Welcome!

You've found the official Blog site for the short, narrative film, "A Fork in the Road," by Heidi Philipsen. Please feel free to check out the site for information regarding cast and crew, as well as the latest news surrounding this short-little-film-with-the-big-heart.

If you haven't watched "A Fork in the Road," don't stray -- a trailer is on its way!

Sincerely,

Heidi Philipsen, writer/producer/director, "A Fork in the Road"

November 17, 2007: National Survivors of Suicide Day

This past weekend was the official date of National Survivors of Suicide Day, as announced on the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention web-site (click on the title link above).

As you may, or may not, know, "A Fork in the Road," is based upon a true life story -- my family's.

When I was in my first year in college, my father attempted suicide by turning on his car in the closed garage of our suburban home.

Coincidentally, my younger brother came home early from high school and found our father before it was too late. He saved him by accident.

According to NFSP, "every 16 minutes, someone dies by suicide."

My film "A Fork in the Road," is for everyone who has thought of suicide and their loved ones -- for "every 17 minutes," as the NFSP also stated, "someone is left to make sense of it."

I tribute my first film to my brother, Kjarsten, and my father, Dale.

Heidi E. Philipsen

"A Fork in the Road" Wins "Best Screenplay"

A FORK IN THE ROAD won the award for "Best Screenplay" during the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan's annual Student Film Festival graduation ceremonies, staged at the beautiful Emagine Theater at Foutain Walk Mall in Novi, Michigan, Tuesday, October 2nd.

The film, also nominated for "Best Director" among a select group of six individuals, representing the best of M.P.I.'s 2006/2007 student body, was previewed that evening to an audience of 350.

Other awards that evening include:

Best Director Chuck Grady

Best Cinematography Patrick Elliott

Best Editing, Hyun Suh

(Best Screenplay, Heidi Philipsen)

Best Art Direction, Chuck Grady

"A Fork in the Road" One of Six Films Nominated for MPI "Best Director" Category

Tentative Screening Order for 2006-07 Student Film Festival based on a 730pm start. Remember the graduation ceremony starts at 630pm promptly.

Forever in Time. director Chuck Grady (29 min) 730pm

A Fork in the Road. director Heidi Philipsen (18 min) 8pm

The Horseman. director. Michael Back (30 min) 820pm

A Very Ordinary Love Story. Director Hyun Suh (11 min) 8:50pm

PSA. director Perri Keys (10 min) 9pm

Schizophrenia. director Sam Kadi (30 min) 910pm

Wierd Side of the Bed. director Dave MClaren (12 min) 940pm

Halloween, Devils Night. director Dallas Struble (8 min) 955pm

My Brother My Savior. director Dean Stallworth (14 min) 10pm

UnThinkable. director Bethany McMahon (13 min) 1015pm

Journal of Nathaniel Jenkins. director Alexa Courtney (12 min) 1030pm

Fanatic. director Sarah Benedict (9 min) 1040pm

Script Ninja. director David Corlett (9 min) 1050pm

Rush Tango director Dee Derusha (35 min) 11pm

Prism director Josette Vardmann (10 min) 1135pm

Fumes. director Robert Tesh (15 min) 1145pm

Beautiful Lucy. director Terenace Centofanti (10 min) 1210am

Room 106. director Kyle Linford (21min.) 1220am

Fate Foresight and Innocence. director (5 min) 1245am

Prologue to Tomorrow. director Adam Haller (10 min) 1250am

The Movie that almost wasn't. director B Daren Payne (12 min) 1am

Aliens Kidnapped the Easter Bunny. director Adam Maslowsky (7 min) 110am

Keep in mind that the opening ceremony could run longer and the screenings may not start until later. But this is a close running order.

Big "Fork in the Road" Pre-screening Party!!!

Come one, come all to the Pre-Screening Party for A Fork in the Road!

When: October 2, 2007
Where: if interested, write me at aforkintheroad.themovie@gmail.com

What time: 4:30 - 6 p.m. (Doors to the Emagine Theatre in Novi, Michigan open at 6 p.m., seating is limited, so be on time!)

We'll have DVDs and munchies and a lot of fine convo for the soul!

We've come a long way, babies, let's celebrate!

HEP

ADR and A Fork in the Road

When,in the confines of a student production, excellence and attention to detail can only go so far, and sound is left to some poor soul who was never meant to do sound and will probably never be responsible for it again in his life, all hope is not lost. No. There is a last-minute quick fix solution called A.D.R. -- Audio Digital Recording.

Thus, A Fork in the Road has embarked on the quest to fix a bit of an audio glitch with our friends Derek and Marc at RSM studios.

Cheers to you, mates! We'd be lost without your talents.

H.E.P.

Four Days Until Picture Lock!

Support A FORK IN THE ROAD when you shop!!!

Have you ever wanted to make a donation to your favorite cause, "A Fork in the Road - the Movie," but didn't know how? Short on cash, but you still want to support local, independent (or student) film? Well now you can support my first big film - A FORK IN THE ROAD - every time you shop online.

Start Shopping!
It is easy if you shop via iGive.com! This Web site makes it possible for everyone to donate toward the making of this film every time they shop online. Simply go to http://www.iGive.com and register your name and address, then click on "A Fork in the Road - the Movie." It's free and there is no obligation.

Once you register, any time you shop at stores like Timelifevideo.com, Lands'End.com or JCPenney.com, a percentage of what you spend will be donated to A FORK IN THE ROAD if you go through the iGive.com Web-site. There are currently over 450 merchants who participate, selling almost anything you can imagine.

Imagine, you can order movies and make a donation to us at the same time. What about shopping for that special birthday or holiday? Need office supplies? Well, iGive.com has over 50 different stores to choose from! How about doing your grocery shopping AND making a donation at the same time? The next time you shop online, you can also make a donation to "A Fork in the Road the Movie" IF you shop through iGive.com AND use "A Fork in the Road - the Movie" as your designated community arts cause.

Now any time you buy something online through one of the authorized merchants listed on the iGive.com Web site, you can also be helping to cover the student film costs and strengthen indie film in Michigan at no extra cost to you!

Post Production

Marc Drake, our editor-at-large, is bringing the various shots from principle photography for A FORK IN THE ROAD to life. Couple his 10-years-plus accumulated skills and talent with the music from JILL JACK for the soundtrack and we should be good to go...

Thanks, again, to all of our actors and extras for making the production days moments to remember.

Best,
HEP

That's a Wrap!

As of 10:05 p.m., June 11th, A Fork in the Road has successfully completed principal photography and production. Now onto post-production and putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. More news and photos soon.

THIS JUST IN:

Sponsors for A FORK IN THE ROAD:

Here's a list of our sponsors --
Neva Hodge Lemorande
Beverly Arneson
Dale and Judy Philipsen
The Northside Grill in Ann Arbor

Interested in sponsoring? More info on "How To Sponsor" below!

Technology's Triumphs and Tribulations

We will be rescheduling our final day of principal photography for next Monday, June 11th at the Northside Grill in Ann Arbor, due to a technological glich we experienced today with the Panasonic HD Digital Harddrive.

In short, it froze.

There are many great advantages to shooting in HD, as opposed to film -- it's cheaper, many times faster and more efficient -- EXCEPT for in cases when the software goes haywire.

"Should have had a back-up." Ahhhhhh, yes. Right. The old "be prepared for everything" or "combat conditions" point. Well taken.

But at $1200 for a hard drive and $75 per p-2 card, the back-ups can become huge financial hick-ups as well.

Maybe film "ain't" so expensive afterall!

In any case, another great saying goes, "when you fall off the horse, you get back on."

I like that quote the best.

See you on Monday, June 11th!

HEP
Writer, Director: A FORK IN THE ROAD

New Official Email Address!

We now have a spanking new email address for all correspondence related to our film, A Fork in the Road: aforkintheroad.themovie@gmail.com. Feel free to contact Heidi Philipsen, the Producer/Director with any inquiries regarding Extras Casting for our June 4th final shoot in Ann Arbor at the Northside Grill, interest in sponsoring A Fork in the Road, or information about our premier film showing with post showing gala.

A Fork in the Road is seeking Local Extras for final shoot

We're seeking about 15 to 20 extras for our final shooting day, June 4th, to be shot at the hip and happening local favorite diner, THE NORTHSIDE GRILL, in Ann Arbor on Broadway.

All ages, types, walks of life -- if interested, please contact us at: The_Personae_Ensemble@yahoo.com.

We'll see you in pictures!

H.E.P.
Writer, Producer, Director
A FORK IN THE ROAD

Two Shooting Days Down, One to Go...

Wow. No. Really, I mean it. Wow!

We set out to shoot an incredible 6 pages a day and are now more than half-way there. I've looked at the most of the footage with my spectacular cinematographer, Joshua Roth, and Production Manager, Niko Meissner, and we all agree: the HD camera can produce beautiful shots.

Of course, it definitely helps to have things planned out ahead of time -- and for this, I have Doug Schulze to thank for making sure that I produced the storyboards, the creative visualization and a coherent screenplay prior to being "Green Lit."

Believing is what you need to do, doing is what you need to learn, and I feel that with each step I take toward my goal of being a film director, my horizons are opening up beyond my expectations.

More to come...

HEP

Welcome to A Fork in the Road Film Blog Site!!

Please Come Back to keep in tuned with the lastest...

Producer & Director: Heidi Philipsen
Screenplay by Heidi Philpsen
Cinematographer: Joshua Roth

Cast:
Virgil Greene ... Grant Krause
Maggie Greene ... Barbara Coven-Ellis
Chris Greene ... Matt Andersen
Sophie Greene ... Shelby Howe

Kathy ... Jill Jack