Having a film baby...

I've mentioned this to friends before, but it bears repeating: Making a film is like having a baby.

Now, women who have had children might be saying, "You don't know what you're talking about!" But when I explained my comparisons, even my wife (who I somehow convinced to bear my children) even admitted I could be right.

Let's see what it feels like to make a movie:

--You get stressed

--You ask yourself why you're doing this

--You can't sleep comfortably

--Your emotions are a roller coaster

--Your stomach hurts

--Certain foods seem unappealing

--You get constipated

--You get a bit afraid

--You say lots of prayers

--You privately cry

--You tell yourself you're never doing this again

--You try to convince yourself that the end result is going to be worth all this pain

--You start to question the meaning of life

--You get lots of opinions from people who have no idea what they're talking about

--The pain and discomfort ebbs and flows for nine months, and then...

You give birth to a bouncy baby film. And you love that film - the good and not-so-good parts. And you recollect all that you went through, and smile at the craziness of it. And then, one day, you contemplate doing the whole thing again.

Does that sound about right to all you mothers out there?

Oh yeah, and that last part I said at the end might be moot if your baby is born with colic. ;)

Keep it up, Daddy Mikey!

Homeward bound, wrap party imminent...

I'm here at the lodge...it's about ten minutes 'til 1 pm Pacific. Mike, Ryan and assorted other crew members are out shooting b-roll, packing suitcases, exploring Kernville and Lake Isabella, makin' time with our last few hours here. 

I've had an excellent time working with this crew! I have done what I hoped to do on this shoot: I have captured the performances of the actors, and learned plenty about what I will and won't do next time. I have made new friends and have seen and heard things I would likely not have experienced otherwise. Some personal firsts on this trip include: 

tracking audio in a moving car, 

tracking dialogue in a moving car

visiting the Sierra Nevadas

rolling a scene without telling the extras

having a dedicated audio log crew member (thanks so much Kirsten Barber!)

There are other firsts to add to the list...I will probably recollect them while travelling home to Columbia City tomorrow. 

I'm glad I came along for this production, and I look forward to working with Mike et al. on the post-production phase of the film. Mike has stated that he's going for Final Picture within the next nine months...between you and me I think the months are going to fly by! My job will be to bring as much of the timbre, inflection, whispers and laughs of Jeff, Tom, the Scotts, the staff of the Kern Lodge and Cat to the audience as possible. Mike and I will work out a post-production schedule that will work with everyone's busy lives (mine included...this Monday I'm back at CRAB, 9-6, rebuilding PTO and working my tail off). We will work to get The Mountain, The River and The Road to Final Picture status as quickly as possible. 

Stay tuned, true believers...

no time to talk, just pictures

"Where you at right now, soldier?!"

.I'm in San Francisco.
.I'm at the Grand Canyon.
.I'm in a cabin on the Oregon Coast.
.I'm at the Getty Center.
.I'm at home brushing my teeth at home with my electric toothbrush.
.I'm watching 'Project Runway', then 'Arrested Development', then '30 Rock', then 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' at Megaen's house. It's getting late.
.I'm riding my bike to work.
.I'm at the College Inn on a Monday night. Nachos are half-price.
.I'm on the bus into Denali National Park. (And the Mountain is out!)
.I'm at The Decemberists show with Marian.
.I'm at Trudy's in Austin, TX.
.I'm in a dark movie theatre, re-watching THERE WILL BE BLOOD.
.I'm at Disneyland.
.I'm driving to Savannah, GA.
.I'm on a train from Savannah to DC.
.I'm on the Chinatown bus from DC to NYC.
.I'm in the photo booth at the Cha Cha lounge.
.I'm on the ferry to Victoria, BC.
.I'm walking around Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC.
.I'm at the Varsity enjoying a BCC club meeting (special guest: Danielle!)
.I'm listening to music in my basement bedroom.
.I'm driving aimlessly around Seattle in the middle of the night.
.I'm out to dinner with my mom.
.I'm at Chipotle, eating a burrito with my dad.
.I'm watching flawless prints of BLUE, WHITE, and RED in Theatre #1 at the Varisty.
.I'm camping at Glacier National Park.
.I'm in Room 104.

So close I can taste it!

Today we filmed the last scene of the movie... It was so rewarding to see the slate read "THE END" and watch that last scene play out before my nearly tearing up eyes... I had such an overwhelming sense of pride for everyone involved in this movie... The realization of what all this madness has been for hit me... this wild collaboration... it has been worth it... I've been frustrated, I've cried over missing alarm clocks for continuity reasons and fretted about missing scarves absent from wardrobe... But I cannot wait to see Mikey's movie! And everything will be wonderful... Just you wait and see!

Our last scene a rad shot, and we were set up in the middle of the road... Check out this photo of our ever-so-incredible director and director of photography... What a regal duo! We've gotten our river... we've gotten our road... and I've been begging for our mountain, which I think we will get tomorrow and end this shoot the right way... Tomorrow is our last day! woo-#$&%ing-hoo!

By the way, this last scene contains Mikey's elusive camio appearance ;) I'm so proud of everyone who has given up nearly a month of their life to create this masterpiece, most of all the brains behind the operation, who I am lucky enough to be madly in love with...

Thanks to all for a life changing experience!

One week to go...

I wish I had something sexier to say, but I'm sure that's what's on a majority of folks' minds.

Not that they aren't having fun, mind you. ;)

Actually, it might be less than a week. I've got to check my schedule. In any case, I'm dying for news...

Say your prayers that the crew finishes strong!

GO MIKE AND CREW!!!

Missing Kernville

So I'm back in New York... and bored out of my mind. I enjoyed my time working with the cast and crew of MRR and can't wait to see the final project. I wish I could've of stayed longer to see the project to the end... but I'm hear to assist by phone... if anyone needs a random joke... please post some pictures of the school play... because that scene is going to be RAD... anyways I should go back to my day job... take care guys... and please no one cut off an arm while using the chainsaw... because if it suddenly turns into a horror movie... I'll be a on a red-eye in a second... oh yeah... let me know if anyone finds my paint.... fun times... fun times

I wanna be back on the set!

Would you look at those pictures below? Man, if the movie is as purdy as those images, we're in for a treat!

It's been a week since the beginning of shooting, and I still see pics with crew members smiling in them, so we'll take that as a good sign.

But why does that person have a gun?

(Cue the ominous music) Duh-duh-dummmm...

One week down, two weeks to go.

Can you taste the excitement? ;)

another day, another sweet photo...

one down, two to go...

dear www.welcometokernville.blogspot.com,

i though while i sat here and finished my glass of red wine i'd summarize for you our first week of production. it's been quite a week, full of brilliance, tragedy and good times to boot! now, it's friday evening and the end of our first day off since production commenced on january the 5th. it is with great sadness i report that mr. joe swanberg departed today for home, having completed the last of his scenes last night. we will all miss his presence on set.

in other sad news you must know that our dear friend, tercel washington (the picture car), is no longer with us (rip). his little engine gave out around mile-marker 591 on interstate 5 late in the eve on tuesday, january 8th 2008. there was hardly time for a thorough diagnosis and even less for mourning, mike and his dad made arrangements for the disposal tercel's remains and we left the little guy curbside in the stockton ghetto and rolled on to kernville.

i'm tired now and must stop here. sorry, i know it's not much of a summary. you'll be glad to know that today we shipped our first 23 rolls of film to the lab! myself, mike and i'm sure everyone else involved is very anxious to see the results of our labor. below are a few photos to wet your appetite...

yours sincerely, e.r. mcmackin

camera dept. on the links...

Happy Birthday, Mikey!

Here's hoping that this year brings you all those awesome rewards you so richly deserve!

Film crew - commence Operation: Director-Spank...

On the first day of shooting, Mike Harring gave to me…

…a reminder of how much work it is to make a film.

So, I was present for the first day of filming. Unfortunately, my schedule won’t allow me to travel along for the rest of the fun, but I thought I’d contribute some thoughts from the first day.

I kinda figured I should do it because Mike and the rest of the crew are going to be waaay too busy to even look at the blog (most likely). Here are my musings:

**Did you read my description of “My best of shooting…” below? Well, the first day of shooting was Mike’s “best” day. It was a bit difficult at times, but Mike and the crew rose to the challenge.

**The first day of shooting is a bad news/good news proposition: The bad news is that it will always be one of your toughest days. You are just getting to know your cast and crew, you are starting to realize the limitations of what you have planned (i.e. reality is settling in), and it’s the day people are most likely to make mistakes. The good news is that it is the day the crew is at its most enthusiastic. Everyone is happy to be there, and energy is high – this is what gets you through that first day.

**Filming = Waiting. No matter how many films I make, I always seem to forget this. Filming is like playing football (for those jock-minded folks out there). You do all this preparation (practice, in the case of football), you assemble your crew (team), there’s lots of talking on the set and you’re constantly shifting your plans in light of what’s occurred (exactly the same on the football field), and then the actual shooting takes place which is fifteen seconds of chaos where you’re praying for the best (or, in football terms, the ball is hiked).

If you’re not used to filmmaking, this waiting can get frustrating; however, it’s part of the process. For those not used to it, suck it up. ;)

**Self-deception is necessary. This is something director Sidney Lumet says in his terrific book on filmmaking, “Making Movies.” A director has to plan, prepare, and believe in what they’re doing, but doubts will creep in. It’s inevitable. That is when a director has to “fool” himself into the feeling that it’s all going to turn out great. I’m sure Spielberg had the following thoughts on some of his films:

“An archaeologist with a whip? How did Lucas talk me into this?”

“An alien that eats M&M’s? People are going to think I’m retarded…”

“A black & white Holocaust drama? Is anyone but my mom gonna want to watch this?”

It should be noted that self-deception isn’t the same as being delusional. Self-deception is allowing yourself to believe the best is going to happen. Delusional is thinking you can film a sci-fi epic for $5,000.

**Mike has a great crew, a terrific girlfriend, and a wonderfully supportive family. Crews will come and go, but if the crew maintains the energy and dedication I saw on the first day, the next 3 weeks in Mike’s life will be happily bearable. A girlfriend who is understanding of filmmaking insanity is something that can make the next year (and, potentially, the rest of your life) worthwhile. And a supportive family? When you have that, what do you need an Oscar for?

To the cast and crew of MRR – and especially Mike – keep up the fantastic work!