"Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental" - Day Two

Do you know what makes blogging difficult? Well, I'm sure many things, but the one thing I'm talking about is not having Internet access. Yes, yes, my wonderful, gorgeous iPhone can access the Web, but have you tried to type a long blog entry on that little touch-screen keyboard? If so, you know what I'm talking about. If not, try it and then let's talk.

Anyway...

Last Thursday night/Friday morning was day two of the shoot for "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental." Originally, this was supposed to be the last night of shooting. But once I started to line the script and storyboard the shots I wanted, there was no way I was going to get everything I wanted. Click here for more about that.

Now it is considered day two of three.

We started setting up promptly at 11 p.m. just as the store closed. This time most cast/crew were on time and we all jumped in to get the first, most important shot of the night off to a good start -- Zack's fight sequence. The plan was to get the entire fight sequence from start to finish in one take. My intention also was to get this shot via steadycam so the camera could move with Zack as he moves toward his "opponent" and proceeds to get his ass kicked. Micah confidently took hold of the steadycam (his first time using the apparatus), Katy (the customer who beats up Zack) stepped in at the last minute for our original actress who as called away at the last minute) proceeded like a professional and Zack was Zack. And we got two very strong takes, in just two takes. What a great way to start the night. We started filming around 11:45/midnight and had that shot in the can in less than 30 minutes.

What a relief. Lori (the AD) and I felt that there was every probability that shot would take a lot longer.

To our greater relief, the rest of the night went just as smoothly. We wrapped the day, having gotten all the shots we wanted to that night, around 4:15 a.m. or so. A lot earlier than expected.

We all felt good about the performances and what we got. However, there were two things that bothered me. One, and I didn't realize this until after all the equipment had been broken down and stored, Zack, who will be directing what would have been "Drop Box 3", asked for an overhead of the fight so that it could be edited to look like security camera footage. We didn't shoot that. I totally forgot because I didn't write it down. The worst part about that is that we had plenty of time to do it.

The second thing didn't occur to me until later in the weekend. There is a scene where a random customer messes up the boxes on the shelves. I didn't like, in retrospect, how he messed up the boxes. Hopefully on night three we'll be able to redo that shot.

All-in-all, it was a good night and I'm very excited to see how the fight sequence edits together. I want this to be very good for me, as a director, but also for Eric, as the writer/actor/producer since he wants to send it to a few film festivals.

I got home around 5:30 a.m. and promptly went to bed. When I got up I drove to Henderson, Ky., for the long weekend. And where I stayed did not have Internet. Thus, the late entry.

Hope you aren't offended, but I promise to keep you up to date on the status of this project more regularly. I know I've said this before, but I also hope to have some video up real soon.

B

Intentions Aren't Everything

So, I had every intention last week of posting a video from the first night of shooting on "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental." I had shot some "diary" footage prior to and following the night's shoot and was able to get some interviews with cast and crew. I wanted to put up a 5 minute or so short piece so you could see what was happening. And while I actually did capture the footage to my computer, I never got a chance to actually edit the piece and upload to the Web.

Tonight is our second of three nights shooting (it was going to just be two nights, but thankfully the AD and I were able to get another night out of our producer). I hopefully will be shooting the same type of diary footage tonight. Over the holiday weekend I promise to try to edit the two pieces and upload early next week (I can't do it earlier because I won't have Internet access this weekend).

So, check back soon for more updates and hopefully some video!

B

Thanks to the Producer

Well, had another meeting with the assistant director of the short film formerly known as "Drop Box 2" and we had some serious concerns.

DB1 was shot in one night, mostly adlib with few extra scenes. Most of the customers were encountered using the same setup in the same positions. It worked well and with two cameras, was a quick shoot.

However, DB2 came to me as a 20-page or so script. Going in, I was aware that we had 2 nights to shoot this, from 11 p.m. to about 5 a.m. We were tied to these times because we are shooting in an actual Blockbuster video store and can only shoot there when it is closed. That, along with the fact we got started 45 minutes or so late the first night and my extensive lining of the script, meant there was no way we could shoot this in two nights.

As the director, I certainly have a vision for how I want it to look. That goes without saying, right? But the writer/producer was in charge of securing equipment and scheduling the shoot. And two days just wasn't enough to get my vision on camera.

So, during my meeting with the AD last night to plan out our shoot for this coming Thursday night, she agreed. And being the wife of the producer, she was not shy about asking for another day to shoot. I should have been so bold, but I'm still trying to get a firm grasp on this directing thing and I am trying not to step on any toes. Regardless, Eric agreed, and so now we are going to have a third night of shooting. The truly unfortunate part of this is that we will probably miss the deadline for one of the film festivals Eric wanted to enter.

Even so, I'd rather miss one festival and make the film as good as I can make it, rather than make significant compromises that damage the quality of the short.

"Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental" - Day One, Part Two

Well, it's 6:15 a.m. on Friday, May 16, and the first night of shooting is complete. Unfortunately, we didn't make our day. I knew we were ambitious in our schedule so it wasn't a complete surprise, but next Thursday night/Friday morning is going to be tough to get us what we want to finish the shoot.

But overall, I think it was a good night.

I'm tired. So, I'm going to finish my donut holes and chocolate milk and try to get some sleep.

I will definitely write more later.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

"Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental" - Day One

Tonight is the first round of shooting footage for the sequel to "Drop Box," a short film made by Eric Henninger for our film class. Unfortunately, since he wants to do a series (at least a trilogy) of these and screen them for the public, he has had to make the decision to rename them. Seems a couple years ago, someone made a feature-length film called "Drop Box." The specific plot points are completely different, but the name was the same, nonetheless. So the new name, I believe, is "Previously Viewed" and the shoot tonight is the sequel "Previously Viewed: 2-Day Rental."

I am directing this short. Eric and Zack Hightower developed the story and wrote the script. Since they also want to act in it and have significant roles, Eric decided to ask me to direct. I gladly accepted. Since I directed my own piece, "The Obituaries," for class, I have been wanting to do another one. Although I'm interested to see how I handle directing someone else's script.

Monday I met with Eric's wife Lori who is serving as the assistant director. We mapped out camera placements for the shots we absolutely have to get tonight and worked on a schedule for getting those. We also added some shots that we'd like to get if there is time. Unfortunately, I feel as if we were a little too ambitious. But we'll see tonight. The thing is we have two actors who are only available tonight, and one of them can't be there the whole time. So, we had to schedule all of his scenes first, and for the other, we had to be sure we scheduled her so we can get all of her footage tonight.

I lined the script and drew storyboards, which are some of the most hideous things you've ever seen! I never have and never will claim to be an artist, and those storyboards are proof of that. But I think my kindergarten-level stick figures should help get the job done once we get started.

It's now 9:54 a.m. and I will be at my day job until 5 p.m. I intend to go home, sleep until 9:45 p.m. or so and then head to the location at 10 p.m. We will shoot all night, probably wrapping the day by 5 a.m. and then I will drive back home and prepare for my work day. How crazy is it that I plan to work tomorrow? We are shooting next Thursday, as well. I think tomorrow I may change my mind and take next Friday off.

Man, I hope I don't mess up Eric's and Zack's vision...

Welcome

Welcome to the official Broken Heart Films blog.

This is where we will chronicle the process of all the projects on which we are working. This will include all films headed by Broken Heart Films, as well as other projects with which our staff are involved.

We are in the process of writing a script for our first post-"film school" production, so you will be reading a lot about that.

In addition, Brad Duncan currently is directing a project for Bald Brother's Studios.

Brad also is in preproduction on a documentary that he will be producing with the assistance of Trigger Happy Productions. Shooting on that is expected to begin late fall/early winter 2008.

Again, welcome to Broken Heart Films. We hope you enjoy your visit.