Claude D. Miles-Personifying the "Can-Do" Spirit of Indie Film

For the first spotlighted individual of 2010 for the IMM Blog site, I wanted to highlight a guy that really has been doing some great things within a very active regional film community. Not only is Claude D. Miles a talented actor and filmmaker himself, but he is also a proactive supporter of a viable indie film community in Central Kentucky, instigating events that have helped draw numerous independent filmmakers together (as well as working with other events, such as the ConCave convention, which is covered in the interview below). There is no question that his efforts have helped in sparking an increasing amount of collaboration and cooperation between indie filmmakers in Kentucky.

The interview covers a range of topics, as you will see, but hopefully you will get an insight to a very positive-minded, talented individual who embodies the "can-do" spirit of indie filmmaking.

-Stephen Zimmer, for IMM Blog, February 4, 2010


(Claude D. Miles in the upcoming Billy T. Boyd film, "Steampunk")

SZ: Tell us about the upcoming ConCave, when it is, and its location?

CM: Well Concave is Kentucky's longest running science fiction convention. This will be the 31st year and marks the return of the con to its original location Bowling Green, KY. It was held there for one year and then moved to Park City for around 19 years and then to Horsecave for the last decade or so. Our size and convention requirements have finally pushed us back to Bowling Green which offers larger hotel venues in the 'Caveland' area. We have chosen the Best Western Motor Inn of Bowling Green to be our host this year. The facility offers much improvement as far as space over the Horsecave venue. Concave is traditionally held the last weekend in February and this year that is the 26-28th.

SZ: What is your involvement with ConCave?

CM: Where to start... Well I have attended the last 29 (of 30 previous) Concaves. So for me it is a kind of reunion. I grew up there. So my role over the years has changed somewhat drastically. In recent years I became more involved in the running of the Con and was nominated to become Chairman. We recently incorporated as a non-profit group and so technically I am a Board Member who also holds the office of President. Basically that is a fancy way of saying I get to take out the garbage. Well there is a lot more to running a Con than that but you get the idea. I work with a veteran team of officers, board members, and volunteers to balance all of the minutiae that goes into running an event of this nature. We even raise a little money to donate to our favorite causes.

SZ: What is a relax-a-con, as opposed to the more standard type of Con? What can attendees expect at this type of event?

CM: The relax-a-con is more about fans than anything. No special celebrity guests, no panels, no masquerade, none of the things one would normally associate with a science fiction con. What we do have is an art show (with Sat. auction), a dealer's room, a Consuite, a film room, a game room, and a lot of room parties. Concave has several krews that put on room parties from literally beyond this world. It is the sort of thing you have to see to believe.

SZ: Tell us about some of the recent indie directors that you have been working with, as an actor.

CM: I have been trying to be as big a whore as possible when it comes to this. I want to work! I want to practice my craft any/time/way/how that I can! Lately I have done a lot of work with Roni Jonah and her Feathered Italian co-Hort Jason Crowe. We recently re-shot some scenes for her short film 'Trepan' and I got to put some work in on her fabulous Science-Fiction piece 'Malfunction'. I have also had the pleasure and privilege to work with Billy T. Boyd on his film 'Steampunk'. I am very excited to see that project come together. Billy is a talented writer and director who I look forward to working with more in 2010. I would be remiss if I did not mention one of my very favorite directors Jerry Williams but I see the next question is about him so I will hold off on my praise of this local film god. In general I feel very fortunate to have worked with some great directors all through 2009. Cherokee Hall, Jacob Ennis, Stacey T. Gillespie, Bob C. Cooke, the list goes on... Like I said. Whore.

SZ: I always have to ask this question of people who have worked with cult indie filmmaker Jerry Williams (and humor is intended). What is it like being in a Jerry Williams film? Do you need extensive counseling after working with him?

CM: I love Jerry. He offers a creative freedom to his actors that is almost unheard of. I have found that he trusts me to just let go and get way out there. Which in turn pushes me to try and find HIS limit. Which I am not sure exists! He has let me flail around in my death throes until I destroyed the chair I was in! I relish any opportunity to work with Jerry. It is like drinking pure creativity. I only need the counseling to keep me from kidnapping him and chaining him to a camera and a computer in my basement. I am all in for Jerry. Whatever he needs that is what I want to do. Ummm, as an actor that is. I am a married man.

SZ: Tell us about your new western/civil war film project that you recently completed. Who’s in it? And what’s the plot/setting?

CM: Oh, if only that were true! It needs quite a bit more work to be completed. I did screen some footage from it recently but just for fun. I am hoping to complete the project before October at this point. I was privileged to work with a great cast and crew on this. It stars: Cory Stringer, Billy W. Blackwell, Russ Croley, Grace Norton, Cassidy Rae, Roni Jonah, Sonny Burnette, Kayla Perkins, Billy Boyd, Keith Nicholson, Scaheffer Tolliver, Stacey T. Gillespie, and a host of wonderful civil war re-enactors. They were all a pleasure to work with and I have to give props to my behind the scenes crew: Jason Crowe, Jake LeMaster, Rhonda Bingham, Sven Granlund, Tonya Miles, and all of the actors who helped whenever needed. All of these folks and more really went that extra mile for the project and I truly inspired by there work.

The story is basically this: In the chaos in the aftermath of the Civil War in Kentucky an 'outbreak' occurred that did not make the history books. This is the story of some folks trying to survive through that.

SZ: When will you be holding more screenings for the new movie?

CM: I am hoping to be able to screen the finished product by October of 2010. Most likely it will screen here in Lexington for a premiere.

SZ: What are the things that you enjoy most about working in the world of indie film?

CM: I really enjoy the "family" nature of this local community. There is a core of really great people working everyday to make their dreams come true. I love that you can find something happening every weekend if you look. Most weekends there are several simultaneous shoots occurring around the state. This is a wonderful time to be an actor in Kentucky film.

SZ: Conversely, what are the things that you like the least about the indie film world?

CM: The money. I could really use a larger paycheck! More importantly I would like to see some of these fine film makers have some more of it to bring their visions to life! Don't get me wrong, the amazing stuff everyone manages to do with what little we have is mind blowing sometimes. I just think it would be nice if we all had nice catered lunches too!

SZ: What do you see changing in terms of technology, or distribution, or anything like that, that will be of help to the low budget to no budget filmmaker.

CM: As the technology gets smaller and cheaper I think the market also becomes more accessible. If you make a quality product that is interesting to watch and you get it out there then people will look at it. Now, if you want to sell a product that can be a whole different ball of wax. I think VOD (video on demand) is really the wave of the future for most video content. I will always be a collector at heart and people like me will always want dvds we can hold in our hands but I think the future is VOD. And in a VOD world if you can get your name out there you have just as much chance of success as anyone regardless of budget.

SZ: What kinds of things do you think help make for a strong independent film community?

CM: Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly members! Thankfully something we have in abundance here in Kentucky! People who will work hard for each other.

SZ: As someone that had the honor of attending one of your events at Mia’s in Lexington, which was a mini-film festival that was free and open to the public, do you plan on doing other such events? What is your inspiration for these kinds of events?

CM: Thanks for coming! I basically wanted to get a bunch of these film makers I have been ranting about into the same room! I felt it would be nice to do a free screening of some of the recently completed work from our community and Mia's was receptive to the idea so off we went. I definitely want to do this again. I have been working on a larger venue for later this year. I will have more details as I secure sponsors.

When it comes to inspiration I just love seeing what is happening out there and I think everyone should have the opportunity to show their work.

SZ: What’s on your plate for 2010, as both an actor and a filmmaker?

CM: Wow! So much to say. I am finally getting to work with George Bonilla this year on his new film 'Santa vs. the Zombies'. I am out of my mind with excitement about this one! I am also looking forward to being in Roni Jonah's 'Lesferatu' this year as well as some more of her 'Malfunction' story. Then I have a couple of projects in the works with Billy T. Boyd that are going to be lots of fun. On the film making side of it I hope to complete the projects I have shot and get them out there. I am always writing and thinking so something else may get rolling but I am hoping to concentrate on my first love which is acting.

SZ: If people would like to connect with you, what are some of your online links, social networking contacts, etc.?

CM: Good question! I guess the best way to get hold of me is on facebook but I really would encourage all of your readers to visit my imdb page.

Claude's IMDB Link:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3014429/

Claude's FaceBook Link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/claude.miles

Indy Film News Creates a Haven for Indiana's Independent Filmmakers

In the past, I had been a little familiar with the burgeoning Indiana independent film scene, which includes the director of the Starship movies, Mark Racop, who I featured in an earlier interview on this blogsite. I had first met him when we were on panels together at DragonCon a few years back. But it was not until I attended the Fantasy and Sci-Fi convention InConJunction in Indianapolis that I had the honor of being acquainted with Chuck Budreau, and Indy Film News. What I learned then and since is impressive, and Indy Film News serves as a good model for other aspiring film communities to follow.

Chuck is one of those pro-active types who understands the value of a quality organization within an independent film community, and how it helps support the entire indie community through networking and resource functions. Chuck is a proficient individual to have on the set himself, with a range of talents that most notably include his work in production sound and scoring/soundtracks.

I really enjoyed spending time with Chuck at InConJunction, and have since kept appraised of the group that he founded, Indy Film News. I hope that this interview introduces alot of people to what Chuck is doing, and what is happening in Indiana. It would be a real boon to independent filmmakers if there were such quality groups in all states. Indy Film News is, without a doubt, a real credit to the state of Indiana and Independent Film.

-Stephen Zimmer, for Indie Movie Masters Blog/Podcast interview series, December 9, 2009



SZ: Before getting into Indy Film News, I wanted to give people a little idea about yourself. Give us a brief description of your own background and film activities.

CB - It started when I fell in with a bad crowd during my high school years...filmmakers.

A friend of a friend was making a Batman fan film and they needed someone to play Alfred, the butler. So they grayed my hair and I did a really bad job of acting. From that time on I decided that while filmmaking was fun... I would do it from the other side of the camera. I helped by being a PA, Grip, or whatever else was needed. Then one day I got a call. The sound guy had backed out at the last minute and they were ready to start shooting a feature. I had a small amateur music studio in my apartment, so that made me the guy who knew how to run sound equipment. It helped that I had some equipment too. From that day on I was a sound guy. I've done sound on many features films, shorts, and misc. video shoots. It's been about 20 years and I still find it the most enjoyable work in the world. I recently joined as a voluntary board member of the Indiana Filmmakers Network.

SZ: First of all, regarding IFN, what is Indy Film News, and what are its main areas of focus?

CB - It's a place for filmmakers and actors to find out what's happening in the Indie film scene in and around Indiana. It also is a place for them to promote their projects. Whether that means Cast & Crew calls, film festivals, Premiers, I try to cover it all.

SZ: What roles a group like IFN play for a regional independent film community?

CB - I like to think that IndyFilmNews helps bring the community together and give them the support group they need to make their films. I have seen some great collaborations among the local filmmakers. Together they have really brought their games to a higher level.

SZ: How long has Indy Film News been around and who founded it?

CB - I started IndyFilmNews.com a little over two years ago.

SZ:What has the growth of IFN been like since it was founded?

CB - It started as a place to meet other filmmakers on the site's forum. But over time it has really grown into a one stop source for filmmakers. The main page is devoted to News. We have Professional profiles for Actors and Crew members. There's a long list of film festivals, production companies, and other industry related groups. We even host Trailers and Short Films in a YouTube type format. Many Producers are using these resources to find their casts and crews and to promote their films.





SZ: In your view, how are things with indie filmmaking in Indiana? Are there a lot of ongoing projects, and what kind of projects tend to be the most common in your region? (i.e. short films, indie features, music video, documentaries, webisodes, etc.)

CB - There have been a steady stream of really well produced short films over the past few years. I just attended the first annual "Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival" all of those films were great and had a local tie in. The Indie Feature scene is also taking shape. There were several large scale productions over the summer and I'm hearing of several gearing up for spring shoots. There's a healthy environment, where filmmakers are supporting each other and the industry.

SZ: In your opinion, what are some developments that you've seen over the past few years that have been of significant help to indie filmmakers? (in terms of technologies, trends, or formats)

CB - Technology has made it possible for anyone to give filmmaking a try. In the past our low budget films were shot on super 8 film and cost a fortune to cut and process. Today the HD cameras and computer editing suites are very affordable. You can make an amazing film that stands up to broadcast standards on very little money. As a sound guy the advances in digital recorders has been a god send. I used to lug around an ADAT 8 track digital tape machine and edit by bouncing tracks. Now I have a hand held recorder that does a better job and records directly to flash SD Cards. Though I'm still of the opinion that "talkies" are a fad... just like that whole wheel thing.

SZ: What are some areas where you see increasing opportunities for indie filmmakers in the near future? Any favorable trends or developments?

CB - The viral marketing of films has made it so that you can get attention without getting picked up by the large film distributors. While it would be better to have them do all that leg work for you... you no longer are at their mercy. You can self distribute and actually sell your film. I don't know anyone who has gotten rich doing it but I think it's only a matter of time. The other great thing I have seen is that many theaters are equipped with video projectors and are working with indie films to get screenings on the big screen. There's nothing like seeing your work in a real theater.

SZ: Is the state seeing any increases in larger independent films or Hollywood productions coming into the state? Has IFN been able to provide some resources/services for these larger types of projects?


CB - "Public Enemies" was shot in a few locations in the northern part of the state. I posted the casting call for extras on IndyFilmNews. I doubt they noticed it... but I'm sure some of our site's visitors went to that casting call. There were several smaller productions that submitted their cast and crew calls.

SZ: Like IFN, there are some good proactive indie film organizations cropping up in many states, such as Indy Film Wisconsin. Do you network or work with similar organizations in other states?

CB - I've been in contact with a few of the other sites. We kind of keep an eye on what each other are doing. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. If they find something useful on IndyFilmNews I hope they borrow it. I don't think of other states as competition to our film industry. If a small Indie film from some other state makes it big it will only help our films.

SZ: What are some independent film projects that we can look forward to in the near future out of your region?

CB - There are projects of all sizes in the works. One group is working on a feature film about the first Indianapolis 500 mile race. They are working on building a replica of the speedway as it was in 1911. They are also talking to some CG artists. Another project that's in the works is a Fantasy film the combines Victorian Steam punk science fiction and water spirits. It a really ambitious script. There's also a fairly large scale Batman fan film planning on shooting in the spring. They are using fan films to showcase their talents. There's plenty more films at varying stages of production... always something happening.


SZ: For those wanting to learn more about IFN, or perhaps become active with it, give us some online links on where to find you and Indy Film News.

CB - The main URL is www.indyfilmnews.com please stop by and check it out!

I have worked with several production companies
Magichouse Productions www.magich.com
Karmic Courage productions www.karmiccourage.com
Racso Films www.racsofilms.com

Other sites about the film industry in Indiana I would recommend...
www.filmindiana.com that's the Indiana Film Office's site... lots of usefully stuff there.
www.indianafilmmakers.org the site for the Indiana Filmmakers Network
IndyFilmNews.com
Source: IndyFilmNews.com

Indie Film Crusaders-An Interview with the team behind Dead Harvey: A site that is a gold mine of resources for indie filmmakers everywhere.

One of the aims of Indie Movie Masters is to help bring a spotlight to exceptional individuals and organizations who are effectively advancing the world of indie film. We are proud to bring you the two guys behind Dead Harvey, a fantastic indie film site that not only features an extensive, regular series of interviews with indie filmmakers, but also has excellent articles, reviews, and a great archive of material for the indie filmmaker who is serious about developing a viable career.

Available on the site is the Dead Harvey Film School, which has a ton of real world information gleaned from their many interviews with indie filmmakers who have released projects. The savvy indie filmmaker can pick up alot of hints and insights that are not readily taught in film schools.

Information on screenwriting competitions, distributors, film festivals, and alot more is available within the considerable amount of content on this outstanding site. The site design makes it easy to navigate and find information. The primary emphasis is on the horror genre, but the information and lessons within this site apply to filmmakers in all genres.

One of the things that makes Dead Harvey particularly special as a resource is that it is focused on helping indie filmmakers make a viable career out of their passion. They pay close attention to emerging distribution models and opportunities, and discuss many varied aspects of the business side of indie films. This is gold for the indie filmmaker, available for free because two guys with a love of indie film put their heart, time, talent, and effort into Dead Harvey. There is always new material, their already substantial archives grow by the week, and all of this is available 24/7 to the indie film community with a click of the mouse and a little time invested.

So let's visit with Brad and Ted, the two guys that are the motor of the Dead Harvey street racer. When you are done, visit the site, bookmark it, and visit it regularly. On behalf of indie filmmakers everywhere, I want to thank them for what they have developed and provide for indie filmmakers.

Brad and Ted are definitely two guys that deserve, and have earned, stars on the Indie Film Walk of Fame.

-Stephen Zimmer for Indie Movie Masters, July 4, 2009


SZ: When did Dead Harvey begin, and what was the original vision for the site?

Ted: Dead Harvey started around 2 years ago and the vision has always been the same, but the site has obviously evolved. Very simply, I wanted it to be a resource for indie horror filmmakers and fans. There were lots of sites that concentrated on horror from the perspective of the fan, but very few that catered to the filmmaker. Indie horror filmmakers have very few places to
network, share stories and help each other out. So, in our own little way, we try to help out in that void.

SZ:Where does the name come from?

Brad: Ted told me it was from a teacher in high school named Harvey. He and a friend used to draw pictures of the teacher dead with a bunch of cute bunny rabbits and rainbows in the background. I asked Ted why he hated the teacher so bad and he said something to the effect of, "I didn't. He was a really nice guy. I was just bored in his class." I laugh every time I think of that.

Ted: I plead the fifth on this.

SZ: Who are the main contributors to Dead Harvey? And how much time do you spend on it in a given week? You certainly have a ton of independent film related content on the site.

Brad: It's pretty much 90% Ted and 10% me. I do and interview here and there, nerd out of movies and write the occasion blog on my filmmaking misadventures but Ted does and always has done a massive amount of the work.

Ted: Just to add to that, we've also had guest posts and articles from filmmakers and other industry types. Notably, we had a great article written by indie filmmaker and Troma-vet, Frankie Frain, and a few posts from indie composer Tony Longworth. I'd also like to add, if there's any people out there who are interested in contributing, shoot us an email!

SZ: Referring to the last question, tell us a little about your main contributors backgrounds and interests?

Brad: I love pretty much every genre of movie except chick flicks. Although, I find them funny from time due to all their unintentional humor. I love Italian horror movies, comic books, video games, pulp novels, a lot of things people would consider makes someone a nerd. I don't care what people think. I wear my nerd badge with honor. My favorite authors are Joe Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, Stephen King, Edward Lee, Edgar Allan Poe, Jack London, Richard Matheson and Roald Dahl.

Ted: As for background, I think we all share a similar background in our love of film. I mean, we met each other in film school. As for film interests, I really dig horror, sci-fi and action... I do enjoy the occasional comedy, depending on the subject matter, and I can handle a drama here and there. Chick flicks, no chance. As for interests, hobbies... I do write, direct and have a few horror projects on the go, but my actual day job is in marketing and advertising. I'm also a bit of a gadget freak... I love technology.

SZ: What do you look for in a good independent film, bearing in mind the limitations that an indie film has to deal with in terms of resources?

Brad: A good script and a good cast make the movie. I see past a lack of budget instantly as long as those elements are there. The chances of a movie turning out any good without a good script and cast are far less without these elements, regardless of how much money they have to buy their way out of problems.

Ted: As Brad covered off script and cast, I'll add that I love to see indie films that push the envelope in some way. This is obviously just my opinion, but I find that too many indie filmmakers try to emulate Hollywood. They think they need to make PG-13 pablum for the, so they can cater to a wider audience. The truth is, I think a good indie film goes further than a Hollywood film can. I'm very entertained by films with 'out there' concepts or that offer a new take on something. Something that makes you think, "They're not going to go there... are they Oh my God, they went there."

SZ: What are some of your thoughts about the future of indie film and distribution opportunities? Will it just be a lot of outlet/channels that dont garner much in return? Or will new media/distribution options make it possible for indie filmmakers to develop viable projects for potential investors?

Brad: Ted's been tracking these trends quite a bit recently, so he's really the one to ask about this. Personally, I think there's going more options for indie filmmakers to make money and not get ripped off by distributors but it's going to take a few years. Everyone has to figure out how they're going to get paid through the internet first.

Ted: Technologically, everything's in place for indie film to flourish in the digital age. Right now, there's tons of ways to deliver a film to your TV instantly, but there's two problems. One - how do we all make money? Two -how do people find your film? Netflix, Amazon and like-minded sites have really helped indie film by tapping into 'The Long Tail'. Meaning, they use search engines that analyze our viewing habits and suggest smaller, niche films that we may enjoy, but haven't heard of - this is the golden goose for indie film. Once those kinds of search engines are implemented into VOD and streaming services AND the casual viewer actually uses VOD and streaming, I think you're going to see indie films becoming viable, money making projects.


SZ: Do you see some negatives in the fact that cameras/software are so readily accessible and affordable, in terms of a flood of very poorly produced material drowning out awareness of projects that have involved a serious effort to produce a quality production?

Brad: I see nothing but positives here. The availability of affordable technology levels the playing field. Now, if people don't have money, they are forced to rely on talent and ingenuity. The market has always been over-saturated. A film's budget makes no difference to me. It's what the filmmaker does with what they have. There have been great movies like "Tape" where it's just two or three people in one room talking.

Ted: I do think that there's a lot of crap being put out due to the fact that anyone can shoot and edit a film now, but the positives do outweigh the negatives. For every piece of shit that gets released, there's also a quality, entertaining film that was made on no budget... and would never have seen the light of day had cameras and software not been so readily accessible and affordable.

SZ: What gave you the passion for indie/independent films in particular?

Brad: Having the dream to make movies and not having money to make them. That coupled with Sundance and guys like Rodriguez, Smith and Linkletter in the early 90's independent filmmaking boom who proved to people you could be an average Joe with no money and a dream and be able to get your work out there and realize your dream.

Ted: Without really knowing it, I've always been into indie horror. I loved early Troma films, like "Surf Nazi's Must Die" and "Toxic Avenger", which made me seek out similar films. When in film school, I realized that a lot of my favorite films, "Evil Dead", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", etc... were, in fact, indie films. I've always appreciated the underground, low-budget guerilla
filmmaking style. Rodriguez, Hooper, Raimi and even Henenlotter were big influences.

SZ: curious, what are some of your favorite films from the pool of more mainstream or theatrical releases (major independent or larger)?

Brad: A few of my all time favorite movies are: Back to the Future, Star Wars (4-6), The Lost Boys, Sex, Lies and Videotape, Reservoir Dogs, The Toxic Avenger, Heathers and Clerks so it's a mix. This year, I've seen some really good movies at the theatre lately. I believe this is because Hollywood feels they have to try much harder now to get people to spend their hard earned cash, due to the shitty recession we're in. In a way, this is really good thing. Especially since I didn't find myself feeling this way last year. Now, I feel optimistic about the future. My favorite movies in the theatre this year have been Star Trek, Drag Me to Hell and The Hangover, all of which I enjoyed a great deal. I'm not a trekkie by any means but Star Trek was the best movie I've seen in the theatre so far this year. They put forth a great effort, nailed the cast and tone, were faithful to the Captain Kirk character, had a great script and pacing and all the characters jumped off the page.

Ted: Favorite mainstream films of all time? Off the top of my head, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Scarface, Mean Streets, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the Nightmare on Elm Street series, the Friday the 13th series, Conan, Commando... recently? This year, I enjoyed Drag Me To Hell, I actually didn't mind the Friday the 13th remake that much. Star Trek was great. Watchmen, The Hangover.

SZ: Dead Harvey looks to have quite a few resources for independent filmmakers, one of which (Dead Harvey Film School), draws heavily from the extensive interviews that you do. Tell us more about this part of the site and how it can be a
fantastic source for indie filmmakers.

Brad: There's no better way to learn about making movies than by hearing stories from the trenches of indie. filmmakers. All have different backgrounds. Some are older and giving it one last shot. Some are just starting out. Some live in their parent's basements, some have put out a second mortage on their house. All are consumed and risk or sacrifice a great deal to do what they want to do. School doesn't teach you this. You have to go out and live it. Hopefully, our
readers will learn from the lessons indie. filmmakers have given us on the site and learn how to avoid the traps and roadblocks that lie on the road to making your own movie. And, hopefully they'll pick up on what equipment they used and learn filmmaking tricks as well. There is so much good information in the interviews we have with the filmmakers it's like a film school in and of itself: hence the title.

Ted: Brad said it perfectly

SZ: Tell us about some of your other resources, such as those involving screenwriting competitions, distributors, and film festivals.

Ted: Well, although we're hoping to develop it all a bit more, we do discuss film festivals, distributors and screenwriting competitions. I'd also like to get into music, special effects and things like that. Put it this way... we recently compared indie filmmaking to being like a dark forest. Filmmakers walk into the forest, then almost instantly trip and fall... then they end up
scrambling, on all fours, trying to get through the whole process. Meanwhile, other indie filmmakers wander in and, generally, just start tripping over the same things that other indie filmmakers tripped over. Shortly after that, you have a pile of indie filmmakers, laying all over the place, just scratching their heads. What we hope to do is help out a bit, maybe light the way by telling stories of where those pitfalls are and what other people have gone through. Really, if we can help even a few guys navigate the process a bit better, I'd consider it a success.

SZ: Have you been able to see some growth in traffic and usage of all the resources that you make available?

Ted - Yeah, the site has grown and we're getting more and more traffic every month. The most popular sections are definitely the film school, the distributors and the screenwriting festivals.

SZ: Besides the website, give people an idea as to where they can connect with you elsewhere, such as MySpace, Facebook, etc.

Our site is at http://www.deadharvey.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deadharveyproductions
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Harvey/16722761619
Twitter: http://twitter.com/deadharvey

SZ: What else would you like to say about Dead Harvey to folks that may not yet be familiar with your site?

Brad: Dead Harvey is primarily a site to promote independent filmmaking. It's a celebration of independent film. It's a place to share resources and information and provide a sense of unity for the independent filmmaker. It's not a place for angry, bitter blogs, etc. It's a place where those who go out there and make their own movie get the promotion they deserve and where all indie. filmmakers band together and help each other out. God knows in the time we're living in, we all need all the help we can get.

Ted: I agree... and if anyone wants to help contribute, wants their film reviewed or is looking to promote something, we're always happy to help out.