Production Update #39: Editing and Planning Next Major Shoot

Well, our core indie film crew has scattered to the 4 winds -- from Niagra Falls to Rehoboth Beach to Georgia to Manatoulin Island, Ontario -- to soak up some well earned summer R&R. That way, we'll all return home rejuvenated and willing to once again charge some cinematic windmills... (fingers-crossed...)

In the meantime, I have been hacking my way through the 7+ scenes we've already shot this summer, hovering over the antique 16mm Steenbeck editing table in the lonely, dark basement of the college, continuing to build the story -- shot by shot -- that will someday be our completed feature.

The footage looks great.  The sound is pristine. The performances are sincere and human and engaging... and I can't wait to get back out there on location to shoot the next round of pages.  I still have a few bucks in my pocket for film stock, but I want to use them before they get consumed by sky-high gasoline prices and other unexpected Recession-related expenses.

"You're wasting money on a film now?  In this economy?  Are you CRAZY!?"

God, I hope not.

According to the production schedule I put together at the very beginning of the summer, it looks like "all the planets align" again on the weekend of August 9-10.   I believe everyone is back in town and available that weekend...

It will probably be the last major shoot of the summer and will include the following scenes: dairy farm, rural walkbys, more house calls, night porch…and whatever the heck else I dream up between now and then.

So stay tuned for more details about that weekend.  I'll send everyone an email if it is a "go."

Hope the summer is treating you well...

Production Update #38: The Indie Film Adventure Continues...

The indie film gremlins were out in full force last weekend as we attempted to knock down another 5 pages of script:

First, one of our 16mm film magazines decided to munch up 50 feet of film (not salvageable; had to be re-shot). Then we had an immovable hair in the gate (Eventually blasted the "motha" out with a half can of compressed air). And finally, the battery died in the audio recorder.

However, like all those crazy enough to try to shoot an independent feature film on a shoestring... well, not even on a shoe string.  I think we are officially shoeless. Even footless... Anyway, we soldiered on and managed to shoot another 480 feet of 16mm film.

Today, I screened the dailies at Colorlab in Rockville, MD, and I must say, what we actually got shot looks great! (Thanks, Bob, for insisting we re-take that final "butcher truck" shot; the last take is indeed -- like Slade's chest -- hairless!)

Can't wait for Colorlab to finish transferring the audio...

As usual, I want to thank:

* Novia Campbell for hosing off the wedding dress, and braving its noxiousness once again for the sake of ... well, I was going to say "art" but maybe I should just say for the sake of "your director's delusion." (By the way, one of the cats -- Boomer -- has taken to napping on the wedding gown; at least somebody still thinks it smells good...)

* Luther and Alice Myers for letting us shoot at the farm; nice job with the horse and tractor wrangling.

* George Maurer and family (Mary Kay & Amber) for maneuvering around Saturday afternoon rush hour on Old Fridinger Mill Road. When did that gravel lane become a freeway? Maybe I should set up a toll booth there to help pay for this project.

* Gordon Masters for showing up for our 10am crew call when you just got home from another job at 6am!

* Bob Sapora for your electron-microscope eyesight for catching a glimpse of our ol' friend Aaron DeGate.

* Robert Lemieux for being both crew member and talent. (Great adlib about the "barking dogs.")

* And, of course, Kenny Ditto who has shown up more consistently than any other young crew member, willing to do just about anything we need (slate, camera assistant, still photos, packing gear, etc). I'm so glad we haven't scared you off yet! Your help is invaluable!

Stay tuned for more shoot dates throughout the summer. We're currently looking at possibly July 19-20 and July 26-27.  More info when I have it...

Production Update #37: Keeping Up the Energy -- SHOOT Sat 6/21 @10am

This weekend we hope to keep our energy up with a 4 to 5 hour shoot, capturing the bulk of a sequence where our main character goes out to make "house calls" to rural residents...

SHOOT: This Saturday June 21, 2008 -- 10am - 3pm

Cast and crew call: 10am

Location: Myers Farm, Westminster, MD 21157

Scenes will include:

1) Tractor: Talia & Luther (Talia encounters Luther as he drives his tractor in field)  [daylight stock]

2) Barn: Talia & Luther (Talia checks Luther for asthma, talk about health insurance) [tungsten stock]

3) Mailboxes: Talia & Lemieux (Talia encounters Lemieux, who points her in the right direction) [daylight stock]

4) Woodpile: Talia walks by woodpile on way to house call [daylight stock]

5) Country Road: Talia walks on way to house call [daylight stock]

6) Dairy Farm: Talia walks on way to house call, past Holstein cows in field [daylight stock]

7) Meat Truck: Talia is picked up on way back to town by George Maurer in his truck (brief conversation inside truck as it drives) [daylight stock] Note:  George Maurer and his truck will only be available between 2pm - 3:30pm)

And yes, we will plan a short, half hour meal break -- probably pizza from Pizza Garden in Manchester -- around 1pm.

All of this will be shot within a few miles of the Myers' farm near Fridinger Mill, and barring bad weather, equipment failure, and other old testament plagues, it should be a fairly enjoyable day. As always, we will have cold drinks, but it's probably a good idea to also be prepared with your own suntan lotion, bug spray, cell phone, snack bar, extra bottle of water, etc...

See you on location...

Production Update #36: 5 More Scenes in the Can...

What a great way to kick off the summer:

We shot 400 feet of 16mm daylight film on Sunday May 25th, and another 400 feet (mostly tungsten) last Saturday May 31, nailing down another 5 scenes in this never-ending independent saga. Hard to believe it takes so much time and effort to shoot and cut a traditional 70 minute feature... You'd have to be insane to keep this up... Right?!?

I have already screened and picked up the footage from both weekends from Colorlab in Rockville, MD (just got back today), and it looks great! Focus. Exposure. Performance. All very nice.  (FYI: Absolutely NO hairs in the gate on our 2 most recent reels #38, #39. Whew!)

As usual, I want to thank:

* Novia Campbell for squeezing into a wedding dress that has now been declared its own toxic Superfund clean-up site.

* Russell Justice for bringing his characteristic understated performance once again to the screen. ("I had a beer and 2 Xanax for breakfast...")

* Gordon Masters for surviving another day with a crew of carnivores. (Extra ketchup for you!)

* Bob Sapora for showing up even though your spine needs a rest, and for checking the gate like a man-possessed.

* Steve Smith for slating, gripping, and not gawking at our merry band of wackos like a train wreck.

* Brian Belida for holding that umbrella over the camera during the lightning storm.

* Linda Kirkpatrick for her continued support (and homemade strawberry ice cream).

* And Cindy and Scott McGee for allowing us to shoot in their tavern... once again...

As always,  I greatly appreciate everyone's trust and support... Without this insanely dedicated group of people, I'd just be some creepy guy in the corner talking to himself...

Stay tuned for more shoot dates throughout the summer -- usually on weekends...

Production Update #35: Still Charging Windmills -- SHOOT Sat 5/31 @10am

Well, in the spirit of financial irresponsibility I've decided to take some of the money I made by producing the public TV documentary "Eatin Crabs: Chesapeake Style" and use it to purchase more 16mm film stock. For those of you who've lost track (or interest), we now have 48 minutes of our feature film project fine cut, and about 25 minutes left to shoot and cut...

We kicked off the summer with a 4-hour MOS shoot last Sunday May 25 with Talia (Novia Campbell) still struggling her way through her honeymoon-from-hell (and a backyard overgrown with weeds...)

This weekend, we want to keep our momentum up...

SHOOT: This Saturday May 31, 2008 -- 10am - 2:30pm

Cast and crew call: 10am

Location: Village Inn Tavern. Lineboro, Maryland

Scenes will include:

1) Tavern: Talia & Skip ("How can I get out of town?")  [tungsten stock]

2) Payphone: Talia (calls her maid of honor for the third time) [daylight stock, short end?]

3) Flynt's Front Porch: Talia, Jim (Jim brings the walking wounded) [tungsten stock]

All of this will be shot in "downtown" Lineboro, and barring bad weather, equipment failure, and horrible traffic, it should be a fairly light -- and dare I say? -- enjoyable day...

As always, we could use several student volunteers: for pre-production, prop gathering, packing and moving gear, confirming actors, as well as gripping and production assistance on the day of the shoots (lighting, slating, audio assistance, still photos). If you have half a day, I'm sure we can put you to good use.

Thanks to everyone for their trust, kind words, and support -- and sweat!  Hope to see you on Saturday..