I'm in pre-production on a movie, MODEL HUNGER, which has some preliminary shoots in NYC next week. I'm the line producer, which is a fancy (but appreciated) term for production manager; in this case, I'm the point man in Buffalo for James Morgart, who is the screenwriter and executive producer, and for Debbie Rochon, who is the director. I won't be at the NYC shoot, which should be an entertaining one.
After that, key people will begin migrating to Buffalo, where they will stay in multiple houses and apartments, some of which we'll be filming in. As LP, I lined those up. Shooting begins in early July and wraps at the end of the month. I'll also be the 1st Assistant Director. There is a common misconception that a director runs a set; in fact, the 1st AD runs the set so the director is free to direct. In this capacity, I generally lose my voice by the end of the first week.
For approximately four weeks, some of us will work together and live together, forming tight bonds (or bitter dislikes). The two days following wrap will involve clearing out the locations, leaving them exactly as we found them...minus fake blood stains (the blood will be fake, the stains will be real). And then my part is over; post-production is not one of my responsibilities. This will be the most ambitious horror film shot in Buffalo -and a lot of them shoot here - since SLIME CITY MASSACRE. We have a great cast, which I look forward to seeing announced (no press releases from me on this project!).
Interestingly, on August 1st, Lloyd Kaufman will begin shooting RETURN TO NUKE EM HIGH in Niagara Falls. I worked on the original CLASS for one day back in 1984. I won't be on this one, though I've been recommending cast and crew members to Lloyd's advance wave.
Today Tamar and my AD team (2nd AD Sam Qualiana, who directed SNOW SHARK, and Script Supervisor Stacey Book) accompanied me to get the keys for three different rental properties we're using and videotaped the locations so that the key people out of town can anticipate what creative work needs to be done to them. Those of us in Buffalo have a lot of cleaning to do; movie work is not glamorous, and low budget movie making is far less than that - but it's a thrill, a rush, and I need to do it once in a while (I know what my 2013 production will be).
We're at that point now where the pressure is on; there's always a lot to do the last two weeks. The night before SLIME CITY MASSACRE started, I only got three hours of sleep. Since I'm not directing MODEL HUNGER, that won't be the case. First to arrive, last to leave - but I intend to sleep hard!
I'm also extremely busy writing a book.
After that, key people will begin migrating to Buffalo, where they will stay in multiple houses and apartments, some of which we'll be filming in. As LP, I lined those up. Shooting begins in early July and wraps at the end of the month. I'll also be the 1st Assistant Director. There is a common misconception that a director runs a set; in fact, the 1st AD runs the set so the director is free to direct. In this capacity, I generally lose my voice by the end of the first week.
For approximately four weeks, some of us will work together and live together, forming tight bonds (or bitter dislikes). The two days following wrap will involve clearing out the locations, leaving them exactly as we found them...minus fake blood stains (the blood will be fake, the stains will be real). And then my part is over; post-production is not one of my responsibilities. This will be the most ambitious horror film shot in Buffalo -and a lot of them shoot here - since SLIME CITY MASSACRE. We have a great cast, which I look forward to seeing announced (no press releases from me on this project!).
Interestingly, on August 1st, Lloyd Kaufman will begin shooting RETURN TO NUKE EM HIGH in Niagara Falls. I worked on the original CLASS for one day back in 1984. I won't be on this one, though I've been recommending cast and crew members to Lloyd's advance wave.
Today Tamar and my AD team (2nd AD Sam Qualiana, who directed SNOW SHARK, and Script Supervisor Stacey Book) accompanied me to get the keys for three different rental properties we're using and videotaped the locations so that the key people out of town can anticipate what creative work needs to be done to them. Those of us in Buffalo have a lot of cleaning to do; movie work is not glamorous, and low budget movie making is far less than that - but it's a thrill, a rush, and I need to do it once in a while (I know what my 2013 production will be).
We're at that point now where the pressure is on; there's always a lot to do the last two weeks. The night before SLIME CITY MASSACRE started, I only got three hours of sleep. Since I'm not directing MODEL HUNGER, that won't be the case. First to arrive, last to leave - but I intend to sleep hard!
I'm also extremely busy writing a book.
Leave a comment