# Countdown to the film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336 "2005-09-25T15:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/41 "2005-10-30T04:56:20Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I thought that was _ **Porklips Now!** _. šŸ˜› (Just kidding. But I need to find that tape.) > > No, the one Iā€™m thinking of is just a three-minute street scene. IIRC it looked a lot like Venice Beach in the '70s or '80s. The dialog was like, ā€˜Okay, now the girl in the white blouse, look over at the car. Fat guy in shorts, trip on the sidewalk.ā€™ (Not actual quotes, IIRC, but similar.) The ending isā€¦ > > ā€˜Okay, now detonate the building!ā€™ And then the film runs out. > > It maynā€™t have been made by someone famous, though thereā€™s a nugget in my mind that suggests it. It could have been some unknown art student. I _might_ have seen it in the early-'80s on _Showtime Shorts_, but I may have seen it on some other programme. It sounds vaguely familar to me too. Could it have been a festival film? I think I may have seen it in LA or San Diego at a mini screening of some festival stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/42 "2005-10-31T16:47:28Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > It sounds vaguely familar to me too. Could it have been a festival film? I think I may have seen it in LA or San Diego at a mini screening of some festival stuff. Iā€™m sure I saw it on a television, so it was either on a video or on a cable network. But it certainly could have been shown at a festival at some point. Iā€™m fairly sure I didnā€™t see it at the ComicCon in San Diego, and the only other ā€˜festivalsā€™ Iā€™ve attended have been science fiction conventions. Iā€™m sure I didnā€™t see it at those venues. > [@picunurse](#): > > **John** That sounds breath-taking. A one in a million shot, and IMO, a very good omen! šŸ†’ Heh. Someone else said, ā€˜I have a feeling of forboding, so watch out.ā€™ šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/43 "2005-11-02T22:28:25Z")
**We have a trailer!** We have a little trailer up that was cut together from some of the footage weā€™ve shot so far. We havenā€™t done the ghost scenes yet, so it looks more like an action film. Weā€™ll put up a different one as the film progresses. PLEASE DO NOT POST A DIRECT LINK TO THE PAGE HERE! This is mostly to protect my own privacy. Iā€™ve posted things in these fora over the past five years that Iā€™ll share with you lot, but which I donā€™t really want to share with people I know in real life. In addition, weā€™re setting up a separate production company for the film, and we want to use it to publicise it ourselves. But weā€™re not ready yet. Thereā€™s also an issue with another website that will be promoting the film, and we need to coordinate with them. So _please_ do not post a direct link. [This is a link to my personal webpage](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/). The link to the film page is obvious. The trailer takes a bit of time to download. At least it does on my dial-up connection. There are also some photos of the work-in-progress, and an interactive game will be added eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/44 "2005-11-03T21:35:50Z")
Soā€¦ Has anybody watched it? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/45 "2005-11-03T22:21:38Z")
I have! I didnā€™t dislike it, but I prefer trailers that give me some idea of the plot. Also, I think that the ā€œshhhā€ at the end would have been _much_ more effective without any music. But other than my preference for some plot clues, I think it looks good! I like the music, too. And now Iā€™ll have to watch the finished product just to see more of the guy who walks toward the camera. šŸ˜ƒ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/46 "2005-11-03T23:13:51Z")
It does look more like an action film than a ghost story. Is the blend of the two weighted toward action? The teaser didnā€™t give me any feeling of other-worldliness (did I spell that right?) other than the deer scene. The whole thing looks very professional, in a BMW films sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/47 "2005-11-04T01:30:46Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > But other than my preference for some plot clues, I think it looks good! I like the music, too. > [@picunurse](#): > > It does look more like an action film than a ghost story. Right, we havenā€™t shot the ghost scenes yet. (Actually, weā€™re still looking for extras to play ghosts.) But the guys wanted to get something out there, so itā€™s made from what we have. I think the actress playing _the_ ghost is due out in about three weeks. Is it a ā€˜blend of the two weighted toward actionā€™? Well, Iā€™ll just say that action plays a part. šŸ˜‰ > [@Misnomer](#): > > And now Iā€™ll have to watch the finished product just to see more of the guy who walks toward the camera. šŸ˜ƒ šŸ˜‰ Iā€™ll have to let him know. šŸ˜‰ He has a role in [_Midnight Money_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455978/), which was premiered for invited guests localy last month. I havenā€™t seen the film, so I canā€™t tell you anything about it or how large his role was. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/48 "2005-11-04T11:56:22Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I think the actress playing _the_ ghost is due out in about three weeks. I personally admire the fact that you have put the entire shoot on hold to work around the release date of a convicted felon. It shows a certain grittiness, and is a terrific hook for the press kits!! What? šŸ˜ƒ Yes, I watched it. I love the banging on the edges of the frame, enjoy the birdā€™s eye view shots ( IMHO way underused in filmmaking ), the lighting looks tasty as heck and the camera movement grabs you. Iā€™m first in line to da premiere, baby ! Keep us posted as you have. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/49 "2005-11-04T16:38:25Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I love the banging on the edges of the frameā€¦ Iā€™ve been called ā€˜old schoolā€™, in that I like more traditional framing. But I agree that filming at the edges is effective. I just hope itā€™s not _over_used. I like to try to get some wider takes just in case, time permitting. > [@cartooniverse](#): > > the lighting looks tasty as heck and the camera movement grabs you. Thanks! šŸ™‚ This is my first DP gig, so I worry constantly about lighting. I have lots of lights, and I love my kits. But we havenā€™t used the fresnels yet because theyā€™re too big for interiors. I donā€™t have dichros for them for the outdoor daylight shots. I mentioned that the hotel room was difficult to light because of the way the room was. Worry, worry, worryā€¦ > [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Keep us posted as you have. Not much to report. We shot a fight scene between ā€˜Chaseā€™ (the big ginger fellow) and ā€˜Hubā€™ (the compact powerful tough guy) in an alley the other night. I saw the raw footage, but havenā€™t seen the rough cut yet. Iā€™ll see it today. Iā€™ve heard it looks good. Today weā€™re getting some exteriors in town. Should be a very easy day. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/50 "2005-11-04T18:50:04Z")
Very, very nice. Looks slick. Looks like your budget is much larger than what it really is. For some reason, I REALLY dig the dolly shot from behind the bench of the guy doing katas on the shooting range. A striking image. Screams ā€˜badass.ā€™ ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/51 "2005-11-04T19:45:40Z")
The lighting does look really good. The production quality reminds me of HBOā€™s _Six Feet Under_ and _The Sopranos_, which is a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/52 "2005-11-04T22:33:00Z")
Johnny, as someone who just shot some letterboxed footage last night at his kidā€™s concert- this trailer looks even wider than letterboxed. Are you shooting Anamorphic??? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/53 "2005-11-05T02:17:30Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Johnny, as someone who just shot some letterboxed footage last night at his kidā€™s concert- this trailer looks even wider than letterboxed. Are you shooting Anamorphic??? That would be telling, wouldnā€™t it! Today was much easier than expected. Because we didnā€™t shoot! Weā€™d planned some exteriors, and itā€™s raining. Nevertheless, I still managed to injure myself. We were sitting round brainstorming. I decided Iā€™d go to CostCo to buy a third battery for the camera. They didnā€™t have any, but I did pick up a nice salami and some pepperjack cheese. Back at the studio I pulled out my trusty Swiss Army Knife to slice the salami. Now, I never use the blade on this knife if I can help it. I like my SwissChamp for the tools. But of course I wanted to clean the blade a bit. I was wiping it with a paper towel and got my finger too close to the edge. Slice! _Iā€™m_ not the one who fell into the light the other night. Iā€™m the one who saved it. _Iā€™m_ not the one who dropped a zoom lens for the still camera on the asphalt. But I _am_ the one who everyone thinks is accident-prone! :mad: So yeah, the finger slice got some laughs. I wrote a press release for the local Business Journal. Earlier I helped with some verbiage for the notice on [mandy.com](http://mandy.com). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/54 "2005-11-06T05:03:04Z")
**Tonight I died/** We were supposed to have a local celebrity in the cast today. But he was hanging with Paul McCartney last night (No more buttered scones for _me_, mater. Iā€™m off to play the grand piano. With Sir Paul!) and we couldnā€™t reach him today. Dang! We gotta have _someone_ to kill! So it was I. Got it on one take. šŸ™‚ This is a bit of a tradition for me. In _Mutilation Maniacs_ I was horribly mutliated byā€¦ erm, maniacs. In the lost _Elysium_ my throat was cut by an unseen enemy soldier as I rested against a tree. In _Cut Up_ I was killed by The Patchwork Killer during the title sequence. And now Iā€™ve been gunned down by a hit man. I didnā€™t get killed in _The Right Stuff_, but then I didnā€™t make it into the final cut either so that one doesnā€™t count. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/55 "2005-11-09T16:15:16Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > For some reason, I REALLY dig the dolly shot from behind the bench of the guy doing katas on the shooting range. A striking image. Screams ā€˜badass.ā€™ Thanks. We used my skateboard dolly for that one. For the gear-geeks (like me!) this is how I made it: I bought the wheels on eBay. I donā€™t remember the company, but these wheels are _very_ nice. They have a bit of aluminum channel with four bolt holes for attaching them to the platform. The wheels (four per assembly) are attached to aluminum angle stock. The angle stock has a flat piece of aluminum welded across the top. A bolt goes through this flat piece (six washers; three on the bottom, three on the top) to hold the wheels to the mounting bit. This means that unlike many DIY skateboard dollies, this one can be used on curved track. All of the plans Iā€™ve seen omit the top channel mounting plate, and do not turn. I made the platform out of the best Ā¾" plywood I could find. IIRC the dimensions are 30" x 40". I used two sheets of this size. I spread a coating of wood glue on the unfinished side of one, and put the unfinished side of the other on top so that both sides would have the finished sides exposed. I used C-clamps and sandbags to press the sides together. The result is a 1Ā½" thick platform that should support at least 600 pounds. Probably overkill, but itā€™s _solid!_šŸ˜‰ I sanded the edges of the platform and rounded the corners, drilled the holes for the wheel mounts, then painted the entire thing with spar varnish. Thereā€™s a tie-down ring in the middle. I traced the outline using the template that came with the ring and dug it out with wood chisels. It was easy, since plywood gives you a nice even place at your desired depth. The handles were made at a local shop from a drawing I made. This was sort of a friend-of-a-friend thing, so theyā€™re not _exactly_ as I wanted. As you can see in the photos there are two aluminum uprights. Thereā€™s a crosspiece at the bottom, and the top crosspiece sticks out on the sides for the handles. I wanted 1Ā½" round stock, but they didnā€™t have any. So itā€™s square stock, with the top piece rounded as well as the welder could do it. Not exactly to specs, but works well. I drilled holes for the handle in the platform. Since the handle was made with square stock this caused a problem. I donā€™t have a square drill bit! So after getting the circular holes I had to go back with the chisels. The welder also made two aluminum plates. He made square holes with the plasma cutter. I bolted the plates to the top and bottom of the platform to reinforce the handle holes. Finally, I painted the top of the platform with Wing Walk Compound from Sportyā€™s Pilot Shop. Although itā€™s rainy up here, I think Iā€™ll cover it with carpet like the (professionally made) Doorway Dolly. The final product is heavy, but it works very well! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/56 "2005-11-09T16:30:20Z")
There still are no more stills from the shoot, but the ā€˜interactive sneak peekā€™ is up. I think I mentioned it before, but Iā€™m being lazy so I havenā€™t re-read the thread. Basically our graphic artist took photos of my SAR-8 and one of the Berettas and made a little 'shoot-ā€˜em-upā€™ thing. I donā€™t see any scoring, the aiming is a bit funky, and only one of the five scenarios is up right now. Not really a game, but mildly interesting to play with for a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/57 "2005-11-16T20:20:26Z")
Ohā€¦ Bugger! ā˜¹ Weā€™ve been waiting for some funds to come through, so we havenā€™t shot anything in a week. Donā€™t like the delay, but we need the money. But thereā€™s another problem. About a week and a half ago one of our actresses checked herself into a hospital. Some sort of emotional problem. I think sheā€™s bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, or something. But sheā€™s still into the film, and weā€™ll have her back. Sheā€™s secured a location for us for her scene. So that problem seems to be under control. Only one of our actors wonā€™t get in touch with us. He drinks rather heavily, so many people have found him in his favourite bar and told him weā€™re trying to contact him. Weā€™ve left messages. He _has_ to know we need him. Looks like weā€™ll have to re-cast the role. And last night our primary actress said she wonā€™t be able to do the film. Weā€™ve already shot a couple of scenes with her photo in it. Of course this is the PNW. Weather isnā€™t cooperating very much. Oh, and another actor wants to grow his hair out. So weā€™ve got a delay. We need to fill one minor role, or two, and one major one. But weā€™re looking at it as a chance to have a fresh start. Weā€™ve got some good footage, and now we have ideas about how to get even better footage. The biggest problem has been getting people together. Everyone has his own schedule. This is why we elected to shoot in chunks instead of shooting for three weeks straight. But schedules arenā€™t meshing. The other problem has been getting _exactly_ what we wanted. Time to step back and take a breath. We now have some time to re-think some of the stuff we want, and to find the proper locations. We can find actors who will commit to the project. We can rewrite part of the script to make it better. We can shcedule so that weā€™re not trying to get a scene when everyone is dead on their feet. Yeah, weā€™re trying to be optimistic and put a positive spin on the situation. Nobody ever said that filmmaking is easy! Right now weā€™re going to figure out what we _can_ shoot. Then weā€™ll shoot it. The other scenes will fall into place when weā€™re ready for them. The inactivity is frustrating though. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/58 "2005-11-16T22:04:22Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Ohā€¦ Bugger! ā˜¹ You have my sympathies, that is rough. Such are the vagaries of indie filmmaking. Iā€™m shooting a low budget feature this Sunday. They shoot Fri Sat Sun, but I am only around to shoot Sunday so they are holding all of the Steadicam work for that day. Canā€™t WAIT- I get to use my DVX 100A for a movie !!! Patience, **Johnny**. Take the chance to review all of the footage, reconsider lighting, angles, whatnot. Make use of everything you shot as a teaching tool. Much time will be saved later on, right? šŸ™‚ And, keep your head up. Remember, Coppola re-shot almost a year of footage from **Apocalypse Now** , and just look at how well that project turned out. Except for the monsoon. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/59 "2005-11-16T22:49:47Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Only one of our actors wonā€™t get in touch with us. He drinks rather heavily, so many people have found him in his favourite bar and told him weā€™re trying to contact him. Weā€™ve left messages. He _has_ to know we need him. Looks like weā€™ll have to re-cast the role. Is it the guy who walks toward the camera in the trailer? ā˜¹ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336/60 "2005-11-16T22:59:11Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Is it the guy who walks toward the camera in the trailer? ā˜¹ šŸ˜‰ No, not him! Heā€™s _totally_ on board! šŸ™‚ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countdown-to-the-film/323336.md?page=4)