Gone For Good: Shoot Day Summary

Busy busy weekend!  About two and a half weeks ago I finally had an idea for a film.  The title is:  Gone For Good.  It's a funny little story of a typo that sends our protagonist (Elliot Nevills) into a fit of remorse and identity crisis.  Emily Bennett plays Elliot's significant other (in real life as well) and she leaves the note containing the typo.

I'm really excited about this film because:

A) I know my actors from High School

B) It's in color

C) There's sync sound (Courtesy of Gunnar Jebsen(Thanks Gunnar))

D) Extreme close ups of potted meat

E) Cross dressing

F) And unlike the stuff I shot last year this film is funny!

I threw together my two films last year and because of that I shot a thriller and a horror film.  Genres that don't do too much for me.  This time I think I wrote something that's truly funny and will make people smile and even laugh.  The shear fact that I'm as big of a Tim and Eric fanboy surprises me that it took this long for me to do something like Gone For Good.

I will admit though the film didn't come without trial and tribulation.  I could spend all night typing out a detailed recap of the night before my shoot and the morning of but instead I'll summarize my troubles in a list :D :

1. My $300 Bogen tripod broke the night before.

This lead to me having to resort to using a cheap plastic still camera tripod which I had to reinforce in order for it to withstand the 50lbs Bolex.  This issue wasted the most of my time since I tried fixing anyway I could.  Yet to no avail.  you can bet I'm taking it back to central camera for my manufacturer's warranty.

2. Two of my partners from class couldn't make the shoot to help me out.

This was actually kind of a blessing in disguise because with Adam, Gunnar, Elliot and Emily we were doing just fine.  Not to mention that was reaching our apartment's max capacity.

3. I forget to ask for a Grey card from the Film Cage.

This is important for color film so that the developer can tint the film correctly.  I looked everywhere online for a printable grey card but to no avail.  Luckily in the morning Gunnar did another search and he found one . . . hopefully it will work but by no means was printing a grey card a recommended thing to do.

4. I woke up later than I intended in the morning.

This is my own fault but the CTA saved me and made everybody else late too.

5. I blew one of the two circuits in our apartment.

This lead to me running up and down from our apartment to the basement about 4 times trying to get the switch the right way to give back power to the living room so I could turn the ceramic heater on so we wouldn't have to wear coats indoors.

6. I forgot my debit card on my run to Dunkin Donuts.

This meant I had to run back to the apartment. . . probably the least of my troubles but at this point I had about 10 minutes before people would start showing up.

okay so I extrapolated a bit. :/

The shoot went incredibly smooth! :D

I've already sent an e-mail to everyone involved expressing my thanks but I'd just like to put out a more public thanks to everyone:

To Elliot and Emily

for being so willing to act for me.  A little potted meat never hurt anybody.

To Adam

For being absolutely and positively helpful in the most possible ways.  Your friendship and will to do things right the first time are priceless.  We talked about fate the other day briefly and I have to think that me meeting you is a prime example of fate.

To Gunnar

For being such a great friend.  I can't imagine how much I would've had to pay for somebody to provide me the services you offer out of friendship.

To Wayne

For plowing forward and your insight.

And to everyone caught up in the madness while they tried living their lives: Erin, Kim, Gill

Most people wouldn't put up with my nonsense on such a consistent basis.

I'd be lost without you all!

Well now that the ball is rolling I'll keep everyone updated here all the way up to the completion of Gone For Good.  Stay tuned.