| The official Back to the Present Franchise Page |
| PRODUCTION NOTES: 2-06-02: Kevin Kessler films the hallway sequence of his new movie. 2-07-02: Kevin Kessler gets the idea for Back to the Present and the first storyline is written. 2-08-02: The first draft of Back to the Present is written. 2-11-02: Greg Heard and Maury Carlisle agree to star in Kevin Kessler's Three Part Epic Adventure. 2-12-02: Production on Back to the Present Begins. 2-13-02: A Revised Script is Typed Up. 2-14-02: Production Continues at Mountain Brook High School 2-15-02: Production is completed on Scene 3. Production wraps until Monday, February 18th. 2-18-02: First day of plot altering production. Gred Heard appeared for the first time as Fred Bird. Filming took place on scenes 4 and a portion of 5. 2-19-02: Kevin Kessler completes draft four and what he hopes to be the final draft. The biggest change in this script is the rewriting of scenes 5 and the descent back into the future, scene 6. 2-20-02: Kevin Kessler begins writing Theme From:Back to the Present 2-21-02: Another big production day on BTTP. Today we completed the filming of scenes 5 and 6. A gag real is going to be featured on the DVD version. Production will be completed on Monday, February 26th with the filming of Scenes 1 and 7. 2-26-02: Completion of Back to the Present is just around the bend. Maury Carlisle has actually completed his filming and Greg Heard has one more sequence to film. The first draft of the film is set to be relased on Friday, March 1st, 2002, in limited release. The final version of the video will be available on VHS and KB DVD in mid-May along with the release of The Scary Dreams on Elm Street. Today scene 7 was completed along with Maury Carlilse portion of Scene 2. Production will wrap officially tomorrow, February 27,2002. Plans for a new sequence for the KB DVD release of Back to the Future are in the works, but this sequence will only be available on the DVD and not the VHS version. 2-27-02: Filming wrapped up today with the filming of the remainder of Scene 2. The video release date has been set as May 13, 2002. 2-28-02: With less than 24 hours remaining until the deadline of the first draft of the movie, Kevin Kessler worked overtime in order to put the finishing touches on the video. Also today, Kessler Brothers' Pictures began work on the Back to the Present DVD. 3-01-02: Kevin Kessler submits Back to the Present in and continues work on the DVD. Kevin Kessler is going to soon begin a page on the Back to the Present DVD and Video. 3-04-02: Kevin Kessler launches the new Back to the Present DVD page. It can be accessed by clicking the link below. 3-05-02: Kevin Kessler begins and completes the directors comentary for the KB DVD Special Edition. 4-2-02: After almost a month of finisheing touches on Back to the Present, technical difficulites have caused the file to be erased. The editor of the first version of Back to the Present has been called back to make the magic happen, again. As of this moment, Kessler Brothers' Pictures expects no delay in the release of the film, its just going to be a scramble in order to get it completed. You can access a transcript of the KB Press Conference this afternoon here. 4-8-02: After a week of turmoil and panic, Back to the Present has been completed, again. Kevin Kessler says, "I'm so glad I got the chance to reedit this movie, I am much prouder of it than I was." The first showing for critics is going to take place on April 12th. There is no word wether or not the special features of the DVD are going to be included in this screening. The remaineder of the month is going to be spent fine-tuning the DVD for its release on May 13th. Kevin Kessler has begun his own daily updates here on this site. You can access daily for updates from Kessler Brothers' Pictures. 4-24-02: Kevin Kessler has earned an "Artistic Acheivment Award" for Back to the Present. 4-26-02: All the DVD production have been completed. The DVD is ready for its release on May 13th 2002. 5-10-02: The countdown has begun for the release of Back to the Present. Supplies have been bought and the manufacturing is ready to begin. Now the problem is viewers are going to have to wait twelve months before Back to the Present: Part II, is released. Back to the Present: Part II is going to begin pre-production over the Summer months along with Second Unit filming. 5-13-02: It's official Back to the Present was released today by Kessler Brothers' Pictures. Kevin Kessler quoted, "It was a day I never thought possible, this is a day that will live in infamy." 5-20-02: Back to the Present: Part II is currently in its screenwriting stage. Kevin Kessler feels that this movie is going to be 10 times greater than the first, breaking all new ground for Kessler Brothers' Pictures. The only words that Kessler Brothers' Pictures will release on the movie is, "The sequel is going to give a much more in-depth plot filled with humor, surpries, and special effects." Kevin Kessler is currently writing both the Back to the Present: Part II script along with the Escape from Atlantis script. If everything goes right, the first showings of Back to the Present: Part II will come in early March. 5-22-02: Back to the Present was screened today for Mountain Brook High School, the place where the movie was filmed.The movie was opened with open arm and to good reviews. The public showing also lead to new actors/actresses who want to be in future movies. Therefore, you might see new people in the upcoming installments of the trilogy. A new trailer for Back to the Present: Part II will be online within the next 48 hours. This trailer is here to just give an example of the special effects you are going to see in the upcoming movie. 5-23-02: The first draft of the Back to the Present: Part II script is completed. Kevin Kessler quoted, "Fans defently won't be dissapointed with our sequel. This story lives up to the first one and continues to surpass it. The special effects in this movie are ground breaking for Kessler Brothers' Pictures and will help add a new deminision to the trilogy. 6-6-02: The buisiness of summer is not stopping Kessler's Brothers' Pictures from furuthing its entertainment goals of 2003. Pre-production of final installments of the trilogy are underway. Kessler Brothers' Pictures is in talks with Patrick Walsh to help with the screenwriting of the final two movies. Kevin Kessler writes, "I have already written the script for these movies, but one perspective is never enough. I have known Patrick Walsh for many years and I believe that his choices and opinions will be very valuable in the upcoming movies." It has also been reported that the futuristic designs have already begun their building. Kevin Kessler writes, "The succuess or failure of this movie is going to be found in the computer, where 3/4 of the movie will be found." A clarification of this quote is that 3/4 of the movie is going to sepcial effects that are generated by the computer. It appears that Kessler Brothers' Pictures is going to try and gain other people who will work on these computer generated segments, but that report is unnofficial 7-11-02: The past few weeks have been dedicated to relaxation and the furthered writing of the scripts. Kessler Brothers' Pictures is currently still on target with the "Back to the Present: Part II" script and is working on a script for the thrid and final movie of the series. Although BTTP III Will not be released until 2004, filming for both movies must be completed by the end of the upcoming year. Post-production will not begin on BTTP III until the fall of 2003. 7-13-02: "Back to the Present: Part II" is going to be a delightful sequel which will surpass its predeccessor by leaps and bounds. Kevin Kessler quoted today at a press conference on the subject, "By the end of this upcoming movie, fans will be dying to know what the conclusion of the epic triogly holds." A shooting schedule has not yet been announced for the schedules of the returning members have not yet been established. Casting for the additional roles in the sequel will hopeful begin soon, however. We will keep all casting updates posted on our cast/crew page as well as here on our main updates page. 7-14-02: 1:00 p.m. Much work has been completed on the script to the third movie. Kevin Kessler reported, "It's getting so complicated to hold our plotline into just three movies, there are so many ideas that we want to project." It is much too early to report or give away any secrets on the second and third movies, but we will tell you that the third movie is not going to involve the wild west, but the story line will not be hurt. 3:30 p.m. The first draft of the "Back to the Present: Part III" is completed and has been sent out to our on board advisers. This draft is going to be shown to the KB Board later this evening. Kevin Kessler believes that this will be a near final screenplay. "When I began writing the third part of this trilogy, I tried to think of what would be the most enjoyable for the viewers to see. There is going to be a lot of backtrack to the first film from different angles which is always exciting. I also think that this script is going to fulfill the needs of the female viewers through Fred's slight love interest. Without giving too much away, I think the viewers will have a good feeling about themselves after watching this movie. The bad thing, however, is that it will not be released until 2004." One thing Kessler will be able to do with the second film that he was not able to do with the first is to create a trailer that shows the actors/actresses and actual video for these two movies will be filmed at the same time. With the completion of the scripts, casting can begin for the second and third installments to the trilogy. 8-25-02: Its almost time for casting to begin for the second and third movies. It is currently looking as if all of the original cast will be returning and the roles of Mike and Greta McGregor are going to hopefully be cast within the next week. Our scouts have their eyes on a few choices for Greta McGregor, but all the details are still to be worked out. The final revisions of the script are currently being worked upon and it is looking as if production on the movies will be able to start hopefully late September to early October. Production updates will be made here and any important news related to the trilogy will also be posted. If everything stays on schedule, however, Kevin Kessler hopes to begin the editing phase of the second installment in early January. 8-26-02: The final draft of the script to the second installment in the BTTP trilogy is complete. It is still being decided on when the first day of filming will begin, but production is beginning today on the computer genertated effects for the movies. The trouble is going to be getting everyone's schedule to work out correctly. Maury is currently very busy so it is in discussion to go ahead and begin filming the scenes without Maury in them which are very limited in the second movie. For whoever is chosen to play Greta McGregor, this first movie is going to be very simple becuase she is only required to be on the set for one day of filming. Kevin Kessler commented at an earlier interview, "The charater of Greta McGregor is gaining more and more importance as the trilogy advances. While she was never in the first film, references were made to her character and in this upcoming movie she is not going to have a huge amount of screen time although her presence will not go unoticed." The scouts have their eyes on a few people who they would like to see Greta McGregor. Hopefully we will know something more before the end of the week. It is the production crews hopes that casting of all characters will be completed within the next couple of weeks. 8-27-02: Production has started on a few minor effects for the movies. Talks are going to begin soon with the local hotels on a one day filming location for one of the movie's scenes. At least the interior scenes. The exterior shots are ging to be filmed in a completely different part of the city. Cating news is still unknown, hopefully we will know the face of Mrs. McGregor by the end of the week. 9-24-02: Production is officially scheduled to begin on November 4th of 2002 on Back to the Present: Part II. 10-2-02: With production beginning on BTTP: Part II in just over a month, the Kessler Brothers' Pictures' board is going to have to vote on the budget. The proposed budget is currently $250 dollars which is a dramatic increase based upon the $5 budget of its predicesor. Although still very low budgeted, many more effects and props are going to be needed to pull off the sequel. Another problem that is facing the crew with only a few days remaining before filming begins is who wil play Greta McGregor and Mike McGregor. Although a search has been going on to find Greta McGregor, Mike's character has been somewhat overlooked in the casting process. Kevin Kessler commented and said, "We are not going to sacrifice quality for time reasons." More information as we recieve it. 10-3-02: The role of Greta McGregor has been cast to Mrs. Ann Lee. The only major role that remains to be filled is that of Mike McGregor, Greta's relative from the future. On a note of the budget meeting, that is going to be held this afternoon and the results will be returned here as soon as possible. It is looking as if the trilogy might finish its filming before February and post-production will spend the next four months on a final product. 10-4-02: A revised third draft has been made with just minor changes to the script. Director Kevin Kessler feels that this script is almost perfect, but one final revision is in order to make sure everything is obtainable and entertaining. Bryan Kessler has also joined the behind the scenes crew. Bryan is the other part of "The Kessler Brothers." This movie will mark the first true "Kessler Brothers" Production. 10-16-02: Production will begin on Back to the Present: Part II in just under three more weeks. Kevin Kessler commented on the filming of this movie, "I am very excited that the filming is going to begin in just a few weeks, but I am also very worried. There are just so many little details to be worked out and time is getting close. My biggest fear right now is finding the right person to play Mike McGregor. The scouts are looking, but we have not really narrowed the choices down to anyone specific yet. 11-14-02: Ten days after the proposed start of filming, Kevin Kessler finally reached a conclusion after Maury Carlisle innocently left the filming process until February of 2003. Kevin Kessler's plan says that he will go on and film all scenes with Greg Heard that do not depend heavily on Maury. Kessler also said, "Look for a script revision. We cannot take Maury out of the story, he's to important, but we might try to limit his lines." Also in Kessler's proposed plan is a spin-off series from "Back to the Present" that would deal with Fred Bird's time traveling adventures. Kessler comments, "The whole idea is still being thrown around on paper, but I want to tell the story of what happens to Fred Bird that leads up to the events in "Back to the Present: Part II." I also want to take at least one adventure with the Bird family." The biggest question is the signing of Greg Heard. If he will sign on then the series will be made, if not then the idea will probally be scrapped. We should know within the next forty-eighty hours. More information on this story as it comes to us. 12-28-02: Primary filming was completed today for opening short "The Scary Dreams on Elm Street II: Madness at Midnight." This movie is scheduled to open "Back to the Present: Part II" in May 2003. 12-29-02: Filming on "Mission:Impractical" wrapped up yesterday. An idea being thrown around for many years now has finally been brought to life in this five-minute short that is scheduled to open either "Back to the Present: Part III" in May of 2004 or "Chaos" which will be realeased either Winter 2003 or Summer 2004. 1-06-03: A giant snag in the filming plans of the remaining "Back to the Present" sequels, Maury Carlisle has pulled out of filming the remaining sequels due to availablity of time. Kevin Kessler has been brought back in order to attempt a rewrite of the "Back to the Present: Parts II and III" scripts. 1-07-03: A first draft of the new script has been sent out to the actors and Greg Heard and Ann Lee have varified their continuing preparation of the project. A deal has been struck with Maury Carlisle to complete the necessary scenes of the movie. While we cannot reveal too much about the story, an alternate script has been written without the character of Maury McBly as a lead, while still conforming to the mold that was written last summer. 1-08-03: A second draft of "Back to the Present: Part II" has been written today, in addition to the first draft of the new "Back to the Present: Part III." Kevin Kessler said that these movies are going to have a different feel, but the overall fell of the movies is going to be the same. Maury Carlisle has not yet agreed to film all the new scenes necessary to cary the plot, but constant negotiations are going on. Official word should be available on whether Carlisle will agree by Friday. Producer Kevin Kessler said that while money was never a problem, do not be surprised if Carlisle becomes the highest paid actor for Kessler Brothers' Pictures, even with his small roles. 2-11-03: Director Kevin Kessler has been spending the past month running tests on special effects, and has been trying to balance projects. As of right now, neither Back to the Present has been shelved, but Kevin Kessler has decided to push back the release date until late summer or winter. Kevin Kessler is also discussing the possibility of combining the stories of "Back to the Present: Part II" and "Back to the Present: Part III" and changing the format from the presentation of a trilogy, to a two movie franchise with a possibility of a Christmas 2003 or a more likely Spring 2004 release. Kessler's biggest problem right now is the contract with Ann Lee runs out on March 21st and therefore there are two current options: 1. Film all the scenes requireing Ann Lee before the March 21st deadling. 2. If contract negotionations cannot be worked out, a new person could be cast to play Greta McGregor. It is looking as if option one is not currently feesible and we do not want to get into the middle of filming and have her contract run out. The studio has officially changed the format of the franchise from a triology to a series. The second film (originally Parts II and III) are going to be filmed and edited for what is tentatively scheduled as a May 13th, 2004 release although a winter 2003 release is not currently out of the question. The title has also been changed from "Back to the Present: Part II" to "Back to the Present: Part II: The Adventures of Fred Bird." No news on if any script changes will be made, but at this point it is looking like little to none. 4-12-03: Earlier this week, Kessler Brothers' Pictures stumbled onto some software that will allow for a greater number of special effects than originally expected. Unofficially, it is looking as if Kessler Brothers' Pictures is going to try to return to its orignal format for the second, and final installation in the series. While Greg Heard is still signed on for this reprsial role, back up plans are being considered in the event that he cannot reprise his role. It has also been decided that the role of Maury McBly will go to someone else other than Maury Carlisle. "We just didn't feel good about trying to make a story without one of the original main characters" says writer and director Kevin Kessler. Also, Ann Lee's contract expired on March 21st of 2003, but thay are going to try to get her to sign on for filming next fall although nothing there is official and is not expected. Hopefully, even with the changes, the second installment of BTTP will be better than the first. 5-15-03: It has been a week of heated debating. After what seemed like a promising month with the creation of BTTP: Part II, with the signing of Brian Solomon, studio executives decided to pull BTTP: Part II from the production schedule to give the greenlighting to the expected-profiter, Chaos. BTTP: Part II still remains in script form, but all plans to make this picture anytime soon have been shelved. |
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