Broad Meadows: The Definition of it All

Backward Slate had the opportunity to break from our repertoire and find out who had done it…wait, proper grammar doesn’t really work right there. Backward Slate had the opportunity to break from our repertoire and find out whodunit? Yes, that’s better... not great; I mean it’s pretty corny, but it looks better. We helped birth the brainchild of executive producer Shaun Brown and produced a genuine honest to god whodunit murder mystery. Pairing up with Shaun in this endeavor gave us the chance to work on a project larger in scale than we ever had before, challenge ourselves to a genre we had never tackled, and also to film with old friends and make some new ones.

The short is called "Broad Meadows" and centers around a group of individuals (suspects) trapped at an odd little remote vacation spot…spa...resort, really...it’s kind of a camp or ranch type of thing. I’m not sure what the place is exactly; the brochure was very vague. Our eccentric cast of characters gets picked off by the cunning vengefulness of our gloved assailant (murderer). Everyone is a suspect, until they meet their demise that is. It's "Meet the Parents" meets "Very Bad Things"...well, aside from being a "Clue" rip-off. Most mysteries are just "Clue" really at heart, aren't they?

The script was thirty two pages long, and we shot for six days with a cast of about a dozen and a handful of very capable crew. That's a pretty big project for a rag tag indie crew. We're looking at about a half-hour finished product, which is three times our average short or music video. It proved great practice for our upcoming feature and invaluable experience overall, not to mention fun as shit...exhausting, but fun. Production and pre-production went very smooth; always some kinks, but we scheduled and shot quite nicely. Our shoots always feel like a block party, and this was no different, plus the weather was perfect.

That ease of shooting really comes from a comfortable, capable cast and an efficient, experienced crew. We had both. I'm not going to list everyone's name here, but I could have. Everyone did a great job. Our buddy Justin Russell came out to shoot and, although I had to take him out of his comfort zone with such wide lenses, he added an atmospheric quirkiness to the photography that really lends itself to the story. The boys from Ohio HD Video - Casey, David and Scott - really came through, not just with gear and location but with labor, and it couldn't have been done without them. A giant ensemble cast of familiar characters made entirely fresh and new by everyone in the cast. They were really fun to work with. Well, almost everyone. The guy who plays co-worker Steve is a hack.

So look for "Broad Meadows" coming soon. You're going to love it. For more info or pictures check out Backward Slate on Facebook or at our website.

Catching up with Backward Slate

During our web absence a lot of developments have enveloped Backward Slate productions. Lend me your ears and I’ll skim through a few chapters here.

First things first!

That music video contest we did back in ought nine with Swiss Army Mouth you ask? Well, we didn’t win. We didn’t come in dead last though, we came in ninth place…out of ten, and technically there was a tie for sixth place so there was no tenth place, just us in a very respectable ninth place. Anyhow, we were the People’s Choice, well, self proclaimed People’s Choice. Our video SONG 5 did have the most views by far and a great audience response due to the likes of you fine people, but well, the critics just did not think the band kicking the shit out of children on the football field was an appropriate way to demonstrate Ohio pride. I mean those little shits were wearing maize and blue, were the judges even from Ohio?!?! Any way you slice it, the video rocks, the band will melt your face and the experience of creating that video was an absolute blast. Check it out in our Videos section, or on our YouTube page.

Second things Second!

What is that film competition we participated in the last few years you ask? Well, that’s the 48 Hour Film Project, where teams of filmmakers vie to produce a short film from conception to completion in three days. Strike that , TWO days, hence the title of the project. In 2009, we missed the deadline and sadly were ineligible but did produce a neo noir post apocalyptic Western titled DEAD MAN’S HAND featuring the original song The Crying Call by Phantods. Which is awesome, and the short is awesome too with a great cast and very clever script. Check it out in our Videos section, or on our YouTube page.

In 2010, seeking blood, we went full bore into our entry for the contest and shot the legendary mockumentary RINGTONE: THE GARETH BLEVINS STORY about a man organizing a convention for people without cell phones, but no one shows up because he can’t a hold of anyone. It delves into the politics and social repercussions of life without cell phones, demonstrating all the while an analog way of life that makes one more attuned with oneself. That was kinda bullshit, but it’s a very funny, well made piece all around, think Christopher Guest meets Werner Herzog. This time we made the deadline, and actually received several awards including Best Acting Ensemble, and another one of those self proclaimed People’s Choice. Check it out in our Videos section, or on our…I’m not going to say this again.

2011 rolls around for the old 48er, and fueled by a desire to crush our opponents; we decide to make a short revolving around rape. That idea was scrapped at the last minute in the script writing process, however, and CARPOOL was born. Set in the same world as our previous entry RINGTONE, CARPOOL explores the relationship between a seemingly innocent office worker, and her eccentric boss who moonlights as an amateur magician. Hilarity and suspense abound as wacky mishaps thwart the office worker’s every move. Half Faces of Death, and half Phantods Music Video this wickedly funny dark comedy brought home even more awards including a perfectly legit Audience Award…finally a real People’s Choice of our very own. Check it-you know the drill.

Third things Third!

Do we have any upcoming projects? Do we now! The wheels are always spinning at Backward Slate and amidst not only the projects specifically mentioned above, but other short films, music videos, flash mobs and a web series, we have been hard at work on our feature BONG of the LIVING DEAD. You heard right the world’s first and foremost experts on zombies and marijuana, Backward Slate, is making a zombie stoner film. It’s actually a poignant juxtaposition of two very specific classes within our society and a social allegory exploring cultures that may be foreign to one or the other. Packed with lovable unforgettable characters and with a citrus bouquet and a coniferous finish, this film promises to be the afterlife of the party. We’ve been developing the script for ten years and cannot wait to delve into this project lungs first. Stay tuned good people for more updates on this very blog and our rebirth-ed website for all the news and information concerning BONG of the LIVING DEAD.

Also look for the murder mystery BROAD MEADOWS which we wrote and produced for Shaun Brown at WLZPA Entertainment. Based off a premise of Shaun’s and powered by his desire to make a film from scratch BROAD MEADOWS promises to be a rip roaring good time while all the while making one question-whodunit? An enormous cast of characters drives this quirky take on the genre made famous by Agatha Christie and the hit movie Clue. Photography is finished and the movie is in post as we speak, or as I type and you read rather. BROAD MEADOWS gets a blog entry of its very own soon complete with pictures so stay tuned.

In summation there is a lot going on in this backward world of slates, and we apologize for not informing you of them sooner. This internets is a valuable tool, otherwise how would the six of you ever get to read this spectacular second entry in the ever popular Backward Blog.

Ohio Film Music Video Challenge

Backward Slate decided to produce two entries for the Ohio Film Music Video Challenge, one featuring singer/songwriter Gretchen King , the other featuring face-melting rock band Swiss Army Mouth. Two completely different music videos, two entirely different styles of music, both shoots bitterly cold.

Feb. 21st 2009 – Call time was at 5:00 a.m. and it was guerilla filmmaking at its finest. The first set up for the day was downtown at Broad and High. Gretchen did a great job pretending to be warm, while the wind and cold air battled with us. From there, we moved on to the freeway, literally, as Dday risked life and limb standing next to the fast lane of 670 while Tiffany and Gretchen circled the exits in the car, racing the sunrise. After a few attempts we got our shot and it was time to move on to Alum Creek. Once there, we got some great footage in the deep woods after about a mile hike, during which Max lost his shoe to a mud hole. We then headed to Gretchen’s hometown of Massillon for our final shots at one of Gretchen’s old stomping grounds, a graveyard with a mausoleum. The location was beautiful, but the weather was not, and we had only 15 minutes to get our shot before the rain and snow forced us to head home. The drive home was two hours plus, during which Max and Tim treated Tiffany to their rendition of the music from “Rent.” At the end of the day, we were thrilled with what we got, and as Dday said to Max in Massillon, “I hope you like it!”

Click HERE to listen to Gretchen’s music, including “In This Town,” the song featured in our video, and to check out her photos, many of which are also featured in the video.

February 28-March 1, 2009 -- Call time was a little later than Gretchen’s shoot, but it was exponentially colder. Max and Dday arrived at Whetstone Park of Roses early to commandeer the shelter house and start a fire. Base camp went up as cast and crew trickled in, including Dan Buckley, stunt coordinator, and Brian Mong, football consultant (because none of us know anything about sports). We split into two units, filming establishing shots while Swiss Army Mouth and the kids scrimmaged. (Is “scrimmaged” a sports term? We think it is. “Practiced?” “Rehearsed?” We don’t know.) BSP has said before that we don’t want to work outside in the cold with children, so naturally we decided to pull four children outside into the freezing cold for two days. It was slow going at first. The kids were excitable and full of energy, while the band was stiff and full of cigarette smoke. However, everyone eventually loosened up, found focus, and fought through the cold (and not with each other). It was a weekend of hard hits, great shots, some babysitting, potential hypothermia, and a lot of fun. And one dirty pacifier that Max found on the ground and inexplicably put in his mouth, not even on a dare. Cast and crew were even willing to work through lunch and snack on the ample craft service table in an effort to sally forth and get out of the cold. Special thanks to the makers of hand warmers.

Check out Swiss Army Mouth’s Myspace page [link] to hear their music, including “Song 5,” featured in our video.

The final deadline is March 11th, so look for both videos on YouTube. We’ll keep you updated with links and voting information.

Special thanks to Leigh Hopf for the Swiss Army Mouth production stills.

View more photos from the shoot below!!

~posted by Backward Slate