Patrick Read Johnson's 5-25-77

Okay,

a lot from the RPF contributed to this movie, I remember Captain Cardboard and wasili for sure.

Unfortunately our search engine does not like very simple titles, so a search did not bring up to much.

YouTube - 5-25-77

77 (2007) - Release dates

I am dying to see that movie, damn! The trailer looks really interesting, so what´s the hold up?

Website down, looks like a japanese dating site took it over.

hey, i saw the film at Star Wars 30th Con in L.A. and i did NOT like it. I love fan boy films, indie films, no budget films and the idea behind the film is great and I can relate to but the execution is very poor. there are No memorable moments in the film and I found it completely forgettable. I was bummed out that i didn't like it because I wanted to, but unfortunately i had to add this experience to the "films that I wasted precious moments of my life seeing" list. I met Gary Kurtz at the Con and got his autograph but avoided any mention of the film that he had just produced. Now what I saw was NOT a final cut of the film as I recall, but being a filmmaker I can see past missing/poor audio, temp track music, missing shots, uni-timed footage, etc, (even a lot of people in the film business sometimes can't see past the missing elements in rough cuts of films) but I just saw nothing in the film that could be resurrected to be a good film. this is just my opinion. I really went in the screening room hoping I was going to see a DAZED AND CONFUSED type of film for the original Star Wars fans, but alas the film was simply not up to any level, it wasn't good as a drama, it was funny enough to be comedy, wasn't even enough nostalgia feeling in it which is the most important element it SHOULD have. Unless they completely re-do a lot of scenes, structure, etc I can't see a good film emerging. Sorry to be the bearer of ill tidings, but that was my impression of the screening I saw back in May 2007.

I was at that same showing in May of 2007. I wouldn't harsh it anywhere near that much, but it did have a very small, independent feel to it. I recall the lead, his enthusiasm for filmmaking, visiting the set in L.A. and not much else. I imagine it to be the kind of film that plays the festival circuit, maybe brings a modicum of attention to the crew and then disappears without a trace. Except, it has to do with Star Wars. Which is automatically going to bring it a certain kind of die hard audience, albeit a small one. Therefore I could see it landing on DVD, maybe playing a limited amount of cable television. Theatrical release potential? If you consider New York and L.A.? Maybe.

I was at that same showing in May of 2007. I wouldn't harsh it anywhere near that much, but it did have a very small, independent feel to it. I recall the lead, his enthusiasm for filmmaking, visiting the set in L.A. and not much else. I imagine it to be the kind of film that plays the festival circuit, maybe brings a modicum of attention to the crew and then disappears without a trace. Except, it has to do with Star Wars. Which is automatically going to bring it a certain kind of die hard audience, albeit a small one. Therefore I could see it landing on DVD, maybe playing a limited amount of cable television. Theatrical release potential? If you consider New York and L.A.? Maybe.

yes dude, i agree with you, my review is harsh...maybe my expectations were too high at the time, probably. I WANT to like this film. It has been 4 years so I will give it another chance simply because of the SW connection, if it were any other film, no. I hope it does well, i really do, but I WAS embarrassed for Kurtz at the time, not up to his level of qualitly. I hope I am proven wrong. I do not wish any ill will towards anyone, except bin Laden and the like but that is another thread. But I feel it will as "wuher" stated above ...disappear without a trace.
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Thanks to Rick, I got to see part of this film at WonderFest. I thoroughly enjoyed the ILM and Future General sequences. They were very touching and I can definitely see the strong appeal of this film for folks who grew up inspired by Star Wars and other hit movies/TV of the period.

It was charmingly funny and Austin Pendleton, the guy who played Herb Lightman, was a hoot ("Let me guess -- you're a grenade, and I just pulled the pin.")

It will be a real shame indeed if this movie doesn't get released.

I remember seeing the buttons on a table at C-V. I hope they lock it down and release it even if certain elements are "not-finished". Hyping and then dragging ass on a release sort of worked with Fanboys because of the studio-vs-director pity-factor, but long delays (just-because) will probably just irk fans. Crap, just throw it out there on i-tunes.


Either way, loved the tiles and port.

joker-scar, speaking as the film's associate producer, your poor review of our film is a fair one, as everyone is entitled to their honest opinion. I am not surprised by your reaction. Frankly, I was concerned when I heard Patrick was going to show the film in its very rough state in LA. As an advertiser, I am very aware of the risk of showing a piece before it is even close to being finished, as people will judge what they see, and cannot be expected to judge it any other way.

Since LA the film has undergone huge editing changes that improved flow and pacing. Also, many visual effects were either cleaned up or replaced with John Knoll's expert contributions.

We had a much cleaner and more organized cut for the Hamptons FIlm Fest. It had two showings that weekend; a very near sellout the first night, and because of audience reaction, a total sellout the second night. We had special guests, Douglas Trumbull and the real Herb Lightman, who both commented on the events of the film and took questions. To top it off, the film won the Heinekin Red Star Award for most creative film at the fest. So the potential for this film's success is there.

Last I heard from Patrick was that there was much interest in distribution, however, that was early last year, and the film still needed the finishing touches. I hadn't heard anything since. I don't know what this film's final fate will be, yet I am very confident that if it does make it out there, the majority of moviegoers will have a favorable opinion of it. Hopefully, you will like it better too.

Rick

Didn't someone here offer up copies of Luke's Speeder from the movie - I don't think the run ever came to pass, but man, I wanted one of those things.

Jet Beetle said:

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Didn't someone here offer up copies of Luke's Speeder from the movie - I don't think the run ever came to pass, but man, I wanted one of those things.

Wasili made a beautiful 3-foot replica of the Landspeeder. A while back he was going to offer kits based on that build. From what I recall, he had to scrap those plans. He did have the one we used in the film for sale on ebay a few years ago. I don't know if he ever sold it.

Can't wait to watch that. I felt like him before TF came out in '07. Everybody said "thats a cartoon it aint gonna be a REAL movie" then after it released everybody went crazy during 4th of July weekend, and the only robot anybody could identify was Bumblebee

oh dear god why hasn't this been finished yet....I need to see this

joker-scar, speaking as the film's associate producer, your poor review of our film is a fair one, as everyone is entitled to their honest opinion. I am not surprised by your reaction. Frankly, I was concerned when I heard Patrick was going to show the film in its very rough state in LA. As an advertiser, I am very aware of the risk of showing a piece before it is even close to being finished, as people will judge what they see, and cannot be expected to judge it any other way.

Since LA the film has undergone huge editing changes that improved flow and pacing. Also, many visual effects were either cleaned up or replaced with John Knoll's expert contributions.

We had a much cleaner and more organized cut for the Hamptons FIlm Fest. It had two showings that weekend; a very near sellout the first night, and because of audience reaction, a total sellout the second night. We had special guests, Douglas Trumbull and the real Herb Lightman, who both commented on the events of the film and took questions. To top it off, the film won the Heinekin Red Star Award for most creative film at the fest. So the potential for this film's success is there.

Last I heard from Patrick was that there was much interest in distribution, however, that was early last year, and the film still needed the finishing touches. I hadn't heard anything since. I don't know what this film's final fate will be, yet I am very confident that if it does make it out there, the majority of moviegoers will have a favorable opinion of it. Hopefully, you will like it better too.

Rick

Well...I wasn't being harsh for malice sake. i love movies and that's where the passion comes from. I love indie film...and try to support it where ever I can, and am totally forgiving on budgets, etc., etc. than I am on bigger "hollywood" films, but I still want to be entertained at the end of the day.
I spent a lot of money back in 2007 to fly to L.A. and stay in a downtown L.A. hotel to go to the Star Wars Con for a week so when I find out there is a film preview about the opening day of SW...when, how could i be in a better place to watch it. I was obviously hyped to see it...and I can see the problems if it was screened prematurely. As you can see by this thread sometimes it works for a film...sometimes no.
Well I hope i am proven wrong in the long run...but that was my opinion of "that" screening and it stands. But I look forward to seeing it again. Even great films have horrible "sneaks" here and there in film history. So i hope it comes into shape, and works and ready for release soon.

joker-scar said:

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Well...I wasn't being harsh for malice sake. i love movies and that's where the passion comes from. I love indie film...and try to support it where ever I can, and am totally forgiving on budgets, etc., etc. than I am on bigger "hollywood" films, but I still want to be entertained at the end of the day.
I spent a lot of money back in 2007 to fly to L.A. and stay in a downtown L.A. hotel to go to the Star Wars Con for a week so when I find out there is a film preview about the opening day of SW...when, how could i be in a better place to watch it. I was obviously hyped to see it...and I can see the problems if it was screened prematurely. As you can see by this thread sometimes it works for a film...sometimes no.
Well I hope i am proven wrong in the long run...but that was my opinion of "that" screening and it stands. But I look forward to seeing it again. Even great films have horrible "sneaks" here and there in film history. So i hope it comes into shape, and works and ready for release soon.

I respectfully submit that your review was a fair one based on your opinion of what you saw. And please don't think I took your review as being harsh for malice sake, I appreciated your honesty. I thought it was too rough a cut to be showing at that time. I saw the flaws in it as a work in progress, but I know where the film was going, and has gone since. It is a much better film. And if this film ever sees the light of day, I would love for you and everyone to see it as it was meant to be.

Blemishes or not I've wanted to see this movie for years and I'm disappointed that it seems stalled.

shadowman said:

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Blemishes or not I've wanted to see this movie for years and I'm disappointed that it seems stalled.

Can you imagine how it feels having worked on it for so many years in so many areas, knowing how good it is, then not know if it will ever be released?

I've sent emails to people involved to see if they can tell me the latest.

That would be infuriating, esp. since you loaned production your personal collection.

I would have thought somebody would force the issue. A lot of people must be waiting to be paid.

Bumping this thread to see what's going on. I've been following this movie since '06 and I really hope to someday see it in theaters- or at least on my tv. Any word on this, Ringa? Or if not, what do you think is going to happen to this film?

Good reviews from folks or bad. I dont care. I'll see it anyways!

Looks pretty interesting from the trailer. In fact, it's the only trailer I've seen all year that's made me want to see the movie.

I just want one of those cool landspeeder kits that were being offered from the movie back in the day.

So did I - all anyone got was the realization that we gave Wasili interest free loans with our hard earned cash, when he perpetually failed to deliver kits. It was maddening and I am still irritated. We got our money back, but it was a gigantic pain in the butt. Soured me to the whole pre-pay dynamic with every kit offer going forward, and made me hell bent on making a Landspeeder one day.

Then I got the plans, drafted by a talented individual who laid hands on the full scale prop, and can still make that happen... MicDavis and I both have 'em, and we both want to make patterns independent of each other. We are both also extremely busy. I have tried hooking up with a 3D fella to help me parse the data, but apparently EVERYONE IS A TOTAL UNMITIGATED FLAKE. Can you tell I am frustrated? I even offered money for their time, and nothin'

If there is a computer jockey that can understand cad data and translate it to something I can use, we can SLA some of the more compound curvy forms, and make a "studio scale" 1/6th kit. Rotocast resin, fiberglass, vac-formed PTEG windscreen - no sweat. Here's some history:

http://www.therpf.com/f10/ss-landspe...st-17-a-43246/