The Truth is in Moundville

Final Post - The Adventure Continues... on another blog!

2010-08-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Now that "A Genesis Found" is available on DVD, and the film has officially entered into it's final, un-ending phase of distribution, we're discontinuing this blog (not that we've been doing that good of a job keep it updated recently anyway).

However, the story behind "A Genesis Found" is not over. Follow our most exciting chapter-- distribution, and the 2010-11 Southeastern Campus Tour-- on our more informal "travel log", Son of Arkie. The blog will cover the entire tour, as well as feature personal takes on Wonder Mill's philosophies, challenges, failures, successes, and future. Take a gander!

Check out the new blog!

2010-11 Southeastern Campus Tour Kicks Off!

2010-07-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

A Genesis Found kicks off its Southeastern Campus tour on Thursday, July 28 2010 at the University of Montevallo. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with writer/director Lee Fanning. First 50 in the door get a free promo DVD! Support regional film! Books and DVDs will be on sale at the venue.

Here’s the physical address:
Comer Auditorium
75 College Drive
Montevallo, AL 35115

The 2010-11 Southeastern Campus Tour of the film will begin aggressive weekly screenings in September – early December, and pick back up in Late January 2011 – early April. Look for a list of schools coming soon!

“Southern Truths featuring John Patton Jr” Online Comic Sneak Preview!

2010-04-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

The world of A Genesis Found is growing this Fall with the launch of Southern Truths featuring John Patton Jr, a bi-weekly online comic strip that begins where the film left off.

Years have past, but John Patton Jr. hasn’t shaken the burden he unearthed in Moundville. Through War, Love and Loss, John’s successes are overmatched by the secret- the discovery- he fears he can never explain. War Hero, Archaeologist, and Husband & Father—the best years of John’s life are put at peril by mounting obsession and his quest to get back what was took.

John’s search for God carries him through Ball Turret service in the Pacific War, and continues with his rise to prominence as one of the most important archaeologists of his day. But in science he can find no answers- until he’s willing to put it all on the line for the hunt of a mythical ancestor, “The Itinerant Man”—John’s last chance to explain away what he found, and reclaim what he lost.

Scripted by A Genesis Found scribe Lee Fanning, and inked by newcomer Kevin Maggard, follow the bi-weekly serial free online at agenesisfound.com!

Coming Fall 2010 from Wonder Mill Films

Though the strip doesn’t officially launch until Fall 2010, we’re releasing the prologue strip early. Check out this special Sneak Preview here!

To help spread awareness about the upcoming serial, we’ve also put together a Motion Comic of this Sneak Preview strip, narrated by John Patton Jr. himself, Bennett Parker. Check it out!

The Truth is in Moundville Chapter 3!

2010-03-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

Check out the untold story of John Patton Jr.!

2010-03-22T12:33:00.001-07:00

Check out "A Genesis Found" Producer Benjamin Stark's brief but productive write up for the University of Alabama's College of Communication and Information Sciences website here!

John Patton Jr. Goes to War

2009-11-20T08:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneek peek at "Where the Truth Lies", a new promotional video for the film launching with the film's new website next month. We present an older, more mature John Patton Jr.

Screenings in Oak Ridge, Athens and Mobile Upcoming!

2009-10-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

A Genesis Found has a few upcoming screenings in the next few weeks! Here's the schedule, with some details:

Sunday, October 11
At the Secret City Film Festival in Oak Ridge, TN
Screening w/ "The Longest Three Minutes" and "Home Field Advantage"
Film Block 10, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm followed by Filmmaker Q&A
Midtown Community Center, 102 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Festival Site
Festival Videos

Saturday, October 17
SPECIAL SCREENING!
At the Southern Shorts Film Festival in Athens, AL
Details Forthcoming

November 6 - 8 (Exact date TBA)
At the South Alabama Film Festival in Mobile, AL
Details Forthcoming
Festival Site

Opening Scene released on Youtube!

2009-08-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Check out the Opening Scene from the film on youtube!

First Images from "The Nocturnal Third"

2009-08-05T09:05:00.001-07:00

Ben Stark has uploaded the first frame grabs from early scenes of "The Nocturnal Third", Wonder Mill's newest production. Check them out at the Wonder Mill Facebook Page!

A Genesis Found Cast & Crew Screening Photos Online!

2009-07-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

Meant to post this a while back. Andrea Fanning has set up a Shutterfly account to feature numerous photos taken by her and others at the "A Genesis Found" Cast/Crew Premiere at the Bama Theater on April 27. You can see the pics (and add your own free) here.

The Nocturnal Third - Promotional Teaser

2009-07-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

Check out the first look at the next film from Wonder Mill: The Nocturnal Third.

Let us know what you think on our Facebook message board!

Vimeo (Recommended)

YouTube

Wonder Mill Films' Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/wondermillfilms

The Nocturnal Third - Teaser from Benjamin Stark on Vimeo.

"A Genesis Found" Sneak Peek in Huntsville!

2009-06-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

We're hosting a sneak preview of "A Genesis Found" for family, friends and interested parties at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Theater in Huntsville, Alabama on Friday, June 19. Doors open at 6pm, the film starts at 7. $4 suggested donation at the door, but don't let it keep you from coming! As a special treat for folks who come to this screening, we're also premiering a teaser for our upcoming "The Nocturnal Third", which will be released online the following week.

This screening isn't necessarily "Public", but it's not "Private" in a limiting sense-- feel free to invite friends and colleagues who might be interested.

Seating is limited, however, so try and RSVP via e-mail prior to the event to ensure good seats. Send your RSVP to: wondermillfilms@yahoo.com.

"A Genesis Found" Sneak Peek at SFRA 2009 in Atlanta

2009-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

We'll be screening a Sneak Preview of "A Genesis Found" at the Science Fiction Researchers Association's 2009 conference in Atlanta, GA next week. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they allow general admission just for one panel, so if you're interested in coming out, you'd have to pay for the full conference-- not sure on exact rates, but feel free to take a look at their site for more information: http://www.sfra2009.com/

"A Genesis Found" will be screening on Thursday, June 11 at 4pm in the Doggett Room of the Hotel Midtown in Atlanta, GA. The film will be followed by a Q & A with filmmakers in attendance.

A Genesis Found in the News

2009-05-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

A Genesis Found has gotten a little bit of media coverage because of our first private screening. Very special thanks to Josh Hedrick of The Crimson White for working hard on an article that gives voice to several key members of the production team:

A Genesis Found Comes to the Bama

We also thank friend of the production Ben Flanagan, of TUSK Magazine, for taking quite some time in his interview with writer/director Lee Fanning and producer Ben Stark:

Making Movies in Moundville
Full Interview Transcript at Ben's Blog

A Genesis Found Poster Released!

2009-04-29T14:26:00.001-07:00

New Film from Wonder Mill Films

2009-04-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

As we near the finalization of "A Genesis Found", we're prepping for heading into pre-production on our next feature-length project, "The Nocturnal Third". Not much info on the film yet, but we have started a production blog similar to this one to serve us the duration of the film's Production.

http://www.nocturnalthird.blogspot.com/

2009-04-04T10:20:00.001-07:00

Clip from "A Genesis Found" Online!

2009-03-26T09:42:00.001-07:00

Check out a scene from the film!

Description: Cousins Gardner Patton (Elliot Moon) and Bart Thompson (Luke Weaver) catch up near the Black Warrior River at Moundville.

A Genesis Found Footage on Broadcast TV

2009-03-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

WAAY 31, the ABC affiliate News Station in Huntsville, did a story about the new film incentives bill that just passed in Alabama, and featured a TON of footage from the Full Trailer for "A Genesis Found". Check out the video below to see the story-- it also features an interview with Charley White of Tearlach Productions who we rented most of our grip equipment for the film from.

A Genesis Found on IMDB

2009-03-04T12:05:00.001-08:00

A Genesis Found now has a page on IMDB! Here's the link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1381773/

Take a look and feel free to make comments or submit any suggestions. Also, be sure and check back frequently for updates.

Official Site Online!

2009-02-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

Check it out!

http://www.agenesisfound.com/

Full Trailer Released!

2009-02-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

The Full Trailer for the film is now up on Youtube-- here's the link. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gk4biVHOkc

Withoutabox Fan Page

2008-10-24T08:57:00.001-07:00

Ben and I recently set up a Withoutabox project for the film, and also set up a "fan page" offered by the site. It's a good place to look for new media about the film, as well as basic diagnostic information. Feel free to head over and take a look:

https://audience.withoutabox.com/films/agenesisfoundfilm

Huntsville Times Article

2008-10-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

Jon Busdeker of the Huntsville Times wrote a great article about the film for Sunday's entertainment section. Here's a link:

http://www.al.com/entertainment/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1223198143115830.xml&coll=1

Poster should be released in the next two weeks. Here's an early peek at the promo stills (Photo by Samantha Hernandez):

Meet the Director of Photography

2008-09-28T00:54:00.000-07:00

Our DP Stephen Lucas has recently launched a portfolio site (link below). It's a good place to get to know Stephen, in case you want to get on his good side before he gets rich.

It's also of note here that he recently updated his demo reel with a TON of footage from the film-- if you're interested at all in getting some sneak peeks before the next trailer, I suggest taking a look. Here's the link:

http://www.stephenlucas.info/Demo_Reel.htm

Story in the Decatur Daily

2008-09-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

The Decatur Daily ran a story about "A Genesis Found" about a month ago, and I'm just now getting to updating the blog with it. Here's a link to the story:

http://visiblepulse.com/bin/807/story15416.htm

Also, the first cut of the film is complete and we're moving through the second cut. Brett Robinson has already begun work on the score, and we're looking at Foley/Dubs/Composoting and Score Recording all coming up in Mid-October to Early-November.

Also, we're shooting some Pick Ups this weekend, as well as doing some promotional photo stills. Look for those to be released in the upcoming weeks.

Here's a photo from the article:

Teaser Trailer Released!

2008-07-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here it is!

And you can view it in higher quality on the youtube site here:

YouTube - A Genesis Found Teaser Trailer

A Genesis Found Frame Grabs 3

2008-07-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

We're rolling in to our final three shoot days. Here are new frame grabs.

Screen Grabs 2 Continued

2008-07-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Genesis Frame Grabs 2

2008-07-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

We're 22 days in (9 weeks). Here are some more frame grabs.

Frame Grabs

2008-06-10T08:04:00.001-07:00

We're 13 shoot days in-- here are some frame grabs.

Meet John Patton Jr.

2008-04-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

Our first character production still from the film!

Meet our Hair & Make-up Artist

2008-04-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in the previous post, Jackie Hadwin, our Hair & Make-up Designer, recently won The Alcone Make-up Award for her work on UA's Theatrical Production of "The Miss Firecracker Contest". She'll be flying out to Washington D.C. next weekend to compete in nationals.

You can read all about it here:

http://media.www.cw.ua.edu/media/storage/paper959/news/2008/04/08/TheScene/Theatre.Student.Wins.National.Award-3308232.shtml

Congrats Jackie!

Meet the Costume Designer

2008-03-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in meeting some of our crew, our Costume Designer, Peyton Blankenship, has a featured write up on the University of Alabama's web page. There's a link from the main page (ua.edu), or you can check it directly from here:

http://www.ua.edu/features/passion_fashion.html

Congratulations Peyton! Along with our Hair & Make-up Artist, Jackie Hadwin, winning a big award just a little while back, it looks like the rest of our production team is going to have a hard time keeping up.

Casting Wrap Up

2008-02-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

We wrapped our initial phase of casting this weekend with our final auditions in Hunstville. Thanks to everyone who came out for any of the four dates-- there's a tremendous amount of talent around here, and I think we got a pretty good sample.

For those who auditioned, you will be notified sometime this week regarding call backs, either via phone or e-mail.

2008-01-28T18:14:00.000-08:00

Audition Info to Know

2008-01-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

In 1938, while working at an excavation at Moundville Archaeological Park, Civilian Conservation Corp cadet John Patton Jr. found the key to our darkest secret-- an anomalous skeleton that's neither animal nor man. Uncertain of it's implications, Patton concealed the secret for forty years-- until finally revealing it to the world in a sensational novel that would make him notorious world wide. Claiming the skeleton

was proof of not only the existence of extraterrestrials, but also of their involvement in the evolution of the human race, the novel ruined not only his accomplished career as an anthropologist, but also the respect of his family.

Nearly thirty years later, his grandson Gardner, an anthropology student at the University of Alabama, finds himself forced to come to terms with his grandfather's past, a man he never knew but in who's footsteps he inevitably follows. When his cousin, controversial documentary filmmaker Bart Thompson, arrives at Moundville for a seemingly routine shoot, Gardner is eager to help him and his ragtag crew. He soon learns, however, that Bart isn't there just to shoot a movie-- he wants to find the skeleton their grandfather buried nearly seventy years before, and prove once and for all what he claimed was true.

A Genesis Found is an adventure to the heart of one man's quest to understand his beliefs, his purpose, and his heritage. Intriguing, exciting and original, A Genesis Found is a fast-paced, complex mystery, and a probing study of man's connection to nature, to one another, and to God.

Roles:

Gardner Patton (Lead Role – Men, 17-30) is an affable anthropology student from the University of Alabama.
Bart Thompson (Lead Role – Men and Women, 20-35) is a down-on-his-luck Documentary filmmaker with strong political opinions. Also very conscious of his southern roots.
Kelsey West (Lead Role – Women, 17-30) is a smart and affable anthropology student at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Kevin McClean (Supporting Role – Men and Women, 30-70) is a respected (though somewhat “out there”) professor of Anthropology on sabbatical.
John Patton Jr. (Lead Role – Men, 17-30) is an affable cadet in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. Has a strong personal interest in anthropology.
Tim Shaw (Supporting Role – Men, 17-30) is a superstitious yet affable cadet in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938.
Dr. Walter Jones (Supporting Role – Men, 30-70) is an enthusiastic and respected Archaeologist. Chief of the dig at Moundville Archaeological Park.
Dr. Kerry Sims (Supporting Role – Men and Women, 30-70) is an affable, young spirited professor in Anthropology. Professor of the University of Alabama’s Archaeological field school.

Details:

The film will be shot May through July, over the course of nine weekends and one full week in late June. We will primarily be shooting in Huntsville, Alabama, with three days at Moundville Archaeological Park in Moundville, Alabama. The initial table read will be in early March in Huntsville, with rehearsals throughout weekends in April (location TBA). ADR and Reshoots may be necessary, and are scheduled for early August.

Payment is DEFERRED, so this should be considered a volunteer, resume-building opportunity. Our deferred rates are based on SAG Indie requirements for Micro Budget Features and will be worked out in detail with the cast prior to the shoot.

SAG members are welcome to audition, though unfortunately non-SAG will NOT receive SAG points for work on this production.

Call Backs are February 23 at The Dwelling Place gymnasium in Huntsville (2550 Redstone Rd). You will be contacted by February 18.

Unfortunately due to budget restrictions, most transportation costs CAN NOT be reimbursed. Carpools will be organized for cast/crew in similar locations, however, and extreme cases will.

The film will be shot in High Definition DV on the Panasonic AG-HVX200.

Release:

Each audition will be video taped for future reference by the Producers. By auditioning you grant us permission to record your performance and use it in our casting considerations.

Stay Updated:

For updates, visit our informal production blog at agenesisfound.blogspot.com. For questions or comments, please contact the Producers through e-mail at auditions@wondermillfilms.com.

CW Article

2008-01-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Corey Craft wrote a great article about the film for the University of Alabama's paper "The Crimson White". It's primarily promoting our auditions there this weekend, but it does get into some of the creative aspects of the film and has a great synopsis. Check it out.

UA alumni bring film auditions to town - Entertainment

2008-01-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

Inaugural Post

2007-11-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

Wonder Mill Films joins the exciting world of blogging!

This will be our informal home-page-away-from-main-web-page for our current production, the feature length A Genesis Found. Hopefully we'll use this to keep concerned parties updated with the film's status from pre through post production.

And now that I've finished the script, the real work begins....