Hurry up and WAIT!

Dan Slemons and Laron Austin outside Never Enough Tyme Diner

Yes, we're still in production. Only two days of principle photography to go and we can't wait to get those days in the can.

What are we waiting for?

Well, lots and lots of things.

You never really appreciate the logistical challenge of any project until you're in the middle of it.

We've got several challenges to finalize but we feel we're close to getting those completed. We'll have an update soon.

We've got a new system to configure which will make editing a lot less of a time consuming endeavor as we've upgraded the system to make it 8 times more powerful than before which hopefully means that post-production can go at least twice as fast as we'd expected initially.



There's also human logistics. We are working around a lot of schedules because we're not Warner Brothers and cannot lock everyone down for 3 months straight. So we're being as flexible as possible with Cast and Crew and they're reciprocating for us as well. It's truly been easy up to this point. I can say that with all sincerity.

And of course, one of the most daunting tasks can be locations.

We had to search far and wide for one of the key locations for the whole movie and we believe we found it. The aesthetics of the location are perfect and the people helping us facilitate the shoot have been tremendously supportive. We'll reveal all in a future post but needless to say that we think it will be worth the wait for us in the end.



So, bear with us because once we get things solidified, the pace picks up fast and furious again and before you know it we'll be full-tilt into post production on "Battle"

So please stay tuned...

Martin Kelley
Producer, "Battle"

Jammin' with Taurean Blacque on "Battle"

Jenique Mincey gets "last looks" before Taurean Blacque performs a scene at Circle Sky Records.


I told you that I'd post more about Taurean Blacque's visit to our little movie and now I finally can do so. First of all, let's not forget that Mr. Blacque was an Emmy-Nominated regular on arguably one of THE BEST television shows of all-time (yes, ALL TIME) in "Hill Street Blues". If you've never seen that show...well, let's just say in that unlikely scenario, you may have seen him in one of his countless guest appearances over the years on television or if you're a Sci-Fi/Horror or Nia Peeples fan (and who isn't right?) you may remember him from Deep Star Six. I wanted to ask him if he remembers working with Atlanta's own make-up effects Wizard Toby Sells on that one but we had a shoot day to get to in an open record shop no less.


So, as we're pre-lighting, Eddie (the Producer) keeps asking me if Taurean has called for directions yet...despite it still being well before his call time. He hadn't, but I tell Eddie not to worry as if that's going to stop him. Anyway, 5 minutes before his call time, Taurean arrives to the set...IN WARDROBE. We'd given him the script and character description and had asked for him to bring some wardrobe possibilities himself and we'd choose from whatever he had or whatever we had (yes, we had wardrobe choices available...we're ultra-low budget but not without some things handled), well, one less garment for Jenique to have to worry about getting wrinkled because his take on 'Blue' was perfect. He had two major wardrobe sets for the scenes he was shooting and he had great choices for both, complete with hats :)




AD Dave Watkins watches as Director Laron Austin lines up a shot.

So, after he meets our crew and chats with our lead HeadRoc, we're ready to rehearse the first scenes.

Taurean is off-book and at first just going easy to feel out the rhythm of the scene with HeadRoc.

He asks some questions of Laron and they discuss more about the characters and the scene. The rehearsals get sharper and more energized as we go. Still within a few minutes of our targeted start time for the scene.

Finally, we start rolling and don't stop til we're done with the day's shoot. Taurean brings 'Blue' to vivid life in front of us and everyone on set is "jazzed". Taurean kept getting better with each take and the important swing in the storyline is accented perfectly by the performances we got that day.

Even the customers of the store cooperated and they all wound up being extras in the different scenes that we shot that day. Just wanted to share the experience even though it's been a little while since this shoot day and of course finally share a few more images from the shoot.

HeadRoc and Taurean Blacque perform scene in Battle.

Martin Kelley
Producer, Battle

Taurean Blacque joins the "Battle"

Taurean Blacque joins ‘BATTLE’


Atlanta, August 26-- ReelOne Entertainment announced today that Emmy Nominated Actor Taurean Blacque joined the cast of “Battle,” the Laron Austin (“BeatMakers”) directed film stars Chris Burns (“The Lena Baker Story”, “Somebodies”) Onira Tares (“Jack Squad”) and Conrad “Headroc” Clifton. Scripted by Martin Kelley and Eddie Singleton. Executive Produce by Cassius Weathersby (You Got Served) Produce by Kelley and Singleton along with Kenno Rixson and Bennie Swint.

Taurean Blacque is best known for his role as “Detective Neal Washington” on the cop drama Hill Street Blues.

“Battle” is a coming of age drama about an unknown producer RIPPA (Clifton) who pursues his passion for composing music. He wants to produce music for the top rappers in the industry and be respected as a producer worldwide.

“Battle” blends the mood, vigor, and themes of “8 MILE” with the perseverance and edge of HUSTLE & FLOW” with the old school vibe of “JUICE”

About Reel One Entertainment

Atlanta based multi-platform content provider and Production Company, specializing in entertainment content, online Marketing, and Sales/Licensing. Reel One Entertainment creates and produces low budget, high quality, genre content that entertain, inspire and inform.