October 26, 2007

We got together today at Spada for our first cast/crew meeting, where everyone got to know each other. Well, somewhat, I guess. But it was really great to see what our crew looks like, and I tell you what: we gots lots of talent tied up in this here bunch. Funny thing is that as I was driving home I realized that I never even tasted one bite of pizza because I was so into the cast and crew. I'm really excited about what we're going to come up with. I made some announcements right at first, what to expect, shooting schedules, what we're still needing, etc.


Then, pizzas ahoy


Talking with the stunt team about.....well, stunts.


Mike DeVenny, Eddie Picollo, me (doing heavens knows what), Josh Morgan, James Hadde.


More pictures to come.

We're looking at everyone's schedules as we speak, and shooting begins this coming week. We'll let everyone know. More than likely, the first scene shot will be the downtown scene of Jeremy and Steve sitting in front of the waterfall and coming out of Paradise Cafe, another location we got thanks to Sharooz, the owner of the cafe and Spada. The people there were exceptional last night, please make sure you do some word of mouth advertising for that restaurant because they're awesome. We might also do our wrap up party there when we're done, and then we'll get the whole buffet extravaganza.
Also, Craig has offered his place where we'll shoot the interior of Jeremy's apartment, so thank you Craig! And we'll be looking for a bookstore/library as well this coming week for the Angel/Jeremy scene. So things are rolling and looking good! Stay tuned for more!

October 21, 2007

Don setting up camera and lenses in Waikiki.

Don, Grace, the kids and I went to Waikiki today to set up the gear and test out the opening and closing shots for the film. It was fantastic! We wanted to see if we were going to get away with shooting the way I had in mind, which is to keep one subject ouf of focus while Jeremy was in focus and Don made it look superb! Many curious people gathered around asking us what we were doing, so I imagine when we go there to actually shoot, with reflectors, boom poles, 5 or 6 crew members, we'll attract many more. It made me think that we all have to be prepared to keep it cool, keep doing it as if no one were around, specially the actors, where more pressure will probably be on, sorta' speak.
We learned today that we're going to need a dolly and a track for this shot, due to the nature of the zoom we're looking for. We also saw that we're going to have to bring some kind of beach towel or a blanket to put all the equipment, tripods, etc on, due to all the sand. Speaking of which, when you just go to the beach to swim, you don't think of or sense that palpable saline-ness in the air. When you have expensive equipment, you do! So we'll have to find a way to protect all this stuff against the salt. What? Did you just say "just use the opposite of salt, which is sugar, to repel it!"? Oh, man, whatever!

Shooting Grace, as Jeremy. The shot came out beautiful.

Next up is the following week's schedule. I want to start rehearsing the lines with the actors so we have it down-mama-joe-brown.

First Post

Director of photography Don and I at Waikiki testing shots

Well, it's been a couple of months since I wrote the script. The story started back when I was in Bible College, 7 years ago. The professor for our apologetics course wanted a paper on the differences between creationism and evolution. I decided to write a script on the subject and make a short movie on it. A small group helped me out but it came out really, really bad. We knew nothing about lighting, shooting, editing, acting, nothing. I took some courses on production and editing, and had the idea of remaking it someday. The years went by and as I started a Youtube account and saw the growing numbers of atheists on Youtube attacking Christianity with horrific fallacious arguments, I began to defend the faith there. Then I heard about the San Antonio Christian Film Festival and it all came together.
Grace and I thought we'd been doing most of this on our own. I knew I needed and actor for the Angel, and at least a cinematographer to light up the sets and shoot the film, but everything else would be just us. Then we began praying for this project, putting some ads around town and the internet and the Lord started bringing in all the talents. We got talent now to make a real good, top notch low budget film. I don't think I ever saw these words in a phrase before, "top notch low budget film." Hmmm...
90% of pre-production is done. We got all the actors locked. We got all locations down except for a bookstore. Still looking for an older, classic looking, with creaking wood floors bookstore somewhere in the island. Oh, man! I know a perfect one in downtown São Paulo, Brazil. But there's just no way I can get visas in time for all the crew. Oh, well... Anyways, storyboard is almost done, scene board is done, Scene board. Altogether 20 different scenes.
green screen is set and ready to go. We found a nice, brown real human hair goatee for Mike's character which will give him a real cool look, we can't wait to to slap some spirit gum glue and derma wax on that boy. :)
I'll be posting up on this blog my experiences as the director of this movie. Mostly, so I can read it in the future and learn from my mistakes and new things that I learned. Mistakes like, "Argh! I knew I shouldn't have cast that guy!" Just kidding, I don't have those thoughts. Yet. Ok, scratch "yet" out, that wasn't nice either.