Because finding a home should be something to sing about.
But during the course of writing the script, the Seattle Film Festival invited Dan to participate in its prestigious "Fly Filmmaker" series - where three prominent directors come to the festival for one week and direct a five-minute short film. Dan took advantage of the opportunity to direct a short (non-musical) version of Open House which was very well received by audiences in Seattle. The completed short (shot in DV, but now blown up to 35mm) works as both a self-contained film in its own right, as well as a "trailer" for the feature. You can watch the short online.
The idea now is for Dan to direct the feature-length musical version of Open House. Film musicals have been enjoying a big revival in the last few years, with such commercial and critical hits as Moulin Rouge ($165mil worldwide box office; Golden Globe nom. for Best Picture), Dancer in the Dark (Cannes Palm d'Or winner), and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Sundance Audience Award winner).
Dan would draw on his extensive contacts in the independent film world for cast and crew to construct a unique musical experience. Actors who do sing, love to sing (just think of how many of today's leading actors got their start in high school musicals). But they rarely get a chance to express themselves through song. It is with this understanding, that Dan plans on attracting "name" actors to the project. On the crew side, Dan has already recruited award-winning choreographer Mitchell Rose to work on the dance routines, and award-winning cinematographer Alex Vendler to shoot the film.
Unlike most other musicals, Dan seeks to shoot Open House in a naturalistic approach that would have the actors seamlessly transition from speaking to singing at the appropriate moments. The singing would be recorded live on the set, rather than lip-synched to prerecorded playback. This technique will set the project apart from other recent musicals and invite audiences into a unique world where finding a home really is something to sing about.
The plan is to start shooting the film in October, 2002, in the Los Angeles area. Shooting in Los Angeles provides the maximum flexibility for dealing with actors, crew and locations. That said, if a significant enough percentage of the budget comes from a particular region or city, the script is such that the shoot could be moved to virtually any location in America.
Disclaimer:
Investment in a project of this nature involves substantial risks, and should not be undertaken by those individuals or organizations who can not afford those risks. Anyone seriously interested in contributing should consult their own tax professional for complete tax advice. This website should not be construed as a formal offering or complete business prospectus, but rather is designed to give a general overview of the project.
