History of InSearchOf

1995 November Sitting at Thanksgiving Dinner conceived idea for Affairs

1996 August Committed idea to script, wrote in two days

1996 December Refinanced Jeep to get funding to make Affairs

1997 January Shot Affairs over weekends for three weeks

1997 November 7 Premiered Affairs, broke box office records at 19th Street Theatre (single night gross) fourth night of run. film burned up, lamp housing too close to print, had to have 4 reels remade for the next night’s screening, one of the biggest criticisms besides I still had a lot to learn, people wanted more

1997 December Began to rewrite Affairs script, calling it InSearchOf, based off of InSearchOf ads

2000 June Met Matt Blum who would become my right hand man, confidant, tech guru, most importantly friend

1998-2005 Re-drafted script 67 times, felt it was finally ready to put into production, abandoned In Search Of ads idea for people searching for different things in their life using sex as their vehicle

2005 September Team that I’ve worked with for years strongly tried to discourage me from going into production with InSearchOf, fearing it was too controversial, Blum stuck with me, Nick Luciano climbed on board

2005 October Friend suggests Mike Rady to play Jack, sent him the script, Mike cast later that day

2005 November Approached Amanda Seyfried to play Cathy, loves the script, excited to be a part of a film shooting in Allentown

2006 January Begin raising money for InSearchOf, feel strongly that I want to shoot in the appropriate season, producing partner Gill Holland thinks I’m nuts. Kyle Kapetanakis joins the team.

2006 February Begin casting process

2006 March Amanda Seyfried’s “people” state that Amanda shouldn’t do InSearchOf, feel like I was punched in the gut, love her

2006 April Raise an eighth of production budget, have a “big” investor commit enough to get us through production, we can make this happen!

2006 May (early) Casting shuffle continues, some actors who committed to project back out because they are unwilling to carry out my vision, I refuse to sacrifice the integrity of the script and my vision as a director, except that I agree we will shoot over 5 weeks, one day off a week and deal with the visual look in post

2006 May (late) Casting finally complete, crew in place. excited and exhausted! People hired begin to come into town.

Go to get paper work and check from “big” investor. They back out. I call everyone into my office, look them in the eye through tears, and tell them the news. Jaws drop, everyone in disbelief. Carpet ripped out from underneath us.

2006 June-July Not sure how I can regroup, feeling so close to realizing my vision, I spend a lot of time alone, doing what I love, writing. I decide that I am going to make my film the way I want to

2006 August Refinance my house to get money to get back into production. Those who truly believed in me and my vision are still with me: Matt, Nick, Kyle, David Tumblety, Mike Rady, Dan Lauria, Keith Nobbs

2006 September Shoot opening of film, open Bible to the passage that I quote, pencil note *start here (have photograph) I can make this happen. Baruck haShem

2006 October Begin re-casting rest of film.

2007 January Start shooting winter scenes, run out of money, call brother.

2007 March Refinance house second time

2007 May Shoot spring scenes. Grueling two-week shoot.

2007 July Get a call from Nobbs’ agent, Keith is going to be working with Spielberg, sorry can’t finish film in August… HUH? Call brother

2007 July We make it happen! Pull production team together for a weekend shoot. Dave Tumblety, director of photography, not available shooting big feature, Chris Seivard pinch hits as DP. I cater.

2007 August The final days. Wrap shoot with exterior of the Sterling, exactly the place where I started shooting Affairs, 10 1/2 years earlier. Can’t believe we did it! No way in hell could I have done this with over 600 people who believed in my vision, and those who did not.

2007 September Begin heavy post production. Trying to finish film for festival circuit. Prematurely send to Sundance.

2007 October Pat Wilson starts score. Sound edit begins

2007 November Get rejection e-mail from Sundance. Editing not finished.

2008 January Attend Sundance, wonder why we weren’t accepted. Keep editing.

2008 April Test screen at PSU, Audiences wonder what just hit them.

2008 May 1 Test screening at Rave Motion Pictures, Accosted hours before on the Hamilton Street outside office, lip required 30 stitches

2008 May (late) Pat Wilson finishes score

2008 June Find out that I need to replace all source music in film, problem clearing all rights, replace all music except for Pat’s score

2008 June Get first good review, by respected source: “Zelker is the type of DIY filmmaker who represents everything that IFD stands for. Zelker’s brilliance of vision, creativity, and money-saving tactics are reminiscent of Robert Rodriguez’s indie classic El Mariachi. The production built their own dollies, car mounts, hood mounts, and lazy susan dolly, among other things. Even more amazing, Zelker is a completely self-taught filmmaker. His film isn’t just a good first attempt, it is downright brilliant. From the acting to the writing and direction, InSearchOf isn’t just a watch able film, or even a great one. ISO is an essential film. The film is an experience, as it leaves the viewer both stunned by the storyline and affected by its message.” –Independent Films Direct

2008 July 26 Take part in From Here To Awesome Film Festival, a festival where films are challenged by audience participation and peer evaluation. Filmmakers retain their rights as their films are offered on a variety of sources.

2008 August We receive the most votes on MySpace get screening of InSearchOf in San Francisco, can’t afford to attend.

2008 August (late) Hear from the last of the distributors, tired of “love the film, not sure how to market it” response. GOING IT ALONE! TEAM STANDS FIRMLY BEHIND DECISION.

2008 September Trying to figure out how in the hell I am going to distribute InSearchOf myself, go further into debt. Start booking theaters.

2008 September (mid) Neil redesigns web site to its current state.

2008 September (late) Find out that InSearchOf was voted by peers, audiences and fans as the best feature of From Here To Awesome, going to London

2008 October (early) Get posters back. Stu, a man behind the scenes, does a bang up job as he always does, guys all stare, can’t believe we’ve gotten this far.

2008 October 22 InSearchOf’s World Premiere at London Film Festival’s Power to the Pixel (wearing protective head gear). Sold out London and New York City.

2008 October 30 Venue holding premiere decides to violate my copyright and slaps a note on our poster stating: FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY No one under the age of 18 permitted. This is absolutely ridiculous. They never asked me about this, nor did they screen the film prior. They have no right to do this. Hurt and dismayed.

2008 November 1 InSearchOf’s Lehigh Valley Premiere. Very excited and still in disbelief. I will be pacing outside as the film plays inside. Will still have a lot of debt as we start screening around the country. Need to thank Matt, Nick, Kyle, Dave, Mike, Gab, MOM, Steve, Doc, Ken, Tim, Aunt Cath, El and most of all my brother who bailed me out at 11 at night so I could make payroll. I have always looked up to him and always will!