Andy Samberg, Swings, and a Clown Nose

We had another experimental filming day! (Photo credits go to Emily and H.D. in addition to me.)


Once everyone arrived, I took this group shot.

After a bit of debate, we decided it would be fun to get out of the house and go to the park to film instead. It was an overcast day up until we finished filming, but we still managed to get some great footage!


There was this nice little stage near the entrance. No one else was there, so we used it for rehearsals. Emily and Kelsi talked for a bit as we explored.


We decided to do a scene with Kelsi and Andrew first, but we set Marissa and Emily up to do the next one. It only took them ten minutes to memorize!

We had to figure out a good way to film Andrew and Kelsi running into the park, so H.D. played with the camera angles while Eve and Erin chatted on the grass.



Erin and Emily

Kelsi and H.D.

Erin, Emily, and Marissa.

Marissa

We decided it would be a wasted opportunity if we didn't film the actors playing on the playground.

While Andrew, Kelsi, and Eve got a break, we decided to shoot a conversation scene between Megan (Emily) and Paulie (Marissa). We tried a bunch of different angles, but we decided that it was coolest filmed from above.

H.D. and Kelsi taking a break.

Andrew and Eve.

Andrew

This is the Marissa and Emily scene, filmed again with Jen (Eve) in the shot. We had the conversation go normally, then decided to get a little crazy and have Erin stand on the table. As the chat ends, all three characters look up as the camera shows that Erin's been there the whole time. I'm pretty sure it's symbolic, but H.D.'s the one who can explain it.

Andrew found a caterpillar. As he said, "I named him Pinky because it's green."

H.D.

H.D. and Erin

Kelsi, H.D., Andrew and Erin having a calamity on top of the tubes. This is around the time we decided to film a surprise dance number that'll play during the credits.

Erin, Kelsi, and Emily

Once we packed up at the park, we headed back to the house for pizza, Pepsi, and brownies.

H.D., Andrew, Erin and Eve eating. We watched "Hot Rod" after this.

We were pretty tired by the end, but it was the most successful day in a long time.

Pocki Sticks, Mehron, and Vegetarianism.

Saturday was our first experimental filming day. Let's take it from the top:

Morning
Who: H.D., Erin, me
Scheduled meet-up time: 12
Actual meet-up time: 12:30 (my fault; I picked up H.D. late, and Erin was already there.)
What we found Erin doing when we got there: reading Harry Potter
Where we went: a costume shop
Saleswoman: amazing!
Bought: Mehron palette, Colorset powder, plastic masquerade mask
What I wanted: Teletubbie suit
Would I have worn it: No.
Would I have politely requested that H.D. wear it? Yes.
What we did with the hour we had left: Lingered outside; trekked through the 90 degree weather; wanted streetside stir-fry and Italian desserts we couldn't afford; bought Pocki Sticks and Pepsi; encountered a salesboy who looks like both of the Sprouse twins.

On the way to the location
Piled into the car: H.D., Erin, Kelsi, myself
Person in control of the Sirius radio: H.D.
H.D.'s selections: electronica, obscure funk, punk, rock, '90s rap
Number of times H.D. looked back at us to analyze our degree of approval: a few dozen
Anticipated arrival time: 2
Actual arrival time: 2:30
Time Jordana arrived: 2

During the shoot
Amount of time spent talking about H.D.'s pets: 20 minutes
Number of prop and costume bags I brought: 4
Number of times H.D. played piano for us: 1
What we ate: Cici's pizza, powdered sugar brownies
What we sipped: Coca-Cola, Sprite

First experimental scene: Mel (Kelsi) growling and crawling menacingly toward the camera
Number of takes: 3 or 4
Number of takes stopped due to laughter: 2
Kelsi's growling coach: Erin

Second experimental scene: Becky (Jordana) rants about vegetarianism
Number of takes: 3
How much was ad-libbed: 100%
Whose idea? Jordana's.
What we learned from the lecture: Humans are not mammals.

Third experimental scene: Megan (Emily) gets an experimental makeover.
Time Emily was able to spend filming before she caught her bus: 30 minutes
How fast she got down a piece of pizza, a brownie, and a soda in order to have enough time to film: 3-5 minutes.
Length of time spent doing Emily's makeup (courtesy of Mehron): 3-5 minutes
Length of time outside filming: 5-7 minutes
Where Emily sat: on a bench under a tree
What Emily wore: the plastic masquerade mask
What we threw at her to simulate a makeover: scarves, petals, grass, clothing items
How fast we were able to get Emily in makeup, through two takes, out of makeup, and out the door: approx. 28 minutes

Fourth experimental scene: chocolate-dipped musician
Length of time it took to choose the photo from the web: 10 minutes
Musician of choice: Kurt Cobain
Taste of microwaved chocolate: yummy
Hands used to dip the photo: H.D.'s
Amount of chocolate consumed after coming into contact with computer ink: 99%

Success? Sure.

Update

Due to scheduling conflicts, Marsha is stepping down from the role of Megan. We're sad that we're not able to work with her on this film, but we wish her the best with her current project!

Emily has agreed to take on the part, and we're confident she'll do a great job!

First Day of Filming

I'm chowing down on pad thai and in the mood to display our filming escapades.



H.D. and I worked with three cast members today. L-R: Andrew, Marsha, Kelsi.



The other director with his delightful shoulder friend.


What We Learned:

1. Kelsi, Andrew, and Marsha are suprisingly good bowlers, evidenced by multiple strikes and spares within the first few frames.



2. It is possible to remain focused in the midst of an upstairs birthday party and a children's bowling league.



3. H.D. has a bowling alley walk only noticeable in this picture.






The End.

Guess What?

There'll be photos soon. And videos.

Elements that will make the blog worth reading.

We're starting to film this Sunday.

Root for us, please.

Whoa, It's Acceptable.

In February, we had our first table read of the script.

I hope "table read" is the right term. I've found another reason to question my professionalism.

The cast minus one and all three directors crowded around the back of a coffeehouse.

It took all of us 20 minutes total to get our coffee, but it gave everyone time to talk.

The Directors were entirely on edge during the read.

Emily made a joking comment that we should cut the obscenities, and I took it seriously. Afterward, I felt bad about myself.

The overwhelming reaction to the script: the Cast laughed.

And I don't think they were mocking it.

Parts that were funny got laughs.

Parts that weren't funny got laughs.

And we walked away from the event feeling like we'd achieved a new level of acceptance in the high school artistic community.

Writing.

A combination of boredom and a need to do something productive is influencing me to tell you about the most tedious part of our process so far: writing the screenplay.

We "started" back in September, but didn't actually pen the first scene of the finished script until early November.

A lot of September and October was spent in Starbucks, debating as to whether we were going to do a feature-length film or a short. We decided on a short.

The rest is a blur of two coffeehouses, a gazillion Sundays, and three teens crowded around one slow laptop.

It would have been awesome if it wasn't for our numerous creative slumps, fluctuations in energy, and the unpredictable effects of caffeine.

The photo I got out of that fifty-five hours is not good enough to post.

I hope this accurately conveys the unmatched glee and unbearable enthusiasm of our writing experience.

But really, I liked it.