Army Surplus

I spent a good chunk of time two nights ago trying to write this blog. Then suddenly it all disappeared - and you can't control+z to change that. UGH - draw back of Blogger.

So - I wanted to write about my chili story.

Last Thursday was a bad day. The shoot had a lot of setbacks - and as is the norm with first week hiccups, there was just a huge amount of tension on set and between even the keys of the departments. Never a good thing - but it comes with this being our first feature film and also a very heavy day was ahead of us - a lot of pressure on a lot of different people. Luckily, we're all cool and have addressed the situations and everything is now fine. :)

But that doesn't change that last Thursday was a downer. So yeah - lunch time. I was asked to bring back some dinners for the team in the production RV sitting through a meeting. That's fine. So we shuttled over to holding, grabbed a bunch of meals and DA helped me bring them all back to Todd, Tore and others. I put mine on the table in hopes of coming back later to eat it. It was chili - very yummy looking.

So lunch time ends, and i finally find a moment to go and eat my food. Get in the trailer - it's not there. Todd ate it. He thought it was spare food so he just chowed down. Sad.

So then Magali and I, who at this point probably haven't eaten in HOURS (most likely all day if I recall) - decide to head back to the holding area in hopes of finding some food remaining.

Luckily - there was food left. Elaine, what a doll, even put cheese on our chili so that by the time we were back on set it would be melted and yummy. Goose is driving, and I am holding one bowl of steaming chili in one hand, and a plate with four pieces of garlic bread + a bowl of chili in the other hand. So we drive onto Fairleigh and Todd meets up with our minivan to apologize for eating my dinner. At this time, I set the bowl of chili onto my lap, probably to fix the plate or something, honestly I don't know why. So - magali steps on the gas to get off the road - and dump - the chili bowl on my lap falls over (seriously felt like it was in slow motion). Ugh ugh ugh. So I'm sitting there not knowing what to do cause we're in a rental vehicle that we want to keep pristine, and there is NOTHING around me to clean up the mess. All the while, my thigh is cooking under the heat of the chili.

Maybe it is due to lack of sleep but Magali and I just lost it at that point and couldn't stop laughing - like crying laughing. Cause honestly - why is this happening to us? So I put the remainder of the bowl of chili onto the dashboard and also the plate (with another bowl of chili on it) so that I can try to contain the spillage. I guess in the midst of the laughter I told her to just drive - so that we could get back to Chris' house and get this cleaned up.

So, once again, magali puts it into drive and DUMP both the bowls and the plate fly off the dashboard all over me and the floor. Probably the hardest 1 block drive EVER - we could barely move. Once we got back to the house too - it took forever to try to clean it up cause it was chunky chili. On top of all of that is that this is our SHUTTLE van. So now we have a carpet and seat stain and also a bunch of chili hiding underneath of the passenger seat. It smelled bad and honestly looked as though someone had vomited in the front seat. :p

Mind you - magali and i had a GREAT LAUGH from all of this - so it was definitely worth all the trouble. Tore ended up pulling next to the van at one point to see if we were okay and I couldn't move I was laughing so much. He got out of his car and checked out what had happened from my side of the van - and he just smiled. :)

That was the great moment last week.

It's Thursday - rain is on its way - so scenes are being shuffled around. Big scenes. We barely have anymore interior locations to run to if rain is on its way. I think the most recent forecast has it that we will only see rain on Monday. Thank you God - cause if it went until Wednesday, we would have to give a day off almost.

This week has been fairly good. Better than last. Our production RV is now the craft RV. We weren't productive in there - so now Chris' master bedroom is a huge office space for 6 laptops and two computers. It's honestly quite funny. :) And quite messy. I'm behind in paperwork - which always always sucks and Karl has made our to set box a pile of junked paper. :p

David Ottier (sound guru) brought his 4 year old puppy to set yesterday - he's a cross husky/wolf. Beautiful beautiful dog - and so well behaved. His name was Smokey. I think he should be our set pet. :o) Matt also has a puppy at home which I tried to convince him to bring - but I don't think he would be as well behaved - nor quiet.

We also have a plush sheep that has become a favorite in this house. I fell asleep right beside my laptop one night (in the office - and this is only cause i was so cold - and the vent on the side of my teal top was so very warm so I got up close to it to warm up my face and fell asleep) - and when I woke up, this lamb was on my keyboard looking at me. Oh, and then there are pictures. Anyway. It's now downstairs with Anton in the 'Astral Labs' and Joanna has grown fond of him. He is very soft and cuddly.

I'm getting over my cold slowly but surely. Thank God it was not a flu. Saturday I was out sleeping all day in Toronto. I lost my voice two days ago - but it should be coming back soon. Making calls to suppliers sucks though cause sometimes my voice cracks and no sound comes out (and so is the nature of this hoarse throat thing). But yay for getting healthier.

There is a Gidim-zul makeup test happening as of 9:00am today. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to make it out anymore. I would like to, however, I have much to do here. It was like pulling teeth to get this spfx makeup artist to finally do the test. We have an important night with the Gidim-zul on Friday - and it was addressed on Monday that we would do another test on Tues/Wed. When I spoke to our spfx person today - she was like "WHAT??? I can only do it on Sat/sun!!!". I put my foot down - cause this is what happened to us for the main shoot - she kept pushing off the tests until we were hooped and went to camera without having seen them. And they sucked. For the money we're paying - she should want them to look good. Ugh. So yeah - a new test today.

At random, while trying to find foam latex appliances to create a spine for Avvadon at this "Amazing Party & Costume" place, this one worker gave me contact information for this airbrush artist. I saw a picture of a hearse he had airbrushed (while I was at this store) - and it was covered in 'Angels/demons' - and my jaw dropped. I was like "That's exactly what they are supposed to look like". So I called this random guy up - and he's going to come out to the makeup test today to see what he can do. NICE.

I'm happy about that. Let's see what today will bring for the Gidim-zul. So far they are not looking good on camera. I feel I could do a better job. Their prosthetics might look nice close up in real life - but they aren't working for our cameras in the least.

I'm nervous about this - but breathing. :)

Chris and I still need to do the latex test and build a hump with the liquid latex. Our spfx team was supposed to do this - and before they kept saying 'we can't, we can't' - and now they're like 'well, you should have said this earlier - we don't have the time now'. SO FRUSTRATING. So Chris and I will try to build them and just have them airbrushed for camera. Who knows they might rock!!! :)

I love wrap time. Not cause I don't want my crew around - they are amazing and I truly appreciate them. It's more for the pow wows between the people living at the Jones' for the shoot. Lisa, Karl, Magali, Martine, Chris and I just sitting around, drinking wine and eating 'dinner' at 6.30/7.00am. It's just funny.

I will miss this part of the production. I will miss the crew - they have been wonderful - and we're coming together really well. We have some tough days ahead - but hey, we're only shooting for 19 days total - so no matter what, it's almost over. Being on set is short lived. :(

I must go now. I slept from about 1.30-4.45am today. It was a bad wakeup though - cause in my dream a crew member came up to me and hit me on the shoulder asking me why we were wrapping out at 7am. I darted up (from the universal naping mattress) and was completely freaked out. Yet it was still dark. I didn't know what time it was - but I still had my walkie in my ear - and all I hear is Karl's voice come up saying 'window'. All smiles. We wrapped at 5.00am. Very good. And we had an hour lunch - so yay on that as well.

One last "story" to explain my title. Yesterday morning, Chris, Magali and myself spent some time going through all craft supplies that Tore had bought from Costco (so much stuff - like overflowing shopping carts (several)). And I get to this one box of canned tomatoes. I started putting them through the back cupboards and Magali made this comment from the front of the RV - that it looked as though we were getting set to go to war. Here I am packing in the preserves - and the strangest ones at that for a film shoot - and it's all just funny. Ironically, most film crews make a reference to "going to war" when they talk about a film shoot. We do definitely go to battle when making a feature film - a lot is sacrificed (your life/time/family/friends) - and you're in it as a team. But it's wonderful.

Let the "Battle of the Hammer" resume.

day 6 in the can. 13 days to go.

3 days in the can

Short blog. It's Sunday - 7.42am. I woke up around 5.30am. Was basically in bed since yesterday at 9.45am. I got sick on Friday - and have been trying to sleep it off ever since. I feel better. Luckily it's just an annoying cold. Thank God it's not the flu. However, I don't want to get any of my crew sick.

Going back to the hammer today - CJ will pick us up around 1.30pm. We are setting up shop in our new production office (his master bedroom transformed) - as the RV wasn't working out for any of us. Craft will take it over - which will be nice for the cast/crew. Mobile kitchen.

Forgot my ac adapter for my laptop at chris' house - so I don't have too much time with my teal top.

Home - we have an ant problem. We honestly don't know what to do with it anymore. I am truly looking forward to leaving this joint. The bug sprays aren't working anymore. UGH UGH UGH. Thank goodness it's only ants. I guess living in a basement apartment has its set backs.

We have two production meetings set for this afternoon. One of them is to discuss our 'Gidim-zul' spfx makeup problem. We have a good team working for us, but they simply aren't trying their hardest. I'm a little concerned - as this discussion will be very difficult to undertake with the company. You need to show a sensitivity to the people you hired, so that they still feel appreciated, yet inform them that you are not satisfied in the least with their work. The makeup on these beasts can make/break the film - and so far, it's breaking us.

I don't have too much to say about the first three days. We have the first week problems that we are trying to work through - and it feels like we're on the right path now. It's always a challenge when you don't have the right amount of staff...which seems to be our biggest problem. Not being able to afford crew is always going to be a problem. The volunteers we do have on our show are incredible - and we value their dedication so very much. The crew are hardworking and amazing. They are doing an amazing job.

I feel very honoured to be a part of this team. I pray that we can make them all feel as valuable as they truly are to us and this production.

On to week two - a little easier - one location. :)

YAY.

Losing time in life

I guess I'm aging as we speak. I haven't slept properly in over 72 hours. one hour tonight - one last - 1.45 the night before - yet when the sun comes up, the last thing on my mind is sleep - as most of the time I need to be busy working or just can't sleep cause it's daytime.

I have emotionally flatlined. This film has its ups/downs - as excited as I am about the whole production - i need separation from it. We're living in the world of the film out in Hamilton. It can get exhaustive. When others are sleeping - I'm killing my phone's batteries trying to make sure that we get everything that we need for that night. When night falls - everyone lectures me about being on set - but that's where all the magic happens - and what I've been working on steady steady steady for months on end - helping tNtFILMS get this film on screen.

The crew have been incredible - we wrapped out 2 hours early on our first day - UNHEARD OF. Usually the first is the worst. I'm not saying that there weren't any hiccups, but it went really well considering. The dailies that we have been getting for the days are hard working and very generous. The cast are on the ball and bringing everything they have to this film - they are simply incredible. The crew is working really well together.

The week before we went to camera - issues were brought up about the HVX-200 camera, that tNtFILMS purchased. Once Darryl had the opportunity to set up a camera test with this new beast, he found out that it reads at 200-250 iso - instead of the previously thought 500 iso. The scramble began for our crew - as we pushed through upping our lighting package and trying to figure out if shooting on this camera was the right choice for this first feature. After weighing out different options - Todd made the call to shoot on this package. Fingers crossed and prayers made, we plunged into The Storm. Hats off to the crew. When you look at the footage - it's incredible. Darryl and his team are lighting the shots so amazingly well - it's sick, seriously. The art department are doing a kick ass job with the locations. Once sound is laced onto this film, it's going to be incredible.

Tonight - at about 6.50pm I was asking about if Claire had picked up the contact lenses - when someone reminded me that she had a root canal that day and was possibly out of service. No one confirmed this situation - so here we go with a scramble. When fedex came by to deliver the package, chris and i were out of the house on runs, and everyone else in the house was out cold. The Fedex guy took the package with him. UGH. So now we're stuck, as the lenses play tonight. We had to go to this "Burlington"ish Fedex location and pick it up all before 7.30pm. I think I got us out there for 7.21pm - mind you most every cop had a reason to drop me a speeding ticket. So now our Gidim-zuls have bright white contact lenses - and are completely blind when the lenses are in - a new challenge we've been facing. But eerie looking, especially from far away. They have been using very interesting shots with the steadicam to cover the Gidim-zuls - so good news on that front.

I'm very excited about a lot of the different parts of this film. I wish I could change certain aspects of it - but I'll just have to look at them as hiccups and pray through these times. And continue to listen to Chris' Delirious CD that I snagged and put in the minivan for my long drives.

I just wish everyone would stop being so concerned about my sleeping patterns - some people just can't sleep during the daytime. I think i get to sleep today - only because at night I will be working on paperwork with Goose - and trying to catch up - cause we are three days behind now. I'm trying to find a missing invoice - so that has me slightly up in the air.

When Chris gets home - meeting. Then bed.

tomorrow is friday. might just travel home on the weekend in a production vehicle - as i need to travel with my files, or stay here to work through them.

I forgot to give Niki her fuzzy pink hat and scarf back. Thank you to her for being so caring. :)

Hugs to all I miss terribly. I can't wait to see you when all this craziness is done. Although - I live for the craziness! I was made for film I guess.

la la la. my eyes are heavy - and wrinkles are setting in...i am aging by the shooting day.....

Tomorrow

I officially move out to Hamilton tonight. After one CRAZY day yesterday (i now officially have a problem with Mondays) - today proved to be a successful run for all. Everyone's gear is in, our hotel came through, the genny is booked, the locations are solid, we have a bus, we know how to get crew around - it's all wonderful.

In 24 hours - I will be sick to my stomach with anticipation as the crew is in transit to our first location in Waterdown.

Day one of our first feature film. This moment will never happen again.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes. This is going to be amazing.

I still have to finish packing my production supplies/notes. Will post if I can in mid-production.

The life we lead - and how it comes to be. I'm speechless.

10 day countdown

10 days to Principal Photography.
8 days to Spring.

We shot MGP today - crazy rain in the beginning, then summer like day in the end. wow - we are going to have trees in full bloom in our film - yikes. Christmas eve - good luck art department.

Tech scout yesterday in Hamilton - went well.

Am in love with Chris' 5 children - they are wonderful.

Click the following link for a commercial that made me smile.
http://www.epica-awards.org/assets/epica/2004/winners/film/flv/06037.htm

Not feeling like wanting to write here - energy needed for work on film. 10 days is serious.

My parents are home from Vegas. Sadly, we are not millionaires as of yet.

Listening to a CD a friend of mine put in the rental van's CD player - very needed melow music as I finish my drives - very nice.

Aucky is sleeping by my side. I'm not going to see him once this film starts shooting.

Praying for strength to get through this last push.

:) Again, anyone who wants to donate hugs - much appreciated. Got one today from our 1st AD - and sometimes hugs are just the right thing. :)

Two weeks notice

Two weeks and some odd number of hours - we will be on set in production.

That's all I have to say. Did you know that spring is 12 days away? Lovely. It's going to rain this weekend - we're on the tech survey all Saturday, and shooting a 30secs spot on Sunday.

Rain, rain go away - come back in MAY!

today is tuesday

my parents have been practicing their skills at Treasure Island in Vegas. I've been sitting here working.

I've now realized why people don't like Mondays. They are just messy - offices open after a long weekend - a lot of phone chasing. Ugh.

15 days to Principal Photography.
13 days to Spring.

New surgery date - May 10th. Although I won't really have the money for it anymore - so I'm contemplating moving it again until I can actually afford to take out that chunk of money out of the bank and not feel broke. :p

Oh well - i keep dreaming about swimming. And I'm going to take advantage of this once the surgery is done and I'm okayed to swim again. You know what - I have never been to a water park (well, since I was a kid) because of the whole contacts/glasses issues. Maybe - just maybe - that will change.

Anyway. I'm just blabbing. I have nothing exciting to report. Had fun this weekend in Hamilton - working the rest of the time. My mind is numb. I think that's okay. We're really close to Principal Photography - so I guess this is how it feels. :o) Life is funny. Why do we do this to ourselves. Anyway. Here is my 'Ode to Darryl's humour'. I love the team I'm with - we do laugh quite often together.

Darryl, this is for you:

meli melo

So, I have a good sense of humour about myself. Embarassment is never an option. I think that being embarassed can be a waste of time - why bother? It's like "No regrets" - you should live your life with no regrets - cause in the end, if there is something that you want to do in life - and you are too afraid to do it, the only one missing out is YOU. :)

I have attached the post that Malcolm wrote about some 'delusional' sleeping incidents. For those of you who think I'm a crazy lady for only sleeping 3 hours a night (cause God blessed me with the ability to survive on little sleep) - well, let these stories explain WHY I DON'T sleep more than three hours a night. When I do - bad things start to happen - well, not bad, just very very very strange.


begin malcolm post

alison the tired

so, i believe that this film that alison is working on is taking a toll on her. she gets very little sleep and a whole heep of stress, and i get front row seats to the action. at night she often passes out on the couch, and the stresses of the day infiltrate her dreams. i'll sit at the computer typing at this blog for example and she'll seem to wake up. i say "seem" because it is a very strange in between sleep and awake stage. she is obviously not aware in the least about where she is or who she's with or anything, but her eyes are open and she does not mumble like she's talking in her sleep. it actually takes me a bit to even realize that she isn't exactly awake, and she will not remember anything she says or does.

anyway, i have two funny incidents of her doing this half awakeness.

incident 1:alison needs to sign actors for this film to deal memos. soooo, the one night she woke up as i just put aucky, our hamster, back in his cage. And she told me i'm not allowed to do anything with him(aucky) yet because he hasn't signed a deal memo. nice. and then she promptly passes out again

incident 2:she wakes up, and she spreads her arms as if saying ta-da while smiling at me, and then she immediately does another pose in which she had her arms stretched high while doing jazz hands. after this she asks "can we have fireworks in this[production]?"she then had her hand in the shape of a phone to her ear and was talking. and i asked if i could talk, but she gave me a brief lecture about how her business calls were not to be passed around like that. and then she passed out again.

ahh alison you provide many moments of amusment in your tired delusional states.

end Malcolm post

That's me. I thought it was hilarious when I read it - cause I knew nothing about it except for the phone thing (I remembered that one). Anyway - I think being able to laugh at yourself is great. At least I was entertaining. :)

My parents left for Vegas today. They will land in about an hour and a half (depending on the flight). :) That's exciting. 15 days before spring blossoms. 17 days before the cameras start rolling on the set of our first feature film.

One day, I'll look back on these entries and laugh. How silly things are. How great life really is - and how one day, this will be part of my nostalgic moments of 'youth'. Sigh.

This is another picture from the NZ website - they have been the backgrounds on my computer - a nice motivation for work I guess. *Sigh* One day I will be there backpacking on my own. Maybe shorter trips - or I'll just head out after the next film. Cause, dang, it's where my heart wants to be.

Have a safe trip Mom & Dad. Planes, trains, travelling fun.

Grateful for Goose

I'm happy I have Goose by my side. She will be saving me with this project - help take a load from my pile and make sure things that need to get done - do. :)

Even though today didn't go as well as I had hoped - there is much to be grateful for. When you start to get down about something - someone calls you and reminds you of something 10 x better to think about - and you smile because it all seems feasible once again.

How do Hollywood producers do it? I was so happy to call upon an old co-worker - Bruce - today. He is a great man - loving father/devoted husband and dedicated worker - I always loved working just outside his office on Four Brothers. :) Today, I had to call upon him for car insurance advice for our production. It's like Mr. Till - I love the idea that these are people I had short runs with, but I know I can call upon them and they'll always be there with a smile and an answer.

2 days before my parents fly out to Vegas. :)
17 days to Spring
19 days to Principal Photography

Camera day 1 - 10.47 hours of night light
Camera day 20 - 9.17 hours of night light UGH

I'm funny

21 days to Principal Photography
19 days to Spring
4 days until my parents win it big! :)

Sleep is not my forte. I sadly don't get to experience my delusional moments of momentary 'awakedness' - but those around me do. When I'm really busy with work - stress generally seeps into my dreams. Anyway - Malcolm wrote a blog on this and will be posting it later this week - and only then can I tell the stories that he has recorded.

But I have to say, after reading his retellings - I was crying laughing. Partly because I can't believe they actually happened, and also because I understand the pressure I'm under - and WHY these situations might arise. It's just sad - this is why a lot of sleep is bad for me.

I think my partner in crime CJ would enjoy these tales. I must say that I must be highly entertaining to those around me when I think I'm sleeping.

i'm going to go tackle insurance once again.