Updated: 5/26/2003

PICTURE FINISHED!!! Final Production section update.

Okay, so the sound process and visual effects took some serious concentration and this web site was all but forgotten. SIX MONTHS from the last update. Wow, it hardly seems that long to me, but I guess a half a year has gone by. Not very sporting of me, I admit, but here's the good news: the film is finished.

What does this mean? Well, it means that screenings and festivals are just around the corner. I hope I'll see you at one! As of today, there are none scheduled but several in the works. I'll let you know.

In summation of the last six months, the post production sound design and mix went very well. A tremendous THANKS is owed to all the people at Universal Studios where much of the sound work was done. I did all the sound editing and design on my home computer, using Nuendo, and recorded and mixed all the elements at Universal Studios including ADR (2nd photo), Foley (mixer, walkers), some Effects, and ultimately the final FILM MIX.

Although I did use one track from The Hillbilly Gypsies, most of the music was written and recorded by Cliff Wagner and his band The Old #7. The music was supervised and score composed by fabled film composer, and friend, Michael Cohen. Seriously folks, our music is a highlight of the entire project. It was my extreme pleasure to be a part of the creation and recording of the entirely original music. It is really awesome. I'll put some sampling on the main pages.

In the meantime, our certification from the American Humane Association came in. Which is nice.

After that, I bought a new computer and went headlong into Visual Effects. All the visual effects work was done using Adobe After Effects. I got some good advice from various people, but in the end I did it all myself, and within two months I finished all of the nearly two-dozen effects shots. Some were hard, some were not, and all-in-all I learned more about DV codecs than I really wanted to.

The last thing to do was color correction. Special thanks to Alan Starbuck for his help with this. With tremendous help from cinematographer, Luke Hutton, color correction was wrapped last week. I walked out with my master tape on Friday afternoon. And that's all she wrote.

Luke recently shot his thesis film project too. It's called 6% Chance of Sun, many of our crew (including myself) worked on Luke's shoot. It was a really enjoyable experience, I'm sure we'd all agree, and I for one can't wait to see it! Oh, Luke finally got married to. Congratulations to Luke and Sam!

This is the final update for the "production section" of this web site. Although I didn't update it as often I had hoped, it still serves as a testament to the hard work that all of us did on completing this project. (Here are the final film credits!) I hope to see everyone at screenings this summer and off into the future. Ciao!

-Matt Flanzer

10/21/2002

PICTURE LOCK and SOUND POST

Wow, has it really been FOUR MONTHS since I last updated this site? Well, my apologies, but we've been busy. In summation: I went to West Virginia where I produced a new short film project, written and directed by our producer/editor, Maria Brenner. It is called Remembering Bob It's a story about a boy, a pig, and a second chance at compassion. It was a fun production. We were on the local news, too. Upon my return, Maria and I dove into picture editing for The Dishwasher Principle in full force. We picture-locked about two weeks ago.

Since then, I've been into the Post-Sound phase of the project. I'm also doing some picture effects editing in parallel such as titles, compositing, and other nifty effects. The Sound work is starting to ramp up to full steam, too. Please welcome Mike Cohen to the crew. Mike is a friend and film music composer. He will be composing the score for the film as well as helping me arrange all the music!

The music is being composing and recorded by a genuine bluegrass band, The Hillbilly Gypsies. Trae, Jamie, and the group are excited about the project.

The sound editing is being conducted at home and at studios in Los Angeles - wherever I can sneak in, basically. I'm doing a pre-dialog mix on my home system using Nuendo. Here's a screenshot.

ADR is scheduled for this Thursday from 2-7 pm at Universal Studios. All of our cast should've been contacted by this time (If you haven't heard from me, please call!). Hopefully that one session will be enough. I look forward to the experience.

Finally, as a last update to the website. I have a lot of new production photos, courtesy of Adam Curcio. I have higher resolution copies available if you're interested.

6/11/2002 Post Production Has Begun!

First let me send everyone a GIANT THANKS for everyone hard efforts in production. Everyone gave 100% of themselves under what were not always the easiest conditions. I especially thank everyone who journeyed away from home and into the desert with us. We survived and the results are phenomenal. Please accept my gratitude and be pleased with your accomplishment.

A partial production crew list is now online. If I forgot someone, please let me know.

We're now into Post Production big time. I wish I had time to make a complete day-by-day recount of production, but unfortunately I do not. Principle photography commenced Wednesday, May 22, at about 7 P.M. just about an hour later than scheduled. It seems that each day was just a little bit behind, but we did manage to get what we needed, and after seeing 9 sunrises (enough for a lifetime) the film is in the can.

Tomorrow, Maria and I will begin logging and capturing the footage to the production's new 120GB hard drive. I'll try to select a few frames to put up on the pages and begin working on a trailer as quickly as possible. Maria will begin the picture edit in its own-right, as Lesh and I both start working on the music for the film. We're a long way from finished!

Here are a few production stills. More will be forthcoming.

LOST AND FOUND: One Vivitar point-and-shoot camera, left on the RV.

5/18/02 FINAL PREPRODUCTION UPDATE

Okay, folks. This is the final update to these web pages before we go into production. We begin on Wednesday, May 22. Call time will be 5 pm. Everything is going very well and we're all very busy. I have so much THANKS to disperse to everyone busting their butts.

There is a tech scout to the Diner, Interior, tomorrow (Sunday, May 19) at 2:00 P.M. All necessary personnel, please show up at the location: Omelets"N" Things. 8336 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Canoga Park. 91304. Here's a map. It's North on the 101, exit Topanga Canyon Blvd. Go right on Topanga. It's on your right in a strip mall, next to Denny's, after a few miles.

There's a whole lot of new information up here now, so I'm just going to list it:

And AWAAAAY we go!!!

This guy needs a home. If you know anyone who will have him/her, contact Maria.

5/4/02

all right - aren't we swingin'!!

First, happy day-after birthday to my brother, Doug. He turned 28 yesterday.

Next, the big news - we've pushed our start day a bit. The production now begins on May 22nd. We will be running until May 31st now. Basically, we've pivoted - moved our first location to the end. We're switching locations, that's why. This also will give all departments more time to maneuver.

Tuesday's production meeting went very well. We went over the design aspects of the entire script. The visualization plan we arrived at a few days before is now online, too. Luke and I also have gone through the entire script by now and have planned out our most difficult shots.

Lesh continues to produce the hell out of this film -- we'll have donated product from several companies, and more than likely, a phat RV for our time in the desert.

Most importantly - we're casted! Friday was our first rehearsal and it went quite well. More are scheduled for early next week. Our beautiful, talented cast is now listed online, too!

Web page updates:

4/23/02

Okay, so casting went very well this past weekend. We auditioned 59 people for our 5 roles and have narrowed it now down to 16. Callbacks will be this Thursday and Friday (4/26 and 4/27). Let me know if you'd like to sit in. Your input is appreciated.

In other news, Lesh and I mailed out 70 letters soliciting donations to our project. This was right before my car broke down which was just before I got a traffic citation. What a Monday!

Today, I'm riding around on my bike. I met with Ellen Schinderman who has come on board as Costume Desinger. Yeah!!! After that meeting, I met with Janae Edwards who will be assisting in Wardrobe as well. Then I got a flat tire. What a Tuesday!

Production design meetings continue. Lesh and I met with Luke and Maria to continue our discussions. Amy and I met also last week in a very productive meeting to go over some design specifics. Amy then later met with Dan to further those discussions.

Okay, so less than one month until we shoot! I think everything is converging nicely!

Web page updates:

One more thing. For those interested, check out this link for an article on a 35mm film lens adapter which we are trying to get for our production.


Casting = hard work.
Lesh and I, sometime this past weekend.

4/9/02

Thanks to everyone who made it to the crew dinner last night. It was yummy!

The big announcement is that our shoot will be May 16 through May 26. Mark those calendars!

Over the last two weeks, lots of progress has been made. Luke and I have been meeting regularly, working our way through the script and coming up with shots. Speaking of script, a new draft is finished! Our producer, Lesh has been very busy working various producing angles and trying to secure those locations.

Other crew spots are filling up. Carolyn Miller has agreed to AD on-set with us; Wes Kobernick and others will be working on production sound; and I'm in touch with a pair of costume designers now.

Falling into the miscellaneous category, here is a calendar for the month of May that may be useful. Once again, our shoot dates are May 17 - 26.

3/15/02

This week was very productive including meetings with Production Designer Amy Montgomery and Cinematographer Luke Hutton. Currently, our best idea for the location would be to shoot interiors at the Farmer's Mkt., exteriors at The Vista, and the Fantasy Woman's house at the Holland Burger. Luke and I will check out the Farmer's Mkt. specifically this week.

Additionally, I submitted the paperwork necessary to obtain Workman's Comp. insurance and to secure the SAG contract.

Updates to the web page include:

3/10/02

Location scouting continues, but we've made some good progress. These pages contain photos from the four location scout outings that Lesh and I have gone on.

12/17 - 12/19 Palm Springs
2/9 - 2/11 Los Angeles
3/4 Inland Empire
3/5 Antelope Valley


All 'bout the Swag
Lesh & I sporting Antelope Valley Film Commission Hats.

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©2002 Matt Flanzer