Cut Rush Creative Labs

What happens when an SOB fights for her children? Crowbars.

This trailer is dramatic and emotional, but has zombies in it:

In spirit of Nurse Wright and not playing victim , I decided to fight back on a meaningless matter with the company who deliver my groceries. Here’s the email I sent to Fresh Direct:

I plan to make a formal complain, but maybe you can direct me to someone to resolve this.

I made my order 2/13, then called on 2/15 morning and requested my delivery be made between 8 and 10PM instead of 6 to 8PM. They said no problem.

Next, they tried to deliver at 7PM anyway. So I missed the delivery.

I called to resolve, and I was told by a very nice rep that the order should have arrived, and they will contact the driver to swing back around. She tried that, but said she couldn’t get a hold of the driver. Next, she told me that the transport supervisor would continue to contact the driver so the order could be delivered that night. I waited until the last order could be delivered. NOTHING. As juvenile and stupid as it sounds, my wife and I were waiting for the groceries so we could make dinner. So at midnight, we had to trek out to make alternative plans. Though juvenile to mention, it’s still a pain in the ass to travel out into the cold due to someone else’s poor service and coordination.

I called back today 2/16 and explained this entire story to a representative. He put me on hold so he could call and look into this. After holding for a 5 minutes, he hung up. Since I had such a nice rep from the night before, I thought he’d call back. NOTHING.

I called back, and went through the cycle again with a different rep. This time, whoever I spoke to returned the charge back to my account and rescheduled another delivery for tomorrow. Now, my credit card will have 2 deductions from Fresh Direct and the 1 won’t be credited back for several days until the banks square things away.

So all and all, things are figured out. But, I find the service unacceptable and want to figure out what happened, make sure it doesn’t happen again, and, to be honest, not let it go because I made all the proper steps, and it seems like Fresh Direct didn’t care.

So, I’ll be making further contacts into the company, and assuring that I spread the this pointless, but worthy complaint of a story.

This happens to me a lot. Have you ever been the victim of something stupid? Like being cut off in a grocery line, or being in a car accident that is more the other person’s fault? Then you play nice, because the fight isn’t worth it. I play nice all the time. I think it’s because I’m lazy, prefer to avoid confrontation, or scared I’ll get my ass beat if  I step up. It’s annoying and builds up this tiring hate for nuisances. I hope this isn’t just me becoming an old man, and I hope this is common to you too.

Hell Grace is in post production. We’re doing all sorts of behind-the-scene work  no one gets to see. But in the meantime, it’s time to move on to the next production to keep the senses sharp. Last year, it was a year between major shoots, and that applied some damage to my brain. So, onto the next short, but on a  much smaller scale.

Nurse Wright’s in this victim position, but today, she’s not going to take shit for it. She’s on her way to the court house to get her child back, but has a minor car accident when she hits Harry the a-hole. She plays nice so she can expedite and get to the court house in time.  But her lack of car insurance, driver’s license, and fear of police hold her up.

I do find this a weird movie for myself to be shooting, so if you have stories to share – please do by emailing me or commenting. I’m finishing my re-write tomorrow and I may subconsciously or purposely steal & apply your story to the script.

We’re shooting March 12th and 13th, and we’re in pre-production now. I have auditions this Thursday and next Tuesday. I posted up on Craigslist and Backstage Magazine / Online. You can see my Craigslist casting notice here: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/tfr/2207725082.html

Making a movie is like having a freaking child. You spend copious-plotting time in order to plan for all the right things and avoid all mistakes – like falling down the stairs. When born, you’re worried it’s retarded. And as it gets a little older, you realize it IS retarded – but you make the best of it and cover it up with all sorts of tricks, like hats and sunglasses. Then, you say it’s really smart, because it’s your baby. When it’s finally ready to be released into the world, the thing has all sorts of problems –  but people see past it because it’s unique – even if it has severe emotional problems due to traumatizing events when it was: in the womb, 5, an adolescent, and living through multiple mid-life crisis.

If you’re reading this in an email, go to the website (www.cutrush.com/blog) to see the set photos in sweet presentation format.

Everyone who helped with the movie are phenomenal. Thank you so much. They worked long-ass hours, and did quality work.

John: Anthony Marks
Mom: Blanche Baker
And special thanks to Rin Allen for bad ass and stunt double
Dad: Scott Bell

Director of Photography: Dante Skartoni
Art Director: Aliona Paulionak
1st AC / DIT: Abner Diaz
1st AD: Phil Prince
Key Grip: Mike / Dante never gave me his full name
Sound Mixer / Foley Artist: Erik Bailey
Makeup: Zachary J. Shelly
Hair Stylist: Christie Terranova
Stunt Coordinator: Turner Smith
Boom Operator: Mark Santana
Producer: Kevin Salcedo
Production Coordinators: Hon Nguyen, Robin Nguyen, Linda Matters, Tony Matters, Hannah Nguyen
Executive Producers: Kevin Salcedo, Melissa Salcedo, Edward Waxler, Rachael Waxler, Jim Herlihy, Hon Nguyen, Jamie Nguyen
Music: Juan Espinosa
Editor / SFX / Ax Murderer / Colorist: Abner Diaz
Design Consultant: Richard Davy

We’re about to shoot, starting tomorrow night. I want to thank everyone who’s been supporting Hell Grace – money wise, emotionally, physically, and even by reading this post you’re supporting it. We need it. You’ll be allowing us to shoot (3) 12 hour days where we barely sleep, talk so much that our mouths have that disgusting dead skin on lips build up, and our breaths smell like 18 day old dirty ass.

Thank you. No seriously, it’ll be fun, and I’ll be sharing photos, videos, quotes, and anything else from set when I can. I don’t want to email blast you to death, so you can follow the real time updates here:

vancr.tumblr.com

It’s another blog, but not so serious. I want to leave you with a picture of the books I used as research for Hell Grace. I don’t know how much of this will go into the movie, but I sure as hell did learn a lot about myself. I cried at night, a lot.

The time is nearing. Things are always rough before a shoot. Pieces always want to fall apart, like my insurance and hair, nipping away, trying to cancel the production.
Oh well. Battle. Stress. And big ass lions are part of the movie making gauntlet.

Look out for videos and images from production, starting now… the following was custom made for the movie.

Don’t call PETA yet, they’re frozen.

You may have heard of them, but there’s a few sci fi movies coming out soon: one with Daniel Craig in a straight western, but then the town he’s wanted in (Harrison Ford is the Federal Agent), is attacked by some aliens. It sounds hokey, but it’s as if a Western really was attacked by Aliens, so it looks pretty bad-ass.

Ryan Reynolds is a super hero in the Green Lantern. It’s like Robert Downey Jr., but in a green suit.

Then there’s Hugh Jackman in a Dreamwork’s movie where he teaches an 8FT tall robot how to box.

If another life form came to Earth and witnessed humans entertained by such movies, they’d vomit with laughter. But, people love these movies, and so will I.