About this project
NON COMPOS MENTIS is a crime comedy by writer/director Mike Cuenca and shot by New York and Los Angeles-based photographer Amberlie Bankoff.
The plot concerns Jerry Powell...a low-level thief with memory distrust syndrome, his relationship with the neurotic Donna, and a mysterious package he must deliver.
MISSION
Blvd Du Cinema Productions needs your help!
Mike: Hi, my name is Mike Cuenca and my fellow crew and I are a rag-tag group of no-budget filmmakers. We have just completed what's now my second feature production and it's titled NON COMPOS MENTIS: or Jerry Powell & the Delusions of Grandeur. Long winded, I know; but it's a quick nod to the black-comedy classic Dr. Strangelove which we took inspiration from.
Producers Joey Halter, Amberlie Bankoff and I shot the feature with a rotating additional 3-person crew over the course of 30-some odd days this past summer in 90 plus degree weather. Catch is: this is a winter movie and almost every character wears thick layers of clothes. Insanity prevailed.
We paid for the feature with whatever spare change we could gather and since we've expended all resources we're trying to raise an additional $1000 or more to cover theater rental costs, to cover marketing expenses, to build professional press kits, and to cover festival submission fees. Thankfully the folks over at LA's Downtown Independent are supportive of our cause and will be screening NON COMPOS MENTIS on December 27th.
If we exceed our goal then the extra funds will be used to give NON COMPOS MENTIS a proper sound mix and will be invested in our follow up film...(the second in a loose trilogy/working titled) THE DEATH LONELINESS which features characters introduced in NON COMPOS MENTIS.
Remember Kickstarter's rules, tho. If we don't reach our goal, we don't get any of the donations. So please share this with your friends, family and the like. To anyone that supports Do-It-Yourself filmmaking! Also, you won't get charged unless we meet that goal and until the fundraiser ends.
Joe: For your pledge, you get some neato stuff in return.
Mike: For example...tickets to the NON COMPOS MENTIS premiere at the Downtown Independent are $12 (plus service charges). If you pledge $15 to our campaign, you get a ticket to the premiere, skip the service charges, and you get a thank you screen credit in the actual feature itself. Which is awesome if you wanna see your name on the silver screen.
Joe: Is the screen actually silver?
Mike: I have no idea.
Amberlie: Pledge more and you get replicas of props used in the movie, 24 x 36 full color posters of NON COMPOS MENTIS autographed by the cast and crew, single character one-sheets and even signed copies of the script.
Mike: For further pledge rewards check out our Kickstarter page.
Joe: And watch the teaser trailer for "Jerry".
Mike: As each week progresses towards our deadline, we’ll keep posting behind the scenes videos of NON COMPOS MENTIS and soon the final trailer.
Joe: Much appreciated
PRESS RELEASE
Production has been completed on Blvd. Du Cinema's independently made "NON COMPOS MENTIS: or Jerry Powell & the Delusions of Grandeur", the third feature production directed by Mike Cuenca ("Oblivion: The Series").
Joey Halter ("The Oblivion Halloween Special") plays Jerry Powell. The feature also stars vocalist Paul Elia, as Fritz; Brittany Samson, as Donna; and Jacquelinne Cingolani (singer of the band "Spirit Vine") as Ariel Demille.
Re-uniting to work with Cuenca, Julie Pepin plays Jerry's sister, Jenn Powell; Edward Joyce as the hostile Mr. Demille; Zachary Block as Benzo Deluso; and Daniel Rojay reprises the role of Shady James from "Oblivion".
The feature was shot in black & white on HD-DV by Los Angeles and New York-based photographer Amberlie Bankoff.
The screenplay for crime comedy NON COMPOS MENTIS was written by Mike Cuenca, based off a conversation with actor Joey Halter.
NON COMPOS MENTIS is a presentation of Blvd. Du Cinema Productions.
PRODUCTION INFO
The first of three loosely connected movies dealing with memory and the lapse of time, "Jerry" stars Joey Halter as the titular character and is the third feature-length project written & directed by guerilla filmmaker Mike Cuenca (creator of cult web series Oblivion).
CAST
Joey Halter, Paul Elia, Zach Block, Julie Pepin, Daniel Rojay, Jacquelinne Cingolani, Brittany Samson and Edward Joyce.
CREW
Mike Cuenca - Writer/Director/Editor/Producer
Amberlie Bankoff - Cinematographer/Producer
Joey Halter - Producer, Wardrobe & Prop Master
Edward Joyce - Assistant Producer
George Whinney - 1st Assistant Director
Kim Palmer - 1st Assistant Camera
Paul Herrera - Sound Op
Corrine Spicer - Production Coordinator
Websites:
Production Blog:
www.blvdducinema.com
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
15
Backers
$1,140
pledged of $1,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 17.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Anything will help. You will receive a shout-out on both our NON COMPOS MENTIS and our Blvd Du Cinema Productions Facebook pages as well as a special thank you credit on the Blvd Du Cinema Productions website.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
You will receive the above plus a digital download of the NON COMPOS MENTIS lounge/theme song "Them Awful People" composed by Mike Cuenca and sung by actors Joey Halter, Paul Elia, Dan Rojay, Julie Pepin and Brittany Samson and a copy of the Bruce Springsteen homage "East Merrow Sunrise" by Mike Cuenca and Joey Halter.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
You will receive all of the above and a thank you screen credit in NON COMPOS MENTIS plus (1) ticket to the Los Angeles Premiere of NON COMPOS MENTIS at the Downtown Independent movie theater in Los Angeles on December 27th.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
You will receive all of the above and a replica Panda Bear Thank You Greeting Card as used in NON COMPOS MENTIS plus Exclusive downloadable Personalized Voice Message from "Jerry Powell" plus Original Audio of Conversations between Mike Cuenca and Joey Halter that served as the basis for the script.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
You will receive all of the above, plus a Limited Edition "Jerry"/NON COMPOS MENTIS T-Shirt, a coffee mug featuring Jerry’s mug, as well as an exclusive sneak-preview of Blvd. Du Cinema's latest project: (working title) THE DEATH LONELINESS.
Pledge $125 or more Pledge $125 or more
All of the above and Jerry will thank you personally (in his own special way) via downloadable video plus collection of Limited Edition Set of (7) NON COMPOS MENTIS Principle Character 11 x17 One-Sheets and copy of the NON COMPOS MENTIS script autographed by actor Joey Halter & director Mike Cuenca (with certificate of authenticity).
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
You will receive all of the above as well as a full color 24x36 NON COMPOS MENTIS poster autographed by cast & crew along with a certificate of authenticity. You will also receive a stack of recent Marvel and DC comic books of popular superheroes, plus private access to download Oblivion: The Series episodes to your Smart-Phone or Computer.
Pledge $400 or more Pledge $400 or more
You will receive all of the above, and Jerry will mow your lawn. Plus, you will be featured in our NON COMPOS MENTIS “making of” documentary. Mowing will be taped by Blvd Du Cinema crew. This will include download access to the documentary upon completion. Your location must be in the Los Angeles area. If not, please consider additional traveling expenses for crew and actor.
Pledge $400 or more Pledge $400 or more
You will receive all of the above and Jerry will wash your car. Plus, you will be featured in our NON COMPOS MENTIS “making of” documentary. The car washing will be taped by Blvd Du Cinema crew. This includes download access to the documentary upon completion. Your location must be in the Los Angeles area. If not, please consider additional traveling expenses for crew and actor.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
You will receive of the above and Paul “The King of Swing” Elia will perform his infamous Dean Martin stage act at a party in your own home, plus you get the chance to be featured in our NON COMPOS MENTIS “making of” documentary. Your performance will be taped by our Blvd Du Cinema crew. This also includes download access to the documentary upon competition. Your location must be in the Los Angeles area. If not, please consider additional traveling expenses for crew and the King of Swing.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
We'll include rewards from $250 pledge and below, (1) choice of Rewards #s 7-10, plus DVD of the “making of” documentary, (2) VIP tickets to the Los Angeles premiere screening, (2) tickets to a meet and greet with the cast after the screening, which includes hor d’oeuvres/wine.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
You will receive $750 pledge reward, plus an Associate Producer credit on the feature. Not only this but you will get to pitch a project to Blvd. Du Productions and will be given (2) tickets to the screening's after party where Mike Cuenca and Joey Halter will purchase you and your guest a round of beers and shots.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
We'll include rewards from $25 pledge and below, plus NON COMPOS MENTIS cinematographer and established photographer Amberlie Bankoff (ammophotography.com) will create a personalized photoshoot to fit your aesthetic. Make-up artist and hair stylist included. This is only available to people in the Los Angeles area unless travel expense is paid.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
We'll include rewards from $25 pledge and below, plus NON COMPOS MENTIS writer/director/editor Mike Cuenca will edit/cut your trailer or video short (of up to 5 minutes or less). You must provide appropriate hardware. If not within the Los Angeles area, must supply delivery packaging and costs. More details upon inquiry.
Project By
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Mike Cuenca is a self-taught underground filmmaker and musician.
Cuenca’s first feature-length film is Scenes from Oblivion, a youth-in-quarrel/semi-comic drama reflecting his Cuban-American upbringing and love of punk rock music. Scenes from Oblivion was made on a shoestring budget. He is also the creator of punks, mods and rockers web Series Oblivion which he co-writes, edits, produces, directs and acts in. He is also developing an “untitled black & white kitchen sink movie about sex and comic books” which he hopes to film within a span of 5 years to have the actors age in real-time.
As of 2011 Cuenca has taken a break from Oblivion to focus on a set of three loosely connected black and white movies, the first which is now in production under the title NON COMPOS MENTIS or: Jerry Powell & The Delusions of Grandeur. The second film titled The Death Loneliness will begin filming in November with the third, and currently untitled, to begin production in early January. The three movies are being shot by Los Angeles and New York based photographer Amberlie Bankoff.
Cuenca’s growing body of work addresses such themes as personal identity and freedom, absurdist philosophy, and punk ideology with a dose of slapstick. He cites his major influences as Woody Allen, Jim Jarmusch, the Marx Bros, and the French New Wave.
