Real life beat me to it!

Danielle and I went to Disney World at the beginning of October, and while we were there, I had an idea for a Film Nerds blog post about steps Disney should take to strengthen their film production. One of those steps just happened.

Below is a quick e-mail I wrote to myself about the blog post I never found time to get around to. Disney, if you want a pitch for #3 on this list, come at me bro.

Band on the Search is online!

Our friend Gilbert Stark's new film, Band on the Search, has begun its journey to online availability! Gilbert and his crew are releasing the film onto YouTube in 5 to 10 minute episodes.

This is a really easy and digestible way to watch a very funny movie featuring some outrageous performances from guys like Elliot Moon, Kevin Maggard, Jay Burton, and Tyler Kirby! You can check out the first segment here!

Wonder Mill Profiles: Kevin Maggard

Kevin Maggard

Actor: The Nocturnal Third, Band on the Search

Animator: The Nocturnal Third

Favorite Films: The Iron Giant, Robinson Caruso on Mars, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, This Is Spinal Tap

If you've confused Kevin with his shy and creatively stunted character in The Nocturnal Third, you've made a mistake. In his newest film, the hilarious mockumentary Band on the Search, Kevin displays a subtle sense of humor and a knack for improvisation... neither of which Eli Maggard has much of. In addition to his feature film work, Kevin has also appeared in music videos for Jewel and Sheryl Crow.

Kevin is also an accomplished artist. He has displayed a number of paintings, was the artist on the Genesis Found spin-off comic Southern Truths, has been the lead singer in a band, and is currently developing a tongue-in-cheek graphic novel about espionage during the Cold War and Space Race. Kevin also animated the cat monster of Eli's nightmares in The Nocturnal Third, after conceptualization from David Vail.

On the topic of regional independent filmmaking, Kevin says, "I mostly enjoy the feeling of having a hands-on investment in the filmmaking process."

The Trial of the Dark Knight

I had the pleasure of sitting down with fellow FilmNerds blog contributors Corey Craft of the Tuscaloosa News and Craig Hamilton of Citizen Craig to talk about all things Batman. Check out our epic, 3+ hour podcast!

http://filmnerds.com/Trial_of_the_Dark_Knight.mp3

Enjoy!

-Ben

Sidewalk Schedule

I'll be heading down to Birmingham for the Sidewalk Film Festival on August 24 - August 26. Nocturnal Third composer Jesse Ewing is going to be joining me for most of the weekend, and I've made out an itinerary. Underlined items are mandatory for me. You can see the full line-up here.

SATURDAY

7:30 AM - Leave Huntsville
10:30 AM - The Nocturnal Third
12:00 Noon - Lunch
12:40 PM - The Fourth Dimension
2:40 PM - Shorts Block
4:00 PM - Compliance
6:15 PM - Eating Alabama 
9:45 PM - V/H/S w/ I Am Your Grandma
 Midnight - Leave Birmingham

SUNDAY
10:00 AM - Leave Huntsville
12:00 Noon - Filmmaking Panel: Designing the Past
2:00 PM - Filmmaking Panel: Faith in Film (Leave Early)
2:45 PM - Dead Man's Burden
5:00 PM - Booster
7:15 PM - Beyond the Black Rainbow
9:00 PM - Sidewalk Awards Celebration
11:00 PM - Leave Birmingham

Hope to see a bunch of friends and fellow film folk there!

Ben Stark
Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third

News! N3rd is going to the Sidewalk Film Festival!

I just sent this to all of our e-mail subscribers. Take a look at all the latest Wonder Mill news!

Hello, everyone-

I've got a few quick updates about Wonder Mill activities in the coming months.

• If you haven't heard, The Nocturnal Third has been accepted to the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, and will be screening at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 25th at the Hill Arts Center. We haven't had a film at Sidewalk in a number of years, so this is a big deal for us. We hope to see many of you at the screening.

• Thanks so much to those of you who have been able to donate and spread the word in the wake of our Kickstarter campaign. Your donations have paid for all of our marketing and printing costs for Sidewalk, and we really, REALLY appreciate the generosity.

• Beyond Sidewalk, we're going to be operating a bit differently than we have in the past few years. Stephen Lucas and myself are loosely developing a short film project to potentially shoot in Los Angeles some time in 2013. Lee is still working on our next feature film screenplay, and has been developing a very cool adventure series project called The Foragers, along with other awesome writing projects. I'm also in conversation with some folks about shooting a local short, which we'd love to work on with as many of you as possible. Although the members of Wonder Mill are spread out regionally and creatively, we're still all looking forward to upcoming collaborations.

That's about it, folks. Thanks again for your support and generosity of time, money, and attention!

Ben Stark

Co-Founder, Wonder Mill Films

Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third

Watch A GENESIS FOUND online for free!

Our first feature, A Genesis Found, is now available to watch for absolutely free online. I will be updating this entry periodically as new platforms go live.

YouTube (Ads Enabled, HD & Mobile Options)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhjKkPkLiXk

FilmAnnex (Ads Enabled)
http://www.filmannex.com/movie/a-genesis-found/27451/

Please pass this news along to friends, and if you check out the film, feel free to donate here.

Synopsis:
In 1938, CCC cadet John Patton Jr. (Bennett Parker) found the key to our darkest secret–an anomalous skeleton neither animal nor man. Uncertain of its implications, Patton hid the discovery away from the world—though never forgetting what he found.

Seventy years later, his grandson Gardner (Elliot Moon) is forced to come to terms with his grandfather’s past, a man he never knew but in whose footsteps he inevitably follows. When his cousin, controversial documentarian Bart Thompson (Luke Weaver), arrives for a seemingly routine shoot, Gardner is eager to lend a hand. He soon learns, however, that Bart isn’t back just to shoot a movie–he wants to find the “discovery” their grandfather buried nearly seventy years before, and prove what he claimed was true.

As his skepticism fades, and the lure of mystery grows, Gardner becomes distant from his foundations, including his live-in girlfriend Kelsey (Elise Zieman). Losing himself to the adventure, Gardner is hypnotized by a single possibility—that this “discovery” could be a direct link to God.

The Nocturnal Third is going to Sidewalk!

In an interesting turn of events, the day we announced the next phase of Wonder Mill, we found out that The Nocturnal Third had been selected to screen at the 2012 Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham! Sidewalk is happening from August 24 to 26, and we're excited to experience the Fest once again. Several Wonder Mill collaborators have had a variety of films featured at Sidewalk in years past, all the way back to Lee Fanning's high school shorts being selected in 2004. We appreciate being highlighted by an Alabama institution, and we love that Sidewalk is helping to get exposure for Alabama indie features.

Check out the Sidewalk Film Festival's slick new website: http://sidewalkfest.com/

Of course, having The Nocturnal Third openly available is a conflict with our screening at Sidewalk, so we'll be releasing the film to streaming platforms several months after we launch A Genesis Found. Hopefully, we'll be able to organize a little meet-up at Sidewalk for all you Alabama indie filmmakers that we haven't seen or met in real life before! Also, don't forget to check out the official Nocturnal Third website, now featuring a handy Sidewalk "Official Selection" laurel.

That's about it for big announcements... I think. Thanks, everyone!

Ben Stark
Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third
Producer, A Genesis Found

Big Announcement: Wonder Mill, Phase 2!

Hi, everyone-

It's been a few weeks since we failed to reach our $6,000 Kickstarter goal, despite you awesome people getting us above $4,100! Never fear, however, as we had a contingency plan in the case that we weren't able to raise enough money to submit both of our feature films to Netflix, Hulu, and iTunes via Distribber.

Our goal for both A Genesis Found and The Nocturnal Third is for them to be as visible as possible. Therefore, the next best thing to being on top paid streaming platforms is being on top free streaming platforms. So, we've decided that over the next few months, we're going to begin releasing both films on various streaming sites, starting with YouTube. We'll also be submitting both films to various paid or curated sites, and we have a shortlist of film festivals that we think The Nocturnal Third will be a good fit for.

This means that if you enjoyed our films, you can now recommend them to any friends or family across the entire planet and they can watch them for absolutely FREE!

On YouTube, banner ads will be enabled on both films, so the more people that watch, the higher the chance that we get a bit of shared ad revenue. Also, since our content will now be entirely free to access from anywhere, by anyone, we'll be keeping our Paypal button active for any donations, or "digital tips". We accept Paypal donates via the button at the bottom of thenocturnalthird.com, or by clicking here. Of course, both agenesisfound.com and thenocturnalthird.com will still be selling DVDs which, for the time being, will be the only way to get supplemental materials like commentaries, making-of documentaries, and more!

Wonder Mill: Phase 2 isn't just about distribution for our first two features, however. It's also symbolic of our next step in production. While we're developing our third feature film - which A Genesis Found writer/director Lee is currently writing despite a very busy period at work - we also want to branch out to more immediate projects, including a return to short form filmmaking. This leads us to a really cool opportunity to branch out and collaborate with new screenwriters.

We would like to fund, develop, and produce at least one 5- to 10-minute short film within the next six to twelve months, but we need a script!

We are announcing an open call for short film scripts, pitches, or treatments to be produced by Wonder Mill Films and directed by myself (Ben Stark). The finished film will be submitted to film festivals, with a free trailer appearing online, and a limited paid viewing option. We still haven't ironed out the details of how - or if - revenue sharing would work, so for the time being this should be considered an unpaid writing opportunity. However, it will prove to be a great creative experience and will lead to some healthy exposure.

If you are a writer with a concept, if you have an existing script, or if you know anyone that might be interested, let us know! If you would like us to consider producting your 5 to 10 page screenplay, e-mail a short logline, estimated pagecount, and your contact information to wondermillfilms@yahoo.com, with the subject line "Wonder Mill Short Pitch".

Please do not send completed scripts in this initial e-mail. All submissions will be kept confidential, and of course, we will not move forward on any script without the written permission of the author. Our work generally tends towards character-driven genre works that reflect the region and personality of the South, but we'd love to take a look at any genres or styles.

We're excited to be getting more exposure for our work, and we're very anxious to get tinkering on another project as soon as possible. Thanks so much to everyone that's helped us get this far, and if you'd like to be involved in these projects, please don't hesitate to contact us. Again, our main goal is to grow as filmmakers, to share our work with others, and to meet new and interesting collaborators, especially in the South.

I hope this news is as exciting for you all as it is for us, and I thank you for your time and attention!

Wonder Mill: Phase 2...ENGAGE!

Ben Stark
Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third
Producer, A Genesis Found

"From The South To Your Couch" Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WONDER MILL FILMS TO LAUNCH KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN FOR DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION FUNDS

Huntsville, AL – Wonder Mill Films announces the FROM THE SOUTH TO YOUR COUCH Kickstarter campaign to raise $6,000 for further distribution of its two independently produced feature films, A Genesis Found and The Nocturnal Third, to commence on May 25, 2012 and to end on June 23, 2012 at 7:00 PM. Produced from the ground-up entirely in Huntsville, Decatur, Tuscaloosa, and Moundville, with much of their cast and crew made up of Alabama natives and University of Alabama alumni, Wonder Mill Films’ features are smart and entertaining crowd-pleasers, designed to hold up on multiple viewings. Now, the company is asking their fans and supporters to help fund an effort to gain wider exposure for both films.

 In A Genesis Found’s 1938 set-up, CCC cadet John Patton Jr. (Bennett Parker) found the key to our darkest secret- an anomalous skeleton neither animal nor man. Uncertain of its implications, Patton hid the discovery away from the world- though never forgetting what he found. Seventy years later, his grandson Gardner (Elliot Moon) is forced to come to terms with his grandfather's past, a man he never knew but in whose footsteps he inevitably follows. When his cousin, controversial documentarian Bart Thompson (Luke Weaver), arrives for a seemingly routine shoot, Gardner is eager to lend a hand. He soon learns, however, that Bart isn't back just to shoot a movie- he wants to find the "discovery" their grandfather buried nearly seventy years before, and prove what he claimed was true.

Dubbed a home-brewed mystery/thriller, The Nocturnal Third is the story of Eli Gottfried (Kevin Maggard), a pensive art-hobbyist whose family connections have led him to an ill-fitting job at Stafford Stoneworks, a local stone fabrication facility. Facing increasing debt and late bills, Eli reluctantly takes the third shift on a crucial night—from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The pressure of deteriorating machines, a crushing schedule, and a recurring nightmare begin to be too much for Eli to handle. When a suspicious coworker (Wescott Youngson) is severely injured, Eli finds his only solace in the ways of a stranded stranger (Weaver).

The innovative FROM THE SOUTH TO YOUR COUCH crowd-funding campaign, utilizing the Kickstarter.com website, is designed to raise funds for final distribution for both of Wonder Mill’s films. Proceeds from the campaign will be used to submit The Nocturnal Third and A Genesis Found to online movie platforms like Netflix Instant, Hulu Plus, and iTunes.

Benjamin Stark, co-founder of Wonder Mill Films and director of The Nocturnal Third, describes the motivation for the FROM THE SOUTH TO YOUR COUCH campaign: “The big question we get is, ‘What will you all do next?' but we really can't move on to another project until we've done everything we can to get these two films out there. We've screened at a few festivals and have even been offered a DVD deal for one of the films, but nothing has come along that would give wide exposure, along with a measure of autonomy and control. Basically, we're hoping the Kickstarter campaign will empower us to get the films on wide enough platforms that folks can enjoy them in their living rooms."

The campaign will last 27 days, and funders are offered “perks” in the form of free DVDs, score tracks, and tie-in books.

ABOUT WONDER MILL FILMS

Based out of Huntsville, AL, Wonder Mill Films was founded in 2006 by Benjamin Stark and Lee Fanning, their first legitimate production company after co-founding the student “banner” Off the Set Films while at the University of Alabama. After producing numerous short films, the company’s first feature, A Genesis Found, was produced in the summer of 2008, and began a festival run in 2009. The film was completed and released on DVD in 2010, and toured to numerous Colleges and Universities throughout the Southeast from July 2010 to March 2011. Some of the major universities visited include the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of South Carolina. Produced in the summer of 2009, The Nocturnal Third is their second feature-length production. Premiering in Huntsville in September 2011, the film has received positive reviews from established web sites such as FilmThreat, Man I Love Films!, and SheMovieGeek.

Wonder Mill Films can be contacted at wondermillfilms[AT]yahoo[DOT]com or found on Twitter @WonderMillFilms.

From the South to Your Couch

It's up to you to get A Genesis Found and The Nocturnal Third onto Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, and on the road!

The Nocturnal Third in Tuscaloosa!

Band on the Search - World Premiere!

 

Starring A Genesis Found's Elliot Moon and The Nocturnal Third's Kevin Maggard, it's the hilarious mockumentary BAND ON THE SEARCH, directed by N3rd unit photographer, effects man, and tech advisor Gilbert Stark! This is going to be awesome!

Here's the official press release for our upcoming screening in Tuscaloosa! Take a look and share like crazy!

-Ben

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WONDER MILL FILMS TO SCREEN INDEPENDENT FILM “THE NOCTURNAL THIRD” AT GREEN BAR IN TUSCALOOSA
Huntsville, AL – Wonder Mill Films announces a special screening of its second independently produced feature film, The Nocturnal Third, at Green Bar in downtown Tuscaloosa, at 8:00 PM, on Thursday, May 24th, 2012. 

Dubbed a home-brewed mystery/thriller, The Nocturnal Third is the story of Eli Gottfried, a pensive art-hobbyist whose family connections have led him to an ill-fitting job at Stafford Stoneworks, a local stone fabrication facility. Facing increasing debt and late bills, Eli reluctantly takes the third shift on a crucial night—from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The pressure of deteriorating machines, a crushing schedule, and a recurring nightmare begin to be too much for Eli to handle. 

When a suspicious co-worker is severely injured, Eli finds his only solace in the ways of a stranded stranger…. 

Produced from the ground-up entirely in Huntsville, Alabama, with much of its cast and crew made up of Tuscaloosa natives and University of Alabama alumni, Wonder Mill Films’ second feature film is a tense neo-noir, set against the backdrop of a developing Southern economy. 

Their first feature film, the science fiction adventure A Genesis Found, was filmed on location in Moundville, Alabama, in 2008, and was featured at a special screening at Tuscaloosa’s Bama Theater in 2009. 

The May 24th screening of The Nocturnal Third will come at the mid-point of the innovative “From the South to Your Couch” crowd-funding campaign, designed to raise funds for final distribution for both of Wonder Mill’s films. Proceeds from the campaign will be used to submit The Nocturnal Third and A Genesis Found to online movie platforms like Netflix Instant, Hulu Plus, and iTunes.

The Free Screening of The Nocturnal Third will be hosted in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at Green Bar (2209 4th St / Huntsville, AL) on May 24, with the film starting at 8. Cast and crew will be on hand to talk about the production of both films, the “From the South to Your Couch” campaign, and to answer questions. Admission is free and the event is open to anyone over the age of 21. The bar will open at 7:00 PM. 

More about Wonder Mill Films
Based out of Huntsville, AL, Wonder Mill Films was founded in 2006 by Benjamin Stark and Lee Fanning, their first legitimate production company after co-founding the student “banner” Off the Set Films while at the University of Alabama.

After producing numerous short films, the company’s first feature, A Genesis Found, was produced in the summer of 2008, and began a festival run in 2009. The film was completed and released on DVD in 2010, and toured to numerous Colleges and Universities throughout the Southeast from July 2010 to March 2011. Some of the major universities visited include the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of South Carolina.

Produced in the summer of 2009, The Nocturnal Third is their second feature-length production. Premiering in Huntsville in September 2011, the film has received positive reviews from established web sites such as FilmThreat, Man I Love Films!, and SheMovieGeek. 

The Nocturnal Third Synopsis 

EVERY MACHINE NEEDS FUEL.
Eli Gottfried is lucky to have a job, but that doesn't mean he loves what he does. Caught in the hustle and bustle at Stafford Stoneworks, a fabrication shop in rural Alabama, Eli is unsure of his future, short on sleep, and creatively dried up. He and his wife, Ellie, struggle to make ends meet, facing medical bills, a swollen mortgage, and student loans. The Stoneworks, in turn, is cutting corners and working overtime to take the next step in establishing its economic foothold in the surrounding community, securing a contract that could change everything. 

EVERY MACHINE NEEDS REPAIR.
Tasked with the dreaded third shift, from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Eli must overcome his own disastrous sleep cycle and a recurring nightmare to man under maintained and increasingly deteriorating machinery. Things take an ominous turn when Harold, a mistrusted co-worker, unexpectedly arrives to work alongside Eli. The question is, how closely is Harold tied to Lee Kirby, ex-employee and bitter competitor of Stafford Stoneworks? 

EVERY MACHINE BREAKS DOWN.
The night comes to a dead halt when Harold is severely injured in a careless accident. As the deadline approaches and the machines deteriorate, Eli is unlikely to hold up under the pressure, let alone tend to Harold's failing health and suspicious behavior. He finds a sort of relief when an outsider appears - Jeffrey, a stranded traveling salesman. Jeffrey's carefree perspective offers a solace from the demanding work, and maybe with his support, Eli can take control of the situation. 

Moody and textural, The Nocturnal Third is a slow-burn workplace thriller that begins with a seemingly domestic situation and meticulously transforms into a tense neo-noir. This gripping story of corporate espionage takes a young man through a single harrowing night as he faces the limits of the human body, his own future, and his role in a system that is beginning to break down.

Popcorn Potion

All of the above images are going to be moving in a theater this summer. That's crazy. I've always felt a strange pressure to reconcile the reality of being a suffering, no-budget filmmaker with a fandom of big, splashy summer superhero movies. In a strange way, my affection for popcorn movies fuels my desire to tell small, character-driven stories through digital filmmaking. I can't draw a straight line between the two, but I suppose it has something to do with a kind of trickle-down effect. Like them or not, big spectacles are the apex of cinema, and I somehow garner more inspiration to create real and honest stories from them than I do small, intimate movies (like the kind I make). It's all very strange, and I suppose I shouldn't analyze it too deeply.

Regardless, the proof is in the pudding. I've been flooding my consciousness with Spider-Man cartoons, Avengers movie scores, and Batman comics for the last three months, and yet I've finally emerged from the creativity-deprived gulch I spent most of the year in. I'm trying hard not to bug Lee about the feature script he's writing for me to direct, and I've had some awesome conversations with cinematographer Stephen Lucas about collaborating on a myriad of projects.

Right now, I've got another little baby to take care of, but soon and very soon, most likely amidst sporadic visits to the multiplex, I'll be back on board a story that I really feel is worth telling. That's an exciting feeling.

-Ben

Wonder Mill Films: Kickstarter Campaign News!

I just sent this out to Wonder Mill newsletter subscribers. We need help getting our films "out there"!

-Ben

Hi, everyone-

I hope you're all doing well. Things have been a bit quiet at Wonder Mill lately, as we've been gearing up to take our next steps. Lee is off in his cave, writing our third feature film, and we've both been working on what will be the "final push" for A Genesis Found and The Nocturnal Third.

Later this week, we're going to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise $6,000 to submit the films to Netflix, Hulu, and iTunes. This is a big deal for us, and for the films themselves. If you have any friends or family that have been curious how they can see either film more easily, I think this campaign will be something to tell them about. The key is that if we don't raise the FULL amount, we get none of it; it's essentially a pledge drive.

So, while many of you have already given so much to the projects, we'd love it if you could pass along the word to anyone out there that might be able to help us out. Also, we'll be posting updates on the Kickstarter page regularly, and would love to feature some of your thoughts or anecdotes about your experiences with either film, so please send those along!

I'll be sending a follow-up e-mail with a link and more information soon!

Thank you all for your help, and for your support. Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Ben Stark
Producer, A Genesis Found
Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third

DOODLES - 03/22/12

I just wanted to quickly drop what I've been watching the last few months. I'm doing rough "movie" research for our third feature, but mainly I've been catching up on 2011 releases and trying to get in all of my "Shelf of Shame" movies in the period I promised. For those that don't know, in September I made a pact for Film Nerds to watch 5 movies I'm ashamed I've never seen in the span of six months. I stupidly picked one 3.5 hour movie and one 10 hour movie, and have been procrastinating.

Thanks for reading! More updates should be coming soon, for both The Nocturnal Third and Feature 3!
-Ben

January
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009, Blu ray)
Stardust (2007, DVD)
Sherlock S1E3 (2010, Streaming)
King’s Cross (Book)
Anathema Adrienne (2012, DVD)
The Trial (2x, 1962, Streaming)
Community S1 (2009, DVD)
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982, DVD)
Decalogues One, Two, & Three (1989, DVD)
Morning Glory (2010, Streaming)
Dazed & Confused (1993, Streaming)
Parks & Recreation (2009, Ongoing, Streaming)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011, Blu ray)
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928, Streaming)
The Trip (2011, Streaming)
Marathon Man (1976, Streaming)
Contact (1997, Streaming)
Jane Eyre (2011, DVD)
Warrior (2011, Blu ray)
The Kennel Murder Case (1933, Streaming)
50/50 (2011, DVD)
Hanna (2011, Blu ray)
Beauty & The Beast (1991, Theatrical)
The Grey (2012, Theatrical)

February
Little Children (2006, DVD)
When Harry Met Sally (1989, DVD)
The Artist (2011, Theatrical)
Super (2010, DVD)
Community, S1 (2009, Continued)
Parks & Recreation (2009, Continued)
Ronin (1998, DVD)
The French Connection (1971, DVD)
Take Shelter (2011, DVD)
Sucker Punch (2011, Blu Ray)
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007, Blu Ray)
Winnie the Pooh (2011, Blu Ray)

March
Community, S2 (2010)
Hercules Unchained (1959, Streaming)
The Secret World of Arriety (2012, Theatrical)
Source Code (2011, Blu ray)
John Carter (2012, Theatrical)
Haywire (2012, Theatrical)
Decalogue V (1988, DVD)
Decalogue VI (1988, DVD)
Hercules / Le fatiche di Ercole (1958, Streaming)
Bringing Up Baby (1938, DVD)
Decalogue VII (1988, DVD)
Decalogue VIII (1988, DVD)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990, Streaming)

News on the availability of The Nocturnal Third

This letter just went out to subscribers of the Wonder Mill Films newsletter. E-mail wondermillfilms@yahoo.com to join!

Hello, everyone-

I just wanted to share a quick announcement on the availability of The Nocturnal Third on Amazon.com. We are in the process of re-arranging our books for 2012, and will need to establish a whole new page for the film on our online sales platform. Unfortunately, this will take The Nocturnal Third off of the market for several weeks, beginning this Friday, February 10th.

During this down time, however, we’ll be offering the film for absolutely free on the main page of our website, similar to our approach during the film’s premiere. This will be a fantastic way to share the film with friends, so be sure to take advantage of this limited availability:

http://www.thenocturnalthird.com

As we’ve mentioned before, the film has garnered some very encouraging reviews and has developed some good chatter. We have some plans on the horizon to bring both The Nocturnal Third and A Genesis Found to wider audiences in the coming months, so be sure to stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ben Stark
Writer/Director, The Nocturnal Third
Producer, A Genesis Found

DOODLES - 2/6/12

A few quick tidbits:

50/50 - I'd highly recommend this under-seen dramedy from September of last year, starring whom I consider to be our generation's leading man, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It seems so strange to say this, considering the "dramedy" was such a popular genre during my cinematic maturation in the 1990's, but they just don't make movies like this any more.

Beauty & The Beast - My wife and I checked out this Disney classic at our local Rave, in beautiful digital projection. The titular musical number and "Be Our Guest" are both exhilarating when you're immersed in the experience.

Check out my debate with Film Nerds godfather Matt Scalici about whether or not it's okay to spoil "bad" stories: http://bit.ly/yZHRjH

Stay tuned for some interesting updates later this week!

-Ben

Most Anticipated Movies of 2012

It's going to be a big one... lots of branding will be going on at the theaters this year. The hard pill to swallow is that so many of these franchise entries have a fair chance of being really good:

1. Gravity
2. The Dark Knight Rises
3. Lincoln
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
6. The Avengers
7. Django Unchained
8. Looper
9. Prometheus
10. TIE: Skyfall / The Bourne Legacy

That's my list. The only one I feel the need to qualify is my number one pick. If you haven't heard about Gravity, it's the newest film from Alfonso Cuaron, whom I find to be one of the most dense and brilliant filmmakers alive. I don't know if I've anticipated a Sandra Bullock film since Speed 2: Cruise Control, but I have the feeling her Oscar win might have liberated her a bit. I'm really looking forward to what Cuaron does with another science fiction thriller.

Feel free to chime in!

-Ben

Wonder Mill Roadshow Letter

Here's a notice that I'm sending out to community art folks and fellow filmmakers regarding our upcoming Roadshow:

We are looking to find networking opportunities with other moviemakers throughout the Southeast. Wonder Mill Films is looking to host a series of double feature film screenings in select cities, including Raleigh, Nashville, Birmingham, and Savannah.

Our plan is to screen our two feature films, as well as a handful of short films from local moviemakers, combined with an informative and entertaining Q&A about regional indie filmmaking.

We are in need of a starting point for the Raleigh / Nashville / Birmingham / Savannah communities. We are hoping to host screenings on Saturdays in May or June, and are looking to strike up a conversation with other filmmakers, art organizations, and potential venues. Any contact information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Folks can find more information about our films at www.agenesisfound.com and www.thenocturnalthird.com.

Facebook: /wondermillfilms
Twitter: @WonderMillFilms

Pass it along if you deem it relevant!

-Ben

Ben's Watch List for 2011

Thought it might be fun to post my log of movies or TV that I watched throughout 2011. Those first few months were lean, as I was finishing the Nocturnal Third sound mix. After April or so, it was all DVD authoring and marketing stuff.

I'm doing this again for 2012, but adding books. My goal for 2012 is to watch much less television and many more movies.

TH = Theatrical

January
Blade Runner Theatrical Cut
The Man With Two Brains
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Firefly (Cont’d)

February
Trailer Park Boys
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Firefly (Cont’d)

March
Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Superman The Animated Series
Firefly (Finished)

April
Limitless (TH)
Fast Five (TH)
Shutter Island
La Soufriere
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Serenity

May
Thor (TH)
Bridesmaids (TH)
District B13
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Entire Series)
Gattaca
Supercop
Old Joy
X-Men: First Class (TH)
The Incredible Hulk: 90's Animated Series
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (TH)
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Breaking Bad S1 (Cont’d)

June
Midnight in Paris (TH)
Super 8 (TH)
The League S1
Tree of Life (TH)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Duel of the Titans
The Adjustment Bureau (TH)
Arrested Development (Cont’d)
Breaking Bad S1 (Cont’d)

July
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (TH)
George Washington
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (TH)
Shotgun Stories
Captain America: The First Avenger (TH)
The Hunt for Red October
Arrested Development (Finished)
Breaking Bad S1 (Cont’d)
The Thin Red Line

August
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (TH)
Kung Fu Panda
Green Lantern (TH)
Paranoid Park
Parks & Recreation (Cont’d)
Breaking Bad S1 (Cont’d)

September
Drive (TH)
Contagion (TH)
Let Me In
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (TH)
Rango
Parks & Recreation (Cont’d)
Breaking Bad S2

October
Moneyball (TH)
Black Swan
The People Under the Stairs
Night of the Hunter
The Blob (unfinished)
Bridge on the River Kwai
The Good German
Meek’s Cutoff
The Valley of Gwangi
An American Werewolf in London
Attack the Block
Parks & Recreation (Cont’d)
Breaking Bad S2 (Cont’d)

November
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
Breaking Bad S3 (Abandoned)
The Twilight Zone (Original)
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone
For Your Eyes Only
Return of the King
The Thin Red Line
Sherlock S1E1&2
Raging Bull
Star Trek: The Next Generation S1E1
Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets
13 Assassins
Parks & Recreation (Cont’d)
Hugo (TH)
The Muppets (TH)
Horrible Bosses
Martha Marcy May Marlene (TH)

December
Tangled
Parks & Recreation (S3 & S4)
Take Shelter (TH)
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (TH 2x, IMAX)
The Adventures of Tintin (TH 2x, IMAX 3D)
Another Earth
War Horse (TH)

Review Round-Up 2

Here are a list of links to everywhere The Nocturnal Third has been reviewed, rated, or commented upon. Please grab some of these and pass them along to friends that might be interested. Also, if you liked the movie, please remember to rate it at Amazon and on IMDb.
Thanks!

Battleship Pretension
http://battleshippretension.com/?p=4481
Craig Hamilton
http://citizencraig.blogspot.com/index.html#2840862475833874558
Fabisch Factor
http://kurtsmoviereviews.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/the-nocturnal-third-review/

Flick Feast
http://flickfeast.co.uk/reviews/film-reviews/nocturnal-2011/

FlowersFlix
http://flowersflix.com/?p=3686

IMDb (User Rating: 8/10)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1905053/

The Independent Critic
http://www.theindependentcritic.com/nocturnal_third

Life Between Frames
http://lifebetweenframes.blogspot.com/2011/09/every-machine-breaks-down.html

Limited Release
http://limited-release.com/wonder-mill-films%E2%80%99-the-nocturnal-third/

Man, I Love Films
http://manilovefilms.com/reviews/dvd-reviews/2011/11/indie-flick-review-the-nocturnal-third/
Nashville Examiner (Cross-posted from Craig Hamilton)
http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-nashville/the-nocturnal-third-review
Past the Popcorn
http://ptpopcorn.com/index.php/2011/the-nocturnal-third/
Spling
http://www.spling.co.za/movie-reviews/card/the-nocturnal-third

Happy 2012!

Happy New Year from the cast and crew of The Nocturnal Third!

For fun, I wrote a painfully long post about my favorite movies of 2011. You can find a link here, but here's a quick look at my top ten:

10. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II
9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
8. Meek's Cutoff
7. The Adventures of Tintin
6. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
5. Take Shelter
4. Attack the Block / Super 8
3. The Tree of Life
2. Martha Marcy May Marlene
1. War Horse