banner below:

So… CRAWLER. You may have heard of it. At times it probably has taken on the life of an urban legend. The Timewarp Film that was not completed. Because of the fact that I had worked for Don Dohler and Joe Ripple at Timewarp, and by the very nature of the type of website I run… I get asked a lot on what the word is on it.

Trust me, I can sympathize with the frustrations of cast, crew, family, friends and fans of Timewarp Films. It seems to be the lost TW movie: Why is it taking so long? Why is there no news? When will there be a screening? When will it be available?

On the other side of the coin I can see how it is frustrating – and annoying – to constantly get these questions over and over; people do not realize the unbelievable amount of work that has gone into the post production – not to mention that there were some tragic events that have happened along the way.

The article I have written sheds some light on the time-line of CRAWLER – from it’s start in 2003 to what is going on presently. I have posted photos of the behind-the-scenes taken by Leanna Chamish, as well as some great “in-action” shots of the CRAWLER by Mitch Klein from 2006. I hope this shows that progress IS being made – and what a fun film the end product will be. 2011 will show the collaboration between two excellent visual special effects artists – Mitch Klein and Brian Anderson (Anderson of NINJAS VS VAMPIRES fame). Because of these two gentlemen, the post-production visual effects on the movie will be getting a MAJOR kick in the ass this year. So, without further ado, click on the CRAWLER image up top to get the in-depth dope on a cool “popcorn” movie! Keep the faith – the movie is coming…

How does that Clint Eastwood saying go? “A man’s gotta know his limitations.” Well, I am still working on the movie review for “Ghosts Don’t Exist.” Because I am getting a backlog of movies to review, I am happy to announce that actress Judith Furlow (Fear of Clowns, Garden of Hedon) will be my regular guest reviewer here at Smash or Trash. I am getting together a package of movies to send off to her this week, so stay tuned for her take on these independent films…

The website turns 3 today! So what’s the next step? Well I have thanked the 3 great people that have really helped me out – Leanna Chamish, Mitch Klein, and Frank Lama. The 1st episode of Smash or Trash TV still needs to be edited and we are working on pre production for episodes 2 and 3. My next movie review will be Eric Espejo’s GHOSTS DON’T EXIST. The next site giveaway will be a copy of Lee Doll’s action series THE FIXER.

My time is becoming more limited ( the site and TV show are my first priority – so I am only taking paying indie gigs now) and I am looking for people that would like to do movie reviews for the site. I am also looking for video editors to help on the Smash or Trash television program. If you have an interest in either of those areas, contact me. I’ll give you more details.

If you click on my photo above it takes you to an interview Corey Williams of the Baltimore Indie Filmmaker did of me. Also, the site will be getting a makeover soon. Also – work has begun again on Timewarp Film’s sci-fi flick CRAWLER.

Here is my last bit of news for the night; if you are an indie filmmaker, we want your footage for our show. Clips from your movies, the trailers, and behind the scenes footage. We will use this on Smash or Trash TV for the intros, the segments, the bumpers, and the end credits. There will be a release form sent to you to be signed that gives us the right to use the footage. This  is all a true benefit to you – the indie filmmaker – because of the positive exposure you will get.

Format details? Here you go: 16 x 9, SD, NTSC, 29.97 frames per second, Audio 48 kHz, and .mov files pressed to a DVD are preferred. If interested get in touch with us soon; the post production on the premiere episode will start soon, and if you snooze, you lose. Contact us through the – what else – Contact Us link.

Thanks – and see you at the movies.

Well, this Tuesday marks the 3rd anniversary of the site. I came up with Smash or Trash as early as 2004 after watching a horrendously bad independent horror movie called DETOUR. Somehow people were getting good money together to put out sub-level crappy movies – and it had to stop. So I decided to write a book on how to do better independent movies and how indie filmmakers could get more bang for their buck. I was living in Hollywood at the time, and got in touch with the great folks at Timewarp Films (Don Dohler, Joe Ripple, Leanna Chamish, Mitch Klein, etc) on the East Coast. Being a huge fan of this company’s movies, I was extremely fortunate to become close friends with Leanna and Mitch, and they have been an incredibly supportive influence on me – and have always had my back.

In 2007, I was still mourning the death of my friend Don Dohler – and was getting frustrated with the glacier pace that completing the book was taking. I was ready to throw in the towel on the whole project, but these two people helped keep my spirits up and convinced me that a website was the way to go. They could not have been more correct. Now, in 2011, Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking continues to capture an ever growing audience. Not only do I plan to spend more time than ever getting interviews, movie reviews, and how-to’s up on the site, but I also have another avenue in which to do so: webisodes and a television program.

Movie producer Frank Lama called me last Fall with the idea of making Smash or Trash a television program as well as a website. Who am I to turn down a win/win situation? I immediately said yes! We shot the first episode a couple of weeks ago, and will be going into post on it soon. Not to be idle, the next couple of shows are being organized even as I type this. The first show was a lot of fun and it should just keep getting better and better!

So be on the look out this week for updates and cool news. Starting off on the ew stuff – check out the Smash or Trash movie trailer page on Youtube. Notice that coming attractions image above? Click on that to go to it. See you at the movies – sooner than you think!

Director Wayne Shipley (One-Eyed Horse) gets a great interview over at EERIE DIGEST. Mr. Shipley is noted for being one of the few directors to direct a Western on the East Coast. Click on the image above to go to it!

If you are a horror filmmaker, you need to click on the image above. It will take you to the page where you can register to enter the 2nd annual Horrorfind Film Festival!

Heads up lovers of indie horror slashers! We have a good one up for review. SLAUGHTERED comes to us by way of Australia. It is creepy and well done. To find out what I have to say about it, click on the image above!

Saturday February 5th was the launch of Smash or Trash TV. There is just something unbelievably cool about seeing a dream become a reality. Smash or Trash TV is making its home at the fantastic (and affordable) Blue Omega Entertainment Studios in Annapolis, MD.

I will post a LOT more about the experience here in the next week, but here are a few photos from the day courtesy of Les Bradley, Louanna Lee, and Lee Doll.

My thanks go out to Frank Lama (my co-host and co-producer), my great guests, and a damn terrific crew!