What I Know for Sure Quest Documentary

It's been a long time coming...watching clips that go back as far as 2009 roll a voice of reality and perspective through my head. Movie making of any kind is a life-long test of patience. This is particularly difficult if you're a Scorpio, like me. The process will test your patience and skills on every level. It even tests your confidence, and keeps any ego in check. What ego? :) What is here today can be gone tomorrow. What is not here here today can arrive tomorrow. It's all relative to the business. More commonly than ever, I hear about films taking 7 plus years to complete. It can be a matter of integrity, money, logistics, or resources, but it's always a matter of time. You're a product of movie making, just as the movie is a product of you - both breathing and living as one. I'm excited an honored to be able to give you this little piece of me this year in What I Know For Sure (Quest for the Cosmos). We explore a question I've contemplated all my entire life. Here's our extended trailer. Enjoy!! xo

Why "Lost In Sunshine?"

Hi guys!! Well, the impossible has happened again! Lorie just submitted our proposal for a new media grant today, while moving into her new home in MN. Applause is definitely in order. *Pugs and I are clapping now, Lorie*

If you've been hanging around with us at all since 2008, you've probably heard us mention our feature-to-be, Lost In Sunshine, a couple times. ;) Although partially funded, we still lack the big $$$$ we need to turn our screenplay into a movie. But that's OK (for now), it's always been more than a movie - a show.

After lots of careful consideration, we decided that in order to engage our audience (character blogs, FB, newsletters and tweets were not sticky enough) and make our feature, we need to first create audio-visual content for people to click onto and share. That's where our new web series, Fucked Up People, comes in. 

The web series focuses on the two main characters of LIS, Bob and Lyn, and their troubled worlds - before their lives collide in Sunshine.

The grant we're applying for has to be in two (media) parts, so we've decided to take the approach of both streaming media per our web series, and turning our feature into a novel (for all those who love to read!). Basically, you get to know the characters and their dysfunctional worlds before you meet them in our feature or novel. 

Lorie writes, "The episodes will introduce the characters of Lyn and Bob who are two sides of a coin. Lyn views the glass as half empty; Bob, as half full. Both are beset by troubles of their own making. Lyn is profane, unfiltered, and unhappily married and employed. Bob is warm, chatty, and a married father and gambling addict. The series will present “fucked up people” that Lyn and Bob deal with in their respective lives, while also laying out the longer thread of how each of them are messed up, themselves."

Why “Lost in Sunshine?”

In the multiplatform IP world, I’ve seen great projects that tell stories about conspiracies, superheroes, viruses, mysteries and scavenger hunts, robots, social issues and calls-to-action, twenty-something singles, and GLBT teen romance. As Creative Producer of “Lost in Sunshine” (LIS), I want to present something I haven’t seen, yet: a fictional comedy-drama storyworld showing true-to-life foibles of grownups blind to their own complicity in their problems. In other words, “regular fucked up people.”

Our tagline for LIS is, “Is this where you thought you’d be?” Have your choices brought you happiness or pain? Do you feel a victim of your life, or the driver? How many times have you made the same bad choice(s) over and over again, before you realized you weren’t magically going to experience a changed outcome? Did you make a new choice then?

Description of IP

The genesis of the LIS storyworld is a feature screenplay, written by Jentri Chancey. It presents a story about a woman convinced that her mother’s death was a suicide, and that she’s fated for the same path. It shows characters running away from themselves in self-destructive ways: adultery, addiction, theft, overwork, closeted homosexuality, and denial.

In 2009, Lorie Marsh came on board the project and proposed it be executed as a transmedia property – ‘it’s not just a movie, it’s a show.’ Lorie and Jentri’s highest hope is that their fans might come away from the LIS storyworld inspired to look within and see the power they have to make choices in their lives.

-from grant submission, written by Lorie Marsh:

Filmmaking Lesson of the Day: Adapt

As I sat here working on my Born Good script, my mind started to stray... and for good reasons. I'm about to move to Boulder with my husband for an undetermined adventure. With all the packing, cleaning, scattered boxes, financial details, garage sales, donating, thinking about how to comfortably transport three puggies, saying goodbye (temporarily) to friends, getting film projects tight for transition, and applying online to other (paying) jobs... yeah, it happens.

Overwhelmed, I started to wonder if the people who are attached to this film will hang in there with me, through the move, and into even into next year, if needed. Then there was a shift. I began envisioning half of it being filmed in Texas and the other half in CO or NM.... Sure, things might turn out differently than originally planned, but they might be better, too!

Lesson of the day for us indie filmmakers - learn to adapt to whatever circumstances are thrown your way. Chances are, our filmmaking experiences will only be perfect in their imperfection. Chances are - they will be more imperfect than anything else. Hopefully, through these experiences we grow as artists, get a little stronger, and learn to adapt easily.

Adapting has been particularly huge in my filmmaking life. Sometimes working for, and other times working against me. It's a good practice to be often exposed to different, sometimes challenging, situations as if we're conditioning ourselves via "exposure therapy".

I've found that my ability to adapt and detach from most things is great - keeps me from being materialistic and a hoarder. :) But there's a line from which we have to make sure we do not stray too far... and that's the line where detachment meets vulnerability and connectedness. That's another thing I'm working on.

Vulnerability keeps us open and relatable as artists, writers in particular. I hope that I'm able to use my (sometimes) loneliness and reflective periods as building blocks in my stories. I believe that it's those kind of emotions that create believability and connection. It's those kind of stories that touch people, provoke thought, and move them to action.

Without an ability to adapt, we are confined to our "normalcy," or what we think is normal, possibly hindering our abilities to grow as human beings and artists.

Happy adapting!

Behind the scenes of What I Know For Sure documentary.

Colorado Bound!

It's official - my film projects are moving to Colorado with me next year, along with my hubby and three pugs. Most of my current projects (i.e., Born Good and What I Know For Sure: Quest for the Cosmos) will be in post, and a new screenplay awaits me... as much as I want to take advantage of all the snow(y) activities and outside adventures, I'm also looking forward to quiet time with an extra hot soy latte, a fireplay, and "forever lazy" addition. Who says adults can't wear Onesies! I can't wait to really just lose myself in a story again. Give it the full attention is needs and deserves, like I did with Lost In Sunshine. My heart gets all mushy just thinkin' about it. Until we meet again, Boulder... save some ghosts, and a good writing spot back in a corner, with hot chocolate, for me. less than three :)

Stop dreaming it, and just do it!

This year, my plate is full and that's good, 'cause I'm Hungry! How about you?

With an Aether Paranormal (mixed genre piece) in post, a spiritual documentary in the mix, a new script underway (2, actually - new indie drama/apocalyptic sci-fi) and Lorie and I reinventing the wheel a bit with Lost In Sunshine, things are moving right on down the track with love and we ain't lookin' back, my brothas & sistas!

You've heard me blog and sing about "expanding yourself" this year. And for good reason - who else is going to do it, Sunshine? :)

Right now, I'm working with Paranormal Productions in post on a feature. While doing our last set of edits, and having it scored by the beautifully talented Larissa Ness of Austin, we are examining the ending in particular - making sure that it doesn't leave the audience unsatisfied at all. It's surprising - fun - inventive... but could there be more? Don't let ego get in the way of you producing your best work!!

With expansion in mind, I've been writing like crazy (thank you, Mercury in Retrograde!). I'm writing one indie drama I'm planning to shoot sometime this year (around LIS) and the other is an apocalyptic sci-fi that I'm super excited to start 'officially' writing. Just started an outline, but the idea is to keeping writing, improving, and creating things that I'm excited about! Have you tried it? It works well as an anti-depressant, too!

Don't get stagnant. Don't wait on that one special project to thrust you out into the atmosphere! This business isn't particularly patient, either. Like Christmas, it doesn't wait for those who are late.

I'm in the middle of revising Lyn's character to strengthen her intentions/responses as a whole for Lost In Sunshine. One thing I've recently learned is that if you have the time to improve upon your script in any way - you should DO IT. After I made several initial revisions to improve LIS, Lorie and I felt confident that it was at a solid place to "move forward." With unexpected time to do more with our project, I'm finding even more opportunities to improve upon. And I dig some scenes SO MUCH BETTER now. Remember, without a stand-out story or material, you have... well, nothing much I can think of!

Instead of just dreaming it - write it! Instead of being scared of failure, put on your kickass boots (or flip-flops, if you're in TX) and just do it!

Besides, failure means we had to have tried, right? That's worth something, Tiger! In some cases, it's worth everything.
xo J

ps. here's the link to my new docuemntary's blog, What I Know For Sure, if ya wanna follow its progress! ;)

Last Chance to participate in Lost In Sunshine's online world & help create a short film!

Hello Sunshines!

While raising the BIG $ it'll take to shoot the movie, Lost In Sunshine, we decided to feature blogs from our main characters, Lyn and Bob, on a website first - Lostinsunshine.com. Our hope is to attract early fans to our expanded online story world.

We're happy and blessed that we've touched those we have, so far! It's been fun to interact with all of you, and to exchange and share information and ideas! And most of all, to be lifted and inspired by your energy - daily!

We've steadily added behind-the-scenes and character content over the last two years, so this (IndieGoGo) campaign is a continuation of the process to keep 'the whole' rising! It's to raise the awareness of Lostinsunshine.com and to raise funds so that we can keep adding new story content to it.

We now have ONE MORE DAY LEFT for you to participate & be a part of something inventive, special, & exciting, like never before!!

What you need to know:
We've changed the campaign a bit! In lieue of 3 of the online games we'd planned, we want to instead shoot a short film, based on the movie.

Please check out this LINK for the simplified campaign!

You can donate any amount or simply share our link, and we'll be GRATEFUL!

Our goal is to now raise at least $1,000 by Friday (but we couldn't change it from the original amt).

Thanks for continuing to be with us though this wonderful, windy, exciting, insanely fun process!

With Crazy Love, Jentri

Getting personal: My independent film, Lost In Sunshine, and indie documentary, What I Know For Sure

With eight hundred dollars in hand, I once took off alone to NY at the age of 19. Growing up in a small town (no, no, really small - population 300!) I somehow left with this fearless attitude that I could do anything I wanted. Call it naivety, call it good parenting. I had the will to shoot for my dreams, and I was off!!

It was two whole weeks before I returned back to Texas. :)

What I learned from that experience is what I didn't want to do. Very important. And that I wasn't so fearless. NY scared the shit out of me. I didn't know how to get around, talked the nice person at the closest convenience store into cashing my MO's when I needed them, and ate a lot of muffins for dinner. :)

By the time I was 21, I had lost a lot of what had once made me feel whole as a child - a real home to go home to, a long-term relationship, and a cohesive family that was stable and healthy.

In addition, I had shamefully dropped out of school, worked endless minimum wage jobs, and found my friends in less than desirable places. Yes, I was playing out a role that was full of insecurities, heartache, drugs, dishonest people, and a little hope... just barely hanging on to a valuable existence. There was even a time when I lived out of my car. I wasn't sleeping in it, which would've been very different, but I didn't have a home address. I stayed with friends, and worked as much as I had to - just to pay my car payment and for pizza.

Working on my current documentary, What I Know For Sure, and giving the audience an honest portrayal of me and my beliefs has been more challenging than I'd hoped. Consequently, it's forcing me to look into my past, and face what should've perhaps been faced long ago. Could this be the best therapy?

As I write, I realize this has become a bit of a dumping ground, too. But perhaps that's where my doubt, questions, and quest for the cosmos first arose - though those challenges.

Writing has always been an imperative tool for my sanity, too. I can't imagine my life without it, just as you wouldn't imagine living without air. And filmmaking is what brings everything and everyone together. Once it's created, it's like an imprint of your soul - waiting to be relived by others who are intrigued by the journey (or trailer!) enough to watch it.

As I move forward in my 30's, I find all of my hardships, past and present, to be highly beneficial! Mostly, because hard times are accompanied by something we can at least look back on and laugh about. Especially in writing Lost In Sunshine, my sweet disheartened baby, who also hangs on to hope... even when it feels hopeless.

And just look where we are now. :)

Thank you, Lyn and Bob, for making my life seem so flawless.
:)
Jentri

"What I Know For Sure is Nothing."
-Story Musgrave

Official Press Release for Independent film, Lost In Sunshine, via filmmakers, Jentri Chancey & Lorie Marsh with executive producer, Cynthia Litman

As you all know, we've been working our butts off the last two years to make Lost In Sunshine happen. With all that we're doing, and all that we've done, I feel a sense of peace, wave of excitement, and openness to how and when the universe wants us to fully manifest it.

This past year, it seems that our direction has been towards building an online community. It's been a labor of LOVE, and real eye-opener for me personally, as I never imagined all that could be accomplished so joyfully when you've got the right people on your side (thank you, Lorie, hubby, & loyal teammates!)

So, with gratitude and love, we enter the next phase of our film's journey.

Here's a PRESS RELEASE I'd like to share with you, my devoted friends and supporters.

Cheers to 2011! I think it's going to be a GOOD one for all of us... so let's first suspend any disbelief we have that it will not be everything we want, and imagine that whatever we want, feel, desire, and dream - we can accomplish. Even if it takes years to get there, we will always have a head start if we can just begin. Embrace the vulnerability, open your heart, and live NOW.

With love and hope! Jentri

READ PRESS RELEASE HERE
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4961974.htm

Jentri's interview with Macha on herfuture.com

(Indie) Love is in the air during this one-on-one interview with myself and Macha for herfuture.com. :)

READ MORE & LISTEN HERE

AUDIO ONLY