Writing scripts

I started writing the U12 film script tonight. I'm going to take my time with this one. I'm hoping for something that will win a few film festivals. 

I have plans to write four scripts before the end of April. The hard part will be holding it all in my brain until I finish filming each film.  It's going to be an exciting year for film production and so many new actors will be so excited to be working on a project. Making their dreams come true. 

Please Follow

Hi Everyone. I just added a follower button to the blog. You can now follow the posts and get notifided when I post something.

cast screening

The cast screening has been rescheduled to January 28 2023. That's a good thing because the blueray / dvd burner fell off the desk today and broke. It's going to take me a few weeks to save up the cash to buy a replacement. If it's not one thing it's another. At least the film is turning out better than I thought. I'm just tweeking a few things on it. I turned down the music and now I'm going to put it back where it was. 

New 4K Camera?

Merry Christmas to everyone from the current cast and crew of Greg's Treasure Map, new QHR Report and the U12 Boys Diving film project. A great big thank you goes out to Secret Santa, DJ Bastille, Michael and the Logans 2020 Hockey team for helping to buy a new replacement camera. The Sony PXW Z190 should be arriving shortly and we will do an unboxing video with an available actor. 

This camera replaces the X160 I went for a swim with in the fall of 2019 filming the boys diving lessons fundraiser video with Evan Drake.  I'm great full everyday for him pushing me to safety. 

Trilogy?

I'm thinking about making three feature films out of the U12 Boys Diving film. U12, U13 and U14. I would film one a year and use the same cast. The cast would continue takes lessons for three years and hopefully we would have some very good diving in the third film.  As an audience is this something you would want to see? More importantly is something you would want to buy all three DVDs of?  Please comment below or email

Secret Santa!

We got a huge gift of $1200 from a Secret Santa yesterday! Wow what a wonderful surprise. Santa says we can use it towards the replacement camera, the actors diving lessons, 4K editing computer or what ever the priority is. We are so greatful for the super kind people who support the actors and our film projects. 

Replacement Camera

Two years ago I fell in a pond filming the boys diving lessons fundraising video. It took a year to dry it out and I kind of got it working again. Some functions don't work and I'm slowly losing more. Sonys non replaceable camera lens has fungus growing inside and I can't take it apart to fix it. 

We have saved up $3500 towards a replacement camera. We are looking at a Sony PXW Z190 that they have in stock. $4700. Also looking at a Sony PXW z150 for $3700 but we have been waiting 8 months for one to come into stock. Hummm 

Dropped my phone

Well my day was going fine until I dropped my cell phone and broke the glass face into a million pieces. Hopefully Santa brings me a new one or maybe a secret Santa can help out. It was  Motorola E.  $156 two years ago.  Anyone's guess what the replacement cost is now days.

In other news, anyone interested in buying downloads of my films? I'm thinking about starting a Shopify store. Do I gamble on sales? I have to be super carefully with the money I have as I'm scraping the bottom of my penny bank.

QHR Report Elora Santa Clause Parade 2022 EP102

music

I spent a bunch of money of music for the new films on the weekend. It was a Black Friday special so I saved a bunch of money. 

Greg's Map

I'm still working on the edit of Greg's Map. It so challenging. Films take on a life of their own. The film is different than when I originally write it. The film is different than when I produced it. It's different than when I directed it. I have to forget all the different versions of the film as the editor and make the film that it wants to be. 

Making a films is a huge challenge and if it was easy I wouldn't make then. I love the challenge. 

Time to replace the camera

I think I dragged as much footage as I can out of the water logged Sony x160. Micheal has on order a Sony z150 but it's not going to arrive anytime soon.  I'm thinking to find another $1000 and buy the in stock Sony z190. I will also need to buy a computer that can edit 4 k video. What to do? Just wish the films would make money to solve all the money problems.  

QHR Report Fergus Pool 2022 EP 101

All new QHR Reports

11 year old Conan Bauer will be taking on new episodes of the QHR Report this week. The first episode will be on the old outdoor Fergus Pool where we filmed Swim Zack Swim in 2002. It was 20 years ago last August. 

New episodes will have a budget of $100 to produce and my hope is people will support Concans efforts and hopefully I can pay him a few bucks per episode. If you would like to sponsor episodes please contact me or swing by our website and make a contribution to new episodes. Thank you for your support. 

Http://www.sterlingjohnstonfilms.ca 

The plan is

So the plan is to rent the pool for one hour at $300 to film the next round of fundraiser videos for the film. Also going to take the guys official diving photos. The guys will also get some jump time off the 5 meter platform.  I just need to fundraise the pool rental money. A great big thank you goes out to Mitchell D for his donation of $100. Just $200 more to reach the goal. 

Conan's U12 Boys Diving Lessons Fundraiser Video Oct 17, 2022

new actors

I'm autioning a bunch of new actors this week for the U12 boys diving film.  Hopefully people still want to support the actors diving lessons.  I need to have them funded before Nov 15 so they get a spot. Lessons are selling out fast now that I'm advertising for the team we are hirering for lessons.  If you would like to support the lessons please swing by our website www.sterlingjohnstonfilms.ca or just use the donation button on the right.  We are also looking for monthly subscribers to help cover monthly costs. Website $8 $32 for editing program, $200 for the storage locker.  

Greg's Map Filming Update

New Used Shoes.

I picked up some used shoes size 7.5 for filming next summer.  We can use them for Zombie Zone 82 and Ghost of Thunder Lake. 

The New Official Facebook Page is Sterling Johnston Films

Im having problems with the Sterling Productions Facebook page as CathyDirector started the page way back when and soe how our two facebook pages are linked. So new facebook page is required. https://www.facebook.com/Sterling-Johnston-Films-103913442382396

the cave film set

Just working away on the film set today. I'm a few hundred hours into it now. Should be finished soon.. 

yep just wish I had a few thousand more to build it bigger  but it is what it is and I will do what I can do.

Greg's Treasure Map update

I have been doing casting calls and interviewing actors. Greg's Treasure Map is now fully cast.  

Three of the four lead actors for Ghost of Thunder Last have been cast.

I have filmed a bunch of promo videos for the film and actors. 

The underwater cave set is past the 55% finished zone and will be ready for filming the first week. 

The sail boat is working fine. I need to do a repaint yet. Hopefully tomorrow. 

The camera boat still needs a replacement motor. I got one but that motor was cracked as well.  I guess it will be thrid times the charm. 

Greg's Map

Things are going well at the moment. we have the man cast and are casting some smaller roles. We have also teamed up with some War of 1812 re enactors for the opening of the film. two big problems I am working on is 5000 gallons of water for the underwater cave film set. The cost is around $750 to have the water trucked in. The other is just running out of money fast. please swing by and help get the film made by sponsoring the production. www.sterlingjohnstonfilms.ca Yep thats right I am rebranding as there is a ton of Sterling Production websites sites out there. People keep emailing the wrong people thinking its me they are emailing. but its not. the rebrand will fix that problem.

We have three so far.

We have 3 actors lined up for Greg's treasure Map at this point. We have two more lined up for auditions. I'm rewriting the script to cut the budget down to $2000 but with todays prices it may hit $4000 very easly. I have put in mosion building the under water cave set and will have some updates on that soon. I'm trying to find a boat as the Boat Mike bought last winter has a bad motor. The motor does run like the guy said but it also fills the inter block with water. it needs a compllet rebuild so I'm working on buying a small sail boat for $600.

Greg's Map?

We are looking into the possibility of making Greg's Treasure Map this summer. It really depends on if we can find actors, props and locations.  

Covid and film production

Covid is still very much on actors parents mineds. I did a two month casting call for the large cast film this summer but only had one actor interested.  All the local summer camps are advertising like crazy so I'm guessing they are having problems finding guests as well. 

What's new and trying to survive after Covid lockdowns deviating my finances

I no longer making films but I do need to make some money. So far in 2022 I have made $38 from taking some scrap metal in and that's nowere near what I need to live on. I need to pay my car insurance $1200 and I need to buy gas to get around to find work.  Also my season campsite where I live for the summer months $3000. Money for food would also help. 

As I'm not looking for hand outs, I'm going to start offering autographed, limited photo quality 24" x 36" movie poster prints for $100 canadain. It includes world wide shipping. If your a true fan of my volunteer work and the films I use to make you can help me get back on my finacal feet again by buying a poster.  I may also start sell autographed 8x12 photo prints of my best photography. What are your thoughts? Please post your thoughts in the comments below or please feel free to email me sterlingjohnstonfilms@gmail.com Thank you for your support. 

Covid Scare

14 days ago I had a huge Covid 19 scare. A family member was over visiting and the next day he found out someone in his family was postive for covid. I was in shock for days. Fisicaly shaking. It's now been 14 days and Im fine. No signs of covid. His family is fine and has recovered. All is well.

Yes I'm still retired

I'm still retired from film making. I was thinking about going back to making films because I had chance meetings with actors from past productions saying how much they enjoyed working on the films. Also meet some parents of actors and they really appreciated all the work I did for them and their actors. They where very disappointed when I told them I had to retire do to Covid lockdowns. December January is the time of year I plan the new years productions so it's very hard to break 36 years of work pattern. Currently I have a huge income problem as in I'm flat broke with no possible job offers. I really need to focus on finding paid work that fits in with being my mom's care giver. Covid protection is also a huge factor in what kind of work I can do. I have medical complications so Covid would be very deadly to me if I contract it. Had that big scare earlier this week. Still have 10 days to see if I caught something or not.

Website Problems

I'm haveing problems with the website program so I'm not going to easet the few dollars I have on website hosting. I need o figure out a new program or hirer someone like the webhosting company to build a website. I just dont have the money to do that right now so its just going to have to waite. For now I can just use the free blog again.

Watching the news,

I have been watching the news the last few days. Seems like covid is cuasing alot of problems out there. Who knows what this summer will look like. Things maybe all in lock down agian. I saw a posting somewhere that the last pandemic lasted 10 years. This one may stick around for a while. So if there is no filmin gthis summer, then so be it. I can always try agian next year. In the mean time while we are waiting for the pandemic to end, I need to start making some money. Im going to start making my film scripts into ebooks. If anyone is intrested in buying a copy please email me so I know at least one person would be intrested in buyin ga copy. Thank you for your suport.

No Surprise.

Well no surprise we have more convid lockdowns. Hopefully things get back to normal around April so we can get some casting calls in.