Greetings students, and welcome blah, blah, blah.
I have just returned from Connooga down in Chattanooga and
once again I seem to have overdid it just a little. After a late start, we get
there at the show a bit on the late side. So we check in, drop off our clothes
and start for the parties. I take the time to check out one area and find some
of our friends and acquaintances. Because I didn’t have my badge yet, I
couldn’t get into the leather and lace show to see Alex Del Monacco in action.
( let that be a lesson to you folks. ) I was able to catch up with my peeps for a few
more parties. Were it got really strange was I lost my group and found Billy and
Heather Tacket at their Upper floor hotel room. I talked to them for a few and
decided to call it quits for the night. Back at the room I found my peeps already
in bed. ( its usually me who calls it a night first.)
Saturday morning arrives and I drag my tired butt up. Clean myself off and head
to the convention site. Starting the process of registration and getting the table
ready. George joins me a little later. We fix up the table and start conning. George
takes off for breakfast with Dave. While I work on the little things. Getting to know the
neighbors and having some fun with our friends up and down the aisle. I have to say
High here for those next to us. Hello to the Chattanooga Roller Girls and
Warsport 2041. We just met them and they are both some fine bunches of folks.
I get relieved around noon and I off for breakfast. I invited Alex along. She thought
about it and showed up later with Kayla Perkins. ( Can you feel the envy ?) Lunch with
2 very lovely ladies. We separate after lunch. I had to make my own costume change.
Back to the table where I relieved George and got to talk with Tucky Williams.
( Insert Breathless sigh here)
And continued working until its time for our seminar.
The seminar was a little less organized then we usually are. WE were all over the
discussion map in my own humble opinion. But we had some fun out of it. Then
we had an hour for a quick bite and made our way over to the Hell-ephone showing.
We had a few people there and a quick rush over to the filmmaker forum.
and the laughs started as soon as we arrived. (Was my fly open ?) They even had me
get up on the dais with everybody else. That went well
and we even got out and hour earlier. Party time came early. ( memory deleted
to protect the sanity and the innocence of others from here.)
Sunday arrives , and the packing starts. I get my stuff fixed up ready to go and then
its off to the table. That gives David and George time to wake up and pack and fill
up the van. I try to hustle a few more dollars, ( and I did too.) Said some good-byes and
then the mad rush to put the table. A few hours later we are back in town and I grab my
much needed stuff and let everything else sit. The Headaches still have not gone away.
I got some nice pix. met a few new people. Messed around with some friends, Started the
conversion of a producer in to a STEAMPUNK Cosplayer and
generally had a pretty good time. God I love this stuff.
And that is my story for this show. Thanks for Connooga to having us. Those whose
parties we went to and didn’t kick us out. Our friends , and those whose names are
withheld to protect their identity. See you at Dark Woods.
Ah, I see you have returned. Welcome back. Let me update you
on the latest from Santa Vs. the Zombies.
We have just spent a day doing about 7 pages of script. This is including 3 pages
where the actors did it cold. More drama in the bunker. Twist and turns alike. I swear
You need a scorecard to see who is aligning with who. Of course It looks like Dr.Tyrone
has slipped out again to survive another day. Mwaa ha hah ha. No gunfire
on this day but the drama, the drama.
And now we turn our attention to some up and coming events. First off
we have to mention that our make up artist Lyz will be at the Derby City Festival and
she will be doing a make up seminar. Check it out.
Unfortunately I will be unable to make it because George and I will be going to
Connooga in Chattanooga Tennessee. There will be several of the Cohorts in crime
there. Including Alex Del Monacco. Billy Tackett, Kayla Perkins , and Jason Crowe.
Just to name a few.
Along with Connooga a couple of other shows are coming up very, very fast. There is a
relaxicon in Bowling Green whose name does escape me. ( For Now! ha ha ha) and
Dark Woods Con in Pikeville Ky. With at least a couple of other shows on the horizon.
Now back to live action. The military side of Santa is coming along very well. But soon
we have to start work on the house side. Then we start seeing the Xmas spirit take on the
undead. (I have $25.00 riding on the undead.)
I am out for now. Will give out a connooga report soon. Stay warm and be safe. ( or at
least sanitary.)
Greetings from down in the bunker. We just shot another fun and fabulous
bunch of pages from Santa Clause Vs. the Zombies. We worked under an
extraordinary magnitude of conditions this week. We’ve had snow, rain, freezing
rain, and it was so darn cold I felt it thru my skivvies. ( 2 points if you know what
the skivvies are.) This week we have zombies, airstrikes, heavy tension, and
gunfire. Oh the dangers we faced. We had a great time in the bunker. We really
put the set to work. I think over all this was one of the better and much more
complicated set we have ever had.
Now I think I need to say something about using guns on set. This is mainly for
the small independents out there. BE CAREFUL!!! I can not stress this enough.
Even prop guns can kill. ( Brandon Lee anyone?) Please make sure the guns are
used under very strict supervision. Someone who knows more than pull the trigger
and stay behind the barrel. Always have just one person be in charge. That person
will be the one who hands them out , load the gun , and take it away. If that person
sees someone handling the weapon in an unsafe manner. Then he should take it
away as fast as possible. If at all possible, use totally fake , non working props.
The technology today make it possible for gunfire to be easily simulated with editing
software. Even moving around with the weapons can risky to your health. If you are
transporting. them. It would be a smart idea to place them in a box and keep it out
of sight. You do not want to be walking downtown with a sub machine gun under
your coat or running about with it in your hands. Its a fast track to get your butt in jail
or in the grave. Just as important, if you are ever confronted by the police while
holding one, DROP IT!!! Keep your hands away.This can never be stressed
enough for the small Indy film maker.
Now that is enough of that. I have to say big props to Liz and Dori, and George
on the make up job they did. They once again prove how creepy little school
kids can be. Its too bad we can’t post the pics just yet. Bwaa ha ha ha!
And even though we have pretty much a whole new crew for this
film. I believe it has melded to together better and faster than previous films.
My two cents worth.
Now we have to wade thru 2 more snow storms this week. So it shall be
interesting on getting people together for the next shot. Plus, a movie that looks
flat out freaking awesome is the new version of THE WOLF MAN. I can’t wait.
We have a little tradition here at ZP. At this particular number on the clapboard
we usually have a little celebration. so YAYYYY.
Ok , I said there will be another update. We had a zombie on the set. I won’t be
saying what scene we did. ( on threat of a good beating ) But it did involve some
scientist in it. I did a scene with the President and I have to say the zombie looked
pretty darn good.
Now, I did say something from the last blog about schedules. This bit goes
for both the actors and directors. If an actor wants a part in a movie then great.
He may beg and plead to a director for a long time wanting a part in his film. But
please make sure that you will be available for the movie. If you get the part and have
to constantly bow out of the scene because you can’t make it for some reason or
another. Then you shouldn’t have that part. Now sure things in life do happen.
Inclement weather, death, sinkholes and the like. The director will understand.
But if you can’t make just because you can’t get a ride for the shots that you are
needed on, job troubles and the like. Don’t take the part!!
If you can’t show , then it makes trouble for the director, other cast members,
the crew. It might screw with getting the location again.
For the directors , ask your actors about their schedules. Make sure that they can
make it. If you have to call off the scene more than 3 or 4 times because of one
actor. Then you have a decision to make. Either carry on as is or make the
choice to cut and/or replace that actor. Sometimes it has to be done. Hopefully
if you have to reshoot, you can just film the area where that actor was and not the
whole entire scene.
Sometimes you can get away with an actor not being there. You might just
film the group together and shoot close ups for the dialogue. Then you
add in the close up of your missing actor. I have seen it done. And it can work.
Now ZP Productions has some shows coming up.
Connooga in Tennessee, Concave in Kentucky and DarkWoods Con also
in Kentucky. We should also be attending the Full Moon Horror and Tattoo
show in Tennessee. This looks to be a good one. It is put on by our
friends Ben and Stacy Dixon.
I think that should do it for this little get-together. Whether your are on the top
of the heap or the bottom of the pack. I hope to see you at the shows.
Till next time.
Ok , My head is starting to clear up. Its been a bit fuzzy since
filming began. We have shot our first scene of Santa Vs The Zombies!
Its been the first time I have been to the studio since Hell-ephone
wrapped up. And I must say, the sets look great. The Military side
of the set is fan-damn-tastic! I revised my role of Dr. Tyrone for this
film. But I still had to help with an inexperienced cameraman. ARRGH,
double duty??!! It can be a killer. So I am one of about 3 doctors along
with a host of Military and the president. That is all I can really say.
( Anymore and George will probably beat me.)
It was great seeing some old faces back on the set. Some folks
got bumped up in position while others went sideways. ( Actors stay
where they are. ) We should start some Zombies scenes pretty soon,
I wonder how they will turn out?
New scene coming up. Next week another update and a talk
about schedules.
:: Next Page >>