I found out this past weekend that my dear friend, Al No’mani, who played the lead role of Mounir in Mr. Sadman, passed away suddenly last Thursday. I am both stunned and profoundly saddened. He was a man of infinite heart and talent who did so much for me and gave so much to this film. Words cannot express how empty I feel inside.

I think of him often.

The Independent selected Patrick Epino as one of the “10 Filmmakers to Watch in 2009" for Mr. Sadman.

The IFP Narrative Lab was a pretty amazing experience. Highly recommend it. Won't go into too much detail, but looking forward to Independent Film Week in September. Here's a list of the 10 other participating films that you'll likely be hearing more about in the near future:

At The Foot Of A Tree - Alfie, a freckle faced eleven year old boy, seeks heartfelt and poetic revenge for the beating of his father. Ricky Shane Reid (Director, Writer); Kelly Jo Reid (Producer, Actress); Gregory Singer (Co-Producer, 2nd DP, Editor)

Good Intentions - Meet Etta Milford: Loving Wife…Doting Mother….Armed Robber. Jim Issa (Director); Pamela Peacock (Producer); Richard Sampson (Producer)

How Would You Feel? Vol. 1-7 - Centering on the story of a young man and woman, friends whose relationship is perpetually teetering at the edge of platonic and romantic, this experimental narrative explores the ambiguity of their rapport and is consistently fed by the inhibiting melodrama of their individual romantic pasts and present. Terence Nance (Director, Producer, Writer, Editor); Yvonne Shirley (Editor); Vincent Wheeler (Sound Designer)

The Mountain Thief - A father and son escape their war-torn village in the Philippines to seek refuge in a town called Little Hope, a community of scavengers. Gerry Balasta (Director, Writer); Desireena Almoradie (Producer)

Periphery - Four college-bound kids take a road trip to Mexico and find themselves caught up in a pharmaceutical drug smuggling operation that goes wrong. Duane Allen Humeyestewa (Director, Producer, Writer); Deepa Donde (Producer, Writer)

Sorry, Thanks - Kira has no attachments. Max has a girlfriend. Sometimes love is a happy accident, sometimes pure disaster. Mostly: love means having to say you're sorry. Dia Sokol, (Director, Writer); Lauren Veloski (Producer, Writer); Jennifer Lilly (Editor)

St. Nick - A brother and sister run away from home and try to start a new life, free from adults, all on their own. David Lowery (Director, Writer, Editor); James M. Johnston (Producer); Adam Donaghey (Executive Producer)

A Thing As Big As The Ocean - Two Hurricane Katrina survivors leave New Orleans and travel west into the desert, where their mutual quietness is overwhelmed by a world of possibilities. Joseph Cashiola (Director, Producer, Writer); Jeff Harms (Producer, Actor); Nathan Duncan (Editor)

We Are The Mods - High school loner, Sadie, befriends the wild new girl, Nico, and together they explore sex, drugs and rock and roll by embracing 1960's British Mod Culture in present day California. E. E. Cassidy (Director, Writer, Producer); Robert Poswall (Producer, DP); Daniel Gabbe (Editor)

Zero Bridge - In occupied Kashmir, where every day is about survival, a petty criminal's last chance at escape is threatened when he faces a moral crisis. Tariq Tapa (Director, Writer, DP, Editor)

Mr. Sadman was accepted to this year's IFP Narrative Lab. Great program. Follow the link for more info.

Good times all around!

Wadup friends and fam,

Take a 2 min break from whatever you're doing to peep a new little teaser for Mr. Sadman. Cut by the one and only Hank the Tank Lonh. With a song from the crazy talented Goh Nakamura. Film's "nearing" the end of post.

Hope everyone's doing well.

-Sam the intern

Al No'mani, who plays Mounir, was interviewed by the Iraqi newspaper, Alsabbah, regarding Mr. Sadman.

It's a pretty good read...if you can read Arabic.

Here's a link to the actual online article.

You can also download a pdf of the front page of the Arts section (1.2MB) and a pdf of the print version (2.7MB). There are a few production stills on there.

Production ends.

Production begins.