Last week, I participated in The Ultimate Filmmaker Competition.
The contest rules stated that each team had to come up with a genre, a quote, and a prop to be entered into a lottery. Each team ended up with another team's submission and only seven days to complete a short film.
Rodney Reyes formed a team for Fictional Films that included several people with who I've previously worked (https://www.facebook.com/FictionalFilms?fref=ts). We were given as our genre: Sci-Fi; our prop: Streaky Draws; and our quote: "Our movie is going to suck."
Due to performing in several theater productions, I wasn't able to help out as much as I wanted to on the pre-production or post-production side. However, I thought what Rodney and the team was able to come up with was very clever. The script was tight and well written. I was really happy to contribute by at least acting in the short.
Between my schedule and the schedule of the lead actress, Samantha Glovin, there were not too many opportunities to film.
We tried to shoot a few scenes Sunday morning at a friend's apartment in Bayonne, but ultimately we ran out of time. Most of the movie ended up being filmed Monday evening and well into the night at another friend's house in West Orange, NJ.
Rodney dropped my off at my apartment at 4am on Tuesday morning. I had to turn around and wake up for work at 6.30am. After work, I headed back to Newark so that we could film the epilogue at NJIT. I was exhausted and tired, but satisfied that my job was done. Rodney's and another team member, Joe Leach, work was just beginning. The two of them had two days to edit and finish the special effects.
When film competitions have a time limit, the skills favored are organization and efficiency. I am extremely proud with the finished product. Rodney lead the team from beginning to end and I believe the movie stands on its on own merits.
The finished product can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii_6Xw1aYLA.
Below are behind the scenes shots taken by Edward Amezquita.
Credits are as follows:
Produced by Rodney Reyes, Jonathan Weirich, Steven Williams
Directed by Rodney Reyes
Written by Rodney Reyes, Kenneth A. Welch, Steven Williams
Starring
Jonathan Weirich as Owen
Samantha Glovin as Carrie
Gretchen Von Koenig as Computer
Composed by Daniel Ovalle
Assistant Director
Kenneth A. Welch
2nd Unit Director
Joe Leach
Sound
Kenneth A. Welch
Visual Effects
Joe Leach
Joe Leach
Grip
Nancy Pagan
Production Assistants
Matan Noam Shavat
Francisco Javier Sarmiento
Special Thanks
Edward Amezquita
Liza Amezquita
Liza Amezquita
Mario Corrales
Anna Payumo
Nancy Pagan as our script reviewer.
Sam Glovin going over her lines with the PA's, Matan and Francisco.
Learning our lines.
Setting up the bedroom shot.
Taking a break, it was hot on the 3rd floor.
Learning lines is hard.
Setting up the shot.
Anything for a shot. The molding started falling on top of us. Great action shot. Ken's covering his mouth!
Still learning.
During the scene
Another shot while filming.
Ken holding the boom mic.
Rodney modeling the tripod.
Knocking away the water bottle
The makeup chair.
Really hot on the third floor.
A quick break for Rod, Joe and Ken.
In the middle of a scene.
Waiting for the next shot.
A moment of reflection. Well past midnight.
Still not getting my lines.
Typical Director's Pose.
From the stairs looking up.
From the stairs looking into the set.
Coverage.
A down moment.
Ken's enjoying the heat.
Directing the scene.
Setting up the lights.
The following shots were taken Sunday morning in Bayonne. We tried messing around with a green screen, but ultimately reshot the scenes.
Nancy hiding behind the screen.
Tracking shot. Hot that day, too.
Nancy, behind the green screen.
Got coffee?
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