Film In A Blender

What do you get when you place an aspiring screenwriter and a seasoned writer/director into a blender? I suspect it would be a bloody mess. But what if the same two people were placed into a development deal under the supervision of an experienced producer? The net result would be an increased likelihood of a fully funded and produced commercial product.

Thomas Hillery (“Tom”) has successfully merged his Master of Liberal Arts in Religion at Harvard University and his Economics degree from Clark University with entertainment and finance. After having written several feature length screenplays Tom determined to find someone who would be willing to work with him to get his scripts from first draft to distribution. While attending the New York premiere of a small film he helped to fund, he decided to attend a series of seminars on film development and production hosted by the NY Independent Film & Video Festival. It did not take long for him to realize that by partnering with an experienced producer, he might have to give up certain creative controls and equity, but he would also gain experience and a fast track for his learning curve.

Tom initially ventured into film when he became an investor in a feature length independent film, “Thunderstruck”, a detective film noir based in Massachusetts. In addition to his financial stake in the film, the director cast Tom into one of the roles. Gaining new knowledge from film production and life on the set was a complete departure from his education or work experience; subsequently the fires of creativity were ignited within.

Resolved to get his scripts produced, he began networking introductions to dozens of writers. Finally, he determined with great certainty that Rustam Branaman would be a perfect writing partner on the project he selected for his first complete foray into show business. Rustam began his career as an actor before transitioning into producing THE UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR, a festival favorite which also went on to have a theatrical run followed by TOTAL FORCE with Tim Bottoms. As a result of its success the sequel TOTAL FORCE TWO was also produced. Another classic followed, HEADLESS BODY IN A TOPLESS BAR, a controversial but art house favorite. The film was picked up for theatrical distribution at the Seattle International Film Festival.

After reading stacks of writing samples from a host of potential partner candidates, Tom looked at Branaman’s IMDb page for a detailed review of his other credits and then flew to Los Angeles for a series of face to face creative meetings. Their meetings resulted in a signed contract and a plan to begin the process of rewriting one of Tom’s original scripts. Understanding that thrillers can be commercial worldwide, Tom focused on his script “Project Solitude” a psychological thriller set in a small college town where no one could imagine that anything could ever go wrong.

Tom and Rustam selected an obscure hotel in Hollywood where they would “hold up” for a week, only occasionally taking breaks for food and a couple of cigars. It was there that they mapped out a plan for their collaborative page one revision. By the end of the week, they established deepened professional, mutual respect, while crafting a new story outline and updated character summaries. Tom returned to Boston and Rustam began his work on the first draft revisions.

During their intensive week together, a great number of creative exchanges and numerous discussions ensued about how to handle transitions, script problems and resolutions. Theirs was a process of doing the compromise dance. In the end, allowing Rustam to lead Tom into territory he knew would bridge the project into a commercial zone, kept them within the budgets imposed by the producer. This was perhaps Tom’s most dramatic arc.

Within a year of Tom’s initially attending the NY film festival seminars, his film, “Project Solitude” has been set up to film in Wisconsin under a parthership with Pulse Studios in Green Bay. The script has been packaged, locations scouted and DP brought on board. Rustam has also been set to direct the film, a decision easily endorsed by Tom.

Perhaps the biggest lesson for Tom has been one of compromise, with a close second being his understanding that making films equates to making any other product. Without careful planning, adequate funding and knowledgeable partners, the odds against success are huge. With the proper tools in hand, no one can offer guarantees, but based on the outcome of his journey so far, Tom is convinced that working with experienced partners has proven his chances to have increased substantially. Tom has avoided with blender, forgoing a bloody experience in exchange for an investment into his future.

Who's Who In Solitude?

Executive Producers: Jay Schillinger & Tom Hillery
Producer: Susan Kay Moses
Director: Rustam Branaman
Writers: Rustam Branaman & Tom Hillery
U.P.M.: Michelle Hammond
Casting Directors: Christine Joyce & Gerald I. Wolff - Los Angeles
Pulse Studios - Green Bay, WI (Local casting)
Art Director: Cyndee Sweetland
Location Manager: Matt Vaessen
Production Secretary: Ami Irmen

Start Date December 8th, 2008
Length: 18 days
Location: Wisconsin

For additional information contact Pulse Studios: Green Bay, WI 54303
Phone 920.857.9927 or FAX 920.857.3258

Press Inquires: Attention Bob Parker

Now Casting

Project Solitude is currently being cast for lead and supporting lead roles by Big Bad Wolf Casting (Gerry Wolf and Christine Joyce)in Los Angeles, CA. Set to film in Wisconsin in December, local casting will be done by Pulse Studios in Green Bay, WI in two weeks.

The film is a psychological thriller set on a remote island.

STORY LINE: Seven subjects participating a paid psychological study in conflict resolution find themselves on a desert island for ten days, where their sense of isolation, terror and mutual increases as the dead body count rises...

Another Film Heads To Wisconsin