Seven days of principal photography wrapped yesterday at 4:15 pm. Though I'm a little too tired to write in full about it yet, I can say that it was an amazing experience. Whether or not I made a good movie is yet to be seen, but my cast and crew gave it their all and that alone was worth the seven days.
All in all, the wrap itself seemed anticlimactic. We did a very emotional scene for the end of the day, then finished with a couple small pick-ups and inserts that I needed. So it was a little laid back for the last 30 minutes of the day. But I think everyone felt very positive about it.
I'll have more about the entire shoot here in a while. But for now. I feel good. The Montana winter is starting to rear it's head so I'm glad I finished now. What a strange journey it's been.
Your Lonely Director,
Nick J.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Seattle Science-Fiction Film Festival
In some rather exciting and delightful news, my film "What Love Remains" has been officially selected for competition at this year's Sci-Fi Film Fest in Seattle. This is good for a few reasons. One, I really felt the main audience for WLR would always be a sci-fi crowd. Two, I love Seattle so I'm happy to make the trek back to check out what other film makers are doing with sci-fi. I just hope I'm of the same caliber.
It's not until February, so I'll let you all know how it goes.
Your Lonely Director,
Nick J.
It's not until February, so I'll let you all know how it goes.
Your Lonely Director,
Nick J.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Hell?
So I'm not even done with my Thesis project and I'm already back to working on another script. It's refreshing in some ways... in others, not so much. I think, rather surprisingly, this turned out to be such a great project that I'm not afraid to move forward with others. That's a good thing.
But still, I could use a vacation. After shooting I'll most likely give myself a few days to just veg. I guess there's something to be said for striking whilst the iron is hot. I'm feeling creative so I best continue forward while I'm making progress.
Oh, just fyi, the script is called "The Mirror" and it's a psychological thriller of sorts.
But still, I could use a vacation. After shooting I'll most likely give myself a few days to just veg. I guess there's something to be said for striking whilst the iron is hot. I'm feeling creative so I best continue forward while I'm making progress.
Oh, just fyi, the script is called "The Mirror" and it's a psychological thriller of sorts.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
5 Days Down
And what a 5 days it was. There were ups and downs, but the most impressive and important thing is the camaraderie that I felt from everyone involved (until the last day that is... I'll get back to that). But what a wonderful team we managed to assemble. Grads, undergrads, pros, and folks that are just friends of friends... they all came through and helped me make my little movie... which feels like a big movie. With only two shooting days left, I'm very confident we'll get everything we need.
On to that whole "last day" thingy I mentioned up there yonder. Coming down the mountain from Garnett Ghost Town is not a hard road, but it is windy and CAN be dangerous. What it really is, though, it REMOTE with no cell phone reception. So, the person in the rear kind of depends on the people in the front to look out for them at the bottom. On this day, I was the last one down the hill. TO THAT END came my driver's side front tire blow out. BOOM!
I swerved a little and managed to pull the car over. Had I been on one of the switchbacks... shudder. So I got out of the car and waited. Surely the two cars not fifty yards ahead of me would stop for their captain... right? Wrong... off they went. Later I was informed by my producer that, at the bottom of the hill, he wondered where I was as he tore off onto the freeway.
So I waited. Nothing. I changed the spare tire at the risk of the car rolling on top of me from the incline. Got into the car and took off. Surely goodness and mercy would follow... no. The spare goes flat. I get out of my car. It's cold. The sun is going down. I'm in the middle of nowhere Montana and the crew I had praised not an hour earlier had left me for the buzzards.
By some strange twist of fate, I decide to look at my cell phone for the time and realize that I have ONE BAR OF RECEPTION! WOOHOO! I call my wife, she screams at my crew through MY cell phone, then leaves home to come get me.
Eventually we get the truck down the mountain and I'm safe at home. But guys... COME ON!!! I'm guessing my motto is leave no one behind and their's is "captain goes down with the ship!"
On to that whole "last day" thingy I mentioned up there yonder. Coming down the mountain from Garnett Ghost Town is not a hard road, but it is windy and CAN be dangerous. What it really is, though, it REMOTE with no cell phone reception. So, the person in the rear kind of depends on the people in the front to look out for them at the bottom. On this day, I was the last one down the hill. TO THAT END came my driver's side front tire blow out. BOOM!
I swerved a little and managed to pull the car over. Had I been on one of the switchbacks... shudder. So I got out of the car and waited. Surely the two cars not fifty yards ahead of me would stop for their captain... right? Wrong... off they went. Later I was informed by my producer that, at the bottom of the hill, he wondered where I was as he tore off onto the freeway.
So I waited. Nothing. I changed the spare tire at the risk of the car rolling on top of me from the incline. Got into the car and took off. Surely goodness and mercy would follow... no. The spare goes flat. I get out of my car. It's cold. The sun is going down. I'm in the middle of nowhere Montana and the crew I had praised not an hour earlier had left me for the buzzards.
By some strange twist of fate, I decide to look at my cell phone for the time and realize that I have ONE BAR OF RECEPTION! WOOHOO! I call my wife, she screams at my crew through MY cell phone, then leaves home to come get me.
Eventually we get the truck down the mountain and I'm safe at home. But guys... COME ON!!! I'm guessing my motto is leave no one behind and their's is "captain goes down with the ship!"
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Creative Differences
Well, to lose your lead actor exactly 5 days before shooting is not the best of signs. But, in this case, I think it was best for everyone involved. We've already recast and are getting our new actor ready for wardrobe and hopefully can get a few rehearsals in before we shoot.
To be clear, Ken was my co-writer AND my lead actor. He and I simply had different working philosophies and could not reach a middle ground. Ken's a good guy and I wish him all the best in his future en devours, but we did just have creative differences which were impacting the film negatively.
So, I'm ready to move forward and am working now with a good friend. He doesn't have the same look as Ken, rather he has his own look which itself will help with some of the themes in the film.
That being said, I'll make a movie one way or another ;)
Your Lonely Director,
Nick J.
To be clear, Ken was my co-writer AND my lead actor. He and I simply had different working philosophies and could not reach a middle ground. Ken's a good guy and I wish him all the best in his future en devours, but we did just have creative differences which were impacting the film negatively.
So, I'm ready to move forward and am working now with a good friend. He doesn't have the same look as Ken, rather he has his own look which itself will help with some of the themes in the film.
That being said, I'll make a movie one way or another ;)
Your Lonely Director,
Nick J.
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