My New Film

David Drysdale · August 27th, 2003, 08:31 AM

Good luck with your project. This definately sounds to me like a variant of Training Day, not especially in plot, but more in character style et cetera. As for 'gritty cop dramas', you really can't beat Training Day for visual style, acting ability, script and authenticity. If you haven't seen it already (which I doubt), please do. Maybe its content will inspire you like it did me.

Joe Carney · August 27th, 2003, 03:13 PM

Hugh, like you I came of age in the 70s.
I liked Joseph Wambaugh, and will never forget the first time I saw 'The New Centurions' with George C Scott. I think that
movie had a tremendous influence on modern day cop shows.

Are you hoping to make something along those lines, as far as depth and character development?

Keith Loh · August 27th, 2003, 03:26 PM

The New Centurions is a classic. In fact I have a future cop script which is headed in that direction.

Hugh DiMauro · October 3rd, 2003, 10:24 AM

You know, the more actors in a project, the more problems arise. It is very difficult to get actors together at one time since many have previous engagements and such. So, this production is moving forward in baby steps. I shot my first footage last week. My two Asian actors are fabulous. They have this uncanny sense of camera and a natural screen presence that just blows me away. They have been friends of mine for over ten years and have bugged me to allow them to play "gangsters" in my movie. Well, I have not been disappointed thus far. It's true that certain people just "have it" and others don't. These guys have it. Just their screen presence actually makes my project look like a "real" movie. They have no acting experience and yet they need very little direction. They hit their marks, their movements are fluid. A pleasure to work with. The first scenes shot were where the Asian bad guys pick up the Buddha statue (the audience does not know it but the statue is hollow and filled with stolen diamonds that the Asians are snuggling out of the country). I will shoot the next few scenes with them tomorrow (Saturday), where they make their airport getaway. Unfortunately, I have to film around my star because he needs some time off since he was involved in an ambush where the homicide suspect he went to interview opened fire with a shotgun and shot his partner in the face through the trailer window. His partner is doing ok but my star is still a litttle shook up. And rightfully so! But, on a happy note, filming is going well and I will keep all my conrades abreast of the film's progress.

Hugh DiMauro · October 3rd, 2003, 10:27 AM

By the way, I just watched The New Centurians th eother day and it still brings a tear to my eye. My big brother took me to see that when it first came out. My particular project is nothing like training day and not gritty at all because of the storyline. It's sort of light. The cops are seen in a comedic lighthearted way and the bad guys are seen as ruthless. I love the dichotomy in that sort of story. Th ebad guys are BAD an dthe good guys are FUNNY to the point where you'd like to be their friends in real life.

Hugh DiMauro · October 30th, 2003, 01:46 PM

Bounce Down is moving along nicely. It seems the only time people are available is on Sundays so the filming is slowwwwwwwwwww going. You have no idea how production values pick up when you take the time to light properly. Never cut corners. Shoot using a monitor, light your scenes and I guarantee you will enjoy a moviemakers high like you never felt.

Steve Franco · November 3rd, 2003, 09:21 AM

Sounds like the short is going well. Can't wait to see this one. Are you posting it online? I was a big fan of Narc and Training Day. I'm always interested in watching cop dramas. Good Luck!

Hugh DiMauro · December 12th, 2003, 12:04 PM

This is nothing like NARC or Training Day. This is more like a movie version of a Wambaugh novel. If you've ever watched the short-lived but fantastically entertaining television series "The Job" with Dennis Leary, my movie is more in that vein. I've been a cop since 1981 and I assure you, police work is more like Barney Miller, "Homicide: Life on the Street" and Dennis Leary's "the Job" then the Miami Vice garbage.

Steve Franco · December 15th, 2003, 08:27 AM

What stage are you at in the project now? Is it still going well?

Hugh DiMauro · December 19th, 2003, 09:27 AM

Well, we are in a production haitus because of the holidays and my two Asian bad guys have gone back to Hong Kong for 6 weeks. Other than that, what I've shot looks good. I cannot wait to get back into it. I am having more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

August 27th, 2003, 03:26 PM	#18
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	The New Centurions is a classic. In fact I have a future cop script which is headed in that direction. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

October 3rd, 2003, 10:24 AM	#19
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	Day Two: You know, the more actors in a project, the more problems arise. It is very difficult to get actors together at one time since many have previous engagements and such. So, this production is moving forward in baby steps. I shot my first footage last week. My two Asian actors are fabulous. They have this uncanny sense of camera and a natural screen presence that just blows me away. They have been friends of mine for over ten years and have bugged me to allow them to play "gangsters" in my movie. Well, I have not been disappointed thus far. It's true that certain people just "have it" and others don't. These guys have it. Just their screen presence actually makes my project look like a "real" movie. They have no acting experience and yet they need very little direction. They hit their marks, their movements are fluid. A pleasure to work with. The first scenes shot were where the Asian bad guys pick up the Buddha statue (the audience does not know it but the statue is hollow and filled with stolen diamonds that the Asians are snuggling out of the country). I will shoot the next few scenes with them tomorrow (Saturday), where they make their airport getaway. Unfortunately, I have to film around my star because he needs some time off since he was involved in an ambush where the homicide suspect he went to interview opened fire with a shotgun and shot his partner in the face through the trailer window. His partner is doing ok but my star is still a litttle shook up. And rightfully so! But, on a happy note, filming is going well and I will keep all my conrades abreast of the film's progress.

November 3rd, 2003, 09:21 AM	#22
Steve Franco Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 74	Sounds like the short is going well. Can't wait to see this one. Are you posting it online? I was a big fan of Narc and Training Day. I'm always interested in watching cop dramas. Good Luck! __________________ Fusion Arena Productions At Confession

December 15th, 2003, 08:27 AM	#24
Steve Franco Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 74	What stage are you at in the project now? Is it still going well? __________________ Fusion Arena Productions At Confession

August 27th, 2003, 08:31 AM	#16
David Drysdale New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Milton Keynes, England Posts: 6	Good luck with your project. This definately sounds to me like a variant of Training Day, not especially in plot, but more in character style et cetera. As for 'gritty cop dramas', you really can't beat Training Day for visual style, acting ability, script and authenticity. If you haven't seen it already (which I doubt), please do. Maybe its content will inspire you like it did me.

August 27th, 2003, 03:13 PM	#17
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Hugh, like you I came of age in the 70s. I liked Joseph Wambaugh, and will never forget the first time I saw 'The New Centurions' with George C Scott. I think that movie had a tremendous influence on modern day cop shows. Are you hoping to make something along those lines, as far as depth and character development?

October 3rd, 2003, 10:27 AM	#20
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	By the way, I just watched The New Centurians th eother day and it still brings a tear to my eye. My big brother took me to see that when it first came out. My particular project is nothing like training day and not gritty at all because of the storyline. It's sort of light. The cops are seen in a comedic lighthearted way and the bad guys are seen as ruthless. I love the dichotomy in that sort of story. Th ebad guys are BAD an dthe good guys are FUNNY to the point where you'd like to be their friends in real life.

October 30th, 2003, 01:46 PM	#21
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	Bounce Down is moving along nicely. It seems the only time people are available is on Sundays so the filming is slowwwwwwwwwww going. You have no idea how production values pick up when you take the time to light properly. Never cut corners. Shoot using a monitor, light your scenes and I guarantee you will enjoy a moviemakers high like you never felt.

December 12th, 2003, 12:04 PM	#23
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	This is nothing like NARC or Training Day. This is more like a movie version of a Wambaugh novel. If you've ever watched the short-lived but fantastically entertaining television series "The Job" with Dennis Leary, my movie is more in that vein. I've been a cop since 1981 and I assure you, police work is more like Barney Miller, "Homicide: Life on the Street" and Dennis Leary's "the Job" then the Miami Vice garbage.

December 19th, 2003, 09:27 AM	#25
Hugh DiMauro Trustee Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,207	Well, we are in a production haitus because of the holidays and my two Asian bad guys have gone back to Hong Kong for 6 weeks. Other than that, what I've shot looks good. I cannot wait to get back into it. I am having more fun than a barrel of monkeys.