Day 6: I get by with a little help from my friends.

We had a lot going against us today. The weather constantly looked like it was going to downpour (until after we wrapped), we had lost two cast members that were needed for this shoot, one of our actors had to leave by a certain time, we were filming in a very public schoolyard, this was the largest scene that we have shot on Red Scare so far (both in the number of script pages (9) to the number of cast members). I knew it was not going to be easy, but somehow we did it, and here is why: 

*The weather held out. It was cloudy, and terrifying while we raced the weather, but it never really rained. In fact, after we wrapped, the sun came out. Go figure. 

*One of my oldest friends, Max Arias, came on to fill one of the roles that we had. (I wrote out the other one.) 

*Everyone on set was incredibly patient and professional as we nailed every scene we needed to get, and scheduled on the fly to best work with the time we had. Seriously: amazing cast and crew. 

*Miriam Cortez earned another credit as Homo Sapien Relocater, as she politely but firmly suggested to kids who wanted to play in the yard that they should go somewhere else as we were filming a movie. It was shaky at times, but thanks to her we were unbothered for the most part. 

*Like I said, amazing cast and crew. Everyone did their job and did it well. 

I really have to thank everyone who helped out today. It is only because of you that this happened today. As I mentioned once before, one of the joys of the cameras we work with is we can watch dailies right after we shoot, and the footage is phenomenal. Hysterical, very well shot... All around great. 

Provided the weather holds out, we continue shooting tomorrow with some more of my scenes. Today was the most complicated day so far, and we made it through in way piece with some great footage to show for it. It won't be the most complicated day of the entire shoot, but we are now moving along at a much quicker pace than originally. 

 Below are some pictures from today's shoot. Be sure to check out some of the amazing work our costumer, Tinea Abdallah, has done. 

That's all for now. 

Stay tuned!

Sam 

Actor, Writer, Producer

Red Scare

5 days in and a minor speed bump.

We have successfully finished 5 days of shooting "Red Scare." There are pictures below from days 4 & 5. Not to jinx us, but things are going fairly well for us so far. The footage we have gotten so far is great. Granted, the shoots that we have had so far are by no means our most difficult ones; those are still ahead of us. But we have had 5 good days of shooting. 

I try not to be negative with these blogs, but some things need to be said. 

Today, we hit a small speed bump in the form of two messages I received. Two members of the cast who were supposed to be playing minor roles informed me that they "regretted" that they could no longer be a part of this movie. One cited "family" and one cited nothing at all as the reasons for their pulling out of the production. Here is what bothers me about that. Their first day on set was scheduled for this Sunday. This Sunday. In less than 48 hours, they were supposed to be on set. Now, I am grateful that they told me now, rather than on Sunday or after Sunday when they were already filmed in one of their scenes. What I am extremely disappointed in, is the fact that they had ample opportunity to inform me of their decision prior to today. It would have still been late notice, but it would give me more than the 48 hours I now have to recast. 

And so, a lesson that I learned from a NY casting director. Two years ago, I took a class with Paul Russell, of Paul Russell Casting. One thing that bothered him was actors that either or auditioned for a role and refused it (why bother auditioning if you don't want the part?) and actors who accepted a role offered and changed their minds. Here is the thing... This business is all about networking, and networking is all about talking. The actors that Paul mentioned will not be seen by him ever again. Likewise, if he is asked about any of these actors by his colleagues, what do you think he will tell them?

I haven't been in the casting game long. For BGR, I just asked people if they wanted to be in my movie. We held auditions this time around, and people came in and wanted to be a part of the movie. I looked into the actors that we auditioned... I asked people who knew them for any feedback they could give me. And I took that feedback, and really applied it to the casting process. 

Now, let's imagine the "Red Scare" dropouts. They auditioned. They read the script. They accepted their roles. They saw the schedule, and made no comment about it... Until today.

 I certainly won't work with them again. And if I am ever asked about the actors in question, I will all too gladly inform whoever is asking about the quality of those actors. 

Ah, well, enough negativity. I will recast, and it will work out, perhaps better this way. The Red Scare marches on. 

Stay Tuned!

Sam 

Actor, Writer, Producer

Red Scare