July 21, 1997 - Lab Stuff, More B Roll Follies

The New Mexico footage has finally been synced up and a VHS dub is ready to pick up. Pretty excited about this footage: It cost quite a bit to send cast and crew out there. But there's no faking New Mexico, and it is the central allegory of the film.

I've sent the weekend's B roll footage to the Lab for processing, and scheduled to have it transferred in time to see it before next weekend's shoot. Need to make sure the camera is okay before bringing in the actors for the final days of shooting. The camera certainly sounds sweet enough, and I didn't realize what a hassle it was to interpolate the f/stop markings until the problem was fixed. Anything that makes filming easier is a benefit. I wonder if a video assist could be added for the next project.

Almost killed myself filming on the Bay Bridge while driving. Not really, but I surely could have used a 2nd set of hands. This was shot 19C (Mary Drives). I plan to change it from the way it's scripted to Mary's POV while driving. This is when she and Michael have the conversation:

Mary:This driving isn't so hard. Being an adult isn't so hard.

Michael: (Reflective) Yes it is.

Mary: Well, what's so hard about it?

Michael: Having to pretend that you know what you're doing all the time.

Mary: Oh...

-George