Choosing a feature to shoot is the most difficult thing as a producer. You want to go with projects that you know people will love as much as you do and that are worth it for the time and money it takes to pull off. For me, this means the story needs to engage an audience emotionally whether it’s through tears, laughter or fear.

A few week ago, I wrote  a thirty page short called Lone Viking. It’s hilarious! Brad read it and laughed out loud. He really enjoyed it, and we both think it could be a feature. There is a natural place in the script where it could be expanded. The humor stems from misunderstandings that are set up through out the story and lead to situations that are farcical and uproariously funny.  There’s also a romance that blossoms between the two leads, and the ending sets us up for a sequel.  This one is so fun, I could see it in book form as well. The good news is, as a short, it’s only a few locations and could easily be made. A feature will expand the budget, but there are ways to keep it affordable enough so that we can produce it on our own.

Another feature which I have outlined and ready to go is currently called Wise Man. It’s the story of a retired father who happens upon a horrific incident which gets him involved with a younger Latin woman. His entire family ends up getting drawn into this woman’s story which leads to a violent end. This one is based off an idea I had months ago that will not let go. It seems I keep returning to it which means I have to write it. Having pitched the idea to Brad, he thinks it’s a strong story, and since it’s limited locations, it’s also low-budget.

Quinn is the other feature I’ve started writing about a man who is affected by the economic downturn and is unfairly treated based on his sexuality. This leads to a witch hunt leaving him, his daughter and husband traumatized. The only people brave enough to stand up for them are a hispanic couple whose grandma marched with Cesar Chavez. It’s a progressive film that really needs to be told.

I am still flooded with ideas for shorts as well, one of which is called Promotion. This one is about a gay man who is trapped in an unescapable situation at work with a female boss who sexually harasses him. It’s heartbreaking to see how ensnared he is in the situation and will definitely make the viewer squirm. The budget is rather swollen for a short film as I would need a house and an office to shoot in. My house in unavailable because of the fire. I do have a cast in mind for this one as well.

All in all, we have several projects in development. Brad is on page 50 of a pilot he believes will be 80 pages when complete. It’s such a good idea, and I can’t wait to read it. He also has a feature outlined and ready to write. We always bounce our ideas off each other and edit each others work. It’s fun to have a writing partner with which to share everything.

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