Whalen Films Blog

Gringos at the Gate wraps

bafilmfan — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:03:40 +0000

Along with 93,000 soccer fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena we wrapped up production on our feature documentary about the US-Mexican soccer rivalry. What a day! Now off to the edit room to piece this huge film together.

A Question of Habit screening at Villa Holy Names Spiritual Center

bafilmfan — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:23:11 +0000

Sister Molly invited me to screen A Question of Habit at the Villa Holy Names Spiritual Center last week and I had a blast. Enjoyed a great lunch with a couple of the sisters, screened the film and then engaged in a great conversation with a dozen or so sisters about the role of women in the Catholic Church and the United States. Great stuff!!

Interview with SF360.org

whalenfilms — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:48:33 +0000

SF360.org is a vibrant daily online magazine that showcases the variety and vitality of the San Francisco Bay Area film and media scene published by the San Francisco Film Society. Check out the interview with Mike here

Gringos at the Gate kickstarter campaign

whalenfilms — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:24:48 +0000

We are in the final stages of raising money for “Gringos at the Gate.” If you would like to help us finish the film, or pre-order a DVD go here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gatg/help-gringos-at-the-gate-get-done

Thanks!

Farmer and the Chef update

whalenfilms — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 23:05:22 +0000

Went out to Love Apple Farm today and found the farm alive and bountiful. It’s amazing how much it has grown since the fall planting and now looks like a real, active farm. The restaurant is getting about 50% of its product from the new farm.

Also interviewed David Kinch about the remodel at Manresa — looks like it’s going to be awesome. David can’t wait for the Spring when the new Farm is 100% supplying the restaurant and remodel is over.

A Question of Habit

whalenfilms — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:01:32 +0000

Just finished the final sound mix on A Question of Habit. The DVD is being created and it’s being shipped out to festivals!!!

New York narration trip with Susan Sarandon

whalenfilms — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:20:29 +0000

Just got back from NY where we met Susan Sarandon and she recorded the narration for our latest doc, A Question of Habit. Everything went well and Susan was amazing. I’m cutting in the narration now and doing the final sound design. The film should be ready for release next month.

Films in progress update

mikewhalen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:31:29 +0000

Just a little update to let you know how a bunch of the films are doing…

1. Black&White Ball: We have changed the title to “Believe” and we have finished the film. The sound design (including an awesome sound track made up of local indie bands – thanks Tim!) is finally complete and I just added the high-rez photos to the film. The major hurdle right now is for the exec. producer and the original director to settle their legal/financial issues. Once that is complete we can upgrade all the footage to high-rez and we’re good to go. Cross your fingers.

2. Gringos at the Gate: We had a blast filming in Columbus last month at the USA vs. Mexico World Cup qualifying game. The weather was amazing… in a wet and windy way. We were drenched by a huge storm just before the game started and 50 mph winds hit us throughout the match. It didn’t matter though because Roberto, Pablo and I got some great footage. We are editing together a sizzle reel right now that we will take to potential funders to see about raising the final funds we need to head down to Mexico City in August for the second match. All is on schedule and we are really excited about this project.

3. Unknown Hero/A Christmas in Tent City: The short version was warmly received at Cinequest and I am hurrying around to meetings talking to potential funders (yes, I spend most of my time looking for financing!). I find out in June if I get a major grant that will help us hire Claire to get the new illustrations done. In the meantime I will be visiting some local middle schools to show the film and talk about the whole filmmaking process.

Cinequest Film Festival 2009

mikewhalen — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:17:58 +0000

Cinequest 2009 has come and gone, and we had a great time. The Sunday premiere was amazing with people sitting in the aisles to watch “A Christmas in Tent City” and the five other short documentaries that day. The Q&A after the film was great as many in the audience were curious about the making of the feature version of the film. It looks like I’m going to get about three business meetings over the next 2-3 weeks to talk about funding the feature doc.

After the screening we held a private party where people got to meet with both Francisco and Claire.

The rest of the festival was a blast as Nicole and I watched as many films as we could. Highlights for me were Witch Hunt, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison and Killer Poet.

If I can get a couple of my current short docs finished in time I hope to be back at Cinequest next year. Hope to see you there.

Welcome

whalenfilms — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:30:16 +0000

Welcome to Whalen Films… or should I say behind the scenes of Whalen Films. I hope this site keeps you up to date with my film projects and maybe even an insight or two into how films are made.

Feel free to comment on anything and everything. Thanks for your interest and support.

Mike