clackity-clack

Still have to schedule with Geo to view footage...but I am working on the script - specifically on how to open the film. It has to be quick and concise and get the story out in a way that is enticing to the veiwer.

Right now, I'm hedging my bets a little and plan on using some of the one-on-one interviews (quick edits) as a jumping off place. Followed by folks randomly (overlapped narration over titles/stills) reading off questions from actual quizzo events.

The lessons I've learned from working on SKALD stories is really coming in handy. In that competition, you only have 7 minutes to tell a complete story. It's a constant battle to edit (and re-edit) to clarify and condense the story. You don't want (or have time for) a lot of "drag" in a film this short. You need to cherry pick and highlight the details that make the story vibrant, fun and interesting. The more I hone the script now, the less time we'll waste in editing (the most time-consumming work to be done.)

In the meantime, I thought I'd attached this short little vid that Geo made right after we got back. This is one of the reasons why we had trouble shooting in the RV. It was like riding a rollercoaster at times (especially in that back bedroom.) Most docs that have RVs in them, I'm finding that in almost all cases, the solution was to shoot when the RV was at rest. Wish I had known that before the trip!

Shooting for those films took place after they were done driving for the day or had stopped/parked for sightseeing/lunch/etc. Which makes me wish that we had done a little more of that at the gas-up/rest stops. We didn't want to add to our 16 hr travel time (and to be honest, the DSP folks were still getting used to having a camera on them. )

One reason most doc have hours and hours of footage - is that it takes a long time for folks to relax and be themselves in front of a camera. Thanks to machinations of Mr. Aston Kuchner and the gentlemen of JACKASS, nowadays, everyone is concerned of being "punked" or looking the fool on video.

I'm not calling out who's "surfing" in back. We all pretty much looked that miserable when we were back there trying to get some shut-eye.

In other news, Ravin was asking about a title for this film so he could put it in his liner notes for his forthcoming CD. I've been dashing my brain, but I still think it's too soon to settle on one. Much like a nickname, I think it will present itself when the time is right.

homework

To get my brain in gear for editing and pacing, I'm currently watching documentaries like they were going out of style. Which is fantastic, because I love them. Even crappily made ones...mainly, because I spend the time figuring out why it's crappy.

Is the subject matter? The editing? The way the shot is framed? The pacing? Is the narrative too plodding and repetitive?

I'm the kind of gal that learns way more from the mistakes I've made than by my successes. So, watching a great documentary, sometimes it's harder to keen why it's a successful film. But a poorly executed documentary, you can figure out what to avoid (when possible) and how to fix mistakes.

For example, I already know that all of the video we've shot at Quizzo night and The Riddle can't be used with the sound on it. Mainly because both were set in bars which played a lot of loud music. Music I don't have the rights to...nor have the budget to acquire. So I know that those shots will have to be overlaid with narration, edited with other sequences that have usable sound, or covered by incidental music.

It may turn out that the video we shot in the RV doesn't have great sound due to the engine and a/c noise. Again, that may have to be "covered" or at the very least, captioned.

Poor sound will kill you faster than a boring subject matter. Word.


Anyway, I'm knee-deep in my homework, bellied up to the bar watching films I haven't seen in years and lots of new ones as well.

Specifically, I'm focusing on films that have one or more of the following elements or themes:
1. Road Trip
2. Underground/Offbeat Group Conventions
3. Obsessions
4. Friends working towards common goal
5. The "Big Stupid Idea"


Examples of films I've been watching or have queued up are:
Pop and Me (1)
Where Are We? (1)
American Movie (3, 4, 5)
Trekkies (2)
Crumb (3)
King of Kong (3)
Supersize Me (1, 5)
Mad Hot Ballroom (2, 4)
The Young and the Dead (5)
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (3)
This is Nowhere (1)
Growin' A Beard (4, 5)
The Journey (1)
Air Guitar Nation (2, 3)
30 Days (v.2)

For the record, I think most of these are great documentaries...I'm not focused on watching poor ones, I'm just not ruling them out.


I've seen a few other movies that I haven't listed here that would fit the bill like, Unconventional, Spellbound, and Word Play. I might re-rent those at some point. I'm steering clear of any mocumentaries for the time being.

If the .05 people who read this want to suggest a doc for veiwing, please post it in the comments! Much appreciated...

back in the saddle

Apologies to the .05 people who might be following this blog. After the trip to Atlantic City I was traveling much of the rest of June for work and then immediately went into intensive rehearsals for a play that just opened last week.

It is (finally) a new day, which means that I'm ready to turn my attention back towards the documentary.


I still need to schedule time with our cameraman, Geo, to look at the footage we currently have of the trip and see what's useable - sound and picture-wise. Hopefully, that will happen within the next couple of weeks. (He travels quite a bit himself and I've been completely swamped up 'til now.)

Our still photographer, Kristine, sent me proof sheets from the trip. I plan for the film to be a mix of video and stills with narration (and original music.) She got some great shots! (although I'm having trouble loading them here...curse my luddite ways.)

In other utterly fantastic news, my man Dave Lykins emailed me the original song he wrote with the documentary in mind. It's called Come Along and it couldn't be a better fit for this project. It's more spectacular than I had ever imagined it could be (and I had my standards up pretty high.) Having the original music is going to give up a huge leg up on how we edit the peice, so I'm extremely grateful that he's finished it and that it sounds so phenomenal!

With a song stuck happily in my head and with contact sheets to peruse, I'm thrilled to report that the quizzo doc slowly takes it next step towards fruition!


Stumbling, baby steps...but steps none-the-less!

Eve

It's been a hellva day.

Yesterday, my car died. I think, for good. We'll see. I'm trying not to stress about the car or money or all the things that are sitting in judgement in the back of my brain.

Last night, Double Secret Probation (that's our Quizzo team) played in our last game before heading out tomorrow. We won!...by a narrow, narrow margin. It was a great night to end on before the trek. Geo and K both brought cameras last night...and folks at the bar were buzzing both about our (insane) plan to attend the Finals and the doc.

This morning my extremely generous neighbor loaned me her car and all my errands - including dropping off my dog at my dad's. I'm hoping she won't be too much of a handful for him. We also had RV orientation and picked up the behemoth that we'll be trekking in. I'm packing now...waiting to hand the car keys back to my friend and then hopefully getting some sleep so when I get up at 3am to shower and take the trash out (I'm waaaay too beat to do it now), I'll be able to either drive or help navigate our way east.


Not sure that I'll be able to post much on the road, but I'll try!

Here's to an open road and safe passage to the coast!

T-Minus 4

The countdown has begun

We're four days away from climbing into the RV and heading towards AC. It all seems so confoundingly insane to me - but every person I tell this story to - the trip, the finals, the doc - gets so excited by the idea (and trust me, I'm underselling this crazy scheme) - that I'm thinking we must be onto something. The rampant enthusiasm quite honestly baffles me - but solidifies my idea that this doc needs to happen.

In terms of hitting the road, I'm fairly unprepared at this stage - I need to spend tonight getting my ducks in a row. Between making sure I don't leave any unattended fires at the office, making sure my dad is ready to watch my dog (in 9 yrs, I've never had to ask him to watch my dog as she's kind of a handful) and, most importantly, prepping my doc needs (releases, interview questions, shot list, tech needs, etc.), plus all the normal trip prep (pack, bills, where to park the car, etc.)

It's all a bit of a whirlwind in my head.

Wednesday - at Quizzo. Our last game before we head out!
Thursday - our 3 designated RV drivers have orientation/training...then we pick up the RV!
Friday - Hit the road!
Saturday - Film in AC, attend finals, shoot more! (mayhaps play a few games of chance!)
Sunday - Head home.
Monday - Recouperate



Rain or Shine

We're meeting up at 4am on Friday with the intent to be on the road by 4:30am. Hopefully, avoiding the majority of the Chicagoland/Gary rush hour. This means, we should arrive in AC sometime around 7pm or so. Not sure how long stops to gas up with take (or how often they'll occur.) So it could be later than that....due to the weather.



Right now, the forecast for Friday is Scattered Thunderstorms (in Chicago) from Fri-Sun - which means we'll be leaving and coming back thru some pretty crappy weather. It looks like much of our route to Jersey will be stormy/rainy on Friday. Makes me a little nervous as 1/3 of the RV driving team. But, as long as we take our time and pay attention to the road, we should be good. The good news is that Saturday in AC (when we'll need to get the most footage) is going to be party cloudy and in the mid-70's.


I'm prepared that we won't be able to film during the actual Quizzo Finals, as it's at a casino and they are kinda anti-video cameras in those places. But, we should (fingers crossed) be able to bring in some still cameras, which is why I'm basing part of the look of the film as still shots...who knows if we'll be able to get audio....?

A lot of our local footage will be shot after we get back, but I'm getting itchy and excited to start the ball rolling with the filming!



*For the record, I'm not sure if we'll take the Skyway, as it doesn't seem worth it to pay $12-15 (RV price) to cross the bridge when it won't save us that much in time or gas at that hour in the am. I just threw it up since that glowing neon is one of my favorite signs of home from many road trips of yesteryear.

Ground Zero

What is Wry Potato?

Wry Potato is the production company I've created to produce a short (yet to be titled) documentary about a trip some friends of mine are taking from Chicago to Atlantic City.

In a rented RV.
For 48 hours (not to mention the 14 hour trek...each way.)
To compete in the National Trivia Association's Quizzo Finals.

This whole scenario - meeting up to play Quizzo, what lead to the trip, the trip itself - is all based on a friendly lark of sorts. In a way, it's rather incomprehensible that this trip is even happening.


Which is the reason that convinced me this needed to be documented.
And why not document the documentary in a space that keeps me quasi-accountable?



Why the hell am I wasting my precious life reading this and/or care?

Well, I suppose you either:

1) Know me personally
2) Know someone who I've sweetly cajoled into helping me with this project
3) Know someone who knows me and followed their link/reference.
4) Have an odd fixation on potatoes and/or the word "wry"
5) Are a curious and/or lucky sort and stumbled upon this blog.



Do you have any experience making documentaries/films?


Yes and no. I went to film school (like 20 years ago) and then dropped out about 6 months shy of my degree. I haven't seriously picked up a camera since that time. In the past 20 years, I have become a luddite in the digital age. Which increased my distance.

The two people I am most creatively inspired by are Errol Morris and Studs Terkel. Mainly because they have spent lifetimes giving voices to everyday folk - be they a scientist or a street sweeper. I believe there is power in a person's story. There is the power for people to connect, to learn, to illuminate. The more I know about your story, the more I can relate to you and vice-versa. And the truth is, everyone has a story. Some are humorous and others heartbreaking, but it's the craft of telling it that draws folks in.

If you asked me what I personally think would solve many the problems in the world - war, poverty, hate, homelessness. I really do think it lies in honestly listening to people. If you connect to someone on a personal basis, they are no longer a number or a statistic. When you know their voice, their cadence, their humor, their anger, their disappointments and challenges, you really can connect and the opportunity arises to make a change.



Although, this project isn't that grandiose. This is more a challenge to myself to pick a camera back up and be creative. I just want to make a fun little movie about whatever it is that is making this trip tick in my brain. Ultimately, my goal is to submit it to a few film festivals. My partner in crime, Geo, is already talking about what our next project should be...but the first goal is to get this shot, cut, in the can and out into the ether.


Wish us luck.