Zone of Fire

Might work

2012-01-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Seems the History Channel pays on the order of a half-million dollars for a program, which would suffice. There's also the Smithsonian Channel, which we'll be asking about as well...

Who knows, he might go for it

2012-01-27T08:46:00.000-08:00

Rico says his friend Pete recently sold his Apple stock (which Rico had encouraged him to buy, apparently), and made a bunch of money. Now, if only Rico can ~~sucker~~ convince him into investing in Zone of Fire...
(Nah, didn't work, of course.)

Promo coming

2011-11-13T14:04:00.001-08:00

With the aid of Bill Weston (photo above, at right), a program director at WMMR in Philadelphia, and Derrick Berry, a friend and fellow videomaker, Proofmark Cinema has (finally) recorded a short promo for Zone of Fire, with Weston standing in for Timothy Patrick Miller and a local stone wall standing in for Texas. It will appear here as soon as it's edited:

New hope

2011-09-17T05:55:00.001-07:00

A friend of a friend, Diz Stephens, has said one of his investors might be interested in funding Zone of Fire. We'll see. We will be shooting the promo snippet with Dave Matt and his cavalry buddies next month (before it starts into winter around here). It will be posted here when it's done.

Hoping for money

2011-07-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Having discovered (by accident) a site called IndieGoGo, Zone of Fire is now up on it, hoping for contributions. Feel free to go there and contribute.

No word yet

2011-04-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

The potential investor out of Texas hasn't discussed the level of his interest yet, so there's still no telling when, if ever, we might actually get around to making Zone of Fire. Keep yer fingers crossed and off yer triggers... (It is almost tax time, though, so maybe after that.)

Maybe next year

2011-03-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

The money hasn't showed up yet (though there's still hope), and the director is still recovering from his brain injury, so this summer doesn't look good (so far, anyway) for Zone of Fire, alas.
Stay posted via this blog. There's no telling what winning the lottery might do...

A solution, perhaps

2011-02-04T06:33:00.001-08:00

Rico says it's far too early to count one's chickens, given that they haven't hatched yet, but rumor out of Texas has it that there's a gentleman willing to invest some serious money in Zone of Fire. Confirmation, hopefully, to follow...

Some of it, anyway

2011-01-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

Once the weather improves, we will be shooting a scene from Zone of Fire in the Philly area, with some local field standing in for Texas, along with local actors standing in for Mr. Miller (as Old Bat) and some cavalrymen.
The goal is to have something to post on YouTube, and show at film festivals, in order to drum up some investors, as we're still short about fifty grand or so...

Back again

2010-11-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

The Zone of Fire website is up again, with the notation that we are in need of some serious dollars before we can start shooting.
If anyone wants to contribute or invest, contact the producer at henry_fardan@boxbe.com or 215.866.6184

Soon come

2010-06-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Zone of Fire blog will be migrating (just as soon as the producer can make it happen) over to its permanent home here. Please bookmark it, as this blog will then no longer be updated (except for certain non-public posts, for actors and crew only).

Lest there be any doubt...

2010-06-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

...Zone of Fire won't look a damn thing like this (especially Doc Holliday firing three rounds out of a double-barreled shotgub, and what looks like twenty or more rounds out of his two six-shooters; both a hell of a trick):

or (most definitely) this:

and it won't look like this, either, but it'll feel more like it:

Going home

2010-06-06T06:25:00.001-07:00

It's been an interesting and fruitful trip, and we've made contact with many (more than fifty) good people and found some good locations.
Proofmark Cinema will be back in Austin eventually, shooting Zone of Fire.
Look for periodic updates.

Fuque de clusteur

2010-06-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Some days are more interesting than others.
This would be one of them.
A good day at the Dougherty, doing auditions and getting good folks.
A good afternoon out scouting locations (and found some good ones, including the big lake they need for the video) with the ever-helpful Leonard Lay (and go buy some of his wonderful leather here) and good ol' Bill Champ.
Then we get to Fredericksburg. Nice town. Lots of tourists. A lot of closed stores (early; they're German). But one is open: Headquarters Hats, at 122 East Main Street.
Nice kids working the place. (One of whom got invited to be in Zone of Fire.) Great hats. Rico gets a bunch of business cards, thinking to have them be a provider to the actors in Zone of Fire.
Find a hat Rico wants. They don't have it in his size, of course (he has a fat head), but they'll make one just like it out of a blank hat. Fine. (And, it's important to remember, Rico has Leonard Lay with him, who's way into western gear and used to have a hat store himself.)
They make it. It's close to the hat he really wanted, but not quite perfect. Close enough. They ring it up.
"What?" Rico asks. "Why all this money?"
Oh, they said, that's the $35 hat band you wanted.
Sure, but Rico stupidly didn't ask the price. "Nope, take the hat band off."
Can't, they said, we've already put through the charge.
"Fine. Just reverse the charge, and ring it up again with just the hat."
Can't, they said. We don't know how.
"Oh?" Rico says. "You work this store, and have never done a return?"
Exactly, they said, but we'll call the owner and he'll explain how.
Which they do, and present Rico with the reversal slip, and a new slip to sign, for just the hat. Oh, and by the way, the snotty young manager said, still on the phone with the owner, he wants you to leave the store. Now.
"Wait a second," Rico said. "You can't have it both ways. You can't charge me for the hat and then tell me to get out of your store."
Well, he said, that's what he wants.
"Nope." Rico shakes his head. "Reverse the charge and keep the hat." (Which has now been blocked into shape, mind you.)
Which they do, and Rico and Bill and Leonard leave, all shaking their heads over whatever had occurred, of which they were, individually and collectively, clueless.
Two hours later, Rico gets a voicemail (see below) from Robert Waight (the store's owner) saying, in no uncertain terms, that Rico should not call him back at 830.990.8510, should not enter his establishment ever again, and, oh by the way, Mr. Waight has filed a police report with the Fredericksburg PD, and they'll be calling Rico soon...
Still clueless, Rico called a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy on the Fredericksburg PD, and somehow Rico will find out what the police report said... (No news as of days later, nor a call from the PD, either.)
More later, of course. But feel free to send them abusive (though not illegally so) emails at hhfbg@beecreek.net or info@headquartershats.com or even call the boss at 830.990.8510, but just don't do anything that will require a police report...

Getting on board

2010-06-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Go here to send the producer an on-line audition; video isn't necessary, but a photo and your data, please. We've got a year (nearly), so there's no need to rush...

Yet more, and twelve

2010-06-04T02:54:00.001-07:00

Proofmark Cinema is back at the Dougherty today, and then out for drinks with a dozen cowboys tonight.
Well, okay, only half a dozen. But all great guys (and a gal), and an amazing Doc Holliday (as in 'separated at birth' level).
Also got a Vietnamese waiter at the restaurant to commit to playing an Indian (and where did you think Indians came from? Mongolia, actually, according to DNA studies), and a nice Russian guy (otherwise engaged in having dinner by himself) with incredible long, curly, white hair to play a cowboy.
All in all, a good day.
More auditions tomorrow, and more location scouting with Leonard Lay.

More folks

2010-06-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Proofmark Cinema gained a camera operator and a sound guy today, so we"re even closer to making Zone of Fire next Spring. More tomorrow. (Posted from the associate producer's new iPad. Gotta get one...)

Still at it

2010-06-03T07:12:00.001-07:00

We're back at the Dougherty, doing more auditions today.

Yet more roles cast

2010-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

The auditions are going well, and we've selected actors for some of the larger roles in Zone of Fire: Jerry Eastman as Young Bat, Russell Tiner as Doc Holliday, Joe Rios as Virgil Earp, Sandy Mize as Molly Brennan, and Shawn Rakowitz as Morgan Earp. In the 'separated at birth' category, many of them really look like the people they'll be portraying.
With any luck, we'll have all the major roles and the major locations locked down by the end of the week. (We're still hoping for a good Wyatt Earp and a good Tombstone.)
Bill Champ, now officially the associate producer for Zone of Fire, has been unbelievably helpful. We still need to find a production assistant, however, so anyone in the Austin area who wants the job can email the producer at mseymour@proofmark.com.

Previous work

2010-06-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

To see Four Hand Draw, click here.

Good things

2010-06-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

The auditions have been going well, and Young Bat has been cast.
Old Bat, of course, will be ably played by Timothy Patrick Miller, with whom Rico and Bill Champ (now officially the associate producer of Zone of Fire) had a lovely dinner at Oyster Landing in Austin last evening. More auditions over the next several days, and then another location scout, led by the inestimal Leonard Lay, on Saturday afternoon.

Auditions

2010-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Proofmark Cinema is in Austin to meet with potential actors and actresses (cowboys & Indians & townies) for Zone of Fire. Auditions are at the Dougherty Arts Center at 1110 Barton Springs Road in Austin. (All slots are now full, but you can email the producer at mseymour@proofmark.com or call him at 215.866.6184.) See you there.

Working in Texas

2010-06-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Rico is in Austin with Bill Champ, doing auditions and scouting locations for next year's shoot of Zone of Fire. Things are, so far, going well. Leonard Lay took us in hand and is carting us about the countryside, finding places to shoot. (See a post somewhere below to buy some of his incredibly nice leather.) So far, a good saloon and some okay towns; still searching for the perfect Tombstone. Cross fingers that we find it, come Saturday. In the meantime, dinner with the star, Timothy Patrick Miller, and then more auditions the rest of the week. We've found Young Bat, and the others will doubtless follow.

The library

2010-05-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

For those meeting at the Leander Library, here's the data:
Leander Public Library, 1011 South Bagdad Road, Leander
512.259.5259

Gone to Texas

2010-05-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

All audition slots are now full, but you can still submit a video audition (see below for details). Proofmark Cinema will be descending on Austin and environs for auditions, location scouting, and general mayhem come the 29th. More details to follow.

A source for leather

2010-05-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

Leonard Lay, who is interested in acting in "Zone of Fire", also makes Old West leather.
You can see his wonderful products, including period-correct gunleather, chaps, and wrist cuffs, at http://www.vaqueroleather.com
Partake, and be beautiful. (And period-correct.)

How cool is that?

2010-05-12T08:59:00.003-07:00

The Dougherty Arts Center stands on the same site once occupied by the Naval and Marine Reserve Center in 1947.

Auditions via email

2010-05-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

All the available audition slots will soon be booked, but you can still audition for a role in Zone of Fire via email.
Send an email to the producer, Mark Seymour, at mseymour@proofmark.com containing the following data:
Your name, cowboy alias (if any; this doesn't apply to those wanting a crew position, of course), and all contact information.
Your special skills (if any; we're interested in people who can ride, shoot, and act).
A headshot, especially if it's in your cowboy garb. (This doesn't apply to those wanting a crew position, of course.)
If possible (though it's not required), a video (in either .mov or .wmv format) of you reciting this information:
My name is (say your real name).
My alias is (say your cowboy alias, if any).
(If appropriate) I would like to play (say the name of the historical character) because I look like (say him or her).
I can (or can not) ride, I can shoot, and I can act.
I think I will make a good (say either the character name or say cowboy or townie).
Thank you for this opportunity.

More on auditions

2010-05-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

The end-of-May-early-June auditions in Austin are coming together.
We currently have data (at least minimal) on 100 people (cast & crew) interested in Zone of Fire.
If you're interested and haven't gotten an audition date yet, hurry and email the publisher at mseymour@proofmark.com with your availability between 1 June and 6 June; the slots are filling up fast.

More on garb

2010-04-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

There are many places on-line to purchase proper late-1800s cowboy and townie gear. Here are some:

Cowboy Hat Store
Wild West Mercantile
Drovers Mercantile
Schnee's
Tombstone Outfitters
Classic Old West clothing
Knudsen Outfitters
Sloops Suspender Jeans
Old West Gallery
Chapparral Arms
Taylor's Firearms
Dixie Gun Works
Cimmaron Firearms

And don't forget (especially the ladies) your local thrift store or second-hand-clothing shops; a little creativity and fewer dollars, and you can get yourself a hell of an outfit...

Costume info

2010-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Boots & Bustles, an Arizona reenactors group, these splendid guides to mens' and ladies' period costumes:
Mens' costume guide
Ladies' costume guide

Auditions

2010-04-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Proofmark Cinema will be in Austin from 30 May, 2010 through 6 June, 2010 to meet with potential actors and actresses (cowboys & Indians & townies) for Zone of Fire.
Space has been made available for auditions at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road in Austin from 1 June through 5 June, 1pm to 4 pm. (If you have a preference on dates or times, email the producer at mseymour@proofmark.com or call him at 215.866.6184.) See you there.

May, but not this year

2009-12-12T08:42:00.001-08:00

Due to circumstances (ain't it always), the filming of Zone of Fire has been pushed back to the Spring of 2011. There will be a scouting trip in the Spring of 2010, so check back for updates.

First of April, but not this year

2009-01-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Due to a whole slew of things, the planned shoot of Zone of Fire has been postponed a year.
Look for us in Austin in the spring of 2010.
The delay, while irritating for all concerned, will be worth it in the end.

First of April, near enough

2009-01-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

Looks like the bluebonnets will be out in late March, so we're going to schedule our shoot starting about 1 April. More details as we get closer, but there will be a daily shooting schedule (place, time, necessary people) posted here for each day, as far in advance as possible, so stay tuned.

Delay of game

2008-01-28T11:17:00.001-08:00

Due to circumstances well beyond our control, we won't be shooting Zone of Fire until the spring of 2009.
Revisit this site in a year to see what we're up to.

Zone of Fire presentation 01

2008-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 02

2008-01-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 03

2008-01-04T11:20:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 04

2008-01-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 05

2008-01-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 06

2008-01-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 07

2008-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 08

2008-01-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 09

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Zone of Fire presentation 10

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Zone of Fire presentation 11

2008-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 12

2008-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 13

2008-01-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 14

2008-01-04T06:14:00.001-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 15

2008-01-04T04:43:00.001-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 16

2008-01-03T11:13:00.001-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 17

2008-01-03T11:09:00.001-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 18

2008-01-03T11:07:00.001-08:00

Zone of Fire presentation 19

2008-01-03T10:43:00.001-08:00

Where it all happened

2008-01-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Tombstone, with the location of the OK corral.

Bat, in his own hand

2008-01-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Getting closer

2007-12-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

As I continue to improve, the likelihood of our doing some shooting come the Spring does as well.
While this is definitely "the winter of our discontent", it too shall pass...

"Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried."

Good old Shakespeare. You can always count on him to have the right words.
I hope, by the summer, to bury all my clouds in the 'bosom of the ocean' somewhere...
The Pontine Islands, if I'm lucky.
But certainly a stint in the Hill Country, filming our Bierce movie.

Technical difficulties

2007-11-26T05:42:00.000-08:00

Seems that my small-but-difficult brain injury continues to threaten the start of production on the Zone of Fire video, but we still hope to acquire an RV as a roving studio and hit the backroads of Texas come the bluebonnets next spring.

Script coming

2007-09-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

We have a quite remarkable little script (written by yours truly) about the life of Bat Masterson. I'm looking forward to creating it as a video, starring the inestimal Timothy Patrick Miller, come next spring. Stay tuned for details.

Ambrose Bierce lives again

2007-09-25T19:11:00.001-07:00

The man absolutely channels Ambrose Bierce.