Gratcast - Taking on Hollywood and telling the tale.

Behind TPH Part 3: Buffalo Cast and Crew The story behind TPH continues with finding the rest of the cast and crew in Buffalo, but first we discuss our abundance of options in our week in review. The benefits of self distribution are the endless options available to today's filmmakers, however the draw back of that freedom are also the overwhelming amount of endless options. One of the best options we have come across so far is Tugg. Through Tugg we will be able to offer The Perfect house in theaters across the country and you, our fans, can earn 5% of the the ticket sales for promotiong the event. Behind TPH part 3: The Buffalo Cast and Crew. One by one we find the rest of the crew and continue to hold auditions, meetings and interviews at our favorite BBQ joint.  We made our gaffer jump threw hoops, Kris Smith orginally auditioned for a part other than the storm mother, Holly Greene did her audition while screaming in a Hotel closet in Vancouver at 6am. As great as Jonathan Tiersten was as John Doesy their was another fairly famous actor originally cast in the part that fell threw at the last second opening the door for JT. Days before production begins and we have no equipment, 8 inches of water in our basement set and no money, but we still had a dream.

TPH Backstory P2: Arriving in Buffalo This week we have special guest Chris Barber our graphic designer and the artist behind our wildly popular Comic Con DVD cover.  He shares his experiences moving to Los Angeles and what it was like going to design school at Penn State University, including his feelings as an alumni on the recent events. During our week in review we catch up on everything happening since the 4th of July.  Andrea set's Kris up with a perfect segway into a rant about a reviewer who had a personal agenda when she debates the difference between a duesch and a dick. Kris takes the opportunity to defend himself against accusations he depicted rape on screen worse than any other filmmaker in the history of cinema. Finally we get to the next chapter of our on going segment about the backstory behind The Perfect House. Last week in chapter one we covered the development of The Perfect House This week's chapter is the arrival in Buffalo. We headed for Buffalo via an easter weekend with the family in New Jersey.  A great family weekend of walking tours through the warehouse district, flamboyant tour guides, a run in with Larry David, sculpture parks and a sunday BBQ turns ugly when adversity strikes.  A fluke injury sends the weekend into a tailspin, as fate would have it the unfortunate incident might ultimately be the only reason The Perfect House got made. Back in Buffalo and recovering, we try to explain to my Grandfather, over daily visits to dissect his home, the circus that is headed his way. In between visits we would swing by the house of horrors that is home to the secret lab of Anomaly Effects. The special effects team out of Buffalo, NY who went right to work on the creation and testing of all of our special effects. Our next chapter will cover finding the rest of the cast and crew and the final days leading up to production when we still had no money.

Gratwick Films is declaring war on traditional distribution! Our declaration of independence has been issued and we have begun selling DVD's for The Perfect House. Andrea has finally left the day job and joined Gratwick Films fulltime. In our first attempt at hitting the streets we made friends with a few homeless kids and donated some dvds to sell for food money.   After that, Andrea boldly walked into the world famous Amoeba Records and convinced them they needed to carry our movie on the shelves! In a special edition of Gratcast we delve into part 1 of a three part series about the story behind The Perfect House. Each of the 3 episodes we will share and discuss the details and true stories never before told behind each phase of The Perfect House. Part 1 covers pre-production and how we managed to will this movie into existence. Starting with the script, we discuss how the story evolved from a short story I wrote on a whim into a full length feature film titled 'The Perfect House'. Many of the story influences were based on our resources or lack there of, rather than a specific desire or need to tell a story. Very few people know this, but there was actually an entirely different second story, that we decided not to go with, before we came up with the Chicken story. While we were scanning craigslist for opportunities and collaborators, Kris came across an open letter written by a Director of Photography named Tal Lazar. The letter immediately convinced Kris that Tal was the right guy for the job, in fact Tal is the one that originally suggested the idea of making a spec trailer to help with raising the funding. When it came time to shoot a spec trailer for The Perfect House we were able to raise $500 for the weekend shoot. By this time we  had also been connected to our first "name" actor.  An actor who would immediately show signs of things to come as she held our spec trailer and our eventual entire production hostage with frivolous unprofessional actions and demands. We even managed to have someone threaten to sue us on a voluntary spec trailer! With a finished cut of the spec trailer we set out to find our composer. The trailer was used as an audition for our top responses from craigslist. 5 different composers submitted a score for the 2 minute spec trailer, each of them had their benefits, but it was the score of Frederik Wiedmann that leapt off the screen and made the decision a no brainer. With a finished spec trailer and new found confidence we set out to find investors and a location to shoot The Perfect House. We searched everything possible and not possible, you don't realize how badly you want to make a movie until you start justifying and convincing yourself you can shoot in some pretty compromising situations. We checked out crawl spaces in South Central, abandon Jiffy Lubes on the west side and a historical building a bit north. None of them were even close to ideal, that's when we decided Buffalo was the place to be, in Buffalo we had the location that I had in my mind when I wrote the story. Now we just had to set a date, turns out with all the schedules in play, money or no money, we had one window we could shoot the movie in over the next 2 years and that window was 4 months away! We locked in the date for the last 2 weeks of June. Andrea and I packed up our belongings, gave up our apartment and headed back to Buffalo just in time for Easter. Little did we know, no one believed a movie was going to happen and in fact thought we had flunked out of L.A. and this was just an excuse to save our pride while moving back home. That's where we leave off at with part 1 of the story behind The Perfect House. Next week: Production. We deal with broken promises for funding, scratched corneas, horrible weather and a flooded location the day before we start shooting. Chapters 1. Intro 2. Week in Review 3. Behind TPH: The Script 4. Behind TPH: Finding a DP 5.

This weeks guest is New Jersey transplant and aspiring indie filmmaker Jen Carmody. Jen talks with us about film school in NYC and the challenges of being an indie filmmaker in the big city, why she finally decided to move to Los Angeles, how she found a place to live and what her plans to achieve her dreams are. We finally hired a publicist and celebrated when we found a new hole in the wall bar that has free bingo, snacks and cheap beer.   Even though Jen lived in NYC she's a Jersey girl through and through in the eyes of a true New Yorker.  Jen defends her inner Jersey Girl as she explains why things in her natural environment like rats and the subway entered in her decisions to leave. Whether you are a filmmaker or anyone else, If you move to Los Angeles it's all about the roommates.  In just a few short months Jen has experienced every end of the spectrum, starting off in the basement of a 13 roommate reality house and ending with a soon to be divorced aging hipster. We close out with a discussion about the future, immediate and long term. Jen tells us her dreams and ambitions as a filmmaker while we figure out when to start drinking before the play tonight, before you know it, the show is- Chapters 1. Intro - Guest Jen Carmody 2. Week in Review - Jen Carmody 3. Week in Review - Andrea Vahl 4. Week in Review - Kris Hulbert 5. Our new bar and BBQ 6. TPH News 7. The Jersey Girl 8. NY Film School and independent filmmaking in NYC -  Guerrilla filmmaking in Los Angeles vs. Guerilla filmmaking in NYC. 9. Why move from NYC to LA? 10. What are your filmmaker dreams Jen? 11. Our big plans for the night - Our first night out forever and A play called Rue Royale

Special Guest: Ernie Green Gratwick original and Stand up Comedian Ernie Green is our guest this week. We discuss how he got the courage to get up on stage, what the pressure to be funny right now feels like, and why his first time on stage was like losing his virginity with pink eye. In the second installment of our Gratwick Origins segment Ernie clears up an urban legend revolving around his move west that started on our show a few weeks back. He also explains why Gratwick was not just "fuck worthy" back in the day, but a fun group to associate with. In the process Kris exposes his secret three year zionist plot to corrupt Ernie and convince him to leave Mesa for the tepid weather of Los Angeles. We discovered the future of stand up comedy and are now hatching an evil plan to unleash this new world order.  If you can have video on demand movies and you can have live events then why can't you have live stand up comedy, done VOD style?.   Finally, the true identities of the masters of hyperbole are revealed. Chapters 1. Week in review 2. Gratwick Origins - Ernie Green (why gratwick fuck worthy) 3. Exactly what did happen at a Sizzler in Flagstaff 4. The pressure to have to be funny 5. What's next for Ernie Green (The future of stand up comedy) 6. Masters of the Hyperbole

We have come full circle with The Perfect House as hold interviews for a new publicist. Like a good GM in the draft we weighed the virtues of the safe pick vs. the flashy pick.DVD's for The Perfect House are in house and a major announcement is imminent! In what might go down as the worst segway ever Kris opens the floor to ancient aliens.Conspiracy theorists rejoice! Jesus Christ was a real man with a documented history, there was a prehistoric nuclear war and why ancient children's toys are the proof of advance technology and aerodynamics.1. Intro 2. week in review (interviewing publicist) 3. DVD update 4. worst segway ever 5. Ancient Aliens (The website)

Special Guest, Mike Garrow, shares what it was like moving to Los Angeles and how he stumbled into a great career at Warner Brothers.  The Perfect House is getting close to an official release date, and Mike shares his unique experience with being one of the investors on an indie hit.When it comes to "celebrity encounters", Kris and Mike have had quite a few. From finger pointing Matthew Perry on the boulevard to almost getting taken out by a runaway golf cart driven by Kurt Russell as he's laughing his ass off.  A split second difference in time and Kris might have ended the hit show Chuck after 1 season.The origins of Gratwick becomes a bit clearer as Mike shares childhood memories of how the gang came to be. In his latest memory, Mike explains how after a long night of drinking he sobered up to discover that he now had a lesbian roommate. It's okay though, she's cool.This is apparently par for the course from 'Journey Guy'. He is the guy who single-handedly caused the band's album to be removed from several Hollywood bars.In an effort to get serious, we talk to Mike about why he moved to LA, how he lost a man in Arizona on his way West, and how we got set up with a sweet, cushy job at Warner Brothers.Chapters1. Intro2. Mike's week in review3. Andrea's week in review4. Kris's week in review5. A unique look at The Perfect House6. Kris and Mike share celebrity stories from the Warner Brothers lot7. Release news on The Perfect House8. Gratwick Origins - Mike Garrow9. Marketing plans and sexy street teams10. Mike found a roommate while he was drunk at the bar11. Why Mike is known as the Journey Guy on Hollywood Blvd.12. Why did Mike move to LA?13. The story of how he lost a man on his way out west.14. How Mike got hired at Warner Brothers15. What happened to the dream?16. The original cast of First Timers is together again for the first time publicly.

Andrea has spent the week at death's door while Kris's has been moving and shaking at the Grove. In what might someday go down in Hollywood lore, Kris explains how he pitched, wrote and made a deal for a script in less than 3 days.A ton of news about The Perfect House hints at possible release date for the 'multiple' dvds, possible bonus features, commentary and... a possible secret endings?Facebook has jumped the shark and become a cesspool of hostility and impulsive negativity. Kris explains why you should always say you're going to polish it up for them and keep it tight.A Gratwick Original Mike Garrow will be a guest on next week's show, Andrea and Kris explain just who is Mike Garrow and where his place is in the annual of Gratwick Films history.Chapter list 1. Intro to episode 41 2. Andrea goes 7 rounds with death 3. Kris talk about writing a script in 2 days 4. The Perfect House news 5. Gratcast updates 6. Who is Mike Garrow?

Gratcast turns 40! The joyous occasion mysteriously reminds Andrea of her favorite childhood movie The Huggabunches. We recap a week that went from 0-100 in the blink of an eye. We had a week to put together a 3 picture business plan and be ready to present it.We got the plan together and just made it to the meeting, no thanks to UPS or the LA metro system. Some of the highlights of the package include news about sequels in The Perfect House franchise and our plan to take over October 1st for the next 5-10 years.Kris offers a symbolic gesture to the gods as a sign he is ready to move on. The difference between when and if is the difference between success and failure.

This week we are talking the Avengers and typecasting!! As we recap the week that was Andrea gives her reactions to some of the current events happening in the news such as John Travolta's massage habits and 6th graders in Mexico are shooting porno's in class.Before we review the Avengers we share some very exciting updates on The Perfect House. While we had minor issues in several areas with The Avengers, it was the casting decision of Robin Chebatsky (Cobie Smulders) that was the biggest down fall of the Avengers.We discuss why it was a poor career decision for Cobie Smulders and the lessons that can be learned from her poor choice of roles.Chapters1. Intro 2. Week that was - Meetings and Wordpress ruled the week. 3. Andrea reacts to current events a. John Travolta's massage habits b. Mexican 6th graders shoot a porn in class 4. The Perfect House news - festival update 5. The Avengers in review 6. The Robin Chebotsky Issue - How to kill a promising career before it starts, find out how not to get type cast. Our first google hang out guest.

The week that was includes the hunt for an entertainment attorney and Andrea's first experience at the secret society. Andrea's pill popping habits are exposed as she explains the pain of wisdom teeth. Kris explains how to successfully gather a moving crew in Buffalo. Subscribe in a readerHollywood networking is a total bitch, but a necessary evil. Fate can't happen if you don't put yourself in the right positions. If you're the 1 out of 99, that is different, how do you stand out if you don't beat your chest like the lemmings?Entertainment Attorneys are the focus of the week as we discuss our ideal traits of the perfect lawyer. Changes are coming to the gratcast format. Next week we will have a LIVE google plus hangout going as we record next week's episode.Join us at Gratwick Films on google plus this Thursday at 12PM PT. We will be discussing screenwriting, pop culture and whatever else is on your minds.We need an intro, any ideas?

Gratcast is finally back! Kris, Andrea and John get into a deep, heated discussion about discussions, as they decipher the difference between an interruption and an interjection. Andrea takes her rightful place as co-host of Gratcast. Kris identifies himself as a CLP (craigs list predator) John shares what a detached retina feels like and how to fix it. John also helps us remember the TPHmobile including the 2 take christening. Now that Anthony is long gone, Wordpress has come to Gratwick Films! According to Kris 8 year old youtube tutorial teachers are going to take over the world. We finally we share some details about the secret society Andrea will be joining after the show. Christening the TPHmobile

Anthony's back and worried about his job after the performance by last weeks guest hosts. (This would in fact be Anthony's final Gratcast before his self destructive greed and betrayal.)  Apparently Kris has a secret phrase he slips into each episode. 'Happy Endings' and 'Surburbia' are two great new shows flying under the radar. The state of affairs with 'The Office' is not looking good.  A new law making its way through congress might help indie filmmakers and other startups find funding easier.  But like usual the government is dragging their feet and treating the masses like we are morons. The FAA has learned to follow suit while wasting enormous amounts of fuel and manpower. Anthony gives us his review of 'Goon' and that's how I feel right about now after the rounds and rounds I've gone with social media. However it looks like we are starting to pick up a few tricks along the way like SocialMarker.

This week Anthony is on Injured Reserve with the St. Pattys Day flu. Andrea Vahl and John Hoadley sit in with Kris for this weeks Gratcast. Andrea shares some tales from her times on the set of The Office and the new Muppets movies. Apparently a warning has been issued that a major earthquake in North American is imminent. Some feelings get hurt as we debate why the medical marijuana industry is not taken more serious by middle American voters and how the stupid names for the strains has a lot to do with it. Andrea invents her own hot wet stinky strain and Kris has a prescription for oochie wally wally ointment. Are any of us bold enough to take the cinnamon challenge? update on The Perfect House summer plans.

Busy day of production has Gratcast Tech Talk and The Weekly Round Up all being shot on the same day. The old white macbook can't keep up with all the action. Anthony's monochromatic wardrobe is the only thing he has in common with Batman. Kris continues to teach himself web design as 8secondworld is being born (then shelved) on a responsive web design, even if it takes ten hours to make the background image work. The guys in the online EA hockey league don't like hearing Andreas Marijuana dispensary rants over the mic when she comes home. The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal and subsequent  butter fly effect is destroying the world. Anthony and Kris are going to sell processor grease and The end of an era comes as we have to say good bye to the TPHmobile.