Filmmaker and promoter Norman Pardo has had a busy retirement in Independence Township.
Since moving to the area last year, Pardo helped design his custom house, cast and started filming a horror movie, and is in post-production of a video series starring O.J. Simpson.
His newest project: developing a new talent-search show for television and the internet.
‘Now I just want to do something good,? he said. ‘My goal is to create something good for this area, for the people, and create a new business. I’m very excited about it.?
He and his wife, Jill, moved to the Clarkston area from Florida for his ‘retirement? ? he took public his company, Charys Holdings, also known as Spiderboy International, then sold it.
Their entire house is designed and built, by local builder Jeff Harrell, with the movie in mind.
It is equipped with eight embedded cameras.
One room has a vault door and 17-inch concrete walls, serving as a panic-room-style set, and also safeguarding valuable video equipment.
Windows are the biggest available, with no curtains ? the better to film scary scenes from outside. The kitchen has no ceiling ? the better to film overhead shots.
‘The lighting is perfect in every room of the house,? Pardo said.
A trail through his five acres of lakefront property was set up with park benches and lanterns for outdoor shots calling for park-like settings.
He describes the movie as a cross between films ‘Panic Room,? ‘Saw,? and ‘When a Stranger Calls.?
‘It’s a girls? slumber party gone wrong,? he said.
Filming is underway, set to wrap within two months. He is still casting the film, looking for ‘anyone who wants to be in a horror movie,? he said. ‘I still need some of the female leads.?
His house plays the role of two buildings in the film: the house where most of the film takes place and a smaller, apartment-type dwelling for early scenes.
‘They’re totally different, like another house,? he said.
His talent show, ‘I Got Skills,? was picked up by Colours TV, a multi-cultural network available on satellite and cable.
All types of talent or skills are welcome, music, magic, ventriloquism, anything.
‘Whatever you have, bring it,? Pardo said. ‘I want the talent of the area.?
The show’s concept evolved from his idea for ‘The D,? which would have featured talent of Detroit residents. Efforts to seek cooperation from the Detroit mayor’s office were unsuccessful, so Pardo decided to broaden the scope.
Why the title?
‘Keeps keep coming up to me and telling me, ‘I got skills,?? he said. ‘They do have skills, and I want to put them out there and market them to 33 million people.?
The show will be set up as a multi-round tournament, pitting the talent of various cities against each other, Detroit vs. Atlanta, Los Angeles vs. Las Vegas, Chicago vs. Trenton, etc.
People watch the videos posted on www.Igotskills.tv and vote. Winning cities advance through the brackets until two are left. They will compete in the Super Soul of Talent Contest, ‘like the Super Bowl,? Pardo said.
He hopes to launch the show around October, a very short time by TV-production standards.
‘I’m getting the upload site ready,? he said.
He is also looking for four hosts, people who can introduce segments and serve as expert judges.
Jill has family in Oakland County. Both said they love the Clarkston area, with the small shops of downtown and mega stores just down the highway.
‘We go downtown about every other day for breakfast,? Norman said. ‘It’s a very friendly downtown area, very nice.?
He’s interested in helping out in community events, such as Christmas and Fourth of July parades, he said.
‘I have light sets, studio equipment, night vision cameras (for recording the evening Holiday Lights Parade),? he said.
For more information, call Pardo at 239-218-8750.