Guess Who's Back . . . Back Again . . . Scotty's Back . . . Tell A Friend . . .

It's been a bit, hasn't it?  I just remembered you and the realization that I hadn't written in so long sent me into a tailspin of guilt.  Granted, we've had a lot going on (more on that here).  And don't think I haven't been writing.  I have.

Oh, how I've been writing.

When last I corresponded, I was in the middle of the second draft of Phileas Reid.  I'm still in the second draft of Phileas Reid.  I've taken a small break from Phileas to write a web series.  It's a story I had three years ago (or longer, depending on when you're reading this) back in the spring of 2010, but I've sat on it till now.

It's called Illumination, Inc. and the reason I've sat on this sci-fi rom-com for so long is that I've had a hard time figuring it out.  The story hasn't changed, but I've had a hard time figuring out how to tell it.  The original thought and outline for the story was as a feature-length film.  But not having the money to bring that film into fruition kept me from committing too much time to writing it.  So I flirted with turning into a novel or a graphic novel but neither really seemed to suit it.

Illumination, Inc. is and was always a cinematic story idea.  So when I heard that Point of View Pictures, the production company run by my long-time partner-in-crime Tom Goddard, was gearing up to produce a web series this summer, inspiration struck.  I called up Tommy and pitched him Illumination, Inc.  He loved it, which meant I had to write it.

Knowing that you're writing for a production that doesn't have a budget, you really need an idea that's bigger than the story you're telling.  That's the key element in all my favorite independent films.  The writer/director finds a big idea and then uses a small story to explore that idea.  The big idea overshadows the small story and makes the entire production seem grander.  For great examples of this, check out Pi, Primer, Reservoir Dogs and District 9.  Another way to distract from your small budget and small production is to fill your production with talent.  See also:  Garden State and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

At the heart of Illumination, Inc. is the idea of being able to control your dreams and live out whatever fantasies you have.  You couple that with the romantic idea of finding the person of your dreams and you have the basic foundation of the web series.

Illumination, Inc. will be a seven episode web series that will be filmed locally (in and around Chattanooga, Tennessee) this summer (2013).  Post production is scheduled to begin in August with a tentative release scheduled for this fall.

You can check out the website for it here, like it on Facebook here, and follow my (hopefully) more regular writing updates here.

Libertas Picture Company

So as we tie up a neat little bow on phase 1, it's time to move on to phase 2. "What?!" I hear you say. "There's phases to this thing?" Indeed there are, Inquisitive Reader.

I now have the equipment and capability to shoot movies, music videos, web series, and/or anything else our imaginations and cook up. And so I would like to open the doors of the Libertas Picture Company.

If you live in the greater Chattanooga area, and have a story you'd like to tell, but up till now haven't had the equipment you've needed to do so, well it's time for you to look me up. Since film has all but gone the way of the cassette tape, I'm not going to call Libertas Picture Company a film studio. No, it's a story-telling studio. What stories do you have? What ideas do you have peculating?

Have a song that needs a music video? Have a short film idea that needs capturing? Have an idea for an ongoing web series? Have a feature-length film script that's just collecting dust?

Contact me via this blog, via Facebook, or e-mail me at tsfogg@gmail.com and let's see if we can't get your story told.

Writers Assemble!

I am assembling the Writers' Room.

The idea is this: Create a writing group not unlike Lewis and Tolkien's Inklings. But instead of just reading and critiquing each other's writings, I would like for us to make each other's writings.

The project at hand is Remnants. I would like for you to come on as a writer for Season 2. I had an outline for it, but after viewing the episodes of Season 1, I would like to chuck that outline out the window and (more or less) start over from scratch (but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water, there were some good ideas in there).

Together we would flesh out the world of Remnants, write the outlines for each of the episodes and then we would divvy up the episodes, each of us writing a certain allotment.

After Season 2 was/is completed, we could either move on to Season 3 or to other projects. If you have a series idea, pitch it to the group and we can see what we can make of it. If you have a short film idea, a music video idea, or maybe a story that could be told in three five minute chunks, pitch it to the group and then we, together, make that happen.

That is my dream for the Libertas Picture Company. We keep doing what we love through blood, sweat, and tears until someone wises up pays us to do what we love.

So, what say you?

insomnia and season 4

Can't sleep.

Can't sleep and don't know why. Have Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" stuck in my head and don't know why.

I've been thinking about Remnants a lot lately -- the big picture, I mean. Season 2 will complete the story began in Season 1 and while the big picture story will continue rolling forward, Season 3 will be a very different web series than Season 1 and 2. What I mean by that is that in Season 1 we're introduced to the Fisher family and through them we learn of Libertas. In Season 2 we actually get to meet Libertas and we generally wrap up the Fisher family story. Season 3 will be all about Libertas and will be all-out war. The involvement the Fishers have with the war is up to them and I'm going to discuss that with the actors playing the Fishers.

I have plans for the Fishers and want them in the entire series. I want to see the war through their eyes, but I understand that since Remnants is not a paying gig, a great multitude of things take a higher priority.

And today I had an idea for Season 4. It would start with a game-changer that I'm not entirely willing to reveal at this moment but it's not entirely dissimilar to the start of Season 2 of LOST. That was the beginning of the insanity. Sure, there were questions all throughout Season 1, but there was no Desmond! I'm pretty willing to post whatever on this blog, but there are somethings I'm not going to reveal just yet.

Don't worry, faithful reader. You'll know first. Before anyone else, I'll clue you in.

Libertas Picture Company Logo!

Created by Jayne Prandl (and based on a wonderful design by Melody George), my production company now has a logo. And it's beautiful.

Remnant Newsletter #2: The Adventure of Links

I've been meaning to write this for a while. And since I stayed home today to sip tea and guzzle Dimetapp, I thought now might be a good time to update everyone on all that is Remnants.

The teaser trailer is out! If you haven't seen it yet, click, click, click your way over to it and watch it in all of its HD glory! It really looks fantastic (all praise be to Loren) and sets the proper tone for Season 1. As much as it shows, it doesn't give away anything and, really, should give you a good idea of what you're in for in Season 1. The music in the teaser is provided by Forest Magic, a local band who's album "Is Energy" has not stopped playing on my iPod since I bought it.

Loren is up in Nashville plugging away on the rest of the post production. I've now seen two (rough) episodes and they look marvelous. I don't want to oversell them too much, but they look better than Avatar. I don't want to spoil the ending, but just wait till you see our CG alien race*.

Meanwhile, a character calling themselves Demosthenes has popped up on the Internet, postulating all sorts of wacky theories and beliefs. This is a blog for conversation and argument. It's also a fun place to submerse yourself into the political and social world of Remnants. It's just the first in a series of peripheral websites we're going to have up, running, and informing the world of Remnants.

Meanwhile, here in Chattanooga, I am trying to secure a location to hold a premiere in. While Remnants is going to be a web series, I would like to hold a special premiere event for the cast, crew, and a few VIP's. We're looking at an early-to-mid April premiere date, with the official release of the first episode to follow soon after.

I've completed my outline for Season 2 (bigger! Bolder! More traumatic!) and I've started writing a special that will take place between Season 1 and 2. It'll be a fun little three episode arc that explores one corner of the Remnants world and will provide a little levity between the darker, more serious seasons.

Meanwhile, in Bakersfield, California, Jon Lachonis is working on our website. We have a meeting scheduled for later this evening to go over his art and web design. As soon as it's up, I'll be sharing the link with you.

So, in summary, all is well (except I'm sick) and a lot of hard work is still being done! And in case you missed it, or found all those pesky links cumbersome, here's our Season 1 Teaser Trailer:

* I better debunk that right now. There are no aliens in our series**.

** Yet.