Day Nineteen

We head back to Lockhart to finish a short week (four days). The next couple days are night shots (all night runs) and then we take our two days off to then finish our final three days of the shoot. The pressure is on to make sure we get everything we need.

These two days feature some serious vehicle shots as well as our main characters reaching some climactically intense emotional scenes. We’re cooking!

That is as much as I can say about the content of these scenes. I don’t want to give away any more important story points to our little film. You will need to see it to get all of that. I can guarantee we will make it something worthwhile!

We did have a couple locations these two days, but most of our shots were at the Caldwell County Courthouse at night. Great backdrop.

I have to admit I have a mixture of feelings about how everything is going at this point. I think we are getting some great shots, but I am truly starting to get worn out. However, another level of energy starts to kick in over these pivotal scenes. And I think the cast and crew is with me on this.

We barely finish the last shot just as the sun comes up. Whew!

Day Twenty

I have to start here by giving some kudos to Jeff Schwan, our stunt coordinator. He has been totally amazing to work with the last couple days. He has been with us on a few other days, but he really put it all together these two nights. Thanks Jeff!

This is a night where we need lots of extras for a couple of our climactic scenes when the actors really need to bring it. The extras really fill in the scene nicely.

Again here, there are times when it feels like I just need to get out of the way and let the cast and crew do their jobs. We have been rolling pretty good and all I really need to do is monitor all the moving pieces and determine if they are coming together how I need them to … checking performance and camera work. Does it feel right?

Yes, we deal mostly with all the technical left brain work of production, but I really need my intuition pumped into overdrive. Day by day I have been pushing that limit … without pushing. Pushing too hard there shuts all that down. It is a delicate balance. In fact, directing is such a delicate balance in so many ways and on so many levels. I know at times it appears I am not doing much, standing around and observing … but I tend to paint with subtle strokes … a little here, a little there. We are getting there …

But we have a cast issue to deal with late at night. So we make adjustments and move on. At 4:30 am, the second night doing an all-nighter, I hit a wall. An important scene needs to be finished and we have to get it, as we no longer have this location after tonight. Caffeine lost its effect hours ago and I have to suck it up just like everyone else. Again, we barely get it as the sun starts to come up. Dead man (cast & crew?) walking. But I’m luving it!

And man, did it get cold, or what!? Sheesh!!