Branded Films

LATEST WORK

2010-07-27T01:34:00.013-04:00

Gutter King - distributed by Multivisionnaire and Metrodome (Donnie Darko, Monster), released worldwide 2010. The film is based on writer/director Keith Alan Morris’ short stories that won the Schneider Prize and Cooper Award for best short fiction. The distributor’s listing:

“True to life, a troubled kid from juvenile hall gets a second chance to have a normal home with a new family -- but his foster father and brother show him the way to the underground world of fight clubs to earn his keep.” The film was ranked #159 on IMDB and has been nominated for numerous awards like Best Picture, Best Breakout Action Star, and Best Supporting Actor at the "Action On Film" Fest in LA. It is in stores in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Russia and went viral via 2.2 million torrents online. This year, it screened at the festivals of MIPCOM, AFM, CANNES, Hong Kong, Berlin, and many more. Go here for more info. Go here to download the entire film.

SCREENINGS:

Thursday, July 29 at 6:30pm

Academy Theatre

1003 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA - (626) 229-9400

This is a good festival and a HUGE one. Please come and support Gutter King if you're in the LA area!

We're up for the top 3 awards:

Breakout Action Star – Male – Feature

Gutter King – Zeb Halsell

Action Film of the Year - Feature

Gutter King

Best Supporting Actor - Feature

Gutter King – Casey Clark

- MIPCOM (TV & Film), Buyer’s Lounge

Cannes, France (October 5 - 9, 2009)

- American Film Market (Film), La Merigot, Suite: 201

Santa Monica, Calif (November 4 - 11, 2009)

- Berlinale / European Film Market (Film), Martin-Gropius-Bau, Stand #: TBA

Berlin, Germany (February 11 - 24, 2010)

- Hong Kong FILMART (Film & TV), Location TBA

Wan Chai, Hong Kong (March 22 - 25, 2010)

- MIPDOC/MIPTV (Documentaries, Telefilms), Palais, Stand #: TBA

Cannes, France (April 10 - 16, 2010)

- CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, Cannes, France (May 2010)

and more!

Milan - In self-distribution, on speaking tours and the internet. Shot in the Dominican Republic for Hope International, Milan is a documentary about how one female educator in the D.R. makes a difference in the lives of many children.

Flying Tiger - 100 min. On the Film Fest Circuit. - Best Feature at the Arizona Film and TV Fest, 2008 - Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival Market. Flying Tiger is a “film du terroir” (a film about the earth and humanity). Shot in Stockton, Missouri with a student crew from Indiana (where Keith trained the students in the classroom for one year prior), the film had three distribution offers and is still enjoying a healthy film festival run. The film’s success helped secure funding for Branded Films other features. See the site: http://flyingtigerthemovie.com

The Clinic - 90min. - Self Distribution. Won Best Screenplay for a Feature Film (out of 180 films) at the NY International Independent Film Fest, and received representation at the Cannes Film Fest Market. A comedy about an underground NYC treatment center for the broken-hearted.

R.U.B.s. - Rich Urban Bikers - screened for 6 months in the Guggenheim Museum’s traveling show “The Art of the Motorcycle.” R.U.B.S asks the question, “What is a true biker?” and “Are you a weekend warrior or hardcore?” R.U.B.s. also delves into bikers’ fanatical commitment to their favorite brand--Harley-Davidson, and how "outlaws" feel about fitting into a society where their outsider status is now mainstream.

Dan-E (1 minute) **OFFICIAL** from HAYDEN 5 MEDIA on Vimeo.

Here is a commercial we helped produce.

Top 3 nominations at the Action on Film Fest!

2010-07-26T13:57:00.001-04:00

Our film Gutter King got nominated for the top 3 awards at the Action on Film Fest! Its playing
Thursday, July 29 at 6:30pm
Academy Theatre
1003 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA - (626) 229-9400

This is a good festival and a HUGE one. Please come and support Gutter King if you're in the LA area!

The awards we're up for:

Breakout Action Star – Male – Feature
Gutter King – Zeb Halsell

Action Film of the Year - Feature
Gutter King

Best Supporting Actor - Feature
Gutter King – Casey Clark

The film is doing well in the UK, Australia, and Russia! Thanks everyone!
Keith Alan Morris
writer/director

K College in the house!

2010-03-25T21:53:00.005-04:00

We are looking forward to hosting Kalamazoo College "externs" this summer, following a big shoot in May!

We've always worked with interns from all around the country, but until we met with the president at an alumni function, we never thought to invite students from "K." Don't know why... Keith graduated from there... You'd think he'd remember his roots! :) This summer, it's payback time!

New site is up: www.GetBranded.us

2010-02-09T20:05:00.006-05:00

Make sure to check it out! http://getbranded.us

Main Showreel

2010-01-31T08:39:00.011-05:00

Branded Films REEL from keith alan morris on Vimeo.
We do Feature Filmmaking, Computer Animation, National Commercials, Storyboarding & Previsualisation, Makeup/FX, Major Event Photography, Television, Industrials, Promotion, Visual FX, Print Design, Web Design, and Font Making.

Documentary Showreel

2010-01-20T14:35:00.011-05:00

A description of Branded Films and its mission, and a quick look at Clive and Mary. 1 min.

KENDRA IN ELEMENT

2009-12-18T16:34:00.014-05:00

A beautiful spread and article on Kendra. She cobrands and aligns with Element Clothing as an Element Eden Advocate. She models their clothes and they give her tons of exposure. What a blessing. And sometimes, they give Keith clothes to let him keep up with the kids.

TRAILER REVIEWS COMING IN...

2009-12-18T15:17:00.003-05:00

Move over Channing Tatum! GUTTER KING trailer brings realistic fights

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BRANDED FILMS' LATEST FEATURE

2009-12-04T15:20:00.006-05:00

Review in it's entirety:

"Gutter King": Violence that Hurts

"Gutter King" it is a tremendous juvenile drama in which the violence is not a game or a spectacle, but a tragedy that follows its hard-living characters in their daily fight to survive, a life as difficult as if they were prostitutes.

Will (Zeb Crown) leaves a juvenile center when Bob (Casey Clark) agrees to take responsibility of him. At first, Bob appears to be a charitable soul dedicated to removing young people from the streets with the intention of giving them a better life, but appearances are deceiving. Will wants to behave and integrate himself into his new family, and has no desire to start trouble that returns him to the juvenile center. His brother in the new family is Paul (Blake Logan), who also left the center, but is unwilling to lose the position he has won with Bob. Will finds incentive to stay on the straight-and-narrow in BeBe (Erica Ramirez), the next-door neighbor whose short life also has not been easy. Nevertheless, Will is marked by violence that has pursued him and realizes it will remain part of his life, if only to make money.

This powerful film by a director unknown to me, Keith Alan Morris, who also wrote the script, is surprising in that the violence is dealt with extreme care and respect, as opposed to the superficiality with which we are used to seeing from directors like Guy Ritchie, Danny Boyle or David Fincher. It is not a genre film that alternates action sequences to develop an archetypal story, as if it were a musical that needed a song or choreographed climax.

"Gutter King" is closer to the early films of Martin Scorsese, in that the approach to the violence comes from a prudent and responsible perspective of trying to understand the characters and the motives for their behavior. Titles like "Who's That Knocking At My Door", "Mean Streets", "Taxi Driver" or "Raging Bull" make similar arguments -- although aesthetically the movie alludes to more recent films like "Goodfellas" and "Casino" (with a couple of winks to the former). It is not inappropriate that the soundtrack has unique and suggestive echoes of the ambient music that Bernard Herrmann composed for "Taxi Driver".

"Nobody gives something for nothing."

All the elements of the film work in accordance with the psychology of the characters: the cinematography of Matthew Hutchens is as hard as the lives onscreen, Gregory Kerrick's editing tracks the movement of the characters in its cuts, the mise en scene is so realistic that some of the blows almost hurt the viewer, and the soundtrack is full of the same rage that consumes the protagonists.

The film's technical team's realism is surprising, orchestrated by a director who uses his scenes to convey ideas with images, rather than with dialogue. Scenes carry weight, such as one of money on the ground at the end of a fight which is carried away by the wind; when BeBe desperately searches for Will to stop him fighting for money but falls into Paul's trap (echoing a scene in "A Streetcar Named Desire" — in line with the admiration felt by Martin Scorsese for Elia Kazan); or in the simple looks of the characters, for which no additional verbal explanation is required.

The evolution of these characters, so strong physically but weak psychologically, takes us through dehumanized scenes devoid of compassion, in which violence is not an option, it is a way of life. The one that survives is not only the stronger and more enduring—but, replacing prostitution with fighting--the body and its strength are the main enemies.

By Luis M. Álvarez

Extracine.com

http://extracine.com/2010/07/critica-gutter-king

translated by Kevin Leech

From a test screening, a sampling of comments:

"I thought this was an amazing film and I believe it shows that you don’t need a multi million dollar budget to make a great movie. It had story, character, romance, action, comedy.. everything needed to make a superb film."

"i’ve seen independent films and idk i wasn’t taken in so much unlike this one, i felt i was drawn into the story. so good job!"

"I thought the supporting cast were great. The fight scenes were pretty cool and Paul played his role like a champ. I developed a disgust for his character so he did his job very well."

"I thought it was great, the concept for the film was exciting and fresh."

"Lots of action, great sense of urgency and also lots of great fight scenes! Story was interesting and kept a great pace. I wish it was in IMAX!"

"When I first heard of the movie...... It was explained to me with one word..............Fighting........ Now we all know that fighting is such a diverse word...... So after having fighting pounded in my head...... I sat and I watched............. What did I think? Sensational.... Thrilling.... Intensely interesting....... Overwhelming... Wonderful... To sum it up ..... Amazing."

"Riveting, heartwarming with an inexpected ending."

"I felt that you lived life through the main character’s eyes... The character made you feel the distress and pity for the suffering and misfortune of another, with the desire to alleviate it. Yet you could feel the turmoil inside of him... If you were to ask me what words best describe Will I would say............. Inquisitive....(eager for knowledge of the fight) Compassionate.....(to help). Understanding....(He learned, judged, and made decisions all for the good of the character)."

"This is what I consider the next generation in filmmaking.. People always complain that movies today lack character and story, but through independent filmmaking, the film was allowed to concentrate more on the overall substance and guts of the film, rather than just what “appeals” to the broad, generalized public."

"I definitely look forward to future projects by this director."

WALTER ON BRANDED FILMS

2009-12-04T15:13:00.009-05:00

In 2003 while studying at Full Sail, my life suddenly changed. I was finishing my last class in the Film Degree program and my military unit was activated for Iraq. Plans were already made for my transition into the film industry, but the war had now caused me to become uncertain about my future.

One year later, I returned to Full Sail to continue my studies. Starting where I left off, I had to make plans for the next move after the Film program. Full Sail was in it’s third month for the Bachelor of Science Program and I thought it would be best to continue learning since I had not landed anything in film. After enrolling in the Bachelor’s Program I met Keith Morris my Strategic Planning and Marketing Course Director. During the the Bachelor’s program I completed a documentary and competed in several film competitions (some hosted by Keith). Keith took notice of my hard work and allowed me to work on some of his productions. While working with Keith I watched him through the entire process of independent filmmaking from finding funding and negotiating contracts to making deals for distribution.

Working with Keith was like being enrolled in the Roger Corman film school (hard working and resourceful). This gave me many insights into the real world of independent filmmaking. Like most things in life, mentorship is where learned principles are applied. I am thankful of God for the change in my plans which has allowed me to develop a relationship with such a intuitive filmmaker such as Keith Alan Morris.

Sincerely,
Walter V. Marshall

JOEL ON BRANDED FILMS

2009-12-04T15:12:00.002-05:00

I was enrolled in Keith’s video production class at Ivy Tech State College in South Bend, IN in 2003. Class consisted of film viewing, analysis of elements of mise-en-scene, form, film terms and studio production techniques. We collaborated in groups towards class productions as well as our individual projects. Keith was preparing to shoot Flying Tiger and asked me if I would like to intern on that shoot in the sound department. I had some previous courses and experience in recording independent rock music and a love for movies and was happy to be invited to participate in the making of an independent film. He provided a copy of the script and asked for input. Student interns were also involved in the preproduction process, choosing talent and learning filmmaking disciplines.

Flying Tiger was filmed in rural Missouri under modest means and conditions. Throughout the filming of Flying Tiger, which followed a real natural disaster in the form of a tornado that cut a swath through the town, there was a sense of work, adventure, friendship and family mixed in with ticks, mosquitoes, insect repellant, dusty roads, orchards and livestock. Long hours dedicated to filmmaking were punctuated with laughter, serious concentration and the creative processes backdropped by the beautiful Midwestern landscape. I came home exhausted, having met new friends, eager to someday work on another film.

Last year Keith sent me a script for Gutter King which we filmed in Orlando on the RED digital camera. Sticking to a tight shooting schedule we knocked out shots of our young hero trading sweat-filled punches with underground fighters in urban central Florida. Running and gunning, we shot the dramatic action during Kendra’s last stage of pregnancy, with their daughter being born during filming. The labor of love that is the film was contributed to by an ultimately dedicated crew who above all wanted to make a film. Florida’s heat, breezes, rain and metropolis were the setting for strenuous, speedy action of not only the characters of the film but also the filmmakers. In the downtime, we watched movies (because we all love movies); we talked about movies, ate amazing food, looked to the sky, checked the weather, and went out and did it all again.

--Joel Szymanowski, South Bend, IN - Nov 18, 2009

STAR PUPILS

2009-12-04T15:09:00.011-05:00

Ian Campbell came from Florida’s Valencia Community College and joined Keith and Kendra's internship program, where he started on principal photography of “A Fighting Chance” as a Production Assistant. Through his tireless efforts of wanting to work day and night, he quickly rose to the rank of Assistant Camera for the 3rd round of photography and got to shoot on the RED Camera. He works all over the country now in all phases of production and currently is one of only two creative partners for Keith’s newest project.

“Compared to the industry standard procedures of filmmaking, Branded Films/Keith Alan Morris produces projects with as high a quality for a fraction of the price and time. Making sure to only work with passionate and talented partners, he is able to streamline the process to only a handful of crew members while still excelling in professionalism and enthusiasm. I am a partner; I make sure everything we produce will be as good as can be.”

Ian Campbell
Local 600

Christina Livesey came from RISD and Parsons, and worked on many of our NYC productions, including the award-winning THE CLINIC, where she even garnered a cameo. Keith also gave her a position at an independent music label in NYC. She now works as a production manager at a major architecture firm.

* Rhode Island School of Design ‘02
* BFA Illustration

* Parsons School of Design, New School University ‘08
* Interior Design Certificate

Kirsten Overholt works extremely hard. She trained for a year in Indiana, and even assisted in casting where she made the major find of the lead actor for Flying Tiger. During the film’s production, she sometimes functioned on no sleep as the Unit Production Manager, making sure actors made their 5am call times, while also working as Script Girl and in Continuity. Keith picked her over 1400 students from Full Sail to place her in a job at a major online company as a Staff Writer.

Walter Marshall’s military background as a Marine in the Iraq War makes him treat every day as a gift. Coming from the inner city of Detroit, he knows the world doesn’t owe him a favor and his positive attitude onset and excellent communication skills helped him move quickly from one of 1400 students taught by Keith at Full Sail to PA to Digital Intermediate Technician to 1st Assistant Camera working with the RED camera. He moved back to Detroit where he is happily married and the head of the film department for a megachurch. When its time to shoot another Branded Films project, you know where he'll be.

Joel Szymanowski has worked on all of Branded Films features after THE CLINIC as the main production audio person. He trains students to work as boom operators to record wild audio in all sorts of environments. He also teaches high school in South Bend, IN.

Ryan Riggs and Steve Sullivan (Indiana University, ‘08) met Keith while still in high school and worked on the development and preproduction of Flying Tiger in college classes. Ryan filled a crucial role in the third round of photography for A Fighting Chance as a Script Consultant, Writer, and 1st Assistant Director. Keith got him his first career job at a digital media firm in Orlando. Steve continues to work with Branded Films while working in film in Chicago. He will be crewing Branded Films next documentary project, with some footage to be shot in Indianapolis.

OUR SITES

2009-12-04T15:04:00.037-05:00

More information on all our work can be found at these sites:

BRANDED

Rural Revolution

Kendra Jones

Morris Media

Gutter King

Film Scout

UFO Technologies

Flying Tiger

partners:
http://flyingdogfilms.com

.

HOW STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED

2009-12-04T15:03:00.017-05:00

Branded Films believes in adopting a holistic approach to develop a meaningful, branded story. We define ‘holistic’ as encompassing a team effort to design, develop, communicate and visualize a branded story for a global market. We have our core team that has been with us since our earliest efforts that work as “keys.” These number from 4-7 people, pending the project and our needs. From there, we also employ a team of skilled students that we train prior to production to assist us.

What
The students learn all phases of development, preproduction, production, and post-production in a real setting.

Why
We retain students solely because we like to pass on the knowledge gained from many years of making films.

Where
Some of our films are shot in very rural, remote areas (Stockton, Missouri; Dominican Republic), and others are shot in urban environments (New York City, for example). Development and preproduction are usually completed in Orlando, FL, but have also been completed in other states or countries. Here is a list of each film and where they were made:

THE CLINIC
dev/prepro/prod/post - New York City

FLYING TIGER
dev/prepro - South Bend, IN
prod - SW Missouri
post - Orlando

IN THE NAME OF AID
dev/prepro - Orlando
prod - Kenya, Africa
post - Orlando

MILAN
dev/prepro - Orlando
prod - Dominican Republic
post - Orlando

R.U.B.S.
dev/prepro - Orlando
prod - South Bend, IN, Daytona Beach, FL
post - Orlando

A FIGHTING CHANCE
Orlando

Future Projects:
A PLAN FOR WATER
dev/prepro complete - China

THE BOHEMIAN
dev/prepro complete - Honduras

When
On average, each stage of the process equates to one semester. Development and preproduction sometimes fit within one semester together. We are always in the process of making movies, and some sections overlap. Currently, we are in a 5th stage, “deliverables,” for two projects, while also developing a new project.

How
Accepted students are added to the team in one of two ways.

1. They are trained for one or two semesters prior to production by us, then asked to join the production at a remote site, where we provide room and board, pending budget.
(ex. - For Flying Tiger, students trained in Indiana on campus for two semesters, then lived on location in Missouri for the one month of production during the Summer.)

2. Students are brought on for one semester and either find their own housing or are provided room and board (again, pending budget).

Contact us if you are interested in more info on our selection process. We receive many queries, but we try to reply to every email within a week, pending our shooting schedules.

FUTURE PROJECTS

2009-12-04T15:02:00.006-05:00

HAITI - shooting May 4-11, 2010 in Haiti. Then June in Orlando.

KEITH ALAN MORRIS' UNTITLED SPRING PROJECT - Go here for more info: filmscout.org

A PLAN FOR WATER: Reforesting China - In development. What do we think of when we see the name “China”? Some may think of China just in terms of Beijing or Shanghai--with their millions of urbanites. But, eighty-six percent of the Chinese population are actually rural farmers. Rural farmers who need water. China is striving for a new balance between the availability of water, the needs of people, soil stewardship and food production. Herein we will look specifically at the people, the land use practices, and water usage within the Yellow River watershed of northern and western China.

One family has been closely involved with the conservation efforts of China for the past several years. They have traveled and worked extensively as volunteers with the national, provincial, prefecture, and county authorities to provide technical assistance and conservation seeds. Their work has involved the introduction of desirable trees to provide food, fiber and shrubs to help stabilize expanding desert areas, and provide food for livestock. These practices improve water retention and water quality, reduce water and wind erosion, and provide for economic and social stability for families and communities. We will document China’s need through their eyes and learn how China’s 1.2 billion people effect the world.

The Bohemian - 120min. In development. - Developed over a year’s time with the humanitarian Edward James Olmos (“Stand and Deliver”) and the President of the developing nation of Honduras. A large fiction film project that would benefit the struggling schools in Honduras by donating a significant portion of the producer’s proceeds directly to the specific schools Branded Films visited in Honduras.

Branded Films also makes mainstream films to finance the documentaries. We are currently working with the animators that do the robots for the NFL on Fox.

Left: The main character from our film DTD.

DTD - 120 min. - Teaser trailer complete. A robot cabbie in the post-apocalypse saves the world. Go here to view the teaser.

OUR WORK

2009-12-04T14:49:00.013-05:00

In the Name of Aid - 57min. On the film fest circuit. A documentary on those combatting the AIDS crisis in Africa. The documentary film follows four faith-based NGOs (non government organizations), and is an intimate look at how they raise financial support and run their operations. The theme of the film is the ability of ordinary people to make a far-reaching impact on the world around them. The stars of the story are not UN workers or celebrities touting their favorite causes, but villagers, locals, and missionaries – average, everyday people – making a difference in the way they live their lives and effect those around them. Go here to see a scene!

Flying Tiger - 100 min. On the Film Fest Circuit. - Best Feature at the Arizona Film and TV Fest, 2008 - Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival Market. Flying Tiger is a “film du terroir” (a film about the earth and humanity). Shot in Stockton, Missouri with a student crew from Indiana (where Keith trained the students in the classroom for one year prior), the film had three distribution offers and is still enjoying a healthy film festival run. The film’s success helped secure funding for Branded Films other features. See the site: http://flyingtigerthemovie.com

Milan - In self-distribution, on speaking tours and the internet. Shot in the Dominican Republic for Hope International, Milan is a documentary about how one female educator in the D.R. makes a difference in the lives of many children.

The Clinic - 90min. - Self Distribution. Won Best Screenplay for a Feature Film (out of 180 films) at the NY International Independent Film Fest, and received representation at the Cannes Film Fest Market. A comedy about an underground NYC treatment center for the broken-hearted.

R.U.B.s. - Rich Urban Bikers - screened for 6 months in the Guggenheim Museum’s traveling show “The Art of the Motorcycle.” R.U.B.S asks the question, “What is a true biker?” and “Are you a weekend warrior or hardcore?” R.U.B.s. also delves into bikers’ fanatical commitment to their favorite brand--Harley-Davidson, and how "outlaws" feel about fitting into a society where their outsider status is now mainstream.

A Fighting Chance - renamed Gutter King - distributed by Multivisionnaire Pictures, released worldwide 2010. The film is based on writer/director Keith Alan Morris’ short stories that won the Schneider Prize and Cooper Award for best short fiction at Kalamazoo College, 1994. The distributor’s listing:

“True to life, a troubled kid from juvenile hall gets a second chance to have a normal home with a new family -- but his foster father and brother show him the way to the underground world of fight clubs to earn his keep.” Go here to see the trailer!

SCREENINGS:

Thursday, July 29 at 6:30pm
Academy Theatre
1003 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA - (626) 229-9400

This is a good festival and a HUGE one. Please come and support Gutter King if you're in the LA area!

We're up for the top 3 awards:

Breakout Action Star – Male – Feature
Gutter King – Zeb Halsell

Action Film of the Year - Feature
Gutter King

Best Supporting Actor - Feature
Gutter King – Casey Clark

- MIPCOM (TV & Film), Buyer’s Lounge
Cannes, France (October 5 - 9, 2009)

- American Film Market (Film), La Merigot, Suite: 201
Santa Monica, Calif (November 4 - 11, 2009)

- Berlinale / European Film Market (Film), Martin-Gropius-Bau, Stand #: TBA
Berlin, Germany (February 11 - 24, 2010)

- Hong Kong FILMART (Film & TV), Location TBA
Wan Chai, Hong Kong (March 22 - 25, 2010)

- MIPDOC/MIPTV (Documentaries, Telefilms), Palais, Stand #: TBA
Cannes, France (April 10 - 16, 2010)

- CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, Cannes, France (May 2010)

and more!

WHO WE ARE

2009-12-04T14:40:00.004-05:00

Branded Films is a feature film production company that has just moved to New Orleans, LA from Orlando. It is a collaboration between the husband and wife team of Keith Alan Morris (K’94) and Kendra Jones to make feature films on social justice and the movement towards a socially just world.

OUR GEAR

2009-12-03T15:27:00.027-05:00

CAMERA DEPT:
3 (three) Red Ones, 3 A/C adapters, 2 Red Raid, 4 Flash cards, the big lens--the Red Pro 18-85mm, 3 Nikon Adapters, 4 Nikon lenses: one 24mm, one 35mm, two 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.4, and a zoom (25mm to 85mm), 2 Red battery chargers, 4 Red bricks, 2 Red Lcds, 2 LCD Widescreen monitors, 2 basic production packs, 1 O'connor 50 fluid head and tripod, 1 Bogen fluid head with tripod /w dolly, a 3rd Manfrotto tripod, Timecode cables, Audio cables, timecode slate, 1 amazing LED light (2k), mattebox, 3 shotgun mics. 8 assorted 5600K light fixtures, 4 baby 1k's. See pics below.

Grip Electric Lighting:
Email us for a pdf list and see pics below.

IN THE NEWS

2009-12-03T10:10:00.028-05:00

Gutter King huge thumbs up reviews.

Kendra on Element's website.

Gutter King's trailer just got reviewed at Quiet Earth.

Flying High
South Bend native's film comes to the Vickers

South Bend Tribune - South Bend, Ind.
Author: EVAN GILLESPIE
Section: Intermission (front page)

Filmmaker Keith Morris thinks he knows the secret to pulling the rug from beneath the big Hollywood studios.

"Hollywood is running scared," he says (with a wink), reflecting on what makes contemporary independent filmmakers like himself competitive with the big boys. "The only thing they have that we don't is star power, and we can get that, too, with a little effort.

Everything else we can work around, and they know it."

Technology is the secret that low-budget filmmakers have up their sleeves, and Morris has made the most of the available technology to produce cost-efficient films that lead experts to shoot far too high when they take a guess at his budget. Morris' latest film, "Flying Tiger," which will enjoy a sneak preview screening at the Vickers Theatre in Three Oaks on Wednesday, is a special effects-laden effort that pushes inexpensive filmmaking to the limit.

"It's empowering technology that we're dealing with here," says Morris, a South Bend native. "Every day I wake up with my head just buzzing about the possibilities. There's nothing more satisfying than hitting roadblocks and blowing right through them."

There seem to be few roadblocks left in front of Morris, a former Adams High School student, whose first film, "The Clinic," won the Best Screenplay award at the New York International Independent Film Festival and went on to a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. "Flying Tiger" is Morris' second film, part of a 10-films-in-10- years plan that could see Morris with a blockbuster on his hands before the decade is out. The writer-director has harnessed every bit of technology available, from digital video to the Internet, to make affordable movies that look as if they cost a lot more than they actually did.

"Flying Tiger" is not the type of project that one would expect an independent filmmaker to tackle, especially not as his sophomore project. The story of Seth, a flying high school football player -- that's right, a boy who can fly -- is a family-oriented drama that depends heavily on action and special effects; the story is anything but the modest, sedate project that comes to mind when one contemplates low-budget filmmaking. In order to pull it off, Morris used not only the latest technology, but some tried-and-true tricks as well.

"What I'm really excited about is our use of matte paintings," Morris says of a special effect technique used extensively in "Flying Tiger," a technique that's anything but high tech. "It's an old-school Hollywood razzle-dazzle technique that combines live- action footage with fantastic paintings and photo collages. When we do them right, you can't tell that it's not real. It was hilarious to see people's reaction at Sundance. Their jaws just dropped."

He's referring to the Sundance Film Festival, the prestigious showcase of independent film where the "Flying Tiger" trailer generated much positive buzz.
Drawing attention as the "one to watch" by producers' representatives at Sundance was actress Kendra Jones, who also co-produced the film (and who happens to be married to Morris). Jones, with the help of production coordinator Kirsten Overholt (nicknamed "The Glue" for her tenacity), was instrumental in orchestrating the shooting of the film in her hometown of Stockton, Mo. The production came off without a major hitch, despite the fact that Stockton had been nearly leveled by a tornado just two days before shooting was scheduled to start. That's not to say, however, that the shoot was fun for everyone involved.

"We (crew) all lived in one tiny house together, 12 of us, I think, with one bathroom that occasionally worked," recalls Blake Gingerich, the crew's gaffer (that's film-talk for "electrician"). "We shared it with 10,000 ticks and a whole lot of big bugs.

"The cast and crew were both amazing, so we somehow managed to pull this thing off and get out of there with no serious injuries."

Gingerich, a Valparaiso, Ind., native and current New York University student, is part of an Indiana connection that Morris keeps alive despite his escalating career success and his New York address.

"I left New York City and lived in South Bend for a year while we prepped the film," says Morris. "Some area college students got class credit for working on the film. I want to always support filmmakers from Indiana because New York and L.A. shouldn't get all the work, right?"

Morris picked Greenwood, Ind., native Sean Ripley whom he had met at a filmmakers meeting in South Bend, to be his director of photography, and Ripley called the brother of one of his friends, Gingerich, when the crew needed a gaffer. The two were part of a network that Morris had formed following a talk at the University of Notre Dame, where he told students about his experience at Cannes with "The Clinic," and while teaching at Ivy Tech (along with Jones).

As he put together the crew for "Flying Tiger," Morris saw the opportunity to help out aspiring filmmakers in Indiana who were in the position he was in himself not so long ago.

"I remember moving back home after college and saying, 'OK, now what?' " he explains. "It was scary. Well, we answered that question for a group of kids this year. Now they know how to do what we do, and probably better."

If Morris was able to give something back to his hometown, though, South Bend was also able to make its own unique contribution to the production of "Flying Tiger." When Morris needed some footage of television journalists for the film, he called WSBT-TV videographers Phil Patnaude and Josh Taylor.

"I met Keith during my time at Ivy Tech college, where he taught some classes," recalls Taylor. "Phil also knew him from Ivy Tech, but on the teaching end of it. Well, one day we were talking to Keith, and he said he needed some stuff shot for his new film. He sent us what he needed, and Phil and I shot it for him. He needed an anchor reading some lines, so we used Mike Collins, and he also needed a reporter, so we asked Ed Ernstes to do that part."

Because of the tight bond between Morris and South Bend, it is perhaps not surprising that the filmmaker would give "Flying Tiger" a sneak preview in Michiana even before it plays to an audience of 30,000 at San Diego's First Night festival on New Year's Eve.

"We want to sneak preview the film to show it to the crew and cast from the area, and anyone interested, to build a buzz for the real release," says Morris. "The cast and crew haven't seen it in its entirety yet!

"We're rolling out the red carpet for families because this is a family film. Because it's a real sneak preview, we're going to do it like they do it in New York. We'll hand out ballots, and you'll get to vote on your likes and dislikes. Then we'll go back and make changes that we agree with. And there will be a roomful of cast and crew members for a Q&A to follow. And some swag too."

When it came time to choose a venue for the event, Morris knew the theater he wanted. Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center will be fantastic when the time is right, but for now, the Vickers Theatre in Three Oaks is where Morris wants to be.

"Jon Vickers is the man. He and his wife Jenn support indie filmmakers, so we want to support them. He gave my wife and me a tour of the theater last year, and we fell in love with it. It's straight out of 'Cinema Paradiso' -- a gem! Plus, it's a little more out of the way; we want film nuts like us to come."

The next project in Morris' 10-year plan is "a comedy that asks this question: 'What if you could completely control everything about the one you love?' " but his most important goal is that he keeps doing what he loves to do.

"My uncle Ray Bennett said I'll either be real poor or real rich someday," Morris jokes. "I just like making movies and teaching others. Any money I make goes right back into the films. If one hits, fine. If not, it doesn't matter. I found the secret to happiness -- shoot, shoot shoot. And share your secrets."

Credit: Tribune Correspondent

READ FILM THREAT REVIEW

'Flying Tiger' soars at movie's premiere ; Independent film features a bold look

South Bend Tribune - South Bend, Ind.

Author:	EVAN GILLESPIE

Start Page:	1
Section:	Home
Text Word Count:	768

THREE OAKS -- There was no red carpet at Wednesday night's sneak preview of "Flying Tiger," the new film from writer-director and South Bend native Keith Morris, but there were plenty of flashbulbs and at least one feather boa.

The evening's three screenings at the Vickers Theatre in Three Oaks drew large and enthusiastic crowds made up, in large part, of the friends and family of the film's cast and crew, many of whom are Michiana natives. No one seemed to mind, as Morris emphasized during a question-and-answer session between screenings, that the film is still a work in progress in need of further audio mixing and color correction. Any of the film's remaining rough spots were easily overlooked in light of the production's impressive polish; true to Morris's promotional pitch, "Flying Tiger" is a good-looking film, with a cinematographic luster that belies its low budget.

"Flying Tiger" tells the story of Seth Fairchild, a boy who, for reasons mysterious and mostly unexplored, is able to fly. Seth's father discovers his son's fantastic ability early on, and, keeping the secret from everyone -- including Seth's mother and sisters -- he moves the family to rural Missouri, where he buys up huge tracts of land in the hope that isolation will keep Seth's talent under wraps. Seth grows into his teenage years and becomes the star of the local high school football team (his amazing agility makes him a natural at the game), and all seems to be going well despite the boy's secret quirk.

Conflict enters the story, however, from several directions. First, there's the interference of Gene, a sickly yet devious boy who resents the monopolization of local real estate by Seth's father. Gene hates Seth, and he uses his ill health to win the sympathetic attention of Seth's girlfriend, Sherry, and to undermine Seth's reputation in the small town.

Then there's Jimmy, a slightly off-balance hunter of American Indian artifacts, who stumbles onto Seth's secret and becomes obsessed with capturing the flying boy on video. Finally, there is a group of paleontologists hot on the trail of an exciting new find who descend on Seth's hometown, complete with military backup, hoping to get to the bottom of the area's strange goings-on.

With "Flying Tiger," Morris has taken advantage of up-to-date technology and the considerable talent of his young crew to make a film that is, at times, almost breathtaking. The work of cinematographer Sean Ripley, in particular, is often stunning, saturated with color and awash with light. The Missouri exteriors are especially impressive. The actors are surrounded by lush settings that are sun-dazzled yet never washed-out or overexposed.

Coupled with Morris' crisp, authoritative direction and editing, Ripley's camera work allows the film to stand confidently beside a project with a budget 10 times bigger (according to the film's promotional material, it was made for less than $1 million).

With the addition of the special-effects paintings of Nate Ferrone (which are, ironically, successful enough to be virtually unnoticeable), "Flying Tiger" threatens to leave its indie film heritage behind.

The film's acting performances range from competent to effectively engaging. Brian Schany and Abby Wathen, as Seth and Sherry, are attractive enough to be big-time Hollywood stars, and Schany is convincing as a boy with a dark secret, never pushing his brooding angst over the top.

The show-stealing performance, however, is Casey Clark's Jimmy, a whacky, wild-eyed comic turn that provides a few solid laughs.

If "Flying Tiger" has a weakness, it's in the story's complex web of a plot that often feels a bit out of control. The convergence of high school bullies, artifact hunters, fossil hunters, news reporters, and soldiers is somewhat confusing and detracts from the warm-hearted kernel of the film: a fable about an unusual boy and a father who will go to great lengths to protect his son. Charming plot points -- such as Seth's plan to pull off an amazing feat in order to impress Sherry -- are given short shrift in order to provide room for threads that add little to the narrative.

Yet "Flying Tiger" is fun to watch. Morris's screenplay is amiable and accessible, and the performances of Schany and Clark alone are worth the price of admission. Most significantly, the film is a visual treat, and one cannot help but feel that Morris got his money's worth and a whole lot more from his equipment and his crew.

Credit: Tribune Correspondent

FLYING TIGER --- 3 and 1/2 stars by Michael Ferraro (reviewed at Film Threat.com), Un-rated, 120 Minutes, UFO Tech - flyingtigerthemovie.com

"Flying Tiger" takes a relatively familiar storyline and pumps it full of fine acting performances and graceful cinematography. That familiar storyline I am speaking of involves a boy with the incredible gift of flight, living in a small town and trying to keep it a secret from the local residents (and even some members of his family). Sounds and feels a bit like television's "Smallville" but has more of an independent filmmaker's touch. Here, the characters are more interesting and thankfully, his flying ability isn't used to try and create the only attention-grabbing element of the film.

Mark Fairchild (Purkeypile) discovers that his son has a unique flying ability at an early age. In an effort to keep it a secret from the world, he moves his family out to a small town and purchases acres and acres of land so that his son can practice his gift. As Seth (Schany) enters his teenage years, he finds his skill a little bit harder to disguise.

Mark does his best to keep his son out of sight, he even finds himself constantly driving through his land looking for trespassers that may accidentally see this miracle. One day he stumbles upon Jimmy, a wacky and bearded artifact hunter, seeking Indian relics in a pond and throws him out of his land. Jimmy returns curiously, pondering what it is exactly that Mark is trying to hide. Jimmy then begins an unending quest to return to the property and sooner or later, he finds clues about Seth's secret identity.

As "Flying Tiger" begins, you almost expect some superhero happenings, yet, they never come into fruition. This isn't a story trying to label Seth as remarkable; it is simply one of those stories about someone a little different than the rest of us. Sure that may sound like the average family friendly fare, which it is, but it doesn't spew out all of the cheese, sentimentality and moralization the genre is known for.

The editing may not be perfect but the film has a lot of good going for it. One of the best shots of the film is an early matte painting showing a fossilized dinosaur in the clearing of an archeological dig. It's huge and the director knew what he wanted to show and it was done without compromise. Matte paintings were used all throughout "Flying Tiger" and thankfully, it's hard to tell.

Another fine element is the performances, especially the character of Jimmy, played by Casey Clark. He does an admirable job of mixing enough unique traits to a somewhat clichéd character--the wacky and annoying scientist type--to keep you thoroughly entertained each time he hits the screen.

"Flying Tiger" also has one more thing going for it--director Keith Morris chose wisely with his preference of never actually showing the boy fly. Doing too much would just take away from the rest of the story, and doing it cautiously may also distract the viewer's attention. Perhaps that this choice was due to budgetary concerns but nevertheless, it worked so much better because of it.

--

Above is a behind-the-scenes video from a photoshoot for "A Fighting Chance" (renamed Gutter King). We had a competition to find the best makeup artists in Florida, and shot the 3 finalists for each main role in fun magazine-style spreads. The photos were used in promotional material to raise the budget for the feature.

Arrow in the Head reviews DTD teaser.
The Inevitable Zombie Apocalypse site does too.
Blips gets DTD on the radar.

MORE ARTICLES will be added to this page as we move them from print to online.

2009-12-03T02:40:00.005-05:00

FAQ on Branded Films for Students with Keith Alan Morris

1. Whats it like?
The toughest job you'll ever love.

2. What would I do?
Save the world.

3. What do I get out of it?
Rock hard abs.

4. Whats an average day like?
Depends on what stage you join us. It could be:
Development
Preproduction
Production
or Post-production

Development and Preproduction are very fun, in our system. Production is the most hands-on. Post production, surprisingly, is for the most intense, focused students, picked from the best of the best. No one has ever made it all the way through, except one person.

5. Who would I be working with?
See the "about us" section and the "star pupils" section.

6. Can I come to the Cannes Film Festival (etc.) with the team if it doesn't fall on the time I work with you?
Yes.

7. Where are your latest films screening?
Go to filmscout.org for more info.

8. How do you get paid to do what you do?
By being the hardest working team in showbiz.

9. How can I get paid to work in film someday?
That can only be taught over time, and you learn that during the time you're with us.

10. What kind of equipment do you use?
www.red.com

11. What would I learn?
Everything about making a real film, from concept thru distribution. Don't waste your money on film school.

(More serious answers coming soon. Keith is tired.)

DOC ON OUR LATEST FEATURE

2009-11-02T21:24:00.004-05:00

Please email us to see this video.

CONTACT US

2009-11-01T12:20:00.001-05:00

Team Leaders: Audio

2009-01-12T00:25:00.000-05:00

Michael Sujek (K '94) 2009-2010 Highlights:

AUDIO ENGINEER

Captures audio for a diversity of genre (Film, Reality, Commercials, Music Videos, Video Games [motion capture]

a. Commercials for companies such as: NFL, Chrysler, Toyota, Shell, Macaroni Grill, Hefty, Pizza Hut, Swiffer

b. Worked on the television show: Inside American Jails. Filmed inside a Las Vegas County Jail (OJ Simpson's new home)...for the same company that does the COPS TV show.

c. Music videos for bands such as: Fallout Boy, Katharine McPhee (American Idol), Megadeth, Cartel, Angels and Airwaves, Metro Station (Miley Cyrus' brother's band), Thriving Ivory...

d. Live audio for Kyle Cease Bootcamp at Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Los Angeles, CA

e. Recorded audio during motion capture for the video game industry... Uncharted 2. Dante's Inferno. A couple other games whose titles can't be revealed yet.

Uncharted 2 (PS3) is currently up for Game of the Year 2009 and received highest or 2nd highest rating for a video game ever (96/100)

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2009-01-09T18:10:00.001-05:00

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