This week, Bryan & I cover the first day (of six) of production week on our latest project, IMPULSE. We've decided to format our daily accounts as a questionnaire. Behind the scenes pictures are also included below.
PRODUCTION DATE: November 7, 2009
# OF CAMERA SETUPS: 20
BEST PART OF THE DAY
SCOTT: Arriving on set. Streets are closed off. Sets are dressed from the night before. Forty feet of dolly track being laid for the first shot. It's not the brisk 45 degree chill that wakes me up, it's the excitement of a film coming to life.
BRYAN: Seeing the first shot of the movie come together. It was a complex dolly/whip pan, meticulously storyboarded, involving the Dodge Challenger. Our killer camera team pulled it off effortlessly and it was reassuring to see our visual ideas translating well on camera. It’s still my favorite shot in the movie.
WORST PART OF THE DAY
SCOTT: Getting into a groove. Lost 40 minutes of daylight before we fired off our first shot. Also, the street control was lapsing at times; our barricades stopped most from wandering into our 3-block closure, but we needed more PAs to properly maintain 100% security. But the ones we had - Nicole Tiernan & Ron Reynolds - did a very, very commendable job.
BRYAN: Trying to pull off the second complex dolly/pan Dodge Challenger shot. It was as frustrating and frightening as the first shot was joyous. Things weren’t clicking. So many planets had to align for this trick shot to work (timing on the car and camera, solid performances, actor cues, blocked traffic) and we were running out of daylight, with two company moves left.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF THE DAY
SCOTT: Getting a Dodge Challenger to screech to a stop - on a very specific mark - after going 70+ mph on a residential street - and not hit any actors, crew OR the 12x12 overhead. Thankfully for us - and our insurance - Chris Masterson has raced cars galore and was a pro.
BRYAN: Keeping the world dire and dark. At times, the town of Perry was a little too cute for our dismal story, so location manager Travis Shepherd along with our small PA team, raced to clear streets and backgrounds of any unwanted cars infringing on our apocalyptic tone.
MIRACLE OF THE DAY
SCOTT: The 70 degree weather. Yes, this is VERY odd for November in Iowa. We lucked out big time... see earlier blogs for my constant concern about the weather.
BRYAN: Our young actress Riley Behr performing her own stunts - brave enough to go along with our car screeching to a halt gag, all while turning in a solid performance and making us laugh along the way.
HILARIOUS MOMENT OF THE DAY
SCOTT: Also arriving on set. It was soooooo incredibly dark, that Bryan & I could hardly tell who anybody was without shining a flashlight in their face. Either that, or guessing by their voice.
BRYAN: Watching the neighborhood kids marvel at the deer carcass our art department begrudgingly dressed the set with the night before.
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Last movie Scott watched: Panic Room (David Fincher)
Last movie Bryan watched: The Man Who Wasn't There (Coen Brothers)
