Winston Churchill Meets Bugs Bunny

Over a decade ago, there was some controversy in the UK over the statues of Winston Churchill. Why?

It seems these statues portrayed the revered leader always with his characteristic cigar in hand.

So... some activist-types wanted to save the children from the evils of tobacco by somehow altering the statues of Churchill... giving him something else to hold instead of those famous cigars.

One person had the idea that we change all the cigars into carrots. Because, "carrots are healthy and everybody loves carrots, right?" (Hmmm... Did Winston really love carrots that much?)

Back in the day in Hollywood, a movie wasn't a movie unless the star was lighting up on the big screen... Kirk Douglas tells a story about how he tried his first cigarette back in 1946... on a movie set. And that was only the beginning for him.

But still, should famous statues be altered as an anti-smoking campaign? Maybe someone needs to go into all those old movies and digitally erase all those cigarettes. Or maybe we just need to be more responsible in the films of today.

We're screenwriters. So, the question for us is, should smoking ever be portrayed in a movie today?

You tell us. Take the poll or add a comment.

P.S. Do we Moon Brothers smoke? Well, if you know us, you probably also know that we prefer to eat our carrots.

Where Are All the Other Props?

But where did all those other props for Dear J go?

• The ballerina... She's actually in a box, stored away. Maybe one of these days, she'll see the light. (Perhaps in the bedroom of one of our lucky daughters.)
• The yellow ladder... We never originally intended to use the ladder. But, it started its film career by making its appearance in one key scene, then two. We actually found it in the boiler room of the school where we were filming. And as far as we know, the ladder is still being used by the school's janitorial staff.
• Frolick's briefcase... Actually, our production designer borrowed this briefcase from our production manager... all because it had a nice shoulder strap (so the story goes). At the end of the film shoot, it went back to the production manager. (We think she still uses it.)
• The judge's gavel... Also in a box. Waiting for another day in court.
• Backgammon Board... While we had numerous backgammon board games for the Hume character, this particular one belongs to Bruce Nicholls, the actor who played Hume. And as far as we know, Bruce still has it... probably enjoying a game on rainy days. (He's probably working on his next major international backgammon competition...)

Where Do All the Props Go?

After a film shoot is over, what happens to all those props???

Maybe that question has never crossed your mind. On the other hand, maybe it's been one of those things you've been hoping to ask for some time...

Since we're indie filmmakers, that means we try to stay away from those expensive props houses used by the major studios. So, we search our own houses, scavenge through thrift stores and yard sales... you get the idea.

Well, for our feature film Dear J, our props people gathered props from many corners of the world. (Okay, maybe not exactly the world, but at least from two countries. Maybe three.)

So, where are all those props today?

In the photo above, you can see the white lamp that we used in Frolick's office. It made its way into our editing suite. (However, it was recently banished because, although it looks very cool, it's not the best when it comes to a light source. But maybe we can have it just for looks?)

Dear J and Identity Crisis

Our film, Dear J, had a bit of an identity crisis last week...

It was slated to appear on a St. Louis television station (KNLC-TV) on Tuesday, May 13th as their featured film of the week (or something like that...)

In any case, in their schedule, they got the name wrong!

Instead of 'Dear J' they put 'Dear John'. Hey! Close enough, right? ...Except, we don't have a John character ANYWHERE in our movie.

And the tag line that went with 'Dear John'? "A prostitute befriends a female impersonator."

Hmmmm... That didn't seem to be quite right for our movie.

Oh, well. We phoned. They fixed the mistake.

Identity crisis over.

If They Were Real... Part 2

Okay... last time we dealt with the characters from the courtroom scenes. Let's head out to the "real world" at the psychiatric institute... beginning with the head of the institute himself.

DR. DONOVIN
He is a psychiatrist and the director of the Logous Psychiatric Institute. But, he's the kind of boss you'd... well, rather avoid.

Favorite food: coffee (and apparently apples?)
Favorite quote: "A neurotic is the man who builds a castle in the air. A psychotic is the man who lives in it. And a psychiatrist is the man who collects the rent." -- Jerome Lawrence

{{ Dr. Donovin :: played by Carson Grant }}

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STAPLES
He's the janitor at the institute. But he's more than just a janitor. People are drawn to him to talk out some of their problems.

Little known fact: Is working on his doctorate
Favorite book: The Screwtape Letters (or anything by C.S. Lewis)
Favorite quote: "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." -- C. S. Lewis

{{ Staples :: played by Patrick Mitchell }}

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DR. FROLICK
She is the new psychologist at the institute. And one of her jobs is to counsel the protagonist, James.

Favorite pastime: walking her bike
Favorite quote: "Many receive advice; only the wise profit from it." -- Harper Lee

{{ Dr. Frolick :: played by Allison Lane }}

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JAMES JAMISIN
He's the protagonist; an evangelist who loses his agnostic girlfriend to a car crash. To sort things out, he admits himself to Logous Psychiatric Institute.

Known for: his photographic memory
Favorite quote: "When God speaks, oftentimes His voice will call for an act of courage on our part." -- Charles Stanley

{{ James :: played by Joseph Halsey }}

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PAIGE
She's actually already dead at the outstart of the movie; the agnostic girlfriend of James. They met outside the dance studio where she worked. She died unexpectedly in a car crash.

Favorite Pastime: jazz, ballet, modern dance (okay, dancing in general)
Favorite quote: "If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we will be content to begin with doubts, we shall end in certainties." -- Francis Bacon

{{ Paige :: played by Maya Serhan }}

If They Were Real...

If the characters in our feature film Dear J were real... well, let's just say we'd have an interesting group of people on our hands. (To say the least.)

And here's a chance for you to get to know them a little better. We'll start with the people that populate the film's imaginary courtroom...

(Remember, these are the CHARACTERS, not the actors)

THE JUDGE
She presides over James' imaginary trial. And she can be a bit grouchy. But wouldn't you be too if you had to deal with such a troupe of clowns in your courtroom?

Favorite pastime: cattle ranching
Favorite quote: "Two people can't talk at the same time. When my mouth is moving, it means that you need to be quiet." -- Judge Judy

{{ The Judge :: played by Karen Lynn Gorney }}

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THE BAILIFF
He's the Bailiff at the imaginary trial, the Judge's right-hand man. (He's the Security Guard at the institute.)

Favorite hobby: reading the newspaper
Favorite quote: "Consciousness: that annoying time between naps." -- Author Unknown

{{ The Bailiff :: played by Michael Kricfalusi }}

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MOTHER PARROT
She is an expert witness for the prosecution, and she has a unique way to show her expertise. By the way, her name is french and it is pronounced PAIR-row.

Favorite pastime: playing Telephone
Favorite quote: "Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that has the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses." -- Dale Carnegie

{{ Mother Parrot :: played by Heidi Azaro }}

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PHILOSOPHER HUME
He's a skeptic. He's a Scottish philosopher. And as an expert witness at the trial, he's rather egotistical; and he has a bit of a temper.

Favorite book: A Kind of History of My Life by David Hume (1734)
Favorite pasttime: debating
Favorite quote: "And what is the greatest number? Number one." -- David Hume

{{ Hume :: played by Bruce Nicholls }}

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PROF. BOLTMANIAC
He's somehow mixed up in James' past. He's a flirt and tries to bring trouble between James and Paige.

Favorite pastime: stirring up trouble
Favorite quote: "There is something precious in our being mysteries to ourselves, in our being unable ever to see through even the person who is closest to our heart and to reckon with him as though he were a logical proposition or a problem in accounting." -- Rudolf Bultmann

{{ Boltmaniac :: played by Ron Kuriloff }}

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DAVIE AND AVIE :: Like Boltmaniac, Avie and Davie Malvideo are somehow connected to James' past. She's a southern belle wannabe. He spends his time chewing on toothpicks.

Favorite dream vacation spot: Hawaii
Her favorite quote: "I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot." -- Marilyn Monroe
His favorite quote: "I know if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." -- Jeff Foxworthy

{{ Davie and Avie :: played by Hudson Chambers and Amanda Short }}

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By the way, if you could spend an hour with any of the above, who'd it be? Why?

Top Ten Things to do with your New "Dear J" DVD

(Or maybe not...)

1. Take your DVD with you wherever you go. Pop it into any available DVD player and encourage all your friends to watch.



2. Display your DVD copy in a shadow box and hang it in a prominent place in your living room.



3. Memorize the dialogue from your favorite scenes. Then get a group of friends together to act it out. Of course, you can pick which character you will portray!



4. Watch the DVD and get inspired. Write your own screenplay, get a camera and film your own movie. Post it on YouTube.



5. Play it and listen carefully to the soundtrack. Make some notations. Then entertain your family and friends to a concert, featuring you as the pianist.



6. If you can’t play the piano, come up with some interpretive dance to the soundtrack. Give a performance in your living room.



7. Buy multiple copies. Give them as gifts to all your family and friends. (Hey, the proceeds will help pay not only for the cost of making this movie, but it’ll also help make the next movie!)



8. Buy a special DVD copy that you leave in its shrink-wrapped package. Keep it for many years. Sell it on eBay for lots of money.



9. Find out where your favorite actor(s) from the movie are going to be making public appearances. Go there and get them to sign your copy. Then keep it for many years. Sell it on eBay for lots and lots and lots of money.



10. Enjoy the movie. Tell us how much you love it…