"Day Off"

Technically, it is a scheduled day off. All that has meant all month is that the camera is not rolling, but almost everyone is working. Robert Picardo (Bob to us) is scheduled with Eric and Kristina to tape intros to our electronic press kits, the art department is changing a living room into a lodge, Jimmy our sound guy is recording sound around the location so we have sounds of the house, birds, trains, ect. to use in post, Ryan and Antonio will be finishing up the last couple of schedules and shot lists, Kevin is re-writing scenes, Brian will be pre-lighting for our 4am crew call tomorrow and I will be working on getting extras for our last day of the shoot. Whew!
~Jo

Makin' Movies

So this camera, the Red, has changed our industry. We are shooting in a large house in Placer County, Ca. Bob lives in the basement. He’s so cool. Bob rules. Anyway, we shoot throughout the house or on our stage (the garage). At lunch, we transfer the footage onto a 2TB drive (takes about ½ hour), and we’re instantly editing on a Mac laptop in the closet upstairs. The image looks like a processed 35 neg, and not just a one-light work print, it looks color corrected, even though it’s simply what the Red gives us raw. The monitor trips me out as well. It shows exactly how the Red sees the world, how the raw image is actually going to look. I must say, not used to that. Even on things I’ve shot with Panavision – my last project, I shot on the Millennium XL – the video out to the monitor looks nothing like what my color corrected film is going to look like, but with the Red, even our crew moving around, setting up the shot in front of the camera, looks like a movie. It’s impressive and exciting to say the least.

So, Bob lives downstairs, Ryan shoots everywhere in the house, make-up and wardrobe are in the basement, art department/set construction is in the driveway in the alley, our edit suite is in the closet upstairs, and our production office is down the hall from editorial. I currently reside at an antique school desk from the late 19th century. It’s the perfect laptop desk. We have three shoot days left, and who wouldn’t miss this tight-knit, family style of production? It’s truly a grass roots effort. I can already feel relief coupled with the post-production anxiety sure to accompany the less than 18-hour days next week.

Anyway, the cast and crew have been great. We’ve got a fun movie forming in the closet down the hall. It looks so beautiful, well acted, technically sound, great story, well light and directed, yep, all it’s fingers and toes intact. The dailies draw us all in because the raw images from the Red feels like a movie already. I’m not working. I want to grab the popcorn, sit back and enjoy…soon enough though. We do have post to complete, sound design, marketing, distrib, the whole enchilada, but so far, so fun, what a ride!

~ Eric

Really, really sick...

I can't believe I couldn't make it to the top of the mountain... Eric, my co-producer comes up with the best analogies. He told me in the beginning of pre-production that making a movie is like climbing Mt. Everest. There will be folks along the way that didn't bring enough water to make it to the top and you have to decide if you want to share your water or keep your water for yourself, so you can make it to the summit. I now know that along the way, I gave away too much of my own water and I'm disappointed in myself for not being able to make it with everyone else. It is like training for months for a marathon and not being able to cross the finish line. The good news is that this amazing team that has come together, is continuing up the mountain. Thank you to Eric, Julie, Antonio and Kevin for keeping everything moving forward. I don't know what I would do without you guys. My body is telling me I have to stop, but I'll be climbing again soon.

~Jo

Everything Is Something, But Sometimes, Something Is Everything.

I think I'm addicted. This film thing seems to be infecting every fiber of my being. I can't stop the wheels in my brain from analyzing every little detail in this visual storytelling medium and I truly think I'm addicted. I'm a Junkie. Thats the only way to put it. Simple. Just wanted you to know, in case it wasn't obvious.

-ryan

4am...

It has been a very long day...We officially started our day at 3:30pm, but we were working long before that. I have lost track of the hours. It is now 4:00am and Matt Baker is still working...he's an animal. He is pulling still photos out of our raw footage to make crime scene photos for our scenes on Saturday. I still cannot believe the dedication of this amazing team.

Dr. Ross from Wellness 22 came by to try and fix our D.P.'s back and neck. He was so locked up today, he couldn't move his neck. I heard it was from playing with his son, not from lugging the camera all day, but I'm sure it had something to do with it.

We had a few drunk girls show up on the doorstep at about 2:30am fresh from the bars. They were either sneaking a peak or stealing craft service, we are not sure which. If they came back, we planned on putting the day old, prop tuna casserole out just to make sure they didn't return.

Another great day, awesome chemistry with our leads and now our Director is passed out in the actor's trailer. Couldn't ask for anything better.
~Jo

Day 10-- Yikes!

Day 10 was a day to remember: Time and money were against us, and emotions were high for all. To date, this was probably the most difficult day thus far; it's truly amazing what can happen when a production loses a couple of hours. The positive in all of this is, it took 10 days for something like this to happen; if it wasn't for the dedicated and talented crew we have, this surely would have already happened a couple of times before. And even more, the situation brought together a couple of producers with a few crew members who really hadn't had a chance to talk and get to know each other. So, in a way, this problem brought people closer together and opened a line of communication that should carry on throughout. The one thing that really excites me is the passion that everyone is bringing to this production. So many people are giving so much of themselves, and the final product will reflect everyone's hard work and drive. So to everyone involved: THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The Director: My poor friend R-T-Metro, I'm afraid that one of these times he's going to put those two stressful hands atop his newly buzzed dome and POOF! His head is going to explode. For Ryan, emotions like anger and frustration are running at elevated levels along side happiness and excitement, which would be too much for most to handle. In fact, I'm tagging what he's going through right now as "method directing." He's like our character "Darren," but instead of stimulants and depressants, he's being fed opposing emotions. The important thing to focus on is, he's pulling it off. Through observation I've learned that this kid is playing at a very high level, and doing it with very few resources, time, and money. I speak for all of the producers when I say, we're extremely proud of what he's doing, and the dailies reflect his brilliance.

Hamm, Grana, damn! True professionals, never phased, they're f'ing machines! Toby, Sean, Heidi, Kuba, etc., you guys are doing an amazing job, thanks so much for rolling with the punches.

Mansur, you're a true gangster, thanks for being here.

And to the "nuts, bolts and glue" of this entire production, Jo Haskin, producer extraordinaire, I say, without you, we wouldn't be getting ready to start day 11, in fact it is likely we would never have seen day 1.

For many within this production, myself included, we're living a dream right now. Please remember to stop, look around and take it all in, because even things that are perceived as negative at this moment will later become positive memories.

~ Kevin

5 shades of a burned out indie film director

morning..... hopeless optimist
1st shot..... panicked realist
lunch......... dreading hearing the AD's voice
Martini....... pissed off little man
wrap.......... depressed little man

shit, who needs a drink?

-ryan

***LUNCH***

it's lunch on set and I just ate what has been explained to me as "turkey meatloaf." I have to say it has me feeling a bit...................odd. I don't know if I am going to be sick or what, it's not that it tastes bad it just is making me feel...........odd.

On a side note we just filmed Bob in the kitchen doing the whole blended food gag. We didn't really think about it before hand but all of the ingredients we blended together always seemed to smell exactly like a wet dog. No matter what the combination it always seems to still smell the same. Just a side not for all of you thinking about blending some random food together to drink instead of eat.

I now hear Antonio bellowing my name which is usaully the call that lunch is over. We should have made 1 hour lunches the norm on this set, oh well.

-the crumpled up thrown in the recycling bin and made into a paper bag version of RYAN

On The Bright Side and Over The Dark Side

Today was...........well it's over. Chris Holley did an exellent job of playing our loving police officer, Miles Kujoun. He also did a bang up job of roughing up Rife for about six hours. WE sent Rife off tonight to go participate in a theater competition at the Kennedy center in LA and he will be back after the 16th to finish up his days. Break a leg Rifie and get home soon we miss you already!

I managed to offend my producer/writer/friend today with a stupid comment on set that still, no matter how many times he tells me to forget about it, makes me want to punch myself in face. The stress on this film is monumental and it's definitely starting to wear me down. My goal is to push the stress aside and get the job done. The only problem is, thats a statement easier said than done. Nonetheless I will be back on set again tommorow to try and keep my head straight through out the day. Whether I make the 12 without a meltdown remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, the behind the scenes should be quite entertaining.

-whats left of ryan

Day one Week two (or) how filmaking ruined my life.

The first day back for week two was really..........mellow. We pretty much did a bunch of 2nd unit stuff all day today and for the most part it was really chill plus we wrapped early. That always scares me.

Tomorrow we shoot a scene with Christopher Holley and Rife. I am really excited that Chris is on board with us and I can't wait to see how their scene turns out tommorow. It should be grueling and stressful but fun all the same. After that we get Bob back on set and finish up some scenes with him and Rife.

The crew cracks me up especially Ethan our first AC. He picks up the most random jokes and reference's and has an awesome sense of humor. Jimmy our sound mixer struggled today to try and not make jokes and ended up almost having a seizure which ultimately was his funniest joke all day. Monica and Jackie in wardrobe are doing a phenomal job and there natural ability to pick the perfect tie for Jefferies is amazing. Brandy is an absolute sweetheart and I love the fact the she puts up with my scatter brain ideas for make-up and has the patience to deal with me. Matt and Tom in our edit suite have the patience of saints and are a godsend for getting all of the footage organized. Christina Marie is as always totally focused on her job and pays attention to the most absolute minute detail. Thanks Christina for putting up with me as well. Mr Booth is a grip gangster and along with Kerry the grip/lighting dept has been flawless, thanks gentlemen. Also I have to thank Carolyn for making such great meals every day and the crew can't stop talking about all of the good food.

Well thats all I got for now my brain is starting to shut down if I've forgotten anyone please feel free to yell at me tommorow or the next day.

-ryan

ready for week 2

It was tough, hard and stressful but the first week is done and the second week is about to begin. Th film has been a great experience thus far and working with the actors and crew has been an absolute joy. I think one of the hardest things on set is to stay on track since everyone gets along so well we always have a tendency to talk and joke around a lot. Thankfully we have Antonio, our AD, to keep us in line and stay on target.

Robert Picardo is awesome to work with and is really bringing to life his character Wade. He is as genuine as they come and I can't truly thank him enough for working on this film with us. Just being able to talk with him and hear all of his stories on and off set have made this film worth it. Michelle Page finished up all but one of her scenes for the film this last week and she got her ass kicked as well as kicked ass in all of them. Thanks Michelle and if your reading this your already Avery in my book, hopefully we'll be making that story come to life soon as well. As always Brian Rife is doing a phenomenal job and is taking all of the brutality his role entails like a champ. He is on one of the most positive and caring actors I've had the pleasure to work with and as always reliable, professional and prepared. We got one day in with David Fine and he went into his role headfirst with the utmost clarity about where he wanted to take his character. He has been a complete asset to the pre-production of this film and I am honored to have him come aboard and play Jefferies.

Jo, Kevin, Torrey and Eric really got this whole thing up and running and I am in their debt for giving me the opportunity to Direct this film. Thanks you guys for the respect and confidence. Brian Hamm as always is my right hand on this film and I owe the majority of my experience with shooting film and learning this craft to him. As always my partner in crime Toby really took the reins to get everything in order for the production design of the film. With his crew; Shaun, Cuba, Rachel and Heidi the sets and props have been fabulous and really give the film the look it deserves. They have been slaving day and night to get everything in line and they are the backbone of this film. Thanks to everyone on the crew and I can't wait to get on set tomorrow to get into week two.

-Ryan

1st week down!

We miss you Michelle Page! Thank you for such a great week! We put you through some tough scenes and you came out smiling on the other side. You are such a talent and we are honored you are in our film.