Nicholas J. Michalak

The horror films I've watched this season: Blade, Blade 2, John Carpenter's The Thing, Prince of Darkness, In The Mouth of Madness, 'Salem's Lot (2004), The Dead Zone, Lord of Illusions, Hellraiser, Constantine, The Lost Boys, The Omen (2006), Phantasm, Phantasm II, The Prophecy, The Prophecy II, The Prophecy III: Ascent, Underworld, The Craft, Friday The 13th, Part 2, The Exorcist III, and Wolf. I also caught parts of Interview With The Vampire on SyFy Channel, and grabbed Night of the Demons off of InDemand (poor film). I also rented The Shining, the original 1980 version from Stanley Kubrick. Watched it for the first time - HATED IT! You can read my review of it on the IMDb.

Now, that is all only a fraction of what I had hoped to watch, but the days laid up with this neck pain diminished my viewing time. I actually had an entire schedule laid out for every day of what films to watch. I should've finished the Evil Dead, Friday The 13th, & A Nightmare On Elm Street franchises already. The Halloween films were being saved for Halloween itself. I was to watch 76 horror films by the end of my waking hours on October 31st. Though, due to certain unalterable circumstances, once I get off work at 7PM on Friday, I will have a full six days off. So, I will catch up, and enfuse myself will a plethora of horror film inspiration. I sooo desperately want to watch A Nightmare On Elm Street & Alien before the end of this week. And definitely, I plan to watch both Ghostbuster films before too long. This is really a chance for me to watch a lot of films I haven't watched in a terribly LONG time!

For instance, George A. Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD. Probably haven't watched it in a decade, and have owned the Ultimate Edition DVD with three different versions of the film since 2004! I watched it once when I rented it, bought the so-called 'Director's Cut' VHS tape - NEVER WATCHED IT! Sold it off, and got the DVD set I just mentioned. So, I am watching it right now! Also, John Carpenter's Christine is one I haven't watched since the SE DVD came out in - you guessed it - 2004! I also enjoy the 2004 mini-series of 'Salem's Lot starring Rob Lowe, but how often does one have the time to watch a three hour long film? That's why I haven't touched my Lord of the Rings Extended Edition DVDs in at least that long too. Meanwhile, I watch films like Collateral, Blade Runner, Purple Rain, Point Break, and The Dark Knight over and over again. So, I am going to be on a mission for the next few months to dig deep into my DVD collection to watch some films I haven't watched in a very long time, and make them part of my familiar film vocabulary. When you own over 460 DVD titles, it's easy to glossy over some things, but it's time to make that collection worth the money I paid to create it with. I started it all 10 years ago with Ghostbusters as the first disc I ever bought. Haven't watched that DVD in years, either. These are all enjoyable films, but I never seem to be in the right mood for them. TIme to change that.

-NJM

Okay, what's been happening in my life this year?

Well, "Dead of Night" turned out to be the very first film of mine to get to completion. I am shopping it around to a few film festivals, trying to complete a Special Edition DVD, but this Friday, October 23rd, it will PREMIERE FOR FREE on Veoh.com!

"The Fixer" remains in the same oblivion it's been in forever - need more music. My 'DoN' lead actor, Steve Vujic, is feeling out a friend of a cousin about the work. Just for us to connect, trade notes, and see where it moves from there. I will need to dig up a new music supervisor because the guy I've had for over a year has yet to get any songs that are satisfactory to me. Need fresh minds and new enthuiasm behind all of this. Fact os the matter is, the film only needs around 11 minutes of score now. The songs to be replaced as "Numb" by Linkin Park and "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. The former would be seem to be fairly simple to replace since it's such a current, modern song of a music genre still thriving. The latter has been near impossible. I did once find a replacement, but the artist acted like he was some major label artist negotiating a deal with a major Hollywood studio. He didn't get independent film at all. I don't mind someone simply declining, but he was an ass through and through.

My new film project of 2009 didn't fair well. P.I. Dangerous is a comic book style hero I've developed over twenty years, and I was finally bringing him to life. I tried to run a steady, organized, and motivated production, but key crew members couldn't follow through. One bailed on us after the first day of filming (which was on the Chicago Riverwalk). Then, recently, my stunt coordinator got bogged down with his job, and fell completely out of contact with everyone. And my friend Eric Woltman, the film's Director of Photography, also fell out of contact in the past few weeks. All that coupled with mountains of delays and crap from other areas forced a six month delay in production to next Spring. We could no longer match exteriors from July in the heart of Autumn. Really turns out to be for the best. There's much I need to re-evaluate and alter in my approach to filmmaking. I need to present a new, more confident and assertive image. Be more conscience of myself, and stand tall throughout everything.

Now, not to be deterred, I am developing a supernatural horror film for production this winter. Something that's been burning a passion within me for a good five years or more. This is probably more exciting for me than any previous project, and I hope it will work out. Though, I do not intend to rush anything. If it can get done between now and the end of March, 2010 - FANTASTIC. Otherwise, it will wait for the following winter. I really want to capture some beautiful winter landscapes in this film. There's a lot of influences going into this, but in the least, you've got "The Lost Boys," "St. Elmo's Fire," "Lord of Illusions," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Angel." Gonna be much different than anything I've done before, just in execution of a genre. It will follow the character of Mitch Austin. A paranormal / supernatural researcher and hunter. This is sort of a mix of the characters of Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) in Clive Barker's "Lord of Illusions" and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) in Joss Whedon's TV series "Angel" along with a strong, confident leadership quality. Only thing is - I don't have any actor on call that fits the bill for Mitch, and so, it'll be back to the dreaded casting process. It's like a nightmare, seriously.

Work has been work. Good times, bad times, ugly times, and dull times. It just rolls on. Tried to find something better out there, but at Staples is where I remain. Oh well.

Currently, I have been battling a muscle inflammation from a neck strain, and it has cost me a good chunk of hours at work. Now, I'm running out of medication, but we have some supplemental stuff here at home. Plus, my chiropractor can put me on electro-stim therapy to try loosening up the muscles, if needed.

I have the desire to revamp Michalak.org, but SHIT! The volume of work it will require is gonna be a terribly long journey. This is rebuilding it from the ground up, and that's going to require me brushing up on some web design techniques and such.

Movies I've seen this year -- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Taken, Friday The 13th, Watchmen, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator Salvation, The Hangover, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Public Enemies, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and The Final Destination. My favorite of the bunch is likely The Hangover because it was so terribly hilarious. Transformers was fun and enjoyable. Terminator was enjoyable, but not great. Public Enemies was like Michael Mann's heart wasn't in it at all. Dull and lifeless with shallow characters. Taken was the best action film I've seen this year. Just straight action-revenge flick. If you liked early Stevan Seagal films, this would be a film for you.

There are happenings that have gone down, but they mainly involve traffic tickets bleeding out my wallet. Though, the one concert of sorts I tried to get to this year was Heart at the Naperville Ribfest. I drove around for, AT LEAST, half an hour for a free parking spot in downtown Naperville - jackshit! There's like two full size parking garages there, and not a space open. I swore it all off, and went home. I'm NEVER going back to that event - EVER! Nothing good has ever come of it.

The final major piece of anything is my car. Aside from not having A/C in it since August of 2005, the brakes are hideously screwed up since this past March. Warped brake rotors, control arm to be replaced, joint bearings, and the power brakes have been leaking out for months. We don't have the income to have these problems fixed, if even a few of them, and so, I have to make do. If I had the income to afford monthly payments on a new car - cash for clunkers would not have broken my heart. I've been a bit heartbroken losing both of my previous cars - the 1993 black Mercury Cougar and the 1997 RED Ford T-Bird. I LOVE that damn T-Bird. Tan leather interior, moon roof, digital climate controls, and did I mention - RED paint job?! But this 1997 green Cougar - wouldn't bother me to dispose of it for something fresher. Whenever the day comes I can or have to get something new, I'm going a little smaller. The Cougar can be a tough one to navigate, especially in downtown Chicago. Plus - no more rear wheel drive! And if I have to say goodbye to the V8 engine, so be it. I could use some better fuel economy. The '97 Cougar gets 32mpg HWY.

Well, that's what's been going down with me for all these months. Right now, I'm just taking it easy, and watching horror films or whatever. Don't have much alternative with this neck muscle issue. But again - this Friday, October 23rd goto my Veoh account for your chance to see DEAD OF NIGHT for free online! Later.....

-NJM

"Dead of Night" wasn't accepted into the Naperville Independent Film Festival, an article on "P.I. Dangerous" that was written weeks ago still hasn't shown up on ReelChicago.com, I have practically no brakes left on my car, I'm losing more and more hours at work because my Director of Photography Eric Woltman won't accommodate my shooting schedule, I still have $135 to pay to get my driver's license back by the end of October, and I'm broke. The only possible bright side is this editing job Eric gave me that might pay $500. It's a series of lectures where I have to cut in power point slides with twelve hours of footage. So, I have to watch every second of footage to get it done, and it's a tedious pile of shit. And they want it done in a week after they sat on it for six months. And people ask me why I'm in such a pissy mood lately.

-Nick

First scene shot & edited for P.I. Dangerous. This is one scene taken out of context as its practically right in the middle of the film, so, I don't expect it to make 100% sense. Nor do I wish to spoil much for anyone. Just enjoy the 133 MB download.

-NJM

Hard to find good help that doesn't have an attitude about things. I hate it when people's attitudes overshadow their commitments and passions for the work they love doing. People who are there just to do a job that don't get enthusiastic or intensely passionate about being involved in something special. Really rubs me the wrong way, and makes for an unusual, odd working relationship. The people I've worked with on films, the good people, have dedicated themselves fully to the production, and are game to get things done in an enthusiastic manner. They want to be involved and are excited about the overall vision of things. They're excited every time we shoot, and put their full efforts into producing the very best quality product possible with a pleasant personality. I don't like people who are all business. People who look at how hard it's all going to be, not look forward to being driven towards more creative and innovative solutions. People who are like, "Yeah, let's do this!" Instead, I get people who are like, "This is going to be a pain in the ass." They don't see the possibilities, only the difficulties, and it annoys me.

If we have to have a twelve hour shoot day, I don't mind it at all. Unfortunately, everyone else does, and it forces us to take more days out of our lives to get everything done. We have everyone together, with a full day off already, and we could get more done but we're not going to. I understand the no pay aspect, but for those that have paying jobs - would you rather shoot all day long, get more done in fewer days, or get less done over more days? To me, the logic seems pretty obvious, but not to anyone else. Really annoys the shit out of me.

-NJM

Extras are needed for the night of Monday, July 27th at 16350 S La Grange Road, Orland Park, IL. This is the parking deck at the Marcus Theatres. Extras call time will be 8:00 PM. Shoot will run no later than 10 PM. You would be playing freshly murdered Russian mobsters, and thus, some stage blood application would be necessary. Should be dressed like a regular mafia thug (leather jacket or what not). No real face time, if any at all. Just need bodies to populate the frame (thus, extras). This is for my new film "P.I. Dangerous."

And yes, we have permission to do this here. A real, proper film shoot for once. Email me if you're interested and available.

-NJM

-NJM

Dead of Night on IMDb (updates are pending)

-NJM

-NJM

Always one shooting location that seems to elude me. Need to find a spacious family apartment to shoot in for one day, preferably during the week. Any ideas?

-NJM