Check out Beau Smith's great review of SHIFTED on Silver Bullet Comic Book's website
(It's about halfway down the page, so scroll on down)
Passion In Film Making Gets SHIFTEDFor any of you that have ever read, created or published an Independent comic book you know that it takes money out of your own pocket and time away from your family, but what it does give to others is your passion. Theres no major publisher funding your efforts of putting your creation in the headlines of the top media. Anything that happens comes from you and your grit to get it done and get it out there.
Its the same in making films. As most of my regular knuckleheads know Im always looking out for new things in pop culture to bring back to the cave. Recently I was lucky enough to find a new film that was not only entertaining but extremely informative as well.
The film Im talking about is
SHIFTED.
SHIFTED is an un-rated 88 minute film from
Nelson Madison Films. Now most of you Knuckleheads might jump to the conclusion that
SHIFTED is a jaw busting, multi-explosion action movie well its not.
SHIFTED is a modern
Frank Capra / Jimmy Stewart type of film that not only shows you where you go when you lose it all, but where you end up.
SHIFTED was made on an ultra-low budget by the films actor/director/producer/editor
Michael Madison and his partner producer / writer
Linda Nelson. By ultra-low budget I mean
ULTRA LOW. Thats a fact and not a bad thing. If anything, it made me admire the film even more to think how they pulled off such a good movie on their own smarts, resources and the kindness of others.
The film is about a corporate executive that has the company he works for shut down amongst scandal and dirty dealings by those higher up. The character, David soon finds himself going from the fast lane to skid row in a hurry. The meat of the movie shows what its like to live on the fringe of life and reflects how one simple turn in life can shift you from one end to the other.
SHIFTED is a story with a moral, but not in a preachy way.
Just so you wont think Ive gone completely soft there is a knee to the nuts scene, open wounds with blood, some tough guy intimidation and gun fire. There is also the lovely, leggy,
Jill Wagner (Past Busted Knuckles Babe Of The Week) star of the new hit TV series
BLADE done my friend and yours,
Geoff Johns.
Scarlett Johanssons sister, Vanessa is also in this as well as one of the best tough guy actors in film,
Rhino Michaels. Hes everything you want in a tough guy and more.
SHIFTEDs star,
Michael Madison at 6 feet 1 inch and a former top notch baseball player is dwarfed by Rhino as is everyone else in the movie.
One of the highlights for me and will be for you is the special feature with commentary by Michael and Linda. This is anything but boring. It is a wonderful class in film-making and not by jaded creators that find their own remarks witty and clever. This is great bare bones behind the scenes stuff. Its like getting a war story from the grunts in the trench and not the Generals back in Washington. I learned a lot from this and will no doubt refer to it again in my own creative process.
Michael even had the De Niro factor in this by not cutting his hair and beard for a year and a half to be realistic during the down in the dumps portion of the films story. I think my female Knuckleheads will love the clean-cut version of Michaels character a lot. Not that Id know if a guy was good looking or notmy wife tells me those things.
Here is all the info you need to check this film and now DVD out:
http://www.nelsonmadisonfilms.comhttp://www.myspace.com/michaelmadisonhttp://www.imdb.comYou can also buy it at Amazon.com and customflix.com
If you stop by Michaels site just tell him Beau sent ya.