Well, I almost have the set complete. It's taken some time but I'm cruising down the homeward stretch now and it feels great. I still have another, rather complicated set, to build. That one might do me in but we'll see. I need to tackle it soon or it won't be complete in time.
I'm meeting a couple of prospective actors this week. Hopefully, I'll fill the roles I need to fill within days, not weeks, since principle photography begins in weeks, not months. But I need who and what I need so we'll see about that, too. I feel upbeat about everything. Things happen when I need them to happen, things fall into place when I need them to fall into place. It's usually that way, not always, but usually. It helps eliminate the stress factor.
My DVX tapes arrived from Austin a couple of days ago, so I'm set to roll. I might have to order a few more tapes toward the end of the production but that's not an issue. My budget remains minute and I'm doing all I can to stay within a basic framework of needs.
My good friend, Thomas Berrios, will arrive on the scene from South Florida during the last week of July. He'll be spending at least a week at the house. I'll spend a day briefing him on the movie, maybe collect a few outtakes here and there and hopefully we'll get the camera honed on the lead actor the following day. I have yet to make a detailed & specific shot list and schedule but am in the process.
I'm just about to lock my script. There comes a time when you have to lean back, stretch, exhale loudly and proclaim, "This thing is finished!" That time is right around the corner.
I'm a realist. I know there will be obstacles in the path of productivity. But I'm really looking forward to getting the gears turning again. It's been too damn long since I produced anything. Each obstacle is just an ingredient in the overall recipe of a particuliar independent filmmaking project. The desired end product has to be burned into your brain so nothing, large or small, can detour you from that result.
If filmmaking were easy, anyone could do it.
