2010 will go down as a banner year for me. Not because I made a huge movie and a ton of money (because I didn't), but for the sheer amount of personal and professional craziness that shook things up.
I spent the first few months of 2010 concentrating on finishing up post-production on CHOP. Editing, sound design, musical score, color correction, etc. Once my directorial debut was done, I promptly stood there looking at it and saying, "now what?"
And that's where it still stands. We did have our world premiere at the Grimm Up North film festival in Manchester, England, but this has been the ONLY public screening of the film to date. As I write this, I'm in negotiations with a European country for the film's sale and am in the process of handing it over to some sales reps who can help me get it out there this year.
As I was finishing CHOP, we started the insane two month remodel on our home. I spent 8 weeks living in a place with, at various times, no walls, no water, no shower, no electricity, no kitchen ... it was crazy. Like living in a construction site. But what with the house market in Southern California being so insane, this was a better option than trying to sell it and buy another house. And now it's so nice that we aren't even contemplating moving any time soon, if ever.
While the house was being demolished and re-built, I cranked out a script for DEADGIRL 2. The thought was that the first film did so well that getting a greenlight for a sequel would be a sure thing. And I was pretty happy with the script that I wrote ... it was kind of a "flipside" take on the first, with a woman finding the Deadgirl this time and how she uses it to fulfill her helpless violent fantasies. Thing is, I'm married to the directors of the first film on this project, one of whom really loved the script and totally "got it." The other one .,. not so much. And unfortunately, the "franchise," is reliant on all three of us moving forward ... Sadly, this project will more than likely sit on my shelf forever - a waste of my time and resources. Disappointing.
Spent the next month or so getting household affairs back in order and watching Lynh get more and more pregnant. The baby was due in August, so I took an acting gig in Cleveland during the last week of june on a film called THE SQUAD. Of course Lynh went into the hospital the second day I was there and I barely made it back in time for the birth of my second son. Bronson Vinh Haaga ... who came to kick life into high gear on June 29th ...
There was a "baby adjustment" period for another month or two ... familial nesting and whatnot.
The last few months of the year were absolute craziness. Sicknesses and surgeries, I acted in a student thesis film, spoke at a film festival at the LA Film School, took a quick trip to Vegas, had out-of-town guests more than once, took a quick jaunt out to Kansas City for the premiere of FETCH, and even directed a promotional trailer for a series of films under the banner NAME REDACTED AT REQUEST OF MY PARTNER. After the trailer did well at Mipcom in France, we made a poster and did some pitching at the AFM ... and just a few weeks ago, I turned in the completed screenplay for NAME REDACTED AT REQUEST OF MY PARTNER ... Lots more on that in the coming months ...
So now it's post-Christmas and things are winding down. Only one more day in 2010 and I'm spending it making this blog and working on the script for my SyFy Channel movie ...
... And since it seems to be the thing to do, I'm going to make a few "end of the year" lists!
My Five Favorite Films of 2010
Okay, it's not for lack of trying because I watch like a billion movies a year, but there's NO WAY I could make a Top Ten ... I'm always looking for movies that rocked my world, that made a huge impact on me. But these movies are in such short supply that the bottom five would be more like "movies that didn't make me depressed or angry about the state of filmmaking" rather than "my favorites" (some of those films would be things like THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE or BLACK SWAN - movies I liked okay, but didn't love). So here you go:
5) THE KILLER INSIDE ME - Almost gave this slot to TRUE GRIT, but this one deserves the looks that TG will already have ... dark and violent and un-flinching and loyally adapted from one of my favorite Jim Thompson novels. Dreamy and sadistic and with some good performances from actors that normally would repel me from seeing a film. Check it out. Don't believe the negative hype.
4) MOTHER - Korean director Joon-ho Bong's follow-up to THE HOST is compelling, surprising, tragic, darkly humorous, and just plain "out there." I liked THE HOST okay, but this one was more up my alley. Very little fanfare for this movie because of its small and quiet nature, but totally worth checking out ...
3) A SERBIAN FILM - Wow. Just ... wow. Right when I think I've seen it all before and can't seem to find anything out there that will affect me, along comes this kick in the face. Not only is it transgressive beyond anything I've ever seen before, it's actually an incredibly well-crafted film on top of it all - great cinematography and acting and soundtrack all in a brain-blistering package of sadism and outright hopelessness. I'll NEVER forget watching this movie (and will more than likely never watch it again) ... a true sign of a great film. Wins the "Trent Haaga Wishes He Had Made This Movie" Award, but it's so fucking twisted that I can only in good conscience give it third place.
2) EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP - Banksy is a genius. This film (his film? still up for debate) is everything you'd expect from the trickster street artist and more. A documentary about the world of street art, obsessive personalities, commercialism, consumption, and irony ... all in an incredibly entertaining package. I've watched the movie 3 times already - something I almost never do - just because I keep introducing it to anyone who will sit down and watch it with me. Some people seem to think the entire film is a put-on by master prankster Banksy ... if it is, that makes the project even more impressive.
1) ENTER THE VOID - Thank you, Gaspar Noe!! It was worth the 8 year wait after your last masterpiece, IRREVERSIBLE. ENTER THE VOID is more like an experience than a film and is one of the most technically amazing things I've ever seen. Words can't even describe how much I loved this movie. Just watch it. Your life will never be the same. I'm not seeing this on ANYONE'S Top Ten lists and I don't know why. This was my favorite film of 2010, hands down.
My Five Least Favorite Films of 2010
This list, on the other hand, could have been fifty or sixty titles long. Most movies suck ass and are made by assholes that really seem to think that audiences are un-sophisticated dolts. Here are five of the biggest offenders:
5) 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS - I hated the first one, but it's a work of genius compared to this thing. My wife always compares this to any bad movie that we watch: "Sure, this is bad, Trent, but it's not nearly as bad as that 2001 Maniacs movie" is a sentence that I've heard many times this year. I'm as sympathetic as anyone to the no budget, no time issues with indie films. But this thing just fucking sucked.
4) A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET REMAKE - Wow. I know that Platinum Dunes is all like, "Hey, mouth-breathing shithead moviegoer, give me some money because you're all idiots." I get it. But, DAMN, this was limp and lifeless. I wasn't expecting anything from it and tried to watch an illegal download of the movie that someone gave to me ... but I could only make it through like 45 minutes before I decided that cable TV would be more thrilling. Lazy, sloppy, and dripping with disdain for the audience more than any other cash-in I've ever seen.
3) ALL COMEDIES - Please, can't someone make a comedy that's actually FUNNY? I'm talking to you, THE OTHER GUYS, DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS, SHE'S OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, DUE DATE, DATE NIGHT, GET HIM TO THE GREEK, COP OUT, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, KILLERS, etc. When I go to see a comedy, I just want to laugh and have a good time. I really do not care if the main characters find out something about themselves and make a change for the better. I just don't care. Yet, like an abused girlfriend, I keep returning to you because I just want to laugh ... is that too much to ask?
JACKASS 3D, you get a pass on that one. Thank you.
2) THE WALKING DEAD - Okay, not a movie, but I must put it here anyway. Even genius actor and CHOP screenwriter Adam Minarovich couldn't save this series for me. It's like a zombie TV show made for people who have never seen a zombie movie. A crappy, talky soap opera with shit writing and zero sense of danger. I'll admit that I only watched two episodes and scanned the other ones for Adam. Otherwise, this show sucks. And it's like the highest-rated cable show EVER or something stupid like that. AMC has the brilliant BREAKING BAD and this show beats it in the ratings? Maybe all of the Producers in the world are right. Maybe people are ignorant cattle and un-discerning consumers. I will NOT return for the second season - I couldn't even make it through the first!
1) HATCHET 2 - Support un-rated horror or you're a Communist ... not if all un-rated horror is a sloppy piece of shit like this. I was at the sold-out World Premiere at the Egyptian in Hollywood and walked out after twenty minutes. Don't worry, I eventually watched a bootleg of it just so that I could make an informed decision ... I did, and it was painful. I get it, you're homaging your favorite genre ... but why does it have to look like it was written and shot by a brain-damaged 15 year old? One need look no further to Christopher Smith's SEVERANCE to see a witty and well-done homage to slasher movies that doesn't treat the audience like a bunch of slobbering fools that will come in droves at the word "gore" (they didn't, BTW). I don't even want to get into the whole thing where the filmmaker is the star and the movie itself is secondary. Read the reviews. Every one of them talks about what a nice guy Adam Green is. Great. I have no doubt that he is ... but I'd rather watch a good movie from an asshole than a shitty movie from a nice guy.
Wow. What vitriol. I fully expect some comments, as I've broken the "Trent only talks about his work" rule in this blog.
Damn, here's hoping 2011 is more insane and beautiful than 2010 ... for all of us.
Happy New Year, everybody ...
- T
8 comments:
Hey shithead, watch those words ... i loved your Deadgirl2 script!
Fair enough, man, and I deserve that "shithead." You've always been a fan of the script and I know that if it were entirely up to you (and me), we'd be deep into production by now ... too bad it takes three of us to tango this time, because the two of us are ready to dance. I will amend the entry.
You're the man!
I'd LOVE to see Deadgirl 2 get the go-ahead. Absolutely loved the first one. Make it happen!Please!!
I have to say this, though, about your Favorite Films of the Year list: I absolutely hated and despise A Serbian Film. Now, I love flicks that force an emotional response outta me, and this film did it (as well as a physical one...I paced around the room after watching it wishing that I could UNsee some of the brutal images it contained). But when I showed it to a couple of friends a day later, I felt that it was shock for the sake of shock. I'm probably wrong, as most who dug this flick would argue, but it just didn't do it for me on a second viewing. I just didn't "get it". And after thinking about it for a couple of days, I came to the conclusion that I hated the film altogether. Beautifully shot, yes...and the performances were nothing short of brave, but I just did not like the film. Oh well, to each his own.
Exit Through The Gift Shop ranks among the best docs (fake or otherwise) I've seen in a very long time. So kudos to you for including it here.
I was a fan of the Walking Dead comics long before the show was announced, and amazingly found myself enjoying the show just as much as I enjoyed the comics (which is rare for me). Not everyones cup of tea, for sure, but it was an entertaining diversion for an hour each week.
And I totally feel ya on 2001 Maniacs and Hatchet II. Green IS a nice guy. And he delivered one of the most tension-filled flicks of the year (IMO) with Frozen. But I was sorely disappointed in Hatchet II.
But back to your work, Trent. I am looking forward to news on your SyFy flick and, of course, news on CHOP. Can't wait to see what you got brewing up next! You keep makin' 'em and we'll keep watching 'em!
Happy New Year, brother!
You forgot Valhalla Rising as one of the best. And "Cop Out" and Sex and the City Part 2 for a terribly bad comedy tops that list as well.
L-Word: SEX IN THE CITY 2 was supposed to be a comedy? I had no idea ...
Kevin - I think that I understand what you're saying in response to SERBIAN FILM, and I agree that a lot of it was purely for shock value ... I don't really buy the whole "this is a political statement about the state of Serbia, etc." thing ... but the shock was actually shocking and for that I must commend them. They achieved exactly what they set out to do. I don't look at it like it's an art film with a deeper meaning. I look at it as someone laying the smackdown on shit like DEVIL'S REJECTS and HOSTEL, etc. - basically, it's saying You guys think you're shocking and showing the darkest side that humanity has to offer? You ain't seen nothing. So for that, I commend them and think that the film is an achievement.
I've been reading WALKING DEAD since issue #1. There have been times in the series that I've come really close to stopping reading it altogether. I think that the writing in the comic can also be plodding and the pacing also leaves much to be desired ... but every once in a while there's a good arc. But it's basically a comic book soap opera sometimes. To me, it's more forgivable in comic form ... the title's inherent weaknesses come to the fore in the TV series, IMO. As a matter of fact, the TV series has made me really start to re-think my opinion of the comic book ...
... But that Adam Minarovich is a genius, tho ...
Happy New Year, man!
nice to see someone in the biz actually speak his mind on what a train wreck Hollywood has become. I totally agree about the comedies. Why don't they use actors anymore? Now, it's just stand up comics doing a wink wink bit that has nothing to do with the movie. It sucks!
Nice blog and agreed on Elmstreet..... i thought they assfucked Jason the worst, then this came along, looks like it was made by someone who just didn't get the character at all. I weep for all the old horror icons. Their butts must be hurting from the pounding. Hope some day Deeadgirl 2 happens, first one was sweet and can't wait to see your new flick man!
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