Production Schedule

So I shoot my senior thesis film, Bailey in Beta, the second weekend in February. That, in filmmaking years, is practically tomorrow. So, I'm making a schedule/deadline list for myself.

[IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER ]
12/27 - Final(ish) Draft
12/27 - Email to Allen, Jayson, Brennan, Julian, Alison, etc

12/27 - Research Loft options
12/27 - Research "Office" options

12/28 - Audition Information Drafting
12/28 - Contact Agencies
12/28 - Public Casting Call Posting

12/30 - Budget Plan
12/30 - Shot list
12/30 - Make list of ALL Effects

12/31 - Meet w. DP & editor for shot collaboration

1/3 - Location Scout

1/5 - VFX Test: (Touch screen skin, head on desk)
1/5 - Hire wardrobe
1/5 - Purchase for dress

1/7 - Film Test: Shooting computer screen w. character chat

1/9 - Equipment order
1/9 - 1/10 - Auditions

1/10 - Concept Drawings/Sketches
1/10 Finalize Prop List

1/13 - Storyboards
1/13 - Film Order

1/14 - Call Backs

1/15 - Final Decision
1/15 - Set REHEARSAL DAY/TIME (2 a week)
1/15 - Prop shop/Find
1/15 - Actor Release/Contracts
1/15 - Insurance
1/15 - Finalize crew

1/25 - Shooting Schedule

1/28 - Finalize Location Release Agreements
1/28 - Research catering options (greek, chinese, sandwich places, etc)

2/3 - Initial production meeting

2/7 - 2 dress deadline

2/7 - 2/10 - Set dressing

[BRACKET ORDER]
THE SCRIPT
12/27 - Final(ish) Draft
12/27 - Email to Allen, Jayson, Brennan, Julian, Alison, etc

THE CASTING
12/28 - Audition Information Drafting
12/28 - Contact Agencies
12/28 - Public Casting Call Posting
1/9 - 1/10 - Auditions
1/14 - Call Backs
1/15 - Final Decision
Set REHEARSAL DAY/TIME (2 a week)

THE LOCATION
12/27 - Research Loft options
12/27 - Research "Office" options
1/3 - Location Scout
1/28 - Finalize Location Release Agreements

THE ART DIRECTION
1/10 - Concept Drawings/Sketches
1/10 Finalize Prop List
1/15 - Prop shop/Find
2/7 - 2/10 - Set dressing

THE WARDROBE
1/5 - Purchase Materials
2/7 - 2 dress deadline

THE VISUAL EFFECTS
12/30 - Make list of ALL Effects
1/5 - VFX Test: (Touch screen skin, head on desk)
1/7 - Film Test: Shooting computer screen w. character chat

THE PAPERWORK
12/30 - Budget Plan
12/30 - Shot list
1/13 - Storyboards
1/25 - Schedule

1/28 - Location Release
1/15 - Actor Release/Contracts
1/15 - Insurance

1/13 - Film Order
1/9 - Equipment order

THE CREW
1/15 - Finalize crew
12/31 - Meet w. DP & editor for shot collaboration
2/3 - Initial production meeting

THE FOOD
1/28 - Research catering options (greek, chinese, sandwich places, etc)

Crazy Dog Person

So, I've come to the conclusion that I might be a crazy dog person. Madmartigan, my almost 2-years-old German Shepherd Mix has been suffering these last two unfortunate weeks in silent agony. With the roommate that helps take care of him out of state and the other one....being himself.... Madmartigan has been locked in his cage for 5-7 hours a day.

Now, PETA, I'm more than aware of the unjust nature of this. And I'm terribly undoubtably guilty of it. I felt awful everytime it had to be done - so much so I've asked friends to "check in on him" when my hours were stupid long.

However, these last three days we (also known as I) have been trying to give Madmartigan the opportunity to not be locked in the cage. For routine sake I put him in the cage with his peanut butter toy before I leave and leave the cage door open. He stays I leave....and hope to god he doesn't eat something he shouldn't or kill my roommates cat. The last three days the hours have extended in length. Today (August 7-8) I worked a 7 hours shift and my dear little shit-head of a dog survived it just fine...as did the house.

This made me....so incredibly happy. And when I say so incredibly happy I don't think you understand the severity of the joy. I got all warm inside and felt like I'd assume a parent would when watching their snotty kid get off the school bus from their first day of school. It was kind of ridiculous how awesomely proud I was of him. Proud of my dog. Yup.

Whats worse is I recognized how silly this feeling was and decided I needed to blog about it. And post it on my facebook. And tell my mom.... and my roommate....

It's still kind of an awesome feeling though. For the record.

Random Inspirations

So, sometimes, I get these random inspirational spurts to write. They used to happen more often - but they haven't in quite some time. I was cleaning out my computer and found a file where I was saving a lot of the short pages I'd randomly written. They're going here:


1:57AM
October 21, 2008
Languid and cool, he leaned against the balcony rail with a slouch of grace. There was calm in his presence and a smooth chill in his breath. Nicholi Yelnak, was a man of many mysteries. His thoughts were golden and his life was privileged. But despite all of those sweet luxuries in which he lived – he yearned for something he could not have. Something he’d let go of many years ago…that would never return.

The smoke from his cigar danced to the melody of the string quartet within. The laughter from the ballroom echoed and the murmurs of his prestigious company escaped into the night air. With a sigh he turned to face the new arrival as the sounds of a party were once again muffled by the terrace door. Forcing a smile as she gracefully reached out for his arm he adverted his eyes to his hands.

“You shouldn’t have joined me,” he said with a sad honesty as he lifted his cigar to his mouth.

The woman ignored this and turned her attention to the lights of Paris. “Remember the last time we stood here?” she asked with a fond glint in her eye.

“Yes,” the man nodded as he joined her at the edge.

She glanced at him a moment with a small saddened smile of her own, “Why are you here? You really shouldn’t have come.”

Nicholi nodded, “I know – but I had to see.”

“What?”

“All of it,” he sighed sorrowful as he tore his eyes from hers and scanned the yellow bursts of evening glow.

“But, why?” the woman asked with an unyielding whisper as if they were exchanging top military secrets.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he shook his head and glanced to the stars.

“Well explain it to me then.”

“No,” the man replied simply. “You made your choice already, there’s no point persuading you now.”

“Nicholi,” the woman tried to sooth as she placed her hand upon his arm again. This time he didn’t respond kindly. Walking away he put out his cigar and embraced the music and laughter that escaped once more into the evening air.


1:56PM
August 22, 2008
The pearl teardrops rode slowly down her cheek. There was simplicity in the movement and a grace in her ready composure. Despite the sorrow that filled the room and the pain that dwelled deep inside her chest her posture was unyielding. Stiff and kempt as ever, Nadia refused to be broken. She refused to allow her departing companion the pleasure of knowing how much she ached.

As onlookers observed with hand muffled whispers and Cheshire grins, the woman’s fists flinched along with her jaw and she inhaled a breath. There was more to life than a love that had gone stale. There were more important things than unwanted affection and one sided relations. There were still things that needed to be done, still people to direct to their seats and still a show that needed to go on.

It was a shame that a woman of such esteemed social relations and of such grand romantic stage presence couldn’t for the life of her convince anyone that she was happy. In her experience men were complicated creatures who failed to truly understand any aspect of who or what she was. They didn’t understand her draining love affair with the public, and her painful yearning to be loved by them. They never understood that her obsession with everlasting life had nothing and everything to do with her relationship with these men.

It was a shame that such an actress of Nadia Estenell’s grandeur had fallen into the habit of settling for mild enjoyment when she honestly believed that one day she could be truly happy.


1:14AM
August 21, 2008
There were eloquent mumbles coming from balconies as he walked along the carpeted path. His breath caught in his chest like an eager flock of caged pigeons yearning to be set free. He was certain this was what he’d been waiting all his life for. The moment in which everything would change and the darkness would be given light. His world would be reconstructed in a single second. Whether he were going to like the outcome he wasn’t exactly sure – but he’d recognized that this would be his moment.

With his grip tightened on his shield he readied for the first blow. The blade of his rival bashed angrily against the talon raised sphinx. The power of the hit migrated through every inch of his right arm. His bones trembled involuntarily. The challenger’s might and anger was certainly felt and the yearning to survive began to pulse. With a ready yell and a near desperate clutch a force he had not foreseen overcame him. Like a man trying to plow a desperately dry field with out a mule his legs powered behind his raised armor.

Pinning his opponent to a stone pillar his blade was finally relinquished from its sheath. Thrust quickly into the other man’s ribs, and eagerly removed. The scream of agony lured a sudden need to thrust again. Repetition was his only method until the body gurgled under his shield.

The floor was draped in a pool of crimson and the articulate mumbles … slowly turned to cheers.

002: Cars & Haircuts

Today is going to be a good, useful, and productive day. Why, you ask? Because I'm going to actually do something that requires getting out of the house other than going to work.

On the agenda for the day, you see, is the following:

1. Getting my walmart abused car fixed (they stripped/cross threaded my oil plug) without paying a dime!
2. Lunching with my cool roommate. We haven't I-Hop-ed in awhile.
3. Getting my haircut at 1pm. It's kind of a big deal. I'm thinking about 6 inches off.
4. Going to work and wowing the world w. my event planning skills. I've taken on organizing a school wide Christmas Extravaganza.

I'm currently waiting for this car place to call me back about a part and labor estimate. It's kind of annoying. I got up at 8:30 to make the arrangements and they promised to call me back in 30min. It's almost 11 now....two and a half hours later. I understand you're busy - but don't estimate 30minutes if it's going to take longer! I could have gone someplace else by now.

In other news, we're getting a dog NEXT tuesday. It's going to be awesome. But that's an entirely different story that I'll save until next time.

001. A new portal of thoughts

I've decided to get back into blogging. Alright, so maybe it was because I had to do some blogger stuff for work. Or maybe I just miss talking about myself on an open forum that next to no-one will read. OR MAYBE.... just maybe... I genuinely might have something good to say sometime....maybe.

Meh, who knows how long this'll last. But believe it or not I used to blog a good deal in my younger years. Granted a lot of those sites have lost their admins and closed, but...I can start over! Start fresh! Start new!

The most I'll likely talk about is my incredibly monotonous life of same old-same old sarcastic bitchery. Maybe I'll post the occasional fun short story or random ideas/epiphanies/etc. But, as a rule, I'll likely only be talking about myself and using clever alternatives for those I choose to send pointless passive aggressive blogged speeches to people. But, for the most part...I'm not a big fan of internet gossip or the petty drama that can spring from it. Or maybe I am.

Either way - I think it'll be fun!

Maybe.