Archives December 2017

A critically acclaimed actor, Tom Malloy wowed Hollywood with his stunning turn in the indie-cult favorite Gravesend in 1998, which was produced by Oliver Stone. Tom became a trend setter as one of the first successful triple-hyphenate Actor/Writer/Producers and made it his business to learn as much about the filmmaking industry as possible. Over the years, Tom has raised more than $25 million in private equity from independent financiers and has written, produced and starred or co-starred in nearly all the films that his company Trick Candle Productions has made.

Tom Malloy is the author of the book Bankroll that is a must read for filmmakers, actors and producers that want to finance their independent feature films. Tom has now turned Bankroll into a video course for filmmakers as a new approach financing feature films. Get the Course. In our interview you can hear Tom talk about his experiences financing films and the great stories he has to share from behind and in front of the camera.

Keep up with Tom Malloy Online

Website: http://tommalloy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TommyMalloy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Malloy/69665101522
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommalloy/

Tom Malloy Interview Highlights

Background

• We discuss the Long Island connection
• Tom wanted to be an actor and thought that’s what he wanted to pursue
• He was cast for the movie Gravesend in 1998 that was filmed in Brooklyn
• Gravesend was picked up by Oliver Stone he thought he’d made it
• When he didn’t become an overnight success he started learning every other aspect of the business
• Tom Malloy has now produced 15 movies and written over 20 screenplays
• The book Bankroll is considered the gold standard for film financing that he wrote in 2009

Being a Dancer

• If you can do martial arts you can be a dancer
• It’s similar to martial arts in learning patters, forms and moves
• Tom took a job as a ballroom dancer when he was preparing for the movie Love N Dancing with co-star Amy Smart
• Dancing is something he thinks anyone can do

Becoming a Producer

• Producing became a means to an end
• Tom discovered he was good at raising money by persistence and motivation
• It took 6 movies before he was confident enough to produce
• “If you do it long enough people start to trust you.”

How Do You Raise Money For Film

• Network with people that are outside of the movie business
• Act as a conduit for them to get into the movie business
• Everyone wants to be part of the movie business.
• They want to have celebrity friends. If you can be the person to bring that to the investor you’re in great shape.

The book Bankroll had two editions and Tom didn’t want to write a third.  Working with Jason Brubaker, their video course contains 85 videos on funding a feature film.  Get the Course. In this course Tom is giving away all of his secrets about how he personally raised $25 million to finance feature films.

Read the book Bankroll

This week’s guest is Jon Foley from the Las Cruces Film Office in New Mexico. We met Jon at the American Film Market in 2017 and decided to pick his brain on why filmmakers should contact a film office for their next movie. Many filmmakers don’t realize the benefits working with a local film office can have including incentives, locations and a local crew.  Filming in a location like Las Cruces may surprise with its vast landscapes, mountains, deserts and miles of pecan trees.

Jon Foley began his journey into film & video production at the age of 11 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. His path has had many detours; Digital Video Content Manager for an online ethical hacking university, video production company owner, 1 feature and countless smaller projects as a Director of Photography, Producer of short films premiering at festivals like Festival de Cannes, Brussels Short Film Festival, and Hollyshorts, viral content creation (5+ million views across the web), landscape photographer, and the list goes on. Currently, he is the Film Liaison for Las Cruces and has his full attention on bringing more film and television productions to his area.

Have an interesting story about working with your local film office or film commission? Share it with us in the comments

Film Las Cruces Links:

http://www.filmlascruces.com
https://www.facebook.com/filmlc

Keep in Touch with Jon Foley

https://www.instagram.com/jonathon_foley/
https://www.facebook.com/offroadnewmexico/videos/1782038265362262/

What is the Las Cruces Film Office?

• The Las Cruces Film Office is about to be certified to become a film commission
• Jon’s job is to market the city of Las Cruces New Mexico film producers, location scouts and anyone looking to shoot television, film, commercial work or anything video related that will get local crew members work and the area seen.
• The film office also helps with permits, facilitating locations or working with local departments such fire and police.

 What are the benefits of filming in Las Cruces?

• One major benefit is not having to pay for permits and Jon usually turns them around in 1 to 2 days.
• If you’re doing a non-union shoot, Jon has access to over 60 local crew members ready to work including camera operators, grips and production assistants.
• Las Cruces has an abandoned court house / prison you can shoot at for free for the next year! Dona Ana Detention Center
• Visit Film Las Cruces to see their database of locations available.

What are the qualifications for shooting in Las Cruces?

• Jon helps everyone from the micro budget indie film to Hollywood sized budgets.
• There is no minimum spend as long as you are willing to fill out the paperwork.
• There is a 25% film rebate as long as you keep track of the money spent.

How does the film rebate work?

• The rebate is processed through the New Mexico Tax & Revenue department.
• As a filmmaker you’ll be buying the lumber, paying for locations, food, gas and transportation.
• In 2016 there was $505 million spent on TV & Film in the state of New Mexico.

How do you acquire locations?

• Jon drives around taking pictures of city property to add to the database regularly.
• Who you know and how you get to know helps in acquiring private property.
• Find locations across the United States using LocationsHub powered by Reel-Scout.

Fun Fact: The car crash in “Due Date” was filmed in Las Cruces

What has been filmed in New Mexico recently?

• Look for Godless on Netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMUiRYoc76A

How did you get the job as a film liaison?

• I went to a Film Las Cruces board meeting and they announced they were hiring.
• I threw my ring in the hat and I became the assistant to the person who was hired.
• When he left I became the film liaison.

 Jon’s Film Career

• Hear Jon’s journey from corporate training videos to real estate photography
• Jon helped finance a short film that went to Cannes and also worked on a short that premiered at Brussells Short Film Festival & Hollyshorts
• https://www.facebook.com/wolffslawshortfilm/videos/1564437833810947/

Facebook Groups for Marketing

• Download or Stream the episode to hear how Jon continues to organically grow Facebook pages like NewMexi.co

This week’s guest is actress and comedian, Jill-Michelle Melean was introduced to us by our good friend Alex Ferrari of Indie Film Hustle. Jill is known for her work on the sketch comedy show MadTV where she had memorable moments impersonating Hollywood stars such as Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears. You may have also seen Jill in Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and most recently in This is Meg which she co-produced and wrote with Alex Ferrari.

We talk about Jill’s family life growing up in Miami, her transition to Hollywood and her worst moments as a female comedian. She’s held her own on the road with the big boys of comedy such as Carlos Mencia and has a unique perspective as a white latina. Look out for her 1 hour comedy special, called White Latina coming soon.

Follow Jill-Michelle Melean Online

Website: http://jillyonline.com
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0577549/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillyonline/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jillyonline

Jill-Michele Melean’s Background

• Jill grew up in Miami with a strict Latin upbringing.
• Fun fact: Jill and her family were season pass holders for the Miami Hurricanes football team.
• She fell in love with TV & film at an early age but she had no idea how to get there.
• Jill realized she could make her Grandma laugh by humping her leg at an early age
• Not attending college wasn’t an option for her.
• During college she thought she wanted to be in theater but soon realized film was where she flourished by creating a family for a few months and nothing is ever the same.
• Jill believed in the power of laughter and moved to LA without knowing anyone.

Making the Cast of MadTV

• Jill’s advice to those that want to do comedy is go to Second City in Chicago because now it is like going to University.
• While doing stand-up comedy for a year and a half the folks at MadTV would follow her shows. At that time, female comics weren’t a big thing.
• She wanted to audition for a sketch group when she got to LA but she had to pay her dues first.
• Every time she would go back and audition for MadTV it would be like doing a one person show for an hour including impersonations.
• When she landed the part on MadTV it took 6 auditions that resulted in an on-air test where she did Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears and they made her a cast member immediately after.
• “Welcome to Hollywod!” Jill recounts having to get down to a skimpy outfit in her first role on TV.

Life after MadTV

• After MadTV Jill landed the Latino Locos comedy tour with Carlos Oscar, Ralphie May and other big name comedians.
• She hosted the tour and learned from them really developed her time.
• From there Jill landed Reno 911 where she met Carlos Alazraqui who she became brothers with on and off screen. You can catch Carlos in This is Meg as well.
• Jill was lucky to go from one tour to the next during that time for 7 years doing hardcore theaters.
• Jill also talks about her time working with George Lopez on Reno 911.

Surving in Hollywood is hard work

• Going over notes for a pitch recently Jill had to remind herself how grateful she should be for the position she’s in.
• She’s never satisfied and still hungers to get to the next level. You’re never going to be done.
• The game has changed and it’s going to change again. Either you change and keep playing or you get out.
• When she booked MadTV, she thought she’d be done. The reality is you book a TV show, then you don’t work for 5 years.
• Jill has done multiple pilots that haven’t been picked up, even with the producers from Curb Your Enthusiasm behind it.

The future of Hollywood

• “It’s the craziest industry to get into, but it’s also the most rewarding.”
• Even though there’s more outlets, it’s actually made it harder. You can’t centralize the marketing.
• Jill believes a shift is coming and after a attending an industry meeting recently they had the following to say: “Comedy is the only thing that has longevity. Comics have a strong clear voice…That’s where TV shows are created.”

Advice for females in comedy

• Link up with a bigger male comedian so it doesn’t become an all female show.
• Bookers like to promote the “sexy female” comedy show but that’s not where you want to be.
• Open up for a bigger male comedian and then it’s easier to transition later because all the bookers know you. Hold on to their business cards because you will have to network yourself.

This is Meg

• This is Meg is streaming on Hulu and is also available on Amazon, iTunes & YouTube.
• It was a passion piece based on true events.
• Jill wanted to portray what it’s like to live as an actor in Hollywood and the relationships you experience, not just the business.
• Involving her friends was important and there was no drama on set.
• Normally directors will not let a producer be that involved, but Alex Ferrari was able to put his ego aside and get the best shots possible.

Watch This Is Meg on  

Her First 1 Hour Comedy Special

• Jill has done specials for Showtime and other networks but White Latina will be her first 1 hour comedy special.
• Piggybacking off This is Meg, she wanted Alex to shoot the special at The Improv to keep it personal.
• Hearing her discuss how it’s shot and her decision to not show the audience is especially an interesting point. In comedy, it’s all about material.

Comedian’s that inspire

• Going back to her love for TV, Jill loves the work of Carol Burnett, Tracy Ullman and shows like the Golden Girls.
• Jill also loves the stand-up of Ellen Degeners, Richard Pryor and George Carlin.
• We also discuss her love for Louis CK and says he’s the kindest man and was completely shocked by the news circulating today.