Unplugged

When the power went out yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to check in on Chris Emerson, my editor and see what words of wisdom he had to share. Turns out I might have gotten his ire up a little, but all in good fun.

Easter Egg

Working with the post production on Black Friday we discovered that we needed a pickup with "Santa" to help bring his story to a strong finale. We got back in touch with him and discovered some interesting developments with his business. He had come up with some creative ways to turn his very seasonal shop into something with that had the legs to carry it into other holidays. We got this great wrap-up segment with him and his wife during Easter, using our workhorse of the production - the Panasonic HVX200 camera - but the workhorse failed us.... After we shot the whole event we came back to offload the footage from the HVX's P2 data cards and one card failed completely. No recovery. We had a few tech-savvy people look at it and even went so far as to contact Panasonic. They said, "Sure. We'll see if we can recover the data, at $200/hour. No guarantees..." So we passed up the offer and were forced to make that call that no documentarian likes making, "Hi, Santa. Uhhhh we had a small problem...." So, there we were a week later reshooting what we had already shot, both interviewer and interviewee trying to make it 'fresh' for the camera like it was the first time. Santa and his wife were good sports, and we got the footage, but it took a little more work than anybody had planned. 

On the post-production side, Chris Emerson and I are pressing on with the edit. Chris has taken over the Shopper story while I am moving forward assembling Santa's narrative. Someday soon, we'll be at that exciting moment were we start to figuring out how the two stories intercut and parallel. The sculpture is coming, the form is starting to emerge.

Progress Update: Four Eyes

I'm excited to be bringing another set of eyes onto the project to help out with editing. Christopher Emerson will be joining me to edit through the month of May. I've worked with him on a number of projects now and I'm very happy to continue that collaboration on the Black Friday Film. The last couple of months have been a little lonely, and hard to keep pushing on the project, so I'm happy to have the new energy and fresh perspective. 

Also, this weekend, we are planning on a pickup shoot with our Santa character, Richard Bonnington, to provide a nice bookend for his story and check back in to see if he's been able to turn his venture into a year-round business. Donavan Davis, the story lead on that section, will be facilitating that shoot.

More to come...but...probably in a month ;-] 

Ground Work for Edit

Here is the status update on the project: 

1) I spent a couple of full days last week working out the basic story for the piece. Good dramatic story is driven by conflicts, and the contrast and revelations that those conflicts lend. I started with a bottom up approach, breaking down each main character's story by the conflicts within each. They could be minor conflicts, like the conflict of "trying to get a photo vs. trying to be friendly" or more philosophical conflicts, like "independence vs. dependance". After breaking down each character individually, based on actual footage and independent of whatever preconceived ideas I had during production, I was able to match the common themes that characters had with each other. Also, this provided a very concrete rule to re-evaluate the main theme explored by the film and measure the importance of each character's story to furthering the theme. I'm really excited to have this done, because it will act as the guide throughout the rest of the project to evaluate each choice moving forward. If it serves the theme SAVE IT, if it is interesting but doesn't amplify or further the story, CUT IT! Also, these will character/story thread "cheat sheets." So after another month of editing, when everything seems dull, I can glance back at them for fresh ideas of how to bring interest to the story. 

2) In addition I finished all the footage review and footage conversion. And also downloaded some software called PluralEyes which auto-syncs dual system audio with scratch audio from the camera (sorry that was really technical!) But, basically it's a big time saver that prevents the grueling task of trying to manually sync audio from a recording device with the picture from the camera. So, I'm stoked about that! 

3) Next step is to set up the master Final Cut file and sync all the audio and video. Then, with the technical issues out of the way and a really solid road map for the story, I'm finally ready to cut celluloid!

Waiting for Storage

I've been waiting for a CalDigit Super Share  to make my new life as an editor easier. It hasn't arrived, but should any day...

Life as an editor? It's my role now take off the Director's hat and put on the Editor's. The Director had a fantasy about what the project should be - the characters, locations, shots, emotions, and adventures that he wants to take the viewer through. The Editor is a realist, he says what do we actually have shot? Did we get a shot of a shopper blooding another shopper with brass knuckles? No. He destroys fantasy with reality. And simply knowing that fact, empowers him to enhance and embolden the story that was shot, unfettered by the fantasies of the Director. 

So, what's this Super Share? Basically it's a way to edit with the whole feature film on local storage with online access. This means that, as an editor, I can pull from any part of the project without having to transfer files back and forth a remote server or juggle a bunch of external hard drives. In terms of story, it means I will be able to edit without having to be bothered with many technical issues during the process, allowing for the full focus to be on story development. 

Well, the CalDigit Super Share keeps getting delayed so I haven't started the edit yet. But, I'm the Editor now, not Director. What should I do? As editor, out goes fantasy and in comes reality. I'll start the edit without the #&$*%@%# CalDigit Super Share Infinity 2000 Turbo XL!! Stay posted for an update tomorrow.

Cowboy Up

Principle photography has officially wrapped. I've made it through about 70% of the footage review. And, yes, we are still alive and working! We did a little bit of pickup shooting in December, right before Christmas and we have another pickup shoot this week. 

Production is motivated by all the excitement and action of shooting characters, working with crew and running from location to location. But production being over, the road ahead is now the post-production process. On a superficial level it is the slowest part of the project and involves a lot of sitting in a semi-dark room for hours and hours at a time. Yet, this is the part where the story really comes together. Where it is crafted and woven to become entertaining and captivating. It is where the best motivation is grit, coffee, and a regular editing schedule.

Time to cowboy up and start cutting the metaphorical celluloid (dang, I wish it was real celluloid)!

One week earlier...

I thought about writing a post, but honestly, it seemed the best way to report about the shoot is to give you the tweets and snaps of the team in action. Thanks to everyone that participated that night - crew, participants, and locations.

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - TDay :8am laundry, 9am dye Debs hair, 10am brunch with @kristopherh, 12-2pm shower & pack, 2:30pm-Friday night filming for @BlackFridayFilm

JUSTIN PETER - Thanksgiving with the Tilstras, then @BlackFridayFilm shoot at eight. BRING IT!

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - LOL because of @BlackFridayFilm I'm not home for my family drama.. But fear not This family is filling that void!!!!! :P

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - Take a 3hr nap. Up at 1:30am to roll on @BlackFridayFilm! Crossing fingers & saying prayers that filming goes GREAT tomorrow!

GARRISON HAYES - Ahhhhh!!! Gonna be a crazy night!!! Super excited about my part in creating the@BlackFridayFilm

GARRISON HAYES - Gotta try to take a quick nap... @BlackFridayFilm shooting starts at 1am...

LEIF RAMSEY - feeling so stuffed that i'm wondering if i'll be hungry at all tonight out at the stores@blackfridayfilm in #CHA

TIM BANKS - Was just at toys r us shooting for @blackfridayfilm. There was at least 700 people in line. Crazy!

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - Rolling out to document the making of a documentary. 

JUSTIN PETER - Attendant was supprise I only bought batteries on @BlackFridayFilm

JUSTIN PETER - Heather (our talent) is pissed that she is in the slowest line in the world.

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - Heading to shoot @justin_peter and crew at toys r us. 

JUSTIN PETER - At Target.

JUSTIN PETER - Change of plans were at k-mart.

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - Okay this is pointless trying to sleep... I might as well just get dressed and be ready to go.. 

JUSTIN PETER - Sometimes you know you have great content.

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - Today, "designer" means: paparazi, storm chaser.

THEO BROWN - its cold, wet, and I'm standing in the rain... But it's totally worth it! 4 more hours until I get in target!

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - How did I not know it was going to rain.. @&$#% @BlackFridayFilm... Shooting in the rain it's going to be crazy

JUSTIN PETER - In learning about other people I learn about myself. 

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - Just spilled peppermint coffee on my crotch & I kept filming... You are welcome@BlackFridayFilm!!!

TIM BANKS - Staying up past 3 am every night has its perks. These all night shoots really aren't that bad. 

JUSTIN PETER - You would think people would be more friendly at 3 am. Especially on @blackfridayfilm

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - This is freaking epic @BlackFridayFilm..., I love being a filmmaker!!!

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - Running between hixon & Hamilton place malls is tiresome yet exciting. Great behind the scenes shots & clips! Kmart next. 

LEO MANCIAS - Partying. Err. Shooting for @blackfridayfilm

THEO BROWN - Have seen @bozs13 @H_Dapp and others filming for @BlackFridayFilm, only got a quick wave in before escorted off by cop 

JUSTIN PETER - K mart sucks 

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - Most powerful moment: angry shoppers shoving to "do you hear what I hear" soundtrack at Kmart. 

LEO MANCIAS - Just got kicked out by 4 people at wal mart lol 

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - Target just got uncomfortably quiet 

TIM BANKS - Am I the only one who got a bloody nose while shooting for @blackfridayfilm ?

JUSTIN PETER - Finished Lowes 

JUSTIN PETER - Big Lots manager tried to assert his manlyness. 

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - We are done shopping... No fist fights.. But we got some great stuff! Now we are at Starbucks shooting the exit interview @BlackFridayFilm!

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - I've lost count of how many times I've used the panic button to find my car between shoots tonight. 

JUSTIN PETER - Finished up at world market, now headed back to the north side. 

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - Shopping = DONE & we just wrapped last interview, Back to the house. We be done@BlackFridayFilm. Had an AWESOME time! I'm sad it's over :(

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - I'm calling it quits. Time to head home. Water heater doesn't know what's about to hit it.

JUSTIN PETER - Fin

KRISTOPHER HAUGHTON - trying to figure out a clever way to say that i've slept about 3 hours in the past 48. can't think of one. good night, @BlackFridayFilm. :]

LEIF RAMSEY - @Timtationn I'll hold the camera while you bleed any day. 

HEATHER DAPPOLONIA - I've been awake for the past 27hrs... I think it's time for bed!!! 

STRATTON TINGLE - @blackfridayfilm hit me like a freight train, flying like an aeroplane, feeling like a space brain one more time tonight #CHA #justwokeup

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