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How To Make A David Lynch Film

Dances With Films

 

Synopsis

 

A "Lynchian" man and woman find a 1950's style educational video that teaches them How To Make A David Lynch Film. While going through Lynch's canon, they learn how to achieve long pauses for no reason, crazy music and sounds, stories with no plot, and how to confuse the shit out of their audience!

 

HOW TO MAKE A DAVID LYNCH FILM is a parody that will bring Lynch lovers and haters together in comical harmonium!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crew

 

Director
Joe McClean

Assistant Director
Sarju Patel

Assistant Camera
Rich Wong

Costumes
Meghan Anderson

Make Up
Deserae Barajas
Sound Designer
Will Ogilvie

Visual Effects
Michael Benni Pierce

Art Department
Diana McClean

Original Score
Travis von Cartier

Special Thanks to Debbie Lynn Elias

 


Cast

 

Jon Thomas as Your Host

Bruna Matsin as Patricia Rossellini

Dane Bowman as Bill Eraserhead MacLachan

Chas Mitchel as Robert Hopper
Phillip Kelly as Dean Blake

Barry Finnegan as Balthazar Watts

Joe McClean as Elephant Man

Sarju Patel as Man With head in Table

 

 

 

 

Movie Stills


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Jon Thomas as the host of

HOW TO MAKE A DAVID LYNCH FILM.


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Dane Bowman as Henry Spencer

in Lynch's first film ERASERHEAD.

 

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Bruna Matsin as Alice Wakefield in LOST HIGHWAY.


"Making of Story" by Joe McClean

 

It's plain and simple. I watch David Lynch movies and I just don't understand them. I decided I was going to try and figure them out so I stapled my eyes open and had a Lynch-a-thon. It didn't help. I thought if I forced myself to watch, at some point it would just click and it would all make since. That never happened. I believe that good and bad are subjective terms so I allow others to spew forth praise and amazement at the genius of Lynch's work, and I fully believe they have a right to their opinion.

This movie is my opinion.

I found myself drunk and bullshitting with friends about all the things that appear in multiple Lynch films. Not only the same subject matter, but the same images over and over and over again! It cracked me up and we joked about making a How To movie. Now while a normal person would sober up and not take the drunken idea seriously, I decided to build an exact (within budget) replica of a set from Lost Highway and film a movie that I knew had a tiny audience, if it had one at all. Turns out people were thrilled to work on the project and the Lynch debate was evenly represented on both sides (love/hate) of the cast and crew!

It made for one of the most fun filmmaking experiences I've ever had.

Now here I am at Dances With Films. My forth time at this amazing festival and I'm thrilled to screen. I wasted a lot of money on festival submissions where we were rejected. One fest even told me they wouldn't screen my film because they 'celebrate artistic vision and by mocking Mr. Lynch I was going against the purpose of their festival. A judge from another festival wrote me a personal email (after I had received the form letter that started with "We regret to inform you") to tell me that my movie was put up for a vote and caused an argument, an argument that was ultimately lost by one vote in a 4 to 3 victory on the side of not screening my film.

I even had communication with Mr. Lynch's assistant at Asymmetrical Productions, who told me that although he thought I hit the nail on the head for the average viewer, he wanted to defend his boss on a couple of points in the film

which he then listed in his email.

I understand that this movie has a small audience. If you don't know Lynch you may not even get it. If you love Lynch you may hate it. If you hate Lynch you may love it. But if you are already in that small group of lovers or haters, I simply ask that you love or hate with passion. In actuality I think a film festival audience, any fest but especially DWF, is the best place to screen because I think this film will find it's stride when screened in front of an audience primarily of struggling, indie filmmakers.

Thank you David Lynch for being my inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

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Money Please!

 

 

Money Please!

Money Please!

 

Cast       

 

Mark Arnold
Mr. Studebaker

 

Candace Brown
Mrs. Studebaker

 

Chase McKenna
Sarah Studebaker

 

Troy Porretta
Timmy Studebaker

Chas Mitchell
Mr. Green

 

Stevie Mack
Thug #1

 

Timothy "Ice" Byrd
Thug #2

 

Warren Durso
Voice Over

 


Crew        

 

Written / Directed by
Joe McClean

 

Executive Producers
Gino Cabanas
Joseph Campo
Joe McClean

 

Producers
Mark Arnold
Warren Durso

 

Associate Producers
Sarju Patel
J.P. Puerto

 

Director of Photography
Eric Adkins

 

Assistant Director
Gino Cababas

 

2nd Camera Operator
Debbie Formoso

 

Assistant Camera
Kelly Risdon

 

2nd Assistant Camera
Dane Bowman

 

Gaffer
Erin Weller

 

Key Grip
Richard Kim

 

Lighting Technician
Tim Balcomb

Sound Recordist
Brian Curley

 

Production Designer
Azra Ali

 

Art Department
Mila Charleston

 

Costume Designer
Briana Jorgenson

 

Costume Assistant
Cami Nemanich

 

Makeup / Hair
Liliana Kha

 

Makeup / Hair Assistant
Melinda Kessel

 

Production Assistants
Benjamin Stern
Aimee Fortier

 

Editor
Joseph Campo

 

Visual Effects
Emmett Loverde

 

Sound Editor
Will Ogilvie

 

Composer
Ryan Whitney

 

Special Thanks
Scott & Heike Sussman

 

Movie Stills

 

Still1
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Still5
Still6

 

 

 

 

 

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Travesty

 

Runtime: 23 min.

 

A brilliantly smart and jaded man has taken a young woman hostage to intentionally put himself on a collision course with her father.

Festival1

Duncan Garrow nominated for Best Actor in a Dramatic Short

 

Festival2

Travesty nominated for Best Dramatic Short

   TravestyCover

 

Travesty has been turned into a 4 part web series

Enjoy!

 

Part 1

 

 

Part 2

 

 

Part 3

 

 

Part 4

 

 

Crew

 

Directed by
Sarju Patel

 

Written by
Joe McClean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Associate Producer
Duncan Garrow


Co-Executive Producer
Joe McClean


Co-Executive Producer
Sarju Patel


Original Music by
Peter Grusendorf


Cinematography by
Mike Testin


Editing by
Sarju Patel

 

 

Cast

 

Duncan Garrow as Wayne LaRouche


Stephen Mendel as Father


Grinnell Morris as Detective


Jessica Raskin as Hostage

 

 

 


 

 

 

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Apartment 306

 

Runtime: 4 Episodes, 9 minutes each

 

Apartment 306

 

Documentary Series: When Joe decides to stalk his strange neighbor it takes him on a roller coaster into his own moral questioning.

 

 

Episode 1

 

 

Episode 2

 

 

Episode 3

 

 

Episode 4

 

 

 

  

 

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Another Day

 

Runtime: 10 min.

 

A man lives his life one foot in front of the other. It's all he knows how to do after the loss of a loved one.

 

Another Day     

Another Day Award

 

Cast

 

Todd - Joe McClean


Richie - Sarju Patel


Simon - Brendan Brandt


Jenny - Andrea Pandazedes

 

Crew

 

Written/Directed/Edited by
Joe McClean

 

Cinematography & Composition by
Sarju Patel

 



 

 

 

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That Fall

 

Runtime: 85 min.

 

A woman rebuilds her life after the murder of her little girl, only to find out she's rebuilding it with the man that may be responsible for her baby's death.

 

      That Fall



That Fall Award

Cast & Crew

 

Sarju Patel
Director of THAT FALL/Cameo as Heller
Sarju

Sarju Patel currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.  He attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied Film and New York University where he received his B.A. in Film and Philosophy. While attending NYU Sarju studied all aspects of filmmaking, including writing, cinematography, editing, acting and directing.  His short films include THE FOREIGNER, NOT DROPPING CAKES, and INCOMPLETE.  For THAT FALL Sarju applied all he learned in his schooling as he was director, cinematographer, editor and actor. THAT FALL is Sarju's first feature film as director.


Liza de Weerd
playing Janet Wilson

Liza

Liza de Weerd is originally from Nijmegen, the Netherlands, but has called the US (Madison, Boston, and now Los Angeles) her home for most of her life. Liza holds a B.A. in English and Theatre from Boston University, is a member of both Women in Film and The Theatre District acting company, and a co-founder of A Flat With A View Productions. She was most recently seen on the LA stage in the West Coast Premiere of Carpe Dream and as Anna in Lanford Wilson's Burn This. Her recent film and television credits include Alias, the animated series Grova Nostra and the World War II thriller, Zwartboek (Black Book), directed by Paul Verhoeven. She can be seen on stage again in April 2006 as Lainie in Lee Blessing's Two Rooms.

Joe McClean
Screenwriter / playing Luke

Joe

Joe McClean got his start on his high school auditorium's stage. His love for theater brought him to study at Southern Utah University and The Royal National Theater Studio- London England. Now in LA Joe has changed gears to make movies, selling his first screenplay to B.L.i.T.S. Productions, and producing/writing/acting for THAT FALL.


Melissa Wolfe
playing Andrea

Melissa

Melissa Wolfe currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Seth (Mark) and their dog. Originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts, Melissa studied theatre arts at Bridgewater State College. She appeared in several theatrical productions and short films around the Massachusetts area before moving to Los Angeles in 2001. As a proud member of SAG, she has appeared in the television series "Monk" for the USA network, several independent features and shorts, and has done two short films for AFI. Melissa is also proud to be one of the original members of the Chromolume Theatre Company, an ethnically diverse, extraordinarily talented (if she does say so herself!) theatre company in Los Angeles devoted to bringing musicals as well as poignant social dramas to the Los Angeles theatre scene.


Joseph Campo
playing Adam Wilson

Guy

Joseph Campo was theatrically trained at Boston University, has toured in national productions with the Windy City Players and Theatreworks USA, and has starred in several independent films, including "Reconstellation," "Snap," and "Count Me In."  He's currently in production with the interactive feature, "Manipulating Michael."


Seth Wolfe
playing Mark

 


Claire Schlaman
playing Emily Wilson

Lady

Claire Schlaman has been crowned "Santa Clarita's Cutest Kid 2005" not only by her proud parents, but by the judges of the annual competition who also named her most photogenic and best personality. "That Fall" marks Claire's first feature length film, having previously appeared in the short "The Anniversary".  She has trained with Joey Paul-Jensen (acting), and Belinda Balaski (commercial workshop) and is currently studying ballet and tap.  She dedicates this performance to her dog Chandler.


Noah Schuffman
playing Wilson's Partner

Guy2

Noah Schuffman originally from Columbia, Missouri comes to Los Angeles via Chicago. Noah graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Marketing and a Minor in Performance Theater. Some of Noah's favorite roles include Martin in Fool for Love and Danny in Grease. He was recently seen as Kal in Infinite Black Suitcase at the LATC. Noah would like to thank his family, friends and loving fiance.


Rachel Ward
playing Rachel

Rachael's first role was as a baker in her Kindergarten play at Palomino, she continued to pursue her love of theatre and film throughout high school and into the present. Along the way, she has worked on various projects such as local commercials, Jerry Maguire, and the soon to be released film Forget About It. Rachael is also an aspiring singer/songwriter where her musical talents helped produce a song for the movie That Fall entitled "Still In Drive." Rachael is in love with what she does and hopes to continue her creative passions in these fields and produce work that will both entertain and challenge people.


Marcus Dreeke
playing Robertson

Marcus started acting on stage 6 years ago, doing the Shakespeare on the Rocks festival. He moved to L.A. two years ago, working on many movies such as "Wedding Crashers", "Spanglish", "Day After Tomorrow" and "Malcolm in the Middle". He hopes to start his own production company to work with both theatrical and television entertainment.

John Seitzer 
playing John

Born and raised in Missouri, John graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in theatre. Most recently, he was seen on stage playing Pale in Burn This. Since then, he completed work on the animated series Grova Nostra and will be seen this spring playing Walker in Lee Blessing's Two Rooms. He reached a major career milestone in 2005 when he co-founded A Flat With a View Productions.


Andrew Mueller
playing The average Guy

Jeannie Bolet
playing THE Therapist


Eric Saez
playing The Study Partner

 

Jessie Gabrielle
playing The Woman Selling Car


Chris Ciccarelli
playing The Radio Show Host

 

Featuring the Pete Contino Band!

 

Pete Contino Band

 

 


 





Coffee Connection

 

Runtime: 6 min.

 

A man and woman, both fed up with trying to meet someone of the opposite sex, find themselves in a coffee shop with the ability to somehow speak telepathically.

 

Coffee Connection Award

 

     



Cast & Crew

 

JOE - JOE MCCLEAN

 

NATASHA - NATASHA GAVIN

 


COFFEE ADDICT - QUINN MANDER

 

BARISTA - SASHA CHAVEZ

 

GIRL IN PINK - CAT CLAUSI

 

GIRL IN BLUE -FRANCIS HANLON

 

FLY GUY - ELI KRANSKI

PRODUCER - JOE MCCLEAN


DIRECTOR - JOE MCCLEAN


WRITEN BY - JOE MCCLEAN


DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - WILLIAM HOPKINS


ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - EDWARD WHEELER


ORIGINAL SCORE - WILLIAM OLVIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bios

 

JOE MCCLEAN

Joe McClean got his start on his high school auditorium's stage. His love for theater brought him to study at Southern Utah University and The Royal National Theater Studio- London England. Now in LA Joe has changed gears to make movies, selling his first screenplay to B.L.i.T.S. Productions, and producing/writing/acting for THAT FALL. THE COFFEE CONNECTION is Joe's directorial debut.

JoeBio

 

 


NATASHA GAVIN

Natasa Gavin is a recent graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She has appeared in the short films "Johnnifer" and "In Fear and Faith", and will be shooting the Piper Perabo film "In Vivid Detail" later this month.She has appeared on many New York stages including the Ensemble Studio Theatre (Off-Broadway) and the Theatre-Studio, ncorporated.

NatashaBio

 

 

 



 

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Switcharoo

 

Based on the short story "The Great Switcheroo" by Roald Dahl.

 

 

Cast & Crew

 

Starring:
Chas Michell
Maggie Grant
Grinnell Morris
Julie Lancaster

Writer/Director - Joe McClean


Director of Photography - Sarju Patel

 

Featuring "Back to the Ground" by Jamie Cullum

 

 

 







Boy Talk

 


Boy Talk was featured content on the website www.funnyordie.com

 

Cast & Crew

 

Barry Finnegan as Tommy
Jon Thomas as Rich

Director - Joe McClean
Assistant Director - Sarju Patel



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Namaste Scene

 

A scene from the unproduced feature screenplay by Joe McClean.

 

 

Cast & Crew

 

Starring:
Heather Wood and Dane Bowman

Special Thanks: Rich Wong, Sarju Patel, Joe McClean





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Just Another Joe

 

Original Content for the Launch of www.somebodysbasement.com

 

 

Cast & Crew

 

PHILLIP KELLY as Joe 1-5
ANDREW MUELLER as Body Double

Writer/Director/Editor - Joe McClean
Director of Photography - Sarju Patel
Sound Design - Will Ogilvie
Original Score - Michael Teoli

 

 



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