Done! ...Finally.

Almost six years after this start of this crazy project, I've called it done. More than two-and-a-half of those six years I was working steadily on Hell is Texas -- obviously, it took a good deal longer than I'd originally planned.

I learned a hell of a lot. I consider it my film school. Trial by fire. And also a unique digital finish that I think represents a fair example of the next wave for independent, desktop filmmaking. Visual effects and non-linear editing...at home.

What happens next? Well, we'll try to get it seen. It's essentially ready for a straight-to-video deal. Or movie channels, satellite distribution. A little editing for language and violence, we'd have a movie ready for television. I'm planning on submitting to a dozen or so festivals, maybe make a minor video projection tour. Maybe we'll showcase it on one of the up-and-coming internet movie venues. Who knows where it might end up?

The fallback to all this -- we just distribute it ourselves, directly off the 'net. Maybe soon enough it'll be inexpensive enough to burn our own DVDs.

Whatever happens, I look at this one in a positive new light. This little film project became one hell of a big little film project. The shooting experience was filled with magic and charm. The finishing experience was often a frustrating struggle. And it was especially sad to let it sit unfinished for so long.

In an effort to share the unique experience of making it, I offer this website for your perusal. I'm including a rather extensive breakdown on the Visual Effects Revealed, offering an inside glimpse into some of the low-budget effects that took this "gothic western" from ragged rough-cut to polished final-cut.

I'll also try to keep a regular update going on our Latest News page. There I'll let you know exactly where we go from here, and if nothing else -- where you can pick up a VHS (or better) copy of your own. ;-)

Thank you for your interest in Hell is Texas.