16/05/2025
More examples of a full-circle life. No matter how many moons pass our dreams still may come together! Keep believing my friends! Stay open.
I directed my first film FAIRIE 25 years ago. Nine fay folk celebrating the new millennium up at the Hollywood sign. The idea started somewhat as a joke. I'd come up with a giant epic cinematic notion (Mermaid, still in the mix) inspired by Angelica Page that was to be the starting movie I would helm. I wrote the first draft in Memphis after working on People vs. Larry Flynt as the Extras Casting Director. It's a HUGE tale with giant underwater scenes and all sorts of wild shots, fx and whatnots.
I returned to LA and showed it to the wonderful producer and friend David Greathouse who complimented the script but suggested I perhaps helm something that wouldn't cost millions to start. I huffed and puffed initially but then realized he was right! I needed first-hand experience before diving into this giant sea! Telling others in my circle I'd say with a smirk that I'd just take the 'wee folk' out of Mermaid (they are featured in the story) and make them into a tv style type show. Interestingly people laughed at this idea (and simultaneously everyone agreed that it was important I stoke my directing chops before taking on such a challenging feat). Thus FAIRIE was born.
I researched the fairy characters, starting with all the books I already had on fay lore, then wrote the script (adding modern twists to some of the wee ones to fit with the times) and shot it in nine days on an old soundstage with a fabulous cast and crew. A big musical number and everything. Naturally even this 69-minute flick was over-the-top production wise as I do tend towards grand. And honestly it was a bit bizarre. But it captured my heart. I gathered up talented artists: visual fx, makeup, hair, art performers and we created some magic, wacky n' wondrous.
We were pitched the newest digital camera, an HD 30 P Sony. And told to shoot overly bright so that a wash could be implemented which would create a beautiful effect. To the tune of 15 K. I told the DP that I was concerned about the cost as already the budget was too high. He shot it bright anyway.
Based on some unplanned for (are they ever) intense dramas with the initial producers (which led to the most fabulous producer jumping in whilst I pulled in every penny of personal money I had so we weren't locked out of the stage mid-way) I didn't look at the dailies till we'd worked a few days. By then it was too late to change.
The new producer (Mark Bowen) was a surprise angel that helped keep us afloat in a variety of ways and also happened to be an editor who cut the hundreds of hours together into a fantastical flow. But it still looked too bright. It really bothered me. So I never showed off this strange surreal silly kinda' cool 69 minute film. Nor did I send it to festivals. I had one screening with the proper projection and it looked intriguingly 3D. And received one review 'Beckett meets Battleship Gallactia'.
I then packed up the film, only sharing the dvd rarely with friends alongside lots of explanations about why the characters and background looked so very white. For 25 years. Poor FAIRIE. I knew the wash wouldn't be nearly as much to implement now but needed the expertise and monies to transfer the original format. Plus I wanted to add two effects that were missing. Thus it sat. I carried it with me through many many moves, wrapped in a special holographic cloth, bound in Finvara's golden crown.
Cut to 2025. Mark, the savior producer is now ensconced just this year in a savvy production office with all the experts needed to transfer the tape, overlay the color and he can even add the fx!
I was anxious to send the tape, the only master I have. If lost we'd have to edit FAIRIE together again from 50 tapes of raw footage. So I brought it all the way to the city last week so that I could get to a proper FedEx office (I'm so in the sticks apparently that one can only drop off packages at Walgreens without labels or boxes and this simply wasn't secure enough for me). With fingers crossed and protected by cloth and crown (and the wee folk perhaps), always kept dry and nearby, for over two decades, this mighty box made it safely to Texas and into Mark's hands.
And happily I've just heard the tape is fine and all is a GO!
Soon enough I'll paste FAIRIE all over the place, my weird movie.
25 years hence.
