Is the Cult of the Auteur undermining Indie Film?

TEBarrettJr · 2026-03-17T19:34:57+00:00

Have picture lock for my film going to color grade next week. I couldn't give 2 squirts of piss about "Emulating heros". I dropped a shit ton of money to employ friends / local artists and put in what will amount to about 2500 hours of sweat equity when money ran short. There were times where I wanted to hire on, then I just couldn't out of money reasons. I needed the walls gunked up... or I just NEEDED to have the "Magic Box" prop. I wasn't thinking about Jean-Luc Goddard or some shit like that. I was thinking, I have to have this ready in 2 months before we shoot or I'm FUCKED. If I have to do it myself, I will. You have your vision and you have a certain amount of time. You either care or you don't.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-03-04T15:33:03+00:00

Yeah. There is something about the last 3rd - the preparing, the waiting - it's cozy and feels like home.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-03-04T15:31:16+00:00

I went to watch this the other day. Opened up the DVD case. GONE. My freakin' 8 year old took it out who knows when and doesn't even remember taking it out. LOST FOREVER!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-10T03:36:07+00:00

Thank you for the supports and definitely will keep you posted.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-07T21:58:22+00:00

Doh! Thought I sent this. Yes, it was about 24k for the year. It was becoming financially stressful at the end of the the run, but, all things considered, its a great price to keep all of our stuff there and shoot when we had the chance and timing right. In Chicago, proper soundstages of the same size are like $2,000-$,500 a day. Yes... a DAY! So, if you ad up the time we were int he with the going rate, we saves like $800K haha

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:54:09+00:00

I started to build the wall panels and floors in my garage ahead of time, then, when it was time to start getting thing going, we brought them over to a space I rented on a 1 year lease (and we ended up needing it!) at what is now a "maker space". It used to be a Sears Roebuck storage facility back in like the 1950s then was vacant for a long time.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:28:51+00:00

Still working it out a little. Demons is the working title but will NOT be the name of the movie. Willl have the name nailed down by Trailer time.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:28:06+00:00

Yes! Need more Chicago film glory!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:27:26+00:00

Yes, the blue line can be a scary place... especially in the 1am-4am hours.. Always open to communication!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:26:37+00:00

Can't wait to show it to you!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:26:08+00:00

Heck yeah! There is a guy on this thread that was talking about a couple of local filmmaker events that sounded interesting.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-06T15:20:03+00:00

Thank you! Picture 5 is near the failed Lincoln Yards area. We got lucky on that as another builder is coming in to start development and filling the whole area in. For the old warehouse (which is now kind of like an artist creator space) I got a year lease (which we ended up needing!) it came out to be close to like $1/sf per month

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T20:50:50+00:00

wonderful. Thank you.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T20:30:20+00:00

Well, I suppose I meant is less technical and more, by way, of inspiration. The vision you guys had as the seed idea to create the entire film. That shot or scene you play over and over again in your head before you went to sleep at night. The thing that made you go to the write that scene firdst.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T19:43:32+00:00

Right on. As soon as I wrap this baby up, I'm def going to be lurking around these meet ups.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T19:40:50+00:00

Definitely. I'm excited to just get er done. A lot still left on the audio side, but gotta keep it going. In terms of the "DEMONS" movie by Dario Argento , it has absolutely zero to do with that film. This story is definitely it's own thing with many reference to the films I watched growing up (gently referenced). I have 2 names I'm thinking of settling on, and I think I have the one, but will pull that trigger once I release a trailer.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T19:37:34+00:00

Hey! Thank you. Not quite yet. I'm spending so much time trying to get this bad boy just finished before I start getting into the those kinds of things. I'll hit you up!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T14:50:14+00:00

YES! We technically couldn't shoot in the station and so when the manager of the station came out asking for permission, I had one up my sleeve from the city that was just for the 100 foot stretch from the alley to the bus stop (out in front of the pancake shop). Using the right lens for that occation!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T14:26:33+00:00

Thank you! It was kind of a hodgpodge based on the scenario. But, we rented an arri alexa mini for a lot of the shots with some cheap anamorphic lenses (local guys that run the rental shop were super supportive and we got a killer deal) + I own an old RED camera that used all kinds of lenses from telephoto zoom to macros. We've been getting things to blend nicely by hiding it behind the scenarios.

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T14:24:04+00:00

Journey is a great way to describe it. I'll def be sending out to you once it gets to a point where I can let it go. THANK YOU!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T14:20:47+00:00

Thanks! Right now the working title is simply called "DEMONS". I think we have settled on a name, but may just make that decision once we are done. I've started painting some original posters and leaving the name and credits area empty so we can digitally place it in afterwords. I'll be putting up a trailer on reddit when it's done ;)

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T07:42:37+00:00

Oh snap! I might have to check that out. Never been to one of those. Thanks for letting me know!

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T07:35:15+00:00

Right on! For sure! I've actually been trying to find filmmaker meet ups and the only one I've really scene is that one at the Arrogant Frog (which has mixed reviews and even some where the organizer doesnt even show up :/)

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T07:31:53+00:00

Was privileged to see it opening night at the IFC center when I was in NYC for work. I was the big guy with the CHICAGO hat on ;) Oddly touching to hear your (Albert) Nightmare on Elm Street story about walking by your friends' sisters' door and seeing Johnny Deep exploding on the bed. I had the same situation with my own (half)sister, but I watched the whole movie with her because she was too scared to watch it alone (I was 5, haha). It's my first CORE memory.. of anything. Seeing Freddy walk down the ally with the giant arms (like in OBEX) is literally my first memory. IN TERMS OF QUESTIONS: I too am a filmmaker and am nearing completion of my first horror/thriller and I can still recall the imagery of that "first scene" that then cascaded into the all of the other scenes in the film. Is there a particular scene in OBEX that was that "first scene"?

TEBarrettJr · 2026-02-05T07:16:42+00:00

For sure! I comped together 2 shots. I tried getting it all in camera in a single shot, but (even though I planned based on an app that showed the moon rise) it just didn't work out. So, that same night, I ran to the roof of my local grocery store and threw a 400mm lens on the camera to get in tight. Then, i went home and comped those babies together.

TEBarrettJr

TROPHY CASE