Where do I start? The idea came from a conversation with fellow director and buddy of mine Savvy Lorestani (My Sixteenth Summer) while we were on top of a building looking out over the city of Atlanta.  The conversation went something like this: “What would it be like if you made a film that ripped a blindfold off the audience and thrust them into an intense situation?”  It was that basic idea I told to Mike Buchanan and five days later we had the first draft of Last Bullet.  The story was originally set during World War II but once we met with Bob Shelly, our SFX expert, we realized that it would be better to have it take place during Vietnam. So, we moved forward and never looked back.  Mike and I hired Andy Rice to make sure the film’s look and the military items were as authentic as possible.  This movie would not be what it is without all the attention to detail that Andy provided as our Military Advisor.

When it comes to making a war film, each director and producer will tell you a different story. To tell the truth, it is almost too much to even talk about, but the gist of the story is I’m personally amazed that this film ever got made. Foremost were insurance problems in that no one would cover us except Insurance West and they only came through a few days before we started.  And, we did not find one of our actors until two weeks before we shot the film. Oh, and let us not forget the “Drought-stricken South.”  No rain to be found except for the two days before we are supposed to shoot the movie; that’s when the heavens decided to flood all day, washing the entire set away and filling the foxhole with two feet of water.  So, this film was the hardest film I have ever made for many reasons and I just want to personally thank everyone involved in the production.  Without all our your help and support this movie would not exist. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for everything.

A Humbling Experience in Blue Ridge, GA
“The First Screening”

The movie is almost finished and with the help of Janelle, our friend in Blue Ridge, we were able to organize a preview screening for the local VFW.  As the movie ended and the lights came on, there was a stillness in the room like I’ve never experienced in all my years of showing my films.  Most of the time a screening is more event-oriented but this one wasn’t.  It was very somber and quiet.  As I turned on the lights, my heart pounded, and then cheers erupted and everyone clapped.  From that moment on I became the spectator of this moment as people began to discuss our film.  It was like having someone understand exactly what you were trying to do without having to explain it.  They understood the movie from every angle, which was really cool.  At that moment the movie had become something bigger than what we ever envisioned. Once an idea, it was now the catalyst that promoted heated discussion about war, bravery, courage and Vietnam. When I started out on this project with Mike and Diane I just kept saying I wanted people to feel something. I wanted them to think about the film, but I never expected the response we got. It was the most humbling experience I’ve ever had. Here we were playing pretend and in the audience were men who lived it and the fact that they enjoyed the film, well that makes all the difference in the world.
So, now we start on our festival journey and begin to show the movie around the South. I know the upcoming months will be exciting but if you were not in that room on that cold and snowy night in Blue Ridge, you will never know that silence and the feeling of the first time we connected with the audience.  I will treasure forever that night in Blue Ridge.