Making this grant presentation from last year public now (with some minor edits) in anticipation of our world premiere next month at Amazing Fantasy Fest! Details are here: https://www.amazingfantasyfest.com and new trailer is here: https://youtu.be/pRheZpXsBpQ For the video version of this podcast episode, go HERE: https://youtu.be/w3m6ZF-TOpM On 12.27.23 (my birthday) I did a livestream update on the film via Zoom (while I was still in the clutches of the 'Rona - 1/10 do not recommend). I showed a couple completed clips from the film, and even the first trailer! All this stuff will be exclusive and for your eyes only until probably Spring 2024 (at least), so you're definitely getting an advance look behind the curtain! EDITS: I trimmed off the beginning part of the stream where we were waiting for folks to join the Zoom, as well as the last 2/3 of the musical number so that it's still a surprise at the upcoming screenings! Left the first verse until the big guitars come in though. Also the clips aren't fully foley-ed or mixed, etc. and the score is all temp stuff. Basically...the movie is pretty much done now, this was when it was still a work in progress. INBETWEENING stars Brandon Cole, Tye Blue, Debbie Rochon, Chelsea McCurdy, Jill Brumer, Dillon DeWitt, Seán Patrick Judge, and Angelo Moore (the frontman/singer/saxophonist of Black Rock pioneers Fishbone). Eric Linson is a struggling multiracial filmmaker with a few credits to his name and absolutely nothing to show for it. Inbetweening follows his journey trying to remain afloat and healthy in the liminal space between projects...while the voices in his head steadily become louder. Some are helpful, but most aren't...especially the Zombie Guy. Fortunately, the lead singer of Eric's favorite band (Angelo Moore, from the legendary Fishbone, playing himself) is on Eric's side. Inbetweening melds live action, animation, puppets, and even a musical number to reveal Eric's increasingly fractured journey. This particular work is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

A Very Special Homecoming Episode! Brittany (re) joins Mel and Chris to discuss all the stuff she's been working on/doing over the last couple years, ranging from FEAR THE WALKING DEAD to PANIC to WALKER and beyond! She'll also talk about becoming a licensed special effects technician/pyrotechnician and leaving an impression by (fake) burning down a church! For pyro/spfx/script supervision inquiries, email [email protected] IN THE BLOOD commentary https://youtu.be/WRtIMSVR490 INBETWEENING teaser https://youtube.com/shorts/WJ_ku90NGTc 👉 This is episode 49 - meaning that the next episode is a milestone one! I figured it would be fun to do a Q&A/reflection type show for our 50th, so if you have any questions for Brittany, Chris or myself, feel free to leave them in the comments here, on IG, on Soundcloud, or email to [email protected]. They can range from the general (“Who is your favorite director?”) to the granular (“What camera did you shoot Mystery Spot with and why was it 5 different cameras?”). Consider it our version of an AMA. Also, be sure to like and subscribe to help the channel grow! Chris Warren on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3479843/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr Watch DARK RITUAL: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B099P69816/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Watch MYSTERY SPOT: https://www.terrorfilms.net/film/mystery-spot

On this episode of BLTD, writer/director Stephen Wolfe joins Mel and Chris to discuss his projects, his love for Universal Monsters, and that time he let Mel use his car while in Los Angeles. Stephen has written/directed the features DOLL FACTORY (currently on Amazon Prime, Crackle, Plex, and Tubi), MIDNIGHT ABYSS, and the shorts DRACULA'S COFFIN and DEAD LIFT (featured in 10/31 PART 2 - currently on ScramBox, Prime, and Tubi). You can check his stuff out at these links: DOLL FACTORY TRAILER https://youtu.be/Yd_gXM2bl18?si=3TIFMG_P-SR_NjYF CURSE (short film) https://youtu.be/T0h8uQ-Wtd0?si=BzgWrVYYiV4XxubT JASON MEETS THE WOLFMAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXyZJIHip0 10/31 PART 2 Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QslBnwJbsCE Be sure to like and subscribe to help the channel grow! Chris Warren on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3479843/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr Watch DARK RITUAL: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B099P69816/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Watch MYSTERY SPOT: https://www.terrorfilms.net/film/mystery-spot

Our first foray into live-streaming wherein we ask the question: what would YOU think would be most valuable to focus on in a "filmmaking workshop" session? We have a couple that we've been asked to participate in, so we decided to brainstorm some ideas. Info on the Houston area screening of IN THE BLOOD here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-the-blood-fka-imago-private-screening-benefitting-upstart-katelynn-tickets-92356118637 Video of this episode can be found here: https://youtu.be/H6iTL0QMZRo Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkZ1BNnxHjcFLxl9z01iQMg For more information, visit upstartfilmworks.net

Once again, Mel House, Chris Warren, and Brittany Miles all find themselves in the same room to do a podcast. This time, we have a feature in the rearview to discuss: Mel's fifth feature film, MYSTERY SPOT, which was shot in September 2019. Unfortunately/fortunately - there's literally nothing to complain about (except for Mel's weird psychological trauma that he had to wade through during production). Accolades abound, however. The team was wonderful, and we are all excited about the future of the project (currently in post). After that we catch up with Chris, who updates us on the plethora of films he's been working on this year...as well as the impending completion of HIS film - (The Movie Formerly Known As) IMAGO. Brittany then talks a little bit about her documentary, as well as the state of her previous feature in the post-Distribber debacle landscape. For previous audio-only podcast entries, see the last two links below. Please like, comment, share, subscribe, and all the rest! Thanks for watching/listening! http://www.upstartfilmworks.net https://www.facebook.com/upstartfilmworks/ https://www.facebook.com/MysterySpot/ https://www.facebook.com/Imago-the-Movie-91101715571/ https://twitter.com/upstartfilm https://www.instagram.com/upstartfilm/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barely-living-the-dream/id1070710324 https://soundcloud.com/mel-house-1

That's a wrap on MYSTERY SPOT! (Actually, we wrapped over a month ago, but I've been busy editing, handling wrap up stuff, and celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary). At any rate, I recorded some post-shoot reflections once I got my wits back about me and with the benefit of hindsight. This one's not too long though, as well...there's not that much to report (for once). Smooth sailing. Now that Melanie and I are back from the trip out to NYC to see the Misfits (who destroyed Madison Square Garden, holy shit), I am neck-deep in getting the assembly edit done - along with some minor wrap up delivery stuff for The Movie Formerly Known As IMAGO. Both are on an accelerated timeline, which is awesome. Listen for more on those fronts and others!

Another Barely Living The Dream podcast - now with video (which you can see at the Upstart Filmworks YouTube channel)! Bear with us as we expand/tweak this new component of our online presence. On this episode, Brittany and Katelynn join Mel as he decompresses after Texas Frightmare Weekend and preps to pull the trigger on his new feature film (which begins shooting in July).

Back after another semi-unintentional hiatus. Upstart Filmworks has a new office, a new lease on life, AND a new employee! Consider it a recharge / renewal / refocus / whatever "re" word you prefer. Anyway, Katelynn the Upstart Assistant joins Mel and Brittany for a recap and rundown of the last few months and what the next few have in store. Chris eventually shows up...just in time for us to read a few pages from Mel's first script! We are planning a full cast read of the whole thing later this year...stay tuned. Subscribe, rate, review! Find us on the web at upstartfilmworks.net

Complicated question, right? I figure if I've been called it more than 5 times in my life (I have, and with the hard "R" to boot) I can say it. Obama can say it, and we're both half Black, right? (Wait, he got in trouble, didn't he?) Anyway, the whole episode isn't about that. But it DOES talk about what I'm doing now/next, and therein lies the racially charged material. But it's all true, I swear. We officially start on my 42nd birthday (12/27). Concept art of Angelo Moore as himself and Tye Blue as "Zombie Guy" by Matt Orsman of http://mirthquake.net

For this episode, we take a slight diversion in the spirit of the season (and our 13th wedding anniversary). Melanie joins Mel for a round of personal ghost stories - ones we've each told quite a bit over the years. These are all personal paranormal experience that we saw with our own two eyes. Weird creatures on rural Texas highways. College poltergeists. Cable Access Mad Men. Last but not least, a recounting of our anniversary trip out to the Myrtles Plantation exactly one decade ago a.k.a. "The Most Terrified Melanie Has Ever Been In Her Life". Is there life after death? You be the judge. Here are a few other creepy podcasts we've been rocking that kind of got us into the mood do to an episode like this: Spooked: https://spookedpodcast.org The Boogie Monster: https://starburns.audio/podcasts/the-boogie-monster/ Timesuck: https://timesuckpodcast.com Astonishing Legends: http://www.astonishinglegends.com The No Sleep Podcast: https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com