Wawapalooza 4 Image

Finally settled on a image for show (above) after several options. I like it as it is consistent with the other years' in that it takes an iconic image and combines it with something from Wawa in a way that also is a metaphor for the meterial. (I'm sure I overthink this stuff).

On a side note, I've just personally been so busy with non-IdRather stuff.. namely assistant directing for Tweltfth Night, taking a playwriting class and shooting The List and the 48 Hour Film Festival. I'm tired.

Short Film #2: "The List"

Saturday was DAY ONE of shooting "The List" which is the second short film for Wawapalooza 4. We shot all over Lower Bucks County, including in a pizza place, strip mall and a scuzzy park. So far, I'm happy with the results and I think it will be funny. I still have some questions to myself on how to arrange it and how much to use graphics and music, but I think the material should play well. The posted pic is one of many takes where Mandy slaps Jeff. Poor guy had a red face at the end of the day...

The List

Now that The Mustache is over, the next project on the horizon is another short film called "The List" which we will shoot in April and May. This is a short film based on a section of Jeff Soles' stand-up routine. When I saw his act last, I was really drawn into his bit where he pulls out a piece of paper and explains to the crowd that he has a list of things that if a girl does, he will immediately break up with them. Some of those things include breathing through her mouth, mispronouncing Reece's Pieces and wearing anything with Disney on it. It's great fun that he is so serious about these trivial things. The more angry and intense on stage he gets the funnier it is.

I got an idea to model the short film after Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Not the dancing, but the beginning, where he is telling his girl in the park that he's not like other guys. This is going to be our template then we will do a bunch of cutaways to Jeff's list as he is going through it.

This should be a blast to shoot, it will be much much less of a production then The Mustache and more rogue, like Owen vs Ikea shoot. Most of it will be shot in Lower Bucks County, where Jeff lives with girls Jeff knows. So, I'm approaching this as a mini-trip into Jeff's world and that's why I think the "romantic goth" style will fit nicely.

The 10% Doucher Theorum

I've come up with a theory: 10% of all people you work with in the world are Douches, especially in the "Arts" world. I've been doing this theatre/film stuff for four years now, and most people are a delight and provide not only good performances/work, but provide a nice energy and smile. HOWEVER, some people choose to Douche-out for whatever reason and suck energy in and hoard it for themselves like vampires. Mostly it's people who think too highly of themselves and are nursing a giant insecurity. It's a shame.. but I'm learning to accept that whatever project or show you work in, you're going to have 90% awesomeness and 10% douche-baggery.

I call it "The 10% Doucher Theorum"

Ok, that's all on that.. I don't like to be negative, but I can't help but make observations.

Done!

Today we wrapped on The Mustache. I was very pleased with the outcome. We shot it in 2.5 days, right on schedule. The acting was amazing, I couldn't have been happier. The Canon 7D shot as beautifully as we had hoped and Taka and Tony were great with it. Our sound guys were hard-working and nice. Trang cooked up a storm. Wayne was the best host/jack-of-all-trades ever. Almost everyone joined the spirit and contributed to the nice vibe we had going. No major ordeals or back-of-the-mind worries. I just hope the rest of the cast and crew felt the same way. Now it's up to Giz to edit it all and make sushi out of fish and rice.

I do feel utterly exhausted by it all though. The planning, the people, the mustaches.. A reminder that even good things need to end. I'm back at home now, off to Valentine's Day dinner.

Mustache Shoot - Pre Shoot Tech

Yesterday was all about preparing for the Mustache shoot. Started with me shoveling my car out from a mound of snow, then I went and shoveled my Mom's driveway, then drove to New York to pick up Giz, and we had to make 4 separate stops, for the lights, lenses, camera rigs and then finally to Best Buy for a monitor and hard drive.
Then, we rushed over to the location to meet all the crew. Tony coulnt't make it, but Taka did. We went over lighting schemes and played with the camera. Ethan had the sound working great. Gus and I were stand-ins and had fun spewing out absurdities. Wayne was awesome as host and bought a bunch of snacks and made coffee.

We broke at around 9:15pm.

Now I'm off to get Bonnie and all the wardrobe, stop at Wawa to get hoagies and grape soda for props, and snickers for us to eat. Then, I come back and pick up Trang who has been slaving in the kitched for 3 hours making all kinds of culinary delights for the cast and crew.

Finally, a little prayer that everyone shows up or Day 1.

Missile Command

Less than week till we shoot *The Mustache* This coming week is all about executing and troubleshooting. It's a lot like a game of Missile Command with the scheduling, re-writing, emails, props, food, lights, driving, headaches and prayers that it doesn't snow again!


We had a rehearsal last weekend, which went great. We discovered some things we needed to correct and the cast and crew had a chance to gel. The actors did a really fruitful improv session. We merged the existing script, which was written in my bedroom, with the improv and style of the actors, to hopefully arrive at a real-sounding synergy between writer and actor.

We also got a chance to see the Canon 7D in action and were blown away by the richness and color of the Canon 7D. It is twice as good as our Panasonic DV cameras. I'm picking up Giz and a bunch of equipment in New York this Thursday. More to come...