January 2004 - Tadeo & I meet up a Pepe's restaurant & work out the story for the film. Up to this point all we really talked about was Greasepaint the clown flying from one car to the other during a high-speed chase. We talk about the characters & he notes that he would really want Eric Ambriz to play the lead child Magellan. Eric was in our previous film 'Downlow' as the little boy rapping in the street. We also discuss using actor Donato Cruz for the roll as the mentally challenged character Rolly. It would be a total change from the characters Donato has been used to playing, most recently as our Downlow villain Reaper. We also discuss the possibility of using our 'Downlow' leads Michael Cortez & Tony Sancho somewhere in the film. After this meeting I now have a structure to work with, including various scenes to work on & the names of all the characters. I quickly go to work on the script.

February 2004 - One scene is complete & I send it off to Tadeo. He loves it & tells me that I've captured the right mood & language for the film. Kids talking as kids in this odd little world they inhabit.

March 2004 - The script is actually quickly coming together, scenes are being completed, wackiness is ensuing & I notify Tadeo of it's near completion.

March 24^th 2004 - Tadeo writes a 'dead dog' scene for Greasepaint, which is quite twisted. Not sure if we can use it but we'll sure try.

March 25^th 2004 - I meet up with Tadeo at our Iconoclast Studios & we read through the script. It's pretty much complete except for a few of the scenes near the end (about 80 pages complete). Tadeo can't believe how funny it is & we remind ourselves that this would truly be a challenge for ourselves. Working with children, green-screen special effects & a limited budget.

March 31^st 2004 - The first completed draft of GREASEPAINT: THE MOVIE is complete. The final scenes are completed, including the addition of Tadeo's dead dog scene. He will be happy. I myself am amazed that we were able to create a feature based on his short film. The imagination is boundless with creativity when put to work.

The story of Greasepaint revolves around a small group of children who mistakenly go on a little adventure. The main cast names for the children are Magellan, Percifiny, Voytek, Puggy & Rolly. Actually, Rolly is they're adult friend with the mind of an eight year old. Yeah, you read that right.

Tadeo sends the script off to actress Charin Alvarez who he'd seen in a local stage production & tells me that she loved it & would like to be a part of it's production. At this time, Tadeo has given her the roll of Mom. Tadeo has also given the script to Donato Cruz, Michael Cortez, Tony Sancho, Carmen Cenko & little Eric Ambriz. On a side note worth mentioning, Tadeo had the idea to send the script to my buddy Vince Vieluf in Hollywood (Grind, Rat Race, Clay Pidgins). Vince had mentioned during our various conversations that he'd like to work with us on some project. Either way, whether we will be using these actors in the film or not, we're off to a great start!

April 8^th 2004 - We meet up at the Earwax Café with a reporter for the magazine 'Extra' for an interview about 'ON THE DOWNLOW'. Before he arrives, Tadeo & I discuss what the characters in Greasepaint should look like. With his trusty sketchpad in hand, Tadeo sketches out the images you see on this site.

Magellan's House Location

April 17^th 2004 - Looks like our lead Eric is in! Here is an email we received from him & his mom...

October 7^th 2004 - Tadeo & I head out & purchase selected costume pieces for the character of Greasepaint at our local costume/trick shop Izzy Rizzy's. We discuss the look we are trying to establish & start a search for a mannequin. A Mannequin you ask? You'll just have to wait & see.

October 21st 2004 - Tadeo & I meet up with Jesse Rodriguez for our first production meeting. We discuss the hidden secrets within the script, the films financing & some possible casting choices that are different than our proposed cast. It seems this film will really knock the socks off the audience if everything comes together. Which it will.

November 18^th 2004 - Tadeo & I meet up with Caius Wong, a kindly gentleman who is well versed in the art of Computer Generated Images (CGI). In other words he's the visual effects guy we're planning on hiring to do some of the effects in the film. We give him a copy of the script & explain the little things we'd like him to do in Greasepaint. After a brief conversation he seems to be able to accomplish just what we would be needing. Awesome! Since the film will be shot next spring/summer he has plenty of time to research some of the more difficult effects needed. Either way, his talent will greatly enhance the visual look of the film.

November 30^th 2004 - I receive an email from Jesse about a possible subplot that could be added to the film. This would include the addition of another character, a spying Mrs. Kravits if you will. At first I was a little against it because I couldn't figure out where to add it in the already full script. But after the idea bounced around in my ol' grey matter for about three hours I began to type away. The new character is called Briskette. She's Puggy's older sister & she finds out just what these children have been up to. She makes about five appearances in the script now & her addition really enhances the story. This is going to be hilarious! I also email Jesse a copy of a song I'd like to have playing during a dream/fantasy montage that happens near the center of the film. He loves it so much that we begin to create more visual ideas for the film. The entire production is beginning to take on a definite visual style all it's own. A large Technicolor live action cartoon with adventure & homage's to movies & MGM musicals! This will truly be a unique & original film!

December 2nd 2004 - Tadeo, Jesse & I meet up at our favorite watering hole (Pepe's) to talk over the new additions to the script, as well as the final casting choices of some of the adult rolls. Unfortunately due to the powers that be I am unable to mention who they are at this time, but things are really going to be fantastic once all is set in stone.

December 5th 2004 - Tadeo delivers a few sketches he's done of what the character of Rolly should look like. Looks great to me!

December 8th 2004 - Tadeo delivers some conceptual design drawings for the character of Trix, the villain of the film. He's also included a drawing of what the Bully Babes might look like.

December 13th 2004 - Tadeo delivers more conceptual drawings for the film. These following are the costume designs for the main characters of Magellan, Percifiny, Voytek, Puggy & Greasepaint himself. He has added some color so we can get an idea of how they would look together on the screen. Remember, we want this film to have the look of a big bright colorful cartoon kaleidoscope.

December 23rd 2004 - Eric Ambriz, who will be playing the lead in our film 'Greasepaint' is seen in the trailer for the new Nicholas Cage film 'The Weatherman'! Looks like it's going to be a great film (shot in Chicago!). If you'd like to see the trailer, do a search for it through Google & enjoy. Congratulations to Eric! I can't wait to see him in the film!

December 30th 2004 - At this time Motion Picture & Television actor Jose Yenque has been confirmed to portray the mentally challenged character Rolly in 'Greasepaint'! Jose has appeared on television shows NYPD Blue, The X Files, & ER to name a few. He can bee seen in the films 'Traffic', 'Puños Rosas' & more recently in the film 'Between' which incidentally has just been asked to participate in this years Sundance Film Festival!

January 8th 2005 - Tadeo Jesse & I meet up for another pre-production meeting. Here we finalize a few more script revisions. At this time Television & Film actor Randy Vasquez has been confirmed in the role of Magellan's Dad. Randy has had an occurring role on the television show 'JAG' as well as appearing in the films 'Beverly Hills Cop', 'The Demolitionist' & more recently 'Puños Rosas'.

February 7th 2005 - At this time actress Teresa Yenque has been confirmed to portray Granny Manny in 'Greasepaint'! Teresa has appeared on television & in movies including The Sopranos, Law & Order, Ash Wednesday, & The Blue Diner to name a few.

February 17th 2005 - Another production meeting takes place at our creative watering hole Pepe's. Tonight we discuss the film's finances & a new opening to the film, one that would introduce the characters to the audiences better.

February 21st 2005 - We meet up with some possible investors & unveil our Pre-Production promo.

March 1st 2005 - Well some updates are in order. The meeting we had went very good, lots of interest and some interesting directions. But Jesse, Tadeo & myself feel promoting the project could be better, so we work our butts off to make our final Greasepaint Promotion package the best it can ever be. I at this time go to work scanning the script one last time to fix misspellings, adjust a few lines here & there & squeeze in some little bits of magic to really enhance the film. We also charge up our very own Greasepaint website. The address - www.GreasepaintTheMovie.com.

March 30th 2005 - Some more connections, a few more meetings, an interesting possibility on a casting change & a whole lot of workings are taking place to secure funds for 'Greasepaint' the motion picture.

April 14th 2005 - Tadeo travels to L.A. to meet up with Randy & Jose. There he will video tape some screen tests of the actors as well as film a music video with artist 'DeadLee' for a possible extra on a future DVD release of 'On The Downlow'.

April 18th 2005 - Tadeo, now back in Chicago begins to work on the DeadLee music video. I of course join him today & an editing we go! Final touches are added to the video & it is complete on the 27th.

April 29th 2005 - Tadeo & I go to work (unknown to Jesse) & create a small 1 minute Teaser Trailer for the film 'Greasepaint'. It was something we just thought up on the fly. A final scripted Teaser Trailer is set to be shot next Saturday with actor Eric Ambriz. Tadeo & I quickly picked up some props & shot the teaser in my front yard while unsuspecting neighbors watched on as if we were some escaped lunatics. A quick run to the studio for editing & in less than 4 hours our little experimental Teaser trailer is complete.

May 7th 2005 - We film the Greasepaint Teaser Trailer #2. We designed this teaser in homage of another, more 'Famous' trailer of a classic horror film. We shoot it at Tadeo's parent's house, the actual location the film will take place in. Our Magellan, Eric Ambriz, stars in this teaser & within a four hour time period we wrap up shooting. Tadeo then goes to work editing it together while I scout around for some needed sound effects.

May 16th 2005 - Tadeo & I meet up & work out the final adjustments to our Extended Greasepaint Teaser trailer. With the added music & sound effects it turned out pretty great!

June 18th 2005 - We are still waiting for the Greasepaint Website to become fully functional.

June 28th 2005 - The Greasepaint website is now up & running (www.GreasepaintTheMovie.com) but needs severe going over to make it as we want it. Below is our logo to the film (courtesy of Michael Cortez).

August 18th 2005 - Well an update for those interested. We seem to be at a bit of a stand still here lately. Hell, we've darn well wasted about a year in my opinion. To put it bluntly we're at a financial stand still. Nothing is financially coming our way in the way of investors. Oh we can start the production now if we wanted to, film the project independently on a shoestring budget as we did 'Downlow', but we'd really like to have a really good budget to make this flick look great. Mind you this is yours truly speaking here & anything can happen at a moments notice. But I myself am growing increasingly frustrated.

January 10th 2006 - Well again just an update for those interested. Things are getting increasingly busy at Tadeo's restaurant and we just haven't had the time to get together and work anything more out. Also a lot of time is being spent on getting all the legalities secure for our 'On The Downlow' DVD release. You won't believe how everything has to be gone through with a fine tooth comb. Anyway, we still feel this project will happen. It's just a matter of time. Stay tuned folks!

January 17th 2006 - This is the final bit of info until something really major happens. As of this time GREASEPAINT is on hiatus. Until we are able to secure some funds everything is at a standstill. This August Tadeo & I do plan on testing some Green Screen special effects to be used in the film. We've also have begun development on a new feature film tentatively entitled REBEL YELL, just to keep ourselves busy until something happens. Stay tuned folks!

September 09th 2006 - Tadeo has received all the Green Screen properties & has begun doing tests here & there. He has also been busy creating from scratch a miniature clubhouse that might be used in the final film. This is the clubhouse of Trix & the Bully Babes. Originally envisioned as a basic backyard clubhouse, Tadeo has let his imagination go wild & created a giant 'factory' looking clubhouse. If we ever get some funding for this project this will truly be a visually surreal film. Below is a photo of the mock clubhouse.

February 10th 2007 - It looks as if Greasepaint is dead in the water (no pun intended). Also the possibility of another Iconoclast feature (or short) doesn't look to promising. Tadeo has moved on to other dramatic projects and some music videos. Hopefully the two of us can work on something again in the future.

April 10th 2010 - Thump da-thump........Thump da-thump..........Thump da-thump.......