We have been looking for the perfect large abandoned warehouse for a key filming location for MegaBall$. Idealliy it would be near rail tracks and a river. We had scouted several rusty candidiates which, while interetsing, were not perfect. There is one area in the Jersey Meadowlands that could work, but that would take a few days off our much needed tax incentives from New York.
Then fate stepped in, much as it did when we accidentally found the railroad tracks as seen in the teaser video.
We were driving from Staten Island to Brooklyn for a newtworking event, and off in the distance we spotted a building with some faded markings. I was able to make out the letters, and an internet searched found it, in Red Hook, along the river with old rail tracks nearby.
The challenge will now be to see if we're able to get permission from the City to access the space, and what steps we'll need to take for the safety and comfort of our cast and crew. That will need to be seen once we finance. Meanwhile, we can dream.
Photos may be found by clicking here.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
We're Slated
We are pleased we have been accepted into the industry film finance and deal making web site called SLATED. One must be invited and vouched for me site members in order to join/ This exposes our project to many film industry insiders. The site also confirms all those we claim to be on our team, from behind-the-camera, actors ... to investors.
Our costume designer is now reading over the MEGABALL$ screenplay to begin preliminary design sketches.
Our costume designer is now reading over the MEGABALL$ screenplay to begin preliminary design sketches.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Merchandise Shop Oepn!
In response to several requests we've now created an online MegaBall$
Store where people may buy merchandise with
the film's poster art and logo. Proceeds will help offset the development costs
for MegaBall$.
The 'Got Balls?' campaign items include:
- A basic Tshirt with a choice of the MegaBall$ logo or poster artwork along with a line from the film. The base shirt is found at
Other items include:
- A deluxe T-shirt with a choice of the logo on the front, and a line from the film on the back
- A long sleeved baseball-type T shirt with the MegaBall$ logo on front and a line from the film on the back
- A bumper sticker
- A mouse pad
- A coffee mug
- A water bottle
- A stainless steel travel mug
- A film poster
- A small tote bag
These are found online at http://WWW.zazzle.Com/Oroloro/gifts
All items are made 'on demand' - created and shipped when
ordered so there's no expense to us ... and we receive a percentage from each
sale. Links to order the merchandise are also found on the "Key Art" page
of our web site. The MegaBall$ mobile APP will also link
to the merchandise pages for mobile ordering.
We've had good discussions with AbelCine - a camera/lighting
rental company here in Manhattan - and we've been assured they will give us
great prices to stay well within our budget, with the intent to fall below our
budgeted costs.
Meanwhile we continue our search for private investors (got
any referrals?) and other funding sources....and pass this on to your friends.
Hey, you never know....
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Really happy with the final design of the MEGABALL$ movie poster - final images will completed and posted later today.
We have a great idea of a MEGABALL$ webisode series based on the lotto theme, and we're now penning the first episode. This will be done with micro-budgets in a way to not distract our focus on the MEGABALL$ feature film. In fact, the webisodes will be designed in a way to draw more attention to the feature.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
We have a great idea of a MEGABALL$ webisode series based on the lotto theme, and we're now penning the first episode. This will be done with micro-budgets in a way to not distract our focus on the MEGABALL$ feature film. In fact, the webisodes will be designed in a way to draw more attention to the feature.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
To beat the lotto ...
Since the film we're financing, Megaball$, is about beating the lottery, I've been giving much thought about lotto/lottery. Not just as part of the research needed for the screenplay, but for my own benefit. Hmmm...what if I could beat the odds?
What are the odds?
176 million to one. To put that in clearer terms - your odds of being killed on the way of buying the lotto ticket are much greater than actually winning the jackpot.
The film story came to me years ago as I entered the subway and spotted that the MegaMillion lotto had reached $120 million. In a 15-minute subway ride the basic premise solidified...but as a short film. I made notes then put them away. Fast forward two years. My 90-year old mother had fallen and broke her hip. For the next nine months I was commuting between NY and Florida on a regular basis to look over her care, her life and her death. It was very difficult and depressing sitting in her condo at night without much more to do than watch reruns of Matlock. I opened my little travel computer and began to review those short film notes, and I escaped into the comic world of the film's story. By the way, the title MegaBall$ was made by combining the names of the two most popular lotto games, MegaMillions and PowerBall.
I had written screenplays before, but usually as a co-writer or adapting material from a play. This was my first purely solo effort. Original story and going solo. The timing was right. From some deep point in my psyche I knew I needed to laugh and I began typing. Character outlines. Dialogue grew into scenes, and the scenes fell into place. Within 10 days my first draft was complete. I needed some objective opinions and ran the script by a few friends who I knew would be critical. They thought is was really funny. Since then the script has been tweaked and edited. I find I work best when I walk away from a script for about a month and return fresh. The script now is very tight, filled with many more laughs while retaining at least 80% of what I originally wrote.
What are the odds?
We formed our production company, Megaballs Movie, LLC, in March of 2012 and created the investor offering. We got our first investor, and talking with others. I continue buying a small number of lotto tickets each week. Hey, you never know! But, should I win and use those proceeds to make the film we'd have a powerful publicity angle to promote the film.
Common sense tells one the best way to beat the lotto is simply not play it.
Here's my twisted idea.
When I buy the ticket I place a second bet with the guy behind the counter. I bet him $1 dollar per ticket/game that I will lose - that not one of my numbers will come out. If he takes the bet, and I win then I broke even. If he takes the bet I should be smart enough to not buy a ticket because it won't have one number, but taking the bet would allow me to win the same money I play, so no loss. If he refuses the bet then the he knows he's going to lose because I'll have a winning ticket. The best part is, the only way I lose is when I don't buy the ticket.
Brilliant.
Any takers?
MegaBall$ - you never know when your number's up.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
Twitter @ Oroloro
What are the odds?
176 million to one. To put that in clearer terms - your odds of being killed on the way of buying the lotto ticket are much greater than actually winning the jackpot.
The film story came to me years ago as I entered the subway and spotted that the MegaMillion lotto had reached $120 million. In a 15-minute subway ride the basic premise solidified...but as a short film. I made notes then put them away. Fast forward two years. My 90-year old mother had fallen and broke her hip. For the next nine months I was commuting between NY and Florida on a regular basis to look over her care, her life and her death. It was very difficult and depressing sitting in her condo at night without much more to do than watch reruns of Matlock. I opened my little travel computer and began to review those short film notes, and I escaped into the comic world of the film's story. By the way, the title MegaBall$ was made by combining the names of the two most popular lotto games, MegaMillions and PowerBall.
I had written screenplays before, but usually as a co-writer or adapting material from a play. This was my first purely solo effort. Original story and going solo. The timing was right. From some deep point in my psyche I knew I needed to laugh and I began typing. Character outlines. Dialogue grew into scenes, and the scenes fell into place. Within 10 days my first draft was complete. I needed some objective opinions and ran the script by a few friends who I knew would be critical. They thought is was really funny. Since then the script has been tweaked and edited. I find I work best when I walk away from a script for about a month and return fresh. The script now is very tight, filled with many more laughs while retaining at least 80% of what I originally wrote.
What are the odds?
We formed our production company, Megaballs Movie, LLC, in March of 2012 and created the investor offering. We got our first investor, and talking with others. I continue buying a small number of lotto tickets each week. Hey, you never know! But, should I win and use those proceeds to make the film we'd have a powerful publicity angle to promote the film.
Common sense tells one the best way to beat the lotto is simply not play it.
Here's my twisted idea.
When I buy the ticket I place a second bet with the guy behind the counter. I bet him $1 dollar per ticket/game that I will lose - that not one of my numbers will come out. If he takes the bet, and I win then I broke even. If he takes the bet I should be smart enough to not buy a ticket because it won't have one number, but taking the bet would allow me to win the same money I play, so no loss. If he refuses the bet then the he knows he's going to lose because I'll have a winning ticket. The best part is, the only way I lose is when I don't buy the ticket.
Brilliant.
Any takers?
MegaBall$ - you never know when your number's up.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
Twitter @ Oroloro
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Good News!
It was announced today in The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety ... that the federal film tax incentive, known as Sect 181 (of the 2004 JOBS Creation Act) has been renewed, and is retroactive to Jan. 1 2012. Essentially the incentive allows for investors to deduct their investment in a qualified film, and under the provisions MegaBall$ is a fully qualified production. You may read a simple explanation of how the incentive works by clicking HERE.
Please note, it is advisable that any individual consult with their tax advisor to see if/what the benefit may actually be for that individual.
We are also looking forward to changes in SEC Rules, as part of the 2012 JOBS Creation act, which will also be advantageous to our efforts. These language changes are expected to be released this month.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
Please note, it is advisable that any individual consult with their tax advisor to see if/what the benefit may actually be for that individual.
We are also looking forward to changes in SEC Rules, as part of the 2012 JOBS Creation act, which will also be advantageous to our efforts. These language changes are expected to be released this month.
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 in Review
As we reach the end of 2012 we wish to take a little time to
reflect and to give thanks.
Early in 2012 we began the first steps of developing our
comedy feature film, MEGABALL$. We fine tuned our offering, created MegaBalls
Movie LLC, thanks to the efforts of legal counsel Jonathan Fischer. We revised
and updated our Project Overview, pre-scouted locations, created our Twitter
account (@Oroloro) and grew our base of followers in Facebook. We quickly shot a
teaser, and short video of the story-behind-the-story, and uploaded them to our
website (www.MegaBallsMovie.Com) and our YouTube account
(OroloroSM) where they have been viewed all over the world.
We began meetings, in New York - Florida - Los Angeles, with
potential investors while building relationships with distributors and fellow
producers. We confirmed the key players on our production team. We met with
several actors for lead roles, and have commitments from Joe Gannascoli (Vito
Spatafore of THE SOPRANOS) and Joyce Randolph (Trixie Norton of THE
HONEYMOONERS), and interest from others. Our first investors were Mike and
Rayanna Bramblett - and we greatly appreciate their faith and
support.
The screenplay is essentially finished, though occasionally
it's fined-tuned. The response from those who have read it is extremely
positive.
We attended the 2012 IFP Film Market in NY. These efforts have
added to branding and to raising awareness/interest of the film and its
progress. These efforts have resulted in:
- 420 Twitter followers
- 288 Facebook followers
- 167 YouTube subscribers
- Teaser Video has been viewed 14,782 times
- Story Video has been viewed 16,701 times
We have designed a mobile APP and received several bids for
its programming. The APP, which is actually featured in the film, will be a
unique way to promote the film while creating a small revenue stream. Today we
updated the film's website with new animations (WWW.MegaBallsMovie.Com).
2013 will provide us with great opportunities to move forward.
SEC guidelines will change in ways that will be favorable for funding the film.
We have several meetings planned early in January which hold great promise for
both funding and promoting the film. We'll be attending the Miami Film &
Media Market in late January, thanks to our casting director and associate
producer, Ellen Jacoby.
Most of all - we'd like express thanks for all the wonderful
faith and encouragement from our families, friends, and our team in Los Angeles,
Las Vegas, Texas, Florida, Chicago and the New York area. It is with their help
and support MEGABALL$ will become a reality. Among them are: Ellen Jacoby,
Elizabeth Wentworth, Allan Schollnick, Salina West, Jonathan Fischer, Joyce
Randolph, Don Pippin, Dejan Georgevich, Melanie Norton Scheller, Rosemary Ponzo,
Sanna Choe Lund, Rebecca Damon, Tom Fabrizio, Dave Cadena, Alan Gershowitz, Arch
Smith, David Mitchell, Keith Thomas, Rachel Kadushin, Anne St. James,
Mike and Rayanna Bramblett, Eileen Maranzano, Erin Wahl,
Doug Redenius, Achilli Raspantini, Beth Rosen, Liz Zazzi, Dave Bachman, Bill
Pepe, Gini Dustin, Jim McLean, Joe Gannascoli, John 'JB' Bruno, John Gallagher,
Sylvia Caminer, Lisa Norman, Lou Mastantuono, McKenzie Westmore, Nick Sakai,
Rolando Eddy, Ruben Brache, Nandina Lesmerises.....and so many
more...
We are blessed to have this wonderful group hoping and
helping!
May 2013 be full of good health, joy and
prosperity!
Warmest regards,
Marc & Joe
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