I’ve recently been involved much more heavily in film since I lost my job a couple of months ago. Through various digital means I came across this film. The entire 96 minutes of the film was shot in one take! Also, it was one continuous shot. (was that redundant?) I love long takes Probably because of my background in the theatre. TotalFilm.com posted there favorite long takes in film. I was surprised that I had forgotten so many. Of course, I was delighted to see “Serenity” mentioned but others like “Goodfellas” and “Boogie Nights” were surprises. Check out the trailer for “Russian Ark” below. I’ll try to find the long take from “Serenity” for you as well.
Image via Wikipedia
UPDATE:
Could only find “Serenity” opening in French. It’s only on Netflix. Just go watch the whole movie. It’s great.
Sorry for the delay. I don’t know why it took so long to post these here. I’ve been talking to the director and he’s agreed that we should continue to release more videos explaining the background of Tommy Button throughout post-production. So please check back for more updates. Also, take a look at our facebook page for production stills, director’s notes, and other goodies. For now, enjoy these final BTS videos.
Well, it’s all over except for some B-roll I’m in on Sunday. Just me walking around downtown Detroit in a kilt. Security will be in full force. It’s really been an amazing process. I can’t express how honored I was to be a part of such a professional cast and crew. Thank you all for your time and dedication. A special thanks to our producer Barbara Tozier of Fun Yet Films and our director Keith Jeffries of Ascalon Films without whom I would never have been involved. I also want to mention the amazing work of our crew. Lon Stratton, believe it or not, I learned so much about film making watching you from the other side of the camera. Kris Kerbawy, it was a pleasure getting to know you. Thank you for your expertise. Mark Preston, thanks for being a sport and taking kick-a$$ production stills. Jonathan West, you’ve become a friend and colleague I look forward to working with again and again. Norm Roth, you are a wild man and a great artist. It was awesome working with you again. Mark Deming, you nailed it every time. Trek Glowacki, your humor and excitement carried me through the fatigue. To Brady the dog, Good Boy! (Big thanks to Betsy Baker, your human.) Thank you Keith for having faith in me even though I haven’t done anything since The Adventure Golf Guy.
Well, day 4 on Tommy Button was really fun. We began outside at a city park. It was another cold windy day so we were all stiff and shivering. We did finish those scenes early and drove to location 2, the caterer’s house. It was clear from the total lack of conversation that we were all exhausted. Dill, spirits were high. We finished the day on a city bus and shot MOS on our ride to location 3. We wrapped an hour early and got some really good footage. Later that night, my director wrote me a really nice note. It’s so nice to work with good people. Videos below!
Today the location was better than I could’ve imagined. We filmed all day in an old prison block in Jackson, MI. What a crazy cool place! The video below shows it better than I can describe. The footage we’re getting is just amazing. My chincy camera doesn’t capture the feel of that building. I am increasingly impressed with the cast and crew of this production. I was talking with one of my costars, Jonathan West, about how you really can see how good a crew is by how efficiently they set up and take a shot. Our crew is very fast. I felt like a heel when not one, but two fellow cast members remarked that they couldn’t believe who our Director of Photography is. I’ve been out of the loop so long I didn’t realize that a top 5 DP was involved. In any case, I’m quite honored to be a part of this production and to work with all these amazing, professional and talented people.
I’ve got some exciting news. I just started principal filming for a new short film titled “Tommy Button.” Guess who’s playing Tommy Button? That’s right, I am! I’m pretty frustrated I didn’t bring my video camera to yesterday’s shoot. Lot’s of excitement. First, our make-up guy got into an argument with the caterer and went home. No biggie, except we kinda needed me to look about 80 years old. Our FX make up that day consisted of baby powder, a single black eyeliner pencil and a tube of elmer’s glue. Our poor producer applied said condiments to my face with a make-up artist on speaker phone. We also filmed in the same ambulance that Clint Eastwood rode in at the end of “Gran Torino.” I even laid in the very same gurney as the great director himself. The downside is I had a small Defibrillator incident. We shot all the scenes with the dog and I almost keeled over because I had to sprint uphill so much. Tomorrow we’re filming at Jackson State Prison which, I believe is the same location where they filmed “Conviction” with Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell. Squee!
Today’s filming consisted of the cafe scene where I take way too long to order a large latte. (It’ll all make sense once you screen the film at Cannes) My militant character started off with a beard but later that day the director decided to re-shoot that scene because it looked like I had pipe cleaners glued to my chin. I’ll try to post a pic of the beard later. Despite the reshoot w wrapped 45 minutes early. Go team!
Enjoy the videos below. For those involved in the project, it will be a bit more interesting. Of special note is the final video where PA Kaitlin (hope I spelled your name right) and 2nd Assistant Director Ben Ellman share with you their favorite Joss-verse (a.k.a. Joss Whedon Universe) characters. See you tomorrow!
If you are at all like me, you have already heard about the latest effort to bring back Firefly. I just wanted to let the world know that I am on board with this effort. I’m following on twitter and doing what I can to spread the word. Even if Nathan was joking it’s clear that he and so many others that were involved with the show want to continue the story. Even though the odds may be against us there has been and still is a fervor surrounding this story unlike any before. Keep flyin’! I urge all my readers (4?) to follow on twitter, like the facebook page and send the word out as well.
There is another reason to take notice of this effort. If this is even moderately successful, it could very well restore my faith in the power of individuals banding together and making a tangible, lasting difference on issues they care about. Even if the issue is quality entertainment. When once America was the innovator in entertainment, the corporitization of music, film, and tv has steadily lowered the artistic bar. When the bulk of our art is coming from fewer and fewer sources it is no wonder that our culture is increasingly myopic. This effort and any others like it could, can and will tell the powers that be that higher quality content can indeed be profitable.
For those who would dismiss what the fans are trying to do as childish or futile, I would say that their apathy is indicative of what is wrong in our culture. There are far too many in this country who complain about it’s condition or policies but are unwilling to take a chance and do something about it. It’s not silly to hope for something better especially if you use your voice to help bring about that change.
So, if you’re not on twitter or facebook now is the perfect opportunity to sign up and make your voice heard. Please join me in supporting the effort to bring quality back to the airwaves.
So I have a phone interview tomorrow for a job at TIAA-CREF. The money’s good and the pace will be a bit slower than Fidelity but here’s the dilemma: Do I take another job in an industry I really can’t stand or do I wait it out for something else? Now, I really want to take the kids to the Olympics in London and that ain’t cheap. Plus, the plan was always work another year, save up the cash for my degree in teaching and go back to school. I can go back to school now but probably drop the olympics or get back in the gloomy, depressing saddle in financial services. Dear Internets, please tell me what to do.
Today is my first day out of work. After nearly five years in the financial services world, I now have to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. For the past few days, I was a hot mess. I was on the verge of tears whenever I was in the car, manic around those that didn’t know about my situation and staring into the middle distance while at home or sitting at my desk. Now that it is over a new anxiety has taken the place of the old. There is so much I have neglected around the house. I feel that I must complete the honey-do list in record time to earn my keep. Luckily, my wife just got another promotion so, we are going to be fine financially and I am thankful for that. (Not that the budget won’t be tight.) It must be some misplaced male pride that makes me feel unworthy of staying at home. Now the task is to decide my next step. I’ve plenty of projects going right now: the middle school production I’m assistant directing, my a cappella group, repainting the den, etc. I think the key is to find out which career I want to pursue. It’s sounds crazy (at least it does to me) but, I’m doing this short film in March and I keep thinking I should go after some acting work. There is certainly a lot more of that going on around here. A slightly less ridiculous option is culinary arts. Although, I have doubts I’m ready to commit to the hours of a working chef. The most likely possibility is to go back to school to get my teaching degree. It’s nearly as expensive as culinary school but I might have an easier time getting an acting job than a teaching post in this economy. I’ll tell you what, I’ll give my self a couple of hours before I decide the rest of my life. I’ve got too much to do to waste time.
p.s. I’m trying to feed two teenage boys their younger sister good healthy food without breaking the bank. Stay tuned to see how I do it.
