Little Lionel Little

Director's Journal

Julie handled things exceptionally, she's got a good future as a casting director.

Anyway, back to the day job.  Gotta work on the film at night.  I'm finding that the test shots with the canon XH-A1 are not matching what's displayed on the LCD screen.  I need to get a monitor or software to view the shot on my laptop. 

Still pondering the end of the story.  I don't know if I like it.

I downloaded a trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 which turns my laptop into a monitor and allows me to capture XH-A1 video from the camera directly to the hard drive over firewire.  The software keeps crashing though, every time I start it.  Damn.

Downloaded Canon's "Console" trial software.  It sucks.  All instructions and manuals are in JapEnglish.

I liked Phillip Gay's audition so much I've added a role just for him.  Still don't like the ending of the story much, seems too moralistic.

Adobe software is still crashing.  I think I found the problem: the real tek audio driver must be re-installed.

The adobe software is working!  I like the way it works.  Must buy the full version.

Ordered two lens filters for the camera: Tiffen Soft/FX 3 72mm and a warm FX filter.  Good to make people look pretty and to blur the background for a more cinematic effect.  I looked at local shops but they all had a poor selection or were extremely overpriced.  Nelson Photo was a joke, they have nothing and are at least 20% more expensive than buying online (including shipping).  So I ordered them from DVCreators online.  The guy (I think his name is Guy) online was cool and shipped them out in like 10 minutes.  They'll be here next Tuesday, in time to start shooting.  I need to get a portable stand for the green screen, probably order it from Amazon.

The people who manage the Sorrento Towers building said they'd let me film there for $5000 per day.  What a joke.  I told them it was outside my budget and if I'm going to pay anyone it's going to be the actors.  Oh well.  Gotta find people who are in it for the love of the art and not the love of money.

Started working on the website, I want to put everyone's bios and pics up there.   Still scouting around for locations.  The rec center near my house said I can use it!  That would work well for the classroom scene.

Tonight was open mic night at the Turquoise Coffee Shop which has a small club room in the back.  I met the owner Eddie and business partner Jason.  They said it's cool to film there!  Which means we have both the cafe and the club locations!  They said we can film there on Saturdays or Sundays after noon, but not on September the 9th.  Their employees are Niko and Jennifer.

Got an idea for steadicam shots without an expensive steadicam.  Gotta build it.

Bought Adobe Premier Pro CS3 for it's OnLocation package. 

As of today the cast is set.  Lots of people didn't give headshots though.  I must work with what I have.

The office location doesn't want to happen.  Julie said she knows someone in Carlsbad who might be able to help.  Sent an email to a friend at Staccato to see if they'll let me film there.  The only locations we don't have right now are office and library, it's making me a bit nervous.  I can do the library on greenscreen though, as I have lots of books and shelves.

Later in the day went to scout locations for the car crash scene.  Camino Santa Fe looks good and is right near home.  Man it's hot outside.  Boa keeps laying down to sleep, she can't take the heat.  Poor doggy.

The air conditioning broke!!!  We are in an oven.  Gotta get it repaired before I do any shooting here.  Sheesh!

The sun sets in the west, gotta have it at our back when we shoot.  Found a good location for the car crash so set up the camera there for some test shots.

The power went out!  Nothing works: no microwave, no desktop computer, no lights, no nothing.  I took Boa for a walk and SDG&E was outside.  They said they were trying to find the problem.

Went back to the car crash set to take some experimental video.  I set the camera on the tripod slightly hidden behind a tree then drove through the intersection a few times in different directions.  I'm going to cut the film such that it looks like cars are crashing.  I'll put it on youtube if it looks good!

I must find some time to work on the China video. 

8:12 PM, the electricity is back on.  Now I can upload the web pages I worked on.

Worked all morning on the shooting schedule.  It is the first draft, I'm sure there will be conflicts and changes.  I need to call in advance to reserve the community rec room we'll be shooting some scenes in.

Anyway, I finally got the website into a shape I could present.  I sent out an email to share it with the cast and crew.  Lots of people have replied already.

I need to break down each scene into shots.  If I know every single shot beforehand we can work quickly.  Title, chapter, sequence, scene, shot...  Talk about reducing something to it's fundamentals!  Every second of a movie must be planned, it's no wonder some movies take years to produce.  Not this one though.  I've squeeze production into 8 days spread out over 3 weeks.

I can't wait for the lens filters and portable greenscreen stand to arrive.  I still need a lot of props...

I played around with the video I took scouting the car crash location.  It turned out pretty well, after editing, superimposing, adding sound, and adding effects.  Check it out: CAR CRASH!

I've updated the schedule based on all the feedback I've received from actors.  Parts have been shuffled, as have locations.

The AC is still broken and it's still hot!  At least the electricity is on this time so I can run a fan.

The babies I ordered from Simulution (for the birth scenes) have not arrived.  I'm getting worried.

Started breaking down each scene into shots.

Ooops.  They said it would be $1800 to fix the A/C.  That's strange considering it is $2000 to replace the whole thing.  Seems like a typical service scam: try to rip people off saying something's broken when it's not.  They say the condenser needs replacing but it probably just needs $10 of freon.  I'm not happy.  I'm not paying $1800 for some cool air.  I was hoping to have the A/C fixed for the arrival of the actors.

I looked around town for a portable A/C unit but all of the places (Fry's, Home Depot, Bed Bath Beyond, Wal-Mart) said they completely sold out of A/C units during the weekend heat wave.  My A/C sure picked a heck of a time to break down!

I borrowed a portable A/C unit from a friend.  I can't have people all heated up on the set!!! 

Getting close to the first shoot date on the 8th!!!  I'm excited.  Building some science projects for the Child Victor (Scotty) to shoot with.  Still have not received the babies I ordered.  UPS says they're in Vernon, CA wherever that is.

Went out for sushi and drank some sake, note to self: don't drink too much sake...  Now I'm sleepy.

Built an electric motor which Child Victor will rebuild in his scenes.  He's supposed to be an engineer, so he'll build the foundation of an engine!  I hope they don't mind some science lessons!

Set up the lights, the set, the camera, the equipment.  I'm getting jitters and happy, shooting starts tomorrow!

I might have people improv some lines.  I was listening to NPR and they said the entire "Curb Your Enthusiasm" show was improvised.  That show is so hilarious, I couldn't believe it!

OK, gotta go mess with the camera.  Set the white balance.  Set the exposure.  Check the focus.  Add a UV filter.  Add a polarizing filter to reduce reflections.  Add a Soft FX filter to make people look nice.

What an awesome day of shooting it was.  People have been really great.  I've heard a lot of bad things about how hard it is to work with actors but I've had nothing but good experiences.  I don't know if I'm just lucky or just have great people to work with or a little of both!  Man, those kids were great.  Wait until you see the video!

The camera filters worked out great.  It really looks cinematic.  I'm happy! 

The babies did not arrive.  We'll have to reschedule those scenes.

Gotta run to Will's "Good Advice" wrap party.

Unfortunately we did not finish all the scenes I had hoped to shoot before the sun went down.  The scenes we did get were great though.  Car crash scene and many driving road scenes.

The babies still have not arrived but UPS assures me they'll be here tomorrow.  I did receive the portable greenscreen stand though.  So woo-hoo for that.

Now to work on some logistics (getting a shot list for tomorrow, getting all the props together).  Hopefully I'll have time afterwards to start editing!

The babies have arrived!  They're a lot bigger than expected and I got a set of Asian twins!!!  I will need to make some slime and muck to put the babies in so when they are "delivered" they look authentic. 

The parent shots were awesome, as were the talk show host and STD doctor shots.

Tonight we shoot some fun scenes, babies being delivered!

Interesting drama on and off the set...  probably good for me to cool down before posting this experience.

Shooting in the bar went well, but the lighting was a little out of whack so the clips look grainy.  Next time I will over-light the scene because it's easy to make it look dimmer in editing but it's nearly impossible to make a grainy shot look smooth. 

Paree and Warren who own the "Mira Mesa Inn" were great.  They offered to let us use their place to screen the premier.  Paree gave us coffee which she "enhanced", and gave us drinks all morning.  What a great business!  I definitely need to send them a thank you bouquet.

I've been searching online for good stock footage to blend in with ours.  I was hoping to find some animal predation: in particular, a praying mantis, a spider, and a frog catching their prey.  I can't find any for-sale stock of those much less free stock.  I might have to engineer something or go out and shoot it myself.

My neighbors must think I'm insane by this point, unless they've figured out that I'm making a movie.  We've had four loud sex scenes which I was told could be heard from the parking lot (a hundred feet or so away) even when all the windows are closed.  That's good!  It means we're getting some loud, expressive acting.

Jo and I borrowed a reclining chair from the pool area and placed it on top of my rolling laundry hamper then made a body by stuffing clothes with paper.  It was then covered with a white sheet, strapped down, and doused with homemade blood (chocolate syrup, vegetable oil, jam, and red No. 5).  This was the cadaver of poor Mr. Jarvis next door who killed himself in LLL.  We then had the paramedics/coroners push this rolling monstrosity around the walkways in my condo complex, I'm sure the neighbors loved it.  We considered leaving the very realistic "body" by the pool in the chair, but figured it might give someone a heart attack.

We made fake vomit with oatmeal, milk, and cup-noodle which had peas and corn.  It looked great!  I added sugar so Rich wouldn't mind the taste, and the shot worked out well.  I got under a glass table and had him puke directly into the camera.

To add to my neighbor's entertainment, we loudly trashed the room when Lionel has a fit and breaks down.  I think this is the last of the at-home shooting, unless we need to re-shoot anything.  Next location is at the building in the community park near here, after that we shoot at the Turquoise Coffee House and open-mic club, after that we shoot at a company in Carlsbad.  If all goes well, we will be done with everything (except a few re-shoots of the driving and crashing scenes) by this Sunday the 23rd.  It was hectic and fast-paced shooting but everybody has worked hard and brilliantly to get it finished.

I can't wait to have my house neat and tidy again, I've really been letting it go while using it for a set.  Man, I wish I could just get a studio...  Maybe I'll look into a SD City Gov. business incubation program or something, they might have a free place I can use.  Next time I will have to write a script with limited location.  My favorite movie, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" was all shot in one house (except for one bar scene) and had only 4 actors in it (not including the 2 barkeeps).  I'm in awe that we had over 70 people in our cast and everything went VERY smoothly considering the number.  I'm so happy about that, it made things a lot less stressful than they could have been.

Regardless of the outcome of this project, I'm so happy it has been going so well.  I am definitely going to pursue movie making from now on!  I love it!  I've learned so much from this experience and can honestly say I'm getting the hang of this directing thing.  Of course, I really lucked out with this cast and crew.

OK.  Gotta go over the clips and see what's missing.  Looking forward to Wednesday's shoot.

I just realized that we haven't been taking group photos each shoot.  We should really do that!

I feel like a weenie sometimes on set because I feel I'm not nice enough to Julie, Jo, and others.  I don't know if it shows as much as I feel it does, but sometimes I get impatient or stressed because I'm perhaps too picky and controlling.

Tomorrow we shoot the ocean, university, cafe, and open mic club scenes.  The day after we shoot the office scenes.  Once those are done, it's officially a wrap!  I might have to re-shoot some scenes with minimal cast/crew, but we'll see when that time comes.  Probably the car crash scene needs to be re-shot.

Gonna chill this evening and work on some edits, see what's missing, etc.

Anyway, not much to say except I'll be putting bits and pieces of the movie on the trailer page from time to time.  Go check it out!