Day Five

Create a 1959 gas station, populate it with vehicles and people of that era, and then shoot it in a dramatically believable way – that’s the ticket. Oh yeah, that was our goal for the day. Could be a stretch for a low budget indie, but we were game for this challenge. Of course, it did put all the departments in overdrive … but sure, what fun! I mean, we actually get to do this?! Create our own playground of imagination and then play in it all day? Oh yeah … you betcha!

Obviously, this took some hard work by a lot of dedicated people. Which partially means we spent a lot of time setting all this up. We certainly knew that would the situation, but it doesn’t mean I don’t get a little antsy and start chewing at the bit at some point. I am usually pretty patient, but hey, I was still raring to go.

Cast wise, today was the first day for the Budman brothers, Brody and Matthew, who play brothers in this flashback scene. I just had to spark that already established relationship and point it in a different direction. They both did great, even though we did force them to cut their hair, 50’s crew cut style. It’s okay guys, I’m sure it’s all grown back by now!

Today was also the first day for Danielle and Thom, who played the mother and father, Catherine and Frank, in our little drama. They beautifully looked the part, and played the part marvelously, as we were completely transported back to the late ‘50’s. Aahhh, to simpler times … or was it? Well, maybe not, according to our story.

As we got late into the day, we ran out of light and could not get the last few setups. Drat. Even though we didn’t really make our day, this day really felt like the day that everyone really was coming together as a smooth working unit. (enough ‘really’s’ in there for ya’? – well, it was enough to make it feel really real). I was happy and proud for all who pitched in that day. Way to go!

Day Six

Oh yeah, this was another fun one. At least for Charlie, Austin, and myself. Well, sort of. We knew that since we were getting a little behind we would have to work on a Saturday (or two?) to get caught up. So, we decided to shoot one of our little tricky scenes, but just for half a day with a smaller crew and just two actors, Austin, who plays Derrick the youngest brother of the three, and Charlie again. We were not quite prepared for what happened.

It was a car shot … and the car wouldn’t run. We were out at Pace Bend Park, just northwest of Austin, and what we thought would be a relatively simple 2-camera setup turned into something else. The car, a 1966 Plymouth Fury convertible, wasn’t quite ready for prime time.

Jeff, our stunt coordinator, and Joe, our car guy, worked on it as best they could, but no go. So, we decided to at least get the interior 2-camera shot (a hostess tray on the driver side and passenger side wheel-well rigging) and forego the exterior shot another day. This put the G & E guys and gals to work once Jeff and Joe did their part.

With Austin and Charlie in the front seat and me in the back, we had to leave the Fury on the towing trailer and shot several run throughs hauling by the lake beach. Charlie was screaming his head off leaning out the window and getting soaked by the spraying water shooting up from the tires hitting the water. As he was to tell me after we finished, “Wow, how cool was that? I get to have fun hanging out of a speeding car getting soaked and they pay me for it!” Ha right, smart kid. He may go far …