film
Film Production Lifecycle
Concept and Literary Development
Story Mining & Supply Co., spearheaded by Jim Kohlberg and Luke Parker Bowles, operates as a sophisticated bridge between the literary world and the cinematic screen. By maintaining a strategic presence in both New York and Los Angeles, the company leverages the narrative depth of East Coast publishing houses and the technical infrastructure of the West Coast. This dual-coastal identity allows them to "mine" high-quality intellectual property—most notably seen in their successful adaptation of the Outlander series. The process begins by scouring the literary landscape for novels or long-form journalism with the DNA of a cinematic hit, refining these stories into screenplays that balance artistic integrity with commercial viability.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Financing and Packaging the Project
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Once a script is locked, Story Mining & Supply Co. moves into the Financing and Packaging stage, a high-stakes logistical puzzle. Using their Los Angeles connections, the producers assemble a package that typically includes a director and lead actors whose involvement greenshoots the project for investors. Financing for a major film rarely comes from a single source; it is often a complex stack of studio backing, private equity, and state tax incentives. Story Mining & Supply Co. excels at navigating these financial waters, ensuring that budgets—which can often reach upwards of $50,000,000—are secured and managed with surgical precision to satisfy both creative needs and investor expectations.
Pre-Production and World-Building
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Transitioning into Pre-Production, this is the blueprinting phase, where the abstract becomes tangible through exhaustive research and coordination. In the production offices of LA or NY, department heads are hired to handle everything from production design to costume creation. Every day of filming is mapped out on a digital schedule to maximize efficiency. For a company known for historical and rich visual storytelling, this stage involves meticulous world-building to ensure authenticity, whether they are recreating 18th-century Scotland or a modern-day Manhattan courtroom.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Principal Photography and “The Burn"
The Production Phase, or principal photography, is the most volatile and expensive part of the process. This is where the director leads a crew of hundreds to capture the raw footage on soundstages or on location. The production team must manage "the burn"—the daily cost of keeping the cameras rolling—while ensuring that every scheduled scene is completed before permits expire. It is a period of controlled chaos involving complex lighting setups and specialized camera rigs. After the wrap, the film enters Post-Production, where editors and VFX artists in LA or NY work through hundreds of hours of footage to assemble the final cut and integrate the musical score.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Marketing and Building Public Hype
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
As the film nears completion, the Marketing and Publicity machine roars to life to transform the film into a global event. Utilizing the media hubs of New York and Los Angeles, the cast embarks on press junkets and talk show appearances, and teams coordinate massive digital ad buys and trailer drops. The goal is to build "tracking"—a statistical measure of public awareness and intent to see the film. A major release requires a ubiquitous presence, ranging from viral social media teasers to massive billboards on Sunset Boulevard, ensuring the project captures the cultural zeitgeist before its debut.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Distribution and Global Release
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
The final component is the Major Release and Distribution, where the product finally meets the consumer. Releasing a major film involves a strategic rollout, deciding between a wide release in thousands of theaters or a platform release that starts in NY and LA to build critical buzz. In the modern era, this also includes navigating the theatrical window before the film moves to streaming services. For Story Mining & Supply Co., the ultimate success is defined by a film’s legs—its ability to remain culturally relevant and commercially profitable long after the opening weekend curtains have closed.
A Cork O'Connor Series
The series that’s captivated millions starts with Iron Lake, a chilling mystery where ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor must confront his past and expose the deadly secrets beneath a frozen town.
Past Projects
Every Breath You Take (2021)
A psychological thriller starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, and Sam Claflin. Directed by Vaughn Stein and written by David Murray.
Director: Vaughn Stein
Writer: David Murray
Stars: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Claflin
UFO (2018)
A college student, who sees a UFO, uses his exceptional math skills to investigate the sighting with his friends while the FBI follows closely behind.
Director: Ryan Eslinger
Writer: Ryan Eslinger
Stars: Alex Sharp, Gillian Anderson, Ella Purnell
The Yellow Birds (2017)
A war drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette, directed by Alexandre Moors and based on Kevin Powers’ novel.
Director: Alexandre Moors
Writers: David Lowery, R.F.I. Porto, Kevin Powers
Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Daniel Jose Molina, Mikey Collins
The Music Never Stopped (2011)
Tale of a father who struggles to bond with his estranged son Gabriel, after Gabriel suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories.
Director: Jim Kohlberg
Writers: Gwyn Lurie, Gary Marks, Oliver Sacks
Stars: Lou Taylor Pucci, J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond
Trumbo (2007)
Through a focus on the life of Dalton Trumbo (1905-1976), this film examines the effects on individuals and families of a congressional pursuit of Hollywood Communists after World War II.
Director: Peter Askin
Writer: Christopher Trumbo
Stars: Dalton Trumbo, Joan Allen, Brian Dennehy
Two Family House (2000)
Through a focus on the life of Dalton Trumbo (1905-1976), this film examines the effects on individuals and families of a congressional pursuit of Hollywood Communists after World War II.
Director: Raymond De Felitta
Writer: Raymond De Felitta
Stars: Michael Rispoli, Kelly Macdonald, Kathrine Narducci