Milwaukee's own Michelle Lynn joins the cast of Anton Bernardo's new film. Photo by Tony Lee Gratz.

Untitled Anton Bernardo film continues production...

Director Anton Bernardo's new film is being held very close to the vest, but we have on-location production photos from several Eastside Milwaukee locations. Filming continues throughout this weekend (September 27-29th, 2013) in Milwaukee's Bayview and the Third Ward districts. Photos by Tony Lee Gratz and B.A. Lewandowski.  

Film School Flashback: The House the Devil Built - 1997

This is my 1997 Junior year thesis film, titled The House the Devil Built (keep in mind this was more than a decade before Director Ti West released The House of the Devil). THTDB is a 17 minute, B/W, 16mm experimental horror film, that is currently owned by Columbia College Chicago. However, before my 1998 graduation, I was able to steal some of my masters. Unfortunately, the opening title sequence from THTDB is all I have left to share with you. The titles are new, the soundtrack has been altered, and the picture has been digitally remastered.

The Last Days of Dunmovin

September Son Films newest film; the secretive, still-untitled Anton Bernardo project, resumes shooting Thursday, September 26th, 2013 on Milwaukee's historic Eastside. Although unconfirmed, shooting is expected to take place near the Downer theater area, which was coincidentally, the primary location for Director B.A. Lewandowski's 2009 comedy Starts Friday. Interested in appearing in this film? Actors, regardless of experience, are encouraged to contact productions@septembersonfilms.

M is for Mutation

Here I am once again aimlessly roaming about the great outdoors for yet another go-around of on-location shooting at Petrified Springs on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus. We are currently shooting "M is for Mutation," the short-film entry for the upcoming ABC's of Death II contest. Photos by Tony Lee Gratz. In case you're wondering, I successfully navigated both fallen trees without incident.

Ultra-Rare ASHLEY trailer - Renegade Version

The "Renegade" tag is an often misunderstood film school term that is usually reserved for projects that are either experimental or controversial  in nature or have a very limited shelf life. It was brought into the public lexicon by Director Russell Mulcahy in 1995 when, after much controversy, he released his Director's Cut of his critically panned 1992 film Highlander II: The Quickening. This cut, dubbed "The Renegade Version," not only significantly improved upon the version the studio released 3 years prior, but it turned the formerly derided film into a cult favorite. This new "Renegade" Ashley trailer (link featured below) was made exclusively for a 2012 film festival I was part of in St. Charles, IL. It was only intended to screen for that show. I'll keep it up for a few days so that this blog's followers can take a look. Admittedly, this serves as a terrific synopsis for the film, but I still favor the newest version.

ASHLEY Trailer - Renegade Version

SSF presents: Chop Shop trailer Version 3.1

The anthology film has finally met its match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atWq5culN1g

The Dunmovin Mansion Short Film / Jeff Scott Townsend's Your Light Left a Shadow

Dunmovin Estate, the two-story mansion Kenosha industrialist Henry Cooper built in 1912 at 7804 Cooper Road and famed eccentric inventor Oscar Zerk bought 27 years later, was razed in late December, 2012. However, before that demolition, eccentric professional trespasser and filmmaker B.A. Lewandowski decided to roam about the property to document its place in Kenosha County history. Enlisting the assistance of longtime collaborator, musician, and accomplice Jeff Scott Townsend, the two have created a short film dedicated to Dunmovin Mansion. The beautiful tune featured in the short film (link can be found below), Your Light Left a Shadow, can be found on composer Jeff Scott Townsend's dreamy 2012 album Republic of Dreams and the upcoming OST for the surreal post-apoc feature film Ashley. Both this short film and Ashley are Directed by B.A. Lewandowski. For more information on these projects, please go to septembersonfilms.com. For more information on the music of Jeff Scott Townsend, please go to jeffscotttownsend.com.

The Last Days of Dunmovin