Dead But Dreaming

I had some time to post a bit about the new film that I'm producing and acting in, Dead But Dreaming. Mostly because when I was home more sore than I've ever been in my life. I slept on my back because it was the only position that didn't wake me up from the pain.

It could be worse, I suppose. And of course, the big question, really the only question, was it worth it? Yes, of course it was worth it.

My (problem?) is that I have an overactive imagination and an ability to see how things look in a scene, like a little edited reel in my head. And when I see, on that reel, that a scene would look simply awesome if only I did this incredibly difficult and taxing performance... well, if it doesn't involve risk of permanent bodily injury, I'll do it.

And that's why I was writing this at my computer instead of helping everyone bring back the roomful of equipment, costumes and effects from the location we had shot in for the past three days.

And I needed a bit of rest before I went off to NYC for the CineKink film festival. More on that later.

Dead But Dreaming, directed by Jac Avila, is a film that has been in the works for a very long time, and under many names. It's the film that I was slated to act in back in 2005 when I met Jac. He cast me for that movie specifically. Instead, we didn't make the film then, and I slowly took over half of the business, produced Maleficarum, and directed three feature films (Sirwiñakuy, Barbazul and Le Marquis de la Croix). It was finally time to make the vampire movie that had brought us together.

Yes, you read right. A vampire movie, shot in Bolivia, with an international cast. I can tell you right now, it's incredibly sexy and violent, sometimes simultaneously. But you're a fan of that content, that's why you follow my blog. (Unless you're one of the spineless anonymous haters who give me a hard time. And for some reason still read my blog... cough.)

This movie is incredibly involved, takes place in more than one era, and has some extremely complicated scenes, not only involving action, but many people. Normally it's something that an indie company would not want to produce for fear that it wouldn't turn out so great on a lower budget. Now, looking at the rushes from the 16 days we've shot so far, any secret fear I had about that has been dispelled, it looks amazing.


Miquel Inti Canedo is the cinematographer yet again in this movie. He proved himself in Maleficarum and Barbazul and Le Marquis de la Croix, and now, like anything that improves with time, he's more refined. Seriously, this guy's got talent.

We have a lot of the same tried and true actors working with us Veronica Paintoux, Mila Joya, Beto Lopez, yours truly, and a few new faces, like Jorge Ortiz, the experienced and prolific Bolivian actor. Some of the brand new faces are working out really nicely. It doesn't hurt that these individuals came up to me when we were shooting and complimented me on my performance. And were very helpful on set. And acted well. When I say "thank you", I mean it.

Making movies takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice and we're really happy to have more people working with us and willing to make those sacrifices and dedicate themselves to the art of cinema.