We've finished filming and have returned home. The story continues. After wrapping the filming on the 1st of July, an emotional day, we then had our wrap party the following day. It was hard to see the actors go, and the crew. We had made many new friends and was difficult saying goodbye.

What's next? Patrick Tyler, the editor, will finish up editing, music selections will be added along with a score. what we saw at the wrap party was awesome. Bits and pices of all the scenes of the film put together. Can't wait to see the finished product! But, we have a lot of work to do between now and the release, books to write with deadlines fast approaching.

Currently, I'm back at work... sigh! Not fun after what I've just experienced! It's only a matter of time though. And I know Letters isn't complete yet, but I'm already gearing up for my next project which I'll be directing, currently titled, "Paper Wings." A little more edgy, entertaining story of a couple and their woes. We're hoping to be in production by October.

Stay tuned for more updates. I'll post more pics later tonight. Brendan got his first taste of acting. He played Justin McDaniels, the main mailmans son. After seeing his photos, he said," I want to do that again and again and again." So, we're getting him an agent!

Well, I'm sitting here on set at Universal Studios filming some of the last scenes on our last day of filming.  It's a sad day but a bit exciting as well, we're another step closer to getting this out.  All actors have been wrapped except Robyn, Tanner, Michael & Jeffery.  Another sad thing, but hey, I've made a lot of new friends from the cast and crew.

  Today we're filming some make up stuff we missed throughout the process and a bedroom scene after the big costume party.  A great scene!

Sorry I haven't been too diligent in updating this site, I've done better on my Facebook page than anything else.  I'll get better as we move into other phases of the film like adding the music, editing and so forth.  The promotion of the film will only get bigger as well.  So far only television stations, magazines and newspapers that are local to Orlando have picked up on it... that is, until today, NBC Nightly News is here on the set doing interviews today.  Not sure of when it will air, but I'll try to keep you posted.

Patrick

Well, four of five night shoots down.  Back to normal next week.  Ralph Waite, who plays the role of Mr. Perryfield, was on set for the first time last night for the costume party.  Fun night!  We're half way finished filming, unfortunately.  I definitely have the bug and am already looking forward to the next big project. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but?  The life of an active mind!  I hate it.

Filming still going great with little to no snags.  Have been watching the dailies of footage that's been rough edited together and it looks great.  I have a couple instances that I'm not fully happy but???  What can you do other than shoot it again?

Next week is back to days, thankfully.  I love the nights, but after a week of them, I'm exhausted.  I'll get more pics up later tonight.

Week of Night Shoots

We just finished up day 3 of our week of night shoots.  We ran over today.  Supposed to be finished at 5 and I didn't leave until 6am.  I'm liking the nights except today was rather difficult keeping my eyes open at 3-5am.  I'm sleeping till 11-1ish and vegging out until call time at 5.  

We've been capturing some wonderful shots/scenes the past 3 days.  

Additionally, today the "Behind the scenes" team recorded my story for the DVD, an editing nightmare, I told them.  I only cried 3 times!  

  The production has gone very smooth for the most part, hitting only a few minor snags.  We're beginning to make our schedule daily but it's still difficult at times.  David and I are working smoothly together and the actors are doing a great job as usual.

I have to close my eyes now, it's taken me 15 minutes to write this as I keep nodding off.  So, until later...

Ok... I'm really stinking at his!  Between Facebook, this, my Blog column I write for the newspaper and working 12+ hours a day, I'm worn out.  

To bring you up to speed, We've finished 5 full days of filming and things are going great.  Last Friday we filmed the death scene, which was extremely emotional for cast and crew but we did get through it.  Today, we filmed the entire intro into the film.  Things have been going great, very tiring but every minute doing this is worth it!  

  One of the most special persons on the set is Bailee Madison.  She is the most precious thing I have ever seen.  She was described by another as 10 pounds of cuteness stuffed into a 5 pound box.  So bubbly and brings excitement to the set each day, even on days when she isn't !

  Tanner Maguire is doing an amazing job and Jeffery Johnson... WOW!  He's doing an amazing job, I am so thrilled with him.  Robyn Lively, man, what a very talented actress and Michael Bolten is a blast....................he's going to be chased after by the girls, for sure!

  Not much else to throw atcha, other than pictures.  I'm exhausted, had less than 3 hours sleep last night, am fading fast.  I'll do better tomorrow!

patrick

I'm failing you. Got home very late last night as I had to pick up 2 brothers at 2 different times at the airport late last night after a 12 hr day filming. I'll do better!

Sitting on set waiting to film. Robyn Lively, Jeff Johnson, Tanner Maguire, Bailee Madison, Michael Bolton & Maree Cheatham are doing scenes today. Going to be a rough one, we're filming the passing scene today, please send up some prayers that everything goes well and we capture realism. Thanks for reading!

p.s. still trying to figure how to reduce the size of photos to get them uploaded. Have a bunch. Bear with me.

Well, terribly sorry for the lack of writing, I'll do better.  At the moment I don't have internet where I'm staying, plus I was under the stress of writing deadlines in order to lock the script, so needless to say, very late nights (or early morning) to get it finished.  We're now one day out from beginning production.  Tomorrow is my birthday so what a great present!

I'm sitting now in a meeting room waiting for a meeting that was to start at noon, I had another meeting scheduled at 1, that'll merge with the first I guess, and then, very exciting... a table read with all of the actors to go through the script.  FYI, in case you don't know the cast, we're VERY excited, we thought we were losing our prize, Bailee Madison.  She was in Bridge to Terabithia and is currently in three other films (2 I don't know the names of but you can google it or find it on imdb.com) with Hillary Swank,  Jessica Alba & Elle Fanning in Phoebe in Wonderland.  She's also leaving our production at the June and flying to Austrailia to star in a film with Katie Holmes, "Don't be Afraid of the Dark." 

  Other actors in the film are ROBIN LIVELY as Maddy (Ty's mom), JEFFERY JOHNSON. as Brady McDaniels (the postman),  TANNER MAGUIRE, as Tyler, MAREE CHEATHAM, as Olivia (the grandmother), up and coming teen heartthrob, MICHAEL BOLTON, as Ben (Ty's movie brother), RALPH WAITE, as Mr. Perryfield).  We have a marvelous cast!  I know I started this before the table read, but this is now 7 hours later and the table read went GREAT!  Bailee is an absolute doll!  She'll steal the screen every time she's on it!  What a fantastic little girl who is destined for greatness!

  Well, tomorrow is a HUGE day in my life, oh, and sure... it's also my birthday, but that doesn't compare to this.  I'm very excited and still can't believe it's happening.  First day of shooting.  Before I know it, it'll be over, then what??  We'll see, but I say, we'll be making another soon after! But for the time, I'm going to soak it all in.  I only wish Tyler could see this, but I guess if he could we wouldn't be making a movie inspired by him!

I'll upload some set pics tomorrow after the shoot.

Take care and thanks for reading,

Patrick