"A SMALL LIGHT" TUGS AT HEART WITH THIS DRAMATIC SERIES

🎥🎞️Series Review🎞️🎥 -  A SMALL LIGHT [2023] - Disney+ - [PG] - Directed by Susanna Fogel, Tony Phelan, and Leslie Hope. Written by Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, William Harper, and Ben Esler. Stars Bel Powley, Liev Schreiber, Joe Cole and Amira Casar. Primarily produced by the National Geographic Channel, this series was filmed in Amsterdam, Prague, and in the Czech Republic. The series is based on the true story of Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who risked her life to create an underground railroad with her husband to help save the lives of a family of Jews for two years during WWII.

Otto Frank [Schreiber] is a Jewish-Dutch business man who hires Miep Gies [Powley] build his jam jelly company during the start of WWII. After the war starts to eat up and German forces move into Amsterdam, Otto is forced to hide his family and with the aide of Gies and her husband, hide in a hidden upstairs apartment for two years. Gies does her best to help other Jewish families also escape Holland for neutral countries. There are some dangerous moments that she has to face alone to outsmart the German SS, try to live a semi-normal life, while ensuring the safety of several Jewish families under her care.

THE GOOD - National Geographic did a great job bringing 1940's Holland back to life. The details concerning modern living for that time was impeccable and the costumes deserve a nomination somewhere down the line. I was very impressed with Bev Powley's performance an emotional baggage she carried throughout the series; she should win an award or two for best actress in a mini-series. Her pain was believable and her emotional state during some tense dramatic scenes carried naturally in just her eyes. But I was truly impressed with Liev Schreiber in his performance as mild-mannered Otto Frank. I am not  big fan of Schreiber, but her really took his role to part and his acting was spot on with that of an older man trying to defend his family in the only passive means allowed to him by his religion.

THE BAD - It felt like the entire series was tied down to only a handful of locations during it's production; but keeping things small worked as a mini-series. I understand that the series was based on a book, but I feel like the directors and writers should have took some liberties to show what the German SS was doing behind the scenes. Throughout the mini-series, it just felt like the German SS was running aimlessly throughout the town, finding Jews by accident. Presenting the German SS as the cold, murdering occupational force that they were, planning their next set of arrests and presenting that informants were being forced to provide information, would have made the series far more dramatic and possibly unbearable to watch.

POST MORTEM - This was a brilliant mini-series with many remarkable performances by new upcoming actors. There was a lot of emotional distress caught on camera and the actors [plus the production crew] should be rewarded for their hard work in bringing such a daring and courageous book [and life story] to life. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️[5 of 5 Stars]

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES THRIVES WITH FANTASY, ACTION

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves [2023] - [PG13] - Paramount+ - Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Story by Chris McKay and Michael Gillo. Stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Rene-Jean Page, and Hugh Grant. Bradley Cooper has a small part in this film, and I write that with a humorous zing to it.

This movie is an action packed, detailed fantasy film that covers a story about a pair of thieves who learn about a mystical gizmo that can bring back people who have died. The lead character, Edgin Darvis [played by Pine] - a musician and thief - who is also a "planner" that has great foresight in planning capers on the run, enlists the aide of a few thieves to assist him steal the gizmo to bring his wife back from the dead, and with the additional help of his close partner Holga Kilgore [played by Rodriguez], to break into a castle that is controlled by Forge Fitzwilliam [played by Grant] and protected by a mystic sorcerer [played by Daisey Head]. There are monsters, dragons, gargoyles, wizards; everything you expect to see in a film based on the D&D medium that has been around for many years.

THE GOOD - The special effect CGI is mind boggling, refreshing and very well designed to bring both a dark and humorous presentation to an overplayed genre of monster designs that help the movie move along in a positive direction; i.e. keep a look out for the plumply dragon that slides about a cavern on it's belly. The action scenes are choreographed well and not over payed. Also, being a fantasy movie, there are several solid comedic performances by the cast as they come across several challenges they must overcome at each new issue that arises at each turn. The movie flows seamlessly from one scene to another, with some interesting editing that keeps the viewers attention in tune to each new scene.

THE BAD - I'm not a big Chris Pine fan or follower, and he does has several moments of grandstanding and over playing his part in the film. Where usually I add that too much CGI can be too much to absorb, remember that this is a fantsy based film and you have to suspend belief to follow it along. If you put your mindset in that arena, the film is brilliant. If you can't, you'll agree that this film is full of cheese.

POST MORTEM - This is a good, fun film. Even though a lot of the CGI used in the film lacks the cutting edge delivery to make a ground breaking breakthrough in film production, the two directors did a diligent job in presenting a fantasy film moving in the right direction. This is a fun film to watch and laugh with at every turn.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ [4 of 5 Stars]

PHOTO CHALLENGE BETWEEN CELL PHONES AND DSLR LENSES

The Woodlands, TX - This story is an excerpt from the January 1, 2023, issue 16 released publication of the Quantum Storm .357 E-Magazine [QSE .357] which received a large amount of praise from subscribers and promotional advertisers. This article is released for blog material and resources outside of established subscribers. This article should only be used for informational purposes and taken as advice for capturing professional head-shots for preview in the independent film scene movement.

It seems that thanks to only a few individuals who have taken advantage of the heavy dreams and desires from the fast growing breed of "instant" professional thespian performers in the Independent film scene [or industry], who would do just about anything [or even pay big bucks] to separate themselves from the self made competition to "break into" that next big film, head-shot photographers have made big money pursuing actors to help them build some impressive portfolios over the course of the last fifteen years. But did the actors really have to find proficient photographers to accomplish their needs? And especially now, with the help of some of the best lenses being added to the production and manufacture of newer cell phone technologies, are  DSLR cameras truly needed to capture the best shots of local talent, who submit their image to casting directors and film producers in the local indie film circuit?

 ARE CELL PHONES WORTHY OF TAKING A GOOD HEAD-SHOT?

In this new generation of technologies, new actors may tend to use their own selfie as a head-shot for their acting resume. There's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to do so, but its a fact that a lot of photos taken on any cell phone won't transfer well to the capabilities of the even the best printer. It can be due to the lack of a photos' pixelation and I am sure that any person you know who claims to be an "expert" on cell phone capabilities will tell you that what I just reported to you isn't 100% true; but it is. In this article, I won't go into the size or pixel generation of a photo, but I will cover the importance that the larger the file before compression, will present a far superior photo during printing; that is before one decides to alter the photos color, brightness, or sharpness before deciding to print the picture. 

Always remember that what might look cool or edgy on your cell phone screen may not transfer well to a printer, especially if a Casting Director requests that your actors resume submission be submitted with printed copies of your head-shot; which happens more often that one might think. Having clear details in your photo, presenting the best features, angles, and any real blemishes [or imperfections] on your skin could make the difference in your possible selection for a good project. Trying to hide some of these natural traits with photoshop is a definite no-no. The picture you present to a Casting Director is what will be expected to arrive when a a date is set for your first interview.

Over the years, I have learned that even using some of the best lighting and controlled atmosphere, still cannot guarantee the best shot or a quality that won't require a retake or a demand that better shots will be requested. Like I've said many times before, free is good, but it certainly isn't a quality that a spoiled film industry will conform to approving just because your different. So, if your photographer uses cell phones to conduct the business of just taking your head-shot, I recommend you pass on them or at least ask for proof of success before paying them for their services.

**The photo on the top left was taken with a top-of-the-line Droid cell phone.

WHAT TYPE OF DSLR PHOTOGRAPHER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

First of all, and probably the most important thing you should know is, there is no standard format for head-shots. What is important is just getting a strong, natural capture of your image is what is best to present to the Casting Director. Small details like capturing natural eye color, color of hair, and various facial balance is pretty important. Remember again, what is in your photo is what the Casting Director will want to see when you arrive for your first interview.

Every indie film scene has it's long list of both talented and amateur photographers that can give you what your looking for; most be it some much needed attention in your early acting career and a head-shot that will present you in a more professional light. Of course, the cost of getting a good shot will vary from pretty expensive, to sometime being way outside your comfort level. But having the best shot of your current self is well worth the cost. You might get lucky to find a good photographer who is also trying to build his own portfolio, be willing to take all of your photography needs for free, and maybe even a few more pics that are out of format, but that will give you depth in presenting your talents in modeling. You might find that some of these photos are more dramatic, colorful, and provide an insight into your deeper, marketable self image.

These photographers will usually use Canon [6D, 7D, 8D], Nikon, or Panasonic DSLR cameras, which are the standard for digital imaging. The cameras are set with larger lenses and high pixel capture rates that make photographs look crisp and provide a cutting edge look for your current actors head-shot. One thing that is guaranteed is that you will see a big difference in using a well trained photographer to keep your head-shots up to date. But if you choose to keep selfies to update your looks, well its all up to you.

**The photograph on the top right was taken with a Canon 8D.

WORKING WITH AN AGENT TO GET YOU THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

As stated before, there are no standard formats for head-shots. There's no indie film regulation, no requirement in the way the photo was taken, or that your head-shots require photoshop of any kind. All that is required is a current color photo [head-shot] which can be previewed by Casting Directors with a resume of your most recent works that make you qualify for any role that you are hoping to fill. 

I feel that it is important, that if your dropping your name down for a specific part in a film production, to at least be ready to include a solid portfolio of you looking the part, in case you are selected and wardrobe and makeup have to prepare their material attributes for preparing you for the role should you be selected. Keep in mind that if your selected to read for the role, it doesn't actually mean you got the part; so don't be to eager to post that "Booked it" claim on your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn page.

If your a first time actor, trying to get into the mainstream of hiring an agent to help you boost your image in front of a camera, be aware that your decision to entrust your hopes into their operation will cost you money. Like any other business, your agent will always require you to get new head-shots by a local professional photographer they just happen to have ready to assist you...at some high cost too. Your agent won't hesitate to offer you access to the photographer at any turn, because they usually get a cut of the sales for their skills that you will require for any film project or model ad you might try to book. Will the work from this photographer actually win you the gig?...well, not really and not all the time.

Remember that agents have their favorite actors and models, who are often given first shots on any project, far before your recent work is submitted. Yes, having an agent may mean that you will be introduced to some dirty dealings, but always remember that agents always have a long lost of talent to dig through, just in case one actor fails to accept a job or if anyone is turned down. As a first time actor, there's a high probability that you will not be within the first twenty people on their list to call; all of whom have proven to be committed, faithful, on time, and willing to spend money when the need arises.

 **The photograph on the top left was taken with a Canon 8D.

IN HINDSIGHT...

In the course of over 14 years, I have gone out of my way to provided head-shot services for over 755 indie film actors and models within the state of Texas. It's been more of a hobby than a business, most of time I have gone out of my way to help actors/models that could not afford professional services in building portfolios. Many of those actors have since moved on from working on indie film projects, with a healthy percentage that have moved on to bigger and better film and modeling jobs, all of which have brought good success to building solid careers in their professional fields.

The best part of their adventure has been learning what to do, who to turn to when they need professional help in updating their portfolios, and what equipment is best for capturing their newest works. I like that these talented folks have also learned that photographers are a dime a dozen and that no two are alike; someone is always better or even brings something new in bringing in what's best in capturing some of the most brilliant format styles with proper lighting and studio arrangements.

**The photograph on the top right was taken with an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

If you have any doubt about the type of equipment that should be used for your new shots, just take the time to do some study on your own behalf. There are some good videos on YouTube.com and relatable searches on Google.com to assist you in making the best decision for you; especially if your tight on funds.

So be safe, stay smart and...Ride Easy!

SPOTTING A NARCISSISTIC BOZO CLAIMING TO BE AN INDIE FILM "PRODUCER"

Imagine yourself as an amateur independent filmmaker, trying to develop your first film with a bunch of friends. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort for an established Filmmaker to bring a simple idea in front of a camera and create a good film. There is no rule that exists that states that a good film has to have a “registered film producer” or a bonafide executive to help your film flourish into success. But there are some assholes who will tell you that there are. 

These narcissists will also tell you that it takes real contacts in the movie industry to see your film prevail in the “vast movie culture” that is only privileged to a few people who “know the ropes” of the most successful movie infrastructures. But do these idiots really know what happens from the time an idea is created, to the time the pre-film is scripted, pre-produced, and screenwriting comes into play before the camera rolls? Probably not.

Before you drop your idea down to some local indie movie studio under some name like “Clownwork Pictures LLC” or “Run Down Doublewide Pictures” for assistance in getting funding or equipment for your film project, be sure your idea is somewhat realistically thought out. Don’t just sell yourself short to the idea that this thing you have will make enough cash to cure cancer or buy that big yacht to travel around the world to help share your film to a larger audience. Sometimes it’s just a good idea to keep things small and leave the bigger films to real professionals. At this point your only into a hobby, and in the indie film scenes, sometimes that’s the safest (and best) place to be.

Being successful in the independent film industry is a huge dream. There have been so many stories of how a local independent film broke into Hollywood, and had huge success with just a simple idea. Those ideas have even sometimes turned into classic themes that are accepted widely into the fandom of world success; you know the indie films I speak of?…The Blair Witch, The Wraith, El Mariachi, Superbad, just to name a few. These films had low budgets - most were considered ultra-low budget films - but were able to garner a lot of attention through some fantastic advertising schemes that were fresh and not heard of at the time. Even though more of the attention went to these indie films directors, several of the leading actors gained world-wide attention for their performances.

These films didn’t have big names at the time, just an idea that caught people off guard and sold a new brand of film to movie goers and brought in great success over time. Each new indie film that has broke through into fame status, has had production teams with little skill levels, but brought an idea that was uncontested and perfect in its delivery. These teams worked with talented creators that knew how to deliver their film with some training and foresight to lead their production team in the right direction.

What these famous indie films didn’t have were scam producers or wanna-be film executives who were dropping cash on a project because “that’s how it’s really done.” Nope, most of the time, these films launched because one member of the team knew how to bring a dream (or idea) to life with very little in their possession, having the clarity to stay focused and not add too much detail to the simple idea. These were good, honest people who exposed themselves to trial and error countless times, adjusting themselves, growing towards the maturity of a good film maker, and not clinging to the idealism of an amateur nobody.

Yes, unfortunately a large majority of amateur nobody indie film productions and producers exist; be aware that they are out there, and probably a whole lot more than you might think. I have been working in the independent film industry circuit for a little over 25 years, working with so many no-talent people who claim to know the insides and outs of how movies are produced, how they are sold, how they are distributed, and even claimed to have marketed some for big money purposes. A lot of these clowns believed the project could make millions of dollars and that everyone in town would eventually come calling to them for the next big film.

Unfortunately, most of the time, and I mean like 5% of the time, some of these talent-less individuals are able to actually get their film into a position to where marketing became a somewhat lucrative success, but none ever turned out real money or success. These self proclaimed professionals try everything to look the part of an industry specialist; registering studio names, certifying trademarks, claiming to have the best advice, but in reality they can only flash a paper trail to look the part, but what have they truly accomplished? At any point of their short career in indie films, NOTHING.

Narcissistic film producers (or Jimmies) love to claim the knowledge of the business of making films, but truly know nothing about it at all. You can usually check their registries online - because they truly want you to - and see what they’re all about. Most claim to have extensive knowledge in honing services such as filming, editing of film, film production, distribution of completed film, rental of film making equipment; i.e. cameras, steady cam, gimbals, lighting, drones, editing computer use, production guidance, supporting through any and all of the film making process. These wannabe's can't tell you what type camera is best for your film, except for the camera equipment they may already have in their possession.

Breaking their resumes down easily, any real film producer or film maker will tell you that camera's upgrade yearly and can tell you what cameras they prefer to film with; steady cams are a thing of the past and most are now shot with hand rigs; gimbals are only used with cell phones - not even sure why this is listed, except that it might sound technical; lighting rigs can be inexpensively bought at Walmart; drones are only good if you train yourself on how to use them proficiently; having a computer to edit your film isn't required these days; and as for production guidance[?] - doesn't one have to actually create, write, direct or produce several films to be filled with this type of wisdom? and what is "support through the process of the film making process?"...these all sound like suggestions from some guy who sat back and listened to what was happening on a film set, remembered a few tricks of the trade, and now thinks he's a professional film maker. Silly shit, isn't it?

What I like best is when one of these narcissistic producers or exec's claim they are licensed to educate anyone in the field of film making, whether it be sports or cultural activities, entertainment, and providing training in these areas. If your not smart enough to vet these idiots and learn that they never attended real college courses, or check that they completed a myriad of film projects, I recommend you quickly step away and distance yourself from any of their useless bravado. In reality, they have nothing genuine to offer you, except to get into your business and try to push you around for their enjoyment. Being in Indie film teams is only a glorified hobby; it shouldn't be taken too serious and everyone is still required to have a full time job to the pay the bills when the filming shuts down for the night, so why deal with the grief of exposing yourself to a Jimmie who is out to feel important in his own mind?

Honestly, just because a Jimmie can claim to provide an impressive long list of attributes for making films, definitely doesn’t necessarily mean they have "hands-on experience." Be sure to always ask for receipts; that’s ask for legitimate contact with known local indie film makers who have recently worked with this person or impressive group. You might be surprised what you find with just a simple search. Most of the time you’ll learn who is legitimately talented, who can truly help, and more importantly, those you need to steer clear away from. There are amateur loonies out there and they love to be in control of your idea…shit, just about anyone’s idea.

These Jimmies are amateur bozos who are born from a desire to feel important, be in charge, or have a narcissistic taste for absolute “instant fame” which empowers them to grow quickly like a weed and ride off the success of someone else’s efforts; becoming an offshoot of excitement that eventually runs wildly in a direction that serves no purpose, gives no sanctity to the reassurance of true potential, that most actors exposed to the idiocy can become damaged by the bombardment of imaginary success that is tossed at them on a daily basis. Jimmies love to express "how big this film can be!" and "the things we can build on with just this one film with you in it!"

And all of this is very true. So many bad indie films have imploded on themselves due to some person, sometimes even a small group, that run on a bad idea being the next big thing since sliced bread. Narcissistic indie film producers and execs are far even worse. They tend to believe the bad idea is the next big thing because they either paid into the project or because they claim they can elevate the success of the bad idea because they think they have that “big connection” that can change everything and bring the project to a whole new level. Most of a Jimmies connection is making random searches on the internet or trying something they learned from someone else. Part of their scam is playing the part, but not actually not knowing what the part is actually about.

And there’s never any proof of real success; just excuses of what could have been. There’s never that one real indie film project that ever made the real stir in the entertainment field either locally or outside of the small circle of the projects own production team. "Blame" is the constant tool of a fool and the only reward for following a fool is the realization that the infatuation all started because someone else was blamed for not being the right tool for the small idea.

Well, there you have it. Everything you need to know about spotting a know-it-all Jimmie trying to be something he's not. It's okay to dream big, but do it on your own dime and with the full control of the project you've decided to bring to life. The Quantum Storm .357 E-Magazine [QSE.357] actually lists names of some of the most notorious scammers in the indie film circuit who proudly parade as Jimmies in Texas. Be sure to reach out and become a subscriber to learn more about how to protect yourself in this field of film making we all enjoy partaking in.

Don't become another statistic in the wild world of Indie films, be only a film maker!

Ride Easy,

D. R. Quintana
Proven Director/Producer/Professional Photographer

COSTNER'S ISSUE WITH "YELLOWSTONE'S" SHERIDAN IS TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE

TROUBLE IN SHANGRI-LA - As the finger pointing has started to take center stage on the production of the final season to one of the biggest shows being presented by Paramount, many people have lost sight on who started the whole thing to get Kevin Costner to want to leave the show. YELLOWSTONE [YS] is one hell of a series, but even though it has it's many faults, story telling with character developments that has so many cracks, that the toughness of just a few characters make the fans of the show forget that the series truly has no ending...or a lack there of. And for a series that was allegedly written in 2013, why is there a sudden shock that the leading actor [and Executive Producer] is complaining that the series has long run it's course and that the series creator is just now stalling to end the show?

The YS plot establishments are all over the place, so much so, that the series writer has had to try and develop several off-shoot shows to tell the whole family history, leaving many to wonder "who is related to who?" and "how does this tie in with that?" - I presented a theory in a recent blog review of one of Taylor Sheridan's earlier works, WIND RIVER, a movie that had it's moment of wonder, but then a complete failure with an ending so bad that, I was completely confused about how Sheridan sold this film to anyone. Especially since the cast of the film was filled with some talented veterans, i.e. Elizabeth Olson and Jeremy Renner; and some actors that eventually were entrusted to perform brilliantly on YS. To put it clearly, Sheridan has a reputation for writing bad endings to good ideas.

Costner has made it clear that YS was never intended to go beyond five years of production and that he's felt that Sheridan has dragged the the show in so many directions that it's impossible for the series to end after this fifth season, that is currently on hold as Sheridan has been forced to rewrite a ton of it. With only a handful of episodes left, there's no doubt that Costner's character [John Dutton] has to be killed off to make any sense of the irregularity of story arcs that the series currently presents to it's fans. I'm sure Sheridan is under a lot of pressure now and Costner called him out on his previous work and told the now cocky show's creator, "Lets get this thing done!" - Especially since it's no secret that Costner is back to working on full feature films and is now claiming that he will never work outside of that medium again.

Sheridan's reputation in Hollywood has been under fire lately. Insiders say that the writer/creator is full of himself and holds an ambitious attitude against anyone that questions his writing. His ego is costing many of his other streaming series to take a ride on the back burner until he finishes scripting the screenplay on YS. Many feel that he has too may pokers in the fire and he can't control the pacing of writing for each series under his control. It could be true, I've watched most of his series and I feel that all of them have the same motif in constructive writing; bad guys that take a turn for making good decisions while staying bad guys. Not that it's a bad idea, but over time, the stories become dull and then he tosses in another story arc to loosen things up and prolong the series for another episode or two. One thing is for sure though, Sheridan has top names of veteran actors working on all of his projects and that formula keeps his work alive on the streaming circuit.

The question now is, when will the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, or Jeremy Renner get tired of Sheridan's ambitious ego and take a leap from his series work like Costner did?

ELIZABETH OLSON MAKES HER MARK ON "LOVE & DEATH"

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - LOVE & DEATH - HBO MAX - [TV-MA] - [10] episodes. Series Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Series writers; David E. Kelley, James Atkinson, John Bloom, and Joe Bob Briggs. This series stars the very talented Elizabeth Olson, Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Lily Rabe, and Elizabeth Marvel.

This series is based on actual events that occurred in a small town in northern Texas on June 13, 1980. The plot involves several church going families in a rural town that are caught up in a devastating murder, which is eventually revealed during a murder investigation, that two married members in their church organization had a wild, impulsive affair, and where the wife of the husband [the one involved in the affair] was murdered with an axe, being hit 41 times in the utility room of her home. Olson leads the series as the open-minded Candy Montgomery, in a mesmerizing performance that is sure to win her some nominations in some future Emmy Award show. Kudos also go out to Krysten Rotter in her performance as the frumpy, mentally deranged Betty Gore. who is in a constant mental struggle to fit in with other wives of the small town.

THE GOOD - This is a witty and smart series, produced carefully to present a northern Texas town in the mid-1980s; the clothes, the cars, the city landscapes, and even the lingo of time are perfectly presented. Olson plays off an impulsive wife who feels like she's "missing out" on life, probably reaching a delayed seven-ear-itch or mid-life crisis, and "logically"reaches out to another man outside of her marriage to help fill her emptiness. She goes brilliantly from church mom, to a sultry deviant that does her best to remain emotionless during her affair, and then afterwards, maintains a proper Christian personae. The cinematography is pristine, the sound is perfect and the music selection was not only noteworthy, but also comically used during the shows run.

THE BAD - After studying up on the actual events of the true events behind the series, the production did very little to maintain integrity with several details on how the people [portrayed by the actors] actually looked, perhaps intentionally distancing itself from those little actual events of the time[?]. There is honestly very little to complain about this series, with the exception of a few little nit-pickings about 80's methodology in terminology that I won't post here.

POST MORTEM - This is a well developed series that only uses the "based on" prescription of the actual events, but I feel that it’s an honest and best telling of the actual events. There is another mini-series produced by HULU in 2022 called CANDY, starring Jessica Biel as Candy Montgomery, that overs some detail with supporting and backing characters that were not presented in Love & Death, which would have explained and developed supporting characters in an all new light and established that a special psychosis was happening in the town. However, I was not impressed with Hulu's production of the true story and the final production seemed rushed and lacked pivotal details in the overall presentation of the mini-series. I suggest that viewers watch HBO Max's version of the true events to get more of a psychological treatment to the development of the real Candy Montgomery.  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️[4 of 5 Stars]

QUANTUM STORM .357 ISSUE 20 IS RELEASED FOR MAY 2023

 QSE .357 ISSUE 20 dtd 5/1/2023

34 Pages

ON THE COVER - Graphics design by
Gkar-Gkar. Used by permission.

MAIN ARTICLES

Writing Tips - Three Texas writers share insights on preparing story arcs & how to work with distributors to get your works published.

 Graphics Art Design - Does your film need art work, promo ads or a movie poster? These Photoshop tools can boost your project & return quality results.

Special Look - A top ten list of the top PodCast Shows produced in Houston, Texas! Did your PodCast Show make our list?

Where Are They Now? - Indie film teams come and go. 15 years of bragging from actors, film directors & long dead indie films you need to see to believe & where they are now.

It's Ghost Hunting Season - Let us know about your team, scary investigations, and a breakdown of your crew. Email us here.

   YOU MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THE FULL CONTENTS THIS NEW 2023 ISSUE OF THE QUANTUM STORM .357 E-MAGAZINE AND FOLLOW THIS BLOG

A Special Look back at HAVOC 114 Redux [soon to be re-titled] and some Behind the Scenes extra's that are being re-shot or added back into the new version of the film. In this photo, director Bobby Osborn and Stephanie Greenfield joke between scenes. Saira Ramos is handling Foley. Photo by D. R. Quintana, who was Producer during the capture of this photo in February of 2020.

   

Thank you for stopping by!

PEACOCKS "COCAINE BEAR" IS A HUGE MISHAP WAITING TO BE EXPLORED

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - COCAINE BEAR [2023] - [R] - Peacock - Directed by Elizabeth Banks, Written by Jimmy Warden. Starring Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. This is another Peacock original movie and is Elizabeth Banks first attempt at directing a dark comedy.

Inspired by actual events that occurred in December 1985 where a man named Andrew Thornton [real drug smuggler], a large brown bear consumes a large amount of cocaine that was dropped from a drug plain over the distance of two states. The bear embarked on a killing spree, in an area where several innocent bystanders have stumbled onto the fallen payload, and attacks anyone who goes near the drugs or who is in direct contact with it. This movie has a lot gore and an some brutal kill scenes.

THE GOOD - The special effects and bear CGI are tremendously produced and delivered with stunning visuals. A lot of the gore looks realistic and presents some real painful visuals. There are several stories wrapped up in this movie that makes you wonder exactly where the writers were going with the entire plot. The entire film takes place in the middle of the 80's and there are some interesting tidbits of "you had to live back then" to catch the inside jokes that are spread out throughout the films run. As mentioned before, there is a lot of gore that befalls each death made by the large killer bear. Each story intertwines with the idea that even though there is a drug runner side to the entire story, the bear is the only constant. There are parts in the film where the killer bear takes on the leading role, sometimes crossing into a realm of human characteristics which makes some of killings look silly and too far fetched to believe.

THE BAD - This is a typical 80's slasher film filled with so much schlock, that it gets a little boring at times. There is a ton of bad acting and over acting that makes the comical side of the film seem a little too stupid to follow. Where some actors take the film serious and present some brilliant acting chops to deliver some intensely dramatic scenes, others seems to present no talent at all, and deliver performances that are easily forgotten.

POST MORTEM - This movie would have been better if the writer and director stuck to presenting a more real presentation of the actual events of the Cocaine Bear and how the drugs ended up in the woods in December of 1985. Using that baseline Urban Legend to create this film was just completely absurd.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ [3 of 5 Stars]

"POKER FACE" ISN'T FRESH, BUT IT'S HUMOROUS & ENTERTAINING

🎥🎞️Series Review🎞️🎥 - POKER FACE [2023] - Peacock - Created by Ria Johnson, Produced by Cameron Angeli. Writers Wyatt Cain, Ria Johnson. Stars Natashia Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, and a whole sleuth of talented veteran actors in each new episode. This is a Peacock original series and I am sure that a real network would have never picked up the series because of the unoriginal filming format style used in the shows production.

Charlie Cale [Lyonne] has a unique, natural ability to sniff out a lie during any communication with a person; whether through body language, use of specific words, or natural instinct. We learn in the first episode that Cale uses her ability to become a poker champion; jumping from one casino to another, winning countless scores of money until she's sniffed out, black balled and forced to work at one casino in Las Vegas as a waitress to make ends meet. What isn't known is whether her ability to substantiate the truth from a lie is a supernatural ability or not. Since most of what is seen is the fact that Cale has to ask questions and wait for answers. If one doesn't give her answers or refuses to communicate, her ability will be useless in any case or mystery that falls in her path. Throughout the series, she is on the run with hitman Cliff LeGrand [Bratt] always on her tail.

THE GOOD - The series is inventive, always starting off with presenting a well planned murder or other crime, that leads to the perfect crime. Then each episode is replayed with a side plot of how Cale is inserted into the story and solves the crime by asking a few questions. Lyonne is humorous at best, always playing a quirky hippy-woman that either smoked too much marijuana or drank too little to stay pickled up and present her deep throated lines. What I like best is how nosy Cale is, how she is constantly questioning the mystery that bothers her, even while she's at rest. The action scenes are simple, the dramatic build up in each mystery by the supporting cast is spot on the best I've seen in a series in a long time.

THE BAD - Lyonne's silly acting style gets a little too far fetched at times and then becomes a silly staple that you have to endure towards the end of each episode. Where most of the time, the viewer can figure out what actions need to take place to solve the crime, Cale stumbles through her divinity of solving crime and takes another angle that you will not expect, and then in a silly "twerk style" maneuver, the case is quickly solved and the episode is over. After a few episodes, this writing format gets old and un-inventive.

POST MORTEM - This is a good series. The plethora of quality veteran actors helping out as "guest stars" in each new episode is truly remarkable. None of the new episodes cross over in plot or story, which is refreshing, but sometimes I feel like a good character arc, well designed and developed, is wasted on the idea that they were just arrested and taken away. I expect some type of crossover to eventually happen. Still, even though not ground breaking, this is just a fun show to watch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫[3.5 of 5 Stars]

TAKING A LOOK BACK AT J. J. ABRAMS' "SUPER 8"

🎥🎞️Movie Review🎞️🎥 - SUPER 8 [2011] - Amazon Prime - Directed and written by J. J. Abrams. Stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, and Ron Eldard. Produced by J. J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and Bryan Burk.

Strange things are afoot in a small town in Ohio during the summer of 1979.  First, there was a train derailment that was witnessed by a bunch of teens shooting an indie movie; then there were some power outages, large machinery was stolen, and all of the dogs in the local county went missing. Making things seem worse, the derailed train was owned by the U.S. Air Force and suddenly a large fire threatens the lives of everyone in the small town, forcing an immediate evacuation. What could be the cause? Are aliens involved?...watch the movie and fall into the dark spell of intrigue that only Abrams can bring to life with his trademark lens flairs and quick action film formats, that seem to dazzle the new breed of action seeking viewers around the world.

But honestly, SUPER 8 had a lot of potential when it was first released. The train derailment alone was a masterful piece of action and surprise, completely not expected when I first saw the movie in the theaters. The entire theater was aghast with the energy from the crash, that I witnessed everyone look about the theater wondering how such an event was produced on camera. After that, the innocence of the film lost its luster and the magic of film making just tanked into a world of never ending stupidity, which Abrams' has learned to sell to the big wigs in Hollywood, but not the fans that watch his movies. Using an old 80's format, something that he admitted to in interviews, as a large aliens full appearance was kept out of camera until the third act of the film, something that Steven Spielberg did in JAWS [1975] while he was waiting for the practical effects machine to be put together and work properly. Once the new CGI monster was revealed, and it was huge and ugly, the total embodiment of a large beast turned out to have the heart of a smaller ET monster.

THE GOOD - The story arc with the teens was the best part of the film. The character development between the six teens was well scripted and developed for the film; I actually began to give a shit about what was going on around them and the way their parents treated them. The visual effects and sound were pristine and some of the camera angles were filled with epic little wide screen shots.

THE BAD - Oh my God is the film filled with some really bad technical crap and lens flair galore! Abrams, known to prove that he has little knowledge about how the military actually works, goes off the rails in this movie. Nothing is ever explained, and this claim that "the little box with a secret" is a hallmark to his writing ethic, just falls apart at every little attempt to show the "dark side" of the military and how officers and soldier act and carry out their duties without any regard for civilians. There's a chaotic scene in the fourth act of the film where tanks are firing, missiles are flying, and machine guns are shooting off all on their own, with the help of the aliens control over machinery...??? The alien never seemed to have presented this ability before, such as shutting off cars, buses, or anything else; just that this was happening in the fourth act in a "wouldn't this be cool" segment of the film. It was totally silly and the film suffers a lackluster ending because of it. Abrams continual use of his "nothing education" about how things actually work, is so evident in this film. How he was chosen to lead the new Star Trek movies is beyond comprehension, especially in a SciFi universe that demands to present how things work. No wonder why he felt more at home directing and writing the last of the George Lucas Star Wars trilogy, where nothing needs to be explained.

POST MORTEM - The 80% of SUPER 8 that totally got wrecked by Abrams continual bad writing bullshit was actually saved by a short zombie movie that was being produced by the teens in the film. I remember sticking around through the end credits when the film suddenly presented the teens finished film in it's entirety. That small film was a total gem and something that should have been a larger staple in the film. For all of the work the veteran actors put in the film, it suffered horribly and could have been a major part in bringing a more heart worthy appearance in the film early on, proving that maturity is the best medicine for any horrifying event to bring a town together, than just tear it apart. Showing that at the beginning or middle of the film would have been "mint!"

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.5 out of 5 Stars]

QUANTUM STORM .357 ISSUE 19 IS RELEASED FOR APRIL 2023

 

QSE .357 ISSUE 19 dtd 4/1/2023

38 Pages

ON THE COVER - Shots from various local film projects. Used by permission.

MAIN ARTICLES

Marketing Your Indie Film - From Advertising, labeling to trailers. We show you how you should hire professionals to promote your Indie film prior to it's release.

 Behind The Scenes Special - Take a peek into new production efforts for HAVOC 114 Redux and a special look at the alien behind GREY PANIC.

Special Look - The "Spring Break" spectacular is here! See if your favorite local model made the top ten!

PodCast Radio News - Houston PodCast shows are gaining popularity, here's a peek into a story set for release in April.

Summer Fever is Building - Is your production team planning a big indie film project for the summer? Let us know so we can spread the news. Email us here.

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A LOOK INTO HOUSTON’S TOP POD CAST SHOWS IS MOVED TO THE APRIL EDITION OF THE QSE .357 E-Magazine!

 

EPIC NEWS UPDATE - The Studio presents news that production efforts have resumed for HAVOC 114 Redux. Additional scenes have been added to the feature to extend the length of the film. The studio is also planning the release of a new trailer and music video this summer!

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