Holiday Hilarity & Hubris, as well as alliteration

Friday December 23rd, 2005
Holiday Hilarity & Hubris, as well as alliteration



Today we dropped of a digibeta tape, the final sound mix, and the final FX shot to Lyon Video to get a Horrors of War master tape made for the JAPAN distributor. We’re all so fried at this point, that we aren’t even going to be there when the final bits are done. We just want to see the movie with a little distance. Phil & John & I are at the end of our wits with Horrors of War and all the technical and glitches that have caused so many delays. But who cares? On Wednesday we’ll pickup the tapes and make good on our contract.



On January 14th, 2006 we will show the movie on the big screen to the cast & crew. The cast & Crew screening is a private, non-public showing of the film. It’s an Invitation only showing because it will affect our film festival and premiere status. I can’t wait. I’ve gotten so many emails over the last 6 months asking when this screening will take place. Now it’s a reality.



After that, we’re hoping to do the WORLD PREMIERE. We’re aiming for the FANGORIA CONVENTION in Chicago in March. It’s a genre film that will play well with genre fans. We’ve also got an “in” with CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL in San Jose, and that’s a prestigious  film festival, but have a history of non-arty screenings too. Either would be good, but both would kick ass.



As the trailer for Horrors of War has been making the rounds online, I’ve been hearing a lot of great compliments and even some good criticisms. One of the more common themes that gets perceived as a criticism, but is a compliment to me is that it looks like a “B” Movie. Well… DUH. It IS a B-Movie. My intention was to make a movie like the Saturday matinee’s on Channel 43 WUAB with SuperHost . The action/adventure pictures that opened my mind to imagination and fun. It’s NOT a serious dramatic piece, it’s a World War II action-Horror-Sci Fi movie, so how intense do you think it should be?



I’ve started work on the Electronic Press Kit, a DVD with tons of material, including the trailer, some scenes, the documentaries, TV appearances, and even B-Roll (raw “behind the scenes” footage because TV news like to have raw footage to cut as they like in their stories.



I haven’t even sent one of these out into the world or issued a press release since June, and we have already started getting a ton of mentions. The mentions on Fangoria and JoBlo.com have spawned over 15 more press stories, including The Horror Channel



I’m blown away by the support & interest the movie gets from people I don’t know. It’s pretty amazing. The concept gets people excited. I had this feeling, an instinct that the story I came up with would connect with the public, but I had no idea just how well. I am very happy, and also still surprised.



2006 Will yield many many screening opportunities and the promotional wheels have barely begun to turn. I’ve set in motion an avalanche. I will do everything in my power to see it come down the mountain.



Speaking of promotions, here are some interesting quotes from emails sent to me recently in regards to Sonnyboo.com and my own reputation online.

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Quote: from ______ on 1:22 am on Dec. 21, 2005

“You are getting some kind of name around this business. I am out here in California and have heard your name around a lot now.”

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Quote: from ______ on 11:18 pm on Dec. 13, 2005

“Several people including some interested film makers as well as a film commision employee here in California know about you. I’m guessing it is the name SonnyBoo. People pass that name around.”

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Holy COW! That’s heavy duty. As I struggle to finish my first feature, and figure out how to keep afloat, this kind of feedback both excites & scares me.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think that my efforts were this successful.

I’ve removed the Sonnyboo Free Downloadss of word templates. I need to allocate the bandwidth to newer endeavors like the WEB DOCS for Horrors of War. These new and informative videos are indeed promotional, but also educational, so I’m going with these instead. I already got a complaint from someone via email. I found it funny that this guy got really, really mad at me for not providing the templates for free anymore. As king of metaphors, it was like going to the house of a former librarian and telling him he’s a prick because he won’t get him a book for free anymore.

Brandy & I saw Peter Jackson’s King Kong last week. It was good, and possibly too long. I remember distinctly on the DVD’s for LORD OF THE RINGS Peter Jackson saying that  if he had released the long versions first, no one would like them. I thought he was nuts. Now I agree with him. I did also get the PRODUCTION DIARIES on DVD and those kick ass. I already have them from the web, but they look great & are very inspirational.

Many things are happening…



I have 4 channels on “ POPCAST.COM ”, run by Joe Johnston, owner of OHIOFILMVIDEO.COM, which will hopefully die forever.



CNET
shows a few Sonnyboo shorts and continue to get a lot of views.



IFC film challenge has approved several Sonnyboo shorts. From reading about it on this here site, John Whitney has already been invited to have his short “Passion” play as a promo for the contest in commercials and on the channel.






Here in Rossdonia, I have entered into the public records of our region a new scientific theory of mine. I snore. This is a new development in my life in the last few years. It causes many a sleepless night for Brandy. Using deductive reasoning and empirical data, I believe that Brandy is the cause of my snoring.

I submit to you that Brandy’s ex did not used to snore. After being with her, he began to snore. I did not used to snore. After sleeping with Brandy, I began to snore. There are men who have never slept with Brandy & they do not snore. Therefore, my hypothesis is that sleeping with Brandy causes snoring.

That’s all I got in me right now. I want to get these freakin’ Holidays over with. Family & food, two things I need less of in my life.

-Ross
-2005 - THE YEAR OF ROSS 2: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

an ode to Rob Hogan/Bob Cochran

let's explore "fact versus fiction" one step at a time...

a. Did you actually hold & "get paid well" being the director of Photogrpahy on a $1 million feature called "Blue Note"/"Blue Notes"/"Blue Night"? ((FYI the names changed 3 times on your own postings by YOU and no one else)) - If so, what was the name of a producer, director, actor, or production company
associated with the fim?

b. Did you actuallyhave a job as Unit Production Manager on a "$1 million feature" called Amanda Jean, Movie Star, If so, what was the name of a producer, director, actor, or production company associated with the film?

c. Did you optioned screenplays to producers/production companies? If so, what was the name of a producer, director, actor, or production company associated with the sale/option?

d. Did you act as Assistant Director on a film known as One Night in September? If so, what was the name of a producer, director, actor, or production company associated with the film?

e. Did you ask Amanda Hunter for $3,000 funding for her movie, then write that already had $2,500 after she fired you? If so where that money went, if in fact it did exist + as a bonus, where the detailed budget is, how these dollar amounts were actually arrived at?

f. How do you go from publicly acknowleding & apologizing to Holly & Louie to "it was their own fault" in less than 6 weeks?

g. TRUE or FALSE - "I've been in talks for the last two weeks with a cable channel that was going to show the film", as written also to Amanda and who was this mysterious "Cable Channel"?

h. Did Rob Hogan actually study entertainment law, as stated to more than one person?

i. TO AMANDA HUNTER, MAY 2005
>>>"I have spent the last five months working on pre-production and promoting the hell out of this film to every media outlet that would take my call. In this one act you are seriously >>> damaging my relationship with companies that I have spent years trying to form a partnership with."

Where is the proof? Define "promotion" and show some form of evidence, please. Did you really do any promotion at all? Who did you call? Which "media outlets"? I'm a prick & it doesn't take me years to develop a relationship with any media outlet, and I barely qualify as a professional filmmaker, and I am certainly an amature at marketing. I can say from practical experience that if there is no press mention anywhere, then there was no attempt. It isn't that hard to get promotion. If you you really made any phone calls, there'd be proof.


It shouldn't be hard to verify anything that's true. I will as already stated, publicly apologize to you & kiss your fat as in front of a crowded room if you come through & verify every single one of these. Like any resume in the real world, you have to give more than a name of a movie. Let's say you wer trying to get a job in the film industry, people would want to check
the references. So let's just check your references. If it's all true & none of it is a lie, then why not answer? Why not show proof?

And also, Mr. Courageous, I have agreed to answer honestly & truthfully to any questions you have for me as to what I have or have not said or done. Yes, I have made fun of you, in regards to making claims like "I worked for many years doing commercial video work and freelance independent films".
Show some evidence it's true. I have told people to look at the sheer number of projects started & not finished by you, and use that as a basis for judging whether or not they want to work with you. People draw their own conclusions. Quit blaming the "old guard" as if there is some mythic drama
surrounding your inability to produce a quality movie and everyone knowing that. Your warped perceptions of me, as you put it "false messiah" or "figurehead of Columbus film", are views you have, and I didn't make them. I'm no higher or better than anyone else, even you.

Rob, you're living in a really bizarre imaginairy world with an evil nemesis and unicorns in your head if you truly believe that anyone is trying to stop your filmmaking. We all want to lunacy of lies & exagerattions & nonsense to stop. Talking to the writers for local publications like The Other Paper and
Columbus Alive, and even the Dispatch, they all know who you are & they do NOT take the local filmmakers serious because they research the bullshit you say, see that it's not true, then think we ALL do it, when SOME of us are actually making real movies & not having to exaggerate to do it.

Horrors of War (official trailer)

 

 

H O R R O R S     O F       W A R

At long last... the one, the only - the official trailer. CLICK HERE

2 min, 47 sec - Windows Media




cinematography by Greg Sabo & Scott Spears

Music by Bill Wandel

Directed by Peter John Ross & John Whitney

Produced by Philip R. Garrett, Sean Reid, & Peter John Ross

Executive Producer  Tony Kandah

Written by John Whitney & Peter John Ross and Philip R. Garrett

Additional Title Animation & Graphics by   Space Junk Media


see  the official site for more info. CLICK HERE

Hope you dig on this. I'm trying to win the award for "busiest wannabe filmmaker, 2005"

JoBlo.com kicks ass

JoBlo.com says some really great things about Horrors of War!

"Think SAVING PRIVATE RYAN meets RE-ANIMATOR meets DOG SOLDIERS, i.e.- a buttload of fun and good times! How cool is that? And after checking out the trailer, I'm sold- this one is gonna blow the other DVD completely away!"

How's THAT for a kick arse quote?

and my favorite quote:

"SonnyBoo, in a genius on screen collaborative move, has combined the true-life horrors of the Nazis in WWII, and the fictional horrors of zombies and werewolfs in their latest feast called HORRORS OF WAR!"

click here to read more