tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36974425566425974762024-03-20T00:34:14.267-07:00Hooligan Street The Journey to Big Film The Journey to Big Film. Follow the Hooligans as they make their first feature film. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05135343807318607228noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697442556642597476.post-18307457460238320772018-05-06T15:38:00.003-07:002018-05-06T15:38:39.524-07:00The First Big Shoot Part Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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It was an early morning and the chill of Pacific Northwest blew through downtown Tacoma. But there I was, parked next to the ominous building that would mark our first official shoot for the film, Mercy's House. Another one of the actors, Craig had already arrived and a moment later, Chris came pulling up in his Star Wars inspired road machine known as Sithlord, then efficiently pulled around the building finding the perfect spot to land, closest to the entrance. I didn't want to get back in my car and re-park, I would hoof it, the cold air would do me good; taking the place of the empty spot in my psyche that normally coffee would be filling. The local Starbucks wasn't open yet. A damn shame. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne Jordan and Sean Gill-Macdonald</td></tr>
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Soon we were inside, Mike, Shea and Charlcee were there and we set about getting everything ready. The actors and the extras began showing up, and the rest of the day is mostly a blur now. A good blur though. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris filming with the extras, photo courtesy of Charlcee Davis</td></tr>
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There was about 30 extras which was great! Some of my awesome friends showed up, as well as friends from some of the actors. I was deeply appreciative of this. I thought I would start our first shoot off with a bang and address the courtroom audience as they sat eagerly in the seats. </div>
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Hi everybody, thank you for being here. I introduced the lead actress Adrienne, and began. "This is Mercy, shes a small town girl with a some big problems." Then going through the rest of the cast explaining their motivation, to finish off with the crew on hand. I thought it was a great way to start things off, as if we were putting on a show for the extras/audience, which in one way, we were. </div>
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My buddy and fantastic actor Bill Read Jr played the part of the prosecuting attorney. I think he had brought a number of friends to play the extras, he was pretty amazing and as always a joy to have on the set. I was lucky to have him in my previous film "Waiting For Exit". Here's a shot of him and Charlcee (without whom a lot of these "behind the scene" pictures wouldn't be possible) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlcee Davis, Bill Read Jr and the obligatory clapper picture. Photos courtesy of Charlcee Davis. </td></tr>
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You wouldn't go this whole blog post without seeing the obligatory clapper picture. That picture alone is money in bank. The only thing during the shoot that really gave us any problems was the old radiator system that would start acting up in the middle of shot. We were not prepared for this. It was like a ghost from the past was banging on the metal from beyond. A lost soul who missed the glory day/ hustle and bustle of the old courtroom wanting one last chance to see a trial in action. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Whole Set</td></tr>
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The last pic above illustrates the size and scope of the shoot, so for us this was a pretty big shoot, of course it's nothing compared to this scene from the movie Billy Liar (1963) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBYvuMgIzzmx5_IJhnfLwlmqNCp5MH5T0dW5RwKcck1ybc1t0thnkpdTemnoKUJvq2dQRpBBBj79hM5zRMp_Ko7WTzFOwb5CyJkC31xeU6JxBiqyRJXtwT5JLGO3HIyA6wQHXt1th3qo/s1600/filming-billy-liar-1963-8024199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBYvuMgIzzmx5_IJhnfLwlmqNCp5MH5T0dW5RwKcck1ybc1t0thnkpdTemnoKUJvq2dQRpBBBj79hM5zRMp_Ko7WTzFOwb5CyJkC31xeU6JxBiqyRJXtwT5JLGO3HIyA6wQHXt1th3qo/s640/filming-billy-liar-1963-8024199.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not to mention, they also got a horse in the scene. Chris note: We'll have to get a horse in one of our scenes somehow. Mercy rides a horse now? We'll work on that ;)</div>
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All in all we got some pretty awesome work done that day. Here's some of the official stills from the shoot. (So far) You'll notice the fancy studio logo watermarked on the pictures.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrienne Jordan as Mercy. </td></tr>
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Side note: Mercy's blue courtroom dress came through at the last minute courtesy of Amazon, and it looked fantastic on Adrienne. All of my previous adventures at the thrift store are now nothing more than a bad memory. Amen. Adrienne is a wonderful actress who was with me since the table reads for the script when it was first being hammered out. I appreciate the range of emotions that she can display as an actor and I find her easy to work with. She has kept herself busy these days doing a variety of local films and other advertising spots. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ira Katz as Dr Pavlov</td></tr>
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This is Ira, who I met once upon a time at a film makers meet-up. When I met him I knew immediately he was a great actor and that I wanted to work with him. He's also a pretty wicked dude. Not to mention, check out how he flaunts that nifty sharkskin suit. I knew Ira would play the part of Dr. Pavlov perfectly. His acting has an intensity that I nurture. </div>
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Btw, thats Jon Palms torso you've seen in the background of the last two pictures. Here's my favorite picture of him on the lower left. He made his own name badge thus rendering us as blood brothers. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon Palms proudly wearing the shades and badge, Chris Burrows, Dave Ewing and Bill Read Jr. photos courtesy of Charlcee Davis.</td></tr>
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Another one of my favorite pictures above on the right with Chris Burrows cinematographer looking rather pleased; with Dave Ewing on sound and Bill Read Jr. looking on. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Lanz as the Judge</td></tr>
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and then there's Mark Lanz who rocked, and made an incredible judge, we met over coffee at the now "sadly" defunct Tully's Coffee down on Broadway. His tenacity struck me and he soon proved he was a force to be reckoned with. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of Mark Lanz's head, Sean Gill-Macdonald and Bill Read Jr.</td></tr>
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Another buddy of mine Sean Gill-Macdonald plays the defense attorney. I have known him the longest, going back to my first film Rockabye Dead Man. Sean is awesome guy and he's always had a very laid back since of wisdom, that I appreciate. You'll notice the back of Mark's head even looks pretty judge-like. Scary. and then of course, the ever popular Bill Read Jr.! That guys talent is waiting to explode. Who could ask for a better cast for the court scenes? Note: There is a special mystery guest seated in the back ground. Hush... for now.<br />
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As of this writing, Chris and I have found our next shooting location. Hooray! It has taken me a month of research, dead ends... lost hopes... cheesy bars serving beer with less than 2 percent alcohol... dames that wore lipstick that shined like cheap grease paint, and men in hats that shadowed their faces... even in the sun. Ok.. I'm being overly dramatic, but it took a damned while to find it. More on this to come. Time for the moment to reflect on what a great shoot we had at courthouse square. A big thank you to everyone involved. The word is, the courthouse is being torn down to make way for a banquet room, so perhaps that big ominous building down on 1102 A st. had its last court drama and the radiator ghost was appeased.<br />
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Until next time...<br />
-Joe</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05135343807318607228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697442556642597476.post-39235388068721503232018-04-04T21:16:00.001-07:002018-04-04T21:16:49.913-07:00The First Big Shoot Part Two<br />
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Saturday the 24th Chris and I met up, we'd been doing weekly coffee at a shared destination. This is where Chris and I discuss our journey into the wild unknown forests of feature film making. Picture us, in the months to come if you will, huddled together at a small campfire in the woods struggling for survival and fending off wild hyenas who keep trying to steal our canned goods. Or, more truthfully, Starbucks, bullshitting about our favorite films while smooth jazz plays in the background. Hyenas always make things more interesting though. I'll try to work them in later.<br />
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Today was different, this was the day before the big shoot. This was a very important coffee date, even the smooth jazz seemed more intense. Chris still had a billion things to look after, and I realized I would try to come up with at least a rough shot list, as well as make some nifty lanyards for the crew. As for the crew we had asked Mike West, Shea Vanlaningham and our old buddy Dave Ewing to come along for the ride. On top of being awesome dudes, we knew we could place our trust in them. A last moment addition was Charlcee Davis and thank goodness she accepted. Meanwhile, Mercy's (Adrienne Jordan's) Blue dress still hadn't arrived, and I knew an unpleasant trip to the local print shop for lanyard graphics was looming. I looked down into my ominous cup of coffee and it seemed to spell out a message in the dissipating cream.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sAl39dVYnt-OfpBCvp145y07mDRqx79AjB_5TGjKGDRQocnlwgzdamS5IXch6JngR0yd5FviQww15DOoMu9mLqAYDJmaEElyoWjWIdIBwAlgje7SHVaEBNk76dGq8-HiEStT0Qrvk8o/s1600/mercyshousecoffee.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="741" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sAl39dVYnt-OfpBCvp145y07mDRqx79AjB_5TGjKGDRQocnlwgzdamS5IXch6JngR0yd5FviQww15DOoMu9mLqAYDJmaEElyoWjWIdIBwAlgje7SHVaEBNk76dGq8-HiEStT0Qrvk8o/s400/mercyshousecoffee.png" width="400" /></a><br />
Shortly I arrived at the print shop with a bulging thumb drive in my pocket.<br />
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"Would you like a color copy?"<br />
"Yes." I said hesitantly.<br />
"That will be 300 dollars."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfTkUdYBedIzntIAtuQZAu4otRbcV2tXZTP_GJuh_yYQpFKFBMK1Nsr3aKcRMgY7LPJRr7KZ5cfIfWiJPRqF1FYXZV_hE3QsjMyGepGTsQQnr2IFaiygvLnI0O6HBbZTthnWhNT74cx0/s1600/mercyshouse+pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="500" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfTkUdYBedIzntIAtuQZAu4otRbcV2tXZTP_GJuh_yYQpFKFBMK1Nsr3aKcRMgY7LPJRr7KZ5cfIfWiJPRqF1FYXZV_hE3QsjMyGepGTsQQnr2IFaiygvLnI0O6HBbZTthnWhNT74cx0/s320/mercyshouse+pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nifty lanyards for the crew</td></tr>
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With the rising price of ink, this scenario always plays out in my head, and it comes down to, A) buy a new color cartridge and get screwed, or B) go to the print shop... and get screwed. I got screwed but left with lanyard graphics. Oh yes, these graphics were going to be put into a plastic sheath and hung from a soft cord; and that is money in the bank. You offer someone a lanyard they're putty in your hands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFv06vPGQ1GE_kt3ylz5GarvU0UzJobHm8h44WZzhrsqE4FgenSsqw-0f1T1CNslcsFL3Gqu7gGc0Ym5oUyv3l93o8SQ810faX2w7ATpTDP9aOZY7mujpW9icqWlASbrvDOArOFmFLgE/s1600/dressone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="336" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFv06vPGQ1GE_kt3ylz5GarvU0UzJobHm8h44WZzhrsqE4FgenSsqw-0f1T1CNslcsFL3Gqu7gGc0Ym5oUyv3l93o8SQ810faX2w7ATpTDP9aOZY7mujpW9icqWlASbrvDOArOFmFLgE/s200/dressone.jpg" width="126" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dress that never was</td></tr>
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If only...<br />
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Anyway, the day progressed and I got word from Chris that the blue dress had arrived. With a mighty Woot Woot, I texted Adrienne to let her know that she wouldn't have to wear a pretty horrible blue mess I had a bought in desperation a few days earlier. Ok, lets forget the fact that it was far to shear for a courtroom. Lets just focus on the determination of a fearless filmmaker who would brave the womens section of a thrift store.<br />
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Soon the day became night, and I lay in bed with my trusty friend the laptop trying to figure out the shot list. Not being able to plan this out properly bothered me. I hadn't been in the courtroom where we were shooting in months. Also, again, not knowing how many extras we would have was totally throwing me. I wound up making two different script versions, one with extras, and one without. I figured if we had only, say five people show up as extras, then it would become a very small town court, and tinker with the script to present a closed court scenario. If there was a huge turn out, then the script would reflect a media hyped type court scene, either of which I could use in the film.<br />
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Then I told myself I needed to get some sleep and turned out the light.<br />
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About 4 hours later, I think I finally fell asleep. I don't remember dreaming, but if I did it was probably about hyenas, wearing blue dresses and lanyards while poking me with gavels as an audience of spectators applauded. (I told you I'd try to work in the hyenas)<br />
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But morning came as it inevitably would and luckily the loss of sleep was being replaced by adrenalin. I knew I was prepared as could be considering the circumstances, I knew the actors would be awesome and I knew Chris would be there with his relaxed yet engineering brain. What could go wrong? Well, a lot. But this was not the time for that. This was one of those rare occasions in peoples lives where they have the chance to seize the day. Although I would have liked to seize more coffee, off I went to the big shoot.<br />
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To be continued....<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05135343807318607228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697442556642597476.post-329592960447107572018-03-27T21:11:00.001-07:002018-03-27T21:27:15.506-07:00The first Big Shoot Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50LP5fkuVFRJJeD7_R63LzUV1bmvZh64qrLKlk3ItnR9BrJyLNiJQG0TDJZTC-O316ufMr3e3ewW_PH1w2j42Cpf3qPTeurNSsZ8fhPhN5OTpMxgsQIAwuDn0-tR8WISFe5coMbDGYaE/s1600/blogposttopper3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50LP5fkuVFRJJeD7_R63LzUV1bmvZh64qrLKlk3ItnR9BrJyLNiJQG0TDJZTC-O316ufMr3e3ewW_PH1w2j42Cpf3qPTeurNSsZ8fhPhN5OTpMxgsQIAwuDn0-tR8WISFe5coMbDGYaE/s1600/blogposttopper3.png" /></a></div>
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And it so began on 03 25 2018. Actually it began before that, but I like opening with drama. It was a cold Sunday filled with BIG hopes, and not only the first shot for the film "Mercy's House," but the BIGGEST one at that. We were shooting down on A street in Tacoma WA at a place called Court House Square, that oddly enough had an old court house inside. The building itself is a very big old, somewhat imposing hump of ornamental concrete and steel, that would probably scare the jeebers out of some one who was fresh from Smurfsville.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWpPUCAuWYH_Tg3O1NkQI2abaqfrd1XmA3RiztOcikAzTNPJn_zdGnWYEGD1uL94I-x7jqEz0ZyhrZhp1vxdzqoZg3t_-QX8kpd6d155u7YlloWEJLWeIpjJ65_Bjx0n_SGtI_uZYe4I/s1600/chsquare2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWpPUCAuWYH_Tg3O1NkQI2abaqfrd1XmA3RiztOcikAzTNPJn_zdGnWYEGD1uL94I-x7jqEz0ZyhrZhp1vxdzqoZg3t_-QX8kpd6d155u7YlloWEJLWeIpjJ65_Bjx0n_SGtI_uZYe4I/s320/chsquare2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We would be filming the quintessential scene in which the main character (Mercy) is sentenced. This was to be the scene where that special kind of crazy that Dr. Pavlov would manically spew, would first be seen. With the anticipation of a courtroom full of extras, this would also be the scene where "living room" filmmakers would become public filmmakers. (as well as grow hair, and other things... etc.) </span><br />
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Unfortunately we had some real big unknowables going into the shoot, which quite frankly caused an untold number of stress goblins to begin dancing on the wings of my airplane.<br />
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1) I hadn't been able to get the cast into the shoot location for rehearsal. The same for blocking, camera set up and testing, etc, or for even that good old feeling of familiarity before entering the jaws of the shark. <br />
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2) The unknowable amount of extras that we would wind up with. It could have been anywhere from five to three hundred. The amount of extras would greatly impact how we would be shooting the scenes. Would it turn into a quaint courthouse? or would it be a grand courthouse? Oh yes, the goblins were dancing and the little biplane was wavering.<br />
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Lets go back.<br />
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I had held two rehearsals before the big day, thank you to the incredible people at Sanford and Sons Antiques and the Knights of Pythias in Tacoma. I love you guys.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKbFxQ3ytTjjhKpp9WCOJA_kZ-8AmbIrvWhoJX_ctPRUTAd2-B2X5emApq3f34tlc508-y_LfQEhIWryw1XhtjDvENT7M2Z3Cu2sokH8la-lGEj3fLU_mjPi77GVr4uPd-m2R2v23O-s/s1600/rehearsal031820182.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="1184" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKbFxQ3ytTjjhKpp9WCOJA_kZ-8AmbIrvWhoJX_ctPRUTAd2-B2X5emApq3f34tlc508-y_LfQEhIWryw1XhtjDvENT7M2Z3Cu2sokH8la-lGEj3fLU_mjPi77GVr4uPd-m2R2v23O-s/s640/rehearsal031820182.png" title="rehearsal 03 18 2018 " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsal 03 18 2018 Joe, Bill Read Jr, Ira Katz and Sean Gill-Macdonald</td></tr>
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First rehearsal on 03 18 2018 Sanford and Sons, went very well and we all had a good time. But you can plainly see how things that start off as normal can easily turn pretty ugly. Lol. Jokes aside, these guys are truly talented folks. Note: My buddy Chris the omniscient director of photography was there too. ... taking the pictures of course...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>After that rehearsal I was feeling pretty confident. These actors were fantastic, I thought to myself; and we all happened to be dressed like we live in the NW. Go figure. So here was the defense attorney, the prosecuting attorney and the star witness, Dr. Pavlov. All looking and smelling good.<br />
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Onto the second rehearsal. 03 23 2018 Friday bloody Friday. We scheduled a rehearsal at the Pythians in Tacoma, the traffic was sheer hell, but God bless the Pythians. A big shout out to Steve and Adam! You guys saved my bacon. (I'd rather be eating it, but regardless) Second rehearsal came and our friendly actors from the first rehearsal were there, as well as Adrienne Jordan, Jon Palms, Doug Johnston and our new Judge, a wicked actor by the name of Mark Lanz. I believe he showed all of us who the real judge is.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_PIhS72rTFltVZIouiHzF1oAf-EwFky7QfrTeRR60DptZ__MGZ5lxH9GsvTcNLArawSk1PZeNskB6za1UrzlH7jWnMYi1V08-1w2wylXZzj2QIKTy34klKc5jFbgHTYIkm_Q8YFnHMc/s1600/rehearsal032320182.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="1112" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_PIhS72rTFltVZIouiHzF1oAf-EwFky7QfrTeRR60DptZ__MGZ5lxH9GsvTcNLArawSk1PZeNskB6za1UrzlH7jWnMYi1V08-1w2wylXZzj2QIKTy34klKc5jFbgHTYIkm_Q8YFnHMc/s640/rehearsal032320182.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsal 03 23 2018 Adrienne Jordan, Doug Johnston, Chris Burrows, Sean Gill-Macdonald,Mark Lanz, Ira Katz, Jon Palms and Ira again. </td></tr>
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Again, we had us a fine rehearsal, as well as a nice visit to México Mágico afterwards. Awhhh... México Mágico where the indigenous shamans run free and the peyote runs wild. Ok, actually its a nice restaurant and Catina on Broadway, it's good, you should check it out sometime.<br />
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Time to face reality. In two more days was the big shoot. I knew there would be no more rehearsals prior, and more than likely camera decisions would have to be made on set at the time of the shoot. I didn't feel like I could make a true shot list due to my unfamiliarity with the location, I just had rough ideas floating around my head of what I wanted to see. My buddy (Director of Photography and co-conspirator) Chris was keeping it cool and calm. He had been busy taking care of the props (as well as securing the courthouse building to begin with) and many other things. Chris is truly the Yoda with the mind of an engineer. I tend to be the pants on fire sort.<br />
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As I said, we were now two days away, the actors were rocking it, but the big looming structure of concrete and steel would soon rise from A street and digest us. I still did not know how many extras we would have, I still did not have a shot list, and Mercy's (hero shot) blue dress had not arrived in the post. Yes my pants were on fire.<br />
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To be continued...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05135343807318607228noreply@blogger.com0