Jake Gets Paid

In addition to producing and directing a Blue Owl Flick, Ed DuRante is beginning to shoot his first feature film, JAKE GETS PAID, starting this weekend at The Blue Owl. I will be editing the film when I am not either working for cash, taking care of the baby or Gabru, or working on my own projects. More importantly, Ed is planning to shoot every weekend during the month of April, so my main responsibility as editor is to watch the footage early in the week and figure out which cutaways/coverage I am missing that I feel is essential to the story.

That is the plan for the moment. Thinking about it more, we may need to take advantage of the five day break each week better- I should load parts of the footage and edit some sequences to figure out if everything is working.

Baby Update: Week 37

Allison has a weekly appointment with her OBGYN at this stage of her pregnancy. She is still completely closed up so the baby will definitely wait another week. We did, however, find out that Allison tested positive for Strep B, which basically means that she will have penicillin immediately upon arrival at the hospital and every four hours after that. The baby will also have to have the penicillin as soon as she is born. The danger is that my little girl could become infected as she passes through the birth canal. Although this is extremely rare, medicine today is preventive and drugs and prescriptions are it's tools. There should be no side effects for mother or baby, but the positive test definitely complicates the ideal set of circumstances that are needed to give birth naturally, as Allison is hoping for.

After the Dr.'s appointment, Allison went straight to work and wrote up a birth plan. I kind of understand what she wrote, but there is a lot of information and some of it can be confusing. As long as mother and baby survive in good health, I think I will be happy.

Happy Sauce: Thoughts about the Edit

Overall, I am very happy with how Happy Sauce has progressed. For those who have seen the film, the reaction seems to be very positive. Everyone has raved about the lighting, acting, and cinematography, but I still think I can make the film better.

I feel that the beginning and ending work very well right now, but the middle part where the bartender is looking at the man talking on the phone is a little forced. What might not be working are the transitions... from the bartender taking the bottles to the bartender returning them. All I know is that the middle section feels a little forced while the beginning and end feel pretty good to me.

The solution lies in the baby bottles. The man has made such a big fuss about them it is probably best to see them being washed somehow. At the moment, I do not have an answer, but I did shoot enough to edit something together. My goal is to complete the final edit and hopefully mix before the baby arrives.

Big Scare: Don't Use Filevault

Earlier this evening, I was supposed to send Tanya's D.P. a copy of her film SINK to view. When I went to my computer, I could not open the FCP project and was getting a general error. I called one of my work buddies and he told me the project was either an older version of FCP or it was corrupted and I was screwed. I couldn't understand what was going on, and I began checking my other projects, and each one of those had a general error as well. My final edit for my short film PILFERER, which I have been waiting patiently to online cheaply at work, was gone, as well as all 2000 or so photos that my wife and I have taken of each other.

I was on the verge of a complete meltdown.. I wasn't sure what was worse- losing the edit information, the photos, or maybe the thought that it was time for a new computer, but my brain was on the verge of going to a very unhappy place when I remembered I had installed Firevault on my mac to better secure my files. It was my last hope for salvation, and when I tried to turn the security off, my computer of course told me I needed 4000 more gigs to do so.

My computer recommended to delete the trash and make more room on my hard drive, and I began burning backup DVD's of my entire system and deleting to create more space for firevault to shut itself off. Finally, after several tense hours, all my files are now restored. I can open Tanya's project as well as my own. I did not start this blog to bash any products or companies, but I have to warn others about Firevault. It's use of encryption somehow rendered all my important files useless. The lesson learned is to only mess with your computer when you know what you are doing. I'm happy I will be able to sleep tonight. .

Happy Sauce: The First Cut

So I finally made it! This is the final cut of Happy Sauce, for now. Truthfully, there are a few places I would like to go back and see what I can do to make the film even better. If anyone has any comments, please feel free to post them.

Click To Play

Happy Sauce: First Cut Complete

I wound up crashing around midnight last night, only to wake up with great fear this morning at 6 AM. I went straight to the editing machine, churned out a cut by noon, and emailed Petr and Ed a version for some comments. I already spoke with Ed and am now just waiting on Petr's thoughts before I make a final version to go on the Blue Owl Flicks site.

In my opinion, the cut is close... I do need some more time to go through and consider some alternate possibilities but I do not have time to do that tonight. In any event, I am pleased and confident that I was able to edit a version so quickly and make my deadline.

I will post the same version on my blog as well.

Happy Sauce Edit Update 2

After working all day at my paid gig, I met Allison, her aunt, uncle, and cousins in the park. They were playing soccer with the dogs- our dog Gabru and their new puppy Rugby. The uncle I am referring to is none other than Petr, the DP for Happy Sauce. It was very nice of them to visit Allison while I was away at work all day. We had a German/ Austrian dinner at Cafe Steinhof and had a chance to chat further about the film and the footage.

I am now back in the editing chair at home. As I continue to piece together the footage, I realize that maybe I have too much to accomplish by tomorrow evening. I almost forgot that films shot on video have so much more footage than a film shot on film. When you shoot video, there is no concern for wasted film stock and money. Digital tape is so cheap it allows you to shoot everything, including the rehearsals. I am very thankful now that my assistant Sally not only took great notes about each shot but she also slated every new take.

My deadline is officially Monday, but realistically I need to email Ed a cut to post on the Blue Owl Flicks blog Sunday night. I work all day Monday and would rather not have the stress of rushing home and making any final decisions Monday evening. I know I will be finished in time... the task just seems very impossible at the present moment.

Happy Sauce Edit Update

The edit is progressing slowly but surely, and I am working backwards.. I have figured out how I want to end the film... I am using the wide shot when Gabru leaves the bar with a slow push into the baby bottle that the bartender finds behind the counter... I think it looks and feels really nice. Now that I know how I want to end the film I can edit the beginning to build properly to the final moment.

Life Update

The Dr.'s appointment this morning was rather anti-climatic. Both baby and mother are doing great. Allison is not dilated yet, and the baby is facing downwards, but she still needs to move down more for labor. As a result, unless Allison's water breaks unexpectedly, the baby will be in the belly for a couple of more weeks. This is our first baby, and usually the first baby is late. Technically, Allison is now full term at 36 weeks, but she also thinks she will be a week late, or she will go into labor on moving day, whenever that might be.

I worked the late shift at work today, so there will be no HAPPY SAUCE editing tonight. I woke up around 6:45 this morning so we could make the 8:30 am OBGYN appointment, and my power nap was on the subway on my way to work. I will be in full editing mode tomorrow night and Saturday night. The goal is to have the final cut ready by Sunday night.

I will post updates on the status of the HAPPY SAUCE edit.

Baby Photos Chronology

This is the baby at 9 weeks.



This is the baby at 12 weeks.



This is a 3D image when the baby was about 20 weeks.



This is when the baby was about 24 weeks.



This is the image from this morning. This is my girl's head. She is now so big it is hard to tell what is what unless you are either a medical professional or a woman.

Happy Sauce Post Update

I have loaded all the footage but the only thing I have edited is the opening shot, and there is not a whole lot of editing involved. My initial idea of the bartender preparing the drink and then a baby bottle sliding into frame does not work. It feels like the baby bottle gives the story away too soon. Instead, I am cutting to the title "Happy Sauce" as the bartender finishes making the drink. This is the "Happy Sauce" and we are now going to see what happens with it.

I guess I am still thinking how to edit the footage together. It looks fantastic, but with the quick turnaround, I would rather distance myself as much as possible from my initial concept to remain objective through the edit. I will have to edit quickly.. make a lot of decisions, decide if the film is working, and then tweak accordingly. I will still have a cut by Sunday or Monday, as mandated by the Blue Owl Flicks Rules, but I guarantee that it will not be my final edit. Maybe I will be wrong.

Dr.'s Appointment

Tomorrow morning is our 36 week check up with the OBGYN. The Dr. will perform the third and final ultrasound of my baby girl before she is born. It will be interesting to see how much she has grown from the last time we saw her in the womb in late December. The photo is from the 3D ultrasound session.

This appointment is also important because the Dr. will give us a better idea of how the baby is progressing and how soon she might take her first breaths.

New Baby Name

We stumbled across a new baby name today. Last week, I emailed my parents with a new name, Anya. When we spoke to them this morning, my mom pronounced the name Ania. We were both pretty sure Anya was not going to make the cut, but Ania jumped out and grabbed both of us. Ania is of Polish and Slavic origin, and means graceful, or full of grace.

As of right now, we are considering two names: Ania and Saria. My parents are thoroughly against Saria for many reasons, the silliest being that in Hindi, a slight change on the vowel emphasis makes the name mean the steal girders that buildings are made of. That doesn't sound too good to me either, so let's see if Ania is the one. I know the name is not Indian, but it sounds very pretty and it is very unique. I'm curious to see which family member or friend will step forward with an objection.

Wife Nixes 1st spec commercial

When Allison realized that our families would be able to watch the spec commercials in which she was starring, she immediately nixed the first idea. It is unfortunate because I think the first idea was the best. It involved a pregnant woman, trying to be sexy, using some erotic tools to set the mood right. Of course, the woman is destined to fail miserably. Allison was always a little uncomfortable with the idea, even more once she realized that her friends and family would be able to see her. As she is in her 35th week of pregnancy, there is not a whole lot I can do.. if she doesn't want to do it, she doesn't want to do it.

I still think my idea is good and can generate the type of buzz and hype necessary to help me obtain paid directing work. Now I have to do it the old fashioned way - find an actress who is visibly pregnant and willing to pose in front of the camera.

2 MANHATTANS

Here is 2 MANHATTANS directed by Ed DuRante. You can either click on the title or the link below to view the film. I am still trying to figure out how you watch the film directly on my blog.


2 MANHATTANS Directed by Ed DuRante

Blue Owl Flicks: 2 MANHATTANS complete

The first of the Blue Owl Flicks in now available for viewing. Ed DuRante shot first, and his film 2 MANHATTANS is now ready. You can watch it by clicking on the Blue Owl Flicks link under links on my blog. I am trying to figure out how to include the link here, but have come up empty so far.

Expect to see HAPPY SAUCE by next week as well. Remember, all the Blue Owl Flicks must be shot in one day and then edited within two weeks.

Meet Ed DuRante

I worked the late shift today so I will be pretty much be a zombie tomorrow when I go in for a normal day shift. It would be better if I had slept in this morning, but I had a lot to take care of. Most important, I met with Ed to discuss his feature script. We had a really good brainstorming session and I think he might incorporate some of my suggestions into the final script. As the editor, you give your comments and suggestions and then wait to see what the director will come up with. Fortunately, Ed and I have worked together for over 7 years, and we have been able to develop a good working relationship.

Ed is really the only friend I have from film school, and I have been to film school twice, once for undergrad and again for the grad program. I have edited for other fellow students and am still in touch with a few people, but Ed is a friend, and I don't have a lot of friends. We are both directors, but he is an excellent writer and I am an editor, so he has written scripts for me and I have edited films for him. We somehow have similar aesthetics that compliment each other.. we both like to push the envelope and only pursue ideas that we feel are new and present a new spin to an old situation. The funny thing is that when I first moved to New York City to attend NYU, we lived across the street from each other. We never hung out until the next year when I moved uptown.

The Truth about the wife

I mentioned last week that Allison was still doing really well even though she stopped going to yoga. That was not the truth. She is still doing great, but she is ready to deliver the baby and move forward. Ever since we returned from the baby shower she has gone visibly downhill starting with the 33rd week. She is nauseous, throws up every now and then, and isn't really sleeping well during the night anymore, only getting a few hours here and there.

The main issue, in my opinion, is that the belly has become too big and cumbersome to carry around. She needs to be extra careful, do everything slowly, and not over exert herself. She is still a trooper, but it is getting hard for even her to be positive about these last few weeks.

Baby Names

We still haven't come up with a name for our baby girl yet... the problem is that I really want a somewhat unique name for my child. Growing up as the only Rohan in kiddie land had a lot of advantages, but today every third or fourth baby in India seems to be named Rohan. So there probably aren't a whole lot of unique names left.. the trick is to find one that you really like and stick to it.

The frontrunner at the moment is either Saria Karin Sen, or Sariya Karin Sen. The biggest problem with baby names is that everyone wants to know which names you are thinking about, and then they will give you their full opinion. An opinion entails a general thrashing of your names and a presentation of names that your friend really likes. One of my bachelor friends thought Saria sounded like diarrhea while another thinks people will shorten it into Sari or maybe even Sarah.

A few other options we are thinking about are Diya (light), Ashla or Asha, and that's about it for the moment. There are more complicated Indian names as well, but then people in America will really shorten the name just to pronounce it. I have a big book of Indian names that I will begin thumbing through once again, but Sariya is still our favorite.

Upcoming Projects

I am still recovering from the shoot on Sunday. Last night I tried to get some work done and woke up bundled up in my chair. I probably need a few days to rest and clear my head, but the baby is due April 18th. If what I am told is correct, I need to get as much done before then.

I did do something Sunday night. I watched, fixed a title, and then output the final cut of Tanya's film, so I now have time to pursue some of my own projects while I edit Happy Sauce. The final edit is due March 25th which is a pretty quick turnaround for any film. At least it will be over quickly.

I have two spec Mastercard "Priceless" commercial projects that revolve around Allison. The pregnant part plays a huge role, so I only have a few weeks to complete both commercials. I also want to start editing a doc with some footage I shot in India a few years ago, and I will be meeting, discussing, and then editing Ed DuRante's feature which begins shooting in early April.

My goal is to continue to shoot short film, commercial, and music video projects until I obtain paid directing work. I want to shoot one project every month. So far, I am behind the curve. Happy Sauce is only my second project this year, but I am also writing a new feature length script. My goal is to have the script ready in July to show people if either of my short films do well on the film festival circuit.

These are lofty goals, but you gotta aim high.

Happy Sauce Wrapped!!

I was tired when I woke up this morning at 6 am. I really wished I had that extra hour of sleep lost to Daylight Savings Time, but I found a parking spot at 7:30 am in front of the bar. I was able to relax for just a few moments before Ed, the EP and creator of the Blue Owl Flicks series sauntered up with a coffee in one hand and a grip bag in the other.

The shoot was fantastic.. it was a great day. I haven't directed a narrative short for some time, so feeling that on set magic again was really good. Everyone was really helpful and my DP Petr was a true professional. He was super fast, lit the bar well and was always ready to shoot another take. Both Stephen and Walt gave top notch performances, so theoretically I should have all the material to make a decent flick.

The final shot had to be taken by 3 pm, but we were way ahead of schedule and wrapped a half hour before at 2:30. A few of us went to the bar for the obligatory drink, and when I returned home, I took a shower and crashed out on the couch for a couple of hours. The tapes are sitting in a box on my desk in front of me, but I can't watch them back yet. I need at least a one night break from the project. As per the guidelines for the film series, my completed cut is due in two weeks on March 25th. i really should be loading the footage right now.

Happy Sauce Shooting Script

This is the last revision of the script. A few minor things have changed that are not reflected.

HAPPY SAUCE
By
Rohan Sen

INT. BAR - DAY

A pint glass full of ice enters the frame. A bottle of Maker’s Mark flows generously into the glass. Coke, lime juice, and a dash of cranberry are added. A hand reaches out to mix the contents.

SOUND FX: COLLISION AT DOOR.

A baby bottle slides into the frame.

CUT TO:

INSERT TITLE: HAPPY SAUCE

INT. BAR - DAY

FIVE BABY BOTTLES scatter across the bar counter. A man’s hand frantically stacks the bottles in a line on the counter.

GABRU
Please, you got to help me.. I know this sounds crazy but I need you to run these through the dishwasher...

BARTENDER
Sure, buddy, whatever.

The bartender reaches out and grabs a bottle.

BARTENDER (CONT'D)
What are you drinking?

Gabu’s cell phone rings before he can respond. The bartender grabs the baby bottles and walks away.

GABRU
Hey.. I am sorry.. I know I know I am handling it though.... I’m in a cafe.. Yeah they do.. I was surprised myself.. I’m really sorry, why don’t you try and walk her around....

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

The bartender looks at GABRU as he puts the last baby bottle in the speed washer. Gabru continues his fruitless conversation with his wife. The bartender gazes at GABRU, as if remembering an earlier time in his life.

SOUND FX: The short but sharp ring from the dishwasher pierces the air.

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - MOMENTS LATER

GABRU still talks on the phone as the bartender stacks the baby bottles in front of GABRU.

GABRU
Wait, that’s only four.... excuse me.. hey let me go, excuse me...

Gabru’s eyes grow wide, but the bartender interrupts Gabru swiftly.

BARTENDER
It’s okay, brother. I got your bottle right here.

The bartender reaches down and holds up the last baby bottle.

BARTENDER (CONT'D)
This one is for you.

The bartender reaches out and holds it for Gabru to take. Gabru hesitates and reaches for the bottle which is now filled with an exotic liquid. He looks at it, sniffs the top, and sucks on it for a moment. He immediately stands up straight, energized and exuberant.

GABRU
Tutti Frutti! Root, toot, toot.

Gabru dances, glowing with joy. He sucks vigorously on the baby bottle.

GABRU (CONT'D)

Wow.. what was that?

BARTENDER
Oh, I just like to call it my happy sauce.

GABRU
You’re happy sauce, huh?... Well here’s to it. To Happy Sauce. Happy Happy Happy Sauce...

Gabru puts the rest of the baby bottles into his diaper bag and continues to dance sucking ferociously on the baby bottle as he walks out of the bar.

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

The bartender smiles as he watches Gabru leave the bar. He thinks for a moment before bending under the bar. The bartender emerges holding a baby bottle that he carefully unscrews.

SLOW PUSH INTO BABY BOTTLE

The bartender pours a drink into the baby bottle. He puts it in his mouth and sucks away.

FADE TO BLACK.

Film Update

Rehearsals went great with my actors today. We rehearsed on location at The Blue Owl. I can not begin to explain what a luxury it was, and I do not have the time either. I've bought food, snacks, and juices for everyone to nibble on throughout the day and I just went through my house and assembled every item that could be of use on set: clothespins, moleskin pads, the microphone, a backup camera (I've gone this far, don't want anything silly to ruin the shoot), and many other things.

I will give a full update later.

Happy Sauce: Final Preparations

I should probably be more stressed out and nervous about my shoot on Sunday, but I really see no need. I am rehearsing with my actors tomorrow and any further adjustments can only be made after that. Tomorrow night will definitely be very busy. I expect to alter the script, the storyboards, and shot sheet slightly. A film is an evolving process... someone once told me that if your film doesn't change slightly from script to final product you are making a mistake. I find this philosophy a good compliment to my creative process. I like to feel out the shots and the action and my best ideas are often spur of the moment reactions to complications I did not initially foresee.

A good example is the evolution of the opening scene in Happy Sauce. I initially thought it would be a montage of shots of a bartender preparing the "Happy Sauce" which is interrupted when a man stumbles through the door with bags of newborn baby products. The more I thought about this the more lame the idea became. I somehow realized the baby bottle had to be the focal point of the interruption and thought a pan from the drink being prepared on the counter to a baby bottle sliding towards camera would do the trick. When I mentioned this to Petr he suggested a static frame and the baby bottle slides into frame. I really liked this idea and decided that it would be strongest if the opening was only one shot- a high angle shot as a glass of ice is put in the center of the frame. The ingredients are added, and just as the bartender is about to shake the concoction, there is an offscreen thump, the bartender drops the spoon or shaker, and a baby bottle slides into frame in front of the pint glass. For me, I think this is a strong opening shot - from drink to baby bottle.

As I rehearse with my actors tomorrow, there will be moments, words, and actions within the scene that need adjustments. Many times, I might not have a solution until after the film has been completed, but my only objective is to try my best. Sometimes you have to make a wrong decision to gain the experience to make a better one in the future. As I said, film is an evolving process.

Pilferer Rejected

My short film PILFERER was rejected from the Tribeca Film Festival. It is Pilferer's first rejection, and definitely not the last. I actually thought the film would get in based on it's vivid shooting style in the streets of Manhattan, but obviously I was mistaken. It is never a good feeling when your film or idea is rejected by anyone, but I know I just have to get used to it and apply to more festivals.

Wife Yoga Photo

I posted a photo of Gabru, so I thought it is only fair to showcase my beautiful wife Allison. We like to say we love Gabru red and each other blue. That's why Gabru's photo is on the left side and the wife's is on the right.

This photo was taken about 6 weeks ago, maybe even 7 or 8. She used to do yoga 3 or 4 times a week, but recently stopped when it simply stopped being enjoyable. She is now 34 weeks pregnant. She went to the Dr. yesterday for a check-up and mother and baby are doing great. If for any reason Allison did go into labor early, there is no need to try and stop it. She is good to go. I know I will be at a loss for words when the moment finally arrives.

Busy day

It was a hectic day, but I got everything done except meet Ed to talk about his script. I really wished I could have fit that in, but it's faster to walk than drive in Manhattan. Here is a breakdown:

My dog, Gabru, was as happy as can be this morning. Allison woke me up when she went to the bathroom at 6 am, so after laying semi-awake as long as I could, I was in the park by 7:15. There was still an inch or two of snow in the park, and snow, ball, and park are Gabru's three favorite words. He was very silly, and only wanted to play by himself with his ball- he loves to dig and drag the ball through the snow with his front paws and then chase it when it rolls away. I returned home at about 8:15.

While I was in the park, Allison managed to catch some more beauty sleep. She was still sleeping when I walked in the door, but it worked out in the end. She decided to take the subway to her appointment and I drove into the city. I was able to take advantage of street cleaning and found a nice spot past 10th Ave on the same street I was picking up the equipment. It was 10:20ish.

The meeting at SAG went great. My business rep was really helpful and I am now legally able to use Stephen as my actor. I am really happy to be somewhat legitimate.

It was just before noon, but as I was walking towards the subway to go downtown I kind of realized there was no way I was going to rent the equipment between 6/7th Ave, walk past 10th Ave to get the car to then pick up the crap, and then drop the car and the equipment in Brooklyn and be back in the city to meet with Ed at 2:30 or 3. I know I could have just parked the car in the city, but film equipment is expensive. I did not have the most costly rentals, but I would still rather be safe than sorry.

I finally returned home around 2:45. My paying gig started at 5 pm, so I used the hour to catch up on some other important things - paperwork and email. Work was work, but it did pass quickly. The office ordered Indian food so that was a very nice surprise. I finally left some time after midnight when simple things began taking a really long time.

Busy Schedule

With my film shoot approaching, I will be attempting to accomplish many things in the next 3-4 days. For my benefit, here is the breakdown of the next couple days.

Wednesday night

- Finish the final tweaks on Tanya's film and watch down one more time
- Complete all the SAG paperwork for my meeting at 11 am.

Thursday

- take Gabru to the park to enjoy snow
- drive into city and drop wife at chiropractor at 10 am.
- find a parking a spot in the 20s
- meet SAG business representative at 11 am
- pick up 3 C-Stands from a equipment rental house
- drop car and C-Stands at the house in Brooklyn
- Meet director Ed DuRante to discuss his feature script at 2:30-3pm
- Go to work 5 pm- 12-1 am

Friday morning will be the test when I roll back into work at 9 am. There are many more things I need to do, like send my short film PILFERER to some film festivals and massage Allison's back, but I can't schedule or remember them right now.

SAG Update

I got voicemail when I called my business representative at SAG this morning, so I sent her an email. She promptly replied back and our exchange of emails was positive. I am meeting with her tomorrow morning at 11am to finalize the paperwork, and it appears that I will be able to use Stephen as per union rules. I will be really happy when the paperwork goes through, but I am the cautious type so I it is something I will think about till it's resolved.

SAG requirements for HAPPY SAUCE

The hardest thing for me as a filmmaker is the paperwork. My actor Stephen is a SAG member and he was concerned about union rules so I want to do the right thing and do the little things the union asks of you. As a director of a short film with no budget, I am entitled to use SAG members as long as I fill out and file some paperwork. Cast sheets, budgets, scripts, reports on meals and overtime, nominal compensation, and a post production report is all that is required by SAG (as far as I can understand) to use a union member. I am also supposed to send them all the information at least fifteen days before my shoot. The only problem is that my shoot is Sunday, less than 5 days away.

One choice is to embellish upon the shoot date and make it "appear" that my application is on time. There might be a lot of takers for this approach, but it isn't my style. Besides, I would have to purge all traces of my blog to hide the shoot date, and that will never happen. I enjoy the blog process too much. I will be honest and see what happens. I have to call the business representative assigned to review my film tomorrow and hope that my short film project can still be approved in time. I am available to meet Thursday before work if needed so I am hoping for the best.

Actors are Cast

I called and cast my actors today. Stephen Federbusch will play Gabru and Walter Hoffman is the bartender. They are both great actors and I am very happy they are available for the shoot. The only wrinkle is my only rehearsal will be on Saturday, the day before the shoot. I originally wanted to rehearse Wednesday evening, but Walter is unable to make it. I wanted to work with Stephen on Wednesday and work out the dance/ celebration after Gabru takes a sip of the "Happy Sauce" from the baby bottle. In my opinion, much of the movie hinges upon the contrast between frantic, stressed out Gabru and the exuberant man that leaves the bar. I guess I like the idea that a small drop/ squirt of something new, a small glimmer of hope, is all that is needed to change your feelings.

I have the rehearsal space booked on Saturday from 1pm-4pm. I got Studio A again. It is the largest studio at the theatre company I am using. I really don't need extra space, but I also don't like to feel confined to one area. I can be weird like that, more often that not. The plan is to work with Stephen from 1-2pm and then maybe give Stephen a break, chat and work with Walt for half an hour, and then work it out with both actors from 2:30-4pm.

And then it's time to shoot. The call time on Sunday will be 8am and the so-called martini shot is at 3pm. No questions asked.

Wife and Baby Update

The big day is slowly getting closer and closer. Allison is still doing really well, but the size and weight of the belly is beginning to cause her a lot of stress. This evening she let many crowded subways pass on her way home before she found one with a little more standing room, and she still got queasy. She also has contractions off and on, but they have been going away after laying on her left side. I think this is normal.

The concept for the short film I am making this weekend arose when Allison thought, about a month ago, that she might be experiencing many signs of early or premature labor. I was horrified at the time, and to be honest, we are still totally unprepared. We have all the baby necessities but nowhere to put it. We won't be able to move into our new house before the end of the month, so our dining room has become baby storage. If worst comes to worst, we can put the bassinet in our bedroom and use a dresser as a changing table, but having a baby and moving are ideas that just really don't go well together.

I know that everything will work itself out, just how is the big question.

Happy Sauce Storyboard

This is the first pass of the storyboard for Happy Sauce. The images represent how I envision editing the final film. Clicking on the actual storyboard page is a link that enlarges the board.

Creating Shot Sheet

It always takes much longer to create storyboards, shot sheets, etc. etc, but I am done with my first pass, which I am very happy about. I presently have 6 different camera setups inside the bar and 14 shots that I would like.

As an editor who has cut pretty much every format, I like to think I know what shots I need and which shots I don't. Each day when I edit there usually is a moment where I need a shot to make an idea work and the director/producer or camera man just didn't think to get it. And that's where my job begins. I then have to comb through each shot, every single frame to somehow cheat, or create a real, believable moment. It can drive me crazy sometimes.

To be fair, there often is no way to anticipate that your original concept will not work and some heavy editing is required. The only thing you can do is try to shoot a few options, even safety shots, so in case something does not work, there may be a creative way to solve the problem.

I hopefully will come up with some new ideas over the week to further improve my existing boards.

Happy Sauce Script V2

This is the update to the script. It is still evolving, but seems headed in the right direction.

HAPPY SAUCE
By
Rohan Sen

INT. BAR - DAY

A pint glass full of ice enters the frame. A bottle of Maker’s Mark flows generously into the glass. Coke, lime juice, and a dash of cranberry are added. A hand reaches out to mix the contents.

SOUND FX: COLLISION AT DOOR.

A baby bottle slides into the frame.

CUT TO:

INSERT TITLE: HAPPY SAUCE

INT. BAR - DAY

FIVE BABY BOTTLES scatter across the bar counter. A man’s hand frantically stacks the bottles in a line on the counter.

GABRU
Please, you got to help me.. I need you to run these through the dishwasher...

The bartender reaches out and grabs a bottle.

BARTENDER
Sure, buddy, whatever. What are you drinking?

The cell phone rings before GABRU can respond. The bartender grabs the baby bottles and walks away.

GABRU
Hey.. I’m here.. oh no, I forgot those.. I’m sorry, I know I know, looks like I have it under control.... what?, wait hold on.. Hello.. Oh hay, yeah I think we are going to be ok... sure thing, I know, I just did that..

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

The bartender looks at GABRU as he puts the last baby bottle in the speed washer. Gabru paces back and forth, overwhelmed. The bartender gazes at GABRU, as if emembering an earlier time in his life.

SOUND FX: The short but sharp ring from the dishwasher pierces the air.

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - MOMENTS LATER

GABRU still talks on the phone as the bartender stacks the baby bottles in front of him.

GABRU
Wait, that’s only four.... excuse me.. hey let me go, excuse me...

Gabru’s eyes grow wide, but the bartender interrupts Gabru swiftly.

BARTENDER
It’s okay, brother. I got your bottle right here.

The bartender looks down at a baby bottle that he is drying in a towel. He looks at Gabru.

BARTENDER (CONT'D)
This one is for you.

The bartender reaches out and holds it for Gabru to take. Gabru hesitates and reaches for the bottle filled with a brownish liquid. He looks at it, sniffs the top, and squirts a few drops into his mouth. He immediately stands up straight, energized and exuberant.

GABRU
Tutti Frutti! Root, toot, toot.

Gabru dances, glowing with joy. He picks up a rattle and shakes it vigorously.

GABRU (CONT'D)
Wow.. what was that?

BARTENDER
Oh, I just like to call it my happy sauce.

GABRU
You’re happy sauce, huh?... Well here’s to it. To Happy Sauce. Happy Happy Happy Sauce...

Gabru continues to dance sucking ferociously on the baby bottle. He picks up his bags and dances out of the bar.

CUT TO:

INT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

The bartender smiles as he watches Gabru leave the bar. He thinks for a moment before bending under the bar. He emerges holding a baby bottle filled with brown liquid. He puts it in his mouth and sucks away.

FADE TO BLACK.

Casting and Film Update

The casting session went very well, and only one actor was a no-show. I am also 95% sure I know which actors I would like to use. The funny thing is that I thought both actors could work out just looking at their headshots and resumes.

After walking through the bar with Petr (the DP), and hearing and watching actors bring my words to life, I realize that the script needs a few minor tweaks. Most important, I need to address why a man stumbles into a bar to get his baby bottles sanitized. A simple solution is his family is on vacation and he forgot to get the bottles sanitized before leaving the hotel. Another possibility is that the family lost their diaper bag on the subway, in a bus, or in a cab, and the man runs into the bar because he is starting from scratch. I think making this adjustment will give the man more motivation on the phone.. at least now he has something to talk about where before he was just babbling to his wife.

I am sure the script will change again after rehearsal later this week. I will post the updated version at the end of the night.

Bar Etiquette

I met Petr, the DP for my short film project (and also my wife's uncle) at the bar to walk through the visuals of the film. Things were going great until we reached the point where the bartender puts baby bottles in the dishwasher to sanitize them. Petr thought it might be nice to shoot that behind the bar counter. I agreed and we proceeded to walk behind the bar to take a closer look. That was our first mistake. The real bartender was actually behind the bar counting the till before the bar opened. The bartender seemed annoyed but let Petr pass, and then we heard "Guys.. this is not good. You can't go behind the bar".

After saying "I'm sorry.. I didn't know.. Sorry bout that" many times, we discovered that no one is allowed behind the bar. An unwritten rule. Not even if you work at the bar do you go behind the bar. Not even if the bar is not open do you go behind the bar. I guess we both presumed that the bartender knew what we were doing and did not mind, until we broke the first rule of a bar. NEVER GO BEHIND THE BAR.

I look back at my wilder days before I was having a baby, even before I met my wife, and like to think that I was a good bar customer.. I respected the rules and did not abuse them too often. I always knew the bar counter represented a border that was never meant to be breached, but only today do I know how serious that line really is.

I guess I really have to tip the next time I see the bartender.

Progress Update

So I did everything that I said I was going to do... I have a number of actors that are coming in to audition on Sunday, and I tried calling a few of the people that responded to the mandy ad for crew positions, but nothing really panned out.

Today is going to be a busy day in the city. I am meeting my D.P. Petr at 4 at the bar to do a location scout and talk some shots. I came up with a really good idea in the shower. More importantly, we are in the city to buy all the baby essentials that are still needed.

Today is the day

Today is the day I stop procrastinating and take action. In less than thirty minutes, I am going to book a casting space for three hours on Sunday, call a number of male actors for auditions, and I am also going to set up meetings with prospective crew members from ads that I received through mandy. I did not receive many responses through the ad, but I do need an A.D. and probably one P.A. to assist the shoot. I was going to hire them without meeting them but my friend Ed strongly suggested I meet them in advance to ensure good on-set chemistry. I also need to make sure the A.D. knows what he is doing.

I looked at the script again last night as well. My only idea was that the bartender needed to search harder for a old, worn baby bottle, but I didn't feel I needed to put it in the script.. the idea is on paper, I will shoot an extra shot. I do really want to hear the dialogue and see how some actors respond to the material before I make any further changes... if everything works out properly, that should be on Sunday.

Actors

It's hard to believe that I am having a hard time finding actors. There are a ton if I walk into a school or post a notice on the internet, but as of right now, there are very few, actually not a single actor, that has been recommended to me by the many people I have asked. Perhaps I am supposed to act both roles in the film myself, or I am just not trying hard enough. Tanya is here... time to finish editing her short.