From The Top Turnbuckle Films - ftttfilms@gmail.com

From The Top Turnbuckle is proud to announce that our film, Dirge, is being used as the demo content for the newest release of CELTX . CELTX is the screenwriting and production software I have been using for the last few years and what both Proxy and Dirge were written on. So, now when someone signs up for and uses CELTX's free software the see a link to watch Dirge and a demo project packed with the script for Dirge as well as Dirge based demo content for all of the other things CELTX can do. A very humble thanks to CELTX for their faith and their generosity. CELTX also helped, via a grant from the CELTX Seeds program , bring Dirge to life. Couldn't and maybe wouldn't have done it without them. So, on the heels of this release, we're also announcing that we have two new short films in the works. One will be a comedic mocumentary that John Mark Clawson and I are co-directing that has yet to be titled and a short western called Blood Guilt that I will be ...

It's been quiet in the FTTT camp but a few e-mails, a handful of phone calls and lots of day dreaming are the key ingredients for generating some useful and welcome noise. Of course, I'm premature and have a few exciting options I cannot discuss. Tease. I know. However, I present for you, the following tidbits. - We've launched a web store for Dirge and FTTT Merch. Be looking for more designs soon. Check it out on the right--------> - Dirge and Proxy will be screening to the public in Fort Worth on Sunday , Feb 19th thanks to the Endevor Cinema Group. Endevor is a good group of film loving people bent on serving and assisting independent filmmakers in Texas. Click here for details. - Dirge is now being submitted to five or six film festivals in the coming months. We hope to be hearing back on acceptance from these festivals in the next 5 or so months. There are festivals throughout the year so we'll keep you posted. - We've maintained our relationship...

Love, Rod and Ray

Dirge Reviewed at Film Threat - http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/44260/ It's kind of a big deal the first time someone you don't know, who has a good working knowledge of film and film criticism publicly gives their honest opinion about your work. Especially when it is really the first time you've had your work publicly and objectively reviewed. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten some very honest and thoughtful comments from friends and family. People who really explained what they enjoyed and how it affected them. But there's just something about that moment when you know you've been "reviewed" and you haven't yet read the review. It was uniquely thrilling and horrifying. My initial reaction? I want to throw up. My second reaction? I don't want to read it. It doesn't exist if I don't read it. My third reaction? I read it five times. As far as the review itself, I'm pleased. Go have a read and thanks for all your suppo...

Again, spoiler alert, if you haven't watched Dirge yet. Go do that real quick. It'll take 15 mins. Less even if you're someone who doesn't enjoy watching/hearing the credits go by. I promised to bring you the story of the 5 people (not counting myself) who brought Ray to life. I'm going to do this in order of contribution, more or less... First, Josh and Alison Brown. They are responsible for the design and the building of Ray. When I tossed the idea out about this short, Josh was first in my mind when it came to coming up with Ray. Mostly because he can kind of do everything. You think I'm kidding? (Professional dog groomer, professional pastry chef, plays several instruments well, fixes cars, electronics, knows his way around guns, computers and all aspects of music production). Well, he and his bride are both very capable and creative in many ways and have done all of the music for both Dirge and Proxy  and have really been a part of our core creativ...

Spoiler Alert - If you haven't seen Dirge (and it is only 15 mins long so...) then don't read this. Yet. You should totally read it after you see Dirge. And to paraphrase a cinematic masterwork *, "watch it with a box of tissues he said." Ok, I exaggerate, I've only had three confirmed criers since the movie released online Nov 14, 2011. But when you realize you're about to write a piece about your own work and realize you're leading said piece with "Spoiler Alert", you get a little self-conscious and feel compelled to lighten the mood. And oh, how it is a compulsion. But now, to answer the days old questions, "Where did you get your idea?"   Well, I'm a writer. I made it up. And by making things up, I use all sorts of bits and pieces of everything I've ever watched, read, heard, felt, done, and ate to build something that feels fresh and real and inspiring to me. There are of course works or events that spark an idea or ev...

First things first, Dirge, our newest short film, is available online via CELTX. You can view it here: www.celtx.com/seeds.html I'm beyond grateful that when CELTX set out to fund and support filmmakers with both a grant and online promotion they chose me and my team. They put a lot of faith in seeing a worthwhile film based soley on our 48 Hour short film project, Proxy , and a half finished rough draft of a script about a dude and his talking computer living out their days after the end of the civilized world. I'm starting to think I might be cut out for this. But I'm not really here to toot my own horn. I'm terrible at that. I will be the first to admit, that wrong or right, promoting oneself feels excruciatingly awkward to me. At the same time, what else is a writer or filmmaker or artist or songwriter to do...they've got this almost irrepressible need to not only create the work, fashioning it from a very personal part of themselves, but to also shar...