I often forget that I am shooting a feature film in my apartment, surrounded by neighbors who are not shooting feature films in their apartments. “Dude, why the fuck are you banging on my wall at 12:30am? Trying to sleep? Don’t be a pussy. I’m making art.” That’s the thought that jumps into my head when my actor is singing his guts out and the angry pounding begins. This being both a horror movie AND a musical you can probably imagine just how many weird sounds are floating through my walls. I’m surprised the police haven’t arrived yet. Lot’s of screaming, both argumentative as well as murderous. Door slamming,  high note hitting good times. But I can’t blame my neighbors for getting a little grumpy, especially this late into the game. I will just have to get creative with t he schedule and not do such dramatic scenes so late at night.

Weekend 6 was good. A few bumps in the road but nothing unclimbable. What truly amazed me this weekend was the fact that we shot scenes that occur in the climax of the film. I was looking back over my storyboards remembering all the act 1 and 2 stuff we shot. Seemed like a lifetime ago. Here we are on the fast track to the finish line.  There are 3 more weekends of production and all are scaled down to just 2 days instead of 3. The final weekend of production will be a bit of a treat. We are renting a house in the desert to shoot the secondary story line of the film. It involves heavy make-up effects and lots of fun bits. So our tiny crew will finish up this movie and then crack open a few bottles of celebratory suds and rock the desert proper. It will also be the first drinks Shannon and I have had in the 2 and a half months we will have been at this. For those just joining us, we vowed not to touch a drop of booze until production was wrapped (we really like booze, so this is big for us). We look greatly forward to accomplishing our first feature together and then tipping back our first drink together in ages. The moment will be sweet.

I’m so excited for the world to see this movie. It still has a long journey ahead of it before that happens, but when it does I promise you all something unique, fun, scary and heartfelt. Long live the independent spirit!

Much love

Travis

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I thought today I would address a topic that amuses me: Everyone’s a critic. Ever since the internet has been public, the everyday, “I-tie-my-shoes-like-you-but-don’t-get-the-big-bucks”, Joe and Sally’s of the world have had a voice. They are able to comment, reply, blog and scream about any damn topic they feel. Finally their opinion can be heard. In my world, this voice is most prominent in movie criticism. Being an independent filmmaker, I spend a lot of time on sites like IMDB, Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes, Bloody-Disgusting, Shock-Till-You-Drop…and many others. I love to immerse myself in movie news, and what the average person has to say about film. I enjoy watching people both defend and trash movies. It’s like a train wreck of a reality show sometimes when you find message board threads with people verbally abusing each other over their opinion. All is fine and dandy until…it’s your film!

Directing my actors in my demon love story, Lo

I learned very quickly to take all criticism with a grain of salt. When my first feature, joshua, was released on DVD in 2006, the very first review I ever got regarding my work was from bloody-disgusting.com, and it could not have been more glowing. I was on cloud 666 (that’s the cloud for horror fans) and already rehearsing my Academy Award speech. Shortly after that review, some “jack-hole” (as I referred to him at the time) commented on the review talking about just how awful my movie actually was. Every scathing word he wrote heated up the cauldron in my stomach. To top it off he decided to bash some of the shots in the movie I was most proud of, saying that I did these pointless shots just because I could. By the end of the ego-popping, hate letter I was so worked up that I hit reply to this uneducated dope (my view of him at the time) and wrote: “You’re damn right I could…and I did!” Or something like that. Basically I made a jackass of myself and lashed back, giving him all the power and making me look like a whiny little filmmaker. I regretted it immediately and since that day I have never responded to a negative comment again. I learned that if I took these words to seriously then I was a  fool and should quit making movies. This faceless person who hated my movie had the right to his opinion. Now sure, some people can be harsh or mean just to be mean, but every minute I let that get to me is a minute wasted. I make unconventional movies. I do this because I am not interested in the re-hashed drivel that passes for entertainment these days. I like to challenge myself and my audience. I want to tell stories in a unique way that will leave an impression on people, wether that be good or bad. In short, I make movies that some people hate and some people love, and that’s pretty damn cool.

Ward Roberts sits for the duration of the movie

So, making a movie that takes place entirely in the confines of a circle on the floor, with a man and a demon doing very little other than talking the whole time is gonna make some people angry. Since the release of my movie, Lo, yesterday, some of the sites are already buzzing with negativity as well as supporters. I thought it would be interesting to bump some of the criticism up against each other, because such vast difference in opinion interests me and fuels me to make more cool flicks. THE GOOD are quotes from people who loved the film and took something unique from the experience (and NOT written by friends). THE BAD are quotes from people who didn’t hate it, but saw some flaws (all written by friends…kidding). THE UGLY are quotes I scraped off the bottom of the hate barrel. All do an excellent job, I feel, of making me pay the price (good or bad) for making something I truly believe in. thus is art. Thus is awesome!

The Good

“Lo is the kind of movie that has cult potential. Think The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“The story ends on a surprise note of genuine emotion which I found to be imaginative and moving, giving the entire film an unexpected resonance that lasts through the fadeout.”

“If you’re looking for a raucous horror comedy with lots of mindless action and gore, LO will probably bore you to tears. But if you can tune into the cockeyed vibe that Travis Betz is going for here, you may find yourself having quite a rewarding time knocking around inside this impressive indy flick’s freaky little head.”

“Creative, unique, quirky and initially comedic, Lo shows Travis Betz’s writing ability and the film will likely be seen as a stepping stone towards more expensive and elaborate productions.”

“Writer/director Travis Betz was wise to focus on dialog and makeup effects. Both are terrific, and setting the majority of the narrative in one small, claustrophobic location amps up the tension in the game between human and monster.”

“Jeremiah Birkett’s Lo manages a surprising range of emotional expression under the mask. His performance is specific and layered.”

“Bare bones storytelling at its very finest.”

“Needless to say, love it or hate it — and I’m guessing some of you may find my love for it suspect — this is one unique flick.”

“Betz stretches the limits of what can be done technically and in terms of production design on a modest budget while providing for independent filmmakers a stellar example of how to assemble a quality, technically proficient film with largely convincing special effects on a limited budget.”

“Roberts is one of those rare actors who can play both extremes of the emotional spectrum, sometimes in the very same scene.”

The Bad

“Shot on a micro-budget Lo seems, at times, like too much of a play.”

“Lo” is a modern variation on the “Faust” story and has its clever moments, but ultimately its reach way exceeds its grasp.”

“Every time the film returns to the aforementioned flashbacks, it pretty much sucks all the air out.”

“Distinctive but felt to me like it dragged even at just 80 mins.”

The Ugly

“WOW! First horror film, that put me to sleep.”

“How can such a strange movie get even 1 good review?”

“WTF? This movie was excruciating. I absolutely despised the fact that it wasted my time.”

“A little piece of advice, unless your desprate dont watch it.”

“I cannot understand how anyone with an IQ above that of a rhizome could possibly enjoy this improv dreck. It succeeds only in making demons and hell, well, just boring.”

“This movie sucked. PERIOD. everything was just stupid. actors sucked. story sucked. lighting sucked. props sucked. you sucked.”

“Simply the worst movie EVER.”

“It was more like A Christmas Carol with a $5 budget. Waste of time.”

“This is one of those movies that tries to be clever by poking fun at itself and the genre. It fails. Its low budget, poorly filmed and over-acted.”

“Dumb. Its dumb. Sorry not funny, just dumb. Oh sorry, its boring and dumb. So boring its dumb and so dumb its boring.”

In conclusion: Everyone’s a critic and always will be. Either roll with the punches or get out of the game. And now it’s time to make more movies!

Much Love

Travis

Discussion: Read 6 Comments »

Fuck vampires. Screw werewolves. Frankenstein can suck my left testy while the mummy can slobber on the right. Zombies can take a long drag off a short pier and aliens can go to Hell (cause they’re not in the bible)! Now don’t get me wrong, I love each of these creatures dearly. I’m a horror fan after all. But if we’re talking scary…if  you want to know what kind of beings make my blood freeze…it’s ghosts.

Strange since most tales, legends and theories of these entities leave them pretty much harmless to the living. So why am I so afraid of a wispy outline in which the worse they can do is watch me sleep? Perhaps it has something to do with my fear of death…or better put, my fear of AFTER death. Zombies are just reanimated flesh sacks. The former tenant has been evicted from the body long ago. With ghosts it’s a whole other story. They still represent the actual person. The human being who walked the Earth, had dreams, fell in love, shared laughs. That same human being is now dead, but lost. Tormented. Wandering about, often confined to certain walls. Confused. Scared. Lonely. I guess if I believed in Hell (which I do not), then being a ghost would be just that. It’s you, but you’re missing the essential elements that made you you….or something like that. A concious being who can no longer feel joy or love, (we ain’t talking Casper here folks) but longs for both. Something that remembers who it was, but now is only what it is. Tormented and trapped.

Ghosts are like a mirror from the future. They have haunted my world to show me my reflection. They are a constant reminder that one day I will not be here. They are the sad that infect the happy and they can never be killed. Every day they grow in numbers, and they always will. If ghosts really do exists then you’re probably sitting on one now.

Vampires, werewolves, zombies…sure, you don’t want to bump into them. But to me it’s not what these monsters can do to you that’s terrifying, but what they can turn you into…a fucking ghost!

Much love

Travis

Discussion: leave a comment! »

“Hello? World? You still there?”

Four straight days I have been tangled in an apartment full of stingers, c-stands, arris, apple boxes and one shiny 7D. Production on The Dead Inside began Friday (January 15th) at 10:00am and wrapped weekend number one on Monday (January 18th) at 10:00pm. To say I was excited going into this project is fair. To say I’m excited after the first weekend of shooting is completely false. Excited is to lame of a word to describe my enthusiasm for it.

I learned a valuable lesson while shooting my short-lived web series, Bartokular. I learned that the most important element on a movie set is the people who surround you. I’ve always preferred working on sets with as few crew members as possible, but instead use a handful of talented, hard working individuals who I love and trust. Sure, with fewer people we all must wear many hats, but the joy of working is intensified. For the scope of this movie I am amazed at what we are producing with so very few people. I’ve been in love with every shot so far, including inserts of coffee mugs and keyboard buttons.

The entire experience seems like a blur that happened years ago, and yet I just dropped off the rental equipment an hour ago. We still have around 15 more days to shoot, but judging from the first four, this is going to be a very unique and incredible film.  I hope anyone who reads this blog will continue to keep tabs on this project, as I think it will excite you as much as it does me. I will keep you posted!

Much love

Travis

Discussion: Read 1 Comment »

Lord knows I hate clichés. One of the biggest being the January 1st, all refreshed, new-battery smiling, ready to make the new year my personal space cowboy journey to king of the universe end journey. It’s a lovely thing to speak romantically of a brand new year. All the shit you’ll accomplish. The villages you’ll plunder. The hearts that will swell in the wake of your monstrous productivity and success.Well I have a small confession to make family, friends and fans…I kinda wanna have sex with Cliché. I mean, look at her…she’s hot! Those long, sexy but familiar legs. Those curvatious good intentions. The hypnotic smokey desire to kiss her all year without tiring. I want to to stick my new years inspiration inside her and I want to last like a porn star. I want my creative shaft to be so long and thick that it will take an entire year (2010 to be on-the-head specific) for the end game juices to travel the distance and propel themselves from the single blast hole that is my dirty metaphor for artistic satisfaction. In short, I have a very busy year ahead of me, and I want to bottle this current inspiration and make 2010 the year of the ME.

Here is a look at my life in art for the next year. Upon writing this new blog entry I am excited and confident that I will be able to accomplish it all with my sword held high and the dragon below me slain. Of course the reality is that time is an evil bitch and that dragon is only pretending to be dead. The only thing I can truly do is lay out my list of goals, hopes and ideas and take them one day at a time. By the end of this (at the moment) wonderful year I hope to look back over this list and see that, for the most part, I did my best for each and every project and was a good son, friend and artist.

My artistic endeavours for 2010 – Movies, writings and web things

Lo

If you follow this blog or really anything I do, then you’re most likely familiar with my feature film, Lo. Last year we took it all over the country (and some parts of the world) screening at film festivals and generating buzz. This year all that  hard work of coming up with an idea, writing the idea, filming the idea and selling the filmed idea has payed off! My romantic demon comedy is having its nationwide DVD release, which means you can finally rent and own a copy all for yourself! The release date couldn’t be more perfect, as the film is about love and we have a February 9th, 2010 release…Valentines week! I’ll be posting alot about Lo over the next month with new trailers and information on how to support and get your own copy. With a little luck and a lot of love, Lo can be a sleeper hit on DVD!

The Dead Inside

With Lo finally finding a home on DVD, it’s time to make another movie! This time around I have decided to tackle a spooky ol’ ghost story and add my own twist to it by making it a musical. Yes, you read that correctly. I am making a ghost possession feature film musical…and it will be awesome. My music collaboration parter, Joel Van Vliet, and I are very excited with how the songs turned out and filming begins January 15th! As the process unfolds I will be doing plenty of blogging and updating about it, along with photos, video and whatever else. Stay tuned!

The Receptionist

Get out your glue sticks everyone and wave um high in the air! The Receptionist is back for season 3 (yes, I’m actually labeling my web series with seasons)! There will be a lot going on in 2010 with your favorite phone answering, construction paper lovin’ desk jockey. All new episodes along with DVD’s and T-shirts coming soon.

The Baby Eaters

Everyone’s (or no one’s) favorite low-brow, low-rent, high laughs comedy trio is back for more offensively bizarre humor. The Baby Eaters has been a cathartic artistic outlet for a couple years now and it’s still goingstrong. Just me and two of my best buddies getting together with some drinks, turning the camera on and making the comedy flow. With everything else I do being so structured, it’s great to be able to relax and just have fun in a creative way. TBE strong in the 2010!

Flick Fights

Fellow Baby Eater Devin Barry and I started our first pod cast late last year and discovered what a joy it was to do. Based off the highly addictive website FlickChart, each week we sit down with a new special guests and let the computer randomly generate two movies. From there we discuss why one is better then the other. Simple as that. We do an hour show every Wednesday and can be heard at FlickChart and downloaded off iTunes.

My…ACTING career???

2010 will bring a whole new exciting challenge into my life. Seems I have been cast in a leading role in a feature film in which I can speak nothing about. Apparently the director thinks I’m ready for my close up, so I will give him a I got. Being an actor for once is going to be heaven. I’m always a bit jealous of them on set as they tend to have it made. Wait around all day, then do your thing, then wait around some more. That’s not to say they don’t work their asses off on their character, but not having to detail with the technical issues of film for once will be a much needed vacation for me. When i am allowed to talk more about the project I will be posting here for sure. Just know this…it’s gonna be awesome.

www.TravisBetz.com

Finally we arrive at the main hub. The home base for all my art and information. My personal and professional writings as well as promotions, videos and all out tomfoolery. Last year I started strong out of the gate with this website and then fizzled out when I got crazy busy. This year I have made a few changes to the way I approach things and I am hoping to keep this website up as much as possible. With all that is going on there will be a lot to say, so I hope you will join me for the ride. Sometimes it may be a lot of information so I will always try to keep it entertaining. If you haven’t already, please sign up for this websites email updater or put me on your reader. This is the best way to stay informed with my life. It all makes its way to these electronic pages.

Thank you to everyone who supported me last year. Thank you to all who are sticking around this year. Thank you to the new comers and the old goers. With out all of you, my art would sit under my bed head of obscurity. I wish you all a most amazing year.

Much Love

Travis

Discussion: Read 2 Comments »

Greetings demonic friends, family and fans!

My feature demon love story, LO, is now an official selection of the Austin Film Festival! I am very excited because not only is this a great festival to be a part of, but I have never been top Austin. If you’re from the area, then please come out and support the film. It’ll be screening two nights at the Alamo Draft House, so you can have yourself a libation while enjoying awesome indie cinema. I’ll be in attendance to answer all your demon related questions! Details below:

LO

Saturday, October 24th at 10:30P.M.

Monday, October 26th at 10:00P.M.

Alamo Draft House – Lake Creek

13729 Research Blvd, Austin, Tx 78750 – 512-219-5408

Purchase tickets HERE!

Hope to see you there!

Much love

Travis

Discussion: Read 2 Comments »

I wanted to write a little blog about my good friend Aaron Gaffey not only because it’s his birthday today, but also to celebrate the man himself. I first met this “creepy teddy bear” (I just quoted myself having never actually said that term before) when he auditioned for my horror film, JOSHUA, back in 2003. We were really backed up and made him wait in the courtyard for hours. Then we called him back twice, put him through Hell. He got the part and we’ve been working together ever since. After JOSHUA, he took on a number of roles both on and off camera. He even helped produce my film Lo and built an entire light grid for the production. In honor of his birthday I present to you one of my favorite pieces from his acting catalogue of doom! Enjoy Aaron Gaffey as BARTOKULAR!
Bartokular: Stoned

Happy birthday and much love
Travis

Discussion: Read 2 Comments »

Making an independent film is a lot like having a  baby. The act of creating it is incredibly enjoyable, then you carry it around with you for a much longer period of time. With each month it develops more fully, until finally one day you squeeze it out and show it to everyone. Tonight my baby is born and I will be premiering it in the town in which I moved to in order to do exactly what I’m doing. Make movies. So it’s very exciting to screen here for all my friends, co-workers and industry professionals. It has made me look back almost three years ago when we all got together and had one kick ass orgy to create our baby Lo. Here’s a look at some photos from the set. We had a blast making it and these pictures remind me why. Good friends, good art.

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Dear Pollywog

I’m not sure what your internet situation is inside Annie’s womb (I know they have wi-fi in the apartment), so I’m not sure if and when you will read this letter. In the hopes that you do, I’d like to offer up a few words and maybe some scattered advice, hoping to better prepare you for what it will be like being raised by two of my closest friends, and what having me as an Uncle might do to you mentally.

When Ward and Annie (those are your parents names) first told me of your tiny existence I was blind-sided by a few different elements. Shock, happiness and something else that no one can really describe when people who are a part of your daily life announce life changing news. It’s a strange feeling that presses every emotion available into a tiny feeder cube that slowly dissolves in your stomach acids. I believe the reason this element is so hard to describe is because it is not happening directly to you, but it is non-the-less an event that will also change your life. Yes, little Pollywog, you are about to change things. You’ll be stirring up a can of old paint. The color is still beautiful but it’s been sitting static for a long time now and a film has claimed its surface.

You can breathe easy about one thing, your parents will love you and raise you to be a pretty kick-ass human being. That being said, you will be raised surrounded by madness. I can only imagine that is just how it is for children raised in the industry of film and television. Pure madness. Not to mention you will be seeing a good deal of me. That is enough to drive anyone to drink…but not until you’re 21 (I only said 21 cause your parents might read this, but start earlier…it’s fun). 

Yes, it’s true. I am not your Uncle by blood, but that can easily be fixed. As soon as you are official born (meaning you reside outside the tummy) I will see what  can do about getting a little sample of your blood to inject into me. Hell, maybe it’ll slow down these gray hairs I keep finding. Also, I have so many great films to introduce you to. I know your dad will as well, but I’ll be damn if I’m not there for your first screening of Evil Dead 2. Your mom will most likely shy away from singing to you, but encourage her as she has a very nice voice you can benefit from. 

Listen, Pollywog, I’m not really sure where I’m going with any of this. I just kind of want to say hi and that I look forward to meeting you. You are a most welcome to what is a very untraditional, but close family.

Much Love

Travis

Discussion: Read 1 Comment »

Friends, family, fans and people who read this blog to make fun of me!

As many of you may know, my demon love story, Lo, is having its Los Angeles premiere through Shriekfest. You should totally come see it! Tickets just went on sale. We plan to sell out the theater, so if you’d like to bathe in the awesomeness of our latest Drexel Box production then ORDER NOW! Here’s all the fun details you’ll need to kick off the Halloween season!

Lo

Friday, October 2nd at 10:30P.M.

The Chaplin Theater – Raleigh Studios

5300 Melrose Avenue

Filmmakers and actors will be in attendance. 

Purchase tickets HERE!

Visit the Lo website HERE!

Much love

Travis

Discussion: Read 1 Comment »