One film done, only two more to go.

We recently unearthed some unused footage from our 2010 short Student Driver and decided to create a little ‘day in the life’ of everyone’s favorite driving instructor, Stanley. Turns out Chett Strongbow isn’t the only student driver that gives Stanley high blood pressure.

In August 2011, we had a 3 week adventure – writing, producing and editing a movie for the Project Twenty1 Film Festival. The unpredictability of filmmaking was not missing from this production. At the end of the three weeks we turned something in that we were very happy with. And without further adieu, The Butler Did It.

Surprise Element
starts with a crash

Awards
Best Writing
Audience Choice [blue screening]

Nominations
Best Film
Best Editing
Best Concept
Best Sound Design
Best Costume Design

Credits
Directors: Justin Schaack + Kristin Schaack
Producers: Kristin Schaack + Justin Schaack
Writers: Justin Schaack + Kristin Schaack
Story By: Justin Schaack, Kristin Schaack, Tom Sorenson, Logan Martin + Ashley Martin
Cinematographers: Justin Schaack + Jesse Meehl
Original Music: Nathan M. Schilz
Editor: Justin Schaack
Visual FX: Adam Tow
Title Illustrations: Robert Pflaum
Steadicam Operator: Jesse Meehl
Sound Recorders: Tom Sorenson + Dan Schaack
Best Boy: Dan Schaack
Grips: Mike Schaack, Logan Martin, Steve Brown, Curt Ash + Joel Allard
Make-Up: Meghan Sitek
Wardrobe Stylist: Ashley Martin
Script Supervisors: Ashley Martin + Ryanne Dunning
Still Photographer: April Kienberger
Special Thanks: Brian + Sue Drummond, Steve + Cindy Schaack, Jessica Bierbrauer, Sylvia Bauer, Dolores Pemble, Marc Drummond, Rita Drummond, Colin Drummond, Steve Desmond, Michael Anthony Sherman, John Burgess, Dan Orozco, Luke J. Ogrodnik, Joren Skov, Bronwyn Skov, Dr. Eric Slapnicher, Tim Slapnicher, Patty Lucking, Steve + Tammy Engstrom, Dakota County Historical Society, LeDuc Mansion, Lights On Minneapolis, Yellow Tag Productions, The Spool House, Dress Me Up Costumes, Rivertown Eye Center, Project Twenty1

Dudley: Darrin Shaughnessy
Maid: Julianne Medcraft
Detective: Michael R. Morningstar
Butler with Bruschetta: Logan Martin
Butler with Cold Remedy: Crane Adams
Butler with Tryst: Adam Kienberger
Butler with Mole: Dan Schaack
Butler with Denial: Steve Brown
Butler with Elevation: Curt Ash
Butler with Mustache: Steve Schaack
Butler with Intuition: Mike Schaack
Butler with Anxiety: Joel Allard
Bert the Butler: Bert Goderstad

What: LeDuc Harvest Haunting
When: Saturday, October 29, 5:30pm
Where: LeDuc Historic Estate
Tickets: $5

For information on the event, check it out HERE.

This year, our guests can look forward to the 1991 film, Mom, 1986′s Troll 2 and many more. It’ll be a doosey!

Happy Halloween!!

Photos by April Kienberger [Bapoo's Pictures] and Kristin Schaack. To view all the photos, check them out HERE. **Potential spoilers by viewing the photos**

During the month of August Above-the-Line Entertainment, along with 51 other teams, wrote, produced and edited a short film in 21 days. This year’s surprise element was Start with a crash.

Last night, our film The Butler Did It premiered. The screening was followed by the Awards Ceremony. Amongst so many great films, we feel very honored to have been nominated in the following categories:
- Best Costume Design
- Best Sound Design
- Best Editing
- Best Concept
- Best Writing
And
- Best Film

Of our nominations, The Butler Did It won Best Writing. This was an especially exciting win for us, because the process this year was much more difficult than in years past. We spent four days concepting before we landed on our final story. Once we had our script, we spent many hours revising and vetting it out to close friends to read and provide feedback to help make it the best it could be. Along with the process, the content of the script is near and dear. It was definitely a fun opportunity to comment on a woman working in a primarily male field. As a co-writing, co-producing and co-directing duo, I’ve definitely found an equality that I hope other women can find in film.

In addition to the Best Writing award, we were shocked and excited to have won the Audience Choice Award for our screening. This is always such a special award, since it’s voted on by the audience. And being out-of-towners, with only two of us representing the film, it’s an honor to have the support of other filmmakers, as well as complete strangers. We strive to make movies that are entertaining to a wide audience. Receiving this recognition is a nice validation that we are accomplishing that.

We are very pleased with how The Butler Did It was received, but we are equally excited by the other great work presented and recognized at the festival. A BIG congratulations to Jeremy Cavner and Team Spinshot Films for their movie, Making an Impact, this year’s Best Film!

To see all the nominees and winners click HERE.

Thanks to Stephanie, Matt and all the Project Twenty1 volunteers who make this festival an amazing and memorable weekend for filmmakers!

Logan has been with us since the beginning of Above-the-Line Entertainment, acting, writing or helping out on set in almost every project we’ve produced.

How long have you been acting?
I’ve been acting since the glory days of Middle School in Hastings, MN which is when I first experienced the joy of entertaining people. I have been very fortunate to have many opportunities to work with ATL Entertainment before on short films, commercials, and even a public access TV show.

What is your favorite movie and why?
Such an unfair question, so I’ll just pick one that it’s my top ten list. I’ll go with The Usual Suspects — incredibly well written story with surprising twists, awesome acting, and beautiful cinematography.

When you’re not brainstorming, writing or acting with ATL, what are you doing?
I’m a Community Development Specialist with the City of Oakdale, MN, where I do redevelopment projects, housing programs, and planning/zoning for the City.

Anything you found unique about working on a 21 day film competition?
The best part about the 21 day film competition is knowing that the group will have a completed short film in 21 days.

Best/Worst aspects about writing for a movie with a 21 day deadline?
It’s nice to have more time than the traditional timed film festival to brainstorm, write, and edit a script. But, in the same token, it’s tough because you’re always thinking, “if we just had a few more days we could expand on this aspect or that scene so much more.” Thus, the fun of a timed film festival!

Do you have a favorite story or experience from working on The Butler Did It?
So many great stories from overnight and early morning shoots….I’ll go with watching Crane Adams drop his face in a nasty plate of cold SpaghettiOs for well over a half an hour….his skin was stained for hours after the shoot, apparently!!

If you’re like us and can’t get enough of Logan, check out his work below. We dare you not to laugh while watching him!

Stealing More, Using Les [June 2011]
Student Driver [August 2010]
what’s wrong with lewis? [March 2010]
Walter the Wolverine [June 2009]
A Chance With Destiny [April 2009]
Word on the Street [March 2009-August 2010]
Confessions of Oakdale Homeowners [March 2009]
Carmex – Share the Tingle [September 2008]
Brewing a Quarter in Every Case [February 2008]
Krafty Friend [November 2007]
Protect and Serve [May 2007]

This was a pleasure for us to have the opportunity to work with Darrin on the this movie. We had seen Darrin in many short films, including The Disinherited, directed by Towle Neu and a trailer for an upcoming project by Ryan Strandjord, Prescription Happiness.

How long have you been acting?
I have been acting for 30 plus years. Of course, I started in childhood lying to my parents and once I had a gig selling balloons at the fair.

Have you done many short or feature films?
I’ve done about a dozen or so films. Mainly shorts. I did a few film projects back in college. Last year I started auditioning around the Twin Cities and have been involved in some shorts, features and trailers.

What is your favorite movie and why?
The Godfather. It’s a great story brilliantly directed using some of the best actors to ever work on the screen . Each scene is a complete story. That many great actors working together on one film is amazing.

Have you worked with Above-the-Line Entertainment prior to this movie?
I have not, though I hear I was being considered for a project they did last year.

Anything you found unique about working on a 21 day film competition?
I guess 21 days vs say 48 or 50/50 or 100hr gave the Director and Producer a little more cushion to make sure they got the footage they wanted. It seems that there’s always a crunch when you get on a set to utilize the crew you have assembled in the time you have.

Any expectations or surprises going into filming?
I have seen some of Kristin and Justin’s finished work, so I was expecting to be working with professional quality talent that puts out a fine finished film with high production value. There were no surprises really except perhaps they exceeded my expectations in execution and results. These two really know how to roll with the punches yet make very few artistic compromises.

Have you worked with Above-the-Line Entertainment prior to this movie? Any expectations or surprises going into filming?

I have worked with ATL many times in the past, yes. What I have come to expect from ATL and from the experience of working with them is professionalism – professionalism with the allowance for complete goofiness when the occasion arises. I also expect that what I see during filming will turn into something awesomely unexpected when finished.

What is your all-time favorite movie and why?
To pick one would be to insult all my other favorites…I believe I have 1 favorite per genre. Such as Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior for martial arts films without stunt doubles. And The Usual Suspects for criminal suspense film with unexpected twist ending. And how could I leave out Iron Man for super hero movie with anti-hero public figure. Ahh…the list goes on. That is what makes Hollywood so incredible! It offers something to love for just about everyone and everything to love for someone like me.

Anything you found unique about working on a 21 day film competition?
The most unique thing that I encountered would have to be that I predicted less rush rush rush than in the 48hr. But due to the increased scale of the production, including cast and script and set, we had to cram quite a lot into a relatively small amount of time!

Do you have a favorite story or experience from working on The Butler Did It?
I think working with Bert was the freshest and most entertaining time I had during filming. His excitement to be a part of the film and his dedication to his role was a fantastic way to get things rolling on a very long night!

Biggest sound challenge while shooting The Butler Did It?
A very difficult thing in sound recording, as almost anyone who’s done it will tell you, is vehicle noise. When filming that close to a major road our only saving grace was the time of night we were shooting. Couple that with filming in a very old house and you get the lovely noises a 150 yr old house makes mid-shot! It’s a fun challenge though and I think the results of patience and diligence are quite obvious in the final product…just ask Justin.

Biggest brainstorming challenge for a 21 day film?
I would say the hardest thing we had to overcome was…ourselves. We found that we had to step back and K.I.S.S. a couple of times. It’s tricky trying not to write a 30min or hour long script. Eventually you have to pick one and make it the best you can. And I think we finally did just that!

Your likes and dislikes?
I love working on films with these guys, I really do. And I do NOT like cottage cheese. Nope, hate it.

To see Tom in other Above-the-Line work, check him out HERE.