Behind the Scenes of The Bloodstone Diaries: Thief of All Things

Since the end of GeekBrief.TV, I’ve done a lot of stuff, but not a lot of it has been public.

• I’ve search for life’s meaning and found it means what we make of it; and if we don’t make it mean what we want, it’s just mean.
• I’ve studied filmmaking, UX design and story telling.
• I’ve produced several videos for other people.
• I’ve worked on two novels I hope to finish in the next few months.
• I took care of my grandmother and her sister last winter.
• I produced a set of Ballet DVDs for a local dance company.
• AND my favorite project …

Earlier this year, Let’s Think Productions was shooting a short film in my hometown. Mark Givens who oversees MainStreet El Dorado introduced me to Margy Neil, one of the Let’s Think producers, and Margy invited me to shoot the “Making of” stuff for The Bloodstone Diaries: Thief of All Things. I captured about 15 hours of behind-the-scenes footage during the four day shoot, and it was just about the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.

I learned a lot while working on this project, and gained a lot of respect for Gerry Bruno, the director (who’s mother makes a mean red sauce!). Watching the Academy Awards all my life, I wondered what the point of making short films is. Who watches them? Where are they shown? It’s simple. Short films are like little auditions where people who want to make feature films show what they can do. Gerry is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and his laugh is the most joy-filled laugh I’ve ever heard. I hope the world get’s to experience his talent in a much bigger way.

Thief of All Things premiered Saturday in El Dorado, Arkansas, the place I grew up. It will be making it’s way around the film festival circuit, and hopefully picking up awards along the way.

I have enough footage to make a feature-length documentary about the project. I doubt I’ll do that, but here’s a short to give you a glimpse of some of the work that went into the project, and a taste of the story about Bettie Lawrence who becomes possessor of The Bloodstone.