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Friday, July 13, 2007
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Then came the trial by fire. Our pros pointed out some weaknesses in our script. We took the criticism with a pinch of salt at first, but after much debate, WE decided to SCRAP THE SCRIPT. Time was running out. It was two days before shooting of another script, "A Sticky Affair", conceived by our pros. This was the most trying part of TPP. To overhaul the script and improve it. To balance off the conflicting points of view and the conflicting styles of working. All the while trying to get into the head of a suicidal girl for the script. Things looked dire. We felt like shit. There were fears the team would fall apart. There were fears the main character's depression was rubbing off on us. I took the team out of the building to trash out our issues. We poured out our feelings to each other. We prayed desperately. We emerged with a new determination to finish what we started. What God started. and thankfully... we emerged with friendships not merely intact, but strengthened.  so began the first shoot, where i learnt the ropes as an assistant director. That box of colourful thing-ies are gels for lighting. I learnt to hate dragging that around. Cos you'll never know which you'll need, so just bring all. At this point, the "shoes anonymous" script and storyboard was still not out *sweats*.  "A Sticky Affair" was a comedy about chewing gum addiction. Unfortunately it rubbed off on more than a few of us. The spare props were soon eaten. We were given 48hours shooting time for our flicks. Our scripting ate into shooting time. We had 30hours shooting time left. Let the shooting begin!  You know how everything looks perfect on screen? well, off-screen... looks like an illegal sweat shop. smells like one too...  Terri our sound.. woman! looks like she's reporting from some disaster area.  was so engrossed i didnt know sum1 was gg ard snappin pics  fortunately, it makes me look vaguely glam... hahahha!  It was 8pm at nite. We needed a day shot. So we tweaked the lighting with a lil movie magic, making a warm morning-ish effect. By the time we were done with lights, it was 12am! Time for action already! Slept 3 hours that nite.  rise and shine. All set for the soccer shot. But we needed mud! Miraculously, Dan's fren lived in the shooting location, providing a bucket of water on extremely short notice. He came and disappeared mysteriously like the wind.  imagine trying to film a running soccer player with this crew attached to you.  all the while, Josel hovers around, hoping to catch a blooper on film.  next stop: rooftop scene  a view to die for  dark foreboding clouds drift in  josel(staff) and Li Ling(producer)  Joce(star) and Dan(gaffer) mucking about  it was hot, i was on a concrete roof and on a tight schedule, thus visibly exasperated.  But it was a real joy cos God provided the PERFECT WEATHER to shoot! Dan looks like he's posing for a Ministry of Education poster. "I can do anything, if you TEACH me how!"  inspirational wallpaper anyone?  Back for the room shots. Marcus mopes about his uneven tan.  everyone is dying. 4 hrs shooting time left. final sprint.  some of us are dying in weirder ways than others  Looks like joce is picking for ticks. at 0015hrs... we declared "ITS A WRAP!". truly orgasmic moment. Next stop: EDITING!!! *scary dramatic music fills the air* I see dead people. I was one of them.  Josel editing the behind-the-scenes shots.  Hui Hui, Production Assistant from "Showhand"  Marilyn, our diligent editor.  Joann composed music for "Showhand" ALL BY HERSELF!! i wish i was so skilled.  Dan and Marcus, my dedicated cinematographers, in intense discussion.  then they notice the camera, and reverted to their true selves.  andrew, star of "A Sticky Affair", playing around on drums  John n Pam Gaither. They came over from USA, and hope to do a "Parable Project" back home too  new and innovative ways to snooze with all the gloom around the office, I attempted to liven things up by showing the youtube video "Indian Thriller with lyrics". It drove everyone's fragile sanity over the edge. Marilyn is still traumatized. Rajan laughed to tears. I have officially introduced Indian Thriller to the Campus Crusade for Christ. I am such a positive influence. Even this late into production, i struggled, wondering if i was really the right guy God chose. I felt extremely unworthy. All through the thing, i had to make big decisions and stick to them or risk wasting time. I was called a dictator for the first time in my life. Finally my decision to audition a narrator for "Shoes Anonymous" would make or break the whole thing, and i was terrified of making it. I wanted God to make the decision. I wanted to flip a coin. But God said... he trusted my decision. It was like, a huge weight on my shoulders just disappeared. I chose Jiet Sie to narrate, poaching her from her directing duties at "Showhand" , for awhile. Finally the pieces came together, after cutting and chopping, we took 6mins and 45sec from our entire shoot of 2hrs worth of film. Check out our films under the "Music and Movies" section of my blog!(includes "Indian Thriller with lyrics") or visit http://www.wideangleproductions.blogspot.com/ (includes a short write-up on what is WideAngleProductions)
ian wong beats around the bush@
5:20 PM
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