Gas Mask: a little backstory

For about a year and a half we have been tossing around ideas for films we want to create and produce.  There were two in particular that I worked on, they were close to being finished, to the point of having all the index cards up on the board but in the end, they didn't work for many reasons but mostly the ideas had various structural problems that were too blaring.  They were interesting ideas but it just wouldn't work.

We love film.  It is obvious when we have our meetings every week and I think that was why we were putting too much pressure on ourselves to create a masterpiece.  So much so, that it drained the fun of the process.  I'm sure some of you guys out there know what  mean.

It's very difficult to put aside a project that you have invested a good chunk of time and effort into.  I always try to stay positive about things and think the breakthrough is just around the corner, but at one point you have to be realistic about the what you have and know when to let go.  I spent eight months working on them.

I decided to put everything aside, yet again and write down an fun idea a day for a week and see what happens.  I got up every morning and wrote down anything that came to mind.  It didn't matter how crazy or strange it was.  I thought of things I liked and geek me out.  I came up with five.  "Gas Mask" as I first named it, was one that just kinda stuck with us after a meeting where we discussed the five story ideas.  I like the image of a gas mask.  It's kinda weird. 

I placed the characters in a world where some great event  has happened that has made people and food very scarce.  The main character James is a scavenger, just trying to survive.  The story is about what happens when James comes across a family that hides in a farm and invite him in to break some bread. 

I've always been curious about how people act toward one another.  You really never know who or what kind of person you might bump into.  What are the rules of civility, when the world as we know it ceases to exist.

The script has taken a little over a month to write and rewrite and rewrite and... I believe it there have been maybe 10 - 15 revisions.  Chris Buddy is the man.  He is relentless.  I would finish a version up and email it out at 1 am and his notes would be back by 1:30.  This story is as much his as it is mine.  

By the way, please check out his Awesome Documentary film "Absinthe"

So the script is now ready and we go on to the next phase of this production.  We are hoping to raise funds for the project.  It has been a very exciting month for as at Humungoid Films.  More to come...