Primary shooting is done but we've still got lots to do

So, this past Monday July 6th we finished up primary shooting for The Powderkids. The entire full length feature was shot in San Antonio using Canon's 5D Mark II. The film was done on a shoe string budget and with local Texas talent. We still have plenty of make up days and re-shoots to do but nothing too big. For the time being it's just nice to be able to be finished with the bulk of shooting. We should have a teaser trailer out by July 29th and a full trailer mid August, with the film coming out late fall.

The House Party

We recently filmed a few scenes that went very well, a scene between Ruby and Sadie at a coffee shop, the girls talking it up about their male counterparts. Our big dramatic scene of the guys meeting Lee for the first time and of course the intense house party scene we filmed last night.

It was crazy to say the least, the more intense dramatic scenes seemed to come naturally to the cast. Everyone did a fantastic job, I cant wait to see the dailies and I cant wait to finish. Four more days of primary shooting, then about 5 make up days.

The Powderkids Cometh!

The Powderkids Crew

I can not believe how great our crew is. There's Devon, a TCU student as our script supervisor and all around know it all, Dave the head of sound and carpenter, Jimmy our Key Grip and all around bad ass, Priscilla our grip and boom operator, Miguel our DAT tape operator, Darren, our Director of Photography and only actual professional on the team, Miguel R. also apart of the sound and lighting team, Amby our first AC and still photographer, my brother Pat a grip and of course Joe and Perla our two producers who make sure everything gets done.

We could not make this film without any of these people and also all of the friends that have stopped up and helped us out:

Natalie

Natalie P

Lena

Gully

Benny

Matt

Larry

Monica

Laura

and everyone else...thanks

Day 2

Thanks to Branden and his roommate for letting us take over there apartment at the Robert E Lee hotel. Day 2 was a little more involved and a lot less hot. We had some comic relief in Dave and Miguel and it went very well. We also got some great shots outside in the BMW

Day 1

First off I want to thank my friend Lena for letting us film in her apartment while she was at work, it went great. From what I can remember day one was very hot. We hadn't been on set in over a year and we were all rusty to say the least. Branden and Tasja (lucas and Ruby) did great but I know we all have room for improvement, especially considering it was their first time on set. There's a good chance that we will go back and re film day one (since we didn't get everything we needed anyway) when were all in the swing of things. All in all, one hell of a day one!

Haven't posted in a while

So let me get everyone up to speed, The Powderkids is a little more then halfway done. We have already filmed at Artpace (rooftop party scene) El Tropicano Hotel, Medina Lake, Landa Park, Boerne Jail and the hue foot chase scene through downtown San Antonio. We shut down St Marys for about an hour, it was awesome!

Pre Production In full swing

It's been a while since I've been able to jump on here and let everyone know whats going on.  We've cast pretty much everyone and we are now in the middle of rehearsals.  Oddly enough the script is still being worked on, but the "guts" of the story is there.

We have welcomed aboard our cinematographer Darren Abate and are very excited with what he will bring to this production.  We are in the middle of buying equipment, scheduling shoot dates, getting permission to shoot at certain locations and also shooting test footage -- all very exciting and all leading up to our first day of shooting: May 29th.

We will also be putting up a video diary documenting our process as we make this film.  Stay Tuned.

Buddy Calvo 

Machina Cinema

The Austin Casting Call

Recently we had the pleasure of being on KOOP radio in Austin and having an article in 

La Prensa -- both went great.  This past Sunday, we had our San Antonio auditions and had a good crowd come out (thanks to Matt and Viv for your help and to Dave for showing up and taking some pics and video).

Now, on to Austin.  We will be holding auditions this coming Saturday at 10am at the Dougherty Arts Center.  We hope anyone and everyone from Austin that want to be involved in this film will be able to make it out.  Once auditions are complete and a cast has been put together we will start our video blog on our website.  Stay tuned!

La Prensa

An interview I gave La Prensa publication will be out in this Wednesdays edition of La Prensa.  Check it out, go pick one up wherever you can.

Thanks

Buddy 

The Radio was Great!

Thanks to everyone who was able to tune in!  The interview went great and we were on the air for about an hour.  Now it's back to editing the first draft of the script and hopefully having the final copy ready by this weekend.  There is a lot going on and I can't wait to see all the great talent we get out at the casting call.

Thanks to DavO and everyone at KSYM

Buddy 

On the Radio

Members of Machina Cinema will be live on the air Tuesday January 27th on KSYM 90.1FM on the Astral Zone from 7pm to 9pm.

We will be talking about our upcoming film The Powderkids, our casting call and basically what it takes to be filmmakers here in San Antonio.

Please tune in, call the station, try to call in and ask questions 210-486-KSYM, send emails to KSYM and visit both the Machina Cinema myspace (http://www.myspace.com/machinacinema) and the KSYM myspace (http://www.myspace.com/ksym) 

Dont forget mark your calendars Tuesday January 27th 90.1 FM from 7pm to 9pm

Casting Call

Independent Feature Film (www.machinacinema.com)

Format : Digital

San Antonio, Texas 

Sunday, February 22, 2009 11:30am - 3:30pm

Central Library 600 Soledad St, Meeting room 6.3

Austin, Texas

Saturday, February 28,2009  10:00am - 2:00pm

Dougherty Arts Center 1110 Barton Springs Road, Conference Room C

The Powderkids is about a college student named Lucas who dreams of becoming 

a great writer but lacks inspiration.  After being put on academic probation before his final year at school, Lucas decides to go home and in doing so, finds the story he was born to write within the high school friends he left behind.

Male Actors

Latin/Hispanic Male Lead ages 20 to 27, average/slender body type

Supporting roles ages 20 to 30, average/slender body type

Business men/College Professor ages 40 to 60 any body type

Female Actors

Female supporting roles ages 18 to 30, average/slender body type

Mother age 40 to 50 any body type

Crew:

Cinematographer, Sound/Boom Operator, Lighting Tech-

Basically we are looking for anyone who would like to be apart of this film on any level

of crew work.  Our ideal candidate would have had some experience in filmmaking, especially those wanting to be considered for the director of photography/cinematographer.  Anyone else, interested in film, worked on previous projects, film students of any level, please send us your resume(if available) or contact us at the email address below

Must be available from May 29th to June 28th (depending on role). All principal photography done in San Antonio, Texas.  Meal and credit will be provided as well as deferred payment depending on role.

Shoot dates:

Fridays, Saturday and Sundays

May 29,30,31

June 5,6,7-12,13,14-19,20,21-26,27,28

Please send resume and photo to email address below, resume preferred but not required, just a little info on your background and your interest in acting will be fine.

Contact: Perla Rivera - machina_casting@yahoo.com

Location Location Location

I am proud to announce that The Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes and Artpace of San Antonio will be allowing Three Creams Productions to shoot on location for The Powderkids.

We are still in the process of speaking with the San Antonio Film Commission about shooting and
closing major streets in downtown San Antonio and also utilizing an SAPD interogation room.

Hats off to Producer Perla Rivera for the great job on getting our locations and constantly working
on the film!

The Powderkids Cometh

The Powderkids Cometh

Pre-Production for our first full length feature is underway. A drama/action piece entitled the Powderkids is in the begining stages of production and everyone at Machina Cinema is very excited about the film.

The story, based on true events, is about a college student Lucas, who dreams of becoming a writer and after losing his scholarship money for poor grades, is forced to leave school and return home. It's Lucas' return that reunites him with high-school friends, his diminished relationship with his mother, the love he left behind and the story that he's been looking for.
Lucas is quickly embraced by those he knew best in high-school and is brought into their lifestyle of girls, cars, clubs and drugs. After his initial run with his friends, Lucas realizes that it won't be easy to write the tale without living it.
With twists & turns, love & drama the writings become an experience and the experience becomes the story of the Powderkids.

The Powderkids Cometh