EL

YIKES: Filmmaker Michael Fodera

Jun 4, 2014

MF
Stage· 173 messages
Jun 4, 2014

A discussion with award-winning filmmaker Michael Fodera about his new film Yikes, a short film whose Kickstarter campaign is nearing its goal.nnhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film

EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:26 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lana Jay

“congrats on being so close to your goal! seems like a donation-worthy project to me :)”

EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:30 AM

OK everyone, welcome to this special discussion with Mr. Michael Fodera
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:30 AM

Hi everybody, this is pretty great, I've gotten a lot of nice words recently through Tawkers!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:31 AM

Thank you all so much for joining us. I have some questions prepared obviously, because otherwise what kind of host would I be? But if you have any questions/comments/trolling, please do so in the comments! We're psyched to hear from everyone!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:31 AM

Allright MIke, let's jump right into this.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:31 AM

Lets do it!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:31 AM

Why don't you give us a synopsis of Yikes?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:32 AM

It (and its Kickstarter campaign) is, after all, the reason we're all here.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:32 AM

Yikes is about a struggling actor, Ian, who is having a pretty terrible day. In the course of his day he learns in some terrifying ways that he has the ability to see very short spurts into the future.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:33 AM

Wow, OK. So...sort of sci fi kinda thing?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:33 AM

Its a dark comedy so I don't want to make it seem like its super heavy but its along the same lines as a Twilight Zone or X-Files.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:33 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“I thought the strongest part of the Kickstarter campaign was that you had already put in some serious thought with the DP about what the premonitions would look like on film... I feel like that will be key to bringing people into the film”

MF

Michael Fodera · 12:33 AM

Absolutely
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:33 AM

Thanks for the comment Blake. I agree Mike.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:33 AM

That Kickstarter campaign was done for two reasons:
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:34 AM

1) We wanted to show people the vibe of the film and what we were going for.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:34 AM

2) We wanted to make sure we could do it!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:34 AM

I love the Twilight Zone. Rod Serling makes Ryan Seacrest look like an inanimate object.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:34 AM

Why Kickstarter and not IndieGoGo Mike?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:35 AM

I think all of the crowd sourcing websites and ventures are fantastic but we went with Kickstarter because the amount of exposure they get and you HAVE to hit your goal. I didn't want to have to sacrifice certain elements because of lower budget.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:35 AM

Ultimately Kickstarter lights a massive fire under your ass!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:36 AM

Well...it looks like you're almost at $8K. Still short of your $10K goal. Tawkers, get on there and give 'im a boost, won't ya!?!?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:36 AM

ProTip: Chris Christie also lights massive fires under his ass, but he uses flatulence and a grill lighter.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:36 AM

Zing!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:36 AM

The link for the kickstarter is: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:37 AM

How many days of production do you think Yikes will be Mike?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:37 AM

We are shooting for 3 production days as of now.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:37 AM

I originally thought 4 but my Producer Angel cracks that whip so we're consolidating
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:38 AM

We'll be filming in Astoria Queens as of now
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:38 AM

Wow. A whole short film in 3 days! How long will the final movie be?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:38 AM

but we are still looking for a couple locations
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:38 AM

Just about 10 minutes or so.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:38 AM

Its gonna be a lot packed in though in the 10 minutes
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:38 AM

10 minutes. Great. What kinds of locations have you found in Astoria and what kinds of locations are you still looking for?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:39 AM

We found a pretty spectacular apartment to film in via AirBnB (never used it once except to location scout...it's friggin great!)
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:40 AM

We're on the prowl for a liquor store to do an overnight shooting day in and an office as well.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:40 AM

This is not the first time you've been on the prowl for a liquor store Mike.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:40 AM

HA!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:41 AM

From a production standpoint, and I guess other standpoints too, how will Yikes be different from your past short films like Flowers for Her and Company (both available to watch on the Internet for free right now btw)?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:41 AM

Flowers for Her: http://vimeo.com/13113722
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:41 AM

Company: http://vimeo.com/51219403
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:41 AM

In my opinion you can see a massive jump in my work from Flowers For Her to Company.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:42 AM

And I'm not just talking about budget, Flowers For Her was the very first thing I made with absolutely no filmmaking training under my belt, I just went out and made it because I had to.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:42 AM

Company was way more refined in terms of script.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:43 AM

To answer your question, YIKES is a major shift away from the dark stuff I normally do as well as being on a production level that I've never worked on before.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:43 AM

So Yikes will be funnier?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:43 AM

Much funnier, much more light hearted and a little more strange.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:44 AM

You have a background in comedy. How do you feel that informs your more dramatic projects?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:45 AM

I think the overall timing of everything gets effected big time, even if something awful is about to happen you can predict a little better somebody's reaction because of a comedic background.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:45 AM

Kissing Sisters definitely taught me a lot.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:46 AM

Right. It's amazing how many great historical films. Serious films. Have such terrific comedic timing and segments.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:46 AM

Absolutely. You have to have it in there
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:46 AM

Every film no matter how dark needs a breather
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:47 AM

Can you think of a movie you recently saw that you thought could benefit from some comedic relief?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:47 AM

Other than my sex tape, which I'm told was hilarious to watch.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:47 AM

Hahahahaha
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:47 AM

The last movie I saw was the newest X-Men
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:48 AM

lets just say that movie could benefit from a lot more than just comedic relief
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:48 AM

Actually I kind of dug a lot of it but it wasn't the best one in the series
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:48 AM

There've been so many.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:48 AM

Yeah
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:49 AM

And I'll see every one the put out
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:49 AM

In your opinion, how is independent cinema influenced by and also a reaction to the big budget Hollywood stuff of today?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:49 AM

I think right now you get the best of both worlds in a lot of ways and it mainly has to do with the technology of filmmaking.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:50 AM

Independent cinema can do a hell of a lot more with much less money than years ago and can achieve these gorgeous cinematic scenes that were only reserved for big blockbusters.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:50 AM

Because the playing field has been leveled just a bit, I think independent cinema has to fight harder and thats typically where you find better storylines
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:51 AM

But that isn't true all of the time.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:51 AM

One thing I always notice is a big difference between big budget and independent cinema is the absence of a score. I've always loved the musical work in your films. How do you do those?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:51 AM

Which ones are you talking about specifically?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:52 AM

In Flowers for Her, for example, the work is very dissonant. Very distant.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:52 AM

Almost ethereal I would say.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:52 AM

Well it helps a hell of a lot to have a really musically talented brother who can make some creepy ass soundscapes with a laptop and a keyboard!
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:53 AM

And again, it comes back to technology
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:53 AM

It isn't perfect and I don't think a keyboard and a laptop can compete with John Williams but things are in much closer reach than before.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:53 AM

Right. Do you have any type of music in mind for Yikes yet?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:54 AM

I actually don't and it's funny because that is one of those things I think of first.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:54 AM

Blake earlier mentioned how much hard work went into conceiving the visual tone and style of just the sample on the Kickstarter. When you start a project, how do you set about to create a unique visual style and/or narrative tone?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:54 AM

Or does it just sort of develop naturally after the script comes into focus?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:55 AM

Its a little bit of both. A major challenge to me is to convey the two worlds Ian sees, the real world and the future. So some of those elements were kind of born out of our need to make a drastic difference.
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:56 AM

I typically like to shoot much more loose and hand held but everything in this one will be way more composed and controlled, at least for the "real world"
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:56 AM

Very cool. Develop Naturally is the name I gave to my cycle of puberty, which started last week for me.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:56 AM

just as an aside
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:56 AM

A perfect segue to a question from one of our audience members, M L. I apologize for this question and for my unrefinement, but... any thoughts Mike?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:56 AM

★ Spotlighted from M L

“It's interesting you describe Company as being refined, because Eric Leventhal is exceedingly unrefined. What's it like to work with somewhat so exceedingly course?”

MF

Michael Fodera · 12:57 AM

M L it's a wonderful thing, this guy is making me laugh my ass off all the way from Osaka Japan
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:57 AM

More importantly, I see some donations have started to come in to the Kickstarter guys. Mike's too proud to beg but I'm not. Please donate!!! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film/backers
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:57 AM

HA!
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:58 AM

Actually since we started this Tawk we passed the $8,000 mark!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:58 AM

You use hand held shots alot in your short films. Is there something you like specifically about the flow of movement there?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 12:58 AM

Something you're trying to say with that choice?
MF

Michael Fodera · 12:59 AM

I think it's kind of a comfort thing, at least when I was starting out. I saw it of more of a natural visual style and one that I think fits better into an independent film where you don't have millions to spend on lighting and set design.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:00 AM

So, it's practical, of course. But you could still use a tripod, no? I feel like there's something about the motion that lends itself to your storytelling style, or at least to the stories you've told so far.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:00 AM

Just something really natural that allows the story to move. But I'm really happy with the direction we're taking YIKES, a much more different style that can be seen in the test footage we shot.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:01 AM

There is something to a hand held shot that doesn't let the viewer rest
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:01 AM

If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, let's say...when...the Kickstarter campaign is successful, what's your first move?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:02 AM

I'd love to say I'm gonna party like it's my last day on earth but really I think I'm immediately going to talk to my Producer Angel Acevedo and my Director of Photography Nicholas Galante and lock down the exact equipment we can afford to use!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:02 AM

Exciting I know!!!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:02 AM

Yeah. Cool dude. Budgets.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:03 AM

I know. I tend to talk about accounting a lot, I'm always the life of the party!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:03 AM

Wow Tawkers!!!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:03 AM

Keep that money coming in.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:03 AM

Looks like we just passed $9000 on the kickstarter page. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film/backers
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:03 AM

Holy shit!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:03 AM

How long did it take you to write the script for Yikes?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:04 AM

I sat down for about a week after I had it rolling around in my head and nailed out a rough draft. Left it alone for about a week and came back and didn't stop working on it for 2 weeks.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:05 AM

I really have to say of all the things I've ever written, YIKES is hands down the project that came out naturally and unforced.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:05 AM

Very cool. How did the idea come to you?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:05 AM

I had a few things I wanted to say but I didn't write scenes around them.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:05 AM

How do you remember ideas when they come to you?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:05 AM

I don't think I'm alone when I say I get Deja Vu's sometimes
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:06 AM

But I was standing on the train platform in Astoria one day and I had a severe lack of sleep the night before. I can't remember exactly what it was but something happened right in front of me that blew my mind
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:07 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“I feel like I've heard Michael say that comment about déjà vu before!”

MF

Michael Fodera · 1:07 AM

I had a Deja Vu that seemed way to real so I kind of reversed engineered it the next day into a outline.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:07 AM

HA!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:07 AM

Wow. And then suddenly you had a treatment?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:07 AM

Didn't you just say that Blake??
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:07 AM

We have about 10 minutes left on this Tawkers chat guys. Keep those donations coming! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film/backers
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:08 AM

Yeah, I'm not an actor so I don't know why I chose an actor to be the main character. Really everything just came out so naturally it was great.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:08 AM

You've been acting in my sexual fantasies for years Michael.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:08 AM

When do you actually plan to shoot by the way?]
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:08 AM

July? August?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:09 AM

We'll be filming the liquor store scene (which is the largest scene with a lot of moving targets) on July 27th into early July 28th.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:09 AM

The rest of the film will be August 2nd and 3rd back to back.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:10 AM

How long do you think postproduction will be?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:10 AM

That's a good question, as of now we really don't have a lot of digital shots or effects or anything like that so I feel it won't be as long as normal.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:10 AM

(Famous last words)
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:11 AM

What'd you think of the play Mrs. Lincoln?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:11 AM

I plan on having a really solid rough cut or 2nd draft out to film festivals in mid september
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:11 AM

HA!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:11 AM

Wow. That's a really fast turnaround!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:11 AM

For one guy doing all this stuff by himself I mean.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:12 AM

Yeah, it's going to be rough but this guy is getting married in November and I'm not going to have a ton of time
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:12 AM

Good point Mike.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:12 AM

Congrats on that by the way!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:12 AM

Thank you sir, going to be a great Fall!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:12 AM

★ Spotlighted from Trey Williamson

“Whoa you guys are over 90% of your goal! You're totally gonna hit it!!”

EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:12 AM

I hope your fiancee isn't reading this because I'd like to take you home the long way one night after orange cosmos!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:13 AM

How about casting? Do you have any actors in mind for Yikes?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:13 AM

Thanks Trey!!! Keep those donations coming everyone. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:13 AM

I do but that I'll have more on that soon, we have some amazing submissions but I have to reach out this week.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:13 AM

If you're looking for a bald dude with too much confidence, I'd be happy to fly out from Japan for the shoot!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:14 AM

Done AND done!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:14 AM

by the way
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:14 AM

I don't drink Orange Cosmos anymore
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:14 AM

I've moved on to Flirtinis
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:14 AM

We only have a minute or two so last question from me.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:14 AM

Mike, you and I have discussed this, it's fairly well acknowledged in academic circles, but still, people scoff.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:15 AM

So I will ask you to summarize please.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:15 AM

Ha
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:15 AM

Ok
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:15 AM

Why is the original Die Hard one of the ten greatest films of all time?
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:15 AM

Oh boy, I have to summarize this?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:15 AM

You don't have to
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:15 AM

You can just say I agree if you want?
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:15 AM

But that's anticlimactic. Like receiving cunnilingus from a crocodile.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:16 AM

Everything was nearly flawless about that film and for the exception of a few other action films, nobody has reached the status of the original Die Hard.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:16 AM

That said...
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:16 AM

Die Hard 3 doesn't get the respect it deserves and after Die Hard 5 well....
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:16 AM

I'm not gonna go there.
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:17 AM

Haha. Ok. Great summary
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:17 AM

Thanks so much for joining us for this Tawk Michael!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:17 AM

And thanks to everyone who participated with us.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:17 AM

Thank you everybody for being here! This was awesome!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:17 AM

Oh one more thing!!!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:17 AM

And thanks for your donations!!!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:18 AM

As a special incentive for all of you out there, from now until the end of the Kickstarter campaign, the investor with the highest donation will get 2 FREE tickets to THERE WILL BE BLOOD with Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) performing his musical score.
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:18 AM

With a live orchestra!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:18 AM

PLUS everything you get for your Kickstarter donation!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:19 AM

Oooh, I forgot to mention that Mike. Good point. Snatch up those tickets y'all!!! Sayonara everyone!
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:19 AM

NYC only!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:19 AM

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/650632157/yikes-a-short-film
MF

Michael Fodera · 1:19 AM

Good night all and THANK YOU!!!
EL

Eric Leventhal · 1:19 AM

And good morning if you're in Japan...