Films are not modest.
They cost too much.
They take too long.
And they involve too many people…   (Guido Contini in Nine)

The Big Party scene has finally been scheduled and some of you who agreed to roles in this scene last Fall may have forgotten about it completely. But the film has progressed and we are now ready for the Big Party scene. An email has been sent to everyone who expressed interest in participating. If you want to be involved but missed that missive, just contact me and I’ll get your party hat.

Yesterday, Paul (John Daws) and Mary (Carla Daws) got to have lunch while the crew stood around hoping it would not rain. Photos taken by line producer, Jane Knaus.

Rodger Marion and Jason Marion hope it does not rain	Carla Daws and John Daws get to have lunch
Jason gets a bit buggy eyed by the end of the day

March 1st saw a record number of cast and crew hard at work (12 for lunch). We were working at the green screen studio that is the KCCC community TV station in the film. The photos below were taken by assistant director Andrea Ballentine, who again provides an “Art Shot” in addition to the usual documentation.

Something is interesting for Sarah Pennington, Jay Pennington, Dan Richards, Carla Daws and John Daws	Mary sorts through her props (Jason Marion, Rodger Marion, John Daws and Carla Daws
Slates for Sarah – Tribute from the Nudged cast and crew	Camera Shadows on the Green Screen – Andrea’s Art Shot

OK, not in an alcoholic sense but in putting a large sculpture into a pick-up truck. Marvin Niebuhr created the rather ominous sculpture in the first photo and Paul (John Daws) and John (Rob Mahoney) are taking it to the television studio. Andrea Ballentine took the following photos.

Rob Mahoney with Marvin Niebuhr’s big sculpture	Marvin holds the reflector steady
John Daws, Rob Mahoney & Rodger Marion ponder loading the sculpture on the truck	Mr. Bones watches Jason Marion ready the sound recording gear

Movie making is a wondrous and glamorous process. Well, that may depend on one’s point of view, but here’s a bit of what goes on after the director calls, “Cut!” This little clip was unplanned and spontaneous as the director/camera person occasionally leaves the camera running. 

Thank God, we got all the hallucinations done on Saturday as I’m tired already of hallucination jokes. Donnie Spini joined the cast as the Parking Lot Attendant. He was great.

Donnie Spini and Jason Foreman review the fine points of parking lot attending.	Andrea Ballentine, Rodger Marion, Jason Marion, Jason Foreman & Tiffany Patch… cruisin’ the green screen.
John Daws and Celeste Coburn go fishing.	Andrea gets artistic again with a snap of Tiffany Patch and Jason Foreman

It began in ice but became sunny and warm quickly which was a good thing as the scenes called for t-shirts and shorts.

Saturday morning and the water is still stiff.	An artistic photo by Assistant Director Andrea Ballentine. From top: John Daws, Rodger Marion and Celeste Coburn
Cold actors and they are still inside! John and Tiffany Patch.	Outside in short sleeves it sure looks warm. Tiffany and John discuss the merits of the Big Painting and beer in the afternoon.
Sound guy is up a tree. Celeste Coburn, Tiffany and Jason Marion.	John gets all (well most) of his arrows in the target.

It was also Rob Mahoney’s first time on the set, but we did not capture him in any stills. We’ll do better as Rob brought a casual, happy energy to his character of John.

The weather was fantastic on Saturday and scene 2 was finally shot. Since we were filming a truck on the road we had crew members monitoring traffic at each end of the road section we were using. People were quite understanding about pausing to get past the camera and crew gathered around the truck.

Jane Knaus guards the road	Bruce Niebuhr watches the other end
Rodger Marion talks with Jason Foreman and Bill Barlow	Rodger sets the camera while Bill watches

We shot Scene 5 Sunday before last and I got it edited this weekend. We worked for six hours to shoot the scene and the edited version is 4 minutes and 20 seconds long. In those six hours we did 71 shots. The final scene has 47 cuts for an average shot length of 5.5 seconds. I did not count which of the 71 shots were used but I’d guess fewer than half. The editing is not complete as the color correction is only partially done, the audio is not balanced out, no music but I do like the way the scene unfolds. The actors are so good. The crew so patient and valuable.

Rose (Tiffany Patch) toasts Paul (John Daws) saying, “Wine makes things rosier.”

How did Lynette (played by Deanna Lalich) become a painting? Someday it will all be revealed.

Saturday was chilly but we forged on and then got warm with yoga. Sunday was picking thru the art. The actors were “on the money,” the crew was super patient, and the extras were superb. Many thinks to Becky Jordan for the use of Heart of Texas Yoga and to Jan McGowan for organizing the yoga class. Below are a few photos taken by Andrea Ballantine, Assistant Director. No out-take this time but things do get pretty silly at midnight.

Scene 17 – Tiffany Patch & Celeste Coburn are cold	Scene 19 – Jane Knaus being calm in the yoga studio
Scene 18 – Getting ready for class are Dorothy Knight, Jan Gauvain, Rodger Marion, Tiffany Patch & Bill Bender	Scene 20 – Sound Guy, Jason Marion, tried to hide
Scene 19 – Be a tree – Bill Bender, Jan Gauvain, Dorothy Knight, Jan McGowan, Rodger Marion, Tiffany Patch & Celeste Coburn	Scene 5 – Lynette prepares to materialize – Deanna Lalich, John Daws, Rodger Maron & Jason Marion
Scene 5 – Jason Marion, Rodger Marion, Tiffany Patch & John Daws	Scene 5 – Rose and John debate the BIG Painting – Tiffany Patch John Daws