Nowhere Man

I have continued with my film experience by helping with a TMA 419 film. We spent four hours yesterday doing lighting tests with the camera, then we spent 12 hours today filming. It was so much fun! Today's site was Studio Y in the HFAC so I got to learn some more about the HFAC. Also, besides increasing my knowledge of grip and electric for film, I also was able to slate each scene. Which means I called the number and takes of each scene, then clapped the sticks. I learned a lot and had fun. This filming is schedules for this weekend and next, so unfortunately I could only help for these first three days. I really wish I could help for the full shoot, but I'd say China is a good reason to miss out. It does sound like an interesting film, named "Nowhere Man". I haven't been able to read the script and haven't heard much about what it's about. The scenes are very interesting and I look forward to seeing more. I love working with films. It will be hard in the future to finally decide what I want to place the most emphasis on: theatre, dance, or film ...

An Event to Never Forget

Tonight, I was able to design the lighting for "Dancing with the Utah Stars for Recovery." I worked over eleven hours at the Covey Center to familiarize myself with the theatre and to work with the lighting. I made a cuelist for the ten couples participating, but the entertainment acts had no rehearsals and they were all done on the fly. Only once was there a moment that I hated the lighting. It was at the first dances of the final round with Jodi Saeland of Fox 13 News at Nine. There was a live feed from the news, and it had to be at the exact time when I became overwhelmed and threw up lights without paying attention. For ten seconds, there was the most ugly puke green color on the cyc and it took me a few more seconds to finally fix it. I was looking for an amber, mixing red and green, but I switched the two sliders and had the green at a higher intensity then red. Awful! But when I finally fixed it, it looked good. I should havae gone to the original cue from the first round, but I wanted to do something different. Oh well. It was really fun to do the end on the fly because I could change the lighting for the smaller formation teams. I really enjoyed to night and all I was able to assist in the charity event. It really did go well. Definitely not a perfect show, for there were several mistakes, but for what it was, it went well. I love my job! I can never say it enough!

Roommate Silent Film

iMovie!!!!!

Wow . . . It has been too long since I have been able to do a project on iMovie and I have sorely missed it! In the past three days, I have made four projects that are at least thirty minutes long. I've been remaking my Europe trip, doing a slideshow for Diantha, putting together a new Roommates DVD, and others. I really wish I could do some family history or Church related projects. Those have always been my favorite and I have a great music selection. Music really makes the slideshow, and I don't have good music for friends slideshows.

Anyways, I have the new updated version of iMovie so it took me a while to figure it out and while I prefer the organization of the old version, there are some really good additions. I still have much to learn, but I am loving it! I love technology!

Yep, that's it . . .

New Song

For the last few days, I've been trying to rest before the next event. The Wrap Party was fun Wednesday night as we watched trailers for upcoming movies, saw a few films that some of our film friends made, and then watched slideshows of images and footage of our time together on the film shoot. I now have a new favorite song because of it. While watching a slideshow of images by using iPhoto, we were trying to figure out how to listen to a playlist of music - but it didn't work out. We listened to the same song at least three times before we just decided to mute it. Therefore, it is stuck in my head. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. :-D The song is called "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" by Rufus Wainwright. I was making a slideshow about my experience with Diantha's Crossing and I just had to add that song into the playlist for memory's sake, so I finally bought my first song off the iTunes store. Totally worth it!

Images from Facebook Albums

Day Twelve

Well, the last day of filming has come and gone. It is a Picture Wrap! Work went from noon until 10:45. Of course, it took 25 minutes to drive to the last site, then cast and crew did not arrive until 1:30. Also, we had a two and a half hour break. So . . . I worked about seven hours or so. The last scene that we shot was of a big bonfire representing the mob burning the homes and belongings of pioneers. Karissa and I both sat by the fire and made smores. It was quite fun! Then we unloaded all our equipment at the FSSS at the MPS. All that is left is the Wrap Party tonight. It has been an amazing experience and I will miss every moment.

One More Image

All production images were taken by Samuel Bilodeau
© 2008, Samuel Bilodeau ‐ All rights Reserved

Day Eleven

We were prepared for anything, but we were not needed all day - only for a few simple things. We went to the MPS at 7am to get some more equipment, then I was able to get a ride with Tom - the director - so we were able to talk a bit as we drove up the canyon to Vivian Park. It was a cold day today as we had rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, and everything in between. The sun decided not to come out until we finished at 4pm. Oh well. Tomorrow is our last day. We have one location left and it is mainly in the evening. We get to build a great bonfire and have firemen watch it for us. I'm excited. So I guess today was eight hours of nothing. But at least we were there and ready if we were needed.

Saturday Fun

Today was a great day. I went to work at 10am to wrap all the equipment at the MPS from Diantha's Crossing. It wasn't too bad. During the first two hours, Matt and I had two others helping us put away equipment. Then, for the last hour and a half, Matt and I cleaned everything else up and loaded some basic equipment that will be used on Monday and Tuesday. After that, we grabbed some lunch and played some Wii as we waited to meet up with several friends from the film. We all gathered to watch Speed Racer together then grabbed a bite to eat at Carl's Jr. It was a lot of fun.

Even More Pics

Day Ten

EXHAUSTION!!! That's all I have to say about today. Well . . . actually just about the last few hours. It was a very interesting day because it was such a light work load though the morning hours. Most of the shots just used daylight or we had the 4K to punch a bit more "sunlight" into the scene. We were able to take a break around 4:30 until we began setting up Missouri Town for the mob scene at 6pm. Wow, that was a treat! We had a guy, Chad, hired in for the evening to help with the 12K and scissor lift - because those need to be used under supervision. We were able to just talk about so many things pertaining to work. I learned a lot from him. My favorite part about the job is what I can learn from the people. It's amazing how we are similar in age, yet can teach each other so much. I'm amazed at myself as I am able to act like I know exactly what I am doing when I am just learning or have only seen another do it.

So, the hard night began around 10pm. It was almost like the DP gave up on lighting and just wanted to finish up at the Motion Picture Studio. Then, we had to strike EVERYTHING!!! I had a lot of fun driving the ATV around MPS and I wish I could do more driving around. Maybe I can figure something out over the summer - borrow my grandpa's ATV and find a place to drive it around. Anyways . . . so it wasn't too bad striking everything although it is exhausing, but we put it all in B44, a storage building at the MPS and our stuff was everywhere in the tunnel. We left at 11:45, but just as we passed the security booth, Matt gets a call and his boss is returning from tour in less then 45 minutes and the whole tunnel must be clear so he can drive in the truck and unload. So, we had to turn around and RUSH to clear everything. It was quite an adventure. Thankfully, it makes tomorrow easier to put everything away since we organized and put a lot away to clear the tunnel. So, we were finally able to return home at 12:15 and just as we passed the security booth, in drove the truck. Just perfect timing. So, today was eleven hours of work. Tomorrow, it is mostly Matt and I working to put all the equipment away as the others come and go as their schedules permit. It is going to be a lot of hours of work, but I know I'll learn so much. I'm excited, but wish I could get more sleep. Oh, well. It will all be over next Wednesday.

More Pics

Day Nine

Whew! I am finally home!! It has only been thirteen hours but we have finished filming inside the cabin. I have struck everything from the cabin hoping never to return. Next is exterior shots and off-site locations. These are the special moments for the film that I am excited for. It helps add the emphasis of the memories Diantha is telling. This is going to be an amazing film. It is suppose to air on BYUTV sometime during September/October and I hope everyone will try to see it. I just hope I will be able to get a copy of the film when it finally becomes available. I also hope to get a copy of production images and videos that have been taken all through the production shoot. This is amazing! The people, the script, the design. I love my job!!!

So, it was quite interesting all the things we did today. We began with a night shoot that was a pick-up from last night. Then, after a couple of hours we were able to switch to day shots to finally finish up the interior cabin shots. When we finally stopped for dinner, we had one more cabin scene before moving over to the inn for a shot, then prepare for our first outside shot. I had nothing to do with the shot that occurred in the inn, because I was striking the cabin and preparing the woods scene. It was quite an adventure! People have no idea how much work goes into a shooting of a film. I will never be able to watch them the same ever again. But that is another thing I love so much about the theatre and film industry. The more I learn, the more it changes my perspective and allows me to appreciate it so much more, maybe not the same as others would, but I never was like other people.

Tomorrow will be a busy day as we travel from site to site and constantly set-up and strike our equipment. Hopefully, there should be only three more days left. However, who knows what else will come up or how long it will take to set-up and shoot the remaining scenes and shots.

Day Eight

Today started off well as we began the shooting of the last scene of the film. Weather seemed well since the rain should not fall until tomorrow. However, halfway through the afternoon it just all of a sudden began to pour! We all had to run out and begin covering equipment, electrical boxes, and the lighting instruments. It was quite an adventure. I'm excited to see the film and see how well we made it appear like a transition from day to night when we were actually filming day scenes at night, night scenes during the day, and even had thunderstorms and construction work making sounds in the background. Always an adventure. . .

It was a beautiful last scene! I am excited to see how the director finally decides to end to film and to see it edited together. We did several different possible endings and while I have a favorite, any decision the director makes will be so powerful! I am amazed at this script with the wonderful story that Barta Heiner wrote, the adaptation Tom Russell made for film, the design of of the director of photography, and the editing that will be done during post-production. This is one of the most amazing projects I have been able to work on. It will be sad to end, but also a relief to rest. I worked twelve hours today, from noon to midnight. I'm constantly learning new things, but I still wish I knew how to help with the lighting design. It's not really spoken as design, but to know where each light should be placed and how it needs to look on the actor. I'm still trying to transition over from theatre to film, it's difficult to see the slight changes the light has on skin tones and it is based mostly off the f-stop and other photography based information. It's been a few years since I've worked with a camera. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to learn enough to truly be confident in taking control when the key grip has to leave on another errand. There is so much to know when working with lighting for the theatre and film. I just prefer to work as a technician, but it is a wonderful feeling to know that I helped to assist in design.

Blessings Galore . . .

At times, it is hard to truly believe that I am really significant enough to have so many wonderful opportunities given to me. I just do what I am use to and what I've learned from my parents. I put my best in the work that is in front of me, I can never stand still if something needs to be done, and I will help anyone who asks. It doesn't seem like my actions should really be blessing me with such amazing opportunities. What makes me any different then others? But I know that Heavenly Father has blessed me with the talents I have and have given me the passion for technology - especially pertaining to the theatre and film industry - for a reason. I have seen a glimpse here and there of how I have been a part of spreading His gospel to the world. Every performance I do with a dance team is bringing the spirit to the audience. This film that I am working on is going to an amazing presentation of the early testimony of church members. With the Stadium of Fire, my example of living causes my friends to ask me questions about my beliefs so they better understand why I live the way I do. I am so glad for the many opportunities I am given and I thank Him every day. Today, I not only think of my upcoming trip to China, but I learned that though the film, I am getting credit and a scholarship for spring term. It touches me so much to know that the work I do - that seems so minimal - is seen as very important and having such a great impact on the people I work with. At times, I wish I could put so much dedication in academic studies as I do as a technician, but I am so proud of who I am. I cannot ask for everything so I will stick with my passion with theatre and film. My world evolves around it and I put all my love into the work I do. It will be difficult to pull away from it, but it will be a lucky man who can capture and hold my heart from the grasps of theatre and film.

China Roommate Assignments

Today, I got an email about roommate assignments for China. I'm quite excited about it. I'll have eight different rooming assignments and I know two of the dancers really well, while I get to learn more of the others while we room together. It's always fun to have roommates on tour. What I'm really surprised about is that because we are an odd number of girls, at least one girl has no roommate for each assignment and I happen to have no roommates while we spend six days in Beijing - at least according to the schedule now, which does change a lot while we are on tour. I thought that was exciting. It's sad being alone, but we're all room neighbors so I'll make sure to join the random "gatherings" - aka. parties - that go on in the other rooms until it's time to go to sleep.

AHHHH . . . CHINA . . . I can't believe I will be leaving for China in 30 days, 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 16 seconds. (Yes, I have a countdown on my computer that I look at every day. It's unrealistic. It was amazing to have gone to seven different countries in Europe last year, but China always seemed like an impossible dream - which is now coming true!! Not only that, I'll be a part of the opening ceremonies of the Cultural Olympiad in Beijing! It's truly AMAZING!!! I am so blessed! I am constantly thankful for the talents I have been given and the blessing of being able to work with the BYU Dance Department . . . and especially to be with the BYU Ballroom Dancers. They are so amazing!! I love them all!

Day Seven

Wow . . . am I already on day seven? Time flies way too fast. Well, we were ahead of schedule for the whole afternoon and we had two more scenes to do after dinner. We were hoping to be finished by 8:30pm, but one of the scenes ran into some camera issues - because we were using a dolly so a lot of different factors had to go into it. That took about an hour and a half to finally finish. Matt - the key gaff - fell asleep on the bed and I had to finally wake him up when his heavy breathing was in risk of being captured on the boom mic. I couldn't help but laugh. I was just waiting for him to start snoring. But I was so worn out, I wanted to catch some sleep too. Well, we finally finished at 10pm, so that is another 10 hours of work. Tomorrow, it will be longer because it is the filming of the last scene and it is the last of the long scenes in the script. When we finish tomorrow, there are just small scenes to shoot and it'll be time to start traveling away from the cabin and even go off-site. I'm excited!

The pictures above are from yesterday's shoot. I guess if I liked pictures, I could get in more, but I never did like how I look in them. There were 239 images posted and I was in 2. There was a possibility of a third, but I was not standing on stable ground and I don't like to stop what I'm doing for a picture. It would've been good though. Oh well . . . moving on.

Day Six

Well, I learned a very interesting fact today. Apparently, it takes at least 45 minutes to walk from my apartment to the Motion Picture Studio. I really wanted to take a walk, and it was a nice day today. So, I started from my apartment, dropped off some books at the Provo Library, then walked to MPS. I was still early for call, too. It's an adventure to go to work at the film shoot. It's always full of surprises to hear what different conversations come up. I was so tired today because it was a noon call and we worked until 10pm. I prefer starting at 8am because I am up with the sun. There are two more days inside the cabin until we have to begin traveling to other areas in Little Kirtland and even going over to Missouri Town to shoot some town square scenes. I am getting tired, but work hours are less since we need to leave MPS before midnight and we don't start 'til noon. No more 17hr days for the rest of the week. It may change when we shoot our still frames beginning next Monday, but I don't find it likely. Things are starting to come together. I can't wait to use this experience for another film shoot. Hopefully I can use the contacts and networking I've gained from this production for future films.

Some images of Friday's work day. There are over 280 images taken during that day, and I made it into four - of course I tried to avoid the camera and video camera. Never did care about how I appear on camera, which is why I work behind the camera.

So, half the script is during the night so we've blacked out all the windows and door to make the cabin appear like it is dark outside. We set a few lights outside to make it appear as moonlight, then we are constantly working inside to position the lighting to present candlelight, yet give enough light for film. It is quite an adventure. There are small shifts inside the cabin, but it keeps me busy when I'm in there awaiting for instruction from the DP (Director of Photography).

This next week, we don't have call time until noon, so I can rest more, however that would mean that work hours will go later into the night. Hopefully it doesn't go past midnight. We'll see how it is tomorrow. We should be halfway through the filming, although I can't see how. I think the rest are just shorter scenes and still images. Eight more days left of shooting! Wow does time fly. I am so glad for this opportunity and can't wait to see what else awaits me. I really hope I can work with Tom Russell again. He is a great director!

Day Four & Five

Well, on Thursday, the work load was only for ten hours as we were able to get off before seven. That was a nice change! I was able to spend time afterwards with my mom and sister before heading home for some much needed rest. However, on Friday, we began work at 6am so we could avoid working on Saturday. We worked so long, we were given lunch and dinner - meaning we worked at least six hours before each. We didn't finish working until 11pm, so I put in almost 17 hours today. It was exhausting! Every once in a while I tried to get a short nap in, but it was more like resting the eyes for five minutes while they shot a scene. It was fun! The director is a great guy who can always make us laugh and we are all friends. One thing I have been noticing is how everyone likes to break out in song. Not like a musical, of course, but a person will sing a few lines of a popular song and it gets such in everyone's head. One day, I am going to count how many songs are sung in a day. We just go through so many. Some go with something a person said, while others are from popular films, yet some are so random. We sang a song from The Grinch today! Two days ago, I thought I heard someone hum the lullaby from Pan's Labyrinth. There is never a dull moment inside the cabin when the director, 1st assistant director, and director of photography are together. They are so fun to be around.

An interesting event that occurred today was after strike when we were returning the equipment to store in a building. Due to poor weight distribution, uneven ground, a sharp turn, and speed, we had two out of the four carts fall over. To imagine this, we have an equipment train that begins with an ATV that pulls a short trailer, lighting cart, cart with crates that hold different equipment, cart of sandbags, and a cart of odds and ends. So, every night the Key Gaff and I drive it to the building to store and I keep track of everything staying on the carts. I have always feared that the lighting cart will fall because we over weigh one side with cables. Today, it proved true as we took a turn and it toppled, taking another cart with it. I saw it go down so I called out a "WHOA" to get him to stop to avoid any extensive damage. Thankfully, we noticed nothing wrong with the equipment, just the trailers itself need to be re-welded. We'll find out Monday if anything else occurred. When the carts fell, two cars of crew members came over because apparently my shout was heard quite clearly across MPS and the fact that it was followed by crashing sounds, it couldn't have been a good thing. I didn't realize I shouted it so loud. I just wanted to get the ATV stopped before anything else occurred. Oh well, we did get four extra people to help put everything to rights.

So, I am loving the film shoots but I am so glad it is Friday and I can rest for the next two days before we begin the next week. We did finish a long scene today and five out of the thirteen days are completed. The film material looks amazing and I can't wait to see how it will look after post-production. I am so excited for this film! And I can watch it and remember every scene - don't worry, I don't think it will be that easy to tell because things look a lot different on camera then it does in the actual cabin. I'm surprised at the possibilities of technology. It's amazing!! I love being a tech!!