Drawing Down the Moon ("ddtm") is an independent feature film made on a relatively low budget (somewhere between .50¢ and $2,000,000). The movie features Walter Koenig ("Mr. Chekov" from the classic "Star Trek" TV series and movies, and currently "Psi-Cop Bester" in "Babylon 5"), plus a group of fantastic actors in truly break-out performances.

(A note to Trekkers, Bab-5ers, and non-sci-fi fans alike -- Walter Koenig is fantastic in this film!)

DDTM tells the story of an eccentric young woman who moves to a small town to start a homeless shelter. Her beliefs (she's a witch) and progressive ideas for the community bring her into conflict with both the respectable townsfolk and the local criminal element. The plot centers around her battle to rally the homeless people in the community to keep the shelter alive in the face of ever-escalating opposition. Most of the action stems from her ongoing battles with the thugs of the local "crime lord," played by Walter Koenig (pictured below).

Our movie contains some interesting ideas:

Homeless people are people like us! In many cases they are just normal folks who have had a run of bad luck and need a place to regroup!

Self-esteem is good!

Empowerment leads to hope!

One person -- in this case a woman (an outcast) -- can make a difference!

Hey -- a wildly imaginative action-adventure movie with a message! (Several of them, in fact!) Check it out!

This is not a typical "witch movie." No hocus-pocus, snakes, or creepy-crawly bugs (though we have nothing against snakes or bugs, actually). No absurd special effects from an overblown budget.

Just imagination. And magic.

Do you believe?

Our Web site includes plenty of insightful information about the production -- a synopsis of the screenplay, photos, helpful advice on low-budget independent film production, plus notes on the film's current status. The "Production Notes" section features thoughts on the movie and independent filmmaking in general by the film's producer/writer/director/editor, Steven Patterson.

Our Web site also contains gobs of useful info about the modern witchcraft movement, chaos theory, and Aikido (the Japanese martial art), with links to related topic-specific Web sites.

DDTM is currently in post-production. We are editing furiously. We have no distributor as of yet, but we know that's just a matter of time. Feel free to contact distributors like Miramax, Fine Line Features, Searchlight, October Films, Sony Pictures Classics -- what the heck, even Paramount, those Warner Boys, or any others you can think of -- and let them know you want to see this movie! Okay?

Check out the DDTM Production Page for stimulating, insightful background info on the making of DDTM. Included in this section you'll find the story synopsis, reports from the set during the shoot, production stills, and lots more. We'll also have a QuickTime movie of a selected scene available soon, so come back to our Web page often to check out what's new!

Hey, this is the section where you'll find Steve's thoughts -- updated weekly (but don't hold your breath, he is trying to get the movie done, after all) -- on DDTM and independent filmmaking.

Neat, huh? Why do we provide all this stuff to you, free of charge? Because we care about our audience! We want you to know lots about this movie!

So go see it when it comes out!

Okay!

Witchcraft & Wicca -- "Drawing Down the Moon" is also the name of a ritual performed by witches, nature worshippers, and other pagans. (Yo, watch it -- "pagan" is not a dirty word.) Look in this section for enlightening info about the modern witchcraft movement.

(By the way, "Drawing Down the Moon" is also the title of a nonfiction book by Margot Adler about witchcraft and paganism. We recommend this book highly.)

Also, in this section you'll find some absolutely uncensored thoughts on the making of the movie from two of our witchcraft consultants. Hilda Marshall (also known as "Columbine" in the pagan community) helped immeasurably with authenticity issues during the writing of the script and while shooting the movie. Columbine has written up an overview of witchcraft for this Web site, and has referenced cool links to pagan/witchcraft Web sites. Sue Nisivaco also provided a wealth of advice on witchcraft while writing the script and making the movie. Here are some of her thoughts on serving as a technical consultant.

Also, we offer profound thanks to Teara Staples, our third technical consultant. In addition to her insights on witchcraft and paganism, Teara provided much of Gwynyth's costuming in the film, and decorated Gwynyth's jo staff with appropriate runes and symbols. Jessa Lynch was also very helpful with providing advice on witchcraft issues during the scripting process.

Chaos Theory -- You've heard the buzz. You've seen cool graphics (those "fractal things") on posters, calendars, books, and who knows what else, that supposedly have something to do with "chaos." So what is chaos? What the heck was Jeff Goldblum talking about in "Jurassic Park," anyhow? Here's a clue -- it's a lot more than pretty pictures and hype. Along with relativity and quantum mechanics, chaos has become the third great revolution in the physical sciences in this century. And it's cool. Find out more about it here.

Aikido is, in our opinion, the most beautiful of the martial arts, but one of the least known and least understood. Aikido is Japanese in origin. It is aimed primarily at subduing an opponent without causing permanent physical harm. Aikido employs lots of throws (kind of like judo) with plenty of arm- and leg-locks (sort of like ju-jitsu), along with many interesting surprises. Practicing Aikido is like studying body mechanics -- the physics of human movement. It is also a very spiritual discipline. Learn more about it here.

News Page
Check out the ddtm News page to find out the latest scoop on Drawing Down the Moon.

Online Bookstore
The ddtm Online Bookstore -- brought to you in association with Amazon.com, "The Earth's Biggest Bookstore." Amazon.com offers over 2.5 million titles in their catalog -- at healthy discounts. The ddtm Online Bookstore lists several hundred titles in the areas of interest to the visitors of this web site.

Was designed by Rick Brandt, who also happens to be the film's Director of Photography and assistant editor. Feel free to email comments or questions. They could become interesting fodder for Steve's articles.