“AFTERLIFE”
The first major production always lingers in your heart, no matter what.
And it is truly amazing, thinking back, about the incredible amount of logistics and planning that it took. I still feel the thrill of stepping into the roles of Producer, Director, and Actor for my 2008 debut, filming the fight scenes from “Afterlife” in the rustic “Bill’s Barn” in Maple Valley. My good friend Bill Lovlien, always lending a hand to make things happen, offered his property for the shoot. His wife Denise worked on the wardrobe, providing invaluable support with the props. Karen was our Production Coordinator, working her magic behind the scenes and doubled as Still Photographer together with the late Wayne Rutledge. On August 14, 2008, Andy “Kurt” Schlegel and I kick started the month long shoot as we eased into the production and shot the first scenes that day and some B-roll, while Jodi Comstock and Alexis Comstock worked their magic on our makeup. Michelle Shaw, Pressley, and Cassandra Shaw lent their hands as grips on set, where our DP Jason Bodnar’s framecraft shined. Jason was supported by our first assistant camera Carl Randall. I can’t forget the people who hauled props, because Shirley Walker was responsible for transporting those, so everything was ready on time, and set construction where Stefan Thalen. Robyn Harper and Joe Chumley stepped in.
The next day, we brought the fight scene to life. With Paul Grobins stepping up as the menacing villain “Harald”, joined by a crew of “shady characters” including former Navy SEAL Tra Crawford, martial artist Austin Springs, Kevin Hart, son of the late Ed Hart, one of Bruce Lee’s original students. Aaron Stenson, former Stuntman Mathew Johnson, Matt Lunny, Michael Pavlik, Nikita Breznikov, and the late Jess Lujan, who trained under the legendary Dan Inosanto, Bruce Lee’s most recognized student. While the action unfolded inside the barn, outside, Ross Anderson, our on-site medic, provided first aid (those fight scenes were mostly real!) and massages, while former FOX News Anchor Reporter Stacie Kern and second cameraman Brian Farchette conducted interviews with the crew at Bill’s beautiful home’s patio. Our Production Manager, Walter Jackson, oversaw the shoot that day.
Special effects and makeup were crafted by none other than Emmy Award-winning FX artist Brian Sipe alongside his talented crew, Will Alvin, and Darren Haffner delivering awe-inspiring effects. Brian’s resume sparkles with Hollywood gems like Star Trek, A Beautiful Mind, Apocalypto, The Passion of the Christ, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and Ocean’s 13, are just a taste of his vast accomplishments.
That production stretched across a month, drawing in over 50 incredible people to whom I owe a gratitude so deep that words can scarcely capture it. We filmed in Maple Valley, captured moments at Gig Harbor’s “Anytime Fitness”, once owned by the legendary and extremely accommodating Dean Carpenter, swept through Puyallup and shot scenes in Robin Johnson’s Coffee Shop.
The “Afterlife Scenes” were filmed in Gig Harbor and the Tacoma waterfront, where the late George Grobins played “The Wise Man” beautifully. We continued with four unforgettable production days at the Grand Canyon alongside Holger Kaufmann and wrapped with additional scenes in Gig Harbor.
A year later, we celebrated with a private screening in Gig Harbor, filling an entire cinema with 175 guests, joined by my dear friend and extraordinary musician, the late Michael Allison, who co-produced the soundtrack with me. Noteworthy too was the music from the rock band “The Watchmen,” led by the awesome singer and band leader, the late Greg Sweet, with Sheldon Blankenship laying down the bass.
Part 2 of the “Afterlife” saga
The goal for the “Afterlife” project was to entice Hollywood producers to pick up the story. It was a script made into a movie to show the vision. I wasn’t satisfied with what we had, so I decided to reshoot and add new scenes. A couple of years on, with Dan Baas as DP and Mark Refuss on the second camera, we journeyed to Leavenworth with Cassandra Comstock and Cindy Lemos, and in Gig Harbor, shooting a scene at the Tides Tavern where Kris Reisinger brought her magic to the cast.
Then it was back to the Grand Canyon for “Part 2” of the presentation, filming the “Fatal Attraction” scenes with the gifted actress Cindy Lemos. Let’s not overlook the cool “youth” chase scene, alive with awesome kids like Troy Petersohn, Kyle Petersohn, Stephen Jameson, Andrew Bosch, Ky Chartier, and Keagan Brooks playing the bullies, and the then-very-young Alex Wicks and Landon Brooks, who had to run for their lives. I can’t skip the amazing homecoming scenes from Alex, featuring Sarah Duncan and Gene Kelly, nor the striking performance of Alexander Rodenko.
Finally, Stefan Thalen, Jane Weyerhaeuser-Johnson, and Steve Johnson’s contributions were instrumental in making it all happen. My apologies if I’ve missed your name, those days were packed with so many scenes and remarkable people that it’s tough to name everyone in this brief recollection.
Post-Production
The post-production phase was a beast of a different kind. Only one person truly grasped the strain I endured while editing and grading the film: my DP, Jason Bodnar. Just ask him about the quadruple system failure that nearly derailed us! Only his files, still stored on his laptop, saved the production. It’s a tale that defies belief, yet here we are, telling it. My workload was something most wouldn’t fathom. By “most,” I mean those who don’t know me. I logged honest 16-hour, 7-day workweeks for the first six months. Then, realizing I’d miss the film submission deadline, I did something I hope never to repeat: 22-hour days for three months. I worked even while eating, snatched two-hour naps, and ran three additional workstations 24/7 to render files as I edited. On delivery day, a courier waited in my living room, coffee in hand courtesy of Karen, while I burned the Blu-ray. His plane to Utah was leaving on time, and with 10 minutes to spare, I handed it over. Ask Jason, he was beside me that early morning, offering emotional support and cheering me on as I teetered on the edge of collapse. That workload nearly broke me; it took three months to recover physically and mentally. Ever had a three-month hangover?
End Goal Missed
The moral of the story? You do whatever it takes, giving it your absolute best. Push as far as you can go – the rest is beyond your control. Whatever happens next weaves into your destiny. In the end, we came close, meeting a dear friend of Steven Spielberg and colleagues of one of the producers of “Machine Gun Preacher”, a film starring Gerard Butler. Yet, those introductions fizzled out, and the production ultimately didn’t succeed. That’s why I didn’t list it on IMDb, a decision I regret today, because it deserves being recognized for sure.
After “AFTERLIFE”
Since then, I’ve produced documentaries like “No One Gets Out Alive!” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6122792) and “The Save Humanity Project” (also not listed on IMDB). Each born from a deep passion to stir something real in us all, not just to entertain. Now, my latest project, “The Sanctuary,” takes that fire to a whole new level, and I couldn’t imagine chasing it without reaching out to you, my mates who’ve been there through it all. (That Aussie lingo slipped out again! Gotta send a big shoutout to Zeljko, my friend over four decades Down Under! We both still crave those unforgettable days we’ve made our own history!)
Now, let me tell you what I am working on. What is “The Sanctuary”?
Imagine a project that could touch lives and shape YOUR future. Picture a world where millions rediscover self-reliance and reconnect with nature. That’s “The Sanctuary”, a raw, unscripted 12-episode docuseries! We’re cruising to Flagstaff, Arizona, staying in a beautiful log home for our week-long pre-production meeting. Next, we’re constructing an off-grid eco-haven in New Mexico’s rugged wilds, on top of a mountain, including an organic garden with a greenhouse and a pollinator habitat in the valley. In between, we’re jetting to Japan, China, Australia, and Canada for expert-led episodes. We teach vital skills like organic gardening and wilderness survival in New Mexico. Our aim? Inspire and educate 30 million viewers on Netflix to live healthier, freer lives while healing our planet. It’s non-scripted, emotional, thrilling, and urgent, a wake-up call wrapped in jaw-dropping 12K UHD visuals (downscaled to 8K for theaters and 4K for streaming. Trust me, the colors and landscapes will blow you away!).
