Our Story: The Story Behind the Movie
On Thurs., Oct. 26, 2000, producer–editor Steven Napolitan, writer–director Michael Picarella and actor Brian Napolitan met at Denny's restaurant in Woodland Hills, CA to discuss the follow-up movie to their first feature–length movie "1 2 3." The filmmakers left the restaurant with only a few ideas.
Eventually, after years of working several jobs at the same time –– even while attending school, the filmmakers thought it would be interesting to make a movie about the lifestyle they all shared. So was born the concept of "Punchcard Player."
In the summer of 2001, the filmmakers shot most of "Punchcard Player," raising money throughout the production. After the first week of shooting, the film lab that was developing the film for the project lost the first three days of sound  tapes.
In October of 2001, the filmmakers re–shot the first three days of footage. Meanwhile, they continued looking for finishing funds. Post–production began as soon as the filmmakers could afford to bail their film out of the film lab.
In August of 2004, the filmmakers shot new footage they thought was needed in the movie and re-shot some scenes they thought they could improve. The filmmakers still didn't have all the money they needed to finish the movie.
In early 2005, while looking for more investors, the filmmakers met Hal Spice, a financial advisor and a strategic and management consultant for Fortune 100 companies and government entities. Mr. Spice found investors to finish "Punchcard Player" on DVD. He's now working with the filmmakers to create a movie fund that will result in the production of almost a dozen movies in a period of less than eight years.
In May of 2005, the filmmakers enlisted the talents of sound wizard David Hughes ("Fight Club," "Polar Express," "Cast Away") to be the senior sound designer on the project.
"Punchcard Player" was finished on DVD in June of 2006. |
