'On The Downlow' Road - Pt 1
(October thru 2003)
October 2nd 2003 - We get word that 'On the Downlow' would like to be showcased as part of the Chicago Reeling GLBT Film Festival on November 9, 2003 at 1:30p.m at the Century Landmark Theatre at the I-section of Clark Diversey and Broadway. It will not qualify for any of the awards & not be considered actually as part of the film fest because the deadline for the fest was back in July. But from word of mouth that it was shot in Chicago & after actually seeing the film they wanted to project it on a Sunday afternoon. This is really good news for us because it's even more exposure & also gives us a chance to see how it's taken by a film fest audience. Whoo Hoo!
October 3rd 2003 - We get word from the Chicago rapper's 'Black Reign' (who came to the premiere) that they wish to drop out of our project claiming that they do not want to be associated with a 'film like this'. A shame since they are extremely talented & we bid them luck in the future & let them go their way. The other Chicago rapper's 'The Gamespittaz' didn't even come to the premiere but we felt that it would probably be a safer move to also drop them from the project believing them to feel the same way about the film. Controversy at it's best!
October 7th 2003 - This morning I got to work sending emails to the publishing companies & record labels telling them that we'd want to use their music in our independent film. We were willing to pay music rights & be as legal as possible with the owners. The tunes needed were - 'Jungle Song' by Sonja Dada, 'Crossroads' by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 'Sugar Sugar' by Baby Bash, 'Buscandote' by the Latin Brothers, 'La Familia' by Kid Frost, 'Weapon' by the Matthew Good Band & 'Mas Allá' by La Lay. We were instantly contacted by the Sonja Dada people & are waiting for a contract to be sent to us. Almost there...But we need two new songs to cover the missing rappers music.
October 9th 2003 - Tadeo Garcia & myself are interviewed by our film's publicist Gilberto Magaña for an article appearing in QV Magazine. Also at the interview were actors Michael Cortez (Angel), Donato Cruz (Reaper) & Carmen Cenko (Isaac's Mom).
October 11th 2003 - I meet with Tadeo in his editing dungeon & we 'tweak' the film in places. We are also pleased to get a hold of actor Maximino Arciniega, who appeared as Angel in our award winning short film 'Broken Warning'. He has been busy in California & just secured a roll in an upcoming series. The real good news is that Max is a musician & allows us to use his music for 'Downlow' (in fact we originally used one of his tunes in 'Broken Warning'). Tadeo has also been in contact with LA Rapper DEADLEE who also is letting us use his music. The two scenes were scored today & with this new music is better than before. Thinking wisely & in order to save money we decided to drop the 'Crossroads' tune in favor of one of Max's which also fit the scene great.
October 14th 2003 - I'm notified that we have secured the right's to the song ''Mas Allá' by La Ley used in the closing credits - Awesome!
October 17th 2003 - We are granted the use of the opening credits tune 'Jungle' by Sonja Dada. Excellent!!!
October 21st 2003 - A dark day indeed as we are informed by the Matthew Good Band that they do not want us to use their song 'Weapon' in our movie. A drastic shot since it was the one song in the film that viewers really enjoyed at the premiere. The rest of the day was cloudy, cold, & sad.
October 22nd 2003 - I am informed by Tadeo that the local Chicago cable station CLTV wants to do a report on us & our film that will be screening at the upcoming film festival. Excellent!! Oh yeah & we search for a replacement song for the film.
October 24th 2003 - Tadeo finds replacement music for our film including Chicago Spanish rock group Zamandoque Tarahum, hip-hop talent C.R.U. Life & California’s hip-hop artist DEADLEE.
October 27th 2003 - Tadeo, myself, Tony, Michael & Donato meet up at the Music Box Theatre for our interview for CLTV. Tadeo & I are up first & I choke...I literally choke! "Hamina hamina hamina" I start a sentence & then go blank. Tadeo quickly pick up the interview & I slowly back away. Hopefully I won't be seen at all (please). I don't know what happened? I just blacked out & couldn't think of anything to say. Normally I'm yapping away at how good the film is but not today; Today I can't say a word! It really wasn't a problem because Tadeo (who normally chokes & is somewhat speechless) went on like a full fledged trooper promoting away our film. Next up they talked to Tony, Michael & Donato - All who gave a great interview. Those interested & in the Chicagoland area can check us (well them) out on the Metromix TV Show on CLTV cable (that's the all news station folks) airing on this Thursday the 30th at 5:30pm & 8:30pm, & then again on Friday the 31st at 11:30am. Now I'm going to climb into a deep deep hole & hide.
October 30th 2003 - Spent most of the day again putting the final touches on the film at the ol' editing cave. Also Tadeo frightened the customers of the restaurant when he put that irritatingly goofy 'Halloween 3' tune over the loudspeakers & had it playing continuous for over an hour. Then to our surprise (and those of you who noticed) that interview we did for CLTV wasn't on tonight. What we figured is that they are going to play it next Thursday to coincide with the film festival next week. Have to tune in then! November 9th is the big day!!
November 02nd 2003 - Tadeo is having a monstrous time trying to complete a final transfer of the film for the festival. Seems there is a 'glitch' in the recording process that leaves a one second pause during the viewing of the film (this 'glitch' keeps moving to different parts of the movie & can't be traced). This has haunted us for a few weeks now but we can't figure out what is causing it. Tadeo is spending an 'all-nighter' at the restaurant to try & get it fixed. This is a must since our film needs to be turned into the festival on Wednesday (the 5th) for the film fest. Nothing but worries today. On a side note Tadeo is interviewed about the film for a Latino radio show, the Columbia College Chronicle Newspaper & for the Chicago Reader (via telephone). November 9th is a week away!
November 06th 2003 - CLTV announces that 'On The Downlow' will be screened at the Reeling fest. Luckily I wasn't shown in the interview, unfortunately neither was Michael, Tony or Donato. In fact all seen was Tadeo in a quick 5 second shot saying about one sentence. Ah well.
November 08th 2003 - Well tomorrow is the big day. Our film will be shown in the Chicago Reeling GLBT film Festival. Lately we've been receiving some favorable reviews. The Chicago Sun Times newspaper called or film 'On the Downlow' - " A Shakespearean "Mean Streets," shot around Little Village by Tadeo Garcia", & the Chicago Reader newspaper considered our film 'Highly Recommended' saying - "Tadeo Garcia's impressive low-budget 2002 debut begins somewhat unpromisingly as a standard riff on gang violence, then gains unexpectedly in poignancy, depth, and complexity. Tony Sancho and Michael Cortez are both excellent; Christopher R. Buzek's burnished cinematography makes inventive use of Little Village locations; Garcia excels at using offbeat rhythms to establish a palpable tension." Tomorrow's the big day to see what the public thinks.
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Film Festival Notice
On the Down Low
When: Sunday, November 9th; 1:30 p.m. Where: Landmark's Century Centre Cinema - 2828 North Clark Street, Chicago
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November 09th 2003
10:45am - I receive a call from Tadeo telling me that the entire theatre is sold out for our film. At this time I'm deleting old emails & Tadeo is waiting tables at his restaurant.
12:45pm - We arrive at Landmark's Century Center Cinema and are amazed to see a crowd winding around one of the main floors - This is the crowd to see our film. Tadeo & myself quickly begin recording all we can. So far everything's unbelievable & the film hasn't even been seen yet.
We quickly meet up with some of the cast & pass out the tickets that we've pre-arranged Unfortunately Our lead Isaac, Tony Sancho could not attend because he was performing in a Goodman Theatre production. We also get word that people are being turned away at the Box-office because there just isn't any tickets left. We are turning people down that want to see our film - On a Sunday Matinee - A film that we made! Unbelievable!
We are quickly led into the theatre see...Oh my God! The screen is huge! This is a real movie theatre with cathedral seats! Seats that are filling up with people wanting to see our film! Wow!
There was a quick introduction & director Tadeo Garcia was introduced & gave a few thanks to those attending, the cast & crew that worked on the film, his mother & father, & God.
The lights went down & our movie started - Big as galore! All I can say is that it was an unbelievable experience. Afterwards Tadeo asked the cast & myself up front for a quick Q&A session & afterwards we all ran out & celebrated the success of our film! We made a few connections that night & will be screening our film again. Next stop - The Chicago Latino Film Festival!
November 2003 - Entered by director Tadeo Garcia...
On the day of the screening at Chicago’s Reeling 2003 Flick Festival, I met a guy named Jesse Rodriguez who was intrigued by the film. I was like, cool. He told me that the film has a lot of potential and it could be in some good film festivals and possible distribution. Wow! A distribution deal. We were only planning on riding the film through the festival circuit, but if people want to buy it then why not? We could sure as hell use the money to finance our next film “Greasepaint.” I gave Jesse my card and we spoke briefly a few days later. After that, he disappeared.
December
Tadeo & I go to work on putting together another trailer for the film, something that shows more & less of a teaser. This will be put at the beginning of the tapes we send out to the film fest's so those viewing them will get to see what is coming up. Halfway through I have to leave editing that day but Tadeo eventually finishes it quickly by just tacking on most of the teaser. I do hope to complete a full trailer eventually but we need to get these tapes out before the deadlines. Shortly after Tadeo enters 'On the Downlow' into various film festivals around the country (at least 35). Then he travels to Mexico to help out on Dalia Tapia's new film production. On 12/18 he calls me to inform me that our film 'On the Downlow' has been accepted in the New York International Film Festival!!! We will keep you updated once he returns on Sunday. As always - Whoo Hoo!
December 23rd 2003 - Entered by director Tadeo Garcia...
Hey all, well allow me to intro myself. I'm Tadeo Garcia. The director of OTDL and various other flicks created by the deranged minds of Roger B. Domian and yours truly, Tadeo Garcia. I just got back from a trip in Mexico working as 1st assistant director in the upcoming indi feature "BUSCANDO A LETI" (IN SEARCH OF LETI) - This is the working title. A very good script and a really incredible ending that will leave audiences in awe. Working as an A.D. really gave me the opportunity to first hand be behind every department in a shoot, from the director's side to even the wardrobe's perspective to the craft service perspective. I really loved every moment and it had, as with any production, including ours, it's ups and downs. While the college I attended urges a huge crew and thousands if not millions of dollars to make a movie, this is not true. As the great Robert Rodriguez has shown us, just pick up a camera and shoot it. Always keep in mind however, we always need one another, alone we cannot make it. So my advice, don't do it alone. Have at least 3 other people help, including a sound guy and all will be great! While in Mexico, I was also alerted that our film "ON THE DOWNLOW" had just been selected to screen at the New York International Independent Film & Video Film Festival! I though it was great that it happened! And I hope that both Roger, myself and the cast will get to meet all of you at a screening near you!December 25th 2003 – Christmas – Ho ho ho we had no snow! (missed us again)
December 31st 2003 – Happy New Year - 'Burp!' - 2004 here we come!
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'On The Downlow' - Some Nip & Tucks
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