February 21, 2007 by me.

We have another rehearsal tonight with the rest of our leading men and some script changes to smooth things out and clarify some scene set ups. That’s good, but that also means a few more locations to scout out. But little by little, we’re inching closer to our goal.

Got a karaoke place that’s agreed to let us shoot at their location, a bakery and a retail shop. Still looking for a pan-Asian restaurant (that’s a big scene, requiring a whole day’s shoot). So if any of you know a restaurant in Chicago that will let us shoot for that length of time (just the dining room, not the kitchen), please contact us ASAP. Ditto for a fitness gym, an elevator and a laundry room.

Meanwhile, we need to start applying for permits. Outdoor shots need paperwork filed with the City of Chicago at least 48 ours in advance. And contracts, we need to finalize them for the cast and crew. So much to do, so much to think about, still much to take care of. Like props and…!

Meanwhile, our fundraising campaign is still chugging along… To all who’ve contributed since my last blog, thanks again for joining us on this journey! Your support for us and our project is tremendous!

Gotta go now. Time to head into the city…

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February 20, 2007 by me.

We had our first rehearsal last Saturday, and it was great hearing the lines from the show for the first time. Things are already starting to gel with the cast. We even got some laughs during the cold read!

BTW, I’m happy to report that so far we’ve received about $290 (plus another $220 in pledges). I’ve sent personal email thanks to everyone who’s contributed, but I also wanted to thank you all here for your help in producing this pilot! (Thanks especially to Uncle Dickson, you rock!)

Anyway, there’s still a lot to take care of (like props, permits, and nailing down more locations), but it’s great knowing how much (emotionally as well as financially) you’re all supporting us. We’re honored; it’s quite an encouragement!

Gotta go now; lots more to do. I’ll write again when I get the chance…

Marie

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February 8, 2007 by me.

Dear Friends,

“Wingmen” is a series we have been developing since Fall, 2006 and is our way of addressing the lack of positive depictions of Asian American men on network series TV. And thanks to the Illinois Film Office’s connection to this competition (so yes, it’s legit — and on a significant scale), we felt we couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by.

Since my collaborators and I learned of the Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition just last month, we have been scrambling to get everything in place. Find a director (check), finish script (check), hold auditions (this week, check), scout locations and get permission (not yet done), get production crew in place (not yet done), and raise more money so we can AFFORD to get our proposed pilot produced..!

Currently, we ONLY have enough to pay for a Director of Photography (that’s different from a Director) and rental of a camera. So unless we can raise at least $2000 more (this for a gaffer, a sound technician, an art director, etc. who are recent film school graduates and are hungry enough to work at these rates in exchange for professional credit), “Wingmen” will NOT be happening.

Please, please, PLEASE help us make this happen. Otherwise, who knows how long it may be before a network arranges to get a story like this produced — one with 5 Asian American men in the lead roles — and in situations that have nothing to do with martial arts or gang violence.

So here’s what we’re asking: these next few days, we’ll be setting up a PayPal account for us, to help expedite collection. All we ask is that you bring a brown bag with you to lunch one day and send us what you would have spent for lunch (about $10). If we can get 200 people to do that for us by the end of February, we’ll have just enough to pay our crew. Otherwise we’ll have no choice but to shut down the production (with families to support, as much as we’d like to, we can’t be like Justin Lin and max out our credit cards to pay for this production!)

Two hundred people @ $10 each. That’s what we need, by the end of this month.

And if anyone is able to give more (say like $200), we’ll put their names in our end credits as Thanks for their contributions.

In case you’re wondering, here’s a quick synopsis of our pilot episode of “Wingmen” (I’m the writer):

Tran has just been dumped and his friends (Richard, Leonard, Aaron and Julian) try to help him win back his lady-love: Julian by giving Tran an undershirt makeover and Leonard by producing a calendar of the “Hottest, Sexiest Asian American Men of Chicagoland” (and getting Tran to audition for it). Meanwhile, Richard is still mourning for his wife and Aaron can’t seem to talk to his crush.

Thanks for supporting us! I’ll be in touch again to let you know where you can direct your gifts and donations to help us fulfulll THE CAUSE.

Yours Very Truly,

Marie

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