The Offical CHURCHES OF FAIRFIELD, CA Progress Thread

[GregMcduck]

This is the official thread for

THE CHURCHES OF FAIRFIELD, CA

an independent, semi-documentary directed by Greg Stevens, produced by D.W. Gardner, with the fictional half of the film starring Natasha Garcia.

The following information is subject to change at any time.

Current Synopsis: "Part documentary, part drama, we follow a young college student who begins an exploration of faith after a loved one passes away. This fictional plotline is intercut with interviews of over the over 80 church leaders in Solano county, California, with a compare-and-contrast look at Christianity, Judaism, Islam, LDS, and other religions."

Yes, I'm finally making a for-real film to take around to film festivals and such. It should take roughly a year to prepare, shoot and edit. I promise, short of my death, this film will be made, and will be released in some manner, even if it's just me selling burnt DVDs online. This thread is give progress reports to my fine friend at Rifftrax, and to answer any questions or whatever.

July 10th, 2008 - Starting printing 84 letters to the various churches in Solano county (which mostly takes up the cities of Fairfield and Suisun City, CA. All letters will include a pre-paid envelope and a return form, which they fill out and send back if they're interested in being featured in the film.

More news as it comes.

[SmilinJackRoss]

I'm genuinely curious as to what you mean by "part documentary, part drama."

[GregMcduck]

The scenes of the fictional plot and the scenes of the real interviews are being cut together, relating to each other but never actually intercepting. None of the fictional characters are going to interact with the real people, but they're going to be talking about the same things.

It's the same thing as What the BLEEP Do We Know?, which is a horrid movie but follows the same kind of format.

[dignan]

Very cool, Greg!  Good luck with the whole experience and I think it's really cool that you'll be posting the progress as you go, and I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

[SmilinJackRoss]

It's the same thing as What the BLEEP Do We Know?, which is a horrid movie but follows the same kind of format.

Gotcha.

[Variety of Cells]

I'm interested to know what sort of luck you have getting the churches to agree to an interview.  I wanted to use the back of a church as the back of a chinese restaurant, and they still were cautious about letting me use it.  They didn't want to be made to look bad... even though the church wasn't actually a church in the film. 

[Petey Wheatstraw]

The scenes of the fictional plot and the scenes of the real interviews are being cut together, relating to each other but never actually intercepting. None of the fictional characters are going to interact with the real people, but they're going to be talking about the same things.

It's the same thing as What the BLEEP Do We Know?, which is a horrid movie but follows the same kind of format.

What the Bleep Do We Know!? is propaganda for Ramtha's School of Enlightenment, not a documentary.

I'm sure that a non-propaganda film was made in this way, but I can't think of an example.

[Fortis]

Wow Greg, that is way cool, good luck to you bro, I'll watch the movie, it sounds pretty interesting.


Its going to be a ton of work too. I'll be very interested to know some of the details as you work on this.

[GregMcduck]

What the Bleep Do We Know!? is propaganda for Ramtha's School of Enlightenment, not a documentary.

I'm sure that a non-propaganda film was made in this way, but I can't think of an example.

Maybe I'll be the first then. 

[gojikranz]

ooo a movie about my old hometown.  i cant say i was in any way involved in the religous system of fairfield but id love to watch it.  or hey i go to school in davis fairly nearby if you ever need any help look me up(i do have experience working on/ making my own films though nothing very professional). 

[GregMcduck]

August 26th, 2008. Not as much to to update you on as I wish, production is going slow. We've had only a few replies from the churches we've sent letters to, but it's still early. In the meantime, we're going to film the opening of the fictional part of the film.

Oh, wait, I meant, "we were going to"

Our actress, Natasha Garcia, has dropped out for personal reasons. I won't get into all the details, but there is some bad blood between us right now. Right now, the game plan is:

a) try to convince Natasha to return to the project. If that doesn't work, then
b) recast the part. If that doesn't work, then
c) reinvent the film into a straight documentary

I'll keep you posted.

[GregMcduck]

September 3rd, 2008.

Status: Option B

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Oh yippy tai-aye-yay! ^___^

CONGRATS man! Attaboy! WOOOO HOOO!

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I'm interested to know what sort of luck you have getting the churches to agree to an interview.  I wanted to use the back of a church as the back of a chinese restaurant, and they still were cautious about letting me use it.  They didn't want to be made to look bad... even though the church wasn't actually a church in the film. 

I think the fact that you even COULD use the back of a church as the back of a chinese restaurant is a testament to the falling standards of church architecture today.

[GregMcduck]

Oh yippy tai-aye-yay! ^___^

CONGRATS man! Attaboy! WOOOO HOOO!

Not sure what your congrating, but thanks!