Camera test next week

Just got off the phone with Kodak, ordering a roll of film to do our camera test next week.

I'm excited and a bit nervous for the test. It's do-or-die with boogiemen like the Changing Bag (the Aaton camera uses big old cores, not easy daylight spools like the Bolex).  It'll also be the first time out with a small version of the crew. Shooting a minor improv scene probably down at Golden Gardens, with Sarah (Noelle) and my friend and film-assistant Erin, doing a made-up scene that
we can maybe use or not in the film. We'll shoot some at 24fps... and then some more at 18 fps. Using hand claps for the two pop in and out both.
That'll give us a nice indicator of how sync holds up at 18 fps, and how much it can be corrected in post.
Also shooting some pickup shots, depending on time and availability.

This will be between rehearsals on Tuesday, and then on Thursday. We can't pick up the audio gear until Wednesday morning at 10, so it'll be a bit tight for David our sound guy.

Notably, Kodak has been great to work with, even though we are a puny order (about 1/10 the footage of a normal film, it seems). They've also been very accommodating about getting a good rate and other perks. Hooray for Kodak!

rehearsals II, plus updates

A few more rehearsals in, feeling very very good about things. Mostly it's been with the two bands that'll be performing in the film.

We've also found our makeup person, Amanda, and we're doing a test shoot in a couple weeks that will involve makeup tests, some look and feel footage, frame rate experiments, and overall camera/audio testing.

[post-script: Amanda ended up quitting just before the first day of the shoot. Mel Cafe helped us find another artist]

I had an interesting discussion with another filmmaker a few weekends ago. When I mentioned that I was shooting the film myself, she made a remark about that being a lot of solo work for such a collaborative medium.
I can't remember the last time I haven't been working/communicating with at least 3 people at once about every little thing on this production for the last 4 months. It wouldn't be the same film at all without the exact people we have for our cast and crew.

I guess one person's collaborating is not another's.

First rehearsals today

We went over the bonfire scene, which includes most (but not all) of the cast, and it was great to see everyone together in the room and to get to work. People seemed to like the tunes.

Also managed to get guide-track vocals and music track married, and then off of pain-in-the-ass Logic (thank god for Soundtrack Pro) and over to Kenna for listening. None too soon, FF rehearsal is in a week.  Feeling optimistic now that 'chains music will also be rescueable from pain-in-the-ass Tascam 008 and over to Greg W for bass and drums.

Still looking for a hair/costume person.
Still looking for one more guy to complete The Bronze.

Mondo Beacho is cast and crew'd

Auditions. You can't live with them, and you can't shoot 'em...  unless you're making A Chorus Line....  (Funny!) Anyway, the dust has cleared and I am so glad that we have found such a lovely, talented, and clever cast and crew. They are as follows:

Cast:
Noelle - Sarah Winsor
Arthur - Ahren Buhmann
Pete - Riley Neldam
Farrah - Kenna Kettrick
The DJ - Steven Sterne
Mike - William Poole
Jeremy - Brian Wolbert
Valerie - Maya Briller
Charles - Iain Dalton
Eva - Emily Purington
Dave - Mel Café
Sylvie  - Alyssa Kay
Gretel - Amanda Keogh
Jason - Zach Sanders

Crew:
Director/DP - Erik Hammen
Producer - Erik Hammen
Producer - Anna Forse
CoProducer - Steven Sterne
Associate Producer: Babu Rajendran
Associate Producer: Jeannette Idiart
Assistant Director - Mel Café
Assistant Camera - Iain Dalton
2nd AC - Katrina Brede
Location Sound - David Thomas
Set Dresser - Jennifer Dice
Production Assistance - Jon Idiart, Aadi Nickels
Makeup - Carmen Wilson, Juel Bergstrom, Marina Boychuck