1992 First Draft. Originally called TWO SHADES OF BLACK, the script, then a romantic horror, was shelved for three years. The first draft was particularly bad. Neat idea though.

1995 Second Draft. An elaboration on the first draft, but still too cumbersome and plodding. Not particularly good, but more developed than the first draft. Think the name was changed to TWO SHADES OF DARKNESS.

1996 Third Draft. The script moved in a whole new direction. Much more of a mystery suspense thriller and contained more interesting twists and turns. Ending still weak, concept getting better. Now called SHADES OF DARKNESS.

1997 Fourth Draft! Mystery angle still present, but turned into a "possessed child" piece with historical ties to slavery and the underground railroad. Like this version very much, but more of a television movie than a feature film. We cast preliminary characters and started shooting tests which would eventually assist in acquiring investors. A Fifth Draft was started, but goes awry and is trash-canned before anyone could see it.

PRODUCTION

1998 Sixth Draft! Best and most original draft yet to come. We committed to making this version - still called SHADES OF DARKNESS. Three primary members of Misty Falls threw in personal investments and started the ball rolling.

January - April: We went into pre-production and things were moving along at a fast pace. Casting was complete and rehearsals took place. Funding kept coming and we took on an Executive Producer. We shot from the last weekend in April to the second weekend in October. Weekdays were reserved for props and set design/preparation work. As with all films, some days were a charm, some were harder than anything one has ever done.

October: Executive Producer threw us a HALLOWEEN WRAP PARTY and we all came made up as our favorite villains. Following the wrap party, all models for effects shots were started and the creation and filming process continued through April of 1999.

1999 The second week in April, we venture to CineFilm in Atlanta, Georgia, to color time the film. Upon returning, we begin editing, digital effects and compositing work on our two PC's. They have both been outfitted with Windows NT, Adobe Premiere and After Effects - not to mention a slew of other plug-ins and toys. The network allows us to throw bits and pieces between computers and doubles the amount of work we are able to accomplish in a given time frame.

October 29 - We held a premiere and barely made the deadline. Then we re-edited for six months and started soliciting distributors. Even though SHADES was shot on film, it has been posted digitally and we have opted for the television and video market as the most suitable outlet for this story.

PRESENT (October 2000)

The Global Asylum Incorporated has picked up our film for national distribution through the Hollywood Video chain. We will be part of the "First Rites" program showcasing new directors and filmmakers. For the first time in a long while, it looks like we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel through the "Shades of Darkness". The film will be released nationwide on October 17,2000.

-Christopher Johnson 10/2000