Final day of Principle Photography

I spent the three days prior to the shoot checking multiple online weather services, since rain is a factor beyond my control, and with much of my cast just days away form taking off for college, it was unlikely I would be able to reschedule. Mason Speta had did the impossible, maneuvered around 12 people's conflicting schedules to line up the 3 days I needed, so we were going to shoot "Rain-or-shine."
    
Well the rain held off; so I made a mental note to offer a sacrifice to the "God of filming on location.."















Luck was further going my way when I received calls from both Kat Wanger and Hunter Dunn, each back in town, each asking if they could be of any help. Considering my total "Tech Crew" is comprised of my dad and myself; sure, I'm always happy to have any help I can get. The thing is, both Kat and Hunter are talented actresses; so I could not resist the opportunity to find someway to work them into the film.
While it was too late to write major parts for them, I was glad I was able to get them screen-time.



Getting ready to kill off an obstacle .

Got to love the taste of stage blood.

  

Shoot Day 2, Eye of Dispel

This was the second, and final shoot day in Highland Park. Since we had Dakota barking when the doorbell was rung, I've added the dog into the script, this is the second time I've added a dog belonging the family that was nice enough to let me film in their house, in this case my Aunt and uncle.

I got my dad up just before 7:00am, Jack got to the house a few minutes later, we picked up Cat at her house, by the time I dropped off Cat it was after 1:00am. That's a long day, in fact it's almost two long days, but the whole cast hung in there.

Dwight traveled a long way, and still was 20 minutes early, Cat wasn't feeling well, everyone moved around schedules and woke-up, on a summer day, hours earlier than required for school - I promise, the dedication did not go unnoticed.  I want to thank Heidi and Jimmy for letting us use their house, unable to make a sound in their own home. I'm glad about them not freaking out over the stage blood, and for cast members kind enough to clean it up. (The shower really looked like a crime scene. and we were not even filming in the shower.)

We went out to this small outdoor mall in Highland Park to shoot the scene with the heroic trio of Scoobies. I was worried about getting this one done because it's shot  in one long take and in a populated place without a permit; so I suspected this will be tricky. I had a fear that we would get kicked out of the place, but it turned out the business were cool about us being there. We ran into another small problem, four annoying 12 year-olds with skateboards- very loud skateboards. Erika asked them nicely, I didn't think any boy would say no to her, but I was wrong.  Cat asked nicely, then hinted there could be some potential pain to them if they did not keep quite for a few minutes, I think that got their attention and they moved along.  

We had a lot to shoot today and for some unknown reason, the pressure resulted in the cast periodically breaking-out into singing extended passages from various musicals- what can I say, this is sort of a unique group.

First day shooting done

Well the first day's shooting is "In-the-can" as they say, or used to say- now its on 3 CF cards. well to be accurate, it's on the cards, and the audio files are on the Tascam as well as 3 separate iPhones. The idea of plugging lav. mics into iPhones is new to me, but I was trying to find a way to get clean audio for actors when the shot is too wide to get the boom mic close enough, and do accomplish this without multiple expensive wireless transmitters.

 I asked a lot from the cast and they delivered. I was very happy about the performances, they got the tone right, they "Sold" their characters. It was a long day,  I can afford to pay people, in between scenes they're  acting in, they happily help move lights, hold a boom-pole; so I'm always concerned that people are having some fun, and are at least fed. The pizzas for lunch worked well, and the late night pancakes were a big hit.

First Day of shoot for Eye of Dispel

We will be shooting from 9AM to around 10PM on Tuesday in highland park. If your not there, I will hunt you down. This applies to Quintin Malik Hall, Riley Nelson, Cat Sharp, Jack Marrinson, and Erika K. Marks. We will drive you and/or pick you up at the train station but were departing at 7AM. Address will be sent to your via text. We will be shooting primarily indoors, Selene's lair, and Johnathan's house.

Shoot dates are approaching

Believe it or not, getting the right color and consistency for fake blood is harder than it might seem.

Props are arriving daily. In total they appear to point to a film far darker and violent than the one I'm making. These daggers are real and quite pointy, while the edges are rather dull, they do demand a certain degree of respect.

Handsprings wins Viewers Choice Award at the Chicagoland High School Film Festival.

Last night as I sat in the auditorium watching each of the films presented, I found parts of each film that impressed me. I know the amount of work that goes into making even the shortest of films; so I felt a connection to each person that submitted a work.

I am very happy that "Handsprings" won the viewers choice award at the Chicagoland High School Film Festival. I credit my cast and friends Riley Nelson, Erika K. Marks and Meursault Poiccard! Whatever short comings my film might have had, the acting was "Spot-on," and was the reason the film worked.