Zombified.

Today Josiah and I went over to the make-up campus to meet our make-up artist Jalil and to test out some looks for the zombies in ‘Picky Eaters.’ Turns out that Jalil hadn’t brought a model so I stepped up to do my part for the movie – yes, I’m an all-round AD. I’ve never gotten special make-up done by someone before so it was pretty cool.

We tried a couple different ways to do zombie – the first half we did an airbrushed blue/grey look with red lips. This’ll be the look for ‘Mother.’ It was really weird getting my eyebrows waxed over so they went solid. My eyes looked pretty awesome though! The second half we did I got a prosthetic eyebrow made from wax and latex which was cool but uncomfortable. Then we did an airbrushed green on me, topped up with extra thick black eye paint and black lips. It looked creepy but it was really hard to move the facial muscles so probably not best option.

So we decided on doing the blue side for all of the zombies – with red lips for Mother and black lips for the guys. It was way more comfortable and looked subtle enough so the zombies will be able to act completely ‘normal and human’ – minimal gore. The bitch was getting everything off ’cause it was really sticky, and hey, wax. I now know that it is very important to appreciate a clean face!!

Once we were finished up Josiah bought me food as we looked over blocking formations for each scene. I’m super excited about going to camera as we’ve got a full crew and are basically ready to go. Just waiting to lock in location as our backup fell through. Can’t wait to see all 4 of our zombies lined up

Am now writing up a whole bunch of contracts and agreements for work. My boss said he has ‘a present’ for me which can only be $$$ right? So I’ve got a meeting tomorrow and can hand over all the stuff I’ve done. It’s hilarious as technically I feel underqualified for the job, but then when doing it, I actually know what I’m doing and seem intelligent – woo! Anyway time to go over some more stuff for Picky Eaters & DSH.

730 days later…

This time exactly two years ago, I was on the plane from Manchester, UK to Vancouver, BC. I was making my move to Canada with a one way ticket. I had as much as you can take with you on a plane, by no means many of my things and I remember sitting on the plane thinking about the next day in small segments – I couldn’t handle thinking about any bigger picture than that. Of course the plane trip over was uneventful – although my mom did spot the new tattoo I’d gotten the day before and meant to nondisclose.

As today is two years since I moved, the biggest thing I’d done at that point in my life, I’m feeling very pensieve and nostalgic today. On one hand, I can’t believe that it’s been two whole years that I’ve lived in Vancouver. On the other, it’s only been 730 days…and that doesn’t seem very long.

I can’t even start to conceive how much I have changed in the last two years, and how much I’ve done that I never would have believed I would. So much has happened it’s overwhelming to even think about. I remember getting to the hotel that my mom and I were staying at for the first few days, before I moved into my place in East Van. That was a really bad night ’cause I lost it and begged mom to let me get back on a plane and go home. Good thing I didn’t!!

Moving here was the best decision I have ever made and I wonder if the next two years will be as eventful, insane and unbelievable (in both good and bad ways) as the last.

So if you could slate to the camera…

Today we completed casting for Kat L’s film ‘Drugs, Sex & Honey.’ It’s super exciting having your whole cast done – especially one as good looking as this one! I think we’re really lucky with all 9 roles. I’m also really happy about the actors that came through me – Phill, Marci & Sam will all do a great job.

So we had our second day of casting this evening and secured the parts of Jake (Phill came in very generously and took the role,) Jessica (who after not much decision making but plenty of girls was given to a girl named Kayleigh who seems really talented) and Young Lily (Kat L told the 8 year old she had the part seconds after her audition ended – there wasn’t really any question, so why not?) It was funny to see the kid so surprised that there wasn’t a decision making process. Plus our 8 year old actress is the most experienced actor out of the whole cast in terms of things they’ve been in on screen that are well known…Funny.

It’s always tricky when you’re juggling a big cast – I remember last year on ‘Deathripper’ I was kind of scared at managing the cast of 7. This one is a cast of 9 and I’m a little nervous, but having the shoot already scheduled, I feel good about it.

So this evening I’ve been going over the full pilot screenplay (55 pages) and painstakingly picking out the many comma mistakes and typos. I actually like doing this although am surprised at how long it took me. Being an incredibly fast reader it’s weird to have to take it slow and concentrate on reading each word carefully. Although I’ll never understand how a page can be okay, and then one paragraph will be full of weird errors. That’s Kat L for you I guess. I’ll never get over how she spelt ‘melancholy’ though – ‘myecleloe’ or something like that. I looked it up and it was a medical term for torn spine tissue.

I really really like the full pilot (which surprised Kat ’cause I’m usually really harsh with scripts) but it’s awesome reading it and seeing all of the people we’ve cast in my head, playing the parts and delivering the lines. I’ve gotten so into it that I think we should go after some grants and just make the whole episode! (Admittedly I really want the Parker in the Swimming Pool scene – Why couldn’t THAT have been written into the trailer?! – but seriously, I want to make this thing! I’ve already started scheduling it out in my head – ridiculous!)

So I’m chuffed with the cast – all of them, actually – and can’t wait to get onto set!! Unfortunately I have no picture to go with this blog, unless I put a picture of some cast members up, but no. That’ll be after my many, many, many production photos that I take Although I took lots of footage of Kat L demonstrating the Jessica audition so maybe I’ll get that up here eventually!

Anyway, I stupidly edited half of one copy of the script and the other half on another version so must go fix it and send it out to the cast.

awr-guh-nuh-zey-shun.

“Long live the organization for the organized!” – ‘The Jacket.’

Many people have laughed at me for being anal about organizing things. Sometimes I’ve even gotten frustrated at myself for being ridiculous particular and obsessive and thought to myself  ‘who really cares?’ But today just proved again that planning ahead when it comes to work is essential and can avoid last minute anger, frustration and stress.

Although this blog post is in serious danger of becoming a rant – SINCE WHEN IS A FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR THE DIRECTOR’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT??? Look up a definition people!

Anyway, at least I know I CAN handle things going wrong and it’s sinking in more and more lately that this is the case. Like today, one of my directors realized that they didn’t have a camera or tapes for their casting session tomorrow. So at the last minute, I have to find a camera to use and a bunch of tapes. Thank goodness my roommate still has his camera and is willing to lend it to me and that I found my casting tapes from last year in my closet. Planning ahead really does save stress and frustration.

It isn’t always a question of knowing things, or having experience or particular training in things – it’s thinking ahead and planning for every possible outcome. It’s being logical. People love to blame ignorance on just that – ignorance. But sometimes ignorance can’t, or shouldn’t be blamed. If you know that you don’t know something you need to – change that! Find out!

I don’t really have a point to all this. I guess with the stressful time of trying to schedule out both ‘Picky Eaters’ and ‘Drugs, Sex & Honey’ – I’m just feeling ranty about the fact that no one gets what work I’m even doing and what goes into it. Nevertheless I’m looking forward to getting on set for both films.  As I have no conclusion in sight I’ll end with a rather funny sequence from the movie ‘The Jacket’ between Daniel Craig and Adrien Brody – if you haven’t seen it, you should -

Dr. Becker: “Please continue Mr. Mackenzie.”

Mackenzie: “Okay…Well I’ve been approached by the federal trade organization.”

Dr. Becker: “And what have they approched you about Mr. Mackenzie?”

Mackenzie: “Well, and this is nuts, but, they have asked me, to head up the organization for the organized!”

Dr. Becker: “The organization for the organized?”

Mackenzie: “Yeah you’ve heard of them?”

Dr. Becker: “No, Mr. Mackenzie, I haven’t.”

Crazy Guy: “That’s because there is no such organization, you idiot!”

Mackenzie: “Now that is categorically not true! That is blatantly and manifestly not true! They have asked me to lead them, and if you’d heard of them then they wouldn’t be hush hush would they?!”

Dr. Becker: “What do the rest of you think?”

Jack: “Well uh, I know they exist.”

Dr. Becker: “And how is that?”

Jack: “Well when I was in the Gulf, the organization was recruiting the organized.”

Dr. Becker: “Is that a fact Mr. Starks?”

Jack: “It is a fact.”

Dr. Becker: “Because if it isn’t, it doesn’t help Mr. Mackenzie.”

Jack: “It is a fact. Classified.”

Mackenzie: “I knew it. I knew it! You know, those little fuckers are everywhere!”

Jack: “They only recruit the best Mackenzie.”

Vacation 2.0

I walked into school today and immediately thought about turning around and leaving again. There’s something about our classroom that just makes a depressed mood worse. Maybe its knowing we’re to face hours of marketing. Regardless, I didn’t leave and began attempting some work. After a few minutes I remembered that my uncle who lives in Calgary phoned me last night. I called him back at work and by the end of the conversation I had my second vacation of the summer planned.

Now as my last blog went on about, Kat L and I are going to Forks, WA in a couple of weeks. Well now in mid-July, I’m going down to Penticton to meet my uncle Dennis who will be on his annual motorbike trip around BC. Yes it’s spending over 16 hours on a bus for a 2.5 day break, but it’s worth it. 2 nights camping by Skaha Lake, beaching, drinking and riding around on the motorbike sounds just perfect right about now.

Luckily I was able to figure out good dates to go as it came dangerously close to interfering with Kat’s last day of production – a day on set I couldn’t miss (without  being disowned by Kat anyway.) I’m so excited – hanging out with Dennis is one of my favorite things to do, his friends are awesome, plus camping and the bike is the most fun you can have. Now with Forks and Penticton, I’m making up for my lack of camping in the last couple of years!

On a completely other topic – Rachel and I have started communicating through glances. It’s quite spooky. She also told me today that apparently a guy’s…equipment… is as big as his thumb’s length x3. So now of course we’re looking at everyone’s thumbs. Kat called us pervs. only to start doing it herself. Apparently if I were male I would be quite well endowed, so yay for me!

Anyway, looking forward to taking lots of pictures on both of my camping trips – the last time I was on Den’s bike was before I moved to Vancouver. WHICH, by the way is TWO YEARS EXACTLY this Friday. AAAAHH!!!

What’s this? A vacation?

On the last day of this term (June 24th) Kat L and I are venturing out of Vancouver for a HOLIDAY!! I am so excited as the most exotic place I’ve been recently is Calgary…wooee. Okay now, of course where Kat and I are going isn’t exactly anymore exotic…well maybe a little, but I’m still so excited to be getting out of town for a brief break before the last term of EBM.

So where are we going? Well…FORKS, WASHINGTON!!! My first time in the US strangely, but it’s going to be great. Now how did we decide to go to Forks? Well I stand by my opinion that Kat L and I have different reasons – Kat L wants to go because it’s where the Twilight series is set and she wants to go visit The Meadow, etc. I want to go because a.) it’ll be hilarious watching Kat get all excited and b.) because I love camping and haven’t been since my Gold Duke of Edinburgh final expedition which was around 3 years ago now, if not more.

One of the many funny things about our coming up vacation, is that we’re going from Vancouver to Forks via PUBLIC TRANSIT!! Yes, this is an economy holiday. From the girl (me) who is scared of public transit that I’m unfamiliar with. This is how we get there:

1.) Leave my house at 5:00am and take the 98 B-Line down to Airport Station. 2.) At sometime around 6:00am we get on another bus from Airport Station that takes us to the BC Ferry spot. 3.) We then have 15 minutes to get a ticket and get on the ferry which will take us to Victoria. 4.) We then get on a public bus and go from the Ferry drop-off, a 45 minute bus ride down into downtown Victoria. 5.) Find the South Ferry Terminal FAST. 6.) Get on a ferry that goes from Victoria to Port Angeles. 7.) Get off the ferry at Port Angeles and get on another public bus that will go into Forks. 8.) Walk 2 miles to our first campsite or depending on the time and place we’re staying on night 1, take another bus to La Push. SCARY.

On a happy note, I bought a tent at Costco a couple weeks ago and my roommate Ian and I tried setting it up for practice in our kitchen – it was too big. The tent, not the kitchen -

Anyway at the end of the day, I’m super excited to have my hiking back pack on again, a tent to put up, and to be sleeping in the forest and on the beach! Yay! Me and Kat Lane camping in Forks – it’s bound to be an epic and unforgettable time.

How lunch SHOULD be done.

So last Thursday the Above the Line Soiree Group went to Steam Works for lunch to celebrate our event finally being done and dusted. Armed with our gift card and celebration money we grabbed a booth (outside was full, shame, it was so hot) and settled in for the long haul (we didn’t realize quite HOW long it would be.)  We all happened to be nicely dressed on this occasion, not planned, although my first attempt at wearing a proper summer dress malfunctioned at times. (On a side note – all four of us were in FOUL moods at the start of this lunch and at the time it seemed silly to even be trying to have fun. Oh how this changed.)

Rachel and Kat complained that we couldn’t order the $18.00 nachos because it wasn’t 2:30pm yet. So we proceeded in ordering our main courses which were so good (bluberries and goat cheese is a good combination, surprisingly.) So after this course we were all pretty full (Kat: “Oh my god, I can’t move myself, I have a food baby.”) Kat and I scoured the drinks menu ($2 off martinis!!) and Kat was disappointed at the weakness of hers. Someone then decided it was time for dessert after a resting period and although everyone was apparently full (apart from Ryan) it disappeared very quickly. I only got two bites. Oh wait – it’s beause I was distracted by texting. Never mind.

More drinks came and went (strange that none of us seemed particularly bothered about the bill total) and then SOMEONE – not me – was like “Hey! It’s past 2:30pm now! Let’s get those nachos!” It was probably Kat. So after another long resting time we ordered Appys (Yes – Mains –> Dessert –> Appys) consisting of the expensive and HUGE platter of nachos and chicken tenders (yum! That was me and Ryan’s doing.) The waitress probably wanted to kill us by this point. Most of us had broken down into giggles for no reason whilst commenting on how full we were and how we couldn’t believe we were still eating.

Kat tried to get a custom drink made (it didn’t turn out so great) and I attempted to get the most disugsting martini I’ve ever had down – it was so gross – no one ever order a Pink Lemon Drop. Amongst the claims of “Oh my God I’m so full” and “Why am I still eating?” and “I want another drink!” I decided it would be a great idea to invite some people from the event over to join us. Unfortunately final projects had them too busy, much to our disappointment However eventually my roommate Ian joined us and helped out with the last few nachos as we were all beached and feeling overly gluttonous by this point.

We finally decided 4 hours after arriving that it was probably time to go our separate ways. This may be the only time that I’m not concerned about  the bill’s total, and as it was presented to us with a flourish from the waitress (about 3 different groups had come and gone beside us furing our food marathon) we continued to giggle about the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

I think that if only we had endless money, lunch should be done like this more often. A good closure (almost – still got the event report presentation to do) to our event. Hopefully White Spot on Friday will be just as fun, if not as expensive and lengthy of an outing.

The Brain Stress Test

After the last couple of pretty awful weeks, I would imagine that I can take a lot of stress. Today the phrase ‘getting pulled in all directions’ came to mind as my brain suffered immense strain from just too many things to think about  at once. At one point I was actually frozen in an amusing position as I couldn’t decide what to do first.

Anyone who knows me will know that work is pretty much the only thing in my life. I like being busy. But this is getting ridiculous – as of today I am going to my classes in term 5 EBM, working on a tv show called “Don’t Quit Your Gay Job” on random days, First Assistant Directing two short films – one of which is going through casting this week (also acting as PM and casting director) and now I seem to have a job at Trillenium Media Group. This is great news, although considering the job was mentioned at midnight last night and it is less than 24 hours later – I’ve had my interview and am now trying to get my head together for a production meeting TOMORROW and get my assigned work done for Thursday. AAAHHH. Busy =  good, but is this really possible?

Things with ‘Picky Eaters’ directed by Josiah Cooper are going really well. The casting calls went up today and we’re casting Thurs-Sat, hopefully securing our remaining roles. It’s fantastic to be working with him – we’re both efficient and excited about going to camera! I don’t know why I always seem to end up working on zombie movies, this one is going to be awesome!!

Kat L’s film ‘Drugs, Sex & Honey’ is also coming along. Most of our cast has confirmed their availability for the shoot dates and various paperwork is getting done. Having call sheets done over a month in advance is interesting and I’m happy that I’ll be working with actors from films I produced last year (Marci & Sam!)

This last weekend I was on a tv show shoot called “Tops & Bottoms.” I like working in a studio, it’s a nice change from location work. Sunday will bring my second day on “Don’t Quit Your Gay Job” – unfortunately I’m missing the bus driving episode on Friday for classes and casting.

Anyway having said all this I should probably get on and do something productive – Keiron’s interview questions maybe. Got my fingers crossed for actors to start sending in audition requests! On an exciting note – going to see “Rudo Y Cursi” tomorrow – SO EXCITED!!!

“Michael Bay is a triple asshole” – Michael, Distribution.

I have created blog.

I’m shocked that I have been able to get this far – signing up to Word Press, making no less than 3 pages (about, credits, resume) and now posting a blog…and changing my theme! This from the girl who is technically and website-ly incompetent. I am mostly surprised because I have been on set shooting a TV show all day and am so tired I can’t actually think straight. Yet here I am, trying to create a blog for myself – mostly because it’s an assignment for a class I have, but now I’m kind of getting into it! Anyway, I’m also waiting for a shot list to be sent to me, and as I can’t sleep I thought that I should do something productive. Whether or not me rambling falls into this category I have yet to decide.