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.