Recently, we’ve been obsessing over sights and sounds-- the sound of footsteps, of beers opening, of music from a distant party… the sight of a lens flare, the color temperature of a room, the shading on a sequined hat. We are plodding through the world of sound mixing and color correcting. As we work to make the final tweaks, here’s one sound we’re reveling in: we have music! Tyranny of Dave has created this excellent title track for ONE IN A MILLION. Enjoy!

One in a Million by tyrannyofdave

You know that empty basement? We filled it with dozens of people, plus cameras, plus lights, plus bagels, plus coffee. Many very talented people ran around doing impressive things. They carried stuff; they lit things up; they taped things down. They got strapped into cameras, into microphones and into stilettos. Some wielded cosmetics. Others wielded clipboards. One guy wielded a very large stick. There were actors acting, a director directing, and producers hovering. People squeezed dollars, stretched time and delivered results. It was a fantastic performance, by everyone. Take a peek at some of the results.

After a pilgrimage through basements all over Chicago (including one which possibly belonged to a serial killer), we discovered this amazing spot. It’s the recording studio for Erik “with a K” Hildebrand and his company Evolving Music. All those million things we had to do for the film? They converge here, tomorrow morning, at dawn. We have an amazing cast and crew. And, thanks to Rolling Stock and Schumacher Camera we have kick-ass equipment. By Thursday morning, after 48 hours of heroic effort, we’ll have the whole thing in the can. (Well, it won’t actually be “in the can.” It will actually be in digital files created by high tech camera wizardry, but you get the idea...)

Yes! We are ready to begin auditions. We are casting five principal roles (3 men, 2 women) age 25-35.

Short Film
SAG Short Film Agreement
Director: Scott Smith
Writer: Penny Penniston
Casting Director: Paskal Rudnicke Casting
Interview Date: 5/18 Clients will be present at audition
Callback Dates: Either 1 day week of 5/23 or week of 5/31
Shoot/Start Date: 2 days end of June or early July
Pay Rate: $50 per day
Location: Chicago Area

*MUST be local Chicago actors.*

[JOHNNY] (male, 25-35, open ethnicity): A rock star. Or a guy who could easily have been a rock star. Johnny has a genuine coolness about him. He's high energy, charismatic, fun, opinionated and a bit of an egomaniac.

[CLIFF] (male, 25-35, open ethnicity): An unsung hero. A guy who everyone likes but who rarely gets noticed. He's loyal, laid back and subversively funny. Underneath the relaxed exterior, he is canny and observant.

[BIX] (female, 25-35, open ethnicity): Girl next door, but with a bit of an edge. She has an artsy femininity and quirky sense of humor.

[GUNTHER] (male, 25-35, open ethnicity): If a Labrador puppy played drums, that would be Gunther. Gunther has the energy and cheerful cluelessness of a puppy. He bounds in and out of conversations, occasionally knocking things over as he goes.

[STEPHANIE] (female, 25-35, open ethnicity): On the outside, Stephanie is a chic, polished, put-together professional. On the inside, she's a party girl with a surprising sarcastic streak.

PLEASE SUBMIT HEADSHOTS/RESUMES THROUGH THE LISTING ON ACTORS ACCESS or, if you do not have an Actors Access account, you may submit here.

Item #1: A Title
Status: Done.

One in a Million. It’s a good title. It can mean so many things: the long shot… the diamond in the rough… the unbeatable odds… the best of all possible worlds. It’s used to describe the exceptional and the every-day, the unique and the ubiquitous.The phrase perfectly captures the essence of this charming love story; it represents the spirit of the people making it; and it describes the experience we hope to pass on to you.

Item #2: People
Status: A Good Start.

This short film is a collaboration between Fulton Market Films and Pen & Ink Enterprises. It brings together the talents of John Fromstien (Executive Producer), Penny Penniston (Executive Producer, Screenwriter) and Scott Smith (Director). But it turns out that we’re going to need more people– actors, for example. We’re definitely going to need actors. We’ll be casting five principal roles: three men and two women, all age 25-35. A detailed casting call will be posted soon. Check back here for updates.

Item #3: A Basement
Status: Help!

The one starring role that we are casting right now? A basement. We really need a basement. No, we do not want it for anything weird or creepy. This is a romantic, charming and mostly wholesome film, people. But it does take place in a basement.

What kind of basement are we looking for? We need a basement that a band might practice in. It should be shabby and raw– maybe unfinished or partially finished. It must be large, with plenty of room for actors, crew and cameras. It needs to have a door to the outside and it’d be great if it also had an interior set of stairs. It must be in the Chicago area and it must be owned by a kind-hearted soul who will allow a film crew shoot there for 2-3 days. If you have the perfect basement, or if you can browbeat someone into providing the perfect basement, contact us.

Item #4: A Website
Status: You’re lookin’ at it.

Fancy, isn’t it? And yes, folks, this is only the beginning. There are a million things to do. And we've gotten started on four of them. Join us as we tackle the other 999,996 items on our list. Follow us on Twitter. Keep tabs on our Facebook page. Subscribe to our RSS feed. We’re putting together an insane effort for a one-in-a-million film. It’s gonna be fun to watch.