» 09. Post Production The Attic Door

40 Days – The Countdown Begins

Danny Daneau
Director

As Erica mentioned in her last post, I have returned to my childhood home in Bonita Springs, Florida to escape with two hard drives and my computer and continue cutting the film. Being back home provides the perfect escape. I can turn my old bedroom into an editing suite and not worry about anything but cutting all day long. Unfortunately because of work and life, I can only be here for one week. So I’ve made it my mission to get through as much as possible.

We are now 40 days away from picture lock. Panic has set in a few times, but I feel we are on track. It’s amazing how many times I heard growing up and through my film school career that a film is written three times; first on the page, then on the set, and finally in the editing room. I never really could appreciate this idea until I was sitting with my first feature in front of me. The film really has a life and voice of it’s own and I’m getting closer everyday to finding what it’s try to say. I am so pleased with the direction the film is now heading. I am feeling confident with our deadline.

Blog Blog Blog

Erica Harrell
Producer

So I promised more blogging but I totally haven’t delivered. So here’s the updates: Danny is currently escaping with his family in Bonita Springs, locking himself in his old childhood bedroom to plow through another cut of A Monster in the Attic. Our doc crew, Roman and Chris, are busy searching through over a 100 hours of behind the scenes footage in order to be ready for the Making a Monster premiere February 29th. Eric is super busy at his job at Montana Artists, while I have been completely overwhelmed at Entourage.

Today is 41 days until picture lock and we are really excited to be able to begin the final leg of post production!!! After picture lock, our composer KKristin Øhrn Dyrud and our sound mixer Erik Schuiten will begin putting the final touches on the soundtrack. Danny will be guiding them through this process while I do fun things like figure out deliverables, and set up meetings to begin screening the film for distributors, producers reps, and film festival programmers.

Soon we will be announcing our exact dates of our Cast and Crew Screening which will be held in Kanab!

Days before the Dance

Erica Harrell
Producer

With our trip to Sundance less than one week away, our days have been hectic. Danny has been working super hard on our three minute presentation for our panel and the process has not been easy. Danny and I will be in Park City from January 17-24 so if any of you are attending the festival or are in Park City, Please contact us so we can get together.

I have been in Florida for almost a month now and I am super happy to report it has been a wonderful visit. The unfortunate writers strike has given me time to devote to both of my films, A Monster in the Attic and Baker, but I hope for a immediate end so the thousands who have been affected can return to their jobs.

More news to follow!

Monster at Sundance!!

We are very excited to announce that A Monster in the Attic has been invited to present at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival where we will showcase a portion of our film for the first time! Marshall Moore, Utah Film Commissioner, and Ted Hallisey, Kane County Film Comissioner, will be moderating a panel featuring our film and the experience of shooting in Utah. We will be attending the festival from January 16-24, with our panel being held on January 22 from 11-12am at the Yarrow in Park City.

This is a rare opportunity for a film this early in it’s editing process to be able to showcase at such a prestigious event. Being able to bring this small portion of our film back to Utah is a great honor for us.

Stay tuned to the blog for live updates from the festival.

[tags]Sundance, Utah, Park City, Film Commission, Kane County, Yarrow Hotel[/tags]

Editing Update

Erica Harrell
Producer

Sorry for the lapse in blog postings everyone. I have been in Orlando since December 16th working very close with Danny on the editing of A Monster in the Attic. On the 19th we traveled to Sarasota, Florida to work with advisor Randy Finch who gave us great feedback on our progress. Since then, Danny has locked himself away with the footage during the holidays while staying with his parents in SW Florida.

Stay tuned this week for some VERY EXCITING NEWS!!!!

Happy Holidays!

Our Post Production Team- Natalie Sakai

Erica Harrell
Producer

I have previously written about our casting director, the amazing Erica Silverman, now I will begin introducing our fine post production staff beginning with our post producer Natalie Sakai.

Natalie came to the A Monster in the Attic team through our DP Scott Uhlfelder. Natalie and Scott has previously worked on several shorts in Los Angeles and Arizona. Scott recommended Natalie to me and I was thrilled at the prospect of having help with the massive undertaking that is the post production process. Natalie, a graduate of UCLA and a native Los Angeleno, currently is a independent producer. Her short film Donny and Ginger aired through HBO On Demand and her latest film SUCK debuted at Screamfest 2007.

Natalie has been responsible for setting up the deal with our post production house, Local Hero as well as finding our editor, Sean Lagrange, and our sound mixer, Erik Schuiten. Natalie will also be involved in the marketing and distribution plans for A Monster in the Attic as that is the next field she plans to conquer. Based on the fantastic post team she has helped put in place, I am extremely happy to be working with her.

Hard Drives Arrive – No More Resting

Danny Daneau
Director

It has been almost three months since we wrapped principle photography on our film. I had such an amazing / exhausting experience, I’ve had to lay low for a while. So while I was resting and refocusing, my editor Sean Lagrange has been assembling the footage and creating the first cuts. Now that enough time has passed and Sean has made some tough decisions, the 2 terabyte torch has been passed to me.