Dawn of the Dragon

So, there's not much to report this time around, since some of our actors were occupied over the weekend. 

After still more of the series staple, walking...

 

We shot the first half of the dragon scene under stormy skies, somewhat unusual for late June, but then this IS Oregon. However, I think the dramatic effect speaks for itself...

The frames for the village huts were also put up, (once again, in the rain,) and a few other costuming bits and pieces were completed, not the least of which being Cylavar's cloak and prosthetic molds.

 By the time you read this, we will probably be heading out to the quarry to finish the second half of the dragon scene. Until next time!

Day... One.

Mulan reference aside, this was our first week of shooting, well two days in, anyway, and it's been quite the ride. More logistics to be juggled than any of the previous projects, what with more extras/stunt guys, makup and prosthetics, costumes and weapons, and the general entertainment of transporting people into the backwoods. That and my team seems to be accident prone almost to the point of comedy, with everything from breaking a spear before the shoot even starts, to someone else walking into the tip of said spear pre-break. Oh, and someone stabbing himself in the hand with a knife while it's in someone else's belt... Fortunately they suffered no serious injuries. That might all sound really bad, especially in a low budget production where there's not much wiggle room, but actually everything turned out really well. We have 3 scenes from season 1 in the can, plus two half scenes. (We also shot one from the season 3 script, a flashback, so a teaser for later, perhaps?)

 

Scenes 2 and 3a were shot Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, respectively. Below you can see Kate and Erin running into the fog that separates the worlds...

The fog was generated by our poor man's smoke machine, which works remarkably well, with the exception of the smell...

Below are pictures from the shoot for scene 49a. Ah... family portraits...

 

Well, that's about it for now. We'll keep you updated as the shoot progresses.

Until next time!

Four Days

You heard that right, folks! In a little over four days, we will begin principal photography on Gatewalkers: Season 1. As we hurtle toward the deadline, many threads are coming together at the last minute. We are going into talks for the roles of Cylavar and Aurbren, the elven lords. Costume pieces are stacking up around me at this very minute. My middle sister sits beside me, sewing the sheath for Gwynmareth's knife. Armor has received some final touches, and new locations have been discovered.

 We ran our first reading/practice with Rebecca this week, and she did very, very well. Though now several scenes have acquired new reasons for the actors to burst out laughing on set for no apparent reason. (*cough* jogging scene *cough*)

To be honest, this is chaos. I am a habitually methodical and prepared guy. I have the "if you're not early, you're late" mindset. Yet here I am, mere days away from filming, without all of my actors, or a schedule for the shoot. Oddly enough, I don't feel panicked yet. Sure, I feel the overwhelming pressure that sometimes makes it hard to think, I see all of the projects that have yet to be done, the people we have yet to find, the money we don't have, but I'm not worried. For those who've known me for a long time, especially those who talked with me when Annie's involvement in this project was in limbo, they could tell you that this is not normal for me. I have been, in my life, a natural born fretter. I tend to think too much, and so worry a lot. But not this time. This time I feel at peace.

This last week I was reviewing a track for Othersight that my composer had sent me, and it just so happened to overlap a certain conversation, where Anna says, "Sure it's impossible... but don't you feel, deep down in the core of your being, that this is what you were meant for?" That's where I am right now. This whole thing looks so daunting, and no sane person would attempt it, but this is what I've been called to do, this is my mission, so it will be done.

Thanks for reading. Next week, our first update from the set!

Hauling Together

 Another week, another cascade of business. For example, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons all had stunt meetings, ramping up to the big one on Sunday, with 17 people present. Rebecca also came in to learn the Medieval Combat 101, and did quite well in the four hour session.

There's been a definite focus on leather-working, with helmets and boots taking most of the time.

We've also been working on the feel of Savara's costume, since the chainmail finally arrived.

That's the armor, anyway. The under tunic will be different. 

New contacts are being made, so things might really take off in the next week and a half.

Last, but most certainly not least, we have finally cast Gref! We are proud to welcome Silas Hart as the newest member of our cast. (Pictures to come later.)

 Well, that's it for our somewhat brief update. Until next time!