COPS comes to Orange Park, FL

Okay, so I will lay it out for you as clearly as possible.   First, there are no moments nor glimpses of heroism on my part. Hard to believe I know, but in the blink of an eye decisions are made.   My decision was not about risk of peril or thumping some little thug, but rather it was a split second decision drenched in self preservation.   But not the kind you may initially believe.

It began Thursday night when we finally arrived at our hotel.   After running the luggage up to our room I took the cart back down to the lobby and stepped outside for a stealthful smoke.   (Florida is about as facist as California when it comes to the enjoyment of tobacco.)

 I had strolled around the corner of the building and was nearing the pool area.   As I turned the corner to the pool, I see this “kid” barreling towards me at full throttle screaming “GET OUT OF THE WAY!!”.   In an instant a barage of snapshots flashed with a series of mental deductions:   1.) Kid running towards me  2.) Why is he running? I just came from the lobby… nothing going on in there.   3.) 5′7″, light colored short hair, faded blue jeans, oversized black or dark navy hoodie   4.) Must just be some goofy kid playing cops and robbers with his friends   5.) Cops and robbers?   6.) Oh shit, he has a gun…

As the last realization sank in, the kid blew past me with only minimal “brushing” contact between us.   No sooner than he was past me, he was across the short parking lot and hopping the fence to the next property.   Immediately an unmarked Clay County car speeds up with the officer jumping out, looking at me and the pursuing on foot.   I watched momentarily as the cop began to close in on his prey.

Then remembering my Dad was moving the car (to the opposite side of the hotel) I began to work that way hoping that he had not encountered this little punk.  Back out front, I saw my father walking through the lobby.   Seeing me he came out to join.   At this point Clay County patrol cars are ALL over the area.   Strobes and spotlights flashing and shining in every direction in an attempt to locate the kid’s partner/get-a-way driver. 

With Dad safe and sound I headed back towards my original spot to talk with one, then two, then four other CC deputies about what I saw.   Leading them to where the kid jumped the fence, we found the magazine from his Glock .40.   Apparently the knucklehead had inadvertantly hit the magazine release button when he was going over the fence.   Dumbass!  

About 20 minutes later the original, pursuing officer returns to his car.   By now I have already written out my statement and had it sworn into evidence.   The kid is in custody and his accomplice is still at large. According to the officers, there had been a rash of robberies of hotel patrons coming back from the dog track and poker room down the street so the area was being watched – hence the unmarked car.   The gentleman who was almost the latest victim was only (temporarily) relieved of his cell phone.   Although the thought of being forced face down on the pavement with a .40 in your face was probably a more than a little unsettling.

Now… my dilemma:   Given the obvious size disparity between the two of us, I could have easily stepped in a little more and dropped my shoulder bouncing the kid into the fence at which time he would have most certainly lost his weapon.   It was truly a matter of less than 1.5 seconds to make this decision.   The gun was really not so much a thought as was the potential that this was merely some idiot kid playing.   Now, had a shouldered the little fella, knowing what I know now, I would have been touted as a hero by the hotel and the victim and yet scolded by my mother as insanely reckless.

The other possibility, NOT knowing what I know now, is that the kid was just that; a kid out too late playing.   At which point my “interference” could have been interpretted as assault with a potential law suit or criminal charges directed my way. 

Quite the crux, I’d say.

I finally made it back up to my room around 1:30am and had to retell the story to a disbelieving Nicole – wondering where in the Hell I’d been for the last hour and a half – I don’t think she was buying the initial text message. 

All in all, the hotel was very appreciative and apologetic although my room wasn’t comp’d and I didn’t get a obligatory gift basket – not sure what that was all about.

In retrospect, I wish I had leveled the little bitch!

“WIRED” is now Making its way through the Festival Circuit

 

 

Albert Einstein once said:  “Reality is merely an illusion…”  Georgetown student, Benjamin Roberts is now living two realities.

After purchasing an obscure book on Philosophy and Human Paradoxes, Ben finds himself immersed in a vivid nightmare that leaves him questioning his own existence and everything around him.  His only confidante becomes a psychiatrist who seems to share his fascination with the unanswerable theory.

Ben’s journey is a psychological thrill ride that takes you through the darkest depths of the brain and the epicenters of U.S. medical and military power where conspiracy theories are born and more often buried. 

Is it all just a very bad dream, or is something more sinister?

Chris Durant’s new screenplay “WIRED” brings the philosophical mysticism of the Matrix to the real world.

Submitted to several festivals, Durant is currently looking for agency representation for this and his other works.

Agencies may request a full copy of “WIRED” by emailing cdurant2000@gmail.com.

The Death of “Atlanta Homicide”

As most of you know, I became involved with the start up TV show “Atlanta Homicide” (later known as “Atlanta Investigations:HD/ AI:HD”) back in December of 2007.  The premise in its origins was a crime drama set in Atlanta and like most others in this genre it attempted to balance the character stories of the principal actors with the drama of solving crime.

After working on nine episodes – five of which actually aired (on ColoursTV), one currently in post-production, and three others that seem closer to a beginning than an ending, I have decided to leave the show and have terminated my relationship with the overall project.  This is something I feel is unfortunate and I that regret must come to pass but is for the betterment of my career.

Sources inside the AI:HD camp have reported me being labeled a “Narcissistic, Ego-driven, ass*!&%” which, although probably not that far from the truth, still saddens me because of my prior commitment to the show.

From day one on the set of AI:HD I was prepared.  I stayed as long as I was needed and went above and beyond my role as simply an actor on the set.  Many times I had to re-write scripts on set so that they made sense.  I have re-written lines for people so that they flowed better and were easier to deliver.  I have bought food.  I have catered and hosted a network night when one of the producers and co-creators of the show could not be there and the other one showed up 30 minutes before the event was over.  I supplied props for myself and others.  I knew what day in the script we were shooting and usually had to educate others on what wardrobe went with what “day”, etc.  And ultimately I have waited – countless hours on the co-creators/director/cinematographer and other cast members who would show up when it was convenient for them – at times up to 3 and 4 hours late, leaving those who were on time to wait.

So why did I leave you ask?

I took this show and this project very seriously – as I do every one that I work on.  My reputation speaks volumes about who I am and my character on and off the set.  I am a professional and act as such.  I cannot say the same about many of the others involved with AI:HD.  When the co-creators and primary producers don’t treat this as an absolute priority and a professional endeavor, others will not either.   That is where I feel AI:HD is now.

Overall there is a total lack of communication and follow up.    Planning and organization are non-existent.  This has to change.  Casting is done on the fly and as a result we ended up unable to complete episodes because now “so and so” lives out of state, etc.  There are currently 3 unfinished episodes that involved me – one which we began filming in FEBRUARY!  We did not have production meetings, table reads or even call sheets, all of which I feel are critical to planning and ultimately executing a successful episode filming.

On my last day on set, our scheduled call time was 10:30 a.m.  I got a call at 10 a.m. indicating that the call time had been moved to 11:30 a.m.  Upon arriving at the studio on time, I found the parking lot completely empty – no crew, no cast, other than me!   A phone call later, I found out that the director was enroute and would be there with in 15 minutes and our producer/cinematographer would be there shortly (undefined).  At 12:15 p.m. the director showed up and shortly there after assorted background cast members began to trickle in.    At 1:05 p.m. the producer/ cinematographer finally showed up and immediately left again.   Fortunately I was out in the parking lot detailing my car, so at least I was somewhat occupying my time.   Now by 2:30 p.m. I was done with the car and getting a little impatient.  My ultimatum to the director was if we were not shooting by 3:00 p.m., I was leaving.  Everyone involved knew that I had to leave no later than 5:00 p.m.  Finally at 2:55 our producer/ cinematographer showed up.  None of the equipment was set up and we were still waiting on my partner for this episode.  It was doubtful if not impossible that we could get anything filmed prior to my 5:00 p.m. cut time.  So after several discussions I left.   I should point out at this point that I had passed on a well paid, modeling assignment to dedicate my day to filming for AI:HD.

The following day I was fortunately able to perform the second half of the shoot that I missed on Saturday (for the remaining half of the total compensation).  Afterwards, my phone began blowing up with calls from cast and crew members of AI:HD asking me to come to the studio to film.  I refused.   After the final straw of Saturday’s absolute waste of time, everything else really came into perspective.  And as such I realized that I could not commit any more time to this project unless steps were taken to address the many production downfalls (see above) that had become the norm.  To date, I still do not believe that these opportunities for improvement and paramount needs have been addressed.

To those actors and crew members still working on AI:HD, I wish them the very best.  I would not have spent the amount of time and energy I did if the show was not something I believed in.  However, it was just time for me to move on.

Now, as far as the promised compensation of copy and credit I would issue this warning to anyone associated with AI:HD as well as independent directors and producers.  When you indicate “COPY and CREDIT” as the only compensation, it is your absolute responsibility to provide that to your actors.  And actors, it is your absolute right to request, repeatedly, even if you have to demand it from your director/producer.

With AI:HD I had to write numerous emails requesting that my IMDB.com (Chris Durant on IMDB.com ) page be updated before they finally were.  That takes care of the credit portion, so how about copy?  Beg, borrow, steal and maybe with a little ardent encouragement you’ll get it.  I even went so far as to give a pack of 50 DVRs to our co-creator/director/cinematographer.  I am still waiting on two of the finished and aired episodes.

Now this brings us to the present day:

As many of you know I had written a script titled “Vendetta” for the show that delved into why my character, Detective Winslow, was who he was and why he acted the way that he did.  I already had 95% of the roles cast.  I had the bulk of the locations secured.  I had the prop list compiled with the vast majority of them being supplied by me – including visual and graphic effects.  I had a world renowned producer prepared to score the episode.  And as important to the production planning process as I feel they are, I had undated call sheets prepared so that during our preproduction meeting/table read we could plan out our shoot days based on everyone’s availability all at once.  Many of the people I had worked with in putting this together were leery to commit knowing the (not so good) reputation of AI:HD but also knowing me, they agreed to participate as a favor to me.  I guess they’re off the hook now.  I wanted to use this opportunity to showcase AI:HD to those who had heard not so good things about this production and show them where we were had come to now.   Or not!

As a result of my departure from AI:HD I am rewriting “Vendetta” into a short and also a feature length film to be shot by my newly formed production company – Twisted Window Productions.  So thanks for the inspiration.

Chris Durant ®

Character Bio – Detective Stephen “Step” Winslow

ATLANTA INVESTIGATIONS:HD – Star Maxx Media

  

 

 

Character Bio: Detective Stephen “STEP” Winslow    

    

Name: Stephen “Step” Winslow

Age:     34

Height:   6’1”       Weight:  180lbs     Build:  Athletic

Hair:     Brown     Eyes:  Hazel

Marital Status:   Single

Religion:  Baptist

Father:   John Winslow, VP with local bank

Mother:  Carol Winslow, Retired Elementary School Teacher

Brother:  Wade Winslow, Major, United States Marine Corps, Pentagon

Education:

            High School:   Pace Academy, Atlanta, Georgia

            College:           United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

 

Military:   United States Marine Corps, Captain, Force Recon, Bronze Star, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM

Atlanta Police Department:

·         Academy – Top of his class – 6 months

·         Patrol, Zone 2 – 18 months

·         Training Group – 24 months

·         SWAT – 36 months

·         Homicide – 6 months – current

 

Background:

Stephen “STEP” Winslow grew up in an affluent, upper middle class family in the Buckhead suburbs of Atlanta.   The youngest of two sons, Step looked up to and seemed to idolize his older brother, Wade.  The boys learned their values in a firm, yet loving household.  John (a VP with a local bank) and Carol (retired school teacher) provided excellent role models for the two boys.

 

Step attended and graduated from the prestigious Pace Academy in the heart of Buckhead.  And then followed in his brother’s footsteps and was accepted into the United States Naval Academy.  After graduating from Annapolis, Step received his commission in the United States Marine Corps.  He continued to follow Wade’s lead and joined Force Reconnaissance and served five (5) years in the Corps including a deployment to Afghanistan.

 

After being Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps, Step returned to Atlanta and against the wishes of his parents joined the Atlanta Police Department.  Top in his academy class, Step went on to work patrol in Zone 2 for 18 months before moving into the training group where he served as a Firearms Instructor specializing in Tactical Pistol, Shotgun and Patrol rifle, Basic Weapons Handling as well as Taser and “Force on Force” training for officers and SWAT.  Still longing for the action of the Marine Corps, Step joined SWAT and served on the team for three (3) years before passing his detective’s exam and moving into his current role in Atlanta’s Homicide Division.

 

As the newest addition to the division, many of the other detectives are still feeling Step out.  A private person who seems to keep to himself off the job, Winslow is seen as a bit of a loner and is often thought of as arrogant because of his no-nonsense demeanor; a stereotype which has been further solidified by his refusal to take lip from ANYONE including his superiors who seem to look the other way at times.

 

His morals are beyond reproach and he is a “strictly by the book” officer/investigator.