Media 153 to Begin Assembling First Board of Directors

In the exciting weeks ahead, Media 153 will be selecting its first board of directors. The board plays an important role not only in establishing Media 153 as the newest not-for-profit on the entertainment scene, but in deciding what various projects the group should undertake and the talent along with. The board will be made up of artists, business people and religious. The diverse makeup of the organization will offer specialties in many areas of production and management. Media 153 anxiously awaits as the design of this innovative media is improved upon.

'Confessions' Director at Film Screening

'Confessions of a Sailor' director Kurt Krauss was among some 200 guests at 'There Be Dragons' Milwaukee film screening earlier this month. 'There Be Dragons' is directed by Roland Joffe (the Mission, the Killing Fields) and a product of Motive Entertainment.

At this time no reviews have been made available. For further info visit:
www.therebedragonsfilm.com or www.facebook.com/therebedragonsmovie

Kenneke named Lakeshore's Top Comic

'Confessions of a Sailor' actor Justin Kenneke was named the "Lakeshore's Top Comic" at a recent comedy competition, August 19th. Kenneke and fellow comics kept the audience laughing in Manitowoc's Capitol Civic Centre, Thursday, and when it went to the audience for ballot voting, Kenneke took the title.

The show was hosted by comic and actor Damian Schmitt, and included performances by Chicago comedian Lianna Carrera and musician Rebecca Markvart.

'Confessions' Wraps for 2010

On July 28 'Confessions of a Sailor' wrapped for the summer of 2010.

The movie is being filmed in two parts as it consists of two parallel storylines. Filming will resume in the 2011 summer.

Cameras Rolling at Wavepointe

Wavepointe Resort graciously opened their doors for filming on Monday, July 26. A premier Door County resort and marina, Wavepointe is the must-go place in the summertime, and one that the crew particularly enjoyed working at. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and hosted by a very accomodating staff, the Wavepointe experience is one of feeling all the comforts of home while on the luxury of vacation.

Sailing Aboard the Over Easy

'Confessions of a Sailor' took to the water Sunday. In her inaugural silverscreen launch, the Over Easy shipped out into Sturgeon Bay's historic canal for some on-the-water filming.

The Over Easy sailed under the direction of Captain Heidi Wills. The three-hour tour made for a pleasant evening of steady breezes, storytelling, film rolling and gorgeous scenery.

The Over Easy made two successful runs that day, however, in a comical turn of events, the wind dissapated on the third run, and left the crew afloat, going nowhere fast. Quick action on the part of the skipper by way of electric motor brought the team putt-putt-puttering into the shore by twilight.

With a bottle of Andre wine, skipper, crew and cast christened the Over Easy, which is new to the Great Lakes, by toasting to a long career and many sailing adventures to come.

Director Gets Diver Certified

Over the weekend of July 10 and 11 'Confessions' director Kurt Krauss was up in Door County diving among gobi and the lost lumber cargo from the Fleetwing. After undertaking the four month course, and making his fourth dive, Sunday, he received his diver's certification. Krauss and a dive team are preparing to dive another wreck which will be one of several featured in the film.

It seemed fitting his final certification dive was moved from Sturgeon Bay's Stone Quarry up to Garrett Bay in Northern Door. Garrett Bay is located near infamous Death's Door, and could potentially provide safe harbor to nearby ships seeking refuge from the treacherous currents of the Door's short-tempered gails. It could not save the Fleetwing, however, the schooner who sought out the passage in 1888, but found the shallows instead. The Fleetwing is another haunting reminder of the mysteries Lake Michigan keeps hidden to herself.

Experiencing the Miller Art Museum

'Confessions' filming took place at the Miller Art Museum, Wednesday evening, July 7.

The classy atmosphere of this premier art gallery made for an ideal site for shooting. The museum is currently featuring the work of Gerhard C.F. Miller.

Most impressive, however, was the warm nature and accomodating ways of the gallery's staffmembers as well as that of the ajoined Door County Library staff. Their passion, support and promotion of the arts is apparent and appreciated.

Cast and crew alike were amazed by the experience, and felt very blessed to be a part of it.

WEEK 1 A SUCCESS

The cast and crew of 'Confessions' took a break from their Door Co shoot, Saturday evening, to relax at the beach and enjoy some celebratory cigars. Week 1 is complete.

While on the road, filming on location, the project has stopped off at six sites, already featuring just some of Door County's scenic wonder. Among these locales were Cave Point in Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wilson's Icecream in Ephraim and Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay.

The arduous final week of preproduction planning paid off. The top-notch production equipment designed and built by Director of Photography Scott McFarlane has been unveiling professional quality in the picture.

Day 1 on the Set

Day 1 wrapped successfully! With a full day of shooting and many open and patient hearts who waited out some setbacks, the shoot ran about as smoothly as we could've imagined. Aside from two garden salads which grew increasingly brown as the hours rolled on, nothing, including time was wasted: to many producers, a dream come true.

On a side note, a new star has emerged, Cole the cat appearing as "Duchess".

Innovation

"Necessity is the mother of invention".

So it is that we've found some real freedom through innovation, especially in the areas of production. Through innovative techniques in creating some remarkable equipment, we will have a style all our own, while maintaining the integrity of traditional movie-making. This type of creativity will enhance the picture, and serve as a stylistic seal of this production.

What we are seeing is a type of level-headed brilliance that will make this picture.

Shoot Schedules

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, June 8, a tentative schedule for 'Confessions of a Sailor' shoot dates have been set. In the weeks to follow, sites for filming, many of which on-location, will be reserved and confirmed. As of 6/8/10 there is the potential of over 30 different shooting locations in the Door County area. A producer knows he's picked the right place when it can be this versatile for filming.

Screentesting

A big step as well as a great joy in the preproduction of a film is running screentests. Screentesting provides the director the opportunity to see how the potential acting talent would appear onscreen as well as to observe how they might interact with other cast members. The joy of it comes especially in the interview portion. In an informal sort of way, the director and actor/actress can talk just beyond the surface level of film and work, and get to know the individual a little bit more. The most impressive part is in seeing how God brought together such a talented crew to work together.

Screentesting is long-held tradition in the film-world, and the outside world could definitely take a page or two from a good director's handbook on this one. How often on the jobsite do we take the time to really get to know the individuals that have come together to work on a project? How many jobs is this actually incorporated in the work itself? Here's one area that film gets it right, if it's done with the sincere intention of desiring to know the individual.

On Monday afternoon, June 7th, 'Confessions of a Sailor' screentested with four very talented individuals, two actors and two actresses.

the Shipwrecks

Woven into the storylines throughout is the great mystery in the Lake Michigan shipwrecks. Resting quietly on the bottom of the lake, the great hulls of legendary ships sit preserved over a hundred years, in which time and space are of no great consequence to them.

One of many unique firsts for this film is that one scene will be shot 65' below the surface of Lake Michigan. Several of the actors as well as an underwater film crew and the director, himself, will make the dive this summer, and shoot what could be one of the most challenging if not dangerous segments ever to arrive on the silver screen. The entire scene, actors and film crew, will be cued in and directed all by hand signals.

the Story

Mike O'Leary considers himself a self-made man who has worked hard most of his young adult life to get him where he is today. Only a few years out of college, Mike has a promising career unfolding as a writer for a nationally-acclaimed maritime publication. He receives his next assignment--the assignment of a lifetime--spending the summer in Door County, Wisconsin, as he researches and reports on many of the fascinating shipwrecks.

Wisconsin's equivalent to the East Coast Hamptons, the Martha's Vineyard of the Midwest, Door County is also renowned for its dark history of shipwrecks and strange disappearances. On par with the Bermuda Triangle, Door County made a name for herself in the earliest of Great Lakes' navigation history. Named by the French who called the ominous passage the "Porte des Mortes" (the Door of Death), the channel running between the Door Peninusula and Washington, Plum and Rock Islands is the watery gravesite for many a ship and crew.

Mike has his work cut out for him as he quickly discovers his work demands and self-assurance try and strain his dearest of relationships and his very humanity is soon being put to the test.

the Vision

'Confessions of a Sailor at the Red House Inn' is a first-of-its-kind film project in many senses. The style and method in which it is all coming together will set a precedent for filmmakers in years to come. Filming is being scheduled to take place throughout the summer of 2010 in Door County, WI.

The production artists made up of actors and actresses, crew members, musicians, painters, photographers and designers are uncompromising in their dedication in creating good art, while unwavering in their devotion to a living core of faith.

In June 2010, 'Confessions' will be launching their official site, which will provide you with detail into the nature of the project, pics from the set, news releases and much more.

In the weeks and months to follow, we invite you to follow us on this blog. We will strive to keep you up-to-date on the project, and ask you to keep us in your prayers throughout it.