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Phase Two in the news!/ Facenews

Amber — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:36:24 +0000

Local Film Crew Lands Big Budget To Make Zombie Film

Rickey Bird, Andrew Waite, Jason Sanders, and Travis Yoder

Scene from earlier rendition of “Phase Two”

Just when Bakersfield film fans thought Hectic Films was no more, comes the huge film project “Phase Two,” which promises more explosions, crazier zombies and even better acting with Hollywood talent in the cast. Only, this film is in association with Higher Definition Media and will be mostly shot outside of Bakersfield.

“I’m not allowed to disclose our budget,” Rickey Bird of Hectic Films said. While the budget is rumored as sizable, that doesn’t mean it’s of Hollywood blockbuster scale. It does mean that film crews will be shooting on a camera fit for Blue Ray disks.

Jason Sanders, who started Higher Definition Media with colleague Andrew Waite, added that the budget is good enough where they can hire actors, have catering, pyrotechnics, props and vehicles.

Either way, after landing an investor, Hectic films name is still associated with the movie, and is even shooting on an actual film lot. George the Giant, who was in “Big Fish,” was associated with an earlier rendition of the film. But he, like other actors, weren’t paid, but donated their time. Their big cast member is up-and-coming actress Jessica Erin Sylvia. While she is most well-known for her Italian lingerie and Playboy modeling, she is a promising talent that the project is banking on.

“We went casting in LA. It was her look. The way she looked more Latino. And that’s what I had going with the character,” Bird said. He added he also wanted the main character to be both beautiful and tough looking.

Shaun Paul Piccinino, who plays a soldier in the film, is already well known for his Hollywood expertise. According to Sanders, Piccinino edits as well as does visual effects for the popular stop-motion animated show “Robot Chicken,” which is produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich. He has also directed more than one episode of “The Deadliest Warrior,” an original series for Spike TV.

According to a press release sent out on Tuesday, the indie film company Higher Definition Media will begin principal photography of the sci-fi thriller “Phase Two” in film lots located at California City Studios on Aug. 4.

Film crews will also be shooting on location in and around Bakersfield.

Many people came out as extras for an earlier version of the film to be in the unreleased zombie-slasher movie, “Wretched Flesh.” But that film was only partially made due to budget issues. “Money and time, but mostly money was the issue,” Bird said. Footage from the film will hopefully be added as bonus material on the DVD release of the movie.

Local talent and crew around Bakersfield have already helped out. Bryce Hatch of Inspiration Studios is a production manager on “Phase Two.” Hatch directed and wrote the film, “Stamped!” which premiered at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield. He also adapted “Phase Two” for film production. The film was written by both Bird and Sanders.

As “Phase Two” production begins, cast and crew will head out to the high desert for on-location shooting. Jason Sanders is director, while Andrew Waite is director of photography. Bird, of Hectic Films, is slated as the assistant director.

So what does it mean to be a director duo? “Kind of makes things easier,” Bird said. “Jason is more of a technical person and I’m more of a people person, which is what the assistant director does. I deal with the people.”

“Phase Two” is set in a post-apocalyptic future. Survivors of a deadly virus are faced with an undead-filled environment of zombie-infected humans. John Ross Clark plays a high strung professor, while Jessica Erin Sylvia portrays his tough-minded assistant. Both are on a quest to find a cure for the infection. The film also stars Tattie Grace, Matt Thompson, Robin Steffen and Luke Bishop. (Read about out how Nick Belardes of Face News is excited to be an extra as a zombie soldier.

Read the entire article by Nick Belardes on the Facenews.org website HERE.

Press Release- Phase Two Headed For The Silver Screen!

Amber — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:31:30 +0000

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 26, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/–

Independent film company Higher Definition Media will begin principal photography of “Phase Two”, a feature film, at California City Studios on August 4th.

Higher Definition Media will also be filming on locations in and around Bakersfield and California City. Abundant local talent and crew around the city have already donated their time and talents during pre-production. Higher Definition Media produces commercials, television shows, music videos, short films and full-length feature films. As Phase Two production begins, cast and crew will head out to the high desert for on location shooting. Jason Sanders is helming as director and Andrew Waite as director of photography. Also working on the film is Bryce Hatch of Inspiration Studios, as production manager, and Rickey Bird, of Hectic Films, as assistant director. Phase Two was written by Rickey Bird and Jason Sanders and adapted for the screen by Bryce Hatch.

Phase Two is a Sci-Fi thriller in a post-apocalyptic future, as survivors of a deadly virus try to adapt. Reynolds (John Ross Clark), a high strung professor, and Sonya (Jessica Erin Sylvia), his tough-minded assistant, fight to find a cure and take in a naive teenager, Angela (Tattie Grace), who recently lost her father. Jim (Matt Thompson), a tough guy commando, and Eric (Robin Steffen), a scrawny warrior, battle outlanders, gangs and infection while trying to salvage anything along the way. Frank (Shaun Paul Piccinino), an honest G.I., and Derek (Luke Bishop), a ruthless soldier, are sent on a mission that tests their morals.

“Phase Two” is a Higher Definition Media production in association with Hectic Films, and Oasis Motion Pictures, Inc.

Click HERE to read the article.

New Movie Stamped! Hits Close to Home | Bakersfield Voice

Amber — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:54:32 +0000

Posted by ThisCatsLegit Saturday, February 28, 2009

Stereotype as defined in the dictionary is a person, who is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image, otherwise known as being labeled, termed, or just plain stamped. As a sophomore in high school I know exactly what it’s like to be stamped. It happens everyday, to the best of us, and high school is always the place were stereotypes are born and bred.

New movie Stamped! portrays what every high school student goes through, and I was invited to attend the Sneak Preview of this inspiring and hilarious movie at the Fox Theater.There are so many things that make this movie extra special, the fact that it was filmed right here in Bakersfield, on the campus of Frontier High, the fact that one of Frontier’s very own Bryce Hatch wrote and directed the movie, and the fact that this movie has to be the best independent film I have ever seen.

Stamped! is about five teenage high school students who make-up a Saturday state mandated test, teenage “misfit prankster”, Mitchell (Brian Kubach) annoys and takes apart Tori (Lindze Letherman) a “stuck up cheerleader”, Cody (Matt Thompson) a “dumb jock”, DeShawn (G. Lane Hillman) a “smart homeboy”, and Vanessa (Kaitlynn Lerma) a “quiet Latina”. After giving them a bad time about their roles and so called stereotypes in life they begin to understand they have more in common than they think. Mitchell and his classroom shenanigans and Jim Carey facial expressions really bring the humor front and center.

This movie touches on the racial and social divides at every school. Mitchell says later in the movie, “you may think I’m a freak but you don’t know me.”

As the movie goes on all five teenagers gradually become closer than ever before, you learn Mitchell lives in a foster home, and hides his broken household with loud and obnoxious behavior. Vanessa is in America illegally, and takes shelter in her quiet and shy behavior. Cody is just a “big baby that does what ever daddy tells him” as described by DeShawn who loves comic books and doesn’t express who he truly is to his friends. My favorite quote of the night spoken by Cody to DeShawn, “man your just as white as I am, or maybe I’m just as black as you—it doesn’t matter we’re brothers.”

What people should get from Stamped! is a chaotic journey through the harsh realities of teenage life, and that just because someone is labeled as the skater, nerd, ADHD kid, stuck-up, or jock, that’s not who they are—you don’t know them unless you break down the racial divide.

Read the entire article on the Bakersfield Voice website HERE.

Fans Turn Out For ‘Stamped!’ Premiere At Fox Theater | Facenews

Amber — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:38:52 +0000

Story & Images by Nick Belardes

Red carpets, a limousine, Hollywood actors and a movie premiere at the Fox Theater. What else could you want in Hollywood’s backyard?

Fans crowded around an autograph table Friday night that was set up for the stars of the local film, “Stamped!” Of course, most of the fans were teenagers eager for autographs from the main actor of the film, Brian Kubach.

Also on hand were actors Matt Thompson, Lindze Letherman, G. Lane Hillman, Kaitlynn Lerma and Bakersfield’s own George the Giant, who was recently featured on “America’s Got Talent.”

Created by Director Bryce Hatch of Frontier High school, “Stamped!” was shot on location in Bakersfield. “As cute as the script is, the actors made the film,” Hatch said about the film.

Kubach can be seen in the teenage-themed movie pulling zany Jim Carey-esque stunts. Fans laughed during the film’s funny moments and after the show were entertained by a question and answer session.

Strangely, while the crowd was still getting autographs and leaving the theater, the Fox Theater staff were already taking down the letters from the marquee.

Hatch is hoping the film will next get picked up by a film distribution company.
Take a look at the mob at the autograph table:

Read the entire article on the Facenews.org website HERE.

“Stamped”, a film by Bryce Hatch | Bakotopia

Amber — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:26:14 +0000

by Kbabe, Bakotopia.com contributor

There was a movie premiere tonight (2/27/09,) here in Bakersfield, California. Stamped made its debut at the Fox Theater.

Upon arriving, I was quite impressed to see the crowd of people spilling out onto H street. This premiere was complete with limousines dropping off the actors, a red carpet and a huge search light going around and around in the night sky. Waiting for my date to find a place to park the car, it was down right fascinating to see such a gathering in my humble hometown. Once inside this charming theater, it was clear that this would be a memorable night for everyone in attendance.

Stamped started with much fanfare from the audience. You could instantly recognize the youthfulness. Lots of shout outs to Bryce Hatch and the assorted actors as the opening credits rolled onto the screen. It was as if being in the gymnasium during a pep rally in high school. With an abundance of energy in the room, I was now prepared for an enjoyable experience.

The movie started off being quite comical. Mitchell (Brian Kubach) is hilarious as the class clown. His facial expressions (think Jim Carey) are so good that I truly believe he can go far in the acting field if he so chooses. Lindze Letherman portrays Victoria, the perfect student who we come to find out lives a not so perfect life. I have seen Ms. Letherman before as Georgie on General Hospital. She is talented and I was pleasantly surprised to see her listed as an executive producer. Wow, if only the celebutards running around Hollywood today could be so sharp.

My only suggestion is that there could have been more depth to each character. I would have loved to see how Mitchell became so nutty and full of such wisdom for a teenager. Cody, DeSahwn and Vanessa were the outliers in a story focusing on mostly two characters. There is also the teacher who is both strange and lovable at the same time. It is not until the end of the movie that we get to see him show some true emotions.

I feel fortunate to have seen Stamped. Bryce Hatch is a brilliant filmmaker. What a gift Frontier High School has in Mr. Hatch. Judging by audience response and the packed Fox Theater, he just might have found his calling. This guy deserves a big budget to make big movies! I can’t imagine what a little more funding would do for this clever mind. I appreciate all of the hard work and long hours that was put into this project.

For a local guy to achieve this is just amazing.

www.stampedmovie.com

To read the entire article on the Bakotopia website click HERE.

17 News at Sunrise talking about Stamped!

Andrew — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:53:24 +0000

Bryce Hatch and Andrew Waite talking about upcoming movie premiere for STAMPED at the FOX THEATER on Feb 27, 2009.

We got to go on the news and talk about the movie. It was really early… hopefully that explains why I look totally stoned. Enjoy! See you all TOMORROW!!!!

It’s ALMOST HERE!

Andrew — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:15:36 +0000

It’s almost here… I’m ready for it to be over already.

Anyway, the Bakersfield Californian wrote a wicked sweet article on the film today so go grab a paper and check it out!

See ya on Friday!

Now playing: Local film ‘Stamped!’ gets red carpet treatment at Fox | Bakersfield Californian

Amber — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:49:14 +0000

BY LOUIS MEDINA, Californian staff writermailto:lmedina@bakersfield.com

Tuesday, Feb 24 2009 6:12 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Feb 25 2009 7:52 AM

It was shot in two weeks at Frontier High School in the middle of summer 2007, with no air conditioning and security alarms going off from time to time, among other production problems.

“Stamped!” is a feature-length film shot entirely on location at Frontier High School. It involved the work of English and filmmaking teacher Bryce Hatch and about 30 students who volunteered to work on the production. A red-carpet sneak preview will be held Friday at the Fox Theater downtown. Admission is $6 and proceeds go to the Frontier High film department.

“Stamped!” tries to show the difficulty high school kids have in breaking down the social barriers and stereotypes with which they are often labeled or “stamped.”

The filming of “Stamped!” The filmmaker is eager to spread a family-oriented message with his art.

It spent a year in post-production, as cinematographer/producer/film editor Andrew Waite worked alone on getting it down to its final 97-minute length on evenings and weekends — between his bread-and-butter jobs of filming local television commercials. “Going into it, I thought it was going to be a lot easier,” Waite said. “Now that it’s over, I can’t believe the day has finally come that it’s being premiered.”

That day is Friday at the Fox Theater downtown, where, Waite said, “searchlight, paparazzi, press board and red velvet ropes, limos, the whole nine yards,” will be ready for a public sneak preview screening of “Stamped!” a local labor of love written and directed by Frontier High English and filmmaking teacher Bryce Hatch.

In the film, Hatch tries to show the difficulty high school kids have in breaking down the social barriers and stereotypes with which they are often labeled or “stamped.” “I’ve been teaching for 13 years,” the 35-year-old said, “so all the ideas pretty much came from everything I’ve seen.”

Some 30 Frontier students from the school’s film department volunteered as crew members, extras, even caterers — with the help of some of their moms and dads, who brought food to the set. A grateful Hatch called them “home-grown volunteer people who wanted to help make a movie.”

The biggest expense was paying for the movie’s main actors, most of them Los Angeles-area Screen Actors Guild members.

According to Hatch, when movie executives consider buying a film for distribution, “they don’t really focus on the storyline … or the special effects. They focus on who’s in it. It was smart for us to go with as big of a name as we could find, with the limited funds that we had, to try to be able to make the film sell.”

And Hatch, a Mormon who has written some eight other family-friendly screenplays free of what he calls the “formulaic” sex, nudity and excessive violence common in mainstream Hollywood films, is committed to making “Stamped!” sell.

“The film ‘officially’ goes on the market (after the premiere) to be sold to the highest bidder,” Waite wrote in an e-mail. “It has a good chance of being ‘picked up’ by a distribution company such as Lionsgate, Fox Searchlight, IFC, Castle Rock, etc. Most likely a straight-to-DVD release, but you never know.”

Hatch and Waite also hope that among those attending Friday night’s screening of “Stamped!” will be potential investors of other projects on which the two are teaming. That includes “R&J”, also written by Hatch, which Waite describes as “a modern-day ‘Romeo and Juliet’ set in today’s high school.”

Shooting is set to begin locally in July, Waite said.

To read the full article on the Californian website check it out HERE or http://www.bakersfield.com/619/story/699871.html

“Stamped!” Is “Breakfast Club With a Modern Twist | Facenews

Amber — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:53:58 +0000

It’s not the same script as “The Breakfast Club.” But “Stamped!” is a fresh take on the old John Hughes genre and it uses an actor the audience will recognize from such television shows as “Hannah Montana” and “Wizards of Waverly Place.”

(The film premieres at the Fox Theater at a red carpet event Friday, Feb. 27. Actors will be attending!)

Fans of 80s movies like the “The Breakfast Club” (1985) or newer high-school themed TV shows like “Camp Rock” and “Hannah Montana” are going to want to see ”Stamped!” The film appeals to two generations of film and TV lovers, which is nice for those who miss the rawness of 1980s John Hughes flicks. Today’s Disney-made high school themed productions seem too afraid to dig into certain themes and rarely allow an actor like Kubach to literally turn the screen into a series of hilarious comedy routines.

While “Stamped!” doesn’t dig too deeply into teenage angst, it does hint at what teenagers face: tough talk from peers on issues that involve stereotypes and ethnic divides.

The film actually takes a brave stance on race as a black character, Deshawn is confronted by the goofy albeit sarcastic realities coughed up by the film’s white main character, Mitchell. The only uncomfortable scene in the film doesn’t come from Mitchell, but rather another student, played by Matt Thompson, who asks Deshawn race questions.

Mitchell is played by the hilarious up-and-coming actor Brian Kubach. Every class clown who sees the film will want to one-up Kubach who is able to take classroom shenanigans to bizarre levels. His Jim Carey-style facial expressions, slapstick humor and zany off-the-cuff acting carries the film, which uses six Screen Actors Guild actors and lots of Bakersfield extras.

Created by Director Bryce Hatch of Frontier High school, “Stamped!” was shot on location at the school. “As cute as the script is, the actors made the film,” Hatch admits. And he’s right. Kubach’s on-screen improvisations are a hilarity to watch throughout the movie, which begins with the actor in a rather uncomfortable scene involving about a dozen pencils.

Hatch said Kubach originally tried out for the part of the jock Cody in the film. But after Hatch and editor Andrew Waite met the actor, Kubach was asked to read for the part of the main character: the bizarre-humored Mitchell who is out to disrupt class while doing a make-up test.

ABC (not in Bakersfield) lighting equipmet to use during the two-week shoot. Waite said actress Lindze Letherman, who plays Tori, one of the film’s troublesome teens, helped get the equipment donated.

Hatch wrote the screenplay in about two months time in 2006. There was a film crew of about 35 people for a July and August shoot in 2007. Waite has been editing the film ever since.

What people should get from “Stamped!” is a chaotic journey through the harsh realities of teenage life.

The make-up test the students work on and their goofball actions, led by the crazy Mitchell, is a microscopic peek at how order comes out of the chaos of high school life. While the film doesn’t have Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson or Ally Sheedy, what the movie does have is a formula that works and Kubach, who is a delight.

David Peres who plays the student’s dorky teacher giving the test also has some funny scenes in the film.

Hatch said that ”Stamped!” doesn’t get excessive. He leaves those trademarks for the rest of Hollywood as he said he wants people to leave the theater with a happy feeling inside. Anyone who watches the film will not only leave the theater laughing, but trying out some of Kubach’s facial expressions.

The film also stars Matt Thompson, G. Lane Hillman, Kaitlynn Lerma and has a guest appearance by Bakersfield’s George the Giant, who was recently featured on “America’s Got Talent.”

“Stamped!” is premiering on Feb. 27 at the Fox Theater. Any kid obsessed with Disney television should be in attendance.

Tickets: $6; Purchase tickets here or at box office.Where: Fox Theater
When: Friday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.
Watch Trailer: View
IMDB: More on the film

Read the article on the facenews website at HERE.

Director Bryce Hatch

Editor: Andrew Waite

Goofing around the set of Stamped!