As most know I had to miss the final fun filled week to star in a feature length horror film based out of NYC, (while I left SLC 6 days ago yesterday was my first day off) because of this I am missing out on tonight the best of all nights when all of the team (sans Sumi and I) crowd into a hopefully crowded theatre in SLC to screen our baby. (Do we have a title yet?)
I am so proud of our team, I have witnessed a couple quick edits of rough cuts sent out for music okays, etc etc, and I am so impressed with what we have all done, so on tonight I would like to talk about some of the “issues” we had to overcome in order to finish this film. These issues do not include 13+ people in close quarters, time limits, not having a locked down ending until the end, running low on coffee, or water, or sleep, just some of the things that are now “fun” to look back on.
1. During the filming of a camera test politely labeled “We Built this Incest” one of our own and my personal favorite James Fauvell was approached on the street for fitting the description of a Park City Burgler. [See http://fourweekfeature.com/2010/08/fitting-the-type/]
2. I wished to right a blog about this incident but the moment passed but i was pulled over for going 40 in a 20 in the town of Park City, luckily I begged my way out of a ticket. (I kid you not about my politeness and the absolute look of beaten puppy I had on my face when I was pulled over.) Fortunately the Officer did in fact let me off with a warning and I never sped in Park City again. However to be fair the road I was on changes speed 8 times in under 4 miles and I was within a stone’s throw of the 40 mph sign. (granted I can throw a stone quite far)
Please Admire the Cop behind me.
3. Finding a Family Car. Much of this movie is spent in a car, so much that it almost becomes a 6th character, so finding the perfect car was more the just for driving the family it needed to help tell the story, it needed to have something about it that as soon as you saw it as an audience member you could connect with it. We eventually found Woody and woody was and is an amazing car and I couldn’t be happier with it. I like it much more then using either production vehicle (we originally did shoot one seen with a 2006 Ford Explorer look for it in the deleted scenes).
4. Not one. But Two. Flat Tires! While driving up to what we hoped to be a purple lake that ended up looking blue on camera we had to drive over 9 miles on a dirt road that separates the Salt Lakes. The view on the road is amazing and eventually we reached our destination and found the spot that our team scouted the day before I joined them in Park City, only to find the lake that looks purple on a cloudy day looks Blue on a sunny day. This was not the best time to get a flat tire on Woody or the best location, after searching for a spare and a key I found that we did not have the necessary tools to change the tire and proceeded to call for help and after dealing with triple A for over an hour on the phone, I was finally receiving a tow truck at our own expense! (I hate you triple A)
Change me once shame on me.
One hour after our tire was changed we finished the shoot and packed up to head back, we were no more then a mile down the road when another tire decided it too wanted to give way under the strain of back country driving. At this point we had no spare to fit the car and no tow truck would come out to help via triple A (see why I hate them) So at close to 10 o clock at night all the way out in Toelle Utah we had to leave our car, we put a white flag and a note and more then one prayer that everything would turn out okay. Luckily thr next morning I was able to make contact with a tow truck driver who did it for half the price of the first tow truck, and repaired the one tire and replaced the second, all for less then the price of the first tire change through triple A’s tow service.
5. Uncle “Larry”. Uncle “Larry” (name changed) was a supposed part owner of a location we were using. The location was run by a very sweet couple and I have nothing but amazing things to say about them and their staff. But with less then a scene left to shoot in the lobby of a location we were interrupted by “Larry” he spoke with Keith very sternly and asked us all what we were doing.
Larry:
What are you doing in my place?
Keith:
Making a movie.
Larry:
I said you couldn’t be here.
Keith:
I’m sorry, I thought I was okayed to shoot.
Larry:
You’re not.
Keith:
We just have one thing left.
Larry:
How long?
It was at this point that the conversation turned to intimidation but everyone knew but Keith.
Keith:
Two hours.
Larry:
Pardon?
Keith:
Two hours. (louder)
Larry:
Pardon?
Keith:
I’m sorry, Two hours.
Larry:
Make it a short two hours, I’ll be back at 8 (the time was currently 6:15)
Keith:
Ok
Larry:
I hope nothing bad comes out of this.
Keith:
Okay sir.
At this point “Larry” walked out got into his backhoe and drove away.
We looked around and then got to work finishing up the scene and neutralizing the space before leaving, Uncle “Larry” never ended up returning but we finsihed the scene in record time and weren’t chased out at gunpoint. My apologies to the lovely family who let us shoot for any inconvenience.
Later we spoke to Keith about the situation and he was totally so into directing he didn’t realize the excuse me convo was actually “Larry’s” way of threatening him.
6. Weather, actually weather was overall great except on our last day of shooting we had a big drop in weather and the rain came making us muddy, and tired, and cold but we paged forward and finished the film through the night and into the morning working over twenty hours straight on coffee, adrenaline, and our love for the film.
There are more I hope people could include on my list of six but these are what I encountered personally. We came we saw we conquered. I just got off the phone with James, Brigitte, Gabi, Chad, and Mike Lavoie and it looks like the theatre is packed for the screening I am so proud of everyone and can’t wait for the screening in NYC!
Love:
Clint
Eat, Sleep, Make a Movie.
PS: my title I put in the mix is: “And, We Built this Family.” (I like long titles)
