Testimonial #3 - Matthew Feeney

I am writing this short note to introduce you to Mr. Ryan Strandjord, a talented young filmmaker I’ve had the great pleasure of working with on several film projects. It takes more than a simple script and money to make a good film – it takes a director with a special artistic eye, great project management, outstanding people skills and a dedication to a creative vision. Ryan has proven to have these traits time and time again. From his founding of MINNEWOOD to his work on several SBD productions, Ryan’s commitment to the creative endeavor is amazing. A few months back I watched the short promo trailer he created for “Prescription Happiness” and was blown away by the very unique and stylized picture he painted (and the wonderfully unique soundtrack). As a casting director, I agree with the old saying that the most important part of making a movie is good casting, and although I wasn’t involved in the casting of this trailer, while watching the trailer I was nodding my head and affirming Ryan’s choices in casting some of the finest local actors. Because of my confidence in Ryan and this specific script, I have expressed my interest in having Walden Entertainment help cast the next phase of the film.

Matthew Feeney - Walden Entertainment

BlueCat

Yesterday I submitted the screenplay to the BlueCat screenwriting competition. The cost is a little steep ($60), but every script submitted receives feedback from two sources, and the top six winners receive a MacBook pro and Final Draft, or the cash equivalent.

I'll receive the feedback on January 5th and the winners are announced in April. Lets hope the feedback is good because then we'll know that we still have a chance!

Help Us Make The Movie...

by checking out our online fundraising page at: www.indiegogo.com/prescriptionhappiness

Testimonial #2 - Lu Lippold

“I first became aware of Ryan’s important role in the Twin Cities film community through his Minnewood website, where he supports and promotes the work of other filmmakers. As the grant administrator for IFP Media Arts, I’ve had the privilege of viewing his films and reading his screenplays. His screenplay Prescription Happiness has been a finalist for an extremely competitive filmmaking grant, and I fully support him in his efforts to bring it to the screen. I have no doubt that with his talent and enthusiasm, this film will be a gem.”

- Lu Lippold, Director of Funding Programs at IFP Minnesota

Testimonial #1 - Miriam Queensen

In his work for the screenwriting classes I've taught at the Loft Literary Center and in his scripts that I've read, Ryan Strandjord shows that he knows how to think not just like a screenwriter, but like a director. Particularly in his short script Prescription Happiness, Strandjord creates an effective and emotional story using images only. Rather than relying on the easy route of letting dialogue tell his story, Strandjord chooses his words carefully, painting the emotional beats of the story using concise but powerful images. His writing is clear and cogent, and tells an important story. I would love to see what he could create through the medium of film, given sufficient means and support.

- Miriam Queensen’s screenplay Clara, based on the life of 19th-century pianist and composer Clara Schumann, placed highly in several national competitions, including the Hollywood Screenplay Discovery Awards and the Santa Fe Screenwriting Competition. Clara was optioned by a European director. Miriam's thriller screenplay The Red Seal has been optioned by a producer in L.A. She is currently working on two novels based on her screenplays The Activist and Sunken Treasure. She has also taught screenwriting at The Loft Literary Center, Brainco School of Advertising and IFP/MN.

Fundraising Time!

Donation proposal was sent out to the first heavy hitter today. I already know they want to contribute, just waiting to see how much. More to come soon.

September 15th - First Public Showing!!

This will be the first public showing of the promotional scene we've created for Prescription Happiness. After four years of writing and rewriting we finally have something to show the world. The film will be playing as part of IFP's Cinema Lounge. There are three other films playing with ours, two of which I've seen and they are phenomenal. I'm ecstatic to see how the films plays for an audience alongside these great shorts, and I hope many of you can make it out.

CLounge is always free, and they serve food and drinks inside the theater. We're also working to put together a raffle during the show, and more details will come on that soon.

Afterward a group of us will hang around for drinks and probably get into some bowling. Anyone is welcome to join, and I just ask that you let me know ahead of time so I can figure out how many lanes we'll need.

Here's the lineup:

- John Koch with a preview of the upcoming "Minneapolis Project"

- Jesse Roesler's "Insalata Caprese"

- Sayer Frey's "Abandon ME"

- And a sneak peak at Ryan Strandjord's latest film

Almost there!

Score is currently undergoing its third revision. A version of the Dining Room scene has gone out for feedback. Final version will be posted in a few days!

Edit edit edit...

ROUGH EDIT is COMPLETE! Off to the composer to further develop the score. Looking good to make the September 1st deadline.

WRAP!

That's a WRAP on the Dining Room scene!! What an amazing day. The video will be complete and online the first week of September.

Prop Hunting, huzah!

Logged over 150 miles in the Volvo this weekend picking up props:

two 13" tvs $5.50
a plush toy frog $1.50
three troll dolls $1.50
a plastic video game helmet $1
four forks 36 cents
two aluminum mess kits $17.23
four antique chairs $10 (what a steal!!)
six frozen mice $11.50

I'm pretty happy with the haul. The four chairs were the biggest surprise. I drove 50 miles to get them in Elk River and they are absolutely perfect! Also, looking forward to using the dead mice.

First Costume Arrives

Today I received in the mail the first costume that will be used in the upcoming shoot for Prescription Happiness.

Costumes Costumes

Today I spent over $180 on costumes today for the Dining Room scene which includes the one pictured above (mask and knife will not be used in the final film).

The image that turned the tide.

It was this painting that changed my entire vision for Prescription Happiness. As I stood before the painting at the Walker Art Center in the Summer of 2007 a scene began to take place in my mind. A group of young women were walk down the street together, marching in complete unison. They wear the exact same outfits made of gray and black. But as I looked closer I could see a hint of color coming out from under the sleeve of one of their outfits. I rush across the street and stop the woman in her tracks. I look closer at the color and begin to rip the sleeve apart at the seams to reveal a bright red undershirt. I continue tearing off her monotone colored clothes to reveal a mosaic of colors underneath.

At this moment I began to think about people, and how we often have one persona that we reveal to the world. Yet underneath we are filled with thoughts and emotions that never reach the surface. How there are parts of us that even those we love will never see, and how there are other areas we cannot even admit to ourselves.

We can pretend to be someone else, and I see a lot of people doing that these days. Being honest with yourself is probably the most important thing in life. If you can't do that, then how can you ever know what you want from life? How can you ever find love? Is it even possible to love?

This painting completely altered my vision for this film, and in turn changed the way I look at those around me, and most importantly changed the perception I have of myself.

Cinematographer Is Set

Brian Walstad will be our DP for Prescription Happiness. Brian and I have had several previous meetings about the film, and I'm excited to have him involved. He's got some great ideas for the visuals of the film (hand cuff earrings??) and now it's on me to finish the shot by shot breakdown I've started so we can meet to discuss changes.

Our Screenplay Is A Winner!

Well, of third place that is. The Minnesota Society for Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy has awarded the scriptPrescription Happiness 3rd place in their short story competition. I'm pretty happy about this considering it was up against short stories, which are finished products, while a screenplay is merely a blueprint.

We've got a Producer...

Towle Neu has agreed to come on as a Producer. I recently worked with him on a competition film called the Disinherited. We’re going to be shooting Prescription Happiness with the same camera we used on that project, a Canon 7D. Darrin Shaughnessy, who will be acting in Prescription Happiness, plays a lead role in the Disinherited. You can watch it here: The Disinherited

The Cast is Set!!

Very exciting, in fact so much so I did a little dance after getting off the phone with the last actor I spoke to. There are only few things more satisfying than getting the cast you want, and I'm ecstatic about the group we have together for the upcoming shoot. They performed phenomenally well during the audition and I'm sure they'll have even more to show in August when we go into production. Enough said, here they are:


Anna Safar - Angela


Charles Baker - Brother


Cynthia Uhrich - Mother


Darrin Shaughnessy - Father

Today we held auditions for the teaser video to be shot this Summer. For nearly two years I've been wondering what this process would be like. The film had changed from a traditional narrative to an experimental film with virtually no dialog. So my thought was always, "how donwe audition actors when there's no spoken words in the script?"

In the end it was pretty simple. They acted out the scene were planning to shoot this summer and I was very happy to witness some phenomenal performances. There were a number of actors who completely understood what I was looking for and I could hardly believe it. They obviously spent time re-reading the script and developed their performance with care. I couldn't have been more thrilled with how it went. I'm getting the sense that we might actually be able to pull off this project.

This week I plan on calling the actors I want to be in the film. More updates to follow soon...