It's Been A While

Hey No Tomorrow Fans,

If you're wondering what's going on with the project and why we've been pretty silent here on the blog, the answer is simple.  We've been focused primarily on posting updates on the Facebook Page.

For any of you who prefer to get your updates via the blog, I'll give you a summary of our progress.

Frank has been busy working on getting the script where it needs to be.  He's gone through a handful of drafts and it's safe to say the finish line (Note: not the Finnish line) is in sight.  There may still be some significant changes, but much of the remaining work lies in polishing dialog, tying up any loose ends, and so on.

We've also been busy working on the Pitch Package for No Tomorrow.  It consists of the relevant details for the project.  Synopsis, logline, crew bios, actor attachments (we're working on this), budget estimates, production schedule, and a lot more.

The next milestone is the point at which we can take the "locked" draft of the script (locked doesn't mean there won't be changes, it simply means there won't be significant changes and the overall structure will remain in place) and the completed pitch packet to interested investors (if you know any, we'd be thrilled if you sent them our way).  The good news is, there is some interest.  The sobering news is, nothing is certain until it's in the bank.

Simultaneously, we'll also be reaching out to actors and actresses on our "Dream List" by contacting the corresponding Agents and Managers.  If they like the project, we'll send the script over and go from there.  Needless to say, the better known the actor or actress, the more attractive the project becomes to potential investors, distributors, etc.

That's it for now.  Thanks for your patience so far and please help us by continuing to spread the word!

Take Care,
Chris Pluchar

P.S. - We're also going to be starting a Twitter account for the film, so stay tuned!

The Journey Continues...with guns.

Hello everyone! FIrst off I just wanted to say thanks to all our followers. We have had over 2000 views of our main teaser alone on YouTube. While this is great, we are always trying to get more so we need your help. Please share all of our sites (Facebook, Blog, Official Site) with any of your friends on-line. We greatly appreciate it. Now with the shameless plug out of the way...

Here we are: on the the other side. We have launched the films and now the real work begins. The response has been very positive. Here are a couple of quotes we recieved about the films: 

" It was intense! I loved it! I wish I could have seen more! Good sound effects and setting! I would go and see "No Tomorrow"!!!"

"You left me wanting to see more......will there be a tomorrow?"

"I'm very impressed. I hope to see the full movie soon :)"

"The most realistic zombies and zombie make-up I've ever seen.  HOORAY!"

"That is intense. It leaves you wanting to see MORE...."

"The teaser looked great! The only problem I had with it was that I wanted to watch more!!!"

"Amazing. Someone who actually looks like they could survive, in a zombie survival film! This could be the cure for the "Walking Dead" reality show reject crap we keep getting these days. Maybe someone will figure out how to herd/bait mindless zombies into a combine or shredder/incinerator as well. Imagine, a Zombie movie where people aren't idiots..." 

"I've watched this clip about 5 times now and after each time I do, there are two things I desperately want to do. 

1. Kill some muthaf***ing zombies!! 

2. Watch the full feature of this movie."

I love that last one! We are doing everything we can to get this feature off the ground so stay tuned. Now if we are moving forward in a zombie infested world, a couple of guns can't hurt. I know what you're thinking: guns? Really? Bullets are obsolete. They are an endangered species. Nobody is making anymore of them, right? But there are a TON of bullets in the world and just like oil, people on this planet like to use something until it's totally exhausted. 

In the film the TRAVELER uses a military version of a popular rifle known as an M4, a modern version of the M-16 which became poplular in the Vietnam War. It's based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by Armalite. It's an effective rifle and in the zombie apocolypse it can be your best friend. Now understand that the TRAVELER is not a soldier. In the feature film we find out that he meets a wounded Marine and cares for him until he dies due to his injuries. Not only does he take his weapons and gear, but in a way he also takes on his identity. He is mistaken for a soldier several times by survivors and he uses this facade to project strength. The rifle is his last resort, prefering an assortment of melee weapons he has gathered during his journey. 


Just thought I'd shed a little light on that bad boy. Big shout out to MAGPUL, maker of some of the best M4 accessories ever made. Check back soon for more zombie killing weapon breakdowns. 


And as always...watch your back. 

FTZ

Official NO TOMORROW Teaser Live!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's the moment you've been waiting for.  The main teaser for NO TOMORROW is now live!  Check it out below and be sure to share it with your friends and family to help us spread the word and get the feature film made next year.  (If you have an extra minute, jump on our YouTube Channel and let us know what you think too.)  Enjoy!

NO TOMORROW is the story of a man (the TRAVELER) who loses his family in the early days of a global outbreak. Several months later that man has become a battle hardened warrior surviving on his own in a world overrun by the undead. Set in the Midwest, the film focuses on this man's struggle as he journeys to safer lands and rediscovers his humanity along the way.

Also, now that the main teaser has launched, we're busy developing the feature length script and plan on posting updates on our progress as well as any relevant interviews, stories, etc...stay tuned.

Take Care,

Chris Pluchar

Bugging Out.

Hey NT fans: I wanted to give you a rundown of the TRAVELERS "bug-out" gear. In the zombie survival world, most people have very specific bug-out kits. They are designed to be everything you need an one compact, well stocked and most of all mobile kits. In the film NO TOMORROW, the TRAVELER has gathered various items over several months. A large portion of it is mil-spec (military specifications/standards) gear but he is not a soldier. In the feature version of the film, he comes across a soldier and eventually "inherits" the gear. Other items have been scavenged along the way. Here is an overview of the gear you've seen in the mini-teasers so far:

1.) Colt SOPMOD M4 Carbine Rifle with Knights Armament RIS, Red Dot Scope, Silencer and Magpul Accessories

2.) Steel Axe with Wooden Handle

3.) Hecklor & Koch USP .45 Pistol with Blackhawk Cross Draw Serpa Holster

4.) Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife

5.) Beretta 92FS Pistol with Blackhawk Sepra Leg Holster

6.) Oakley Factory Pilot Gloves

7.) Camelback Hydration System

8.) Gerber Gator Machete

9.) Bed Roll

10.) Mulitcam Kneepads

11.) Multicam Tactical Vest

12.) Map Armband

13.) Rucksack Containing:

-First Aid Kit

-Flashlight/Glowsticks

-MRE (Ready-to-eat) Meals/Water Purification Tablet

-Compass/Rope/Maps

-Survival Radio with hand cranks/solar charging

-Various other essentials

In working on the story for this film I was quite impressed by the level of work that people put into  constructing the perfect bug-out kit. In fact, the US Government recommends that everyone should have some kind of survival kit on stand by in case of a disaster, man made or natural.

Do you have yours?

FTZ

Negative Ghost Rider...the pattern is full.

So FLYOVER is up. Awesome. I really love this clip because it gives us the first sense that this is all bigger than we know. As the audience we see this world through the TRAVELERS eyes. Since he avoids contact with people (alive or dead) at all costs, we only get a few glimpses of whats happened to the rest of the world in this zombie apocolypse. A big congrats and thanks to Gary Schwerzler from Magi Filmworks. He's our VFX's guy. Great work, especially under such a tight deadline. Check out some screen shots below:

So tomorrow is the big day. It's the launch of the main teaser for NO TOMORROW. We hope you'll check it out and share with your friends!

Thanks for watching. Hope you're diggin' it.

FTZ

Mini-Teaser 3 of 3 is now live! Flyover!

Ladies, Gentlemen, and soon to be Zombies,

Below you can now view the final mini-teaser. Don't forget to share with your friends and family and give it a thumbs up on YouTube if you like it!

Flyover - The TRAVELER is navigating his way through the Midwest when he hears the deafening scream of fighter jets flying overhead. This is a mini teaser, part 3 of 3, leading up to the main teaser we'll be launching tomorrow!

Take Care,
Chris Pluchar

Show some mercy...

So mini-teaser two is up. MERCY shows the TRAVELER encountering another survivor who has been recently bitten. A dear friend of mine, Cathleen Hennon, plays the victim. Even in these brief moments, I really loved her performance. She has fought so hard to survive and in this moment she just sits down to face the inevitable. The TRAVELER, played by Jasyn Jefferies, is there for that moment and is reminded of something from his past which you'll learn more about in the main teaser which will release this Thrusday. Great work everyone. Look for the next one tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Mini-Teaser 2 of 3 is now live! Mercy!

Ladies and Gentleman,

The second mini-teaser is ready for you to check out and share with your friends, family, and casual acquaintances!  Check it out below:





Mercy - The TRAVELER encounters a wounded woman in her last moments and knows he has a decision to make. And remember, this is all leading up to the main teaser on 12.09.10.

Take Care,
Chris Pluchar

1 down...3 to go.

So mini-teaser #1 is in the books. "CHECKLIST" gives a glimpse into a day in the life of the lead character of the story, known only as the TRAVELER. Played by Jasyn Jefferies, he is a man trying to survive in a zombie infested world. But instead of surviving in a major urban area, he has chosen to head for the vast forests of the Midwest. This small vignette is designed to show how he uses a routine to keep himself sane. Simple things like checking his weapons, going over his gear...all help him to maintain a sense of control in a world where there is none. In the beginning of the short, we see a dream sequence of a battle with one of the undead. Who is it? What happened? You'll just have to check back to find out.

As the films unfold, the stakes will be raised and the Traveler will come in contact with even more Z's. So stay tuned!

Look for our next mini-teaser, "FLYOVER" on Tuesday. It should be good stuff. Thanks for watching!

FTZ

Updates and a Quick Summary of Strategy

First off, thanks for all the support thus far! We've been getting a great response on Twitter (@PlucharC), Facebook (www.facebook.com/notomorrowthemovie), and a number of other film related blogs and sites.

YouTube Channel & Avatar design by www.likemoyd.com

We've also just created the YouTube channel (pictured right) that we'll be posting the videos to.  That's something I had hoped we could have created sooner and thus spent time networking in the YouTube community, but hopefully our time spent elsewhere will make up for that. So please feel free to get ahead of the game and subscribe to the channel and share it with your friends and family.

I've also had a few people ask me to sum up our strategy. While I'd like to direct them to the previous posts on that very subject and call it a day, I understand the need for explaining it in much briefer terms, so here goes.

Strategy

Several short films over the last year or so have been created and uploaded to YouTube where they then took on a life of their own as they went viral to one degree or another. Following this surge in popularity, many of them received deals with studios, producers, investors, or production companies. The result generally means their project is being made into a feature.

It seems that creating a dynamic pitch piece or proof of concept piece is another, perhaps more unique way of getting the attention of the right people. And that's what we've done.

Pictured: Actor Jasyn Jefferies as the Traveler

We have a feature film concept that we're essentially pitching with three mini-teasers to be released (one at a time) today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. They'll give you a small taste of a moment in the life of our main character, the TRAVELER.

Which brings us to Thursday. That's the big day. We'll be launching both our film website (www.notomorrowthemovie.com) and the main pitch piece which gives you a taste of how the film would start and what the TRAVELER would be like just a few months later after living and surviving on his own.

That's the one we'll need the most help in sharing. If we drum up enough support for the project with that video, then the possibility that this feature film will get made is quite good.

The only question is, will you help us?

Take Care,

Chris Pluchar

"Trust Nothing.  Trust No One.  There is No Tomorrow."

The countdown is on.

Director Frank T. Ziede here. I wanted to check in with everyone and fill you in on some of our last minute progress. We are less than one week away from the lauch of our project and we couldn't be more excited about it. The film is looking amazing. See for yourself:

We have also launched a countdown timer on our official website for the film at www.notomorrowthemovie.com. Head on over and check it out.

We are busy handling a ton of last minute details so I better get back to work. To everyone who is following this blog and supporting our project I want to take a moment and say thanks. We are nothing without you and we hope you enjoy the films.

FTZ

Website Launch

Our Web Designer/Resident Magician, Brandon Comerford (www.brandoncomerford.com), has been working hard day and night preparing the main site for the launch of the No Tomorrow teaser on December 9th. You aren't able to view all the work he's put in, but due to his extra efforts, there's now a splash page complete with the logo and a timer counting down to the launch.  Check it out here: www.notomorrowthemovie.com

It might not seem like much, but web design and coding are pretty much Spanish to me (I know a few sentences and words providing a rudimentary understanding of the language). Also, it's a nice touch that allows us to start spreading the word about the site ahead of time rather than telling people that something will be there eventually.

So check it out and spread the word!

A quick bit about other news. www.cinefile.com and www.terror4fun.com will be featuring No Tomorrow in their respective newsletters. We greatly appreciate their interest and support!

Take Care,
Chris Pluchar

Let's make some zombies.

Hello everyone. Writer/Director Frank T. Ziede here. I wanted to post a message from our amazing makeup artist Michael Peterson of Alchemy Makeup FX. So here you go. Enjoy:

It’s important to me to help the filmmakers I work with make iconic images. So considering the makeup for “No Tomorrow” it was clear that there would be one major challenge: how do I make the zombies for “No Tomorrow” stand out in the sea of zombie content and at the same time satisfy the appetites of fans in this genre. Since this was to be shot on the RED camera, I chose to focus on details such as contact lenses, false teeth and plenty of time on set for application.

I settled into a bit of research mainly to put my mind in the place of dead bodies. Research is one of the most important things a makeup artist can do to prep. It helps sync ones thoughts to the theme of the project. So making appropriate creative choices is effortless in the chaos of the filmmaking process. I took a life cast of our lead zombies teeth. Then spent 3 days sculpting and molding false rotting teeth.

I then prepped my kit.  My game plan was essentially to do an out-of-kit makeup so I needed to be fully stocked with all the build up materials and colors. I wanted to give the surface of his skin the waxy, slightly bloated look that happens when the only life within it  are the micro organisms and bacteria that decomposes flesh.

The makeup for the lead zombie took about 4 hours of building up the skin, coloring, building up the skin more, then coloring some more. I kept in mind that this guy had been feeding and mindlessly tearing through the world, so the final details represent that. I think the final result speaks for itself.

I’m really proud of all the makeup I did and the relationships created on this project. I think the content of this project and the people involved have the makings of a successful film.

Michael Peterson

alchemymakeupfx @gmail.com

No Tomorrow - Cast and Crew List

Hey guys, Chris Pluchar here.  

As mentioned in my previous post, this project wouldn't exist without all the hard work of our cast and crew. So it's with that in mind that I present to you our current (Note: Subject to change!) cast and crew list so you can see all the great people we have on board and how many people really go into making something like this. We should have a few posts from some of the cast and crew in the near future as well, so stay tuned.

If you have any questions for myself or any other cast or crew, please don't hesitate to ask.

Take Care,
Chris

Crew

Director - Frank T. Ziede

Producer - Christopher Pluchar

Director of Photography - Max J. Heiligman

Editor – Andrew Wilsak

Sound Designer and Composer - Paul Nawrocki

Make-Up Artist - Michael Peterson

Co-Producer - Carlos Jimenez Flores

Executive Producer - Corey Gilbert

Executive Producer - Curtis Gilbert

Line Producer - Jon P. Phillips

Assistant Director - Corey Gilbert

Red Wrangler/Owner - Andrew Benz

VFX - Gary Schwerzler

Gaffer - David Hannibal

Key Grip – Dustin Smith

Grip - Sol Miget

Grip - Quinten Ronsick

Grip - Dan Walton

Graphic Designer – Michael Lloyd

Website Designer – Brandon Comerford

Cast

Traveler - Jasyn Jefferies

Hero Zombie - Curtis Gilbert

Wife - Nicole Humphrey

Son - Jared Papach

Mercy Kill Zombie - Cathleen Hennon

Special Thanks

Will County Forest Preserve

Joann Ronsick

Thomasson Lighting & Filmgear Inc.
Zombie Ed and the Terror4Fun Team
Cinefile.com

A Dream Worth Having is a Dream Worth Living

Photo Courtesy of: www.cantstopthebleeding.com

Have you ever given thought to the birth of a dream?

When did it first occur to you that you might want to play major league baseball or fly a plane?

Was it something you saw on TV or heard on the radio? (for those of you born in the 21st century)

Did you tell your best friend or your parents? Or no one at all?

The year was 1994.

My older brother came home from school one day and announced that he would be making a movie for one of his classes. I honestly don't remember really thinking much of it at first, except that I knew if it was something he was excited about, it was likely to be fun.

We soon began the discussion of what the movie would involve, who would play which parts, and what props and costumes we'd need.  My Mom pulled out the sturdy VHS Camcorder (for those of you raised on the internet) and final preparations were made for a film my brother called "Babyface Barbecuesauce" (a parody on the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan scandal).  

I couldn't tell you what role I might have played, (aside from my brother requiring my most villainous laugh at the end of the film) but I do remember helping organize things, setting up sets, helping smear barbecue sauce on my infant sister's face (What?  She was the villain!), and watching the footage play on the TV for the first time. I remember thinking to myself, "I could do this the rest of my life."

And that was it.  That was the birth of my dream.

That's really what the crew of "No Tomorrow" has in common.  A dream.

You simply cannot go into film without a dream. It's what makes you take chances, it makes you work hard, it makes you leave your comfort zone, it's what drives you forward, constantly and relentlessly.  And when all seems lost, it's the only thing that you have left to hold onto.

We were very lucky to work with some extremely talented individuals who all share this passion for film and made this labor of love possible. From the sound team to the camera team to the make-up artist to the actors.  Everyone was on board, working hard, and having a good time.

I want to make sure we tell you all about our crew, but I'm going to save that for future posts since we could sing (well, if we could sing) their praises for hours.

Here's to hoping!

Take Care,

Chris Pluchar

P.S. - This video was shared with me last night. Some of you might enjoy it too.