Thursday, January 01, 2009

O'Cleary's Shuffle


And again with the space between posts. Although, this one may not be quite as dramatic as the last few,  a month is still a fairly large amount of time.

The shoot in december was soooooo much fun. I got there at 615 in the morning, and we wrapped somewhere around midnight. We got the whole 
thing in the can before the snow (which is still on the ground) flew. It was an absolute blast, and I got to work with some real professionals, which was really good. We shot the project on the RED cam. This camera is AMAZING. It is a digital camera, but the sensor size in it is as big as a frame of 35mm film. So, you get the highest quality image, without paying 1$ + / foot of film (and you're shooting somewhere around 1foot/second). And, the camera is built to take film camera lenses. So, after sitting alone in the parking lot for a few minutes, this huge truck pulls up with this massive trailer, and out pops the gaffer from Heartland. In the trailer: all of Heartlands goodies. We had everything you could want (I say that from a neophyte prospective, but it sure felt like it). Because of this, they could use all the fancy lenses that they used on the Heartland cameras (Arriflex 16mm cameras).

I also got to work with a mixer, which rocked my world, seeing as he had all the toys, and knew all about all the technology, so all I had to worry about was booming, and he dealt with making sure that the sound was going into the camera. SWEET!!!

Also, I am currently in the process of making my own short film. The idea came to me about 5 or 6 years back when a buddy and I were walking through the university, and he said "Man, it would be so awesome to shoot a chase scene through here" and I never forgot it. Now, we're half way through. I think most people on the crew (myself included) didn't quite know what they were getting themselves into on the shoot - we've got camera dollys (the moving cart from the fish store), steady-cams (the 9.50$ DIY version that I made out of black pipe), two cameras (little cam-corders that our parents own), and about six bounce cards (lids from lobster boxes from work). All in all, it's pretty epic. I have just about died. Twice. While Adam is a very proficient athlete, his dolly operating skills did just about send me into a bank of lockers, and a wall. I have just about lost several friends. I have just about exploded from stress. I have come close to calling it quits on the shoot. But, somehow, it has magically come together. I am soooooo greatfull to everybody who has come out to support this crazy idea. It's been an absolute blast, and I'm really looking forward to finishing it. Thanks again to anybody who has worked on it, and who is reading this!!!!!!

AND, the pièce de résistance:

I GOT THE FEATURE FILM IN JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On christmas eve, I got an email basically telling me that I didn't get it because they needed someone who could do every single day and all that. Then, last night, I get this panicked text from the producer telling me that there's been some confusion about availabilities, and that now they need me to do it!

It's really awesome, and I'm like, 99% sure that it will work with my schedule. The only things that will determine whether or not it will, is what my profs at school think, and - my boss. 

It will be nice quitting the fish market. And, I'm not quitting, I'm moving on - to bigger and better things. I really hope that Bryan understands. It's been a blast working for him, and I like to think that we maintained a fairly decent relationship throughout my career there. 

Other than that, I'm headed up to Banff tomorrow. Erik and I. Should be fun. I've been wanting to get up there for sooooooooo long. Ahh, how I crave the Eggs Benedict from Chez François. Ahh, the feeling of slowly sinking myself into the hot pools, with the frigid winter air above me. Spending time with Erik will be awesome as well. Perhaps I can get him to teach me a thing or two about taking a half decent picture :P

In other news, I want a girlfriend. Someone to snuggle up with. Someone to be romantic with. Someone to hangout with. Someone who wants to hang out with me. Somebody who likes to do crazy things. Oh, and she's going to be reeeeeeeeeeaally pretty. 

Anyways, that's all. I'm leaving at 830 tomorrow, so I had best be off. 

Happy new year to everyone, all the best, and we will talk soon.

John